Not so Super Sunday

I got up Sunday morning near 800am. I felt much better but still not close to 100%. Still some queasiness in my tummy. I started coffee then took a few minutes to admire the sunny and snowy landscape. Gorgeous! I snapped a few pictures. I checked in with work. My involvement was again absolutely necessary. I took it in stride and dug in deep along with my team. The same snow storm that hit us in Columbus, was now reeking havoc on the east coast. I juggled work and personal tasks while sitting at my PC. Mindy got up around 930am. Like me, she marveled at the sunshine against the snowy landscape. It was truly a site to behold. It wasn’t too long before I forced in a break to accomplish my daily run. The streets were totally dry save for just a couple along my running trail. Those that weren’t were a bit challenging to navigate due to the bumpy, icy terrain. As is typical of a Sunday run, I kept it to three miles. I finished strong, and afterwards, before heading back inside, I shoveled the sidewalk leading to our front door from the driveway. I didn’t get to it on Saturday after feeling so poorly. After my run, I returned to my working ways. But for the time being, things were slowly but surely falling into place. Work slowed down enough that Mindy and I decided to run out for a couple of hours. We planned a stop at Aspen Ski & Boards in Polaris, and then a stop at Target and maybe even lunch. We left the house around 1230pm. I took my iTouch and hooked it up through the car stereo. Nice! We visited ASBCO first. I found Matt already working with a customer, sizing him for new ski boots. All other sales persons were occupied too. Business was bustling! Matt acknowledged my presence and offered to help when through. That was unnecessary. Rob eventually freed to assist. I shared with Rob the problem my ski boots were causing, rubbing my left, inside anklebone, giving me a painful raspberry. Rob shared how they could ‘blow-out’ my boot liners and the boot shell to relieve the pressure, but that I’d have to leave them there for a day. Matt quickly chimed in that he could do the liners right then. Cool! He offered that they would try that first, then, if that didn’t do it, we’ll do the shells next. I was game. While I was dealing with my boots, Mindy was browsing (spending money).  She picked up a pair of new ski socks for herself and a new ski jacket for Bella. Bella really needs one, though. Rob also sold me on some new ski boot insoles that are designed to improve comfort. Mindy got some for her boots when they were brand new. Loves ‘em. Rob returned with my ski boot liners custom modified for my ankle bone. I slipped them on and pushed my weight around as best I could. Seemed to do the trick, but I knew the real test would only come on the slopes. We agreed that I would give ‘em a try this week, and bring them back if the rubbing continued. We left ASBCO hungry, both agreeing on lunch at El Vaquero. Mindy had also talked about a stop at Target but rescinded in favor of lunch. We arrived at the Riverside Dr El Vaq around 2pm. They were quick to seat and serve us. Always are. Lucky for us, we missed the usual after-church rush. They were gone. We were served chips and salsa right away. I was craving those. Mindy ordered her El Vaq fave – a Mexicanized shrimp/scallop combo. I ordered the Speedy Gonzalez – a beef taco, enchilada, and Mexican rice. All weekend long I was craving soda, so I ordered a full-strength Coke to help wash it all down. I picked up the tab. We headed home. I asked Mindy if we could simply head directly to Kelly’s to fetch the boys but she wanted dropped at home first. OK. It was 2:40pm. I dropped Mindy at home then drove straight to Kelly’s. Along the way I phoned Mom. She shared in detail the issue with the slipping pin in her back and the subsequent surgical procedure to correct it. She also detailed a car accident she was in last Friday during the snow storm. Promised to let me know the surgery date. Expects it will be during the time window that Mindy & I are in Oregon skiing. I arrived at Kelly’s around 250pm. At the time, I wasn’t sure if Lindsey was planning to come with us or not. Nope, just the boys. They seemed excited to be coming over. Like many recent visits, Rocky gave me a big hug upon arrival. I like that. We took Briggs to Hague then headed north. As I passed Rosedale and approached Vandenburg an oncoming minivan and I slapped our drivers sideview mirrors as we both squeezed between parked cars on our respective sides of the road. The road's typically just wide enough to permit two vehicles without incident provided both are over as far as necessary. I know she wasn’t. We both stopped. She pulled over. I turned around and pulled up facing south directly in front of her. Just as I was gonna ask if she was OK, she immediately and curtly demanded I accept blame. I retorted with the same question to her. Obviously at impasse, I decided to call the cops. They agreed to dispatch if we couldn’t simply exchange information. Apparently not. It wasn’t long before this woman’s husband pulled up and started taking photos with his cell phone and eventually made his way to my door to talk. He was abrupt, rude, and condescending. Telling me it was my fault and advising that I should’ve simply agreed to pay the piper. I countered that while that was his opinion, I felt better having the cops decide. It took a few minutes. His photo antics continued. I got annoyed and remembered having my own camera in my jacket pocket. I decided to photo him taking pictures of me. He wasn’t too pleased when I asked him to smile. I decided to get out and photo their vehicle damage as well, just in case I was held liable. Finally, the officer arrived. He took very brief statements from the two of us then returned to his cruiser. It took him a long time. During that time the husband (actually, he never really introduced himself as such until I asked later) started into me again. I once again advised that, good or bad, I wanted the cops to decide blame if there would be any. He was borderline hostile. The cop finally was done. He talked with me first, and told me he was going to cite me for a assured clear distance ahead violation (ACDA) since he felt I had a better/easier opportunity to pullover and allow her to pass freely. I was surprised. He asked if I had questions due to the apparent puzzled look on my face. Why do you say that, I asked. He said because there were fewer parked cars on my side, so I could’ve pulled behind one to allow her to pass. He wasn’t going to change his mind. I knew that. I graciously accepted the ticket knowing that my recourse if I so chose was to fight it in traffic court. Trust me, I am a perfectionist. I didn’t want the blemish on my driving record, let alone the blow to my ego. I was beyond frustrated. But even while being frustrated, I was also thankful that no one was injured and that it was a very minor accident with equally minor damages to Mindy’s car. In fact, I was able to pop the mirror right back on the post, although the mirror housing has two cracks in it. It’ll need replaced. I drove home. I arrived home with boys, who were both happy to be at our place. How could I not focus my attention on them instead of that stupid accident. Their smiles helped brighten my mood. Bella and Jacob were home from a weekend with Jimaken and were outside playing in the snow. The boys expressed that they wanted to go out and play in the snow too. But, as you might expect, they weren’t dressed in anything resembling winter attire, let alone anything for knee deep snow. But Mindy, being the resourceful one she is, rounded up snow gear for both in an instant. She reminds me of Grandma Wright in that sense. Soon, both kids were out in the snow with the other children sledding and snow boarding on our modest hill. I checked in with work, and just like the entire weekend, I had to get involved in a couple ugly issues. In fact, one I learned about while standing in the street waiting on the cops at the accident scene earlier. Ugh! The kids were in and out a couple of times tattling on one another, but no more than we should’ve expected. They lasted about 30 minutes out there – fairly long, especially for Landon. Mindy called them to ready for Kenny & Chrissy’s super bowl party near 530pm. I stayed busy with work right up until the instant we headed next door. And by the way, no beer for me, no way! Kenny had a houseful for the game, and a decent spread of food as well– the usual party fare: meatballs, chili, chips, cheese ball, etc. Last minute, we put together a super bowl pool. I went home to get $10 cash so we could play. I figured that would make the game more interesting for me given that my Vikings weren’t playing in it. And since neighbor Mike was down, I grabbed a check to sponsor his wife’s attempt to run a half marathon. All proceeds go to the Leukemia Society. The game kicked off around 630pm. I watched, but without much emotion, which some would argue was a good thing.  Work continued to require my involvement, but at least I was able to address most of the concerns remotely via blackberry. Mindy left after half time to run the boys home. I had no desire to drive down Hague Ave after my incident earlier. She figured to return in 30 minutes or so. The Colts were leading for the first 2.5 quarters and despite their inability to get the big touchdown, it still looked like their game to win. Somehow, though, the Saints hung close and eventually took the lead by a touchdown in the 4th quarter. But almost everyone felt the Colts, lead by Peyton Manning, would drive down for a tying score. And they almost did, but as everyone knows, ‘almost’ doesn’t count. Instead, deep in Saints territory he threw a pick-6 giving the Saints a commanding 14 point lead with just over two minutes left. Still, no one was counting Manning and company out. He drove them down the field in a hurry to the 3 yard line, but eventually stalled on a 4th and goal attempt. Game over. Saints win! I was surprised. We left for home just before 10pm, and Mindy quickly got the kids bed ready. They didn’t need showers after having one earlier at their dad’s. We tucked them in around 1010pm. Mindy soon headed to bed. I couldn’t, not only was my mind reeling thinking about that stupid accident, but work needed my attention again, too. I ended up working well past midnight. My brain was tired but my mind racing, which is always a bad combination.