Warming Trend

I woke for good near 555am but still fairly sore, though definitely better than I felt Monday morning. After calisthenics I delivered Mindy’s coffee then returned downstairs where I got started making scrambled eggs for Jacob. Both kids had OEA (Ohio Educational Achievement) testing that day, and Jacob requested hearty scrambled eggs to start his day. Bella requested French toast. I agreed to make the eggs while Mindy would take care of the French toast once she was up and downstairs a little later.

I spent time online both for pleasure and work right up and through Mindy putting the finishing touches on the French toast. She asked if I wanted some too. Said I did, but not until later, once I was back from my run. Bella came downstairs in shorty-shorts and a tiny shirt. Uh, it’s only 40 degrees outside, I declared. Mindy quickly asked Bella to head back up and go with long pants and a jacket.

Bella wasn’t too enthused with the French toast, but apparently knew better than to complain about it to her mom. Instead, as soon as Mindy was out the door she shared as much with me. But once she doused it in powdered sugar she was able to eat it.  Apparently Bella’s used to the more decadent variety we often make with thick cut French bread from the deli.

I headed out with the pug after meditation and stretching. I happened upon the school bus gang congregating as we finished up our walk. I stopped to chat with them. Funny, me being at the bus stop without Bella. She didn’t come out until the bus made its way past our house.

Once Bella was gone, I headed back home where I quickly readied and left for a run. It was still quite chilly, but already far warmer than it was just a half hour earlier. I ran the full 4 miles. Interesting observing the concrete guys rebuilding all the corner sidewalks in the back of our subdivision. They’re adding those rubber pads at the ramps. It looks like they’re going to repave once the walks are fixed, too.

Back from my run near 845am, before heading inside I went right around back and watered the new grass seed where the trees were removed. With the sunshine and 70 degree temps later in the day, I wanted to make sure the seed was ready to start growing with vigor.

Inside, I woofed down two slices of French toast. Bella was right, it didn’t have much if any flavor. I ate it plain, not wanting to add syrup and the additional sugar to my diet. I worked from home for another half hour or so before getting a shower and heading across town. By the time I left the house it was absolutely gorgeous, sunny and 60 degrees.

Barreling east on 670, I couldn’t resist the urge to stop at DeMonye’s Greenhouse near Johnstown Rd and 670. It’s tucked back in there quite nicely, and they always have lovely stuff, perhaps even nicer than Oakland Nursery and Strader’s. Those that have read me for a while know how much I enjoy being at the nurseries in the spring. It feels so good and so right! I browsed several aisles as well and bought a couple lovelies. I wasn’t there long. After all, I need to get to work.

I finished my trek out 670 and north on 270 to the Easton area. There were a few up close parking spots, and even though the weather was ideal for a long walk in, I took one of the up close spots. Customer moved someone into my make-shift cube. Yikes! I went and found the manager I interact with most and he quickly got me set up in his team’s new area. Sweet!

I spent a couple hours working before the early start to our standing 1pm weekly meeting. We started at 1230pm instead and even provided lunch, though I didn’t put in my request from Panera. I brought my own salad, nuts, and water. However, once in the conference room, my peer that went after the food said he gambled and got me a salad topped with chicken breast and avocado. Wow, that was nice. It was enormous and tasty, though the avocado a bit much.

The meeting went until almost 2pm as expected. Good session. I had a 3pm and 415pm call on my calendar. As such, I planned to finish my work day onsite rather than at home. As such, I stayed pretty busy for the rest of the afternoon, not getting out of the customer’s location until 5pm. I talked with Mindy between my calls, not sure what the weather was like since I was in the lower level and hadn’t been outside since 1030am or so. She said it was gorgeous – sunny, warm and 74.

The drive home was lovely. Got there just a few minutes before Mindy and Bella were leaving for gymnastics. Bella and I agreed to make a stop at Dairy Queen on our way home, something I promised for all of her hard work Saturday and Sunday. Mindy and I agreed to eat leftovers once she was back from dropping the peanut. While Mindy was away, I tinkered on my PC and changed into comfy shorts and wrinkled t-shirt. At the time I lost sight of the fact that I needed to go after Bella. I’d have to change into something more presentable before leavin’ the house. I didn’t really care but Bella would be mortified me showing up at the gym in essentially my PJs. 

Mindy had pasta leftovers while I had pork roast and wings. I heated mine on the pizza stone. Yum! One of the concrete contractors sent me his estimate via email. Came in a little higher than I thought it might but only by 10%. He’s also the one that said he couldn’t do the work until mid-July, though, too. I am not in a huge rush. Plan to evaluate three estimates and then decide.

The time between dinner and needing to go after Bella flew by. I asked Mindy if she was going with. Nope, staying home. OK. I changed into clean sweat attire and left near 715pm. Mindy suggested I take the BM’er at Bella’s request. I thought about it but didn’t want to move the Accord or jostle what was in the trunk. I took my Accord.

Arrived with a few minutes to spare. Watched patiently from the bleachers, looking around wondering if the woman Kelly’s husband had the affair with might be present. I don’t think she was. But that’s an entirely different story. Soon Bella was finished. At Mindy’s suggestion, I waited for Kelly to walk out of the gym then congratulated her for finishing the half marathon on Saturday. She seemed upbeat.

As promised, Bella and I made a pit stop at Dairy Queen. She asked if we could simply get our treats and take them home. No, sorry. I got the same as last time, a medium chocolate cone dipped in chocolate. Bella matched me save for getting vanilla ice cream. We sat out on the patio where it was still very nice – perhaps just a wee bit chilly.

We finished our treats and headed for home near 8pm. While Bella headed off to the shower, I changed back into my PJs then snuggled into one of the living room recliners for some reading. I read until my eyes got heavy, not once trying to fight the urge to sleep. I fell nodded off but woke after maybe 5-10 minutes for a longer bout of reading. Headed to bed with Mindy around 940pm.