Snow, Boat, Roosters, Buckeyes and Apple Pie

Feeling fairly well rested, I was up near 730am. I could’ve slept longer but because I had the boat appointment at 1030am I really needed to get moving. The weather wasn’t attractive at all. It was chilly and gray – only about 40 degrees.

I started coffee then played around on the internet waiting for it to finish brewing. Landon joined me downstairs just after 8am. He told me that he and Rocky slept in Bella’s room. He asked for coffee like mine. We didn’t have any chocolate milk to add so I used more creamer than usual and lots of whipped cream. I asked if he was interested in going with me to take the boat in for service. Yes.

I headed out for a run around 830am. It was chilly enough that I wore a jacket. And for the first time since last spring, I turtled my hands up into my sleeves for the first half of my run. Once I warmed up I let them out. Ran the usual three miles. Started icing the last couple yards of my run. Brrr!

As soon as I was home Landon asked if he could walk the pug. Sure thing, though I made him wear Mindy’s purple fleece which he wasn’t too excited about. While he walked Eiknarf, I poured and delivered Mindy’s coffee. I let Mindy know that I was heading off to get the boat and that Landon was going with me. We left the house around 915am.

By the time we got to Scioto Darby Rd there was a mixed bag of precipitation: rain, sleet and snow. That’s right, snow on Oct 4th! I was concerned that my boat might not be accessible in the boat building but it was. There was a winterized boat and a couple jet skis off to the side blocking others but not me.
Before we pulled out I made sure that there was plenty of gas and a battery strong enough to run the horn and radio – routine check I do before any outing. Landon’s job was lowering the big overhead door using the chain. I forewarned him about the possibility of it getting away. He proceeded with caution once he a got a feel for just how rapidly it could get away. 

We headed around 270 and then north on route 23. Per the usual, traffic was heavy on rt 23 but not ridiculous. Lots of construction as they redo the 270 interchange and widen both directions for about the first mile north. Guessing it’ll be another year or so before they’re finished. Arrived at Paul’s Marine near 1020am, or about 20 minutes early. I parked our rig just outside the overhead doors and headed in to the counter to let ‘em know that I was there. Landon tailed me.

There was a fella just wrapping up paper work in front of me. Looked somewhat familiar, and once he turned around I knew why. It was Donnie Roberts, a friend and former co-worker. I met Donnie through his now wife, Jill. Haven’t seen either of them since our holiday party three years ago. Asked about the wife and kids. All doing good. We talked boats for a couple minutes then he was on his way.

Just a basic winterization this year. And about $20 more expensive - $225. They handed me a pager and Landon and I headed into the showroom to look around while waiting. I knew he’d enjoy looking at the new boats. We were in and out of a few of them. I had to temper his excitement a time or two as he was getting a little loud and fast. While scoping out the new boats, I enjoyed some complimentary coffee and pumpkin bread. Offered Landon some of the bread but refused it. 

Talked boat preservation with a familiar face around Paul’s. Like me, he keeps his boat inside year round too. Agreed with me that sun and water are a boats worst enemies. I’m guessing the boat was done 1110am. At the counter, they told me that our boat was running well and looked really nice. Complimented me for caring for it so well. TY.

Even before we left the house that morning, I agreed to treat Landon to lunch anywhere of his choosing. It’s something I don’t do enough with any of my grandkids. He first suggested Steak & Shake and I was good with that, but last second offered up Rooster’s instead. A boy after my own heart! Knowing that Jacob would enjoy Rooster’s as well, I asked what he thought about inviting Jacob & Rocky. He agreed. I wisely called Mindy instead of Jacob, realizing she was having her scho9ol kid event/party and might not want Jacob abandoning the party. Sure enough, when I asked if I could take them along too she gave me an emphatic no. I could tell that she wasn’t pleased that even Landon and I were going. Breaking my promise to Landon wasn’t an option.

Before heading to Rooster’s we dropped three pair of skis off at Aspen Ski & Board in Powell effectively killing two birds with one stone (trip). It’s just a mile or two off 23 to the east of Powell Rd. As usual, there was a decent crowd on hand. Since I had the boat in tow, I parked along the curb at the property’s side rather than try pulling in the small lot. I got a couple double-takes from passersby as we unloaded our snow skis from the Pilot all the while towing the boat. Inside, a woman laughed and said they’ve done the same thing years past.

Emily waited on me at the rear desk. She’s a very nice looking 19/20 year old. She shared that she sees me in there all the time but couldn’t remember my name. Story of my life.  We talked for a while, her sharing that she just started at OSU fall quarter. Said our skis will be ready for pick-up on the15th. Sunday’s the last day to take advantage of their $10 tune-up special.

We headed back down 23 to 270 then around to Robert’s Rd to drop off the boat. By the time we arrived it was time for the OSU kick-off. We made quick work of backing the boat into the boat building effectively saying goodbye until June of 2015. Now onto Rooster’s.

As expected, Rooster’s was at capacity with a few groups in front of Landon and I waiting on a table. They handed us another pager, our second that day. We watched the Buckeye game while waiting and saw them score their second TD of the game all within the first 6 or 7 minutes of the contest. They seated the two of us at a high barside. Perfect! They must have 50 or more TVs around the venue. You can watch the game no matter which direction you choose to look.

I opted for lemonade while Landon went with Coke. We each ordered wings, mine donkey, his mild. I also ordered a side salad and then some onion blooms to share. The salad came right away and it was really, really good. Didn’t take longer than about 10 minutes for our food to arrive. Neither one of us could finish our wings. We each ate 6 and asked for take-out boxes for the leftovers. We got out check and left for home at or near halftime. By then the Buckeyes had a commanding lead.

Arrived home near 130pm. Kelly, Bella’s gym coach was there with her two kids. Only three former students showed up. The party, by the way, was in recognition to the students who did their summer reading from last year’s 1st grade class. One girl brought her big brother along. I’m thinking he was 10 or 11. He was very excitable and also a little wild. I wasn’t home but a couple minutes when me and all the boys headed out to toss the football. Tossing eventually turned into a touch football game with me being all-time QB. Neighbor Jake came out for a while but had to leave before we played our game. Their sizes and ages varied wildly (6 – 14). Grandson Rocky was a real pill. I am bothered by just how much havoc/trouble he causes. He can be very defiant and mean, and when he does so others end up treating him poorly too. Happens in all social aspects. He even does it to me. He’ll say and do mean things then beg for forgiveness but then turn around and do it more. Not really sure how best to deal with that in a positive manner for the long haul. He’s definitely a project. I just hope we can reign him in before he gets too much older and his behavior gets him in real trouble.

After about 45 minutes of football I headed back inside. By then Mindy’s former students had departed. However, Kelly and her two kids stuck around a while longer. She and Mindy have been friends for a few years. I talked with the two of them for a little while but then excused myself and headed upstairs for a shower. By then it was nearing 330-4pm. A shower felt terrific but left me tired. Rather than rejoin the group downstairs, I plopped down into our bed for a nap while also watching football, and more specifically, Alabama/Mississippi.

At some point during my nap, Mindy came upstairs and woke me to tell me that someone was at the door, Ted Miller. Still half asleep, I told her that I was too tired to get up. It was almost 6pm by the time rejoined the others downstairs. By then Lindsey was just leaving with the boys. Kelly and her two kids left a little earlier.

No sooner had all the kids left when Mindy said she was heading out to run a few errands in preparation for Bella’s family b-day party on Sunday. While she was away, I took care of a couple small tasks around the house. One, I finally got around to touching up a few dings in our kitchen and family room walls with paint. I hit them with some mud a week or two ago. A few of the dings have been around for a couple years. Glad to finally mark it off the mental list of to-dos.

While doing chores, I watched the rest of the Alabama game from the family room. Despite trailing for the entire game, Ole Miss managed to keep the score close, and almost miraculously came back and won the thing at the very end. And since they were playing in Miss. The crowd went bonkers afterwards. Fun game to watch.

Speaking of upsets, there were many. Even before any of the night games, 4 teams in the top 10 had gone down to defeat. And more top 25 teams dropped in the night games. All totaled, 10 teams ranked higher than OSU lost on Saturday. Not sure there’s been so much upheaval and chaos in college football in one day ever.

Enjoyed a couple Jack and Cokes while watching football. The game of the week was Michigan St/Nebraska. Michigan St was dominating from the outset. It was something like 27-3 when I went to bed, which I believe was at the outset of the 4th quarter.