Spring Done Sprung

Even after falling asleep somewhere close to 730pm on Tuesday evening, I still felt I needed more sleep when 530am rolled around. However, I am sure getting up at 1230am and playing on the PC for 30 minutes didn't help either.

I woke initially around 500am but then played cat and mouse with the clock for more than another 45 minutes.  By then, the smell of fresh coffee permeated the entire house. Long story short, I wasn’t in the kitchen until 550am. I'm fortunate that I didn’t oversleep more than I did. But then again, it was a late start day for the kids, meaning we'd be sticking around the house until 1015am. The way I saw it, I had plenty of time to exercise, relax, play, then run.

I glanced out back to a mostly clear sky then slipped into my exercise shoes and headed to the living room where I whipped out 50 sit-ups. Sit-ups quickly behind me, I headed straight for the kitchen where I did 50 push-ups.

By the time calisthenics were completely behind me I was more than ready for some coffee. I took my coffee to the PC where I spent the next 15-20 minutes. The forecast was nice. Calling for mostly clear skies with high’s in the mid 60s. At the time it was still a cool 43 degrees.

I left the PC behind near 620am and headed to the family room for meditation. But after thinking twice, I figured I’d better wake Mindy ahead of meditation and/or stretching. By the time I delivered Mindy’s coffee then completed meditation and stretching, it was already 645am. It took another 5 minutes or so before I was dressed and ready for my run. However, since the kids wwere sleeping late the only risk was missing Mindy’s departure. It was just about 655am when I headed out the door.

Of course because I was running about 15 minutes behind, it was already broad daylight, and the sun already piercing the eastern skyline. Very pretty. I ran the full 4.1 miles and felt good through out. I was really surprised to see Mindy’s Pilot still in the driveway as I rounded the last stretch for home. She wasn’t there long, however. She made mention of running behind schedule herself and then asked me to turn the temperature down on the pork roast before I left for work. Boom, just like that, she was out the door.

My eggs were ready and waiting in the microwave. Before settling down to eat, I took a minute or two to send my customer an email letting them know that I’d be late into their office. I also let them know that I still planned to join the 10am call only from home.

Despite being slightly cool from sitting out, the fried eggs were still pretty good. After breakfast, I took a leisurely cup of coffee to the PC where I spent the next hour or so. I didn’t bother checking on the kids until 9am when I figured it time for them to get up and moving. Both kids it turns out were already awake in their rooms. However, both were still in their beds  playing on their Kindles. I headed for a shower. Just out of the shower, Bella came in asking if she and Jacob could wear shorts. She had her Kindle in hand showing me that it was 50 degrees with an expected high of 70. Why not? Just no shorty-shorts. She was beyond excited.

I was dressed and ready to go by 930am. Once the kids came downstairs I reminded them that they needed to be out at the bus stop by 1010am and that I had a conference call to join at 10am. I told them that if it went past 1010am to head out on their own and have a good day at school. We’ve done this before. They know the fire drill well.

Come 950am, I stepped out on the deck to soak up some spring-like sunshine. Man, was it ever nice! Bella came out with me and shared that it was already 55 degrees.  Unfortunately, she let the dog out as well. Eiknarf wasn’t out 10 seconds before she took off into the yard. I knew that was gonna happen. I dispatched Bella after her. She was in her bare feet. Oh boy! Eiknarf took the play stance and ran round and around the neighbor’s red maple tree with Bella trying hopelessly to capture her. Jacob must’ve caught a glimpse of the drama from inside and after about 5 minutes, he came to the rescue sharing that he would capture her in a matter of seconds.

He didn’t catch her in seconds, but it didn’t take more than a minute or two. He distracted her while Bella snatched her up. Crisis averted. They had her back inside moments before I needed to join my call. The call was quick. No urgent issues to discuss. Rather, they only heaped praise on our company for the excellent support. Sweet! That was nice to hear. Before ending the call I shared that they should expect to see me there by 11am. The call ended by 1005am. I leashed up Eiknarf and me and the kids met Kenny and the girls  already at the bus stop.

While we waited, the girl we’ve seen walking her new puppy a few times recently crossed the street and joined us  with her golden retriever puppy. The puppy rolled over on her back and let Eiknarf sniff away. J Can’t recall the puppy’s name, but the girl’s name is Sarah. Said she lives in the brown house off the eyebrow court next to Katie. Shared that she have a 7 month old child. I didn’t ask at the time, but now wonder who was keeping an eye on the baby while she walked the dog. Hmmm? The bus pulled up a couple minutes later and the kids quickly boarded. Kenny dashed off as if he were late for a meeting. I wished Sarah well and told her to stop by and meet Mindy some time. Said she would.

Back at the house, I took care of a few things before heading out, including tidying up the kitchen and logging off and packing up  my laptop. I thought I might drive the BM’er. Why not? It was sunny and already near 60 degrees. I hadn’t started it since early December, though. Dang it! I tried, but it just wouldn’t start. It almost did but just couldn’t do it.  No time to fool around jumping it then, so I changed my plans and headed back to the Accord. I left for good near 10:30am.

It was a fast, easy drive to New Albany with no traffic issues whatsoever. Arrived just before 11am listening to Comedy USA for the entire drive.  I spent the first couple hours doing proactive stuff, including getting up to speed on a new customer’s network topology. I talked with Mindy sometime mid-day. I think during her lunch. Among other things, she said she got a text from Lindsey asking if we would be open to having the boys for dinner. Well, we typically have a more traditional meat, but I was game for trying something new. :)   We talked for about five minutes.

I spent the two hours from1-3pm on three different conference calls. Believe me, come 3pm, I was glad they were over. I spent the last 2 hours of my work day on monthly reports, and I left for home right at 5pm.

Called Mindy once I was on 670 towards home. She was already there after physical therapy. Said that she’s healing fast, and that the therapy is going well.  She was busy making dinner, pork roast. She also shared that the grandsons were over for dinner just as we talked about earlier. We talked until I reached 270 & Wilson Rd. I was home minutes later.

Jacob was at soccer practice. Bella and the boys were playing back by the tree house. Lindsey didn’t’ stay. She went home to catch up on chores, including vacuuming out her car. While Mindy put the finishing touches on dinner, I completed a few routine chores, including prepping Thursday’s coffee. Rocky came running up on the deck asking if he could please shoot his airsoft gun from the deck until dinner. Why not? We bought it for him to play with. I agreed, but reminded him of the simple rules. Don’t point it at anyone.

Soon Landon and Bella were on the deck too. And now Landon wanted to shoot an airsoft gun. I ended up giving him one without BBs. Of course, we will only let him shoot with adult supervision. Gave him the same pointers: no pointing it at others. Meanwhile, dinner was just about ready. Glad it was. Mindy had me call the kids in to wash their hands for dinner.

Just before sitting down to my plate, I had the urge for cooked carrots. I asked Mindy how long it would take to microwave a bowl of fresh baby carrots. She suggested seven minutes, but that was after I had already set the timer to 3 minutes. I checked them soon after. She was more right than my guess. They were still crunchy. I set it for another three minutes. The pork roast was exceptional. The mashed potatoes good. The cooked carrots delicious too.  Rocky was a clean plater. Landon didn't want his mashed potatoes, but did eat two helpings of pork roast, which he loves. We let the kids head back out on the deck to play arisoft right after dinner. We let Bella join them too, but with a 630pm stop time since she needed to ready for gymnastics.

Mindy would do the drop-off, and me the pick-up. Mindy said she planned to make a quick stop at Kroger after dropping Bella. Needed to pick-up a few things. On the slight chance that Jacob and Jimaken would be back from soccer practice before her, she asked that I be prepared to reheat Jacob's dinner. They left at 650pm.

Jacob was home shortly after Mindy & Bella left. As requested, I reheated his dinner. Not a surprise, the boys asked for another plate of pork roast, too.  I obliged their request. Lindsey was soon there to pick-up the boys, and unless I'm mistaken, gone just before Mindy returned home, which had to be around 730pm. I played around on the PC while Mindy & Jacob tuned into American Idol. I caught one song before leaving around 820pm to fetch Bella.

Arrived at DCW near 830p. Bella was already winding down and preparing to depart on queue. As soon as we were in the Accord she asked if we could  stop at Wendy's. No, but you can have a bowl of Krave! Mindy picked up yet another box while at the grocery store - the fifth in a little more than a week.

Mindy quickly dispatched Bella to the shower while we watched the rest of Idol. The guys were doing Stevie Wonder songs while the girls, Whitney Houston. A couple of the girls were surprisingly good, but none of them, boy or girl, blew me away. Idol was over at 10pm. We all headed to bed at the same time. It was still very warm, somewhere in the 60's. Good night spring moon!