Feelin' a Draft

I was up at 555am after waking several times during my last hour or so of sleep. Weird dreams all night too. Downstairs I had to prep coffee having failed to do so the evening before. But that took no more than a few minutes. More of an inconvenience than anything else. Once the coffee was underway I whipped out calisthenics. By the way, we had the AC on overnight so the house was comfortable. Otherwise, I am certain that it would've been very uncomfortable. Expected to reach 86 Thursday afternoon.

I planned to work from the main office but also planned to take my time with my ready. As such, I'd be working from home for the first couple hours of the day. I was already online and started looking at work by 7am. I stayed plugged in to work until Monday was gone and then a while after. She and I agreed to trade rides for the day so I could shop for flowers at Strader's and have plenty of room. She took the Accord and spare keys. That way we didn't have to worry about not having the other keys we both might need.

I walked the pug ahead of Bella getting on the bus. On my way back I stopped to talk with the bus peeps. It was so lovely that I waited there with them. Funny thing is, I was out waiting on the bus without Bella. And when the bus pulled up and she still wasn't coming, I rushed back to the house to see what the hold up as. There stood Bella in the kitchen almost paralyzed with Mindy's Pilot keys in her hands. She was worried that she forgot her keys. I assured her that it was OK but insisted she head out and get on the bus. I could see the wheels spinning. Out she went.

I didn't waste any time getting into my running clothes, which wasn't too much, just a pair shorts, short sleeved shirt, socks, ballcap and shoes. Out I went near 815am. Ran the full 4.1 miles. The Concrete guys, Decker Construction, is about done with the sidewalk rebuilds they're doing. Looks like just one more to finish. Nice work.

Back home I watered the new grass seedlings, made breakfast, packed my lunch, and headed up for a shower. Left for work around 930pm. All set up in the office by 10am and was quickly immersed in the same issue I was dealing with at the end of the business day prior. I planned on making the nursery rounds at lunch. However, I needed to make sure the issue I was dealing with was under control before heading out. A group of my peers invited me to join them for lunch around noon but again, I had to stay on task. I didn't feel comfortable walking away until just after 1pm. By then things were looking good, so I bolted for Strader's first.

Strader's was very busy for mid day Thursday, and it was difficult to turn into their lot from Riverside with lots of opposing traffic. I wasn't there too long. I was very deliberate, picking up two large geraniums to hang from our pergola and the two flats of begonias for the front beds. They won't be nearly as stunning as the wave Petunias but they'll be less maintenance and last longer. These days we put our money into back yard flowers, where we spend more time appreciating them. I'll bet I wasn't there longer than 20 minutes. From there I headed south on Riverside to Fishinger and into Mill Run. My next stop was owes to see if they might have those mini hibiscus again this year at half the price of Strader's. I also hoped to get some spikes and possibly vinca. Typically a $1 cheaper per plant at Lowes as opposed to Straders. They had neither, though I guess it's still a little early for the local nurseries even though it is Mother's Day Weekend. I left there empty handed after no more than five minutes.

Gone no more than 40 minutes so far, I headed directly across the street to Saturday's hoping to get right in for a much needed haircut. Success! No wait. Got a decent haircut: 2 guard on the sides, scissors on top. Bam! On my way back to the office decided what the heck, and stopped in Home Depot to see what they had in the way of mini hibiscus. They had maybe 10 and priced $6 cheaper per plant than Strader's, but again only 10 in stock and all of them looked like they'd been through hell. I didn't bite, figuring myself better off, happier spending more on healthier fare. Back to work. AFter three nursery stops and a haircut I'd been gone only an hour and 20 minutes.

Spent the afternoon wrapping up a host of tasks. Left for home at 430pm planning a return to Strader's to buy those mini hibiscus after all. By day's end it was warm and even steamy - 87 degrees! It's a short drive to Strader's from the office, no more than two miles. As I guessed, less crowded than the midday lunch rush, though traffic in and out was an absolute nightmare.

I picked 6 mini hibiscus. Inexplicably, one of the six was marked $14.99 versus $16.99. When I got to the checkout line I placed the one with the lesser price label on the counter. AS a result, they charged me the same $14.99 for all six. Bad, I know. Home, James!

Once home, I backed in the driveway. Mindy helped me carry the flowers around the deck. Bella woofed down a hot dog ahead of gymnastics while Jacob was presumably off playing basketball. Mindy offered that I was on my own for dinner. Even though I'd eaten nothing more than nuts and cheese since breakfast, I wasn't really that hungry, and I definitely wasn't in the mood for leftovers. I snacked on crackers, cheese and hard salami.

Mindy said she'd be heading to Target and elsewhere after dropping Bella. I don't think she even projected what time she might be back. I was stoked about the night's NFL draft and spent the hour or so leading up to its start reading a few more projections. Didn't do much else before it was time to go after Bella.

It was a lovely evening, still near 80 and sunny. I opted to drive the BM'er for the first pleasure drive of the season. The Accord was already at the curb, but there were two mulch skids just the other side of the overhead garage door that I had to move aside to back out. No prob. I temporarily placed the skids in the grass just off the driveway. Off I went.

Arrived at the gym with plenty of time to spare. Got to see Bella practice a little. And before they wrapped up, Bella came after me asking me to watch her do the floor, by far the element she has the most difficulty with. She did OK while performing for me. Kelly walked up with phone in hand wanting to show me a video. Said she wanted to show me Bella doing the floor earlier. Wow! She did her back handspring then three successive flips, and the routine almost flawless, a first for Bella.

Bella was excited to see the BM'er in the lot. She didn't ask to stop at DQ but did ask about stopping for fast food. I rejected the request. Mindy still wasn't home. In fact, she didn't get home until about 815pm. By then the NFL draft was just getting underway although the broadcast had been on for more than an hour. Lots of talk and hype. As expected, Clowney went first to the Texans. The Vikings held the 8th pick, and I was holding out hope that Khalil Mack (LB) might fall to us. That didn't happen. I think he went fourth or fifth. Instead, the Vikings picked a LB from UCLA, Barr. I wasn't familiar with him outside the draft hype. Supposed to be really good, though. Of course too much emphasis was being shifted towards Johnny Manziel. The cameras capturing his facial expressions with each subsequent pick that wasn't him.

Jacob and I watched the draft together through pick 20 or so when he peeled off for bed. Mindy and Bella had already headed up 15 minutes prior. Shortly after Jacob went to bed, the Browns, his favorite team, traded up to the 22nd pick and took Johnny Manziel. I think I watched another pick or three before calling it a night and heading up to bed. The Vikings weren't scheduled to have another pick until Friday anyway.