Showing My Browns

I woke when Mindy started the shower but quickly and easily drifted back to sleep until the blow dryer kicked on. The smell of coffee was overpowering. I tossed and turned for a few more minutes before giving up on any more sleep. Satisfied with more than 8 hours of sleep, I got up, brushed my teeth, and headed downstairs.

It was about 715am. I opted to skip sit-ups and push-ups since I was off work. Instead, I went right for a cup of coffee and my PC. As usual, Mindy left for school near 730am after confirming that I’d be home to see the kids off the bus. She wanted to stick around after school to catch-up on a few things if at all possible. 

I didn’t figure to run until the kids were on the school bus. Consequently, I didn’t figure to be painting until 10am at the earliest. I enjoyed some leisure time at the PC with coffee until bus time (810a). It was only 32 degrees under sunny skies. I made sure the kids wore the proper jackets. Met Chrissy at the bus stop with the girls. Sounds like everybody in their house had the crud this week. Lasted only about one day, however.  

We made bus time dog walking time all rolled into one. Worked well. The bus was there a few minutes early again. The pug and I headed back home immediately after. Before doing a run, I enjoyed a 2^nd or 3^rd cup of coffee at the PC. It had to be near 9am when I finally headed out for a run. By then it had warmed a few more degrees but remained fairly cool. The brilliant spring-like sunshine made it feel a whole lot warmer.  

Like I often do on days off, I curbed my run to only three miles. I figured my body could use the extra rest. I was back home near 930am with the entire day still in front of me. That felt really good! I poured some coffee then gathered painting material. I forgot to check for masking tape the day before, but luckily found about 2/3’s roll amongst the painting supplies. I removed all the art work and wall plates then spent the next 30 minutes masking the wood trim in the hallway. Tedious, but time well spent. 

I was ready to paint just after 1015am. I put on some music to help energize me – Pink Floyd’s, The Final Cut. The hallway is a relatively small area but one that requires lots of cut-in, including two doors, the ceiling, the floor trim, and the banister. The cut-in was slow going, especially at first until I found my groove. I’m guessing it took about two hours for the cut-in. I took a brief break after when I enjoyed my leftover Reuben. 

The rolling goes must faster than the trim. Of course, having painted with extra dark colors a time or two past, I knew it would take in all likelihood three coats. Bet the first coat was on by 1pm. I took another break only this time for about an hour. With the initial coat completely dry, I started coat two around 2pm. By the time coat two was on I could see what the final product would look like. The bold brown brings out the lighter woodwork in a positive way.  

With the time in between coats, I finished writing a couple blog entries. It was nearing 4pm, or about time for the kids to get home, when I started coat number three. It’s difficult to see the thin spots but using a combination of diffused sunlight and artificial lamp light I was able to see where I needed to focus more attention.  

The kids got home right at 4pm. I asked that they try and avoid walking through the hallway while I finished painting. I was done painting for the day around 415pm and promptly started clean-up. I asked the kids if they had any homework. Bella had none. Jacob had some but said he never has to do it on Friday night. Not wanting to break with tradition, I left him go about his business as usual.  

I’m thinking that it was near 440pm when Mindy arrived home. By then I’d gotten a badly needed shower. I wasn’t so sure how she’d feel about the paint, though we picked the color collectively. Thought she might think it too dark. She gushed about the paint work immediately in the door. And just like me, she especially liked how nicely it enhances the wood work. All the tools and material were cleaned up, but I left everything out but tucked away in a corner so I could do another coat if necessary come Saturday morning.  

Jimaken showed to get the kids around 515-530pm. They’d be with him for the night but back home by noon on Saturday. In kind, Mindy and I planned to got out for dinner at CBC. Lindsey texted just after the kids left asking if the boys could spend the night.  We responded that we didn’t have the kids and had a date. We’d later offer up Saturday night as an alternative.  

I tried taking a little nap in between the kids leaving and us getting ready for dinner out. I never fell asleep but did get some rest in the recliner. We left for CBC just before 7pm. We took the Accord. I dropped Mindy at the door then went in search of a parking spot. For the first time in recent memory, there were none to be had. I circled twice before giving up and heading across the street to a meter on Liberty St. It was 708p when I fed the meter. I know that because it would only give me 2 hours and 52 minutes, or until 10pm when parking becomes free. It seemed like an eternity since I dropped Mindy at the door. Was glad to find Mindy at a single stool in a very crowded bar. I stood for the first 15 minutes or so until a couple vacated the two stools next to us. Others were hawking stools too. We were fortunate. My legs were weary from all the up & down the ladder painting.  

I sipped a Bodhi, which was absolutely terrific. It might be my new favorite. Mindy sipped a glass of wine. We planned to order food but didn’t so for quite some time. It was restaurant week again, by the way. Vince passed us the special three course menu they have selected especially for the event. For the first time in a while, we each planned to order our own entrée.  

Both of us went with the risotto and a salad, but differed with our main course. Mindy went with the salmon while I opted for the barrel cut sirloin medium rare. Mindy asked Vince to slow the arrival of our portions so we could savor each.  He followed her directions to a tee. They were very deliberate with the timing, spacing each a good 20 minutes apart. In fact, there was so much time between our salad and steak, that Vince brought us another risotto to share.  

Before, through, and after dinner, I consumed a total of 4 Bodhi’s. They’re just that good! I’m thinking that it was closing in on 1030-11pm when we settled our tab and headed for home. I paid and tipped well. Mindy drove.  

At home, I walked Eiknarf then enjoyed a fire in the fireplace. I also poured a White Rajah. We hung out in front of the fire for about an hour before headng to bed.