Not Your Steppin' Stones

Woke a few times through the night but managed to get back to sleep rather easily. Was up for good at 530am. Once downstairs, I glanced out back and was happy to see the moon but through what I guessed was fog. Quickly did my morning calisthenics then headed to the PC with coffee. Checked the weather. It was warm – 58 degrees – but with fog in the area. Expecting sunshine and low 70s later in the day. Wahoo! Played around online until it was time to wake Mindy. Woke her near 615am.

Back downstairs, I moved on to meditation. It was 631am when I finished. And aside from standing and doing an extended floor touch, I failed to complete my usual stretch routine. What’s worse, I didn’t even realize it until I was out on my run – about a mile in - and wondered why I was so stiff, especially my legs. Duh! How bad is that? I was a bit more careful than usual for the duration of my 4.1 mile run, not wanting to risk a strain or a pull. By the way, it was extremely foggy, especially at the outset. But by the run’s end the rising sun managed to burn most of it off.

Got home near 720am where Mindy already had the Accord warming in the drive. Not sure why she felt the need to warm it, though the windows were completely covered in dew. I took a few minutes to squeegee the windows clear. I planned on taking the trailer back to dad on my way to work later, but hoped to pick it up again possibly Thursday so I can get that power edger.

Mindy left for school while I was out walking the pug. While on the walk, it occurred to me that Mindy might’ve taken my keys instead of the spare. And I would need my keychain to access my office. As soon as the pug and I were back at home I checked the cupboard. Yep, sure enough. Mindy had my key chain. I quickly went for my phone and gave her a call. She wasn’t happy but agreed to turn around and bring me the keys. I set the spares out for us to exchange then when about breakfast and lunch prep.

As she generally does, Bella headed upstairs after feeding the pug. Mindy showed up around 745am and didn’t look at all happy. I gave her the spare Accord key as well as her main key chain. I, in turn, had the spare Pilot key. She was out the door again in less than a minute.

Given the time, I didn’t plan to shower until after the bus. Tinkered around the house until bus stop time. We headed out a couple minutes early. It was lovely. Why not? As expected, the bus showed up around 815am, and as soon as the kids were safely on the bus, the pug and I headed back home. A few minutes later I was off to the shower.

I was showered and ready to go by 840am. I thought I might stop at Ohio Mulch for some stepping stones at lunch, so before heading off to work, I grabbed a pair of work gloves from the garage, just in case. Dropped the trailer at dad’s. He &Archie were awake. Dad gave him the dickens from the door after acknowledging my presence. Let him know that I needed to run off to work and that I might want to use it again as soon as Thursday. He nodded in agreement. Off to work.

It was an extremely busy day at the office. Had a quick impromptu meeting with a couple peers right out of the shoot. I had two major calls to join, one at 1130a and the other at 1p. I hardly had a spare moment until the 1pm call ended near 145pm. I decided then that I was going to take lunch and run to Ohio Mulch and Lowes. And then, instead of finishing my day in the office, I planned to work the last couple of my day from home. I left near 2pm.

Ohio Mulch is just a mile or two from the office at Riverside and Bethel. It’s a challenge buying stepping stones. I only needed 7 or 8, and had their shapes already in mind. I carefully selected the 7 I wanted then went inside to ask for assistance. Of course they’d have to weigh them since they charge by the pound. I was a little taken back that they made me go find a yard worker to get a forklift and pallet, but I did so anyhow. Toy finally came to assist. I stacked the 7 stepping stones onto the pallet he brought via forklift. I estimated my haul about 880-90lbs. From years past, I know their scales are suspect, but when Tony retuned with my stones and said they were 149lbs I second guessed him. He once again shared that they were 149lbs. Somewhat hesitantly, I headed inside again and reported the weight he dictated. They’re $.19 per lb., so my total was $31 with tax. Tony waited by the Pilot with my stones. I loaded them in two lifts – easily. I still doubted the weight but moved on. I headed to the Mill Run Lowes next.

At Lowes I picked up five new May Night Salvia to replace those that mysteriously perished over winter. I paid more than I really wanted - $12.98 each for a two gallon size, but that’s all they had. Typically I buy the 1 gallon size since they grow so fast, which are usually half that price. It was 240pm. I headed for home on what was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon. According to the Pilot, it was 75 degrees – ideal.

At home I opted to leave the afternoon’s haul in the back of the Pilot then headed inside where I quickly booted up my work laptop. During the boot-up process I made a quick snack of cheese and nuts and topped off my water glass. I spent the rest of the afternoon working away. Around 4pm Mindy arrived home, still a little sore about the key thing from earlier. And I think the fact that I was working from home only made it worse since at first glance it might appear that I worked from home all day and really didn’t need my office keys. Of course that wasn’t the case.

While Mindy started dinner I carried on with the rest of my work day. Had to make another call or two before my day wrapped up just after 5pm. Jimaken brought Jacob around 5pm too. Said he was feeling a lot better. Looked like he’d be returning to school on Wednesday.

I asked Mindy if she wanted me to drop-off or pick-up Bella at gymnastics. As I thought she might, she said both. I wasn’t averse to the idea. After all, I felt bad that she had to make the return trip home earlier. I agreed. With 20 minutes still before we’d need to leave, I headed out to the pilot and emptied out the salvia and stones, carrying each of them to their respective spots in the landscape.

Darwin swung by while I was out front and stopped briefly to chat. I suggested that we would happily take Lane to gymnastics saving he or Connie the trip. Said they most likely not taking a beach vacation this summer despite Connie inquiring about our willingness or thoughts. Inside, Mindy said she didn’t plan on us eating dinner until I was back from dropping Bella at gymnastics. And Bella tried to get me to commit to hanging out for the entire practice, but only so Makayla could go along. Nope. But to bring up her spirits, I suggested we take the BM’er. She loved that.

To prepare for taking the BM’er I headed out to move the Accord out to the curb and then to make sure that the BM’er would start. Started easily. I also topped off the coolant as it was maybe 8 ounces low – not much. Five minutes later Bella and I headed to the garage to depart. I heard a strange swooshing noise as we backed out the drive. And when I stopped the noise stopped. Momentarily puzzled, it dawned on me that I hadn’t move the bag of fertilizer I had resting on the garage floor directly behind the BM’er despite reminding myself several times over the past few weeks. Still not sure how, but lucky enough, it didn’t split the bag open. I pulled forward a few feet then got out and moved the bag to an out of the way place in the garage. Off to gymnastics.

The BM’er purred like a kitten, and we took the back way, avoiding 270 altogether. I noticed a hint of coolant in the air but thought nothing of it. Dropped Bella at the gym near 550pm, or 10 minutes early. Noticed the smell of coolant again on and off, but this time enough to pique my curiosity. I popped the hood as soon as I pulled into the garage at home and realized that I didn’t put the cap back on the radiator after topping off the coolant. No wonder I could smell coolant and why it was dripping from the front wheels and frame. What a dunder head!

Inside, dinner was ready. I washed my hands and Mindy and I sat down to eat. It was especially quiet with Jacob in his room – not hungry – and Bella off to dance. Shame, because it was a delicious dinner, inferno chicken, salad, and Bob Evans baked macaroni. And as Mindy pointed out, a very orange dinner.

I was happy to go after Lane and then pick-up Bella after clean-up, but mentioned that I wouldn’t be able to stain the two pergola boards I hoped to instead. Mindy quickly chimed in that she would do the pick-up so I could do the staining. That made me happy. After dinner clean-up I gathered all the stuff I needed then headed out to the deck.

Before staining those 2X6’s, I decided to sand them with my palm sander, in part to make the service more accepting of stain but also to get a few spots of mold or mildew off. It also afforded me the opportunity to smooth all the edges a bit giving it a slightly more finished look. I spent a good 30 minutes sanding both boards. I wisely wore a breathing mask. Took about 30 minutes to stain both sides and edges.

Before putting my palm sander away, I spent a few minutes sanding a few rough surfaces both on the benches I built summer 2011 and then a few spots along the railings where they take on excessive water from hanging basket run-off. Part of me wanted to dig into staining the entire deck surface, but I also knew I wouldn’t be able to finish and would prefer to do the entire job in one fell swoop.

I put all the staining stuff away then headed up for a shower since getting coated in sawdust from sanding. Mindy & Bella were home from gymnastics just as I was heading up the stairs. Mindy heated a dinner plate we prepared for Bella. After a shower I spent a little time online and then playing guitar. Around 845pm I went to the family room and turned on the TV hoping to find something worthwhile to watch. At the same time, Mindy went to our room to read and watch TV.

I landed on the History of the World in Two Hours. Cool show. Sorry I missed the entire first half. I want to try and catch it on a replay beginning to end. As it was, I joined just as man mounted horses for battle which by all accounts was around 600 B.C. I started getting sleepy 20 minutes into it. I woke at 10pm and headed for bed.