Celebrating Darwin & Connie's 27 years

Knowing that I was working from home, I slept in until almost 7am. By then, the kids were already off to school. I was slow to complete Friday calisthenics but eventually did, including the requisite 50 push-ups. I was happy to get them behind me, and was more awake than ever.

After walking the pug, I helped Mindy carry a few things to the Pilot for her teacher planning session meeting being held at a friend’s house. She anticipated being gone for most of the day. It was after 9am by the time I headed out for my run. And like most Friday’s, I ran just three miles.

As storm soaked as the weather forecast was as recent as the day before, it was only partly cloudy at the time and the weekend forecast had been revised with a declining chance for weekend rains. Cool! With all I wanted/needed to accomplish workwise, I didn’t think it even in the cards to get topsoil on Friday.

Instead, between my lunch hour and a few breaks, I hoped to get a jump start on relocating the three sprinkler heads I exposed and moved out of the way of the new concrete walk. Around 11am such a break came to fruition. I headed out to assess how much work would be involved in moving the sprinklers. I started on one of the two pop-ups on the east side of the driveway. The relocation was fairly straight forward and simple. Getting then correct height was perhaps the greatest challenge since I had to change the grade by a few inches. Finished the one in about 20 minutes.


About an hour later I headed out again, this time considering it my lunch hour and hopeful of getting the remaining two moved. The second pop-up was even easier than the first since I had experience. The rotator on the west side of the drive presenter a greater challenge. Not only did the sprinkler need moved, but I had to cut about 5 feet of the main line away as well as augmenting the grade substantially. Took me two tries, the first provided the water arc to plow directly into the landscaping. Not wanting to settle, I pulled it up and moved it into a more fitting spot that addressed all the needs. Took the entire hour but the job looked better than the original. The fallout? I was a muddy, wet mess! I hosed myself off before heading back inside. I felt really good about the job. With the sprinkler heads moved and sunk into place, I could focus my attention on dirt and seed over the weekend.

The kids and Mindy got home at 3 and 330pm respectively. I finished out the work day by 430pm and then headed out to mow the lawn. By then the weather had only improved. In fact, by midafternoon it was mostly sunny and very warm, and certainly no sign of rain. I hadn’t cut the lawn since Sunday, August 10th. Needless to say, it needed cut. That’s the longest I’ve gone all season. The front was particularly long and lush. The back suffering a little from the recent and only real dry spell of the summer.

I cut 90+% with the tractor then push mowed, trimmed, edged and blew. Did all of that in a little more than an hour. I wouldn’t call it my best work but it looked nice. I was pleased. We had dinner plans with Darwin and Connie to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary. The kids were staying home. Originally, they were going to help watch the two young McVey’s but Jordan ended up taking care of that. Darwin sent a text asking if we could simply meet there since he was still trying to get home from a job site in Worthington. No problem. I showered up in a hurry and Mindy and I headed off for CBC around 630pm. I am pretty sure we had a 7pm dinner reservation.

Mindy and I made a quick pit-stop at the German Village Kroger, which is directly across the street from CBC. There, we picked up an anniversary and gift card for the McVey’s.

We arrived at CBC ahead of the McVey’s and took up temporary refuge at the bar. We stood for a while until two stools freed, freed by none other than KJ, the GM of 229 who was in for a quick beer with one of the chef’s. Vince and Kevin were working the bar. No Bodhi. I asked for a beer menu and quickly selected the Mongrel, a somewhat hoppy read ale. Glad I did. It was really flavorful. Kevin had some happy news to share. He finally got the teaching job he coveted at the Graham school. Prior, he was teaching at the online academy (Can’t recall the name). Graham is a very highly regarded alternative school.

Darwin and Connie showed up about halfway through my first beer. I offered my stool to Connie while Darwin and I stood. It wasn’t but a minute or two before our table became available. Vince graciously moved our small bar tab to our table. Julie would be our server.

We were seated in a booth. And if I may, my single complaint about CBC is the booths. They’re way too narrow/tight. Of course I am jaded, already having a disdain for any type of booth seating. We chatted for a while before ordering appetizers – risotto balls, asparagus fries. And just about the time we ordered entrees, I ordered a 2nd Mongrel.

Darwin and I both opted for the jambalaya while Mindy tried the special. And I think Connie had the salmon. Dinner was delicious and the company great. We had a nice relaxing dinner. We presented the McVey’s their card and gift. Seemed to like it, a gift card to Bravo/Brio. I picked up the anniversary dinner tab, too. As we wrapped up dinner, Mindy invited them to stop by the house for dessert, chocolate pie. They accepted.

It was just getting dark as we arrived home, us about 5 minutes ahead of our guests. Mindy immediately walked down to the neighbors to fetch Bella, who asked that she come get her once home. By the time she was back, Darwin and Connie were there. IN addition to Bella, Mindy brought back neighbors Bob & Theresa too. And unless I’m mistaken, the first time Bob’s ever been to our place. Theresa, on the other hand, has been over a few times past. Mindy invited them over to try her chocolate pie. Lord have mercy. She’s marketing her pie to everyone! 

Darwin and I enjoyed a Hop Nosh instead of chocolate pie. I offered Bob one too but he wanted pie instead. They stayed long enough to enjoy the pie and chat a little but not all that long. For that matter, Darwin and Connie didn’t stay too long either. They left by 10pm or so. Guess Darwin was in a hurry to get home and celebrate the anniversary.

Mindy and I were soon off to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. After 10 minutes of tossing and turning I knew that I wasn’t going to fall asleep anytime soon so I got up and headed back downstairs. Read about the Vikings preseason game against K.C. The Vikings won handedly, 30-12. Back to bed for good near 11pm.