Umbrella Day

Eight months of Marital Bliss

More Pumpkin Show pics

I was up on time and ready to get moving. I could hear the rain pounding against the skylights so I knew immediately that it was going to be a soggy walk and run. I pushed through my exercises and then leashed up Ykraps. He wasn’t excited about stepping out into the cool, dark, rainy morning. But hey, neither was I!

I grabbed the seldom used umbrella off the porch to protect myself from a soaking. I still got good and wet. Finally returning home, I kept Ykraps on his leash as I walked him to the laundry room where I toweled him off. I checked the weather radar. There was no end in site. I did all I could to get psyched for my rainy run. believeit or not, I’ve learned to pull motivation from the rain over the years.

After delivering Mindy’s coffee I grabbed a more water resistant jacket from the bedroom closet. I skipped the all important stretching for a quicker burst out the door. And while it was a heavy, driving rain, it wasn’t a cold one. I was fairly comfortable. Wet, but comfortable. Less than a quarter mile into the run I was soaked to the bone. I saw none of my usual compadres along the trail. I can't say that I was surprised. I did wonder where all the kids were that typically wait for the school bus on the corner, though. The streets were desolate.

Mindy was kind enough to have a towel waiting just inside the door upon my return. I might as well have been swimming. I was dripping wet, head to toe. It felt terrific to strip out of my wet running attire and pour another cup of coffee. Mindy & Bella left a few minutes later. Jacob was already dressed for school and ordered a Toaster Strudel.

I showered for work and was ready to go with a few minutes to spare. Jacob had little interest in waiting for the bus in the rain. He checked with me to make sure that he could wait in the Trooper. Of course, I countered! I even went as far as pulling the Trooper halfway into the garage to ensure that he stayed dry while getting in. That maneuver would later prove to haunt me.

Jacob and I headed to the corner where we sat in the Trooper waiting on the bus all the while the windshield wipers kept in time with the Tao Te Ching. Do the Tao Now! It wasn’t long before the bus pulled up and swept Jacob away to school. Alena never showed. I figured her under the weather.

No sooner did I arrive at work did I reach to the back seat for my gym bag only find that it wasn’t there. A quick inventory of my morning’s activities revealed its likely location was the garage. I remembered sitting it down just before pulling the Trooper in to pick-up Jacob. Shoot! That meant my personal cell, Blackberry, and lunch were very likely lying helplessly on the garage floor. I thought things through and figured it a minor inconvenience at best. That is until lunch time. If push came to shove, I’d drive home at lunch to fetch my bag.

My morning was filled with plenty of activity making the time go much faster than usual. Around 1:10pm I left for home. I was very hungry given that I didn’t get my typical mid-morning snack that I’ve come to depend on each day. Once at home I enjoyed my packed salad. I also warmed a can of Won Ton soup. I caved and ate a couple of sugar cookies too. :(

My hunger satisfied, I drove back to the office. I was back by 2pm. I finished out the day leaving the office once again for home around 5:20pm. Mindy asked that I stop at ITT to pick-up Jacob where Jimaken teaches part-time Criminal Justice classes. Jimaken was nice enough to get Jacob off the bus and then take him along to his second job. Mindy was at a doctor’s appointment at Riverside Hospital. I arrived at ITT in Mill Run at 5:35pm. It’s just around the corner fro mwork. I phoned Jimaken not being sure where I might find him on my own. He brought Jacob out and we headed home.

Jacob and I walked Ykraps tossing a tennis ball along the way. Mindy arrived after another 20 or 30 minutes. Bella was at her usual Tuesday dance class. We ate leftovers. Mindy ate a leftover cube steak, and me, a leftover hamburger and cheesy potatoes. It wasn’t long before it was time to fetch the Bella from dance. Jacob went along. I stayed back and updated my blog. It didn’t take long. They were back home in no time at all.

Mindy readied the kids for bed. Bella had a minor meltdown crying that Mindy didn’t love her. That lasted all of ten minutes and then she was fine. Little kids do that from time to time. After the kids were tucked neatly into their beds, Mindy and I chatted briefly downstairs about her surgical options. She’s thinking of going for bigger, firmer breasts. :)

While I continued work on my blog, Mindy went to our bedroom to watch Bones. At 9pm I joined her where we watched House from bed. It was good – not great. I fell asleep immediately after.