Winter's Triumphant Return

Keeping with the latest trend, I slept for an extra ten minutes or so before finally pulling myself from bed around 545am. By the time I was downstairs the coffee maker had already completed its brewing cycle. All I had to do was whip out 50 sit-ups and push-ups then I could enjoy some.  It was wintry outside. It was snowing and 33 degrees. I knew that would make Bella happy, though it wasn't expected to stick or accumulate locally.

I played around online, eventually breaking away for meditation sometime after 6am. I did that until 620am when I went to wake Mindy and deliver her morning coffee. And by the time I completed a stretch and dressed for a run it was already 645am. There's no denying it, I've not done a good job managing the clock this month.

I was out the door for my run way late. There was about a 1/2 inch of heavy slush on Mindy's windshield, but it had all but stopped as I completed my daily run, which I pared back to only 3 miles in an effort to regain some valuable time.  I was very happy that it was Friday, my favorite day of the week.

When I got back home, Mindy & Bella helped rustle up Eiknarf so we could head out for our walk. I used one of the new doggie bags Lindsey gifted us. They're much smaller than grocery bags, and honestly a bit harder to manage. Our eggs were ready and waiting when we got back inside. Bella commented favorably about the current weather, but was still very concerned for Saturday's forecast.

I'd forgotten all about Mindy not going into work. Instead, she was meeting with a psychologist to discuss a plan to assess Bella's IQ and any potential learning disabilities. Bella so far isn't aware. Mindy told the kids that she had a doctor's appointment. And since the appointment was in Worthington, she planned to meet her friend Teri for breakfast at First Watch beforehand.

Mindy agreed to see the kids onto to the school bus, which made Bella very happy. I headed off to shower near 740am. Since it was Friday (casual day) I wore jeans and a black t-shirt. Felt good. Once I was back downstairs, Mindy asked what time  the kids needed to be outside for the bus. I confirmed her guess of 810am. I quickly threw together my lunch then declared that I was heading out with them too. Why not? I took my coffee out with me.

Kenny was out with the girls. We chatted about the weather and Saturday's adoption day celebration at MRM. Expecting it to snow early Saturday morning and reach a high of about 34 degrees with falling temps through the afternoon. Given the warm winter, we've been very fortunate/blessed to get these micro blasts of winter weather on the weekends enabling us to ski with some regularity.

After the bus swooped up the kids Mindy & I headed home. We weren't there long, however. We both left the house before 830am. Mindy was a couple cars behind me at the Roberts Rd traffic light. Arrived at the office near 845am and parked in the lot closest to the door. It was very quiet start to the day, which was much appreciated. I hoped it would stay that way all day long, and by and large it did. I didn't have any calls or meetings on my calendar either, which was a welcome change of pace.

Mindy called near noon to tell me about the appointment with the psychologist. Said it went well. We have homework (surveys) we need to complete. The psychologist wants to meet with Bella sometime soon. Mindy also shared that she was on her way back to school. That surprised me because I thought she took the entire day off. She confirmed that wasn't the case. My afternoon was as calm as my morning. I had only one surprise but that wasn't too big of a deal. I sent Bob I. a text asking about his weekend ski plans. He responded that he expects to be at MRM weather permitting.

I left the office for home around 515pm and called Mindy not to far into my drive. She reminded me that we'd have the boys until Lindsey got back from having another root canal. She asked if I wanted to have dinner at Barley's. At the time I wasn't so sure, but by the time I got home I decided that I did.

I must've gotten home around 540pm. Jacob & Rocky were at Cody & Zach's house just down the street. And as a result the house was pretty darn quiet. Minutes later, Rocky busted through the door sharing that Jacob sent him home from Cody's for no reason. Mindy was busying trying to get to the bottom of the story when Lindsey showed up to get the boys.

Once Lindsey and the boys headed home I asked Mindy if she still wanted to do dinner at Barley's. She did. By then it was just after 6pm. One small problem. Jacob wasn't home. Mindy said that she told Jacob to be home by 530pm. We joked about how surprised he would be when he arrived home and found us gone. He showed up a few minutes later. Mindy quizzed him on his lateness, which to be fair, is way out of character for Jacob. Said he didn't recall Mindy giving him a specific time to be home. I quizzed him about Rocky's story. He agreed that he sent him home but only after Rocky was being too whiney.

Meanwhile, Makayla was over playing with Bella and stayed up to the minute we were ready to leave for Barley's. As she dashed out the back door for home, we asked if she wanted to join us. She did. We insisted she make sure it was OK with her mom. We got cleaned up and headed off to Barley's by 630pm.

We lucked out and got a parking spot near the door as another patron was just backing out.  Inside, the place was packed to the walls, and more so than I've seen it in many, many years. The restaurant was as cram packed as was the bar - standing room only as many couples/groups waited on tables. The hostess quoted Mindy a 20 minute wait for a table. We waited in the bar area while enjoying a beer, me a Centennial, and Mindy a St Joan's Revenge. Zach, one of the managers, cited a few radio spots earlier in the day as the reason for the crazy crowd. So it does work!

According to Mindy, our 20 minute wait turned into an hour. I didn't mind, after all, it was the weekend and I was hanging with some peeps and enjoying a beer. We were eventually seated in a big booth tucked away in a corner. Justin was our server. We ordered two baskets of fries to enjoy while we scoured the menu for our dinner entrees.

Just before we ordered dinner, Ben & Ryan sent a text saying that they were going to join us. We made room in our booth. I ordered a second beer, a White Rajah, after ordering my dinner, 10 KC wings. All three kids ordered chicken tenders, and Mindy ordered a salad topped with chicken.  Oh yeah, we left a growler at the bar to have filled with Centennial for Saturday at MRM. Ben & Ryan showed up a couple minutes later. They ordered beers and sauerkraut balls pretty quickly. Ben shared that Darwin sent him a text sharing his intentions of joining us around 930pm. Darwin sent a similar text to Mindy a little earlier too.

My wings were really good. I'm thinking it was near 9pm when we finished dinner.  Mindy and the kids were ready to head home. I was too, until Ben suggested that he or Darwin would see that I got home if Mindy would let me stay and play. That sounded like fun. Why not? I stayed back with Ben & Ryan while Mindy and the kids left for home. Ryan suggested that they would have me home by 1030pm. Mindy paid the small bar tab which included our 1st beers and the growler.  I paid the dinner tab.

As advertised, Darwin showed around 930pm. Ended up drinking a couple more beers with him. Meanwhile, Ryan kept a close eye on the clock reminding us more than once that she promised Mindy we'd leave no later than 1030pm. I think Darwin bought my two beers. I know I didn't pay.

Ran into Doug and Jamie, who were just heading out after dinner in the back. Haven't seen them for a while. In fact, Jamie thought as far back as my birthday, but I think it was more recent than that. Regardless, it had been a while. I think it was late October, the night we brought Glenn in after hiking all day in Yellow Springs. Jamie asked about Lindsey. I was happy to report things are looking up. Felt good to brag about her accomplishments for a change. Thinking back, she was still living in the shelter back in mid-October.

Doug and Jamie shared that they're cohabitating, and have been for a while. Said it's working out well. Jamie shared a funny story about her boss calling her to his office. And after seeing armed guards patrolling the halls earlier that day, she was certain it was to let her go. Instantly she was sickened with panic. But all for not. Turned out to be just a casual meeting to discuss a work issue. The mind is a strange machine.

Darwin opted to stick around a little while longer when Ben, Ryan and I left. I was pretty tired after a long work day and four beers, not to mention a strong desire to wake early and head to MRM. At first I thought I'd simply have them drop me at the house, but once we pulled up I insisted they come in for one more beer. We talked about walking down to Kenny's but their house was totally dark. Our house was quiet too. Mindy and the kids were already in bed.

We each enjoyed a beer then I switched to water. We got to telling stories about childhood beatings from our fathers. Ben had me in stitches with a story about he and Kenny innocently lost in the cornfield for hours and hours which had the whole family on pins and needles. Long story short, his dad went to whip them both, Ben getting it first. He then reached under the bed to snatch Kenny, who had the wherewithal to stuff wooden blocks in his britches. Broke his dad's hand.

Suddenly, Ben started getting loud and even a tad obnoxious, which is totally out of character. And when Ryan asked him politely to quiet down he only got worse. Who is this guy and what did you do with Ben?  I heard Mindy up going to the bathroom at one point. She adores Ben & Ryan, but I was certain she was going to come down and attempt to quiet us, or more pointedly, quiet Ben. Ryan somehow managed to control him even after he directed a few rude comments her way, which again is a side of Ben I've never seen. I don't think he had more than four beers over the course of the evening. Strange!

It probably was after midnight when they left and I headed to bed. By then I was really tired.  I took three Advil before hopping into bed.