Reds Doomed

I slept really good, not waking even once until just before my planned wake time of 540am. Downstairs I could smell freshly brewed coffee. I glanced out back and slipped into my exercise shoes. It was foggy and chilly. Headed to the livingroom where I whipped out 50 sit-ups. Quickly to my feet, I whipped out windmills and then 40 curls. Coffee time!

Mindy was taking the day off school to get Bella to an eye exam at Children’s Hospital. She asked that I wake her at 640am or just before my run. I spent the next 25 minutes enjoying coffee and playing around on my PC. It was only 38 degrees. Saw that the Reds won 9-0. They now lead the best of five series 2-0.
Did meditation and stretch then delivered Mindy’s coffee. She asked how I was feeling. Good! Jacob was already up and soon downstairs making his breakfast. He was dressed in basketball shorts and a light weight sport jacket. I warned him that it was very chilly. He didn’t bother changing or adding any additional layers.
I dressed the same as the day before, including wearing running gloves. I headed out the door just ahead of Jacob. It was recycling and trash day. Both cans were already at the curb. The recycling was already emptied. Jacob was at the bus stop by the time I completed my warm-up loop.

I ran the full 4.1 miles in the chilly fog. Mindy was still working on her ready when I got back home. I hadn’t planned on making my own breakfast, but got started on it right away. Mindy didn’t make it downstairs until I had finished my eggs. I asked if she would walk the dog while I showered. Yep! That allowed me to regain upwards of ten minutes. She also shared that she would throw together my lunch, another task I thought I might have to handle for myself. Mindy hollered upstairs to make sure that Bella was up and getting ready. I was off to the shower near 750am.

Took me about 20 minutes to shower and dress. I was back downstairs before 815am. I reminded Mindy that the Kidney Foundation was supposed to come Wednesday morning. We had a lot of stuff waiting for them in the basement. It worked out that she and Bella were ready to depart at roughly the same time as me. In a minor turn of events, Mindy headed out to warm our cars a few minutes before departing.

We backed out of the drive somewhere close to 835am. Mindy & Bella turned left, me to the right. Hilliard was far foggier than our neck of the woods – pea soup near our office building. Once I was settled into my office I walked down to chat with my boss since I couldn’t get to him on Monday. He showed me a few pictures of his new cabin in Vinton County. Very nice! I unloaded my concern and together we formulated a plan to get it corrected. I was a little surprised when he picked up the phone and placed a call to try and fix it right then. Unfortunately, the call didn’t net results we hoped. He promised more follow thru, higher up the chain. Cool! I appreciated the assist.

I spent a large portion of my day finalizing another monthly report and also figuring out how I might squeeze in yet another report it looks like I will need to take on. Ugh! I was admittedly a little stressed over the idea. Mindy texted a picture of Bella in glasses near noon. Turns out, those in the photo were only sample glasses. Her prescription won’t be in for a week, week and one half. She followed up the text with a call on her way to drop Bella off at school somewhere near 1230pm. I was just getting ready to head out for lunch. I needed to get away.

My plan was to visit Staples and possibly buy a new office/computer chair. My old mesh chair is a wreck. The shock is broke and now the mesh is torn. I’ve had it for quite a while. If I actually bought one, I thought I would call Mindy and ask if she could swing by and pick it up with the Pilot. It just so happened that Staples was having an office chair sale. They have so many and I didn’t want to spend a whole while at the same time I didn’t want to go to cheap either. After hemming and hawing, I found the perfect chair on sale for $100. It was $170 just last week when I was in. Said they would have it ready near 3pm.

There were three young women in the Staples giving complimentary chair messages. My neck and shoulder were killing me. I really should’ve taken advantage. I talked with one of them at length. They run a message therapy salon in Lincoln Village. Gave me two coupons – a one hour deep tissue massage for $39. Hmm?
I celled Mindy from the Staples lot. Asked if she would come by near 3pm to pick-up my chair. Said she would. I was there for less than 30 minutes. Headed next door to Home Depot. There was something I really wanted to pick-up at Lowes or Home Depot but for the life of me I couldn’t recall what it was. I headed in anyway.
I browsed a few aisles until I stumbled upon programmable thermostats. That wasn’t the item I intended but it was something on my wish list and something I’ve looked at several times past. This time I broke down and bought one. It’s an ideal purchase for us, especially since we typically alter the temp in a neat little pattern. I bought an upper end model for $50.

Headed back to the office in a slightly better frame of mind than when I left. I ate my packed lunch, including a packet of tuna I’ve had sitting on my desk for a couple of months now. I ate my salad without the benefit of dressing. It’s my latest attempt at cutting out unnecessary and unhealthy calories. It’s funny how tasty a salad is without dressing. I’ve been doing it for more than a couple weeks now.

Talked with Mindy again midafternoon. She picked up my chair just picking up Bella’s prescription around the corner from Staples at CVS. She was heading to the Giant Eagle Market District to pick-up some steaks. Wanted to know if I would grill ‘em. Yes.
Talked to my boss sometime just after 5pm to fill him in on where I was with our issue from earlier. I wrapped up my work day at 515p and headed for home. I called Mindy once on the road. She was just about to leave to take Bella to gymnastics and was busy pulling brussel sprouts off the grill. She and Bella were just heading out as I was pulling in. Unbeknownst to Mindy, Jacob jumped in the Pilot too and climbed over the back seat. Apparently he was going along for the ride. I opened the rear hatch and carried in my new office chair. Mindy and the kids pulled out.

Mindy asked that I start grilling the steaks at 6pm. It was about 535pm. I used the 25 minutes to reload the coffee maker for Wednesday and go through the mail. Come 6pm I fired up the grill but let it preheat for a good five minutes before throwing on the steaks. Walked out to check on some grass seed I planted near the tree swing about 9 days prior. Still no germination. The grill was ready by the time I was back up on the deck. The new burners get a bit hotter than the old ones. The onboard thermostat read 600 degrees. I went for the three prime filets Mindy had seasoned and ready on the island. Mindy and Jacob got back home with just a few more minutes of grilling needed. Good timing. She had red skinned potato wedges baking in the oven too, along with the grilled brussel sprouts.

Dinner was served a few minutes later. She gave me the pick of the filets. Turned out, I picked the one grilled near medium. The other two were closer to medium rare, or just the way I like them. We swapped steaks midway through dinner. Haven’t had a steak in maybe three weeks, Yummy! We saved some steak for Bella.

I managed clean-up, and by the time I was done it was already near time to go after Bella. I might’ve had 15 minutes to kill ahead of time. Still, not much. I left to get Bella at 712pm. Didn't take me long to get to the gym, but had a frightening near miss on the 70W to 270S freeway entrance ramp. I was aware of the construction - who isn't) but a recent change on the traffic pattern left only the inside lane access to 270S, the other now exclusively for 270N. Another car was in the inside lane and seemed to be adjusting their speed to cock block me no matter what I did - speed up / slow down. I decided to simply stay in the outside lane. Well, seemingly out of nowhere the newly placed concrete divider separating the two directions appeared. I had to slow aggressively to merge into the southbound 270 lane just barely avoiding clipping that pesky care as well as the concrete divider. Yikes!

I listened to the Reds playoff game through the relatively short drive to the gym. The score was tied 1-1, despite the Reds pitcher, Homer Bailey, not yet giving up a hit through 5 innings. ( His last start of the regular season was a no-hitter. The dude was on fire!). The only trouble was, the Reds weren't mounting much of any offense.
Arrived at the gym around 725p and watched the last 5 minutes of practice. It was packed with kids, some doing gymnastics, while others were there participating in the cheer program. Bella came jogging over after practice and we headed to the waiting Accord. I chatted briefly with coach, Kelly, Mindy's pal.

Bella asked if we could change the station away from the Reds game. Generally not a problem. After all, the girl needs her WNCI fix. This time, however, I was staunch in my opposition. No, we're going to listen to the ballgame. Arrived home a few minutes later, probably at about 745pm. We left about half a filet cut up for Bella. She was soon in tears, exactly why, I am not sure. But it had something to do with her dinner. Mindy wasn't wanting to hear it and at least somewhat berated her for having a needless meltdown. She quickly collected herself, to which Mindy later attributed it to hunger.

I watched the rest of the Reds game, which ended up going to extra innings still tied 1-1. At the same time, I was feeling quite a bit of strife, all brought on by some silly work related matters. In the end the stuff doesn't mean anything. But I tend to be one of those that can't simply let go of something. I have to let it run its course.

Sadly, the Reds lost the game in the 10th inning after our third baseman dropped a routine ground ball that would've been the last out. Instead, the Giants scored and lead 2-1. The Reds didn't score in the bottom half of the inning. Off to bed near 10pm.