Cool & Rainy like Veteran's Day

I was up on time on what proved to be yet another rainy morning in April. It was supposed to be Good Friday, but the gloomy weather made it hard to find anything good about it. Seemed more like Veteran’s Day in mid November. I breezed through sit-ups and push-ups then checked the ugly forecast online. It was 44 degrees and raining. Later in the day, it wasn’t expected to warm beyond the low 50’s.

It was near 6a when Eiknarf and I headed out for our morning walk. She’s getting much better about taking care of business quickly ever since we switched her food. I can’t help but think it’s more than just a coincidence. Like I’ve shared before, she’s gobbling up her twice-a-day food allotment in one setting.

We were back home by 610a. Because it was Good Friday, both Mindy and the kids didn’t have school. In turn, that clipped several minutes from my morning routine. I enjoyed coffee for a while longer and took more time than usual with meditation and stretching, too. It was 645a when I headed out for a run. It was chilly enough that I was compelled to wear running gloves. It rained but only lightly. I ran the full 4.1 mile track getting back somewhere near 720a. Mindy wasn’t up so I prepared my own breakfast. I didn’t mind. I fried two eggs perfectly and enjoyed them along with fruit and ½ an English muffin.

I headed up for a shower around 740a. Mindy woke as I headed into the shower. I was quick with a shower, primping, and then getting dressed. Mindy was already out of bed and downstairs when I finished. Said she and the kids were gonna color eggs and maybe even have lunch with her mom. Sadly, there wasn’t gonna be any outdoor playin’ going on. Weather was miserable.

Left for work at 810a. I’d forgotten that my peer and I planned a 9a meeting with a handful of folks. No worries. We pulled it off. The work day wasn’t nearly as stressful as I thought it might be. Friday’s can get crazy quickly. I left for lunch at 115p making a stop at Wal-Mart & Home Depot to get Easter stuff for Mindy & the kids.

I went to Wal-Mart first. There I bought Jacob & Bella new fishing poles and tackle as well as a couple auto care items for me. I headed to Home Depot next. There, I picked up two new sprayers for the hose, odorless ant spray, parts for the weedeater, and a gazing ball for Mindy. I also bought two cool new tiki torches for the deck.

It was 230p. I headed back to the office for what I hoped would be a calm finish to the work week. I called Mindy during my drive home but got disconnected. She called back a couple minutes later. Shared that I got the stuff for the kids Easter Baskets as planned. She shared that they made confetti eggs and went to lunch with her mom at Minelli’s. She also said that Jacob asked if we could dine at Barley’s. Oh, and by the way, it was still raining and chilly.  I wasn’t sure about Barley’s. My neck & shoulders were bothering me all day long.

Inside, Mindy showed off the Easter crafts the kids made that day. Jacob asked about Barleys. I was noncommittal. I eventually made my way to the livingroon floor lying flat on my back trying to stretch out the kink. Mindy, the kids, and Frankie followed me. I wrestled with the kids a little. And unless I’m mistaken, I think I took a brief nap. It was raining at a good clip. Hard to get motivated to do anything, really. Mindy kept on me about dinner. Honestly, a Minelli’s pizza sounded good to me, but they had already been there earlier. I reminded Jacob that I had just been the Barley’s the evening before. I eventually acquiesced agreeing to do dinner at Barleys. It was after 7p when we headed out.

It was raining heavy enough that I let everyone out at the door. I found a parking spot towards the back of the lot. Mindy put our name in for a bar area booth. It was very crowded. I enjoyed a Centennial while waiting for a table. I also carried on a conversation with Scott P. about the Brew Kettle brewery's in-house brewing program where you pay like $175 to brew your favorite beer. That fee covers everything: ingredients, bottles, customer labels, etc. Sounds like fun.

Sarah was our server. Mindy ordered the hummus plate, and I ordered the Cuban with bacon. Haven’t had one of those for about a year, or ever since they changed the recipe to the more traditional Cuban. Loved their old one way better. Jacob ordered buffalo chicken tenders with Gates of Hell sauce on the side for dipping. Bella ordered a corn dog and fries. I ordered a 2^nd Centennial IPA too, despite having some left in my first.

Mindy left an empty growler at the bar when we arrived. Before leaving, I asked Katy to fill it with Centennial. I paid the bar tab and Mindy picked up dinner. We headed home around 9p. It was noticeably warmer as we headed out the door, at least 10 degrees warmer. Hmm? We talked about hanging with the neighbors once home, but they were also out for dinner - celebrating their anniversary.

I tuned the TV to FOX to watch Fringe. Mindy felt it too much for the kids but I assured her that it was PG. They watched intently.  I poured a Centennial from my growler but fell asleep before it was gone. We headed to bed around 10p, or after the program. Unusual for a Friday night. I had about ½ a beer left.  I covered it and placed it in the fridge.