Incredible Night of Sleep and the Season's 1st Snow

After 9+ hours of restful sleep, I was up near 6am. Haven't slept that good for a couple of weeks. Felt really refreshed. Downstairs I glanced out the back door seeing a rainy wet deck. I popped my head out the door revealing chilly temps again, too. The rain the last two mornings held back any potential frost damage. I completed Wednesday calisthenics, which included 50 push-ups, but even they came easy this go around. Amazing what a really good night of sleep can do for one's energy and mood.

It was 615am. Before enjoying any coffee of my own, I poured and delivered Mindy's. She asked me to bump up the heat a little once back downstairs. Once again, I opted to do meditation ahead of any PC and coffee time. I like that a lot. Was at my PC with coffee by 630am.

My VP was in town today, so my boss asked that I work in Hilliard so I could meet with her later that afternoon. Not a problem. I planned to work from home for the first couple hours again, though, especially after seeing the weather radar. It was 35 degrees and snow and sleet were quickly descending on the NW quadrant of the city. I took a quick gander out the front door side lights. Sure enough, there were snowflakes already mixing with the light rain. No way I wanted to drive the BM'er in that.

Mindy was downstairs by 7am and Bella was up a few minutes later. She was very excited to see it snowing. By then it was about a 50/50 mix, but starting to stick to the cars and bushes. Shortly after Mindy left it turned almost entirely to wet snow, and even started sticking to the warm lawns. And so it begins.

Headed out with Bella at our usual time. She was eager to get out there. I hadn't yet walked the pug so I left the bus stop and headed across the street with the pug. I joined up with the others after our brief walk. The bus was later than usual. I'm thinking it was closer to 815am when she finally arrived. It was still spittin' snow when the pug and I headed back home.

I spent a little time with work before stretching and heading out on a run. It was still snowing and even colder than it was when I first got up. It was 33 degrees and snowing harder than it had all morning. I opted to add hand and ear covers to my kit, which was another seasonal first. Running in inclement weather takes some of the monotony away. As a result, the run when by in a hurry. Of course I ran the full 4.1 miles. At times my black jacket was coated in snow, just like midwinter. I was comfortable for the duration, never too warm or chilly.

I was home by 910am. Had to prepare for a 930am weekly call. Thought about frying a few eggs before the call but soon realized I'd be pushing it close. Wanting no part of that, I simply left the oiled pan ready on the stove but with the heat off. The call went pretty well. Lasted maybe 25 minutes. Started my breakfast immediately after and the pug and I were enjoying eggs by 1005am. The snow stopped around 10am, or shortly before I headed up for a shower.

I was ready to go by 1025am. Before leaving the house, I took the time to call the IRS in hopes of resolving the 2011 SS tax issue once and for all. I had all the documentation I needed buried in email. For one reason or another, I struggled finding those all too critical documents. I dropped a few curse words while searching high and low while waiting in a seemingly endless phone queue for a rep to take my call. I eventually found the documents I needed and before Ms. Davis took my call. She was much friendlier than the first woman I spoke with, the night before the government shut down. She pulled up my case and concurred with my statement that all I needed to do to clear the whole thing was provide this document. I was hopeful simply reading it to her might suffice but at the same time doubted it. Of course not. My thinking was that they had to have a similar issue with others so why wouldn't me sharing the latter suffice. Anyway ...

She suggested I simply fax it to her, which I reluctantly agreed to do, but shared that I wasn't set up to fax from home. I could email it easy enough, but they're not set-up to receive such supporting documentation in that form. Of course not! I shared that I would fax it from work later. Ms Davis said she'd be watching out for it. Wrapped up around 1050am then put the folder in my work pack and headed off in the BM'er. By then the temperature was up to 38 degrees and the sky beginning to brighten. It was an easy drive in. Arrived just after 11am.

By all accounts, it was a pretty easy day. I had three calls/meetings on my calendar but all after 1pm. Until then, I was able to play catch-up on my to-do list with little interruption. I packed some nuts, a banana, and an apple. I enjoyed those through the afternoon.

Paul's Marine called my personal cell while I was on one of my afternoon business calls. Said the boat was ready for pick-up. The total was much less than I expected, only $421. Started going through a list of the parts they replaced. I had to share that I would call back once my work call was over. I had more questions I wanted to ask. Wrapped up the work call in about 10 minutes then called Paul's Marine back. I asked about the plugs and wires since I know that I haven't replaced them during my second ownership since summer '05. Said they were both in good shape. Did replaced points, cap and condenser, checked/adjusted timing, changed fuel filter, etc. Said it was running like a champ. In the end, that's all that matters.

Spent the majority of my afternoon in meetings of one kind or another. My last meeting, a one on one with my VP was supposed to start at 345pm. However, she was late getting back from another meeting. While waiting for her arrival, I called into the IRS abyss again, hoping to get confirmation of receipt for the fax I sent in earlier. Another long wait, but another nice rep. Unfortunately, this rep was in an entirely different location so she could only go by any notes left on the account. All that was there was a recap of my earlier conversation. No fax receipt confirmation. Drats!

VP didn't show up until 430pm.She has a reputation for being windy and going well past meeting end times. This one was no exception. These one on ones are often intended to be venting opportunities, but the older I've gotten the wiser I've gotten. I didn't plan to vent about anything. Our meeting still went far longer than intended. It ended abruptly when my boss ushered in one of my peers, who was scheduled to go after me. It was darn near 530pm.

Back in my office, I quickly wrapped what I had going then packed up for home. It was already after 530pm. Arrived home near 550pm. I'd already texted Mindy earlier asking if it was date night. It was, but she didn't want to go anywhere. Wanted to simply stay home and relax. Once at home she elaborated. Jacob had his dad take him to open gym at his school and Mindy would have to pick him up around 830pm.

For dinner we agreed on leftovers. I chose leftover fried rice from Sunday. That was pretty good but not entirely filling. I had a little bit of Anita's leftover chicken lo mein, too. Mindy had chili. After a quick dinner I spent considerable time writing for my blog. Mindy left to get Jacob around 815pm. I played around online until almost 9pm.

Once everybody was home I went to the family room eager for some educational TV. Watched How the Universe Works. This program explored long dormant volcano's - actually lowered scientists into the crater. Gorgeous stone and hardened lava formations. Mindy headed up to bed around 910pm. I stayed up until just after 930pm, not too much later than her.