Chasing Bubbles ... again

 

 

I woke early for a Saturday. Mindy didn't even budge when I rolled out of bed. I was up and downstairs before 7am. Stepped out back to get a feel for the weather. It was crystal clear and strangely enough, warmer outside than it was inside. It was really chilly in the house as the dining room window was left open all night. I started some coffee then headed to my PC where I played for quite awhile.

Readied and left for a run around 9am. Good run. Ran three miles. Expected to find Mindy up when I got back. Nope. Still sleeping. I poured another cup of coffee then headed back to my PC. Saw that I missed a call from Ashley just a few minutes prior. Called her back. She really wanted to talk with Mindy about school curriculum and grades. Said Olivia was moved to enrichment due to her advanced reading skills but still only netted 2's and 3's on her interim. Ashley was concerned. I was interested but could offer no value valid opinion. I took the phone and headed upstairs to see if Mindy might be awake. She was just waking up and agreed to talk with Ashley while I went for her coffee. She's so spoiled. I get the impression that she wants me all to herself.

While Mindy talked with Ashley, I took the pug on a walk. Now 10am. I was sure she'd have to go and she did. Was a little surprised that Mindy was still talking with Ashley when we got back.

Mindy was soon up and downstairs. We both topped off our coffee then headed out on the deck. The night before we talked about what we might do on Saturday afternoon. Our ideas included a visit to Yellow Springs or boating. At that point it was still up in the air. Mindy asked if I ordered Bella's new TV yet. No, but I had it in my Amazon shopping cart. Was a little discouraged that the price went up $20 since last weekend when I first looked.

I also shared what I learned from being on Holiday Valley's reservation site earlier that morning looking at lodging options for Xmas vacation. Pickin's already slim. Just the night before Mindy offered the possibility of going up the Sunday after Xmas and staying the entire week of New Year's in lieu of going up the morning after Xmas like we have the last three years. I think everybody likes going the day after Xmas but the rush home Xmas night to ready for an early morning departure is often tortuous. I threw out another option, which was to go the week of Xmas (Sunday before until Friday, Dec 27). There was much more availability that week and the prices cheaper too. We didn't make a final decision on the day's activities or our Xmas vacation ski trip.

While Mindy headed up for a shower, I puttered around the yard. I also went through the garage toys looking for the missing cornhole bag. No luck. We eventually made a decision regarding our day. Decided to hike Hayden Falls and then pay a visit to the Daily Growler. Haven't been to Hayden Falls for many years. Packed an empty Daily Growler growler then left the house near 1pm in the Pilot. Took the back way up Old Dublin Rd.. It's a nice drive now that they've repaved.

Didn't take more than 10 minutes to get there. Two or three other cars in the smallish lot. The last time we hiked Hayden Falls they were in the process of completing a boardwalk. I had no idea that would become the only legal means of getting back there. Signs now posted that it's against the law to stray from the boardwalk. We guess to help protect the park. Small but beautiful park - a gorge with 40-50' limestone cliffs each side leading back to the waterfall just east of Old Dublin Rd. There were two older couples bird watching near the falls, and then two strange women dressed in jeans and high heels modeling for photos on the rocks surrounding the falls. They were both a little scary looking. Yikes! We snapped a few photos then slowly walked the boardwalk trail back. With the lovely autumn weather - sunny 80 - there were a handful of boats out on Griggs.

Probably weren't there more than 20-25 minutes. Onto The Daily Growler located next to the Big Fat at Riverside and Fishinger. Noticed the art studio that sits between the two is closing. Hmmm? Wondered if one of two neighbors might be expanding. The Daily Growler had a small line. Had time to peruse their lengthy beer menu - 60 options to be exact. The first screen listed about 10 IPAs and a handful I've been hoping to try. Among them were the Stone's Gotterdammerung, Hoof Hearted South of Eleventh, & Fat Head's Hop Stalker. I ordered a flight of six 5oz samples. Mindy ordered a pint of the Southern Tier Warlock then walked next door to get a salad from the Big Fat (Daily Growler customer's are welcome to bring in food).

Of the six flight sample, five of them were IPAs. The only exception was a North Peak pumpkin ale. It was dry and flavorful - not at all sweet like so many others. The thing about IPAs, ones pallet is quickly wreaked by hops and it becomes hard to discern. But of all those I tried, the Fat Head's Hop Stalker was head and shoulders above the rest. On a different day I might have another opinion.

Now closing in on 3pm, Mindy asked if we could run some Bella party errands before heading home. Specifically, she wanted to stop at Sam's Club. We headed west to Sam's. I don't like going to Sam's so I offered to drop Mindy off then venture Dick's which is two store fronts north. She was OK with that. I wanted to look at volleyball nets at Dick's. Their offerings are slim. Had only two and both cheaply made but pricey - $69 and $129. Was out of there in less than 10 minutes. Drove back to Sam's where I waited for Mindy. I'm guessing my wait was 10 minutes. I was close but figured since Sam's doesn't bag your purchase, that Mindy might appreciate curb pick-up service. Don't you know, she gave me the dickens for pulling up close to the door. At the same time I struggled to unlock the back hatch no matter what buttons I pushed. Had her load her haul in through one of the side passenger doors. She continued ripping on me, but I just laughed it off.

Had to be close to 4pm when we got home. Mindy wasted little time putting away her Sam's Club stuff and then leaving for the grocery. While she was away I planned to watch football and nap. And that's exactly what I did. She was gone for about 90 minutes. I was napping when she got back, but pulled myself up from my slumber and helped carry in the grocs. While she put everything away, I walked the pug who was acting like she wanted to go out. Mindy had just finished putting away groceries and turned around and headed out yet again, this time to the Party Store next to Wal-Mart.

We were invited to the neighbors to watch the Buckeye football game, but I was feeling more and more like just hanging out at home. Mindy, I think, felt the same. We also had a last minute invite to go to a party with Ben & Ryan. The evening moved along pretty quickly. Soon it was time for the Buckeye game kickoff. The stadium looked electric with excitement. The Wisconsin game always generates lot of buzz, almost like a bowl game. It doesn't hurt that anymore it's routinely a night game.

The Buckeyes opened strong scoring a touchdown on their first possession after holding Wisconsin to a 3 and out. The game, however, wasn't going to be a blowout. Much to our dismay, Wisconsin scored on one of their next possessions after a long drive. As a Buckeye fan, there were a number of frustrating moments in the first half though we never relinquished our lead. In fact, we scored a touchdown with one second left in the first half to go up 24-14. That had to irk the Wisconsin fans.

Mindy & I never did have any dinner. That Greek salad from earlier seemed to be enough to tie us over. I got hungry in the 2nd half though and got out pita chip and hummus. I was drank a few Jack & Cokes too. Had four in all. The 2nd half was much like the first. The Buckeyes scored first but allowed Wisconsin to sneak back in. They pulled within a touchdown with a couple minutes to go - 31-24. We recovered an onsides kick but couldn't convert a 1st down. We held Wisconsin on 4 straight downs deep in their own end of the field to close out the game. Good to get that win.

After the game Mindy headed straight to bed. I was a few minutes behind, putting away my electronics and securing the home. Mindy agreed to watching a little TV from bed. I tuned to the season premier of SNL with Tina Fey and musical guests Arcade Fire. Started to dose 20 minutes into the show. Mindy turned the TV off with the remote still firmly planted in my hand.