Coffee Carafe Mishap X 2

I was up just after 730a and downstairs a few minutes later. Like most Saturday mornings, I started coffee then my sit-ups and push-ups. It looked like a gorgeous day in the offing, and aside from feeling a little tired, I was in good shape. Frankie looked beat and made no overtures to be let out of her pen. I left her there for the time being. After push-ups I went to the coffee maker to pour my first cup only to discover the carafe almost completely void of fresh coffee. And after closer inspection, I realized that there was coffee everywhere but in the carafe. Not only coffee, but coffee grounds, too. I figured I must've incorrectly parked the carafe under the brew nozzle. That happened one other time. A little stressed, I cleaned up the mess and then started the process over. Of course, both batches were Starbuck’s. While the second batch brewed, I took Frankie outside after she expressed an interest by scratching at the door. We were outside for at least 10 minutes with her doing nothing but playing. Now up for nearly an hour, I wanted some coffee badly. We headed back inside after a fruitless walk about the yard. I was beginning to feel stressed after arranging to meet Kenny at the tree house around 9a. It was almost 830a and I still hadn’t had coffee or completed my run. I went for the coffee I craved only to discover once again that there was coffee everywhere but in the carafe. There was coffee on the counter, in the drawers, on the floor, and under the fridge. What the hell? If I was frustrated before, I was pissed the second go-round. I swore like a sailor, and with every move I found more mess. The drawer just below the coffee maker was swimming in coffee. Mindy got up and joined me in the kitchen during the second clean-up. Let's just say that I wasn't in a warm, hospitable mood. After emptying the drawer’s contents into the sink, I started cleaning up the counter and floor. I pulled out the fridge too, so I could clean the coffee that managed to seep under it. What a mess! And wouldn’t you know it, while pulling the fridge out away from the wall, I must’ve put too much stress on the water line feed which caused it to start dripping. You've got to be kiddin'! I tried tightening it up but that didn’t do it. Great! I was incensed! It took nearly an hour to get the mess cleaned up. It was almost 9am. I took the lid to the coffee carafe apart and discovered that the “brewing ball” was caked in coffee grounds/sludge preventing it from floating thus blocking the flow of coffee from the filter housing and ultimately into the carafe. I cleaned it up before starting pot three, but not before a practice run with plain water just to make sure it was working. It was. Mindy got busy putting new shelf liner in the drawer and cabinet below. At roughly the same time, Jimaken showed up to fetch Jacob. They were heading to the OSU game. Once I had the coffee brewing, I called Kenny to let him know that I would be delayed, giving him only the Reader’s Digest version of my dilemma. After a quick cup of coffee I headed off on my run. It was 930a. I needed to run more than you could possibly know. It helped me blow off steam, and maybe even put things in their proper perspective. I ran only three miles on an otherwise gorgeous morning. I was back around 1005a. I wasted little time inside, not even five minutes. I let Mindy know I was heading out to help Kenny on the tree house. I heard him back there sawing even before I left on my run. But when I went back there he was absent. I went and knocked on their door. Jake eventually greeted me but advised that Kenny was gone. Hmm? Figured he went for a tool or materials. While awaiting his return, I used my time wisely watering all of our backyard flowers. He returned 20-25 minutes later. Turns out, Kenny had an equally harrowing morning. After discovering he needed more trim nails for the nail gun, he ran to Lowe’s only to discover he’d forgotten his wallet. After returning with his wallet he bought the wrong nails. Long story short, he made about four trips to get the correct nails. We didn’t have a lot of time to work on the tree house’s trim. Kenny had to leave for soccer before noon. We got right to it though, trimming out the windows, cutting the rafters to accept a soffit and fascia boards. We still needed to trim out the corners and front, but that would have to wait until after soccer and the OSU game. Mindy left for yoga just as Kenny and I finished up work on the trim. Now near noon, I headed inside to watch the OSU game and make a batch of salsa. I made one large batch then split it in two. I then took the smaller half and added smoke and barbq flavoring then cooked it on the stove. OSU made fast, easy work of Indiana. It was a blowout early. Halfway through the second quarter, I decided to listen to the rest of the game on the radio from the garage, that way I could do some chores at the same time. I washed the BM’er inside and out, a job that’s needed done for a month or more. After detailing the BM’er I changed the oil I in the Trooper. That went even better (faster) than I expected. I failed to mention, I kept Woody while the neighbors were at soccer. He and Frankie played tirelessly all afternoon. Mindy got home from yoga and the grocery just as I was sweeping out the garage. I discovered quite the mess after mice had pilfered the three bags of grass seed I had stored along the garage wall. I finished tidying up the garage then pulled the BM’er back inside. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, were ahead 38-10. The game never in doubt. Kenny was back and ready to get busy on the tree house again. It had to be near 3-330p. We spent the next 90 minutes finishing the trim of the tree house. The front proved a bit puzzling but we eventually managed. Aside from adding a hatch and rope ladder, the construction phase is now done. Hooray! Kenny shared that he planned to bring home a trailer on Sunday to load up all of our scrap. I still may try to get it stained/painted yet this autumn, and perhaps even put down some playground mulch. Not sure. Mindy came out to help sweep/clean-up the tree house. Bella and all three of the neighbor’s kids were going to Julie & Mike’s for a sleepover. Julie was set to pick them up around 530p. We made tentative plans to go to dinner. Mindy suggested the Big Fat. I suggested we do the Fish Market and invite the neighbor’s in celebration of the tree house’s completion. Mindy liked the sound of it. Jacob would be joining us too. I knew that Kenny & Chrissy were planning dinner out too. I walked down and asked about the Fish Market. They were game. We were still waiting for Julie. She was a little later than anticipated. No biggie. Mindy was home in the shower. She wanted to make sure and see Bella before she left. Bella, meanwhile, was very excited about the sleepover. She was up packing her bag at 9am. Julie called Chrissy to say that she was minutes away and needed to hurry. I went back home to alert Mindy, who was fresh out of the shower. She headed down to say goodbye to Bella. At the same time, I headed off for my own shower. I was a sweaty, dirty, stinky mess. After my shower, neighbor Teri called to invite Jacob down to hang with Evan, and even promised to order pizza. Jacob was undecided initially, but ultimately decided a trip to the Fish Market sounded a whole lot better. Mindy thanked Teri for the kind gesture. The neighbors walked down around 630p. We watched the final minutes of the Michigan/Michigan State game, as well as the Alabama/South Carolina game. Michigan and Alabama both lost. We left for the Fish Market. We cut through Grandview in route to the Fish Market. I kindly dropped everyone off at the door before parking the Honda. I then joined the group already seated towards the back of the restaurant. Our server’s name was Francesco. He had a strong Italian accent and was quite animated. I enjoyed him. I lieu of beer, I opted for a Jack Daniels & Coke. We ordered three appetizers: spinach and artichoke dip, calamari, and oysters. Chrissy had no interest in any of them. She’s a steak girl – no seafood of any sort. Our entrees: Jacob ordered their fish n’chips. Mindy, a bowl of lobster bisque and salmon. I ordered Alaskan King crab legs. Kenny ordered a seafood combo. Chrissy ordered a butterflied filet well-done. I had Francesco bring me a second Jack & Coke, only this time a double in a tall glass. My dinner was delicious! Everyone seemed to think so. Chrissy insisted that Francesco bring her the bill even after I said the tab would be on me. When Francesco brought the bill I reached for it. Chrissy in turn spilled her water glass all over the table. Kenny didn’t seem too pleased. I found it humorous. We all got a chuckle. The plan all along was to head home and then over to Pat & Lisa’s (just across the pond) for a bonfire party. Kenny & Chrissy, we assumed, would be joining us too. I dropped them at their place. They said they most likely wouldn’t be joining us at the bonfire. I think they wanted a romantic evening at home alone. We spent about five-ten minutes at home before packing a cooler, brownies, and Frankie to walk over to Pat & Lisa’s. The last event we attended there was their annual New Year’s Eve party. Needless to say, it was a bit warmer this evening. In lieu of taking the sidewalk, we cut through the adjacent backyards since it was a yard party. Pat has a real cozy bonfire area set up in his backyard. It’s matured nicely over the years. Used to be the kids play area, but they’re adults now. There were lots of unfamiliar faces, most I gathered were friends of Lori, Pat’s sister-in-law, who lives in the Glen. Lisa disappeared shortly after we arrived. Lori said she headed to bed. We hung at Pat’s for a couple of hours. I probably drank 3 or 4 beers. It was still before 11pm when we arrived home. Mindy was insistent that we head to bed together.