Durban Beach

I was up about ten minutes late but didn't allow that to alter my morning routine in any way. It was a mostly cloudy start but still fairly warm - 72 degrees at 545am.  The forecast called for partly sunny skies and temps in the upper 80s. By comparison, a cool day if you can believe it.

I completed sit-ups and later push-ups. In between I checked weather, headlines, and email. I enjoyed coffee between 555 & 610am, or just ahead of meditation and stretching. Both of those went well. I had a better outlook on life and the day ahead, certainly far better than the evening before.

I prepared and left for a run around 640am. I ran the full 4.1 miles track encountering the usual cast of characters; the red head that walks her toy Manchester and the old sluggish runner I pass each morning, as well as a few others. The run went well and only helped get my mind back on the right track.  I was home before I knew it and ready for some eggs.

I preheated a skillet while I prepped cheese fruit to go along with the salad Mindy prepared for me the evening before. I made a cheese and spinach omelet, the first in a few days. It was delicious. Instead of half an English muffin, I ate one of those croissants from the Market District along with the usual fresh fruit.

I was off to the shower by 740am. I took Mindy a cup of coffee. I knew she had a doctor's appointment and also planned to lunch with her mom. What I didn't know was at what time. Turns out, the appointment wasn't until afternoon. She was in no hurry to get up and out of bed. It's that time of the year that she and the kids need to start thinking about getting up a little earlier. School begins in three weeks.

I shaved and showered and was ready just before 8am. Mindy asked if I had time for coffee. Yeah, I figured I had 5-10 minutes. She joined me downstairs and quickly asked if we could spend it on the deck. I gave my pat answer - no. Too warm and humid. It was once again very sultry, the humidity around 85%. I didn't want to sweat up my work attire.

I vented and whined about a couple work related matters as well as Ashley's ortho debacle. I just needed to get some of that stuff off my chest. It worked. I felt better heading out the door. Mindy said she'd call later. I wished her well at her cardio appointment. She's been worried lately, get this, because her blood pressure has been almost normal without taking her meds. Her pulse has been fairly low too. I assured her that it was a good sign and mostly likely the outcome from being around me. :)  Off to work.

It was a sunny drive into the office, although there were lingering gray clouds hanging low in the sky, but none that looked threatening. Once at work, I got settled in fairly quickly. My boss responded favorably to my email request for Thursday or Friday off. Talking with Mindy later, Friday sounded like the better option. She & the kids had a fair day planned for Thursday.

I took a couple impromptu online technical training courses during the day. three hours worth. I was interested in both topics, but not sure I got the level of understanding I hoped for taking prerecorded online classes. But at least I got some initial exposure.

I ate my lunch from my desk. My boss and his peer from Cincy sprung for pizza. Not sure what the occasion was. I thanked them for the offer but remained in my office using what would be considered my lunch hour writing, eating and working.

Mindy called a couple times around the lunch hour, once on her way to her doctor's appointment and the another time on her way back. She was excited to share what her cardiologist told her. She need not come back unless symptoms return. Said her heart is fine and her numbers all normal. Shouldn't need blood pressure meds any longer either. That's great news!  Advised that her feeling somewhat lethargic and the fact that her blood pressure was low (normal)  were unrelated.

I figured to be home on time. Saw nothing coming that would keep me late. To that end, I prepared to leave the office just after 5pm. I think it was 510pm when I packed my stuff and headed for home. I called my mom for the first time in a couple weeks once I was on the road. Said she got a call from my dad sharing that his knee replacement surgery was cancelled. Said something about having an appointment for her own knee coming soon. I guess she doesn't want dad to get all the attention. :)

Seemed to be doing good. Also mentioned hearing from Tommy the other night. Maybe those two have put their feud behind them. One can only hope.  Shared that I may be leaving for NYC Sunday morning. That made her nervous. Thinks of it as crime ridden. We ended our call as I neared home.

Arrived home just before 530pm. Mindy was busy watering the flowers on the deck. Had dinner cooking on the stove, too - pasta and salad. We discussed dinner earlier. I shared that I would in all likelihood skip the pasta and eat only a salad. Pasta tends to put me in a coma, especially right after work.

Jacob was being extra nice, turns out he wanted something. Asked if I would buy him a quad (think four wheeler). Neighbors Emily & Evan each have one and ride them in their yard and then back in the honeysuckle forest. I later learned he had asked Mindy earlier, but she sent him to me. My first instinct was to give him an emphatic no, but then stopped myself and said _maybe.

Of course he kept after me about it through dinner. I clarified further that I wouldn't be deciding that night or anytime real soon. They're very dangerous, you know. Told him he'd know my answer about the time he'd be driving a car. : ) I caved and decided to have a small portion of pasta - about half of what Bella was served. I was satisfied fully with my dinner.

After dinner the kids bolted out to play with friends. Mindy and I managed clean-up. After changing into my comfy clothes I once again slipped into the family room chair to do some reading. It was 710pm. I read and napped for about an hour. I woke still sleepy, and with Mindy asking me to join her on the deck. I couldn't even move I was so tired. She wasn't too pleased.

I eventually got a second wind and tuned the TV to the Science Channel after remembering I had recorded two episodes of Through the Worm Hole late Sunday night on the DVR. The first episode was awesome, about man's quest for eternal life and recent scientific advances towards that end. Lots of cool science out there right now, with many experts believing we'll have the ability to extend life to 200 years and beyond perhaps within the next 25 years.

The episode was over by 910pm. Jacob was chomping at the bit to watch their latest Harry Potter DVD purchase. That interested me none. While he and Mindy settled in to watch that, I took to my blog adding photos to the weekend's entries. It must've been around 940pm when I slipped upstairs to bed. Bella was in her room watching TV. I went to tuck her in and chat. She doesn't care for Harry Potter either. But to be clear, it's not that I don't like it. Instead, I just don't want to O.D. on it. Bella was watching Shark Week on the Discovery Channel . I watched about 5 minutes of it with her before tucking her in and heading to bed.

I turned on our bedroom TV to use as a sleep aid. Bella soon joined me. She told me what channel to tune into to catch the rest of Shark Week. Watched for a while. Interesting stuff. Ended up watching even after Mindy joined me in bed. She wasn't super keen to the idea, worried about nightmares. We watched until I could take no more. I'm guessing it was approaching 11pm when I let her steal the remote and turn it off.