I was up easily and at my usual rise time of 530am. I quickly danced off to bathroom to brush my teeth then grabbed my running clothes from the back of the closet door just before heading downstairs.
I finally remembered to reset the auto start feature on the coffee maker the night before, and it was just kicking on as I made my way into the kitchen. I glanced out back at the sky then slipped into my exercise shoes and headed to the livingroom for sit-ups.
50 sit-ups were in the bag by 540am. While I was thinking about it, I placed my laptop power cord and mouse in my backpack then headed to the family room for 52 push-ups. I did two extra just because I was feeling so good.
Headed to the PC with coffee in hand near 550am. Checked the weather and the Buckeye basketball final. The Buckeyes lost to Illinois
Stretching went really well. Dressed for a run wearing full winter attire. It was above freezing but not enough to consider shedding a layer or any of the extras. I headed out the door by 635am and ran the full 4.1 mile track in about 38 minutes. The cloud cover was thin at the start of my run. I could even see the moon peering through clouds. However, by the run’s conclusion the clouds had thickened and the moon was no longer visible.
Mindy called for the pug when she saw me at the door. She also brought me her Pilot keys. I started the Pilot then headed back inside the door to leash up the dog, who was now waiting impatiently by the door. We walked to the east just past Kenny’s house where Eiknarf took care of her business. We didn’t walk any further because Mike was out with both Jack Russell’s. Didn’t want to get them going. I saw that they’re both wearing lampshades this week. I’m guessing it some weird fashion statement.
Back at the house, Mindy was preparing to head out the door. I retrieved my eggs from the microwave and joined Bella who was already sitting at the breakfast table with her own egg. I noticed she cut around the hardened yoke of her fried egg and cast it aside. I explained that most of the vitamins are in the yoke. She countered that it tasted horrible. I knew Eiknarf would appreciate having it. I had her fill Eiknarf’s bowl with food before I scraped her egg remnants in as well the eggs Mindy scrambled just for her. Off to the shower by 635am.
It was a customer site day, so I planned to dress a little nicer than I might have otherwise. I’ve been on this exfoliating kick lately, ever since I started having trouble with dry, itchy skin on my right elbow. I found that exfoliating in the shower everyday provided as much relief as putting anti-itch cream on it. That’s carried over to exfoliating my face now, too. I am amazed at how much smoother my face is since I started.
I was downstairs a few minutes ahead of 8am and quickly threw together a lunch consisting of the salad Mindy prepped for me, a banana, cheese chunks, and a tub of yogurt. I used to eat yogurt almost everyday, but haven’t had even one bite in probably three years. I think the stuff I packed was really intended for Jacob. It’s the new, thick Oikos Greek yogurt by Dannon.
The kids and I headed out at 810am. Bella took over control of Eiknarf at the bus stop allowing me to head back and start the Accord. Kenny was out with the girls. Said he was hunting the day prior with Mike O. at his cabin. Apparently it is or was muzzle loader season. Neither of them got one, but said he saw at least 20. Legs were hurting from all the up and down in the steep hills of Hocking Hills. I shared that at least they had really nice weather. But Kenny said while the weather was nice, it was almost too nice for wrestling up deer. Need it colder. I know next to nothing about hunting.
Headed home for a few more minutes but then quickly off to work. My customer moved up the monthly presentation to 930am to account for another important meeting they needed to attend. That meant I’d have just enough time to get there and get logged on before it would be time to meet. That suited me well. I like that far better than waiting until 1pm like we used to do. I opted to try 670 east again, and it went smoothly. It’s interesting that ever since they changed the traffic pattern through downtown due to the construction, traffic on 670 east seems better. Not sure if it's a flow issue or if folks have found another way.
I arrived in just over 20 minutes, or 5-8 minutes quicker than my typical trek around I-270. I was in my cubical by 850am but it took at least 15 minutes to get set up and logged on the network. I checked with the customer confirming our 930am start time and then the location after noticing that there wasn’t a meeting room on the invite. Said we’d simply congregate in his office. Suited me fine.
We got started promptly at 930am. Several folks joined via conference bridge. We breezed the through the presentation in about 15 minutes. No real questions. They thanked me for continuing to tailor the reporting to their specific needs, then I was on my way back to my office. Sweet. And because they had an internal leadership meeting to attend, we recurring10am call.
The rest of my day was spent taking care of several other miscellaneous to-dos. That made for a pretty easy day. I took a walk around their large center near 11am looking for Max Shultz. I found him this time. I guess I was looking in the wrong place last week. Hey, it’s a big, big area. We talked for about ten minutes. Said sister Jamie is getting really big. She’s due on leap day – Feb 29.
The day went by quickly. I planned to get out of the office on time and perhaps even a little early. I didn’t bother leaving for a lunch break. I had no errands I needed to run. Come 430pm I packed my gear and headed for the Accord. I was on the freeway for home a few minutes later. I called Mindy around 440pm. She shared that Lindsey and the boys were already there and that she was busy making the inferno chicken. Lindsey, you may recall, planned to be there so I could help with her medical benefits selection.
I got home somewhere very close to 5pm. It was nice to get home so early. Once I got myself situated, I started looking over Lindsey’s benefit information. At the same time, she hit us up for a sub sale that St Mary Magdalene has my 2 grandsons pandering. I hate school sales. The stuff is rarely if ever worthy of the cost. They might as well just ask for a donation. We cowered and bought a pack of subs from each grandson. I could only laugh when Lindsey said she thought we’d have to write two checks instead of one. Really? What would Jesus do?
I looked all through Lindsey's benefit information struggling to find the employee contribution table. I handed it back to Lindsey sharing that she’d need to get that piece from HR before we could make an educated and informed decision. With only limited time to make her choices, she asked if she could come back with those details on Thursday. Yes. A minute or two later she found the information I was looking for on the very last page. Duh!
I gave the figures a careful once over then presented the options to Lindsey. Like most benefit plans these days, she had a menu of coverage to select from including major medical, dental, short-term disability, vision, and life insurance. She also had the option of a Low and High coverage plan. I was surprised with the options she selected. She chose wisely. Maybe we’re actually starting to make some headway.
Lindsey and the boys stayed for dinner. I was happy when dinner was ready because Mindy sent all the neighbor kids home. The boys were being especially rowdy in the basement just prior. The girls, on the other hand, were playing quietly in Bella’s room.
The inferno chicken was good, but tough, at least compared to the tender and moist rotisserie chicken we had on Monday. Along with inferno chicken, we had green beans and crescent rolls. The kids love crescent rolls. Dinner was in the bag by 600pm, early by comparison. Clean-up was a bear. Lots of dirty pans, and because we used our real china instead of paper plates, there were more dishes to rinse and load, too. Clean-up took about 30 minutes. Lindsey and the boys left around 630pm.
This was a gymnastics night for Bella. Mindy left to take her around 650pm or just as I was finishing cleaning up the kitchen. While she was away I worked on editing and updating my blog. She wasn’t gone too long. I continued my blog work even after her return. In fact, that kept me busy until 810pm, or just ten minutes before I needed to leave to pick-up Bella.
I thought I might take the Pilot, and even shared as much with Mindy, but once I got outside I realized that I had the Accord keys. I drove it instead. Showed up right at 830pm. There were far more girls there than usual, and most of them noticeably older than Bella. Bella was just coming off the trampoline when I walked in. She quickly gathered her things before we headed out.
Once in the car she shared that she felt invisible during practice that night. Said Emily hardly paid her any attention. She also complained a little about not participating in the January gymnastics meet. We consciously decided not to sign her up because of snow ski season. Bella knew this two months ago. Quietly, I wondered if Emily & Rusty – her gymnastics instructors – were ignoring her because of that. On our way home, Bella asked about stopping at Wendy’s. I said no, and cited having a big dinner just 90 minutes prior. Jokingly I added, besides, you’re invisible. She wasn’t pleased and pouted for the rest of the short drive home.
Of course she played up the upset card once we arrived home, heading straight upstairs to her room. I quickly filled in Mindy on her triggers – the no to Wendy’s, and then the invisible thing. Mindy headed up to have a chat with after a few minutes passed. In the meantime, I poured myself a Jack & Coke, tapping into the big bottle Mindy got me for Xmas.
Mindy & Jacob were watching Elf, and had been since even before I left to get Bella. I joined them for the last 30-40 minutes or so. Elf’s one of those movies we never get tired of. Makes all of us laugh every time. The movie was over around 930pm. Mindy dispatched the kids to bed and said she was heading there too. Asked when I might be coming up. Just before Bella headed up, she checked the weather forecast via her Kindle Fire. Supposed to get an inch of snow Thursday night and then another inch or two on Friday. Expecting a cold weekend with highs only in the mid 20s. We plan to ski both Saturday & Sunday. That should be fun.
I hung downstairs maybe another 5 minutes or so, but that’s it. I was in bed by 950pm. We ended up watching a little TV before I finally fell asleep. Not sure of the time.
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