Bracing Himself

Slept in until 550am again. That seems to be the new norm. I staggered to the master bath where I brushed my teeth then gathered my running clothes and headed downstairs. I didn't prep coffee the night before either. Had to take care of that first thing. Once the coffee was underway, I completed calisthenics. It was a non-push-up day. 603am when I headed to the coffee pot. Poured and delivered Mindy's before enjoying my own. I was back downstairs having coffee and playing on the internet by 612am.

I checked on that work issue that kept me engaged until 9pm the night before. It was fixed. Hooray! Took my time, not readying for a run until almost 7am. I headed to bid Mindy farewell knowing for certain that she'd be gone when I got back to the house. She shared that she needed to leave a little early to have donuts with dads.

It was a lovely morning, clear and close to 60 degrees. I ran 4.1 miles enjoying the many smells of mid-spring hanging heavy in the air. Excellent run. Got home at 740am and after checking on Bella headed right back out the door with the pug. We were out for about 8 minutes. It was 750am when I started my breakfast and packed a lunch. Once again, I wouldn't be getting a shower until after the bus left with Bella.

I asked Bella more than once to feed the pug. Said she was busy cleaning her room. It must've been a mess. I went ahead and fed the dog. had to remind her to brush her teeth again too. I didn't hear a drop of water run. Hmm? We headed out at 810am. Like many days over the past two weeks, it was absolutely gorgeous. But most of the preceding days clouds moved in and we even got a little rain. It's a pattern we seem to be stuck in. Thursday was expected to be the warmest of the week with the high reaching 80 degrees. Unfortunately, the lovely weather wasn't' expected to last. chance of rain and cooler temps each day through Sunday. In fact, Sunday's high is only expected to reach the mid 50s.

I was showered and left for work by 840am. It was a gorgeous drive into work. Had there not been a significant chance of rain I would've driven the BM'er, but as it was I took the Accord. In fact, I had even inquired about another car swap with Mindy, but when she shared that the Pilot was on 'E' I rescinded my request. I planned on a making a tri to Strader's at lunch, but figured I could squeeze any purchases into the Accord.

Parked in the far lot after noticing most if not all of the up close spots were taken. No worries. It was lovely walk to the building. Once I was settled and in my office my boss stopped by. Hadn't seen him but once briefly Monday morning. We chatted for a while, me giving him a status update on a couple dangling issues.

All things considered it was a decent work day. For the first time all week, I felt in control of my day. After a couple meetings/calls and then knocking a few to-do's off my list, it was already 135pm. It was then that I left for Strader's. What a gorgeous day - sunny and 80 degrees. Felt like early June. Too bad it wasn't expected to last.

I grabbed a plant cart on my way into the enormous greenhouse. As usual for this time of year, there was a decent crowd milling about, but this by far is the best time of day to show up short of extra early in the AM. I bought two of the giant green moss hanging baskets I've had my eye on since early April. I also picked up 8 sweet potato vines, 4 vinca's and a hanging basket of brilliant tuberous begonias that I planned to transfer into one of my own baskets. Back to work.

Got back to the office around 220pm, and it wasn't 10 minutes before I joined another conference call. Stayed vigorously busy until joining our weekly staff call at 415pm. The staff call was brief. Done by 435pm. Spent the next 15 minutes putting closure on the day's issues then left for home. Walked out around 450pm. Walked out with a peer. As we exited the building I'd temporarily forgotten where I last parked. Felt foolish having to back track about halfway out to the far lot. I parked up close after my Strader's run. Once home I carried my lunch time purchases, including the two new hoses I bought the day before, to the garage.

It wasn't too long before Mindy and Bella left for gymnastics. Jacob went with her on the promise of stopping for fast food on their way home. I objected to having fast food. Sometimes you simply have to say no! I snacked on peanuts, cashews, and cheese while they were away. I took a brief nap, too.

The plan called for me to pick-up Bella, and Mindy texted back and forth with Darwin making arrangements for me to take Lane at the same time. I left to fetch Lane at 712p. Darwin and his brother-in-law Danny were sitting in the front yard enjoying the evening. First time i formally met Danny. We were chatting when a Vivint sales guys trolling the neighborhood walked up doing his best to strike up a conversation. I played along. Darwin & Danny weren't as eager. We're already locked in with an alternative security provider but continued the discussion any way. While I chatted with the security dude, Lane was busy riding his scooter up & down the drive. Time to leave. Had to cut the conversation short and bolt.

Lane was eager to show me his new braces. Just got 'em installed the day before. Said he missed school for the headache pain they caused. Not an unusual side affect from first day braces, but it gets easier. Lane's always fun to talk with. Arrived at the gym a couple minutes late. Lane headed in just as Bella was heading out. She immediately asked if we could stop at either Chipotle or DQ. Odd options. I agreed to stop at DQ, thinking we could stop there, get her an ice cream treat, and then head across the street to Lowes to checkout their flora.

Bella suggested if the line was too long that we should turn around and head to Chipotle. The line was about 3 deep but moved fast. The two women in front of us complained about their chocolate dipped waffle cone being to small. The employee working the counter willing gave her a new one, but it looked no different. She walked away with a befuddled look on her face. Bella ordered a waffle cone with chocolate ice cream.

I grabbed several napkins as we headed out. I asked that she eat it carefully in the Accord until we got across the street to Lowes. I get a kick out of the fact that Bella loves visiting Lowes. Although she prefers to stroll the inside, this trip was exclusively for the nursery. Kind of busy, but expected it. Me & Bella walked around looking at all their plants and flowers, the entire time, her working on that drippy ice cream cone.

They had about 2 dozen of the purple vining geraniums Mindy gushed over last Sunday at the Hilliard location. There they had only one and it was gone when I went back Monday. I thought about buying two but the checkout line for the nursery was long and slow. While hemmed and hawed about making the impromptu flower purchase, Bella meandered around the outdoor flower displays with her ice cream. When I found her again she had ice cream all down the front of herself including some on Mindy's shoes she borrowed. Oops!

We left Lowes empty handed but the trip wasn't for not. If all went well, I would stop back again on Friday to pick-up those ivy geraniums. We got home around 810pm. Mindy and Bella tuned into American Idol while I played around on the PC. I poured myself a Jack & Coke too. Yum!

After Idol, Bella and I snuggled on the sofa watching a couple episodes of Big Bang Theory. Mindy headed to bed around 930pm. I headed up around 1010pm, or about the same time that Bella was making herself yet another snack.