Five months 'til Xmas

While I can’t recall exactly what time it was when I rolled out of bed, I know that it was before 5:40am. After all, this was Friday, my favorite day of the week. Add to that the fact that it was a holiday weekend and I was in great spirits. I exercised and walked Ykraps just before enjoying morning coffee. I checked with Mindy to be sure that she wanted lunch. Sometimes a friend brings her food on Friday’s. She wanted a packed lunch. For the next half hour I packed our lunches and made our breakfast. Mindy cut up cantaloupe the night before making prep that much easier. Like most mornings of late, I headed out to water the flowers before heading off to the shower. Despite the lack of appreciable rainfall, my flowers are looking sweet. I have been watering them religiously each & every morning. The Sweet Gum tree in the front landscape that I worried might have died ha bounced back nicely, although a few arterial branches and many of the branch tips didn’t make it. But just like the arborist stated, lots of new growth is shooting out from the main branches. It definitely looks healthy enough to save. For that I am pleased. After my watering I hurried through a shower and readied for departure. I arrived at work just after 8am. The work day was busy – just like every other Friday. I escaped for a run at my usual 12:45pm. It was another sunny & warm day, and the humidity has been inching ever higher with each passing day. More and more it’s feeling like summer. Just a pair of shorts today – well, & tennis shoes too! I returned to my desk and ate my packed lunch. I spent the rest of the afternoon clearing out lots of administrative tasks. I was able to leave the office before 5:15pm. I headed straight for Lowe’s determined to pick-up stain for the shed. I bought three gallons of Olympic’s best stuff along with three new brushes. While there, I also picked up seven one-gallon purple sage plants (a perennial that flowers all summer long) to add to my front landscape in a bed once thick with English Ivy. Mindy was already home. Her mother was there and so was daughter Ashley and GD Olivia. Mindy & Gloria were headed to the hospital to see Todd’s new baby. I was originally going to go but decided to stay home with the kids. Mindy and Gloria left just after 6pm. I was especially tired after a long day. I tired napping but the kids just wouldn’t’ allow it. Jacob was full of energy. Unfortunately, he would be serving his two day sentence for striking his mother beginning today and going through Sunday. That meant he couldn’t go out and play. The scope of the punishment didn’t really sink in until the neighbor boy came over to ask if Jacob could come out and play. Jacob couldn’t but Bella could. Jacob pouted as he watched the kids playing from the bay window. Honestly, I was happy to see him so remorseful. He muttered a few word of it not being fair but ultimately knew that it was. I took this opportunity to talk with him privately about the actions that got him in this mess in the first place. Mindy didn’t get back from the hospital visit until after 8:30pm. I had just finished readying the kids for bed prior to her arrival. They were in their jammies and ready to be tucked in. But I think they got a quick snack before heading up to bed. After they were in bed, I changed into attire more suitable for Barley’s and the summery conditions (shorts & a t-shirt). Tommy called just as we were leaving the house to let us know that he was already at Barley’s. It was almost 9pm by the time we arrived. The place was sparely populated, especially inside at the bar. It was pretty much just Mark, Steve and Tommy. That’s it! However, there was a large contingent outdoors on the patio too. Pale was on the firkin. I had one of those. Mindy had a Dragon’s Milk. We ordered food too. I had Gates of hell wings and I think that Mindy had one of those salads she likes so well. We hung at Barley’s until 11pm or so. Tommy left just before us. Ashley was awake when we returned. She packed up Olivia & left for home minutes later. As we always do, we offered up the guest room but she declined wanting instead to go home. After Ashley left I’ll bet that we weren’t up but ten minutes longer. I wanted to be up early to get a jump on the shed project.