Choppin' Cannas

Finally Friday! I was up and downstairs around 535am. A completely clear sky and 32 degrees to start the day. Expecting warm weather for the weekend – our Indian summer. I hadn’t yet decided if I was going to work at home or the office. I figured I wouldn’t decide until the last minute. I completed Friday calisthenics, which included sit-ups, windmills, and push-ups. Enjoyed coffee at the PC while compiling my morning hurricane Sandy report.

Woke Mindy with coffee near 610am. She coughed all through the night. Sounded terrible. Still going to work, though. Back downstairs I spent a few more minutes on the PC, including sending a note to Lindsey’s insurance agent informing him of our decision to switch carriers solely based on price. Did a stretch and meditation ahead of my run. Back and neck still feeling super.

Decided that I was going to have a relaxing morning and wasn’t going to run until after Bella was on the bus. Still wasn’t certain about working from home. Wouldn’t decide for sure until during/after my run. Let Mindy know as soon as she was downstairs that she didn’t need to make me breakfast. Time went fast. Mindy left around 730am. I spent most of the early morning hours working. I dressed in my running clothes just before Bella and I headed out to the bus stop.

Chrissy asked if I was taking the day off. Nope, but considering working from home. As soon as the girls were on the bus I took the pug back home and then headed out for a run. It was chilly, but awfully pretty. During my run I decided that I was going to work from home. I was back from my run just ahead of 9am.

I had a fairly long list of to-dos scrawled out, and after topping off my coffee I started plugging away. I needed to join a call at 11am, but aside from that my calendar was pretty clear. Around 1030am I sent my boss a note letting him know that I’d be working from home. I spent the time ahead of my 11am, and then a couple hours after, working on a new piece of my monthly report. I was worried that it might take days to do the new addition, but the more I dug in that didn’t seem to be the case. However, it required lots of research. My 11am call was brief, lasted no more than 10 minutes.

I took a break around 1130am and headed out side in the yard. It was lovely – mid 50s and sunny. I ended up chopping down the cannas in front of our firewood pile. I carried the dying stalks back to the compost pile. If the weather delivers as promised, I hoped to winterize the entire yard over the weekend, which at a minimum, is an all-day endeavor.

Back at my home desk, I continued work on my monthly report while also multitasking. It was 1pm in a hurry. I headed outside for another break and cut down the cannas planted around the air conditioning condenser. After carrying the stalks back to the compost pile, I emptied the deck fountain and laid all the shell and pump/light kit out on a bench to dry in the sunshine. I wouldn’t have time to clean them for winter storage that afternoon, but planned to take care of that piece over the weekend. All that took no more than 15-20 minutes.

I forced myself to take a full hour break. With the remaining time, I headed to the basement with a scraper and my new cordless drill with a wire brush wheel attachment to scrape rust from the basement window frames in preparation for paint. I wore my mask and safety glasses. The plan worked well. I cleaned the scraped metal with mineral spirits when done.

My afternoon was a busy one. Tied up several loose ends. Jacob was home around 310-315pm, which is later than usual. Said the bus showed up at school late. He was off to play with friends in a jiffy. Got a text from Mindy midafternoon letting me know that she was heading to the doctor’s office, presumably about her cold/cough.

Stayed plenty busy through the late afternoon. Was informed somewhat late that I wouldn’t need to send Hurricane Sandy reports through the weekend like originally thought. That was a relief. All but three of my customers sites were restored.

Got another text from Mindy sharing that she was rear ended, OK, but waiting on police. Called her at 3pm to see if everything was OK. She was fine, and said the damage to the Pilot minimal. It was a kid. Thankfully he has insurance. Apparently his dad showed up at the scene too. Mindy was home even before Bella. At a break, I headed out to check out the damage to the Pilot. As Mindy shared, it was minimal. However, they’ll almost certainly have to replace the entire rear bumper.

I kept busy until 5pm. Mindy’s doctor prescribed cough syrup with codeine. She went to fetch her prescription as soon as the kids were gone with their dad. Oh, by the way, it was a Jimaken weekend. While Mindy was off getting her prescription filled, I headed back to the basement to prime the basement window frames with Rustoleum rusty metal primer. That took about 30 minutes. Mindy was back when I reemerged from the basement. I headed upstairs for a much needed shower. And despite being ill, Mindy wanted to go out. We agreed on Barleys. She only asked that we not stay out too late. I was showered and ready in short order. Mindy freshened up after I was ready. Not sure what time we left the house.

Two nights in a row at Barley’s. The twins were there again too. The place was well attended and near capacity. Often is this time of year. A couple vacated their bar stools offering them up to the two of us. Mindy sat, but I opted to stand, at least for a while. Started with a Fortune Teller. Mindy opted for a guest stout, but only one.

Mindy ordered pita & hummus. I ate some of that. I went from the Fortune Teller to a Centennial. Eventually bellied up to a bar stool around the corner from Mindy. Talked with Tom and Wuffus. We were planning to watch the Buckeye basketball game from a war ship, but the game was inexplicably canceled last minute. Eventually ordered a plate of KC wings along with a 3rd beer - another Centennial. Yum! After finishing my wings I opted for yet another Centennial, this one my last. Mindy shared her displeasure that I ordered another. I drank it quickly. Mindy picked up the check and we headed for home around 1030pm.

Mindy took more of her prescription cough syrup then was quickly off to bed. I poured a CBC IPA but didn’t drink it. I covered my pint glass with a baggie and taped it tightly then put it in the fridge and headed to bed.