One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I beat the clock again this morning, but not by much. The clock struck 5:30am just as I began my exercise routine. I felt pretty good accept for my shoulders, which ached from the vigorous Wii action last evening. That was the first time that playing the Wii game has taken my wind away.

Bella had been up a couple of times through the night, once after throwing up. That, however, was brought about by the coughing more than anything else. Still, she had a significant fever and that nagging incessant cough. Mindy realized that one of us would have to stay home. She asked if I could do it. I didn’t really want to.

Mindy pretty much got up when I did to call Jane, her principal. Apparently she didn’t take the news that well, but who would at 5:30am in the morning. Immediately after, she began working on her sub plans for school. It was highly unusual to be exercising in Mindy’s company. But other than that, my morning went on as normal. It was raining, but only lightly. I felt blessed since it had been raining much harder through the night. I already knew that rain was forecasted for the next two days, but at least the temperature was expected to climb into the low 60’s. Sometimes spring is a compromise. I walked Ykraps opting out of an umbrella. The few sprinkles still coming down were next to unnoticeable.

Back from our walk by 5:45am, I poured a cup of coffee and sat down to enjoy it at the PC. Mindy had headed back to bed for a while. I tinkered on the PC for about 20 minutes. It wasn’t long before I dashed out for my morning run. The streets were wet but still no rain coming down. The radar looked to be in my favor. Most of the visible rain on the radar had already passed. I didn’t wear ear or hand covers. It was truly freeing.

Mindy was up when I got back and had already packed my lunch and started our eggs. Jacob was also up readying for school, and Bella, much to my surprise, was up too. But despite being up, she was still running a significant fever and had that nagging cough. Jacob asked Mindy to walk him to the bus stop. All that did was buy me more time. Mindy walked him down while I showered and dressed. I was all ready to go even before she got back. Bella reminded me that I needed to wait for her mother’s return so not to miss a hug & a kiss.

It was a group hug. I arrived at work around 8:15am. The sky actually cleared for a little bit and it looked like a nice day for a while. But that all changed not long after. Work was busy. I was heavily engaged in lots of issues. All that did was make the day go faster. I didn’t take a lunch either. Mindy took Bella to see her brother, Dr. Craig. She was officially diagnosed with influenza. Uh-oh! Damn the rest of us.


Mindy said Bella moped and slept for most of the afternoon. She certainly had all the signs tell-tale signs of the flu.

Mindy was making tacos for dinner. When I got home I hurried to walk Ykraps. I was eager to complete that last repetitive chore. Settling down for dinner sounded awfully good. Just as we were preparing our dinner plates Lindsey and the kids stopped by. She was aggressively seeking gas money, after I committed to doing so last Friday evening in a moment of weakness. The truth is, I don’t really want to give anymore. She rambled on about how upset she is with big Rocky having a new girlfriend. It took all of my will power to restrain my tongue. I wanted to shred her teenage logic. But enough about that. After we finished eating Mindy agreed to follow her to the gas station to put gas in her minivan. Mindy would head directly to the grocery from there. I happily agreed to stay home with the kids.

Mindy wasn’t gone but an hour. I was blogging when she pulled into the garage, and by the time I pulled myself away from the PC she had already carried in most of the groceries. Oops!

I got really sleepy around 7:30pm and slid into the recliner to steal a quick nap. It felt really good. I could hear the kids and Mindy heading up for bath time. I forced myself up and went to assist Jacob with his shower. It went well, and soon we had both kids in bed. Mindy& I both commented on Jacob’s improved behavior. He’s been so much more pleasant, kind, and loving of late. That streaky aggressiveness has been absent as well. Perhaps just a coincidence, but he hasn’t taken his allergy meds since Friday morning. We both wondered if there might be some correlation.

We talked for a little while before heading into the kitchen. Mindy played on her laptop while I played Wii. I was determined to get better at the Mario & Sonic Olympic Games. No such luck. If anything, I got worse. After swearing at the game console I decided to throw in the towel. I shut it down and tuned into South Park. That I could do like a pro! As soon as that episode was over we headed towards bed.

Mindy Returns

More Saturday Night …Within an hour after getting out of the hot tub and just before going to bed, Bella developed a dry, shallow cough. This was a cough that I figured would subside on its own. But a good thirty minutes after she went to bed the coughing continued. I had already given her a child’s Ibuprofen earlier to help with Friday’s dental work, so I wasn’t real keen on giving her more meds. But now I was scrambling to find her something for that incessant cough. Since Mindy’s arrival, the hallway closet has morphed into a medical pantry of sorts. There I found some Children’s Tylenol Cough suppressant. I gave her the recommended dosage.

Tick-tick-tick. An hour or so passed yet her coughing continued. Surprisingly, though, she finally fell asleep. I went to bed before midnight. And just as I shared in Saturday’s blog entry, sometime around 1am I woke to Bella joining me in my bed. There wasn’t much coughing. I figured it beat.

After going downstairs to read around 3:30am, I must’ve fallen back asleep around 5am. I slept in the recliner until 7:15am. I felt surprisingly good, too, for sleeping in a chair. I started some coffee then headed upstairs to brush my teeth and pee. I knocked over the baby gate at the top of the stairs on my way up. That brought Bella to the forefront. Not a minute later, Jacob joined us, too.

They were both at my feet as I began my exercise regime. I promised them breakfast after my exercises and after walking Ykraps. And by the way, Bella’s coughing returned. It wasn’t a nice morning either. It was cloudy and cool – a classic cool, gray, damp, & dreary (CGDD) day. Not long after my return home, I got the kids their requested breakfast items, and later gave Bella another dose of cough suppressant. But still, that nagging little cough would not go away.

Mindy called just before taking off from BWI. She said she’d call again from Atlanta. I left for my run around 9:30am. Once again, Jacob was in his room playing PS2 and Bella was watching the rest of Saturday evening’s movie – Flushed Away. They know the drill. I was back 35 minutes later. Bella was still coughing but otherwise fine. Jacob requested that we do the hike we skipped yesterday since it wasn’t raining. That was our deal.

The morning moved swiftly. Before we knew it the afternoon was upon us. Mindy phoned again just after 12noon, or just before boarding her plane in Atlanta.
In the meantime, Bella’s cough continued. Through the early afternoon we didn’t do a whole lot, although I did scrub the shower and then took a hot, steamy one for myself. It felt terrific. Jacob kept asking about our hike, and I would’ve gone had Bella not been coughing so much. But a smarter decision had to be made. I had to break the news to Jacob. We weren’t going to go on our hike due to Bella’s cough. Jacob was disappointed.

I took a short nap around 1-1:30pm. I told the kids that we needed to tidy up the house when I got up so that their mommy would return to a peaceful, clean, & tranquil home. They were a big help. And honestly, the house never got too messy. Bella’s room was probably the worst. But she did a nice job picking it up. Meanwhile, the coughing continued.

Mindy phoned around 2:20pm to tell us that she was already on the shuttle bus and headed for the parking lot. She’d be home in a jiffy. Suddenly, her time away seemed to go by in a flash. By 3pm, Bella was moping around, but I attributed most of that to her desire to see her momma. She whined a little while gazing out the front door awaiting her mother’s arrival. Jacob seemed uninterested. He was up in his room playing his PS2. Bella and I ran around the house some playing hide & seek. I did it to take her mind off of her momma. She can get really whiney, otherwise. My tactic worked. Next thing you know, Mindy pulled up in the drive. Bella was anxious for her mother to pass through the door.

Mindy was finally home. We had the house all picked up and looking decent. Mindy hugged Bella and I then began telling stories about her trip almost immediately. Jacob finally came down to see his momma and gave her a big hug. Mindy kept the stories coming all the while unpacking her luggage. She wasted little time getting back in the groove and had laundry going almost instantly. She spoke earlier of going out to dinner – Barley’s. The kids seemed OK with that, especially Jacob. But Bella was looking more & more tired, and her coughing continued. Mindy gave her another dose of cough syrup. Bella got drowsy and eventually made her way to the sofa for a rare nap.

Before we knew it, it was 5pm. I suggested that maybe we should skip the dinner out and allow Bella more time to rest. Jacob, once again, expressed feeling a little slided. I understood but we needed to be mindful of Bella’s condition. She felt very warm too. She woke around 5:30 or 6:00pm. She didn’t look good. Her cheeks were very rosey, and on Bella that’s rare. As expected, she didn’t want to venture out. Then it was settled, we’d be staying home. Suddenly we were faced with what to fix for dinner. Eventually, we decided on cream of chicken over rice. It’s always been one of my faves. I agreed to make it.

It didn’t take long before we were eating. But the kids weren’t so sure about having it. Somehow, we convinced them to give it a try. Both, not surprising to me, liked it. Bella didn’t eat a whole lot, however. She was very mopey. She seemed to be getting warmer, too.

Mindy worked on laundry most of the evening all the while carrying on with the kids. Around 7:00pm Jacob and I played Wii Olympics. And it literally wore me out. We ran, swam, and threw the hammer & javelin. Mindy and I got the kids into bed just after 8pm. Despite being ill, Bella was pleasant. Mindy & I chatted for the next hour or two. And in what was a very pleasant surprise, we got out federal income tax refund back. That lifted my spirits considerably. We headed to bed around 10pm.

A Much Different Saturday

After a thoroughly refreshing night of sleep, I rose to face the sunshine at 7:30am sharp. By the time I took a pee and finished brushing my teeth the kids rose from their slumbers as well. I was both happy & a little surprised that we didn’t have any “mommy” moments through the night. The kids gathered near my feet as I cranked out my morning calisthenics all the while I listened to our fresh coffee brew.

Jacob joined me walking Ykraps while Bella stayed back. It was a lovely start to the morning with only a few wispy clouds scattered on each horizon. It was still rather chilly, however. We later learned that it was just below freezing. The kids each ordered something different for breakfast, but neither was too taxing. Jacob had Cocoa Krispies and Bella had a caramel roll. I threw some cinnamon rolls in the oven as well. Both had an IPA to wash down their delectable delights. :)

I played on the PC while the kids ate and enjoyed the rest of Ratatouille. I talked with them about my run. They both expected me to be heading out soon. They’re trained well. Perhaps some day either or both will develop a similar ethic. We’ll see. By the time that I headed out, Jacob had gone to his room to play his PS2 and Bella was in her room watching cartoons. They hardly noticed I was gone. I worried just a little, but they were fine.

I got back around 10am. Not long after my return Mindy phoned to see how the kids were doing and how night one went. I think she talked with Jacoby, too. I shared that it was going better than expected. She spoke in a very benign tone, one that made me feel like little more than a care taker. In fact, it reminded me much of the way she speaks to Jimaken when he has the kids. Of course me being who I am, I let her know how I felt.

As mid morning surged by, the kids and I planned our day. The weather, while sunny, wasn’t going to be very warm. It would be heading towards the upper 40’s, but no higher. Plus, with all the recent rain, our outdoor options were limited. We agreed to take a hike back through the woods to the water fall. Bella asked, too, that we get in the hot tub later. I agreed. And to that end, I added about 5 inches of water that it needed.

The sunshine was brilliant and made it feel warmer than it was. We started out throwing the football, and then, like often happens, we moved to the tree swing. We played outdoors for a solid hour. I eventually headed back in and took care of tidying up the house. Not long after, the kids asked Lilly and Makayla over. They played in the back yard and house all afternoon. That pretty much put a wrench in our hike plans much to Jacob’s dismay. But unlike most other times, he seemed keenly interested in playing with the girls. Hmmm?

Mindy left a message mid-afternoon. We missed the call. I had the kids call their dad around dinner time. It looked like he had called our spare number a couple of times. Later, upholding my promise, the kids and I drove to Chipotle in Hilliard. Traffic was nightmarish, but we managed it fine. Bella went along but didn’t order anything. Instead, she had leftover pizza when we got back home with our take-out. Mindy must’ve phoned again sometime around 7pm. Both kids talked with her this time. We were preparing to hot tub about that same time. We didn’t talk long.

Just as the sky began to darken, I put the chemicals in the hot tub. I got in first and the kids soon followed. Like before, getting accustom to the hot water is a slow process for them, but they eventually sink down into the depths and love it. Bella is very dramatic about its therapeutic affects. We stayed in the tub for no more than 20 minutes. After the hot tub we gathered on the family room floor to watch Flushed Away. I bored of it quickly, although I liked the beginning. While they watched the movie, I played on You Tube. I watched/listened to Pink Floyd at Live 8, some old Todd Rundgren clips, and then watched the Liv Tyler story. I enjoyed my time.

The kids watched the movie once again until they were very sleepy. They both asked to go to bed. With their mother away, I figured that was the best way to ease them to bed. It was 9:40pm. The tuck in went OK, although Bella wined a little and then began a coughing spell. I gave her some cough syrup, which she despised but needed just the same. I had to go up a second time as her pouting continued. But eventually she fell asleep. I ended up finishing the growler of IPA I started into last night. At 11pm I tuned to Mad TV & then Saturday Night Live at 11:30pm. I didn’t last long, however. I went to bed around 11:45pm where I tried watching some more of SNL. I woke around 1am with Bella crawling in bed. Until then, I was enjoying sleeping in the very middle of the bed. With Bella now in it, I slid uncharacteristically to the north edge – typically Mindy’s side.

I woke again feeling almost completely rested around 3:30am. I wasn’t certain but could’ve sworn that Bella was giving me shit for snoring, pleading with me to stop. Are you kidding me? Who’s in whose bed here? I couldn’t return to sleep so I got up and headed down to the computer. I wasn’t down there long before I could hear Bella wining once more. I went back up to see what was the matter. She complained of being left alone. I gave her the option of returning to sleep in our bed or her own. She chose her own. I tucked her in and then went back downstairs where I read some before the sleepies returned.

Pizza or Chipotle

I didn’t sleep all that well after initially waking around 3:30am. Come 5:20am I decided to get up and get my morning moving. Despite all that, I felt surprisingly good. I completed my exercise routine and was headed out the door with Ykraps well ahead of schedule. Because of the early start, we were back for coffee before 5:45am – a new record. I spent the extra time surfing the web. Come 6:00am I delivered Mindy’s coffee. And while she seemed awake when I made the delivery, I’m quite sure that she went back to sleep for another 15 minutes or so. I didn’t hear a peep.

Back downstairs I did fifteen minutes of meditation before prepping for a run. Like the rest of the morning, I was well ahead of schedule. I was out the door by 6:25am. Much like Thursday, it was cloudy, but at least there was no threat of rain. It was chilly again too, probably about 30 degrees.

The run was enjoyable, and over before I knew it. I was back home by 7:03am. Mindy wasn’t downstairs as of yet but I noticed some of her things were. At least I knew that she had her day underway. I began prepping my lunch and breakfast immediately not wanting to lose the time advantage I’d so far maintained. Mindy came down minutes later and began helping with lunch. I prepared the Olympus camera for her to take on her trip by formatting the card and placing it in “auto” mode. I asked if she wanted the instruction booklet. She did not. She seemed tense – perhaps nervous about her trip.

We discussed whether or not she should head to the airport from school or come home first. I recommended going straight from school, which meant she should take everything with her this AM. She left undecided but took all of her gear so the decision could be made later. She also shared that Jimaken was going to bring the kids by school after Bella’s dental appointment so that she could see them before she left.

We sat at the island together having our breakfast. Mindy shared her disappointment with my perceived attitude towards her trip. She didn’t feel I was offering the level of support she had hoped. She expressed wanting/needing extra touches, hugs, compassion and conversation. Yep, we were out of sync. I didn’t quite get all that. I viewed the entire thing certainly as a choice, and also one I would likely not have made. And secondly, I viewed it as a fun weekend getaway with friends, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. Granted, her heart was in the right place. That was never in question.

Also, to deny my own concerns & fears would be misleading. I was more than a little concerned how my weekend alone with the kids would turn out. After all, I haven’t been in such a predicament in years and years. How would I run? How would they respond to being alone with me for the entire weekend? And lastly, how would I respond to zero “Jimmy” time. Still, part of me was looking forward to the “nesting” weekend. Come 7:30am Mindy left for school. We hugged for a minute or so and exchanged the typical I love you’s.

I spent a few minutes tidying up the kitchen before heading up for my shower. I was ready to leave for work by 7:45am. I left the house just a few minutes later and arrived to work by 8:10am. The mood in the office was somewhat glum given the light staffing and yucky weather. I felt pretty good, however.

I wasn’t sure if I would take a lunch or not. As the morning wore on, I got a case of the sleepies. I thought about going home for a nap but didn’t. I ended up working straight through the day eating my packed lunch at my desk. The afternoon was busy but under control – thankfully. Friday’s can be a bear! I remembered to submit a time-off request to cover Mindy’s planned May surgery. Mindy phoned some time around 4:30pm but our conversation was dropped about three times. I gathered that she was in route to the airport. Her flight was leaving at 6:15pm. She said she’d call from Philly (her layover stop). I left for home at 5:10pm after a nine hour day.

I was eager to get home and enjoy some peace and quiet before Jimaken brought the kids. I had Ykraps walked and a few small chores done before 5:30pm. My mind was racing yet I was still very tired. I kicked back into the recliner in hopes of catching a nap. I fell asleep but not for long. Still, on the other side I felt so much better.

Jimaken brought the kids home around 6:30pm as per the plan. The kids were both in good spirits after the drop. Jim didn’t stick around long. He offered help if I needed it. I figured we’d be OK. The kids were eager to have some fun and wrestled around a little aggressively in the family room. They were excited about dinner. I left the plans to them. Jacob wanted Chipotle, but Bella wanted pizza. They didn’t bring up going to Barley’s. I asked them to come to agreement. They eventually decided on pizza Friday, and then Chipotle on Saturday. I ordered the pizza around 7:00pm.

Bella and I drove after the pizza. Jacob stayed home playing Play Station. The pick-up went without incident. We were back ten minutes later. The funny thing was, Bella was the one wanting pizza yet ate only half of one piece. Jacob, on the other hand, woofed down several pieces. Bella’s mouth was still a little sensitive from her earlier dental work. Perhaps that played into her light appetite. Regardless, it was a good pizza – extra pep and extra cheese. Mindy phoned at some point after landing in Philly. It was a short conversation. She said she’d call again once in DC/Baltimore.

The kids wanted to do a movie. Again, I suggested that they come to agreement, but I had to assist. We opted for Ratatouille. We watched about 60 minutes of the movie before Jacob asked to go to bed. It was 9:30pm. At their request, I paused the movie so they could pick up where they left off tomorrow. Tuck in went without incident. They were sound asleep minutes later.

Ahh – alone time! I cracked a beer and tuned the TV to the comedy channel hoping for some South Park. There was none. I gave up on the TV and instead played on the PC. Mindy phoned sometime after 10pm to let me know she had landed. Again the conversation was brief. I stayed up no later than about 10:30 – 10:45pm. I was tired and eager for a good night’s sleep.

No Sugar Tonight Hercules

I miscalculated slightly thinking I was up right on time. Even after brushing my teeth and grabbing my running clothes I was down in the kitchen by 5:28am. Hmmm? As usual, I choked down my meds then promptly began my 55-50-40. Unfortunately, I could hear rain beating against the skylights. It sounded as if it were raining at a pretty good clip.

I grabbed the old purple umbrella that sets on the front porch just as Ykraps and I stepped down off the stoop. I didn’t feel like getting drenched so early in the morning. The small umbrella proved adequate against the steady, light rain.
We were home for coffee just as the clock struck 5:50am. I was well ahead of schedule. The two small suit cases by the front door served as a reminder that Jimaken would be coming to pick up the kids at 7:30am this morning. He has the next two days off of work & wants some extra kid time. They’d be spending the night Thursday night with him.

I spent the next 10 minutes playing on the PC and then another fifteen meditating before dressing for a run. Happily, the rain all but stopped by the time I headed out the door, and it stayed that way through my run’s entirety. I wasn’t back long at all before Jimaken pulled up in the drive. He came in and played a quick game of Wii with the kids before departing.

After the kids were gone Mindy & I discussed the pros and cons of her potential weekend trip to DC. A good friend of hers has terminal cancer and her family & friends are planning a FUNeral with family and friends while she’s still alive. But as luck would have it, the typically cheap last minute airfares often available to DC were non existent this week. I was against her going if she were to pay the $800 I saw yesterday. She contemplated driving if some one was willing to go along. Rene was a possibility, but even then, gas I estimated would be about $300. Mindy said she was sure she could get a flight for about $300. I did see a flight out of Cincy for $171, but she didn’t seem interested in driving to fly. She left for work still undecided about the trip.

I cleaned up the kitchen after Mindy left but before my shower. I was ready for work by 7:50am. That’s the earliest I’ve been ready in quite a while. I spent several relaxing minutes downloading my most recent pictures from both cameras before leaving. I found that both fun and relaxing. I left for work in the proper frame of mind.

It rained during my commute but I didn’t allow that to drag me down. Work, I figured, would totally consume me anyway.

The work day went fast. I didn’t bother taking much of break at all. I ate lunch at my desk all the while staying tuned into work. I sent Mindy a flight I saw online for $401. Minutes later she emailed back that she bought it. It was settled. She’d be traveling over the weekend and I’d be staying home with the kids. That ought to be interesting. I left for home at 5:15pm.

Because we were kidless, we had already made loose plans to go out for dinner. Our options many, we still chose Barley’s. Before hand, we walked Ykraps together at my urging. During our walk Mindy expressed concern over what she sensed as my displeasure with her trip. I assured her that it wasn’t the trip per se. Instead, I was concerned with the trips potentially exorbitant costs. But in the end, I support her going.

We left for Barley’s after dumping Ykraps back at home. The drive, as always, was quick. Mindy got a call from a church friend announcing the birth of a grand child, Elise Veronica G. – 9lbs 13 ounces. Let’s say it together – OUCH!!!! As soon as she terminated that call she called to share the news with her mother.

Barley’s was surprisingly packed. There were no available seats at the bar. We opted for a barside table. Little Katy was quick to address our arrival and bring us beers. I had a guest brew- Great Divide Hercules Double IPA. Mindy predictably ordered a stout. At the same time we ordered food. I ordered ten Gates-of-Hell wings. Mindy ordered a Southwestern salad. We also ordered a brisket quesadilla that we planned to share. The food was fantastic, as usual. I had three beers all totaled. After my DIPA I had a house Droughtfire IPA and then a classic Pale Ale. In hindsight, I probably should have ordered them in reverse – the DIPA has by far the strongest flavor.

The Jumps came in just as Katy was filling the two jugs I brought in. I figured since I’d be nesting with the kids all weekend that I might as well have my favorites on stand-by. We sat and chatted with the three of them before heading back home.

We arrived back home around 8:00pm. I thought that we might have some wild sex but it never materialized. Instead, Mindy took to packing. I played on the PC for a little while but then got really sleepy. I found Mindy in on her expensive solitaire machine as I fetched a glass of ice water. I quietly crept upstairs where I crawled into bed with the TV remote in hand. Blissful!

The next thing I knew the remote was being pried from my sleepy fingers. Crap! I had fallen asleep watching South Park. The TV was already off. I fell right back asleep, but only for a handful of minutes. Suddenly, I woke once more and couldn’t return to sleep. After lying there aimlessly for a few minutes I decided to get up and go downstairs to tune back into South Park. I knew that there was a double episode scheduled, and then a half-hour of Lil’ Bush.

I decided to pop some corn too. I ate popcorn all while enjoying the mindless humor. It was just what the doctor ordered. Come 11pm – at the conclusion of Lil’ Bush, the effects of the three beers had all but worn off, and I was once again ready for sleep. I made my way back to bed being careful not to wake Mindy.

Suuny Day - Dog Bite

The trend continues. I woke before 5:30am once again. I felt well rested, too. Downstairs I wasted no time getting my exercise routine underway. At the last minute, I chose to rest my shoulder by skipping both push-ups and curls. I wasn’t in pain but felt it smart to rest it some before risking reinjury.

The morning walk with Ykraps went exceptionally well. It was clear and 42 degrees. It felt like a spring morning. After coffee and PC time, I delivered Mindy’s coffee bedside. Meditation went well, and by 6:25am I was all but ready for my run. About half way through my run I had to remove my hand covers due to over heating. I know the temperature zone where that usually occurs, and we were in it. I was prepared for it. I left my ear covers in place, however. I was comfortable. At home, Mindy had our eggs and fruit ready for consumption. Both kids were in good spirits, I assumed because they’d be spending the day with their Maw-maw. She’s so brave!

They headed out just before 7:30am. Once again, I had the house to myself. I finished my breakfast then headed up for a shower. My routine stayed the same save for not taking Jacob to the bus stop. This time I remembered to throw my golf clubs into the Trooper. I left for work just after 8:00am. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. What a lovely morning.

The work day moved swiftly, this being a meeting day and all. Our staff meeting carried on from 11am until 1:00pm. After checking in with my team I left for lunch, or a trip to the driving range. I was really looking forward to swinging my clubs for the first time since late October. The temperature was well into the mid 50’s and the sky still clear. It was a lovely spring afternoon. The range was crowded, but I expected that given the lovely weather. I bought a large bucket of balls, choosing to skip the $1 upgrade to a jumbo bucket. Hitting all the balls in the large bucket, I knew would be a challenge being the first time out. Too, I chose to hit from the covered tees. My focus was slow steady contact – not distance. I made excellent contact with each ball up through all of my irons. Eventually I worked my way through my fairway wood and then my driver. I hit my three wood nicely too, but when I got to the driver I hit a few errant shots. I ended up hitting my driver directly off the carpeted mat because the rubber tee was set ridiculously high. I made much better contact like that, but it still wasn’t close to perfect. But given that it was my first bucket of the year, I was pleased. I enjoyed my time away from the office. It was good therapy.

I was back in my office by 2pm enjoying my packed lunch. The afternoon went quickly. Mindy phoned on her way to pick-up the kids to tell me that she received a call from daughter Lindsey, who was at Doctor’s West Hospital with a dog bite. She wanted Mindy to pick-up Olivia and possibly even Rocky. Mindy, of course, agreed to help however she could. I could only imagine what the hospital help must’ve thought.

I didn’t hear from Mindy again until I was on my way home from work. It was 5:35pm when I left the office. I phoned Mindy to see how things were going. She said that Olivia was already sound asleep and Rocky was playing out back with the others. She commented that Olivia was quite messy when she picked her up from the hospital. Too, she said that Lindsey’s bite looked bad and would require stitching for certain. Needless to say, I was not pleased with the entire situation. I have warned of such an event with those nasty dogs. Apparently they were fighting in close proximity to the babies, so Lindsey tried to separate them with a broom. However, in so doing, she ended up getting bit in the process. The first thought that came to mind was that those nasty unkempt dogs need to go. God forbid they bite one of the grand kids. If that happens, I take decisive action. This was just another example of the less than desirable conditions present at Kelly’s. Folks, let’s be honest.

When I got home I badly wanted to wake Olivia but she must’ve needed the rest. I didn’t dare go up and wake her. While I walked Ykraps, Mindy finished making dinner – dirty rice for us and macaroni for the kids.

Ashley arrived to pick-up the children even before dinner was ready. She stayed and ate, but also went up and woke Olivia. For obvious reasons, she didn’t want Olivia sleeping the evening away. Otherwise, she might be up all night. Olivia wasn’t in the best of moods when Ashley brought her down. You could see just by looking that she was still very tired. She wanted nothing to do with Mindy or I. And for the first time ever, she didn’t want anything to eat either. She was irritable.

Olivia’s less than pleasant mood carried over through dinner. Mindy noticed that her molars were starting to come through. We suspected that was what was causing her angst.


Come 7:30pm, Ashley left with the kids. Mindy & I straightened up the house. We talked about Lindsey’s situation from earlier (the dog bite) and what if anything we should or could do about it. After what I encountered there last Saturday, the entire thing pains me greatly. For the life of me, I don’t know how anyone can live like that. It’s certainly not how Kelly was raised, and it’s not how we lived when we were married. I’m not sure what’s going on.

I helped Jacob with a shower while Mindy bathed Bella. After the kids were tucked neatly into bed I took to blogging. Mindy played on her laptop while at the same time watching American Idol elimination night. She hollered updates my way so I didn’t have to stop my “important” activities. Almost forgot, I received an email from the company we ordered our new Plasma TV stand from apologizing that our pieces wouldn’t ship until mid-May. Right! Like I was gonna stand for that. I called their customer service department and promptly canceled the order.

We headed for bed at 10pm.

The Moon, the Sun, and all the Rest

I was up a few minutes early and found my way down the stairs by 5:29am. I hurried towards my Blackberry hoping to get there before the alarm sounded. It sounded almost as soon as I touched it. I wasted little time getting my calisthenics underway – sit-ups, push-ups, and curls. All were done by 5:45am. Ykraps and I headed out the door. I could tell that it was warmer than Monday but still chilly. But at least I didn’t have to wear the fleece neck band. Still, it must’ve been near freezing.

We were back at home with time to spare. It was just after 5:50am. That left lots of time to tinker & play. I used all the time available to me. I took to delivering Mindy’s coffee just after 6:00am. This would be her first day back to school after a 10 day break. Turns out, she was already up and just beginning to make the bed. I put her coffee on the bathroom dresser and assisted her with the bed. I hurried back downstairs immediately after.

After 20 minutes of decent meditation I dressed and left for my run. This was the first time that I made it out the door prior to or at 6:30am in a little while. The sky was clear and the half-moon was visible in the SE sky. I enjoyed my run immensely. It was really quite lovely. At home, everyone was up and milling about. Things were back to normal as far as I could tell. My lunch was made and my breakfast waiting. That was nice! What was different was that Jacob would be going with Mindy & Bella leaving me all to myself. He’s on spring break this week.

I enjoyed my time alone. I haven’t experienced such a morning since mid-August. By the time I finished my breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen, and showered it was 8:00am. I was planning to load my golf clubs into the Trooper thinking that I’d make a trip to the driving range at lunch but forgot. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. Driving into work, I thought about stopping at Thornton’s for gas, but still had roughly an eighth of a tank. Gas was $3.04. I chose to go on thinking that I’d get it on my way home instead, and perhaps even pay less than the morning price. I arrived at work by 8:15am.

I stayed very busy at work. However, when I could and in between tasks, I did a little solar system research looking for the answers to some of Jacob’s science questions. I learned quite a bit, but never did find out which of our planets was the oldest. But I did learn that the oldest planet ever discovered is only 1 billion years younger than our entire universe, which itself is estimated to be about 18 billion years old. This particular planet is not in our system. It’s faithful to another sun. And by the way, Earth is estimated to be about 4 to 5 billion years old.

I was most fascinated with the detailed information available about the composition of each planet in our solar system. They speak as if they’ve been there, dug into them, and sampled the gases. Reading further, though, one quickly realizes that all of the information is only speculative - an educated guess. Even the details about our own Earth’s inner core, outer core, mantle and crust are speculative.

A question that has puzzled me for the past couple of years was whether or not the sun rotated and/or circled something larger. I learned today that it does both. The term cosmic year or 225 million years – is roughly the time it takes for the sun and, for that matter, the entire solar system to make one revolution around the Milky Way. It’s estimated that we’re moving at roughly 220 kilometers per second. And, yes, the sun is rotating, although significantly slower than the Earth. It takes on average 27 days for the sun to make one revolution. What’s more, it rotates faster at it’s equator than at its poles (?). Can that be? Apparently so! This stuff is too cool! The more I read and learn about our universe and solar system the more inquisitive I become.

Sadly, like religion, lots of blood has been spilt over the centuries as brave men countered prevailing opinion about our place in the universe.

I made a quick run to Target & Lowe’s for lunch. I found a long sleeved black t-shirt to make up for the one I lost last month. They’re hard to find this time of year. But I found one on the clearance rack for $4.88. At Lowe’s I once again browsed the kitchen faucets. I think I like the Delta stainless steel retractable sprayer. Only ten more days to decide. I was back at work after one hour.

The afternoon was busier than the morning. I was fully engaged until quitting time. I left for home around 5:40pm. Mindy reminded me that this was watchin’ night at Bella’s dance studio, and I promised Bella that I would come. Mindy walked Ykraps so I wouldn’t have that to be concerned with once home. She & the kids were eating leftover chicken. I opted not. I made myself a bowl of cereal – Cap’n Crunch! We left for dance at 6:15pm. Wisely, I took my book.

We went right into the studio where tap practice promptly began. I watched and read simultaneously. Eventually, I got sleepy and discretely took a nap. Practice went fast. I woke feeling thoroughly refreshed. We left for home at 7:30pm. Mindy allowed the kids some snacks but then hurried them off to bed. Mindy & I watched American Idol. It’s the most of the show I’ve seen since the opening episode. I was most impressed with the final singer. He was incredible.

After Idol we watched a comedy called ‘Til Death. It was very humorous! We both laughed hard. We called it a night after and headed for bed. I was eager for a good night’s rest.

Fresh Smellin' Running Clothes

I wasn’t too excited that it was Monday. I struggled getting out of bed but ultimately talked myself into getting up and my day underway. Mindy wouldn’t have to get up this morning since neither she, Jacob, or Bella had to be anywhere. It was her last day of spring break. I was mindful of this as I carried on with my normal routine.

After meds, I began my 55-50-40. I was leashing up Ykraps come 5:55am. It was cold – probably 25 degree cold. Yet despite the chill, there were numerous birds singing under the predawn darkness. It was about the only reminder that it was spring.

I was home for coffee and PC by 6:05am – late by recent standards, but because I had less to do, I was in good shape timewise. Meditation went OK, but my mind was clogged with activity I couldn’t fully shake. But that’s OK, everyday can’t be ideal. I was happy to wear fresh running clothes today after laundering them all before bed. I left for my run around 6:40am.

There was a chance of snow overnight but it never came to fruition. Instead, the morning sky was clear with only scattered wispy clouds. It was cloudless when I walked Ykraps, but then cloud covered at my run’s outset. I could still see part of the moon glowing through, however. The cloud cover was thin & changing. My run went well. I returned inside around 7:15am.

Because Mindy was still asleep, I had to prep both my breakfast & lunch. I panicked for just a moment but quickly gathered myself and got busy. I made my usual breakfast omelet and sliced turkey & cheese over lettuce, fruit, and nuts for lunch. The omelet was very good. I saved about a third of it for Mindy in the pan. Before beginning my shower, I asked Mindy if she wanted coffee. She did. I delivered a cup.

I was ready to leave for work by 8:05am. I gave Mindy & Bella hugs goodbye. Bella was snuggling her momma in our bed. It took a few minutes to get out the door. I failed to preheat the Trooper so I had to wait and scrape. My laptop took forever to boot up once at work. Geesh! The morning went surprisingly well, especially for a Monday. But even still, there was plenty to do. I skipped a formal lunch break choosing instead to work straight through.

I departed for home around 5:20pm. It was sunny but still chilly – somewhere close to 40 degrees. Thankfully, Tuesday promises to be a bit warmer. I took the back way home after seeing traffic at a complete stand still on I-270 south. The alternate route was a little heavy too, probably because others took heed of the traffic warnings on the radio. I made it home by 5:45pm.

Mindy had dinner cooking in the oven and on the stove. She seemed in good spirits, this her final day of spring break. But hey, it’s just one day closer to summer! Jacob was holding an ice pack on his arm. Nevertheless, he still joined Ykraps and I on our walk. He wanted to know if I had a chance to find answers to his science questions while at work. I hadn’t. He decided last minute to leave his ice-pack at home. Apparently he fell down the basement steps! Glad I wasn’t there. I might’ve been blamed for pushing him! :)

After we returned from our walk, I hinted about needing a nap. Mindy assured me I had time for a short one before dinner would be ready. I was happy to hear that, and took full advantage. I got in a good little nap. Dinner consisted of baked chicken covered in bread crumbs, corn, and stove-top stuffing. It was good.

Mindy helped with the clean-up, but I willingly did most. Mindy and the kids planned an early bath and then a movie. I suspected they’d watch their new DVD, Enchanted, and they did. I spent the same time blogging. I was able to get pictures posted for the weekend, too.

I rejoined Mindy in the family room around 9:30pm. I watched an episode of South Park. I began getting sleepy just as the show ended. We headed up to bed at 10pm sharp.

Pascha the Ham & Potates

Given that we went to bed so early, getting up at 7am wasn’t bad at all. The fact that the sky looked clear only helped make the rise even easier. For what it was worth, it was Easter morning, but honestly, I felt indifferent to the holiday.

I am surprised at the number of folks that have no idea why the Easter holiday changes year to year. And even fewer people realize that Easter has its roots in a pre-Christian pagan celebrations of spring. But even I learned something new about Easter's dating. My assumption has always been that Easter is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But this is technically incorrect. Instead, it follows the Paschal full moon, which is still very confusing to me (see below) and has little to do with the actual full moon.

The Paschal Full Moon roughly corresponds to the first full moon of the northern Spring. The name 'Paschal' is from "pascha" an old term for Easter. The date of Easter is determined as the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. This full moon does not currently correspond directly to any astronomical event, but is a historical artifact determined from tables, and it may differ from the date of the actual full moon by up to two days.[1] The use of tables instead of actual observations of the full moon is useful and necessary since the full moon may occur on different dates depending where one is in the world.
Historically, the Paschal Full Moon was the first full moon which occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox. Later, the Paschal Full Moon referred to the day which was thirteen days after the Ecclesiastical new moon. The calculations to determine the date of the Paschal Full Moon are somewhat complex. For a detailed discussion, see Computus.
If the Paschal Full Moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is the following Sunday. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_Full_Moon)

I made a pot of coffee just before starting my exercise regiment. By the time I had completed my calisthenics and walked Ykraps it was 7:34am. I took a few seconds to back track from our church service departure time to make sure I had plenty of time to enjoy coffee before setting out on my run. I did. By my calculations, I could delay my run until 9:20am if necessary. I didn’t want to push the envelope, however. Instead, I simply took enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee and also play on the internet. Mindy joined me downstairs around 8:00am. We were expecting the kids by 9:00am so Mindy & I hid about 40 Easter eggs in a hurry. Afterwards, she headed off to the shower and I out on my run.

My run was very nice. But make no mistake, it was quite chilly for an Easter morning. It was only 22 degrees. I was in my full winter gear. Even though it was cold, that didn’t stop the spring birds from singing. They were plentiful and helped make my run more pleasant.

The kids were already home by the time I returned. I wasn’t surprised. They were just preparing for the family Easter Egg hunt. I took the camera duties over from Mindy while she started the familiar event. The kids were excited and quickly found all but one of the 40 or so eggs. The one they had trouble locating was black and blended well with its placement. They found it only after a game of “hot –cold”. Bella wasn’t pleased that Jacob found it, citing that he always gets the shiny black egg! However, her complaining ended quickly. There were more Eater treats to be had. Specifically, there was the Easter gift from Mindy & I. They opened it together. We got them a new Disney DVD, Enchanted & a new Wii game, Mario Brothers Olympics. They loved ‘em!

I headed up for a shower soon after the egg hunt. I was ready for church by 9:45am and helped Mindy put the finishing touches on the children. We were out the door by 10:05am. Mindy wanted to be early for choir. Mindy left me with the kids as she headed into the choir’s chambers. I took the kids to fellowship hall. After looking around, I spotted Gloria, Jody, & Camilla sitting in the third to last row. I sat with the kids directly behind them.

Soon the service began, and much like any other Easter service, this one focused on the risen Christ. The choir sang well, too. They had plenty of practice. I was distracted by a few in the crowd. Most notably was Chris (can’t recall his last name), who was there with his baby son. He’s an old Scioto Wood’s kid, and one of Courtney’s old boyfriends. He looked very grown-up. The service last just over an hour. I was eager for home.

Once home I warmed my leftover steak in the microwave. I shared with Bella, who was insistent on having steak as well. Now there’s a kid that would never eat steak just a few weeks ago, but after finally trying it found that she loves it. She ate a little less than half of what remained. After lunch I took to the recliner for some reading and a nap. I woke aggravated after Bella decided to play with an obnoxiously loud hard plastic toy within an earshot. She never plays at the foot of the stairs. Geesh!

Mindy walked by to wake me around 3pm. It was time to head to her mother’s. Mindy wanted to be there by 3:15pm. I changed shirts and brushed my teeth. We arrived on schedule. Brother Craig & Jeff were already there. They also brought along a good friend, Mel. Soon Jody, Joe, & Camilla arrived, as did Julie, Mindy’s niece. The others arrived not long after. Later, half way through dinner Katy arrived. She had been celebrating with her family. All totaled, there were 19 of us. The menu was delicious yet predictable. We had ham, au- gratin potatoes, broccoli salad, macaroni salad, & rolls. And just like most Sunday’s, I ate plenty.

We gathered in the livingroom after dinner where the conversation took a number of turns. We talked about politics, family, & work – the usual stuff. And while Jacob was not his typical wild self, he did have a melt down after learning that all the hard work he put into constructing a Lego village had been torn down in an instant by Bella. He eventually got over it. I went with Bella to help put away all of the Legos.

Dessert time was next - ice-box cookies. They were yummy, too. I had what amounted to two helpings after eating what was left of both Jacob & Bella’s. There was more conversation after dessert. We stayed unusually late, until 8:00pm. We may have been the last to leave. That hasn’t happened in a really long time. It was a nice Easter Sunday to be sure. The weather could’ve/should’ve been better but you really can’t ask for better family interaction.

Once home, Jacob was insistent on walking with me & Ykraps. He followed through on it, too, which isn’t always the case. He had many questions – most about the solar system. His interest was piqued as we stared off at the numerous stars lurking above. His questions weren’t your typical 7 year old questions. Among them, he asked just how far a planet would have to be from the sun to render gravity ineffective. He also asked which planet was the oldest. I didn’t dare mislead, thinking these interesting questions worth researching. I gave him an I-owe-you. Mindy asked me to help Jacob with a shower after we returned. I followed through. Jacob was extra cooperative. Not long after the shower we were tucking the kids into bed. Afterwards, we sat at the kitchen table talking about our weekend, and then placed a call to my mom. We headed up to bed at 10:30pm.

Macy's, Mud, & M's

I wasn’t fully awake and mobile until 9am. I had no pressing deadlines and no solid plans, save for a morning run and dinner reservations at 7pm. I reached for my upper chest, where I injured myself during the night. There was no pain but the band-aid Mindy put installed was blood soaked. I chose not to remove the band-aid fearing what it may reveal.

I felt pretty good all things considered. I took two Advil to supplement my other daily meds just before heading downstairs. Mindy asked that I bring her coffee later. She was no more specific than that. To me, that signified that she planned on sleeping in, which suited me fine. In the kitchen, I prepped the morning‘s coffee and then turned my attention to my daily exercise regiment.

I considered resting my shoulder by skipping push-ups and curls, but didn’t. There wasn’t a need. It felt fine. Although I wasn’t sure of the temperature, I bundled warmly for my walk with Ykraps. Good thing, too. It was cold enough that the gloves and ear covers were comfortable. Any hope of sunshine was dashed. It was and would be a cloudy day.

After my walk, I spent time writing my blog, web surfing, and uploading pictures. Mindy got up around 10:30am. I hadn’t yet run. She commented that I hadn’t run so late in a long while. She was right. I left for my run around 11am, but not before making loose plans to visit Kittles this afternoon to look at entertainment centers to accommodate our plasma TV as well as our surround sound components.

My run went well although my legs were a bit tight, probably from all the beer drinking the night before. I didn’t focus too much on the mild discomfort and easily finished the run like every other day. Once I was back home we tried reaching ex-wife Kelly to see if she wanted us to bring the art work and furniture from the basement that she said she wanted. We were unsuccessful at getting a hold of anyone. We eventually contacted Ashley who said that she’d try to reach her later and would pass along our request. Mindy & I moved forward with our plans.

After showers we headed towards Tuttle Mall and Kittles Furniture. We perused The World Market & Macy’s Furniture before hitting Kittles. We found some chairs we really liked at Macy’s but no entertainment centers. At Kittles, I showed Mindy the few pieces that could work for out arrangement. Like me, she wasn’t too impressed, especially given the cost compared to the set we had found online, but were out-of-stock. We left slightly discouraged and headed back home.

It was already after 2:30pm & both of us were very hungry having eaten nothing substantial all day. I was craving a nap, too. So, after a couple hot dogs I made sure to get one. I snuggled up in the recliner with my latest book and eventually fell asleep. It must’ve been around 4pm when I woke. Lindsey finally returned our call to let us know that we could bring the stuff over anytime this afternoon but to simply leave it under the carport. I didn’t think that Kelly would have us carry it into her home.

We loaded all the stuff into the Trooper. We managed to fit it all in but it was tight. At Kelly’s, Lindsey called the massive dogs into the house so that we could put the stuff under the car port as requested. Lil’ Rocky came out excited to see us. I was saddened at how unkempt he looked. But honestly, that was nothing compared to what I could see of the inside of her house. For starters, the storm door to the kitchen was completely covered in mud from top to bottom, as was the door frame itself. Barely discernable was Landon peering inquisitively out at Mindy & I. I could see that he was filthy too. It truly left a rock in pit of my stomach as Mindy can attest. I double checked with Lindsey about the desired location of the art work and furniture. Lindsey opened the storm door partially to confer. What I saw was something one would expect to see in only the most impoverished parts of town. The house was a complete disaster. Mud was the dominate feature covering the floors and walls. There was even mud on some of the furniture. Mindy saw it too. We were both quite taken back. I reached for my pocket camera and tried snapping off a couple of photos. Lindsey said something like, mom would freak out if she knew you were taking pictures. Lindsey blamed the extreme conditions on the three large dogs.

As I turned towards Mindy for some sort of solace (but what could she do?), the muddy slop of a yard came in to focus. If nothing else, her yard had always been pretty nice, especially right off of her nicely appointed patio. But now it’s been reduced to what can only be described as a “pig pen” – no grass, all mud. Furthermore, the patio & furniture was caked in large muddy foot prints. My instincts told me to grab Lil’ Rocky & Landon and run. To think that my grandchildren were living like this made me ill.

I did my best to hide my frustration and sadness as we hugged and kissed Lil’ Rocky goodbye. I was hyperventilating as we backed out of the drive to head for home. I had Mindy place a call to daughter Ashley as we drove off asking if we could stop by to see Olivia. I needed that. But as it turned out, she was just leaving her apartment for her mothers place. She was going to drop Olivia there with Lindsey while she & her mother went to play Bingo. OMG! How someone could knowingly leave there kid in that setting was beyond comprehension. We headed home.

I was a bit out of sorts for the next hour as I mauled over any options I might have at my disposal to help deal with what I just encountered. However, I realized quickly that most of this was out of my direct control. But it didn’t make it any more palatable. I thought about advising Lindsey that it was her responsibility to clean the mess, after all, she is a guest in her mother’s home. But in the end, you have to get to the root issues. And there are at least three root issues. The cause of the visible mess and pungent odor are the three large, out of control dogs. But the cause of the lingering mess would be the home’s inhabitants. Of course, Lil’ Rocky & Landon can’t be held accountable. That leaves two people. If I thought that by me going over and offering to help clean it up would solve the problem, I’d do it in a heart beat. But the inhabitants need to care enough to change it themselves. Unfortunately, that I question. On the surface, the dogs look to be the ones in charge! Enough about that.

It was after 5:30pm by the time we arrived back home. I spent a little time on the PC before taking Ykraps on his evening walk. Mindy went along. Eventually, Mindy went up to ready herself for our dinner date. Around 6:20pm I headed up to change into clothes more suitable to our dinner plans.

We left for M’s at 6:45pm. Our reservation was for 7:15pm. We arrived with little trouble. I verified directions online and already knew they had $5 valet parking. We took advantage of that, and found our way inside by 7:05pm. We were seated immediately at a table by the window. I probably would’ve chosen this table myself. Good! The atmosphere was nice, although the view disappointing given its location. It rests at the bottom floor of Miranova looking west. But because it sets so low you can’t really see much.

Mindy ordered a Shiraz, and I ordered a Columbus Pale Ale. Later we ordered appetizers. Mindy ordered some scallop based sushi. I ordered crab bisque with a finger sandwich. Both were excellent. We joked after ordering steaks that we probably could’ve skipped the beef. And as we later learned, that might not have been a bad idea.

Our steaks arrived with perfect timing. Mindy ordered a petite filet, and I ordered a Kansas City Strip. We opted out of sides. My steak was 18ozs, and it dwarfed Mindy’s. We both ordered our steaks medium. Starting at one end, I cut into my steak. It was almost purple in the center – not pink or even red. But it was hot so I tried to enjoy it. I nonchalantly waved Richard, our server, over. He seemed eager to help and quickly whisked my steak away. He wasn’t gone too long, but Mindy was completely done dining when he and my steak returned. At quick glance it appeared cooked no more than before. He requested I sample it while he waited. I cut into the belly of the meat to be sure. It was difficult to see any real change, but I felt uncomfortable with him standing over me so I gave him the OK.

I ate only a few more bites before politely asking for a box and our bill. When he returned he informed me that my steak would be comp’d. You don’t have to do that, I insisted. But Richard said that he knew it was their fault and that he could tell I didn’t truly enjoy my steak. I appreciated their kindness as well as their awareness of good customer service.

It was only 8:30pm as we called for our car. We waited inside for the valet driver to return in the Trooper. Mindy & I both agreed to a stop at Barley’s on our way home. That made me happy.

As with most Saturday’s, it was sparsely populated and Jersey was working the bar. Mindy wanted only water. I ordered a Droughtfire IPA. Steve Won was there. We chatted with him for about an hour. Before it was all said and done I had two Droughtfires. Mindy was crashing fast. I could see it in her eyes. We left for home before 10pm.

Once at home we finally ordered the solid-wood ebony entertainment center we had been looking at for a couple of months online. Our vendor of choice was still out-of-stock but we finally found another that would sell it for pretty much the same price but with free shipping and no sales tax. Deal!

We headed to bed soon after.

COSI & Barley's

Mindy and I slept until 8:00am - actually, me a little later. For some reason, even after 9 hours of sleep I felt a little short slept. I had already prepped coffee the evening before just out of habit. I could smell it from our bedroom. Mindy headed downstairs first; I wasn’t far behind and was downstairs even before Mindy had her coffee ready. I completed my exercises before walking Ykraps. He was anxious to head out – must’ve been 8:30 or so when we finally did.

I played on the PC before giving into my urge to run. I think that it was 9:30am when I headed out. As a change of pace, I listened to music on my MP3 player. Like always, it seemed to make the time go by much faster. It was a good run. I smelt to high heaven afterwards. I’ve been wearing the same heavy running shirt all week. After my return Mindy added more clarity to our day. I didn’t know it prior, but Teri, her BFF, was coming over to join us for our COSI adventure. I headed up to shower so that I would be presentable upon her and Massimo’s arrival.

Mindy showered immediately after me, and like often happens, Teri arrived while Mindy toiled about. But thankfully, she was downstairs a few moments later. We visited for several minutes before I left to pick-up Kaileigh. I joked with Teri about her pregnant belly and the fact that he boobs were getting ever bigger. I got a couple pics of her baby belly. Truthfully, though, she hasn’t gotten big yet. I suspect that’ll change soon as she heads into her fifth month.

I left to fetch Kaileigh around 11am. It doesn’t take long at all to get to Hoover Crossing’s in Grove City from here. I’ll bet I was there in 15 minutes. Rosemary escorted Kaileigh out to the car. She doesn’t ask me in these days. As I often do, I greeted her with a hug and kiss just the same. Al, for whatever reason, harbors some bitterness towards me. I understand, but don’t let it impact my perception of them/him.
They’re good people, and a blessing for not only my daughters, but also for Kaileigh, as well as the other grandchildren.

Kaileigh and I had a nice chat on our drive home. She shared her plans for a trip to Florida leaving this Sunday morning at 1am with her Grandma Pam, Shellie’s mom. She seemed excited. She also asked about spending more time with us. I often wonder if she really enjoys her time with us. Apparently she does. That made my heart happy!

Bella was especially happy to see Kaileigh. They get along so well. For the next couple of hours the kids played and colored Easter eggs. That was a bit stressful but all in all went without incident. Time was ticking away. Teri, at first, intimated that she & Massimo might just as well skip COSI and instead head home, citing a tight evening agenda. Massimo wasn’t too pleased. In the end, however, they decided to go. We packed up and headed off to COSI. It cost $4 to park – not too bad.

This was my first visit to the new COSI – sadly. A few years back, Glenn & I tried visiting on one occasion but it was closed. Once inside we checked out the gift shop and some spurious exhibits while Mindy went for our admission tickets. She gets in free simply for being a teacher. Turned out, one of her good friend’s father was working the admission counter and comp’d all of our passes. Cool!

We visited the weather, ocean, goose bumps (fear), and space exhibits collectively. I tended to stray off on my own a few times. Further, I found myself very sleepy and in need of a nap. I never did close my eyes but did find comfort in a few exhibit theatres. The kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Teri and Massimo needed to depart earlier than us. They left about 30-45 minutes before us. Afterwards, Mindy took Jacob, Bella, and Kaileigh to the flying bicycle exhibit where guests can ride a bike on a high wire some 25ft above the floor. I went off on my own checking out 2 third floor exhibits that followed from their old downtown location – Life & Streets of Yesteryear. I find myself drawn to the yesteryear exhibit. Lots of interesting nostalgia.

After getting my fill, I sought out Mindy & the kids. They were downstairs waiting close to the entrance snacking on popcorn. Jacob was frustrated for not getting a turn on the high wire bike. Apparently they closed off the line just in front of him as closing time neared. He held Mindy accountable for not taking him there earlier. Sometimes the best laid plans just doesn’t work out.

Mindy phone Shellie along our way home. Shellie still needed to run some Easter errands, so the two of them worked out a deal for us to take Kaileigh home a bit later. She’d call once home. Finally back home, all of us, I think, were a little tired and hungry. Me, I was way more tired than hungry, but still snacked on some chips. I ended up lounging in the recliner using Mindy’s massage pillow. All of my joints were stiff, including my neck and shoulders. For the first time in many, many days, I didn’t take an anti-inflammatory this morning. I noted the exception. I don’t think that I ever quite fell asleep but did relax peacefully for a good 20-25 minutes. Jimaken arrived to pick up the kids around 5:30pm. I got up from the chair and joined everyone in the kitchen. Among other things, Mindy shared Jacob’s aggressive behavior issues with his dad. They left a short time later leaving only Kaileigh home with us.

Kaileigh didn’t seem to mind being there alone with us. She played Wii while we waited on Shellie’s call. Around 6:15pm Mindy checked her phone and saw she had a message from Shellie event though her phone never rang. Hmmm? She called Shellie, who was at home waiting on Kaileigh to return. We left not five minutes later. We gathered all the grand kids’ Easter baskets thinking that we’d drop them at Kelly’s since we would be right by there. Knowing that, Kaileigh expressed an interest in seeing Lil’ Rocky as well as Kelly, so we stopped there first.


We knocked on Kelly’s door but no one answered even though her car was in the drive. I told Mindy that she might not answer. She doesn’t like unexpected guests, especially me. Kaileigh didn’t seem too disappointed. But just as we started to back away she came out inquiring to our presence. We got back out of the Trooper and handed off the Easter baskets. Kaileigh ran up & gave her a hug and talked with her some. We left after a very short visit.

Next, we dropped Kaileigh at home. Shellie looked very pregnant. Only seven weeks to go. We didn’t stay too long. Before leaving we made loose arrangements to have Kaileigh spend the night in three weeks. We were happy that Kaileigh suggested as much. Finally, we were heading back home. We walked Ykraps together then began getting ready for an evening at Barley’s. The Jump’s called to see if we were going. Mindy seemed happy that they called. She also left a VM for Joe, her nephew, seeing if he and Camilla still planned to join us. Once on our way, around 7:45pm, Mindy called Tom Clark to check on his Friday night status. He answered but spoke of not feeling too well. He mentioned there being about at 70% chance he’d show up at Barley’s.

We arrived to a moderately full lot. Actually it was a little less packed than the most recent Friday’s. Inside, there were several familiar faces, but no Imber’s. I guessed them to be out of town Eastering with family. Right away, Mindy went to the back half seating area to see the Jump’s who she learned were dining there. She had a couple of things for Porter. I fetched myself a beer, a regular Pale Ale. It wasn’t long before Katy sought me out to see if I had already ordered Mindy a beer. When she realized I hadn’t she got her a Russian – Mindy’s request form the back. Joe & Camilla arrived while I was chatting with Mark, Scott, & Josh. They asked of Mindy’s whereabouts. You should have seen their eyebrows raise when I told them she was off delivering a baby. Actually, she had just walked back to return Porter to the Jump’s. :)

Joe & Camilla checked out the brewery behind glass. And when Mindy returned, she helped them select a beer suitable to their tastes. They blended nicely with our group of friends. We talked about all sorts of stuff, often teasing Camilla about her Danish heritage. Many of my friends had either been to Denmark, or close by in a neighboring country. As the night unfolded, Tom Clark eventually arrived as did brother Tommy. Some of the regulars, Rick, Thad, & Monica, all arrived later as well. Speaking for myself, I had a great time. Since Mindy had only two beers, she agreed to drive allowing me to beer a bit more celebratively. I must’ve had five or six beers all totaled, but only one was a double IPA. I managed to eat half of a chicken quesadilla too. We all headed our separate ways around 11pm. Again, Mindy drove us home. We went straight to bed. In a slightly embarrassing moment, I fell out of bed cutting/puncturing my chest/neck on the corner of Mindy’s night stand. And yes, I was bleeding. Don’t ask!