Boating in October

I woke around 2am needing to pee and thinking about work. And after almost 6 hours of sleep, I felt wide awake. I decided to get up and head downstairs where I finished what was left of the Cap’n Crunch. I also wrote for about 45 minutes. Headed back to bed at 245am. Took a few minutes to fall asleep again, but my mind was in a far better place. Was at peace with myself.

Didn’t get up again until about 6am. I was dreaming heavily just before waking which always leaves me feeling exhausted. I quickly shook it off and rolled out of bed. Was downstairs by 605am. Outside, the sky was obscured by thin clouds. We need some rain and the forecast is calling for some for the next few days. It seems that it’s always raining when I take the boat in for winterization. A few years back, it actually snowed on winterization day.

I completed exercises then headed to the PC with coffee in hand. I didn’t have that much time before I needed to head upstairs to wake Mindy. I did that at 620am. Once again, I used my creamer in her coffee. She asked that I turn off the window fan blowing in cool air.

I had my work laptop already fired up downstairs even though I was working at a customer location later that morning. I checked my emails and saw I had an urgent escalation needing my attention. It wasn’t even 7am and there I was working. I decided right then that I wasn’t going to hurry, scurry. I would simply take my time and run after seeing Bella onto the bus. I was at peace with my decision.

Mindy was downstairs a few minutes later already preparing to depart. Shared my situation and plan. Still planned to pick-up the boat from storage and take it up to Paul’s Marine on my way to New Albany. She left the house around 725am. I kept working while Bella readied for school. It was 755am in a hurry. She and I headed out shortly thereafter. It was more foggy than anything else. Rain was forecasted for the night time hours, none during the day.

Back home from the bus stop at 805am, I decided to slow it down a little. Rather than hurry, I took a few minutes to meditate and stretch I was proud of myself for doing so. Often, when I alter my schedule, I cast meditation aside, the one thing that always makes life better. I headed out for a run around 835am. The cool cloudy weather was ideal for running. Still a little anxious inside, I toyed with trimming my run to just three miles but quickly pooh-poohed any such notion and did the full track - 4.1 miles.

I was back home near 915am, I called Paul's Marine just to make sure they were opened. They were. Closed on Monday's. Good thing I didn't take it up there then. I would've been pissed! Next, I called boat storage to make sure that I could get to my boat. Sometimes they already have them tucked in tight for winter. Ed answered and said it shouldn't be a problem. Called back minutes later to tell me he'd have it out front waiting for me. Awesome - thanks Ed!

Following in the same vein as earlier, I took the time to fry a few eggs for the pug and I thus enjoying a nice breakfast. I chased a couple work issues ahead of a shower too. It was near 10am by the time I was ready to leave the house. I made sure that I had everything I needed to deal with the boat. I even remembered to take the boat trailer license plate renewal sticker.

There it was, waiting in the front lot just as Ed promised. That sure made life easy. Got on 270 at Roberts Rd. Listened to WOSU NPR on the drive up. Doing their fall drive for cash. Special guest was Tom Burns, director of Perkins Observatory in Delaware, Oh - Ohio Wesleyan University. Interesting character. Talked about the observatory and the night sky, of course. That's something I've always wanted to do - visit the observatory on one of their public nights. As I understand it, that's only on Friday's. I'm pretty sure that Bella would love it.

Traffic was too bad all the way up. Arrived at Paul's near 11am, which seemed later than I imagined. More folks there than I expected. Booked the boat for a winterization and tune-up. I was in and out of there in short order. Finally on my way to the office.

Listened to WOSU the entire commute into Easton area. Arrived around 1115am. Lucky me, I got one of the "20 minute" parking spots out front of the main building. Noticed a peers vehicle taking one of those too. Didn't feel so bad. I don't have a permanent office in this particular building, so I took the one dedicated to the account manager. She wasn't around. Why not? Our special meeting was set to begin at 12 noon. I didn't have a lot of time before I needed to head up. We were providing lunch - City Barbeque. I wasn't so sure I was going to partake, but nevertheless a nice gesture.

The meeting commenced at noon just as it was planned. Most ate before we jumped into the agenda. I had nuts, veggies and an apple downstairs, I steered clear of the provided lunch. The meeting was technical in nature and went the full 2 hours. Back to my desk at 210pm, I had a waiting message from my boss asking me to join a call. The call was brief.

Spent the rest of the afternoon taking care of typical daily issues. Joined another impromptu call at 4pm that lasted almost an hour. Didn't get out of the office until 515pm. Was already 530pm by the time I was safely merged onto to 270. Called Mindy shortly thereafter. She and Bella were on their way to gymnastics. Said we were having a surprise dish for dinner. All my guesses were a no. Said only that she's never made it before. Uh-on! :)

Arrived home ahead of Mindy. Jacob was there but upstairs doing homework. He asked that I takeover watching/listening for the oven timer. I peeked in. Looked like a casserole. I guessed tuna casserole. Mindy was home around 615pm. She was eager to serve her new dish, which I had just recently turned off the heat to just as Jacob asked. Finally came clean. It was a chicken based casserole since the kids wouldn't eat it if made with tuna. She adlibbed a bit, tossing in cheese, peas, and cream of chicken in lieu of cream of mushroom ( I am not a mushroom fan).

The three of us (me, Mindy, Jacob) sat for dinner. Jacob quickly pushed his plate away. Not eating it. I enjoyed it much. Very good. Had a small 2nd helping. Mindy ate hers and Jacob's. When asked, I suggested if making it again, add a bit more cream of chicken to make it moister. By the time clean-up was completed it was darn near time to fetch the peanut. With the few minutes I had, I checked and read email. Received two rather important emails. One, from Great Lakes Student Loans congratulating me for having recently paid off my student loan. Wahoo! Two, an email from Time Warner offering to buy out my pension. Gave me four options including an opportunity to start taking it as an annuity right now, but of course at a reduced monthly payment. I only have until the 24th to decide how I want to proceed. If I do nothing the offer evaporates and will begin getting my monthly pension check as originally designed at age 65. I very much like the idea of taking a lump sum and rolling it over into an existing retirement account, giving me control of how it's invested. I need more time to run the numbers to make an educated choice. I shared the concept with Mindy, bouncing the four options off of her. I left to get the peanut at 715pm. Jacob uncharacteristically asked to ride along. Sure!

During our brief drive to get the peanut, Jacob talked excitedly about upcoming middle school basketball tryouts. He's eager to give it a go. According to him, he's the biggest 7th grader and one of the better ball players. I like that he enjoys talking with me about those things. We arrived with just a minute or two to go before gymnastics ended. Said he wanted to wait in the car. It occurred to me as I walked in to get Bella that he probably came along so he could beg for a fast food stop on the drive home. It made perfect sense, especially since he didn't eat any dinner.

Practice ended as soon as I walked in. Didn't get to see any action whatsoever. Bella had no idea that Jacob was waiting in the car, and I made no mention of it. She was already working me over for a stop for ice cream. After the initial scare from Jacob, they both started in about a stop for food, just as I anticipated. Jacob asked if we could stop for real food. Bella wanted to stop at Dairy Queen for ice cream. I wasn't about to make two stops. I offered Wendy's as an alternative, where Jacob could get real food and Bella could get a Frosty. In retrospect, I guess we could've done the same at Dairy Queen, but they never come to mind as having a full menu of burgers and what not. They agreed, and we stopped at the Wendy's nearest our home.

We pulled in the drive at home around 750pm. Like me, as soon as Mindy saw Jacob with a Wendy's bag, she espoused his motives for going with. Both kids were happy and appreciative. That's all that mattered.

While the kids ate, I went back to my PC watching a prepared video webinar about my TWC pension options. Taking the lump sum today and rolling it over would be equal to 7 years of monthly annuity payments at the guaranteed amount at age 65, which is still 11 years out. That money invested at the average long term gain of the stock market (about 8%) would more than double that amount thus making the present value more like 15 years worth of the guaranteed monthly annuity in 11 years. In addition, taking the lump sum now guarantees the money is in the hands of me and/or my estate. On the other hand, choosing the annuity, it is only paid out until my death. What to do?

There is another cash out option, too, which is to take a cash payment now without rollover. That would be foolish, given that it would be taxed immediately as income and also subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Not really an option for me. For me it's between the original annuity or the lump sum rollover. Need to decided by early next week.

Mindy made certain Bella knew her bedtime was 930pm which meant lights out and in actually in bed at 930pm, not just in her room. Mindy headed to bed prior to that. I stayed up watching a History Channel program about the universe. I absolutely love that stuff. I started dosing around 930pm from the comfort of the sofa but was immediately rattled awake by constant thuds coming from Bella's room. Not only that, but she was back downstairs for something to drink - Fresca. When confronted, she tried taking it up to her room, which is and always has been a no-no. Water only, and in a plastic cup. She reluctantly complied. Sneaky one, she is! Because I was sleepy, it agitated me more so than usual. Still thuds coming from her room, I quietly popped in on my way to bed. She was up in the dark moving stuff around. She said it was to prevent the pug from getting in her American Girl doll bed. After rolling my eyes, I took the pug with me. Now, get in your bed! Eiknarf and I plopped into bed with Mindy.