BM'er Bumped from Behind

I slept OK but not nearly as soundly as I had hoped. Still, I was up near 620a after finding it difficult to sleep any later since Mindy was up assisting the kids and making racket and turning on lights. I slowly dragged myself from bed, brushed my teeth then headed downstairs where I was promptly engaged in calisthenics. Once the sit-ups, windmills, and curls were behind me, I felt more awake and invigorated.

Coffee and internet were next. I did that for just a few minutes before walking Eiknarf about the same time that the kids headed out to the bus stop. There must be fifteen of them at the middle school/6th grade bus stop these days, no doubt the largest contingent of children in the immediate area of our subdivision.

Back at home Mindy was already preparing to leave for school. For the first time in a really long, long time, I’d be heading into the main office to work on a Tuesday instead of the usual Tues day, drill of working from the customer’s campus. My boss requested as much. Wanted, needed my help with a project.

To that end, I didn’t want to get there too later so I pressed on with my morning routine in earnest, and was ready to head out for a run by 715am. I ran the full 4.1 miles in lovely conditions. The skies were clear and it was about 65 degrees. Nice run.

Mindy made eggs for the pug and I was pretty much ready to leave once I was back from my run. She left before I woofed down my breakfast. Off to the shower by 815am and ready to go a short time later. Planned to drive the BM’er. Why not. It was gorgeous and little to no chance of rain. It was close to 845am when I left the house.

I was fiddling with the radio at the Wilson Rd./Roberts Rd. light just before the Tim Horton’s turn-in when out of nowhere I got rear ended (bumped). The first thought that came to mind was that something was wrong with the car, but in a split second I realized I had in fact been rear ended. I glanced up to see a young woman in a white Hyundai practically in my trunk.  Dang it! I calmly got out and quickly glanced at the rear of the BM’er. At the same time the driver was asking if I and the car were OK. Not wanting to hold up traffic or for that matter, commit to anything just yet, I only suggested we pulled in the Tim Horton’s real quick where we could look at the damage and exchange info if necessary. She agreed.

We pulled in and parked, and then both of us got out to assess the damage, which from my quick glance earlier I couldn’t see anything. On closer inspection there was a very tiny scratch, that’s it. Before I could say anything the woman suggested she give me all her info just in case, almost insisting she take care of it. I let her finish but then calmly extended my hand and told her to have a nice day. Happily, no damage worth pursuing. I was just happy that one, neither of us were hurt, and two, neither of our cars were damaged. Move on!

I’d all but forgotten about it by the time I arrived and was settled at the office, which was near 910am. My boss was quick to engage me in conversation about this very big project he’s responsible for managing and wanted my assistance. However, it wasn’t too long into the process when he realized that a Six Sigma class he was slated to take to help launch the project was smack dab in the middle of his long scheduled September two week vacation. In a little bit of a panic he asked if I would be willing to take the lead on the project. Frankly, just the thought of having full ownership of the project terrified me, and for good reason. I told him as much but in the same breath shared that I would do whatever he needed me to do so he can enjoy his vacation. He told me to think about it and then let him know in the next couple of days.

Kept busy all day long. Jacob had a soccer game at one of the local MS soccer fields, so the plan was for me to simply meet Mindy and Bella there after work. It made no sense for me to drive home only to turn right around and fight traffic back into Hilliard. The game was slated to begin at 6pm. I left work near 515pm and headed directly to the soccer field. Turned out, when I talked with Mindy she let me know that the plans changed slightly. Instead of playing at the MS fields, the game was moved to the HS practice field, which as it turned out, is within eye shot of the other, though not exactly clear heading into it. In fact, I had to cell Jimaken to ask where exactly the field was. He guided me the rest of the way in. I, in turn, had to guide Mindy and Bella in. They, I could tell, were a little irritated with my directions. 

Mindy brought our black camp chairs, the same ones that had been AWOL for most of the summer. She also brought me a water and a protein bar (candy). I was hungry, so the bar hit the spot. Because there’s an A and a B middle school team, they play their games one right after the other. For some reason, the B game went longer than expected. I guess they got started later due to the field change. Anyway, Jacob’s game didn’t get underway until almost 630pm. Thankfully, where we were sitting provided shade, thanks to the school building directly behind us.

Unlike the game last Thursday, this time Jacob’s team did a great job keeping most of the action down on their offensive end of the field. And they must’ve had 20 shots on goal through the games entirety, but not one of them went in. They were either kicking it right at the goalie, hitting one of the poles, or kicking it just over or to the side. They were losing 4-0 when I packed it up to leave. Big thunder heads were moving in from the west, and I didn’t want to get caught in a storm in the BM’er. Bella left with me.

Mindy had chicken breasts in the crockpot at home and asked that I microwave a can of green beans once there. She and Jacob needed to make a quick stop for a few things at Giant Eagle or Krogers on their way home. It never did rain. I turned on the radar from home and the once scary looking storm clouds seemed to evaporate into thin air. As requested, I nuked a can of green beans. Soon Mindy and Jacob were home, and after losing, Jacob was such a pissy mood that he scampered off to his bedroom and said he wasn’t hungry.

Mindy planned to make him eat but left him cool down alone for a while. He, I guess, wasn’t having many nice things to day about his team’s efforts. He may be better than most of his team mates but my feeling is that then he should help them develop or find a way to overcome their collective weaknesses rather than complain. It’s been an ongoing issue for Jacob, year after year, season after season.

Congruent with her stated plans, Mindy headed up to insist Jacob come down and eat once we were all settled at the table. He ate, but very little. His mood did seem markedly better. Soon, he scampered back to his room to finish his homework.

Between soccer and school, his days are too long if you ask me. I mean he’s up at 6am, on the bus by 7am, and then at school and soccer until almost 8pm every night. The coach insisted he would have then complete their homework at study table which takes place immediately after school and before practice, but almost every night Jacob’s come home with spillover homework, and Algebra at that.

After dinner, I played guitar for a while and then read. And just like I hoped, I got sleepy in a hurry. I headed off to bed near 9pm. Mindy wasn’t far behind. Both of us considered ourselves way under slept since Saturday.