White Pink Eye ... Beware!

I slept well waking sometime just after 5am. However, still not feeling fully rested, I played a game of cat & mouse with the clock in an attempt to garner every possible minute of sleep that I could. By the time I was up for good and downstairs in the kitchen it was 542am.

I glanced out back at the weather seeing nothing but cloudy skies. I slipped into my exercise shoes then headed to the livingroom to take care of sit-ups. It was a non-push-up day, so I filled the gap with 15lb dumbbell curls, 20 each arm. My plan is to reintroduce arm curls into my exercise regiment on non-push-up days. However, I’ll be much wiser this go round avoiding over doing it. There’s a fine line between looking fit and feeling good. I want both. One without the other is unacceptable.

I poured some coffee then settled down in front of my PC just after 550am. There I played around for the next 20 minutes or so. A check of the weather revealed that it was right at freezing, or 32 degrees. Expecting rain and gusting wind later in the day. At the time it was dry.

I didn’t start meditation until 610am. I’m feeling a little disappointed in myself for getting started so late the past few weeks. I’ve got to work on getting away from the PC by 6am. And it’s only going to get harder once March 12^th comes around after we spring forward an hour. That’s just 2.5 weeks away. The last 4 months have sure gone fast!

I ended meditation at 620am so I could wake Mindy and deliver her coffee. She said she felt better than the morning prior. Me too. She asked me to turn up the heat as well. After turning up the heat a notch or two I completed a stretch routine. As usual, it felt terrific. It was 630am by the time I wrapped up the stretching and quickly changed into my running clothes. I headed out the door just ahead of 640am wearing full winter garb.

I ran the full 4.1 miles without issue. I noticed a couple trash cans at the curb but quickly determined that those that did likely had forgotten about the P.D. holiday. Our trash day should now be Wednesday, and unless I’m mistaken will remain that way through Memorial Day.

I felt a few spits of rain as I headed down the home stretch, but it wasn’t even enough to dot the walks or streets. Mindy had her keys on the stand by the door. I started the Pilot while she retrieved the pug. Eiknarf and I headed out as soon as the Pilot was started. She took her time taking care of business. It required patience on my behalf. Waiting, waiting, waiting. It was close to 730am by the time we were back at home. My breakfast was waiting it the microwave. Mindy was just on her way out the door.

I encouraged Bella to have some breakfast but she didn’t know what she wanted. I don’t think she ate anything. I had her fill Eiknarf’s bowl with dog chow before giving her eggs. Bella heaped the food into her bowl. I skimmed off about 2/3s of it and placed it in a paper bowl on the counter for later. Off to the shower by 740am.

Was downstairs and all but ready to go by 8am. By then it was raining, and pretty hard, too. While I put the finishing touches on my lunch, I told the kids we’d be waiting for the bus from the garage. I helped Jacob get his catapult to the garage. It must weight about 30 lbs. When I turned around I noticed Bella giving me that sheepish -  I just did something wrong -  look and her hands were tucked up under the sofa throw. When I glanced at her feet they were bare. When I asked what she was doing she said looking for somewhere to stash her socks. She had them stashed in between the folds of the throw. Why? She planned to wear her UGGs which are said to be best worn without socks. I wasn’t pleased with her sneaky-like intent or her laggardness. It was already 811am. I hurried her along.

Kenny was walking up the drive with his girls under an umbrella. They overheard me giving Bella the dickens. If that wasn’t enough, perhaps her getting the Razor out to presumably ride around in the garage was. I snapped at her again insisting she put it away. Jacob took his catapult out to the bus stop even in the rain. Didn’t want to have to hurry with it. Not only is it heavy, but it’s awkward to carry as well.

The bus was more than five minutes late. I didn’t really mind. Kenny & I wondered if Mrs. Vanorder would even allow Jacob to board the bus with the catapult. She seemed to recognize it for what it was right off and shared that her son made one too. Still has it in her attic. She watched as Jacob struggled to carry it through the aisle. He declined my help.

Kenny shared that he and Mike O. have been talking about a mid-week ski trip with the kids. Didn’t have specifics on the venue or dates. I shared that Mindy gave me the blessing to go one more time for 3 or 4 days, but I was thinking adult only.

I quickly took care of a few last minute items at home. Off to work. Arrived at the office near 845am. Was settled in just ahead of 9am. I took care of several miscellaneous to-dos during the business day and even took a formal lunch break so I could run to Target. There, I picked up a few things I needed, including gum and eye drops. I wasn’t gone from the office for more than 30-40 minutes. Was back by 2pm.

The afternoon moved swiftly. Mindy sent a text around 2 or 3pm asking if I could pick-up Bella from school. They apparently called stating that she might have pink eye. I was tied up in a meeting and couldn’t immediately respond or get away. I talked with her around 4 pm and learned that Jimaken went after her. And by the time he got to her school, her eyes were fine, white as can be. Please! Mindy also shared that she was heading to Beacon to pick-up Jacob from catapult practice and then taking him to his dad’s.

This was Tuesday, our regular date night. We didn’t plan to do dinner out since we ate out last Thursday, Friday, and then had pizza Sunday. We also plan to have dinner out on Thursday celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary.  The kids will be joining us.

I left for home around 520pm. Instead of calling Mindy, I called my mom, who I hadn’t talked to since two Saturday’s prior from Oregon. She sounded good. Said she was reading the documentation that came with her mail order prescriptions. Detailed everything she’s taking – blood pressure meds, Ibuprofen, nerve meds.  Said her knee still hurts and the doctor recently recommended more physical therapy. No surprise there, and probably the best advice yet. She asked about the kids and then why we didn’t invite Charles on our ski trips. It’s my understanding that he can’t ski anymore due to his wrists/hands. We talked until I pulled in the drive at home.

Mindy was in the kitchen in her brand new tight pink/red jeans tidying up, it appeared. We chatted briefly about her day. Sounded like too much going on. She also shared that Bella looked completely normal when she dropped Jacob at his dad’s. She’d be off work on Wednesday to take Bella to see the specialist evaluating her for any potential learning disability. We agreed to each make our own dinner from the many leftovers lurking in the fridge (roast beef, pizza, and chili). Mindy made a chili burrito while I warmed the leftover roast beef and mashed potatoes. Yum-yum.

After dinner I took a brief nap on the sofa. I heard Mindy head out with Eiknarf at some point. By the time they got back I was up. I slept for no more than 15 minutes. Felt great! I spent the next hour or so on my PC, both writing in my blog and then searching for a couple new books via Amazon.com. I’ve gotten away from evening reading, which is an activity that has always served me well.

Mindy joined me in the livingroom while I played on the PC and asked for my undivided attention. That time was short. The kids were home within the next 10 minutes. Jacob quickly realized that he’d misplaced his book bag and couldn’t do his homework. He searched high and low, including looking in his mom’s car. Nope. Good bet he left it at school while working on the catapult.

Mindy shared that our Thursday evening was going to be hectic. Said we needed to be at Bella’s teacher conference at 630pm then have Bella at gymnastics by 7pm. If that wasn’t enough, we’d then be heading  to Jacob’s 6^th grade orientation. (He’ll be attending the 6^th grade school next year). Sounds tortuous!  We watched a little TV – namely the Buckeyes basketball game against Illinois. We joined in the 2^nd half. The Buckeyes were already ahead by 20 points when we joined. Still hard to watch. They don’t have the same killer instinct they showed early in the season. They still won by something like 16 points.

Just after 930pm I declared that I was heading to bed. I was tired and another good night of sleep sounded awfully good. I headed to bed in front of everybody else. Rare! I turned on the TV to the History Channel. Can’t recall what was on. I only wanted to use it as a pseudo binky.