Triaminic Strips & Chicken Pesto

I slept late. Didn’t get out of bed until 545am. By the time I made it downstairs it was 550am. Not a big deal, I’d simply have to remain mindful of time while carrying out my routine tasks. I had my exercises and web surfing done fairly quickly. To save a little time I sipped my coffee while outside with Frankie. I generally enjoy it quietly in front of the PC or while sitting in the kitchen. I was still able to meditate and stretch, two very important pieces of my morning. It was just after 630am when I headed upstairs with coffee and the pug. By then, Mindy was already in the shower. I was out the door for my run by 641am. It was in the low 50’s again under clear skies. Slightly cool at the outset, however I warmed up quickly. I ran the full 4.1 mile track. I was back home by 720am. I toted the trash can back to its home after verifying it had been emptied by the city crew. Mindy was running behind a little. Jacob was whining about going to school, and honestly sounded and looked ill. Mindy insisted he go to school, but gave him cold medicine before leaving the house. She asked if I would take him another dose at lunchtime – preferably just before noon. Said they won’t allow parents to simply send it to school with the student. Kid could get expelled for bringing drugs to school. Now that’s BS. I agreed to do the deed. The kids shared that it was picture day last minute. That had Mindy scrambling. Made Jacob change his shirt and Bella change her outfit. Jacob gave some commentary on the folly of wearing clothes he'd never otherwise wear for school pics. Actually, I concurred. By the time I was out of the shower Jacob seemed to be feeling far better. Triaminic strips must work fast. While the kids headed out towards the bus stop, I was tying up a few loose ends, including shaking the crumbs off Bella’s kitchen table seat cushion out on the deck. While standing in the door way, Frankie sheepishly slithered through my legs and out the deck door. Dang it! I was only in my socks. I quickly tore them off and chased after her. She knew she was bad. I could see it in her eyes. Even still, she wouldn’t come no matter what I did or said. She kept running around the neighbors’ tree avoiding my grippers. Bella came out, but I asked her to go ahead and head out to the bus stop. It was already close to pick-up time. Frankie eventually ran out to the kid and Chrissy at the bus stop. Because Chrissy had Woodie out on his leash with the kids, Jacob was able to corral Frankie with relative ease. Seething inside, I walked up and picked Frankie up my the scruff of her neck and toted her back home. I smacked her nose a couple times and placed in her pen and sternly told her that she was bad. She looked concerned. I went to meet the kids at the bus stop. I wasn’t there but a minute before the bus arrived to take them away. Back home I did some last minute prep then departed for work driving the Trooper. I had my clubs and golf attire just in case the guys decided to make Wednesday this week’s golf night. As of Tuesday, it was still up in the air. But I haven’t been able to get away for after work golf in over two months. Been a while. I arrived at work by 832am. My boss moved our staff meeting from Friday to Wednesday. We met until almost 1030am. During that meeting we planned another 2pm meeting with our collective teams. Ahead of that, I headed off to Jacob’s school just before noon to deliver his second dose of cold medicine. I arrived at 12:07pm. I went to the office to discuss the purpose of my visit. They sent me to the nurse’s office right around the corner. She said she’d go find him. Figured he’d be on the playground at recess. While she sought out Jacob, I chatted with a student nurse who was shadowing the regular nurse. She couldn’t have been 21 years of age – cute as a button. I asked about her career aspirations, and if she wanted be a school nurse. Nope, just a requirement of their program to spend a couple weeks doing shadowing. During our talk, a small boy was ushered into the nurse’s office by an equally small girl. The little girl told me the boy hurt his leg on the playground. The student nurse jumped in to try and address his wound. She wasn’t very personable. I couldn’t help myself and took over. It was quite apparent that his wound was mostly conjured up. Wanted an ice- pack. I kidded both kids about their loose shoes and his lack of blood. Honestly, though, there was hardly even a mark on his shin, which he supposedly rubbed against the playground play set. The regular nurse returned stating that Jacob was on his way, and asked me to wait for him around the corner out of her office. I don’t think she cared too much for me taking over her duties.  Jacob showed up within seconds. We wrestled with the Triaminic strip package. Ridiculous to open. We finally got it after one of the office staff offered scissors. Taken care of, I was on my way back to work. I decided to take a full lunch break. Instead of heading back to work directly, I stopped in Home Depot and then Target. I bought nothing in Home Depot. In Target, I bought a card and gift card for one of my guys who recently got married to a former co-worker of mine. Back to work. I was back in my office by 120pm. I ate my packed lunch before our 2pm meeting. The meeting lasted until 3pm and went rather well. But then again, they usually do. I ended up working until almost 550pm. Like often happens, I got stuck on a hot issue just before I planned to leave. Mindy phoned just as I was jumping on I-270. Guessed my arrival to be 10 minutes. It was already 6pm. Dinner was all but ready. I asked how Jacob was doing/feeling. Much better, she said. In fact, out playing with friends. The house was clean. It was a Rachel day. The house also smelt like good food. I wasn’t sure what. Mindy was outside with Frankie at the time of my arrival. While rinsing lunch containers and prepping the following day’s coffee I snooped in on dinner. Looked like pasta, and chicken strips drenched in what I later learned was pesto. Smelt good! I was hungry, too. It wasn’t long before Mindy served up dinner. Jacob had to sit with us while we all ate, but apparently he had either already eaten or wasn’t hungry. He had to be feeling better because he was back to being his annoying self. He must’ve asked Mindy if he could get up from the dinner table ten times. Bella had spaghetti. She didn’t want the chicken pesto topping like us. Mindy let Jacob leave the table once Bella finished. After cleaning up the mess left behind by dinner, I took a brief nap while reading. 30 minutes later I leaped to my feet and headed out back to water flowers. I spent about 30 minutes watering, including topping off the hot tub. Back inside, I changed into my PJ's then snuggled up with my book once again in the livingroom recliner. Meanwhile, Jacob was reading aloud from the kitchen. I stopped myself at least three times from rushing in to ask him why he was doing it and why so loud. Mindy was outside with Frankie. I wrongfully assumed he was doing it simply to be annoying. Once Mindy came back in I asked her. I could not focus with all the commotion. Mindy shared that she asked him to read aloud. Still not sure why. Jacob was apparently incensed that I asked. I simply wanted him to stop if he was trying to be annoying. Mindy defended her rationale, although that I was never questioning. After 15 minutes of more chaos, the kids finally headed to bed. I was able to read in peace and quiet. I headed up to tuck the kids in minutes later. Jacob didn't want any part of me. Bella, on the other hand, insisted on my visit. Mindy headed to bed around 9:30pm as predicted. I stayed up reading and then watched a little Science Channel while also enjoying a bowl of cereal. I headed to bed at 10:30pm.