Taco Night!

I didn't sleep well so it was no surprise that I woke tired and listless. Any sleep I got Sunday night was light and spotty, but interestingly enough, riddled with dreams. I didn't get out of bed until almost 630am. And once I did I had to talk myself into calisthenics. Hadn't done a sit-up or push-up for ten days or so. And because I gave myself a vacation from calisthenics I decided it made sense to do both curls and push-ups along with the daily windmills and sit-ups.

After knocking out calisthenics it was time for coffee and internet. By then it was already 650am - later than I'm used to. I spent a solid 30 minutes online enjoying every single minute of it. At 720am I forced myself to the floor for meditation and later a healthy stretch. I always feel better after both of those, and Monday was no exception. It was cloudy and moderately warm - 63 degrees. I headed out the door near 730an wearing a short sleeved running shirt. The day's high, by the way, wasn't expected to escape the low 70s.

Mindy and Jacob were up and out the door shortly before I left on a run. They were up early so Mindy could run Jacob to basketball conditioning, which required him to be at Weaver Middle School by 8am. And later, after he was back from conditioning, they were all going to the great Ohio State Fair and hooking up with her pal, Teri.

I ran 4.1 miles for the first time in about ten days, but believe me, the 3.2 mile runs in SC are far tougher than my flat 4.1 mile track here at home. No humidity to deal with either, at least not of late. I completed the run feeling good, but that's what I've come to expect. Mindy was back and busy making my breakfast upon my return. While she put the finish touches on my breakfast, I packed a lunch.

I ate my breakfast before a shower. And it was close to 9am by the time I was ready and headed out the door for work. The new parking lot they've been building since winter finally opened while I was on vacation. That left ample parking in the old lot, which is where I parked. Once I am at work I don't mind being there. It's just getting there - the idea of it after 10 days vacation.

New work rule requires badging in at the door. I had enough foresight to confirm my access code two weeks ago since i hadn't used it in more than a year. Surprised that I remembered it. Turns out, there were technical difficulties with the door, so one of the security personnel had to let me and a few others in. So much for the requirement. :) I'm sure they'll get it squared away.

My boss was there and smiling ear to ear, and expressed how happy he was that I was back from vacation. We chatted for a while, first about vacation and then the how the week went with me and others off on vacation. We also talked about several dangling to-dos we're both involved in. I have a really good boss. Lots of qualities I admire in a leader.

My first order of business was sorting my email by sender then prioritizing whose I'd read first. Spent most of the morning getting email cleaned up along with taking care of a couple important and time-critical to-dos. The day went pretty fast. I didn't bother taking a formal lunch break. Instead, I plowed straight through my work day. I did take a mid morning break to walk around the building for both a mental and physical stretch. I was very excited to happen upon a former direct report of mine who's back with the company after a one or two year hiatus. Sweet! We chatted for 30 minutes or so.

Back at my desk I continued cleaning up email and knocking tasks off my to-do list, which included a few things my boss threw at me immediately in the door. I left for home around 430pm temporarily forgetting that Mindy and the kids wouldn't be there. They were still at the fair. So was home to a quiet and empty house. After a short respite, I walked the pug then logged onto my work computer. Stayed busy until about 530pm. Before she left for the fair, Mindy made taco meat and had it warming in the crockpot on the island. Smelt terrific. I decided to wait until they were home before eating.

It was near 6pm when Mindy sent a text sharing that they were heading for the car and home. She planned to drop off Jacob's friends on the way, so I figured they'd be about an hour yet. That hunch proved accurate. It was near 7pm when they finally walked in the door. I cheated a little bit by sneaking a spoonful or two of the steamy hot taco meat, but otherwise waited. Mindy spent the next 20-30 minutes making rice and black beans as well as getting out all the burrito/taco fixins. We sat down for dinner near 730pm. I had two tacos and a heaping pile of rice with taco meat over the top. Delicious and filling. During dinner Mindy shared that Jacob was having two friends spend the night. She also added it would be the last sleepover of the summer since they/we need to begin school acclimation training (getting up earlier staring next week). Thankfully, clean-up was a snap. For a few minutes all I could think about was a nap. After a poor night's sleep Sunday and now a full belly, I was cooked!

Once the kitchen was in order I retreated to the living room recliner with my Kindle. There I read and napped for the next half hour or so. Mindy joined me in the neighboring recliner playing on her phone. By 830pm I was ready for bed. Mindy said she'd be joining me soon. I didn't go right to sleep. Instead, I tuned the TV to Family Guy and watched back to back episodes. Very funny, always is.