A Day Off Work Spent with Dad, Jacob, and G-Kids

Woke as if I was headed to work. I was up just after 535am. After sit-ups I checked the score of the Sunday Night football game. Washington won – beat Dallas. I checked the weather too. It was clear and chilly – about 54 degrees. I did my push-ups then released Frankie and took her outside. She made relatively quick work of her business. Inside, it was already nearing 600am. I checked my email to see if my boss responded to my late personal day request. He hadn’t. After coffee, meditation, and stretching, I took Mindy coffee and the pug then headed out for my run. I wore shorts and a long-sleeved wicking shirt. It might’ve been a little chilly initially but that quickly abated after the first ¼ mile or so. I ran the full 4.1 mile track. It was a gorgeous morning, although half my run is now shrouded in darkness. It won’t be long before it’s the entire run. It’s a change, nothing more. Mindy and the kids were up and busy in the kitchen. Jacob was noticeably ill and sounded like a fog horn when he coughed. Mindy wasn’t sure what to do. I hadn’t yet heard from my boss regarding my request, so I couldn’t stay home. I didn’t want to resend another message stating that my son was now sick. Mindy couldn’t stay home either. She gave Jacob cold medicine and told him to go to school. Jacob wasn’t happy, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. After breakfast, Mindy headed off to school and I headed off to the shower. I was ready to go by 750am. I checked my email one more time. My boss responded granting me the day should I really need it. I responded that I did. By then the kids were out at the bus stop, Jacob’s head hanging low. I let him know that he could stay home if he wanted/needed now that I had the day off. He agreed and walked back to the house. That didn’t last. A minute later he came back out and said he wanted to go to school. Fine, but please don’t call me later stating that you’re sick and ask me to come get you. Said he understood. The kids boarded the bus for school. Mindy called around 810am to ask how the bus stop went. I shared that I received the approval for the day off and offered Jacob the ability to stay home, but that he ultimately decided to tough it out for not wanting to get behind on assignments. She asked that I keep my cell phone handy in case they call. I missed a call from Mindy around 1pm. I called back immediately. Sure enough, said the school called asking us to pick-up Jacob. I figured that would happen. I dropped what I was doing and headed to school to fetch him. It didn’t take but 15 minutes to get there after getting the call. He was waiting in the nurses office. He and I headed back home. I eventually hooked up with Kenny and we picked up right where we left off on the tree house. We made quick work of fastening the decking boards. I ran to Home Depot to fetch some thick rope for the railing – an idea Kenny & I devised in lieu of using typical 2x2 pickets. I was excited with the idea. It would look similar to a dock or perhaps a ship. I’ve always considered myself crafty, and subsequently a decent do-it-yourself carpenter. However, a wise man also knows when to acquiesce to another. Kenny’s carpentry skills make me look like a total goober. He’s is quick, efficient, and does excellent work. For the most part, I was his gopher. Furthermore, he has professional carpentry tools that make the work so much easier. But then again, why not? When you’re relying on your tools to put food on the table, you only buy the best. By 600pm, we had built a nice access ladder, had all the decking laid, and cut circular openings around the two large ash trees protruding the floor. We then mounted a 2x6” cap across the entire rail before drilling three holes in each post to allow the rope to pass through. The manila rope I bought was ¾” in diameter. We were expecting Ashley, Lindsey and the grand kids for dinner. They were coming to help celebrate my 51st birthday. They arrived around 630pm, or while we were in the process of doing the rope rail. My dad was having dinner with us too, and was already there. We finished the rope rail around 7pm and called it a night tree house-wise. Before sitting down for dinner, I hurried off for a quick shower. I was covered in itchy saw dust. In the kitchen, Mindy had a tasty dinner prepared – roast beef, mashed potatoes, and green beans. She helped get the grand kids their plates first. I have to say, my daughters don’t instinctually get involved in helping at any family events. Never do they offer to help prep plates, get drinks, or simply take care of making their own kids’ plates. A bit discouraging to say the least. As I understood it, and at Lindsey’s request, Mindy was also helping Rocky with his math homework before serving dinner. Lindsey says he won’t do it for her. Good grief! Grow some. Be the parent. Take charge. Dinner was delicious, especially the roast. After dinner clean-up, everybody gathered around the table to sing me the happy b-day song. Mindy bought chocolate, chocolate chip cookies in lieu of a cake. She put a single candle in mine. The g-kids ate it up! Soon after the mini-celebration the g-kids left for home with their mommas while we finished the clean-up. Dad stuck around for another half hour or so. Must’ve been close to 8pm when he left. He agreed to get the kids off the bus on Thursday to help Mindy. Mindy was about ready to collapse after a busy school day and equally busy evening at home. She made some comment about my birthday being officially over. Yeah, I think I had my four or five days.  I failed to mention that Jimaken stopped by to pick-up Jacob so he could keep him home from school again on Tuesday (still sick). That would make life easier on Mindy & I. Bella, Mindy and I had a quiet hour or so to ourselves. I tuned into the MNF game already in progress featuring the Ravens against the Jets. Hard hitting game. Mindy headed to bed before 920pm. I stayed up a while longer enjoying all of the first half, but even I went to bed a little early – 945pm.