Hawaiian Luau

I let myself sleep a little later than usual Friday morning and wasn’t downstairs until somewhere close to 550am. The left side of my neck and shoulder were extra stiff. I decided to skip sit-ups but still completed windmills and push-ups. I laid down on the sofa and got another 10-15 minutes of sleep. That proved to be very beneficial.

Delivered Mindy’s coffee a little later than usual but still before she was in the shower. I checked work and personal email next. Had a work issue begging my intervention. I started working around 645am. Oh boy! By 730am I decided that I was simply going to work from home and do a run after seeing Bella on the school bus. Jacob and Mindy headed out about 30 minutes apart. About that same time a storm front rolled through complete with torrential rains. In fact, it was darn near 70 degrees when I first got up, but only in the upper 50s by the time I headed to the bus stop with Bella. And by the time that I left for a run in was even cooler. Only in the 40s by the time I got back from a 4.1 mile run.

Was back at the house near 915am and quick back to work. I took care of a couple urgent issues then took a few minutes to make and enjoy breakfast. Otherwise, I stayed busy with work all day long. Received an email from my re-fi loan agent confirming she received all the necessary paperwork to complete the deal. She phoned me later that afternoon to tell me that we might even be able to close as early as next week. Wow! That’s fast.

I headed for a shower the next time I came up for air, which I had to be near 2pm. I was very busy and the entire work day flew by. I could hardly believe it when Jacob got home from school near 3pm. What, 3pm already? Bella was home from school near 4pm and Mindy a short time later. I stayed busy with work until 5pm. Unlike a lot of work from home days, I did a good job of peeling myself away.

The evening plans were sketchy, but quickly came into focus. Jacob had a school dance, and we worked out transportation for he and neighbor Lilly with Kenny & Chrissy. We offered to take or pick-up. They asked if we would do the pick-up so that they could enjoy an anniversary dinner date. That worked for us too. Me, Mindy & Bella planned to have dinner at Barley’s. The school dance went from 7-9pm, though they had parents drop the boys and girls 15 minutes apart and at different doors. All that apparently in the name of traffic flow. Getting in and out of the 6th grade school lot can be a nightmare.

Despite it being only 43 degrees, Jacob insisted on wearing shorts (actually a swim suit) and a t-shirt. The theme was a Hawaiian Luau. Mindy offered to let him borrow a lai but he declined. He headed to the neighbors around 620pm, about the same time the three of us headed off to Barley’s. We actually passed each other as we left the subdivision.

As usual, the Barley’s lot was chalked full. I dropped Mindy and Bella at the door and went to park in the back 40. Felt more like February than late April. With Bella in tow, we opted for a table instead of sitting at the bar. There was a wait. I sat at a barside table with Calvin while waiting. Mindy and Bella, on the other hand, talked with Jamie, the pregnant woman, we met there the week prior. Talked with twin Kurt for a few too.

Mindy and I both opted for the firkin, a Left Coast IPA. It was really good. By design, we were seated in Justin’s section, in the corner booth. Mindy ordered a basket of fries as a quick appetizer. I was happy with beer and fries. When time came to order entrees I hadn’t even considered more food. Bella ordered boneless wings and Mindy a Barley burger. When time came to order my 2nd beer, a Left Coast IPA off the tower, I ordered some sauerkraut balls. I ate only two. I just wasn’t that hungry.

I had just the two beers as did Mindy. We were there for about 90 minutes. I was fine to drive. We left to pick-up the kids from the dance at 820pm. Took a little longer to get to the school than we planned, but we arrived at 846pm or just one minute passed the designated pick-up time for girls. Lilly was already texting Mindy asking are whereabouts. The biggest problem was the traffic which was going nowhere fast. I suggested that we skip the front of the school where we were asked to pick-up the girls and instead turn in the boys only lane and then have Mindy and Bella go after Lilly on foot. According to Lilly. They weren’t letting the girls walk around the building without parents. That’s what we did. I had hardly moved when Mindy, Bella, & Lilly returned to the car. Lilly was without a jacket just like Jacob. Brrrr!

We saw them let the boys out the back door at 9pm sharp. We found a little detour that proved a wise turn. We had Jacob in tow in short order and were turned around and headed for home. There’s got to be a better way to manage the traffic flow.

Got home around 920-930pm. Jacob was starving. He immediately took control of our leftovers – sauerkraut balls and boneless wings. After a couple minutes, Mindy, Bella and I walked down to the neighbors. I was actually a few minutes behind Mindy and Bella.

Aside from their kids, Kenny & Chrissy were home alone. We hung with the two of them for an hour or so before heading home. I didn’t hear it, but apparently Chrissy let Mindy in on a few things that Bella shared about our neighborly relationships. Mindy wasn’t pleased and gave Bella an earful on our walk home. My thing is to never say anything you don’t want repeated in front of the kids. I felt bad for Bella. I went to console her before heading to bed. She was crying profusely from her bed. Turns out, she was more upset about not being allowed to spend the night with Makayla and one of their common friends. Bella had a gymnastics meet in Rio Grande we needed to leave for mid-morning. Mindy and I both agreed that Bella needed a good night’s rest.

By the time I got in bed Mindy was already all but asleep.