Well, Gee Wally

I was up around 730am after hearing numerous rumbles of thunder through the early predawn hours. I brushed my teeth, grabbed my running clothes and headed downstairs attempting to remain as quiet as possible so not to wake any of the others. To be fair, it’s more about me having the peace and quiet I crave than about disturbing others. J

I opted to skip calisthenics giving myself a two day break in lieu of the usual one. While coffee brewed, I checked the weather radar. Slow moving storm moving over CMH from the north. However, for the time being it wasn’t raining, just a few distant rumbles of thunder. After some coffee and blog time, I finally prepared for a run. It must've been  around 9am. By then the sky had brightened up a bit, though the threat of rain still lingered.

Looking west and south the sky looked completely benign. However, to the north and east it looked darn right scary. I got a little spooked a time or two well into my run when the dark clouds moved in overhead bringing more thunder and lightning. It started raining at roughly the halfway point, but that didn’t bother me at all. It was the light, misty type of rain. Helped counter the warm, steamy humidity. Felt good.  I made it home safely.

Mom was up and watching TV. More specifically, she was watching the Casey ‘something’ murder trial on HLN. Claimed to be following it for the last 5-6 weeks. The intensity of the rain picked up and carried on through most of the morning hours leading to early afternoon. Of course! It always rains just before we have a family event making sure the yard’s good and squishy for our guests. J

At my request, Mindy baked a pound of bacon. I in turn made the three of us BLT’s. Mindy planned on going to yoga around 1130am. I needed to pick-up GD Kaileigh around noon. Since I’d have to take the BM’er, I held out hope that the rain would subside, though my mom offered that I could taker her Blazer if necessary.

Once the rain stopped, the kids headed off to play with their friends. That was  right after Mindy left. The sky started to brighten around 1130am, though it was slow to clear completely. In fact, there were still lingering gray clouds when I left to get Kaileigh at 12noon. I trusted the weather forecast and drove with the top down. The front was moving over us from the north and it was clear looking that direction.

Kaileigh’s little sister, Sienna, came right to me. Cute as can be. Wanted to come with us.  I felt bad. She hugged me and wouldn’t let go. Driving the BM’er meant bringing her along would be impossible. Shelly shared that she would be over to pick-up Kaileigh around 330pm, essentially the same time everyone else would be arriving. But that’s OK. We’d simply make the most of the time we had.

Almost on queue, the sky cleared fully a few minutes after we got back home. Kaileigh felt a bit awkward at first, not sure where the kids were. I eventually found them outside and sent Kaileigh their way. She quickly ran off with all the girls.

As expected, Mindy was home from yoga a little after 1pm. Said she invited her mom to join us, so she could finally meet my mother. Said her attendance would be ‘weather dependent’.

Kenny set up their bounce house shortly after the sunshine arrived. It heated up in hurry. Soon it was sunny, hot and steamy. Kelly agreed to drop off Lindsey and the boys around 3pm. Sure enough, they were there right on queue. And Tommy and Wally weren’t far behind either. Dad showed up last. Ashley and Olivia weren’t going to make it. As I understood it, Stephen’s dad was in town and they were spending time with him and quite possibly going to the Big Splash.

Shelly showed up to pick-up Kaileigh around 4pm. Sienna was asleep in the car. I went out to see her. Met Shelly’s niece. Can’t recall her name. Invited her in, but she declined. Shelly didn’t’ stay too long. Gave Kai a big hug before she left.

Boiled about ten brats in 36 ounces of Bell’s Hop Slam and water.  I was Surprised at how quickly beer comes to a roaring boil. Started the grill around 430-500pm. Grilled burgers, brats, and dogs. As he often does, dad joined me on the deck while I grilled the meat. I shared some of the details related to our quest for a new car, and more specifically, the Honda Accord.

Throughout the afternoon I checked my email several times looking for some news from Germain Honda on their search for my black on black Accord EX-L V6. Nothing. I also Googled the 2012 Honda Accord, looking for scoop on any changes in design. I was told Friday that it will likely hit the showrooms late August. And while there won’t be a body style change until 2013, there will be some significant enhancements, and few that I think will make a significant difference in its overall appearance.

As planned, the neighbors joined us for dinner. At the same time, new nextdoor neighbor Trena was having her own holiday get together. Her guests were arriving just as we were eating our dinner. She invited us to stop over too. Mindy and Chrissy made an appearance. Invited the few kids there in attendance to play along with ours. Tim, I think,  was the older boy’s name. He played in the tree house and bounce house.

Tommy and Chrissy helped with dinner clean-up. Chrissy, bless her heart, started quizzing Lindsey on what she might be doing to turn her life around (getting a job, housing, childcare). Lindsey piled on the excuses and eventually became upset, walked away. Very telling.

 After dinner clean-up, the kids asked the adults to play kick ball. We usually use Trena’s yard for such games, but because she was having a yard party we needed a plan ‘B’. Even though they were gone for the day, we set up the field in the O’Connell’s backyard. Aside from all the kids, Mindy, Tommy, Kenny and I played. Mom and Dad walked over to watch.

We played kick ball for about an hour. It was too much fun. Now dusk, the kids wanted to light off some fireworks. I suggested that we keep it to sparklers since there were so many wee ones around and so many folks wandering around the back yard over at Trena’s.  I don’t think that pleased the older boys much, but wisdom prevailed. I had only about 20 sparklers remaining, but Kenny contributed a batch too. That kept the kids busy for about 30 minutes. Kids love sparklers.

It must’ve been about 9pm when Tommy and Wally packed it in for home. Wally was just warning up to everyone. Tommy agreed to give Lindsey and boys a ride home saving us an unnecessary trip. Thanks Tommy! And Dad left shortly after Tommy. To celebrate my independence, I poured another Centennial.

I suggested that we go over to the Shultz’s place after noticing their patio lights on. Hadn’t had a beer with Pat in too many moons. Mom encouraged us to do so and begged off for bed. It was near 10pm. Mindy & I walked over to Pat’s.

We almost turned around and headed home after finding the screened in patio dark by the time we arrived. I looked in the back door and saw he and Alena watching TV. Both came out to the patio to chat. Pat shared that Lisa was already in bed with a sore back.

We hung out with Pat and Alena for at least an hour talking about you name it. Good times. Mindy complained of being tired and suggested we head home. I had no idea of the time until we got back home. It was just about midnight. Good night John Boy.