Snap Goes the Shower Hose

I was up a couple minutes early after more than 9 hours of sleep counting the nap in the family room before heading directly to bed. I found it difficult to shake off the cob webs until my calisthenics and I downed my first cup of coffee. The coffee was incredible after going without on Tuesday due to my doctor’s appointment.

It was warmer than it’s been the past few mornings, a balmy 54 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. I walked away from my PC at 605am and headed to the family room for meditation. From the outset, my mind was in a far better place than it was the day before when I was inexplicably down in dumps. And because I managed my time well, I had time to stretch too, before delivering Mindy’s coffee.

Headed upstairs with coffee at 625am. Mindy was in good spirits. I shared how tired I felt when I woke despite falling asleep so early the night before. Headed back downstairs where I dressed for a run pretty much wearing what I slept in, which is what I wore for out bike ride the evening before. Of course I added a pullover fleece.

I was a few minutes into my run when I saw lightning though still off in the distance. As my run progressed it became more prevalent. I worried that I might get caught in a storm. Most of the lightning was to the south west, but I couldn’t tell for sure which direction the weather was coming from. I was spooked enough that I cut my run short to just three miles. There was lightning right up until I arrived back at the house. I drug our trash can back to the side of the house before heading inside.

Mindy wasn’t even downstairs yet. While waiting on the pug I checked the radar. Looked like two small weather patterns converging over Columbus, one from the NW and another from the SW. They were pretty much by us by then, though. Mindy was finally downstairs and asked my preference of eggs. Didn’t matter. I leashed up the pug and headed out again. It was only 705am. Looked like the sky was beginning to brighten to the west. Eiknarf took care of business quickly.

Back at the house Mindy was careful to make sure that both kids knew the after school plan which was to come home where they would be greeted by my dad since she had physical therapy scheduled. She had a beef roast in the crock-pot for dinner. Asked that I switch the temperature to low before leaving the house. She left for school near 730am and I headed off to the shower.

Towards the end of my shower, the water flow abruptly stopped and the hose attached to the shower head snapped off. It was a clean break too – plastic made to look like metal. Not sure what caused it. Just glad I was done showering. I’d need to stop for a replacement hose at lunch. Didn’t take long to shower and dress. I was back downstairs and ready to go ahead of 8am. We headed out to the bus stop at 808am. We met Chrissy and Makayla there. Michelle pulled and dropped Lillian just before the bus showed. Michelle goes in the hospital Thursday morning to have her baby. The bus was there by 815am . Eiknarf headed back home where I made last minute preparations for a customer site day. I left the house at 820am.

I took 670 east and didn’t run into to much traffic until I hit the heart of downtown, but that cleared quickly making the commute smooth and fast. Arrived at my customer’s campus by 840am – a record. By then it was sunny and warm, a lovely spring morning. I enjoyed the rather long walk to the building from the far lot. We had out regular 10am meeting but there were no pressing issues to discuss. We talked about a couple of concerns which would require more follow-up.

I spent much of the morning working on monthly reports. I decided to take lunch at 1230pm and drove to the bank to deposit a few checks and then visited the New Albany Home Depot where I bought a new hose for our removable shower head. I looked at a few other items as well. It was 115pm when I headed back to the Accord and finally back to the office. Now about 60 degrees, it was a nice spring afternoon.

The afternoon was a bit more eventful than the morning. Got involved in an escalation that stretched my job knowledge a little. I enjoyed the challenge and felt good that we were able to overcome the trouble ahead of 5pm. I wrapped up my day around 505pm and headed for home. It was still nice and sunny and a few degrees warmer – now 66 degrees. I decided to gamble and take 670 fully expecting to divert to 71 south around downtown just as I have the past two times. Yep, traffic started to back-up right at the split. I took 71 south, but even it backed up once I merged onto 70west just west of downtown. The pace was slow but at least we kept moving. I talked with Mindy through most of my commute. She was just leaving physical therapy. Sounded like she’d beat me home, though.

Still made decent time arriving at the house by 540pm. Mindy was already busy preparing the dinner complements while dad sat on the deck with Eiknarf. Jacob was off to soccer practice and Bella out playing with her friends. After greeting both Mindy & my dad I headed upstairs to install the new shower hose. I took the roll of thread tape with me. It’s key to a drip-free install. The install was quick and easy. Done in five minutes.

Before heading back downstairs, I changed out of my work clothes an into comfy lounging attire. By then dinner was ready and Mindy was hollering for Bella to come inside. She wasn’t very happy about having to go to gymnastics, one again asking if she could skip preferring instead to stay and play with her friends. Nope! Mindy shared that she needs to stick with her sport and went on to share that she spends $100 a month so she can.

The roast, mashed potatoes and green beans were exceptional. I had second helping, though much smaller than the first. During dinner I shared the events that took place at my recent doctor’s appointment. That’s what old people talk about.

Bella headed up to ready for gymnastics while I cleaned up the kitchen. Mindy shared that she was going to shop at Target after dropping Bella at gymnastics. And just before they left, she asked that I see that Jacob gets dinner when he arrived home from soccer practice. She also asked that I look over Bella’s math homework.

Dad stuck around for a while after they left sharing a few stories, including how he might be visiting Kenny in Florida soon, though by no means was it 100% certain. Shared how Uncle Kenny is soon to turn 80. Holy smoke! He also shared that he’ll be joining the Simsic’s on a trip to Pittsburgh coming up in early May. Dad will be spending Easter with brother Bob and family. Hopes to get his iPad configured while there with Bob too. It must’ve been around 710pm when dad departed. Eiknarf had been scratching at the back door, so she and I headed out at the same time dad was leaving.

Back at home I sat down and finished Tuesday’s blog entry. One again I find myself almost two weeks behind with publishing. However, I was caught with my writing, though I haven’t done any editing or proof reading. Jacob got home from soccer practice around 745pm. I warmed him a plate of roast beef and mashed potatoes. He was pleasant and shared that practice went well. Soon after he finished his dinner he headed up to his room while I cleaned up the crock-pot and played on the internet.

Mindy called around 815pm to let me know that she was done shopping but not coming home before picking up Bella. As expected. Shared that she was looking forward to a glass of wine and watching Idol. I poured her a glass of wine for when she arrived. I turned on the TV to American Idol but turned the volume down and tried to do a little reading. I missed the first two contestants.

Mindy & Bella were home by 835pm. Mindy quickly dispatched Bella to the shower and went upstairs to change into her PJs. Between performances I would turn the volume down so I could read. It was a little easier to concentrate like that. Bella never did rejoin us downstairs after her shower. She watched Idol from upstairs. She did make a brief appearance for a snack. As usual, Idol went for 2 hours or until 10pm. Mindy and the kids headed right to bed while I stayed up for another ten minutes to finish the chapter I was reading. However brief, it was nice to have complete peace and quiet. I headed to bed at 1015pm stopping in to tuck in Bella first.

Mindy was reading when I joined her in bed, but turned off the light shortly after my head hit the pillow. I was tired. She laid on my chest for 5-10 minutes.