Crystal Eyita Lopez Reyes

Happy 9th Birthday Bella!

I heard Mindy get up a time or two and talk to the girls. Not sure the time. I got up for good at 745am. I was excited to see nothing but blue out the half moon window in our master bedroom. Mindy wanted to snuggle but I wanted to start coffee and see some sunshine.

I headed downstairs where I started some coffee then headed to the PC. I checked the final of the Wisconsin game. They ran away with it. We don’t have a prayer against either. I could already tell that my decision to skip sit-ups and push-ups for a while was paying off. My shoulders, neck and upper back were feeling as loose as they have in weeks. In the back of my mind, however, I worried about going soft. But given the choice between soft and in constant pain I guess I’ll choose soft. With few exceptions, I’ve been cranking out 55 sit-ups and push-ups everyday for the last 15 years. About 300,000 push-ups/sit-ups. That’s a lot of push-ups! I guess it’s OK to take a little siesta.

All the girls were up and downstairs a little while later. Mindy thankfully got up too. I took Eiknarf out for a walk. It was cold, only about 40 degrees. I left for a run while Mindy started waffles for all the girls. I wore running gloves and ear covers for the first time this season. That’s probably earlier than ever before. The important thing was being comfortable. It was sunny, so sunglasses were in order too.

The run came easy. Felt terrific. And believe me, it was nice to be in the sunshine without a cloud anywhere to be seen. The girls were done eating their breakfast by the time I returned. Hungry, I opted for three plain waffles as opposed to those with embedded chocolate chips.  I’m quite sure Mindy told most parents that the pick-up time should be around 11am. Still only about 1015am, I readied to cut the lawn. I didn’t want to waste a minute of the gorgeous, yet chilly, fall weather.

I cut the front and eastside yard first, and raised the blade for the most of the front. The lawn was tall, thick, green and damp. I thought I might go over it twice but decided against it. Looked good and clump free. As I headed around back I lowered the blade an inch. I had to rake away all the fallen walnuts before I could do the west side. Saturday’s rain, wind and cold brought ‘em all down. I did the tractor part next. That’s always refreshing. While I was busy whacking, edging and blowing the last of the parents came by to fetch their daughters. Mindy was about to leave for the grocery just as I was finishing up in the yard. She had the house pretty much ready for Bella’s family party before she left.

She wasn’t gone but a few minutes when Bella came in pouting that she had no one to play with and then ran off to her room. I left her alone for about ten minutes but then went looking for her. We had a nice little chat. I felt bad for her since it was her 9^th birthday and she was sad with no one home to play with. All of her friends had to run here of there with their parents.

I offered to do whatever she desired, and gave her a list of options since she couldn’t think of anything. Everything was a no, until I suggested Frisbee. Said she didn’t know how but would try. She and I headed out back into the sunshine with the purple 160 gram Frisbee. Despite a stiff breeze, Bella did terrific. And certainly better than both Mindy & Jacob. I was impressed. Not only could she throw it, but she could catch it too. We threw Frisbee for a good 30 minutes.

She was laughing and smiling by the time we finished. We only stopped when a mallard duck came up to us from the pond. It was by its lonesome and seemed eager for some human time. By then neighbor Lillian was back home and joined Bella by the fearless duck. In all my years by the water, I’ve never had one so willing to approach and take food right from a hand. They typically get close but back away until you drop what you’re feeding them. Not this one.

I went inside to get some bread from the trash, bread I saw the girls waste and throw out earlier. Sure enough, the girls were afraid and back away at first, but I assured them that if they sat down and held out their hand the duck would eat from it. It did. It ate from their hands, my hands, and even their laps. I got a couple cool photos too. Then, out of nowhere, it must’ve heard one of its friends. I noticed it tip its head and then turn and run. I went to see where it went in such a hurry. Sure enough, another duck was waiting in the water. Hmmm?

The plan all along was for us to head to Minelli’s north at 415pm to meet the family for dinner. Jimaken brought Jacob home after an airsoft birthday party that he attended earlier around 4pm. After Jacob changed clothes, we all rode to Minelli’s as a family, Jimaken included.

Minelli’s being just around the corner, we were there in a jiffy. Mindy had alerted Kathy of our large party before  hand. We figured on 20. As usual, we were seated by the window.  Mindy and I took the center table. Gloria wasn’t present. Mindy gave her a call to see what gave. It seems she was waiting for someone to call to arrange her pick-up. Didn’t want to be driving in the dark later. Niece Julie gleefully rose to the occasion and went after her. Jimaken’s parents were there too. First that Candy has been out of the house for several weeks after a series of medical mishaps. She’s always pleasant as is Jim’s father, Tom.

I think niece Lindy was the last to arrive for a total of 20. Mindy told Kathy to give us the check. Bella’s b-day, the dinner was on us. Everybody ordered their Minelli’s favorites. Mindy & I split an extra-large 4 topping pizza. Dinner was yummy. After about 90 minutes of Minelli’s fun we all headed back to our place for cake and presents. That, of course, was after getting nephew Joe’s car started. Seemed to be an issue with his solenoid/starter.

Mindy got the cake and gift thing underway while I walked Eiknarf. She quickly did both. I walked back inside with b-in-law Larry, who was still monkeying around with Joe’s car.  The parenting never ends. Never!

Bella spent about 20 minutes opening her presents. She seemed to enjoy them all. She got a good balance of clothes, which almost every girl appreciates, and fun stuff. If a smile and laughter is any indication, she really liked her airsoft gun and couldn’t wait to head out side and shoot it with the boys. And from an outfit standpoint, I think it’s fair to say that she liked the purple jeans and blingy shirt that Katie and Julie got her most. I liked them them most too.

It was comical listening to Julie’s trepidation over the airsoft guns all the kids were slinging around on the back deck. Judging by her reaction I’ll assume her pro gun control. Like with anything, good parenting and good values is the more critical element.

After presents it was time for singing the b-day song and cake. Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Bella, happy birthday to you! B-in-law Larry volunteered to work OT at the firehouse. He planned to go in right after leaving our place. He asked if he could borrow a shaving razor so he could ‘neaten up’ before heading in. Not owning a true electric razor ( I use a beard trimmer) I hooked him up with my manual razor, the one I only use, I don’t know, 5 or 6 times  a year. I tried putting in a new blade not remembering how old the one in it was. However, the blades I tried wouldn’t fit. I later learned for good reason. They were the blades from my old, old razor. I found the right ones in the under cabinet after everyone left. He used the old quarto blade and it apparently worked fine. I got a chuckle out of the whole thing.

Soon everyone departed for home. I’m guessing it was near 730pm. We let the kids play outside until completely dark. The house was comparable easy to get back together after doing the dinner thing out. Note to self, especially when you’ve got to work the following day.

Spent a little time online reviewing the headlines about the Vikings loss to the hapless Chiefs. They're now 0-4. Maybe next year. L At some point we tuned into SNF featuring the Baltimore and the NY Jets. The Ravens were manhandling the Jets when I headed for bed. Can’t recall the time but think it was near 10pm. The clear skies from earlier were gone. We were completely socked in under clouds once more.  Really?