Rain & Gain

OK, so I am not back sliding after all. I was up again at 5:30am just like I wanted to be. I slept well save for being awakened by the kids around 4am when an unexpected thunderstorm rolled through. I was happy for the rain but also a little concerned for having my pump outdoors in the sprinkle-ready position. I knew, however, that it was under the protection of the clothes basket I rigged up to protect against such events, and it was up under a canopy of honeysuckle bushes. I didn’t worry too much.

I exercised then leashed up Ykrap for our routine morning walk. There was a smattering of leaves all over the front lawn, street, and sidewalks. They looked like walnut tree leaves. Those leaves always begin there descent in around this time – a sure sign that autumn is nearing. Just the very thought of autumn annoys me.

I returned from our walk eager to get some coffee pumping through my system. I used the caramel hazelnut creamer. It’s very good! I tried my best to avoid looking at the financial headlines since the market continues to plummet. I know that in the long run it always goes up but it’s still depressing to watch the bottom fall out of the entire summer’s large gains. I read the Daily OM and then turned my attention towards my morning meditation.

Like most days, I began my daily food prep right about 6:30am. I packed my usual menu items; lettuceless salad, turkey slices with chunks of cheese, nuts, and fruit. I made a cheese omelet for breakfast. I cut about a third of it off for Mindy and placed it on a paper plate covered with foil. I didn’t bother watering since it had just rained fairly hard an hour ago. And by the way, we got about a half inch.

I was in the shower by 7:10am – early by summer standards. I was ready to hit the door come 7:30am. Unless something unforeseen took place, I’d actually be at my desk before 8am. Damn!

I arrived at work well before 8am. The day went well, although I was very busy. I left for my afternoon run around 12:45pm. And even though the temperature wasn’t too high, the humidity was. I worked up quite a sweat. It was a great run, and I used my MP# player for the first time in a long while.

The afternoon was over seemingly before it had even begun. I had told Mindy I was stopping at Home Depot to possibly buy a chain saw, but a meeting kept me at work until darn near 5:30pm, so I headed straight home. Mindy was busy doing some character cut-outs for her class room. Once she reached stopping point she joined me on a walk with Ykraps. We could feel the humidity lessening as we walked – just like they predicted.

We didn’t make a formal dinner. Instead, we snacked. I ate nuts and some leftover cream cheese dip from her jewelry party, and I thought I might make some popcorn later. Mindy snacked on cheese. While updating my blog, the kids returned from their evening with dad. Word has it that Jimaken’s moving into his own place this weekend. I offered my help.

The kids got to play for about an hour before Mindy called them in for a shower and ultimately bed. She had them in bed and ready for the tuck by 8:15pm. We’re pretty close to a regular schedule, but they ended up staying awake for quite awhile longer. I watched the first few plays of the Thursday Night NFL preseason game with Jacob before settling in downstairs for the rest of the first half.

Mindy and I watched together from the family room. I drank a Jack & Diet Coke. I hadn’t had any Jack Daniels since Memorial Day weekend. We discussed, among other things, our weekend plans. Sounds like we’ll be taking a hall pass on Barley’s. Besides, the Vikings game in on TV and I’ll want to give it my undivided attention. We went to bed at halftime where we caught most of the third and fourth quarters.