Something to Ponder

I rolled out of bed somewhere near 715am, brushed my teeth then headed downstairs. Mindy barely budged. I didn't expect her up for a while yet. I started a pot of coffee then played on the internet until coffee was ready. Because it was Sunday I didn't plan to do any calisthenics at all. It was cloudy and 50 degrees - typical mid-October weather.

I might've enjoyed coffee and internet for an hour or so before deciding to do my run. It was still ahead of 9am when I headed out. Despite a forecast calling for a chance of rain, it was sunny when I left the house prompting me to go for a pair of  cheap sunglasses.

During my run I contemplated those things I hoped to accomplish that day, including hanging our new blinds, mowing the lawn, and hitting the bare spots with another dose of grass seed. I thought I might carry some of the stuff from the basement and place it in the garage so I'd be ready for bulk pick-up come Wednesday, too. No doubt, my agenda was aggressive. There was a retirement party some time that evening/afternoon at Barley's that we were invited to as well. Mindy promised to seek out the details for that sometime mid day.

I ran the usual 3 miles, and found Mindy and Eiknarf out back when I got home. Looked like they were just out of bed. Mindy started a grocery list right away. I made myself a chicken and cheese wrap with leftovers before heading out to start on the lawn. Figured I'd take care of the biggest chores first. It couldn't have been much after 10am when I headed out. I started cutting the lawn in a t-shirt and pullover fleece, but it got warm quick. It wasn't long before I removed the fleece. To change things up a bit, I cut the back push-mow stuff first then worked my way around to the front. I knew I was running low on mower gas in both the five gallon container as well as the tractor. I was able to complete the day's mowing but I'll need to get more before the next go round.  I won't use but maybe another gallon and a half for the season. I won't fill up. Instead, I'll get enough with a little pad to get me through the rest of the mowing season.

Mindy left for the grocery around noon best guess. I noticed she was wearing her Viking attire. This would be my first opportunity to see a Viking game this season - playing the Bears on SNF. I finished mowing, trimming, edging the lawn then did the over seeding using what was left of the peat as a topping before putting down seed. It didn't take me long, fifteen minutes tops. By the way, I cut the front as short as I cut the back for the first time since coming home from NYC. With the growing season beginning to slow, I might be able to go two weeks. We'll see.

Before locking up the shed, I carried our old patio chair cushions and umbrella to the garage. We're tossing them out on Wednesday.  Thought about donating them to the tree house but imagined them getting shredded and the white fluffy filling spreading all over in a hurry. Nixed that idea.

Yard chores now completed, I headed inside for a brief break before hanging the blinds. I was itchy and really needed/wanted a shower, though figured it wiser to wait until all my chores were done. I wanted to get those new blinds hung while I still had some alone time. I pulled up the Adobe Reader install instructions they sent via email and then got started. Weighing the options, I decided to go with the top versus side mount. The brackets would mount either way.

I got the first of three mounted in about ten minutes. That one, of course, took the longest, getting used to the hardware and the process. Mindy got home from the grocery soon after blind one. The other two went up quickly. Love the look (black mesh). They let light in while providing some element of privacy. Mindy said she liked the look too. Good.

The kids were home soon after Mindy. It had to be around 3pm. Mindy started making dinner right away.  She was making some sorta soup. I'd late discover it to be tortilla soup. She called Barley's mid-afternoon and asked Monica what time Bob's retirement party was to begin. 6pm. Mindy planned for us to eat dinner around 5pm and then asked Chrissy if she'd keep the kids while we made a brief appearance at the retirement gathering.

I kept only a loose eye on NFL football. Too busy. Somehow the Bengal won again taking their record to 4-2. Who would've guessed that? We sat for dinner just as Mindy planned near 5pm. The chicken tortilla soup was really good. She made a pan of sweet cornbread as well. I liked that as well. The kids headed off to the neighbors immediately after dinner. They agreed to keep Eiknarf for a couple hours too.

I'm think we left the house around 610pm. We already had a card but no gift. We planned to buy Bob a Barley's gift certificate once there. As soon as we walked in Monica shared that she gave us the wrong start time. Event started at 5pm instead of 6pm. It was being held in the banquet room around back. I knew it existed but had never been to an event there. As soon as we had the gift certificate in hand we headed back.

Aside from Bob and Carol, Just a couple familiar faces. Figured most of those that remained were Columbus library work peeps. Unless I'm mistaken, that's where Bob & Carol met some 25-30 years ago. Carol still works there, although I think at the main library. They had catered food and lots of beer, though only two varieties - pale ale and blonde bomber. I opted for the free stuff and went with a blonde bomber. It's one I haven't had in well over a year. It's not IPA but it was pretty good. Mindy, I don't think, drank at all. Only water.

After initially greeting Bob & Carol we sat with two guys we see often at the bar. I think one is named Don. The other, not sure. I ended up having a second beer, this time a Pale ale, which is another I don't have too often anymore, but one I used to love. Had that old familiar flavor.

We didn't stay too late at all. Weren't there but an hour.  I'm thinking we left at 730pm. Mindy drove, having not consumed any alcohol. Once home Mindy called for the kids and dog.  I got into my PJs and readied to watch my beloved Vikings for the first time all season. I cracked open a Widmere IPA.

The Vikings got the ball first but couldn't do a thing with it. Just like that, it was 7-0, 9-0, and then 16-0. Oh boy! We looked inept. Finally put a drive together and kicked a field goal. At the half it was 23-3. Mindy & the kids headed to bed. I stayed up enjoying another beer or two and then the 2nd half. The Vikings scored a TD on their first or second drive of the half. I was actually foolish enough to think we still had a chance and might mount a comeback. However, the Bears would have none of it. They returned the ensuing kick-off for a TD, pretty much killing any shot at a comeback.

The interesting thing was, Donovan McNabb was playing pretty well, and certainly better than his season-to-date stats. It my opinion, despite our slow start, it was the defense that was to blame for this beating. Still, the pundits were calling for our rookie, Christian Ponder. And he finally got his shot in the 4th quarter once the game was out of hand. He looked fairly sharp and decisive for his first real NFL action. Although, the two drives he lead both ended without points after going for it on 4th down both times.

I turned the game off with two minutes left and turned my attention to playing on the PC and finishing my 2nd or 3rd bottled beer. I'm thinking it was near midnight when I finally headed up to bed.