Xmas Lights Down - Ale House #1

I was surprised when I ended up sleeping to almost 9am. I was even more surprised that aside from me, the house remained motionless for at least another hour after that. I guess everyone was sleeping in. Truth is, I could've slept longer myself, but got up because that innate fear of sleeping the entire day away over took me. Even Frankie remained snuggled up in her pen well after I was up and about. I started coffee and completed my calisthenics by 915a.

I spent the next hour or so sipping coffee while playing around on the internet. It was just before 10a when I all but forced Frankie to get up and out of her pen. We walked out back and then later out front. She took care of business after a long ten minutes outdoors. It was sunny but deceptively cold. It wasn't much more than 25 degrees. Mindy wasn't up until almost 1030a. And even then, the children remained sleeping.

Between then and 11a I finally mustered the energy to head out on a run. I dressed warmly in full winter attire including a pair of sun glasses to protect my eyes from the brilliant springtime sunshine. It was a lovely morning for a run. The mix of cool, crisp air & sunshine felt terrific. During my run, and as long as there wasn't any frost on the roof, I planned to take down the Xmas lights outlining our north facing roof line. They had been up for four months now, or since late November. Hard to believe it's been that long.

I finished my 3 mile run then changed out of my good running shoes and into an older pair before heading back out through the garage bent on getting to those lights. I drug the aluminum extension ladder around back and up on the deck where I typically mount the roof. I took a medium sized Target bag along to hold the light clips. It took no more than ten minutes to have the lights off the house and rolled into three separate strands and all the clips in the bag. Went much faster than I envisioned. I couldn't help but notice the interesting view from up on the roof. I wished I had my camera. And I thought why not? Why not go inside and get my camera and return to take some pictures.

I did just that. I grabbed my new camera then headed back up the ladder to the peak of the roof. There I took aerial view photos of the front and back yards. I took a shot of the Xmas lights all coiled up too. You might recall, I took down all the supporting extension cords and timer more than a month ago. That made the process go that much faster. With the Xmas lights finally down, I will no longer be the talk of the subdivision. I decided to tend to the jogging stroller next. I carried it up from the basement and out into the garage where I could add air to the tires and spray WD-40 on all of its moving parts, as well as clean it up a little better in the natural lighting. I spent about 15-20 minutes doing that.

Once done, I headed inside to fetch Mindy's keys so I could load it into the back of the Honda for delivery. Mindy stopped me, however, citing a trip to the grocery. We'd have to put it in later, after the grocery store trip. Mindy headed off to the grocery while both kids ran off to play with the neighbors. While she was gone I took a shower and wrote Friday's blog entry. She was gone for just over an hour. I helped carry in the groceries.

Sometime during the afternoon, Teri, Emily and Evan's mom, called to make arrangements to take Jacob & Bella along with her kids to the movies, but only after Emily's softball game. Said to be leaving around 330p. Kids would need to head towards their house around 3p. We had talked about having the boys and/or Olivia over, but without the kids being home it made little sense, and furthermore, I had mixed emotions about having a house full of wee ones already. I love them all dearly but having them over would zap all of my energy.

Mindy headed out shopping again, this time to Target and Kohl's. Asked if I wanted anything. I needed nothing but mentioned wanting a new black Columbia fleece from Kohl's. My current fleece's zipper handle broke off some time ago (second time that's happened). While Mindy was off shopping, the kids played up in their rooms. Mindy phoned around 245p to share that Teri called to tell her that Emily's game was going long and that they'd have to skip the 330p movie. Wasn't sure about a later showing.

I knew the kids would be disappointed. Five minutes later both kids came stormin' down the stairs eager to head off to the neighbors and eventually to the movies. I quickly shared that the movie thing was canceled and why. Bella didn't believe me at first. Mindy was back from her shopping a while later. Said they had no Columbia fleece's at Kohl's. She bought herself a new spring purse, though. Not sure if there was anything else. That reminds me, I need a new spring wallet. :) After an hour or so, Teri called again. Said they had plans to go to the movies at 630p. Would be leaving at 6p. Still wanted to take Jacob & Bella.

Mindy and I thought we might take advantage of that and go out to dinner at the same time. I suggested Barley's but not the Smokehouse. Instead, I wanted to visit Ale House #1 in the short north. Rumor has it, they've got some good IPA on tap, something noticeably missing from the Smokehouse ever since Scott Francis left, their longtime brewmaster. We haven't been to Ale House #1 in a long, long time. The kids left for the neighbors just before 6p. I think Mindy walked them down. She took Frankie along, too. Mindy was back a couple minutes later and we quickly prepared for our dinner date.

We left the house near 615p. By then it was completely clouded over and chilly. The temperature was somewhere between 35-40 degrees. We had to circle the area close to Barley's after I mistakenly allowed Mindy to lead us astray. We ended up parking at a meter on Vine St right next to the North Market and real close to Barley's back entrance. We had to feed a parking meter that still had 42 minutes remaining from the prior feed. This marked the first such time that I've encountered parking meters that accept Visa here in CMH. I used the scant pocket change I had (about $.40). I hollered out to Mindy to see if she might have a little more. She scurried back and put in a little more giving us a total of about 100 minutes. That seemed fine.

We rushed off to the rear entrance. Again, it was chilly! Barley's was stacked. It looked like we might need a table after finding the bar full, but just then I spotted two stools in the very back, one directly behind the firkin barrel. We pounced. We studied the beer menu until we were served. I ordered Mindy the Oatmeal stout and me the Blurry Bike IPA. Mindy abruptly stopped the order for herself, instead requesting just a sample. Honestly, I didn't care too much for the way she did it (no tact). Said it with a disapproving tone and look.

The Blurry Bike IPA was very good. Don't think I could design a better tasting version. That made me very happy. It wasn't long before the two stools next to us freed. Mindy quickly moved down two stools. Now on my right, she effectively freed herself from behind the firkin barrel. The crowd only thickened. Standing room only. We eventually ordered food. Mindy ordered the daily dinner special, seared scallops, and I ordered a reuben and fries.

The menu carries some of the same entrees as the Smokehouse, but also some stuff unavailable there. We both ended up having 2nd beers, me before Mindy even finished her first. Mindy ordered a 2nd only after confirming that I was done and would be driving home. Whirling on the big screen just behind us was the NCAA tournament. We saw Butler beat Florida. Mindy agreed to get the check. It was cold and breezy. There was only 12 minutes left on the meter. Good timing. We headed home.

Forgot to mention, Teri texted Mindy during dinner. Said they had to movie somewhere other than the movie/restaurant house. Ended up at the movieplex near Wal-Mart. Thought they'd be home around 830p. Mindy and I tuned to the History Channel once at home. I snuggled up with a Southern Tier XXIPA. We both changed into our PJs, too. We watched a fascinating program about marijuana. The kids arrived home close to its end. Jacob watched the tail end along with us. Bella headed off to her room to presumably enjoy some of her own contraband. :) We stayed tuned-in after the pot show ended watching Alaskan Troopers. We all headed to bed around 10p. I was already starting to dose from the sofa, but Mindy had other plans.