All the Stars Out Tonight

My boss wanted us to meet at his place at 930am, so I figured I needed to be up no later than 7am to allow myself enough time to run, finish packing, and make the short drive to his house. I woke a couple times early, once at 530am and then again at 630am. I rolled out of bed for good at 650am.

Downstairs, I started some coffee then pulled up a makeshift packing list using one of the many I’ve created in Excel for various other short trips. I just wanted something to use as a guideline so I wouldn’t forget something critical. Enjoyed coffee and internet until 730am then headed off on my run. I wore alternative attire so not to pack anything worn and damp. It was cool and mostly cloudy, but not so cold to warrant hand and ear covers. I think it was in the mid 40s.
I ran 3 miles in about 27 minutes, which has become the norm these days. Back at the house I thought Mindy might be up, in part because she headed to bed so early, and secondly to spend a little time with me before I needed to leave, but she was still asleep. Before heading up for a shower, I threw together a cooler with beers, water, Gatorade, and couple Diet Cokes. I also got our better sleeping bag down from the camping equipment shelf in the garage.

I headed up for a shower around 820am. By then, Jacob was already up and in his shower. He had an early soccer game in Hilliard. His dad was coming over to get him. Mindy was up but still in bed playing on her phone. She asked if Jacob was up. Yes. Didn’t take too long in the shower, out by 830am. By the time I was done with my prep, Mindy was out of bed and downstairs. I tossed the clothes I’d set out the day before into my large Nike duffle along with my overnight kit. I grabbed my favorite bed pillow then headed downstairs.

Mindy asked if I got the text she sent earlier. Nope, hadn’t even checked my phone. Her text was sent while I was running asking me to bring coffee and snuggle. While Jacob waited for his dad to arrive, I finished last minute preparations. Mindy helped me gather a few snacks for my overnight trip. I wasn’t sure what we’d be doing for meals. The boss man only suggested we bring whatever we wanted to drink and sleeping provisions.

I planned to leave the house 915-920am. Jimaken showed to get Jacob around 905am. He was in and they were out.

I loaded my car leaving myself about 5 minutes to relax. I ended up making a cream cheese bagel before I left. Gave Mindy a big hug and kiss and left the house near 920am. She asked that I call when I could. Boss man's house is real close to Bella’s school, so even though I’d never been there before I knew right where to go. Arrived just ahead of 930am. One of my peers, Ken, was already there giving him a hand loading his generator into his SUV. Boss asked if I or another peer, Ryan, who had yet to arrive, minded driving, too. Nope, not at all, and actually that made me happy. That way, I figured, I would have more control of my departure time come Sunday afternoon.

Since we hadn’t been there before the boss gave us the nickel tour of his new house while we waited on Ryan. Ryan showed up around 945am. We spent a little more time at the house but soon hit the road. Since I was now driving the 100 miles trip, I needed to stop and fill-up with gas. While I filled my gas tank, Ken ran inside to get some Mt Dew. Before we jumped on 270, I asked for general directions. Turns out being very similar to going to my mom’s, the difference being we planned to take the exit just past route 93.

We didn’t get too far down the road before the boss celled asking if we’d prefer to stop in McArthur and catch part of the OSU game before heading to his cabin. That idea sounded good to everybody, so we modified the original plan a little. We took route 33, the Lancaster bypass, and then exited on route 93. Felt like I was heading to my mom’s. Ryan & I both had to pee. He called ahead to Ken and my boss who pulled over to share that there wouldn’t be anywhere to stop before making into McArthur. It was only another 15-20 miles up the road. We both agreed we could wait.

Pulled into McArthur and Mama Renie’s bar near 1145am. Number one on my agenda was finding the Men’s room. Ahhh! Still before noon, I wasn’t at all interested in drinking any beer. Like the others, I ordered a soft drink – pink lemonade to be exact. Took a little ribbing for it too. I didn’t mind. Perusing their food menu, I suggested we get a pizza. I ordered an extra-large pepperoni. The boss shared that their pizzas are really good. Good or not, at the time, I was so hungry I felt that I could eat just about anything.

Took 20-30 minutes for the pizza to come. Boy was it ever good, and just like I like ‘em – thin crust with curled up, spicy pepperonis. Yum! By then the Buckeye/Purdue game was underway. This year the Buckeyes left little doubt quick. We couldn't have been 5 or 6 minutes into the game and the Buckeyes already lead by 2 touchdowns. The blowout was on.

Former peer, Lance joined us at Mama Renie’s around 1pm. He planned to spend the day with us, but would be heading home that evening. Good to see him. Slid some pizza his way and talked about his recent career change and then got caught up on all the recent gossip. Lots of fun. While all of us chatted, the Buckeyes continued to pile it on the hapless Boilermakers. I think it was 35-0 at the half. It must’ve been around 145pm when we settled our tab and headed for the boss’ cabin, which was just another 8-10 miles east off route 50.

Boss man’s cabin sits about a mile off the highway down a secluded gravel twp. road. Must’ve been about 2pm by the time we arrived. Nice place. We all carried in our gear, the others quickly claiming their sleeping digs. I left my gear in the living room. The cabin has a living room kitchen combo, a separate bathroom, and then two bedrooms – each with a queen bed and two additional bunks. Boss man shared that the bunks are memory foam mattresses.

We headed out to scope out the property, eventually taking up refuge on the covered front porch listening to the rest of the Buckeye game. Boss man suggested we take a hike but not until the Buckeye game was in the books. He’s a huge fan – OSU being his alma mater. Prior to our Hocking Hills weekend, I hadn’t known Ken to drink, at least not since back in his single days 20 some years ago. I broke out my flask of Jack and everybody but Lance took at least one swig. Lance was driving home later so he didn’t want to partake. Wise.

Soon after the Urban Meyer interview, we headed down the twp. road deeper into the woods. We walked maybe a 1/4 mile or so beyond where the twp. road ended. From that point forward we were on a horse trail in the state forest. Sun came out a few times making for some amazing autumn views.

Back at the cabin boss man whipped up some dinner. I wasn’t that hungry and probably could’ve skipped eating all together, but since he was cooking, I was eating. He didn’t tell us what he was cooking but it was all really good – pulled pork, macaroni, & potato salad. Nice job, boss man! Lance headed out at what must’ve been around 6pm. After Lance left, I hiked up the hill behind the cabin in an attempt to reach Mindy. It was a tough climb but I made it. Got a hold of her as she neared Polaris and Molly Woo’s, apparently headed there to meet bff Teri for dinner. We talked for just a few minutes.

After dinner and just before dark, boss man got a fire going in the large fire ring which sat about 50 feet from the cabin’s front porch. My car was a little too close for comfort, so I opted to move it forward to thwart any fly away hot coals.

Once darkness set it we carried gravity recliners out to the fire ring. Boss man was hopeful that we might see some stars. But given the bleak forecast, I wasn't so sure. He opened up his Jeep G.C. and let his XM service whirl on the blues channel. Nice tunes! For the first hour or so I drank only water, but eventually cracked open a beer – a CBC IPA. I went for my flask of Jack too, but kept my alcohol consumption to a minimum. All totaled, I drank two beers and maybe three shots of Jack from late afternoon through midnight.

Boss man kept verbalizing his wish for clear skies so we could star watch, and don't you know, sometime around 9pm the skies finally cleared revealing the heavens in all their glory. And let me tell you, I was nothing short of mesmerized, more stars than I’ve seen in almost a decade. With so much time passing between the last such glimpse, I’d forgotten how many stars one can see on a perfectly clear night with no moon and being far removed from big city light pollution. I couldn’t stop looking up. Amazing! Through the night we spotted numerous falling stars.

We spent the duration of our evening sitting around the fire listening to music, telling stories, watching stars, and, of course, sipping a little booze. The sky went from clear to cloudy numerous times. And when the sky would clear, maybe it was my imagination, but the temperature seemed to drop with its arrival. Away from the fire it was downright chilly.

Mindy called my work cell around 9pm. I was sitting near the fire so service was sketchy at best. We managed to talk twice for a few seconds, but each time the call dropped. I hiked halfway up the hill to give it one more try. This time, however, she didn’t answer. Went to VM. Hey, I tried.

I was getting tired. I could’ve headed in to bed around 1030pm, but the others showed no signs of tiring. I thought about sneaking off to the cabin and getting into my sleeping bad but never did. We stayed up until almost midnight. I was a little surprised when Ryan asked for a hit from my flask of Jack. I told him he could polish it off. There had to be three or four good shots left. He sucked it down in a hurry, and that from a guy that rarely drinks. Needless to say, the Jack did its job. Let’s just say, he was our entertainment from that point forward. 

Compared to the outdoors, the cabin was warm and cozy. Boss man put a single log in the wood burner and that was all he said we’d need to keep the cabin warm all night. I plopped down on the sofa near the wood burner and soon pulled my sleeping bag over my head. The others slipped off to their claimed bedrooms. Boss man headed out to shut down the generator. Lights out just after midnight.