Element of Surprise

For the first time since August 7th, I woke in my own bed. I didn't need to be up at any specific time, though I was expected to see the kids on the school bus at  823am. I woke sometime during Mindy's prep. Not sure the exact time. I brushed my teeth then headed downstairs to start sit-ups and push-ups. Can't recall if I was downstairs when Mindy left or not. Drawing a blank.

Each new school year brings the same controversy with the transportation arm of the school district. In dispute, is the time the bus picks up our kids. Each year they schedule pick-up around 825a at the outset, which throws both Chrissy and me a curve ball since both of us desire to be at work by 830am. In each of the last couple years, we've been able to get the pick-up moved back to 805am. Ms. Vanorder, the bus driver sides with us, although her motives different from ours. She claims she can't get the bus load of kids to school in time with the delayed pick-up. We'll have to see how things unfold this school year.

To that end, I walked the kids and Eiknarf out to the bus stop at 815am. I was warmly greeted there by Lillian and Makayla as well as Chrissy. Eiknarf, I can tell, has owned his walker for the past couple weeks, barking incessantly at every passerby without repercussion. Big surprise with me taking lead, I gave her a big ol jerk as she darted off into the street barking at another dog and owner on the other side. I pulled so abruptly that she tumbled head over heels back towards me. It was completely instinctual. I didn't intend to be so forceful.

The bus pulled up at her scheduled time. Soon the kids were on the bus. New this year, there are other children aboard. We're no longer the first pick-up. Gave Chrissy a hug before heading back home. Hadn't seen her in almost three weeks.

With the house quiet and all to myself, I poured another cup of coffee then spent the next hour or so playing on the internet and writing/updating my blog. It was just after 930am when I got around to running. I was looking forward to a run in the friendly confines of our subdivision, the first such run in 17 days. I wore fresh running clothes: shorts, shirt, and socks. Just as I was slipping on my old sunglasses, I discovered that one the arms broke, no doubt during travel in my carry-on backpack. I wore my expensive Oakley’s instead.

I ran the full 4.1 mile track without any trouble. It’s felt as if I never left home. It was a beautiful morning, sunshine and somewhere in the mid 70’s. Expecting a high in the low 90’s. Much like it was before I left town.

I planned to do a little yard work, including trimming the English Ivy and  the shrubs. They all look out of control all of the sudden. I’d hate to think what the yard would look like if I were gone for a month or more. Yikes!  Before heading out, I made a turkey and cheese sandwich and washed it down with a glass of milk. Both were really good. I’m thinking it was 11am when I headed out for yard work.

The first thing I did was trim the English ivy away from the master bedroom windows/screens. I must have removed 4 or 5 empty bird nests from the ivy.  I then trimmed the rest of the loose Ivy dangling from the front of the house using my aluminum extension ladder. I’ll bet I spent a good hour trimming ivy.

Next, I gave the shrubs out front a haircut with my new electric hedge trimmers. I had a tarp full of debris by the time I finished. By then the sun was hot, and I was sweating like the dickens and feeling worn out, too. Before stopping, however, I hauled everything around back and trimmed the over grown honeysuckle bush engulfing one of the ash trees mid back yard. I hadn’t touched it since mid spring. It’s grown three feet since then.

Because the ground around that bush is anything but level, it’s always a challenge getting it trimmed. In addition, my 6’ step ladder has a tendency to shift side to side (not a lot of lateral support). In kind, it fell over twice, each time me having to bail with the hedge trimmers in hand. I was only up about 3 or 4 feet but could’ve broken an ankle if I landed wrong. Lucky for me, that wasn’t the case.

After I drug all the trimmings to the compost pile I put my tools away then headed inside. I needed a cold drink, perhaps some ice water. I sucked down a Fresca first. It went down like water. I then poured some real ice water. It was somewhere near 230pm. I spent some more time writing and working on my blog. After cooling off I headed out again to rinse and shami the Accord. The overnight storm left large water spots head to toe. And I worked too hard on Tuesday afternoon getting it all shiny to consider driving it covered in water spots. The bane of black cars. 

It was time for a shower. And believe me, it felt great. Still with time on my hands, I folded and put away the two loads of laundry I did on Tuesday. I even took the time to hand wash one of my black sweaters that’s been sitting on my t-shirt/underwear caddy since winter. I let it soak in the kitchen sink for at least an hour.

The kids got home around 4pm. Mindy called near that same time to let me know that she wouldn’t be home before 4pm like she originally thought. Said she was making a stop at the Grove City Kroger. Bella started on her math homework and Jacob headed out to play on his new skateboard.

From my computer I heard Bella let out a shrill from the kitchen. She was concerned with what was in the sink - my soaking sweater. Wasn’t sure what it was. That’s Bella, a drama queen. I’d forgotten all about it. I went to rinse it out and then hang it out on the deck. Just as I slipped my hands into the cool water to grab hold of my sweater, I heard a dull ‘thunk’ sound. Uh-oh! The damn undermount sink came unglued from the granite countertop on one side leaving a gap of almost an inch. Still attached on the otherside. Not good!

I dealt with the sweater then turned my attention to the sink looking it over top and bottom. Apparently, the epoxy the installer used didn’t hold. In such instances, Google is my friend. I went to Google looking for help, options, suggestions, or alternatives. I found several articles/chat boards where a similar event happened.  Many pointed out that gluing with epoxy and not using clips was a certain recipe for disaster. In other words, not if, but when.  The more reading I did the more I became convinced that this wouldn’t be a Jimmy repair, especially if it entails drilling into the granite from underneath to install clips.  And either way, the entire sink, faucet, garbage disposal, and drains will need to come off. I don’t have to tell you that I wasn’t happy.

Mindy got home around 430pm. She asked about my day, Not bad other than the sink being broke. I showed her our dilemma.  I returned to my PC for more research.  One of the most common causes, I learned, was plunging the sink. I asked Mindy if she’d plunged recently. Nope. Hmm?

She asked what I wanted for dinner. Those that know me, know that I can’t think like that under such circumstances. I don’t have the ability to cast a problem like that aside too easily. The last thing on my mind was dinner. Suddenly, I was in a crusty mood. Mindy gave me an earful about it too. One guy said he had to have his entire granite counter top removed to do the repair. Oh hell no! That would ruin our tile backsplash too. Good grief!

I decided to Google Rocktop Granite, the company that installed out counter tops, thinking I might call and complain to them about the half assed install. The news wasn’t good. Seems they’ve since gone bankrupt, and were being sued in federal court for fraud. Apparently kept collecting money up front for new installs despite knowing they were going under and weren’t ever planning to do the work. Must’ve been about 50 cases like that. Just a few years ago, they were touted as the fastest growing company in that sector, with franchises popping up all over the Midwest.

Mindy opted to grill chicken kabobs. Our other option was Tilapia. Not me. Chicken it was. I decided to let go of the problem after resigning myself to the fact that we’ll need to contact a pro. I’ll ask some friends and then make some calls later in the week.

Dinner was ready around 530pm. Mindy made a fresh garden salad to complement the chicken kabobs. She bought some bakery fresh garlic and cheese bread too. Everything was good. Bella had gymnastics practice. I’m thinking at 7pm. Mindy planned to run her there.  I did dinner clean-up being extra careful with the sink. Afterwards I gave some thought to how I might make a temporary post to help hold up that end of the sink from underneath, so at least we can use it. I’d need to do something soon before it falls away at the other end.

While Mindy took Bella to gymnastics, I watered all the flowers out back. Despite the overnight storm, everything was pretty dry. I soaked them all. Jacob and Evan were out front skate boarding. When Mindy got back home, she started some laundry. After finishing up the watering I did some more writing in my blog.

I’m thinking that Mindy left to fetch Bella around 830pm. Jacob asked to go along. While they were out I got comfy on the sofa and tuned into Through the Worm Hole, and later The Wonders of the Universe. I made some popcorn to enjoy while I watched TV. Mindy and Bella had some soon after they got home. They weren't up long, however. Mindy and the kids headed up to bed by 930pm. Meanwhile, both programs had me from hello. The former was an in depth look into whether or not we humans have a 6th sense. The evidence is convincing that we do. The latter program, titled Children of the Stars, was a dive into the 92 known elements in the universe and where they come from. They're all born in stars - nowhere else. And all come about only during a super nova, or the death of a star. And again, nowhere else. Totally fascinating stuff.  Good Night Betelgeuse!