Jacob's Valentine

1) Mrs Valentine receiving her payoff
2) Jacob's Glyph
3) jacob's candy corn writing


I was up at 5:20am and felt fully rested. However, I would be less than honest if I didn’t say that I can feel my body adapting to the time change. Two weeks ago I could’ve woke at 4:30am and would’ve felt fairly well slept. I’ve noticed I am becoming more and more conditioned to the change. But that’s no surprise. How easily the body adapts is well chronicled.

I did my full exercise routine with no trouble. However, I could feel a smidge of tension mounting in my right shoulder. I promised myself that I would give it a break Friday morning to avoid a potential set back. Smart move! Ykraps and I headed out doors into a far colder morning that what we’ve gotten used to. It was 32 degrees on the nose. And in addition to the chill, it was very breezy, too. Like me, Ykraps has his quirky habits too. For instance, I’ve noticed that left to lead, he will almost always head east on our morning walk, but come evening, he almost always heads west. This proves that not only man seeks the comfort of routine. Animals do to. Routine, I think, more than anything signals to the body that things are safe. A radical change, on the other had, can be a sign of danger putting us into a much different state-of-mind. Something to ponder.

Back home for more good habits! I poured my coffee and relaxed in front of the PC. I took Mindy her coffee at 6:05am. I spent the next 20 minutes meditating and dressing for a run. I sought out my ear covers but opted out of gloves. I certainly didn’t want to over heat. The crisp air felt pretty darn good. It made the run easy. I’ve noticed the number of morning runners has diminished considerably since the cool weather’s arrival a few weeks ago. Sadly, those folks do not know what they’re missing. These are very favorable conditions provided you dress accordingly. In fact, I find the entire winter season to be equally comfortable.

I also find that I like running in the dark. For whatever reason, the run seems to go by much faster. My guess is that I’m forced deeper inside myself – less in tune with my surroundings. One minute I staring my run and the next I am done!

Mindy had the frying pan heating on the stove with just the right amount of olive oil. She asked if I would fry our eggs. I did. I also poured myself another cup of coffee. It wasn’t long before Mindy & Bella departed leaving Jacob and I behind. Mindy reminded me of Jacob’s parent-teacher conference at Beacon set for 5:20pm. I promised that I would be there.

I was showered and dressed by 7:45am. I’ve noticed that Jacob takes his cue to ready for the bus by me grabbing my gym bag from the laundry room. I was careful not to alert him to quickly this AM. Otherwise, we find ourselves at the bus stop way too early. I tended to a few trivial matters around the house burning up another five minutes or so. We headed out the door at 7:55am. Pat & Alena beat us by a minute or so. Jacob and I tossed the football. Pat invited us to their home to watch the big game Saturday. We have no firm plans that I’m aware of.

I arrived at work around 8:20am. It was very windy and still quite chilly. Many of the nearby trees are already barren. Winter nears.

The work day was a busy one. Even still, I was determined, no matter how busy, to get away for a lunch break today. At 1:10pm I left for a trip to Lowe’s. I had nothing in particular to buy but rather thought that I’d look at, and price out the various plumbing fixtures we’ll need for our basement finishing project. I spent an entire hour browsing the aisles of Lowe’s (that’s right, Mindy, I spelled aisles correctly!). I perused aisles I hadn’t before visited. It was like a new experience. A tri pas such always gets the creative juices flowing with all the possibilities. I truly love it! Home Depot and Lowes truly represent the land of possibilities for your home.

I found myself back to work by 2:15pm. The afternoon went incredibly slow for some reason. Things got a bit dicey, as they often do, just before 5pm. I had to be disciplined and leave even still. The all important parent teacher conference was minutes away. I arrived at Beacon Elementary at 5:15pm. Mindy was already there waiting in the hall. We enjoyed a few of Jacob’s creative pieces displayed along side the rest of his classmates’ works.

The sing said to knock if you were present and it was past your appointment time. Mindy did the honor. At first I thought it a very bold move until she pointed out the sign. I’m sure it helps keep the teachers on schedule. Mindy being a fellow teacher but also a suck up handed Mrs Valentine a care package to help her get through the evening. Apparently it contained a Pepsi, candy bar, and chips. She seemed very appreciative. She’s definitely cute! Her and Mindy hit it off. To listen to the two of tem, Jacob could do no wrong! We went about twenty minutes or until the next parent wrapped on the door. Mrs. Valentine expressed Jacob’s rare liking of both English and math. I liked hearing that, knowing how poorly many men write.

As we departed Mindy shared that she had some Wendy’s chili in the fridge for me at home. We also agreed to stop at the Hilliard Sherwin-Williams for more paint chips.
We’re still not settled on a color for the familyroom/kitchen area. It was just down the street so we stopped in and grabbed more than a few samples from the warm yellow/gold family. Homeward!

I called Tommy along my drive home to see if he received the written divorce agreement yet. Turns out, he had received it only an hour or so earlier and just finished reading it. He said that there were no surprises and that he hoped to sign and return it soon. I am happy that it’s almost over so that he can move forward with his life.

Gloria was watching the kids at home and was playing warmly with the children when we walked in. I was hungry so I went for the fridge to find the chili Mindy spoke of. I warmed it up and sat down at the kitchen table along side of Gloria. Mindy, meanwhile, whisked the kids upstairs for a quick bath. Eventually, she beckoned her mother to help her out. That ended some awkward silence, which usually doesn’t happen.

After the kids returned in their jammies, Bella suggested we watch a movie, build a fire, and pop some corn. We did all three. Gloria stayed, too. We watched Santa Claus, with Tim Allen. I saw it year ago when it released at the theatre – 1994, I believe. We shared three bags of microwave popcorn during the flick. Mindy paused the movie around 8:00pm to take her mother home and get the kids into bed. Bella cried for her maw-maw after they departed. I did my best to comfort her.

It wasn’t long before Mindy returned. She went upstairs to pass out more good night hugs. I started the movie where we left off. We watched the last 30 minutes together. Nice Xmas movie. At 9:15pm we closed up shop and headed to bed. I was eager to get a full night’s rest to help facilitate a fun weekend ahead.

I Say and I Do

I am a creature of habit. And habitually, I maintenance a number of streaks in my day to day life. And there’s almost no doubt that you do too. Hopefully, most, if not all, are positive streaks! Speaking of myself, some are obvious while a few others not so obvious. Why do I hold these streaks so dear? I’m not exactly sure, but have a theory.

Generally speaking, streaks serve as my personal motivators. At stake if I flounder is, of course, the streak itself. But perhaps even more at stake is the continued reassurance that I’m moving my life in the “wright” direction. It’s a matter of power over oneself. I say and I do.

My daily running streak is perhaps my most visible streak, which by the way currently stands at 10 years, 9 months, and 4 days. This is undoubtedly a remarkable streak. But when I began I didn’t think or say I’m going to start a running streak? Instead, at the outset, the goal was simply about running to loose weight and get in better shape. And it worked!

Another less obvious streak and the one that served as perhaps the impetus for the others, was my abandonment of tobacco. When I was 22, I decided that May 17, 1982 would be the last time I would smoke a cigarette. That streak has extended to some 9,245 days and is still going strong. I rarely ever consciously think about it these days, but it’s a streak just the same.

A more recent example is my latest streak of not sleeping past 5:30am on work days. This has spanned a scant two full weeks. But even still, it’s a streak that I strive to maintain. Will it last – I doubt it, but it’s a fun streak.

Somehow I gather comfort by maintaining streaks. Also, by developing and maintaining streaks I have learned an awful lot about myself. More specifically, how powerful I truly am. I now know that I can accomplish anything I focus my attention on achieving. It then becomes a matter of importance. Because as even I realize, all my streaks will end eventually – some sooner than others. Those that continue on typically become more a way of life rather than a forced activity.

I suppose that building streaks works for me because they provide the continued reassurance that I can persevere.

I was up Wednesday morning once again several minutes before my self-inflicted cut-off. I was downstairs peeing when the coffee maker kicked on at 5:25am. I glanced outdoors to see a sky draped in cloud cover. I had little vested interest in the weather, so I shrugged it off and tucked my toes under the lip of the sofa and began my sit-ups. By 5:40am my entire repertoire was in the bag and I was seeking out Ykraps for our morning stroll.

It was fairly warm – somewhere in the low 50’s. This, however, was said to be the lat of the mild weather for a while. Not that it’s going to get brutal but we’re headed back to the 40’s for daily highs and upper 20’s and low 30’s at night. I can handle that! We took care of business outside rather quickly and were back inside by 5:50am. I poured my coffee and went to the PC for the next 15 minutes. At 6:05am I made Mindy’s coffee and delivered it. I was back downstairs beginning a meditation by 6:10am. I finished up around 6:22am. I felt so peaceful. I really didn’t want to stop. In the day, I would spend upwards of 30 minutes in meditation.

I left for my run well before 6:30am. It was a decent run. When I returned Mindy had our eggs about done. I topped them with cheese while still cooking in the pan. We ate together albeit a short meal break. Mindy & Bells soon departed. Before heading up to the shower, I went ahead and preheated the oven to 325 for the turkey. After returning from my shower I placed the bird in the oven. It must’ve been just short of 8am. I set the time bake feature for 3.5 hrs and left for work hoping for the best. I knew that I most likely wouldn’t return before the prescribed cook time expired. If the timer didn’t work, I’d have a way over baked bird on my hands. I didn’t fret over it, however.

Jacob and I tossed the football at the bus stop. We greeted Pat & Alena. By 8:05am I was on my way to work. The morning went quickly. My boss IM’d me at 11:05am asking if I was coming to the staff meeting! Wow – how time had flown! Our meeting lasted just over an hour. I left for home and to fetch the bird minutes after the meeting ended.

I arrived home just before 1230pm. The timer alarm was blaring driving Ykraps into his pen. I never gave that much thought – not that it would’ve deterred me. The oven, I saw, had indeed shut down. The bird look awesome. I pulled it out. It was still piping hot and the skin a very crunchy brown. A bit concerned that it might have overcooked. I sliced into the left breast. It hadn’t. The meat was succulent and moist, and the flavor to die for. I was most pleased! I transferred the bird to the second foil pan to avoid traveling with the drippings, which wouldn’t be used. After covering it with foil I headed back to work with the turkey in tow.

I carried the bird to the center. By then, the other turkey and ham were already cut and sliced. I turned my bird over to the “cutter” dude. He sliced it up real pretty. I snagged a big hunk of skin to snack on while I waited for the chow line to diminish. The skin was awesome – crunchy and tasty. I added a boat loaded of seasoning this year. And I’ll do it again. It was very, very good. I received oodles of compliments for the bird’s tasty qualities. I’ve cooked probably 15 turkeys in my day and this was by far the best.

We had all the usual Thanksgiving fixins’ available for our consumption. By far, there were an inordinate number of desserts. I skipped dessert except for trying a small sliver of this cheesecake brownie concoction. Very nice!

As you might guess, for the remainder of the afternoon I contended with a full belly. I left for home around 5:30pm, and it was dark when I arrived. I knew the kids were with their dad but I thought for certain that Mindy would be home. Nevertheless, I carried on with my usual duties and chores. I looked for a note form Mindy and tried recalling our conversation form earlier. Nothing! No sooner did I move towards the PC I heard the toilet flushing upstairs. I supposed that mindy had been napping in bed all along. She had. We chatted briefly. I shared some of the dialogue I had with brother Tommy earlier in the day. He shared news of an official divorce agreement. Sounded much more favorable than originally thought, but that’s often how it goes. However, between the two of them, they’ve racked up some huge legal fees making the only true winners their lawyers.
The important thing her is closure and the ability to focus on inventing and making a new future. He’ll finally have that gift in hand. I know that feeling well.

Mindy soon left for choir. I had about an hour to myself before Jimaken brought the children home. Mindy left the option of a bath to my discretion. She recommended the sniff test. J When they finally arrived, we together opted for a simple wash down – not a full blown bath. They both liked that idea. I allowed the not stay up until Mindy got home. They were up watching TV when she arrived.

We got them tucked in for good over the next ten minutes. We went to bed kind of early but both of us were tired. Going to bed before 10pm has lent itself to my success at waking early.

Good Habit in the Making

Good or Bad, it's your choice!

I was up once again well before I needed to be. And it wasn’t because I was restless. Instead, I was well slept just like most other mornings since the time change. I was downstairs carrying on with my routine even before the coffee began to brew, which kicks on at 5:25am. I was able to comfortably do my entire exercise routine without even a hint of pain in my right shoulder. It hadn’t felt that good for a couple of months. This was wonderful news!

Before long, Ykraps and I were out enjoying another warm mid-autumn morning. It was 54 degrees with quite a bit of moisture in the air. It felt warm. We walked east – his choosing. Hey, I don’t always have to be the boss! We were back by 5:45am. I tossed around my options and decided to enjoy a casual cup of coffee before taking Mindy hers. Besides, she didn’t need to be up so early anyhow. I read the Daily OM and checked the headlines. During my perusing, I read a very negative headline that sensationalized the heinous slaying of a registered sex offender in Michigan. It freaked me out. I generally avoid negative news all together. Allegedly, two 17 yr old boys cut this guy’s head off and tossed it in the river. In addition, they torched his hands and feet in an attempt to mask any prints. For a number of reasons, they were able to determine that it was premeditated. It was very depressing.. What’s more, the article indicated that this guy was considered sex offender because he had sex with a 14 year old girl when he was 17. Geesh, I’m surprised because I’d guess that plenty of guys & gals had similar sexual experiences when in high school. There were few other details.

I went about the rest of my morning routine, including a good 15 minute meditation after which I dressed for my run. Once again, I didn’t need to bundle up, but I still wore a jacket leaving it mid-zipped. It felt terrific out there. But truth be told, I got a little warm towards the very end. The fleece jacket I wore is my heavier one. I survived.

Back at home at 7:07am, I rolled the trash can back to its resting place and then went inside. Mindy had a skillet coated with olive oil and preheated to the perfect temperature for fried eggs. She asked if I would do the honors while she finished readying herself and Bella. I gladly did. After woofing down our breakfast, she and Bella left as always. I continued eating and even enjoyed another cup of coffee.

Before heading off to the shower I checked the turkey resting neatly in the fridge. It felt thoroughly thawed. I was comfortable that it would be ready for the oven by tomorrow AM. After a shower Jacob and I headed to the bus stop. Jacob asked if we could take the football. I agreed and followed him there in the Trooper. We tossed the football until the bus pulled up. After which, I placed the ball in the Trooper and then dashed off to work.

The work day was very busy. I chose to work straight through. And for the first time in a long while, I left at 5:00pm on the nose. It felt like I was leaving early! I made good time driving home, too. I beat a lot of the I-270 rush. It was still daylight when I got home for once. We leashed up Ykraps, Mindy, Jacob, and I and headed out the door. Jacob, of course, had the football in hand.

Mindy offered to guide Ykraps while Jacob and I tossed the ball. It was a fun walk. One of our neighbors, Joyce, was at the bridge feeding the carp who were milling about just underneath. They’ve gotten very large. They’re upwards of 18”, or more, long. Mindy had burgers on the stove serving as our dinner. They were mighty tasty. We had the leftover green beans from Sunday dinner too. And for dessert, well, we split the chocolate pie that Gloria sent home. After a quick clean-up, Mindy left to pick-up Bella from dance. She was gone for about 30 minutes. In her absence, I worked on my basement design. I decided to use Excel for its ability to act like graph paper. After taking some rough measurements I transferred the information onto a spreadsheet. I worked on it for the remainder of the evening or until House came on at 9pm. By then Mindy was home and the kids tucked into bed. House was better than average. We headed to bed immediately after. I then I tuned into the second round of the Preseason NIT basketball tournament featuring the Buckeyes hosting the Columbia Tigers. The Buckeyes won.

Thick as a Brick

Monday morning came gently. I was well prepared for rising even before 5:30am rolled around. I was up and going about my usual business by 5:20am. Looking out the back door, I could see that it rained a bit more over night. The bright spot being that it was warm. It was 50+ degrees. In fact, the day’s high was predicted to topple 60.

I kept my exercise routine to sit-ups, giving my right shoulder another day of rest. The decision is against every bone in my body but I know that it’s the right thing to do for the long run. Ykraps and I walked west. I wore shorts and was plenty comfortable. I knew then that I wouldn’t need ear covers for my run.

We returned home by 5:44am and dug into some coffee and web surfing. I didn’t waste too much time, however. Instead, I was eager to use the extra time meditating. I took Mindy coffee just before 6am. I spent the next twenty minutes meditating. At 6:20 I donned my running clothes and headed out the door. After thorough stretch I launched.

It was a good run. I finished feeling fantastic! Everyone was up and eating their breakfast when I returned. Mindy mentioned that Jacob pee’d his bed. Damn! She already had the washer going. She soon left leaving Jacob and I to our usual routine. Mindy reminded me before leaving that she’d be attending a flashlight vigil outside of the Southwestern City schools district office this evening and that Jimaken would be taking the kids for a couple of hours.

Jacob and I hit the bus stop at 7:55am sharp. We hung for just a few short minutes before the bus pulled up and whisked him away. I headed on in to work.

Work went reasonably well. I picked up where I left off over the weekend. I decided that I would take a lunch break and go to Home Depot. I wanted to buy a masonry blade for my circular saw. That’s what I did. I bought one for $2.00 – pretty cheap! While out, I stopped at Kroger on Cemetery Rd to buy a turkey for our department potluck. My peers and I agreed to cook two turkeys and a ham. I bought a 13lb fresh turkey. There wouldn’t be enough time for a frozen turkey to thaw. Even the fresh turkey had a few frozen spots. But just as well, it would sit in my Trooper for the remainder of the afternoon.

Back at work by 200pm I finished out the day. I left for home around 5:15pm – my usual departure time. It was still very warm out side. I chatted with Mindy briefly while she waited for others to show for the flashlight vigil. I was eager to get home. I had designs on a specific project.

At home I hurried through my routine chores of walking Ykraps, prepping coffee, and cleaning my lunch containers. Satisfied that all was in order, I prepared for my project. The plan called for me to cut away no more than a ¼” inch of brick from the bottom edge of our firebox. The existing glass and brass fire screen is just a smidge too tall – not quite fitting up under the upper lip. I have toiled with a solution for years and finally decided this was the most practical option. If successful, I could push the existing screen flush against the brick mantle eliminating much of the winter draft. I drew a line in pencil then moved the fire screen away.
The saw cut nicely but it threw a boat load of sparks and even some flames. It was cool! Unfortunately, it threw a lot of brick dust into the air as well - much more than I realized. Only after I finished did I see how dusty it made the entire family room/kitchen area. It stunk like burnt stone too, and the dust was red. Oh boy! What a mess. I grabbed the fire screen and placed it back against the mantle. It was still a smidge too tall in a few spots. I had no choice but to cut some more. I did. I had to repeat the process even a third time. Finally, after the third try I got it cut just enough that I could get the fire screen to fit snuggly against the mantle. I spent the next 30 minutes on clean-up detail. I was most worried about my sound system and the potential damage heavy dust can do. I replaced the vacuum bag and vacuumed everything including the white speakers, furniture, carpet, and crevices. I even vacuumed the houseplants! By the time Jimaken returned with the kids I had most of the dust removed. I explained my project to Jim. He looked at me as if I were crazy (maybe it was my imagination).

After the kids were home I quickly switched gears to Mr Mom. Mindy arrived home a short time later. I still had several windows opened and the garage door at half-staff. I explained my madness project to her. She just laughed. She went about her usual routine of prepping for the next day while I worked on my weekend blog. We headed to bed a little after 9pm but watched some of the Buckeye basketball game & some of Monday Night football from bed.

Didn't Show Up

The kids were up early but so were we. To our delight, they played quietly, at least at the outset. I crept downstairs and prepped a pot of coffee, exercised, and leashed up Ykraps for our morning stroll. My mood was somber as we walked along our usual path. We happened upon the older couple I frequently see out walking each morning. The Mrs commented that she hadn’t seen me in a long while. I would see them most summer mornings while watering the front flower beds.

I dug into work when we returned. Mindy was up milling about the house along with all the children. After a little work, I checked the Fox web page to see what NFL games would be televised. I was elated to see that my Vikings were slated for TV at 1pm. I shared the news with Mindy who shared in my joy. I spent the next hour sipping coffee and toiling with work. At 8:30am I left for a run leaving plenty of time after my return to help Mindy ready the kids for church. I wouldn’t be joining her, at least physically. :)

It began to rain ever so lightly while I ran. The last I checked the weather there was just a slim chance of appreciable rain. It stayed that way through my entire run. I ran with music ringing in my ears via my MP3 player. It was nice.

Soon after I returned from my run and began helping the kids get dressed, the sky opened up and boy did it rain. And it didn’t let up either. It rained pretty doggone hard for the next few hours. The kids were cooperative but still a handful. Mindy loaded all of them in the minivan and left for church at 10am sharp. I had the house to myself for the next couple hours. WAHOO!

I spent time dealing with work and completing some chores Mindy asked that I tend to. It was the least I could do after the great job she did entertaining and taking care of all four kids last evening and again this AM. First, I hand washed the breakfast dishes then unloaded the clean dishwasher. Next, I vacuumed the downstairs even cleaning underneath the sofa cushion. Next, I foot mopped the kitchen tile floor. Looked great when I finished! It was noon by the time I finished. Mindy & Jacob returned home (Bella went home with her grandma after church) around 12:10pm. Mindy offered to make lunch and expressed appreciation for the work I had done. I contemplated starting the basement shelves but opted instead to relax prior to the Viking game.

1pm came fast. I was eager to watch Adrian Peterson as the feature back for the Vikings. But it was apparent from the outset that watching the game was a bad idea. In all my years, save for the 2000 NFC championship game, I don’t think the Vikings have ever looked worse. They stunk so bad that I had to go to my room to watch just so Jacob wouldn’t hear all of my swearing. And probably the most embarrassing thing was that Fox, worried about ratings, switched games. Geeesh! I later learned that Adrian Peterson hurt his knee. Not good! Just an all-around bad football weekend. I was in a funk to be sure. And Mindy had to console me as tears now streamed down my loving face!

I napped for a short while before uping for Gloria’s place. It was still pouring rain. We loaded the Trooper in the rain stopping first by my dad’s to drop off his trailer. Onto Gloria’s. We arrived before anyone else. Bella greeted us at the door. It was a short while before all the others arrived, but by 5:00pm we were enjoying our dinner. We had baked ham, cheesey potatoes, green beans (compliments of Mindy), and an assortment of other tasty sides. The discussion was lively as it often is around the dinner table. We had a fun time.

After dinner Jacob entertained the masses with his go-go dancing prowess, although we’re not sure where he gets it, it was too funny! He seems to enjoy being the center of attention. I can relate. Dessert was served around 6:30pm – chocolate pie! It’s been a while since we’ve had it. We weren’t disappointed. It was delicious! We picked up our belongings and departed for home around 7pm.
We won’t be together in such mass again until Thanksgiving Day.

At home I gathered up Ykraps for his evening walk. Jacob insisted on going along but Mindy had other ideas. She needed Jacob to ready for bed. He was a bit defiant prompting Mindy to search for answers on how to better control him. We discussed some proactive ideas that might work temporarily but I am not convinced that they’re a good long term solution. Perhaps the best thing is to allow him to be himself albeit within some fixed guidelines – sorta like bumper bowling.

After the kids were in bed Mindy and I tuned into Fox’s Sunday night line-up of comedy – Simpson’s, King of the Hill, Family Guy (my favorite), and American Dad. We watched the first three from the family room and the last from bed.

Mushy Maters

I woke Saturday feeling well slept. I was up even before 7am. Both children had been in our room prior to me getting out of bed prodding their mother for attention. Mindy curtly sent Jacob back to his room to get more sleep citing his propensity to hold a foul disposition with so little sleep. Bella, on the other hand, who entered after Jacob was turned away, was allowed to remain. But when I popped out of bed, she followed me downstairs.

I prepped a pot of coffee and went about my calisthenics. Bella was eager to walk Ykraps with me. I was a bit surprised. Jacob was now up too and insisted on coming along with us as well. With all four of us going there was sure to be a Kodak moment. I took the camera.

It was a little blustery. I got a few pics as we walked along the well-beaten path. Mindy remained in bed until I wandered up to get my running attire. By then I had already enjoyed coffee and engaged myself in a number of work related matters. Before I left for a run Mindy asked if I wanted breakfast. I did. She spoke of making pancakes and bacon.

I left for my run around 8:30am. I thought about venturing out onto Trabue but opted instead to stay within the subdivision. I took notice of all the Buckeye banners flying proudly in neighbors’ yards turning my thoughts to the day’s big game. And since kick-off wasn’t slated until 3:30pm I hoped to get a few things accomplished beforehand. Of course all of that was dependent on work.

Breakfast was ready upon my return. It smelt terrific. Before digging in, I checked in with work. Both the pancakes and bacon were fantastic. They really hit the spot. It was near or after 10am. I was eager to get moving, and I had most of the work issues under control. I prepared to go fetch firewood. Jacob wanted to go along. We set out twenty minutes later. Our first stop was dad’s place to get his trailer. He wasn’t home. We hitched up the trailer, checked the trailer tire pressure, then scooted on down the road.

We made excellent time. It took about 20 minutes to get to Brownwood Enterprises, located on Refugee Rd just west of Alum Creek Dr. I’ve been buying wood from this guy for years, and I’ve never been disappointed. We picked a $100 rick and backed the trailer up accordingly. I recognized Brian, the hired help from last year. Very nice fella. The three of us loaded the trailer in about ten minutes. Jacob & I were headed home only 45 minutes after we left. We made excellent time. Mindy & Bella hadn’t even left for the grocery yet. However, they did leave a few minutes after we got home.

Before we could unload the first log, I wanted to tear out the ragged tomato plants still producing in front of the wood pile. And after that, I was determined to pull what remained of last year’s wood off the pile to ensure that we use it first. All of that took about 45 minutes. We filled the John Deere trailer with the tattered tomato plants and unripened fruit. We placed all of unblemished near-ripe tomatoes in a clothes basket. There must’ve been about 40 of those.

After dumping the carnage in the mulch pile out back we removed what remained of last year’s firewood and sat it aside. It hadn’t rained to any degree for several days, so I was certain that we could pull the Trooper into the yard and beside the wood pile without damaging the yard. If so, this would save us lots of time. I carefully pulled into the yard and along side the pile. No trouble at all. And for the next 45 minutes Jacob and I stacked the new firewood neatly against the house. Once we emptied the trailer, we placed last year’s remains on top.

Before putting away tractor and trailer Jacob and I threw the football for a while. Jacob asked to stop after about 20 minutes citing hunger as his main reason. I was OK with that, and was a little hungry myself. Jacob wanted his leftover chicken burrito bowl. I ate a few pieces of leftover pizza. Mindy arrived home with groceries. I helped her carry in her haul. It wasn’t long before she set out to get her hair done leaving me at home with both kids. She was also slated to pick-up Kaileigh on her way home. These arrangements were made last evening. We haven’t seen Kaileigh for about two months. All of us were looking forward to having her over.

Jacob and I watched the Michigan game. They lost to Wisconsin. I often pull for Michigan except when we’re playing them. But I tend to me the minority. Time was moving along quickly. The Buckeye/Illinois game began at 3:30pm. Jacob and I watched from the family room. As they have 7 times this year, the Buckeyes scored a touchdown on their opening drive. This time however, they did it in two plays. Unfortunately, Illinois answered with a fast touchdown of their own. Mindy returned home just after the Illinois score with Kaileigh in tow. It wasn’t long before she disappeared with Bella. It wasn’t another few minutes before the Buckeyes scored yet another touchdown sending the message that we were determined to win.
After that score the Buckeyes offense went largely dormant. Illinois continued to expose weakness in our defense. Lindsey called asking if Lil’ Rocky could come over. Mindy went to fetch him at halftime. Long story short, we lost for only the second time in over two years. All of us were disappointed to say the least. We’ve become accustom to winning and perhaps even spoiled. We all knew this day would return. Time to focus on Michigan!

Much like the night of the National Championship game in January, Jacob cried incessantly. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His momma consoled him but I’m not sure it helped. I got a cute pic of it. We spent the rest of the evening trying to move beyond the hurt of losing. Mindy gave all four kids a bath after dinner. Kaileigh brought the DVD, Ratatouille. We all huddled around the TV and enjoyed afterwards. And to our delight, the kids went to sleep rather easily even with so much stimulus about.

Mindy & I stayed up until no later than 10pm. Good Night Moon!

Blades of Glory

Despite it being an on-call weekend, I was up at 5:20am and excited that it was Friday. I grabbed a fresh running shirt from the closet as I do each morning. But today, in addition to the shirt, I also remembered to grab my running gloves. The gloves at the current temps (roughly 32 degrees) are great for the first mile or so, but after that they tend to cause me to overheat.

I took care of my calisthenics and walk with Ykraps well before 6am. I was back home sipping coffee even before 5:45am. I delivered Mindy’s coffee around 5:50am and then proceeded to fool around on the PC and meditate. I was dressed and ready to run by 6:20am, but first I had to stretch. My run started well, and my hands were so comfy & warm under the cover of gloves. However, as my body heat rose, I remembered why I don’t like to wear them unless it’s bitter cold. The hands and ears serve as the body’s radiator. And when they’re both covered, there’s very little heat escaping. That might be fine in single digit weather but when it’s any warmer the covering up begins to work against me. I was noticeably winded when I finished. I was happy to rip the gloves from my sweaty hands.

Mindy had my eggs ready by the time I retuned. She had also packed my lunch – fruit, nuts, and a vegetable medley. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about eating out. She & Bella left at their usual departure time – 7:20am. I put the veggies back in the fridge and placed the fruit and nuts in my gym bag. Jacob and I spent the next 30 minutes doing what we always do. I ate and showered. He relaxed on the sofa playing with his gameboy. We left for the bus stop at 7:55am just like any other day. He went on and on about how he was sure that we’d play Oregon in the BCS championship game. I warned that we’d be better served to focus only on the Illinois game, and then Michigan before looking so far ahead. He looked at me as if I were from the moon.
We took the football along with us to the bus stop. We threw short passes back and forth while we waited. Pat & Alena were out this morning. Pat invited us over to watch the Illinois game Saturday afternoon.

I arrived at work a little after 8:20am to begin my Friday. Work wasn’t too busy until later in the day. I forced myself out of the office around 1:15pm for a Home Depot break. I was determined to learn once and for all if Square D’s new style tandem breakers would fit in my breaker box. If they do, it will dramatically simplify the electrical work necessary for my basement project. I grabbed a simple breaker box off the shelf then removed it from the packaging and placed a regular breaker like the ones I have in an open slot. I then placed a new style tandem breaker in the spot. They both fit despite the different design. I should be able to add six tandem breakers in the place of six standard single breakers netting me the six new circuits I’ve budgeted.

I looked at other things too. I looked at their vent-free fire boxes as well as bathroom fixtures and kitchen cabinetry – both figure to be in the plans. I left satisfied with what I had accomplished. Back at work I grabbed my fruit from the fridge. I was moderately hungry. As it often does, the afternoon got a bit dicey. I made sure to get a good bead on the overall work flow so that there would be no weekend surprises. But even then, that’s never a guarantee. Mindy emailed late afternoon asking if I would stop at Chipotle on the way home and get her and Jacob chicken burrito bowls. I agreed to do so, but had my heart set on pizza. I phoned home as I pulled out of parking lot. Bella answered in a sad voice going on and on about how she didn’t want Chipotle but instead wanted pizza. I assured that I wanted pizza too and that I would stop and get us one. She was very pleased.

The stop at Chipotle was fast and efficient – always is. They are very good at getting me in and out. Before pulling away, I phoned Minelli’s and ordered our pizza. I took the back way home since I was already at Mill Run, but I probably would’ve anyway. Traffic was extremely slow on I-270.

Traffic flowed smoothly down Old Dublin Rd. Smoothly, that is, until I got to Trabue. There was a train stopped dead on the tracks. What to do. What to do?? I decided to turn left and go by Barley’s and get on I-670 west. Smooth move, I thought! Wrong! Traffic was at a near stand still on I-670 too. Crap! Eventually I made my way to I-70 west and ultimately the Wilson Rd exit where I exited to get my pizza. Minelli’s was crowded too. I just needed to relax! Finally, at 6pm, I pulled up in the drive with Chipotle & pizza in hand.

It felt good to settle in at home. I planned on logging in to work almost as soon as I got home or after pizza so that come morning I’d have much less stress. I also planned on getting in my PJ’s. However, those plans were begrudgingly altered when Mindy pointed out that Rene and her new beau might be stopping over. I love Rene but I really didn’t want any company. Being on-call as well as having several busy evenings this week, I just wanted to relax in my PJ’s and sip beer. I didn’t want to entertain. I communicated this to Mindy and she took quick action.
After we finished our food Mindy and the kids watched a movie – Evan Almighty. In the meantime, I logged into work and at the same time enjoyed a couple beers. I joined them for the last half hour or so of the movie. After the kids were in bed Mindy and I tried watching a Movie on Demand – Blades of Glory. We had trouble with our cable box authorizing the movie. I called for service but they were not able to fix it. They set up a service call for Monday evening. I tried the movie again an hour later and it worked. We watched it in its entirety. Cute – good for a few laughs!

Mr Mom

As I have done all week, I was up ten minutes early. My initial thoughts turned to the prior week when Thursday was really my Friday and the joy I felt knowing that I had a three day weekend ahead. This week, however, not only was Thursday, Thursday but I had an on-call weekend to look forward to as well. I knew that if I allowed it, I could get rather gray thinking in those terms. I quickly banished such thoughts from my mind and instead focused my attention on the here and now. As I pushed through my morning exercise routine things got cheerier.

I was finished with my pre-run routine by 6:20am and found myself outside on the front porch stretching my hammies. The temperature hovered near freezing making ear covers a necessity. It was a good run – like most others. I found myself home by 7:00am more than ready to dig into some eggs.

Mindy packed leftover tuna fish in my lunch. For this I was pleased. Before she left she reminded me that she wouldn’t be home immediately after work. Instead, she’d be at school completing parent conferences that could last until 8:30pm or so. That meant that I’d be intercepting the kids from Jimaken sometime after 7pm and responsible for baths and jammies. UGH!

After Mindy left I talked with Jacob about his obnoxious behavior the night before. He used being sleepy as his excuse. Interesting but of little consequence, I thought. I made sure he knew that I was disappointed despite the extenuating circumstances. We moved on quickly. I was showered and ready by 7:50am. We headed for the bus stop at 7:55am.

I arrived to work at 8:20am. I was extremely busy all day long. Consequently, I had little opportunity to take a lunch hour. I left for home around 5:30pm. I looked forward to my alone time at home. Once there, I hurried through the usual set of chores like walking Ykraps, prepping coffee, and tidying the kitchen. Not entirely sure what to do with the rest of my free time I decided to play catch-up with my blog. The hour plus went quickly. Jimaken’s headlights alerted me to the kids return home. The drop was short and sweet. It was barely after 7pm. I allowed the kids time to play before ushering them upstairs for baths. At 7:25pm we began the baths. Bella willingly went first. Jacob wouldn’t come up until the clock struck 7:30pm on the nose. The entire process went much smoother than I had anticipated. I had them in their beds at 8pm. Both complained about their mother not being home, and Bella ultimately began to cry. Jacob was too tired and asked that I shut his door. Bella almost cried herself to sleep, and would’ve had I not popped corn.

The smell of fresh popcorn brought both children to the railing of the family room. They asked if they could sample some. I allowed them to join me all the while we watched the Thursday Night college football game. Mindy arrived home just after 9pm. She looked a little surprised that the kids were still up, but think that she understood. There are some battles just not worth fighting. This, I knew, was one of them.

After a greeting Mindy rushed the kids off to bed. Soon she was back downstairs with me. We chatted briefly before she headed off to bed after her extra long school day. I watched as much of the football game as I could. I headed to bed shortly after 10pm.

Beer Drinking Practice

I was up early once again. This fall-back thing is working strongly in my favor. The nights seem extra long and I feel incredibly well slept come 4 or 5am. I was downstairs once again before 5:25am already going after my sit-ups, push-ups, and curls. The sliver of a moon dangling in the eastern sky was surrounded by a single bright star. All the rain that was predicted for this week must’ve blew by us. In fact, they even called for pockets of snow flurries. There were none. After my walk with Ykraps I returned to the house where I enjoyed a cup of coffee in silence before taking Mindy hers. I wasted little time on the PC, spending just enough time to read the Daily OM. I was hopeful for a good, lengthy meditation. And successful I was. I finished well ahead of schedule and dressed for my run. I was ready to head out the door by 6:25am. After few minutes of vigorous stretching I dashed off into the chill. The run went well. While I ran I pondered how quickly the holiday season is passing. We’re just two weeks from Thanksgiving and six from Xmas. Holy Smoke! That time will fly. I’ve already begun roughing out my Xmas list. At home our schedules returned to normal. Jacob was going to school today. Mindy had scrambled eggs cooking on the stove. I finished them off while she prepared fruit. She also packed the rest of tuna fish in my lunch. Soon her and Bella were out the door. Jacob was in much better spirits than I figured he’d be in. I chalked it up to strong meds. J I showered and was back down stairs by 7:50am. Jacob was pushing us both out the door early as usual. He ran off to the bus stop ahead of me. No big surprise there. I believe that we met Pat & Alena at the bus stop. For some reason recollection of the encounter escapes me. I was at work by 825am. Folks were just returning from a big meeting with a high ranking executive who flew in to chat. I planned to attend a supplicate meeting later. I noticed the weather turning worse as the morning wore on. By mid-morning we had drizzle and for a moment I thought there might be some snow in it. But on closer observation I saw none. Because of multiple meetings, I ended up skipping lunch entirely. And once the meetings were over I completed some online training I had planned to complete all year. That took me until 5:30pm. Mindy reported walking Ykraps once again making my arrival home a much easier transition. I had almost forgotten that it was choir practice night (a.k.a. beer drinking night). Mindy reminded me as we finished dinner. Great! She left around 6:30pm. At least I didn’t have to bath the kids. We went to the basement and played some basketball for the next twenty minutes. Jacob got a bit carried away and too aggressive for my liking. Play soon ended. Upstairs the begged for some Halloween candy, which I obliged. After, Bella suggested we watch a movie – her choice. She selected Evan Almighty. As we watched the movie my eyes became incredibly tired as they often so whenever I watch a movie. We watch so little TV that when I do it puts me to sleep on most occasions. Bella laid quietly with me snuggling on the floor. Jacob, on the other hand, began screaming loudly and trying his damnedest to irritate us. He kept it up so long that I finally gave up and got up from my lazy slumber. I eventually found myself sitting right by him on the sofa trying to keep him in check. Of course his aggression continued even after a few idle threats. I really wanted to bust his behind! After the movie ended I turned the TV off. Mindy arrived home a short time later – about 8:35pm. While she tended to the kids and tucked them into bed, I checked my email and thought about blogging. But I never got around to any blogging. Mindy headed to bed not long after she got home. I tuned into the Blue Jackets hockey game. In reality, I saw very little of the game. Instead, I kept drifting off to sleep. However, each time I would wake-up for just a few seconds I’d glance at the score. They were up 2-1 the last I checked live action. I woke on the floor around midnight. Before heading off to bed I checked the final score via the internet. They lost 5-2!

...We Have All the Fun

I was up early after finding myself very well slept. I headed downstairs at 5:20am to get a start on my busy morning agenda. I was done with my exercise routine and walk with Ykraps even before 5:50am. That felt nice. It was a clear, cool morning.

I took my time reading the Daily OM, sipping my morning coffee, and then meditating. I didn’t deliver Mindy’s coffee because she was staying home with Jacob who was ill. I dressed for my run and headed out the door by 6:20am – a good ten minutes ahead of schedule. After a long stretch, I dashed off into the chilly morning air. I contemplated going back in for gloves but didn’t. It was about 34 degrees. Out of the 11 winters running, I’ve only recently added gloves. In fact, the first few years I did use ear covers whatsoever. Instead, I relied solely on body heat. I wisened up over the years. Some might argue – wussed up!

My run was nice. My hands vacated my sleeves after a mile or so – once my body heat was sufficient to sustain itself. I completed my run just before 7am. It’s nice having daybreak occur while I am running again. That hasn’t been the case for a month or so. By December, or even before, it’ll be gone again for a short while. I’ll keep you posted.

I packed my own lunch and made my own breakfast for the first time in a long while. It was kind of nice, truthfully. Mindy & Bella were up before I headed up for a shower. I was ready for work by 7:45am, and that was after moving at a somewhat leisurely pace.
Pat & Alena were just heading to the bus stop s I drove by. I let Alena know that Jacoby was ill.

Work went well. We were very busy. Despite being busy, I forced myself out of the office for a trip to Lowe’s. There I looked at their selection of circuit breakers, curious to see if they stocked the tandem Square-D QO type breakers that I might use for my basement project. I spent a good amount of time looking around. I made no definitive decisions again. No reason to rush.

Back at work, I dug into my packed lunch – tuna fish salad. It was very good. The rest of the afternoon went fine and fast. I left for home around 5:20pm. Mindy reported making chili in the crock pot since she had to stay at home with Jacoby. She also reported him feeling much better. I asked that she whip up some cornbread, too. And what really made me happy was the fact that she had already walked Ykraps, making my evening even easier. We sat to eat minutes after I got home. The chili was terrific, too. I was surprised just how good. Mindy and Bella had to leave around 6:30 to get Bella to dance class. I stayed home with Jacoby. I worked on my blog while he played gameboy football.

Mindy and Bella returned home around 7:30pm. She quickly got the kids a bath while continued my activity on the PC. I was eager to get pictures posted for the last week or so. I was successful, finishing just in time to watch House at 9pm. Feeling tired (like it was 10pm), we chose to watch from bed. Somehow I managed to stay awake until its conclusion - a miracle of sorts.

A Blurry Monday

I was up on time and downstairs preparing for the new work week by 5:35am. I was sad that the weekend was over but also looking forward, as I often do, to what the new week might bring.

I started my morning with calisthenics, a morning walk, and then some hot coffee. It was a carbon copy of most Monday mornings. As Mindy’s requested, I delivered her coffee bedside prior to any extra curricular activities I might engage in before running. After some surfing I donned my running attire along with my brand new ear grips for a brisk morning run.

I was back home for breakfast a little after 7am. Mindy simply had hot oil on the stove. I was expected to prepare my own eggs. That was fine with me. I fried them. She & Bella left. Jacob and I continued on as usual. A shower later we were preparing to head out the door. We left for the bus stop at 7:55am.

Off to work, I arrived around 8:20am. The day moved swiftly. At 1pm I drove to Home Depot to get my usual fix. I once again browsed electrical looking at circuit breakers and panel boxes, still unsure how I might proceed. I made no decisions either. I left empty handed. Before returning to work, I made a stop at Scioto Valley to look at vent-free gas fireplaces. I heard that they have a good selection. They had many to choose from including several electric versions. Expensive, though.

I worked until 5:15pm. I left work and headed for home. Mindy had dinner cooking when I arrived home. We were having a baked chicken, rice, and cheese concoction. I was very tasty. The kids and I wrestled on the family room floor after dinner. It’s now too dark to throw the football after work, not to mention after dinner.

The evening concluded with me textually updating my blog through Saturday, and then I tuned into Monday Night football. I went to bed early. It must’ve been 9:30pm.

Breakfast, Leaves Galore, and a Scare ... SKOL!

1) Breakfast at Frisch's - Tammy & Hannah

2) Olivia lifting weights

3) Olivia playing peek-a-boo

4) Jacob, Olivia, and me

5) Zygi - what's up with the grin?

Couldn’t have planned it better.

Since our plan called for us to meet the family at the Hilliard Frisch’s at 9am, I knew to be up by 6:30am if I wanted to have plenty of time to carry on with my normal routine without the feeling of being rushed. Those that know me well, know that I despise being rushed.

I executed my plan perfectly rising from bed just before 6:30am. Of course I was helped along by rolling the clock back an hour overnight. I wasn’t downstairs long before Mindy joined me. She was up surprisingly early. I completed my exercises and then headed outdoors with Ykraps. It wasn’t as clear & nice as it was on Saturday, but still rather pleasant.

I was back enjoying coffee by 7:00am. Mindy began taking down the Halloween decorations early in the morning. She was putting away Halloween and getting out Thanksgiving. This time of year it’s a constant stream of holiday decorations from the end of September thru the New Year.

Mindy did all of that while I readied for my run. I must’ve headed out the door somewhere very close to 7:30am. My legs were a bit lethargic and stiff – not certain why. But I completed my run with little trouble. I was back by 8:10am. I was surprised that Mindy was still working on the decorating task. I figured she’d be showered and dressed. She reminded me not to worry having an actual plan in place. She headed up to shower minutes later. I asked her to knock on the floor when she was done.

In the meantime, I sipped more coffee and played guitar. It didn’t take her long. By 8:30am the knock came a callin’. I wasted little time heading up. I jumped in the already warm & waiting shower. We were both ready to go with only a few minutes to spare. No use having wasted minutes, though. We left the house at 8:47am. The drive was fast. We were at Frisch’s by 8:56am. We parked next to dad and Bob’s family. But they were no where to be seen, prompting me to assume that perhaps they forgot to set their clocks back and were already inside eating. That wasn’t the case. Nope! They were inside waiting for a table. The place was considerably more crowded than it generally is at this hour. We guessed it due to the time change. There was no other plausible reason. They did a nice job of accommodating us, squeezing a table up against a booth – perfect for nine, which was the number in our party.

Most of us ordered the buffet save for Mindy and dad. They ordered entrées. Truth is, I am boring of the buffet. I’ll most likely suggest an alternative venue for December’s family breakfast. Still, the company and conversation was lively and good. We were there for just about an hour. I asked Mindy to get a pumpkin pie to go. She did. Bob & April set the date for the Wright family Xmas get-together at his place for Saturday, December 22nd. It’ll be at our place again in 2008.

After we parted ways, Mindy and I headed almost next door to the brand new Hilliard Kohl’s. She had a dress to return and wanted to look at some other things too. As we often do in such a place, we went our separate ways. I browsed the Men’s department where I selected a couple long sleeved t-shirts for winter – one black, one gray. In addition, I picked up a set of fleece ear grips as well as a red OSU t-shirt and a dark gray mock turtleneck. Nothing too fancy, and nothing over $10 each – except for the ear grips, which were on sale for $17.50..

I walked around the entire store looking for Mindy but all for not. My search netted nothing but negative results. Determined to find her, I made a second sweep. Still no joy! I finally caved and called her cell. Cool tool! Turns out, she was in a nearby fitting room. We met up briefly where she showed me her selections, which included a long sweater. I went right for the tag wanting to see what it was made of. Pig!! Are you kidding me? Yes! It was almost 100% acrylic, something I stay away from. One must always watch out for stuff like that at stores like Kohl’s. And to make matters worse, it was a dry-clean- only. But Mindy still wanted it, and it is her money. I figured as long as she knew up front. She allowed me to put my stuff in her mini cart while she went back off into the shopping abyss.

I walked around a little more, looking at a variety of things until I could take it no more. I once again called her cell only this time very anxious to get out of the store. She obliged and we met at the register. Thank God! Mindy put everything on her Kohl’s charge to save an additional 15%. I’m sure most folks fail to pay it off and incur more than that in finance charges making it a coup for Kohl’s. Not us!

Finally, outside in the fresh air, we loaded our haul and then drove off for the Hilliard Sherwin-Williams. We arrived there about ten minutes later. It’s off of Cemetery Rd by the car wash. There we selected a number of paint chips, all of which seemed to fall into a similar genre – warm, autumn colors. We must’ve left with 30 chips. We took a Sherwin-Williams brochure in with us that had some room pictures of color combinations we liked. On the back it warned of possible color mismatches due to printing. We were shocked at the actual difference when we found the actual chip. We loved the color in the picture on the brochure but hated the actual chip color. The color was totally different. Homeward.

At home we quickly switched gears. I changed into yard work attire to ready myself for a couple hours of outdoor labor. I badly wanted to cut the lawn, but not so much for its length as much as it was for mulching the thick leaf cover. Word has it that rain’s coming. We’ve had about nine straight days of dry, sunny weather making dealing with leaves so much easier than when they’re wet. Despite plenty still clinging to the trees, this was my window of opportunity.

I decided to skip edging & weed whacking. The edges and beds looked groomed from last week. Instead, I went right for the tractor working in reverse of my usual pattern. The tractor did a fine job of chopping/mulching the leaves. But almost as quickly as I mulched them up more were falling. It was almost laughable! Still, a leaf pulverized today was one less wet mucky-gooey leaf to rake later.

I finished up and still had some time before we had to leave for Mindy’s Mother’s. I decided to use the time to winterize the deck furniture. That entailed bagging the seat cushions and umbrella and then placing them in storage. Mindy found some 55 gallon trash bags that work wonderfully for just such an endeavor. And lastly, we covered the table and chair frames with the nice vinyl cover provided with the set. I still have lots of winterization stuff to do but consider that a good start. I’ve got to dismantle and store our pond/fountain, hanging baskets, cut/pull-up dead flowers, etc.

I cleaned-up for Gloria’s in short order. We left the house at 3:45pm. I took notice of the Vikings score just before leaving. It was tied 7-7. I didn’t allow my hopes to get too high, however. I’m not delusional!

We arrived shortly before 4pm. The house was closed up and no one else was there. We thought that highly unusual. Perhaps they moved it elsewhere without notifying us. A fact that I missed was that the blinds were all drawn, but apparently a significant sign to Mindy. Mindy went in through the garage and asked that me and the kids wait outside. I kept the kids occupied. If nothing was wrong, Mindy intended on unlocking the front door and allowing us in. She never came. I got a little worried. The kids sensed that something was wrong and insisted on heading inside though the garage. I did my level best to keep them at bay. Finally, Mindy came out after about five minutes (seemed like forever). It turns out, her mother was ill and in bed, but nothing too serious. Apparently one of her siblings were supposed to call us but forgot. We loaded everything back up and headed for home. The kids were highly disappointed. Mindy and I were simply glad that Gloria was OK, short of a bad cold.

I phoned Ashley on our way home and invited her and Olivia over for dinner. She accepted. We knew that she’d bring Lil’ Rocky too. Once at home, I took a glance at the NFL scores from earlier in the day. To my surprise, the Vikings pounded the Chargers 35-17 even after surrendering the longest play in NFL history – a 109 yard missed field goal returned for a touchdown. Happily, the Vikings atoned for that faux pas by setting a record of their own. Adrian “All Day” Peterson, our rookie running back, rushed for a record 296 yards. Holy Smoke!!!! As you might guess, I walked Ykraps with an extra bounce in my step. Ashley drove by as we walked. When I returned home I greeted the grand babies and then lit the grill. We were grilling bacon wrapped filet mignon. Rocky played football with Jacob and I. He’s a bit rough & tumble and a lot of fun. I’m surprised at his athletic ability at such a young age. He took a couple cheap shots from Jacoby, for which Jacob was admonished. Rocky shook them off pretty well and continued playing.

Eventually, I left the football action and focused instead on grilling the meat. In the meantime, Mindy whipped up some Au gratin potatoes and dished up some of the garden salad originally intended for her mother’s. Olivia was a hoot. She’s beginning to speak, and, of course, she’s already walking all over the place. It’s her primary means of transportation. The kids had chicken fries, Mindy, Ashley and I had filet. Ashley felt it not cooked well enough and instead opted for chicken fries. Geesh! It was quite yummy!

We weren’t done. Nope! After we finished our filets and sides we got out the Frisch’s pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream. Delicious! Olivia seemed to really enjoy the pie along with a bag of tiny Oreo’s. Ashley gave her a bath and put her in PJ’s before leaving for home. I’m glad things worked out as they did. It was a nice visit with two of the grand kids.

Mindy processed the kids for bed and then retired early herself. I stayed up enjoying Sunday Night Football, at least as much as I could stand. I joined her in bed just before 10pm.

Beer Before Noon

After a decent night’s sleep I was up & downstairs just before 8am engaged in my daily exercise. It was another beautiful autumn morning as the pictures will attest. It would be a grand day for football, to be sure. Mindy was up by the time we got back from our walk – highly unusual for her. We shared conversation and coffee over the next 30 minutes or until it was time to dress for a run. It was still quite chilly so I asked to borrow the new springy fleece ear grips I found in the foyer closet. Mindy bought them on sale last year.

They fit, but were a little snug - really intended for kids - I wore them anyway. I dashed out the door around 9am. I ran along Trabue and Hague Avenue seeking a diversion from my usual trek. The ear grips worked perfectly. I will definitely look for a set except in an adult size.

I returned from my run rather energized and ready for the big game. Our game day plan called for us to go to Barley’s for the Buckeye/Wisconsin game. But Mindy was having second thoughts, apparently driven by her need to catch-up on report cards. She offered that I might go alone and then meet me there later. That was fine with me. I showered up and left for Barley’s with empty jug in hand just after 11:30am.

Barley’s was packed, just as one might expect. I recognized no one. No one, that is, other than an engineer that works in my center along with a gal pal of his. I chatted with them briefly before wandering around the place with a Double Dog IPA. Eventually, Lee informed me that Jeremy, Courtney, and Porter were tucked in a booth just west of the big screen. I found my way over that way to invade their space.

The opening kick-off was just moments later. As they often do, the Buckeyes scored on their opening drive. However, Wisconsin answered, albeit with only a field goal. The score at halftime was 10-3, us. Mindy showed up either during halftime or just after. I can’t recall for certain. She joined us in the booth and quickly ordered a St Joan’s Revenge. Wisconsin took control of the second half quickly scoring two touchdowns and taking the lead. The cheering and enthusiasm that was so prominent earlier was reduced to nervous hope. But happily, that all changed in a hurry. The Buckeyes scored three times in the next 6 or 7 minutes taking a commanding lead. In fact, they never looked back. The place erupted with each score. It was a lot of fun. The final was 38-17 Buckeyes.

Bob Imber showed up close to the game’s conclusion. He’d been at work and then also tending to some errands/chores. We hung out for another hour, me drinking ice water and Mindy drinking coffee. We again discussed our potential February ski trip plans. Mindy and I left for home at 4pm. Mindy carried my jug of IPA. I was very sleepy after arriving home. I grabbed the remote and lounged on the sofa while watching the Michigan game. Mindy headed to the grocery store. I napped for a good 30 minutes waking feeling almost completely refreshed, but also hungry and craving a Coke. Mindy arrived home a short time later with the groceries. I helped her carry them in.

She prodded me for the evening’s agenda – throwing out a number of different things to do. But both of us were wise enough to pass on an elaborate plan. Earlier thoughts of visiting the Gallery Hop were out of the question. We decided instead to head to Sherwin-Williams to get more paint chips, and then who knows where from there. It turns out that S-W was closed, something we wondered about. It wasn’t quite 8pm. We made note of their hours and moved on. Not sure what to do next, we discussed our options, both of which included shopping. But both venues were more convenient to our Sunday morning family breakfast route than they were to us then, so we simply decided to go back home. That suited me well. Even though I felt refreshed, I was tired from the day’s earlier events. Few things sounded better than lounging lazily at home watching more college football.

Back at home, I tuned into the much hyped Oregon/Arizona St game all the while enjoying a pint of fresh IPA. Mindy tinkered with her report cards a little while longer but called it an early night. I stayed up watching football until just before 10pm (before setting the clocks back). Going to bed at 10pm all but ensured that I would wake feeling refreshed for our family breakfast at Frisch’s.

Boat, Oil, Hair, Sally & Beer

Last I checked Mindy was still tucked neatly under the blankets. But the next thing I knew, she was turning on lights and starting the shower. What a poor way to greet the morning, I pondered. It was already 6:45am. And even though I wasn’t going into work, I chose to get up & out of bed since there was no way in the world I was going to fall back asleep with all that noise. It’s just as well. I had a busy day planned and the earlier I got started the more productive it would be. And while it was an early start on a day-off for me, by my calculations, Mindy was about 30 minutes behind her usual shower schedule.

Once I was downstairs I could see that Mindy had already been in the kitchen, apparently taking care of her downstairs morning chores before heading back up for a shower. That explained the seemingly late start.

I cruised through my calisthenics and then my walk with Ykraps. By the time we returned to the house Mindy & Bella were all but out the door. Speaking for myself, it felt terrific not having to hurry. I was perfectly content to lounge in my PJ’s for a spell sipping coffee until it was time to walk Jacob to the bus stop. When that time finally arrived, I stayed in my PJ’s figuring what the heck!

After he was on the bus I headed back home where I spent about an hour sipping coffee and fooling around on the Internet. Around 9:00am I dressed and left for a run. It was a lovely run – the sun shining, birds chirping, and cool autumn temperatures. It seemed like an ideal morning.

My agenda included two major tasks. The first was a prearranged appointment to have the boat winterized at Paul’s Marine set for 1pm. Afterwards, I hoped to get the oil changed in the Trooper. By the time I showered and dressed, it occurred to me that I might have enough time to get an oil change even before picking up the boat. That is what I did. And because I find back tracking wasteful, I chose to try Valvoline Instant Oil Change on Hilliard-Rome Rd (until now, I have been a loyal Bethel Rd Jiffy Lube customer).

They got me in and out quickly. I didn’t even get out of the car. Cool! Still not quite 11am, I had even more time. Rather than show up with my boat too early, I decided to visit the brand new Dick’s Sporting Goods across the street. I was impressed. Their set-up & presentation is awesome - much nicer than their Sawmill Rd store.
I was in there a little longer than perhaps I should’ve been. I didn’t make it to boat storage until 11:40am. Even after making loose arrangements to pick-up my boat this weekend, they had it buried at the back end of the storage building making it impossible to get out on my own. Winter storage is much different than summer. During winter they’re packed in one against another with little, if any, wiggle room. Shit! I had to go to the office where Ed addressed the problem quickly. Fifteen minutes later he dug my boat out from the very back and brought it hitch side. Thanks Ed!

I made it to Paul’s twenty minutes early. Turns out the guys doing the winterizations were at lunch. They gave me a restaurant pager and allowed me to roam the showroom. Good gig! I always enjoy that. I took a couple of pictures and looked at new boats too. They had a couple great deals on their 2007 inventory of Sea Rays. A boat I had admired earlier in the season was marked down by almost 15K! Still, my current boat is paid for, and I like that a whole lot more!

About 45 minutes later I felt a strange vibration in my back pocket. Ahh- the pager! My boat was done. I settled up at the desk and drove back towards Lee’s RV and Boat storage. I returned just before 2pm. I dropped my boat just inside the secured gate after being assured that it would be returned inside momentarily. I then proceeded to pay for the entire winter’s storage minus $25 for the trailer light fixture they broke last winter. Short of stopping by in the next week to make sure that it got stowed properly, I won’t see it again until late April/early May.

Mindy had asked if I could greet Jacob off the school bus at 4pm. This would allow her an opportunity to get a leg up on report cards while still at school. I phoned Mindy as I left storage to let her know that I would. Time was wasting away. My next stop was the Mill Run Saturday’s to get a much needed hair cut. The wait was reported to be about fifteen minutes. Fine. I signed in and went next door to Jack’s Aquarium & Pet Shop. I was hoping to get a small terrarium for Sally the red salamander. In the door I noticed a miniature Schnauzer on display. I played with him/her for a few seconds before moving on to my original intent. I found the perfect terrarium – about a quarter the size of the Anoles’ terrarium. Speaking of our Anoles, I bought them a bag of crickets, too.

Next door at Saturday’s they were finally ready for me. It took all of about ten minutes to wash, cut, and process me out the door. Any notion I had of growing my hair long was now history. The tweener stage is just too painful for me to endure. And besides, I am one handsome devil after hair cut! :)

One last stop before heading home. I headed across the street to Lowe’s to hopefully buy a storage rack to solve for the many cartons of soda that presently line the floor along the western wall of the garage. I spotted a chrome rack 18’ deep the other day that I was certain would be perfect for the new elongated 12-packs. Plus, it should hold several, and perhaps even the beer & water. Aside from fine tuning, this might be the final piece to the garage organization puzzle.

I was in and out of Lowe’s fast already knowing what I wanted and where it was. I was home in plenty of time to intercept Jacob. In fact, I had fifteen minutes to kill. During that time I cleaned up the kitchen and readied the terrarium for Sally. Just as I approached the door with Ykraps and the football, the bus pulled up dropping Jacoby. Great timing! We walked Ykraps together all the while tossing the football as we so often do.

We threw the football even more out back while waiting for Mindy & Bella to arrive home. They landed around 4:30pm. Jimaken showed up not long after to pick-up the kids for his weekend. By 5:10pm they were gone. I took a little siesta both on the deck and then back inside. Mindy worked on report cards. We readied ourselves to leave for Barley’s by 6:45pm. We were scheduled to meet Sean & Rich – both former reports of mine - along with their wives, Allison & Julia.

We arrived before any of our guests. We ordered beers – me a Centennial IPA, and Mindy a Pint of Joe. A few minutes later our guests arrived. We asked for a table/booth.
We hung out with our friends for a solid couple hours all the while enjoying some quality Barley’s food and beer. It was good to see these guys. Sean begins yet another new job as of Monday.

We moved back up to the bar after our friends departed. There we hung with the “regulars” for another good hour. We discussed, among other things, details surrounding our fast approaching February Portland, Oregon ski trip. Only a few details left to confirm before our flights can be booked. We hope to nail those down early next week.

Mindy and I left for home around 10:30pm. We left knowing that we’d most likely return at noon tomorrow to catch the OSU game, which is on the Big Ten Network – not on Time Warner CATV. At home we snuggled but fell asleep quickly – probably before 11:15pm.

Ushering in number three...

Mindy photo's a stout buck hanging
out in our back yard this afternoon.

Today is the first day of November, the third of four 'ber' months.

Full throttle up! 5:30am and back at my routine. I completed a full complement of calisthenics after giving my shoulder a break the morning before. I could feel a twinge/pull in my shoulder as I finished, although painful it was not. I walked Ykraps to the west under another star filled, moon lit sky. The temperature was noticeably warmer, somewhere just beyond 50 degrees.

Finally back at home I proceeded to make coffee for myself and Mindy. I was slow moving. It was already after 6:05am. I spent a bit too much time on the PC dramatically cutting short my meditation time. I managed the few minutes remaining well. After dressing for a run I headed out the door to stretch then run.

If anything, I was a tad later than usual but not too late that I didn’t see all of my early morning out door buddies. Rather, they were all present and accounted for. It was a nice, easy run. The sky was just beginning to show signs of a morning glow as I ran up our drive.

Inside Mindy was running behind. I went ahead and preheated the stove for my morning eggs. Mindy woofed down a quick bowl of granola and yogurt. Soon, her and Bella were on there merry way and Jacob and I left to ours. It didn’t take me long to ready myself for work. We were out the door at 7:55am – earlier than I would chose but I generally leave that to Jacob. I can’t see destroying his eagerness to get to school.

The bus woofed him up at 8:03am. Alena didn’t join us at the stop. She must’ve had play rehearsal Wednesday night. I headed onto work arriving around 8:20am. I looked for the brand new 2008 Honda Accord that was admiring a couple days ago in our lot but it wasn’t there. Hmmm? I headed on in taking special notice of the beautiful weather unfolding. We were anticipating highs in the mid to upper 60’s and it seemed to be heading there quickly.

The work day went along fine. I was involved in plenty of issues at the same time, but then again, when aren’t I? I wasn’t sure if I was going to leave for lunch. I had nothing planned. But as the day progressed it became more obvious that I wouldn’t. I worked straight through. And as is often the case, the day seems to go faster when I do that. I packed my stuff and left at 5:15pm biding my team and peer farewell until Monday.

Finally, another long weekend upon me! I drove the back way after noticing the traffic bunched up on I-270. I visualized myself lounging aimlessly throughout the evening while casually sipping a few good beers. It didn’t quite unfold as I planned, but when does it? When I got home Jacob and I walked Ykraps tossing the football as we walked along. Jacob makes an excuse for every ball that he doesn’t catch pinning the guilt/blame on the thrower – never the receiver. More often than not I simply laugh it off but also know that at some point I’ll need to help him handle it differently. Humility isn’t his strong suit. :)

We threw in the backyard after I lit the grill. Mindy wanted grilled hot dogs. This wasn’t Jacob’s night for catching. He dropped more than his fair share. A couple even hit him squarely in the face. At one point he threw a tantrum of sorts threatening to toss his ball into the pond. He screamed a few less than becoming darts my way, too. The hot dogs were done. We bagged football and then headed in for dinner.

The rest of the evening was uneventful. The kids went to bed just after 8pm and went right to sleep – something they haven’t been doing too often. And as it turned out, I fell asleep on the couch about the same time sleeping through the tuck in process. I woke around 8:30pm to a quiet house. Mindy was playing on the PC. I got up cracked a beer and tuned in the Thursday night college football game on ESPN. Mindy headed to be early – sometime after 9pm. I stayed up bouncing back and for the between football and the Blue Jackets hockey game all the while enjoying three beers and a bowl of popcorn. I headed up to bed near 11pm.