Waxing Moon & Eyebrows

Mindy & Bella dancing to Edward Sharpe

I slept at least somewhat late, not getting up and out of bed until 810am. It was cloudy, cool and still raining lightly. Looked like anything but summer, but then again I suppose that's only fitting given that Sunday would be the first day of autumn. I started coffee then played on the internet. While enjoying coffee I played on the internet then spent a little time updating my blog. It was after 9am in a hurry. Judging by the weather radar, it appeared to my eyes that it would be clearing around noon despite a dreary forecast calling for more rain throughout the day. In fact, the front that brought us all the rain during the overnight was just about to move out of the area. My prediction was supported by the fact that it was already sunny in Indianapolis.

Mindy and the kids were up before 10am. Not long after pouring her first cup of coffee, Mindy began making breakfast burritos, mostly for Jacob. At the same time, I was getting ready for a run. I offered each of them the opportunity to join me. I was a little surprised when Mindy agreed. Sadly, though, both kids rebuked any such notion. for some reason, both weren't in a compliant mood.

Mindy suggested that she might very well go on a run a little later. Hmm? I headed out and did my usual Saturday run of 3 miles. Was back at home around 11am. By then, the sky was brightening but still mostly cloudy. Mindy shared that Jacob only did a partial job on the simple chore we asked him to do, which was to rid the upper backyard of all the walnuts. Didn't care if he did it by hand or rake. We just wanted it done. At 13, he shows little enthusiasm for anything except soccer. Said he didn't know how to do it so he gave up. I offered to show him how, but he emphatically refused. We wouldn't stand for it and insisted he get out there and get busy. Frankly, getting a little tired of the way he back talks his mother.

It was almost time for the Buckeye game kickoff. Once he headed out to get busy for a 2nd time I decided to join him and give him a hand. I carried around the plastic rake but shared that ridding them by hand was probably easier and more fun. We tossed then frantically into the pond. He seemed to enjoy that part. Between the two of us it didn't take more than 10 minutes. Mindy was in the shower when we finished. She planned to take Jacob & Bella to see niece Lindey at Saturday's for haircuts and waxings. Jacob didn't want to do that either. Mindy's compromise was that she would wait until the game was over, which I supported.

In hindsight, it's probably wasn't fair to call the match-up a game. The team we played, Florida A&M University, is a Division 1-AA team, and hardly a formidable opponent for even the worst Division 1-A team. We were ahead 27-0 after the 1st quarter and 55-0 at halftime. We didn't throw even one pass in the 2nd half, choosing only to run straight up the middle. We won 76-0.

Shortly after the game ended, Mindy and the kids headed for Grove City to hook-up with Lindey. For the first 30 minutes after the departed, I played guitar and did a little reading. I had talked about making lasagna for dinner and told Mindy that I'd likely head to the Market District to get the ingredients. Decided to do just that. So after a shower I headed off to the M.D. in the BM'er. By then it was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon - abundant sunshine and temps in the low 70s.

Like most visits to M.D., I perused their beer selection 1st, picking up a rocket of Southern Tiers Warlock, a pumpkin Imperial Stout. Took my time picking up the lasagna ingredients: noodles, ground beef, sausage, sauce, ricotta cheese. As for the other necessary ingredients, we had those already at home. Picked up a few other items as well, including a loaf of fresh Italian bread and some cilantro jalapeño hummus. Spent something like $40. Headed for home.

Once at home I wasted little time getting started on dinner, but not before pouring myself a pint glass of the Warlock. Chopped fresh peppers and red onion, then fresh herbs from our window garden: oregano, parsley, and chives. Sauteed the veggies and herbs then browned the two meats. Boiled water for the noodles too. Mindy & the kids were home around 445pm. They weren't home long before the kids dashed out to play with friends. Mindy was home for about 30 minutes before making a Target run. I asked if she would pick-up some eye drops & cinnamon. While she was away I prepared the lasagna for baking. Came up two noodles short. The only reason I didn't make the entire box was because I always seem to waste 3 or 4 noodles. Admittedly, I didn't plan well. I went ahead and boiled a little more water for two more lasagna noodles. Tried microwaving them for speed but that didn't work at all. No worries. It didn't take but an extra ten minutes or so. Put the scrumptious looking lasagna in the over around 545pm.

Mindy enjoyed a little of the Warlock, too. Liked it a whole lot. Even suggested we go after more. And I might've done that had we not an entire growler of Centennial in the fridge. Apparently she'd forgotten. The lasagna baked for about 45 minutes, the last 10 with the foil pulled back. We didn't bother making a salad. We did, however, make homemade garlic cheesy bread with the loaf of fresh Italian bread from the M.D. Both the bread and lasagna were delicious. Even Bella said so. Said my lasagna was restaurant quality and even better than Maw-maws. I've always had a knack for making scrumptious lasagna.

We barely made a dent in the tray. Lots of leftovers. Jacob didn't have any lasagna. Instead, he ate breakfast burrito. Pasta isn't one of his faves. It did most of the big clean-up all the while I cooked, so the after dinner clean-up went rather quickly. The kitchen was back to normal near 730pm. I poured a glass of Centennial then sought out some college football. The pickings were slim. Not too many big games this week. Instead, lots of major mismatches.

Jacob sent a text to Mindy asking if he could stay out and play until 11pm like he night before. Uhh, no! Mindy initially gave him a curfew of 930pm but compromised by telling him that if he played in our own back yard he could stay out until 10pm. He bought into that.

All the neighbor parents were apparently off to a party in Johnstown. Keeping an eye on all the kids was Chrissy's sister, who was staying all night at the Gardner home. Mindy wasn't up that late at all, I'm guessing that she was off to bed even before 10pm. Me, I stayed up a while longer, and then even later after heading back downstairs unable to fall asleep in bed. I tuned into SNL and was soon joined by none other than the original later nighter, Bella. She watched SNL with me. Figured that no hard.

Wouldn't you know, it was one of the raunchiest episodes I can ever recall, referring to his penis numerous times. After about the third time I casually flipped the channel back to football. Seconds later Bella upped and said she was heading to her own room. Over the rail and just before heading into her room, she asked what channel she might find SNL on her TV. Uhh, probably not on your TV. Need a cable box. It was a lie but a defensible lie. Too tired to debate. I headed up to bed a few minutes later.