Rainy Vacation Day (not quite what I had in mind)

Despite having one more vacation day, I was up just ahead of 6am and well before Mindy. I felt good and fully rested. Getting a jump on the day only made sense. I glanced out back at the deck. It wasn’t raining at the time, but it must’ve overnight. There was water beaded up nicely on the freshly stained deck.

I started coffee then completed both sit-ups and push-ups. I took Mindy some coffee around 620am. Back downstairs I played on the computer for nearly an hour, not only reading about my hapless Vikings, but also a few bits from a few of the other Sunday games.

I listened to Mindy coax the kids out of bed, a treat I miss most other work days since I’m usually out doing my run about that time. They were slow to motivate. Mindy didn’t have to bother frying eggs since I was staying home. I didn’t plan to run until the kids were off to school on the bus.

The time went fast. Soon Mindy was leaving for work and the kids playing in their rooms ahead of bus time. I killed time editing pictures using the full edit capabilities in Photo Shop Elements 8. I’m almost embarrassed to say that I wasn’t aware of all the basic editing tools available to me in the full edit mode. I’ve been living with the lame quick edit tools for almost two years now. Obviously, the full edit tools offer much greater flexibility. It’s like getting new software.

It was 805am in a hurry. The kids and I headed out to the bus stop a few minutes later. At the time it was only threatening rain. The bus pulled up right at 815am. I have to laugh every time I see the same little boy with his head pressed against the bus window starring with an unchanged expression every single morning. He seems to be looking at the pugs. He never makes eye contact with me or Chrissy. 

Chrissy asked what I had planned. I shared only that perhaps some yard restoration work should the weather cooperate. I headed back home walking Eiknarf out front for a short while. By design, I was already in my running clothes, a kind of reminder not to divert my attention elsewhere before the run was completed.

I wore a thin, long sleeved wicking shirt and long running pants. It started to sprinkle a little while doing the 4.1 miles. I didn’t let it bother me, though. If it stayed like that, I figured I could still do my lawn restoration work without a problem. I just wouldn’t have the pleasure of doing it in the sunshine.

I was back home somewhere close to 9am. No sooner was I back that I got started on my projects. Before doing anything outside, I took down the trim rings from around the kitchen spot lights. Originally white, they’ve yellowed significantly over the years. I could easily have replaced them but they’re about $5 each. I bought a can of white spray paint for $4 that would cover all four and then some. They come down easily. You unscrew the bulb then lift off two springs and voila. I washed them with hot water and Fantastik first, and then let them set for a while. I headed to the PC to do a little writing.  After about an hour or so I gathered up the four trim rings along with some lashing wire and headed out back behind the shed where I do most spray painting. I hung each ring from a honeysuckle branch using the lashing wire. As careful as I was to not spray the paint on too thick, I still managed to create a couple runs, but nothing to worry about. I left them dangle then headed back inside to do a little more writing. After another 30 minutes I noticed that it was starting to rain. I hustled outside to fetch the rings. They were still dry, protected by the cover of honeysuckle.

I took them to the garage where I suspended them from the base of the overhead garage door and gave them a light 2^nd coat. I then hung them from a wire shelf so I could close the overhead door. The rain continued. In fact, it was raining hard enough that I had to scrap my yard restoration work, at least for the time being. I spent time writing and then napping while it rained. It wasn’t a pretty day outside.

Waking from my nap around noon, I took the hair dryer out to the garage where I hit the trim rings with some warm, dry air. That helped the paint harden enough that I could reinstall them in short order.  They look exactly like I hoped – a bright white satin finish. With the afternoon my oyster, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself since I didn’t really have a contingency plan for a rainy day. Again, when I scheduled my time off it was forecasted to clear for four straight days. The rain continued all afternoon. I did plenty of writing and a lot of napping.

It was 3pm in a hurry. Where had the day gone? Mindy asked that I put four potatoes in the oven at 3pm baking them for dinner. I followed her orders then headed up for a shower. A shower felt great, and even lifted my spirits some. A rainy Monday is not what I had in mind. I guess I just needed to be thankful that I got the deck stained and a round of golf in.

I’ve had a kink or dull ache in my left shoulder since trimming trees a couple weekends ago. It was getting better until I aggravated it again with two days of brushstrokes staining the deck. It felt like it needed to pop.  I did my best to stretch it out realizing that the source of the pain might actually originate elsewhere.  What felt best was getting my lower back up against a vertical surface allowing my shoulder blades to bore the brunt of my weight. I didn’t pop but it stretched the entire area nicely. I took three Advil, too. I knew that would help.

It was 4pm and the kids were soon home from school. They both enjoyed snacks and played until Mindy got home around 430pm. She stopped at Kroger or Target on her way home. She thanked me for remembering the potatoes and then started dinner – salmon. She also helped Bella with homework while I took yet another lazy nap.

 I slept until about 5pm. Once up, I helped Bella finish her math homework and then quizzed on her new spelling words. Mindy was baking the salmon in her homemade foil pouches. I asked that she throw mine under the broiler to finish it up. I saw she was pan searing some asparagus too. Dinner was ready around 530pm. Bella was the exception. She had hot dogs while the rest of us had the salmon.  Jacob couldn’t finish his dinner. He usually loves salmon.  I guessed that he made too big a pig of himself eating half a bag of pita chips and hummus earlier. Mindy agreed. He ate several donuts fresh off the bus too.

Mindy asked which transportation shift I wanted – drop-off or pick-up. Again, I acquiesced to her preference. She wanted to drop-off. I managed clean-up and was done by about 610pm. Afterwards, I went to my PC where I did some more weekend blogging and then took yet another brief nap. During my nap I heard Mindy ask Bella to take Eiknarf out for a walk. She did, even though she had friends over playing upstairs (Makayla and Emily).  I heard a crashing sound upstairs, which I later learned was a bunch of pennies Jacob had lying in a towel drying off. Don’t ask.

The girls headed out to walk Eiknarf with Bella a few minutes later. When Bella got back, Mindy took her to gymnastics. I’m guessing it was near 650pm. Mindy wasn’t gone that long at all. I really wanted to chill out and lounge around, but also wanted to finish writing Saturday’s blog. I stayed at it until that day was done. I haven’t published anything since last Wednesday which I noticed was dated incorrectly. It happens.

I stayed dressed in my regular clothes as opposed to getting into my PJs since I agreed to fetch Bella at 830pm. We watched the MNF pregame leading up to my departure at 820pm. It didn’t take long to get to DCW Elite. I walked in and witnessed a girl on the gymnastics team doing some darn good flips and twists on the mini trampoline. Wow! Impressive. Bella gathered her things and we scooted outta there. Again, they actually go until 9pm, but Mindy shared that we’ll be picking Bella up at 830pm.

Bella asked if we could stop at Wendy’s on our way home. I, of course, declined, but offered that she would have time for a snack. She wasn’t too thrilled. She then shared that she wanted to quit gymnastics. Not sure where that came from. And by the time we were home and in the house, she was just short of tears. Said she had a terrible day, but wasn’t willing to share why.

Mindy and I both tried consoling her, but to no avail. In fact, she only got more dramatic. Mindy put her in a basket hold until she agreed to calm down. And even once she was loose she rain off to her room. Mindy insisted she get a shower while up there. Mindy again quizzed me about what she might’ve shared with me on our drive home. There was only the Wendy’s thing and then something about somebody at gymnastics saying or doing something. Bella can be very dramatic.

For a brief stint after her shower, she would only communicate with Jacob. She was having nothing to do with Mindy or I. Mindy and I both laughed when I said that life has to be pretty bad when Bella is counting on only Jacob for her moral support. J

Jacob actually got her to come downstairs and enjoy a snack – a pop-tart. She remained quiet to both Mindy and I until it was bedtime. At some point the episode with Jacob’s pennies came up. Most of which were now missing. According to Bella, Makayla took them, something she’s got a habit of doing – taking other peoples money.  Mindy quickly phoned Chrissy even though it was 945pm.

They talked for a while. Mindy later confided that Makayla admitted taking them, but said Bella and Emily did too. Said they threw them outside while walking Eiknarf. Mindy was determined to get to the bottom of it. Of course it’s not the value of the pennies that had us concerned. Rather, it’s the idea that she would think it’s OK to take them from our house.

I tucked Bella into bed a couple minutes later. On her own accord, she shared three reasons while she might’ve had a meltdown earlier. In brief, three different run ins with peeps. Said the last thing pushed her over the edge. I simply shared that it’s OK to get frustrated but it’s how we respond to those  tough times that helps us grow. She seemed at peace as I left her room.

Downstairs with Mindy, I shared what Bella told me. Wasn’t sure if she had told Mindy the same thing. She hadn’t. Mindy and I stayed up until halftime of MNF, or 1010pm. At the half, the Giants lead the Rams. It was still raining as we headed off to bed.