Pulsars, Quasars & Blazars (a watch, TV, & basketball team)

I didn’t sleep well at all. I woke about an hour after first going to sleep worrying/thinking about work. It must’ve been near midnight when I slipped out of bed and headed downstairs to my computer hoping to alter my focus and surf myself sleepy. Worked like a charm. After about 20-25 minutes my mind was settled and I headed back to bed. I had strange dreams and woke several times during the night. I got up for keeps at 540am.

I didn’t feel under slept. After sit-ups I was wide awake. It was during windmills and curls that I noticed a number of distant lightning flashes. Just minutes earlier there were oodles of stars hanging overhead. I checked the weather radar as soon as I sat at the PC with coffee. Sure enough, there were a couple small storms moving in, one just about upon us and yet another about an hour out. Soon the lightning was accompanied by rumbles of thunder. I heard the pitter patter of light rain at some point too.

I woke Mindy around 605am. Said she slept so much better. Said she saw the lightning too. The second storm cell looked like it might skirt us to the north, though the yellow concentrated area was expanding and collapsing. I proceeded with my routine as normal. Completed meditation and a stretch between 615 and 630am. And by the time that I dressed for my run the rain had stopped and the lightning and thunder seemed to be five miles or so to our north. I went ahead and did my run. It was quite warm – 64 degrees. I skipped wearing a jacket.

There were three or four flashes of lightning and muted thunder during the first couple miles. Just as I began to relax and stopped worrying about worsening conditions, lightning bolts struck ahead of me, that, of course, was followed by a clap of thunder and then significant rain. I was suddenly very nervous. I picked up my pace and then at the three mile/four mile decision point I didn’t waste any time mulling over my decision. Screw this! I cut off towards home curtailing my run to just three miles. I ran that last mile faster than I have any other mile in a year or more. 

I knew when I left the house that it was close, but I also could see that it was small and believed it might miss us. Sure enough, a couple minutes after getting home the sky to west cleared again. It was fine as I walked the pug, bumpy only during my run time. That happens a few times each year, and every now and again I’ll get a cluster of days like that. But more often than not it’s nothing more than heavy rain during the run.

Bella shared that she woke from the storm and was worried about me. Mindy had my eggs ready and waiting. They were fresh from the pan again, not needing microwaved. We had oodles of fresh fruit for the first time in a while: pineapple, strawberries, black berries, which I don’t eat, raspberries, sliced oranges, and watermelon. I ate quite a bit and also packed a small container for my lunch. Mindy left at 730am. Bella and I carried on with the rest of our ready. Once again, I was showered and downstairs ahead of 755am. I spent most of my time packing my lunch and tidying up the kitchen. Bella headed out a couple minutes early. I met she and Makayla at the bus stop.

I could see & hear Trena talking to her subcontractor along the side of her house (pour bus stop is in her driveway). She walked around where we wait for the bus. She asked how long before our bus arrived. She needed her contractor to move so she could back out the drive. We moved out of the way. Before she left for work she shared that she was having a new gas line install in her home and that they’d be tearing up that part of her front yard. Didn’t want me to be alarmed. I appreciated the heads up. The reason, she said, was to facilitate a new tankless water heater. Said they told her she needed it. Sounds bogus to me, but hey.

The bus arrived on time and Eiknarf and I headed back home. It was already shaping up to be a lovely day now that that rain was out of the way. Chrissy shared that Kenny & Mike were planning to pour the concrete for their new basketball court. I left for work near 830am.

I was reminded that I needed to change my login password at start-up. I took care of it right then, or at least I tried. There were technical difficulties that required I contact the HD. That ended up eating an unexpected hour of my morning, but at least the problem was taken care of. I kept busy all morning and once again didn’t bother taking a lunch break. I forgot to bring those 2”X10” joist hangers that I planned to return to Home Depot. I need to get some more 3” decking screws, but figured I’d take care of both tasks same visit. Besides, I didn’t plan to use them that evening.
The day went fast yet I accomplished most items on my to-do list. I was feeling better about work and things in general. That’s the way it usually goes. Once I get to Tuesday and back in the swing of things, my outlook turns more towards the positive.
Mindy called at some point to remind me about Jacob’s concert. The plan called for me to head home a little early so I could run Bella to gymnastics practice. Jacob needed to be at the school by 550pm. Per the plan, I wouldn’t get to see the concert. Called Mindy when I left work at 5pm. She shared that her mom canceled – not feeling too well. It was 513pm. Mindy was fretting over my arrival to get Bella. She opted to leave her at home since I was only minutes away.

I found it odd then when I was sitting at the light at Trabue and Wilson and saw Mindy and Jacob sitting at the same light although in the turn right lane. I guessed they turned around thinking they might take another route to the school. Given the hour, there is no easy path back to Hilliard.

Bella was lounging on the sofa when I got home. It was 525pm. I asked what time she generally leaves for practice. 535pm. With ten short minutes, I took care of all my after work chores, including rinsing lunch containers, starting the dishwasher, and prepping Wednesday’s coffee. I even had time to empty the dehumidifier into the fountain that was otherwise running low on water. We left the house right at 535pm.
Given all the construction and the fact that it was rush hour, I didn’t even consider taking 270. Instead, we took Fisher to Phillipi to Georgesville and by the new casino. That worked out well. Bella pestered me endlessly to change the stereo from XM ESPN to WNCI. After a blurb I wanted to hear about the NFL I met her request. We arrived at Twisted Sister gymnastics at 550pm. I headed back home, this time taking 270N. That leg is rarely if ever that congested.

I was excited about having 90 minutes or so to myself, though I wasn’t entirely sure what I’d do. Thought I might make something to eat then relax and read. After making myself a burrito using leftover pot roast, I spent some time on my PC watching YouTube videos on installing glass block basement windows. Considering replacing our existing windows with glass block ahead of the finishing project. I also started a to-do list of tasks that need or should be completed prior to framing. The list is growing. I just realized while writing this that the city did indeed pick-up the carpet remnants we sat at the curb Monday night.

As it often does, the time went fast. Mindy and the kids were home around 740pm. Looked like she brought home Wendy’s but only for the kids. Glad she didn’t bring me anything. I was still fine from the burrito. She asked that I join them in the kitchen, so I pulled myself away from my PC and sat at the kitchen table with the family. Jacob said his concert went bad. Mindy said otherwise, was amazed at how well they did, especially given their relatively short time in school this year. I heard Jacob rehearsing Sunday night. He’s definitely getting it.

Jacob was soon off to his room. Bella was still busy eating her chicken nuggets. I hid a few from her betting she wouldn’t notice. She did, however, and was convinced that I ate them. We gave them back a few minutes later. After Mindy dispatched Bella to the shower, I turned the TV to the Soundscape Music channel and then did some reading. As often happens, reading turned into dosing, but this time I fought it off. Around 8pm I changed the channel to History Channel and watched The Universe watching an hour’s worth of programming about pulsars, quasars, & blazars. Cool stuff!

As interesting as it was, I was getting sleepy, and because I was somewhat short slept the night before, I declared it my bedtime right at 9pm and headed up to bed. Bella, as she often does, panicked a little knowing I was going to bed in front of her. She likes to go to bed with me still up and downstairs. It’s a safe thing.

I didn’t fall right asleep. It was warm & humid in our room. Perhaps the one downside to the memory foam is that it makes the bed warmer. I read a few reviews that shared that sentiment. They’re right. Mindy joined me in bed before I was able to fall asleep. I’m pretty sure, however, that I was asleep before 930pm.