{"id":1156,"date":"2025-12-31T23:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T04:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/?p=1156"},"modified":"2026-01-10T16:54:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T21:54:21","slug":"retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Retirement Captain&#8217;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This year, my annual report is going to sound like a crazy travelogue. I did so many things that I needed to split this entry in two pieces. You&#8217;ll see why in the second installment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>January<\/strong>, I celebrated my <a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/eddies-birthday-2025\/\">57th birthday<\/a> with a few close friends: Lori, and my singer, Maggie and her husband Ian. We had dinner at home, cocktails and played a couple of games. It was a lovely, low key way to ring in the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For MLK weekend, Cyndi and I flew to New Orleans to celebrate another birthday. MIT friend college friend Tricia threw a huge 60th birthday party for her husband, John, so I coined the event &#8220;JohnCon 2025&#8221;, 3D printed a handful of logos and handed them out<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1-1536x1156.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20260108_113711511_blog-1.jpg 1909w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">JohnCon 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fellow MIT grads Vadim and Justyna also met us down there, and we took a SteamBoat dinner jazz cruise together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cno1114916_01_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cno1114916_01_blog-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cno1114916_01_blog-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cno1114916_01_blog-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cno1114916_01_blog-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cno1114916_01_blog-rotated.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jazz Steamboat Cruise with Justyna and Vadim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then some of us were stranded there, as the city received a record 10&#8243; of snow, thanks to Storm Eowyn. It didn&#8217;t take long for the snowmen to become christened with Mardi Gras beads, a month ahead of schedule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250121_203627422_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250121_203627422_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250121_203627422_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250121_203627422_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250121_203627422_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250121_203627422_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Snowman in New Orleans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the month, I joined another college friend, Alla, and her sister Raisa at their condo in Boca Raton, FL for 10 days. This is becoming a winter tradition for me, and I&#8217;m very grateful to be invited. We did not get any snow, but one of the things we did was visit the Everglades in fan boats to see alligators:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250204_172430103_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250204_172430103_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250204_172430103_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250204_172430103_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250204_172430103_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250204_172430103_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Florida Everglades<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I returned just in time to celebrate Adam&#8217;s birthday in <strong>February<\/strong>, at their house in Troy, where we made enchiladas. Adam is masking up, because I had just returned from FL on a plane. He was about to leave for the MTG Pro Tour, and could not risk getting sick:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dcea9047-624e-43b9-9ef5-643faf1a0a5a_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dcea9047-624e-43b9-9ef5-643faf1a0a5a_blog-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dcea9047-624e-43b9-9ef5-643faf1a0a5a_blog-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dcea9047-624e-43b9-9ef5-643faf1a0a5a_blog-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dcea9047-624e-43b9-9ef5-643faf1a0a5a_blog-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dcea9047-624e-43b9-9ef5-643faf1a0a5a_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adam and Cyndi rolling the enchiladas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, our college friend Anna asked me to accompany her to a resort in Cancun. This year, she asked me to accompany her to the Dominican Republic in <strong>March<\/strong>. I had a great time, but unfortunately, she fell ill with medication related side effects(later in the year, the side effects gradually disappeared). We made the best of it, and still enjoyed the resort. Our butler, Anibal, reminded me a lot of Tim Duncan, especially when he&#8217;s <em>not <\/em>smiling. He says he gets that a lot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250312_132312934_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250312_132312934_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250312_132312934_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250312_132312934_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250312_132312934_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250312_132312934_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna and Tim Duncan look-alike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog-1536x1157.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250308_165504148_blog-2048x1542.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Me and Space Kid(hat) in the Dominican Republic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Near the end of the month, I helped organize a birthday party for my Martini Wife, Erica. Married to Eddy, their kids also grew up at Trinity, but they are roughly Aria&#8217;s age. She&#8217;s one of my Church Drinking Buddies, so she calls me her Martini Hubby. After dinner, we ended up at <a href=\"https:\/\/belicosocafe.com\/\">Belicoso Martini Bar and Cafe<\/a>, and as you can see, we had a blast:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_180509244_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_180509244_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_180509244_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_180509244_HDR_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_180509244_HDR_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_180509244_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Birthday Girl and Martini Wife, Erica <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_214707552_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_214707552_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_214707552_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_214707552_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_214707552_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250326_214707552_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joanna, one of our Sistas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the very end of <strong>March<\/strong>, I drove out to visit my high school best friend, Patty, and her husband, Ingo,  in the DC area. I went to see the <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalcherryblossomfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Cherry Festival<\/a>, something I had done back in <a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/cherry-blossoms-in-washington-d-c\/\">2012<\/a>(the link is to an old blog post, but unfortunately, I will need to restore the pictures to that entry, currently misplaced after a WordPress update). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_125821202_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_125821202_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_125821202_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_125821202_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_125821202_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_125821202_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Japanese Lantern among the cherry blossoms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearby was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/mlkm\/index.htm\">Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial<\/a>, also a very humbling and inspirational place<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_131628185_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_131628185_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_131628185_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_131628185_HDR_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_131628185_HDR_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_131628185_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">MLK Memorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While I was there, I also visited the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/frde\/index.htm\">Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial<\/a>. In my view, this park provides much needed introspection and inspiration for our national leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_140528194_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_140528194_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_140528194_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_140528194_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_140528194_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250331_140528194_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One of many FDR quotes at his memorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>April<\/strong>, Cyndi and I rented an AirBnB for a <a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/port-austin\/\">3-day weekend getaway in Port Austin, MI<\/a>. I wrote about it previously, so click on the link for the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next weekend, Cyndi flew to FL to support her dad as he underwent surgery(fully recovered from that). Later, we celebrated Aaron&#8217;s birthday, with Travis. They are in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kissyourfriends\/?hl=en\">Kiss My Friends band<\/a> together, but Travis is yet another member of what I call &#8216;Trinity riffraff&#8217; who grew up with our kids. They&#8217;ve been playing music together ever since. Unfortunately, I didn&#8217;t take the first picture until <em>after<\/em> we sliced the cake, oops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_205649737_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_205649737_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_205649737_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_205649737_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_205649737_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_205649737_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Most of the cake&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_200932790_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_200932790_blog-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_200932790_blog-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_200932790_blog-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_200932790_blog-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250418_200932790_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Playing Daybreak, with Travis, Adam and D&#8217;Arcy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting last week of <strong>April<\/strong>, I took a long road trip, from <strong>Michigan<\/strong> to <strong>Wisconsin<\/strong> to <strong>Omaha, NE<\/strong> to <strong>Colorado<\/strong> to <strong>Texas<\/strong> then finally back to <strong>Michigan<\/strong>! I stopped in Wisconsin for the first night, to visit my friend Anna. But stopping after &#8216;only 7 hours&#8217; also meant a shorter drive to Nebraska, where I finally made time to visit the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacmuseum.org\/\">Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum<\/a><\/strong>, in Ashland, just past Omaha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_091051989_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_091051989_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_091051989_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_091051989_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_091051989_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_091051989_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">SAC Museum, outside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At this museum, I found many of the aircraft I used to read obsessively about when I was a kid. In this picture alone are several aircraft, include the two largest bombers the US has ever built: B-36 Peacemaker, and B-52 Stratofortress:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_153720688_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_153720688_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_153720688_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_153720688_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_153720688_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250428_153720688_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">SAC Museum, inside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I then drove to Strasburg Colorado, to visit my high school friend and fellow clarinet player, Karen, and hang out for a night and a day before Aria was able to receive visitors in Denver. Karen has a beautiful view out her backyard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250429_192523771_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250429_192523771_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250429_192523771_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250429_192523771_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250429_192523771_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250429_192523771_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Karen&#8217;s backyard, Strasburg, CO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After visiting Karen, I met Cyndi, Aaron and Cyndi&#8217;s sister, Debbie. We had all converged to witness Aria&#8217;s graduation from Rocky Mountain College for Art and Design. Although she was not scheduled to complete all her requirements until August, she elected to walk the stage in April 2025, instead of waiting until April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graduation from RMCAD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We also got to meet Aria&#8217;s boyfriend, Luke Taylor. They took us to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernskybar.com\/\">Western Sky Bar and Taproom<\/a>, which is an ordinary bar, except that you are welcome to bring games(or borrow theirs) and play. They also had live music. Very good vibes at this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250503_200913859_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250503_200913859_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250503_200913859_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250503_200913859_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250503_200913859_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250503_200913859_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeting Luke for drinks and games at the bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>From Denver, as the calendar flipped to <strong>May<\/strong>, I drove to Texas, first stopping in Amarillo, which owes its early growth to the railroads, having been a major hub for cattle. This was outside the restaurant and hotel where I had dinner:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250427_192730895_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250427_192730895_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250427_192730895_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250427_192730895_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250427_192730895_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250427_192730895_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Caboose outside a restaurant inAmarillo, TX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On the way to San Antonio, I stopped to visit my friend from middle school(yes, <em>middle school<\/em>!), Christa, in Belton, TX. We had dinner, then I installed a bathroom faucet in the new vanity, but ran out of time to get the right adapters for the plumbing. She got that resolved later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then it was onto San Antonio! Mom had plenty of Honey-Do&#8217;s for me, including tearing up deck that my father built many, many years ago(it had started to rot badly):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250507_085605314_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250507_085605314_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250507_085605314_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250507_085605314_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250507_085605314_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250507_085605314_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deck teardown started<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250510_101406261_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250510_101406261_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250510_101406261_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250510_101406261_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250510_101406261_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250510_101406261_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deck teardown, completed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the things that I had not done since I was a kid was to visit the coast to go fishing. My brother Mike and I took mom out the coast, with all the fishing gear, and we stayed up late each night fishing on the pier, cracking jokes and reminiscing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_131544668_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_131544668_HDR_blog-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_131544668_HDR_blog-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_131544668_HDR_blog-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_131544668_HDR_blog-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_131544668_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike&#8217;s truck, locked and loaded<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_091753.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_091753-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_091753-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_091753-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_091753.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Me, catching something, probably a hard head<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mom and Mike, the next day, waiting for the fish that never got the memo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_114543679_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_114543679_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_114543679_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_114543679_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_114543679_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250514_114543679_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Here, fishy fishy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I guess this is how we Mexicans mark the spot NOT to fish from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_163854859_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_163854859_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_163854859_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_163854859_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_163854859_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250513_163854859_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Public Service Announcement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I will force myself to write a separate article about the rest of this San Antonio trip. So many food pictures&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>May<\/strong>, Cyndi and I returned to my favorite camp site, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/recsearch\/parks\/wilderness\">Wilderness State Park<\/a>. I wrote about this earlier, see <a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wilderness-state-park-2025-sunset-and-soo-locks\/\">Soo-Locks<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/old-mackinac-point-lighthouse\/\">Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>June<\/strong>, we drove to NY to witness Tessa&#8217;s wedding. She is the daughter of our close friends, Blane and Rev Jeanne Hansknecht, whose kids all grew up with ours at Trinity Episcopal Church(Trinity &#8216;riffraff&#8217;). Aria was co-maid of honor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog-1156x1536.jpg 1156w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog-1542x2048.jpg 1542w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_130303392_HDR_blog.jpg 1764w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tessa and her father(Tessa is the one in the wedding dress, since I NEVER turn down a chance to have fun with Blane)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-1156x1536.jpg 1156w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-1542x2048.jpg 1542w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250614_142642126_HDR_blog-scaled.jpg 1927w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyndi, Aria and myself<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In May, we celebrated Father&#8217;s Day at Adam and D&#8217;Arcy&#8217;s house in Troy, where Adam BBQ&#8217;d for me and I pretended to supervise. I also helped Adam clean gutters around the house(he had injured a shoulder or something rock climbing, but healed not long afterward).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_153948072_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_153948072_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_153948072_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_153948072_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_153948072_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_153948072_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The grill, most of the food was already done, just heating buns and grilling pineapple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_152337957_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_152337957_blog-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_152337957_blog-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_152337957_blog-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_152337957_blog-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_152337957_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Apple and Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250526_155833.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">NEVER turn down an offer from Adam to make a brontosaurus burger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This month, I started rehearsing and performing with a cover band called SNaP, which stands for Steve Napier at Powell&#8217;s, and local dive bar with an outdoor stage. This has been a lot of fun, but boy, we have a huge repertiore and go through almost 30 songs each gig! It&#8217;s been great to help me develop as a bass player<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly every month, I try to perform at open mic at <a href=\"https:\/\/theowlmilan.com\/index\">The Owl<\/a> in Milan. The weekend before open mic, I usually get together with my singer(and very good friend) Maggie and her husband Ian, at their house to rehearse music, eat dinner and have drinks.  Lately, we&#8217;ve been inviting other friends over to &#8216;rehearse&#8217; with us, ie, practice making cocktails and drinking them. These Friday nights are always a blast, and we&#8217;ve been doing this for years. This year, we&#8217;ve been inviting other good friends on a sort of rotating basis to join us in what amounts to a private bar scene with decent music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20221021_173951726_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20221021_173951726_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20221021_173951726_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20221021_173951726_HDR_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20221021_173951726_HDR_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20221021_173951726_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maggie and myself in 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the summer, Cyndi and I have been going to the outdoor Ypsilanti Farmer&#8217;s Market to buy local produce and, occasionally, other products. This year, Cyndi got me this cool handmade button-down shirt. It&#8217;s become one of my favorite shirts to wear during gigs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250607_102129585_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250607_102129585_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250607_102129585_HDR_blog-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250607_102129585_HDR_blog-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250607_102129585_HDR_blog-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250607_102129585_HDR_blog-rotated.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Handmade shirt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Also this month, I paid another visit to Anna in New Berlin, WI, who is a foodie and very knowledgeable about the local cuisine. For dinner one night, we went to <a href=\"https:\/\/toftestable.com\/\">Tofte&#8217;s Table<\/a>, in Waukesha:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_170606387_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_170606387_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_170606387_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_170606387_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_170606387_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_170606387_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cocktails<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_171950899_HDR_blog.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_171950899_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_171950899_HDR_blog-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_171950899_HDR_blog-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_171950899_HDR_blog-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250611_171950899_HDR_blog.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Entree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s it for this installment. There&#8217;s much more to write about for the second half of the year. Stay tuned&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year, my annual report is going to sound like a crazy travelogue. I did so many things that I needed to split this entry in two pieces. You&#8217;ll see why in the second installment. In January, I celebrated my 57th birthday with a few close friends: Lori, and my singer, Maggie and her husband &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Retirement Captain&#8217;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Retirement Captain&#039;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months - blog.hernandi.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Retirement Captain&#039;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months - blog.hernandi.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This year, my annual report is going to sound like a crazy travelogue. I did so many things that I needed to split this entry in two pieces. You&#8217;ll see why in the second installment. In January, I celebrated my 57th birthday with a few close friends: Lori, and my singer, Maggie and her husband &hellip; Continue reading Retirement Captain&#8217;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months &rarr;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"blog.hernandi.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-01T04:59:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-10T21:54:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"964\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eddie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eddie\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eddie\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/39b51e661148010c990aa8a2fd99c4bc\"},\"headline\":\"Retirement Captain&#8217;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-01T04:59:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-10T21:54:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1757,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Family\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hernandi.com\\\/blog2\\\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\\\/\",\"name\":\"Retirement Captain's Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months - 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I did so many things that I needed to split this entry in two pieces. You&#8217;ll see why in the second installment. In January, I celebrated my 57th birthday with a few close friends: Lori, and my singer, Maggie and her husband &hellip; Continue reading Retirement Captain&#8217;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months &rarr;","og_url":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/","og_site_name":"blog.hernandi.com","article_published_time":"2026-01-01T04:59:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-10T21:54:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":964,"url":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Eddie","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Eddie","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/"},"author":{"name":"Eddie","@id":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/#\/schema\/person\/39b51e661148010c990aa8a2fd99c4bc"},"headline":"Retirement Captain&#8217;s Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months","datePublished":"2026-01-01T04:59:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-10T21:54:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/"},"wordCount":1757,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_20250504_131957147_HDR_blog.jpg","articleSection":["Family"],"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/","url":"https:\/\/hernandi.com\/blog2\/retirement-captains-log-2025-year-in-review-first-six-months\/","name":"Retirement Captain's Log: 2025 Year In Review, First Six Months - 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