Wet & Wild

Happy First Day of 1st Grade, Jacoby!!

I was surprised to be awakened by thunderstorms rolling through the area during the predawn hours. I thought the storms were well past us. They were fairly heavy, too. There was quite a bit of lightning and thunder echoing through the nighttime sky. The kids, of course, ended up in our bed as they so often do during loud storms. The rain was slamming against the house. It was raining cats and dogs! So much for a lovely first day of school!

The rain had pretty much stopped by the time 530am rolled around. I was hopeful that it would clear so that I could squeeze in my run before work. I exercised and then walked Ykraps. It was sprinkling so I grabbed my ball cap. Meanwhile, the thunder continued to rumble off in the distance.

After coffee, computer, and meditation the rain and lightning returned. It was then that I nixed the idea of running. I’d simply suck it up and run at lunch. I already knew that I’d be late for work for waiting with Jacob at the bus stop on this his first day of school. I was all ready by 7:45am. And Mindy and the kids were already up like a normal school day, too. Now all we could do was wait. I took several pictures to capture the moment – the first day of school. It brought back memories of years past with my girls standing in the same doorway awaiting their bus.

Mindy, Jacob, and Bella walked to the bus stop – one house down. I drove figuring that it would protect me from the threat of rain as well as provide a quick exit to work. As we waited neighbor Pat & Alena joined us. She attends the same school – 5th grade, I believe.
The bust was stopped just down the road parked waiting for the stop time to arrive, I suppose. Once 8:10 hit she continued down the street to our bus stop. Jacob and Alena boarded. I took a pic of the bus driver for the blog. I left for work just as Mindy and Bella headed home.

I arrived at work right at 8:30am. The day was already off to a good start. The rain continued to come down periodically through the morning hours. But eventually the sky began to brighten, and by run time it was mostly sunny. The sun ushered in the oppressive heat. It was a sticky afternoon to be sure. The heat index was near 100 – a sure sign that my run would be a challenge. And it was.

When I got back to my desk I had an email from Bob I. who confirmed his intentions to golf. I then confirmed my own. I planned to depart at 430pm. Once that time arrived I departed as planned. Traffic started out a little dicey but opened up nicely. I made it there by 5:10pm – record time. Chuck was already there as he often is. I decided to cart with him. I picked up Bob I.’s green fees since he covered mine last week. He and Bob B. arrived a few minutes later. Soon we were teeing off the back nine – the tougher of the two.

I know this sounds like a broken record, but I played pretty much like I have all season. I started with my proverbial seven and then a six. After that I put together a string of bogeys with a par sprinkled in. So far I was two putting – not bad. I had one opportunity for a birdie but blew it and ended up three putting for yet another bogey. The eighteenth hole is probably their toughest and a par 5. I was sitting pretty at 150 yards out in two. Just an easy six iron over the water and I’d be putting for a birdie. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I lost my ball. Damn! To sum it up, my golf game was wet & wild. We’re planning to golf again on Sunday at Phoenix. I’m looking forward to it.

I drove home into a very lovely sunset. It was big, bright, and orange. There were storms all around the central Ohio area but none near me. We could hear rumbling thunder all the while we golfed. We even saw a couple impressive lightning bolts off in the far distance. I stopped at the Groveport Kroger to buy Mindy some roses and a card to commemorate our six month wedding anniversary. I bought a bag of salt & vinegar potato chips, too. I just couldn’t resist. I was craving the salt and tanginess.

I arrived home around 8:30pm. Renee’ was there chatting with Mindy. Renee left soon after I arrived home. Mindy asked that I tuck in the kids. She said that they were waiting on me. I did. Afterwards and while she typed a letter to her new students parents, I sat down to finish reading Tony Dungy’s book. I had about twenty pages or so to go. Mindy headed to bed around 9:30pm. I stayed up until I finished the book. That turned out to be 10pm on the nose.