Hella on Wheels

I was up on time but once again with a strong desire to sleep for at least another hour. I knew I couldn’t, though, so I fought off the urge and headed downstairs to get my ready on. Glanced out back seeing clear skies and plenty of stars. Headed to the living room to complete sit-ups. As soon as they were done I whipped out 50 push-ups. By then my blood was flowing and the sleepies all but history.

I spent a good 15 minutes online while enjoying coffee. It was a balmy 64 degrees with an expected high of 87. That’s right, 87 degrees under clear skies. Looking ahead ten days, it’s supposed to cool off but nothing cooler than the low 60’s. Looks like we’re going to escape March with next to no winter like weather. We did have two days in the 30s the first week of the month, but that’s it.

At 605am I made my way to the family room to meditate and stretch, but just like I did the day before, I plopped down and stretched out on the sofa. I laid there for 5 minutes before forcing myself back into action. I did a brief meditation then headed upstairs to wake Mindy with coffee.

She barely acknowledged my presence. Still, I remained pleasant and gave her a peck on the lips then headed back down stairs to stretch and run. Stretching felt terrific. I am blessed to feel so good. With the temperature in the 60s I could've worn shorts but opted not in the end. However, I did toss the long-sleeved wicking shirt aside and instead went for the sleeveless variety. And actually, that turned out being a little cool, at least at the outset.  I hit the door at 635am.  I ran the full 4.1 miles. Our trash can was at the curb. Jacob placed it there the evening before. I passed the trash truck who just getting started. I passed him again after the 3 mile mark towards the back of the subdivision.

It was a gorgeous daybreak, the eastern sky turning a lovely orange just before sunrise. Mindy all but ignored me when I got back from my run. I simply went about my business seeking out the pug. She still made my breakfast but didn’t make me a lunch salad. In fact, she barely said goodbye when she left for school. Not entirely sure what was bothering her.

Bella was very deliberate with all of her early morning activities including taking care of feeding the dog and readying herself. She’s been on top of her game for the last week now. I was off to the shower by 735am. It was a customer site day so I made sure to dress nice, but not much different than I do everyday anymore. I was ready to go by 755am. I spent the next ten minutes packing a lunch and making sure I had everything I’d need to work remote in my backpack. Despite the gorgeous weather, I planned to drive the Accord since I’d invariably end up in bumper to bumper traffic heading to and fro.

The kids and I headed out a few minutes early again. We met Chrissy, the girls, and the two of the three dogs, including Tessa, their new English bulldog. She’s very cute, and looks a lot like a boxer but perhaps not as intimidating. And compared to the energetic pugs, she’s quite a bit more docile. The bus arrived around 810am. Eiknarf and I headed back home where I prepared to depart for work. Left the house at 830am taking 70/670 east to 270 north. Hit a little traffic in the heart of downtown but otherwise a fairly quick and easy commute to New Albany.

Was at my desk by 9am and logged in a few minutes later. I’d already seen an email moving our regular 10am call/meeting to 1030am, but come 1015am it was all together canceled. I still had an awful lot going on and stayed real busy until I left for lunch at 1pm. My plan all along was to head to the Home Depot on N. Hamilton Rd in New Albany, a couple miles east of Easton. I called brother Tommy along the way. We talked for a while, our first such conversation since returning home from Portland March 12^th. Shared that he’s been working a lot but had Wednesday as well as a couple other recent days off. Nice!  I asked about the check for his portion of the vacation (condo/rental car) Said he didn’t know how much he was responsible for. After we cleared that up he said he’d likely drop me a check in the mail that night.

At Home Depot I planned to pick-up some concentrated Round-Up and perhaps a new, larger pot for one of our house plants that’s over grown its current home. They appeared out of the quart-sized bottle of Round-Up, so I asked for help. After checking his electronic inventory, the associate said they should have 138 bottles somewhere. He went looking while I browsed other aisles. After 10-15 I returned but he still hadn’t found it. He eventually gave me two pint-sized bottles for the price of the quart.  I picked up the new, bigger pot I wanted too, as well as a new hose nozzle replacing the one I recently broke. Meanwhile, the garden center was bustling with activity.

Gone almost an hour, I headed back to the office. It was stunningly gorgeous, sunny & 84 degrees near 2pm and not a cloud in the sky. The rest of the day went pretty fast. Left for home at 505pm. I took 670 west again even after last Wednesday’s big traffic jam. Once again, 670 was almost at a standstill as I approached the 670/71 split. I diverted to 71south which winds around downtown form the east then eventually hooks up with I-70 near German Village. Traffic was a little slow through downtown but never stopped. Wise move!

Mindy & I talked through much of my commute home. She shared what’s been bothering her. Said I haven’t given her my undivided attention of late. Instead, I’m always busy with something else, and when we do talk I’m often complaining. I let her vent and accepted the wrath. A happy wife is a happy life.

She was making dinner all the while we talked. I didn’t bother asking what. Minutes later when I arrived home it was immediately obvious – tacos. Oh boy, one of my faves! Said she had something to show me. What? It was Bella zooming by on her bicycle. Holy smoke! How and when did that happen? She figured it out all on her own. Totally cool! She gleefully hollered out that I owe her a new bike. True. I did say that, and will happily follow through.

Headed in for dinner just before 6pm. The tacos were delicious. I had two. While Mindy & Bella rode their bikes, I took Eiknarf out back to walk around the yard and eventually over to visit Chrissy and her three dogs, who were all out back playing in the yard. Mindy joined us once back fro her brief bike ride. We hung for another five/ten minutes before Mindy headed back home to take Bella to gymnastics. I spent the next hour or so online. Mindy was home between 7-730pm and Jacob home from soccer practice shortly thereafter. At 8pm we tuned into American Idol. I watched until 820pm when it was time to go after Bella.

Got to DCW in a hurry. Bella was eager to show me her latest accomplishment – a front flip on the trampoline. She did it twice. Cool! We left for home with Bella in a great mood. Like always, she asked about stopping Wendy’s. This time I said yes in celebration of her learning to ride a bike. She said I was the best dad ever! She knows how to work it. J We stopped at Wendy’s where Bella ordered chicken nuggets and fries. We also picked up a spicy chicken sandwich for Jacob.

The kids enjoyed their Wendy’s while we finished watching Idol. I missed only one performance, Joshua, while I was out. The show went two hours, or until 10pm. Mindy & the kids headed to bed right after it ended. I stayed up long enough to watch a replay of Joshua’s performance since we DVR’d it. Headed for bed at 1010pm.