Mexican Potluck

It was 5:30am when I rolled out of bed to begin my day. Because of some very uncomfortable back spasms before bed, I had trouble getting to sleep. I woke in the middle of night and felt much better. Thank goodness for Ibuprofen. Before starting my exercise routine, I added two packs of taco seasoning to the beef roast I left cooking on low in the crockpot over night. This was Mexican potluck day. With all the manual labor on my vacation day Tuesday, I did only sit-ups. I figured adding in push-ups and curls would only serve to aggravate my over taxed muscles. Rain was forecasted for most of the day, but as of 5:45am it was nothing but cloudy. Aside from preventing golf, I was actually happy about the rain prediction. The new sod needs a good soaking. What I don’t want is a long stretch of rainy days that prevent ComTil, mulching, and flower planting, not to mention regular mowing. Ykraps and I enjoyed a leisurely three-block walk around the neighborhood. Afterwards, I enjoyed some coffee while playing on the PC. I stopped long enough to deliver Mindy’s coffee and wake her for work. I returned to the PC for some additional fun time before doing my mediation and stretching. I dressed for a run around 6:30am. Before heading out the door, I turned the crockpot to high. The air was damp and slightly cool. I was dressed perfectly for it. In kind, the run went exceptionally well. Mindy was up and making eggs when I returned home. I asked Mindy how she felt about her school levy failing. She was disappointed. Generally speaking, I believe that school levies do a very bad job of getting the facts out to the voting public. For sure, school funding is a tricky proposition. Mindy & Bella departed at their usual time. After a shower and seeing Jacob onto the school bus, I took the time to unload the dishwasher knowing how much Mindy would appreciate it when she got home later that afternoon. I debated detaching dad’s trailer but also wanted to stop and pick-up some patio stones at Ohio Mulch if the weather held out. I decided to keep it attached. I left for work at 8:10am once again taking the back way up Old Dublin Rd. And since I was driving right by, I pulled into the Scioto Trace subdivision in hopes of spotting Tom Clark’s potentially new home. He’s under contract. I found it right away. As nice as advertised, and in a great neighborhood. I took a photo. I was at work by 8:35am, We had a big meeting slated for 9am. I hurried through my start-up, including fetching water and visiting with my team. Before heading off to the meeting I fired up my crockpot, too. The meeting lasted until 10am. We had our usual staff an hour later. That lasted until 12:45pm. Our Mexican potluck started at 1pm. My Mexican roast beef was a big hit. Of the nine crockpots of meat, mine was empty first. I enjoyed the food, and I especially liked the new Hint of Jalapeno Tostitos. Meanwhile, the weather was just as predicted. It poured from mid-morning on. My new sod was almost certainly getting a good soaking. I talked with Mindy at her day’s end. There would be no golf tonight. We didn’t say for certain, but it sounded like we would skip dinner out since I was still quite full from lunch. I left the office at 5:30pm. Last second I decided to stop in Home Depot to buy the materials necessary to do our streamside stepping stone patio correctly (edging, stakes, and weed cloth). I dropped $93 on materials. I hoped to get the actual stone tomorrow at lunch weather permitting. The kids were already gone with their daddy when I got home. After dropping my gear I leashed up Ykraps for his evening walk. Back home I verified our plans to stay home. Mindy agreed, but insisted that she was really hungry. She ate the rest of her Sporano’s submarine. I snacked on a few odds and ends, but nothing major. But those kind of calories add up quickly, I know. Good thing I don’t do that kind of eating very often. Mindy and I hung out for the next 1.5 hours. Crissy’s kids came over to use our bathroom. They were apparently locked out of their house, and waiting on the cleaning lady to bring a spare key. We called and talked with Rocky & Landon. Rocky was feeling better but had been off school all week. Said he’s going back tomorrow (Thursday). Truth is, we couldn’t really understand Landon. Still, it was good to hear him. We talked about having them over this coming weekend, but didn’t nail down definitive plans. The kids got home around 7:30pm. By then, I was working on my blog. They fooled around for a few minutes before prepping for bed. I did some bedtime reading with Bella in her seek & find book. I was downstairs in time to see the beginning of American Idol elimination night. If you remember, I predicted that Danny would be sent packing. He wasn’t. Instead, it was Allison, the sultry voiced 17 year old. We headed to bed right after Idol.