Jacob Turns 15, Visiting Sideswipe, Yard Work in Earnest

Happy 15th Jacob!

April 13-19

Warm start to the work week. Reached a high of 78 on Monday.  Extraordinarily stiff presumably from all the yard work over the weekend. Opted to run just three miles on Monday. Tuesday through Thursday I ran the usual four. Heavy rain was forecasted all week. Didn’t get nearly as much as they promised but it did rain a little each and every day. Pretty much hit and miss.

After Monday’s warmth, high temps hovered around 65 through Thursday, finally breaking into the 70s again on Friday, or just in time for the weekend. It was Jacob’s birthday week. His actual birthday falling on Thursday. Date night Wednesday, Mindy and I visited Barleys for the first time in 3 or 4 weeks. Since our last visit, they’ve changed the menu. Turned out only a minor tweak. I had just one beer, the Fortune Teller porter. Enjoyed K.C. wings along with sharing one of their new appetizers, pork egg rolls, with Mindy.

Work-wise, I worked from the Hilliard office on Monday and Tuesday and then at my customer’s campus Tuesday and Wednesday. I worked at home on Friday. That was a godsend. The weather turned absolutely gorgeous - sunny and 74.

I had a rare, dull headache most of the day Wednesday, and one that wouldn’t completely go away even after choking down a couple Advil. The same dull headache plagued me again Thursday only this time it was accompanied by a mildly sore throat and body aches. Uh-oh! I wondered if I was coming down with something.

I ended up taking an hour long nap in the recliner as soon as I got home, and then when Mindy was ready to head off to the Bone Fish Grill for Jacob’s birthday dinner, I declared myself unfit for dinner out. I headed up to bed where I spent the rest of the evening watching TV from bed and drifting in and out of sleep. I got up for about 15 minutes when they got home to enjoy some of Jacob’s birthday chocolate pie.

I woke sluggish again Friday but after skipping calisthenics and sucking down a quick cup of coffee I felt like myself again. I put in a lot of extra hours during work week so I took some unofficial comp time Friday, essentially spending the afternoon in reactive mode (there and available if needed). Near lunch time I headed out to knock one of my spring projects off the list – painting the trim on the garage return.

Two years ago we removed most of the English ivy from our home’s front stone façade but left it intact on the garage return. Last year’s brutal winter killed most of that foliage so we pulled all that down last spring.  The little feelers left the trim looking bad even after sanding and power washing. Friday was the day to address it once and for all. I removed the down spout and sanded and scraped and then repainted the trim and eve. Took about 2 hours start to finish.

Next, I temporarily disconnected the basement vanity drain assembly so I could raise the granite top an inch or two, enough clearance to apply a bead of adhesive. Didn’t take more than 15 minutes. Glued the back and side splash too. All that remained was to caulk the joints with clear silicone. Planned to get to that sometime over the weekend.

Took care of a few work related matter during the middle afternoon, including the week’s administrative tasks. By then the weather was incredibly nice. Ideal for touching-up the deck furniture with spray paint. I scraped and sanded away all loose paint, and then made a run to Home Depot where I picked up another can of special spray paint.  The kids were getting off the school bus just as I was back out the drive. I reminded them of the need to complete their homework and chores before play.

Took about 30 minutes to touch-up the table and chairs. Looks so much better and for just $7 worth of paint and about an hour’s labor. By the time I finished, Mindy was home from school. I spent the next hour or so edging the rear flower beds while also chatting with Mindy. I felt like I accomplished quite a bit in one afternoon.

Jacob was going to his girlfriend’s house to celebrate her birthday. He and she share the same b-day – April 16. Bella asked if she could go to the Chiller. Mindy left it up to me. Why not? We hoped that a friend’s parents could do either the drop-off or pick-up. After balking at doing dinner at the Dublin Rusty Bucket, Mindy went ahead and ran Jacobella to their destinations while I got a shower.

While she was away, I surfed Sideswipes website confirming their taproom hours. Yep, opened on Friday evenings 4-10pm. I’ve been wanting to check it out for a while now. When Mindy got home I shared our my thoughts on a venue. She was open to trying Sideswipe. Close to 8pm by the time we headed out.

Sideswipe is located nearby off McKinnley & Harper Rd on Scioto Harper Rd, in an industrial park. At almost at the very back of the industrial park, a small sign lead us directly to the location. The garage door was up. Craig, the owner operator, was the only person there. We spent an hour or so enjoying a beer and getting to know Craig. Seems like a great guy. A couple others popped in but just long enough to pick-up a growler. Before we left we bought a growler of their IPA and a pint glass. Enjoyed it. We’ll go back.

We left there at 930pm to go after the kids. We picked up Bella first. Arrived at the Dublin Chiller near 945pm. Mindy had to go find her. Her phone apparently died. We headed south on Cosgray into Hilliard and Alex’s house. She lives in the same subdivision where Mindy and Jimaken built a dozen years prior. Got home a smidge after 10pm.

I ate some leftovers. Just what I can’t recall. Mindy was off to bed almost immediately. I joined her a few minutes later.

Saturday & Sunday April 18 & 19

Up near 7am. It was a gorgeous morning. Clear blue skies and already in the mid 50s. Expecting a high near 75. Earlier in the week the forecast looked bleak. Glad it changed. We would be hosting Jacob’s b-day party at the house around 4pm just as we have for the past nine years. I can’t recall a nicer weather forecast. In fact, most of his b-day parties have been in less than desirable conditions – cool, rain and mud. Ugh!

I enjoyed coffee for an hour or so before heading out on a run. I also put the glass inserts back in the deck table and put the new cushions in the chairs. I was very much looking forward to a day working in the yard. There were two major chores I hoped to complete. One, picking-up, cleaning up the rear flower bed edgings. Two, I hoped to complete the lawn chores.

Before doing any yard chores, I wanted to run a few errands, including getting mower gas, a stop at Lowes, and a quick stop at Ohio Mulch to check out their mulch offerings. Headed out around 10am, stopping for mower and Accord gas first. Next stop Ohio Mulch. Too crowded to get out and check out the quality and color of the brown mulch. Perhaps another day. Onto Lowes.

At Lowes I returned the incorrect jigsaw blades I bought a couple weeks ago when I bought my new saw. I also picked up a kit of 14 different correct blades. More specifically, the kit included two blades specifically designed to cut laminate, which I need to cut the hole in the counter top for the basement sink. While there, I bought six colorful cushions for our deck bench surround. Lastly, I made a stop for a large bag of ice.

I failed to mention that the growler we bought from sideswipe brewing Friday evening exploded spraying about a pint of beer in my backseat after rolling around on our drive to pick-up the kids. My car smelt of IPA! Before doing any yard chores, I took a few minutes to clean-up the inside of my car.  I vacuumed and scrubbed the carpeted floor mat then cleaned the leather seats. Took about 20 minutes. Time well spent.

Time to work in the yard. I opted to whack and edge first. While whacking around the bridge rail I noticed what looked a lot like an animal carcass floating along the pond’s edge. On closer inspection, it was either a raccoon or beaver. The fur was covered in moss/algae. Probably been in there since winter. When I poked it with a stick the fur peeled off too easily. Ugh!!

First time edging along the new service walk and wings. Looked real nice. Push mowed around the yard’s perimeter. Tractor mowed the rest. Lawn’s looking really lush. Once my mowing was complete I blew the beds and walks clear. With the lawn looking good, I fetched the trailer for my Deere and pulled up alongside the rear beds where I picked up Friday’s edgings. Easier said than done, since micro roots for the red maple near the deck lurk just beneath the top soil and spent mulch. In other words, the edgings don’t come up easily. In fact, it‘s harder than the edging itself.

It was 320pm by the time I finished my yard work. I felt really good about all I’d accomplished, which was far more than I envisioned. Gloria was already at the house helping Mindy ready for Jacob’s party. Lindsey dropped off the boys just before I headed up for a shower. I asked the boys to help me a little – one, chase the geese out of the front lawn and then asked them to Windex the glass entry doors. They did neither. J

By the time I was out of the shower party guest were already showing up. Fair to say I got every possible minute out of my day. Dad showed up, which pleased Mindy much. He hasn’t made too many family birthday parties past. All of Mindy’s siblings and their families showed as did a few of Jacob’s buddies.

Along with a table full of snacks, Mindy ordered pizza and picked up Cane’s chicken tenders. I planned to enjoy a couple of beers but not until later. After all that yard work, I was crazy hungry. Because the weather was so nice, the party was both inside and out. Darwin and his young boys showed an hour or so into the party. Said Connie and Lane would be joining us soon. They showed perhaps another hour later. By then I cracked open my Sideswipe growler of IPA. Lane stopped by after working on his mini bike. Man, he’s grown and matured a whole lot over the last year.

Thinking it was near 7-8pm when most of the family departed. Darwin shared that he planned to have a bonfire in his backyard later that evening. Mindy and I agreed to pay a visit once all of our guests were gone and the mess cleaned up. I washed all the party dishes while Mindy stowed the food.

Thinking it was near or after 10pm when we finally headed to the McVey’s. Darwin’s buddy, Rick was there, the two of them already out by the fire. Mindy headed inside to talk with Connie while I hung outside with Darwin and Rick. We had a ball! I popped in to say hello to Connie. Ended up talking to she and Mindy for a while before heading back out.

Brought five beers in my cooler. Drank four of them, sharing one with Rick. Had to be near midnight when Mindy came out advising that she was heading home. I was still having fun and opted to stick around a while longer and walk home. Mindy wasn’t thrilled with my choice but in the end agreed. She was gone too long when I sent a text asking her to come get me. As I exited the fire pit area, I tripped over the 1’ high stone wall scraping up my left leg pretty good. Mindy pulled up just as I walked out front. Fair to say that I was feeling no pain. After woofing down some leftovers I headed up to bed.

Sunday:

Despite not feeling 100% Sunday morning, I was up before 8am. The weather forecast called for increasing clouds, wind, and steady rain by 2pm. Still expecting a high around 70 degrees, though. Hoping to complete even more yard work, I planned to knock my run out as soon as possible in hopes of getting out in the yard ahead of imminent rain.

Ran three miles even before Mindy was up. She was up by the time I got back. She acted surprised that I was no worse for Saturday nights’ wear. I made a couple eggs before heading for yard work. Outside by 10am. My number one goal was to pick-up the rear bed edgings. Took an hour or so. Dumped the pile out back. Next I used a weed digger to pull up the wild patches of new grass growing in the flower bed on the east side of the house. Most of that a byproduct of seeding my service walk last fall. That took a good 30 minutes.

Still ahead of any rain, I had enough time to edge the front beds and do a mulch-ready bed cleaning. All that’s left to edge is the westside flower bed. Feeling ahead of the game! Mindy had a change of heart and decided to grocery shop that afternoon. Originally said she was going to grocery shop on Monday after school.

It began to spit rain around 130pm. Without me asking, Mindy brought in all the deck cushions. And because it was getting really windy, I put down the patio umbrella and tied it closed with a bunji cord. I headed inside ahead of the inclement weather.

Before showering, I thought it a good idea to head to the basement and cut the hole in the laminate  counter top for the sink. I was both eager and nervous, having never done it before. However, I felt confident in my tools as well as the videos I watched a month or so ago. I took my time, taping off the outline of the sink with masking tape on Saturday. To cut the hole I move the top to the floor elevated about a foot of the concrete. New jigsaw and laminate blade worked flawlessly. And perhaps the best tip I got from the Youtube videos was to screw in a support board across the laminate so the cut-out piece wouldn’t drop and tear.

Next, I made sure the sink sat into the opening and then installed the 8 clips. That took some doing. Frustrating, but finally got them installed.  I considered making a Home Depot run to get the rest of the plumbing materials necessary to complete the full install (p-trap, drain tail, sink strainer, etc). In the end I decided instead to call it an afternoon, figuring I could stop at Lowes/Home Depot on Monday during lunch. By then it was 4pm. I headed for a shower and then some couch time.  Mindy was home from the grocery around 430pm.

Rained on and off most of the late afternoon and evening. Mindy made one of my favorite dishes for dinner – chicken noodle casserole. Yum! Jacob, by the way, had a soccer game in Cincinnati that Jimaken took him to. He picked him up around 11am. He got home around 630pm.

Relaxing evening at home. Jacob and I watched Last Man on Earth come 930pm. Funny!  To bed soon after.