Desparate Sparrow

I slept better than I did Tuesday night but still not as good as I hoped/wanted.  It took me a while to fall asleep and then come 4am I woke every 20 minutes until it was time to get up for keeps. That was near 535am, and I was downstairs engaged in exercise a few minutes later.

One might conclude that having Tuesday off work would make the work week move by faster. However, I kept thinking it should be Thursday as I progressed through my morning routine. And once that thought was ingrained in my brain it was hard to shake.  I completed sit-ups and push-ups the n played at the PC. The morning’s top headline announced the passing of a legend, Dick Clark. He was 82! There’s no doubt, he played a formidable role in my youth. 

The day’s weather called for sun and the low 70s. By all accounts, a lovely spring day. In fact, it’s supposed to be nice through Friday but then rainy and cool for the three days after. At the time, it was 47 degrees under clear skies. I am on-call over the weekend so I wasn’t too bummed with the forecast. Let’s save the sun and warmth for my free weekends. J  

Enjoyed coffee and internet until 610am when I pulled myself away for meditation and stretch. Both went reasonably well. Delivered Mindy’s coffee at 622am. I noticed Mindy had our bedroom window opened and I had the heat on and up. I closed the window before heading back downstairs. I heard the trash truck emptying our can out front. Time to ready for a run. I dressed in spring weight running gear and my fleece pullover. No hand and ear covers.  

I was out the door near 640am. It was already daybreak. I ran the full 4.1 miles. Still a little stiff from Tuesday’s ladder work, but the Advil I took the evening before helped a bunch. As I reentered the house after my run I noticed how the front porch is staying relatively clean after removing the ivy. No more bird crap and nest remnants. No more darting birds either, although I am still seeing a few stragglers fly up and then cling to the stone facade as if saying, “what the… where’d my house go?”  

Leashed up the pug while Mindy and Bella toiled in the kitchen. Eiknarf and I headed out and across the street. She was slow to take care of business. A lot of sniffing and a lot less doing. Finally, joy. We headed home for eggs. Bella was having dry cereal and goldfish for breakfast. Seemed a bit unusual for her. She did, however, eat some fresh fruit as well. We always have a tray of fresh fruit out on the breakfast table. Mindy reminded the kids to bus home as normal then she left for work.  

I headed off to the shower around 740am and just after dishing up some eggs for Eiknarf.

Ready by 8am. The kids and I headed out to the bus stop at 808am. Met Kenny and the girls. Asked Kenny where I might find the composite plywood with wood grain. He suggested looking/calling fifth avenue lumber. Good idea. Bus arrived on time. Soon the kids were off to school and Eiknarf and I back home.  

Tied up a few loose ends then left for work in new Albany. Took 670 east through town then north on 270. Traffic backed up near downtown but loosened again quickly. Arrived near 855am. Our 10am meeting was postponed until 1030am and even then we talked about issues unrelated to its original purposes but still important.

Stayed busy with a handful of customer issues for the rest of the morning, including finalizing yet another monthly report.  Left for lunch and the Easton Lowes near 1pm. Wanted to see if they had any irrigation system parts. They did but nothing I could use. I was also there to look for outdoor spray paint for our large deck planters as well as to get 3’ of heavy-duty chain for our tree house tire swing. I got everything on my list after lots of casual browsing. Back to the office at 150pm. By mid afternoon it was absolutely gorgeous. It was sunny and 70 degrees. Just a perfect day. 

Spent my afternoon finishing up that monthly report. Left for home around 510pm. Decided it way more efficient to take 270 home. It’s longer but faster and typically without any major hold ups. Talked with Mindy until I passed the Tuttle mall. She was making dinner, blazin’ buffalo chicken. No sooner had we ended our call when the traffic backed up. Oh no! It was almost at a stand still for about a half mile but thankfully opened up again and was tight but smooth sailing the rest of the way home. Got home around my regular time of 545pm.  

Jacob was off to soccer practice and Bella out in the yard tossing Easter eggs into the pond. It’s an annual ritual. I wasn’t home but a minute or two when Mindy asked me to call Bella in for dinner, but she was already making her way back to the house. Mindy shared that she’d be picking up the boys for Lindsey Thursday evening so Lindsey could work OT. She definitely needs the money, so we willingly agreed.

Dinner was delicious. The blazin buffalo chicken was quite tasty. Bella enjoyed helping Mindy pound the boneless chicken breast with the meat hammer. When I asked Mindy if we were having some of the artisan French bread she bought Sunday, she said not. Already too hard. Bella quickly chimed in that she’d be happy to beat it with the hammer. We all got a chuckle out of that and then explained that it wouldn’t work to soften the bread. Bella ate quite a bit, and certainly more than she usually does. She had an ear of corn. Three helpings of mac and cheese, blazin buffalo chicken, and a few cucumbers. 

It was a gymnastics night. Bella readied for the go while I cleaned up the kitchen. I was tired before dinner and even more so afterwards. I couldn’t wait to lie down. As soon as the clean-up was behind me, I headed for the sofa. Mindy and Bella headed out around 650pm. I was out in a hurry. Slept until 712pm. A minute later I heard Mindy’s horn, presumably locking the car. She was home from dropping Bella.

We hung out for a few minutes alone until Jacob returned from soccer practice. We had a plate of Mindy’s special buffalo chicken waiting for him in the fridge, but he came in with a bag from Canes. He ended up eating that as well as what we had set aside for him. He was in a far better mood that he was the evening before. 

Even though I was already in my PJs, I threw on some lounging pants and headed off to pick-up Bella around 820pm, right after seeing two Idol contestants sing. Bella was ready and waiting when I got there for a change. She was in a good mood, but wanted to know why here mom didn’t come after her. She’s been very ‘momma needy’ lately. 

Back at home we watched American Idol and enjoyed some popcorn. Mindy and the kids watched I to its conclusion. After the popcorn was gone, I actually fell asleep on the family room floor with about 10 minutes still to go. I slept good and hard too.  I woke when everyone else headed for bed, but was in bed and settled before the others. I was tired!