Nobody is stealing my thunder today. I have a vacation day from work so that time sucker won’t be in the picture. At least that is the hope. My partner returns from vacation today and I hope his plane isn’t delayed because of the weather. I told him I was home in case of emergency but I hope to hell I don’t have to work tonight.

I had a wonderful time today with my daughter and my better half. It was a short visit and lunch but a great feeling and time together. We ate at an old favorite place we hadn’t been to in a while in Westminster Maryland called RockSalt Grille.

It didn’t disappoint at all. Good food, good prices, good service. I had the Rocksalt Oysters (broiled with parmesan cheese and bacon) and Mahi Mahi tacos. My better half had the Scallops and my daughter the Shrimp Salad sandwich. They shared what looked to be a piece of lemon cake. I was in a food coma so I wasn’t paying close attention for fear I might order something.

Photos by Mike Hartley

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Thank you notes – I saw a long discussion on if a verbal thank you was enough acknowledgment of giving a gift I believe it was for a High School graduate and not a thank you card. Some answers were a strong yes, a thank you card was needed but a lot of people acknowledged that it might be a generational thing for some of us who were older. I remember doing thank you cards. My better half still sends them out today.

But for the generations after us, I think it’s more optional and even becoming the exception instead of the rule. I was surprised about one thing in the discussion. Everyone seemed fixated on a thank you card as the solution. I remember my Mom telling me that it’s more important to follow up with the gift giver personally (by phone or in person) on how you used the money or gift in your life and how special it was or what it meant to you. I believe those personal interactions are far more important than any piece of paper. Even though it’s still nice to get the occasional thank you note. And we do get them from our kids. So maybe the tradition will live on beyond my generation.

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A free night – I’m like a giddy kid this evening. Normally I’d be sitting behind another computer at this time beginning my usual 11-12 hour shift. I will probably stay up late and work on my hobbies but just the thought of when I get tired I can lay down and go to sleep is so much of a stress relief. Because it’s a vacation night. No having to power through the body and mind’s overwhelming desire to get horizontal and shut the eyes.

Working an overnight shift is just too hard on my body and mind anymore. I’ll power through the next several months of it on a full-time basis but the days are numbered. But tonight is a GOOD NIGHT.

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Random Thoughts of the Day

• A special birthday for a special family member today.
• Eating like a king can break the kingdom.
• Think I’ll finish reading that book tonight.
• Waiting for that rain to pass before I go get some night shots.