Pawn Stars, Popcorn & a Cough

I was up and downstairs around 540am. By then the coffee was well into its brewing cycle, and just its sound helped wake me from my slumber. I glanced out back and towards the sky. It was crystal clear. Looked chilly, though, if that makes any sense.

Completed push-ups then curls, and was sitting at my PC with coffee by 652am. Once again, I didn’t let the clock push me away since I had a pad of time since Mindy didn’t need to be at work. I played around online until approximately 615a when I headed in to meditate and stretch. It was well past 630am when I finished both and dressed for a run.

It was 43 degrees, a heat wave compared to the morning before. I wore hand covers but just a ball cap on my head. I ran the full 4.1 miles without incident. Felt good. The late start coupled with the ever increasing daylight, it was daybreak shortly after heading out the door. A week from now it’ll be all daylight.

I returned home around 720am. Mindy was in the kitchen making breakfast. The kids were slow to motivate while I gathered up the pug and leash. Eikanrf and I headed out the door near 725am. We walked across the street, perhaps the path least traveled. She took care of her business fast. She was anxious to get back in the house and have some eggs. I gave Bella an earful for addressing her own needs before filling the dog’s food bowl, a chore we delegated to her many weeks ago. Her cough was sounding awful. I told Mindy it was more than allergies. I think she had a full blown cold/cough. Mindy cited not feeling so well either. Uh-oh! Mindy & I carried our Kidney Foundation donation up from the basement and placed them on the front porch as agreed. We marked the bag with a large K.F.

I headed up to the shower around 740am or shortly after finishing my eggs. I was downstairs again by 8am. Bella asked Mindy if she planned to take her to the bus stop again. Yes. That made Bella happy. We met Kenny at the bus stop with the girls. He shared that the damage to his beefy Jeep from Monday’s accident was minimal, and mostly just scratches on his rims.

Mindy and I headed back to the house as soon as the bus swooped up the kids. We chatted for another 5-10 minutes while I enjoyed my 2nd cup of coffee. She said she’d likely head back to bed for a while, though she was scheduled to meet two of her teacher friends at the Rusty Bucket for lunch. Didn’t have much else planned. I left for the office around 825am.

I spent the first part of my day finalizing a monthly report that I’d be presenting on Wednesday, but was soon dragged into a challenging escalation that ended up consuming the majority of the day, or up to about 3pm. After that I was buried in yet another situation for the peer I was covering for. I earn my money every day but Tuesday was beyond crazy. I called Mindy early afternoon once I got a rare break. She was in the middle of lunch with her school peeps, which I had forgotten about.

Joked around with my boss at the end of the day and the next time I glanced at the clock it was after 530pm. Holy smoke! It was a Jimaken Tuesday, his night to have the kids for dinner. I called Mindy in route to home. She was off visiting with Dena around the corner. We didn’t talk long. She asked if I wanted to do dinner out. I didn’t. I was happy to hang at home.

I called my mom on the drive home and talked until I pulled in the drive. Said she’s feeling good, but also gave me crap about not calling on Easter. Said she heard from brother Tommy and cooked Easter dinner for Ronald, his parents, and Ethel, or whatever her name is.

I’m thinking that I was home by myself for about 20 minutes tops. In that short amount of time I replaced my blackberry battery with the one that showed up via Fed Ex, and then cleaned up a bunch of candy wrappers, including chocolate that Eiknarf got into. Mindy must’ve left it somewhere low that she could easily access.

I set it out on the island so Mindy could see it when she got home. She wasn’t pleased. Told me she had it in her school tub. It was full of Xmas candy, which is something she takes to work every year around Easter, just like she takes Halloween candy near Xmas. It’s her way of purging our aging chocolates. We agreed to eat leftovers. I opted for leftover steak and last week’s roast beef and gravy with rice. It was gooooood! Mindy had her leftover salmon from lunch.

She shared that Lindsey stopped by for gas money after work. Hopefully she starts getting more hours soon. She’s running low on her reserve funds. I spent time on my PC after dinner, and Mindy joined me in the living room along with the pug. We didn’t do a whole lot, though I really should’ve spent some time making sure our state taxes were paid. Since we owe, I opted to e-file and pay later last month. Why not hold the money as long as I can? Taxes need to paid by next Monday, the 17th.

The kids got home around 745-8pm. And soon after they arrived home I was overcome with the sleepies and plopped down on the living room floor and took a nap flat on my back. Slept there for a good 15-20 minutes. It was heavenly. Bella, meanwhile, was still coughing her head off, and that was after taking Delsym and Triaminic. Mindy complained of not feeling so swift again too. She and the kids headed for bed just a few minutes after 9pm. With little to choose from on the TV, I opted to watch Pawn Stars on the History Channel. I popped some popcorn enjoying it alone on the sofa. Well, Eiknarf was with me and had her fair share too. Bella’s sniffer was working and she soon leaned over the railing asking if I would bring her some. Met her on the steps with a cereal bowl full.

I eventually fell asleep on the sofa watching TV. I was out of it too and it felt terrific. I forced myself to get up and head up to bed just before 11pm. I was still half asleep when I plopped down in bed but as the minutes passed instead of getting sleepier I got a second wind. Dang it! I must’ve laid there for 30 minutes, my mind now racing. Around 1130pm I got up and headed back downstairs to my PC where I updated my blog for the past four day complete with edited photos. It was just after 1230am when I tip-toed back up the stairs and into bed.