Sharp Blades & Hinge Pins

I slept well but 530am still came around too quick. I rolled out of bed somewhere close to 540am and headed downstairs to exercise. There was a crystal clear sky overhead and it looked cold. After exercise, I checked the weather. Yep, it was cold alright, only 22 degrees. Enjoyed coffee for about 20 minutes. Checked the Reds final. They lost 3-1 in 13 innings. Too bad.

Woke Mindy with a cup of coffee near 610am. After a short visit I was back downstairs for a couple more minutes online and then off to meditate, stretch, then run. All went well. Bundled warmly for a run, including wearing two wicking shirts to battle the early spring chill. The trash truck came by just before I headed out at 640am. I ran the full 4.1 miles.

I got home to Mindy’s Pilot already warming in the driveway. She helped me get Eiknarf ready for a run. She left before we got back home from our short walk. Like most other work days, I immediately started making my breakfast and packing my lunch. I was running late relative to bus stop time and a shower. I decided to wait until after the bus pick-up to shower. Just before Bella and I headed out, nephew Joe showed up to clean. Never known him to show up so early. While Bella, Makayla and I waited for the bus, Joe came out with Bella’s glasses. Thanks Joe!

The bus was a few minutes late. It was cold but also sunny. The sunshine made it feel a whole lot warmer. Back inside, Joe was already busy in the family room. I let him know that I needed to shower and would soon be out of his way. I was showered and out the door by 850am. My personal cell rang as soon as I loaded onto 270N. It was JD Equipment calling to let me know that my mower blades were ready for pick-up. Cool. Told the woman that I’d stop in at lunch.

It was another busy day in the office. Not only was I covering for a peer, but because it was a new month, that meant monthly report time. Comes around fast. Stayed busy until 1pm when I left to run errands, More specifically, to pick-up my mower blades and then to Lowes. The blades are sharp. Good thing I had them wrapped in an old bath towel. The woman at the desk saw me feeling the edge and assured me that while they wouldn’t feel razor sharp, they’ll cut just fine. She also shared, after I paid, that they’re hosting an open house the weekend of April 13 & 14 and will be sharpening mower blades while customers wait and for only $2 each. I could only shake my head having just shelled out $7 each. Oh well!

I headed to Lowes to pick-up fertilizer. They were having a sale – 20% off if you bought the first and second applications together. Saved $21! I also picked up a fresh can of GWD-40 (the G stands for Glenn). :) Was gone only 45 minutes. Enjoyed my packed food upon my return. Spent the afternoon on two conference calls and monthly reports. Had to ignore an incoming call from Mindy due to the conference calls.

We were expecting Front Room Furnishing’s to call around 4pm to let us know what time they would be delivering our two new chairs. 4p came and went. At 430p I called them to make sure we were on the same page. We were. It’s just that they don’t start evening deliveries until 4pm and they call 10 minutes before arriving. The woman said we were 6th on the list. I called Mindy to let her know.

Mindy sent a text around 515pm advising that she would need to leave to take Bella to gymnastics at 535pm. Dang. Forgot about that. I left the office for home a few minutes later. I just knew the delivery guys would be calling and arriving about the time that Mindy needed to leave. That’s just how things work. Sure enough, they called while I was conversing with Mindy. I quickly ended our call and took that one. They said they were 10 minutes out. I explained that I was in route and that my wife had to leave to deliver the kid to gymnastics. I let them know that Jacob was there, but also know most companies won’t honor that unless they’re 18. The gentleman said he would wait 5-10 minutes if neither of us were there.

Even with thick traffic on 270, I made it home in near record time, getting both of the tricky lights which almost never happens (Roberts/270 exit, and then Trabue and Wilson). What do you know. As I neared Trabue, I noticed a Front Room Furnishings truck maybe three car lengths in front of me. Sure enough, it was our truck. Turned into our subdivision just ahead of me. And as it turned out, Mindy hadn’t left yet either. While making my way down our street I called Mindy back again and asked that she move the Pilot to the street making room for the delivery truck. She did so willingly.

She had the old chairs pulled aside too, something we hadn’t even discussed. The guys made quick work of carrying in our two new matching recliners. Signed the paper and they were soon gone. Mindy hung around long enough to try out a chair but then hurried off to gymnastics with Bella. Both kids cringed at our selections. Said they look like old people chairs. Great! That’s exactly the look I was going for. 

While Mindy was away, I asked for Jacob’s help carrying the old recliner to our bedroom. Before I could get back to the livingroom, he had it all the way up the stairs and at our bedroom door. Wow! He’s certainly gotten stronger over the last year or so. The chair wouldn’t fit through the doorway with the door on the hinges. I went to the garage to get tools to remove it. I put a small nick in the hallway wall with the chair leg. Dang it! But that’s what spackling is for, right?

It took a while to get the hinge pins out. Haven’t been removed in years. Once the door was off, the recline just fit inside. Before tucking it neatly into the corner, I turned it onto its back and reattached a nut that fell off and then tightened three others. That left the recliner recline better than it has in years. But that’s not why we replaced it. Truth is, it’s ugly! 

I lubed the hinge pins before putting them back, then put all my tools away. Washed my hands then went in to sit in one of our new chairs. Ahh! Darker than I expected, but still nice. Mindy was home in short order and quickly pulled several leftovers from the fridge. I planned to eat my leftover Dragon Palace. Mindy gave her leftover Barley ribs and brisket to Jacob. We reheated everything on the pizzas stone. Mindy had blazin’ chicken and macaroni salad. Shared that she stopped at Minelli’s to meet her mom and Joe on her way home from gymnastics. I think she said she was picking up some stuff the kids left there on Sunday.

Mindy also shared that she texted with Darwin and he agreed to bring Bella home when dropping off Lane. We’ll return the favor on Thursday by taking lane when we pick-up Bella. The War Sui Gai was good, but not nearly as good as it was on Sunday afternoon. After dinner and clean-up, Mindy and I retired to the livingroom and our new recliners. I wanted to put the recliners through the real test – with my book in hand. I read and napped, although only for 15 minutes tops. Very comfortable.

Bella got home around 750pm. Darwin didn’t come inside. Bella’s return drew Jacob down from his room. Forgot to share that he got himself grounded for being disrespectful to his mother just before I got home. Refused to walk the pug when asked. He came downstairs to slam our taste in chairs. I didn’t mind as long as he wasn’t totally rude. Bella didn’t have anything nice to say about them either, but was more than willing to snuggle up in one with her momma.

I relinquished mine to Jacob and took to the floor where Mindy rubbed my sore neck/shoulder. Felt heavenly. Bella wanted some blazin’ chicken. I headed to the kitchen and reheated her dinner so Mindy could relax. It’s the little things. It couldn’t have been much after 830pm when Mindy said she was heading up to our room to rest in bed. Wanted to know if I would be joining her soon. Soon dear. I tuned to the TV to one of the knowledge channels and watched a program about the universe. I popped some popcorn too. Expected the smell to lure Bella away from her bedroom TV, but it didn’t. Not only that, but Eiknarf didn’t beg for any wither which is really weird.

I started getting sleepy at 930pm and rather than fall asleep on the sofa I headed up to bed, but not before stopping to check in on Bella, who was in her bed playing with her Kindle while watching TV. Ahh, the good life! Mindy wasn’t asleep but was close. We held hands for a while before falling asleep.