Winning the Oscar

Slept in until almost 8am after waking around 6am and popping two Advil to help ward off a mild but bothersome headache. Was happy to see blue skies and sunshine out the bathroom and bedroom windows. Downstairs I started coffee then stepped briefly out onto the deck. My headache was gone but felt a little off – not hung over. Heck, I had just three beers the night before.

Enjoyed coffee and internet until 9am. Headed out for a run a few minutes later, or after a stretch. It was gorgeous. Ran three miles. Mindy was up and out on the deck when I got back. The pug was out there with her too. After toweling off, sipping some water, and refilling my coffee, I headed out to join her.

We hung out for 30-40 minutes, me eventually brushing the pug. At some point we hooked up with Chrissy who shared that the Russian neighbors called the cops on her dogs again the evening before. Their house sold so they won’t be around too much longer.

While Mindy got ready to head into school to work in her classroom, I readied for a day of yard work. I hooked up my Bose docking speaker on the deck so I could pipe music out into the yard. The first thing I did was plant a new purple hydrangea where once stood a everblooming rose bush that died over the winter. Outside of knockout roses, I just can’t keep rose bushes alive. But then again, I don’t know of anybody’s roses that fared well this past winter.

Through later morning and early afternoon I planted plants and flowers, sanded and repainted purple flamingos, spray painted the deck table, watered the sod. Did countless other small but important tasks too.

By midafternoon, I was famished. To satisfy my hunger I made a roast beef and cheese sandwich that really hit the spot. Yum! I’m thinking that it was near 530pm when Mindy finally got home. I showed her all the work I’d completed. It must’ve been around 6pm when neighbor Pat and grandson, Oscar stopped over for a visit. All of the sudden Oscar isn’t a baby any longer. Time flies. He’s two now and talking up a storm. Hell on wheels too. Mindy fetched a bubble wand which he was fascinated with. Snapped a handful of photos. Pat invited to stop over later. Said friends Joe & Peggy were coming by too.

We both still needed showers. I took one first, leaving it run for Mindy. Once we were cleaned up we took the pug on a longer than usual walk. Talked to a guy I see most morning’s out with his dog. I’m thinking that it was 8pm or possibly even a little later when we walked over to see Pat & Lisa. I took my growler of Hoof Hearted’s South of 11th. Mindy drank just the one glass of wine she poured before we left the house, though that might’ve been her second.

By the time we showed up, Joe & Peggy had already left. Pat said Joe was tired after spending all day in the sun. Pat & Lisa were keeping grandson Oscar overnight. He was still full of energy when we arrived but within the first 30-40 minutes, Lisa whisked him off to bed. While visiting, I enjoyed 2.5 pints from my growler. Oh boy is it ever good! Told some stories. Pat sharing some details from their trip out to AZ to visit his folks. Arizona sounds like a fun place to visit.

Not sure the time when we finally headed home but I’m guessing that it was close to 1030pm. Like most nights these days, we were quick to bed and then asleep.