No Quadrantids For Me :(

I woke a couple times through the night and once to pee, but not for good until 525am. But that’s not too unusual at all. It was Wednesday and a sit-up/push-up day, so after a quick glance out back and then slipping into my exercise shoes I completed both. The coffee was ready around 545am, and I enjoyed a cup in front of the PC.  I checked the Sugar Bowl results first, seeing that Michigan won their game against Virginia Tech.

I checked the weather next. It was a chilly 17 degrees under completely cloudy skies. So much for viewing the Quadrantid meteor showers.  I played around on the PC until just before 6am when I broke away to meditate. The last thing I read was the Daily OM, a piece on our connectedness to the natural world.

I probably spent a solid a ten minutes in meditation. Now close to 610am, it was time to head upstairs and wake Mindy and officially put her Xmas break to an end. Predictably, she thanked me for the coffee and asked that I turn up the heat. I headed back downstairs to stretch and then ready for a run.

Stretching went well. I finished up around 625am and quickly changed into my running uniform. I wore the same stuff as the day before and headed out the door around 631am. Mindy sewed the hole in my favorite old running gloves the day before giving them new life. I have two other pair, one I’ve worn only three or four times and the other pair not at all.  But I’ve gotten used to this old thin pair. They’re ideal.

The running tights I wore are the thinnest of the three pair I own, but they’re also the newest and in the best condition. I could feel a slight chill on my legs, but that usually goes away after a ½ mile or so.  Otherwise, I was completely comfortable. There was a slight breeze blowing in from seemingly two or three different directions. But it was nowhere near as windy as it was on Monday and Tuesday. I ran the full 4.1 miles without any problems.

At home, Mindy was in the kitchen and donning her kitchen apron. I already had the dog leash waiting by the door. I just needed the dog. Mindy had her keys lying there too. I started her Pilot while waiting for Eiknarf. After a few seconds of rubs, I headed out the door with the dog. We walked to the west and for only about three minutes. After she peed she was quick to turn back towards home. Doesn’t like the cold, especially first thing out of bed.

Mindy had breakfast ready for the kids and I. Bella, Eiknarf, and I were having eggs. Jacob had yogurt. Mindy reminded the kids to come home as normal. She left a few minutes early. I finished up my breakfast, served Eiknarf hers, then headed up for a shower. I don’t do it very often, but I decided to wear the same clothes I wore on Tuesday. Of course I did change underwear. I was working off site at one of my customer’s locations so no one would be the wiser. I wore khakis, a black t-shirt, and a black v-neck cotton sweater. I wore a pair of brown casual dress shoes that I haven’t worn in at least 5 years. They felt heavy and stiff, but looked good with my slacks.

I had plenty of time to prep a lunch after getting downstairs by 753am. I took a few minutes to pay my credit card bills online too. Of course I paid them in full, just as I always do.

It was time to head out to the bus stop in a jiffy.  I reminded the kids to wear a hat and gloves. Both said they misplaced their gloves. Well, actually, Bella tried giving me some song and dance about stowing them in the hallway closet on the upper shelf. What? They weren’t there.  I showed her as much. She just didn’t want to admit that she misplaced them like she does a lot of her things. Jacob admitted leaving his on the bus the day before. I wasn’t pleased with either of them.

As Jacob boarded the bus I reminded him to look for his gloves. Chrissy and I chatted briefly about her course load this quarter: Biology, Anatomy, and Algebra. Said she has to write 7 three-page papers this quarter in Anatomy. I laughed. A three-page paper is nothing. I encouraged her, telling her that it will get easier as she gets in a routine. Three classes is a bit much, though.

Eiknarf and I headed back home but not before I allowed her a little more time to relieve herself. She pooped before we headed in. I had the Accord warming for the last 5-10 minutes. It was toasty warm when I headed off to work. Destined for New Albany, I decided to risk it and take I-670. That worked well. Traffic was a little heavy near downtown but always moving. I made good time arriving near 845am. And I am happy to report that the rainy Wednesday hex has finally been broken. I guess all I had to do to break it was take a week’s vacation in HV. J

The morning was fairly low key. Our weekly 10am call went fine. At some point I went looking for Max Shultz. I couldn’t find him. I’m wondering if they let him go after the holidays.  I thought about leaving for a lunch break but I had no place I needed to go or errands needing run. I ended up working straight through the day and getting a jump on monthly reports for both of my customers.

I took enough time for myself during the afternoon to peruse rental car rates for our Mt Hood ski trip. Glad I waited. I booked a minivan for $175 per week. That’s less than half of the regular price. I was thrilled with the deal

I left for the day just after 5pm. By then the sky was clear and the temperature noticeably warmer than it had been the two days prior. Felt somewhere close to 30 degrees. I took I-270 around to the north and west and called Mindy along the way. She was busy making dinner, hamburgers. Said her first day back was good. Let her go as I passed Cleveland avenue. Figured I was 20-25 minutes out.

Traffic got heavy as I neared Hilliard and Cemetery Rd, but then again, it generally is. I was home at 541pm. Mindy was still working on our dinner while I went through my usual after work routine of rinsing my lunch dishes and putting my gear away. I’m thinking that it was just ahead of 6pm when our dinner was ready. Along with burgers, Mindy made tater tots and a fresh garden salad. And after eating lots of holiday junk for the past couple weeks, I was craving salad.

Mindy toasted the buns, which I very much appreciate. It prevents the bun from soaking up all the juices and falling apart. But one man’s treasure is another’s trash. Bella complained about her toasted bun. J

Everything was delicious. Was nice to have a normal sit-down dinner with the immediate family for a change. That’s been a rarity. I managed the clean-up while Mindy had Bella get ready for gymnastics. She planned on dropping her off, and asked that I handle the pick-up. I was OK with that.

Jacob opted to ride along, and they all three headed out around 650pm. And while they were gone, I updated my blog. I also surfed for lodging accommodations in Government Camp for our coming ski trip, though we still haven’t nailed down the exact night’s we’ll be staying on the mountain. Need to do that very soon. Of course, we can’t make the reservations until that's decided. I noticed that the same exact condo we stayed at in Feb 2010 was available this year too. And unless I am mistaken, the price is a little lower this year. Awesome!

Shortly after Mindy and Jacob got back, I took a brief nap in the recliner. Felt great. I woke and asked for a time check. It was 810pm. I needed to leave to fetch Bella in ten minutes. That time went fast. I stood around waiting for 820pm to arrive. Jacob tuned into the Orange Bowl. I’d watch it with him when we got back.

Even though it was dark and near 830pm, it felt even warmer than it did when I arrived home from work near 6pm. As predicted, the cold’s moving out. Arrived at DCW right at 830pm. Bella and her peeps were still at it. Little wonder, though, practice actually goes until 9pm. We just don’t want Bella out that late. In fact, even getting her at 830pm is much later than Mindy wants her out on a school night.

We arrived home near 845pm. Mindy & Jacob were already settled on the sofa enjoying the game. Mindy sent Bella to the shower right away. Jacob was heckling her from jump. It wasn’t pretty. Mindy whispered that she might put and end to gymnastics if Bella can’t get it together. She was having a mini melt down, about what I wasn’t so sure. Another ten minutes past and we still didn’t hear the shower running. Mindy suggested that I deal with it, because if she did, it wouldn’t end pretty. I headed up to reason with Bella. She was lying on her bed watching TV naked. She’s so easily distracted. I urged her to get a move on or risk penalty. She finally got moving.

After her first early rise, Mindy was tuckered out and excused herself for bed around 920pm. She asked that both kids be in bed by 930pm. At the same time, she told Jacob he could watch a little more of the game from his room. Jacob headed up right at 930pm just like his momma asked. Bella came down a minute or two later freshly showered and in her PJs. She wanted a snack.  I suggested popcorn, but she wanted reheated tater tots instead. I warmed eight of them for her while also popping a bag of popcorn.

Once Jacob realized that Bella was still downstairs, he soon joined us and had some of the popcorn. I’m thinking it was actually closer to 10pm when both kids headed up for bed. And Bella took another snack up with her, this time a tiny bowl of dry Cookie Crisp. She lured Eiknarf upstairs with the promise of a snack. Not sure she actually got any of it, though.

I stayed up until halftime of the Orange Bowl, West Virginia versus Clemson. It was something like 42-20, WV at the half. Fun game to watch. I headed to bed near 1020pm.