Rogue Lightning

I outright overslept. I didn’t get up until 5:50am. I still completed my sit-ups and push-ups and soon headed out the door with Ykraps. The irrigation system was running even though there was a significant chance for rain. I wasn’t going to count on the forecast. That never works. It was cloudy overhead, but at that point that is all I knew. Soon after we were back at home I got my coffee and parked myself in front of my PC. I was very surprised to see a small but mighty storm moving our way on radar (lots of red). I proceeded with my normal routine all the while realizing that my typical run time looked to be in direct conflict with the approaching storm. I finished stretching and meditation around 6:45am. It was raining ever so lightly but with lots of thunder and lightning. There was no way I was gonna head out in that. I spent the time instead, updating yet another missing day in my blog. That took me right up to 7:30am. According to the weather radar, it appeared that the once fast moving storm was slowing down. Thunder continued to rumble for another 15 minutes. Finally, though, around 7:50am the thunder seemed to stop. I hurried out the door for my run. Happily, I could see much brighter skies just off to the immediate NW, but a quarter mile or so into my run a few rogue lightning flashes struck. That was enough to scare me back to our home which I was just about to pass in my usual route anyhow. I went to the front porch for temporary shelter. I hung there for a few minutes all the while the clearer skies moved even closer. I didn’t hear another clap of thunder or see another flash of lightning. I felt good about my chances. I dashed off for the rest of my run. The rest of my run went well. After my return I made fried eggs and prepped a lunch. After breakfast I headed up for a shower. I delivered coffee for Mindy, too. I was ready to go by 9:00am. I chatted with Mindy who reminded me that she and the kids were planning a trip to the Olentangy Caverns. I reminded her that it was voting day and to make sure and cast a “NO’ vote for the city’s income tax increase proposal. I stopped in at Raymond Golf Course to vote before heading on to work. There was no line whatsoever. More workers than voters. There was just the one issue on the ballot – the city’s .5% income tax increase proposal. I voted then dashed off to work. My problem with the proposal is that it’s permanent 25% tax increase, yet the problem is temporary. The budget shortfall is said to be caused by the downturn in the economy, which I completely understand. But why then should one approve a permanent tax increase when the economic downturn is cyclical? I believe everyone should have to make sacrifices/tough cuts is a down economy, including city services. I’m certain there’s plenty of fat to be found. Need I remind everyone of the five city employees sent out to paint our fire hydrant last month. This is nothing short of the public being held hostage. What’s worse, they’re using what I would deem unethical tactics to promote the issue – “save our firehouses”. I arrived at work around 9:30am. Things were much calmer than they were on Monday. And for that I was thankful. I worked hard all morning long and got pretty busy late morning, so much so that I didn’t feel comfortable taking my lunch until just after 1pm. I left the office and headed to Able Golf Center to hit a bucket of balls and hopefully resurrect my errant golf swing. It was windy and cloudy – not a very pretty day - while the temperature struggled to leave the middle 70s. I paid $9 for a jumbo bucket of balls and then headed to the grass tees to the south (the only grass tees opened). I started with my pitching wedge and made good contact for the first few swings, but then the same ugly results I’ve been getting on the course lately reared their ugly head. I immediately went to sand wedge but still with similar results. I’ll be dammed. I took a brief break then decided to use a different strategy. I went 3-wood, which I’ve been hitting straight and long recently. I was able to produce excellent results and with consistency. I moved to my 3-iron next. I wasn’t quite as sharp with it but far better than with my short irons. I slowly worked my way down my bag to the problem area, and happily with much greater success, although still shanking one here and there. I decided not to allow it to bother me. With the final 20 balls I hit more 3-woods and then a few with my new driver. I hit all of them on the screws and with decent success. Before leaving the golf center, I spent another 20 minutes working on chip shots. I must’ve hit another 25 balls on their pitching green. I did really well, switching back forth between my PW and SW. I was surprised to see that I had been gone for about 80 minutes. I got back to my office around 2:30pm. Mindy phoned sometime mid afternoon to share some of their experience at the Olentangy Caverns. Said they had a great time. She and the kids went to the Lennox Target afterwards to fetch one of those dorm room refridgerators she wanted. While in Grandview, they also stopped in to visit the Jump’s. Our conversation was brief. She and the kids wanted to do Barley’s for dinner. I agreed. Late afternoon I drafted an email to my ex-Kelly to share my thoughts about Lindsey starting college in the fall. We’re excited that she wants to start but at the same time sense her plan is somewhat pie-in-the-sky, and certainly not well thought out. In the email I clarified what we agreed to do to help relative to childcare, as well as some other things we’d like her to consider. I’d like to think that Mindy & I know a little something about what it takes to be a successful college student. Included, was an alternative to her proposed schedule, which Mindy and I agreed would place a lesser burden on everyone, including Lindsey, the kids, and Kelly. I followed up the email with a phone call but got no answer. I left work around 5:30pm and was home before 6pm. Mindy was walking Ykraps as I passed. I opened the garage overhead door so I could fetch my rear cargo cover. Mindy walked up just as I was re-installing it in the Trooper. We didn’t waste any time preparing to leave for dinner. I freshened up a bit but that’s it. We were on the road by 6:15pm. While Jacob was eager for Barley’s Bella wasn’t. She wanted to stay at home but Mindy trumped her preference. We arrived at Barley’s after the short drive. The parking lot was much fuller than I would’ve expected for a Tuesday – a Katy Tuesday. Sitting at the bar were two familiar faces, Jim Bosch and Calvin. We got ourselves a booth nearby. Our friend Deanna was our server. I ordered a Centennial IPA and Mindy ordered an Ivan Porter. We placed our food orders at the same time. Jacob ordered Gates of Hell wings and onion straws, Bella a cheeseburger and fries, Mindy a pulled-pork quesadilla, and me – KC wings. The food arrived quickly. Well into dinner I ordered a second beer, a house Pale Ale. I hadn’t had one of those in a long time. It was even better than I remembered. As you might expect, we didn’t make too long an evening of it. We were home before 8pm. Mindy & I together worked to set-up/level the new mini-fridge in the garage. I couldn’t help but notice a line in the operating manual warning against operating it in a garage-like setting where the temperature may dip below 55 degrees. We should be fine about ten months out of the year, but January and February not so sure. We’ll see. We couldn’t plug it in without na extension cord. We need to buy one suited for such things.. While I spent time updating my blog and reading about the Vikings training camp, Mindy got the kids showered and into PJs. Afterwards, Bella popped popcorn for her and I. She brought down her mini-camp chair and placed it next to at the PC along with the bowl of popcorn. Too sweet. They were off to bed in short order. I headed up to bed after dosing on the sofa around 10:30pm. Meanwhile, Mindy lagged behind still glued to her laptop looking at male porn, I think. :)