Phone Home

I purposefully slept in a few extra minutes, waking for good around 540a. Felt good and ready to tackle the day. Downstairs I glanced outback seeing rain and perhaps a little fog. Soon engaged in exercise, I whipped out sit-ups, windmills, and push-ups. Day two using a paper coffee filter. No overflow or spillage. It was already 6am. I headed upstairs with coffee and to wake Mindy.

Downstairs I played around online until 630am not particularly worried/concerned with the quickly advancing time. Headed in to meditate and stretch about the same time that Jacob was downstairs having breakfast. I noticed he was wearing long pants. It was 47 degrees, but I didn't bother sharing that with Jacob. He headed out for the bus a few minutes before I headed out for a run. I headed upstairs to say goodbye to Mindy since it was highly likely she'd be gone by the time I returned from my run. On my way out she asked if I was working from home. I didn't think so, but still wasn't 100% certain.
It sprinkled throughout most of my run. Not to worry. I didn't think too much about it. Ran only three miles making home just as Mindy was readying to head off to work. Quickly leashed up the pug and headed out for a walk. Back home, Bella was just finishing up her breakfast - a blueberry Toaster Strudel. It was after 745am by the time I'd finished eating and fooling around in the kitchen. As a consequence, Bella was ready to head out for the bus stop when I was downstairs again after my shower. I quickly called to the pug, but she was lounging comfortably on one of the livingroom chairs and didn't appear motivated for another outdoor adventure.

After Bella was off to school, I spent a little time online looking at new running shoes and drafting an email to Alarm Force with a host of new questions. Left for the office around 845am. It was drizzling the entire commute into the office. Picked up in intensity as I walked into the office.

After getting settled, I walked down to talk with my boss. He looked tired Said he worked until almost 1am the night before. I wouldn't want his job for any amount of money. We talked for probably 20 minutes before I headed back to my office to dig into my day's agenda. I planned to spend most of my day on reporting and did just that. Worked until about noon, at which time I headed home to check on the house and to pick-up my checkbook so I could cover my share of the bosses Xmas gift as well as my share for the Xmas gifts our team bought for an adopt-a-family program.

Spent maybe 15 minutes at home, long enough to check the house, grab my check book, and read a couple emails. Instead of going straight back to the office, I headed to Tuttle Mall for a little Xmas shopping. Picked up a couple gifts in Macy's then walked around the mall making brief stops at Finishline & Bath & Body Works. Bought nothing at either place. I had originally planned to stop at Best Buy to pick-up a new house phone for Saturday's Time Warner install, but forgot and headed straight back to the office. Remembered just as I turned into the lot. Oh well, figured I could stop on my way home. It was still raining by the way.

The blue screen of death was present on my laptop when I got back to my office. Yikes! I rebooted and everything worked fine. I really need a new laptop. I spent most of my afternoon working on reporting, at least until 4pm, when I stopped to take care of some administrative tasks. The last 30 minutes in the office went smoothly. I left for Best Buy and home at 435pm.

Best Buy just up the road., I was there a few minutes later. A Best Buy sales associate helped me find landline phones. I couldn't find the VTech phone I found on their website for $29. All the phones in aisle I was in were near $100. I decided to walk around the corner where I found another aisle of phones and the one I saw online. But like often happens at Best Buy, the in-store price was $10 higher than the website. I was sure it was the same phone. I pulled up their website on my smart phone and confirmed the model number and price. Sure enough. I still wanted the phone and brought the miscue to the attention of a sales guy. Told me to show the cashier and she would take care of it. OK, sure. Nice phone for $29. Latest security features and comes with two handsets - one to place remotely without the need of an attached line. More than we need.

My Blackberry rang as I was heading to checkout. It was a very large customer needing some easy help. Took care of his concern quickly. The cahier took care of the $10 price differential without any problem. Soon I was on my way home. Called Mindy around 505pm just as I passed by my office in route to the freeway. Said that she was in the Hallmark store, already out shopping after Jimaken picked the kids up early. Apparently they had dinner plans with Jim's family celebrating his mother's birthday. We didn't talk long. Mindy needed to continue with her shopping. However, we did decide on our Friday night destination, CBC. It rained for most of the drive home. I had the house all to myself for maybe 30 minutes before Mindy got home.

Readied for an evening at CBC. Didn't take much, brush my teeth and hair. No change of clothes. Mindy shared that Tom Clark planned to join us there. We left the house around 630pm. Freeway wasn't a problem, even at the Front St exit. I was surprised.

CBC lot was full. I dropped Mindy at the door then went to find a parking spot. She took in the gift she bought for Jamie, the CBC manager's, new puppy. After circling the full lot, I headed across the street to a meter along Liberty St. I struggled with the meter in the dark and rain. Hard to see to put in my card properly and push the correct buttons. Somehow I managed.

Finally inside, Mindy waved to get my attention. The bar was as crowded as I've ever seen it, people packed in like sardines. On most nights, their bar traffic turns over quickly. That seemed to be the case this night, too, but our timing was off relative to garnering stools. No worries, I was happy to stand for a while anyway after sitting all day at the office. Despite no seats, Vince had a Bodhi waiting for me. Yum! Been a while. I think since the TG eve, or 2.5 weeks. As usual, the crowd eventually thinned freeing up a number of stools. Mindy and I nabbed a few, saving one for Tom C. Mindy texted then called. He was five minutes out. Before she reached him, I told Mindy that the heavy crowd might've soured him enough that he turned around and went home. It's not too unlike Tom. However, a couple minutes there he was. He had his niece, Olivia give him a ride. While waiting on Tom, Vince served us some risotto balls, our favorite appetizer.

We haven't hung out with Tom since his birthday dinner in late September. It's been 10 weeks. Wow, time flies! About the same time that Tom ordered a Pale ale, Mindy & I ordered second beers, but only after she confirmed that I would drive us home. We placed food orders, too. I ordered the Cuban burrito. Mindy ordered created her own dinner, ala carte.

For the last couple years, Tom hasn't been one to go out and party much at all. Certainly not like we used to back in the MCI days. But he was determined to do so on this occasion. He tried talking me into heading elsewhere for more beer and fun. Mindy seemed up for it too, In fact, after two Bodhi's she was half tanked. I caved at first and said I would go along, be the DD. But the more i thought of it I didn't want to. I was already getting sleepy. The thought of heading to another crowded venue wasn't at all appealing .

Tom didn't want to call it a night so early. It was somewhere between 9-930pm. I asked if we would drop him off at the Park St Tavern on our way home if we weren't up for hanging out. Sure. While Mindy chatted with Julia, another CBC employee, Tom asked if we could please stop at another bar before heading home. Shared that he and Mindy had a bet. She told him there wasn't any way I would change my mind. Knows me too well. He pleaded for me to prove her wrong. We conspired to stop at Barley's on the drive home, with me bringing it up. I agreed. I drank water for the last hour at CBC. After just two beers, I was really surprised with the buzz Mindy had. She was walking with a stumble and a slur in her speech.

We arrived at Barley's before 10pm. It was really dead. Just a handful of folks sitting around the bar, and half those were employees recently off the clock. We grabbed three stools. Mindy ordered only water. Tom and I ordered beers. April was tending bar and told us all about her fast approaching t rip to Australia to meet her boyfriend's parents. She's expecting him to propose, and said if he doesn't she might even sump him. He's a caddie on the PGA tour. Sounds to me like she's setting herself up for disappointment. Yikes! Tom being one whose traveled around the globe numerous times, did his best to prepare her for the long 14 hour flight, sharing tips and tricks for maintaining her sanity. Interesting.

We hung at Barley's for about an hour and a half. Mindy spent most of that time talking with Jim Bosch. I wisely kept to just the one beer and then turned to water. we left for home around 11pm, dropping Tom at his place off Old Dublin Rd along the way. Once home, Mindy & I were quick to bed.