A New Week

I made a conscious effort to wake just prior to 5:30am in part to help facilitate my need for some additional time to enjoy peace and tranquility. I was successful in my quest. I rolled out of bed at 5:25am and made my way downstairs to happily being my work week. Before heading downstairs, however, I couldn’t help but notice the intensely bright moon shining in our bedroom window, a foreshadowing of the clear dawn ahead.

I finished my exercises then located Ykraps to set out on our morning walk. I was frustrated to catch a glimpse of the children scurrying about upstairs already, especially since I had risen early to garner more peaceful time alone. For whatever reason, the kids are waking earlier of late.

Because we were back from our walk well before 6am, I didn’t bother making Mindy her coffee just yet. Instead, I spent time in quiet, contemplative meditation. Come a little after 610am I followed through with coffee just like normal. Already, dawn was breaking out. I could tell it was going to be beautiful day. I snapped a couple pictures of the sky just before the sun made an appearance.

While making lunch I realized that I still had Friday’s resting in the fridge at work. I only prepared some nuts & a salad to complement what I knew was already there. For breakfast I warmed Sunday’s leftover eggs, not wanting them to go to waste. There was easily enough for two.

Mindy and the children left at their usual 7:20am. I paid monthly bills then dashed off to shower and dress. I left the house for work around 7:55am & arrived shortly after 8am.
The work day was typical of a Monday, and of the season. We were busy. We had a follow-up staff meeting scheduled for 1:30pm that forced me to run about 30 minutes earlier than usual. I left for my run at 12:15pm.

It was an absolutely gorgeous run day. And truth be told, I was a bit over dressed with a long sleeved wicking shirt, but it’s all I had. I worked up a good sweat because of it. It must have been close to 80 degrees during my run. Our afternoon meeting went almost 2.5 hours. I couldn’t believe where the day had gone. I spent another hour or so at the office and then left for home around 515pm.

I was in a adversarial mood at days end. I told Mindy all about it once home as we walked Ykraps together. It was then that she told me that one of the neighbors complained about us allowing Ykraps to pee on her lawn. Please! If she’s not careful, I’ll be the one peeing on her lawn. That just shows you how edgy I was.

We spent some time on the deck again this evening as the weather was very beautiful. We went to be before 10pm.

Golf, Mulch, & English Roast

I was up at 6:30am sharp just as I had planned. Bob would be over at 9am to pick me up for a round of golf in Marysville. Working backwards I knew I needed 2.5 hours to comfortably accomplish everything on my agenda leading up to golf. I had to exercise, coffee, run, gather & clean my clubs, shower and dress, and then eat. I finished all I had to do and was ready to go by 8:50am. Do I know my stuff, or what!

Along our way to the golf course I shared the perils of my Saturday with Bob. He, in turn, shared his. He and Mary Ann attended the much ballyhooed Mini-Ale Fest at Barley’s. I would have liked to go but couldn’t see leaving a precious yard work day on the table. Still, it sounded as though it was a good time.

We arrived at Rolling Meadows Golf Club around 9:30am. Our tee-time was 9:50am. I hadn’t golfed since early last summer and my game showed it. It appeared as though I had forgotten how to play. I had a nine and ten respectively on the first two holes. I improved marginally but never quite found my timing or my groove. The good news was that I shot par of three of the four par three’s which is often counter to my game. Typically I’ll par the par fives and then shoot poorly on the par threes. I think it’s fair to say that my long game is further out of whack.

Despite the poor showing I had a good time. The weather was superb, although a tad chilly at the outset, but by the fifth or sixth hole it was well into the 70’s and sunny. We had a nice time and made very good time. We played 21 holes (we played hole #16 twice and #17 three times) in just about 4 hours.

Bob dropped me at home around 2:30pm. He came in long enough to say hello to the wife and kids, but headed home shortly after. He wasn’t gone five minutes and I was preparing to pick-up a load of mulch at Ohio Mulch. I still had Dad’s trailer and my spring plan calls for planting flowers May 5th. To do so requires that I have mulch down prior. That realistically left Sunday afternoon as my only real opportunity. I took advantage of the pleasant weather and left to get the mulch after confirming their hours of operation via the phone. Unlike most weekends at the Roberts Rd Ohio Mulch outlet, there was next to no crowd. I bought two cubic yards of finely shredded Absolute Black, tarped it over, and headed home.

While I was picking up mulch, the kids and Mindy had turned the driveway into their canvas. They used sidewalk chalk and paint. Later, in between loads of mulch, Jacob would convince Bella to paint the garage door, too. And if that wasn’t enough, he had the nerve to tell on her soon after. Let’s just say that that netted Jacoby some trouble. We’ll leave it at that.

Once back home the entire family offered a hand – Mindy, Jacob, and Bella. We did the entire yard together. I didn’t mulch the four major flower beds that already have a thick topping of Com-Til. They’ll be totally flowered out anyhow. And besides, the Com-Til serves as both soil enrichment and mulch. We worked as team unloading the larger trailer into the tractor yard trailer and then spreading amongst the beds. We finished again around 6:30pm. After four showers we gathered for dinner. Mindy wisely made English roast in the Crock Pot, so our dinner cooked all the while we worked in the yard.

We ate dinner around 7pm. It hit the spot. Soon after dinner Mindy chased the kids to bed and returned downstairs where we chatted for a bit out on the deck. It was another fabulous spring evening. Word has it that we’re in for some really nice weather through the upcoming week, too. We went to bed around 9:30pm. We hoped to catch Family Guy but it just ended. Fox alters their line-up often.

Two Flat Tires

By most accounts, I was up early for a Saturday. I was up and down stairs making coffee by 7:30am. Unfortunately, the kids were already up and making plenty of noise. It was mostly cloudy as the forecasters had predicted. I was still holding out hope for an early clearing despite a forecast that said it wouldn’t happen until overnight.

I pushed through my workout and walked Ykraps. Despite the gray skies, the temperature was very mild. The kids requested some food before Mindy got up. I did my best to meet their demanding requests. I dressed in my smelly running clothes and left for my run around 8:30am. I listened to CD #4 of Beyond Belief once more, starting well before where I had previously left off. I ran along Trabue Rd and then down Hague Ave acutely attuned to the flow of traffic.

I was home a little after 9am. Mindy had a scrumptious breakfast of maple bacon and scrambled eggs ready for consumption. After I woofed down my food I quickly readied for my trip to get Com-Til. Mindy took care of the kitchen.

Getting Com-Til required a stop by my dad’s to get his 4X8’ trailer. Before dad’s I stopped and fueled my rig at the nearby DM gas station. I pulled around back and hooked it up. Dad wasn’t home. I finally left his lug wrench for him that I borrowed in January to fix one of Ashley’s flat tires. Just before pulling away I kicked the tires to make sure they had air. They seemed a little mushy so I thought that I might put some air in them if I passed a station with air pumps. I never did. I arrived at the Com-Til plant a little after 10am and proceeded to have my truck and trailer weighed empty. They charge by the ton. I was quickly directed to the load area where a gentleman on a huge front loader filled the trailer lickity-split. As I pulled towards the scales I looked at the trailer in the side-view mirrors only to see two completely flat tires. What the hell am I gonna do, I thought! I pulled immediately to the side and went into the office where they could already see via a large window the entertainment I had just provided. They told me a story of a guy locking his keys in the truck last week, hoping that would provide a little comfort. Misery loves company, I guess! They also told me that they’d leave the gates unlocked ‘til 3pm even though the plant closes officially at 12noon.

I tried reaching my dad for help many times via his cell and his home number but to no avail. I decided to head towards home hoping he’d be there when I arrived. Incidentally, I left the trailer there. Dad was no where to be found and his garage was locked. I headed on home discouraged with no resolution or plan. After sulking to Mindy I decided I would go buy a jack and jack stands at Sears and then try fixing it alone. In the meantime, I tried reaching dad a couple more times. At Sears I ran into the baby sitters husband who’s really retired but works Saturday morning’s, still. He convinced me that buying this jack/jack-stand combo for $29.99 was too good to pass up. It wasn’t as beefy as the $100 set I wanted but the price out weighed the slight advantage. I bought it. I needed and wanted to have a good jack around anyhow.

Back to the Com-Til plant. The work proved a bit more challenging than I first thought for a couple of reasons. First, the trailer, once disconnected from the Trooper, was tipped upward making getting the jack under the trailer that much more difficult. After struggling with it for a bout 45 minutes I finally got both tires off and left the trailer resting on the two jack stands. I left looking for a tire repair place. At about the same time I finally reached my dad at home. As luck would have it, he advised that I was just yards away form where he bought the trailer and he was sure they could fix the tires. When I looked up, sure enough, I could see Rock’s Trailer’s just ahead on Route 104. It was 1:15pm. The sign at the gat e said we close at 1pm on Sat.. Damn! I got out and walked back anyhow since the gate wasn’t locked. A fella, dog, and friend were walking around looking to be closing up shop. He asked how he might help me. I shared my hard luck story and he happily offered to try and fix/fill the tires with air. But after couple of tries he realized his equipment wasn’t up to the task of mount what amounted to a brand new tire on a wheel. He referred me to the new Tire Discounter’s right around the corner on Stringtown Rd. I took his advice and headed directly there. My dad and I talked about hi coming down to give some help, but I told him to wait until I was assured that I could get the tires fixed.

The folks at Tire Discounter’s were awesome. After struggling for a few, they were able to fill both tires. They insisted that I not pay for their services. Totally cool! Soon I was back at the Com-Til plant working on installing the repaired tires. It was about 2:00pm. Dad arrived to help put the second one on. By 2:15pm I was finally ready to check out and head home. The one worker that stuck around while I toiled with the truck and trailer came out s I was on the scale and told me that the load of Com-Til was on the house given all the troubles I had. He and the Tire Discounter folks made my day. Dad followed me home.

Once at home, Mindy had a cold Coke ready for me and a cold ice water ready for dad. Dad requested a Pepsi instead, reporting his blood sugar noticeably low. After short visit and reminding me that I should have checked the tires since I use it more than anyone else, he departed for home. We invited him to Sunday dinner but he refused.

After Dad left I got busy spreading Com-Til in the beds. I got out my tractor and yard trailer and started spreading. I worked until the trailer was empty filling all of the beds I planned with the one load. It went further than I had thought. I finished up around 6:30pm and headed directly to the shower to wash away the pungent odor and dirt. While I finished up Mindy drove to Barley’s to have two jugs filled with our favorite beers – Russian Imperial Stout for her and the new Hoptopus for me.

Mindy made hot dogs for dinner. After the kids were in bed we sat on the deck under a clear sky enjoying the lovely temps while sipping a beer or two. I was very, very tired. Out west the sky darkened abruptly and lightening flashed. A check of the radar revealed a thin line of storms moving swiftly through the area. We headed in and to bed as the rain came down moderately heavy. I told Mindy to never tell anyone that we went to bed at 9pm on a Saturday night. :)

Although we didn't go...

I woke before 5:30am eager to begin my Friday. The work week, I noted, had gone about as fast as one could ever expect. And if the weather gods were correct, nicer, warm weather is on tap through the weekend. However, today was expected to be gray and a bit cooler than Thursday.

I did all of my usual morning prep stuff including walking the dog, making coffee, lunch, and breakfast. In the back of my mind I remembered that my buddy Jay and I discussed doing lunch today. I’d have my packed lunch on hand in case it went south.

One at work I circled the wagons and assessed the days immediate needs. It was a very busy Friday. I confirmed lunch plans with Ken and Jay and planned the rest of my morning accordingly. I left for a run at 11:30am to accommodate a 12:30pm lunch. I stayed pretty close to plan despite the busyness. I listened to CD #4 of Beyond Belief during my run. I’ll most likely wrap up the entire series on Saturday’s run, and that includes listening to a couple of sections twice.

Jay and Ken were waiting hungrily upon my return from the run. We left right away. As we departed the decision was made to visit the Olive Garden. There was a ten minute wait for seating. They were very busy. Once we were seated we all order the same thing - Soup & Salad. The soup was delicious – some sausage potato concoction. We were there just over an hour given our unusually long wait for a table.

I was back at my desk around 2:15pm to finish out my day. There were many things left to be done before leaving for the weekend, and things got a little dicey as they often do on Friday afternoons. I didn’t get out of the office until 5:30pm.

I arrived home a short time later, again listening to some of Beyond Belief, CD #4. The kids were happy that we were staying home tonight and for some reason, both Mindy and I were more tired than usual. The kids had their dinner and were in bed before 8pm. I ordered a Minelli’s pizza for us and left to pick it up a short time later.

While enjoying some pizza, Bella pointed out that she couldn’t sleep. Mindy granted permission for her to join us, but she didn’t last all that long. After one piece of pizza and a short conversation, she was back in bed. We didn’t stay up that long either. While and after eating pizza, I enjoyed two Columbus Pale Ales and sipped some raspberry vodka.

We went to bed shortly after 10pm. I needed a good night’s sleep to help heal my weary legs and help prepare me for a weekend of grueling yard work.

Cloudy but warm

I was up by 5:40am. In short order, I was well into my daily grind. I was glad it was Thursday and gained comfort knowing that the weekend was practically upon us after another brisk moving work week. I didn’t pay too close attention to the weather forecasted for the day, but knew it was expected to reach the low 70’s but with more rain. The morning at home was uneventful with each of us going about our usual paces with little variation. But life’s like that sometimes, especially during the work week. I left for work at 7:50am and arrived shortly after 8am. The work day was fast paced and left little room for reflection. I kept the proverbial nose to the grind stone all morning long. But soon run time came around as it always does. And while the skies were cloudy, the temperature was well into the 60’s making for excellent running conditions. I listened to CD #3 of Beyond Belief. I’m finding myself so immersed in the story that I can hardly believe that I’ve just completed five miles of running. That’s a good thing! The afternoon began with lunch and ended with a somewhat late evening at the office due in part to my evening peer being out ill. There were a couple of issues needing management level attention that I couldn’t leave setting. I arrived home a bit weary after a long exhaustive work day. Mindy made a couple “ranch” steaks (still not sure what they are) that she bought from Market Day at school. They were good, however. We did little else through the evening hours. After the kids were put to bed, Mindy and I chatted briefly. Bob I. gave me a call around 8:30pm wondering if I would be interested in a round of golf this coming Sunday morning. I was eager to do just that but let him know that I’d have to discuss it further with Mindy. I promised a call back to let him know for certain. We went to bed early, both of us tired.

8 months 'til Xmas

We had a relatively heavy thunderstorm roll through the night before, and I half expected the kids to wind up in bed with us, but they didn’t. I felt refreshed once I was up and got moving around. I purposefully slept until 5:45am.

It wasn’t very pretty out, but it was still surprisingly warmer than I expected. It was in the mid 50’s at walk time. However, the forecast called for rain and temps barely reaching the low 60’s. I could handle that, especially since we needed the rain and because the weekend outlook is very nice.

I had to pack Mindy a lunch, but not myself. We had a cookout potluck planned at work – a sure bet for rain. I finished things at home and soon left for work. I listened to another chapter of my book CD on my drive to work. This, I could already tell, could be addictive and a far better way to utilize the time.

And rain it did. I watched as the guys grilled out in the parking lot. They stretched a tarp between two vehicles in an attempt to shield themselves. Lucky for me, the rain let up just as I was hitting the door for my afternoon run. I stayed relatively dry throughout the run. It never left the upper 40''s all afternoon. I returned just before 2pm and offered to spell the grillers, but they were all but done. After my shower I returned to the center to grab some food. The burgers were great!

Mindy informed me mid-afternoon that we wouldn’t be having a Mindy Wednesday because Jacob was under the weather. So, Mindy called off the date with dad. She had chicken breast, pasta, and green beans ready when I got home from work. I walked Ykraps by myself. Dinner was good. After cleaning up the dinner dishes I retreated to the PC to once again rip CD’s to the hard drive. Only this time it was my book CD’s. I concluded that I could rip ‘em and then download them to my MP3 player where I could listen contently during my run. Just the idea gave me a stiffy! The ripping went OK except for one chapter. I couldn't get it to rip. I tried unsuccessfully four or five times.

Mindy wasn’t too pleased that I was once again spending time on the PC. But truthfully, I spent just a little more time that I normally do. She readied the kids for bed while I toiled with my PC. Within an hour I had the book downloaded to my MP3 player. Too cool! I joined her on the sofa to watch the bigger chunk of American Idol’s 2-hour special show. I would’ve preferred to listen to my book, however. Idol ended at 10pm and we headed to bed together.

Window Repaired

I was up 5:40am. Like usual, I did my exercises and then walked Ykraps.

After delivering Mindy’s coffee I got busy on food prep. Mindy reminded before bed that she wouldn’t need a lunch since she’d be lunching with a student. That made food prep that much easier. I simply packed the remaining tuna fish and threw together a quick lettuce-less salad and I was done.

Before Mindy left for the day, I gave her a blank check to use for the window repair we were expecting later this afternoon. After Mindy departed I showered for work. I left around 7:50am. I put my new CD book in the player to listen to on my drive in. This is my first audio book ever, Beyond Belief - The Gospel of Thomas, by Elaine Pagels. I wasn’t sure what to expect but found myself quickly captivated after the initial listen.

Work went well. Come 12:45pm I left for my run. The forecast for the day called for changing skies but still partly sunny and temps approaching 70. Still very nice. It was nearly 65 degrees when I ran. The window guy left me a VM letting me know that he’d definitely be out this afternoon to replace our leaky window. I relayed the information to Mindy, who planned to meet him there after school.

The afternoon went relatively fast. I left for home by 5:15pm. We had a house guest. One of Jacob’s school mates was playing at our house until 6 or so. Mindy let me know that she broke a plant pot on the floor while moving plants for the window guy. I cleaned that up shortly after arriving home and walking Ykraps.

I wasn’t too hungry but still put our brats on the grill after Jacob’s friend left. Mindy readied the kids for bed early since Jacob had come down with the Croup. While the brats cooked I ripped my new Kevin Wood, Sacred CD to my PC so that I could download to my MP3 player. I was having extreme difficulties. I ate my brats while at the PC. Mindy expressed some displeasure for me doing so. She preferred that I eat with her.

While working on the ripping process, Renee stopped over for a short visit. By then, American Idol was on. Mindy & Renee watched a little of it. I continued with my mini-project. At 9pm Mindy was again ready for an early bedtime. I was not. I stayed up and watched House. I went to bed at 10pm.

Back to work too soon

Waking Monday morning was surprisingly easy. I was up and engaged in my morning routine by 5:25am. And while it was still very dark as Ykraps and I began our walk, I could detect dawn in the eastern sky – a sure sign that summer’s coming.

Back at home I got some coffee and sat at my PC catching up on the headlines and reading the Daily OM. I didn’t immediately take Mindy her coffee because it was only 5:50am. I saw no reason to wake her any earlier than the usual 6:05am. Eventually I took Mindy her coffee. Both kids were up & milling about ridiculously early. Mindy sent them both back to bed. I did a morning meditation before beginning food prep.

Food prep went relatively fast. I made tuna fish. Mindy and the kids departed after breakfast and I dashed off to the shower & then ultimately to work

Work went well. But like most Monday’s, I spent a lot of time playing catch-up from the weekend. I left for my run at 12:45pm – right on queue. It was another fabulous day with temps in the 70’s and loads of sunshine. We’ve been blessed with a great streak of weather.

The afternoon went quickly. Before I knew it was time to go home. As luck would have it, I worked fairly late playing catch-up. I didn’t get out of the office until 5:30pm. It was a Mindy Monday and she was waiting patiently at home. My Amazon order arrived today. I just placed that order Thursday afternoon. I ordered an audio CD, a book on CD (my first), and two hard cover books. We walked Ykraps together then enjoyed dinner of leftovers from the Sunday party/barbeque. The kids surprised us and returned between 6:15 and 6:30pm. We were in the middle of dinner when they returned.

We spent some time playing wiffle ball out back before bath, jammie, and bed time. Mindy had the children in bed before 7:45pm. The two of us went to bed at 8:30pm.

Party for 52

I didn’t sleep as soundly as I might have, but still woke around 715am feeling rested and ready to go just the same. Mindy asked that I wake her by 8am if she wasn’t up already. I headed downstairs, started a pot of coffee, and began my exercise regiment. Once again, the sky was crystal clear and sun shining brightly. I leashed up Ykraps for our morning walk and hit the streets by 730am. It was noticeably warmer than the past two mornings. In fact, each has been about five degrees warmer than the prior. It was warm enough this morning to be without a jacket, although I did wear one.

While sipping my first cup of coffee I checked the headlines and the forecast. Today’s expected high was 78 degrees. It was just after 8am. I took Mindy her coffee and let her know that it was time to rise and shine. She joined me downstairs minutes later. But before coming down she put a few loads of clean laundry away. We spent about half an hour sitting on the deck. Once again, it warmed up nicely. The sunshine felt terrific.

We reviewed everything we had to get done in preparation for the party. I left for my run around 9:30am. I stayed inside the subdivision not feeling much like dodging cars. I returned from my run by 10:05am. Mindy had me blowing up balloons as soon as I walked in the door. I immediately got started on my to-do list afterwards. I hung the piñata, carried up the coolers and the folding table from the basement, and then set-up the cornhole game. I had to glue one of the corn bags since it had a tear in the corner. Mindy ran to get ice and a few other miscellaneous items while I hit golf balls out back. When she returned I stocked the coolers full of drinks (soda, water, and drink boxes). Mindy went to fetch her mother while I showered.

They returned around 12:30pm and began readying the food for serving. Mindy made it easy by having the empty dishes labeled with their ultimate contents. We had loads of goodies. We made baked beans, buffalo chicken dip, potato salad, and we were planning to grill burgers and dogs. Mindy had the usual party foods, too, like a fruit, veggie, & cheese tray, as well as chips & dip, and an array of sweets. All the bases were covered.

Ashley, Lindsey, and children showed up around 1pm. Lindsey didn’t stay. Instead she headed back to her mother’s to finish her laundry. Ash, Olivia and Lil’ Rocky stayed behind. Mindy had me doing a number of things in final preparation for the party. Soon guest began arriving one after another. Before I knew it we had a house full. Mindy entertained the children with organized party games and then did gifts. That was my queue to fire up the grill.

Before long, I was grilling 32 burgers and 24 hot dogs. It was a bit of challenge keeping all the burgers shuffled about the grill without burning a one. Although, Gloria asked that I burn her hot dogs on purpose.

Everyone ate who wanted to, and then Mindy did the birthday cake thing. After some playing outback the crowd slowly began to thin, and by 7pm most of our guests had departed. Renee stayed behind and helped Mindy & I get the house back in order. Renee is a real sweetie, and also available for dating. Contact me if you’re interested. I might be able to broker some sort of deal. J Renee must have left around 8:30pm.

After Renee left, Mindy put the kids in bed. Mindy and I stayed up until 9:30pm sitting out on the deck. We went to bed and watched Family Guy until 10pm.

A Freshly Cut Lawn

All it took was a glimpse of blue sky and sunshine to motivate me out of bed before 7:30am. Quietly I headed downstairs to officially launch my Saturday. The first thing I did was choke down a One-A-Day and then made a pot of coffee. After finishing up my sit-ups, push-ups, and curls I took Ykraps on his morning walk. The morning air was chillier than expected but the abundant sunshine was warm on the skin.

The urge for a fresh cup of coffee was strong. It was still just before 8am when I sat down at the PC to enjoy the morning’s first cup. I spent the next half hour updating my blog, however careful not to spend too much time on inside entertainment. After all, the forecast called for 75 and sunny and there was a lot to do out of doors today.

Mindy got up around 8:30am. We spent the next 45 minutes enjoying our coffee and the sunshine from the deck. I took my guitar out, too. I was very surprised how quickly it warmed up. By 9:15am it had warmed to almost 60 degrees. While enjoying the weather we planned our day. I planned to cut grass and do more yard work. Mindy planned to grocery shop. In addition, we planned to visit the Anderson’s together later in the afternoon to pick-up a couple of steaks for grilling later this evening.

At 9:30am I got ready and left for a run. I ran along Trabue and down Hague. It was an enjoyable, invigorating run. Before getting going on our larger goals, Mindy and I both did a few miscellaneous household chores. Mindy was vacuuming upstairs while I watered houseplants and used the shop-vac to vacuum up house plant debris downstairs. Once again my new shop-vac let me down. It just stopped working. It’s been used for all of about ten minutes since Mindy bought it the day before my birthday. Today I decided that it needed to be returned despite being 6 months old. It has a five year manufacturer’s warranty, but I was certain that Lowe’s would be difficult about returning it there.

We finished up our brief indoor chores and got started on our stated goals. Mindy left for the grocery and I headed out to cut grass. It felt great to get out the edger and give the lawn a manicure. I spent the next two hours grooming the entire lawn. As is typical for this time of year, the grass growth is spotty & uneven. It looked about as good as could be expected when I finished. I was all about being efficient. Next, I grabbed the Clorox cleaner and took to the deck to scrub the back-up plastic deck chairs. They cleaned up a lot quicker than last year because they weren’t nearly as dirty. After I finished scrubbing I coated them with some armor-all, which restored their original luster. That took less than thirty minutes.

On top of things, I decided to spray some weed killer. I loaded the pump sprayer and started on the front yard. Despite a consistent lawn care program, each spring my lawn gets infested with this creeping weed that looks a little like clover but is much more aggressive. It usually dies back with the onset of late spring heat and vigorous grass growth but it drives me crazy just the same. I sprayed the entire front yard for weeds before Mindy returned from the grocery. I took a break and helped her carry in the haul. I spent another fifteen minutes or so spraying weeds out back then went in to shower and ready for our trip to Lowe’s and the Anderson’s.

We left together around 2pm. I drove by my dad’s hoping to catch him at home so we could borrow his cornhole game for Jacob’s B-day party tomorrow. He wasn’t home. We cut through the Glen in route to Lowe’s. We stopped at Mindy’s friend Tara’s who had agreed to let us borrow her cornhole game. Despite talking with her minutes earlier, they weren’t home either. Hmmm? Mindy called her cell only to learn she didn’t expect us so soon and left for Garden Ridge. Mindy told her that we’d stop by later. We headed on to Lowes.

Mindy and I already discussed our strategy for returning the shop-vac. She would use her charm to convince the return desk to do an exchange even though it’s been 6 months. I was afraid that I would loose such a battle. There was a crazy woman in front of us returning some carpet remnants. She proved to be disorganized and aloof. I didn’t like standing around waiting. I excused myself to peruse the nearby aisles. A check back minutes later netted a similar view. Mindy was still waiting behind this woman. I shopped some more.

Finally, as I approached the return desk once more I could see that Mindy was addressing our situation. She looked a little perturbed and gave me a nod in frustration. As I approached she went on about how she had requested a manager since they were giving her trouble about the exchange. As she talked, the gentleman kindly interrupted trying to explain his side. It turns out he was all for granting the return but insisted that the acquisition of the replacement take place at a checkout aisle. A manager joined the discussion and eventually righted the situation. We left Lowe’s with what we had intended to leave with – a new shop-vac just like the one we had entered with.

Before departing Mill Run we made a rare visit to Burger King where I ordered a combo meal. I was very hungry. Mindy ordered a diet soda only. We arrived that the Anderson’s fifteen minutes later. We parked by the garden center where there was quite a crowd. Given the nice weather we weren’t too surprised. We checked out some cool fountains and lots of plants before heading inside.
While I waited in line at the meat counter Mindy searched for some wine. I had to wait about ten minutes. I decided to get two thick center-cut filets. They were on sale for $4.99 each –what a great price!

After getting the meat we checked out the deli. Mindy ordered two pounds of potato salad that came to about $8.00. But after seeing how little that was, I encouraged her to put it down and insisted that I’d make some homemade potato salad that would net far more and would be far better. She concurred. We shopped the entire store then headed for the check-out. It was already 4:45pm. I couldn’t believe that it was so late. After getting everything carried in and put away, I decided it would be wise to make sure the shop-vac worked properly rather than wait four months like I did with the first. It worked fine. It was after 5pm. I decided to pour myself a pint of my DDD IPA and go out back and hit some golf balls. It’s a great way to relax on a Saturday evening. I hit balls for almost an hour. In between rounds I walked Ykraps about the yard. He seemed to enjoy the leisurely pace and change of venue.

Around 6pm I went in and grabbed nine large potatoes and took them onto the deck where I peeled them in preparation for the potato salad. I left them swim in a pot of seasoned water, hoping they’d soak up the flavoring before boiling. In the meantime, Mindy phoned my dad and asked if we could borrow his cornhole game. He said he was at Bobby’s but would bring it by later that evening. She invited him to Jacob’s party, too.

Dad arrived around 8pm with the cornhole game. I carried the boards from his van because they’re so awkwardly heavy. Dad joined us on the deck. Eventually daylight gave way to darkness. Around 8:30pm Pat & Lisa joined us, too. They had just returned from dinner at Tommy’s where they reported running into Jimaken, Jacob, and Bella. We sat on the deck telling stories for a long while. Dad soon left – probably around 9:30pm. Not too long after dad left, Renee showed up. We hung out even longer. If I had to guess, Pat & Lisa left around 10:30pm. At the same time, I had reached the bottom of my Barley’s growler. L Mindy asked if I was going to make those filets and boil those potatoes. I got busy with both. I boiled the potatoes and fired up the grill. I poured the three of us shots of Goldschlager, too. I grilled filet mignon and shrimp, cooking up a scrumptious late night dinner for three.

We enjoyed our late dinner. Although I can’t be certain of the exact time, Renee departed around midnight, and not long after, Mindy went to bed. I chose to stay up to clean the kitchen and finish making the potato salad. It was 1am before I headed up to bed.

A Warm Sunny Day

1) John Deere
2) Kevin & Keri
3) Mark & Trudy
4) Janet
5) Lee
6) Firkin Friday

I was awake when Mindy rose to begin her day. I remained in bed as long as I could but the noise generate by the shower and her milling around proved to great. I am not used to lying there listening to someone else get ready. That is typically Mindy’s role.

I got up & started my day like any other. After all, I didn’t burn a personal day to sleep. I burnt it to enjoy the fabulous weather and to make a large dent in spring yard work. My exercises were done and Ykraps walked before 6:40am. I was on track. I didn’t bother with food prep, although in hind sight I probably should have made Mindy some food. I helped get everyone out the door then spent a few minutes toying on the internet. Before the clock struck 8am I was out on the running trail. There wasn’t a cloud in sight but the morning air was very chilly. It was only 42 degrees. But given that it’s mid-April, the high sun quickly heated things up. I ran along Trabue and Hague today. It was a very good run. I was back home right at 8:30am.

Needing some energy, I made myself a bacon and cheese on rye smothered in mayo. I changed into my yard garb and began my yard. I figured it an aggressive goal to edge around all the flower beds. I started in the back and methodically worked myself around the deck & then around the trees and other rear yard beds. Edging, itself doesn’t take all that long, but picking up the scraps and grooming the beds does. For that task I fetched the John Deere & trailer. I filled the trailer with the edgings and spent mulch leaving the beds ready to accept a fresh layer of ComTil & mulch. Just before noon I finished the rear beds and moved around front. I repeated the process there and the moved to the side beds.

For some reason our English ivy’s been ravaged. I figure the sudden cold snap in late January/early February coupled with the three week blanket of snow did it in. It’ll snap back but it’ll look a hideous for a while. I worked out front until 4pm. I got way more accomplished than I had hoped – no distractions. When it was all said and done, I filled the trailer five times with yard debris reminding how thankful I am to have the Compost area out back. There remains much to do but I made a big dent today.

I couldn’t have asked for better weather. The sky was crystal clear and the temperature flirted with 70. Plain and simple, it was a wonderful spring day. What’s even better, the weekend forecast calls for more of the same only warmer through Sunday. That works for me!

Mindy and the kids rolled down the street around 4:15pm. I was just about ready to hang it up about that time. My body was achy from all the shoveling, scooping, and raking. I gave the kids tractor rides just before putting it away. They loved it!. It was now after 5pm and Jimaken was here to pick-up the kids. They departed by 5:20pm. Mindy and I spent the next hour relaxing on the deck. We talked about our busy weekend plans among other things. We readied ourselves for an evening at Barley’s at 6:30pm. We chose to drive the BM’er since the evening was so pretty even though we knew we’d need the heater on the way home. After all, it was expected to be in the upper 30’s later.

Barley’s wasn’t too crowded at all, although the lot was packed. There must have been a crowd in the back half which I rarely frequent. I went inside to the bar. Mindy strolled over to chat with Mark, Dan, and Greg who were sitting on the patio. Noticeably missing were Bob & Mary Ann, Courtney & Jeremy. In fact, there weren’t too many familiar faces inside. But that changed quickly. Soon, Steve arrived. And it wasn’t long after that Keri & Kevin showed up, as did Mark’s girl friend, Trudy, who Mindy has taken quite a liking to. Mark & Trudy aired an issue that’s been giving them so problems. Mindy, being in her ‘Dr Phil’ mood, counseled the two of them for a greater part of the evening. Sometimes people just need to have a somewhat unbiased ear hear their issues openly.

We ate our dinner and had a couple cold ones. I tried the new Hoptopus. It was very good. Before leaving for home I ordered a to-go jug of the Double Dog Dare IPA. We drove home with the top down, never giving thought to breaking the golden rule. Mindy went to bed almost as soon as we arrived home. I poured about a half glass of my DDD IPA and did some reading on the internet. I found my own way to bed about twenty minutes later.

In with the new

It was yet another morning when 5:30am seemed to roll around to quickly. I opened my eyes and talked with Mindy. She encouraged me to sleep a bit longer. I did. I slept for another five or ten minutes. Soon, however, I was up tending to my usual schedule. Rather easily I shook away the cobwebs and got myself in sync with the rhythm of the day.

My exercise routine was underway and then completed in no time flat. Soon Ykraps and I were gallivanting about the subdivision. It was overcast as expected. It was supposed to be not so sunny with the high temperature reaching the upper 50’s. If we can get beyond today, the forecast for the next five days look s stellar. Finally, a return to late March weather.

I made our coffee and delivered Mindy’s to our room. She was already prepping to get in the shower. I returned to the downstairs where I read the Daily OM, did rather brief meditation, and ultimately got crackin’ on food prep. I made tuna fish for our lunches and made another bacon and cheese omelet for breakfast. Jacob had Golden Grahams. We’ve had to work with him on his cereal eating technique. He’s always has a steady stream of milk running down his chin whenever he eats cereal. He was feeling a little defiant this morning and didn’t care to try.

The children and Mindy departed for their day around 7:22am. I scurried along to the shower. I took a couple of sunrise pictures. Despite the less than stellar forecast, the sun was peeking through this AM. Come to think of it, Wednesday’s forecast called for rain and it ended up being sunny all day. I left for work at my usual 7:50am and arrived shortly after 8am.

I was eager to get on with my day and hoped to leave work with a three day weekend at 5pm. Since I worked all last weekend I was planning to ask my boss for a comp day Friday. I got settled and organized by 8:30am. After another hour or so I asked about Friday. My boss wasn’t to keen on the idea of a comp day, but did concede to a Personal Day (Floating Holiday). Since the weather forecast called for sunny and 68, I just wanted to be off. Now that I had that in my pocket I could focus squarely on work. Like laser, I stayed focused on two primary objectives. One was getting each of my team members through some online corporate training, and the other was getting their 2007 goals completed and documented in the system. I did well. Come 12:45pm I left for my run.

The sky had clouded over but there were still peaks of sun. There was little, if any, threat of rain. The temperature at run time was a balmy 54 degrees. I was very comfy with a running shirt and wind shirt over the top. Being Thursday, my running clothes were smelling extra pungent. It seems my body chemistry has changed over the last couple of years. I genuinely stink after two days of running whereas in the past I was a very light sweater and thus my clothes rarely reeked. It’s bad when one can smell himself! It may have more to do with diet. My run concluded at 1:40pm.

I was back at my desk just in time for a 2pm meeting. I took my packed lunch along with me. The meeting was an informative one. We went all the way until 4PM. I had just an hour or so before the day would be over. That hour, as one might guess, went fast. I left for home around 5:10pm. I made a pit stop at Kroger where I bought some raspberry vodka and some tequila. I also bought Mindy two bouquets of flowers. The mixed bouquets often look too small in our vases so two is always a better option. After leaving Kroger I slid over to the bank to deposit a check. I was pleased to find the drive-thru still opened at 5:30pm.

I arrived home by 5:45pm. The kids were playing in the yard and Mindy was busy making tacos. By now the sky was beginning to clear out for the sunny stretch ahead. I took Ykraps on his evening walk. He was eager to get going. By 6:10pm we were sitting as a family for dinner. The tacos were good. I would have preferred Taco Bell seasoning but the Old El Paso wasn’t terrible. After sinner the kids put on a brief magic show. I must have missed something, though. I didn’t see any hocus-pocus!

Mindy got the kids ready for bed a tad earlier than usual. They were in bed by 7:45pm. While I tucked the kids into bed Mindy retreated to the deck apparently for some tranquility. I poured myself a raspberry vodka, triple-sec, and Fresca then joined her. I decided to pad up two of our new deck chairs. They were very comfy – thick and firm.
Mindy had a glass of wine. By now, all of the clouds were gone and as twilight invaded, stars began appearing. But none were as bright and beautiful as Venus. At the time we didn’t know what it was for sure. All we knew was just how bright it was. It was very close to the new slivery moon. Mindy was emotional this evening and finally shared why. Today was the seven year anniversary of her cardiomyopathy episode after giving birth to Jacoby. As she tells it, that day changed her outlook on life for good – an epiphany!

We talked for short while as the sky continued to darken. We went shortly after as the night air was really chilly. After a short time inside we decided to hot tub. It had been a week or so. It was a fantastic hot tub night. The sky was clear and full of stars with an autumn like chill in the air. We went to bed shortly after completing our watery therapy despite the fact that I didn’t have to work on Friday.. It was 10pm

Table the idea

It was a shame that 5:30 rolled around so quickly and I wasn’t ready to face the world. Instead, I rolled back over and slept some more. I didn’t get my rear in gear until 6:05am. I didn’t care at the time that I was a little behind the eight ball in terms of my routine schedule. I just moved through my routine much as I would any other day.

While walking Ykraps I noticed how much lighter it was at 6:15am as compared to just a month ago. I also too notice of some neighbors having bulk pick-up items setting curbside. I toyed with the thought of placing my old deck furniture out too despite not yet calling for a special pick-up. Back at home I did the coffee thing and got going with food prep. Mindy made us each a salad so I had only a couple of tasks to complete relative to lunch. That saved me big time. By 6:50am I was on track and making breakfast.

I made an omelet again today. I am such a creature of habit. By 7:05am I had breakfast all ready to consume. Mindy and the kids departed on time – around 7:20am. I headed up to the shower. I retuned downstairs fresh and ready to tackle the new work day. Before setting out I took a couple of photos then decided to carryout the task I’d considered earlier. I dismantled the deck furniture set-up and moved it all curbside. It was beautifully sunny morning.

Just as I was carrying out the last piece and setting up to take one last photo of the old furniture, a neighbor came over asking questions about it. He asked if I were giving it away. I was, I said. Although I explained that it was twelve year old and had some issues. I showed him what I was speaking of. While he looked it over the bulk pick-up truck happened around the corner and pulled up curbside asking if this was set out for pick-up. I told them that it was but that I hadn’t called. He explained the rules but agreed to take it anyway. My neighbor’s wheels were now turning. As they began grabbing the chairs to toss into the crusher thingy, he quickly pulled the table and umbrella aside laying his claim to them. It was comical. I was happy to be rid of the set so easily & so cleanly. Soon I went on my merry way to work. It was a very nice drive in.

Work was still busy but not as much as earlier in the week. Today was staff meeting day so I knew the morning would blow by even faster than usual. It was 12:30pm by the time our meeting ended. It was nearly run time. It was cloudy, windy, and the temperature was in the low 50’s. Weatherwise, this was supposed to be the low point of the week. Given where we’ve been, I’ll take it! My run concluded. It was a delightful workout.

The afternoon went by in the bat of an eye. This was a Mindy Wednesday. I stopped at Home Depot to get a bag of sand and then headed directly home. We needed the sand for the base of our new patio table base. We used the time wisely. Mindy had already walked Ykraps by the time I arrived. We got busy right away putting the table together. Somehow we had to get this 50lb bag of sand into the table base via a hole the size of a quarter. I got out an oil funnel and cut off the lower extremity. The play sand was probably not the best choice in retrospect, but we made it work. It probably took us 45 minutes to get the entire bag in the small hole. It was a tedious process of filling the funnel and tapping against the base until it emptied itself. We used a metal skewer to aid in the process.
Jim brought the kids home prematurely after Jacob lost a tooth an Bella had a melt down. I guess he had a little trouble handling both issues at once. I understood his dilemma. The kids, especially Bella, congregated around us curious about the sand activity. It represented play for Bella. Jacob soon lost interest in the sand and took to riding his Razor scooter on the deck. Finally, after filling the base, we put the rest of the table together. The entire process took well over an hour. Unlike a lot of patio sets, the table is just as much a focal point as the chairs. It’s very unique and very handsome. Once the table was completed we carried out the chairs and began the tedious process of unwrapping the brown paper & tape used to protect each chair in shipping. It was almost 8pm by the time we finished up. We decided not to put the cushions on the chairs for the threat of rain and chilly temps.

Mindy got the kids ready for bed as soon as we went in. They were tucked into bed by 8:15pm. We watched the Idol elimination show. We witnessed Sanjaya’s demise. No sense feeling sorry for him. He’s got a very promising future ahead. We chose bed after Idol, both of us overtly tired.

Out with the old

I was successful in my effort to wake-up before 5:30am. I was up, downstairs, and exercising before the clock struck 5:25am. Furthermore, a glance out the back door revealed nothing but clear skies and stars overhead. And what’s more, Ykraps enjoyed a walk in more spring-like temperatures. It was already in the low 40’s.

Back at home I poured myself some coffee and drank an entire cup before taking Mindy one. It was still well before 6:00am. I saw no need to wake her too early. I enjoyed the extra time in solitude. The expected high temperature today was predicted to hit 62 with lots of sunshine. That by itself elevated my mood. Those that know me well have heard me rant about the weather before, and they know just how weather-centered I become in early spring. It’s something I just can’t suppress, especially after the two weeks streak of abnormally warm weather we had in late March.

Just after 6am I took Mindy her coffee. She wasn’t awake yet, but sis once I delivered the coffee. Jacob had already confiscated my spot in the bed. I was back downstairs to begin my food prep and other meaningful morning stuff in a jiffy. Lunch prep went quick. I made salad with the “Bag-O-Salad remnants from the weekend. I added cucumbers, tomatoes, and sliced meat. For breakfast I made the standard bacon & cheese omelet. It turned out really good too. I used heavy whipping cream in lieu of half & half, and whipped them briskly. The omelet was fluffier than usual - tastier too!

Mindy and the kids left for work and school around 7:20am. I headed to the shower. I was all ready to leave for work by 7:40am but took my usual break for relaxation on the deck. I played guitar and enjoyed the flora and fauna in our own backyard. I left for work around 7:50am.

The work day was typical of most this time of year. Very busy! I was heavily engaged in this or that all morning long. I didn’t get out for my run until almost 1pm. By then the temperature was approaching 60 but it was again very breezy. But between the music blasting in my ears and a focus on other issues, I hardly noticed. I noticed how high the suns getting in the sky, too. I was almost directly overhead at 1:20pm.

I attended a rather long meeting in the afternoon. By the time that the meeting was over it was after 3:30pm. We played catch-up for the remainder of the afternoon. I left for home just after 5pm. I had plans to visit Wal-Mart Dublin to check-out & purchase our new patio furniture. We found a set that agreed with our criteria and that we both liked better than anything else we’d seen anywhere else. I found three folks in the garden center most helpful. I met a young man named Don that helped determine if they had the complete set in stock and if and how much of the set would fit into the Trooper. It turned out that they had all the pieces we desired and that I could fit the four chairs, umbrella, and table base in one trip. I’d have to return for the chaise lounger and the table top. I paid for everything other than the chaise, initially.

I was home with the new furniture even before 6pm. I called Mindy while in route to ask that she pull the min-van from the garage to make room for the new stuff. We still had the old stuff setting on the deck. She gladly obliged. I quickly unloaded the first load and readied for the return to get the rest. I asked Jacob to go along but he declined. I called my dad in route back to Wal-Mart. I hadn’t talked with him in a while. He was just taking care of some things around the house and described in some detail the stuff he’s been doing to put closure on Sheila’s business affairs. I have to tell you that certain aspects of it all left a lump in my throat. The finality of it all, I guess. It’s hard to believe that she’s gone, as we knew her, forever. Dad shared the story of driving to Verizon to resolve/closeout her cell phone bill. He actually went to my work venue thinking that we did that sort of thing. Of course we don’t, but the receptionist, as he told, kindly guided him to the proper building off of Emerald Pkwy. There they helped put closure to her account. While there he asked to use their facilities. They had to have security guide him to the urinals and wait just outside the door. Oh dad!

We talked for about 15 minutes. I told him that we’d be calling every so often to invite him over for dinner and to feel comfortable joining us. He said we’d play it by ear. I’d expect him to respond no other way. Back at Wal-Mart I made quick work of loading the table top and purchasing the chaise lounger that Mindy badly wanted. I was back home by 6:35pm. I was feeling extremely achy. Mindy informed me that Rene was planning to join us for dinner, but would be later than originally planned .We went ahead and ate our dinner. We had chili dogs – no buns. They were very good.

After cleaning up the kitchen I took to the PC. Mindy gave the kids a quick bath. Rene arrived just after the kids returned downstairs. They were as excited as Mindy to see Rene. Rene’s had a difficult time of late with her boy friend and needed some company. She’s a hot Greek girl with a brain and high aspirations. She should be able to catch plenty of great guys just like me! J

Rene brought a boneless chicken breast that needed cooked. Mindy made her some blazin’ chicken breast concoction. It looked delicious. They enjoyed a glass of wine too. While they talked boys, I tuned into American Idol. It’s fair to day that the country week was a tall task for most. But we missed the first one or two. After Idol, we watched House. It was as entertaining as ever. Come 10pm I was falling asleep on the couch. I snuck up to bed while Mindy & Rene continued gabbing it up. But once in bed I didn’t feel so tired. I tuned into the Discovery Channel and watched a show on repairing an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Mindy joined me upstairs around 10:45pm. After a few minutes laying together I still couldn’t sleep. I got up one more time and read some internet stories and checked on the Reds. They won. Around 11:40pm I headed back to bed.

Bakin' Bacon

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY JACOBY !!!





































I was up and downstairs beginning my exercise routine by 5:40am. I could smell coffee. It was already brewed. I still had that bloated feeling after eating quite a bit at Sunday dinner. It’s rare that the feeling sticks around so long but it did nonetheless.

I strained my eyes looking out the back door hoping to catch a glimpse of clear skies. I could see a star or two, but the sky was still more cloudy than not. But by the time I finished the exercises and leashed up Yrkaps the clouds were almost exclusively in the eastern sky. It was all clear to the west. Wahoo! Now if we could only get the temperature up.

Today was Jacob’s seventh birthday. Mindy asked that I get her up early so that she could make cinnamon rolls and bacon – two of his favorites. She was already applying make-up when I delivered her morning coffee. Soon she was downstairs competing with me for counter space. I did my best to work around her so that she could surprise Jacoby.

I still packed our lunches and made scrambled eggs for breakfast. I wasn’t planning to partake in the cinnamon rolls. Come breakfast time, Mindy placed seven candles in the cinnamon rolls and we sang happy b-day to Jacoby. Of course they were trick candles so t he process repeated itself until we were beyond tired of it. After eating some of his “birthday cake” he opened his gifts. He seemed delighted with his haul.

By 7:20am the party was over and Mindy and the kids left for the day. I headed up for a shower. By now the sun was up and shining brightly. For this I was pleased. It helped elevate my already glorious mood. I left for work around 7:50am. It was an exceptionally nice drive in.

Work, as I already knew, was extremely busy due in part to the noreaster that hit the east coast hard. We were busy all day long. I managed the workflow and left for my run around 1:00pm. It was 50 degrees, sunny, but very, very windy. We had gusts up to 40 mph. With my head down and music playing in my ears I practically shut the wind completely out, and before I realized it, I had it at my back. My legs were admittedly tired when I finished, and I am still fighting through a slightly pulled groin.

I was back at my desk eating my lunch by 2:05pm. The afternoon held more of the same busyness that we experienced earlier. The work day ended at 5:15pm when I finally left for home. It was a Mindy Monday so I headed straight home. Jim was just leaving with the kids when I entered the subdivision. I don’t think he saw me as he passed. He was taking Jacob to Red Lobster – his favorite restaurant- for his birthday. Jacob, I am told, was very excited. Bella went too.

Mindy and I walked Ykraps together. For one reason or another, I was very tired. It hit me hard on my drive home. I was eager for a nap once we returned from our walk. I slept in the living room recliner while Mindy watched Yahoo video news covering the VT massacre. She seemed mesmerized by the event. I woke after about ten minutes. I was hungry enough by then to eat a slice of leftover pizza and my leftover Chipotle burrito.
For dessert I had a piece of turtle pie.

The kids arrived home around 7:30pm. Because it was so late, Mindy got them ready for bed almost immediately. I updated my blog and checked on the Reds game. They were losing. Just after 8pm I went up and tucked both kids into bed. I stayed up another hour or so. I talked with my mom whom I hadn’t spoken to since Sheila’s funeral. She informed me that her surgery is scheduled for May 3rd. She’ll have to overnight one night. Otherwise, everything else is going well for her. She asked about the grand babies. We didn’t really talk all that long. I was still tired.

Mindy and I talked about Jacob’s B-Day party plans and then about our potential summer party. That’s Mindy – planner/organizer! Come 9:30pm I was so tired and ready for bed. We went to bed early.

A Taxing Sundae

At first glance, Sunday was a bit brighter than the morning prior. Thanks in part to the kids, I was up earlier, too. Jacob uncharacteristically came in our room three different times through the night. The last being before 7am. We both got up around 7:30am after my work cell rang with news of an issue requiring my assistance. I made the coffee – Starbucks Sumatra.

In between sets of exercises I logged into work to check on some things. By 8:05am I had completed my exercises and returned from walking Ykraps. Bella was waiting at the front door when I got back. She helped get Ykraps unfastened. I moved directly to work mode not wanting to let the open issues linger too long. Meanwhile, Mindy began making breakfast prior to her and the kids departure for church. She made sausage and French toast with French bread.

The kids and Mindy ate before leaving for church. I, on the other, hand chose to wait until I returned from my run. Mindy kindly placed sausage and French toast in foil and in a warm oven so it would stay fresh and hot. She left for church just after 10am. I readied for my run and left out the door around 10:30am. I stayed within the confines of the subdivision. It was brisk and really windy.

I was extremely hungry upon my return. After stripping out of my sopping wet running clothes I promptly made a plate of food and ate it in a hurry. Work was dominating my morning as well as my early afternoon. I could think of a million things I would have sooner been doing.

Mindy and Jacob returned from church around 12:20pm. Bella chose to go home with her Mawmaw. Jacob was leaving with his dad around 12:45pm for a birthday shopping spree. Mindy used that time to wrap his birthday gifts. She also made the salad for later in the day at her mother’s. Jacob returned from his shopping spree around 2pm. I was already in the shower when he returned. We left for Gloria’s a little after 3pm. I remembered to take the basketball net and air pump.

Shortly after our arrival I went out and strung up the basketball net and filled several old basketballs with air. Despite the chilly temps and stiff breeze, Jacob and I shot baskets for quite awhile. He gave up after about 20 minutes and resorted to waffle ball with Bella. Sadly, that ordeal ended in a fight. Bella innocently threw him out, but in doing so, hit him in the face. In retort, Jacob pushed her down hard – twice. They both went in the house crying. I stayed out shooting baskets having not done so in years. I still had the touch!

By the time I went in most others had arrived. We were short four folks due to prior commitments. It wasn’t long before dinner was served. We had baked spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and few other sides. For dessert we had brownies and a cookie pizza topped with strawberries. Everything was really good.

We left Gloria’s around 7:10pm. We were the first to leave, but others were prepping as we left. It wasn’t long before we were home and Mindy had the kids readying for bed. While they did that, I walked Ykraps. A big work issue cropped up again. That took my attention for the rest of the night. Mindy decorated the kitchen area for Jacob’s birthday and readied the kitchen so that she could make a special birthday breakfast in the morning. I was focused on work until 10pm. Soon after, we went to bed.

On-Call Grandpa

I woke first around 430am to the coo of Olivia. I went down and made a bottle just in case she was ready to eat. But by the time I returned ustairs her sobbing had stopped and she was apparently back asleep. I didn’t dare open the door and enter her room. Minutes later sleep befell me once more. I stayed that way until almost 7:45am when Mindy got up to fetch and feed Olivia for real. I laid there awake for about fifteen minutes while the kids & Mindy toiled with Olivia downstairs. Not wanting to sleep too much of the morning away, I leaped to my feet a little after 8am ready to get my day underway.

Mindy was busy feeding Olivia some cereal and fruit, and had the coffee ready for the go. I choked down a vitamin and then began my exercise routine. It wasn’t too long before Ykraps and I were heading out the door for our morning walk. It was a raw, chilly morning – one I would gladly have traded away for something more seasonal. It was in the mid 30’s, gray, and breezy. What’s worse, the forecast called for rain and temperatures struggling to reach 42 degrees. Not what you’d expect for mid-April.

If there was and upside, it was the fact that I was on-call and in turn had few expectations of myself around the house. Instead, I would be working and keeping an eye on the kids while Mindy went shopping with her mother. Yard work would be delayed for yet another week.

After getting involved in a couple work related matters I finally got myself in a position where I could squeeze in my run. I left for my run around 9:45am. When I returned Mindy had Olivia sleeping in her room and had our breakfast about ready. Very efficient! We were having pancakes and bacon.

Mindy was ready to leave for shopping shortly after breakfast. She wanted to meet her mother at Target around 11am. I simply asked that she assist with getting the kitchen in order before leaving since I had so much on my plate (work issues, Olivia, and the kids). She left around 11:15am. Ashley called just before that to see if I wanted her to come fetch Olivia right away. I didn’t. I was looking forward to spending a little time with her.

I went and got Olivia from her bed around 11:45am and fed her lunch. I fed her peas then some fruit. She ate some of both but wasn’t too excited about the peas. The fruit, I could tell, struck a cord with her. She ate and then happily played with Jacob & Bella for an hour or two while I worked. Ashley called around 1:30pm and said she’d be over to pick her up in the next hour. Around 2pm I gave her a bottle. She sucked it down.

Ashley and Brittany showed up about the time Mindy got home from shopping. We unloaded groceries, said goodbye to Olivia, and then Mindy and the kids left for her mom’s. They were gone for about two hours. I worked some more. They returned home around 4:30pm and I went up and took a much needed shower. As Bella would say, I smelt like running.

We decided that Chipotle’s sounded good for dinner. I flew & bought. I was back by 5:45pm. I had a steak fajita burrito. Mindy had a chicken bowl. The kids ate some of the nacho chips and guacamole. After dinner, you guessed it, more work for me. I worked while Mindy bathed the kids. I got a fire going too. It was a raw rainy evening. We even got another dose of hail during the early evening hours. After the kids were in bed I poured a Jack & Coke. It was very satisfying. Mindy had a glass of wine. We hung out by the fire and talked the evening away. Mindy went to bed around 10pm. I stayed up determined to watch Mad TV and Saturday Night Live. I poured another Jack & Coke. I watched Mad TV until 11:30pm when SNL came on. Work called and gave me a heads up on an ongoing issue. I watched SNL until midnight. I must have fallen asleep, though. Next thing I knew it was 1am. I went to bed.