This won’t be my another year older, another year wiser entry. I’ll write in about two weeks, a little after the actual day.

This is just the one that I write that says that it is almost time.

I have a about 8 days left before I inch another number towards 40. I’m middle aged, or I hope to be. I’ve already gone through my MLC, what is there to expect now? What is going to come up?

I don’t know.

I spent yesterday reading over these yearly entries to get a feel of how these entries should go and to get a feel of the general trajectory of how my life have been and they seem to be on the positive ever since a few years ago, when I first felt that weird sensation that I call my MLC.

It was a rough couple of years of stagnation and questioning and just a general sense of ennui. Now…better.

* * *

Like last year, I planned to be out of town on my bday. I planned a trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.

Unlike last year, I opted not to drive. It’s a 14-hour drive and the last thing I probably want to do was spend two full days just driving, so I opted to fly into El Paso, TX and then driving the three hours instead to Carlsbad. Not a bad option. Less tired, and maybe a little more time.

On the actual day, I’ll be traveling. Originally, I had it planned that I’ll be flying back home and then heading back to the real world and the office the next day, but somehow plans changed.

I was asked if I could go to NYC and shoot an auto show for work. I agreed and my boss gave them the A-OK, so I’ll be flying to NYC that day. It’ll be a long day of driving back to El Paso and then the four-hour flight to NYC.

It’ll be my second time in NYC and I’m excited. I’ll be there for the most part, alone, besides coworkers. I’ll be doing a shoot for work and then hopefully I’ll just get to explore the city and continue my little extended #specialweekend, as I like to now call it.

I’m keeping my expectations low, but I think it’ll be great.

Now, I just need to plan for the weather and figure out what to pack and some logistics about the whole thing.

Just looked up the weather for the trip and it seems that New Mexico will be hot and windy and NYC might be a little wet; 10-20% chance of rain.

I’ll make the best out of it. It’ll be great.

* * *

Vacation mode.

Or, I’ll try to see if I can transition into vacation mode this week. Besides the quick meeting for the NYC trip to go over the details of the shoot, I have a training that I need to do for the SharePoint site and Cyclotron SharePoint audits that I’ve done.

For everything else, I’ll try to do as little as I can. I’ll most likely try and plan what I’m going to do with Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I still need to research the damn place, in terms of how big the caves are, where to go, what to do and to figure out if a full two days would be worth it. Otherwise, I’ll have to figure out something else for Sunday.

Roswell could be an option. It’ll be one of those kitschy things to do because it is Roswell.

Growing up watching the show and X-Files and being so fascinated with aliens and space, it’ll be a logical place for me to go and explore. Not sure how much there is to do there, but I’m good at just figuring shit out.

That’s what this week would be about, research.

In terms of NYC, no idea either. I’ll play it by ear in terms of what everyone else is doing, but most likely, I’ll just disappear and explore the city. I’ll do what I do best.

I’m resourceful.

A break.

A much-needed break.

The one thing that I know for damn sure is that I need a break. It’s been nonstop busy for me since the beginning of the year.

Much of it has to do with the new responsibilities that came my way along with the new software that became available.

Also, the new hires and onboarding them added to the workload and the stress.

But I think things are finally settling down. Things are finally finding a balance.

A break.

I look forward to my breaks. I look forward to getting out of the city and just exploring and not think much about work. I look forward to not being reachable.

This year I know there won’t be as many as last year. Much of it has to do with me needing to save money for our European vacation and I am okay with that. It’s worth the sacrifice for something that big.

So, I’m content with this small trip and NYC is just an added bonus. I’m really looking forward to the Rocky Mountains National Park in July. That’s something that I’ll need to research also and then committing to Italy.

I’m not planning that one, just giving input. Looking forward to it.

I have an inkling of what my brother have in mind, but at the same time, I don’t know either.

I’m sure we’ll figure it out when things get down to it. It must happen.

It needs to happen.

Vacation.

Take them.

* * *