Bring on Summer '12

The long weekend over, it was time to get back to the grind. To meet this challenge, I was up and out of bed a few minutes ahead of 530am. I felt good and eagerly headed downstairs to start some coffee and exercise. Because it was Tuesday, I completed sit-ups and curls.

At 550am I headed to my PC with coffee. I spent the next 15 minutes there. Meanwhile, it was another warm, clear morning, though the temperature not quite as warm as the two previous days. It was 67 degrees at 550am. I split the next 15 minutes between meditation and stretching and then headed upstairs to wake Mindy near 620am.

Downstairs, I changed into freshly laundered running clothes then headed out the door a couple minutes ahead of 630am. However, it was probably just after by the time the first foot hit the pavement. As we close in on the summer solstice, the sun was considerably further to the north than it was as recent as Friday. The haze in the sky gave the sun more of an orange hue.

I ran the full 4.1 miles working up a good sweat and passing many of the same characters I typically pass at that hour. Something comforting about passing the same folks either walking, running, or simply leaving for work. Mindy was downstairs and just getting the eggs in the pan when I returned home. I leashed up the pug then headed out for our walk. We walked across the street thereby avoiding most of the goose crap out front on our side of the street. What a mess!

We were back at the house by 720am where I settled in for some breakfast. By then Bella was up and in the bathroom doing her hair. The only fresh fruit we had available to compliment the eggs were strawberries. Mindy left for work around 730am after telling the kids to bus home to Noah’s. She also touched on the evening plans which included Jacob’s soccer practice. We didn’t’ discuss dinner.

After finishing my own breakfast and then slipping eggs into Eiknarf’s bowl I headed up for a shower. While getting ready I was reminded that I needed to call Dr March to make an appointment to have my failed bridge reglued. I was back in the kitchen cutting up cheese, packing some yogurt and a banana by 756am. Bella headed out to the bus stop even before 8am after asking if she could scooter.

I joined the kids at the bus stop at 808am. By then the sun was bright and warm. Hard to believe it’s only May. Last year we struggled all of May just to get a few warm and sunny days in the 70s. Met Chrissy at the bus stop. We compared notes regarding Hilliard Elite soccer tryouts. Makayla has tryouts Tuesday and Thursday. Jacob has tryouts Wednesday & Friday. The bus was on time and soon the kids were off to school, the beginning of their final week. Man, the school year’s gone fast!

Back at the house I enjoyed another cup of coffee then logged off my laptop that had been up and running since the prior Friday afternoon. I headed off to the office near 825am. Always feels good to be heading into work in a bright sunny day. All is right with the world.

Parked in the front lot. Not a lot of cars. I suspect many extended their holiday an extra day. One of the first things I did after getting settled and logged on was calling Dr March’s office. Laura answered the phone. Said they could get me in as soon as 230pm that afternoon. Cool. I accepted the appointment after making sure that I didn’t have a meeting conflict.

The day progressed somewhat quietly, which I was more than happy about. I didn’t plan to take a formal lunch break since I had to leave for a dental appointment around 2pm. I did plan to return to work afterwards. The only thing I ate before 2pm was the banana I packed. I brushed and gargled before leaving for my appointment. I made sure to take the bridge I had stashed in a baggie inside my backpack, too.

Arrived early, or about 220pm. Talked with Colleen, who’s been working the office for Dr March for about 14 or 15 years. She and Faith, a hygienist, just got back from a week in Punta Cana. Laura was already for me, but waited patiently while I finished my brief chat with Colleen. Laura hasn’t had the pleasure of working on my mouth for about 2.5 years, or since my last crown. I gave her my bridge then she left sharing that she’d be back in a few minutes. She and Dr March were in progress with another patient in the rood next door. I always find it more than humorous that Dr March often carries on a conversation with his patience while he’s working in their teeth. And more often than not, they’re in a position where they can’t speak clearly. I like Dr March, but he’s a bit odd. He’s an Arlington boy born and raised. We’re roughly the same age, both of us graduating HS in ’77. We have some common interests, but he definitely comes from a more refined background.  We often talk OSU football, but today’s conversation centered around this week’s Memorial tournament.

He checked my bridge and tooth sub structures for any problems. Didn’t see any. Said both looked good. Said it’s been 12 years since I had the bridge put in. Said the quality of the glue they use today far exceeds what they used back then. I’ll bet I was in and out of there in less than 30 minutes. Felt good to have my bite back to normal, though I am grateful that it wasn’t accompanied with pain due to raw tooth exposure. He mentioned that teeth can and will move even after just a day or two if not kept in check with those above and around them. Hmmm?

I was back at the office by 320pm. We had our regularly scheduled team call at 415pm. Before that I ate my salad, cheese and yogurt. I felt full. The meeting went as planned and was only about 15 minutes in length. Made it through the entire day without any major escalations. Wahoo! I wrapped up in the office near 5pm and headed for home. I noticed a significant difference in the air as I exited the building. It was still warm, but no longer stifling. Also, the humidity we experienced for three straight days was nonexistent.

Tried calling my mom on my drive home using Honda Handsfree. Despite telling it to call mom, it called Mindy. We laughed about it for a second, and then Mindy shared that she was busy grilling dinner and that my dad would be joining us. We hung up and I tried calling mom a second time. This time it rang the correct number but went to her voice mail. I left a brief message.

I felt great all day, but during my drive home I got a bad case of the sleepies. I did my best to battle through it. Dad arrived shortly after me. I haven’t seen him since he joined us for a soccer game a couple days before my colonoscopy. Seeing that Mindy was just getting the chicken on the grill, I figured I had enough time to take a brief nap. While dad sat on the sofa, I went to the family room chair. We chatted briefly, dad sharing how he spent some of his recent casino winnings on a new refrigerator. He eventually headed out to see if Mindy needed help. I took that as my opportunity to dose. It felt heavenly, though it seemed like just a couple minutes. Next thing I knew Mindy was calling me to dinner.

The grilled chicken, stuffing, and corn on the cob was all really good. Bella ate more than I expected putting away almost as much as I did. Dad asked about the siding I repaired/replaced. Seemed to be aware of many mini-projects we've completed around the house of late. M curiosity was killing me. I asked how he knew. Mindy reminded me that they were chatting while I napped before dinner. Ahh, OK. That makes sense.

Dad asked if we'd considered having Glenn stay at our place while we're vacationing and he's home. We have, and planned to offer that as an option. We could use someone at the house taking care of our flowers and what not. The dog will likely be cared for by Gloria. I showed dad the front siding I replaced. Dad thought he might use the same material to reside his shed. He used regular plywood coated with cement/stucco paint. It's held up for about eight years but is now beginning to rot.

Jacob was home from soccer practice before dad left. We discussed the Vietnam program that Jacob and I watched the night before. Obviously left a lasting impression on the both of us. Dad headed for home around 730pm. Not long after he left I changed into my PJs then around 8pm retired to the family room where we once again tuned to the knowledge channels. We watched a little of the History Channel special mini-series about the Hatfield's and McCoy's, but quickly tired of it. Instead, I changed the channel to Discovery where we watched The Universe, admittedly an episode that Bella and I had watched recently, but I still found it interesting. It's the one that goes into great detail explaining the size, motion & speed of the universe. Jacob wasn't pleased at first, not being as big a fan of space as Bella and I. But surprisingly, he hung on and seemed to get into it. Soon he'll be hooked, and maybe one day he'll tell his grand kids how we used to watch that stuff endlessly way back before we colonized Mars and beyond. :)

Mindy and the kids were in bed by 930pm. They hadn't been upstairs for more than five minutes when I tore into the new box of Honey Nut Cheerios and snacked on a bowl full dry. Yum! I stayed up until 1030pm or slightly beyond. By then my eyes were heavy and my mind craving sleep.