Quarks & Bosons

I slept about as good as one could hope. Don’t think I woke even one through the entire night. The only downside was that I didn’t wake for work until 620am. Oops! I haven’t overslept like that in forever. Holy smoke!

I moved with a little more urgency, but wasn’t in panic mode by any means. I’d simply have to be creative while carrying out the entirety of my morning routine. Once downstairs, I hit the go button on the coffee maker then started sit-ups. I always need a few minutes before starting push-ups, so I still got online and quickly checked the weather, email, and headlines.

Expecting a high near 95 under sunny skies. Still calling for 99 on Thursday, by the way. Checked the Reds final. They lost 2-0. Slackers! Headed to the family room where I did 55 push-ups just ahead of pouring some coffee. I sucked down my coffee then completed a brief but fulfilling meditation and then a full stretching regimen.

It was just after 7am when I set out on my run. The biggest difference between today and yesterday was that yesterday’s delay was weather related. Today was all on me. Once again, I trimmed my run to only three miles in an effort to regain some of the time lost to oversleeping. It was an enjoyable yet soggy run. And it’s not that it was too hot, but instead, crazy humid.

I was back at the house by 730am. I quickly pulled together my lunch and started some eggs. Landon was up and joined me downstairs. Said he couldn’t sleep any longer. Wanted to play Wii. I felt bad because everything he asked and wanted to do was a “no”. The list included Wii, playing guitar, and spinning on my computer chair. I offered cartoons and breakfast. He wanted neither. I eventually agreed to spin him in my computer chair as long as he was quiet. He held up his end of the bargain.

Including woofing down my food, all of that took 20 minutes. While prepping Mindy’s coffee for delivery, Landon asked me to spray some whipped cream on his finger. It’s something Bella started and now all the G kids like to do it too. Sure, why not.

I delivered Mindy’s coffee and then tried to encourage Landon to hop in bed with her. Mindy tried coaxing him in too. At his core, he’s a very shy boy and hung in the hallway instead.

I was showered and dressed by 810am. I didn’t have a lot of time to chill before leaving but managed to get myself back on track. Mindy got up and came downstairs before I left. By then Landon asked for scrambled eggs. Mindy was just starting to make them as I was leaving for work.

Mindy’s plans included taking the boys home and then joining nephew Joe for lunch and possibly a trip to Zoombezi Bay. I took the stuff I needed to get permanent plates for the Accord. The memorandum title arrived in the mail the day before.

I arrived at work just after 830am. It was a gorgeous morning but I could feel the heat and humidity coming on even at that hour.

Wednesday turned out being a great workday. I felt in control all day long. I was very busy but for the most part managed to stay on top of my daily to-do list tasks. In other words, not a lot of unforeseen matters crossed my plate. And for the first time all week, I was able to get away for lunch. I left around 115pm and headed to the BMV location in Hilliard, which is only a mile or two from the office and in the same center as the Kroger.

I half expected an unbelievably long line, but that wasn’t the case. In fact, there were more people working the counter than I’ve ever seen, all totaled, maybe 6 or 7 clerks. I was next in line. Mary was the clerk helping me. She was very knowledgeable and quick with my task. I let her know that I was hoping to get vanity (custom) plates if at all possible. She asked if I checked the availability online. Yes, I had done my homework. She then asked what specifically I wanted on the plate. I gave her the specifics for which she confirmed was indeed available. She then asked if I wanted to renew through my DOB 2012. Yes, otherwise I’d be back in a month.

I noticed that Mary’s name badge looked just like a license plate. I joked that I hoped she didn’t’ have to pay $50 for a vanity name tag like me. She had me fully processed quickly. She gave me a copy of my new vanity plate to use until the ‘real’ plates arrive in the mail. I started to exit the building then returned to ask whether I needed to remove the 30 day tags now. Mary said not.

Not wanting to leave myself a target for being pulled over, I knew then that I wouldn’t be sporting the temp plate in my rear window as she advised I do until my 30 day tags expire. Hopefully, I’ll have my new plates before the 30 day tags expire.

I headed back to the office by 2pm. The first thing I did was grab my packed lunch from the fridge. I enjoyed my lunch while digging back into the day’s work.  I spent the afternoon compiling data for a presentation I’ll be doing next week, and then I spruced up some graphs for my monthly report.

My boss sent an email telling me to take the time I needed for Mindy’s aunt’s funeral. That was nice. That, by the way, takes place on Friday. I left the office at 545pm, the earliest I’ve managed to get away all week.

I called Mindy from the car on my drive home. She shared how crazy her day was. Sounded busy, though the second half was spent at Zoombezi Bay.  I was surprised when she shared that they left after a hellish rain storm. I had no idea that it even threatened rain. It was sunny and hot when I was out at lunch, and then again when I left work. Said it rained at home, too, as made apparent by the residuals on the deck.

Dinner would be leftovers. Mindy pulled out enough stuff to cover the entire island counter top. I opted for leftover pizza, but there was chicken, hot dogs, salad, and other assorted offerings, including restaurant leftovers. Mindy graciously managed clean-up, though that was a simple task. We used paper plates. I took a brief break on the sofa playing with Jacob and Bella. As usual, Jacob was playing a little too rough. He eventually stopped.

The kids headed out to play with the neighbors when they saw that they were finally back from the pool. I headed to my PC to work on my neglected blog. A few minutes later Mindy asked me to join her walking Eiknarf. We walked down past the O’Connell’s where the kids were playing. We encountered all of them out front with both puppies, Shamrock & Chester following right behind. Very cute, but also worrisome. Granted, their so small that they’re almost turtle slow, but I feared they could dart out in the road and that would be that. The kids seemed unphased with my concern.

We turned around after Eiknarf peed. We encountered Kenny out front of his house and chatted only briefly. Said he was taking the kids to BW3s for dinner. Mindy & I headed back to the house. I did some more writing for my blog catching up through Monday. Sadly though, I haven’t had time to publish for about 11 days. Yikes! Feeling good that I was nearly caught up, I poured myself a Belgian IPA and headed out on the deck to water flowers.

Mindy joined me on the deck while I doused everything. Spent about 25-30 minutes watering. Mindy wanted to hang outside longer, but I was eager to get back in the AC. It was already after 9pm. Both kids were back from the neighbors. I tuned the TV to the Science Channel, Through the Worm Hole with Morgan Freeman. This particular episode was about quantum physics. Mindy and the kids headed to bed around 930pm. I stayed up to watch the whole thing. Love that stuff! I fell asleep after the first episode. There was a 2^nd one that started at 10pm, but I can’t even recall what it was about having fallen asleep right away. I woke at 1027pm and headed for bed. Good night bosons.