Pleasurable Interaction

I was up on-time and then downstairs a few minutes later. It was still before 540am when I settled in for sit-ups. A few minutes later I whipped out 50 push-ups. Both were completed with relative ease. I stepped out onto the deck to check out the morning. It was warm enough to run without a shirt and still fairly clear. By the time I was back inside coffee was ready.

It was already 6am and time to wake and deliver Mindy’s coffee. I didn’t drink any of my own until I was back downstairs. Mindy asked that I turn off the ceiling fan, make sure Jacob was awake, and then turn the thermostat up a few degrees. Yes dear!
Downstairs I relaxed at my PC for a good 15-20 minutes, checking out the weather & headlines. There was a storm coming our way, but just so many this summer, it already appeared to be separating into two halves – one heading north of I-70 and another to the south. We’d likely get a little rain but nothing close to our friends in the north/south suburbs. It was at least a 100 miles to the west. I wasn’t at all concerned about my run being interrupted by a storm. Started a meditation and a stretch around 620am. Finished around 635am. Jacob was already downstairs as I dressed for my run. He was just sitting quietly in the dark.

I left for my run at 638am. Our recycling was already at the curb. I ran the full 4.1 miles, my hamstrings both aching a smidge. They loosened up about a ¼ mile in. Unfortunately I know this about hamstrings, when strained/pulled, they don’t heal overnight. I try not to dwell on the discomfort.

By the time I was back from my run the recycling had been emptied. I pulled the empty can back to the top of the driveway. Eiknarf was watching me at the front door. I headed inside where Mindy already had the leash ready and waiting. I took her on a quick walk across the street. She took care of business as expected.

Mindy was already on her way out the door by the time the dog and I were walking back up the drive. Said that my eggs were waiting in the microwave. Bella took care of Eiknarf while I enjoyed my breakfast. We interacted pleasurably throughout our morning meal.

I headed up for a shower around 740am. At the same time Bella headed off to her room. I was back in the kitchen at 757am organizing my lunch. Mindy prepped me a salad. All I had to do was cut up some cheese, grab a banana, some nuts, and toss some fruit in a small storage container. I reminded Bella that the bus would be there at 810am and that we needed to be out by 805am. She was on top of it and out the door right on time. Meanwhile, I was struggling to accomplish everything I wanted before bus time. I still needed to empty the dehumidifier and pour a 2nd cup of coffee. I postponed both until after seeing her on the bus. I headed out with the pug a minute behind Bella.
As promised, the bus was right on time. Chrissy and I chatted for a couple minutes before we headed our separate ways. I let Eiknarf sniff around out front for a few minutes before heading back inside where I quickly emptied the contents of the dehumidifier on the deck plants before enjoying another quick cup of coffee. Just before heading off to work, I loaded my back pack then loaded and started the dishwasher. It was near 835am.

It was a peaceful drive into the office arriving somewhere close to 850am. It was just beginning to cloud up overhead though the sky didn’t in anyway look threatening. I spent the first hour or two working on a weekly report. Once that was out of the way there were a few escalations crying for my attention. At 1pm I decided to take a real lunch break and headed out to my Accord. I was surprised to find it wet and raining, albeit lightly. My plan was to visit The Anderson’s up off Sawmill Rd. hoping to find a grout removal attachment for my Genesis oscillating tool. That’s where my dad bought the tool originally.

I made excellent time up 270 arriving at The Anderson’s 15 minutes later. I opted not to get a cart. I headed to their tools department first. Took a while to find their selection of oscillating tools. Like an old fashioned hardware store, The Anderson’s actually has folks in the department to help with questions. I asked the older fella that approached if he could guide me to the proper grout removal attachment for the Genesis tool. Sure, but he lead me to the Dremel attachments which clearly have a different footprint. He said he was pretty sure it would fit. The pretty sure wasn’t good enough for me, especially since the attachment is $35. I should have asked if we could open it to see if it would fit. I’m not certain, but don’t think you can return the blade if it doesn’t fit. I figured I’d check their website first.

I headed all the way to the other end of the store to the beer and wine department. The Anderson’s has had one of the best beer & wine departments in all of Columbus for a long, long time. Everybody has their Autumn/Octoberfest beer out these days. And there are more pumpkin ales on the shelves than one can shake stick. I asked if they had any White Rajah. Nope! Says it always goes as soon as it comes in. I left without buying anything.

It was a fast drive back to the office. I was gone for just about an hour. After eating my lunch I spent the remainder of my day managing those pesky escalations. I didn’t leave for home until after 540pm. By then the local rain had stopped but the sky still looked threatening just to the north. Down my way it looked rather benign. In fact, the closer I got to home any tell-tale signs of earlier rain were nonexistent - dry pavement and no puddles. Mindy called my cell just as I was turning into the subdivision. I didn’t bother answering.

Bella & Mindy were in the kitchen/family room when I walked in. Mindy was busy making dinner and Bella was playing on her Kindle. Jacob came in the front door a minute or so later. Mindy shared that dinner was ready and asked Jacob to wash his hand really good. I asked Bella if she still planned on going to gymnastics at DCW one last time. Said she was having second thoughts. I shared that I understood and as far as I was concerned it was her decision. Mindy concurred. We decided to table the decision until after dinner. Jacob chimed in numerous times on how he thought it should be handled. We asked him to butt out a couple times.

Mindy made cheese tortellini coated in pesto and mixed with leftover rotisserie chicken for dinner. It was decent, but even better once I added a handful of pepperonis to the concoction. I ate all of mine and then what remained of Bella’s after she cited being full. By dinner’s end Bella had decided that she wanted to skip gymnastics at DCW. Mindy agreed to text Emily with our plans to move on. She carefully crafted a text them shared it with me before sending. She drafted it so not to offend.
Soon after sending the text, Mindy, Jacob, and Bella headed off to Target to get Jimaken’s b-day gift. His actual b-day was last Thursday and the kids forgot – blamed their mother. Mindy willingly took the blame. I joked that there was only one birthday that she absolutely wasn’t allowed to forget – mine! Looked like I’d have some unplanned alone time on my hands.

Soon after they departed I changed out of my work clothes and into comfy lounging attire. Ahh! Felt great. I spent most of that time playing around online. I was disappointed to learn that there was no MNF game. Crap! I was so looking forward to it. Instead, I took my book with to the family room and tuned the TV to the Science Channel. I was pleased to see that there were a few programs coming up about the universe, and more specifically about the sun. I can’t get enough of that stuff. Mindy and the kids were back while I was lounging on the sofa. I remember hearing Mindy joke that it must be Monday night. I’ll bet I dosed off three or four different times during the course of the entire evening. In between the winks, I watched science programs about the sun and solar system, and then another about asteroids. Mindy bagged it really early, heading up to read at 830pm. Bella joined me downstairs but only long enough to get a quick snack of dry cereal. I dosed off a final time from the sofa soon after Bella headed off to bed. I woke ridiculously groggy around 10pm and headed up to bed. Ironically, as soon as my head hit my bed pillow I felt wide awake. I worried that I might not be able to find that grove again. The worry was all for not. I found it fast.