Autumn-like Evening @ Milestone 229

I was up a few minutes after 530am. It was another clear morning. After sit-ups I checked the weather forecast. For the first time in a couple weeks, it was in the low 60’s and the day’s high was only expected to get just above 80. Sounded like an awesome day to play outside.

Completed push-ups then enjoyed a cup of coffee. Headed outside briefly to get a feel for the temp. Felt great. I knew then that I’d be breaking out a shirt to wear on my run. Headed back inside where I read the Daily OM and some of brother Glenn’s blog. Sounds like he blew out his knee. Not good! My advice, see a doctor.

Near 605am I moved on to meditation and stretching. Both went well. By 625am I was getting dressed for my run and headed out the door before 635am. I added a short sleeved wicking shirt to my attire. That worked out well. The run went extremely well. I ran the full 4.1 miles.

Back home by 715am, I prepped my lunch and breakfast. Once again, Mindy had a salad ready and waiting in the fridge. That shaved a few minutes off my prep time. For breakfast, I made a spinach & cheese omelet. I enjoyed that with fruit and a big glass of OJ.

Headed upstairs for a shower sometime just after 730am. Took Mindy some coffee too. After a brief hug I was in the shower. Mindy and the kids planned a trip to Zoombezi Bay later that day. Sounded like there might be a large contingent joining them (Joe-Joe, Teri and her kids, and possibly Christa and her nephew).

Mindy got out of bed and joined me for coffee before I left for work. I was a little tense thinking about all I needed/wanted to get done at work that day, so I remained a little distant. Admittedly, all self inflicted. I left for work at 810am.

Bored with sports radio, I switched over to XM Classic Vinyl. Playing Frank Zappa’s, Montana (gonna be a dental floss tycoon). Only on XM! Awesome. It was a nice drive in and a nice walk to the building.

I stayed fairly busy all day long, though I did force myself to take a lunch break and drove over to Lowes where I browsed a few aisles including paint. I stopped and asked the paint guy if he/they would mix and sale samples of deck stain. Said they don’t. Bummer! I hear they’ll do it at Sherwin Williams. He did offer to mix the same color in a flat latex paint and then paint it onto some cardboard for some type of comparable analysis. No thanks.

I spent about 30 minutes in Lowe’s. I headed back to the office. I spent the afternoon crunching more numbers and data. My head was spinning by day’s end. I stayed at it until 535pm. I sent my boss a note just before leaving letting him know that I had to meet my daughter at her ortho appointment Thursday AM and would be out of pocket from about 915 to1015am.

Talked with Mindy along my drive home. Said they were at Zoombezi Bay until 430pm or so. She was just getting out of the shower. Said she dropped the kids off at Jimaken’s on her way home. We planned to go out to dinner or for happy hour at Milestone 229 located in Scioto Mile park down along the waterfront. It was an ideal day for it.

Got home ahead of 6pm but just barely. Mindy shared that she asked Jim to keep the kids until 830pm giving us ample time to do dinner without having to rush. I appreciated that. I prepped Thursday’s coffee then freshened up a bit. I thought about changing clothes. I didn’t really care for what I had on, but changed my mind. Just go with it!

We left for Milestone 229 at 610pm and took the Accord. I had a handful of electronics in tow (blackberry, droid, and camera). Wasn’t sure if the parking situation would be better or worse than Saturday. It ended up being a little worse – less spaces/meters available. We ended up finding one along the old

Front St

entrance to Lazarus. The good news is that meters are free after 430pm. Wahoo!

It was a relatively short and enjoyable walk over to Milestone 229. They were bustling with activity, and the fountain was packed with kids as well as a good share of adults too. Just as we did Saturday afternoon, we took up camp at the outside bar, and pretty much in the same stools.

I quickly ordered a CBC IPA and Mindy a glass of wine. We followed up soon with two appetizers, barbequed shrimp and pretzel bread. We sat next to one of the bartenders who was off duty but there enjoying a few drinks. His name was Chad. Reminded me much of former neighbor David. He was quite chatty and very interesting. Shared stories of his 14 month adventure living in Asia. Traveled all over while there.

We loved out appetizers so much that we ordered more. Second time we ordered their calamari and more pretzel bread. I asked for a 2^nd CBC IPA too. While enjoying the view, food and drink, the fire department was called to the fountain park to free a young child who managed to get a body part stuck in between two metal pipes that made up one of the large fountains. Looks like the used the ‘jaws of life’ to free him. The crowd cheered.

As an extra treat, they had the fountains synchronized to some lovely music. We hung out downtown along the waterfront until almost 8pm. Mindy drove us home. I had to bite my lip for most of the drive.  I couldn’t believe how tight she made each of her right turns. Plus, she was going a little fast on the freeway.

We got home about 15 minutes in front of the kids. During that brief time, I played around on the internet. I think Mindy walked down to chat with Chrissy. The kids eventually joined her. Isn’t wasn’t too long before Mindy and the kids came back to the house. They had Jake and Makayla with them.  They’d be spending the night with us. Mindy worked out a deal where she’d keep them until noon on Thursday, then neighbor Teri would be taking all the kids to the hilltop pool while Mindy heads to her echocardiogram appointment.

The kids weren’t any trouble at all. They quickly vanished into their rooms, though Bella and Makayla were sleeping in the guest room with a bigger bed.

I plopped down on the sofa but only briefly. I watched a little TV. Can’t recall what. I headed to bed just before 11pm. Good night Milestone 229.