Beef Kabobs, Speech, Grass #2

I figured I was up a few minutes early but not too sure by how much. Turns out, by just a few. It was 532a by the time I made it to the downstairs to the kitchen. I had to prep coffee having blown off the chore the evening before. That took until 536a. Not a lot of time, but every minute counts when we're talking about my busy morning routine.

I glanced out back to find the return of cloudy skies. I no idea the temp, at least not until my sit-ups were done. It was 54 degrees with cloudy skies forecasted along with temps in the low 60s. And looking further ahead, the forecast looked worse,  very rainy and cool. No 70s until the middle of next week.

I eventually made it back to the kitchen where I whipped out 55 push-ups. Until then, I had no idea that I had a kink in my left wrist. Felt it as soon as I put my entire body weight on it. I muddled through the pain completing 55 push-ups anyway.

I enjoyed a cup of coffee while reading the Daily OM. Always feels good to gain a little perspective on life. Eiknarf and I headed out around 6a. We walked to the west. Through the cloud cover I could see what I assumed was the moon in the western sky. It was extremely bright yet severely distorted by clouds. Cool. Frankie took care of business after about a 10 minute walk.

Back at home I completed a meditation then a stretch routine. I was done with both by 625a. I prepped Mindy’s coffee then headed upstairs along with Eiknarf. Mindy was just getting out of bed. After a quick greeting I headed back downstairs to ready for my run.

I was out the door by 635a.

I ran the full 4.1 miles without any issues other than feeling a bit sluggish & tired. Yesterday’s yard work, I think, played a large role in that. In any case, I was happy when the run was finally behind me. Mindy and the kids were gathered in the kitchen, and my eggs ready and waiting at my usual place setting. Bella shared that she didn’t feel well. Said her nose was dry - bleeding even. Mindy asked Bella to bus home as normal and then asked Jacob to call her if there was a Beacon ambassadors meeting after school.  As it was, we didn’t have the new schedule. Mindy advised Bella to call her if she ended up sick in the office.

I headed off to the shower right after Mindy left. It was 733a. I was downstairs pulling together my lunch by 750a. Mindy packed me a salad, so all I had to throw together was some fruit and cheese. Didn’t take long at all. The kids and I headed off for the bus stop at 757a. Bella wasn’t her usual jovial self. Looked tired too. Kenny was out with the girls. Said he was off again and thought he might try to be fitted for a new driver around 9-10am. Weather was looking better than promised.

Frankie and I walked out front long enough for her to get a second chance to relieve herself. Can’t recall if she did or didn’t. Headed off for work at 810a.

Work went fairly well. I was crazy busy all day long, but forced myself to take a lunch by closing my door and relaxing for nearly an hour. That always does me some good. I talked with Mindy mid-afternoon, said she was on her way to pick-up Bella from school. I missed a call from a vaguely familiar number. After talking with Mindy I realized that it was her school’s number. Apparently Bella threw up at school and wasn’t feeling well.  I wasn’t surprised.  Mindy had invited my dad for dinner – grilled beef kabobs – but planned to call and inform him that Bella was sick and let him make the choice as to whether he still wanted to join us. Mindy asked that I call on my way home.

Outside, meanwhile, it looked like a much nicer day than forecasted. It was partly sunny and 71 degrees. I called Mindy as I left the office. It was already 6p. Working late! Mindy shared that Bella was feeling a lot better but that my dad decided to skip the visit caring not to chance getting ill.  While chatting with Mindy, Ashley rang in. I took her call. We chatted for the remainder of my drive home. Asked how Olivia made out at the skating party. Said she loved it. Ashley shared that hardly anyone attended, twenty people tops. When she was little it was a wildly popular event. I used to take all three girls. That’s back when Kelly and I were having marital problems. I had my eye on Ashley Miller’s mom, who attended every one of them just like me. To my eyes, she was a bombshell, and also single! J

At home, Mindy had the beef kabobs all but ready. Smelt delicious. Made fresh garden salads and broccoli infused rice, too. A few of the sirloin beef chunks on the kabobs were extra tough, but most of them fine. The weather, meanwhile, was still very nice, but the forecast for the next few days calling for nothing but rain. I asked Mindy if she would mind taking care of clean-up thus affording me the opportunity to cut the grass. The front needed it badly. She happily agreed. She added that Chrissy wanted us to come down to her house later to serve as the audience for a class speech she needs to deliver to 5 adults.

I headed out to cut the lawn. I used the wacker then edger first. Had to fix the stuck wacker line twice. Needs a new head. Oh the joys of yard work. About 2/3s of the front lawn was as thick as it’s ever been. Good thing I cut it when I did. Took about an hour beginning to end. The only part of the back needing addressed was up around the deck. It always comes in slower than the front.

It was 730p when I headed in for a quick shower.  I dressed in my PJs after. Chrissy called letting us know that she was now ready for us to come down. Mindy and I headed down leaving Jacob and Bella at home watching TV. Chrissy had the O’Connell’s over too. The four of us along with Kenny made up the required audience of 5. Had to video it too, and pan the applauding audience afterwards for full credit. I remember taking that same speech class back in 88-89’. Of course, back then, camcorders were rare. The professor video tapped us for later viewing.

Chrissy did her speech on her decision to go to college as an adult. I found it entertaining. She admitted before hand being nervous since she knows us all so well. Considering it here first speech, it was pretty good. She got choked up towards the end as she thanked those that were making her return to college doable. Cute! I’ll say this about Chrissy, she's a very determined young woman.

We didn’t hang out long since our kids were home alone. Back at home we tuned into the Science Channel watching a program about the sun. Totally cool stuff. Per the usual, Mindy and the kids were off to bed around 930p. I was up until just after 10p.