Learning my CBC's

I got up a couple times through the night just to pee. And thinking back, I didn't go once while at Barley's earlier that evening. Must've had a beer back up. I woke for good near 745am. Mindy didn't budge while I brushed my teeth and then slipped out of the bedroom.

It was sunny. I prepared coffee then started calisthenics. I completed 55 sit-ups but then decided to skip push-ups to give my arms and shoulders a much needed two day reprieve. I've been extra stiff since last weekend's tree trimming. About ten minutes later I poured a cup of coffee then sat down in front of my PC. Among other things, I checked the weather forecast. It was already 77 degrees with an expected high of 96 under mostly sunny skies. That's about as hot as I can recall for an opening Buckeye game.

Must've been around 8am when Mindy sent Eiknarf downstairs. I enjoyed some coffee while playing around on the internet. I took Eiknarf out for a walk around 830am. We didn't walk far but more importantly, she took care of business. Back at the house I started writing Friday's blog. Come 930am I backed away from the PC and dressed and left for a run. Mindy still wasn't awake.

It was already more than 80 degrees under brilliantly sunny skies. It was considerably humid too. I ran shirtless, and only three miles. Inside, Mindy still wasn't awake. I picked up where I left off with my blog. I' thinking it was near 1030am when Mindy finally got up and joined me downstairs. We both spent time on our computers for the better part of the next half hour.

Last I knew, Bella wasn't coming home until sometime near 2pm, or just before she'd be leaving again with Chrissy, Makayla and Lillian for a sleepover in Johnstown. I was quizzing Mindy about Jimaken's pal Pez when I noticed Pez, Jacob, Bella, and Vincent, Pez's son, walking up to the front door. Hmm? Must've decided to bring Bella home early. We invited them inside where we struck up a conversation with Pez while Jacob took Vincent out to see the tree house.

They stuck around for about 20 minutes. While Pez was there we learned where and how he met Jimaken and what he did for a living. I wrongfully assumed him an attorney, too. He's not. Instead, he's a sales manager with a degree in computer illustration. Currently sells HP equipment as a 3rd party vendor. Looking to make a move from Cincinnati to CMH sometime in the near future.  He, Jacob and Vincent left for lunch around 1115am.

Mindy and I got a kick out of the fact that we were just talking about the guy when he walked up to our door. Meanwhile, opening kick-off was just 30 minutes away. I finished up Friday's blog just before kick-off. I didn't want to miss the very beginning of the season, this being a year of transition for the Buckeyes - new coach, new quarterbacks, etc.

By kick-off the temperature was 94 degrees and still rising. Not only was OSU stadium sun soaked, but it was baking in the intense heat too. Watching from the comfort of the AC seemed a far better alternative than paying $75 per ticket to watch it live. It didn't take long for the Buckeyes to establish themselves and take the lead. By halftime I believe they lead 21-0.  They made very few mistakes and both quarterbacks played decent. And honestly, both looked like sharper passers than Tyrell Pryor ever did, especially the true freshman, Braxton Miller. He's got an incredibly quick release.

At halftime I headed to the garage where I worked on Jacob's bikes. He & I talked about taking a few parts from his already broken down new bike and adding a little flair to the old one. But I quickly determined that those parts weren't the same size thus wouldn't fit. As an alternative, I worked to fix the problem with the new bike (the peddle mechanism) one more time. When I backed the oft loose nut completely away, I found three of the ball bearings making up the peddle bearing assembly rolling around loose inside the chamber. I repacked them then retightened the assembly one last time. The slender locking nut still has a tendency to strip when one tries to give it that last quarter turn. It really pisses me off that it's made so cheaply. On closer inspection, I could see that it was manufactured in Shanghai, China exclusively for Toys r Us. Hey, I am all for a global economy, and lord knows my 401k relies on the strength of that belief, but I'm just sayin'.

Mindy popped her head out a couple times, once to give me a scoring update. Buckeyes scored another TD right after halftime. I was probably out there 30 minutes. I headed back in the house to finish watching the game. The Buckeyes continued their domination of Akron allowing them to cross the 50 yard line I believe only once during the entire game. The final score was 42-0. I was happy to see them using Hyde as the premier running back. If you review my blog entries from last season, you'll see that he was my choice even then.

After the game Mindy left for a Target shopping spree. I stayed home planning to water flowers and watch more football. We made plans to dine out at CBC later that evening too. Soon after Mindy left, I headed out to the parched yard and watered all the deck flowers. It was hot and steamy. Some of our plants were drooping from the heat and a lack of rain. Hasn't rained at all since for nine days- the longest such streak all summer. After watering the plants I checked out my ravaged tomato plants a bit more carefully. I found where the alleged critter is getting under the wire fence I put up and around them - back in the corner under the English Ivy. Now all the plants have been destroyed. I blocked off his entrance with firewood hoping the stubs that remain might still bear a little fruit. I won't hold my breath, however.

Headed back inside where I searched my PC folders for the finished basement design I did a couple years ago. I couldn't find it. Then, out of blue, I seemed to remember saving it to my USB drive. I checked there, and sure enough, I found it. I pulled it up and immediately resaved it to my hard drive before making any edits.  Mindy and I were just recently discussing the possibility of moving the washer & dryer to the basement and using the existing laundry / mud room as a mud room exclusively. It's a ridiculously tight squeeze in its current configuration. I spent about 30 minutes fooling around making some edits to the original design. I decided to save it as two versions.

I finally got around to taking a shower around 4-430pm. Still in my running clothes, I reeked. After my shower, Eiknarf expressed an interest in heading outside. I took her unleashed out back. She only wanted to lay in the grass. She didn't take care of any business. We both heard what sounded like Mindy's horn after locking the Pilot doors with the remote. Eiknarf went charging around against my will to check it out.  She stopped halfway after I read her the riot act, eventually cowering to my approach. I picked her up and carried her in the house. Sure enough, Mindy was home.

Now near 530pm, Mindy suggested we head out early for CBC. We were dressed casually, me in white shorts, a black untucked polo, and my newer casual brown suede slip-ons. I felt good. While at Target, Mindy picked up some generic Aleeve. I took two before we left hoping to take the edge off my stiff shoulders. Actually, though, the worst was a few days ago. I was already on the mend. My hope was that the Aleeve would only quicken a full recovery. I'm thinking we left for CBC around 6pm.

As we exited the freeway onto Fronts St and then made the quick right on Liberty St, I noticed the Shadowbox theatre on the corner. Though never visiting its other location in Easton, I've heard nothing but great things about it. Supposedly the act is much like Saturday Night Live. I want to catch one of their acts soon. I saw something about a new brewery on the adjacent signage too. I suggested we circle back, but Mindy quickly nixed that idea saying that it was too hot.

Because it was so early in the evening the lot was only about 2/3rds full. And judging by everyone's attire, it looked like the lion's share of the crowd might've been post Buckeye game revelers. Mindy headed inside ahead of me while I snapped a picture of their famous signage. Turned out, Mindy found the only two barstools side by side over in the far corner. Took me a few seconds to cast my gaze that way and find her.

We both ordered beers, me their seasonal Hop Odyssey - an Amber IPA, and Mindy a Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald. Soon we ordered an appetizer, the spinach artichoke dip. For my money the best to be found anywhere coast to coast.

There remained one lone barstool directly to my left. That was eventually filled by an older woman who looked to have been at the Buckeye game just like everybody else. She ordered a glass of wine and their Asian salad. Her name was Ann. We chatted with Ann for quite a while eventually learning that she was Mrs Ann Pizzuti, from the well known Columbus Prizzuti family and the developers of Miranova and many other well to-do Columbus properties. Lately though, they're more well known for their charitable giving's, including valuable works of art.

We talked about almost everything from kids, school, business, restaurants, to our own downtown skyline. Ann was as smart a woman as you'll likely find with an insightful opinion about almost everything. But I was pleasantly surprised to find it easy to forget who she was, such well-known Columbus matriarch. Ann eventually asked for her check and begged off for home. She told us that after the Buckeye game, she left the grand kids with husband Ron, needing to get out for some food. Very funny, Very cute.  

Her vacated stool was soon filled by another interesting young woman in a sun dress with tattoos all up her arms, on her back and chest. We chatted with her, too. Turns out, she recently graduated from law school and is resting before taking the bar exam. I got the feeling she'll be one to be reckoned with. She didn't stay long, however, abandoning her drink after only sipping a 1/3 of it. She seemed to know one of our favorite servers, Jamie, fairly well.

We asked for our own check a few minutes later. I covered it along with the tip. It wasn't that much. If memory serves, about $40.  I tipped Jamie well then headed for the door. On our way out Mindy sprung for a CBC ballcap for me - $8. I drove us home.

 I asked Mindy to text our neighbors, Pat and Lisa, on our drive home inquiring if they were up for visitors. They were. As soon as we got home we each grabbed a beer and then leashed up Eiknarf and headed over. Pat was sitting on the enclosed patio by his lonesome but was quickly joined by wife Lisa and daughter Alaina. Among other things, we shared NYC stories. You may recall, they were there for 4 or 5 days the first week I was in town. They left the Sunday we got all that rain - about 6-8 inches and had a horrible travel delay.

We had a nice visit and must've hung out until near midnight. By then, all of us were getting tired. And just about the time that Mindy & I were heading for home a storm was starting to move in complete with lightning and wind, a welcome site given that it hadn't rained in nine days.  We made it home just before the rain hit. The sound of rain pounding against the house was music to my ears. Good night rain, lightning, and thunder.