Expressed Indecisiveness

It’s a pattern I’ve repeated several times since the turn of the year. I sleep soundly for maybe 4 or 5 hours, but then wake between 2 & 3a only to struggle getting back to sleep. This morning was no different. I tossed and turned for the last 2 hours checking the clock countless times before finally rolling out of bed just ahead of 530a. Frankie was asleep in her pen even though I left her on the sofa when I headed up to bed the night before. I put on my exercise shoes while glancing out back at the weather. It was snowing ever so lightly. I went to the living room where I completed my sit-ups and checked the weather. It was a balmy 12 degrees. Expecting it to reach near 30 with on & off snow flurries through the entire day. I read a few headlines, too. Most notably, Jay Cutler, the Bears starting quarterback that left Sunday’s game injured, was getting lambasted via social networking sites for his lack of toughness. I kept PC time to a minimum and headed in to do push-ups at 545a. After 55 push-ups I bundled up and took Frankie out after deciding to postpone coffee until afterwards. Frankie wasn’t exactly thrilled to be outside, but still took the opportunity to pee. Afterwards she made a beeline for the back door. I feared the cold prevented her from pooping rather than not needing to. Inside, I enjoyed a half cup of coffee before moving on to morning meditation. That didn’t go as well as I would’ve liked but it still did me some good. At 620a I moved onto to stretching. After skiing all day Saturday then again Sunday I thought I might be stiff and achy, but that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, I felt surprisingly loose and limber, and that was without the aid of any Advil. Getting in excellent ski shape, I guess. Next, I delivered a cup of coffee and the pug to Mindy, who was fresh out of bed and preparing for a shower. Back downstairs I dressed for a run, again donning the same extra layer I used on Saturday & Sunday. I hit the door somewhere close to 635a. It was snowing, but only lightly. I ran mostly on sidewalks after finding the roads too difficult to navigate due to dry, loose slush. I ran the entire 4.1 mile track with little difficulty. Mindy remembered to place her keys in the special spot. In kind, I started the Honda as soon as I was back at home. Jacob was at the table eating his breakfast cereal while I stripped out of my sweaty upper running layers. Mindy served my eggs just as I was sitting down. I asked if anyone took Frankie out after remembering that she didn’t poop earlier. Mindy quickly stated that it was too late, and that she pooped in Bella’s room on the purple shag rug. Dang it! Mindy asked that I make her aware on those days. I quipped that it’s almost everyday anymore. Just assume she needs to go out. During breakfast, Mindy commented that both kids were tuckered out and didn’t want to get up. She also asked the kids to bus home with Noah since she planned to grocery shop right after school. Jacob moaned about it some but quickly moved beyond it. Like most days, Mindy left near 730a. After finishing up breakfast, both Bella and I headed upstairs. I got a shower while Bella tidied up her room and brushed her teeth. Jacob was in his room watching TV. It took a few minutes longer than usual since I had to shave. I wore one of the two black sweaters Gloria gifted me for Xmas. Fit really well. Felt good too. Thanks, Gloria! I had a few minutes before bus stop time. With it, I quickly threw together a lunch that consisted of cheese chunks, fruit medley, and a banana. If memory served, I still had Friday’s lettuce based salad in the fridge at work. The kids, Frankie & I headed out the door at 758a. I asked Bella to take Frankie while I started the Trooper. It was iced over pretty good from sitting all weekend. Chrissy was out with the girls. Said that Kenny left for a job in Cleveland around 7a. Had been off work for the past three weeks. In fact, Sunday afternoon he joked that his biggest job for the past three weeks was preparing everything for skiing. Cold & snowing, we didn’t chat much after the bus pulled away. I walked Frankie out front again. She peed. Inside, I took time to finish organizing my work pack and then tidied up the kitchen and prepped a to-go cup of coffee. I penned Frankie and left the house at 815a. It was a quick and efficient drive into the office. I parked out front in one of just a few remaining spots. I got myself situated then quietly dug into the work day. Quiet for the most part. I thought I might finally get away at lunch for a haircut, but that didn’t happen. Instead, I ended up spending a lot of time with my team talking through several issues impacting us in 2011. In turn, the work day moved quickly. Mindy called near 4p. She was just leaving the grocery store. Confirmed dinner plans – beef & noodles made with the leftovers from last week’s roast. Sounded good to me. She also reported that she planned to invite my dad for dinner. On her way to get the kids from Dena’s. I shared hopes of getting out of the office a little earlier than normal. I was able to get away at 510p. The almost constant snow flurries amounted to little more than a 1/2” of fresh snow. The drive home was uneventful. I arrived close to 530p. Mindy was busy fixing the dryer’s beater bar again after starting dinner and putting away groceries. She mentioned that my dad would be joining us, but that he most likely wouldn’t eat. She said he wanted to share what came of his AC issue. Had to have AEP out, and almost burnt the house down. And from what Mindy shared, sounded like I was pretty close with my diagnosis. One phase was open (burnt). Dad arrived shortly after me. The kids were out sledding on the back hill. I called them in for dinner around 550p. However, Mindy had chores for both to complete ahead of dinner. Bella needed to walk Frankie and Jacob needed to take out the garbage. She also wanted Bella to put the old grapes out back for the birds. Bella whined about walking Frankie at first but ultimately complied. Soon we were seated for dinner. Dad shared the details of his home power problem. Sounds like the insulation wore off the old wiring inside the meter panel and nearly burnt the house down. Melted some of the siding before the wire broke. AEP was going to shut off the house power as a safety precaution until he replaced both meters, but in the end agreed to leave it on after temporarily bandaging the issue. As it is, half the houses power remains out of commission, including anything running on 220v. According to Dad, the AEP tech estimated that the work would cost him between $1800 - $3000 since it requires two meters. To be clear, AEP owns the drop to the house, but not the weather head, meter, and panel boxes. That’s the responsibility of the homeowner. In true Dad fashion, he said he’s not sure how he will proceed. I offered to help replace the faulty wiring and equipment, but it didn’t sound like he was too interested. The beef & noodles were tasty. I was careful not to eat too much. I did clean-up while the kids each started their homework. While I did all of that, Mindy was in the basement presumably looking for something. Turns out, she was looking for the kids S.S. cards. Misplaced them. While she searched high & low, I checked then aided Jacob with his math homework. Once again, half the problem is his penmanship. I couldn’t make out any of his numbers. To begin, I coached him once again on the correct way to hold a pencil. This time he seemed to listen and as a consequence produced immediate positive results. He had a couple incorrect answers needing fixed, too. I helped him process the data until he found his mistakes. He was far more receptive to the help than he usually is. Before dad left, I showed him the pictures U.K. sent from the December 2010 Central HS Florentine reunion. Via email, U. K. asked me to print a set for dad, but the resolution was so low they were effectively unprintable. I told Dad that if he really wanted prints then he should ask Kenny to send them in higher resolution. I would in turn send them off to CORD for printing, which sadly is far cheaper than printing them off at home. While at the PC, I showed Dad the numerous pictures cousin Scotty forwarded from Aunt Linda’s collection. Brother Glenn & I were subjects in several. Many of them circa 1958-1962. We looked at this year’s Xmas pictures, too. Dad departed around 730p. Both kids headed down to the neighbors, Jacob to play pool with Jake, and Bella to play X-Box with Makayla. After Dad left, I asked Mindy her thoughts about a weekend getaway to HV this coming weekend with the kids. As it was, the only viable lodging option was the Snow Pine Village condos, which are located at the base of the Wall lift. They’re more than fine accommodations, but definitely require better planning since the Wall lift stops running at 430p. She wasn’t sure. I countered that I would take that as no since I didn’t want to wait until the last minute like we did last week. We both agreed that this would almost certainly be the last realistic opportunity we’d have to go back this season as a family. I changed into my Grinch PJs then retrieved my snuggie and book then went to the recliner where I read and napped for a bit. I woke from my nap when the kids rang the doorbell incessantly upon their return from the neighbors. Not sure why they rang the bell, though. The door was unlocked. The kids were given a bye on showers, but advised to get into their PJs in a hurry. They both came back for an evening snack. I heard Mindy ask Bella what she wanted to do for her adoption day this Friday. Bella answered Chuck E. Cheese or Barley’s. Mindy laughed but then offered up Holiday Valley. Bella came to me in a hurry inquiring if that was a real option. I wasn’t sure how to respond, especially given Mindy’s expressed indecisiveness. Bella asked all the right questions, though, like when would we leave and what time would we get there, and then how long we would stay. Not to create a two headed monster, I told her I wasn’t sure if we would be going. It was already 9p and time to tuck in the kids. I was very surprised when Mindy declared it her bedtime already too. I tucked in Jacob first. We talked for a while. I failed to mention that he was sent to his room after aggravating his mom by letting chocolate milk purposefully run down his face. He made some reference to his mom being a grouch. I tried reasoning with him instead of agreeing. I tucked Bella in next, who had her TV going. I had her turn it off and get under the covers. She did, but only after some coaxing. I told Mindy that I planned to stay up a while longer. I headed back downstairs and tuned the TV to the Science Channel after remembering that How the Universe Works was on Monday night’s now. I watched a program about planets first, and ended up falling asleep less than 15 minutes into it. I remained on the sofa until about 1015p, when I mustered the energy to get up and head for bed. I made the decision to leave Frankie asleep on the sofa.