Who's this Woman, and Who's this Football Team?

I planned to work from home for the first part of the day and then head across town for a couple meetings sometime that afternoon. Given my plan, I didn't really have to be up so early so I slept in until almost 610am. Downstairs, I checked out the weather from the deck. Like every other morning this week, it was cloudy. :( Promptly, I went about completing morning calisthenics. Headed upstairs with coffee for Mindy around 625am. As much as she hacked and coughed through the night, I thought she might call off school. When asked, however, she said she couldn't, but would likely make arrangements to stay home Friday.

Near 645am, Jacob was downstairs for breakfast and out the door for school a few minutes later. It was another half an hour before I heard Mindy begin to stir.. To my ears it sounded as though she opted to skip a shower. When she joined me downstairs, my assumption was confirmed. Said she was sick and exhausted and so she skipped a shower. Before heading off to school, she made sure that Bella was up and had taken her medicine. At my prompting, she also took a few minutes to brush Bella's long, tangled hair. When done, it looked about as nice as it has all school year. I asked Bella how her recently repaired tooth felt. Said it felt a lot better. Walking out the door, Mindy asked about my working status. Shared my plans to work from home in the morning but then head across town during the afternoon.

Bella toiled in her room before coming downstairs again around 755am for bus stop time. We headed out a minute or two later, me leashing up the pug so she could get in her morning walk, too. Bus came along early, and maybe even before 8am. Before heading back to the house, the pug and I walked across the street so she could relieve herself. We were back at the house before 810am. I checked in with work and then headed out for a run around 830am. I ran the full 4.1 miles. By then the sky was clearing, a mix of sun and clouds. Still fairly cool, only 44 degrees. It was an enjoyable run.

Once back home I took about 15-20 minutes to fry the pug and I some eggs. Before getting back to work, I called Canon technical support to ask questions about my camera's flash malfunction. A woman answered my call but shared I'd need to call back after 10am ET when their techs get in.

I worked in my running attire until about noon when I headed up for a shower. After a shower I gave Canon support another call, only this time I talked to Craig, who was an authorized camera repair tech. He asked several questions about my camera and the problem. He then suggested I do something I hadn't seen on any of the forums, which was to remove the memory card and battery, just as I had done on my own, but then hold down the power button for 30 seconds. I did as he suggested but still no joy. Before ending our call I asked if there was something they could so to lessen the blow of a $160 repair. No, not really, though just before ending the call he offered up their loyalty trade-in program. He transferred me to the a trade-in specialist, who shared that I could get the S100, the same camera I recently bought for Glenn, for my old camera and $217. Another option was the S110 but for more still- my camera and $251. I then asked about the new S120. No current deals. I didn't consider either of those options that good given that I know they'll fix and sell my camera for about $200. I took notes so I could ponder the options, including shipping it in for repairs later.

I needed to be across town for two meetings, one at 230pm and another at 3pm. I left the house at 130pm. Tried calling my mom, whom I haven't talked to in more than a month. I got her answering service, Ronald, who said she headed in to town to run errands. Asked if he would kindly have her call me back. Cross town traffic was a nonissue. Arrived about 25 minutes later, or just before 2pm. I spent a little time talking to a peer before my 230pm meeting, but eventually went to find an open cubical where I could set-up and log in for a few minutes. Had just enough time to check email before heading to my 230pm meeting. My boss was supposed to meet me there, too. He called and shared that he was running a little late. I chatted with the one of the customer's directors while waiting for my boss. I gave my boss a call around 235pm. He was just walking in the building so I guided him to our location.

The meeting went well, though we had to cut it a little short so we could all three make the 3pm meeting upstairs. That 2nd meeting went about 50 minutes. I spent maybe another 20-25 minutes at my cubical afterwards, but then headed for home. I called Mindy once safely merged onto to 270. She was at a hair appointment that I forgot about. We talked for just a couple minutes. Said she'd call me back once she was done and on her way home.

Tried calling my mom again. This time she answered. Sounded tired. We talked for more than 20 minutes covering several topics including her health and wellbeing, Lindsey, and grandkids. I know it upset her but I let her know how I felt about the stream of emails she's been sending over the past couple months essentially chastising, and then telling me to help Lindsey more than I already do. As kindly as I could, I asked that she stop. It's better that way. I understand that she means well, but the tactic will only cause more problems.

As I neared home I bidded mom farewell, but not before inviting her to join us for our partial family after TG dinner on Saturday Nov 30. Said she won't be able to come because the doctor doesn't want her driving that far. It was almost 5pm when I pulled in the drive. Of course, Mindy wasn't yet home.

A few minutes later Mindy was home. We didn't have dinner plans, and Mindy wasn't up to cooking. I wasn't that hungry anyhow. Once again, I offered to spare Mindy the chore of driving Bella to and from gymnastics. Mindy thanked me and then suggested she would like to ride with me for the drop off. Jacob wasn't home. He was somewhere off playing in the neighborhood. Before we left, Bella ate a peanut butter and banana sandwich that I made for her. The three of us left around 530pm and this time we took 270.

Mindy was right. Traffic at the 70/270 interchange wasn't an issue. We made great time wheeling around 270. As result, we dropped Bella early. I don't think it was even 550pm. I made sure that she got inside before we pulled away for home. I asked Mindy if we needed to stop for food on the drive home. No, nothing sounded remotely good. I agreed, and frankly, I just wasn't that hungry.

Back at home, I unloaded the dishwasher while Mindy worked on Friday school sub plans. For some reason, I had a lot of nervous energy. I used it to my advantage, cleaning up the kitchen and then editing and updating my blog. Mindy & I talked about the recent email exchange with Lindsey regarding her auto insurance. For more than two months now we've been advising her that she needed to either take over managing her auto insurance or find another provider. And because our names are attached to the loan on the car, we asked for continued proof of coverage. After all, driving without insurance is against the law, let alone a requirement by the financial institution underwriting her loan.

I left to go after Bella at 711pm. And just like most evenings at that hour, traffic on 270 was light. I made it there lickety-split. Crowded inside. I got to see Bella do work on her floor routine, which for some reason has always proven extremely difficult for her. In fact, so much so, that Kelly, her instructor, threatened to move her back to beginner level. So imagine my surprise when she pulled off the routine better than ever. She did it twice. I noticed Kelly taking video of it, too. Later, she told me to look for it on Facebook. Bella was stoked!To be fair, it still needs work but she's finally getting it.

At home, I could hear the soaking tub running in the master bath. Apparently Mindy was taking a bath. Bella asked that I reheat her cheeseburger from a couple night's prior. She asked that I use a fresh bun, however. Can you say high maintenance? Warming food for Bella made me hungry. I ended up making a chicken wrap with some of those yummy Perdue chicken strips. The Minnesota Vikings were playing that night on the NFL Network against the Redskins. However, I wasn't so sure that I was even gonna watch since their season is effectively lost (1-7), not to mention the fact that there were two other very meaningful college football games on at the same time - Oregon/Stanford & Oklahoma/Baylor. But as 830 neared, I at least decided to watch the 1st quarter.

When the game started, Mindy was still working on grading papers and/or sub plans. Afterwards, I was a little surprised when Mindy came in and sat down on the sofa to watch some of the game with me. She hasn't spent any time downstairs after about 730p all week, though I suppose the fact that she wasn't planning on working Friday meant that she could sleep as late as she wanted come morning.

Jacob was home from playing with friends but already off to his room even before I got back home with Bella. Around 840pm, Bella headed up for a shower but was back downstairs for more food. The kid, all of the sudden, is eating like a teenager - constantly. Can't recall everything she ate that night, but it was a lot. She and I did share a bowl of popcorn around 915pm. Along with the popcorn and football, I enjoyed a couple Jack & Cokes, too.

The Vikings looked like their bumbling selves right out of the shoot, throwing a ridiculous interception into deep double coverage on the initial drive. The Redskins, in turn, drove all the way down inside the 5 yard line but could only muster a field goal. On their next possession, the Vikings drove for a go ahead touchdown. OK, what did you do with the real Christian Ponder? :) But by halftime the score was a little more like I expected - 24-14 Redskins. We agreed to watch the 2nd half from bed. We also bounced over to the Oregon/Stanford game. We both were a little surprised to find Oregon losing, and at the time being shut out 17-0. It was 10pm when we headed up to our room. By the way, I can't remember the last time Mindy saw the stove clock strike 10pm. :)

During halftime of the Viking game we watched more of the Oregon game. And by the time we tuned back to the Viking game, the 3rd quarter was already underway, and there was already more scoring. The Vikings now trailed 27-14. Oh boy! From that point forward, the Vikings reeled off 20 unanswered points the old fashion way - with good offense and decent defense. Suddenly Christian Ponder caught fire and was doing it with his arm and legs. Adrian Peterson was a monster as always. However, just like they have in three other games this season, they allowed the opposition to drive down the field with under a minute to play to either tie or take the lead. It looked like the Redskins were going to repeat that same mantra. But with four tries inside the 5 yard line, they failed to score. The Vikings won 34-27.

After the Viking game ended, we switched over to the Oregon game. With 6 minutes to go Oregon now trailed 26-7. The announcers were already talking as if the game was over when all of the sudden Oregon scored two really quick touchdowns. With two minutes to play the score was 26-20 with Oregon trying their 2nd onside kick in the last few minutes. But this time Stanford recovered pretty much sealing victory. Turned the TV off a few minutes later.