Rakin' Blowin' Draggin'

I slept until almost 845am, a very good night’s sleep indeed. I was only a little disappointed for sleeping so late. I must’ve needed the rest. I was excited to see blue skies out the window and just as eager to experience it first hand. After starting coffee, I headed out with Ykraps. I took my pocket camera along hoping to get some scenic autumn photos. The nearby trees look absolutely incredible drenched in the early morning sunshine. Friday’s rain and Saturday’s wind brought down lots of foliage. In fact, some trees are already barren. October has flown by. Next week this day will be November. Yikes! I wasn’t home long before everyone else was up. First Bella then Mindy. Mindy scrapped church for sleeping so late. I heard her share as much with the kids. I dressed and left for a run sometime before 10am. I ran along Trabue with the goal of stopping in on Archie, my dad’s dog. As anticipated, he growled as if he wanted to eat me. I noticed his two stainless steel bowls were empty, although he did have a large plastic tub full of water off to the side. I gathered he had another food supply inside. I didn’t try letting him out though, again figuring he’d bite me. I carried on with my run. I was home at 1043am. Mindy was showering and planning to take Bella to visit her mother. She also planned a trip to Target with Jacob. Later, we’d be going to Jacob’s last soccer game. I called my dad soon after arriving home. First time I was able to talk with him since his surgery. Said he was in some pain but feeling lots better. He sounded better than ever. Said he didn’t want any company. Good thing I called. I was going to stop up. Didn’t want to risk getting germs. He also shared his decision to heed his doctor’s advice and spend a week at the rehab center beginning Monday. I shared the details of my stop in to see Archie. Dad seemed surprised that he was out of food. Asked that I not try to feed him. Like me, afraid he might attack. Said he’d send Uncle Kenny instead. Good plan, I guess he needs bit! :) Since I wouldn’t be hospitaling, I decided to manage the heavy leaf fall out back. And why not? It was a good day for it. It was sunny and dry with only a light breeze. I headed out with my new Echo gas powered blower. I cleared the newly sodded area first then the deck and surrounding area, eventually working my way all the way out back. I blew the leaves into a pile about 6 feet wide covering the entire length of the back yard. That took no more than 45 minutes. Mindy came out to let me know that she and the kids were heading out. I still planned on going to the soccer game with them later. Next, I got out a 9X12’ tarp and drug it along the long skinny pile raking all the leaves aboard. Once at capacity, I drug it back to the compost pile for unloading. It took four or five trips. By far, the heaviest pile included all the walnut leaves and switches. That took its toll on me. I was in a cold sweat, thirsty, and feeling weak. Before going in, I blew the yard one more time. I’ll have to do another big raking in a few weeks. Hopefully after all the honeysuckle bushes drop. The leaves are still falling. I was anxious to get inside. I didn’t feel well at all. In fact, felt like I could throw-up. Earlier, I ate two slices pizza and a small ham & cheese sandwich. I wished I hadn’t. I went horizontal on the sofa with a big glass of ice water. I also caught a glimpse of the Vikings/Steelers score. Vikings were up 7-3 with a couple minutes remaining in the first half. The game wasn’t on locally. Instead, we got to see the hapless Browns. Mindy & Jacob got home around 215pm. I told Mindy that I wasn’t going to go to soccer. I felt like crap and needed a nap. She understood. I fell asleep soon after they left and didn’t wake again until almost 4pm. I felt a lot better. I went to my PC to check the Viking/Steelers score. It was 20-17 Steelers, but the Vikings had the ball and were driving with 2 minutes to go. At about the same time I could hear the TV announcer saying that they would be switching their coverage from the Browns blowout to the Vikings/Steelers game in progress. Excited, I ran into the family room. The Vikings had the ball 1st and 10 at the Steelers 19 yard line. I was elated and sure we’d score the go ahead TD. Hike! Brett Favre takes the hand-off and quickly dumps off a screen pass in the left flat to Chester Taylor. What? Oh-no! It flies right through his hands and into the waiting mits of a Steelers LB. He returns it for a TD. Game over. Crap! I’d seen all I needed to see. Moving on, I went to the basement and grabbed my bucket of ‘butt crack’ plumbing tools. I took them to the garage and stowed them in their proper place. I returned to the sofa where I tuned into the Bengals game just getting underway. In a snap, they were up 21-0 over the Bears. Wow! I was surprised and impressed. Mindy & Jacob got home around 445pm. Mindy asked how I felt and if I still wanted steaks for dinner. I did but wasn’t yet hungry. I promised to start the grill in about an hour. I remained on the sofa for the next hour. Mindy commented that she heard the Vikings score. I noticed she was showing her team spirit by wearing her bejeweled Viking shirt. I appreciated that. Meanwhile, the Bengals kept pouring it on the Bears. It was 31-3 at halftime. Again, wow! I lit the grill and then took Ykraps on an evening walk. He seemed to appreciate it. The grill was resting at 550 degrees when we got back. I started the steaks. Mindy chunked, seasoned, and baked redskin potatoes as a side. She made garden salads, too. While the steaks grilled, I topped off the hot tub. It was down about 5-6 inches. It leaks via the siphoning effect after frequent use. Design flaw. The steaks were ready by 615pm. Jacob had steak for the first time. He usually requests something else – chicken breast or even cereal. Said he liked it. The three of us enjoyed a quiet dinner while continuing to watch the Bengals lambaste the Bears. Mindy was soon leaving to pick-up Bella from her mother’s. She asked if I wanted to tag along. I declined the invite, choosing instead to stay at home and shove sewing needles under my finger nails. :) I finished cleaning up the kitchen while Mindy and the kids were out. They weren’t gone long. They were home by 7:30pm. Bella asked if we could carve pumpkins as we discussed Saturday. But both Mindy & I agreed that it was too late. Bella wasn’t pleased. I assured her that we’d do it Monday after dinner. At the time, she wanted nothing to do with that answer. She felt betrayed. While Mindy worked with the kids on baths, showers and PJ’s, I read about the NFL’s final scores. After the kids were in bed, Mindy and I watched the first half of the SNF game – Arizona vs.NY Giants. She went to bed at the half. I stayed up for the game’s entirety. Cardinals won.