Anticipating Fun

Right on schedule, I was up at 7:30am ready to begin the first of five consecutive days off of work. I slept rather well but woke with clogged sinuses and a raw, scratchy throat. Both cleared after I got up and moving.
Mindy chose to remain in bed. For her, this was a chance to catch up on sleep since the kids were away and we had no pressing deadlines.

I prepped a pot of coffee, finished my exercises, and leashed up Ykraps for our morning walk. It was lovely outside – blue skies and cool summer temps. It was only 60 degrees. As usual, once we returned I poured myself some coffee, checked the headlines via the internet, and then took to the deck for some guitar. Mindy got up around 9am but wasn’t feeling so good. I got ready for a run by 9:30am.

I ran along Trabue Rd. I was surprised at how crowded the golf course was so early in the day. I ran by my dad’s house. He appeared to be home but not out. Upon my return to the house, Mindy was back upstairs in bed. I was careful not to disturb her. I spent the next couple of hours watering flowers and updating my blog. Mindy finally got up and into action just after noon. She reported feeling better but still not 100%.

We had plenty to do this afternoon. We had to prep for our Salt Fork trip. Our goal was to have everything ready to load into the Trooper before going to bed. That meant we had to grocery shop, pick-up and gas up the boat and Trooper, and pack our clothes and food. We decided to grocery shop together, and planned on hitting Wal-Mart and then Giant Eagle.

At Wal-Mart we picked up a potted sunflower just like we did last July 4th weekend. We then proceeded to gather our groceries for the week and for our trip. At Giant Eagle we picked up some produce, large wild shrimp, wine, beer, and a gift for a friend’s birthday party that’s fast approaching. It was after 3pm by the time we were home from shopping.

I left to pick-up the boat and gas up around 4pm. I wasn’t gone but maybe 25 minutes. When I returned I spent several minutes gathering & organizing important items for our trip. Mindy made sure we had plenty of boat food pre-cut & bagged (fruit, veggies, nuts, and cheese). We agreed to start the grill around 6:30pm. We grilled skewered shrimp and filet mignon.

After eating our dinner and cleaning up the mess, we got our suitcases packed for the go. The only remaining tasks were to ice the coolers and load the Trooper. We went to bed rather early with a busy day lying ahead.

Firkin Friday

I was awake even before 5:30 but chose to stay in bed for a short while longer. It was 5:40am when I finally found myself in the kitchen fiddling with the vitamin bottle. I went about my exercise routine and eventually leashed up Ykraps for our Friday morning stroll. The lawn and flowers were all still drenched with rain water ready for the sun to rise and dry their foliage and invigorate further growth. The pond looked slightly swollen but only a an inch or two above its setting level. The morning air was unusually crisp – a far cry from the heavy humid air that’s been so prevalent of late.

While enjoying the morning’s coffee I sat at the PC reading the Daily OM and catching up on some scores and NBA draft headlines. I wouldn’t normally give tow shits about the NBA except for the fact that three Buckeyes were rumored to have gone in the first round – a Buckeye first. I was curious to see how that all unfolded. Three Buckeyes, as it turns out, went in the first 21 picks, including Greg Oden going overall number one to Portland thus producing another natural connection for the PNW.

I got started packing my lunch and cooking breakfast at 6:40. I finished eating and began watering by 7:00am. I didn’t have too much watering to do since we got the summer rains overnight but I still had to water the baskets and pots, if nothing else, just to top them off. I finished much earlier than usual and returned inside to begin the showering process. Mindy was already up in an anticipation of the grandchildren, whom she agreed to watch yet again today. They arrived while I was showering. Rocky seems so happy when he’s at our home. And baby Landon seems to be a very happy little guy. Mindy said that he was very easy to care for yesterday. He eats, sleeps, and plays. No fussing! I should’ve snapped some pictures but didn’t. I guess I was too focused on the work day ahead. I was definitely looking forward to the coming five day weekend.

I arrived at work by 8:05am under almost full cloud cover with the promise of a lovely day yet to unfold. Work was busy but then again, eerily quiet for a Friday – none of the usual chatter form above. I stayed busy all morning. I left for a run around 12:40pm. The conditions were ideal for a run. It couldn’t have been 75 degrees and the sky was still trying to shed the leftover clouds. I took notice of the sun as it busted through the ever thinning cloud cover at my turn around point. The run went really well. I had plenty of strength left even after I finished. After a quick shower I stopped by Jay’s office for a quick chat. Eventually, I found my way back to my own office ready for an afternoon of fun.

The afternoon was much like the morning. Quiet from above but very busy from a volume standpoint. It got really busy the last hour of the day. That happens often on Friday’s for whatever reason. I left for home later than previously desired but didn’t want to leave my peer in a lurch. I also waited patiently for my insurance agent to call me back as promised. I knew she was going on vacation next week so if I didn’t push her, I might not have closure on my issue for ten more days. I was eager to avoid that. Turns out, she called my cell just as I was walking out the door. She confirmed that the deal was done and that the check was in the mail. Cool!

I arrived home just before 6pm. Mindy had already walked Ykraps, and the kids were gone with Jimaken. Mindy was sipping wine on the deck when I arrive home. The house was peaceful, just like I like it. She reported the day going rather well, despite having four small children running about. We sat together on the deck talking about life. Eventually, I dosed off but only for a few minutes. That was enough to refresh my busy mind. She went in to ready for an evening at Barley’s and I went in and updated Thursday’s blog entry. Around 7:20pm we jumped in the BM’er and headed to our favorite watering hole.

The lot was packed. We had to manufacture a parking spot one over from the last lined slot. I do that often. Inside, the place was bustling with regulars - Bob, Mary Ann, Jeremy, Courtney, Mark, Steve, Scott, Dan, Josh, Rebecca, and eventually Rick & Tim. Jersey and Lee were working the bar – no Janet. I had a Firkin (a Scottish, I think). Mindy had a Shiraz. We visited with our friends and eventually placed an order for food. I ordered Gates of Hell wings and fries. Mindy ordered a Southwestern salad. Everybody’s food came but ours. We watched our friends eat for a few until Mindy finally asked where ours might be. Somehow our order got lost. Being the regulars that we are, they comp’d our meal – very cool!
Everything was tasty as always.

We hung at Barley’s until 1030pm or so. We drove home with the top down under a full moon. When we arrived home we could hear the Shultz’s living it up a bit. We decided to crash their party. They had a nice fire going and lots of family members hanging around having fun. We joined in the fun. Eventually, all the family members departed but we remained talking until about 1230am. As always, we were the last to leave. We shared lots of dirty laundry and joked about all sorts of stuff. We had a very nice time. When Mindy and I got back home we headed straight to bed. We both fell asleep in less than ten minutes.

The Rains Cometh

Happy 25th daughter Courtney
& Happy 20th nephew Joe

I slept well ‘til about 5:50am. I woke with my mouth and throat feeling incredibly dry & scratchy. I quietly worked my way down the stairs where I took my vitamin and got busy with my morning exercises. The prior night's weather forecast called for a strong chance of rain and the radar before going to be looked quite daunting. But best I could tell, we didn’t get a drop. Damn! What’s more, the sky was clear and giving way to more sunshine. In a rare move, I tuned in to the Weather Channel while I exercised hoping to get an updated forecast. Despite the clear morning, the day's forecast still called for strong storms pretty much all day. But if we don’t get the rain today, we most likely won’t get any for another week or so. The forecast looks spectacular through the Fourth.

Today was trash day. They picked up just after 6am. As is often the case, our bin was over flowing. Ykraps and I carried on with our walk. Back at home, I sipped coffee while reading the Daily OM and proofing a couple blog entries. I do that only sometimes. By 6:40am I figured I better get crackin’ on packing my lunch and making my breakfast. I ate my breakfast inside but headed out the door immediately after I finishing to begin watering. Once again, I watered front and back not willing to risk being disappointed by the rain man. I finished up with my watering chores by 7:40am and then headed in for a shower.

I left for work by 8:05am. Work was busy. The sky, as I observed, began clouding up slowly but surely. Still, by the time I left for my run it hadn’t rained a drop and didn’t look all that threatening either. I worked up quite a lather running. It wasn’t so much the heat, but instead the humidity. I was drenched! My after run shower felt incredibly good. I left the office to get an estimate on the hail dmamged Trooper. I went to Dent Magic on Sawmill Rd. They got me in immediately but took a while to draft the formal document. I was shocked at the amount - $4500. Holy Smoke!

I hurried back to work. It was 2:25pm. While finishing out my day I made a couple calls to my insurance company to let them know I had my own estimate. They asked me to fax it in. I did. Sometime between then and when I finally left for home the rains started. Mindy reported it raining rather heavily at home. For that I was pleased. I left work for home shortly after 5:15pm. I stopped at the Tuttle Parkway Wal-Mart to get a new fishing pole for me and some additional tackle for Jacob. The kids were already at Bible school by the time I arrived home. Jimaken took them tonight. Mindy and I skipped a formal dinner and instead simply snacked. I wasn’t all that hungry. I spent some time on the PC before sitting with Mindy to review the hundred or so paint chips she brought home from Sherwin Williams. She’s hell bent on redoing the kitchen/family room, and possibly even the guest bath. We found a couple color combos that we both liked.

We left to pick the kids up from Bible School at 7:15pm. The skies looked as if a big storm was brewing. The radar, just before we left home, looked scary, too. This time it looked like a sure thing. The rains held out until we got to church. We went inside for the last night’s festivities, awards, and popcorn. I enjoyed the movie-style popcorn. It was salty and very buttery. The rains began while we watched the kids get their certificates. We weren’t there but about thirty minutes maximum. I took pictures of the dark clouds hanging over the Westside as we were leaving. I hadn’t seen clouds like that in along while - probably since the hail storm in October. It continued raining as we drove home but still not very heavy. It looked like the strong stuff would go just south of us. But my only concern was that we got our share of the rain, and we did.
It continued raining after we arrived home for another hour or so. Mindy got the kids in bed and tucked in by 9:15pm. I spent a little time reviewing some photos and updating my blog. Mindy insisted on reading it before going to bed. Once again, I was feeling tired and slightly ill. We went to bed before 10pm.

Where's the Rain?

It wasn’t nearly as easy to get up & out of bed as I had hoped. My war torn throat was proving to be a bona fide symptom of something larger. With little choice, I sucked it up and got busy with my daily routine. It was already after 6am. I slept later than I had planned.

After exercise, walking Ykraps, and having coffee, I got cracking on food prep. I made tuna casserole, a lettuceless salad, fruit, and nuts for lunch. I made two fried eggs for breakfast. I ate those on the deck after a little meditation. After I finished my breakfast I got busy watering the flowers front & back. I completed my watering fun by 7:35am and headed on up to the shower. I took Mindy some coffee and sat it next to the bed. She was still half asleep as I got started with my shower.

I preparation for work, I remembered to pack my clubs and shorts for Wednesday evening golf league. I arrived at work just after 810am. I had a number of voice messages and emails to review after my one day absence. It was a challenge to get caught up and still maintain a grip on the unfolding day. We had a staff meeting mid morning that carried on right up until lunch. I left for my run a tad late. It was close to 1pm when I left my office. It was very warm by the time I hit the trail – probably 90 degrees. It was quite humid too. Lucky for me, there was a nice breeze which took the edge of the otherwise stifling heat.

I had a most interesting meeting/encounter that I can’t go into here. I walked away feeling good about myself. I left the office for home around 5:30pm. I drove straight home but took the back way due to heavier than normal traffic on I-270. I must’ve arrived home close to 545pm. I decided not to water since the forecast called for a strong chance of showers both this evening, later tonight, and tomorrow. Mindy took the kids to church camp soon after I arrived home. She heated leftovers when she returned. We had pork chops and green bean casserole. It wasn’t long before Mindy left to pick-up the kids. I used the time to write blog entries. I was still writing when they returned and continued on while the kids readied for bed. I felt a little light headed and hoped to be in bed before 10pm. I took another dose of Delsym to silent my cough through the night.

Alum Creek ( like an old friend)

I was up before 7am after an imperfect night’s sleep. I woke a few times through the night feeling like my throat was full of pollen. But having a rare day off in the middle of the week, I was not about to waste a minute of it. I eagerly sprang from the bed and hurried down the stairs to begin my daily routine. I started the coffee maker and then began my daily exercises. By 7:10 I was walking Ykraps in what appeared to have all the makings of an awesome day. It was clear, blue, and steamy. As soon as our walk was in the bag I headed back out to start up the sprinkler pump and the watering process. This morning’s focus would be the west front yard slope towards the water – an area that dries out before any other. I went in to enjoy some coffee before setting out on a run.

I changed into running attire at 7:45am and hit the trail after waking Mindy. It was a nice early morning run, especially if you like it steamy. I was back by 8:20am. Mindy and Bella were relaxing with coffee on the deck. I toweled off while we briefly discussed our immediate plans. Mindy made eggs while I brought the cooler in from the garage to prep for our trip. The cooler in question still held water from a party several weeks ago. I opened the deck door to dump it onto my hibiscus flowers when all of the sudden Ykraps weaseled his way out. He bolted to the back of the yard and into the brush. I calmly finished what I was doing before setting out after him with leash in hand. I swore I wouldn’t chase him, however.

By the time I made it down to the compost pile he had left the immediate area, but I was certain that he was nearby perhaps finding his way back into the woods where, on the rare occasions that he gets out, we always find him. But Bella and I went back to the house empty handed after a walk along the edge of woods past Mike & Teri’s. I could hear other dogs barking that are in fenced yards along the woods. I was sure that they were barking at Ykraps. Jacob was now up when we returned home, and after learning of Ykraps escape he began crying profusely. I set out once again only this time alone. I put on a t-shirt and bug spray to protect me from the ivy, bugs, and under brush. I went to the house where I heard the dogs barking and knocked on the door asking permission to cut through to the woods to find my dog. The neighbor allowed me access to the woods via her yard, which provides broad access to the surrounding woods and thick brush.

I wasn’t back there but two minutes until I stumbled upon Ykraps nosing around in the shoulder high grass along the edge of the woods. He looked my way but still didn’t come towards my call. I had to slowly make my way towards him. Now, within about 6 feet, he continued his curious quest about the area. I remember thinking how much of a shame it would be if I didn’t get a hold of him now. He was just so close. Finally, just seconds later, he stopped and allowed me to leash him. I think he was confused. We pretty much followed the same path out that I used to get in. Eventually we found our way back through the kind neighbor’s yard and onto our street. Everyone, especially Jacob, was thrilled to see me walk back in the door with Ykraps in tow. With the potential crisis avoided, I turned my attention to my itchy skin by taking a quick alcohol and cotton ball bath to remove any poison ivy oil. After that I took a shower. Next, we got on with the business of breakfast and prepping for our boating trip.

I continued watering right up until 9:45am. We loaded the Trooper with the day’s provisions and hit the road to Alum Creek at 10:06am.

We arrived at Alum Creek 32 minutes later. It’s a pretty fast drive around I-270 and up RT 23. And just as I had hoped & envisioned, the marina boat launch was barren and the lake calm and peaceful. We prepped the boat for launch without anyone else around. Folks – that never happens on a weekend! It wasn’t long before we had the boat in the water and we were pulling away from the dock. We had only one minor incident at the dock. Mindy reminded me how curt I can be with my dock side manners. She’s still in deck mate school. J

Soon we were underway. Jacob was eager to get tubing right away. After making our initial loop around the south lake we settled in by the camp beach where we prepped for tubing - Jacob first. But despite the calm waters, Jacob insisted on stopping after one very short ride. We had barely gone anywhere, but still he insisted that we stop. He said that I was going to fast. Oh boy! After a pep talk he tried again, but with the exact same results only this time he was crying to get out. Mindy was next. Bella decided that she wanted to tube also. She got in with her momma but lasted only a minute before crying to stop. Mindy decided to go it alone. She even let me throw her about a little. Bella didn’t like seeing her momma back there bouncing around.

After Mindy was out of the water we decided to high tail it up north to the boat swim cove – my personal favorite. What made it even better was that there were just a handful boats on the entire lake. Ten minutes later we were there. I hoped that we wouldn’t be sharing the cove with too many others. There was only one other boat anchored in the cove, and they were close to the entrance. My spot, much further back, was all clear. We no sooner threw in anchor and the kids were in the water playing. It was still before noon. We hung out in the cove for nearly three hours floating, swimming, and relaxing.

Around 3:30pm we exited the cove for the main lake pulling Jacob on the tube at idle speed and with a shortened rope. He decided to tube for real once we were on the open lake. This time he hung in there and battled his fear. He made it all the way to the camp ground dock where he begged out. Mindy chose to give it another go, only this time the kids were insistent on taking their momma over big waves where as before they were terrified for her safety. They got a big kick out of her ultimate demise on the choppy wake. After tubing Mindy asked if she could try skiing. We made the necessary changes in tow ropes and tossed the skis her way. Meanwhile, I stowed the tube in the bow area. After two failed attempts, Mindy finally got up and skied around the larger share of the north lake until her arms and legs gave out. She gave the cut signal close by the camp dock.

After her successful skiing, Jacob wanted to tube again. He asked that we take him over choppy waters. We obliged but with common sense. We asked that he lay across the tube for greater comfort in lieu of crouching in it. He responded well to the change and before we knew it, he was tubing like a young expert. We decided then that it was time to give him a taste of real tubing. We got him going over the wake side to side. But instead of fear he looked eager for more. He seemed to love skipping across the open water. However, the real test was when he was launched off the tub after hitting heavy wake. He passed! He was smiling big when he cleared. He gave us the OK signal and waved. We knew then that he was good with it. He asked to go again, so we went again. He was digging the tubing. We tubed until we needed to depart for home. We headed for the marina dock somewhere close to 4:30pm. Once again, there was no one waiting at the dock making it very easy to get out, which is often more difficult than putting in. It was scorching hot when we pulled out. It was sunny and 92 degrees. As we always do, we towel dried the boat to restore its luster, and then packed away all of the gear for next time. We dropped the boat at storage at 515pm and we were home by 525pm.

Mindy hustled to get the kids something to eat and dressed for Bible school. I set out to prime the sprinkler pump. I continued watering the strip of grass between the walk and street. Mindy wanted to go out for dinner while the kids were in school. I took a shower while she was gone and was ready by the time she returned. We went to El Vaquero. There was the usual packed lot and 5-10 minute wait. This place always packs ‘em in! Our food was really good. Mindy had a margarita. I had only water. We left the Vaq at about 7:40pm and headed directly for Crossroads to pick-up the kids. They were just finishing up when we arrived. As we pulled away for home we decided to detour by Kelly’s to see if Ash & Olivia were out. They were, but with Kelly too. We chatted with Kelly, Ash, and Lindsey only briefly. We hugged the grand kids a few times and then headed for home.

I had the sprinkler running the entire time we were gone. I moved it yet again before bagging it for the night. I talked with neighbor Carl for a few minutes all the while I watered. It was late. I tucked in the kids and readied for bed myself. My throat was still bothering me and I felt as though I might be getting a cold. It’s going around. I took some Delsym before going to bed.

One Day Work Week

Happy 49th B-Day brother Glenn - let your 50th year begin!

It was Monday and time to return to work. All in all my weekend was good and my on-call didn’t overwhelm me due in large part to my self-inflicted work day, Saturday. Even with that, I accomplished plenty of yard related chores/tasks and had a nice visit with G.D., Kaileigh. Things went according to plan.

I went through my usual morning paces leading up to my departure for the office. I left home convinced that I would ask for tomorrow (Tuesday) off as my replacement day for working Saturday. The Tuesday forecast was stellar calling for sunny skies and temps approaching 90 degrees. It would be a perfect boating day.

Work went well, although it was very busy. I left for my run around 12:45pm. It was only expected to reach 82 but just before I left my office the temperature was already near 90. I guess it heated up much faster than expected. The run went well even in spite of the heat and humidity.

As soon as I got back to my office I asked my boss about Tuesday. He OK’d my plan. Cool. We were set then. I would pick-up the boat on the way home from work to help make our departure for the lake that much simpler. I left work for home just after 5:10pm. Traffic was backed up big time on I-270, but since I was picking up the boat I was already planning to take the back way home. I arrived home with the boat around 5:45pm. It didn’t take long to get it hooked up and out of there.

Once at home I collapsed in the big reading chair while Mindy drove the kids off to Bible school. I didn’t have dosed for too long, though. As soon as I was vertical I went out and got my sprinkler pump primed and running. Once again, I watered the east side yard rather heavily since it still looked a little stressed. In between moving the sprinkler I had an unexpected visitor, Lindsey Hupp. She’s an old friend of daughter Courtney. I hadn’t seen her in about 4 years. We talked a while after I encouraged her to stay and meet Mindy. She’s very sweet and very lively. I showed her several pictures of the grand kids and the girls. It wasn’t long before Mindy was home with the kids.

Mindy and Lindsey hit it off pretty well. We convinced Lindsey to stick around for dinner. We were having grilled salmon filet, asparagus, and salad. The salmon turned out really well. After dinner Lindsey left. She gave us her contact info so that we could hook-up again sometime soon. I continued moving the sprinkler through the early evening hours making sure to get all the tough little patches of grass nice and wet. I also made a mental list of everything we’d need to take to the lake tomorrow.

After the kids were in bed I drank a couple of beers. I was happy & thankful that I didn’t have to work tomorrow. I was exhausted and had a slight twinge in my throat. We headed to bed by 1030pm.

Badger 5

Like many past night’s, Bella woke us in the middle of the night with her incessant moanings & whinings. I could tell that Mindy was irritated. Add to that, yet another sleep walking incident with Jacoby. This time he was fumbling with the security gate at the top of the stairs, which is what woke me. I called for him to come in our room. He was mumbling something undetectable. His mother took over form there. Our house is becoming much like a mental hospital in the middle of the night.

I woke around 530am thinking I had to go to work. What a good feeling it was once I realized that was not the case. I woke again around 630am and contemplated getting up. Instead, I fell back asleep waking for good at 8:00am. I was surprised at how long I slept, but figured that I must’ve needed it. Still, I feel cheated when I sleep that late on my day off.

I made some coffee, completed my exercises, and walked Ykraps. The streets were still wet from overnight rain. It didn’t appear that it rained all that much, however. But as dry as we’ve been, any rain is a welcome site. I logged into work upon my return. I had a couple issues needing my attention. I sipped all the while I toiled with work. It wasn’t long before the whole house was awake and bustling.

Mindy began prepping breakfast around 9am. About the same time I readied for a run. She asked if I were planning to go to church. I was not. This was Pastor Steve’s last day at Crossroads. He’s moving on. I left for my run while breakfast cooked. I ran along Trabue and Hague. I found an errant golf ball along hole number one. That happens often.

My run went very well. The weather was ideal for running. When I retuned I found Mindy in a very unlikely position under the sink. That can’t be good, I thought. Eventually she explained why. It seems water was leaking out from under the sink and onto the floor. And in this water were food particles, which implied garbage disposal issues. How they were getting out of the continued system was yet to be determined. Upon closer inspection, I found an actual hole in the side of the disposal, almost like something punctured it. I healed it temporarily with duct tape (fix number one million and one). I searched Home Depot’s webpage for disposals finding my very model still being made 13+ years later. And even more interesting were the customer feedback comments. I found one customer who bought the new Badger 5 – ½ HP model, like mine. He went on about how his original developed a hole in the side, almost like it deteriorated. The cost of the new version was $79. I figured I’d get one later in the day and try to fix it. The original lasted 13+ years. That’s not too bad. Interestingly enough, they have garbage disposals for as much as $299! Of course once you cross about the $139 barrier they’re no longer called garbage disposals. Nope! They’re called ‘food waste disposer’s’. That’s funny right there. I don’t care who you are!

Mindy and the kids left for church while I ate my French toast, did some work, and contemplated my day. After they left I tidied up the kitchen and readied for lawn chores. I was so looking forward to working in the yard. My plan was not only to cut & trim the lawn but also to trim the shrubbery and deadhead some of our summer flowers. I worked in the yard for the next 3 hours. After hauling all my clippings to the compost pile I gave the kids (Jacob, Bella, and Kaileigh) a tractor ride. They loved it! Kaileigh’s step-mom picked her up after we finished. After a quick shower I went to Home Depot. I was there for a long time not only picking up a disposal but also looking at lots of things for home future home projects. Sometimes I just want to casually walk all the isles uncovering things I never knew they carried before. Today I found 3 in 1 oil. I haven’t seen that in years. Reminds me of my dad. I got lots of ideas. I looked for just the right perennial to go in Mindy’s Lola pot. I couldn’t find anything cool at Home Depot. I decided to detour to Lowe’s before heading home. There I found the perfect plant. I bought her a brilliant orange Asiatic Lilly that would surely fill the bill.

Mindy alerted me to the fact that she would not be home upon my arrival. She was dropping the kids off at Bible School located at Crossroad Methodist Church. She asked that I start the grill. As soon as I got home I followed my orders, and in addition, I made some fresh Minute Maid orange juice and cracked open a bottle of Cooke’s Spumante’ in order to make mimosas. By the time that Mindy returned I was placing the big fat pork chops on the grill. She confiscated my mimosa, so I made myself another. We both like them quite a bit. They became standard fare in Mexico of all places.

The pork chops grilled up real nice after I placed some wet hickory wood chunks in
Foil serrated with holes. They were thick, juicy, and had that awesome hickory flavor. After dinner Mindy set out to pick-up the kids. It was closing in on 8pm. I got started on the garbage disposal project. To my surprise, I was able to complete the project before Mindy returned. What made it easy was the fact that it was the same model and therefore had the same mounting bracket. It worked like a charm and also allowed us to clean and organize our under the sink storage as well as replace the shelf liner that had been there since day one (13+ years).

Mindy put the kids to bed after I finished the project. After the kids were tucked into bed, Mindy and I got in the hot tub. While soaking we had a visit from a hummingbird. He hung around the hanging petunias for almost fifteen minutes. We were surprised that he hung out for so long and in the dark. After hot tubbing we headed up to bed. Bella began her nightly whining before we got settled into bed even in spite of warnings against such actions from Mindy earlier.

A Benign Saturday

Even though I planned on working today, I thought that I might sleep much later than I do on a normal work day. However, instead, I got up & out of bed at 5:45am to begin preparations for a Saturday in the office. I treated the morning just like any other work day. I exercised, walked Ykraps, enjoyed some coffee, and prepped the day’s food.

I watered the backyard flowers before departing. I dressed casually wearing jean shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. I drove the BM’er since it was a relatively nice morning. There were just a handful of cars in the lot (fewer than 10). The guys were a little surprised that I was there to work. In hindsight, I probably should’ve given them a heads-up so they didn’t worry.

The morning wasn’t too busy, but there was a lot for me to do just to keep things running smoothly, hence the reason I came into the office in the first place. It was nice working when most others were not. Not very many distractions. We accomplished a lot.

I left for a run around 12:30pm. The gym was barren. The sky was overcast and the temperature only about 74 degrees. It was a nice day for a run. This is the first time in almost ten years that I can recall running my work trail on a Saturday. After my run and eventual shower I took a quick drive up to The Anderson’s to check out their playsets, and more specifically the one Mindy liked. It took about 15 minutes to get there form the office. Their playsets were on display in their parking lot. I was major disappointed when I saw them. I would liken them to battered boats – hunks of junk! The price on the set Mindy liked was about $1250, yet there wasn’t but $200 or $300 dollars worth of wood there, and that was of poor quality. There was no way I would put junk like that in my back yard – NO WAY!

I drove back to the office arriving just before 2pm. I returned to my office where I enjoyed my packed lunch while continuing with my work. I talked with Mindy who picked up grand daughter, Kaileigh for a sleepover. We talked about going to Comfest but later decided that we might just stay home. I left for home around 4:50pm. I made a stop at Home Depot to check out a few tings on my project list. I wasn’t there too long, keeping in mind that dinner was about ready and that Kaileigh was over.

I arrived home at just about 5:30pm. There I greeted Kaileigh, Mindy & the kids. Soon Ykraps and I set out on foot for our evening walk. Mindy made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner along with salad and garlic toast. I hadn’t eaten spaghetti in a long while. It was very good! After dinner and while the kids played at the neighbors, Mindy got the birthday festivities underway for Kaileigh. She invited the four kids from neighboring homes to join in the fun. Soon we had a full blown birthday celebration going on. Our plans for Comfest were scrapped in favor of the kid .party. And while Mindy & I would’ve preferred Comfest, the kids seemed to be having a ball.

The party continued for the next hour or more, with the kids playing in one of the three yards. Along about 8:30pm Mindy called the kids in for a bath and ultimately to settle into bed. The plan was for all the kids to sleep on the highly desired blow-up mattress, but as is often the case, they disperse to their original beds after the novelty wears off. Kaileigh complained to Mindy that she couldn’t sleep without TV. Eventually, she moved to the guest room, where she fell asleep to the watchful eye of CATV.

Mindy and I hung out down stairs until about 1030pm. It was raining ever so gently just as we were heading up to bed. A check of the radar revealed even heavier rain coming our way. For that I was grateful. Feeling more than tired we retreated to our room where we both fell asleep in short order.

FRIDAY

I could hardly believe it, but it was Friday already! The week went incredibly fast. However, this particular Friday would be somewhat anti-climatic since I’d be the on-call dog this weekend. I found myself downstairs going about my routine by 5:45am. At 6:05am Ykraps and I walked out the door for him to relieve himself and me to take in the morning’s beauty.

The morning was another nice one. We’ve had very few this spring and early summer that haven’t been. Upon our return inside I got busy with food prep, making myself tuna fish & salad for lunch, and fried eggs and fruit for breakfast. I ate on the deck trying hard to ignore the large smattering of bird shit that was dropped just beyond my chair. It looked as if whatever bird did this was sick, or at the very least had the bird equivalent of diarrhea. It was everywhere!

Went I launched into watering I made washing/spraying away the dun a priority. I watered the back beds only, not needing to hit the front for last evening’s front lawn watering. And because of this, I was able to get back inside and get a shower early than usual. I delivered coffee to Mindy’s bedside not knowing for certain if she wanted to partake. I knew she was tired, however, since Bella & Jacob woke her up multiple times through the night. Jacob woke us both sleep walking, something he’s been doing a lot lately. Mindy’s brother, Craig, assured her that it’s perfectly normal for children his age to go through this. It’s part of their brain development. Still, it’s a bit alarming when you encounter him in such a state because he often mumbles and points to things that don’t exist all the while his eyes are wide open. I’ll try to get a picture next time.

I left for work at 7:50am and arrived shortly after 8am. I jumped right into the existing fray and didn’t come up for air until run time. In a strange twist of events, especially since this was the first full day of summer, the weather seemed more like spring. The skies clouded over early on and it was raining ever so gently all the while the temperature struggled to pass 63 degrees. For the first time in an awfully long while, I worried about being chilly on my run. However, the rain stopped & the skies cleared up around noon. It was almost a perfect 70 degrees when I set out for my run. I wore my sleeveless wicking shirt, and that was just about perfect. It was a very pleasant run.

I was completely immersed in work all afternoon. If nothing else, it made the afternoon go by in a flash. I left for home satisfied that I had accomplished all I could by 5:15pm. The temperature at the time of departure was a lovely 80 degrees. I stopped at Kroger in Hilliard to buy Mindy a cad and some flowers. I bought two bouquets – one of white tea roses and the other a mixture of large red roses and some other miscellaneous summer blooms. Together they’d make a nice arrangement.

I arrived home just before 6pm. The kids, especially Bella, seemed disappointed that I didn’t show up with pizza. Mindy never asked me to, although she did ask if pizza sounded good. Given that we weren’t doing Barley’s, I concurred. While I got the sprinkler running, Mindy ordered two pizzas. And while I drove after them, Mindy and Jacob walked Ykraps (family team work).

The pizzas were still a few minutes from being done when I arrived – just how I like it. I want them piping hot when I pick 'em up. Back home we attacked the first, a half cheese, half pepperoni pie. We ended up digging into the second pizza by a couple slices. Mindy didn’t allow the kids too much latitude when it came to after dinner play time. While I napped on the deck chaise, Mindy drove the kids to the new ice cream shop next to Sporrano’s pizza shop. I declined the invite wishing instead to sleep. I didn’t sleep long, however. While they were gone I moved the sprinkler and updated Thursday’s blog entry. They returned home sometime near 8pm. Mindy urged them up the stairs for a bath. In the meantime, I played guitar on the deck. I tucked the kids into bed when I was called upon.

Mindy and I spent the rest of our Friday evening relaxing on our deck. I had two bottled beers – a Columbus Pale Ale and a Hop Devil. We shut down the sprinkler and headed to bed at 1030pm. And by the way, we skipped Barley’s because I planned to work in the office all day tomorrow.

Summer Teeth

A monument located in Mexico marking the exact location

of the Tropic of Cancer (notice the graffiti)

I struggled getting out of bed at the proper time, but once I was up & vertical I felt just dandy. It was 6:05am by the time I completed my exercises and leashed up Ykraps for our usual morning walk. I contemplated getting the sprinkler going but couldn’t muster the energy to peel myself away from the routine. I decided instead to wait and water when I get home from work.

I was slow getting my lunch and breakfast together. Although, I suppose the time I spent updating and correcting the prior day’s blog entry didn’t help either. I didn’t get to watering until 7:00am. I watered front and back. By the time I made my way around to the front there was an older woman who I see walking frequently early mornings admiring my yard from across the street. When she saw me she told that I should take some pictures of my beautiful landscape. This year, more than ever, I have received countless compliments on the front beds. It’s the Wave petunia’s that do it. They are truly spectacular. There big, bushy, and beautiful!

I showered and prepped for work all by 7:50am. I arrived at work by 8:05am. It was another gorgeous morning. The forecasted high was 87 degrees with a very slight chance of afternoon storms. Work went well. Mindy left a VM sometime before lunch letting me know that the insurance adjuster was out to investigate the hail damage claim. He told her that we needed a new roof, gutters, and a few other repairs. Should receive a check within 7-10 days. I left for my run at the usual, 12:45pm. It was very sunny & warm, most fitting for this, the first day of summer, which officially strikes at 2:06pm EDT. It was probably 1:30pm when I gazed skyward to observe the sun’s position relative to my own on along the running trail. For a few seconds I celebrated the solstice. Even with the sun at its highest peak, shadows in these parts still fall slightly northward reminding me of our position relative to the tropic of cancer. My afternoon mood was elevated just a bit simply by the knowledge that we’re now resting in summer’s warm grasp.

The afternoon went quickly. I was eager to head for home at 5:15pm. It was 90 degrees at drive time home, obviously warmer by a few degrees than originally predicted. I tried reaching Mindy but got no answer. I figured she was busy. I arrived home to a quiet and empty house. I unloaded my daily haul and quietly leashed up Ykraps for our usual evening walk. Still no sign of Mindy. I guessed that she might be visiting a neighbor or out to dinner with Jimaken and kids. As soon as Ykraps and I returned I got the sprinkler pump going, this time watering the front lawn. Just as I was fine tuning my watering pattern Jimaken pulled up with the kids. It couldn’t have been later than 6:05pm. I still wasn’t sure if Mindy was home. The kids went in and ultimately found her sleeping in our bed. That had occurred to me, and I wondered if that might’ve been the case but never checked. It’s highly unusual for her to nap.

I was tired too, and once I went back inside I snuggled up quickly into my reading chair. Mindy and the kids took off outdoors to play & visit with neighbors. I rested only briefly and eventually got up to make something to eat. I decided to eat the rest of my Chipotle burrito leftover from Tuesday evening. There was about 1/3 of it remaining. It was still tasty as ever! I moved the sprinkler to the strip of grass between the walk and street. I returned inside and did some reading. I read until the kids and Mindy came in. It must have been around 8:20pm. Mindy shared news of neighbor Kenny’s father dying. Just this past Saturday our dear friend Bob I. lost his father. And two weeks prior, another friend, Steve, lost his. They say they come in threes. The kids had been playing on Mike & Teri’s new playset. I won’t go into the playset thing.

Mindy readied the kids for bed while I worked on my blog. After tucking the kids into bed Mindy was excited to show me the Sherwin Williams webpage where you can experiment with various paint colors & change the furniture colors, too. We played with that page for about an hour. I popped some corn and enjoyed that while she toiled further. We went to bed around 1030pm. I gave serious consideration to leaving the sprinkler run all night but got up at 11:20pm to turn it off. Allowing it to run for 7 hours in one zone would have been a terrible waste, even if the water is free.

Lettuceless

Too much of a good thing isn't too good for you.

After a restful night’s sleep, I was up and at my usual morning routine by 5:40am. After flying through my exercise routine Ykraps and I were walking about the subdivision before 6:00am. The morning air was slightly cool and lacking any hint of the humidity that’s been so prevelant the past several days. The days high is only expected to reach 80 degrees.

After some coffee and a little internet, I was busy packing my lunch and making my breakfast. I made tuna fish and a lettuceless salad for lunch. I fried two eggs and piled a heap of fruit on my breakfast plate. I ate inside for the wet deck chairs. I took to watering the flowers by 7:00am. The watering went faster than usual due in part to the soaking my back yard flowers got the evening before from the pond sprinkler.

I was on my way to the shower by 7:25am. It didn’t take too long to ready for work. I was dressed and ready by 7:45am. I decided to drive the BM’er so I had to pull the Trooper to the street to clear my exit from the garage. I went back into the house to say goodbye, but it was such a beautiful morning that I decided to spend a few more quality minutes on the deck with Mindy and my guitar. We sat together for about ten minutes in the sparkling sunshine and 60 degree temps. It was lovely! Off to work I went.

I enjoyed my curve hugging drive in – invigorating! I arrived late due to my last minute stay. My boss and I walked in together. Work was busy – again – it always is. I left for my run at 12:45pm on the nose. It was exactly 80 degrees and completely sunny. There wasn’t a meaningful cloud in the sky. I measured the sun’s position knowing that tomorrow is the summer solstice. I love summer! It was a great run.

I spent the afternoon working on a handful of tasks all the while enjoying my packed lunch, which I didn’t finish until nearly 3pm. The remainder of the afternoon flew by. I left for home at 5:10pm. Mindy had just arrived home from the Anderson’s where she had picked up some filet mignon’s and a brochure on outdoor playsets. Her and the kids have been working me over pretty hard the last couple of days over this.

I learned when I got home that she had already walked Ykraps. So, after changing into comfy summer attire I got my sprinkler pump primed and began watering the difficult to water east side of my lawn. I had to extend the hose another 100’ to reach from the pump’s position in the pond. That reduced the water flow some, but it was plenty for the confined space. I fired up the grill as soon as watering was underway. Next, I pan seared the filet’s in olive oil and seasonings. At the same time, Mindy prepped some shrimp on skewers.

The steak and shrimp grilled up real nice. We had quite a meal for a Wednesday evening, not to mention the fact that I wasn’t all that hungry. I didn’t have the heart to tell Mindy, though. We ate our meal on the deck. I surprised myself by eating everything in front of me. I moved the sprinkler about four times to get the entire narrow east side of my lawn.

After dinner & clean-up I took a short little siesta on the chaise. It felt wonderful. Mindy woke me to tuck in the kids. I rejoined her on the deck afterwards. There we talked about a few things including the playset thing. In the end, I gave in her to demands for not wanting the kids to feel short changed, but how many kids can fish, canoe, or take a hike in the woods right from their back yard. Not many! We walked the yard looking for a place for a potential play set. My yard has zero flat terrain making the location of such a thing nearly impossible. We agreed to think about it more. As darkness enveloped us, we decided to get in the hot tub for the first time in quite a long while. The hot tub felt terrific! We headed to bed immediately after our starlit soak.

True to Form

I was hard pressed to get up & out of bed before 6am. Tommy’s late visit kept us up until after midnight. I’m definitely not used to that, especially on a work night. Dragging I was. I worked my way through morning calisthenics and finally made my way out of doors with Ykraps. It was 73 degrees and ridiculously humid even at 6:15am. They’re predicting strong storms later in the morning.

After our return I went through my usual morning paces. I packed food, ate breakfast, and watered the flowers front & back. The rear beds were still nice and wet from last evening’s lawn sprinkling, but I resoaked them anyhow.

I left for work around 8am in my impeccably shiny Trooper. During my short commute to the office I encountered giant dust clouds caused by freeway mowers cutting grass along the Hilliard exit. With little to no rain for over two weeks that stirred up quite a mess. So much for my clean Trooper. I didn’t go another half mile before I encountered mis-directed sprinkler heads shooting water into the road along Trueman Blvd. By the time I made it to work my once clean Trooper was no longer. Unbelievable. But fact is, the only reason I washed it on a work night was because of the appointment I had at True2Form for the hail damage estimate.

The first half of my work day went well. We were busy, of course, but when aren’t we. I left for a run at 12:40pm. It had rained like three times and was still raining when I left out the door. And for the first time in over a month, I wore a shirt on my run, albeit a sleeveless one. However, I didn’t get a mile before the sun busted out and turned my trail into a sauna. Granted, the temperature was no where near yesterday’s 96, but the humidity was the great equalizer. I was boiling in my skin tight wicking shirt. I didn’t bother stopping to remove the shirt. Instead, I just toughed out the run.

After a shower I headed to True2Form on Shier Rings Rd. I had a 2:30pm appointment. It was just before 2pm when I arrived. It’s not too far from my office. Dave, the estimator, greeted me and walked to my vehicle. Staring at it for a minute he looked at me and said, uh…hail damage? Yes, I replied. Tripping over a few of his words he apologized and said that they don’t do hail estimates until next Monday, and that they should’ve told me as much. Funny thing is my insurance company set this up with them - not me. He took a few minutes to explain how they’d go about the repair and all but guaranteed they’d have it back to me by Friday if I drop it off on Monday. I headed back to work.

Along my way back to work I stopped by Saturday’s Hair Salon to get a quick haircut. It’s been about four or five weeks. There was no wait. I got a ‘long’ cut in about ten minutes.

The afternoon blew by. I spent a little time chatting with my boss. I left for home around 5:10pm. This was a Mindy Tuesday. The kids were with their dad. I called Mindy on my way home. To my surprise, Bella answered. She wasn’t feeling well and decided to stay home with mom. Mindy and I discussed our dinner options. We opted for picking up carryout at Chipotle’s. I stopped at the Mill Run Chipotle and was in and out of there in five minutes. I was home by 5:40pm. Mindy & Bella were walking Ykraps when I pulled up.
We sat and ate our dinner soon after they got settled. After eating a giant burrito I was suddenly overcome with sleepiness. I launched myself onto the floor along with a sofa pillow. I’ll bet I was out in less than three minutes. I slept for almost an hour. When I woke Mindy & the kids were upstairs readying for bed I assumed. After gaining a little energy I went out back and did some light weeding of the flower beds after a day of much needed rain showers.

When I went back in Mindy called for me to tuck in the kids. I obliged. Together we agreed to do an early bedtime along with watching a movie from bed, The Notebook. I managed to see it in its entirety. I fell asleep soon after it ended.

Tommy & Wally

Feeling rather good, I bounced out of bed and made my way downstairs at 5:35am. By 5:50am I had completed my calisthenics and was looking for Ykraps. He was hanging near the door in anticipation of our scheduled walk. It was a balmy morning. It had to be in the 70’s still. For a brief minute I toyed with the idea of taking a day-off to go boating. The forecast called for clear blue skies and temps in the mid 90’s. It was gonna be a scorcher. But as I generally do, I chose to attend work.

I finished packing my lunch and eating my breakfast by 7:45am. I ate breakfast on the deck and then spent a little time playing guitar before beginning my watering chores. I spent an inordinate amount of time watering, making sure that everything was soaked really good. These extremely hot days dry the beds & pots quickly. I spent almost 35 minutes watering. It was 7:40am when I headed back upstairs to get my shower. I wondered briefly where all my time went. I left for work just after 8am.

I arrived at work expecting a couple new hires, but apparently we had our wires crossed. I later learned that they weren’t starting for a couple more weeks. I had a few personal goals to get completed sometime during the business day. I planned to file a hail damage claim for both my Trooper and home after last fall’s devastating storm. I’d put it off long enough. I had to pay a couple of bills, too.

I managed to stay on top of work and complete those goals before lunch. It felt good to have those issues behind me. MY insurance company promised to have two claim coordinators contacting me within the next day or so, and made an appointment to have the hail damage to the Trooper assessed tomorrow at True2Form Collision Repair. I left for my run at 12:45pm. According to AOL, it was already 96 degrees with about 40% humidity. I was taken back with how warm it was when I took off out the door. It was by far the hottest it’s been all year. It was down right oppressive. To offset the extreme conditions I slowed my pace a little taking it easy most of the way. I held up quite well given the conditions. And just as you might expect, the cool shower at runs end felt incredibly good.

The afternoon wasn’t as bad as I expected. I was busy but at least I wasn’t running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I managed to escape the office at 5:15pm. The kids and Mindy had alerted me that they wouldn’t be home when I arrived. Instead, they'd be swimming at a friend’s house. I had the house all to myself until approximately 7pm. We agreed to have a late dinner.

My plan was to wash the Trooper since I was taking her in to be evaluated tomorrow. Aside from that, I planned to water the lawn as well. After walking Ykraps I got the sprinkler pump primed and began watering the west side of the yard with the dramatic slope. While sprinkling I washed & detailed the Trooper.

Mindy & the kids arrived home just after 7pm. Immediately, Mindy began prepping dinner by thawing some Mahi-mahi. Jacob asked if I'd take him on a canoe ride. Yes. We took a lap around the pond in Diane’s canoe. It was fun. It was after 8pm when we got back. Mindy hustled both kids off to ready for bed. In the meantime, I began working on my blog, adding pictures from vacation (I’m way behind on pics).

After the kids were safely in bed, Mindy got busy making the Mahi-mahi along with some green beans and salad. Soon, we were enjoying our late dinner. It was still 90 degrees at just before 9pm. We opted to eat our dinner inside to avoid the stifling humidity. Dinner was just aabout history when brother Tommy called about stopping over. He'd just spent the evening at dad's and wanted to come by for a quick visit, just he and Wally.

Tommy & Wally arrived sometime around 9:30pm. I was in the middle of adding pictures to several recent blog entries, and I continued on after an initial greeting. Mindy entertained & fed Tommy. Finally, just after 10pm, I finished my blogging and briefly joined the two of them in the kitchen. The conversation was nothing more than familiar family gossip. Becoming increasingly tired as my usual bedtime came and went, I quietly moved to the sofa where I stretched out & tried closing my eyes. I could hear their muttled conversation the entire time. It kept me awake. I suppose I could've excused myself to bed, but didn't. Finally, shortly after midnight Tommy gathered up Wally & terminated their visit. By then I was more than eager to get to bed.

Father's Day for the 'Big Boys'

I got up at 6:15am. I needed to exercise, walk Ykraps, run and shower all before 7:50am. We were planning to meet Dad and brother Bob’s family at the Hilliard Frisch’s. I still made a pot of coffee despite our early breakfast plans. After completing my exercises I launched the sprinkler pump to begin saturating the front lawn. I walked Ykraps before heading out for a run. I was pushing the clock for every minute.

I dressed and left for a run at 7:06am. I woke Mindy just before heading out the door. I ran Trabue Rd, and because it was so early, traffic wasn’t an issue. I arrived back home at 7:35am. I headed directly for the shower. Mindy was all ready after skipping a shower. We were ready to depart by 7:50am. Mindy had another Father’s Day gift waiting for me on the island. She insisted that I open it before we left. It was a spare running kit to keep in my office. It included running shorts, a towel, and a vast assortment of shower supplies. Cute!

My dad was sitting parked in the Frisch’s lot when we pulled up. It was just before 8:00am. It didn’t take long at all for us to get there. Bobby & family arrived minutes later after giving dad a call on his cell. While waiting we took some photos posing with the Big Boy statue.

I haven’t eaten at a Frisch’s Restaurant since the summer of 1991. I remember that because it’s the summer that I bought my boat. Dad and I had been out boat shopping just prior to eating there last. Everyone but Dad ordered the breakfast buffet. It was really good, too, and there was plenty of everything. We’ll return. Bob was gracious enough to get the tab. Thanks Bob! We enjoyed the visit with family and the lively discussion. As we all departed, we headed straight for Lee’s boat storage to pick-up our boat.

It didn’t take long to get the boat attached and on our way home. I thought we hit the second of two speed bumps in their lot a little hard, but I figured the boat just bounced a little on the trailer. When we got home Mindy got to prepping for our trip while I made sure the boat was still water ready. But as luck would have it, it was not. The battery was completely dead. For this I was not too surprised. I really expected to replace the battery last year. I was surprised that it lasted. I jumped it and it started fairly easily. I let it run for a while I took care of a few more details and loaded all of our gear. We turned off the sprinkler before leaving. We pulled away at 10:45am. We were heading to Griggs since we had to be home to meet the kids by 4pm.

We arrived at the river by 11am. It was a little more crowded than I expected, but nothing close to what Alum would’ve been like. We were launch ready in about five minutes. There was only one boat in front of us. We put the boat in without any problems and after parking the trailer we were ready to shove off the dock. But a turn of the key netted negative results – only clicking. Dead battery! I took the dead battery in stride. I figured we’d pull the boat and go get a new one. It was over due anyhow. So, I jog back to get the trailer feeling a bit sheepish for holding up others waiting their turn at the dock. I return to pull out the boat and get right in. Just as we’re pulling out I notice one of the trailer boards that the boat typically rests on is floating off the trailer just under the boat. Glad I checked. Another gentleman nearby saw it too and advised that I better put the boat back in and pull the trailer out to check.. And honestly, I the potential for significant harm didn’t register at first. As I went to pull it out I thought about what he said again and took another look. His point was that if the boat failed to force the board back into place the boat’s hull could be speared by the steel mount for the board. Good catch! We talked about my options before I made my next move. I ended up placing a screw driver in the hole of the mount and the board therefore holding it in place as I pulled it up and out of the water enough to see it better.

The gentleman happened to have just the right sized stainless steel bolt, washers, and nut on hand and offered it up. I accepted. Thank God he was there to watch over me – angel of sorts. Mindy and I both figured that the bolt sheared off when we went over that speed bump and we heard that bouncing thud. We pulled out and along the boat prep area. We decided that Mindy would stay back with the boat while went after a new battery Tuttle Mall Sears Auto Center. I figured a 30-45 trip maximum. And that’s how long it took. I was back and ready to put-in by noon. Don’t think for a minute that I wasn’t stressed, however, because I was. Mindy will tell you that I was a butt! I tried being polite, but I was definitely short. It had already been a very taxing morning.

We had a little bit of struggle getting the boat away from the dock, but minutes later we were fully underway – at last. We took an enjoyable cruise up north as far as we felt comfortable heading – perhaps about a half mile north of the river island. It was hot and sunny and the water still. There’s something about that piece of river that calls me. It’s teeming with wild life and beautiful nature, and it’s so darn peaceful, too. We hung out up there for about two hours. We saw a deer, turtles, and countless blue heron. There very, very abundant up there. We saw some big bass jumping up out of the grassy edges to apparently get some grub also. Very cool! We pulled anchor and headed back at 2:45pm. Past experienced shows that it’s an hour or so from anchors up to home.

We went through our usual clean-up and took the boat back to storage before heading home. We arrived home just before 4pm – perfect timing. I watered the back yard flowers as soon as we got home. I purposefully skipped their morning watering. I could see first hand the stress that placed on many of the flowers. That proves that they need their water every morning to prevent any hint of dryness. They’re very demanding. Just as I finished the kids returned home from a weekend with dad. They both came out and hugged me and brought me a F.D. card. Thanks Jacob & Bella!

Soon my two youngest daughters showed up with their kids (Rocky, Olivia and Landon). They were over for dinner. It was nice to see them all. I must admit, however, that they turn our home upside down. Our home goes from a peaceful retreat to something far removed from that. Jacob & I took a canoe ride on the pond while everyone else played inside. Both of us were eager to get out on the water. Our neighbor Diane keeps her little canoe stowed at our place on occasion. Jacob and I paddled back to the main body of water and close to the damn. It’s so nice having he water level back to normal or higher.
Once we got close to the damn I now could see why the water level was up. Someone (the city I presume) rebuilt it. I could easily detect newly poured concrete walls despite not wearing my glasses. I thought a hike back to the damn might be in order later.

Back on dry land I started the grill at Mindy’s request. Soon we were grilling chicken and hot dogs. Olivia is really beginning to get around now. The chase officially begins NOW! We ate our dinner while the girls filled our heads with horror stories about daughter Courtney. It’s funny how they, especially Lindsey, like to share the stories but don’t want to deal with the real solutions. I guess they just want to vent. I want the issues fixed! It causes me untold heartache and stress.

I was watering the lawn all the while dinner was going on. There were isolated thunderstorms in the area, but they narrowly missed us. However, we did get a little liquid sunshine. The girls left sometime around 7pm. After cleaning up, Mindy, the kids and I had a brief water balloon fight. Mindy was a bit taken back with my zeal. J

I convinced the family to take a hike before calling it a night. We had done a similar family hike in May 2006, and Jacob and I were back there the first weekend of May 2007. We all put on our tennis shoes and hiked back through the woods and thicket. We were amazed at how tall the field grasses were. They were thick and probably 6ft. We followed the slightly beaten trails the best we could but eventually got off track due to the thick under brush, failing each attempt. Eventually we found our way to the original trail and found our way in to the damn, at last! We could hear the waterfall but struggled to get there. We tried a couple routes. My hunch was correct. The entire damn has been replaced. Looks like they did a very nice job too. We were excited to see the improvement. Perhaps we’ll buy our own canoe.

The sun was beginning to set. It was time to head home. We forged our way back though the high grasses and eventually through the thicket. We scared a young deer who was apparently nesting quietly just in font of us. You can just imagine how startled we all were when it up and took off right in front of our eyes. As we approached home and entered the thick under brush, darkness came quickly. Daylight has a very difficult time penetrating the brush. We were covered with sweat and grit as we exited the woods. We were happy to be back in our own yard, but also happy for the shared experience. Jacob and I took a rubbing alcohol bath with cotton balls before taking a shower to remove any poison ivy oil. We rubbed against several patches of the mean stuff along the trail. Mindy’s lucky enough to not get it. After four showers we tucked the kids into bed and eventually made our way there ourselves.