Seventh Heaven

I wasn’t up Monday until almost 550am. I was downstairs making coffee and preparing to do sit-ups when it dawned on me that my sinuses felt a whole lot better. In fact, for all intents and purposes, a 100% better. Felt normal. That pretty much confirmed that the trouble was related to the grout dust and not a cold.

I whizzed through sit-ups, windmills and push-ups then delivered Mindy’s coffee. After waking Mindy and checking on Jacob, I plopped down at the PC with my own coffee. I didn’t play around for too long, though, and probably no more than 5 minutes.
I hurried through a stretch and meditation then dressed for a run. It was a cool, cloudy morning. It was in the low 50s. I wore shorts a short sleeved running t-shirt and a light jacket. I didn’t get out the door until 645am. I guessed Mindy would be gone by the time I returned. I ran the full 4.1 miles feeling pretty good, though my legs were a little stiff. The trash truck had already been our place. I passed him a couple of times during my run.

As expected, Mindy was already gone when I got back home. My breakfast was waiting in the microwave. I had to walk Eiknarf first after confirming with Bella that she hadn’t yet been walked. That took about 10 minutes door to door. About normal.

I enjoyed my eggs pretty quickly then dashed off for a shower. It was near 8am by the time I was back downstairs clean, dressed, and ready to go. With the minutes before bus time, I finished packing my lunch then emptied the dehumidifier. Met Chrissy and Makayla at the bus stop. The bus was right on time – 820am.

Back at the house I made preparations to depart but took the time to unload the dishwasher and then hand wash a few loosely scattered dishes. I knew Mindy would appreciate that later when she got home from school. Speaking of Mindy, it was the 7 year anniversary of the date we met – September 17, 2005. I had already decided to give her the purple toaster later that evening. I also planned to stop at lunch and pick up a card and possibly even some flowers – roses. My laptop was still logged on from Friday and the weekend. I actually took care of a couple work related emails before leaving the house around 850am.

Even though it registered just under half a tank of gas. I decided to stop and fill-up my gas tank at Thornton's on the way to work, curious what kind of gas mileage we got on our Indy trip. It took 10.8 gallons after driving exactly 346 miles. Arrived at the office after 9am and by the time I had my lunch stowed, fresh ice water and was logged back into the network it was almost 930am. I had a 930am call I needed to join too. Had just enough time to join on time. The call was brief and went well. I did the gas mileage math during our conference call. We got 32 mpg on our Indy trip. That's even better than the stated highway gas mileage. You're not gonna get better conditions - long, straight freeway.

I had a rather hefty to-do list and then a lot of fresh, urgent matters vying for my attention as well. I took a deep breath and dug in. I made good progress on all fronts. Near 1pm I left for Target. There I picked up a greeting card, gift bag, gift tissue paper, and another bag of lightly salted almonds. I had the purple toaster in my trunk. It barely fit in the gift bag. I made it fit! The card I bought had nothing but a huge 7 on the front. It was really a b-day card for a seven year old. I planned to scratch out the internal verbiage and add my own back at the office.

I considered heading over to the Kroger during lunch but thought better of it in the end. I still wanted to get Mindy some flowers but figured I would stop on my way home instead. I ate my packed lunch and attacked my to-do list. Had a very busy afternoon. I didn’t leave the office for home until 525pm. I planned to call Mindy but not until I was out of Kroger. I made good time getting to and then in and out of Kroger. They had a decent collection of roses. I opted for red. I called Mindy from the traffic light turning on to Cemetery Rd. She reminded me that we had nowhere to be that evening. Asked me to guess what we were having for dinner. Rotisserie chicken. Yep! Cool!

At home, both Bella and Makayla left their bikes at least part way in the driveway preventing me from pulling all the way up in the drive. I left the car at the apron then headed inside with the roses and my backpack. The flowers brought a huge smile to Mindy’s face. I pulled the card from my back pack while asking the girls to head out to move their bikes. They did so promptly. Mindy had a card waiting for me too. I headed out to move my car all the way up into the driveway then carried in the gift bag with the new purple toaster. It’s shiny and dark purple. In fact, it looks a lot like a Minnesota Viking helmet. 

Bella started to open the gift bag when Mindy snapped at her to stop. Mindy proceeded to open it. When I bought it last week, I thought I might keep it hidden until Xmas. I worried, however, that she might go out and buy one between no w and then. She smiled and laughed. She first mentioned that Target had purple toasters last spring when her mother quickly insisted I go out and buy her one. It’s really pretty, but those that know me well, know that I do things on my own terms, and can be rather obstinate if someone tries to force my hand.

I guess we’ll be giving our old toaster to charity, whether that’s a foundation or one of my kids.  It was time for dinner. Mindy dished up the rotisserie chicken and mashed potatoes. As expected, the chicken dinner was delicious. I had a 2nd helping of chicken. I managed clean-up while Mindy tinkered around the house. I think she was still doing some laundry. Jacob, meanwhile, headed out to find his friends while Bella played with her neighbor friends out front.

It wasn’t too long before Emily came to the front door sharing that Bella fell of her bike and needed me. I headed out to see what was the matter. She was just across the bridge and on the sidewalk. She wasn’t crying, but she was sniffling. Said her front tire went off the sidewalk and into the neighbors poorly kept lawn. It’s about a 3” drop. She said that when she tried steering back up, she crashed and rolled on the sidewalk. I think she was more scared than anything else. I offered to fetch her and ice pack. I joked that I would bring them each one. They all smiled and agreed. Mindy shared a long time ago that kids love ice packs. I wasn’t kidding, either. I made three packs with baggies and ice and took them to the girls. They nabbed them up in a hurry. 

Around 7pm I opted to get my book and do some reading. Mindy and the kids were watching some crap TV in the family room while I snuggled up with my book in the living room recliner. I didn’t read more than 3 pages before I drifted off to sleep. Heavenly, I tell you! One of the best ways to nap – with a book. I didn’t nap for long. Ten minutes tops.

After waking I headed upstairs and changed into my comfy sleeping clothes. It was just about time to join MNF – Denver/Atlanta. I was eager to watch Peyton Manning. Mindy watched the first 10 minutes or so with me while also playing on her laptop. The game didn’t start well for Denver, or more specifically Peyton Manning. Of his first eight passes, three were interceptions. Yikes! I saw all three, and for my money, regardless of what the commentators said, the passes looked wobbly and with any zip. I just wondered if there was a physical issue. As poorly as Denver was playing, Atlanta was playing lights out good. They amassed a lead of something like 20-0 in a hurry. Mindy and the kids headed to bed around 910pm. I stayed up a while longer and through halftime. I fell asleep through most of the halftime show but woke right after the 3nd half kick-off. I watched a couple more series but then headed to bed. Good luck Peyton!