By Lamp Light

I wasn't out of bed until somewhere close to 820am. I had a mild headache too, no doubt brought on by the three beers and then two bourbons. I took three Advil even before starting coffee and the headache was gone within 15 minutes. I played around online for about an hour before heading out for a run. It was chillier than expected - only 30 degrees - but still fairly nice sky-wise. Anticipating a high in the low 60s.

Headed out for a run around 945am. By then it was sunny and warm enough to skip hand and ear covers. I ran the usual 3 miles without incident. Mindy was still in bed upon my return, though it wasn't too long before she was up and downstairs. Even though it was chilly, we headed out on the deck for coffee. There was a chilly breeze coming at us from the east. Brrr!

We spent a little time looking at lamps online again. The two we seemed to agree on on the Home Depot site were out of stock. I decided to search Amazon using their part name. Sure enough, they were both available on Amazon. However, while there, we actually found another dragonfly torchiere lamp we liked even better. I placed both in my shopping cart but opted to hold off on hitting the buy button until we had a chance to take in the gallery hop later that evening.

We didn't have any significant plans, which felt really nice. I thought I might take care of some yard chores, including installing my sharpened mower blades. While Mindy messed with her grocery list, I headed out to get busy. After putting the blade on the push mower, I tried starting it. Same trouble as before. Couldn't get it to fire. I could get it to start after pushing the primer a dozen times but it would soon stall. I hit it with carb cleaner and eventually it kept running. I let it run until it was almost out of gas. I then added carburetor/injector cleaner to the gas tank along with fresh gas. I primed it several times only this time leaning it back so the fuel would flow deep into the carb. That seemed to do the trick. I let it run for about 15 minutes. While the mower ran, I tried starting the BM'er. Dead again. No more fooling around. I plan to replace the battery. It's at least 9 years old.

Next up, I went to the shed to fetch the Deere. After driving it all over the yard, I pulled it up near the garage where I could drive it onto my tire ramps to make installing the blades that much easier. Uh-oh! The damn bolts that hold the blades on fell off somewhere in the yard. Great! I retraced my tracks for 15 minutes before beckoning Mindy's help. She soon joined me, finding one of the bolts after about 5 minutes. I found the other one far removed from the first. They were really hard to spot with their dark coloring.

The blades installed easily. I drove around the backyard to help charge the battery. After messing with both mowers, I got out my chain saw to address the mulberry tree/bush stumps that have begun to bloom again. Cut them down 6-10" above the ground. Next, I chain sawed the honeysuckle bush stumps that I cut down by hand last fall. I toted all the mini-logs to the compost pile.

After finishing the chainsaw work I started both mowers again just to make sure they were in working order. Yep, they both started easily. I spent the rest of the afternoon raking out the rear flowerbeds. As usual, that was far more work than it appeared. Worked on that for about two hours. Mindy left to run errands. Can't remember exactly what, though. After an afternoon of yard work I headed inside for a snack, drink, and a shower. I was dirty and stunk.
Gatorade never tasted so good.

A shower felt incredible. After my shower I opted to spend some time giving the fern in the masterbath a badly needed haircut. Filled the kitchen trashcan with leaves and stems. I also cleaned the surface in and around the planter. What a mess. Mindy got home about the time I was finishing the chore.

We didn't have a master plan for our evening but quickly put one together. Thought we would leave for the gallery hop around 5-530pm. We figured to do the hop then beer at North High Brewing and then do dinner at CBC. Had about an hour to kill prior to departing. Lindsey and the boys showed up around 5-530pm. She was there to take care of her laundry as well as watching our kids. The dog needed walked. Lindsey volunteered to do it. I reloaded the poop sack holder then handed over the leash.

Lindsey and Landon walked the pug. They got back just as Mindy and I were heading out the door. Lindsey asked where the poop sacks were. She was holding the leash void of the bag holder. I really thought she was joking given that I just reloaded it before handing it to her before they walked out. Nope! She was serious and I was furious. Really? You lost the poop sack holder in the span of three minutes. She went looking for it retracing her recent steps. No joy. Mindy and I followed looking too. Nowhere to be hound. Weird! It's not the money. Instead, it's the accountability factor. Swore it wasn't there. :)

Mindy asked if I had a $20 to leave for pizza. Mindy threw in a $10. The sunny afternoon skies started clouding up about the time we left the house. The Sunday forecast called for even warmer temperatures but with rain all day long. The way the sky looked to the west, I guessed it was going to arrive and start early. We got caught up in the gallery hop traffic on S.High St. We quickly bailed and decided to park in the North High Brewing lot and walk all the way down. Mindy went inside to let them know so our car wouldn't get towed. They were cool with our plan, which involved us stopping back later for a beer.

We stopped in several galleries including at least three antique shops. That was fun. Saw several cool lamps but none that we liked more than the two Tiffany lamps we found online, and none that would go with our decor. We walked south for about a 1/2 mile before turning around and walking back to North High Brewing. They had a decent crowd gathered watching the early NCAA final match-up of Wichita St vs. Louisville. Wichita St was leading rather handily 0 by 9 points. I didn't figure it would last and I t didn't.

Mindy predictably ordered their porter while I went with their IPA. This time the IPA didn't rest well on my palette. Honestly, it was hard to drink, and I don't say that very often. I didn't complain. We ordered some appetizers too, deviled eggs and bread and pub cheese. Mindy ate both eggs. We shared the bread and cheese though I had most of it. The basketball game had me on edge. Not sure why. It's not like I am a big fan. We settled out tab and headed for CBC around 830pm. Because of the hop traffic on High St, we opted for Summit instead. That was a good call. Not only was there next to no traffic, but we got all the lights too. :)

Arrived at CBC near 850pm and got perhaps the best parking spot in the house - first spot front row. Cool! Inside, they had a decent dinner crowd, but the bar crowd was tame. We got two stools right away sitting next to Eugene.
While Mindy was busy chatting with Jen, the manager, I ordered both of us Bodhi's. Yum! Now that's quality beer.

Soon Vince placed bread and some of their irresistible garlic butter in front of us, and then he brought risotto balls a few minutes later. Double yum! Watched most of the 2nd NCAA final four game pitting Michigan against Syracuse. Michigan won. Mindy and I opted to share a dinner entree', their barrel cut sirloin. It was delicious and just about the right amount.

We headed home around 1030pm where Lindsey was watching our kids. Apparently she sent a text to Mindy earlier letting her know that there were three other wee ones at the house, her neighbors babies who was rushed off to the hospital due to complications with her 4th pregnancy. She also asked if we would keep the boys so she could go on a date with an old friend of hers. Mindy agreed. Yeah, I was looking forward to heading home. :)

Arrived home around 1045pm. Lindsey quickly loaded her laundry and her neighbor's babies into the Civic. I feasted on a slice of the pepperoni pizza from Poppa John's. Lindsey wasn't out the door for 5 minutes when Mindy realized that Lindsey left the diaper bag at our house. Mindy was preparing to run it over to her when Lindsey called to let her know she was coming back to get it.

Mindy got the boys tucked into bed in a hurry. And soon she and I were off to bed. What a day!!!