Celebrating Rocky ... and Big Jake

 I was  up just after 7am and several rounds of thunderstorms, the last one occurring just before dawn and about the same time the irrigation system kicked on. Mindy didn’t budge when I slipped out the door and downstairs.

I started a pot of coffee and didn’t even bother opening the back door and looking outside. Once again, all the glass was steamed up due to the warm temps and moist air. Since it was Sunday, I didn’t plan to do sit-ups and push-ups. Instead, I went right for my PC and the weather forecast. The storms overnight were all but gone. Looked like sunshine within the hour. It was quite warm – 74 degrees - and we were expecting a high in the low 90s.

I enjoyed a cup of coffee while writing some of Friday’s blog entry but eventually set it all aside near 9am so I could complete my Sunday run. I opted for fresh running shorts and headed out the door just before 9am. The sky was blue to the north and west and the sun was just about to crest over the remaining cloud cover to the east when I initially set out.

It was a warm sticky run but felt really good. I ran the usual three miles and was back at home some where close to 930am. I was a little surprised to find Mindy already up and sitting at her laptop with coffee. I asked if Eiknarf had been out yet. She hadn’t. Without hesitation, I found her leash and my casual shoes then headed out the front door.

She took care of business fairly quickly, but on a negative note she spent a lot of time barking at another dog walking by. I must admit, since school’s been out I’ll bet I don’t walk Eiknarf by myself more than three times a week. It’s a nice break.

After our return, Mindy invited me to join her on the deck. We sat on the lower tier that spends most of the day in shade anymore, which is really nice. We sat out there for a good 45 minutes and maybe even longer. Eventually we spotted Chrissy out back with her dogs and called her over. She shared how Kenny and his peeps were out late the night before and how Kenny was still in bed. Said he even locked the bedroom door so he could get some uninterrupted sleep.

We talked a little more about the b-day party Chrissy would be hosting later for Jake and Rocky. Mindy gave Chrissy money for the b-day party to help offset the cost of all the food and cake. Chrissy and Mindy continued to chat while I headed inside to work/play at my PC.

Once again, I didn’t do a whole lot around the house or yard. The grass needed cut but I just didn’t want to get into that chore in the middle of the day's heat. I completed one small chore, transplanting the wandering Jew Bella gifted Mindy for Mother’s Day into a ceramic deck pot.

We expected our kids to be home about the same time that Ashley, Lindsey and the g-kids were scheduled to arrive. I took a shower around 1230pm. Ashley, Lindsey and the g-kids showed up just after 130pm. Rocky was looking forward to opening his gifts. We asked that he wait for Jacob and Bella to get home. They arrived around 2pm.

Both Mindy & I noticed that Lindsey seemed depressed and absent from most conversation. When asked she said she was tired and frustrated. Never gave any details. Once the kids were settled we let Rocky open his gifts. He was very excited with his DS and wanted to play with it immediately. Sure, why not?

We asked that he leave it at the house when we headed down to the neighbors. He pretty much ignored his other fun gifts (the mini-muffins and orange soda pop). We walked down to the neighbors around 230pm. Mike O’Connell was on-duty and stopped by briefly after a run, I think, with some of his firehouse peeps. Nice fellas.

Headed inside Chrissy’s. Wow, quite the crowd. Lots of kids and lots of adults. Hadn’t seen Mike and Julie since our beach vacation. Chrissy has the party food thing down to a science. Always has several Subway party trays, her mother-in-law’s salad, meatballs, hot cheesey dip, veggie and cold cut trays.

I ate a portion of a sub and salad. Drank ice water all afternoon. It was so crowded inside that I headed out to the deck. Out there I chatted with Josh& Rachel, Ben & Ryan for quite a while. Ben shared stories about their blue crab party Saturday night. Said he orders them in from Baltimore and next day shipping. Talked about doing one together soon.

Time for cake and presents around 330-4pm. The whole house sung to both Jake & Rocky. Chrissy set Jake up in a chair on the deck to open his many gifts. He cleaned up. Lots of gift cards and cash.

The kids played both inside and out for the rest of the afternoon. I eventually made my way to the comfy leather sofa in front of the TV watching the end of the Canadian Open PGA golf tournament. Mindy joined me, and there I eventually fell asleep for maybe 30 minutes. Felt heavenly.

When I woke we were under a severe thunderstorm warning. Kenny quickly took down the bounce house and stowed it back in his shed. I guess it’s a pain to dry out once it gets wet, and you definitely don’t want to stow it wet.

When the storm hit it was loaded with lightning, heavy rain and thunder. According to channel 10 news team, parts of central Ohio were getting as much as 3-4 inches of rain in this one brief storm. It rained hard in our neck of the woods, but by no means 3 inches worth. The brunt of the storm lasted about an hour.

It was now after 6pm and time for us to run the g-kids home. Failed to mention that Ash and Lindsey left for home around 4pm. They were going to see the New Kids on the Block/ Back Street Boys show that night at the Schott. We were supposed to drop Olivia at home to her dad and then the boys at home to Kelly. We loaded them up and left around 630-7pm.

We dropped Olivia first. Steven was waiting in the driveway. We dropped the boys next. Kelly greeted Mindy in the driveway. That’s a first. By the way, we passed Courtney apparently heading home from her mom’s place just as were about a mile out.  

The ride home was quiet. Our kids opted to stay at Kenny & Chrissy’s while we dropped the g-kids. As soon as we got back home Mindy walked down to let them know we were back.  I was awfully hungry, so as soon as Mindy got back home we cooked a couple turkey brats. I ate some peanuts and cheese too.

It continued to rain, but very lightly. My hunger now satisfied, I snuggled up in the family room chair with my latest book and did some reading and eventually some napping. Mindy agreed to let the kids stay down at the neighbors until 9pm or whenever Kenny & Chrissy were sick of their company.

They came home around 9pm as requested. Mindy had both kids get showers and then we watched the DVD, Princess Bride, a movie Mindy’s wanted me to see for some time now. It was cute, and thankfully, not a very long movie. It was over before 11pm. We all headed for bed. Good night Buttercup.