Random Thoughts On A Sunday Afternoon

 
I finally did it yesterday! I caught a sunset at Callaway Vineyard & Winery at the perfect moment when the sun has dipped about halfway beneath the Santa Ana Mountains. I've also got a few thoughts to unload while I'm here.

I still consider Bert my best friend, but lately there's some distance between us. It could be a natural reaction to something that's going on behind the scenes that I'm not at liberty to discuss. I have Esmae in my life, and anytime one of us has a girlfriend it naturally changes our friendship dynamic. 

I'm sure things are fine between us, but they're definitely weird right now.

I received my 2026 health insurance renewal notice upon my return home from Callaway. I don't care if I can afford the $141 monthly premium increase. I'm a consumer just like anyone else at the end of the day, and I still feel like I should've received a bottle of lube along with the notice as a courtesy.

Thankfully my auto insurance remains unchanged for another six months.

The sci-fi romance novel I wrote is taking shape. I'm about 40% finished with the third draft and for the first time I feel my writing is good enough to be published. I'm not sure when I'll finish this round of edits, but I seem to work at a two chapters a day clip. There's thirty-six chapters total, so my best guess is two more weeks.

The heirloom tomatoes with baratta cheese and crostini that I enjoyed for dinner yesterday is likely to disappear off the Meritage menu as soon as Wednesday. I'm glad I enjoyed them one last time.

My theme music for the time being should be "Travelin' Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'll stay local this coming week, but then I'll be in Temecula Valley for two overnight stays during the two following weeks. The first one is to sample the aforementioned menu changes at Meritage. The second is for a Friendsgiving dinner I'll attend at Callaway. I look forward to both.

Then after that, I've got the Palm Desert trip to plan for. So many restaurants, so little time. More on that later...