Living Livy

I slept until about 800am then quietly slipped out of the room and headed downstairs to prep some coffee and play on the internet. It was still drippy and cool, about 46 degrees. The forecast, however, called for improving conditions throughout the day. It looked like the rain would be moving out quickly.

I spent an hour or more enjoying coffee and updating my blog. 9am came and went. 10am came and went. Finally, sometime near1030am I slipped out for my run. I ran three miles. During my run the sky cleared more and more. Even had a little sunshine before I was back at home.

Mindy was busy prepping all of Olivia’s birthday gifts. There were many. She wrapped most then stuffed them into gift bags. She prepped the gifts from Kaileigh, too. Mindy showered and readied for the party first. I’m thinking that she headed up around 1130am. In fact, she was still up getting ready when the Buckeye game kicked off. Later, she shared that she heard me bitching at the TV when the Buckeyes gave up an 83 yard touchdown on the first offensive play. It didn’t get any better either.
I headed up for a shower around 1215pm. Mindy was still in process, but all but through. While I showered, she made sure the girls and Jacob were ready. I’m thinking that it was 1250pm when we left the house for Ashley’s.

We showed up just a few minutes after 1pm. Olivia was excited to see us, and probably more excited to see all of her gifts. Already there were Kelly, Lindsey and the boys, Al (Kelly’s dad). He apparently had Rosemary drop him off earlier so he could watch the Buckeye game with Stephen. There were others, too, including Stephen’s little sister and her kids as well as some of his friends.

I took a seat right away next to Al, who was watching the game. Mindy offered help to Ashley, but she seemed to have things under control. Olivia took me out back to show me her new trampoline. She was very excited about that. There was a whole lot of cigarette smoking going on out back and then out front. Within the next 10-15 minutes Rosemary showed up to join Al. She tends to act a bit cool to both Mindy and I whenever Kelly’s around. She’s been trained well.  On the other hand, Al is as pleasant as ever.

Courtney showed up a little later. She gave Mindy perhaps the coolest reception of all. Her greeting amounted to little more than “hey’. Too bad! Of course Courtney is about 7 months pregnant. Imagine then how disappointed I was to see her out front with the others puffing on a cigarette. She’s definitely her mother’s daughter. Made me sick to my stomach. Total disregard for herself and more importantly, the wellbeing of that baby. I bit my tongue, choosing to keep my opinions to myself. The day was about Olivia. Ashley whipped up some appetizers. I enjoyed a few stalks of celery and then a few meatballs. I washed it all down with water. By midway through the 3rd quarter of the Buckeye game, most of us had written them off. We couldn’t do a darn thing, and it appeared that we were going to lose to Purdue for the 2nd year in a row.

Sometime during the 4th quarter Ashley organized cake, song, and presents. Mindy helped out by slicing up the cake. After all the kids had their fill, we cleared the table so Olivia could open presents. The entire table top was covered in gifts. She cleaned up, and probably got enough clothes to carry her through winter. She got plenty of fun stuff too.

Courtney’s baby daddy stopped by briefly for a visit. I don’t know him too well having only met him one other time. He’s an articulate fella, but everybody says he’s a little shady. I try not to judge based on another’s opinion but wisely keep my eyes and ears opened. He was dressed ruggedly and wearing a fluorescent vest. Said he was on his way to work – does road construction. Shared that he’ll be getting laid off come Dec 1, when road construction stops for the winter. Also learned that Stephen got laid off just the week prior. Poor Ashley.

The party was wrapping up, and many were departing. The Buckeyes, meanwhile appeared cooked, especially after Braxton Miller went down with what appeared to be a serious injury. The back-up came in and promptly through an interception down at our own end of the field. We trailed by 8 before the interception and there were only a couple minutes remaining.

Somehow or another we held them from scoring after the turnover. We got the ball back with 48 seconds, drove down for a touchdown, went for a 2 point conversion and made it. Suddenly, a game we had no business being in, was tied. The whole house was hollering at the TV. In fact, Rosemary, of all people, was screaming louder than anyone. I was taken back. Never heard her yell at a football game – ever. Now, I have heard her yell at Al a time or two. 

Miraculously, the Buckeyes scored a touchdown in OT and then held Purdue out of the endzone for the unexpected victory. That ranks right up there with three past Buckeye games that come to mind: Illinois -when Keith Byars ran out of his shoe – we came back from something like 24-3. Minnesota Golden Gophers were beating us 31-6 at halftime circa 1990. We came back and won. Lastly, LSU game – John Coopers first season. We were down something like 21-3 with 5 minutes left. Me and my buddy left the game.

The mood in the house was suddenly elevated. Earlier, I heard Stephen giving Ashley crap for scheduling the party during the OSU game. Afterwards, I heard him say he would schedule next year’s party during the OSU game too.  Stephen lives and dies with the Buckeyes success.

We left for home around 430pm. Mindy planned on dropping me and the kids at home and then heading off to one of her students’ homes who was hosting a Halloween party. She also sent a text to Lindsey asking if she would come over around 6pm to watch our kids so we could go to dinner. Mindy expected to be back from the party around 630pm.

Since it was on the way, Mindy took Kaileigh home. While she was away, I napped and watched more football. The kids spent most of that time outside playing. Lindsey and the boys showed up just before 6pm. By then I felt pretty well rested and spent several minutes writing for my blog.

Mindy got home around 635pm. Even though that was her stated ETA, I was a little surprised given that she didn’t leave the house until 5pm. Mindy headed upstairs to change and freshen up. It didn’t take her long. I freshened up a little, too, brushing my teeth and hair. Mindy asked if I wanted to take an empty growler. Nah, don’t plan on drinking beer on Sunday as I prepare for my return to work. 
We left for CBC still before 7pm. Mindy left Lindsey $25 so she could order the kids pizza. They were very excited about that, and even more excited that Lindsey agreed to get Poppa John’s. Arrived at CBC ten minutes later. The lot was near capacity and the bar area packed – standing room only. But just as often happens, a couple let us know that they’d be leaving very soon. Offered their bar stools. Thank you!

I ordered a Bodhi. Mindy ordered wine. Not long after our arrival the bar area thinned considerably. Kate and Emily were tending bar. No Kevin and no Vince. We struck up a conversation with two guys sitting next to us. Both were at the OSU game. Said they had a blast and stayed for the entire thing, unlike a lot of other fans. Turns out, they’re from Cleveland and were in town not only for the game, but also for a concert at the LC pavilion. Can’t recall who. We talked about our weekend last in Cleveland. They’re both beer fans too, and concurred with our thumbs up for the Brew Kettle. One of the two said he frequents there once a week. Shared a couple others too, Fat Head’s & Willoughby’s. They didn’t stay more than 30-40 more minutes. They left for their concert.

As fate would have it, two of the three folks that bellied up in the spot the Clevelander’s vacated were school teachers. Mindy talked with them at length. I participated on and off. Emily came by asking if we wanted food. I ordered risotto balls. At some point, I noticed that the gentleman sitting next to me wearing a skull beanie had a Multnomah county library book in tow. I casually asked if he lived in or around Portland. He did. Said he lives NW Portland.

Talked with him at length. He’s not a skier but is a hiker. Says he’s been up Council Crest numerous times, the very park overlooking the city where we were married. He was very much a beer fan, and talked extensively about all the small batch breweries popping up in Portland. Mindy kept bringing up McMenamin’s no matter what area of town or surrounding suburb we talked about. One could tell he wasn’t too hip to their beers.

Said he was an IPA fan, so I bought him a flight of CBC beers. The gentleman sitting the other side of him is a local artist. Mindy met him a couple weeks prior when she stopped in on her way from school on a Friday to fill a growler. Had a baby with him then. Apparently some of his work is being displayed by the city.

Mindy and I ordered dinner. She ordered salmon. I ordered wings. After three glasses of wine, Mindy was feeling no pain. She got up and walked over to talk with the Portland guy as well as the artist. She tried her darndest to invite the Portland guy for a home cooked dinner in the coming work week. He respectfully declined for his busy schedule.  I had to nudge her more than once to come eat her meal. It was getting cold, sitting for upwards of 10 minutes. By the time she finally sat to eat, my wings were all but gone.

I had three beers in total, but drank ice water for the last hour or so. There wasn’t any way Mindy could drive. We stuck around CBC until almost 1030pm. By then Lindsey & Bella had called multiple times. I had no idea, but apparently Mindy told Lindsey that she thought we’d be home around 9pm. Mindy picked up the check.
Lindsey and Landon headed for home shortly after we arrived. Jacob asked Rocky to spend the night. Bella, who had been reading about the Orionid meteor shower, asked if we could watch it. Heck yes! I was excited that she was so into it. Without thinking, we headed out on the deck, Bella, Mindy & I. Seeing no meteors, I double checked the start time. I returned apologizing that it wasn’t expected to begin until 1am EDT. The site I was on cited PDT. I offered to wake her middle of the night. She agreed.
Mindy and I headed to bed, me pouring and taking the last of my Centennial along with me. We tuned into SNL but I didn’t see too much. Good night moon and meteors!