Sunday, August 05, 2007

The First Family Breakfast at Frisch's





I set a goal to be up by 6am, but I didn't get up and going until 6:15am. However, I was satisfied with that since I knew that I could still easily accomplish everything that I needed and wanted to before leaving for Sunday breakfast.

This was to be our first official Sunday family breakfast. We agreed last week to meet the first Sunday of each month for breakfast at 9am. For sure, it would be brother Bob’s family, dad, along with my new family. But we also invited Tommy and Shaun too. We asked that Tommy make Charles aware. The idea of course being to stay in touch beyond the holidays and the occasional summer get togethers. As far as we’re concerned, the more the merrier. If you’re a reader and want to join us, please feel free. Again, we’ll meet the first Sunday of the month at 9am at Frisch’s on Rome-Hilliard Rd.
The next one will be Sunday, September 2nd, Labor Day Weekend.

I exercised, walked Ykraps, moved the sprinkler, drank coffee, checked in with work, and ran four miles all before 8am. It had rained over night but not too much. I was smart enough to place a clothes basket over top of my pump protecting it from moderate moisture. There was a chance of rain all morning but given our history, I wasn’t willing to bet to on it.

Mindy was already showered and dressed by the time I returned from my run. In fact, she was getting Bella dressed. Jacob was still sleeping, but it doesn’t take him too long to get out of bed and dressed. I got in the shower. We were all ready to go by 8:20am. We had some time to kill. We assembled our swimming bag in case we decided to head to Bob’s afterwards. He left a VM yesterday inviting us to do just that. I moved the sprinkler one last time before departing.

We arrived at Frisch’s just before 9am. Dad was already there in the lot. We parked right next to him. Jacob’s taken quite a liking to Dad and was eager to get out of the vehicle to give him a hug. Bella, of course, followed suit. It wasn’t too long before Bob’s family arrived. I already knew that Tommy & Heather wouldn’t be joining us. I talked with heather earlier and she indicated that Tommy was still sleeping after a couple very busy days. Just the same, I made sure that she knew that they were invited.

We all got the buffet. There were eleven of us in total but only ten eating. Evan was partaking in a few nibbles of Bob’s. Bambi was our waitress. She’s grown up to look more human than I ever thought possible. She even speaks fluent English. J We hung at Frisch’s well past filling our bellies. We laughed & joked for quite a while, then, after settling the bill, we retreated to the lot where we made plans to head over to Bob’s. It rained pretty hard while we were eating and the sky looked threatening again. It really wasn’t optimal swimming weather but the kids didn’t seem to mind. We could stay no later than 1230pm since the kids would be joining their father for lunch with his family today.

We hung out Bob’s till 1230pm as planned. It rained two or three times in the hour we were there. We left for home and phoned Jimaken on the way. He was on his way to our house to get the kids. Good timing! When we got home Mindy told me that I should bring in the pump since it was threatening rain, and according to the radar, a pretty significant storm. The pump had been running since Friday at 6pm. I relented and went out to retrieve the pump. Just as I was under the honeysuckle bushes gathering it up the rains came, and heavily it did pour. I rushed into the house and into the garage being mindful of the last time this happened. I was more careful not to drop the pump.

Jim arrived to fetch the kids at the same time. He left with them in the downpour. After they departed Mindy asked if we could take Glenn’s art to Michael’s Crafts for framing. I agreed. We also thought we might visit a few model homes to get some painting/decorating ideas. We headed to Michael’s first. It’s located just north of the Hilliard Giant Eagle. The young lady working the framing shop was very helpful. We were surprised, no- shocked is a better word, with the estimate. She said it would be about $550. She said we just missed the half price sale. We asked if they would still honor the price since the sale ended yesterday. She said no. We asked how often they do the sale. She said once a month. Well, hell, thin about it. Wouldn’t it be wise to honor the price rather than risk us going elsewhere? Still, she wouldn’t budge, although she was pleasant. We moved on.

With that kind of estimate, we decided to explore framing it ourselves. From my way of thinking, I don’t want the frame and mounting to be the focus. Rather, the art itself should be the focal point. We found beautiful 24X36” frames for around $60 complete with mounting and glass. All we have to find now is a plain black mat.

We left Michael’s and headed a few store fronts further north to Kirkland’s Home. Mindy was excited to see one so close to home. It’s right by the brand new, yet to open, Target. We browsed their offerings for about 30 minutes. It’s much like a Pier 1 store, only with a narrower offering. Mindy bought a lead crystal vase on sale.

After Kirkland’s we drove towards home. I wasn’t in the mindset to drive to find model homes. Instead, I would research where we can find the biggest cluster of such homes and go another time. My guess is Dublin/Powell/New Albany, and possibly Grove City would net the best results. As we headed home we remembered the three new TK homes models strangely placed along Wilson Rd just south of the Thornton’s. We stopped in just to browse. The houses are neat but most models are. They cater to folks like me that like openness and no clutter. Missing are the little nick-knacks a typical family clutter. I mentioned as much to Mindy. We enjoyed the visit but saw little that offered any good ideas. We both agreed that they were catering to starter homes, albeit nice ones.
We headed home.

At home I was determined to get a nap. The kids arrived minutes after we got home. They never stay at Jimaken’s family get togethers for too long. Mindy said 90 minutes tops. Before I knew it was early evening. After my quick nap I watched Tiger Wood bully the rest of the pack at the Firestone Championship from Canton, Ohio. He was on today! As that wrapped up I got the grill fired up for our filet mignon and shrimp dinner. Mindy made fresh garden salads, too. While the grill heated, I took Ykraps on his evening walk. I returned to get grillin’.

We ate around 6pm. The steaks turned out perfectly according to Mindy. They were just pink enough inside. As usual, Bella had only a hot dog. She doesn’t care for steak and such. She could live on fruit. I’d guess to a great extent that it’s in her genes. For dessert we had keylime pie. Very good! We finished dinner around 630pm and began clean-up. Jacob and I were both looking forward to watching the Hall of Fame game – the first preseason game of the year. It was slated to begin at 8pm. He asked if I would agree to play with him in the basement until it started. I agreed.

Down the basement, Jacob wanted to play football. I didn’t. That’s a rough game to play on the concrete floor and he always ends up hurt. I encouraged him to choose basketball instead. He ultimately did. We began playing basketball like we always have, but he was in a pissy mood and ended up fouling and playing very rough. In the end, he got hurt and quit. I wasn’t too discouraged. I didn’t really want to play anyhow.

It wasn’t long before Mindy encouraged the kids to go back to the basement to pick-up their toys which she helped organize as recent as yesterday. They did their usual complaining. In the end, however, she got them to clean it up. I laid down on the family room floor and napped. Soon Mindy ushered the kids upstairs for bath time. She asked if I would do the honors. I begged out. This, as I saw it, was the first I had relaxed all weekend.

The kids were out of the tub and in their jammies before 8pm. I was excited to tune into the football game at 8pm. We watched the fifty greatest catches of all times leading up to kick-off. Finally, it was 8pm. Are you ready for some Football!!!!!!!! Apparently NOT!
We searched the TV high and low for the game. We couldn’t find it anywhere or on any channel. I was certain this was an oversight of sorts. I retreated to my PC to search Yahoo for the programming information. Yahoo Sports solved the puzzle. Sadly, the game was only being shown on the NFL network which Time Warner is not carrying on their basic cable programming package. I was disappointed, and so was Jacob. Damn!

Mindy tuned into some of his favorite programming to ease the pain. I was set to watch the Family Guy if I couldn’t watch football. Mindy, right fully so, wouldn’t agree to such viewing in front of the kids. I headed up to bed to view it. I was tired anyhow. Turns out Fox was hosting a Family Guy marathon. There were four episodes on in a row. I saw the final three, or up until 10pm. Mindy joined me after putting the kids to bed for the final two episodes. She asked that I tuck in the kids before watching the rest. I did. I fell asleep soon after the fourth episode ended. Weekend history.

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