Louder than Silence

Even though I'd garnered more than 8 hours of sleep, I still didn't want to get up and out of bed. However, the drive to not disappoint pulled me from my slumber somewhere close to 6am. Within short order I was downstairs with my toes slipped up and under the collapsed stool of one of our recliners in preparation for sit-ups. I felt a little stiff prior to their start, but much better afterwards. To the family room next where I promptly whipped out windmills and curls. And by 610am I was pouring coffee for Mindy and me.

Like most mornings, she thanked me for the coffee but also asked that I crank up the heat. Yes dear. Downstairs, I did as requested of me, turning up the heat from a chilly 65 to a much warmer 69. Finally to my PC with coffee near 615am. One sip in I recognized a faux pas. Put Mindy's hazelnut creamer in my coffee. And while I wasn't 100% sure of it, I guessed that I must've put mine in hers. I laughed if off but went immediately back to the kitchen where I added more untainted coffee then some of my preferred Caramel Macchiato creamer. Much better!

I planned on working from home for the first couple hours of the day and then across town for the day's duration. Figured I would head out near 1030-11am. It was cold but clear - only 6 degrees. And while that's certainly cold, it's warmer than was forecasted a couple days ago when they were calling for subzero on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Truth be told, I am getting a little tired of winter's tight grip, but it's more a psychological thing than it is physical. I really don't feel the cold during my daily runs.

Since I planned to work from home for the first couple hours, I logged onto my laptop around 7am or shortly after Jacob headed out for the bus. Soon I was busy with a couple work related tasks. Mindy was downstairs around 715am. She woke Bella just before that. Hollered for her again a few minutes later. Bella's often good for a laugh for two early AMs. Always an excuse why she's struggling to pull herself from bed. Can't sleep. Bad dreams. It goes on and on. I don't know, perhaps you should try turning everything off and closing you eyes!!!! :) She's our family night owl.

Mindy was off to school near 730am. I didn't plan to run until after seeing Bella off to school. Worked and played until that time. Bella headed out for the bus while I was walking the pug. I'm trying to give her a little more responsibility and she seems to appreciate the opportunity to prove herself worthy.

Once the pug and I were back, I did decent stretch and brief meditation then headed out for a run. I layered in my 'brutal winter weather' attire. Was comfortable throughout. Ran 4.1 miles with little effort. Back home near 9am, I got busy with work again. After finding everything relatively calm, I fried a few eggs and then packed a lunch. Headed for a shower around 930am.

Started the Accord then headed back inside. While waiting for it to warm, I took a few shots with my new 70D. So much to learn about its operation. Five minutes later I headed off to work. No need for gas, I had about 3/4s tank still. Made great time arriving near 1030am. No up close parking to be had. Parked in the far lot though a little closer to the walk path than usual. Really wasn't that cold in the brilliant sunshine, which is yet another tell-tale sign of spring. Whenever the sun's out, there is warmth to be had regardless of the air temp.

Inside and settled a couple minutes later. Got to work right away on a pressing assignment given to me by my boss.
Spent the next couple hours getting that started before heading off to our standing 1pm meeting. Meeting went well. Back to my desk by 150pm. Picked up right where I left off. Spent the rest of my day finishing and then tweaking the impromptu report. Joined a call regarding that very assignment at 3pm and then joined our weekly staff call at 415pm. The staff call was relatively brief. After the call, I made a few more tweaks to the impromptu report and then bolted for home. By then it was 450pm.

Remembered seeing a billboard on my way in that morning that the Meg Millions Lotto was a whopping $250 million. And I happened to have a $1 winner in my breast pocket from a drawing from two weeks prior. Pulled in the Super America carryout across the street and just before the 270 entrance ramp to redeem my winnings for yet another chance at a jackpot. It's not a matter of it, but rather when. Oh yes, I will win one of these big jackpots soon!

With a potential winner in my pocket I was set for home. Called Mindy once I was safely merged onto 270NW. She was busy working on dinner. Asked for my ETA. We didn't talk long so she could get back to dinner. I had no idea what we were having though thinking back she did tell me the evening before. We were having steak fajitas with the leftover steak. At the time, I simply forgot. Bella had gymnastics and would need to leave the house by 545pm. Mindy hoped we could eat prior to her departure. I got home around 535pm. And even though it was still below freezing, the brilliant sunshine melted away most of Sunday's new snow pack. Again, another tell-tale sign of spring. Any snow that falls typically melts off fast once the sun comes out.

Inside I was promptly reminded of what was for dinner - steak fajitas. Bella had apparently already eaten. Mindy insisted she sit at the table with us anyhow. The fajitas were good - not my favorite but good. Jacob planned to ride along with Mindy dropping Bella at gymnastics. And Mindy shared that they might stop to get Jacob fitted for Lindy's wedding tux while they were out. Sounded like I would have a chunk of time alone. However, before I could enjoy any of it, I had quite the dinner mess to clean-up. Had a good start even before the three of them left the house. And I've become quite adept with the process having done it for so many years now. 10 minutes later I free to do as I pleased.

I checked email, both work and pleasure but then settled into one of the living room recliners and got out my Kindle to hopefully finish my book. I might've read about 5 pages before getting extremely sleepy and then trying to dose. Mindy and Jacob were home in a hurry. Hmm - home sooner than I expected. Not couple minutes later there was this incessant and patterned thud exuding from Jacob's bedroom with floor creaking sounds sandwiched in between. It was driving me up a wall. Not only could I not nap, but I couldn't focus enough to read either. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! After 10 minutes of the nonstop noise, I shared my displeasure with Mindy. She al lbut pooh-poohed my annoyance. He was playing basketball in his room! Oh, just basketball? Really? Basketball? In his ROOM?

I eventually upped from my recliner and went to my PC, figuring I would Google a topic that caught my interest in my book. The question I wanted definitive proof of was whether or not Apostle Paul (Saul) actually knew or met Jesus. My understand was that he hadn't. Many mistakenly believe that he was one of the 12 apostles. That I was sure of. He wasn't. While I researched the incessant thudding continued to the point that I chose to plug my ears while I read. That helped but was ridiculously uncomfortable. Needless to say, come time to go after Bella I was irritated but also happy to get the hell out of the house. The sound was like a nervous tick!

Arrived at the gym just as practice was ending. Couldn't have timed it better. Bella asked if we could stop for fast food. Not this time. And now that she's sitting up front, I let her take command of the car stereo. Of course she tuned the radio to FM 97.9. She doubted my story about WNCI being around forever, and a station that we listened to as kids. I'm quite sure that revelation took some of its coolness away. :)

Home by 745pm, Bella asked that once inside I warm her some leftover pizza. By then, Mindy and Jacob were in the family room watching Big Bang. Not sure if my ears were sensitive or what, but the volume was so loud that it felt as though I was in the room with them even though I was actually in the livingroom. I was hell bent on reading and hopefully finishing my book. And my vision of such had me basking in solitude and silence. But there would be neither. Bella eventually opted for frozen pizza instead once she noticed that there were hot pepper rings on the leftover homemade pizza. However, Jacob was more than game for the leftover pizza. Asked if I would heat it up for him. Sure. Thought about having a piece of my own but in the end opted not. If I ate anything more that evening it was going to be a bowl of cereal later, just before bed.

After about ten minutes I suggested that Mindy turn the TV volume down a tick. Thankfully, she obliged my request. A few minutes later and still well ahead of 9pm, she headed off to bed even while Bella remained downstairs watching TV and enjoying mini pizzas. Bella was told to be in bed with lights out and no technology at 930pm, no later. From that point forward I was afforded the quiet I craved and proceeded to finish my book, at least the main chapters. Still want to read the Afterword. Once the book was completed I enjoyed that bowl of cereal. As requested by her mother, Bella dutifully headed off to bed at 930pm but not before dropping off her technology in our room. :) I joined Mindy in bed around 950pm. By then I was sleepy enough for bedtime, too