Sweet Caroline

Trick-or-Treat

A feeling like no other is waking and knowing that you don’t need to be up at any particular time. My Friday morning was just that. Mindy got up around 6:30am to begin her work prep process. She headed downstairs to make some coffee before returning to shower somewhere near 7am. That’s when I decided it was time to get up and start my day. 

Being somewhat less deliberate, I started my exercise regiment. And it wasn’t long before Ykraps and I were heading out the door. It was that time of the morning when darkness gives way to daylight. The sky was clear and the temperature chilly, but far warmer than it’s been for in over a week. I had to chuckle, however, when I noticed the spotty frost covering the boat. We returned to the warmth of our home at 7:20am. It wasn’t long before Mindy & Bella left for the day.

 I played on the computer passing the time before Jacob & I headed to the bus stop. He was psyched about tonight’s Trick-or-Treat event. We left the house at 7:58am. Kenny, Jake, & Lilly joined us at the bus stop minutes later. We tossed the football for a few minutes before the bus came and swept the boys away. Kenny asked if I planned to golf on my day off. I thought it a possibility but also really wanted to start refinishing the kitchen table when I got back from the boat’s winterization. I told him that I’d look him up if I decided to golf.

 Back in the house I poured myself another cup of coffee & began writing Thursday’s blog entry. At 8:30am I dressed and left for my run. It was about 40 degrees. I skipped wearing gloves and ear covers. It was quite lovely.  I finished my run around 9:10am and spent the next 50 minutes puttering around the house before ultimately heading up for a shower. All along, the plan called for me to leave the house at 10am for Paul’s Marine. I didn’t actually hit the road until 10:10am. Before setting out, I had to make sure the boat would turn over. 

Paul’s Marine is located at Rt. 23 and Lewis Center Rd in Delaware county up by Alum Creek. It took about 25 minutes or so to get there. This was about as nice a day as I can ever recall for winterization day. There have been plenty ugly ones over the years. However, come to think of it, last year’s wasn’t bad either. But two years ago it was spitting snow. I had just enough time to browse the showroom before my boat was ready. They got it in & out early. I was back on the road by 11:11am. I planned to stop at the Polaris Rd Wal-Mart on my way home to get more Halloween candy. I parked far out in the lot where I could easily maneuver the Trooper & boat trailer.

 Wal-Mart was bustling with activity. And just as one might expect, the Halloween candy selection was well picked over yet there was quite a crowd swooping up their last minute treats. I perused Xmas lights and other items on my list before heading back to grab some candy. When I returned there were significantly fewer patrons swarming in the candy aisle. While there, I remembered to get a new kick stand for Jacob’s bike. The adjustable piece fell off of his bike over a month ago while on a long ride. We’ve been stowing it upside down ever since.

 I headed back to boat storage and dropped my boat off outside the indoor storage building. Before leaving the facility, I went in the office to pay for another 6 months of fees. Between winterization and storage I threw down $550 dollars this AM. Definitely something one should consider before buying a boat. 

I got home just a smidge after 12:30pm. I thought about stopping by Kenny’s to see if he wanted to golf, but opted not. Realistically, we couldn’t have made it to a course until 1:30pm at the earliest (Raymond, I already saw was too backed up). And given that tonight was Trick-or-Treat, I decided against golf.  Instead, I got busy on refinishing the kitchen table – something I’ve wanted to do for a couple of years. Logistically, it’s one of those things that required a ‘perfect storm’ of sorts. This was it. It was a 3-day, kidless, nice weather weekend.

 I carried the table out onto the deck where I planned to do the deed. I also carried out all the necessary items I’d need (I.E. palm sander, various grit sandpaper, extension cord, etc.). Before digging in, I thought the process through thoroughly. I’d sand four times progressing towards a finer grit each time. I ended up using 60, 100, 150, & 180 grit paper. The 60 & 100 grit removed all of the deep scratches, stains and water marks just as I hoped they would. The 150 & 180 left the surface smooth and ready for stain. I applied two coats of stain three hours apart. The original color was natural, and that’s what I used this time too. It doesn’t add much color, perhaps just a touch darker, but it seals the wood. 

I left it to dry overnight on the deck. If things worked out as planned, I’d apply two coats of semi-gloss polyurethane on Saturday then two more again Sunday. 

Mindy & Bella arrived home just before Jacob arrived home on the bus. He was wound up and eagerly looking forward to Trick-or-Treat. Mindy began making our dinner as soon as she was settled. She made a quick version of homemade chicken & noodles. That took slightly less than an hour all totaled. 

Jimaken arrived just after 5pm. He’d be taking the kids Trick-or-Treating in our subdivision after dinner. I was napping in the recliner when he arrived. I had the heated massage pillow going full steam on my lower back. It felt terrific. I got up about ten minutes later. Mindy served all of us chicken & noodles. Jimaken had dinner with us. While I walked Ykraps, Jimaken and the kids quickly got into costume since Trick-or-Treat started at 6pm.

 Jimaken and the kids left the house at 6pm sharp. Jacob could hardly wait. Mindy filled a large bowl with candy while I dug the camping chairs from the back of the Trooper. We also poured ourselves a beer before the serious Trick-or-Treating began. I went with a Bell’s Octoberfest while Mindy enjoyed one of her Stouts. We passed out candy from the comforts of our driveway.

 A little tid-bit about beer… There are relatively few pure styles of beer. Perhaps the two most popular here in the states are ales and lagers. We commonly refer to ales, porters, and stouts as different types of beer when in reality they’re variations of the one – ales. For instance, a porter is simply a dark ale, and stout is a dark porter.

 We had lots of guests begging for candy. Many were transported into the subdivision via SUV from elsewhere. About half of our guests did not speak English. Jacob’s girlfriend, Caroline came by. We asked if she was ‘the Caroline” When she acknowledged we told her that Jacob liked her. She’s actually a couple years older than he. And because she was with her friends, she let out a predictably loud – EWH!!!!!! Later, when Jimaken, Jacob, and Jake returned for a break, Jacob asked why we told her as much. Apparently she sought him out to tell him that his parents advised her of his desires.

 At some point Bella broke off from the boys and instead joined forces with Crissy, Makayla, Lilly, and Emily. She was home sooner than the boys. We got a big laugh at Jake’s expense when he shared that somehow he’d lost his mask sword, and even his shoes. Are you kidding me? How does that happen? Meanwhile, we had a steady stream of beggers right up until 8pm. I was happy when it was over. Soon Jimaken returned and loaded up the children and headed for home. Suddenly, just like that, Mindy & I were all alone. 

We wasted little time prepping for a Barley’s visit. I’ll bet we were out of the house and on our way after ten short minutes.  Barley’s was about as crowded as expected. It was Oysters & Stout night, but that’s not something we typically participate in. We know many that do, however. Mindy was bummed to learn that the Russian was all gone by the time we arrived. She went with a Southern Tier Oat Stout instead. Predictably, I went with a Southern Tier IIPA. 

Many of the Barley regulars were present an accounted for. And about half were in costume. Mindy got lots of compliments for her costume. I didn’t wear one. Perhaps the best – most creative costumes belonged to Bob & Mary Ann who showed up as the Hanson brothers from the 1977 movie Slap Shot. Very nice! We hung at Barley’s until nearly 11:30pm – a late night by our standards. I ended up drinking three Southern Tiers and eating a pork quesadilla throughout the evening. We got to see Thad & Monica for the first time in a long time. Among other things, we discussed the Hilliard City school’s operating levy and the pros and cons of teaching to the test. It was a very thought provoking discussion.

 Mindy drove home. We went straight to bed.

Cucurbitaceae

It’s hardly even worth mentioning but I overslept by a couple of minutes this AM. By the time I brushed my teeth and found my way downstairs it was 5:40am. And even though I got more than 7 hours of sleep, my body wanted more. But that wasn’t going to happen. I sucked it up, tucked my toes, and got my sit-ups & push-ups underway. I skipped curls to give my shoulders a much deserved break. Ykraps & I headed out at 5:55am.

 It was cold, very cold! It must’ve been like 25 degrees. I was bundled appropriately, however. We didn’t find our way back home until 6:04am. That meant I needed to deliver Mindy’s coffee straight up. As always, she was very appreciative. I asked how she felt. She expressed feeling considerably better. She’s been battling a cold of sorts for about a week or longer.

 Downstairs, I grabbed my own coffee and then took to the PC. My guess was close. It was as cold as 23 degrees in the CMH area. Around here, Indian summer is said to occur after the first hard frost and when the high temperatures reach 70 degrees for seven consecutive days. According to the upcoming weather forecast, we just might get that type of weather for the next seven days. Even if we don’t actually hit or break 70 each day, it’ll still count for most.

 I spent just a few short minutes in meditation before changing into ‘running man’. Because of the extreme chill, I went to the basement for my winter running jacket. I was officially donned in my regular winter running attire. Granted, I still have additional layers I use when it’s really cold but the basics are officially out. 

I stretched from the stoop before taking my first step. Stretching is making a difference. My groin isn’t nearly as tight as it once was.  I was comfortable for the run’s entirety. It was really quite nice. Stars were above & bright for the duration. After today, only two more days of dark running. 

Mindy had scrambled eggs and a giant pile of mixed fruit setting for the ready.  While I ate she loaded her and started her minivan. It was coated in heavy frost. She & Bella left the house at 7:26am. Bella was excited about the Halloween party Grandma Sharon was hosting for the kids today.

 Jacob quickly dashed off to his room to watch television. I headed towards the shower. We reconvened downstairs at 7:55am. We both dressed warmly for the bus stop. I started the Trooper as we waked down the driveway. We still tossed the football. The kids complained of it being hard to catch in the cold. We couldn’t play long. The bus showed up in no time flat.

 Off to work at 8:10am. I was feeling extra-upbeat since this was essentially my Friday. I noticed that gas was down to $2.19. I snapped a photo with my Blackberry to commemorate the occasion. As I often do, I listened to NPR’s WCBE 90.5. They recapped Obama’s 30 minute infomercial and subsequent rallies in the state of Florida. He’s definitely a good speaker and actor. Ever since the days of Reagan, Washington knows that Hollywood sells.

 I read a conservative piece Wednesday afternoon that exposed what the liberal left has in mind for our 401Ks. They’d like to seize them and convert them to government controlled accounts. Hell no! I’ll take my chances on my own. Somehow I don’t think that any government official has my individual needs at heart.  Read about it… 

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/10/23/would-obama-dems-kill-401k-plans.html 

I arrived at work a few minutes early and quickly got my day underway.  The day went quickly. I tinkered with the idea of taking a lunch and getting my hair cut but never did. Instead, I kept my nose to the grind stone. Paul’s Marine called mid-morning to confirm my winterization for 11am Friday. I remembered. I even asked if it were possible to arrive earlier. No. Booked full. I had designs on golfing since the forecast called for temps approaching 70 with sunny skies. In turn, I placed a call to Lee’s RVs to make sure my boat was accessible this evening. This time of year most customers’ already have winterized and they’re packed into the public storage building like sardines. Last year that was the case and my boat was all the way at the back. I left a VM for Ed. I called back later in the afternoon. This time Ed answered and said he got my message and had my boat setting just outside the overhead doors ready for pick-up. Cool!

 Just before leaving work I talked with Mindy. She was just leaving work too. That’s a switch! She was working on report cards. I suggested Barley’s for dinner. I figured the kids would like it, but we did have plans to carve pumpkins since Friday’s Trick-or-Treat. We left it open. I left work at 5:15pm. I took Leap Rd to Scioto Darby Rd. There’s always a lot of traffic at the Scioto-Darby Rd intersection. This evening was no different. I must’ve sat there for 15 minutes waiting my opportunity through the four-way stop. I arrived at Lee’s by 5:40pm. There she was, all ready for the go. The boat and I were home by 6:00pm. It was only 50 degrees. Seemed funny pulling the boat with such chilly temps.

 I was surprised at the day’s leaf fall. My, oh my! Seems the early morning’s cold temps brought ‘em down by the bushel. My weeping Mulberry nearly lost all of its foliage in one day. Today marks the first “killing frost”. Mindy and the kids arrived home just as Ykraps and I were returning from our walk. They were excited about the prospects of dining at Barley’s. We wasted little time getting ready. Mindy wanted to be home soon enough to carve pumpkins and still have the kids in bed at a reasonable hour. 

We drove Mindy’s minivan since the boat was still attached to the Trooper. Made sense to me. We arrived at Barley’s around 6:30pm. We took a table in the restaurant/bar area under the big screen TV. Deanna was our server. We really like her. I ordered a Southern Tier – Un-Earthly IIPA. Mindy ordered water. The kids ordered lemonade. 

Because we were pressed for time, we ordered our dinner as soon as the beverages arrived. More often than not, I would drink a beer first.  I ordered a Cuban and onion straws. Mindy ordered a brisket quesadilla. Jacob ordered gates-of-hell wings. And Bella ordered a mini-cheeseburger and fries. Deanna brought our order about 5-10 minutes later. Sitting at the bar was Tim. We hadn’t seen him in a while. He was in with two of his yuppie-biker buddies. I teased them about their assless chaps as they were leaving. 

During our dinner I ordered a second beer. The IIPA’s are not meant to be chugged. But the kids and Mindy were ready to depart at the same time I started drinking. But Mindy appreciates good beer and understood that I couldn’t/wouldn’t simply chug it. I did speed it up a little, however. We left for home just after 7:30pm. Mindy drove. Tomorrow night is Oysters and Stout night. They’ll have Mindy’s fave on the Tower – Russian Imperial Stout. There’s a good chance we’ll be back tomorrow evening after Trick-Or-Treat. 

As soon as we arrived home we got cracking on carving two of our four pumpkins. I worked with Jacob. Mindy with worked with Bella. Jacob and I drew up a custom designed face on paper before transferring it to the gourd. Mindy & Bella chose a more complex design that came in with a carving kit. We spent the first 20 minutes deseeding and degunking our gourds.

 Next, we moved onto carving. Mindy & I did most, if not all, of that. Jacob & I finished ours first. It wasn’t even close. Both Bella & Jacob grew bored with the carving process and moved on to other things, just like last year. Bella was infatuated with the pumpkin seeds. She spent several minutes washing them in the sink. Jacob moved on to e-pumpkin carving. I placed a candle in ours to see it aflame and in all its glory. Mindy did the same only about 20 minutes later. In fact, while she finished, I got the kids showered and in their pajamas. 

We tucked them in by 9pm. They went down easy. We stayed up just a short time longer. While Mindy played on her laptop I napped and watched ESPN college football Thursday. I sipped another beer through the evening too. We headed for bed around 10pm.

Columbus - The New Retirement Mecca???

http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Article_forbes.aspx?cp-documentid=11783163&gt1=35000

I over slept by about five minutes but nothing much to worry about.  I was downstairs and fully engaged in exercise by 5:40am. The weather was partly cloudy at the outset and the temperature a tad warmer than Tuesday. It was a balmy 37 degrees, but also breezy. I still bundled warmly for my walk with Ykraps.

 I enjoyed some coffee in front of the PC before taking Mindy hers. A short time later I was bundled up for my morning run. Once again I wore ear & hand covers. Once I start it’s hard to not. I was very comfortable. Mindy had drippy eggs ready upon my return. She asked if there was frost on her car windows. No, there wasn’t. She & Bella departed at 7:26am. 

Mindy didn’t pack me a lunch since we were doing the chili potluck. I remembered right then to place the cookies I bought for the event with my keys so that I wouldn’t forget them.

 I was showered and ready to go by 7:55am. Meanwhile, this was picture retake day for Jacoby. In kind, we slicked back his mop as best we could. However, his hair has a mind of its own. We met Jake at the bus stop. Like most days, we tossed the football. Jake’s catching the ball much better these days.

 I wasn’t certain if the Bob’s would want to golf after work, but I had my clubs in tow just in case. Aside from a slight chill in the air, the weather was expected to be nice. I arrived at work before 8:30am. It was a busy day, especially meeting-wise. They began at 10am and lasted until 3pm with only a couple brief breaks in between. One of those breaks was for lunch, our chili potluck. There were nine selections to choose from. The same guy has won the last two years. I liked the chili with the cinnamon/allspice flavor. But that was little wonder, it’s much like my own recipe. That’s the one I voted for. I ended up eating three bowls all totaled. But in all fairness, they were small bowls. What really got me was the four cookies I ate. I felt bloated come day’s end.

 My ex, Kelly left me a VM around 3pm requesting a call back. I had a good idea what she wanted. I waited until my drive home to call her back. I headed for home at 5:40pm. After a brief conversation with Mindy I returned Kelly’s call. It’s fair to say that Kelly was furious with me. But I held my ground citing that I did what I felt was best for my two grandsons’ futures. I couldn’t worry about hurt feelings or egos in this particular case. We talked for quite a while. In fact, we were still talking when I arrived home. The conversation went on for several more minutes. At one point I handed the phone to Mindy.

 For whatever reason, Kelly likes to paint me to be something I’m not. But that’s OK. I understand. It’s more common than you might think. It’s called projecting oneself onto others. Our call ended with me still feeling good about the call we made.

 Meanwhile, our kids were with their father for dinner. Mindy and I shared the rest of our alone time talking. The kids returned around 7:30pm. They were pretty excited. They asked me to pop some popcorn. I did. While enjoying the popcorn, they also played with the computer pumpkin carving program on Mindy’s laptop. That kept them busy for a good 30 minutes before bedtime. We got the children ready and in bed by 8:30pm. After they were tucked into bed Mindy & I got in the hot tub for about 30 minutes. We hadn’t been in the hot tub together for two months, I bet. Afterwards, we talked politics for well over an hour. Actually, our conversation crossed over into the economy – not just politics.  Right on queue, we headed for bed at 10pm.

 

A Banner Day Indeed

Monthly bills that weren’t nearly as biting as expected; my dentist performed a minor miracle; and the DOW rose a whopping 10.88%!  

As one would expect, I was up on time and aggressively attacking my exercise routine by 5:30am. I felt really good after a solid 7.5 hours of sleep. A glance out the back door revealed a clear, star-filled sky. A few minutes later Ykraps and I were out on our morning walk. It was cold and frosty. I later learned that it was a chilly 30 degrees. 

We were back and enjoying coffee a short time later. After some quiet, alone time, I delivered coffee to Mindy. She reported feeling a tad better.  I returned downstairs for meditation and run prep. Just before stepping out on my run I went in search of my winter cap to further protect myself from the morning’s chill. I couldn’t find the hat I was looking for but found an adequate substitute. I’d forgotten about my ear muffs, but remembered where they were just before heading out. I ended up using them. Glad I did. They made a huge difference in keeping my body heat contained. Short of my winter running jacket, I was in full winter gear and wasn’t even November!

 At run’s conclusion I asked Mindy for her van keys. I started the minivan and the defroster to hopefully prevent her from driving with frost covered windows. She appreciated my thoughtfulness. She and Bella bundled and left just before 7:30am. This was a school day for Bella.

 Jacob and I left for the bus stop at our usual 7:58am. Despite the chill, we took the football along to pass the time. Kenny was at the bus stop along with Jake. We had a fun, yet brief visit. I left for work at 8:10am. I stopped to fill my gas tank after finding the price at $2.21 per gallon. I can’t remember when it was last that low. 

Work went well. We were quite busy. I had a 2pm dental appointment scheduled that I conveniently scheduled as my lunch. I hadn’t been to the dentist in a year.  I was due for a cleaning and check-up. In addition, one of my expensive veneers had a nick in it. I was hopeful that Dr March could fix it somehow. I left for his office at 1:30pm. I had just a short wait before they called me back. The last time I was in, Faith, my hygienist, gave me crap about not flossing, yet it’s something I do every day. I was offended. Today I was handed over to another hygienist. She was much kinder & prettier. The cleaning & x-rays took about 30 minutes. Dr March didn’t come in until the end. He said everything looked good. I pointed out the nick in my veneer. He thought he could fix it quickly. He first tried to polish it out but ended up adding some liquid porcelain. I was skeptical at first, but the results were remarkable. Thanks Dr March!

 . Mindy called late afternoon to ask if I’d stop at the Roberts Rd CVS to pick-up her prescription. Apparently she had her doctor call in a script for antibiotics for a sinus infection. I agreed to do it. I also planned a stop at Kroger to pick-up something for tomorrow’s potluck. I left the office shortly after 5:30pm. At Kroger I went the easy route. I bought three dozen cookies as my contribution to tomorrow’s chili potluck. While there, I picked up a dozen roses for Mindy. She needed the pick-me-up. 

Next stop was the Robert’s Rd CVS. I picked up her pills at the drive-thru. That was very effiocient. It was $5. I arrived home a few minutes later. Leftovers were on the dinner menu. We had plenty, too, including pizza, gulasch, & spaghetti. However, before sitting down to dinner, I took Ykraps on his evening walk. 

I was the last to heat & eat leftovers. I chose pizza. I used the pizza stone, carefully placing the remaining six slices on it. I heated the oven to 300 degrees. 10 minutes later it was warmed to perfection. I didn’t think it was possible, but the pizza tasted better than it did fresh out of the oven. The crust took on a sweet, pastry like flavor that is usually undetectable. I was very impressed. 

After dinner, I built a fire and then the whole family played Apples to Apples Jr. in front of the burning embers. It was fun. We played two games. After the game Mindy got the kids upstairs and in the shower. Soon it was tuck in time. I popped some popcorn and then alerted both Jacob and Bella to it avail. They came downstairs for a few extra minutes to enjoy a handful or two. They were back in bed by 8:45pm. 

After the kids were settled, Mindy & I placed a call to an organization designed to help children. We had a prepared outline ready to use to keep the conversation on track and to make sure that we covered all the important points. The call lasted about an hour. We both felt a huge sense of relief afterwards. More on this later. 

We headed up to bed at 10pm. Mindy reminded me that I hadn’t gone to bed at the same time as her in many days. That’s true, but due mostly to her earlier than usual bedtimes. 

Moon Missing In Action

I woke Monday morning feeling incredibly well rested. I was up just a few minutes early. The usual morning aches were mysteriously missing. I attribute that to the hot tubbing I did the evening before. I went about my exercise routine and then set out on a walk with Ykraps. It was once again quite chilly. I searched the sky for the moon but it was missing in action. However, it was clear directly overhead but clouds I could see moving in from the west. 

The morning coffee really hit the spot. I enjoyed my first cup at the PC before taking Mindy some. In fact, at the time I wasn’t sure that she even planned on going into work. But after taking her coffee she said that she was. However, she complained of feeling less than stellar. What a trooper! 

Before dressing for a run I spent fifteen minutes in meditation. I had lots on my mind. It was difficult to relax. I dressed and left for a run at 6:30am. It was chilly enough for a hat or ear muffs, but I haven’t yet sought them out. I did wear my running gloves. They help a lot.

 My run was almost entirely in the dark. Daybreak is just beginning to occur when I finish. But this will be the last week of that for a while. We set the clocks back this coming Saturday night/Sunday morning. Remember what I said a couple weeks ago, this will be the latest official sunrise in Columbus on record – 8:01am. Here’s the answer to an interesting solstice paradox:

http://archives.stupidquestion.net/sq121798sunset.html 

Mindy had my eggs ready upon re-entrance. She also kindly reminded me that she didn’t pack my lunch. I didn’t mind. After all, she wasn’t feeling good. Soon she and Bella departed. Bella was wrapped tightly in a blanket and fresh out of bed. I finished my food then headed up for a shower. 

After a shower I returned downstairs freshly dressed for work. I loaded & prepped the dishwasher for a work day washing with the few minutes remaining before take off. Jake, Jacob and I threw the football before the bus arrived. The bus pulled up at 8:03am. I headed back home as the bus pulled away. I loaded the Trooper with all my gear then headed into work. Gas was still $2.37 per gallon. 

Work was busy. I worked straight through without taking a formal lunch hour. However, I warmed a small bowl of gulasch that I packed for my lunch. I ate that along with the usual veggies and fruit. I spent a good while chatting with my boss about the weekend on-call as well as other less pressing matters. I chatted with ex Kelly mid afternoon. I had some concerns about Ashley’s broken cell phone as well as some questions about Lindsey I wanted to discuss.

 The work day evaporated quickly. Soon it was 5:30pm and time to head for home. Where did the day go? I must’ve arrived home around 6:00pm. I walked Ykraps not long after walking in the door. Mindy shared that she went to the doctor during her school day. He said that she didn’t have strep but that she had two blisters on the back of her throat. He said her illness was viral – not bacterial. She didn’t have a sinus infection. 

Despite being ill, Mindy was busy making spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner. We sat for dinner about 20 minutes later. To complement the spaghetti, Mindy baked some  garlic/cheesy bread too. I ate plenty. After cleaning up after dinner, Mindy & the kids asked me to play a board game. We played Apples to Apples Jr. We had fun. We must’ve played three games.

 The kids were whisked off to bed at 8:30pm. After getting them all tucked into bed I returned downstairs where I published some weekend blog material. I finished just before 9pm and went to the family room to catch some MNF – Titans vs. Colts. Mindy headed up for bed around 9:30pm. I stayed up watching the game until halftime. I was feeling blissfully sleepy just before heading up. I like that feeling much. 

Dave Mathews' Side Gig - Who Knew?

I woke on the sofa a number of times, but not once did I seriously consider getting up and going back to bed. I was just too warm and cozy. My sleep lasted until 7:45am. That’s when I got up and began my Sunday. I experienced the usual dull aches in my shoulders from sleeping on the sofa, but aside from that I was in good shape. 

I logged onto my laptop, started a pot of coffee, and began my exercise routine. Work was not cooperating. I had to spend a great deal of my early morning fully engaged. Soon, everyone in the house was up – Mindy, the kids, Courtney & Kaileigh. Mindy quickly got breakfast going. She made one of our favorites, maple bacon and French toast. 

The weather was sunny but still a bit chilly. However, the high was expected to crawl into the 60’s by mid-afternoon. Mindy and the others enjoyed their breakfast while I worked away. Mindy thoughtfully placed my plate in the oven since she knew that I rarely, if ever, eat before my run. Today was no exception. Everyone ate, got dressed, and left for church a little after 10am. And me, I wasted no time readying and heading out for my run. The Irrigation winterization dude – Dave Mathews - pulled up to the house as I was heading out. I confirmed that they didn’t need inside access to perform their task before dashing off. I was glad that I could check that off my list of to-do’s. 

 I ran along Trabue & Hague. It’s much more scenic than the subdivision loop, albeit much more dangerous. I was back by 11:00am. My first order of business was retrieving my breakfast from the oven. It was still piping hot, my plate wrapped up in aluminum foil. I enjoyed my bacon and French toast while reacquainting myself with work. 

I spent the rest of the morning and all afternoon working. I never even got out of my running clothes. Mindy & the gang returned from church around 12:45pm. This time they had Lil’ Rocky in tow. I knew he was coming over. He called and asked earlier. he loves to play with Jacob and Bella. Mindy had plans to head into school for some catch-up work all weekend. She left with Courtney and Kaileigh, planning to drop them off first at Al & Rosemary’s. 

Meanwhile, back at home, the kids were loud and rowdy – something I expected but didn’t really enjoy. I had to keep my hands in work all afternoon. I was admittedly frustrated. Come 4pm I phoned Mindy to let her know that I wouldn’t be able to attend Sunday dinner. We had discussed simply meeting there, with me bringing the kids. She promptly left school and came home to fetch the kids and leave for her mom’s. 

After they left I was able to focus even more attention on work. However, I managed to squeeze in one personal task. I programmed the cable remote to control both the Plasma TV and stereo. That was a long time coming! Finally, around 5:30pm things began to slow a bit. Feeling gritty, achy, and tired, I prepped the hot tub for a soaking. I hadn’t been in the hot tub in over a month.

 Boy, the hot tub felt great! I must’ve stayed in for about 25 minutes. I felt nice and clean afterwards. I changed into my pajamas. I kept working through the early evening but had some flexibility that I didn’t earlier. I was able to get the house back in order before Mindy & the kids got home. Mindy brought me some gulasch, but I wasn’t in the mood. I ended up popping some popcorn just as the kids were getting ready for bed. They both begged for some. Bella boldly came down on her own to get a handful. Jacob didn’t.

Mindy asked if I wanted to watch Sunday Night Football. I didn’t. Instead, I wanted to watch The 40 Year Old Virgin on network TV. We own the DVD but I haven’t seen it for about 2.5 years. Mindy headed to bed around 9:30pm. She still wasn’t feeling well or sounding good. I stayed up until the movie was over at 10:30pm. 

Courtney/Kaileigh Sleep Over

I got up around 7:30am after waking three or four times after 5:30am. The first wakening was blissful as I woke thinking that I had to get up for work only to deduce that I didn’t. Yahoo! That always feels good. I tried being quiet so not to disturb Mindy’s sleep since she was ill. My plan was to allow her to sleep as long as she wanted. 

After starting some coffee I checked in with work. Things were under control for the moment. I breezed through my exercise routine before setting out on a walk with Ykraps. The weather forecast called for clearing skies by mid afternoon. I was happy to see that already underway, although it transitioned back and forth all morning. 

The kids were up before Mindy, but she wasn’t far behind. I was surprised that she was up so early, especially given that she was ill. It must’ve been just after 9am. I stayed focused on work through the early morning hours trying to make sure everything was well under control for the day ahead.

 I left for a run around 9:30am. It was about 45 degrees by then and the sun was peaking out from behind the sparse clouds. It was an enjoyable run. Mindy planned her grocery shopping while the kids played. Bella took off for the neighbors. Jacob ended up spending most of the day in his room after testing his mom’s patience yet again. He lost. Work was largely under control, so I was able to complete several smallish chores in an around the house. I purposefully didn’t’ start anything too big or time consuming. 

I checked Mindy’s headlight bulbs before she left. She said both low-beams were burnt out. My testing revealed one still working. I suggested that she still get two new bulbs anyhow. The intermittent bulb looked like a damaged socket issue. In addition, I was able to get the new air hose attached to my air compressor and fully tested. I used plumber’s tape on the threads to prevent any unnecessary air leaks. Worked great.  Mindy left for the store around 2pm. Jacob was relegated to his room for the entire time and Bella was off playing at the neighbors. It was very peaceful. I enjoyed my afternoon. 

Mindy got home around 4pm. After she got all the groceries put away, I started making the brownies to take to Bobby’s Halloween party. Mindy cut up fruit. I chilled the beers we each planned to take as well. Because I hadn’t yet showered and still had so much to do, Mindy willingly agreed to go fetch Kaileigh & Courtney, both in Grove City. That would save me lots of time. While the brownie’s cooled, I showered and then walked Ykraps. It was just after 5pm. Mindy returned home with Courtney and Kaileigh around 5:40pm.

We weren’t home long, however. We left for brother Bobby’s before 6pm. I drove Mindy’s minivan, which I might add, is very, very rare. We arrived a little after 6pm. 

We might’ve been the last guests to arrive We hadn’t partied with Dodie and Randy since last Xmas, I think. Bobby & April did a splendid job with all the ghoulish treats and spooky decorations. I could tell that Bobby put lots of time and thought into the preparations. Without question, the kids had fun, and so did we. 

The Buckeye/Penn State game was slated to kick-off at 8pm. A few of us settled into the living room just prior to kick-off. Bobby shared with us the all the details that lead up to his winning the $20K makeover for their master bedroom. The public voted and he & April won by a landslide. Bobby wisely spent a little cash to drum up support for their cause. They begin the project next weekend. 

We stayed at Bobby’s through halftime. It was 3-3. It was also 9:30pm or so when we gathered up the kids and headed for home. It was still halftime when we arrived. Thanks to Mindy suggesting that I inflate the air bed prior to leaving, I had little to outside of tucking the kids into bed. Courtney slept in her old room. Mindy & I watched the second half from the comfort of the family room sofa. Most people didn’t give the Buckeyes much of a chance against the high scoring Nittany Lions, but we were ahead 6-3 well into the 4^th quarter. But all of the sudden, things took a turn for the worse. Our freshman quarterback fumbled trying to convert on a 3^rd and 1 from the 50 yard line. That was in-eefect the game. Buckeyes lost 13-6. 

Mindy had seen enough and headed to bed as soon as the game ended. It wasn’t quite 11pm. I chose to stay up and watch some Saturday Night Live. I remembered to DVR it just in case. Good thing I did, too. I fell asleep somewhere along the line. I got up & headed to bed soon after it started for what I anticipated would be a restful night’s sleep. 

Somewhere near 1:30am I woke up after hearing Jacob complain to Mindy that he was feeling sick. I also heard Courtney downstairs. I got up and went to see what all the commotion was about. She was up eating brownies. Since I was up, I logged into work and took care of some business. I eventually made my way to the sofa where I turned on the TV mostly to serve as a sleeping aid. It worked handsomely. I slept down there for the remainder of the night. 

Getting a Soapy

It clouded up overnight for the first time in quite a while. Rain was forecasted for later in the day and was expected to carrying into Saturday. I didn’t mind too much. I was slated to be on-call anyway.

 I was up just before 5:30am. I felt pretty good thanks to 400mg of Ibuprofen. After exercise Ykraps and I headed out the door. Somehow I broke the zipper on my black Columbia fleece jacket. The pull had been broken off for some time, but I was still able to zip it my using my fingernail to slide the zipping mechanism up the track. No more. I heard it fall to the floor as I tried zipping it before heading out the door. 

After coffee but before meditation, I took Mindy some coffee. I asked if she were going into work (school). She was, even though she didn’t feel so well. I returned downstairs to meditate and then run. I was happy that it was Friday. Even though I’d be on-call, I still enjoy my weekends.

 My run went well. Mindy had my eggs ready by the time that I made it back home. Today’s eggs were cooked in olive oil. I could tell the difference. I was happy for the switch but asked that she consider reducing the amount a little in the future. She took the feedback well. Soon she & Bella left for school. If plans went as discussed, I wouldn’t see the two of them until sometime after 8pm. Mindy & the kids were going to their  school’s Halloween open house event sponsored by the PTA after 5pm. I, in turn, had plans to meet a few peeps at Cosmos after work.

 I was ready for work by 7:55am. Jacob and I walked to the bus stop where we threw the football before the bus came. Kenny made a rare showing. He shared that he winterized his own irrigation system after the first cold snap. I reported that Nationwide irrigation was slated to come do mine in the coming days. Other than learning how to do it, I had no incentive to do my own. This year’s is on the house. 

I left for work at 8:10am. Gas was $2.39 per gallon. I still had a half tank so I passed assuming that it will come down even further by the time I really need a fill-up. 

Work was very busy. Most of my peers were scheduled off only adding to the day’s challenge. I noticed that it began to rain mid-afternoon and fairly hard too. Out the window I noticed most of the nearby trees off in the woods had already lost their leaves. The fall season’s slipping by in a hurry to be sure. 

Because I was busy, I didn’t bother leaving for lunch. I had no real need to either.  I stayed busy until just after 5:30pm. Tom Clark texted me around 4:30pm regarding our meeting at Cosmos. I planned to go but didn’t bother to respond. Too much hassle to text via cell phone.

 It was raining rather steadily as I was leaving for the day. It was chilly too. I arrived at Cosmos around 5:45pm. It’s no more than two miles up the road. I was surprised to find only two folks, Myron & Tom, already there. Jeff G showed up about ten minutes later. Used to be a big crowd would show for such events. Times are changing! I gave Steve Androw a call to see if he was planning to join us. He was in Charlotte, NC for a NASCAR race. He wasn’t going to make it – obviously! It was just the four of us. We had fun, though, listening to Tom’s stories about his vacation in the Philippines. Lots of funny stories – always has a handful to tell. Jeff shared that he’s been moved to an individual contributor’s role but still within the bank. Didn’t sound too thrilled about it either. Difficult times! 

I didn’t stay too long. I left after my second beer, which I nursed for a quite a while. Mindy & I loosely agreed that we’d meet at home around 8pm. As soon as I got rolling towards home I phoned Minelli’s to order a pizza for pick-up. Mindy called just as I was exiting the freeway. Among other things, she let me know that I needed to walk Ykraps. Good information to have. I arrived at Minelli’s fifteen minutes after placing my order. I didn’t expect it to be ready but it was. They quoted me 30 minutes. 

Mindy & the kids had just pulled up when I arrived home. Everyone was in good spirits after the Halloween party, or so it seemed. After carrying in all my gear, including the pizza, I leashed up Ykraps and took him on a quick yet productive walk.  I was anxious to get back home and dig into my pizza.

 The kids and Mindy ate very little pizza. They had already eaten Wendy’s. I ate about half of an extra-large pizza. I was very hungry. While enjoying the pizza I got logged onto work for the weekend ahead. Things were fairly quiet for the time being. Mindy & I watched the Boise State/San Jose State college football game on ESPN after the kids were in bed. Because Mindy wasn’t feeling well, she went up to bed just before 10pm.

I woke on the sofa somewhere near 1230am and shut down the house and headed for bed. Like often happens when I fall asleep on the sofa, I woke incredibly stiff. 

Talking Back to your Mother Will Get You Nowhere... Learning the Hard Way

I don’t recall exactly what time I woke but do know that it was before 5:30am. In kind, my morning routine must’ve been like most others as well, since I can’t recall anything out of the ordinary about it either. Most of all, I remember that the weather was nice. It was another clear and chilly in the morning. It was expected to warm nicely through the day making it into the low 60s. 

After a run, breakfast, and shower I walked Jacob to the bus stop. I left for work at what must’ve been almost 8:10am. Arriving to work on time, I planned a trip to Home Depot at lunch. There, I bought a new pot for the fern that rests on our soaking tub. The current pot is much too small – just eight inches across. More water runs out than in when watering. I chose one of those faux fiberglass pots that has the same look and feel as ceramic, yet it weighs considerably less and won’t break. I also bought a pair of quality yard work gloves that fit snugly. This, just before serious leaf raking begins. Smart! Last minute I grabbed a four-pack of florescent 40watt-equivalent bulbs & a longer, more robust hose for my relatively new air compressor. All of that set me back $57. 

I was gone a little longer than expected, but was back at work by 2:30pm. Some time during the afternoon, Nationwide Irrigation phoned to let me know that they’d be out in the next 4-6 days to winterize my sprinkler system. They asked only that I turn the water off inside until then. Cool! I spoke with Mindy during the afternoon. She was stopping at Kroger on her way home and wanted to know if I cared for anything special. I did not. She also gave me several dinner options. I was at a loss. I told her to make whatever she felt like making. I then promised that I would not later complain. J 

I left work at 5:30pm and was home within 20 minutes. Mindy had boneless chicken breasts on the stove in the grill pan. I walked Ykraps alone since Mindy needed to tend to the meat. Dinner was good. In addition to chicken, we had tater tots, too. Mindy did all of the cooking and prepping while complaining of a sore throat. She didn’t feel well at all. Good wife!

 Later, after dinner and clean-up, she and Jacob had a brief altercation. He was unusually brash and wouldn’t stop running his trap even after being warned a couple of times. She eventually sent him to his room where we could hear even more negative comments. Mindy came to where I was sitting in part to calm down but also to seek my advice. I suggested a spanking in addition to her suggestion of losing screens. We rarely spank, but today, I felt, he earned it. There needed to be both immediate and long term repercussions for his actions. Mindy agreed, and after calming a bit she paid him a visit with the dreaded plastic spoon in hand. He got two whacks. He wasn’t pleased. 

What’s interesting, neither of us could remember what the entire exchange was about. All we remembered was his unusual brashness. He also threatened that he wanted to live with his daddy. And so it begins… Mindy and I’ve discussed this many times. That’ll be a weapon we’ll surely hear more than once. Angry kids use that often, especially in their teenage years. Jacob refused to get his shower and instead went right to bed. Choosing our battles wisely, we left him be. 

We relaxed on the sofa watching Thursday night football. There, Mindy came clean about the cooking oil she used on my Wednesday morning eggs. Turns out it was vegetable oil. But what she didn’t know was that it was recycled vegetable oil from the fry pappy. I was almost sure of this. Mindy didn’t feel well and went to bed early. I wasn’t far behind.

Un-Earthly

I rolled out of bed at 5:25am, again just a little ahead of schedule. And like yesterday, I felt much better after taking two 200mg Ibuprofen tablets just before bed. Not certain why, but the 800mg prescription tablets seem to last for nearly 24hrs. Anyway, I was loose. Consequently, my calisthenics went that much easier. Soon I was outdoors with Ykraps. It was really chilly out there. The clear sky did nothing but exacerbate the chill. And since we walked out towards the east, the walk back was more brutal due to a cold breeze blowing out of the west. We survived. 

We were back earlier than usual. I had plenty of time to enjoy my own coffee before taking Mindy hers. After delivering hers, I returned downstairs for meditation. I used 15 minutes for that. I got dressed for a run at 6:25am and headed out the door a short time later. In addition to my usual fall running attire, I wore thick sweat shorts under my running pants as well as my new running gloves. It occurred to me that running so early in the morning has moved the need for heavier running gear up earlier in the year. Running at lunch, as I did for over ten years, put me out there in the heat of the day. I wouldn’t typically need gloves or thick under shorts until late December or early January most years. Heck, it’s only mid-October. I anticipate a warm up of sorts in the coming weeks – Indian Summer. 

My run went well. I was quite comfortable in my extra coverings. The next addition will be ear covers. They make a huge difference in how much body heat one retains. I was back a bit earlier than usual. Mindy noticed and mentioned as much. I asked about the strange smell in the kitchen. It smelt like heavy cooking oil. It wasn’t pleasant. I wondered if she might’ve cooked my eggs in canola/corn oil versus the usual olive oil. She said not. Later, as I began eating my eggs, I could taste what I smelt. They tasted as if they had been steeped in corn oil. Yuck. I threw them out and cooked two more. Jacob backed me up, complaining of the same smell. I knew I wasn’t crazy, or at least about that, anyway. J 

Mindy & Bella were out the door for school. After tidying up the kitchen I darted off for a shower. It didn’t take me long to return downstairs fully ready. I prepped the dishwasher for a running prior to leaving. I hit the go button just as Jacob and I headed for the bus stop. I started the Trooper on the way to the bus stop. The frost cover was thick. 

Jacob shivered as he tried keeping his hands warm. He most assuredly should’ve worn a heavier coat, but I’ll take the blame for that. Neighbor Jake never showed at the bus stop. However, after picking up Jacob, I saw the bus stop at what appeared directly in front of his house. I guessed that he was running behind. I think she got him. 

Back at home I had to scrape my windows before leaving. No trouble. The price of gas hadn’t changed. Still $2.53. Work was hopping. Stayed busy up until our weekly staff meeting at 11am. That lasted until 12:30pm or so. In keeping with our weekly potlucks this October, today our lead engineers were providing ice cream for everyone. They laid out quite a spread. However, before eating any myself, I heated and ate my packed lunch. Having the ice cream was timely since I brought leftover chili. What it heated up, the ice cream cooled. After scarfing down my chili, I had two big bowls of ice cream each topped with hot fudge. Way delicious!

 Bob Imber emailed. We firmed up golf plans for later. He asked about Saturday too. Sadly, I wouldn’t be able to since I’d be on-call this coming weekend. But I was very much looking forward to getting out there later this evening. 

The afternoon moved briskly. I left for golf at 4:35pm. As usual, things got dicey just prior. Things were good when I left, however. I talked with Mindy as I drove towards golf. She reminded me about choir practice and that Jim would be bringing the kids home around 7:30pm. Good deal. I must’ve arrive at Thornapple just before 5pm. The Bob’s had just gotten there a little before me. I hurried in to pay. The Bob’s carted together. I carted alone. 

We tee’d off the back nine for the first time this fall. Hole #10 is a long par five – about 560 yards. I was on in 4 but three putted. The 11^th hole is a long par 3 – 245 yards with a creek protecting the green. I went with driver, but mis-hit slightly leaving it in the creek and right. Hitting three on and two putting left me with a 5.  As luck would have it, those were two of my best holes. I never did find my groove or swing. I had one par I believe. I ended up shooting a 54. The many nice shots I hit last Wednesday were a thing of the past. That’s golf!  Before heading home, we talked about the weekend, and more specifically, the Penn State game. This is a biggie – #3 against #10, prime time, & nationally televised. Like last year, we’ll be at brother Bob’s Halloween party for the game. 

I was home by 7:05pm. Mindy had already walked Ykraps. I tended to tomorrow’s coffee and then cleaned/rinsed my lunch containers. I noticed right away, that Mindy had the house spic and span. That was nice. While waiting on the kids to return home from dinner with dad I wrote in my blog. I was nearly done by the time they arrived, which was 8pm -much later than I expected. Mindy phoned not five minutes later to let me know that she was on her way home. She only asked that I give the kids a sniff test before declaring a bath-bye, and then to see them into their jammies and through teeth brushing. Done! 

By the time that Mindy got home ten minutes later the kids were watching TV in their rooms. We did the tuck in minutes later. Downstairs, we talked about our day. Mindy ate some cereal after complaining of being hungry. I snacked on some Triscuits and cheese. Later, I poured myself a pint of Southern Tier’s Un-Earthy IPA. It was delicious. I finished my blog and then readied for bed. It was almost 10pm. 

Frosty

How can one go on about Palin‘s lack of experience without casting Obama in a similar light?

I was up at 5:30am on the nose. I was satisfied with my sleep and felt tremendous after taking Ibuprofen an hour or so before bed the night before. That stuff is a modern day miracle, I tell you. Among other things, it made my exercise routine easier. I wasn’t stiff at all. The morning sky was crisp and clear with a half moon lurking almost directly overhead. And it was down right cold. I worried about my sprinkler system. I called the winterization number on Monday but was only able to leave a message. 

I returned home for coffee, internet, and meditation. I took my time. 6:30am rolled around fast. In fact, it rolled around too fast. After I got myself decked out in my running gear and ready for yet another chilly run it was after 6:40am. I pulled my hands up into my jacket much like a turtle as the morning air was cold enough to nip at my finger tips. A mile or so into my run I was able to comfortably pop ‘em back out.

 I returned from my run around 7:25am hungry for some breakfast. Mindy had it ready. We were having scrambled eggs and fruit. Bella had school, and Mindy was running behind. I helped Bella get her hair brushed. She had way too much detangler in it. I didn’t say anything, however. I didn’t want to discourage her. Soon she & Mindy were out the door.

  I was in the shower by 7:40am. I hurried through my prep process and was back downstairs ready to head out the door by 7:58am. Jake greeted us at the bus stop. Crissy dashed off for work as soon as we walked up. The bus came just as we were getting warmed up throwing the football. Back at the house the Trooper was defrosting. It was completely ready and warm.

 I left for work hopeful for a speedy, exciting, fun-filled day. Gas, I noticed, was even cheaper today. It was down to $2.54 at Thornton’s. Here’s hoping it goes even lower.

 Work was under control but busy. The morning was gone in the blink of an eye. Just after 1pm I left for lunch. I drove to Lowe’s simply to browse. I looked at lighting options (exterior/interior), plumbing materials, and Xmas decorations. I bought nothing – never intended to. I was gone longer than expected. I didn’t get back to the office until 2:30pm. Time flies. The afternoon went by as fast as the morning.  Mindy mentioned that Bella wanted hot dogs for dinner. Sounded like we’d be having chili dogs. I was OK with that.

 I arrived home around 5:55pm. To my delight, Bella had already walked Ykraps. However, Mindy inserted a caveat. It was a very short walk. I thought better of it and took him on another. Let’s just say that it was a productive walk. Jacob wasn’t home. He was at a Blue Jackets game with his daddy. We didn’t expect him home until close to 9pm. In the meantime, we had fun with Bella. She very much enjoyed her mother’s undivided attention. 

After a quick dinner I got the sprinkler running on the new grass. I soaked it good. Because it was gonna be another cold night, I took old, thick bath towels out to protect the backflow valve on the new irrigation system from freezing, and also wrapped one around the pond pump. It was expected to dip down near 30 degrees again tonight. While the sprinkler ran, I updated my blog. Mindy & Bella asked that I build a fire. I did it while Mindy gave Bella her bath. Soon we were all three lying around a warm toasty fire listening to Bella do her daily/nightly reading. She did a good job. 

Jacob arrived home before 9pm. The Blue Jackets were ahead by two goals when they left, I believe. But that doesn’t mean much. Their M.O. is to give up the game in the closing minutes. Jacob ate a piece of microwaveable Banquet chicken before getting a shower. He loves that stuff.

 Soon both kids were in bed and Mindy & I had some time alone. Before relaxing, I mixed another batch of medicine for Ykraps’ ears. He didn’t put up to much of a fuss at all. I really think he likes it. She played on her laptop while I listened to the 2^nd of two CD’s included in my new Deepak audio CD book. I fell asleep while it whirled. I woke just as it finished.

 Mindy & I headed to bed around 10pm. 

Chilly & Chili

I slept well, or at least until I woke up. J Sounds funny but there’s some truth to it. I probably woke the usual two or three times during sleep only to be reminded of my achy shoulders and groin. I should’ve taken some Advil prior to bed but obviously didn’t. I sprung from bed at 5:25am not wanting to risk one more go down and end up sleeping late.

 Downstairs, I started into my routine right off happy that I was getting a jump on an otherwise fast moving morning. My calisthenics were in the bag by 5:40am. Ykraps and I headed out for our walk immediately after. It was very chilly. For my money, this was the coldest morning yet.  I later learned that it was near 30 degrees depending on your location. The realization hit me that I really need to call the irrigation dude today to schedule a winterization. And for that matter, I need to call about having the boat winterized, too.

 Our walk was slow. Ykraps took his merry old time, but I was fine with that. Once we arrived back home I fetched his treat and also grabbed the liquid syringe and ear cleaning solution that I whipped up on Saturday. I squirted the mixture into each of his ear canals and then proceeded to massage it in as best I could. He loves having his ears massaged. The whole process took only a minute or two.

 Next was coffee time. Because it was still early – only 5:55am - I enjoyed some coffee of my own before making Mindy’s and delivering it. Around 6:05am I took Mindy hers. I spent a solid 15 minutes in meditation before my run. I did a much better job than I have lately suppressing the countless thoughts that constantly barrage my brain.

 My favorite running attire was too smelly to be worn again this morning. Because of this, I had to grab fresh from the laundry closet. I could’ve gotten away with wearing my new running gloves but didn’t. It was that chilly. By the time I dashed off for my run the trash truck had already been by to empty the weekly container. The bulk pick-up items were still there, however. But I expected that. They typically come later in the morning.

 My run went well. I was still slightly ahead of the curve so I saw some characters that I typically just miss. On the other hand, a few others that I typically encounter were up the road a bit from the usual location where our paths typically cross. It only makes sense. The sky began to brighten as I closed in on home. However, no more is there sunshine breaking through the horizon.

 As usual, Mindy had my breakfast ready. She was dressed in her new outfit again today. She only wore it to church on Sunday. She allowed Bella to sleep in until the last minute since she was going to the sitter’s house.  Bella woke and left in a surprisingly good mood. Mindy made chili for Monday’s dinner the afternoon before. The concoction was resting in the fridge, but the crock pot was still on the counter. Her plan was to heat it up once she gets home Monday afternoon.

 Jacob and I left the house at 7:59am. Not sure why we were running slightly behind schedule. Neighbor Jake was waiting in his mother’s SUV at the corner. As soon as we walked up she let him out and left for work. We tossed the football like any other morning. The bus fetched the kids at 8:05am. I walked home to finish loading the Trooper. I was smart enough to start it up earlier as it was covered in light frost. 

Off to work. I arrived at work just before 8:30am. I felt as though I had been gone for a long while when in reality it was a scant three days. My office smelt fresh as I unlocked and opened the door. It looked fresh and clean still too. Nice!

 The work day was well under control. I was the only manager in for most of the day after Ken left near 11am. My boss was working from home. One peer was ill and another on vacation all week. Ken shared that my irrigation guy stopped by and gave them an estimate over the weekend. It was a few hundred more than mine but sounded like it included watering the beds separately. I never left for lunch since I was alone. The day never got out of control, thankfully. I did stay rather busy, however.

 Mindy called me around 4pm in route to pick-up Bella. She wasn’t sure if we had any corn bread mix at home so she planned to pick-up some from her momma. She also asked how I felt about inviting my dad for dinner.  I was good with it. It was now 5:30pm. The work day flew by. Traffic was moving swiftly. I arrived home at 5:51pm. I was happy that the stock market performed well today – up 400 points, or almost 5%.

 Jacob was trying to set his bike on end in the garage just as I pulled up. I helped him out mostly to avoid it falling into my BM’er. My dad was already  there as witnessed by the presence of his minivan. After a brief greeting, he let me know that he Bella already walked Ykraps. Cool! He & I chatted all the while Mindy put the finishing touches on our chili and corn bread.

 She ended up microwaving each bowl individually since it never had a chance to get that hot in the crock pot in the short time she’d been home from school. I worried that it wouldn’t be spicy enough, but that turned out to be unfounded. It was plenty spicy. I topped mine with shredded cheese and sour cream. Yummy! The corn bread was delicious too, at least the top batch. I eventually reached for a second piece of corn bread. But that piece wasn’t nearly as flavorful as the first. In fact, it was nasty tasting. I remember thinking to myself that it had an awkward yet familiar smell/taste. Then it dawned on me. It actually smelt/tasted like Mindy’s moms’ kitchen – no kidding! I told Mindy that something was wrong with some of the corn bread on the bottom, and went on to tell her what I thought it tasted like. She tasted it and thought the same. At first, I was afraid that she’d be offended but it was awful. Somehow the cornbread mix she had picked up from her mothers managed to absorb the flavor and subsequently the smell of the house. It smelt like a combination of laundry and Pinesol. Not a bad smell on its own, but certainly not one you’d want in your food. The box and bag was sealed so we found it a little surprising that the corn flour managed to absorb its surroundings. No more corn bread for me.

 After dinner the kids got back to playing with the neighbors. Dad, Mindy & I sat around the table. We eventually enjoyed some dessert. Mindy had leftover ice box cookie cake. Dad & I enjoyed dirt cake given to us by Denna, Jacob’s friend, Noah’s mom. It was good.

 Dad didn’t stay much longer. I’d guess it was just after 7pm when he left. Mindy soon gathered the children. Jacob was already upstairs playing video games with Jake. Bella was down at the neighbors. After both kids passed the sniff test, Mindy concluded baths were not a necessity. They were off the hook. In turn, Mindy let the two of them stay up until 8:30pm watching TV from Jacob’s room. That didn’t last long, however.  Soon they were fighting and tattling on one another. They had Mindy hotter than a hornet. Choosing not to get involved, I simply listened in from afar. 

I did head up for the tuck in ceremony. Neither kid was in too good of spirits. I understood that. After finishing up with the kids I returned to my blog where I published the past four days including adding some relevant pictures. 

I must’ve finished up around 9pm. Afterwards, I retreated to the family room where I put in my new Deepak CD. There I listened with my feet propped up on some pillows while lying on the sofa. I dosed off for a few minutes here and there. Feeling a bit stiff, I took an 800mg Advil in an attempt to relieve some chronic stiffness in my shoulders and groin area. It didn’t take long for it to at least take the edge off. Mindy & I headed off to bed around 10pm.