Buckeyes, Gallery Hop, & CBC

After a good night of sleep I was up just ahead of 8am. It was cloudy and appeared to have rained some overnight, but judging from the scant puddles and scattered dry spots, not that much. I started some coffee then played on the internet. I checked the weather forecast curious if more rain was coming. At the time it was a balmy 74 degrees. Judging from the radar, it looked like most of the rain skirted around central Ohio, though there was more supposedly heading our way. I wondered if I might get drenched during my run. I played around online until 905am when I decided that I’d better get a move on.

I left for my run around 925am. Mindy still wasn’t up. I ran the usual 3 mile weekend trail. It sprinkled rain a few times but that’s it. It looked like they might be getting a good soaking to our south. Mindy was up shortly after my return from a run.
We had talked about driving up to the Brew Kettle for the first time, but I was looking forward to watchin’ the Buckeye’s 1st football game of the season too. When I suggested we not go until after the game Mindy shared that she was in favor or skipping the trip all together and instead saving it for another weekend perhaps in October. That was fine with me.

I spent the rest of my morning updating my blog. While Mindy was upstairs doing chores – sorting laundry, I think – I did the grout work on the replaced tile. I also took the opportunity to fill a few voids in grout bead that I’ve noticed over the years. And some of those have been like that for as many as ten years! Felt good to finally address it. I used the grout float on the one large tile, but used my fingers and a small putty knife for the smaller fill-ins. After completing the grouting I took a fast shower.

Before I knew it, it was almost time for kick-off. The game was on the Big Ten Network which means the coverage is poor as compared to that of the other major networks. But at least it was on TV. Mindy was playing on her laptop at the kitchen table through much of the first half of the game. She wasn’t missing much. The Buckeyes looked slow and confused on both offense and defense for all of the 1st quarter. If this was what an “angry football team” looks like, well then I’ll take the old, confident team back any day.  We were down 3-0 after 1 quarter, but probably should’ve been down 14-0 if it wasn’t for a couple dropped passes by Miami.

The 2nd quarter things changed in a hurry. As inept as we looked in the 1st quarter, we looked that good in the 2nd. We scored 3 straight touchdowns on big plays and held Miami in check. As the first half expired, we were on the 1 yard line and just missed a 4th touchdown by inches.

While playing on her laptop, Mindy bought me tickets for the Vikings/ Colts game coming up her in a couple weeks. It’s my b-day present. She suggested that perhaps we overnight there Saturday and take in downtown Indy. I’ve been there. It’s very nice. The 2nd half was a continuance of the beating we started in the 2nd quarter. It wasn’t even close. The Buckeyes won 56-10.

Shortly after the game I took a little nap from the family room chair. I heard Mindy say that she was going upstairs for a nap. I woke a few minutes later and headed out to mow the lawn. As it was, it hadn’t rained yet much at all, and if the forecast was correct, we’d be getting a couple inches over the next day or so beginning that afternoon. Like I have the past couple weeks, I cut a much larger portion of the lawn with the tractor – as much as reasonably possible.

Not sure what I was thinking. Somehow or another I thought I might not work up a sweat. The only saving grace was that there wasn’t any sunshine. Otherwise, it was sweltering – about 84 and crazy humid. Once I got behind the push mower it was all over. I was drenched. I did the complete enchilada – mow, whack, edge and blow. All that work took just about an hour. Mindy was up from her nap before I was finished. A glance her way as I passed her on the deck, I was certain she was giving me the stink eye! I finished my chore and asked what was the matter. She shared that she asked me to join her for her nap. But instead of me joining her, she heard the mower going. She wasn’t pleased.

I headed upstairs for my 2nd shower of the day around 5pm. Mindy and I made evening plans. We figured to take in the Gallery Hop and then possibly end up at CBC. My only reservation was the threat of rain that so far had been only that – just a threat.
It must’ve been around 6pm when we left for the Gallery Hop. We found parking along Goodale Park at a meter – one of the few remaining. The sky was looking more and more like rain, but then again, it had been threatening rain now since late Friday afternoon. We passed right by the Greek Festival – a Columbus tradition. We walked along the west side of High St 5 or 6 blocks taking in a few shops and galleries along the way. It’s been a few years since we’ve visited. There are several new venues for food, drink, and art. Of note, a new Cameron Mitchell place is going in called, The Pearl. Coming in 2013. I believe it’s an oyster bar. Started to sprinkle about the time we crossed High St to head back to the south. We took a couple more shops and galleries. It apparently was fashion week in Columbus, too. Several fronts had male and female models posing in their store front windows. Interesting touch!
We detoured down a side street hoping to visit a couple tiny galleries we’ve visited years past, but that’s when the rain started coming down a bit heavier. I suggested we high tail it. Mindy brought an umbrella at my prompting but it was small broken down piece of crap. About halfway back to the car I decided to run for it and left the umbrella for Mindy. It rained fairly hard but for only about 10 minutes, or until Mindy made it back to the car. Both of us damp, we drove to CBC taking Marconi the entire way.

As we passed 229 the sun was popping through the rainy cloud cover. I stopped and snapped a picture of the view. On to CBC. The CBC lot was thick with cars but someone was backing out of prime spot #1 just as we pulled in. I gave them a second to back out then took the premo spot. Thank you!

It was apparent immediately in the door and at the bar that they were still out of Bodhi. But that wasn’t a big deal. I was expecting it to be gone until next weekend. I ordered a regular IPA. I think Mindy did too. Vince was going to bring us some bread but said they were out. Instead, he brought us an order of risotto balls. Cool! Ever since concocting them on my own, I’ve taken special notice, not only of their taste but also of their texture. I know they use parmesan cheese is theirs, which isn’t nearly as bitey as the asiago I used in my last batch. I think their risotto is cooked tenderer than my own as well, plus they use chopped parsley both to the mix and also as a topping.

We eventually ordered meals. Mindy ordered their cheeseburger while went with the sliced prime rib sandwich. Mindy was texting nephew Joe. Apparently he and the family were dining at 229 celebrating Larry’s nieces birthday. Joe was said to be coming our way shortly. Mindy commented that it was probably a good thing that we didn’t stop in 229 like she’d suggested earlier in the day. That would’ve been awkward!
I’m guessing it was near 830pm when they showed up at CBC. It was Joe, Lindy, Larry, and Jodie. We made room. Joe ordered a ‘Yellow Teeth’ – thought I might die of laughter. He meant Summer Teeth, their summer lager. They didn’t have any of that left either. I think he went with the Fest instead. Lindy & Jodie each had a champagne-type drink. I think Larry stuck with water. Whirling on one of the corner TVs was the much hyped Michigan/Alabama game. Wasn’t close. Alabama was man handling the Wolverines. And some folks picked Michigan as national champs. Sorry folks, not this year!

We hung out at CBC until about 930pm. Mindy paid the tab and I drove home. It was raining as we headed home but relatively light. Still, we’d take it! More importantly, it was actually raining at our house, too. I stepped out on the deck and could hear lots of raucous coming from the neighbors, Kenny & Chrissy. I offered that we visit briefly. Mindy concurred. Not feeling anything from the three regular IPAs earlier, I opted instead for a Jack & Coke. If that didn’t do it, nothing would.
We walked down with the pug. Mike was sitting out under the roof’s eave smoking a cigar. I greeted Kenny, Mike, and Josh all still hanging on the deck despite the light rain. I eventually headed inside and talked with Chrissy & Teri. There were two other guys there as well, both friends of Josh, but I can’t recall their names. We weren’t there for more than 20-25 minutes when I noticed Mindy slipping out the back door for home. I remained there long enough to finish my drink then headed home with the pug. By then, Mindy was already in her robe and watching football from the sofa. I made myself another drink then joined her on the sofa watching the tail end of the Michigan/Alabama game.

She headed to bed near 11pm though the game wasn’t yet over. I promised to join her momentarily after a snack - a bite or two of my leftover sliced prime rib sandwich. I suggested we watch SNL from bed, thinking they’d almost certainly do a parody of Clint Eastwood at the RNC, and I wanted to see that. Mindy nixed that notion.