Numbers & Letters (229 & CBC)

I was up around 730am. It was cloudy and 70 degrees. I spent the next 90 minutes enjoying coffee and internet. Near 9am I headed out for a run. Because there was no sunshine, it was a whole lot easier to run, though it was still pretty humid.

The O’Connell family and the Gardner kids were just about to leave for their Disney vacation as I ran past their house. All the kids were packed into their new Pilot. I talked with them for a couple minutes, wishing them a fun, safe trip.

Mindy and the kids were up soon after I returned from a run. I didn’t have much planned project-wise, but headed out to scrub the stucco under the window trim I replaced on Friday. There were rust and mildew stains on the stucco. I used a pail of water and Clorox spray cleaner and a stiff bristled brush. That worked reasonably well. While up the ladder I observed the boys playing airsoft. I don’t think they noticed me up high on the ladders. When Rocky was found hiding in the brush he cried like a little girl for mercy. I shamed him for the act. Told him to take his airsoft stuff inside if he didn’t want to play.

I Windexed both west-facing windows after scrubbing the stucco. Collectively, I spent about an hour on the ladder. Mindy shared that Lindsey was coming by near 12-1pm to do her laundry. We were also expecting Jimaken to pick-up the kids near 3pm. They’d be spending the night with him.

I tinkered in the yard for most of the early afternoon, taking care of a handful of small tasks. For one, I repaired/rigged the patio umbrella that broke during the recent storm. Two of the seven ribs that support the umbrella were broken completely in half. I used stiff metal rods to support the broken ribs like a splint. The rods fit nicely into the hollow broken metal tubes. Works almost like new again. I also put away a lot of tools I used on the window trim project.

After Lindsey showed up I tried hard to steer clear to avoid any confrontation. Consequently, we talked very little. Mindy left to run some errands in the Accord. Can’t recall where she went. I took care of removing the Thule from the Pilot. Before stowing it back in the shed I installed two more stickers, one form the OBX and another from Myrtle Beach. I fertilized all the flowers and pulled weeds from the flower beds.

Jimaken showed up to get the kids around 330pm. Lindsey and the boys were still there finishing up laundry. I’m guessing that they were there until about 430pm. Mindy and I planned to do dinner out. We chose 229. The sky cleared partially late afternoon. We even got some brief sunshine, which only made the humid air more moist. Mindy checked with Kenny & Chrissy to see what their plans were since they wouldn’t have any kids for a week. They were going out to dinner too, but not with us.

We showed up at 229 around 7pm. It was fairly active down there. We had to park at a meter a couple blocks from the venue. No problem. Meters are free after 6pm on weekends. Sadly, the sky was overcast making for a flat backdrop to an otherwise gorgeous setting for photos. It took a few shots anyway. Mindy & I chatted with Daniel the manager who quickly found us one of the few remaining tables available on the patio. It wouldn’t have been my 1st choice, but the wait for a table looking out over the river would have been long.

Our server was Jade, a Latino women. She took our drink orders promptly. I ordered a CBC IPA. Mindy just water due to the antibiotics she’s taking which mandate no alcohol for 10-13 days. Can someone say built in DD for 13 days!!!!! I almost cried when Jade shared that they were out of CBC IPA. And just as I was about to order a regular CBC pale ale, she shared that they were out of it too. Suddenly, I didn’t want to be there. Nothing else sounded remotely good. I could see the panic on her face. Mindy joked that they should simply go get some right around the corner from the CBC brewery. Another server nearby overheard the conversation and came by to share that they just got more in and were back there tapping it! Jade was happy, and so was I.

We ordered two appetizers, the four snacks (bacon wrapped gorgonzola stuffed dates) along with warm pretzel bread. We enjoyed the appetizers and the one beer. Somewhere along the line I mentioned that we should leave and visit CBC. I was really craving a Bohdi! Mindy was more than agreeable. After about a 45 stay we paid our bill tipping jade handsomely then headed off for CBC.

At CBC it felt a whole lot more like home. Vince served me a Bodhi without even asking. He was ready to pour Mindy some wine, but we stopped him. She can’t drink. We chatted with all the CBC peeps through me having two Bodhi’s. After learning about the dinner special we agreed to share one. It was a steak over garlic smashed potatoes topped with crab and sautéed green beans. We shared a salad too. The dish was exquisite!

We were at CBC until about 930pm. Mindy said she was tired, wanted to get home. I was tired too, this my last night of vacation.  At home I noticed that Pat's deck lights were on and asked Mindy if she wanted to join visiting the neighbors, Pat & Lisa. She did. I opened a beer and we walked over taking the pug on her leash after she looked at us with sad eyes.

Pat, Lisa, and Alena were entertaining and old friend of Pat's, Joe & his wife (can't readily recall her name). We sat with the five of them yucking it up for a bit more than an hour. After I finished my beer (#400 Monkey IPA), Pat offered some 'hoppy' beer he had in his fridge. I think it was made by Yeungling. I didn't recognize it, however. It wasn't that good, but I didn't complain. We had fun. We headed home near 1130pm where Mindy pretty much headed straight to bed. I, on the other hand, stayed up for another 20 minutes or so catching up on the Reds big walk-off win and then having a late night snack.