Range of Emotion

I slept about ten minutes late but woke feeling totally revitalized after 8+ hours of sleep. After dousing my eyes with drops I started into my exercise routine. I had both sit-ups and push-ups behind me by 555am. I spent very little time on the PC primarily getting the current temp and day’s forecast. Currently 42 degrees with sunshine. 66 degrees on tap for later. I also sifted through Glenn’s blog curious if he received a FT job offer from MHCC. Apparently not. My hunch must’ve been incorrect. I delivered Mindy’s coffee then proceeded to mediate and stretch. I wasted little time completing both ahead of 630am. In fact, I was dressed and ready for my run by 632am. I wore a lighter wicking shirt under a fleece but still wore hand and ear covers. With temperatures below about 46, I will almost always wear hand and ear covers these days. It’s hard for me to imagine the years I went without both all winter. Crazy! And to think, I never once got sick. I ran four miles and could tell that I iced my knee the night before. Just the slightest hint of discomfort once or twice. I finished my run by 707am and was back in time to fry my own eggs. The kids were arguing with Mindy about her refusing to let them wear shorts. She snapped at ‘em both, which is rare. Brought back memories of my mom hollering at us as kids. Didn’t like it one bit. Once the kids and I were sitting together eating I jokingly whispered that we’d talk about it more once Mindy departed. I said it knowing that Bella would almost certainly snitch, and she didn’t disappoint. She immediately told her mom what I said. Mindy wasn’t pleased. I quickly shared that I was joking. Mindy was off to work. Mindy’s rule is 70 degrees before shorts are even an option. I think it’s a decent rule, but have privately countered many times past that as long as they’re wearing a jacket to help ward off the morning chill it’s really no big deal. After all, girls wear skirts all year long. I think it‘s safe to say, Mindy doesn’t buy that logic. Not sure why. Perhaps ego? Off to the shower. I was ready to go ahead of 755am. As always, Jacob was first out the door. I opened the garage overhead and carried my golf clubs to the Trooper. I planned to visit the range during lunch. Practice, practice, practice! Chrissy’s girls had the puppy at the bus stop again. Much more aggressive and curious today. Cute, too. Our kids naturally gush over the puppy. But that’ll fade in less than two weeks. Just watch! I tidied up the kitchen before heading off to work. It was 812am when I headed out the door. It was a lovely drive in and an even lovelier walk into the building. Spring abounds! The boss was out ill but figured to be working from home later in the afternoon. That left my plate fuller than normal. I had a busy morning. And in what has become a rare occurrence, I went for a cup of coffee around 10am. It went down easy. I was determined to head to the driving range at lunch keeping a commitment to myself to practice. How else does one become better at anything? To that end, I left the office around 1pm destined for Able’s Golf Center. The weather was lovely. I expected it to feel chillier. I was wearing a button down shirt with a black t-shirt underneath, which I promptly removed upon arrival. That enabled me to swing my clubs more freely. I paid for a jumbo bucket (110-120 balls) figuring I’d leave what I didn’t hit for someone else. It’s only a $1 more for a jumbo. I started out with my sand and 60 degree wedge. I hit them well. My reinvented swing was already feeling more comfortable and natural. Slowly but surely I progressed through my irons going 9, 7, 5, & 3. I hit all of them way better than last Friday with no sign of the problem that nearly brought my game to its knees. Those clubs aside, I knew I needed to hit my 6-iron well to gain back my confidence. I worked my way to it after hitting a few more with my 60 degree. I hit my 6-iron well - long and straight and with little effort, which is exactly what I needed. I eventually hit the iron’s I skipped earlier too, the 4 & 8. I didn’t hit my 3 & 4 perfectly by any means but far better than I have in the past 8 months. I probably hit my 60 degree the most, however, working on accuracy and feel from 55 yards out. I left a number of balls within 3 feet of the pin. I hit the last 5 or 6 with my driver with only marginal results, but by then I had already hit 110 balls. My arms were like spaghetti. Before leaving, I went over to the putting green to practice putting. After all, most stokes are racked up from on and around the green. I must’ve putted for 15 minutes. I would’ve worked on my sand game but there was an older gentleman in the trap getting a lesson. I was gone from the office for about 75 minutes. I felt really good about my practice. My swing seems to be coming around. I plan to keep practicing so I can continue to enjoy the sport I love to play. I ate my packed lunch, veggies and tuna, from my desk once back at the office. I was really hungry. The afternoon got dicey. I was on a customer conference call until 555pm. I left the office exhausted. I missed a call from Mindy. I called her back to let her know I was running late. It was a beautiful evening, about 66 and sunny. I made really good time getting home. It was 610pm. No Mindy or Bella. I assumed them at the neighbors. The Honda was there. Jacob, I already knew, was at soccer practice. I rushed through my usual chores, making coffee and placing my lunch dishes in the dishwasher. Mindy & Bella came in the back door from Teri & Mike’s. Mindy started heating up leftover pizza for Bella and got out the leftover strip steak for me. She was gonna have cereal. My steak was better than I expected. I doused it in A1 sauce. Delicious! After dinner clean-up was a snap. All paper plates! I decided last second to fire up the irrigation system so I could start watering the lawn. It would be a shame to let it dry out after such and early lush spring. I ran each zone manually long enough to watch each sprinkler head pop up and deliver water. Every zone worked flawlessly save for zone six. Three of the small pop-up heads in zone six needed my assistance popping up after being buried all winter. It didn’t take much help, however. In fact, one of the three eventually popped up on its own. All good. I was very pleased. Mindy was puppy sitting for Chrissy while she went after Jake at karate practice. Woody is a hoot! Neighbors Dave & Becky saw us out there with the puppy and came to see him. We ended up hanging out in their backyard for an hour or more. When Jake got home we threw the football while Mindy, Chrissy, and Becky chatted. Soon, Jacob arrived home from soccer and Kenny emerged from a shower. Kenny said there’s a good chance we may be getting Woody’s sister. Should know by Friday. My position is one of passivity. We headed in the house around 815pm. Mindy made Jacob shower while Bella received a free pass. Jacob stunk after soccer practice. Bella asked me to pop some popcorn. I did. I wanted some too. In fact, I popped two bags. I tied an ice pack to my knee for the rest of the evening, even after the kids headed to bed. I tucked both into bed just before 9pm. After returning to the sofa, big surprise, I fell asleep until approximately 930pm when Mindy woke me for bed. My knee was numb from the ice pack.