Sharing Negative Sentiment

I woke naturally around 530am and felt completely rested and ready to tackle a work week. It was snowing, but the accumulation was something less than an inch. Downstairs, I completed calisthenics, which included 50 push-ups. Still ahead of 550am, I had plenty of time to enjoy coffee before heading upstairs to wake Mindy. I checked the weather forecast. Calling for continued snow but not too heavy. Cold, too. Wasn't expected to make it out of the mid 20s all day. Wintry.

Woke Mindy and delivered coffee at 610am. Meditation and stretching where next. Headed out for a run near 630am. It was cold, but I was dressed for it. The new snow was extra fluffy, but lurking underneath was ice. Footing was treacherous! What was visible the morning prior, was now masked by fresh snow. I had to be extra careful. I ran the full 4.1 miles without incident.

Before heading back into the house, I shoveled the drive clear of snow. I started Mindy's car too. She didn't know it because she was still upstairs when I got back. After shoveling, I leashed up the pug and headed out on a walk. Eiknarf's paw seems to be feeling better though she's still walking with a noticeable limp. I was patient as she walked slow and sniffed for the perfect spot. This time she was able to walk up the front steps on her own power.

Mindy had eggs ready and was soon out the door for work. I ate but planned to wait and shower after seeing Bella onto the bus. Between breakfast and the bus, I played around on the computer for a few minutes. Let some Xmas music whirl. We headed out at our usual time of 755am. it was a long, cold wait. She didn't show up until 810am. Chrissy didn't join us, but did peer out her dining room and wave. No sense in her coming out in the bitter cold, too.

Headed back home and straight to the shower. Was showered, dressed and ready to leave for work by 840am. After warming the car I left the house near 845am. I made two stops. My 1st at Thornton's for a much needed fill-up. The Accord took 15.2 gallons. I'd driven 310 miles. Winter mileage is at least 2 to 3 mpg less than summer. My 2nd stop was Target to pick-up a photo order that I placed online over the weekend. Was in and out in a matter of minutes. Arrived at the office near 905am.

First time in the main office since before T.G. I was excited about it. After getting logged on I walked over to see my boss. Haven't seen him in person for quite a while. He wasn't in. Darn! I walked down to see a peer, who I owed money for the boss' Xmas gift. I wrote her a check. Also tried giving money to the family we adopted but was refused. The deed was already done.

Our 11am call I noticed was moved up 30 minutes. Just before joining, I phoned my endodontist, Jennifer, and made an appointment for a root canal. That'll be Friday, the 20th. Looking forward to it. Hopefully that will be the end of my mouth pain once and for all. Joined the 1030am team call. Lasted about 45 minutes. At the outset, I wasn't sure if I'd work all day in the office or not. In the end, I spent my entire day there. Didn't make sense to have multiple set-ups. Left for home around 505pm. Accomplished quite a bit.

Phone Mindy. She was just home from the grocery store and had the kids help her carry everything in. Arrived home near 530pm. Learned that we were having rotisserie chicken for dinner. She was still busy putting the haul away when I got home. We wouldn't eat for a while yet. When we finally did, the chicken was delicious. Can't beat the rotisserie chickens from Kroger.

Jacob was apparently pushing Mindy's buttons all afternoon. It continued during and after dinner. For one, he still hadn't turned in the check for ski club that Mindy wrote and sent to school with him about two weeks prior. Even I reminded him Monday morning before leaving for school to turn it in. Out of nowhere he shared how much he hates skiing and that he doesn't want to do ski club. I don't think he was expecting Mindy's response which was fine. He pushed her buttons further by then asking if he could go ahead and sign up for winter indoor soccer instead. Uh, no. We've already discussed that ad nauseam.

Instead of stopping he kept espousing negative sentiment. By the way, it was just about time for me to run him to basketball practice. I planned on taking my class material and studying while there waiting. Worked well the week prior. Up to that point, I only listened while he and Mindy went back and forth, but when I heard him ask Mindy of she'd take him to basketball my ears perked up. I soon entered the conversation, if that's what you can call it. :) He was in rear form, dishing out plenty of negative sentiment. Having heard enough, I told him he'd be walking to basketball. I certainly wasn't taking him. Mindy had already refused to be the runner. He asked again. Fed up and angry with his persistent negativity, I opted to leave and go Xmas shopping. I needed to blow off some steam.

It was snowing hard, by the way. I didn't even know that it was supposed to snow. The roads were slick and traffic extremely slow. I planned stops and Meijer and possibly Wal-Mart looking for a couple unique and hard find basket stuffers. I hadn't been in a Meijer store for several years. Haven't been in the Hilliard Meijer for as much as 10 years. Yikes! I may never go back again, either. Dirty and somewhat disorganized. Makes Wal-Mart look like Macy's. No kidding! I bought nothing. I noticed that they removed all the ceiling tiles exposing the higher metal roof just like a lot of new stores do. The only difference was the dust caked on all the supporting cables. Gross!!!!!

I left and ventured across the street to the Wal-Mart. As hoped, I found the two things I was looking for. Yippie! I was gone for about an hour. Still snowing as I headed home. It was near 830pm when I got there. Jacob was apparently in his room and grounded. Mindy said that he slipped out the back door after I left sharing that he was running away. He came back seconds later. And just as I told Mindy a year or so ago, he asked if he could go live with his dad. Said he and his dad never argue. Of course, Mindy will never let that happen. I failed to mention that she confiscated his phone earlier too. Teenagers will have their ups and downs, and will also present numerous challenges. It's how we respond to them that separates the winners and losers.

The rest of the evening was thankfully less eventful. I spent the rest of the evening studying the ICND material from the family room chair while allowing the Science Channel to whirl quietly in the background. Got through a couple chapters.