Visiting the Anderson's

It was already Friday after what ended up being a very unusual work week (worked from home Wednesday then off on Thursday). I was up a few minutes ahead of 530a and quickly engaged in exercise. After sit-ups and push-ups I checked the weather. It was 18 degrees, pretty much the norm this winter. After enjoying some coffee and quiet time I leashed up Frankie and headed out back. She was quick taking care of business. We were back inside by 605a. Meditation and stretching went well. Sounded like Mindy was in the shower by 615a. She planned to leave a little earlier to give herself plenty of time to drop Jacob at her mother’s (still sick). I delivered a cup of coffee and the pug just ahead of preparing for my run. It was just after 630a as I headed out the front door for my run. I ran the full 4.1 miles without any trouble, although I might’ve been a tad stiff from skiing so hard the day before. No biggie. I felt good and loose when I finished. Mindy already had the Honda warming when I returned. She apparently had Jacob loaded up too. My eggs were ready and waiting in the microwave. Mindy left while Bella and I finished our breakfasts. It was just after 730a when I headed up for a shower. It didn’t take me long. I was back downstairs and ready to go by 750a. Bella and I headed to the bus stop at 757a. Kenny and the girls met us out there. Kenny shared that he and Chrissy were heading up to MRM shortly after the kids were safely on the school bus. Lucky them! Supposed to be a busy weekend up there. Frankie used her second opportunity to relieve herself wisely. After kenneling the pug and gathering all of my gear I left for work. The commute was brief. No traffic issues. I parked out front. In my office by 832a. Spent the first couple hours of the day in a meeting. Just before 11a I headed back to my office to get busy with 2011 objectives. I worked on objectives right up until lunch time, or 1p when I left for a trip to the Anderson’s. It didn’t take that long to get there, a quick drive around the NW corridor of I-270. I hadn’t been to the Anderson’s since they completed a remodel – probably mid-summer. I browsed their grocery aisles and picked up a few ski snacks for the weekend ahead. I eventually made my way over to the beer and wine department, which is still one of the cities finest. It's the only place where I have found Southern Tier’s XXIPA. I picked up a six-pack of that along with a six-pack of Bell’s Hop Slam. I picked out a couple 22oz rockets too, a Hoppin’ Frog Silky Porter and a Mean Manalishi. I picked up a pinot noir from the PNW for Mary Ann – a late birthday present. Back to work. I was back in my office by 215p. I spent the afternoon finishing up my team’s 2011 objectives. I got a call from Mindy sometime after 4p sharing that Jacob was feeling much better and wanted to know if we could go to Barley’s for dinner. Mindy thought it would be a good thing. We haven’t been there on a Friday with or without the kids in well over a month. I agreed to go. I left the office for home around 530p. The temperature felt fairly warm. It was somewhere in the upper 20s. Actually expecting it to push just past freezing on Saturday. I called my mom during my drive home, a call I make most Friday’s. She sounded in decent spirits. Shared that she goes in for a surgical procedure on her neck late January. Fusing a couple vertebrae, I guess. Also sounds like her financial wows may be over. That’s encouraging. I talked with Mom until I pulled up in front of the house. I carried in my Anderson’s haul in two trips. Gifted Mindy the Silky Porter. Carried it all to the garage. Mindy and the kids were eager to depart for Barley’s, but it wasn’t even 6p. I reiterated my need to decompress and relax for a few, and quite possibly even take a brief nap. I kicked back in the living room recliner and closed my eyes. I didn’t sleep but did relax. I’m thinking that we left for Barleys just after 630p. The parking lot was beyond full. We had to park in the adjacent lot, which was chalked full of cars too. Business is booming! Inside, we immediately greeted several of our Barley peeps. Amongst them, Steve W. and Bob I. Didn’t anticipate seeing Bob. I ordered a Centennial IPA and was happy to stand and sip. We found the kids two seats at a barside table. Of note, Katie M. is back working the bar on Friday’s replacing Beth who apparently quit to go be with her new husband in N.C. Katie hasn’t worked a Friday in maybe five years. Mindy ordered the kids and herself some food. I wasn’t hungry. Just wanted a couple beers. Mindy ran into a teacher pal and spent quite a while off chatting with her. We chatted some with Mie, too (the better half of Doomie). I ended up having three beers – two double IPA’s. Darwin, a neighbor of ours, stopped in just as we were preparing to leave. I had Diedra put two of his beers on my tab. We phoned the neighbors during our short drive home. Chrissy answered in an unusually somber tone. Quickly learned that she was at the hospital with her former mother-in-law after she suffered a mild stroke. She offered that Kenny was at home with all the kids and could probably use some company. We called Kenny and made plans to head down for a brief visit once home. We grabbed the pug and a few beers before walking down. Mindy wanted her Silky Porter. I took a Hop Slam and a Southern Tier XXIPA. We hung with Kenny for about 90 minutes, or until Mindy was ready to call it a night. We planned on skiing Saturday and wanted/needed a good night of sleep. I’m guessing it was after 1130p before I fell asleep.