And Winter Came

After waking a couple times after 5am, I ended up sleeping in until 635am. By then I felt rested enough to get up and get my day moving. Outside, it looked wintry. Last night's snow still covering most surfaces. As I headed downstairs I could see my tracks into the house were covered with fresh snow.

I exercised then delivered Mindy's coffee. By then Mindy was already up and in the shower. It was near 650am. Back downstairs. I enjoyed a little coffee then poked around online but also checked in with work. Not a whole lot going on at that hour. it wasn't long before Mindy was downstairs and preparing to depart. I noticed she was wearing a Brighton ski resort hoodie. Didn't remember her buying it. Looked good. She shared that she would be bringing Laurel and Collin home from school again. I wasn't 100% sure of my work plan. I figured I'd be picking up dad from the hospital at some point. It made more sense to work from home.

I checked the weather forecast. Calling for more snow with 1-3" of accumulation coupled with dropping temps. Awesome! Mindy warmed her car then left for school around 730am. Bella and I hung out for the next 25 minutes then headed out to the bus stop. We took the pug along, this her first sniff of the crisp morning air. It was cloudy and near freezing. The snow from the night before was very packable. The kids played in it while waiting on the bus, this their last day of school until next Monday. Lucky them! The bus arrived near 8am. As soon as the bus pulled away the pug and I carried on with our morning walk.

Back at the house, I did some work, enjoyed a little more coffee, then prepared for a run. It was 9am by the time I headed out. It was spitting snow but the streets and walks were pretty clear - wet however. I ran the full 4.1 miles without issue. At home again, I got right to work. Spent most of the morning working on the same issue that's been on my plate since last week, but I think we were making some serious progress.

Called the hospital between 10-11am to check on dad's status. The nurse I gave my number to called around 115am earlier that morning but didn't leave a VM. As such, I still didn't have dad's room number. I talked with a seemingly knowledgeable male nurse - friendly, too. He said dad was doing great and explained that his issue was dehydration which caused his kidney's to show poor test results. Said all this was a byproduct of his meds. and more specifically the water pill he's been taking. Said they were adjusting his meds and he would be coming home sometime that afternoon. Took my number and would call when it was time.

I knew then that I would be working from home for the rest of the day. I would join the recurring technical meeting across town via conference bridge. Not ideal but still remaining plugged in. Around noon I made myself a pork wrap using leftover pork chops. Yum! It was snowing again, by the way, and at times coming down in ginormous snow flakes. Pretty!

The work day was moving right along. I sent a couple emails to family detailing dad's status. Midway through the afternoon it looked like that problem that I'd been working on for nearly a week was coming to an end. Hoorah! Kept snowing all afternoon. There was a fresh inch or two out there by the time the kids were home from school. Can't remember the last time we had a decent snow for TG. And it's supposed to stay chilly for the next week or so. I left a VM for Ashley, who at that point was the only person we'd discussed Saturday's Wright family TG dinner with any detail. IN the VM I let her know that we were canceling.

Bella and Mindy were home near 4pm. Of course, Mindy had Laurel and Collin with her. She agreed to bring them home and then take them to gymnastics when she drops Bella. Their mom is Kelly, the gymnastics instructor. I had to join our weekly staff call at 415pm. The call was brief. Lasted no more than 15 minutes. My boss asked me to remain on after the others left. We nailed down Friday coverage plans. Mindy asked if leftovers were going to be OK for dinner. Yes.

Mindy left to run Bella, Laurel and Collin to gymnastics. Said she was going to stop at Kroger for cheese, which is what we were asked to bring to the TG dinner at her mother's on Thursday. Planned to grab a few other things, too. I was expecting a call from dad or the hospital much earlier. Hearing not a word by 540pm, I called the hospital. This time they put me directly through to dad. Said he was just wrapping up and preparing to come home, but went on to share that Uncle Kenny was coming to get him. Oh! Well that made my life suddenly simpler. He sounded great and said he felt good too. I reminded him that his van was at my house. He knew it, but hey.

Mindy phoned around 615pm to share that she was simply going to hang out until gymnastics was over. She still hadn't made the Kroger run. Apparently Kelly was late getting to the gym and since Mindy was responsible for her kids, she didn't want to leave until they arrived. Of course that meant I wouldn't have to do the pick-up. I shared dad's status and that I didn't need to go after him. She asked if I needed anything else from Kroger. Wanted to know if I wanted more Jack. Always more Jack, yes! Came up with a few other things too, including ingredients for sauerkraut balls. Ended up, however, that we had most of the necessary ingredients already. I spent my quiet time working on a holiday project and listening to music.

Mindy and Bella were home around 745pm. I wondered if they'd have any trouble pulling up the drive and staying there. Nope, it didn't appear so. Not only had she made a stop at Kroger, but she stopped for Wendy's too. Although it was only Tuesday, it was my Friday (sort of). I'd be off Wednesday & Thursday (TG) but then working again Black Friday. Sipped a Jack & Coke before heading to bed.