This past week included plenty of travel, a packed filming schedule, new ideas for the ranch, and a few opportunities to relax with books, movies, and collectibles.
Some weeks seem to have one clear theme. This one was a mixture of work, future planning, entertainment, and noticing ideas that might become part of our lives several years from now.
Trips like this can become busy quickly. Between meetings, filming, travel, and keeping up with regular responsibilities, there is not always much downtime. Still, being physically present in the office provides an opportunity to reconnect with the team and work through projects that are easier to handle face to face.
During the trip, I stayed at the Drury Inn near the office, which has become one of my favorite places to stay in Charlotte.
The location is convenient, but the food is also a major benefit. They offer an evening meal with a variety of options, along with breakfast the following morning. When you are traveling and working long days, having food available at the hotel eliminates one more thing you need to plan.
Someone recently recommended the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and thought it might be something I would enjoy.
I downloaded the audiobook and listened to it during my travels. It was entertaining, unusual, and easy to follow while moving between locations. The series has become extremely popular, and after finishing the first book, I understood some of the enthusiasm surrounding it.
I have already started listening to the second book, which is usually the clearest sign that a recommendation worked.
Audiobooks are especially helpful during travel because they can make flights, drives, and time spent waiting feel more productive. A good story can turn an otherwise routine trip into something you look forward to.
I never expected to have strong opinions about flooring, but apparently that has changed. There were a surprising number of materials, finishes, patterns, and colors to consider. After looking through the options, we found several styles that we liked.
It is interesting how home design priorities evolve. Years ago, I probably would not have paid much attention to the floors. Now I find myself examining how they look, how they might hold up, and whether they would work with the rest of the house.
A bedroom had access to a small outdoor sitting area built into the upper floor. It created a private space where someone could sit outside, read, or simply enjoy the view without needing to go downstairs.
I could imagine one of our children enjoying something like that.
I am not sure whether the design would work with our plans, but it was unique enough that I took a picture and added it to the growing list of ideas worth considering.
That is one of the best parts of touring homes. Even when the entire design is not right for you, there may be one feature that inspires a completely different idea.
They were being used to travel between different areas of the land, which seemed both practical and enjoyable. On a larger property, something like that could make it much easier to move people, supplies, and equipment.
After seeing them in use, I have a feeling that one may be in my future once we move to the land.
We are still a few years away from reaching that stage, but it is exciting to begin thinking about what everyday life on the property could look like.
I am preparing to march with the 300 DC Spartans again, which is always one of the highlights of the event. Participating also gives me a specific fitness goal to work toward throughout the summer.
Having a deadline helps keep me focused. It is easier to stay consistent with training and nutrition when there is a clear event on the calendar.
The final weeks before Dragon Con tend to move quickly, so the countdown is officially underway.
Someone had installed a feature on the wall that allowed them to display a favorite picture from each year. Over time, the wall became a visual timeline of their family’s experiences and memories.
I thought it was a great idea.
Digital phones have made it possible to take thousands of pictures, but many of those photos remain stored on a device and are rarely viewed again. A yearly photo display would create a reason to select the moments that mattered most and place them somewhere visible.
The biggest challenge would be finding enough wall space, but it is an idea I would like to explore.
The rain delayed our flight home on Thursday, and it seemed to continue almost every day after we returned. That is fairly typical for a Georgia summer. The storms arrive quickly, drop a large amount of rain, and often disappear just as fast.
Travel delays are frustrating, but summer weather is unpredictable. Sometimes the only option is to adjust the schedule and wait for the storm to pass.
Construction crews have been making major changes to the area in an effort to address the heavy traffic. After seeing the plans and the growing number of traffic lights, I am curious about how drivers will respond once everything is complete.
The new layout appears complicated, and complicated intersections often create a learning curve for drivers.
Hopefully, the final result improves traffic flow. For now, it looks like it may take some time for everyone to understand exactly where they are supposed to go.
We are also getting closer to the release of the new Spider-Man movie.
Marvel’s Spider-Man films have generally been entertaining, so expectations are high. The trailers have created plenty of excitement, and it looks like the latest movie could continue that trend.
There is always some uncertainty when a new installment is released, but Spider-Man has remained one of Marvel’s most popular and reliable characters.
We are looking forward to seeing how the new movie turns out.
I also watched the new He-Man movie.
As someone familiar with the original cartoon, I thought the film provided a decent amount of nostalgia. There were characters, references, and story elements that longtime fans could recognize and appreciate.
However, I wondered how easy the movie would be to follow for someone who never watched the cartoon.
Nostalgic movies face a difficult challenge. They need to reward existing fans without making new viewers feel as though they missed an important lesson before the movie began.
I would be interested to hear the perspective of someone who watched the film without having any connection to the original series.
This week was a combination of work, travel, planning, and entertainment.
A trip to Charlotte created opportunities to connect with the office and produce new content. Touring a builder’s home generated ideas for the ranch. A new audiobook made the travel more enjoyable, while Dragon Con provided motivation to stay focused on fitness.
Even the smaller moments, such as seeing a creative photo display or imagining a four-wheel utility vehicle on the property, contributed to the week.
Not every idea will become part of the final plan, but gathering inspiration is part of the process. Sometimes the most useful ideas appear while traveling, scrolling through social media, visiting a show home, or simply paying closer attention to the things around us.
Overall, it was a busy and productive summer week, with plenty more to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
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