Tressel, Tawny, & Tim McGraw

I purposefully got up earlier than I wanted to facilitate a golf outing with Kenny. We never nailed down a specific venue or a specific time beyond soon after my morning run. I got up close to 7a.

I treated it much like any other morning, making coffee then doing calisthenics. I headed out with Eiknarf next. It was already sunny, hot and steamy – 72 degrees. We walked at a leisurely pace then returned home where I enjoyed the morning’s first cup of coffee.

I’m thinking it was just after 8am when I dressed and left for my run. I ran just three miles since I’d be golfing all morning and early afternoon. I ran up one heck of a sweat. These tight fitting short sleeved wicking shirts seem to cause an inordinate amount of sweating.

I was back at home just after 830a. I poured Mindy some coffee then headed up for a shower. Shared my plans to golf with Mindy. We talked about golf the day before, but we also talked about playing volleyball at nephew Joe’s. She was good with me golfing. I was quick with my shower and was downstairs by 9am. Jacob was up and asked if he could go. Was OK by me, just needed to run it by Kenny.

Called Kenny at 9a. He sounded tentative about golf. Had plans for a late afternoon cookout too, and would need to be home by 3p at the latest. I suggested we skip golf on Monday and plan instead on Tuesday. It’s the day I offered up originally anyhow. If nothing else, getting up, exercising and running before 830a gave me lots of unplanned time. Mindy got up shortly after 9a and joined Jacob and I downstairs. Shared that we wouldn’t be golfing after all.

I wasn’t immediately sure what I’d do but knew I’d find something to keep me occupied. Bella asked about planting her garden like I had promised since last fall. The only problem was that her mother and I filled the spot in question with flowers. Bella wasn’t pleased. Thinking it through more thoroughly, I knew we could find a way to squeeze it in. It was more important to keep my promise and do something that meant a lot to Bella.

I went to her room and offered that she and I go get some pepper plants at Lowes. Jacob asked if he could go to. Why not? As long as you don’t torment Bella, which he’d already been doing. Told Mindy that I was gonna stop at Advance Auto Parts to get her wiper blades replaced too. The kids and I left at 945a.

We stopped at Advance Auto Parts on

Cemetery Rd

first. I bought some wiper blades and another quart of transmission fluid for the Trooper, just in case. I asked the counter person if they would install the wiper blades. It’s a service they provide free of charge. An older gentleman met me out there to put ‘em on. Took no time at all. While out there he asked if I had been following the morning news. No, I replied. Why? Said that OSU football coach Jim Tressel resigned that morning. No fooling? Wow!

We tuned into 97.1 The FAN on our short drive to Lowes. Yep, sure enough. It was all over the headlines. At Lowes we walked through the nursery looking for small pepper plants. But all their vegetables were outside and in these pint-sized biodegradable cups for $2.98 each, and that was for one plant. The plants themselves, however, were no bigger than those that come 3 per pack at Straders for $1.49. Not wanting to drive all the way to Strader’s, I decided to bite the bullet and buy three plants there. We chose one each of the red, yellow, and green. I also picked up a one-sized-fits-all cocoa shell liner for a hanging basket. We headed for home.

It was only 1030-1045a but already hot. Bella and I planted the pepper plants in the same vicinity we grew them last summer. I let her do all the digging and planting. I used cut off tomato cages to surround/protect them. I had her water them in real good. She was quite pleased. We shoved plant labels into the ground by each of the plants for ease of identification. She quickly rain off to play with her friends in her swim suit.

Mindy was heading off to the grocery. While she was out I transplanted more impatiens and petunias in the old hanging baskets then suspended them from the red maples just off the deck. I filled the hummingbird feeder with nectar, and added what was left of a 20lb bag of bird seed in the two feeders.

At long last, it was time to prep Mindy's fountain. I thought I might wait until next weekend after the hot tub was gone, but decided this was the day. I carried up both sections from the shed then went to the garage for the guts I so carefully winterize each fall. I almost forgot about the new light kit we bought for it in what now seems like eons ago. That was way back in the first week of April. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the new light kit comes with a dusk-to-dawn sensor. That'll save some electricity. I took my time prepping the fountain, and as hard as I scrubbed the residual algae away last fall, there was still some present. A lot of it that was left was now flaking away, and what didn't flake off, scrubbed off with relative ease. I rinsed it well before filling and then strategically placed my collection of sea shells in and around it. Looks awesome.

After finishing the fountain I headed inside to prep some lunch. I put my leftover reuben in the oven for 20 minutes. While my sandwich warmed, I watered in all the flowers I planted out back over the last two days next. I headed inside to eat my sandwich. It was hot and crisp, just like I hoped.

Next up, adding more transmission juice to the Trooper. I pulled it into the garage after unfolding the large piece of cardboard I used last week. This time it went much smoother. While under there I discovered that several of the bolts holding the transfer case tight against itself were at least somewhat loose. It's the same area that appeared to be leaking. I tightened them, albeit carefully. I took it on a quick test drive around the block where it performed well. By the way, it took just a pint before it started to spill out the overflow.

After parking the Trooper I pulled the BM'er into position for a bath. Driving it last week in the rain left it dirty. It didn't take too long to get it sparkling clean. Once I was done with the BM'er I watered in the front flowers. Mindy got home from the grocery while I was watering. I had to back the Honda up the drive so she could unload the groceries. She was too paranoid with the BM'er out at the end of the drive. Good plan!

I failed to mention that I did most of the front yard work without a shirt. I had Mindy rub me down with sunscreen before she left for the grocery store. I got smidge of sun without burning ... perfect!

We planned to grill out with the neighbors around 5 or 6p. It was only 3-330p. I used the next hour to do some reading from the comfort of the chaise lounge on the lower deck. It's a perfect spot - mostly shade, but with a splash of sunshine. I must've sat out there for at least an hour reading and napping. Heavenly!

I needed a shower. I headed in to get one. It didn't take me long. Mindy headed down to the neighbors for the cookout ahead of me. She carried down the green bean casserole. I followed a few minutes behind with Eiknarf and a glass of ice water.

Chrissy sister Missy and her husband Guy were there. Haven't seen them since the Tim McGraw concert. Kenny's cousin was there with her boyfriend. Hadn't met her before. Two guys that work for Kenny, Ivan and Scott, were there too. Scott was on the phone with his girlfriend giving her directions to Kenny's. I asked if she was hot. He said she was and better show up looking spectacular since it was taking her so long. Imagine then my surprise when she showed up and it ended up being my cousin, Tawny. I was caught completely off guard, so was Tawny, but so was Scott. Tawny later said she was worried when she saw my face. Said she remembered that I lived two houses down once she pulled up.

After the initial shock wore off, I reintroduced Tawny to Mindy, who was out talking with others n the deck. Ben & Ryan arrived a short time later. They're always a lot of fun. Our kids spent the day with the O'Connell's at some lake near Groveport fishing and swimming. They showed up at Kenny & Chrissy's just after we finished our steaks, which by the way, Kenny sprang for and grilled all the steaks (NY strip and filets).  I ate just half a NY strip. I was saving room for beer. Kapil and Pabina stopped over a little later.

It was now after 9p. Mindy and the kids had school the following day. Before leaving for home, I exchanged contact information with Tawny, programmed her into my phone. Lastly, we listened to Chrissy's third and final speech. This time her topic was her favorite recording artist, Tim McGraw.

Mindy and the kids headed to bed while stayed up watching a little TV.  I didn't stay up too late, however, and can't even recall what I was watching. I'm guessing I headed to bed near 1030p.