Like Ridin' a Bike @ Chataloochee

sonbahar- Turkish


I think even Mindy was surprised that I didn't seem to be in any hurry to get up and out of bed. It was 625am when I finally upped from bed feeling fairly well rested. Out the master bath window there was that undeniable shine coming from the walks and streets. I could easily see that it was or had been raining. Downstairs, I checked the coffee maker on my way to fetch my exercise shoes. As expected, coffee was ready and waiting, but not until after morning calisthenics.

I glanced out back at the weather, though I didn't open the door. It was raining but only sprinkle at the time. I headed to the living room where I whipped out 50 sit-ups. I then headed back to the kitchen for windmills and curls. Already after 630am, I poured Mindy some coffee then took it upstairs. She was still in bed but awake.

Downstairs again, I poured coffee for myself then headed to my desk. It was already 640am. Minutes later Jacob was downstairs getting something to eat ahead of bus stop time. He walked out the door near 650am. It was a raw morning weatherwise - only 38 degrees with light rain. The temperature was expected to climb into the low 50s by mid afternoon. Looking towards the weekend, it's supposed to remain wet and warm through Friday but then cool down considerably by Saturday.

By the time that Mindy was downstairs, I was already engaged in work. As usual, she had to call out for Bella to get up and out of bed more than a time or two. But soon Bella was downstairs. Neither one us heard any coughing fits through the night, but it started up again once she was up and out of bed. Hey, at least she got a decent night of sleep. Mindy planned to dose her with cough medicine again before leaving for school. As she does almost every morning, she hollered down asking what the high and low for the day was. We think she's planning her wardrobe based on our answers.

As she does most days, Mindy left for school near 730am. Before leaving the house she asked my plans. It was a sure bet that I'd be working from home. The 20-25 minutes ahead of bus stop time went fast. And like I do every morning, I reminded her to do a good job on her teeth and hair. The results were decent. We walked out to the bus stop at 755am. I took the pug along, this being her first opportunity to get outside. The bus came along around 805am, and once the bus moved on with the kids, the pug and I crossed the street and did our usual walk.

Back at the house, I wasn't in too big a hurry to get back out the door for a run. Instead, figured I would enjoy another cup of coffee and take care of a couple work related matters first. I must've been around 915am when I finished a non-rushed meditation and stretch then headed off on a run. By then it was in the low 40s. As such, I ran without the benefit of hand and ear covers. Nice run. Ran the full 4.1 miles and felt good throughout. Not a lot going on in the subdivision at that hour with people already off to school and work. Very peaceful.

Was home again by 10am. Instead of making eggs, I opted for a taco burrito instead. It was delicious. I apologized to the pug for not making eggs. :) Near 11am, I got a text from David sharing that he made it to the Chataloochee ski resort in NC, which I believe is somewhere near Ashville. Went by himself and planned to spend the night and ski Thursday & Friday. Still find it hard to believe that they're opened in Carolina but pretty much nowhere else.

Fairly easy work day, which is always nice. Didn't get a shower until mid afternoon. And when I did, I got into comfy lounging clothes in lieu of jeans. Much more comfortable. During what I'll deem my lunch hour, I worked on a Xmas project. Always feels good to get an early jump of any kind on Xmas. The day moved by swiftly. Soon, Jacob was home from school, which is a bit like the front door to the end of the work day, at least whenever I work from home. Bella was home about an hour later, just like most other days, and then Mindy not even 15 minutes later.

While I put the finishing touches on my work day, Mindy got started on dinner. Said that we were still having pork chops though she wanted to try a different spin on the old standard. She wasn't very specific, which she later shared was out of fear of me rejecting her recipe - a recipe she got from her teaching partner, Kim. We also jointly agreed to keep Bella home from gymnastics. With her cough still an issue and then instructor Kelly off on a cruise, it was the right decision. When we told Bella, she was happy. Not sure what that says. Hmmm?

I popped in the kitchen a time or two getting a look and whiff of dinner. Looked like she was cooking our chops in a concoction of apple cider and onions. Smelt great. Shortly before it was all ready, I helped by stirring what would become gravy - the apple cider concoction. Dinner was served around 6pm, which is a little bit later than we usually eat.

Mindy insisted both kids try what she prepared. Jacob is the worst about it, which is somewhat surprising given his adult-like palette. The chops looked great, though my preference would've been to cook them until they were browned and crispy on the outside. And once I added extra salt and garlic it was really tasty. Neither of the kids liked the recipe. Bella filled up on creamy noodles and crescent rolls. I think she ate about 5 of them. Jacob ate his salad, but that's about it. I noticed Mindy adding salt and garlic salt to hers as well. Hey, it's always fun to try something new, and I think we could tweak the recipe a little and make it even better.

Dinner clean-up was a bit more challenging than usual. Even Mindy admitted making one hell of a mess preparing dinner. She helped with the clean-up. Afterwards, she scrubbed the stove burner drip pans and even cleaned underneath the cooking surface. The plan all along was for Thursday to be family night. Mindy wanted to play Wii. Both kids put up a fuss, but by far, Jacob was the most vocal, especially when Mindy said we were gonna do the hoola hoop thing. She asked both kids to be back downstairs at 730pm for family night.

Before then, I spent a little time online updating my blog. I had several days waiting to be published. Since mid afternoon, David had been sending updates from Chataloochee ski resort. Said he was having a great time and that the skiing came right back much like riding a bike. That was good news as this was to serve as his gauge for whether or not he'd be joining all of us in Tahoe this winter. I encouraged him to take a lesson despite how well it was going. He responded that he took one as soon as he arrived. Good move!

Soon it was time for family night. Mindy hollered for Bella to set-up the Wii. Jacob shared his disgust with the game choice from the outset. But really, can you blame an adolescent 13 year old boy for not wanting to play the hoola- hoop game? But in the name of family fun, what the hell? I encouraged Jacob to do it. After all, I was doing it, too. Needless to say, he and I sucked at it. As he often does, Jacob tormented Bella throughout and even made a few disparaging comments directed towards his momma. He stopped once she threatened to take his phone.

Speaking of his iphone and Bella's Kindle, we took them both temporarily because they were trying to play on them while we were supposed to be enjoying family night. It must've been my third try with the hoola-hoops game that I had a respectable round. Wahoo! :) We all were given an opportunity to choose a game. Bella chose this flying game. It was fun. I chose snowboarding. That was fun, too. All of these options on one disc - Wii-Fit Plus. Bella killed all of us on the hoola-hoop and flying game, but according to Jacob that was only a testament to how much time she wastes on such games. :)

We wrapped up family night just before 830pm. And while Mindy dispatched Bella to the shower, I tuned the TV to CBS for Thursday night's comedy line-up. We'd already missed Big Bang, but we wanted to catch the three others: The Miller's, The Crazy One's, and then Two & a Half Men. At some point I cracked open a Brew Kettle Xmas ale from last year. Still pretty good, though I am not that into these spiced beers so much anymore. I sipped it over the next hour or so. At 10pm, Mindy and I headed up to bed. From bed, I suddenly felt wide awake, which is something that's plagued me much over the last year. Mindy offered to scratch my head which for me, works much like a binky. :) Good night moon!