50 to 15

It was Wednesday and unlike most other days since the time change, I slept right up until the final minute – even a little beyond. It was 540am when I got downstairs to begin exercising. I was still battling cold symptoms but again they were mild. I was surprised to see that it was 50 degrees – 50 degrees but also raining. After push-ups, Ykraps and I headed out for our morning walk. Despite using an umbrella, I got fairly wet, mostly from the wicking affect. I toweled Ykraps off in the laundry room immediately upon reentering the home. He knows the drill. I was hopeful that the rain might stop for my run. I wasn’t too excited about the prospect of running in it with a cold. I spent maybe ten minutes on the PC before meditation and stretching. Judging by sound alone, it seemed the rain had all but stopped. But as luck would have it, as soon as I was fully dressed and ready we got another heavy downpour. I couldn’t believe it. For a second I felt as though I was jinxed. I went out the front door determined to battle through it, but as soon as I stepped off the porch it stopped almost completely. The wind, however, was gusting over 30mph. The clouds were flying by at an incredible clip. Not a quarter mile into my run the sky cleared. I didn't expect that. Wow, that positive thinking is powerful stuff! I ran four miles with little trouble and was most thankful for the dry skies. Mindy made scrambled eggs for the first time in a long while. It was a good change of pace. Soon, she was headed off to work and me to the shower. And while the temperature was extremely mild for early December, I asked both kids to wear their winter jackets given the promise of drastically colder temperatures and 50 mph winds later in the afternoon. We were anticipating a drop of more than 30 degrees. Bella willingly complied without incident. Jacob, on the other hand, was playing hardball. He begrudgingly put on his coat but refused to head to the bus stop. I literally had to carry/drag him – three times. I wasn’t pleased. Off to work. I stopped for gas on my way in - $2.48. The Trooper ate 19 gallons. My work day was another really busy one – totally crazy. I hardly had a moment’s peace. I was in a constant state of overwhelment (that’s not a real word but it fits). Even with the frantic pace I still managed a quick trip to Target at lunch time to pick-up more white lights for our Xmas tree. I was surprised at how picked over their selection was. Years past they had entirely too much inventory. I had to buy a box of 350 (two sets of 175 each), but they were only $8.99. I talked with Mindy late afternoon. She asked me to guess what we'd have for dinner. I guessed leftover pork roast. Nope. Instead, we were having Bella’s favorite, spaghetti & meatballs. I was good with that, but immediately knew I’d have to take a pre-meal Tagament. As predicted, the weather took a serious dive sometime mid-day. In fact, it was like winter when I left earlier for Target. It was brutally cold and windy when I finally left for home. It felt like mid-January. I cringed as my ass plopped down on the cold leather seat, a firm reminder that I want to buy a seat cover. Once at home, I did my usual stuff. I rinsed lunch containers, prepped coffee, then leashed up Ykraps. He and I headed out into the wind and cold. I noticed a section of our icicle lights were blown up onto the roof, but so were many other people’s. The wind was wicked and cold – numbing even. While waiting on dinner to placed at the table, I checked email then ran upstairs to choke down a Tagament. Soon dinner was on. I ate a big plate full of spaghetti along with a fresh garden salad and fresh baked Italian bread. I washed it all down with a tall glass of cold white milk. It was delicious. Mindy offered to do dinner clean-up so I could address the Xmas tree lights. She had the lights configured in an undesirable manner. I was determined to fix them before adding more. My goal was to run an extension cord halfway up the tree as a power hub and then string three sets in row, but no more. Mindy ran them all as homeruns to the extension cord on the floor, not to mention twisting and tangling the sets haphazardly together. I couldn’t get the electrical config right without first ripping off two of the three sets already strung. That, I could tell, irritated Mindy. Fact, for whatever the reason, we can’t do a tree together. Never has worked. Her idea of the perfect tree is one that reeks of family tradition in the sentimental vein while mine casts all that aside in favor of creativity and uniqueness. I understand her desire, but can't get excited about it. But it is just a frikin tree! In any case, I was just trying to fix what I saw as a tangled mess. Out of the blue, adding his own unwelcomed criticism, Jacob heckled my redo. More displeased with his tone, I quickly countered that he was walking a fine line. I decided it the appropriate time to share his early morning bus stop antics. He bolted off to his room. Can't we all just get along - It's Xmas. Mindy and I went back and forth for a while regarding the stupid tree lights. Honestly, it was ego from that point forward. If it were to be her way, I wanted nothing then to do with them. While she dealt with the children, I connected the two sets I pulled off earlier in series and then rolled them into a neat ball so that she could continue reinstalling them at her leisure. I considered my contribution done. It was a cold night until bedtime.