Java Station 56 Scottsburg Indiana Christmas 2025

A favorite coffee shop in Indiana was decorated nicely for Christmas this year!  I love this place!

Christkindlmarkt Carmel Indiana 2025

We were able to visit the perfectly German Christmas Christkindlmarkt in Carmel Indiana again this year!

Ark Encounter in Williamstown Kentucky December 2025

And, here is a quick look at our most recent visit to the Ark Encounter!

Hampton Inn Williamstown Kentucky- Ark View Rooms!

We had an "Ark View Room" at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Williamstown Kentucky, right next to the Ark Encounter!

Ararat Ridge Zoo and Christmas Lights at the Ark Encounter 2025

Here is a quick look at the zoo at the Ark Encounter and some of the Christmas lights!

Ark Encounter Light Show 2025

Here is a look at the 2025 light show at the Ark Encounter!

Petrified Forest Arizona 2025

We had a great visit to Petrified Forest in Arizona in April 2025!

Walnut Canyon National Monument Arizona 2025

One of the many great National Parks we visited in Arizona was Walnut Canyon!

Random Thoughts on Friday (Breathe 2am)

 Anna Nalick's "Breathe (2am)" came on the other day.  I like that song.  Seems like it just came out the other day.  I still kind of think of it as a new song.

As far as songs I like go, it is a fairly new song, though I just looked it up.  It is over 20 years old.

It is one of those songs that brings back a memory.

Some songs remind me of a road trip, or a high school dance...  maybe seeing a movie with some friends when I was a kid.  "Breathe" reminds me of interviewing for a job- and as much as I hate to admit it, it was about 20 years ago.

I had a job.  Not to get too detailed, but it was a job I liked.  I enjoyed it.  I liked the people.

A professional acquaintance liked what I was doing at my job.  They set up a meeting with some people at another job.  I didn't know a lot about that job, but I knew it was similar to what I was doing.  And I knew the pay was a lot better.

Let me skip ahead a bit, because the end of the story is not the point of the story.  I had a great interview.  I took the job.  It was a good job.  I was there for a while- until I left the area.

BUT, I drove to the potential new employer's office for that meeting/interview.  I had to park in a parking garage and walk a bit to get there.  I was nervous and anxious.  I felt like I was about to cheat on my current job.  I know, I had to do what was best for me and the fam, but it felt kinda wrong at the time.  

As I pulled into the parking lot in that garage, "Breathe" was on the radio.  "Just breathe" was the best advice I could have before going to that interview.

Sometimes you just have to relax, focus, and breathe.

Hampton Inn Downtown Owensboro 2025

We watched the Owensboro Christmas Parade from the Hampton Inn Downtown!