Fireworks

Woke for keeps near 630am again. Not sure why the sudden change to my weekend wake times, but I like it. Perhaps it has everything to do with the position of the sun. I brushed my teeth then headed downstairs where I started a pot of coffee then headed out on the deck to fill my lungs with some heavy summer air. Felt and smelt like midsummer. And more surprising, it was already 73 degrees.

Spent about half an hour online before heading outside. I thought about running the irrigation but knew that I’d be mowing very soon so thought better of it. Instead, I decided to hand water the flower beds after soaking all the hanging baskets and pots.

Left for a run early, somewhere close to 810am, hoping to avoid as much of the heat as possible. I ran the usual Sunday trail of only 3 miles. Like the day before, I worked up quite a sweat in the early sunshine and humidity. Back home well before 9am, I was surprised that Mindy was up and sitting on the deck with coffee. I joined her there with more coffee of my own. She asked if I would walk the pug. Yes dear.

I shared my desire to get started on some chores, which included planting the remaining flowers and more importantly cutting the lawn. She asked that I sit there with her on the deck for a few minutes before striking out on my day’s mission. She reminded me that Lindsey and boys would be over later to do laundry, but we wouldn’t see them for too long since we had another graduation party as well as Mia and Sophia’s birthday party to attend. We’d be leaving for those events near 3pm.

I believe it was sometime Saturday that Lindsey called Mindy letting her know that she was taking Landon to urgent care after he fell and cut his hand open on a piece of glass. We learned later that evening that he ended up with two stitches and punctured a small artery.

Because the high was forecasted to approach 95, I started cutting the lawn earlier than I might otherwise do. It was just after 930am when I got started. But even then it proved overtly warm. I took my time with the push mowing but nothing could stop the sweat from flowing. I was soaked through my shirt and shorts by the time I finished around back. Doing the tractor piece was a dream. Felt cool even. Finished the lawn chores by 1130am. Next up was planting two small hydrangeas and potting another sweet potato vine.

Jacob & Bella were home around noon. I’m thinking that Lindsey and the boys showed up about a half hour later. I kept myself busy in the yard, deciding to rip down the rabbit fence we put up around our tomato plants last summer. A lot of good it did, something still got in there and ate all of our near rip tomatoes and clipped most of our plants off near the plants main trunk. We’re putting flowers there instead this year.

I went inside and took a break. Mindy and Lindsey wanted to talk briefly. Lindsey shared that she’s ready to manage her own money. Fine. My first question was did she have the insurance and car payment money. She didn’t. Said she planned to pay me with the first paycheck in June. Even Mindy had a hard time understanding where I was coming from. But my point was simple, those bills are due by the end of the month. By pushing them to the first paycheck on the subsequent month only moves the problem. Now she’ll be struggling to meet the bills due out of the following check.

I headed back to the yard where I planned to spray the foundation for piss ants, a task Mindy’s been after me to complete for more than a month. I still have some Diazinon concentrate, a pesticide no longer available for residential use. Before spraying the foundation, however, I needed to cut the English ivy back away from the block. It’s grown aggressively this spring reestablishing itself along both sides of the foundation up the stucco even though I cut it back completely last spring. Mindy came out to chat about Lindsey’s money management/bill paying stuff. Said she understood where I was coming from but thought I’d want to help out through her struggles. It’s not like I need the money, but want what’s due me and on time. I want her to think of me as a legitimate creditor.

I took my time cutting the ivy away from the block, and in tow places I revealed a large population of piss ants. I removed all the ivy before from both sides before spraying the entire foundation. By then the ants had vacated. I sprayed all the way around the house making sure to spray up under the edge where the stucco meets the block foundation as well as along the stone front and rear deck. I used about a gallon of the gallon and a half I mixed up.

By the time I was done with the Diazinon it was time to shower up for the parties. Like the past few weekends, we planned to let Lindsey and the boys hang out while we were away. Mindy had everything loaded and the Pilot cooled by the time I was ready to go. I’m thinking that we left the house around 230-245pm. We took 270 around to Grove City, exiting on 62 but turning quickly onto Home Rd to Hoover Rd. We arrived at Austin T.’s graduation party near 3pm. Mindy’s very proud of Austin, who received a full ride to Notre Dame, which includes his education, room and board and even an allowance. We were at his older Brother Peter’s graduation party too. He’s a double major at Miami of Ohio. Just graduated with his under grad degree in music. Still finishing up his other major in electrical engineering. He was there and eager to see Mindy too.

Our kids, especially Jacob, were bored to tears at the party. Under his breath, Jacob asked numerous times if we could leave. But Mindy wanted to stay and see if her all-time favorite student, Tyler, showed up. She texted him and learned that he was on his way.

I talked some with Peter and Tyler. Both are doing well, and very handsome, smart, articulate boys. Their parents, I am sure, are very proud. We left for Todd’s around 415pm. We weren’t sure if we could get to Grove City Rd from Hoover Rd. We took it all the way to 665 then west to 62. That took us far out of our way. Note to self. We ended up having to back track north about 4 or 5 miles. No biggie. It was nice drive.

We arrived at Todd & Missy’s around 440pm. The party started at 4pm so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that we were the last family members to arrive. It was quite warm but Todd had plenty of tree and man made shade available. I was comfortable. He also had a hose nozzle tied off to a nearby tree in the mister mode. The light breeze blew the mist towards all of us on occasion. When it did, it felt terrific.

There was plenty to eat: pizza, hot dogs, sides, and lots of chips & cookies. There was some beer available, too. I took advantage and had an ice cold Yeungling. Todd built a tree house roughly similar to ours – a platform rising up from two tall trees with a roofed shelter up top. He added an enclosed slide, too. . Looks good, and the kids played on it all afternoon.

It was a birthday party so gifts and cake were next on the agenda. The outdoor gift table always photos so nicely, and this year the girls were dressed as colorful as the gifts themselves. It’s kind of funny, even though that Columbus is known to be chilly and rainy on Memorial Day weekend, it always seems like it’s hot and steamy for the girls b-day yard party.

We hung around until 7pm or so, well after dinner, gifts, and cake. We didn’t have well defined plans for the evening but were excited about the prospects of heading home for some relaxation in our yard. Of course Bella was hoping to hook up with Makayla. Once at home I poured a beer and walked down to chat with Kenny who was out in the yard, rolling up the tent he and the kids slept in down at the cabin Saturday night. We ended up hanging out for the evening, me walking home to top off my beer when empty. My Memorial Day plan all along was to go after and spread mulch. But that all changed when Kenny offered up a morning of golf instead. Said he had a tee time at Clover Valley (AKA Kyber Run).  Mindy gave an approving nod, so I accepted. Kenny offered that we’d need to drive separate vehicles since he planned to meet the rest of his family at Chrissy’s sister Missy’s in Johnston immediately after golf. Somewhat out of character, Mindy quickly chimed in that she’d just meet us there at Missy’s, effectively inviting us to their Memorial Day celebration. Add to that, we’d have Landon and Rocky with us too, so Lindsey could work OT.

When darkness set in, Jacob asked if I would go after some fireworks. Why not? I went home returning with a couple packs of bottle rockets and some M-60s (fake M-80s). This was a right of passage of sorts. After setting off a few by example, I turned the fireworks and lighter over to Jacob & Jake. They had the time of there life with both types. They especially liked the M-60s since they blow up under water. They must’ve set 10-15 of them off in the pond. Their fun eventually drew the attention of a couple neighborhood girls and two other boys, who walked back to see what was going on. They hung together back by the tree house and then in the neighboring woods. Kenny & I joked that the fire works are a babe magnet. The boys went through those fireworks pretty quickly. At their prompting, I went home for more. Many of these I’ve had for 5-10 years. We’re due for some new stuff.

Mindy headed home around 10pm citing her inability to keep her eyes opened any longer. She asked that Jacob and I not be out too late. I’m thinking we hung out with Kenny until 11pm. Kenny and I firmed up plans to leave for golf at 850am. Mindy was already out when I crawled into bed. Good night half moon.