Two Birds - One Stone

Yesterday we had a two-for-one experience. Since our good friend Rod lives about an hour from the friends we are staying with in Phoenix and Joel's Uncle Bill and his wife live about an hour in the opposite direction, they all met us partway at an Applebee's to visit. So we were able to visit with Rod who we hadn't seen in 10 years and Sue was able to meet Joel's Uncle Bill who he hadn't seen in over 40 years!

Bill and Joel

It was great to visit with everyone at once and even find out that Rod and Bill had mutual friends. We really hope we can come back sooner than later and visit with them all again.

Rod and Joel

Today is our last day in Phoenix and we'll be seeing Sue's Uncle Phil and family and then staying the last night with author Alex Zabala and his wife again before heading Monday morning for San Diego.

Eunice, Bill and Fiona

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"Enjoy Your Vacation"

People keep saying that. "Enjoy your vacation." I've stopped correcting them.

Sue has already commented on all the work going on while we travel. I wanna talk about this whole "if you're traveling it must be a vacation" mindset.

It's wrong.
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It's Not a Vacation! We're Working When We Travel

Chicago 2011

So we took this whole month of May to travel from our home in Wisconsin down to Phoenix, out to San Diego, up to Northern California, and end up back up June 1. The main purpose is so we can pick up more of our stuff from storage in Roseville, California. However, since we know so many people, friends and family, in Phoenix, San Diego, and Roseville, we are taking time to visit with them as we travel.

But it's not a vacation! No, we are working while we travel. We are still doing all our usual stuff. I work as a Virtual Assistant managing client's social media marketing, newsletters, and blogs and am continuing to do so. We have a web design business we are continuing to run and in fact have received new work as we've been traveling.

And Joel's book coaching and publishing business, Someday Box, has continued. We have one client in the final stages of editing her book, another in the U.K. that we're working on formatting the interior of his book (in fact we had an international call with him yesterday), and yet another that signed up for the Pathfinding Session and Road Map. We had an hour call with her last Monday while here in Arizona and have scheduled another one this next Tuesday while we're in San Diego.

So for us it's business as usual - we did spend 18 months living as nomads with no fixed place of residence traveling and working. It's no different now except we do have a fixed place of residence and travel less than we did.

When we do take a vacation, we'll let you know. We do take the last two weeks of the year off from work. This year we may just end up in Arizona for most of that time. Perhaps visiting our friends and family here and taking time to see Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, and Jerome. We did spend out honeymoon in Oak Creek Canyon and this December will be our 10th wedding anniversary!

And this trip we are getting to connect with lots of friends and family - in Phoenix it's been Terry & Virgie, Dan & Annete, Rod on Saturday, and Sunday Sue's Uncle Phil. In San Diego we'll see Sue's mom, Joel's brother Brett and his family and Joel's sister Lynn and her family. Also our good friend Ken. Then it's up to Northern California to see Tom Bentley, Dave Reffkin, Pam & Phil, the Stephens family, and of course Fiona's big sister Rachelle!

The final four days of our trip heading home Fiona and Sue will get to drive through Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota - all states they've never been in before. Oh, and we're driving through Yosemite. So that will feel like a vacation - though Sue does have a big transcription project she needs to get finished that week as well. That's when having a colleague comes in handy. Sue is very grateful to Amy in New Jersey for all the assistance she's providing in that area.

So, don't ask how our vacation was! We weren't on vacation! We were traveling and working and having the time of our lives! Don't you wish you could do this?

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Songwriting Happening in Arizona

tunehenge

This week Joel and Terry collaborated to write a new song and recorded a demo. It's part of their quarterly songwriting experience.  Read more about the Tunehenge Music Community and feel free to join in!

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Air Conditioning Goes Out in the Van in Arizona!

air conditionerSo we're here visiting our friends Terry & Virgie in Phoenix, Arizona and it's been 100 degrees out! And the air conditioning in our van goes out yesterday. We don't do heat so there's no way we're finishing this trip without air conditioning.

Fortunately, Terry & Virgie know a good local mechanic who can fix the whole thing for $600.  And before we need to leave for San Diego on Sunday.

That, coincidentally, is exactly TWO of our "Ready, Set, Go!" Instant Blogging packages.

So if you know someone who needs a blog, you should tell them about this, shouldn't you?

© Shipowner119 | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

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Music in Mesa, Arizona with Terry & Virgie

music in mesa at the wilson's

Last night we were once again at Terry & Virgie's where music was being played at their home by them and their young friends. Fiona made friends with an 8-year old boy named Ezra. My dad's father's name was Ezra.

We're looking forward to this next week with Terry & Virgie and hopefully again on Thursday evening everyone will get together again to play some music.

music in mesa at the wilson's

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Party to Celebrate 500 Copies Sold!

Last night we had a party at Alex Zabala's home to celebrate 500 copies sold of his book, Treasure of the Mayan King. His co-author, Dyego Alehandro, attended along with his wife.

Joel, Alex, Dyego

Joel, Alex, DyegoJoel, Alex, Dyego

So what is the book about? According to their website:

A violent tropical storm has uncovered a previously unknown Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula. On the steps of this temple lies a riddle that leads to the hidden treasure of a great Mayan king. One man, the French linguist Dr. Sova, believes he knows the secrets of the riddle. But his efforts to find it are cut short and the information falls into the hands of unscrupulous people. The race is on to see who will be the first to find the treasure of the Mayan king!

You can download a free sample and buy the ebook for only .99!

 

 

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Meeting Alex Zabala, Author of Treasure of the Mayan King

This weekend we get to stay with Alex Zabala and his wife in Arizona. Alex is the author of Treasure of the Mayan King. Joel worked with Alex on his book and we've been friends with him for about 25 years. This is a photo I took at their house.

treasure of the mayan king

Tonight we'll be making our usual Saturday pizza for Alex and his family. We appreciate their hospitality and it's great to be able to visit and catch up with them.

If you'd like to learn more about Alex and his books, visit his website, Arcani Arts.

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Old Friends and New Friends

stock

Today we will be visiting an old friend and I will be making a new friend. Joel and I have known Dan for I don't even know how many years. However the last time I saw him was before he married Annette. So today when we go to stay with them for the weekend, I'll be making a new friend!

On Saturday we will be making pizza - just like we do every Saturday night. This time when we make our crust we'll also be making a gluten-free crust for someone who needs that.

After our weekend with our old and new friend we'll be coming back to stay with Terry & Virgie another week! WhooHoo!!!

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Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

The Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. We stopped for a visit at the Center and Fiona was able to do some exploring both outside and inside. She wasn't too keen on walking on that "terrain". Silly!

Petrified Forest National Park

We have now arrived safely in Phoenix and are catching up on some work and Fiona on some school work. When we did arrive the first thing we all did was take a swim in the pool. We were exhausted by 9 pm though so went to bed early.

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