This might be my favorite sunrise picture ever - and on my B-day!!
Brad Johnson on a check down. SKOL!
I woke somewhat solemn for my birthday – probably due in part to the predicted poor weather. It was almost 7am. Mindy had asked that I wake her at 6am. Somehow my body knows when I do and don’t’ have to go to work. When I woke her, she bounced out of bed in less than five seconds. That’s a new world record for her. I was impressed.
While she showered, I went about packing her a snack and made a pot of coffee. I went though my usual paces of exercise and walking Ykraps. It was important in my mind to treat this almost like a work day so that my morning wouldn’t be wasted. I wanted to be ran & showered by 9:00am.
Mindy and the kids departed while I prepped for my run. Today was Bella’s first day of pre-school, although Mindy wouldn’t be taking her. Instead, Grandma Sharon will take her and pick her up.
I kept my run inside Scioto Woods since it was a Monday. I didn’t want to flirt with commute traffic on Trabue or Hague Ave. I reviewed my day’s events while running. I was guilty of having so much I’d like to accomplish that I was forgetting to relax and enjoy the celebration of my birth. I had another cup of coffee when I returned and eventually found my way to the shower.
I dressed in my kaki shorts and red Tortuga Diver’s shirt. I planned to go by my dad’s to see if he wanted to go out to Delta Marine with me. I buttoned up the house and headed out the door somewhere close to 9:25am. I made a quick stop at Dad’s, but it was obvious that he wasn’t home. His mini-van was gone. I proceeded to head to east on my own.
I made it out east by 10am – the time Delta Marine opens. I couldn’t find it. I knew it had moved from its old digs and I also knew it was still very close but just couldn’t locate it. I called Tommy at home. He answered and guided me in. It was literally right around the corner in a big new building.
I was hoping to find a couple small rubber-like bushings – two for my ladder to bump against the swim platform, and the missing rubber bumper for my windshield. They usually carry the windshield bumper but were out. They knew what I meant with the ladder bumpers but didn’t carry them or know where to get them beyond recommending I check Lowe’s – perhaps in the special/miscellaneous hardware section. I paid $4 for the windshield bumper with the promise it would be in in a couple of days. I thought then that I’d ask Tommy to pick it up for me. I mean, hey, it is a 15 mile drive across town, and Tommy’s around the corner.
After I left Delta I stopped in at the Lowes – ¼ mile down the road. I found solid rubber bumpers that look to be about the right size, but I didn’t have the originals. They were cheap – a $1 each. I will have to pre-drill my own screw holes and drill a small counter sink too. The rubber bumpers for the ladder have become extremely gooey after spraying Clorox cleaner with bleach on the fiberglass swim platform. Apparently the rubber composite didn’t like the chemical reaction. Now, every time some bumps the bumper with their hand or foot, it smears it about the boat.
By now it was after 11am. I headed back west and towards Hilliard. I was very hungry. My first stop was The Big Fat Greek Cuisine for a birthday Gyro. I love those things. They make the best gyros in town for my money, and I have tried them in at least ten other locations. After picking up my gyro I drove through Mill Run onto Advanced Auto Parts to get the transmission fluid for Ashley’s car. And by the way, the weather was surprisingly superb. Cloudless again despite hearing a forecast for rain all day just 24 hrs ago. I picked up some transmission fluid then headed home. It was noon by the time I returned. I was frustrated that my morning was already gone and I had accomplished so little.
I quickly changed and headed to garage to begin taking care of the yard. After a two week drought and then a week of rain, our grass grew and greened like spring. It was almost eight inches tall even though I had cut it last Sunday morning. I got all the way through edging, wacking, and pushing when Ashley showed up. She was there to have me look at her car again. I checked the fluid while on the driveway on a slope. It suddenly read full. Hmmm? I remembered that you’re supposed to check it warm and running and on level ground, of course. I had her pull onto the street. Checking again, it was once gain pretty clear that she was low on fluid. I couldn’t see any on the stick. I got the funnel and the fluid I had just bought and began to put it in when I decided to read the wording on the dipstick. It warned against using any other type of transmission other than Mercon. Closer inspection of the bottle of fluid had a warning not to use on Ford products. What? Damn it! Even though this is a mercury Cougar, it’s really a Ford. I didn’t bother checking the wording not realizing that there would be any meaningful difference in fluid types. Crap! Better not!
I went in the house and told Ashley that I would have to go get the right type. I changed back into presentable attire and left for Wal-Mart. There I grabbed the proper type along with a few other miscellaneous items totaling $6. I was back home in less than 30 minutes. It was now after 1:30pm. By the time I finished placing the transmission fluid in the car and filling her tires with 30 lbs of air. It was after 2pm. I was frustrated with the condition of her car after only about 1.5 years. It’s hard to believe her mother paid $9K for it. My kids!!!!
After Ashley left I got out the tractor and finished the lawn. I noticed while riding that I had forgotten to do the back slope with the push mower so after I finished with the John Deere I had to get the push mower back out and tend to the back slope. After blowing off the drive and flower beds, I decided to go ahead and fertilize the lawn. I really need to treat for weeds to but rain being in the forecast would make that a futile effort. The hot and steamy drought saw to it that lots of weeds sprang up.
By the time I had put all the yard tools away and was in the shower it was after 4:30pm. Where had my free day gone, I asked myself. Not long after I sat down on the deck to play some guitar the family arrived home. They had brought with them more birthday surprises. I had two cards and two gifts. I am so spoiled!
I got from the kids, some chewing gum and some new guitar picks. From Mindy I got the shop-vac that I had been wanting for many months. What’s even more surprising is that she got the exact one I had my eye on and the choices are many. She’s wonderful!
With the Viking game beginning at 7pm, we didn’t have lots of time. It was already after 5pm. Mindy went ahead and ordered the pizzas just as we had planned yesterday. After about fifteen minutes, Jacob and I took the BM’er to pick them up. When we returned we enjoyed the incredibly good taste of Minnelli’s pizza. Yum-yum!
I wanted to relax for a few before kick-off. While the kids watched the Disney channel, I read some of my Wayne Dyer book. I’m only on page 200 and I’ve been reading this book for over two months. That’s slow reading! Soon I dosed off just as I desired. I slept for about 20 minutes. When I woke, Mindy whisked the kids off to get their jammies on before game time. Everybody was down stairs ready to enjoy Monday Night Football featuring the Minnesota Vikings against the Redskins live from Fed Ex field in DC. Needless to say, I was stoked!!!
As the game began I was nervous like days of old. My expectations have risen due to all the free agent acquisitions, the coaching changes, and the new get tough-play tough attitude. The Vikings scored on their opening possession but missed the extra point. It’s funny how the TV commentators respond to such misses. It’s almost like missing a field goal is overlooked but missing an extra point always garners the same response. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be the difference in the ball game. Well, long story short, after a near cardiac arrest the Viking s won! They gave me, a life long fan, a very big birthday present. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SKOL VIKINGS SKOL
Tommy left right after the game ended. Through the game, Mindy talked with Tommy about his marital issues. I chimed in a few times too. I was perhaps a little harsh with my criticism about his latest self-inflicted problem, but it’s only because I care and want him to be happy long term. This, however, only serves to complicate matters severely. I do wish him well and love him much.
After Tommy left I stayed up relishing the victory for another hour all the while watching the second game of the Monday Night double header, which pitted the Raiders against the Chargers. When I finally went to bed, Moss & Co had more than their hands full with the upstart Chargers. They were losing and looking very bad in the process. As I crawled into bed, Mindy let me know that my birthday was over after 4 days of celebrating. I responded, “not quite. It’s only 11:45pm”. J
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This might be my favorite sunrise picture ever - and on my B-day!!
Brad Johnson on a check down. SKOL!
I woke somewhat solemn for my birthday – probably due in part to the predicted poor weather. It was almost 7am. Mindy had asked that I wake her at 6am. Somehow my body knows when I do and don’t’ have to go to work. When I woke her, she bounced out of bed in less than five seconds. That’s a new world record for her. I was impressed.
While she showered, I went about packing her a snack and made a pot of coffee. I went though my usual paces of exercise and walking Ykraps. It was important in my mind to treat this almost like a work day so that my morning wouldn’t be wasted. I wanted to be ran & showered by 9:00am.
Mindy and the kids departed while I prepped for my run. Today was Bella’s first day of pre-school, although Mindy wouldn’t be taking her. Instead, Grandma Sharon will take her and pick her up.
I kept my run inside Scioto Woods since it was a Monday. I didn’t want to flirt with commute traffic on Trabue or Hague Ave. I reviewed my day’s events while running. I was guilty of having so much I’d like to accomplish that I was forgetting to relax and enjoy the celebration of my birth. I had another cup of coffee when I returned and eventually found my way to the shower.
I dressed in my kaki shorts and red Tortuga Diver’s shirt. I planned to go by my dad’s to see if he wanted to go out to Delta Marine with me. I buttoned up the house and headed out the door somewhere close to 9:25am. I made a quick stop at Dad’s, but it was obvious that he wasn’t home. His mini-van was gone. I proceeded to head to east on my own.
I made it out east by 10am – the time Delta Marine opens. I couldn’t find it. I knew it had moved from its old digs and I also knew it was still very close but just couldn’t locate it. I called Tommy at home. He answered and guided me in. It was literally right around the corner in a big new building.
I was hoping to find a couple small rubber-like bushings – two for my ladder to bump against the swim platform, and the missing rubber bumper for my windshield. They usually carry the windshield bumper but were out. They knew what I meant with the ladder bumpers but didn’t carry them or know where to get them beyond recommending I check Lowe’s – perhaps in the special/miscellaneous hardware section. I paid $4 for the windshield bumper with the promise it would be in in a couple of days. I thought then that I’d ask Tommy to pick it up for me. I mean, hey, it is a 15 mile drive across town, and Tommy’s around the corner.
After I left Delta I stopped in at the Lowes – ¼ mile down the road. I found solid rubber bumpers that look to be about the right size, but I didn’t have the originals. They were cheap – a $1 each. I will have to pre-drill my own screw holes and drill a small counter sink too. The rubber bumpers for the ladder have become extremely gooey after spraying Clorox cleaner with bleach on the fiberglass swim platform. Apparently the rubber composite didn’t like the chemical reaction. Now, every time some bumps the bumper with their hand or foot, it smears it about the boat.
By now it was after 11am. I headed back west and towards Hilliard. I was very hungry. My first stop was The Big Fat Greek Cuisine for a birthday Gyro. I love those things. They make the best gyros in town for my money, and I have tried them in at least ten other locations. After picking up my gyro I drove through Mill Run onto Advanced Auto Parts to get the transmission fluid for Ashley’s car. And by the way, the weather was surprisingly superb. Cloudless again despite hearing a forecast for rain all day just 24 hrs ago. I picked up some transmission fluid then headed home. It was noon by the time I returned. I was frustrated that my morning was already gone and I had accomplished so little.
I quickly changed and headed to garage to begin taking care of the yard. After a two week drought and then a week of rain, our grass grew and greened like spring. It was almost eight inches tall even though I had cut it last Sunday morning. I got all the way through edging, wacking, and pushing when Ashley showed up. She was there to have me look at her car again. I checked the fluid while on the driveway on a slope. It suddenly read full. Hmmm? I remembered that you’re supposed to check it warm and running and on level ground, of course. I had her pull onto the street. Checking again, it was once gain pretty clear that she was low on fluid. I couldn’t see any on the stick. I got the funnel and the fluid I had just bought and began to put it in when I decided to read the wording on the dipstick. It warned against using any other type of transmission other than Mercon. Closer inspection of the bottle of fluid had a warning not to use on Ford products. What? Damn it! Even though this is a mercury Cougar, it’s really a Ford. I didn’t bother checking the wording not realizing that there would be any meaningful difference in fluid types. Crap! Better not!
I went in the house and told Ashley that I would have to go get the right type. I changed back into presentable attire and left for Wal-Mart. There I grabbed the proper type along with a few other miscellaneous items totaling $6. I was back home in less than 30 minutes. It was now after 1:30pm. By the time I finished placing the transmission fluid in the car and filling her tires with 30 lbs of air. It was after 2pm. I was frustrated with the condition of her car after only about 1.5 years. It’s hard to believe her mother paid $9K for it. My kids!!!!
After Ashley left I got out the tractor and finished the lawn. I noticed while riding that I had forgotten to do the back slope with the push mower so after I finished with the John Deere I had to get the push mower back out and tend to the back slope. After blowing off the drive and flower beds, I decided to go ahead and fertilize the lawn. I really need to treat for weeds to but rain being in the forecast would make that a futile effort. The hot and steamy drought saw to it that lots of weeds sprang up.
By the time I had put all the yard tools away and was in the shower it was after 4:30pm. Where had my free day gone, I asked myself. Not long after I sat down on the deck to play some guitar the family arrived home. They had brought with them more birthday surprises. I had two cards and two gifts. I am so spoiled!
I got from the kids, some chewing gum and some new guitar picks. From Mindy I got the shop-vac that I had been wanting for many months. What’s even more surprising is that she got the exact one I had my eye on and the choices are many. She’s wonderful!
With the Viking game beginning at 7pm, we didn’t have lots of time. It was already after 5pm. Mindy went ahead and ordered the pizzas just as we had planned yesterday. After about fifteen minutes, Jacob and I took the BM’er to pick them up. When we returned we enjoyed the incredibly good taste of Minnelli’s pizza. Yum-yum!
I wanted to relax for a few before kick-off. While the kids watched the Disney channel, I read some of my Wayne Dyer book. I’m only on page 200 and I’ve been reading this book for over two months. That’s slow reading! Soon I dosed off just as I desired. I slept for about 20 minutes. When I woke, Mindy whisked the kids off to get their jammies on before game time. Everybody was down stairs ready to enjoy Monday Night Football featuring the Minnesota Vikings against the Redskins live from Fed Ex field in DC. Needless to say, I was stoked!!!
As the game began I was nervous like days of old. My expectations have risen due to all the free agent acquisitions, the coaching changes, and the new get tough-play tough attitude. The Vikings scored on their opening possession but missed the extra point. It’s funny how the TV commentators respond to such misses. It’s almost like missing a field goal is overlooked but missing an extra point always garners the same response. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be the difference in the ball game. Well, long story short, after a near cardiac arrest the Viking s won! They gave me, a life long fan, a very big birthday present. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SKOL VIKINGS SKOL
Tommy left right after the game ended. Through the game, Mindy talked with Tommy about his marital issues. I chimed in a few times too. I was perhaps a little harsh with my criticism about his latest self-inflicted problem, but it’s only because I care and want him to be happy long term. This, however, only serves to complicate matters severely. I do wish him well and love him much.
After Tommy left I stayed up relishing the victory for another hour all the while watching the second game of the Monday Night double header, which pitted the Raiders against the Chargers. When I finally went to bed, Moss & Co had more than their hands full with the upstart Chargers. They were losing and looking very bad in the process. As I crawled into bed, Mindy let me know that my birthday was over after 4 days of celebrating. I responded, “not quite. It’s only 11:45pm”. J
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