Air Soft Landing

Up on time and downstairs by 534a. I was shocked to see the moon hovering fairly high  in the eastern sky, expecting instead to find more clouds. While happy to see it, I wasn’t foolish enough to think it would last too long. After all, last I heard we were expecting heavy rain for the remainder of the week.

I slipped into my exercise tennies and headed to the living room where I typically do my sit-ups. After 55 sit-ups,  I checked the current forecast next. As suspected, we were in between storms. Plenty more coming our way from the southwest – a pipeline from the gulf.

After push-ups I leashed up Eiknarf and headed out for our walk. She only peed. The moon remained visible but at the same time there were a few flashes of lightning – no thunder detectable. Back home, I poured some coffee around 6a. I took a few minutes to enjoy it before segueing into meditation and stretching. Wouldn’t you know it, a quick thunder storm rumbled through just ahead of my run complete with lightning and heavy rain. Lucky for me, it lasted only a few minutes.

I dropped Eiknarf and coffee off to Mindy, who was fresh out of bed and preparing for a shower. I headed out for a run by 635a. The sky was almost completely clear again and fully daybreak. However, those fast moving storms clouds to our immediate east prevented the sunrise from being visible until about halfway through the run. I ran the full 4.1 miles in shorts and a thin long sleeved wicking shirt. I would’ve been more comfortable in a short sleeved shirt. It was 64 degrees and very humid.

Mindy made scrambled eggs for the second day in a row thanks to a request from Jacob. Today’s, however, were covered in cheddar cheese. There were more in the pan for Eiknarf again too. Mindy didn’t know it, but I had some of Monday’s in the fridge still. I ended up leaving them there, instead thinking I’d give those to Eiknarf on Wednesday.

Jacob has achievement testing 4 of the next 6 school days. He didn’t seem too thrilled about it. Tuesday’s testing was reading comprehension. Mindy asked the kids to bus home as normal. Asked if I planned to take Jacob shopping for another airsoft pistol after work, an agreement he and I made Monday. The plan was for me to intercept him at soccer practice, this also being a gymnastics night for Bella. That way Mindy could bail to pick-up Bella. The one variable being the weather, there was a strong chance that Jacob’s soccer practice would end up canceled due to all the rain. Mindy left for school at 730a.

Mindy wasn’t out the door a minute before I bolted off to the shower. I wasn’t long either. I was back downstairs by 750a throwing together my lunch. I hollered for the kids at 755a. We headed out the door separately. Jacob was the first one out. At the bus stop I noticed right away that Bella was no longer wearing the pants that Mindy had her wear with here spring shirt. Looked like she decided to make her shirt a dress. However, on closer inspection, she changed into a pair of shorty shorts. I gave her an earful and asked what she thought her mother would think. She basically said she’d never know. I then asked what made her think I wouldn’t tell, Hmmm? How much cash do you have? J Again, Bella’s Achilles heel – deception.

Meanwhile, Makayla was sulking because her mom had her in jeans. She wanted to be in shorts like Jacob and Bella. Tomorrow, I heard Chrissy say. The bus arrived on time – 804a. Eiknarf and I walked back home after peeing again. Mindy reminded me that it was a Rachel day before she left earlier, and also asked that I run the dishwasher before leaving for work. I did as requested. I left for work at 810a. Thought I might take my golf clubs and head to the range at lunch but forgot the clubs.

Arrived at work around 830a as usual. The sky remained partly sunny but rain clouds hovered to the SW, the same direction all our weather’s been coming from. I stayed plenty busy.  The morning went fast. Heavy rain hit a couple of times. But we got a few intervals of clearing too. Around 1pm I decided to take a much needed break and drove to Strader’s for my annual spring walkabout.

They didn’t disappoint. Had most of their annuals out and were well stocked. It’s so uplifting to walk around their expansive greenhouse. It's a'ways warm, humid and smells terrific. I must’ve spent about 45 minutes walking around looking at their offerings. There wasn’t a crowd either. That’s all gonna change here in a week or two. This up coming weekend would be best to make purchases ahead of Mother’s Day weekend when it’s routinely an absolute zoo. In no way am I anywhere close to ready to plant flowers in the beds. I could do my pots and baskets, though.

I headed back to work in a far better place mentally. Ahhh! Once back at the office I went for my packed lunch (tuna packet, cheese, and fruit). I made sure to wash my hands good after touching all sorts of fertilizers and stuff while at Straders.

The afternoon went by fast. Once again, our weather came in phases. When the sun came out the temperature would spring above 70 in a hurry. Still cool without it. Sent Mindy a text late afternoon letting her know that the Hilliard Soccer Complex’s website had a notice up indicating that the fields were closed for the day. No practice… again.

She sent an email a little later thanking me and also asking if I wanted to order pizza for dinner. No, I didn’t. We had oodles of leftovers in the fridge including inferno chicken, pork roast, and brats. I confirmed that I still planned to take Jacob shopping for another airsoft pistol.

Mindy & Bella were off to gymnastics when I arrived home. After addressing my immediate chores, Jacob and I headed off for Wal-Mart. Jacob was doubtful that Wal-Mart would have decent airsoft pistols. I knew different. I’d seen them there. There supply is every bit as good or better than Dick’s Sporting Goods. Less expensive too.

As luck would have it, traffic was at a crawl all the way west on Trabue. Took at least 20 minutes to make the usual five minute drive. But we weren’t in a huge hurry. I remained calm throughout the slow drive. We entered through the garden center and eventually made our way back to sporting goods. They’ve done a remodel since I was last in the Hilliard Wal-Mart. I like it much better. We compared the various models of airsoft pistols. I convinced Jacob that he didn’t need or want to deal with CO2 cartridges. I pointed him towards a pistol that had both spring and battery firing options. Like his rifle, it has an automatic mode too. It was priced nicely as well – only $21. We waited for the sports department dude to click the rack release. We made the purchase right there in the sporting good department.

We exited back through the garden center, which at the time was largely unvisited. As we exited the store a clerk came running our way shouting that she needed to check our bag. Those that know me, know how much I despise such actions. This time I chose to bite my lip and show her our purchase and receipt. I had a few smart ass comments whirling through my mind but opted to keep them to myself fearing I might influence Jacob negatively. We headed home. No traffic headed east at all.

We arrived home still in front of 7p. Jacob wanted to open his gun immediately, and understandably so. Forgot to mention, he paid me for the airsoft gun as soon as we got back in the car. It took a few minutes to figure out the operation of the gun but we finally did. Jacob took it out on the deck to put it to the test. A little kludgie at first until he figured it out fully.

Mindy & Bella arrived home while Jacob was out unloading his second chamber full of airsoft BBs. Bella quickly asked if she could run off to Makayla’s while Mindy, Jacob, and I whipped up our dinner, pork roast burritos. I did the whipping up. Mindy & Jacob had avocado on theirs. Not me.  Mine was just fine with cheese, red onion and sour cream.

After dinner Jacob asked if we could watch something interesting on TV. We ended up watching multiple episodes of Office back-to-back. For my money, it's one of the funniest TV shows out there. I continued watching Office even after the kids, and later Mindy, were off to bed. Mindy asked that I not be long. I headed to bed at 1010p. My neck was bothering me again. Couldn't get that kink to release. Mindy fetched me 4 Advil shortly after I crawled into bed.