Where's Olivia?

I slept like a baby all night Friday waking only once to pee and then again around 7am to take a couple of preventative Advil. I stayed in bed until almost 9am getting the rest I needed and deserved. The price of sleeping late meant that there would be no peace while carrying out my morning routine. Everyone was up and moving about – Lindsey, Lil’ Rocky, Mindy, Jacob, and Bella. I pushed through my exercises all the while trying to ignore the distractions. My walk with Ykraps was a pleasant one albeit a little cold. I poured myself a cup of coffee to get my juices flowing and then took to the computer mostly to avoid the noise and crowd. The kids were all eating French toast at the table and being a bit noisy. I decided to be productive and begin blogging Friday. In the back ground I could hear bits and pieces of Mindy’s conversation with Lindsey. Lindsey’s logic is best described as childlike. There’s very little adult mindedness to it. To hear some of her viewpoints is enough to put me over the edge. I recognize that that is my issue to deal with. For now, I manage it best by avoiding it. Mindy talked with me and asked how I would feel about her offering to go help Lindsey clean her apartment. I thought that was fine but was not too excited about the prospect of being left at home with the three kids given my list of to do’s. Mindy calmed my fears by agreeing to take the kids along. God bless Mindy. I left for my run sometime around 10am and took the more scenic Trabue Rd. route. When I returned Mindy began gathering cleaning supplies to take along to Lindsey’s. She was armed with almost everything one would need to tidy up including the vacuum & swifter. Suddenly, I found myself with some peace and tranquility. I moved into project mode almost immediately. I planned on not only addressing the lawn chores but also doing landscape winterization, which included trimming/pruning all the shrubs, thinning and trimming the English ivy, clearing all the dead debris tucked amongst the front beds. For the next 2.5 hours I edged, trimmed, thinned and pruned. I drug a full tarps worth of yard debris to the back compost pile. Next, I mowed the lawn and then blew the clippings and trimmings off the walk and drive. That work took me right up until the opening kick-off of the Buckeye game. The game started slow but the Buckeyes finally made Michigan State look like most other 2006 opponents- inept. At half time Jacob and I went out back to further thin the dead thistle and brush blocking more valuable composting space at the end of my property. We did a thorough job in about fifteen minutes. Mindy gave us a holler when the third quarter began. After the game ended, Mindy headed off to the grocery, I think in part to get some peace and quiet of her own peace as well as to restock our dwindling food supply. She really wasn’t gone too long though. She was back before dark. After she returned and we carried in all the groceries, I took Ykraps on his much needed walk. Soon after Mindy finished putting away the groceries, she had the kids in the tub getting ready for bed. In the meantime, I watched a little Lawrence Welk while waiting for the Michigan game to begin. Just before 8pm Mindy requested I join in for the family read and tuck-in process. I gladly obliged. Mindy and I returned to the downstairs. I poured myself a glass of pumpkin ale and Mindy a glass of wine while we began enjoying the Penn State/Michigan game. Through the evening I had two more beers, a Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry Ale and then a Columbus Pale Ale. Mindy wanted to hit the sack early for not feeling 100%. We went to bed after halftime - somewhere close to 9:30 or 10pm.