Cloud but No Clouds BM'er Day

I was up on time again, once again motivated by the fact that training started promptly at 9am and me wanting to be there about 15 minutes early. It was a push-up day, so exercise was a tad more grueling than the two even days. After exercise, I headed out on the deck with a flashlight to check the critter trap set-up by the hole going under my deck. Lo and behold, inside was a ground hog, and presumably the same one that's been tormenting us for a few years no. Not only has it tunneled around our foundation, but it also likes to eat our summer plants & flowers, and had even been known to come up on the deck to get at the pots.

Now that I had him trapped, I wasn't quite sure what to do with him, but decided quickly that I would release him at the golf course across the street - paradise for ground hog. I poured and delivered Mindy's coffee early, then shared my plan. I told Mindy I was going to take the Pilot over to Raymond golf course and free him. It was 6am. He was still and quiet until I lifted the bulky trap. Obviously frightened, he scrambled back and forth from one end to the other making it difficult to balance and carry. And don't think for minute that I wasn't concerned. I imagined placing him in the back of the Pilot only to have him escape the trap and then go into survival/attack mode. I covered the trap with the blanket we keep back there for the short drive to the golf course parking lot.

I envisioned freeing him without being noticed. But just my luck, they were mowing the hole #1 tee box and fairway at the same time. If that wasn't enough, a golfer pulled up nearby, too. Heck, and it wasn't even full daylight yet. I'd come this far. I decided to carry on with my plan. I quickly sat the trap on the pavement aimed towards the rough of fairway #1 and opened the trap door. The ground hog bolted immediately but not towards the course. Nope, Instead, he ran directly for the road. His timing couldn't have been worse. His trajectory had him on a collision course with a car tire. I cringed as he entered the roadway at full speed. I thought he was a goner, but in an instant he did a 180 and started back towards me & the course. He must've spotted me and remembered the horror I caused him, because a second later he did another 180 and bolted safely across Trabue and into the woods backing up to our subdivision. I figured he would find paradise in those woods and stop there. Let's hope my effort wasn't for not. I headed for home feeling good about ending the 3 year ground hog saga.

I was home by 620am and picked up right where I left off, enjoying a little more coffee before turning my attention to a brief meditation, a stretch, then a run. I headed out the door for my run around 655am, or about the same time that Jacob and all his school peeps were waiting at the bus stop. They're all at the age where they're just too cool to talk with me while I am running by. :)

It was plenty warm - about 68 degrees - so I wore shorts and the neon orange short sleeved running shirt Mindy bought for me a couple weeks ago. I ran 4.1 miles and felt terrific. At home, Mindy still hadn't left. She was anxious to here the results of my trip to the golf course. Bella was up, too, and was disappointed that I didn't keep the ground hog around long enough for her to see it. She was also worried that I might've killed it. I insisted otherwise.

Mindy soon bolted for school and I got busy preparing breakfast and lunch. Given the time, I didn't plan to shower until after seeing Bella onto the school bus. Finished eating and packing lunch around 755am. Spent a few minutes taking in the lovely weather and snapping a couple photos from the deck. Bella and I headed out at 810am. Kenny was at the bus stop with Makayla. Said he planned to stay home and work the flower beds. The kids were on the bus before 820am. I headed home and made last minute preparations for departure. Headed out the door at 830am in the BM'er.

Arrived at the office near 845am and headed straight to the training room where I quickly fired up my laptop but then ducked out to join a 9am customer call. The call wasn't long. I was back in the classroom with the others by 910am. The morning session held my interest well. We broke for lunch near 1150a. This time I made a Strader's run where I bought a single zinnia to replace one that inexplicably died. I also picked up four more vinca vines for the large geranium baskets. Because a visit to Strader's always does my heart good, I took my time browsing the flora instead of racing back to the office. Probably spent a solid half hour there in what could've taken just 5 minutes.

Still was back to the office 20 minutes before I needed to be. Used the time to catch up on email. Using the knowledge we'd acquired over the last day and one half, we huddled into teams for a group exercise. I've never been fond of those things. I let my partners pretty much dictate our solution. The afternoon session wrapped up before 330pm. After wishing those traveling a safe journey home, I packed my things and headed for home too, where I planned to finish the rest of my work day.

It was a glorious afternoon, sunny and well into the 80s. Later it would hit 89 degrees. Jacob was already home from school, and came downstairs briefly while I made a snack and got my laptop fired up. After working until 1030pm the night before, I had no intentions of working late again Wednesday. Come 510pm, I set work aside for the rest of the day and turned my attention to home and family. Neither kid had anything going on that evening. Mindy wasn't home until 520pm or so, apparently stopping for a beer after school with friends. As soon as she got home she whipped up a fresh garden salad and then spaghetti & meatballs. Didn't take more than 30 minutes to prepare everything. Ate dinner near 6pm. It was good.

After clean-up I headed out back where I planted the new vinca and replacement zinnia. Watered all the flowers, too, front and back. inside, I spent a solid half hour playing guitar and then took a nap in the recliner. My back was killing me. I asked Mindy if she would rub the knot out. Said she would but wanted me to come to the family room where she and Bella were watching Idol. I declined the offer for not wanting to participate in watching Idol. I took a 500mg Naproxen instead and then napped. I must've slept for nearly an hour waking shortly after 9pm. By then, Mindy was heading up to bed.

After my hour long nap, I got a second wind and stayed up quite a while longer watching How It's Made and then having a couple bowls of Cookie Crisp. Eiknarf apparently threw up on Bella'a comforter. She hollered for Mindy and I. Mindy went to help, ultimately deciding it best to wash her comforter. The house was quiet again around 930pm. I stayed up until almost 1045pm.