Double Dog Dare - Darwin Turns 49

Happy 49th Darwin
... and anniversay too!

I was up a couple minutes early after more than 10 hours sleep. Not sure why I’ve been so tired the last couple nights but the extra sleep felt great. It was Wednesday which meant push-up day. That also meant my work day would be in New Albany. After disabling the security system and glancing out back, I whipped out calisthenics.

Done by 545am, I headed to the PC with coffee. And there I spent the next 25 minutes. The temperature was still quite frigid – only 12 degrees – but with much calmer winds. Saw that the Buckeyes won their basketball game the night before. Beat Iowa. Hmmm? Didn’t even know they were playing.

Woke Mindy near 610am. Downstairs for meditation and stretch. Both went well. Got out the door for my run around 640am. Dressed in the same configuration as the morning before save for my brand new running shoes – their maiden voyage. I tied them a tad loose, a trick I learned several years ago to avoid foot cramps from a foreign shoe fit.

Ran 4.1 miles without problems. Sure, it was cold, but I was dressed for it. Mindy already had the Pilot warming by the time I returned home. I quickly leashed up the pug and headed out for our walk. Regardless of the temperature, the walk serves as my cool down lap. Mindy was just backing out the drive when we returned. I blew her a kiss from the passenger side window.

Inside, there was a skillet of cheesy scrambled eggs on the stove. Bella was in a panic over no apparent eggs for Eiknarf until I informed her that there were plenty enough to give her some. It was 745am before I was off to the shower.

In short order, I put together my lunch just before we headed out to the bus stop. Eiknarf was in rear form, She barked at every car that passed. Thankfully, the bus was a couple minutes early again sparing us from the brutal winter chill. Like the day before, Makayla rushed out of the house just as the pulled up out front.

I started the Accord on my way back to the house. I let it warm for a solid 10 minutes before heading out. I was a couple miles down 670 when I remembered that I didn’t check my back pack for my laptop power cord and mouse. Crap! I reached in the back pack resting on the passenger seat to check by feel. Not there. Double crap! I thought about exiting and turning around but didn’t. Thinking, thinking, thinking. I then remembered working from home for a couple hours last Thursday. That’s when I used the power cord last. I knew then I was screwed.

I made excellent time and arrived in New Albany just before 9am. My laptop battery will last about an hour, tops. Figured I would try using the Dell laptop power cord that I’ve spotted in my office. If that didn’t work, I’d have to head home after our 10am call. It was chilly walk across the bridge to the building. Tried powering up my laptop suing the Dell power cord. No such luck. Not sure why it doesn’t work, however. The connector looks identical. My power indicator said I had about 54 minutes of power remaining.

Mindy sent me a text while I was in the throws of my power cord issue sharing that we need to talk. I took a deep breath and assured her we would. I walked over to the center managers office and asked if they might have a spare HP laptop power cord I could use. Walked me to their IT guy’s office. Lo and behold, it was Max, neighbor Pat’s son. Nope, only Dell. Darn! The center manager assured me that it was no big deal if I headed home. I waited until after our 10am call then made the long trek back home for my power cord and mouse.

The drive was easy given that rush hour traffic was no more. I wasn’t even gone an hour – 50 minutes in total, and that included me taking a few minutes at home to check email and stuff. Problem solved. Up a running as normal by 11am.

I ended up skipping a formal lunch break, but did eat my packed food around 130pm. Sometime mid- afternoon Lindsey sent a text sharing that she wasn’t going to be able to cover her car insurance bill for at least another two weeks. Bad timing! I responded by congratulating her for taking only one month to dent the new car and two months to renege on paying her car insurance. Obviously, I wasn’t pleased.

Mindy snet another text around 4pm sharing that she wanted to go our for dinner – needed a beer. I only responded that I was again feeling extremely tired. I kept busy until 445pm when I left for home. I remembered that despite it being Wednesday, it wouldn’t be a Jimaken night. He had to be out of town for some case. I didn’t bother calling home, or anyone else for that matter. Made excellent time barreling around 270. No slowdowns to speak of. Arrived home by 520pm.

Mindy seemed surprised when I walked in. She wasn’t in the process of making dinner. I presumed she was still set on dinner out. The drive home only exacerbated my case of the sleepies. After emptying my lunch containers, I went to the recliner for a nap. I slept for a solid 30 minutes or so. I woke hearing Mindy and the kids discussing dinner options. Mindy told them that she was waiting on me to wake from my nap.

Unlike the previous two evenings, the brief nap left me feeling rested. After brushing my teeth and hair, I was ready to go. Mindy sent Makayla home and we left for Barley’s around 625pm taking the Accord. It was flurrying outside but no accumulation. Got a rare front row parking spot. Wasn’t nearly the crowd we’ve grown accustom to. In turn, we got a table right away in Justin’s area. Mindy pointed out Atlanta Tim sitting at a table a couple over. Haven’t seen him for several months, or ever since he moved out of state. Mindy walked over to say hello.

Knowing their mother’s propensity to talk up a storm, both kids went for their phone timers to document how long she’d be gone. Funny! She was gone maybe 5 minutes. I ordered a Double Dog, and so did Mindy. We went through two baskets of fries as appetizers while deciding on dinner. Mindy perused a menu. The kids and I didn’t need one.

Sent Darwin a text wishing him a happy 49th b-day. He responded sharing that he was in Barley’s earlier. Having not shared that we were at Barley’s, I could only assume that Mindy had texted him with more details.

Jacob ordered what he always orders. Mindy ordered a series of three small sandwiches: one each with brisket, pork, and chicken. I ordered K.C. wings well done. Bella ordered boneless wings, buffalo. When the time came, Justin offered a 2nd Double Dog. I passed so Mindy could enjoy a 2nd. I’m guessing that we were there for about 70-80 minutes. Mindy disappeared again, this time to talk with Christa. The kids set the timer again.  Mindy paid the tab. We left for home around 8pm.

A little surprised to find our car covered in snow when we left for home. Snow was still coming down too. Probably about a ½” on the ground. Bella was eager to get home and tune into American Idol auditions. Not me, not this year. I’ve sworn it off. Not gonna get sucked in. I want to use the time more constructively. After we all got changed, I toiled on my computer while Mindy and the kids watched Idol. I read through my GoPro documentation again picking up a few more nuggets.

I eventually joined the family for the last 30-40 minutes of Idol auditions, not so much to watch, but instead to hang out with the family. That IS a good use of time. Bella DVR’d the show just in case she got shut down for bed early. I stretched out on the floor. My left shoulder ached all day. Come 10pm we all headed for bed.