No Foolin', Our New Chairs are in!

My sleep can best be described as sketchy. I’m afraid that I ate too much Easter candy an hour or two before bed, and the sugar buzz left my mind much more active than I would otherwise prefer. Not only did I struggle to get to sleep, but woke several times with weird dreams. And each time I woke, I felt like I wasn’t sleeping deep enough.

Despite the poor sleep, I rose from bed near 530am, brushed my teeth, then headed downstairs to exercise. After sit-ups & push-ups, I was wide awake. Headed to my PC with coffee near 550am. I noticed a partly cloudy sky overhead, and a half moon partially obscured by clouds but still plainly visible.

It was 41 degrees, warmer than I expected. Supposed to get pretty chilly during the overnight, dropping into the low 20s. Supposedly headed for a spring-like warm-up with sunshine and the 70s beginning next Sunday. That’ll be nice. We just need to get through this cold snap. Perhaps this will be winter’s last hurrah.

I played around on the internet until 610am when I headed upstairs to wake Mindy with a cup of coffee. Back downstairs by 615am, I moved on to meditation and eventually stretching. Felt great, especially the stretching. Finished both of those by 630am then dressed for a run. I went ahead and wore full winter gear since the temperature was expected to drop through the morning hours, though I did wear my thinnest winter wicking shirt.

I was comfortable from the outset but also a little stiff legged. Bu that didn’t stop me from running the full 4.1 miles. The run took a lot out of me. And when I finished, it took longer than usual for my breathing to return to normal. When my legs are stiff, it takes far more energy to produce the same results.
Mindy was just heading out to load the Pilot when I returned to the house. She asked if I was OK. I was sweating more than normal and still out of breath. I leashed up the pug then headed out.

During our brief walk, my breathing returned to normal. During the morning dog walk is when I typically feel the rush of endorphins streaming through my body, which is always a very calming span of time. Mindy left for school shortly after our return. I quickly went into breakfast and lunch mode while making sure that Bella was heading upstairs to brush her teeth.

While the green frying pan preheated, I threw together a lunch. It was 750am by the time my lunch was packed and I finished eating my two eggs and fruit. And yes, Eiknarf enjoyed one too. I hurried off to the shower after determining I had just enough time to shower before bus stop time. I was very deliberate and back downstairs by 804am pretty much ready to walk out the door with Bella. She seemed a little bummed about returning to school. But I brightened her morning by reminding her that she only has about 8 weeks left of school until summer break, and that you gotta go through tis to get there.

Makayla soon joined us at the bus stop. We observed two large turkey vultures sitting high atop a dead tree that hangs over the road and stream. I’m guessing that use that perch often looking, hoping for road kill.  The bus arrived near 815am and once the kids were boarded, Eiknarf and I walked out front and closer to the two giant birds. They didn’t budge. I briefly toyed with the idea of tossing a rock there way, but opted not. Why? We headed back inside.

Inside, I enjoyed a 2nd cup of coffee then loaded my backpack for work. While on my mind, I placed my three mower blades, an empty five-gallon gas container, and my push mower’s old air filter in the Accord’s trunk. Was out the door by 840am. I planned to address all three at lunch or after work.

My morning was busy. Stopped by to chat with my boss one I was settled and had a handle on any reactive issues I needed to respond to that day. I’m slated to get a new laptop soon, and actually could’ve set myself up an appointment this week, but because I have so much on my plate I thought better of it. It can take days to get everything up and running like it was prior.

I got a call from Front Room furnishings around 1045am to let me know that our new chairs were in and that they could deliver them as soon as Tuesday afternoon. I picked Tuesday evening after 4pm. They promised to call ahead. Sweet!

I sent Ashley a text sometime that morning too, asking how the beach vacation was going. I didn’t hear back until after 1p just after I had left the building for lunch. She actually called me instead of texting. Said they were having a good time, and just got back from an intercostal boat ride. Hot & sunny. She confirmed that they’re there through Thursday, and hope to be back home sometime Friday.

Stopped at JD Power equipment just a mile or two from my office. Dropped off my mower blades to be sharpened. Said they might be able to get them done that afternoon and would call me when they were ready. I looked at Echo trimmers and edgers. Left JD and headed to Home Depot where I picked up a new air filter for my Toro after using the old one to make sure I got the perfect match. Also picked up two new edger blades. I failed to pick-up fertilizer which was also on my list. I didn’t realize that until I was walking out. No biggie. Wasn’t going to put it down that evening anyhow. The only thing left on my to-do list was filling up my mower gas container. Planned to do that on the way home, that way I wouldn’t be leaving five gallons of gas in my car all afternoon.

Back in the office near 2pm. The afternoon was very busy, thanks in part to me covering for a peer who is out on vacation. He’d do the same for me. Took it in stride. Mindy called around 2pm. She was already on her way home from school. This was ordering day, the day after spring break without students when the teachers order next year’s supplies. She happy to be finished early and heading home. I gave the good news about our chairs. Said she would be able to be there to meet the delivery driver. She also shared that because it was a Jimaken Monday, he agreed to take Jacob to his first soccer game.

Wrapped up my work day around 5pm and headed for home, Didn’t bother calling Mindy, or anybody else for that matter. Stopped at Thornton’s to fill-up the gas container. Gas was $3.1 per gallon, or as cheap as it’s been for several weeks. I thought about topping off the Accord’s tank too but didn’t. Should be able to get through the upcoming weekend before needing more fuel in it. Arrived home by 520pm.
Jimaken was in my parking spot in the driveway so I had to park along the curb. I raised the garage door so I could carry in the gas and mower parts. Noticed a nasty scratch in the driver’s door of Jimaken’s new car. Holy smoke! He’s only had it for a couple weeks. I would be sick!

Greeted Mindy who was in the kitchen working on dinner. Jimaken and the kids not readily visible. They were in the living room. I asked Jim what happened to his door. He was aware of the nasty scratch and figured it was a car that parked far too close to him in a lot somewhere. Not sure if he plans to pursue it, but doubt it. He and Jacob soon left for soccer.

Mindy put the finishing touches on dinner then hollered out the back door for Bella. It was only 525pm. She was down at Emily’s jumping on the trampoline. She came running on queue. Mindy made blazin’ chicken. It’s always good, but this batch might very well have been her best. Along with the chicken she made a side of rice and a garden salad. Everything was delicious.

Clean-up took a while, but we were still completely done in the kitchen before 630p. By 7pm I was in my PJs and snuggled up in the family room chair reading. I don’t think I made it through even one page before dosing. Felt heavenly, especially after not sleeping so well the night before. Mindy said I slept sitting up in the chair for an hour. I remember hearing Jacob come in after his soccer game and complaining about the loss. I fell right back asleep though, not getting up out of the chair until around 8pm. Once on my feet declared that I was going to head up to bed. I filled my water glass along the way.

Even before I hopped into bed I was starting to get a 2nd wind, which wasn’t unexpected. I turned on the TV and looked for the Reds game, their first of the season. It wasn’t on, which is a travesty. With nothing of interest on any of the knowledge channels, I tuned to the NFL network and watched a show about the 2009 rookie class, which included then Viking Percy Harvin as well as Mark Sanchez. I watched the program for more than an hour even after Mindy joined me in bed. I didn’t fall asleep again until sometime near 10pm.