Insync with the Weather - vacation day - 80 & sunny

Because I wasn’t working (vacation day), I slept about as late as I could. Even after Mindy got up I clamored for more sleep, covering my head with blankets and pillows. It was 7:10am when I finally rolled out of bed content with my night’s rest. I joined Mindy and the kids in the kitchen already busy with their own morning routines. It wasn’t too long before Mindy departed. Afterwards, I slipped on my exercise shoes and completed my sit-ups and push-ups, and then walked Ykraps shortly before the kids needed to be at the bus stop. With little time to spare, I joined them there already in progress. The weather forecast still threatened a 40% chance of rain but with warm temperatures. The predicted high was 73 degrees, but for the time being, the sky was simply cloudy. I spent a solid hour working on my blog before leaving for my run. Because it was so warm – about 60 degrees – I didn’t need to wear a jacket. I ran four miles, too - the second time this work week. I felt good. It was near 10am by the time I was back at home. Before doing anything else I cleaned up the kitchen. Afterwards, I spent another hour on the PC finally updating my blog complete with photos dating as far back as our trip to the zoo two weeks prior. Mindy phoned and asked my plans wondering if I might be joining her for lunch. I declined for wanting to use the time to manage the leaves and grass. I knew I could spend a good 3 hours on the lawn as long as the weather held out. And speaking of the weather, the clouds were quickly thinning giving way to filtered sunlight. It felt really nice outside. I headed out to blow leaves around 11am. I started from the deck working my way out. It took a good 45 minutes to blow the leaf cover into manageable piles all the while contending with a varying wind out of the southeast. After hauling the leaf piles to the compost pile I took a brief break. To the west I could see what looked like clear blue skies coming our way. Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. If anything, I was expecting more clouds. I started whacking, edging and cutting. As the afternoon progressed it got absolutely gorgeous – clear skies, sunshine and very warm temps. I later learned that it hit 80 degrees. Leading up to today, we had barely made it to 70 degrees on only two other occasions this October. By the time I finished cutting and blowing it was 2pm. The lawn looked beautiful too. And for a brief period of time, completely void of leaf cover. However, that wouldn’t last. Under mostly clear skies, the southeast wind only stiffened. That brought down more leaves, and a lot of them from other yards/trees. You’ll have that. I was speckled head to toe in yard fleck/debris from the wet whacking. I headed inside for a well-deserved hot shower around 230pm. I thought about making a trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods but decided against it. Instead, I made myself some lunch – a roast beef sandwich, and then afterwards, took a brief nap. I woke a little after 3pm. I spent the rest of my alone time in front of the PC. Mindy called to make sure that I would be home to intercept the kids. I would. In kind, she planned to work a little late. The kids got home just before the clock struck 4pm. And to my surprise, Mindy got home a minute or two later. This was a Jimaken weekend, so the plan called for us to drop the kids at his parents in Hilliard around 7pm. Until then, we hung out and played. Jacob and I went out to throw the football along with neighbor Evan. I’ll bet we played ball of one sort or another for a solid hour. Mindy & Bella came and sat by the pond on Mindy’s patio. It turned out to be a lovely early evening. Without warning, Jacob walked away from me & the football right after missing a catch. When I called his name he ignored me. I felt done, too. I tossed the football his way to put it away. Without warning, he picked it up and purposefully launched it into the pond. Nope! Get in there and get it. He did, but begrudgingly so, and with a lot of attitude. I went inside while his mother and he chatted still out on the deck. Not sure what was said but he eventually stormed off to his room. Mindy soon came inside and started prepping the kids gear for their weekend with Jimaken. I took a call from daughter Lindsey asking if she could come over Saturday afternoon to work on a school project (internet research). I agreed. Mindy reminded me that we were expected to wear costumes to Barley’s. I didn’t really plan to. History says most won’t. That didn’t detour Mindy. She dressed as the “good witch”. We left for Jimaken’s parent’s house at 7pm. It’s a quick drive – about ten minutes. We were on our way to Barley’s by 7:20pm. Mindy & I discussed Jacob’s anger and how we might mange it better. She asked that I refrain from calling him a baby, which I definitely did during his outburst earlier. I knew she was right, but still tried to justify it. We arrived at Barley’s just after 730pm. As expected, there was a fairly big crowd. However, not as many regulars as expected. We bellied up to the bar next to Dan the banker man. I ordered a Green Flash DIPA. Mindy ordered a Russian Stout. Mindy eventually ordered food, too – 12oz. prime-rib. I didn’t order anything but nibbled on hers. Well into the evening Pat & Lisa Shultz showed up. We phoned them earlier to let them know our whereabouts. In addition, Tom Clark and Rick showed up, although not together. Rick asked if we’ve seen the Imber’s. Said we have not. Someone gathered around said to let Bob know that he’s no longer in the regulars club. That drew a brief, yet big laugh. We hung out at Barley’s not later than 11:00pm. Mindy drove. I had four or five beers. I was hungry when we got home and whipped up a burrito-type concoction using what I thought was taco meat, but it turned out being meatloaf. Still not sure how old it was. We hadn’t had meatloaf for about two weeks. Yikes! It tasted good.