Jitney Lunch @ Monterey

I woke a couple times between 530am and when I heard Mindy roll out of bed at what must've been about 630am. I heard the shower start a few minutes later and tried unsuccessfully to return to sleep. It wasn't so much the noise as it was the fact that I'd completed the sleep my body craved. Near 650am I went ahead and got out of bed, brushed my teeth, and headed downstairs. Mindy was still in the middle of her ready, primping in front of the master bedroom mirror.

For a lazy second, I considered not exercising but quickly cast that notion aside. I did the usual 50 sit-ups, windmills and curls. Mindy stood ready to depart as I finished my curls. She wanted a hug. She also confirmed my intentions to meet her for lunch. I haven't met her at school since fall 2008.

I headed to the PC with coffee near 730am. It felt good knowing I didn't need to rush off to the shower or anywhere else. I had about 40 minutes to kill ahead of bus stop time. That time went fast. We headed out with the pug at 810am. It was cloudy and 61 degrees. Kenny was at the bus stop. I asked if his kids were planning to hike with us on Friday, COTA day. He knew nothing of it. Apparently he and Chrissy hadn't yet talked, but he thought it a good idea. He was heading to West Virginia over the weekend for a golf outing.

The bus was there and gone by 815am. Eiknarf and I headed home after wishing Kenny well at his golf outing. I spent a little time writing before heading out for a run shortly after 915am. I checked the radar beforehand. A thin band of rain was moving quickly into our area. On a positive note, it looked like it might clear after it passed. I wore a thin wicking shirt and jacket. By the time I left the house the temperature had dropped a couple degrees.

The rain moved in during my run but not long enough to soak me. And by the time my run ended, there were significant breaks in the clouds and even a few peeks of sunshine. However, not five minutes after I was home from my run more rain moved in, and this time it came down in buckets. In fact, it rained so hard that the gutters overflowed like a waterfall. Reminded me of a July rain storm minus the lightning and thunder. It lasted no more than ten minutes.

I was in the shower by 10am. From the masterbath, I could see quite a bit of blue sky in the offing. And by the time I was ready to leave for my lunch with Mindy the sun was shining brightly. Appeared that the rain was gone for good. I left for Grove City near 1030am. I took 270S all the way to the route 62 exit then took Home Rd to Hoover Rd. I was there in less than 15 minutes, and far sooner than I planned. Mindy's lunch period didn't start until 1115am. I didn't want to get there too early.

I hadn't yet decided where to pick-up food, but quickly settled on the Taco Bell just around the corner from her school on Stringtown and Hoover. I sat in their lot until 1050am then headed in to place my order. It's been years since I've visited a Taco Bell. Gone was their $1 menu (they're the ones who started the whole thing). After staring at the menu for several minutes I decided to get two burrito supremes and a dozen tacos. I figured there might be a teacher or two who would appreciate a taco.

Arrived at the school near 11am. I signed in at the office via their online security process. Pretty cool. It printed out a name sticker with my photo on it. Jill, the admin assistant, sent me on my way to Mindy's classroom. Mindy smiled and waved me in. The kids were excited to have a visitor and made a lot of to-so about me. It was quite amusing. I hadn't given much thought to dealing constructively with 25 six year olds. Yikes! They were easily amused. I was nearly mobbed. I must've had about ten of them dancing around me pleading for me to guess their names. Nearby, there was chart with all their names and pictures. I glanced at it for tips. Not too many common names. Instead, there was a Deacon, Draven, Blakeleigh, Muiz, & Atalia. It was lunch time, so Mindy hearded them off to the cafeteria. I helped, but encouraged a several at the rear of the line to do the funny walk all the way down the hall. What a hoot! Mindy gave us the hush sign a couple of time. I could quickly see that I was a distraction to the peace, order and tranquility that Mindy's seemingly worked hard to establish.

Once the kids were dropped off in the cafeteria we headed back to Mindy's classroom where we enjoyed our burritos and a couple tacos. We took the 8 or 9 remaining tacos to the teacher's lounge where I greeted many of Mindy's teacher peeps. As a kid, I often wondered just what went on behind the teacher's lounge door. Were they in there grading papers, eating shiny apples, or planning how they might ruin our lives with yet another test? I was shocked then when on one occasion they door popped open just as I walked by and cigarette smoke came billowing ouot into the hallway. However briefly it was, that encounter ruined the innocent, angelic image my brain had conjured up of teachers. But I've digressed.

We hung in the lounge for a just few minutes. We set out down the hallway looking for Shelly and Kerianne. We found neither right away, but after a couple minutes we happened upon Shelly seemingly in a hurry to get to an offsite meeting. And just a few minutes later we found Karianne. I gave her a hug. Mindy and I headed back to her classroom where the kids, due to the morning's heavy rains, were busy playing inside recess. It didn't much to get them all riled up again. They were all about me, once again wanting to play the guess my name game. At some point I suggested we all dance. Not three seconds later, 5 or 6 of them were boogying in the middle of the classroom. I joined them. Mindy thanked me for getting them all fired up. Before heading to the office to checkout, I thanked the kids for making my lunch visit a fun one. They thanked me too. :)

I left the school and headed down the road a few miles to the Grove City Target where I filled a cart with stuff for Olivia. I might've gotten little carried away, at first thinking I'd pick out a couple cute outfits. I ended up with 3 or 4 outfits, some PJs, a winter jacket, underwear, and socks. And once can't get a 6 year old clothes alone. I added a scooter as well as an animated plush toy. I also added some Halloween candy as well as a few other odds and ends. When it was all said and done I had dropped something just shy of $300.

I left Target and headed across the street to home Depot where I bought a 2"X10"X8' and had an associate cross cut it into two, 4' lengths for easy transport in the Accord. I picked up 5 joist hangers too. I'll cut the 4' lengths to 14.5" and use them to support the top plate that runs parallel to the existing floor joists. I headed for home.

Home by 2pm. The weather, meanwhile, improved immeasurably. By then it was 60 and sunny. Not wanting to waste an opportunity, I quickly changed into my running clothes and headed out to mow the lawn. We planned to go hiking on Friday and to Olivia's birthday party on Saturday. I wasn't sure when I'd have the time to do the lawn otherwise.

This time I push mowed first and did so in a hurry. I'll bet it didn't take 20 minutes to do it all. I lowered the blade to about 2.75". Did the tractor piece next. All totaled, it took no more than 50 minutes start to finish to cut the entire lawn. And while the lawn could've used a whack and an edging, I opted to forego that step this week. I'll do it next go around.

I kept waiting for Jacob to get off the bus. It wasn't until I saw Lillian get off the bus without Jacob that I remembered that he was going home with a school pal, and Mindy was planning to pick him up later that evening. Bella got home from school at her usual time of 4pm. Mindy didn't get home until about 445pm after working late and then making a stop at the Grove City Kroger for a few food items.

Mindy and her mom were going to visit an old neighbor who recently became seriously ill. She planned on dropping Bella at gymnastics and going for the visit immediately after. I'd have a couple hours all to myself. The plan called for me to pick-up Bella from gymnastics at the usual 730pm. I'd be bringing her gym pal, Laurel home with us, too. She'd be spending the night and then going hiking with us in Hocking Hills Friday.

I spent my evening writing and playing on the computer, certainly nothing too serious. The time went by fast. I left to get Bella at 710pm. I was still in my running clothes from earlier. Arrived around 725pm. Caught the last few minutes of practice. Bella was on the double-mini, but was struggling to master a new dismount that included a front flip. Practice was soon dismissed. Kelly, Bella's coach, brought Laurel's things to the lobby. She joked that she packed enough for her to stay the month. She wasn't kidding. Two shopping bags and a suitcase. One shopping bag included five American Girl dolls. Yikes!

We were home for 30-40 minutes before Mindy & Jacob. It was somewhere near 830pm. I changed into my PJs, poured a Centennial then tuned the TV to the TNF game between the Seahawks & 49ers. I watched only passively. Mindy headed to bed before 10pm. I stayed up much later, heading up to bed somewhere close to 11pm.