When Betting Goes Bad

I was 5:20am or so when I finally got up and out of bed. I woke two or three times prior but purposefully sought more winks. I finished a full round of exercises, including my curls just before 5:35am. I leashed up Ykraps and headed out for a walk. It was noticeably colder than the last week or so- only about 18 degrees. To boot, there was a stiff, bitter cold breeze blowing out of the NW. It was trash day again, and our can was over stuffed. I kept a loose eye on it all morning. The trash dude generally shows up between 6-6:30am – right when I’m sipping morning coffee at the PC. Today was an exception. He hadn’t shown up by the time I left for my run, which was 6:30am sharp. Oh yeah, I delivered Mindy’s coffee and had a real nice mediation, perhaps the best in weeks. My run was good. However, anytime my path put my face directly into the stiff arctic blast, I’d seize up for a brief moment until I adjusted to the shockingly cold air. Thankfully, my back is to the NW for much of the circuit. Although the last mile is looking directly into it. By then, however, my skin is jaded and barely notice it. As I approached home, I saw that my garbage had been picked up – all of it. Nothing lying on the ground. Good deal. Fried eggs were on the breakfast menu. Mindy & the wee ones were already preparing to head out. Soon they were gone and Jacob and I went about the rest of our Thursday prep. The wait at the bus stop was cold and slick – thin ice covered most flat surfaces. Jake slipped on the ice while reaching for a pass landing in awkwardly in the splits. He lied their motionless on the neighbor’s driveway for a few moments agonizing in pain. Jacob eventually helped him up. He was OK – just a little shaken. After the bus swooped them away, I headed home for one last hoorah. The Trooper was toasty having sat warming for the last ten minutes. Because I put it off for the last few days, I had no choice but to stop and fuel up this AM. Gas was $1.97. The Trooper took 19 gallons (still had a gallon or so left). Work wasn’t too busy volume-wise, but did present numerous challenges. Rumors were rampant about potential staff reductions causing a few team members to panic. Not knowing anything for certain, I did my level best to calm the waters. Generally speaking, I don’t worry too much about such things. For one, you can’t change the outcome, and two, your work value should speak for itself on an ongoing basis. I didn’t take a formal lunch once again – haven’t all week. I did eat lunch in my office – leftover beef noodles. Yummy! The end of day came soon enough. Before I knew it, it was 5:30pm. Mindy said we’d be having leftovers. There was plenty to choose from. After walking Ykraps, I selected chili having had noodles for lunch. Mindy had beef noodles, and the kids had a combination of things, including leftover mac and cheese. The chili was delicious. Clean–up was lengthy and also included emptying the already-clean dishwasher. By the time we were done it practically needed run again. Damn! I helped Mindy ready the kids for bed. This was national championship night – Florida vs. Oklahoma. This marked the first time since 2006 that OSU wasn’t part of the match-up. Mindy invited Jacob to stay up later than the others to watch at least some. The three of us settled in the family room after the wee ones were tucked into bed. For fun, Jacob and I bet $5 on whether or not Florida would score on their opening drive. I bet that they would. Oops! Had to punt. I was out $5. Jacob was ecstatic. Feeling boastful and invincible, he went double-or-nothing on Oklahoma’s next possession. I bet that Oklahoma would answer. They did. Suddenly, we were even. He wasn’t happy. In fact, he even shed a few tears. After another possession or two, Oklahoma was driving once more, and they were well into Florida’s territory. He felt it a sure thing that they’d score. I bet him another $5 that they wouldn’t get as much as a field goal. More than anything, it was an opportunity for him to go up $5 again. As luck would have it, they cockily went for it on 4th and goal and were stopped. They didn’t score. Now Jacob owed me $5. He wasn’t happy. To ease his bruised ego, I called it even. Told him he didn’t have to pay the debt. Meanwhile, Mindy discouraged any further wagering. It was getting comical. Mindy & Jacob went to bed at halftime. It was still 7-7. I stayed up until close to the end of the 3rd quarter. It was 14-14 when I went to bed.