Fruitful Begging

I wasn’t up until 5:35am, trying to sleep as long as I possibly could while still considering myself “on-time”. It was 5:40am by the time I was downstairs and exercising. Once again, I skipped my push-ups in curls in a effort to rest my aching right shoulder. I find it peculiar and almost hilarious that my right shoulder was pain free for years all the while my left shoulder ached incessantly, and that dates back to before my running streak and regular exercise regiment began. I find a miraculous cure for the left shoulder (Mindy walking on my back) and a few months later similar symptoms arise in the right. Something to ponder.

It was another chilly, yet beautiful autumn morning. The temperature was warmer than the day before – it was 43 degrees when I left for my run. But it still seemed quite chilly heading out the door. It wasn’t long before my body heat mounted and I was cooking like a stove.

The remainder of the morning progresses as normal. Mindy & Bella departed, Jacob and I hung out for another 45 minutes preparing for our own departures. We met up with the Shultz’s at the corner. There’s little question that the autumn color is now waning, but its magnificence remains a spectacle, especially as the sun brushes against the thinning canopies of the many surrounding trees still dressed in their reds, oranges, and yellows. It doesn’t get wasted on me!

Off to work while listening to another few chapters of the Tao Te Ching. I didn’t get to work until 8:35am. I was a few minutes behind for some reason. No worries.

This was Halloween. Last year I showed up in costume. No one else did, however. This year I skipped it. This was also team meeting day. I had previously arranged to meet with my entire team at 9am. I didn’t have much time to make last minute preparations. It was the first formal team meeting that I’ve held in a few months. The meeting went well. My peer held her team meeting contiguous to mine. It’s critical that no one has information that others don’t for too long. J

My mid-day break entailed a trip to Lowes. I had no specific agenda. Rather, I just felt like walking their aisles as I contemplate our basement finishing project. I ended up buying a 3” straight-tip Klein screwdriver to complete my existing set, and a bag of 8” tie-wraps. But I spent the most time looking at electric sub-panel boxes since I must add about 5 circuits as part of the project and our existing box is full. Not satisfied with their selection, I stopped by Home Depot on my way back to the office to check out their offerings. Back to work.

The remainder of the day went by quickly. Many of the parents with young children cut out a bit early to give themselves enough time to get home and ready for the big night – Trick-or-Treat. I left at 4:55pm about twenty minutes earlier than usual. I took the back way as I-270 looked painfully slow from the parking our lot. That was a wise choice. I ws home in short order. I called Mindy who indicated that Courtney & Porter Jump would indeed be joining us around 6pm. Jimaken was slated to arrive just before then to take the kids Trick-or-Treating. Mindy reported having dinner all but ready.
Jacob and I walked Ykraps as soon as I got settled. We tossed the football along the way. Our time was shortened, however, by the early arrival of his father, who drove by the two of us as we set out on our walk. Jacob dashed back home to play with him. I never try to out play Jimaken in those situations.

I finished Ykraps walk and returned inside. Meanwhile, Jacob and Jimaken tossed football lout front. Eventually the two came back inside where the kids costumed up for the big event. Bella had a minor meltdown during the process, insisting that she wanted to go with Emily & Evan, Mike and Terri’s kids. She locked herself in the bathroom while pouting. Eventually she came out with a little force and got to spend a few quality minutes in her room before finally settling down. I was worried for Jimaken because even when she finally gave in and left she continued holding onto some of her anger. Mindy was insistent on snapping a couple pre-Trick-or-Treat photos on the front porch.

It wasn’t long before the kids were gone & we were serving our first Trick-or-Treaters. And a few minutes later Courtney and Porter arrived. Porter was in costume – pumpkin pajamas. Courtney, while not in costume, looked great, especially after just having a baby a few short weeks ago. They joined us for dinner. Porter slept most of the time, and when he wasn’t Mindy was quick to pick him up happy to give Courtney a break. I passed out most of the candy as a new batch of Trick-or-Treaters showed up every few minutes. Jimaken returned after only 30 or 40 minutes with Bella. She had to pee. She decided to stay back with us while Jimaken and Jacoby set out for more candy. The almost constant stream of beggars continued until about 7:45pm .We had a few stragglers after that but for the most part it was done. We ended up with enough candy – something I worried about the entire evening. When I was a kid, that was the best way to assure that your car was soaped – run out of candy.

I checked the kids candy for illicit content. I was a little concerned that the Butterfingers might be tainted, so I confiscated all of them. :) It wasn’t long after Jacob returned that Courtney & Porter decided to leave. I’m sure that he was hoping for some milk soon! The kids ate their fare share of goodies, and I sampled a few pieces myself. Mindy eventually put them to bed, but Bella made a return after I popped some corn to share in my salty treat.

I must’ve went to bed near 9:30pm. I didn’t stay up too late, for sure.