Golf & Broken Windows

I didn’t sleep that well, tossing and turning numerous times after first waking around 230am. But thankfully, all the extra sleep I’ve gotten of late helped minimize any fatigue I might’ve otherwise felt come 530am. I pushed through my morning calisthenics then turned my attention to PC playtime. I surfed for pleasure until 607am when I stopped to pour Mindy’s coffee. By the way, it was again crystal clear with the temperature hovering just under 40 degrees – not bad at all. Meditation and stretching went as well as expected. I was ready for my run by 635am. I noticed the winter wicking shirt I planned to wear reeked to high heaven. I figured I’d get one more run out of it. Aren’t I Mr. Efficiency? Pewh! I ran four miles. My calves felt better than the day before – almost back to normal. While running, I settled on the idea of golf after work. No since wasting such a lovely day. We were expecting brilliant sunshine and a high of 64. I’d reach out to Tom C. once at work to measure his interest. Once home, I shared my intentions with Mindy over breakfast. She seemed OK with it. Mindy, I noticed, was wearing a little black dress to school. She quickly shared that it was spring picture day. She looked nice! Bella was having a dippy-egg right along with Mindy & I – rare. We practiced spelling words over breakfast: keeper, supper, easy, almost, and bourbon. OK, bourbon wasn’t really one of her words.  Mindy left a little after 730am and I headed up for shower. We regrouped downstairs at 754am. The kids were excited to be wearing their new tennis shoes. I really like Bella’s. They’re black but with a splash of bright color and shiny silver shoe strings. We met Chrissy, Makayla and Lillian at the bus stop. Kenny left for the airport at 430am. The kids were gone by 805am. I was off to work five minutes later with my golf clubs already on board from the day before. We had an executive in town for town hall meetings. I attended the morning session. Beyond my usual duties, I set up a couple more interviews for Friday, and tried catching up on my administrative tasks. I called and talked with Tom C. This was his normal day off, although he planned to work OT for a couple of hours mid-day. He sounded excited about getting out for golf around 430pm. Cool. We agreed to meet at Thornapple. I made sure my boss was OK with me leaving a little early for golf. No worries. Ashley called mid-day asking if we would keep Olivia overnight Friday so she could work OT on Saturday. I talked with Mindy about it around 4pm and also let her know that golf was on. She was somewhat reluctant about the Friday sleepover but eventually agreed fully. That made me happy. I left at 425pm. It was such a lovely afternoon. The sunshine was brilliant, and there was next to no chill in the air. Heading west, I decided it a great time to put the windows down in the Trooper, the passenger side for the first time since having it repaired. But right away, there was that familiar pop from the passenger window. Crap! I knew what had happened. The clips snapped. The window was again broken. Geesh. So, now here I am. Both my windshield and passenger side window broken. I felt unlucky- snakebitten. All I could do was chuckle at my predicament. I arrived at Thornapple ahead of Tom. That’s no surprise. I’m usually first. The lot was almost empty. Now that was a surprise given the exceptional weather. I changed into my golf shoes and threw on a thin, long-sleeved black wicking shirt for warmth then headed to the practice green. I chipped two or three balls up to the green before Tom arrived. Honestly, I expected him to be another 10-15 minutes. Great! The green fees were just $10 each - another pleasant surprise. Must be early season – pre-spring pricing. Cool. We both got a pull cart too. Tom picked up the fees. We tee’d off the front nine with no one insight in front of us. Neither of us took any real practice swings. It felt great to be in the sunshine and on the golf course. I battled a slice with most of my drives, but not all. Honestly, though, I prefer that over a severe hook. I simply need to get my timing down. I had my usual handful of ugly mis-hits, too. I’m determined to get to a pro this spring to get my swing fixed. The same thing happened several years ago, but after one lesson with a pro I was better than ever. Given my love of the game and frequency of play, it'll be money well spent. Tom played better than usual. We talked about all sorts of stuff. Among the topics, I shared that I was following through on plans to get LASIK. He talked about doing it too, but hasn’t yet committed. It’ll be nice to golf with out eye glasses. I invited Tom to join us at Barley’s this Saturday with the kids and Rene. Said he might show up. We played thirteen holes (1-9 and 10, 11, 17 & 18). It was 730pm when we finished. I called Ashley on my drive home and shared that we would happily keep Olivia Friday night. Ashley said that she would bring her over around 6pm. She also shared that there were massive layoffs taking place at her company and how worried she is that her group will be next. However, she’s already got an offer from another company, her mother’s workplace, but is reluctant to take the offer for various reasons. I listened and then offered a bit of fatherly advice. Once home, I was eager for something substantial to eat. Mindy and the kids were scurrying around doing homework and such. After a brief greeting, I warmed leftover meatloaf. It was awfully tasty. I filled up in a hurry. We all changed into our bed clothes. The kids headed to bed around 840pm. Mindy & I snuggled up on the sofa where we watched The Learning Channel – a program about the many invasive species introduced into South Florida that threaten to upset the fragile ecosystem. Among them, the Burmese python, Pouch rats, monitor lizards.

Greening Up

I was in bed early again Tuesday night sleeping soundly until just before 530am. It was shortly after that that I started my sit-ups. I heard the coffee maker kick on somewhere mid-count. I plowed through the rest of my sit-ups then took a brief rest and logged on my PC. Five minutes later I completed 53 push-ups then poured a much deserved cup of coffee. I checked the temperature. It was 33 degrees but under completely clear skies. Yikes - I was expecting the low 40s. I played on the PC until 610am when it was time to wake Mindy. I turned the heat up before prepping her coffee. Back downstairs, I did a thorough meditation and stretch. I was headed out for my run by 640am. I wore my two-layer winter garb complete with hand and ear covers. That was just about right. I can tell that I’m already adjusting to warmer temps. 33 degrees feels cold again, much like it would’ve back in mid-November. I ran four miles. My calves are feeling better with each passing day but I can still feel quite a bit of tension in them. I was happy to have my run knocked out. Inside the house, Jacob was just heading upstairs after finishing his breakfast. I teased him about sneaking away before greeting me. Oh yeah, it was Saint Patty’s Day. My first clue was the four leaf clover-covered t-shirt Bella was wearing. Mindy had on green too. Mindy asked me about Wednesday golf since I mentioned the possibility the night before. She shared that she had a union meeting after school and would likely take the kids for new tennis shoes once she got home. I couldn’t say for sure whether I’d be golfing. I planned to ping Bob I from work. Mindy left around 730am. I was showered and ready to go by 754am. I started the dishwasher just before heading out. Mindy asked me to do so, in part because we were expecting Rachel. I met the kids at the bus stop minutes later. Kenny was out with Lillian and Makayla. He shared his intentions to golf later. To add insult to injury, he leaves for Florida Thursday AM at 6am. Lucky dog! The kids were soon off to school. I wished Kenny well, both golfing here at home, and then in Florida for the next five days. Off to work. I got pinched at work for not wearing green. Never even considered it. My only repsonse was that black is the new green. Work was typical for a Wednesday, minus the regular staff meeting - canceled. Nothing too eventful - just work. I emailed Bob I early in the day about the possibility of golf after work. He responded an hour or so later that he wouldn't be able to make it. Just as well. I had designs on getting new grass seed down before the next onslaught of rain, which as of today, is forecasted for the weekend, of course. While talking with Mindy, I shared the news that I wouldn't be golfing. She still planned to take the kids to get new tennis shoes and then to dinner. She asked if I wanted her to bring me home dinner. My decision was predicated of what that might be. She promised to call me later to advise. At the time they weren't sure. Sometime during the afternoon I received a call from the Honda dealership advising that the new mirror wouldn't be in before next Monday. But if memory served me well, Mindy had the service appointment scheduled two weeks out. Should be fine, I responded. I forgot to mention it to Mindy when we talked earlier. I left for home at 530pm sharp. It was a lovely evening - about 64 and sunny. The house looked like it did when I left earlier - no Rachel. Mindy must've gotten her days crossed. Hmm? I wasted little time inside, quickly transitioning into my lawn shoes and then out to the garage to gather the new grass seed, starter fertilizer, and handheld spreader. Outside, the neighbor kids were playing loudly. They hollered over inquiring of Jacob's whereabouts while I was busy spreading grass seed. It didn't take me long. There were just a few areas I wanted to overseed; the newly sodded area, directly in front of the shed, and then back by the tree swings. The yard's starting to green up in a hurry, no doubt helped along by the heavy rain last weekend and then an abundance of warm sunshine after. This trend continued, I'll be mowing early this season. Before heading inside, I opened the shed to eyeball how/where I might mount/hang the Thule car top carrier over summer. At least for now, I think I'm gonna buy some eye-hooks and trailer straps and mount it from the rafters. I finished outside by 640pm. I wasn't inside long before Mindy and the kids returned home. As you might expect, both kids were very excited about showing off their new shoes. I teased Jacob about his fitting me. They went to Cane's chicken for dinner. They brought me home some boneless wings and sauce. I was anxious to give 'em a try having heard/seen all the hype. They were OK, but nothing special. I wasn't impressed. Should've seen the lines encircling the place when it opened. They had to hire off-duty officers to direct traffic. We hung out through the evening doing much of nothing. I ended up finishing my book, Virus of the Mind, and then starting on Dyer's latest, Excuses Beggone. The kids were in bed by 845pm. Mindy and I stayed up a while longer but headed to bed before 10pm. We're getting old!

Green Flash

I fell asleep the night before right after dinner and close to 730pm. I slept soundly until about 230am, but soon after that I tossed and turned until eventually rolling out of bed at or near 530am. While the morning coffee brewed, I completed my sit-ups and push-ups with some internet time sandwiched in between. I checked the temperature. It was 43 degrees. Out the window I saw that it was clearing overhead. A lovely early spring day appeared to be on tap. I sipped coffee and played on the internet until 610am and time to wake Mindy. I turned the heat up before taking her coffee. Returning downstairs, I moved to meditation and stretching ensuring myself plenty of time for both. And both went really well. I felt good mentally and physically, although my calves still felt a tad stiff from last Sunday’s run. I hit the streets at 635am. It was totally dark, but with a hint of daybreak dancing on the horizon. I ran the usual four miles. By the time I was back at home it was daybreak, although still no sunrise. That would be a while yet. Mindy was still in the process of making our eggs, scrambled today. I helped stirred the eggs while she put the finishing touches on Bella’s cereal and poured the two of us juice. Bella was in a better mood. Mindy reminded her that her daddy (Jimaken) would be getting her off the bus. We didn’t discuss our dinner plans, but figured we’d get around to it later in the day. I was out of the shower and dressed about five minutes ahead of schedule. I took my time readying for the bus stop. Kenny met us there. We talked about his fast approaching Florida golf trip - Thursday 6am departure. Lucky him! He called looking for a golf club travel bag the night before. I don’t have one. Off to work at 810am. I noticed a crack in my windshield about 3 inches long starting down by my wipers. My heart sunk. This is the fourth time that my windshield has cracked in ten years. Good grief! I was hopeful that it wouldn’t continue to grow. It didn’t, at least during my drive in to work. I enjoyed my walk from the Trooper into the building, shrugging off the cracked windshield. After all, what good would fretting over it do? Nothing! My work day went better than Monday’s – not quite the same frenetic pace. I contacted Dr Beran’s office and scheduled my Lasik procedure for Thursday of next week. I was happy to finally have it planned and scheduled. I sent an email to Mindy so she can schedule the time off, too. She’ll need to drive me home afterwards, and possibly back again the next morning for the post op evaluation. However, they advised that more often than not the patient’s vision is fully restored by the following morning. In that case I will drive myself, and hopefully without glasses. I’m looking forward to it. I didn’t take a formal lunch break but did eat my veggies drenched in raspberry vinaigrette. They were yummy. I had a customer meeting and interview that consumed most of my afternoon. That made the second half of the day fly by. Mindy phoned after school. And since Jimaken was fetching the kids from the bus she decided to take her Honda in for an oil change. I shared the news about my eye surgery. It was apparent that she hadn’t read my email yet. I suggested that she ask the Honda dealership about replacing the mirror broke during my accident on Super Bowl Sunday, and also about fixing the heating problem. She said she would. She called me back a few minutes later with the quote on the mirror - $250 for part + 30 minutes of labor. That’s about what I expected. She made plans to have the heat checked/fixed at the same time they replace the mirror, the first week of April. It was 530pm in a hurry. I didn’t get out of the office until 540pm. We never did nail down dinner plans. I arrived home by 6pm. We quickly agreed on Barley’s. I wanted/needed to brush my teeth first. We weren’t home long. By 615pm, we were on the road. I shared a couple work related stories with Mindy – one really bugged me. Regrettably, I can’t discuss details here. As we walked inside, I shared the story about Bella glaring at me for hugging Makayla. Mindy got a big laugh out of it. The bar was unusually crowded for a Tuesday – all the bar seats taken, we grabbed a barside table instead. I was pleased to see West Coast Green Flash IPA on tap. I ordered one of those. Mindy went with St Joan’s Revenge – her favorite stout. Not long after our beers arrived, two bar stool freed up. We took them, then ordered food. Mindy went with their half chicken and greens. I went more pub-like and ordered a brisket quesadilla. Our food was there in a hurry. During dinner we discussed a number of things including her mother’s mean/angry comments from Friday evening’s euchre gathering that were directed towards me, and then how we might handle this recurring problem. It isn’t acceptable, that’s for sure. We both offered up some root issues as the likely cause – some dating back to her young adult life. We ended that part of our conversation unsettled on an action plan. I had a second Green Flash. We talked with Diedra about her fast approaching cruise with Beth. Diedra’s dropped 55-60 lbs in the last six months. She looks really good and is very proud of herself. She should be. We also chatted with a guy we see there all the time, but have never formally met. He shared some intimate information about his former wife, who passed away some nine years ago. I picked up the check. Mindy drove home. We weren’t home long before the kids returned. Mindy insisted the kids ready for bed right away. Bella cited being hungry. I promised to pop popcorn after she got into her PJ’s. She cried that her momma was making her get right into bed. I knew Mindy would cave for the popcorn, however. I promised Bella I would talk to her. After both kids were tucked in I popped the corn and waited for her sniffer to pick-up the scent. It didn’t take long at all. She came to the balcony and asked if she could come down for some. Yes. Mindy didn’t mind. Jacob soon followed. We ate popcorn and watched The Science Channel together – a program about Pluto and then one about the sun. Both were good. Mindy chased the kids to bed at 9pm and then headed up herself shortly after – about 913pm. I stayed up watching the program about the sun. Next thing I knew it was 10pm. I secured the home and headed for bed.

Paradise by the Dashboard Lights

I slept long and soundly waking just before 530am. Before doing anything else, I had to prep morning coffee having ignored the chore the night before. I made Starbucks again begin too lazy to get another tub of Foldger’s from the basement stash. I completed my sit-ups, checked the weather, then completed my push-ups. It was 37 degrees, cloudy and breezy. After another chilly, dreary day, the forecast looks good the rest of the work week. I fooled around on the PC until 610am when it was time to deliver Mindy’s coffee. I turned the heat up before heading up. I’m finally catching on! After waking Mindy I returned downstairs and moved immediately to meditation and stretching. I spent a solid 10 minutes meditating and another 10 stretching. It was 640am by the time I left the house for my run. I wore two upper winter layers, ear and hand covers. I got just a smidge warm towards the 4 mile run’s end, but otherwise I was fine. Both kids were sitting at the breakfast table upon my return, curious whether or not they needed to wear winter jackets for the bus stop. Yes, I shared. It’s cold! Jacob finished his breakfast and soon headed upstairs. However, just before, he teased Bella, who was more than a little sensitive to one of his routine verbal jabs. She was over the top whiney. Mindy asked her to snap out of it. She eventually did shortly after Mindy left for work. Bella came to the master bathroom as I was grooming/lubing my hair to make sure I knew that it was 751am. Downstairs we readied for departure and were at the bus stop by 757am. Makayla and Lillian met us there a minute or so later. Makayla looked really sad and perhaps like she’d just woken up. Without giving it much thought I picked her up and gave her a big hug. She seemed to like the attention. Looking over at Bella, I noticed she was giving me the stink eye glare, you know the one. How dare I? She was cold until the bus pulled up. :) I chatted with Chrissy for a minute before moving on. I left for work at 810am after making sure I had everything I needed in tow. The last thing I did was place Mindy’s dental bill in the mailbox, flag up. I arrived to work at 8:25am. Aside from the usual stuff, we had a lot of extra curricular-type stuff going on at work today. I was really busy, especially early on, and then also late in the day when I was scheduled to conduct an interview and attend a customer meeting. I planned to call Dr Beran today but failed to bring his contact info. I could’ve sought it out online but being so busy I figured I’d get to it on Tuesday instead. I didn’t leave for home until 540pm. I knew from talking with Mindy earlier that we were having leftovers for dinner – meatloaf to be exact. That sounded good. I arrived home at 6pm. It was nice to have the extra daylight, but it was pretty much wasted today being so gray and chilly. I want to get the new grass seed down this week. Judging from the forecast, I should have lots of opportunity later in the week. Bella & Mindy were tending to a spill at the kitchen table as I entered the house. Looked like Bella was painting with water colors and knocked over the proverbial water glass. Mindy hadn’t yet started our dinner, but given that it was leftovers, I knew it wouldn’t take long. I checked email and bills while waiting. Still with time, Bella guided me through Wii Ski school at my own prompting. We sat for dinner at 630pm. The meatloaf tasted even better than it did fresh out of the oven. I could’ve eaten two helpings but settled for one. I’ve got to watch my consumption - portion control. After clean-up I ate the last piece of butter scotch pie. Boy was it good. I wasn't good for much of anything after dinner clean-up. I landed squarely in the family room chair and cuddled up with my book. I think I fell asleep around 730pm and didn't wake again until 10pm when Mindy was headed up to bed.

Hanging in the Valance - EDT cometh

Daylight’s savings time now upon us, I slept in until I felt compelled to get up and out of bed. That call came at 815am EDT (715am ET). Mindy didn’t budge. I left her sleeping as I slipped out of bed and ultimately downstairs. I started coffee – Starbucks. Because it was Sunday I didn’t bother with sit-ups or push-ups, my usual Sunday respite from calisthenics. I played around online for quite a while not even considering my Sunday run until 1030am. By then, Mindy was up, and thankfully, the rain had stopped, although the streets were still wet from the night before. I laced up my newest running shoes and did a stretch from the family room floor just before heading out. Like most Sunday’s, I ran just three miles. For some reasons, my calves became incredibly stiff to the point of pain. Mindy guessed a case of dehydration – perhaps. I can’t remember the last time my calves bothered me. Mindy was already showered when I returned. She asked if I would be willing to re-hang the old valance rods over the bay window to facilitate the new purple/wine valance she found on Saturday. Although as discussed yesterday, she still needed to fetch three more to complete the set. Honestly, I like the bay window without any treatment, but also respect Mindy’s input and taste. It didn’t look bad. After agreeing, she planned to head back to Target to get the three additional panels. She left around noon. I used the time to mount the wall hooks I bought Friday to stow our snow skis in the garage below the two extension ladders. I got out the stud finder first. As soon as I turned it on the alarm sounded, and it wouldn’t stop until I put it down. Thinking it must be broken, I put in a set of fresh batteries, but with the same results. I later realized that it was working well. I’m a stud! Whenever I hold it, it blares to beat all get out!  Yeah baby, yeah! Actually, the stud finder fooled me. I drew a level line in pencil first, then ran the stud finder across the line and wall marking the three positions where I found studs 16" apart. Perfect, or so I thought. I drilled pilot holes for the screw-in hooks only to discover nothing behind the drywall but insulation. No studs! Dammit! I ended up drilling about seven small holes to find two studs 32" apart. The second set of hooks went much easier. Just followed the guide from the two above. I learn fast! The skis now stowed, I moved back inside and started on the bay window valance rods. The bay window valance rod is all one piece employing (2) flexible plastic connectors at the 45 degrees intersections. That makes the overall structure quite flimsy requiring support brackets midway across. I mounted the brackets leaving the rod on the table until the four valances were out of the washer and dryer and ready to be hung. I failed to mention that Mindy agreed to help Lindsey with her college algebra and left to fetch her and the boys. We decided to make a family dinner event out of it. Mindy invited my dad for diner too. I hung the new valances while Mindy was gone. Probably best that way. Their timing was perfect. I had the valances completely hung by the time Mindy and the gang returned. We were having homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn and salad for dinner. Mindy and Lindsey worked on her algebra for about 30 minutes. I sat in the chair reading while the kids played. My dad arrived a few minutes later. Dinner was served around 530pm. Dad finallygot around to sharing his experience taking mom home from the New Albany surgical center, and then about his new minivan, a deal that was consummated just the day before during the Buckeye game. It’s another Chrysler, silver, and a 2009. He did the deal for the security of having a newer, reliable vehicle. He also shared that he recently got his new HDTV hooked up that he bought around Xmas time. The meatloaf was delicious. Mindy’s might be the best I've ever tasted. The kids seemed to like it, too. For dessert, Mindy baked chocolate chip cookies, mainly for the kids while the rest of us enjoyed what was left of her birthday butterscotch pie – also very good. Thanks Gloria! Jacob fussed about not being allowed to go back outside to play. His please fel lon deaf ears. Too muddy. Too chilly. Instead, the kids played Wii after dinner. Jacob was nice enough to help Landon play Mario Kart. Mindy left to take the kids home around 7-730pm. Jacob & Bella stayed home with me. Dad left at roughly the same time. We walked out with dad to see his new minivan. Nice! Sometime during the evening I saw a report on Yahoo that LaDainian Tomlinson signed with the Jets, apparently spurning similar overtures from my Vikings.  I started dosing off while reading in the family room. We had a fire going that added just enough warmth. I was quite comfy. I woke around 9pm and went to tuck in the kids, who had just gone to bed. I think I went directly to bed, although this time I told Mindy in advance.

You know it's rained a lot when ...

My stomach burned most of the night, and the hint of a headache plagued me for a while too. I took two Advil at roughly 6am then went back to sleep for another couple of hours. I woke around 8am for good and headed downstairs. No headache - still some stomach burn After starting coffee I took a Tagament. Like magic, in the matter of minutes, the burning was gone and I was able to enjoy my morning coffee. The house remained unusually quiet. Mindy & the kids slept extremely late. Outside, it was still raining and had been all night long. There were puddles in the backyard like I’ve never seen before. Equally, the pond was about as high as it ever gets. Spring arrived a little early. However, as gloomy as it was, I didn’t mind too much. I stayed busy on my computer writing in my blog and editing photos. Mindy must’ve gotten up near 10am. She informed me that the kids were awake but watching TV quietly in their rooms. I didn’t head out for my run until almost 11am. By then, Mindy whipped up breakfast burritos made with chorizo. Jacob loves them. At the outset of my run, the rain had slowed to a mild sprinkle, not the steady down pour from earlier. I wore my old running shoes so not to ruin my new pair. The varies dramatically between the two pairs. I know I shouldn’t do the flip-flop too frequently. Mindy kindly placed a beach towel at the front door’s entrance for me to towel off when I returned. Thanks dear! She was just out of the shower bent on going grocery shopping after Jimaken retrieved the children. We were expecting him near noon. I made a breakfast burrito as soon as I was settled in after my run. I was really hungry. Jimaken arrived to fetch the kids around noon as planned. I reminded Jacob of the Buckeye basketball game slated for a 130pm start time. Mindy wasn’t far behind their departure. She figured to be gone most of the afternoon, doing some shopping for herself before heading to the grocery store. Sounded like I’d have a chunk of quiet, alone time. It rained for most of the afternoon. I made a lazy day of it, doing nothing too important. I wrote, played, read, ate, and napped. That’s about it. I didn’t bother tuning into the Buckeye basketball game either, deciding that I didn’t need the stress associated with watching. Good thing I didn’t, too. I later learned that it was a doozy, going to double overtime. Buckeyes won it in double overtime. I finally got a shower late afternoon. I stayed in longer than usual allowing the hot water to beat against my back and shoulders. Ahh, it felt terrific! I’m guessing it was near 4pm when Mindy got home from shopping. I was busy reading/napping in the livingroom recliner. I leaped to my feet and helped Mindy carry in her haul. I returned to my reading while she put everything away. In addition to groceries, she bought a new valance for the bay window, however, she bought only one panel seeking to measured my liking before buying the entire set. We discussed how our evening might unfold, agreeing that a visit to CBC was in order. We hadn’t been there for about 3 months. Mindy called & left the Imber’s a VM inviting them to join us. To my knowledge, we never heard back. We figured to head out sometime around 7pm. I did little more than nap and read through most of the late afternoon/early evening. We headed for CBC around 7pm. The lot was fuller than I’ve seen it in a long while. Too, I could see that the bar was packed. Yikes! Short term, that left me in a bit of a sour mood. I just wasn’t in the mood for a big crowd. But as fate would have it, two patrons up and left just as Mindy & I walked in. We took their seats right away. While waiting on Jamie or Kate to serve us, I read about their new monthly seasonal beer selection. I was eager to dry this month’s seasonal, a hopped up Pale Ale. Unfortunately, they were already out. Darn! I ended up going with their standard IPA – it was delicious. Mindy went with their porter. Not in the mood for a full-fledged dinner, I opted for wings. Mindy went with calamari. After my IPA I ordered one of their flagship Pale Ales. But after drinking an IPA first, I could hardly taste the Pale Ale. Note to self. Should’ve gone in the opposite order. We didn't hang out long. Mindy offered that we leave early, enough time to hang with our neighbors Kenny & Chrissy, who we hadn't hung out with for weeks. Mindy bought me one of their new t-shirts as we headed for the door. The new T-shirt celebrates their new monthly beer selection. Mindy called Chrissy while I drove home. They were game for a visit. We stopped at home long enough to pee and for me to brush my teeth. Hey, it's just what I do. We walked down with beer and wine in tow. We hung with the neighbors for quite a while. Kenny's sister called from his old house on Fisher Rd reminding him that he was going to bring a pump by. Their basement was apparently flooding. I went along with Kenny to tend to the flooding. Before heading to the house, we stopped at his work trailer located in the Dallas compound off of McKinley Ave to pick-up the pump. We arrived at his Fisher Rd house minutes later. The flooding had all but subsided by the time we arrived. His sisters boxer reminded me of Reuben and was reluctant to accept me a friend. They seemed a little ashamed of his behavior. Actually, I was amused. We didn't stay long. Soon we were on our way home in Kenny's new Jeep Renegade. Mindy & Chrissy were still at it. Mindy brought me another beer from home. Soon Chrissy began showing signs of fading fast. I watched her wobble off to her bedroom. We hung out with Kenny for another 30 minutes before heading home ourselves. We made loose plans to cookout Sunday and also make a trip to the indoor driving range out east.

Progressive Pizza & Euchre

I quickly had my sit-ups underway after waking at my usual work day rise time. With my sit-ups out of the way, I played on the computer for a few minutes while the coffee maker finished its brewing cycle. Next up, push-ups. As soon as they were done , I poured a cup of coffee then returned to my PC for another 15 minutes, or until it was time to wake Mindy. I took Mindy coffee at 610am. Predictably, she asked that I turn up the heat. Back downstairs, I double checked the weather forecast. Was supposed to reach the mid 60s with partly sunny skies for most of the day. I was determined to drive the BM'er, this time strictly by choice. I wish it were cleaner, but ... I did my morning meditation and stretching next. Doing well on time, I was ready for a run by 635am. I headed out dressed appropriately for the early spring-like conditions. I ran the usual four miles without any problems. It was daylight from the outset, but come Monday, it will be back into the darkness for a while. Looking at a sunrise calendar, it'll be about three weeks before the entire run is back in daylight. At home, Bella and Jacob were both sitting at the breakfast table, although Jacob had already finished and was in transition. Bella was grumpy, presumably still tired. Mindy was grumpy too. Yikes! It was Friday and it was sunny and warm. I was in a good mood. Mindy left for work at 730am. I headed off to the shower. I was ready well ahead of schedule. I made sure to put the blown 30amp hot tub fuse in my jacket pocket so I wouldn't forget later. I hoped to find a replacement later during lunch. The kids and I headed out at 757am, me with my second cup of coffee in tow. It was beautiful - sunny and about 53 degrees - but by the time the bus arrived skies turned more overcast. I ran the dishwasher before leaving the house for work. As planned ,I drove the BM'er, top down, of course. It's still filthy from driving it in the rain while the Trooper was in the shop. In fact, it's dirtier than it's ever been. No worries. After being off Thursday, I felt a little out of the loop. I spent the first hour or two of the day meeting casually with my team then my peer and boss. I had a lot I needed/wanted to get done. My boss and peer were headed out to Tim Horton's for some coffee. I decided to stay back. I made it a point to take a lunch around 1230pm and visited both Home Depot and Lowes. I had a list of three things I wanted: a hot tub fuse, grass seed, and some snow ski stowage hooks. I had to chuckle in the fuse aisle while at Home Depot when I discovered that the only fuse they were out of was the one I needed. But isn't that the way it always is? I still managed to get the hooks and grass seed. Speaking of grass seed, I have a couple different varieties in stock already, but wanted to get a blue grass mix with perennial rye that'll germinate fast and fill in early. Most pure blue grass blends take up to 3 weeks to germinate. Perennial rye grasses, on the other hand, germinate in 5 to 7 days. Lowes next. Lowes had the fuse I needed but in a two pack for $18. Yikes! Are you kidding? I thought better of it. I decided I'd better make double sure that I remove the short that caused the original fuse to blow before putting in a new one. It could get expensive if the replacement blows right away. I also picked up some Velcro ties that should come in real handy for all sorts of household tasks. Back to work. I was back at the office by 1:30pm. I decided to fetch my packed veggies and tuna. I ate while working. My boss left for the day around 2pm, but planned to work from home for the day's duration. Things were fairly calm, especially for a Friday. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It never did. Yeah! Mindy phoned 4-430pm to among other things measure my ability to leave work a little early. If possible, she wanted to be at her mother's place for the progressive euchre event by 6pm like most others. However, at the time I couldn't commit. Something could happen and demand my attention at the drop of a hat. That's just the nature of the beast. Thankfully, the remainder of my work day went smoothly. So, just as Mindy hoped, I left for home at 510pm. It was a nice evening - 68 and partly sunny. Mindy came out and moved her Honda so I could pull the BM'er around the Trooper and into the garage. Thanks dear! I wasn't home long before Mindy started readying to depart. I asked for a few minutes to decompress, something I really need and enjoy. Mindy agreed and left me alone for a few minutes to check email and relax. We had a mini struggle with Jacob over his grooming and attire (wearing decent shoes and looking orderly). We won. Mindy ordered Domino's pizza just before we left the house. We headed south on Wilson to pick-up Noah in the subdivision next door. It took just a minute. Soon we were on our way to the West Broad Domino's to fetch our two pies. I don't think I've been in the West Broad Domino's, at least not in recent memory. It's moved from its original digs. Mindy went inside while the kids and I waited in the Honda just outside the door. She was out in two minutes with our pies, but minus the two liter of Coke she said was to be free with our online order. She went back inside to make it right. But honestly, what were we gonna do with a two-liter of Coke? Finding ourselves at Barley's or with friends would be a typical Friday evening. In contrast, hanging at Gloria's on a Friday evening just isn't something either of us thought we'd find ourselves doing. We arrived near 630pm as predicted. Most were already there save for C & J, who like us, had commitments preventing a 6pm arrival. Amongst the varieties of pizza were Minelli's, Joseppi's, Donato's, Poppa John's, and later M& S. I liked the variation. And while others did, Mindy and I consciously chose not to bring any alcoholic beverages. :( We didn't start the progressive euchre until C & J arrived. They must've showed up near 7pm. With them were their close friends, Jeff and Wendy. Hadn't seen them since the wedding. There were 16 euchre players. The idea was to team up with everybody for one game, with each game lasting through two rounds of deals. Everybody kept an individual score card charting their points attained from each game. I think we got through 6 games, far less than some expected. Time was moving fast. The concept was creative and fun. Everyone had a good time. The quarters were a little cramped, and the temperature a tad on the warm side, but everyone had a good time. The kids kept busy in the next room over watching videos and playing games. Jacob & Noah spent some time playing out in the back yard earlier, but as the evening wore on it started to rain steadily. We had birthday dessert before everyone readied for home. Mindy ended up scoring the most points, and for her efforts we got to take home the grand prize - the prize bucket. I think it was 1015pm when we loaded the Honda for home. We dropped Noah at his place against Jacob's pleas to have him stay the night. Mindy said no. The kids were in bed within minutes after arriving home. They were tired. I poured a Jack & Coke and plopped down on the sofa. Mindy joined me with a glass of wine. We chatted for about an hour before heading up to bed.

On Break - Off Work - Up to the Roof - Down with the Lights

Mindy must’ve slept in until about 620am. Once the lights came on and the shower started I was awake for good. I tried pulling the blankets over my head and going back to sleep but it just wouldn’t work. I felt well rested so I got up and moving. I had a feeling that maybe I’d forgotten to start the coffee the night before. Mindy confirmed that I had indeed forgotten. She said I brewed hot water! She had to get it going. Oops! I headed downstairs to start my exercise routine then poured Mindy & I some coffee. I delivered hers to the bathroom where she was already busy working on her face and hair. I was in a really good mood. But how could I not? I was scheduled off work and it was going to be sunny and warm. Golf? I already knew that my run wouldn’t happen until the kids were off to school. I planned the rest of my early morning routine accordingly. Kenny never returned my call the evening before. I was hoping he could break away from work for a round of early season golf. I asked Tom Clark, too, but he was scheduled to work some overtime. He’s typically scheduled off Thursday thru Saturday. By design, I didn’t have a lot planned, but there were several things I could do. But more than anything, I was happy to have a day all to myself. I thought that I might finally take down the Xmas lights and then check out the failed hot tub. I had to pull the plug on it mid December after finding it dead after 15 years of service. Plus, I hadn’t totally given up on golf, figuring Kenny still might call mid-morning. Mindy suggested that I come have lunch with her. She lunches at 1130am. But if I did that, the rest of my day would pretty much be shot. Needless to say, she wasn’t really excited with my logic. Mindy left for school at 730am. I played on the PC until it was time to usher the kids to the bus stop. We met Chrissy, Makayla, and Lillian there. Chrissy said she’d have Kenny call me about golf. I headed back home and casually prepared for a run. I didn’t want to waste too much time, however, lest the entire day could get away from me. I left for my run around 840am and ran 4 miles. It was 46 degrees and sunny. I ran with two upper layers and skipped wearing the sweat shorts under my running pants, typical of a winter run. I used my pullover fleece zipper to regulate my body heat. Oh, no hand and ear covers either. The run went well. I was home by 915am. I spent the next 45 minutes texting with a peer regarding a hot topic in the office while also writing in my blog. A little after 10am I headed out to investigate the hot tub failure a little more thoroughly than I did I back in December. I took my trusty volt/ohm meter. It looks the main 30A fuse blew, but when that happens one must ask why. On closer inspection, I noticed that the heater had exploded too, but that most likely occurred from freezing after I shut it down. I'll tinker with it some but won’t spend a lot of money on its repair. It leaks, the frame is weakening, and a few of the cycles and gadgets no longer work. I’ve gotten far more life out of it than most others could ever hope to. Inside I researched what a new heater might cost. Best I could tell, about $200, and that’s if I replace it myself. I might do that, but I’m still not sure. After finishing up on the hot tub I surveyed the yard making my way out to the tree swings where I hope to build the kids a lookout/fort this spring. Surveying its location was my primary objective. I also took notice of the area I tirelessly resodded last spring, and how thinned out it’s become. I plan to overseed the same are this spring – and the sooner the better. After a quick break I got cracking on taking down the Xmas lights. Even though I didn’t get them down last year until some time in March, I was absolutely certain that I’d get them down much earlier this year. Nope! They’ve been up for 3.5 months. Man how time flies! I got out my light aluminum extension ladder and ascended the roof from the back deck. I crawled out to the roof’s edge to remove the double layer of Xmas lights and clips. The removal of the upper most lights went pretty quick. That was the most dangerous and most dreaded part. The rest would be much easier and accessible from the ladder. I took a brief break and returned a missed call from Mindy. Among other things, we discussed dinner. I offered to cook steaks if she'd stop at Kroger to buy ‘em. She agreed. Neighbor Carl was out and walked over to chat. We haven’t talked much since late fall. He helped steady my ladder as I removed the lights and clips from the apex of the garage, and then the extension cord running up behind the gutter and secured with tie-wraps. Carl and I talked about car troubles/repairs mostly. He knows my boys at Aarrow - takes his cars there too. It was already 130pm. I moved to the shed next to remove the lights Jacob and placed there. We put those up the day before TG. They came down fast and easy. It was after 2pm by the time I had all the lights down and tested before storage. I threw away one set of icicle lights that had far too many strands out. Not worth my effort. I had to wind up three or four extension cords too, and then put away my ladder. Where had the day gone? It always works like that. I made myself a sandwich, my first real meal of the day, although I snacked on chunk cheese earlier. While enjoying my lunch, I checked my online banking to see if our tax return deposited. It hadn’t. Certainly the IRS would have a way to check its status. I went poking around their website looking. Yep, you can track your return. Said ours was due to deposit tomorrow (Friday). Cool! I also sent an email to Dr Beran regarding my potential Lasik procedure. Traci, one of his assistance, responded back in minutes. I'm fairly certain that I'm going to schedule the procedure soon. After my lunch I snuggled up in the living room recliner with my book, Virus of the Mind. I was much looking forward to some quiet time reading and possibly even a nap. By then, it was approaching 3pm. I must’ve read and napped for about 30 minutes before heading up for a much needed shower. It was about 330pm when I returned downstairs after a shower. I felt so much better afterwards. After tidying up the kitchen I returned to the living room recliner where I continued reading until Mindy & the kids arrived home. It must’ve been about 420pm. Mindy started baking potatoes for our steak dinner shortly after arriving home. Said I should wait about an hour before starting the grill. I used the time to write in my blog, getting ever closer to being caught up. I helped Bella with her home work – math and spelling. I felt a bit inept when she asked for help identifying shapes (rhombus' and trapezoids) and I wasn’t 100% sure. Mindy saved me. Mindy and I continued our discussion regarding the use/mis-use of prepositions. I shared with her my research indicating that there is actually no hard fast rule against placing a preposition at the end of a sentence like most of us were taught in school. However, having said that, it’s never recommended to place a preposition at a sentences end that adds no meaning or value (I.E. where are you going to?). I lit the grill around 545pm, or just as the rain started. Of course! I ended up grilling steaks in the rain under an umbrella. They turned out nicely. All four of us ate steak. Somewhat of a surprise was how much steak Bella ate. She’s typically not a big meat eater. She devoured more than half of a large T-bone. Dinner and clean-up was in the books by 7pm. Afterwards, I played Wii Ski with Jacob, but no matter what I did I couldn’t seem to control my skier. I tossed the remote aside in disgust. Nope – not me. Not worth the frustration.  Jacob and Bella played after that. At roughly the same time, Mindy placed a call to Deena, Noah’s mom, asking if Noah could join us tomorrow evening at Gloria’s for the family euchre tournament. Jacob would otherwise be the only boy, and most likely bored stiff. She agreed to allow Noah to join us. We tucked the kids into bed sometime near 830pm. Once the kids were nestled into bed I returned to the family room determined to ice my knee and read my book, Virus of the Mind. After a slow start, it’s getting really interesting. Mindy made it known that she wanted some attention. I could tell she was aggravated with my determination to read and ice. She headed to bed at 9 something. I joined her around 10pm.

Mucky-Muck

I was up a few minutes before 530am after a more than restful night of sleep. I checked the coffee maker. Its clock red 529am. Still had another minute before the brewing cycle would begin. I did my 55 sit-ups then sat at my PC for a few before doing push-ups. I glanced skyward out the back door. There were a few scattered clouds overhead, but the waning quarter moon was still prevalent in the predawn sky. Best of all, it was a balmy 45 degrees. The day's forecast called for sunshine and 63 - a banner day to be sure. After delivering Mindy's coffee I moved to meditation and stretching. I was careful not to get behind schedule playing on the PC like the morning before. While stretching, I thought I heard the pitter-patter of rain against the skylights. Yep, rain had moved in during the last half hour. Crap. That meant a rainy run. And since my running shoes are still in effect new, I chose not to expose them to rain just yet. Instead, I fetched an older, worn pair - two versions back actually. They're in far better shape than the pair I just retired. Happily, by the time I hit the door and stretched my hammies from the stoop the rain had slowed to a light sprinkle and pretty much remained that way for the duration. I ran four miles. Between the sprinkles and sweat (slightly over dressed) I was pretty darn wet at run's end. No need to warm the Honda. It's spring out there. This I shared with Mindy and the kids once back inside. I was in a great mood - a byproduct of good rest and great weather. Mindy didn't pack me a lunch after I shared that my boss and I were going out for lunch. Mindy left close to 730am. I wore dress slacks and black dress shoes. The president of the company was expected in today along with a couple other mucky mucks. I didn't wear a collared dress shirt as our director suggested. I thought I looked nice enough in my semi-tight black long sleeved t-shirt. Bella toted her umbrella to the bus stop as the rain continued to sprinkle on us. The snow pack - even the plowed piles - were becoming fodder for the warm weather. Significant melt off the past few days. All that remains are a few scant piles where the snow was piled and packed the highest - north facing under the shadows of houses, trees, or other large structures. I left for work, arriving around 825am. It smelt and sounded like spring as I slowly made the trek from the lot to the building. After getting settled in my office I headed down to the center and chatted with my team, peer, and eventually my boss. I had a busy agenda, including two customer meetings and a staff meeting. Our staff meeting was brief. My peer and I were given a to-do. We scurried off to my office to white board our ideas. I wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to complete our assignment by the day's end since I had designs on taking Thursday off as my on-call comp day. At noon my peer, boss and I left for lunch. We headed to Wind Chimes. It was fairly crowded but they found us a table. I went with War Sui Gai, fried rice, Won-Ton soup, & egg roll. It was very good. I picked up the check as planned. We were back at the office just after 1pm. At 215pm we met with several of our team members to discuss/review a schedule change of sorts. We anticipated that it wouldn't go over well, and it didn't - not at all. The conversation behind closed doors got pretty heated. My boss ended up ending the meeting until cooler heads could prevail. I found it somewhat comical. I didn't let it bother me too much. I had to run off to a customer meeting at 3pm. On my way, I encountered our VP touring our Executive VP around. Crap! He stopped and introduced me. We exchanged some pleasantries as I hurried off to my planned customer meeting. I couldn't keep a customer waiting. The meeting went well. Afterwards, I had a lengthy discussion with one of my engineers. That went well, too. Soon after that my boss stopped by. We chatted for about 30 minutes. Soon the day was all but over. I asked my boss how he'd feel about me taking Thursday off. He was good with it. I made sure that my schedule was adjusted accordingly. I had a number of tasks still needing my attention that kept me at work until 550pm. I called Mindy to let her know. I didn't mind working late, especially given that Thursday was mine to enjoy however I so chose. Believe me, that felt terrific! Mindy let me know that dinner was ready and waiting - tacos. I arrived home by 615pm. I had one hard shelled taco and one burrito-style taco. Very good. After dinner the kids played Wii Ski. I wrote in my blog for a while but eventually joined the kids watching them show off their Wii prowess. They stayed up until almost 9pm. After the tuck-in I cozied up in the family room chair to do some more reading. Mindy asked me to come to bed early, but because I was off Thursday, I wanted to stay up late reading and possibly even enjoy some educational TV programming, you know, something wholesome like Southpark or Family Guy. :) I stopped reading around 10pm and turned on the TV. Sadly, I couldn't find anything good to watch on TLC, History, Discovery or Science Channel. I can't remember what I settled on as I used it solely as a sleep aid. I woke around 11pm and headed up to bed.

Melting Memories

After sleeping for nearly 10 hours I woke totally rested, but also a little lethargic perhaps from too much sleep. I know my body well. I would've been much better off sleeping less, say no more than 8.5 hours. However, by the time my morning calisthenics were completed I was feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed. I spent more time at my PC than is typical causing me to fall behind schedule a bit. I didn't start my meditation and stretching routine until 625am. That in turn delayed the start of my morning run until almost 650am. Because of that, I ran just 3 miles. To that end, I'm fully aware that I've taken some liberties with my mileage over the last couple months tied mostly to ski days. I'll need to manage that tighter moving forward. I requested Mindy's keys upon reentry. It was cold enough that her windows were completely frosted over, albeit lightly. Mindy had scrambled eggs smothered in cheese awaiting my return. That was a welcome change of pace. I doused them in Tabasco green sauce. Mindy soon departed leaving Bella and I to our typical back and forth at the breakfast table. Bella asked that I holler if I spotted another buck from the bathroom during my shower. He never materialized. The kids and I headed to the bus stop at 757am. Again we met up with Chrissy, Makayla, and Lillian. Again, the girls climbed all over the mounds of snow still hanging on despite the warmer weather. It got all the way up to 63 on Monday, by the way, far exceeding the predicted high of 55. It was expected to approach 60 Tuesday and remain mostly sunny. Off to work at 810am. I expected to have two interviews throughout the day, but both were no shows. That made my day easier than expected but still busy. Like Monday, I plowed through my day without a significant break. Time went really fast. Mindy and I talked late in the afternoon, she reminding me that the kids would be with Jimaken after work. I had forgotten. She asked what I had in mind for dinner - leftovers at home or dinner out. I was in favor of leftovers at home. Seems like we've been dining out a lot lately. Sometimes staying home and relaxing is far more appealing. I must be getting old. Mindy agreed. Both of us have wanted/needed more sleep of late. Once home, I warmed my leftover El Vaquero. Mindy warmed the leftover Marcella's - hers and mine (lasagna and chicken parmesan). My dinner was good but I was still hungry after. I warmed some leftover Domino's pizza, too. That did the trick. After dinner Mindy and I spent time together on the sofa talking. She asked me to rub her aching heel/foot. I think she's got a minor case of fasciitis after last week's heavy dose of skiing. We had about an hour to relax before the kids returned home. It was good just to relax and chat in the peace and quiet. The kids returned near 8pm. Because they showered the night before, Mindy didn't force another. Instead, they went straight for their PJs. While that was going on, I got all snuggly in the big familyroom chair doing some reading. Since we left for vacation I've been pretty good about taking 30 minutes to read each day - the return of a good pattern. After the kids were tucked in, Mindy headed to bed around 920pm. I suggested that I might be up shortly and kept reading until 940pm or so. Mindy was still awake when I headed off to bed.

Sunny 60's

Back to work after hardly a weekend at all. I was up on time but forgot to prep coffee the night before. I had to correct that faux pas before doing anything else. Once our morning coffee was brewing I was able to start my exercise routine in earnest. Sit-ups finally out of the way, I jumped up to my PC and checked the weather and a few headlines. At 555am I ripped off 53 push-ups then prepped a steaming hot cup of fur-fru coffee then kicked back in front of the PC for round two. At 615am I left the PC behind and prepped a cup of coffee for Mindy before heading upstairs to wake her from her Sunday night slumber. Predictably, she asked that I crank up the heat. It was a clear morning and already daybreak was on the horizon. I was eager to run in the spring-like weather. The current temperature was resting near 33 degrees with an expected high in the mid 50s. I split the next 15 minutes between meditation and stretching. At 640am I headed out for a morning run. I ran four miles working up one heck of sweat and wishing to shed my gloves and ear covers. Mindy's car wasn't frosted over but she had her keys waiting by the door anyway. I started it for her if for no other reason than to eliminate the chill. My eggs were ready. Bella, Mindy & I enjoyed our brief time together eating breakfast. Jacob was already done and back in his room. Mindy left for school at 730am reminding Bella to go to Noah's (different bus) after school. I ridded the table then headed up for shower. While toweling off I spotted a good-sized buck across the street in the neighbor's yard. He must've had a four-point rack. I hollered for Bella to come quick. I knew she'd be eager to see it. Spotting deer is common, but a male with a rack is rare. We headed out for the bus stop at 757am. I chatted briefly with Chrissy while the kids climbed all over the remaining piles of dirty snow still heaped up from February's record setting dump. Judging by the ten day forecast, it'll be gone by the weekend. Not only will the high temps reach into the 60s, but we're not expected to dip below freezing for the next ten days/nights either. Good bye MRM! After seeing the kids onto the bus, I headed off to work at 815am. My boss scheduled the day off. I had to cover his responsibilities as well as my own. Needless to say, that made for a tough day. As expected, I didn't get much of chance for a lunch. Worked straight thru. I chatted with our VP briefly sharing among other things my perspective of on-call duties. He listened. I just needed to vent. I left for home around 530pm. Mindy was frying burgers on the stove. I was a little surprised, expecting leftovers instead. After all, we had plenty. The kids were outside playing with the neighbors - another sure sign that spring is here - warmer temps and extended daylight. Mindy broke our golden rule of homework before play with the promise it would get done immediately following dinner. I wasn't so sure that was a good idea, but trusted Mindy's instincts. I know she won't let it become habit. The burgers were very good. I ate some tater tots too. I had to laugh when Jacob tried convincing Mindy to let him go back out to play after dinner in lieu of homework. He badgered her to the point of discipline. She won, of course. I bit my tongue, choosing to stay out of the debate. To streamline the evenings activities, Bella did her reading with me after doing math with Mindy. The kids both took showers and were ready for bed a little after 8pm. And just like the night before, Mindy & I prepped for an extra early bedtime ourselves.

Mud & Marcella's

Sometime during the night I remember hearing Landon screaming and Mindy leaping to her feet to pursue his cries. He fell out of bed. Problem solved. I was up just after 7am after another restful night of sleep. Like the day before, I started coffee then checked in on work. There were issues demanding my attention but not quite as many as there were Saturday. Because it was Sunday, I skipped calisthenics. I sipped coffee, worked, and surfed the internet in the quiet. The quiet didn’t last. At some point, I am guessing around 830am, the kids came downstairs. Bella was upset that Olivia and Rocky woke her. Jacob soon followed espousing a similar story. Must be true. The two wee ones, Olivia and Landon, asked where Mimi was. Too cute! I sent them to her room to give her a hug. Mindy woke grumpy. I got the kids their breakfast, mostly simple stuff: donuts, cereal, and juice. Come 9:30am I dressed and headed out for a run. I ran my usual 3 mile Sunday route. The first voyage in my brand new running shoes, which, by the way, were very comfortable. I promised the wee ones that I’d take them out to play with the bigger kids when I got back. Mindy and I prepped them accordingly and then out we went. Mindy headed upstairs for a shower. It was sunny and warm – about 50 degrees - but the ground was still very wet and muddy from the snow melt. The kids got messy in a hurry. At their prompting, I took the wee ones out front to feed the ducks. Mindy gave us three or four packages of old bread and buns. Bella joined us soon after we started. She was a big help. She enjoys being the ‘big sister’. Thankfully, the wee ones tired of playing outside after 30 minutes or so, and the three of us headed in for lunch. I made chicken noodle soup, both said they wanted some. However, Olivia barely touched hers, although that was expected. Sadly, I don’t think that she ever sits for an entire meal. Landon, on the other hand, rarely misses a chance for a meal. He ate three helpings, but asked that I remove all the small bits of carrots. :) Mindy was napping while the kids ate and played. She asked if I minded running them home while she did some work. Not at all. Mindy made birthday dinner reservations at Marcella’s on High St for 630pm for the four of us: me, her, Jacob & Bella. Mindy helped ready the kids for home. It must’ve been about 230pm when we left. I took Olivia home first. Ashley & Steven were just arriving home when we pulled up. Good timing. I dropped the boys next. I hate driving down Hague ave where I got in that minor accident last month. Given my druthers, I’d never pass that way again – ever! Back at home the house was incredibly quiet. I did some reading while Mindy worked remotely from her laptop. Jacob & Bella continued playing outside with friends. I might even have taken a nap, but if I did, it was brief. Still smelly and in my running clothes, I headed for a shower around 515pm. Mindy got the kids inside and dressed appropriately at the same time. We left for dinner just after 6pm. It felt and smelt like spring. We found a parking spot at a meter right around the corner from the restaurant. Parking was free on Sunday’s. We were taken to a table right away. They were especially gracious to our kids providing them a kit of sorts to keep them occupied. Our server was decent, and like most Cameron servers, had a lot to say with a bubbly demeanor. Said he’s been there since its opening. Mindy ordered a glass of wine. I went with lemonade after learning they had Pepsi products. The kids had water only. The bread and oil were fresh and delicious. We ordered their calamari as an appetizer. It was breaded and served with deep fried lemons and roasted peppers – an unusual combination, but also very good. Bella ordered pizza – go figure! Jacob ordered the kids steak. Mindy ordered their lasagna, and I, their chicken parmesan. They kept us adequately hydrated without being too attentive. The food was good, but honestly, not spectacular. I liked it. They treated the kids great, and made sure they received dessert on the house. That’ll bring the kids back! Mindy ordered a dessert, too – a cherry pie and ice cream. I stayed away from dessert. The check was very reasonable - $75 with tip. We headed directly home. It had to be near 8pm. Soon after arriving home Mindy made sure the kids were quickly ready for bed. With a belly full of food, we were tired too. All of us were in bed by 840pm.

The Perfect Snowball

I was up just after 7am. My first order of business was getting coffee started then sit-ups and push-ups. From that point forward, I was busy with work related matters in one form or another, details omitted. It was sunny but the temperature only in the 20’s. The day’s high promised to reach into the mid 40s. I decided to let Mindy sleep as late as she wanted without being disturbed. Taking a break from work, I left for my run around 930am and ran four miles. During my run I was reminded how worn out my running shoes have become. I was determined to replace them sometime that afternoon. It looked like Mindy was up when I returned from my run but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I eventually spotted her sitting on the deck steps, something we haven’t been able to do for several months. Even though it was chilly, the bright March sunshine was incredibly warm. I returned to my desk where I worked most of the morning and early afternoon. Mindy planned to grocery shop later. We also discussed our intentions to have the grandkids over to celebrate three birthdays – Mindy’s, Ashley’s, and Landon’s. We figured to have them over around 430-500pm. Our kids were expected home around noon. I shared with Mindy my plans to replace my running shoes and also get an overdue haircut. She suggested I take Jacob along too. Sounded good. They were due home any minute. Breaking the news about a haircut to Jacob was Mindy’s job. He’s over the top ridiculous about it every time. As expected, he threw a mini-fit and stormed out onto the deck. We both decided that we weren’t gonna take too much push back. Like a lot of kids, he wants his hair long but he doesn’t groom it at all. I understand somewhat, and always make sure he gets a cut that doesn’t ‘dork’ him out. Mindy had to threaten bodily harm to get him to comply with my departure plan. I shared that we’d be stopping at Front Runner for shoes first, then Saturday’s at Lane Ave. Mall, and then lunch – his choice. Front Runner was packed, many patrons there registering for a Sunday run. Not sure for what cause. I tried on a pair of Nikes and a pair of Asics. Running for over thirteen years, I’ve never run in anything but Nikes ,but fell in love with the Asics. They were ultra light and allowed my feet to move more freely. Wow! I paid a little more than I wanted, but my daily comfort was worth the extra bucks. While there, we ran into Jerry, nephew Joe’s partner, standing in line registering for the Sunday run. We chatted briefly with Jacob trying to bum $5 from him. Inside joke, I guess. We talked just briefly before Jacob and I checked out. We’ll see Jerry next Friday at our family euchre tournament. Onto Saturday’s. Lane Ave Mall is just a few blocks west of Front Runner. It was difficult to find a parking spot but we eventually did. Jacob was quite pleasant. There was no wait at Saturday’s. Both Jacob and I got our hair cut at the same time. This store is kind of tucked away more than their others. I haven’t been to this Saturday’s for about 2.5 years. And come to think of it, I’ve only been there a total of three or four other times. Having my haircut there is how I met Sparky. I gave explicit instructions to the girl cutting Jacob’s hair, and specifically requested she leave his bangs long, but not in his eyes. I could see that Jacob appreciated my specifity. The young woman cutting my hair was very animated, overtly so. She’s from New Orleans and still sports a strong Louisiana accent. She talks non-stop. Come to think of it, she cut my hair the last time I was in. Told me she’s been there for nine years. She asked who butchered me prior. – Great Clips, I replied. Jacob and I were done in less than 15 minutes. I bought a new tube of hair gel - Tea Tree. Very pricey stuff, but it works great. Two haircuts, gel, and tip - $50. We stopped in Buckeye Corner on our way out. I thought Jacob might ask for a collectible but he didn’t. We were both hungry and settled on El Vaquero as we found our way back to the Trooper. We arrived at the Vaq a few minutes later. Our trip was very efficient, nothing was out of the way – all in one line. We were seated in a booth and quickly greeted with chips and salsa as expected. Jacob panicked when he couldn’t find his usual entrée on the menu. He couldn’t remember the exact name either. He had me peruse it for something close. I found one and bounced it off him first. He agreed. Basically, it was chicken and beef enchiladas, rice, and beans smothered in a green sauce. Mindy called while we ate our lunch. She and Bella were just leaving Wendy’s and heading to Wal-Mart. At home, I got back to work and stayed busy into the afternoon. Jacob ran off to neighbor Jake’s. Mindy & Bella returned from the grocery about an hour later. It must’ve about 3pm. She bought a boat load of groceries having not been fully stocked for a few weeks due to our ski trip. Ex-Kelly dropped Lindsey & the boys a little early – about 345pm. We agreed to get Lindsey home. The boys were staying the night. We were expecting Ashley & Olivia, too, but they were still at the mall shopping. We planned to order pizzas for dinner whenever they arrived. Mindy decided to order the pizzas before Ash & Olivia arrived. We ordered 4 Domino’s medium pies. Ashley & Olivia arrived along with Steven. Wasn’t sure if he was coming or not. Steven’s proud of himself for completing his GED and starting at Ohio State barber college. He’s a natural at cutting hair. We’re just happy that he’s finally growing up, or so it seems. Ashley loves him, we know that for sure, and so does Olivia. The pizza arrived a short time later. Everybody enjoyed it. Good thing we bought four. Not a lot of leftovers. After pizza, we lit the cake Mindy bought three times, once for each birthday celebrant. We sang the birthday song three times too. It was fun! Afterwards, we gave Landon and Ashley gifts. Landon got some clothes and an electronic learning toy that Bella picked out. Unlike most young boys, Landon loves to get clothes. Hmmm? He’s very sweet and always gracious. Ashley & Steven didn’t stay too long after cake and gift time. They kindly agreed to drop Lindsey at home saving us the trouble. Soon after they departed we ushered the wee ones upstairs for baths. Olivia loves to take baths. She and Landon took one together. Sad to say, but Landon and Rocky both reeked of cat piss. Every time they come over my eyes itch. After baths and PJ’s we all settled in the familyroom for movie time. Mindy picked up a new DVD, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Cute - interesting animated movie. I popped popcorn at the kids’ request. They made quite a mess with it, but they were having fun. After the movie, Mindy got all of the kids to bed save for Landon, who fell asleep on the sofa. I fell asleep too. Mindy came down and carried Landon up after waking and asking me. I had to get involved with work yet again before bed. Everybody's wanting a piece of me. I got to bed around 11pm.

No Big Gift ... Boy am I in Trouble!

Happy 41st B-day Princess I was up at 530am after 7+ hours of sound sleep. I wanted to stay in bed but knew that I couldn’t. I had to get moving. I completed my sit-ups then sat at the computer waiting for the coffee brew cycle to end. It was still pretty cold outside – only 24 degrees. I completed push-ups then prepped a cup of coffee. I returned to my PC where I remained until it was time to wake Mindy. At 610am I delivered Mindy’s coffee and wished her a happy b-day - her 41st. I was suddenly overcome with a bad case of the sleepies. I went to the familyroom to meditate but opted instead to go horizontal on the sofa thinking I might catch another 15-20 minutes of sleep. I laid there for ten minutes but never fully falling asleep. At 625am I rose to my feet and proceeded with my morning routine. I felt a lot better after the extra rest. I did a quick meditation and a regular stretch routine. It was 645am by the time I was ready to run. I decided to lop a mile off making my run just three. My run was under daylight from the outset. Of course that’ll change after March 14th when we move the clocks forward an hour. Mindy was in a far better place this morning after resolving the problem dominating her time and thought all week. It didn’t hurt that it was Friday as well as her birthday either. Bella presented her momma with a handmade card complete with a note inside – very thoughtful – very touching. She even signed for Jacob, not wanting him to feel left out. Mindy said it made her morning. Mindy soon departed for school and I rushed off to the shower. The kids and I prepped Mindy's b-day cards and a small gift before heading out to the bus stop at 757am. Kenny met us out there too. Hadn’t talked with Kenny for what seemed like two weeks. He asked about our trip and my car. He shared news about his fast approaching Florida golf trip now just 2 weeks out. He deserves the break. Off to work. I arrived to work a little ahead of 830am. It was sunny and felt a little like spring, although it was still quite chilly. I noticed a gathering of 8-10 deer at the side of our building grazing. They cautiously watched me walk in. Like most days this week, I had four interviews sprinkled throughout my day and spaced about an hour and a half apart. I made it a point mid-day to head to Macy’s to shop for Mindy’s birthday gift. I was stressing hugely over just what to get her. Nothing was coming to me. This was uncharted waters for me. Typically, I have her gift ideas well in advance. This time – nothing! Drawing a blank. My wife has everything she wants and needs. I had to laugh when earlier in the day Bella advised me that I should stop in the Diamond Cellar and pick up this bracelet her momma liked. At Macy’s I found myself walking aisles in search of nothing in particular. I received a work related call on my Blackberry, too. That did nothing but add to my stress. I eventually meandered out of Macy’s and into The Finish Line, which is practically next door. I looked at running shoes. I need a new pair. I saw nothing I liked. What was I doing there? I needed to find something for Mindy. Dammit! I wandered back through Macy’s and out to my car empty handed. I felt defeated. I planned to fall on my sword and ask Mindy what she wanted. It’s not like I got her nothing. I had a card & a gift from both kids waiting on the island for her arrival home. I left a card from me too, not to mention the white roses I gave her the night before. However, I didn't consider those a b-day gift. But we would be celebrating her b-day at Barley’s later – her choice. I invited most of our Barley peeps without making a big deal out of it. Mindy called sometime after 4pm to let me know that she got the cards and gift left on the counter. I told her then that I had no other gift in tow and why. She understood, and shared that I was her gift. I was off the hook, at least temporarily. The kids were leaving with Jimaken but for the night. He’d be bringing them back Saturday afternoon. I left work at 530pm and headed directly home. I tried phoning Ashley but to no avail. I tried reaching my mom at home next. Ronald (her ex) answered and shared that she was still in the hospital. A minute later Denise, my mom’s BF, called to let me know that my mom wasn’t heading home until possibly Saturday due to complications. Geesh! I left the office at 530pm but because I’d be on-call, I wasn’t really leaving work. I arrived home by 545pm. It was quiet – only Mindy. Spread about the island counter were numerous birthday cards from her many well-wishers. She was in good spirits after a rather difficult week. We planned to leave for Barley’s around 7pm. I spent the time between my arrival home and our departure getting my work laptop up and running. I freshened up at 645pm then we departed for Barley’s. We arrived to a packed lot. We had to park in the adjacent lot just to the north. We happened upon Doug H. sitting at the bar. We gathered near him. Iguess Jamie couldn’t make it out. Too bad.  But… as I often say, it’s not about who doesn’t show, but instead who does. Mindy sprinkled herself amongst her many admirers while I chatted with Doug and his work friend Ellias (sp). I sipped a Centennial IPA slowly. Mindy & I made it a point to eat early on. I ate a Cuban, and it might’ve been the best one ever. I’m not kidding, you’ve got to try one of their Cuban’s with bacon. Tell ‘em I sent ya! We had a fun time hanging with our peeps. My brother Tommy made his first Barley’s appearance since perhaps my birthday. We all got a laugh from the gag gift Bob I. brought for Mindy, a “Purple Puke Pale” in honor of last year’s “I’m 40 celebration” that ended with, well, dinner on the patio floor – literally.  I was much tamer than last year. I drank three regular IPA’s spread across the entire night - about 4 hours. Plus, I drank water for the last hour. I was in fine shape to drive come 11pm or so when we bolted for home.

Kerplunk - Jane's plan debunked!

Overslept by 15 minutes waking to Mindy's alarm. Scared, confused me. caught up during exercise, coffee and computer time. Woke Mindy at 610am. Again, Mindy didn't sleep that well. meditation and stretching Forecast talked of forties, but now said only a high reaching mid 30's. Cold, only 22 degrees at run time. Ran just three miles. Fried my own eggs to save Mindy time, who also overslept. After Mindy left I asked Bella to make her mother a b-day card when at Deena's after school. She willingly agreed. I still needed to find Mindy a gift but had no idea what to get her. She now officially has everything. Showered, at the bus stop by 755am. Thanked Chrissy for late start day. Work entailed interviewing all day long - every two hours. Talked with Mindy around 4pm. She was relieved after finally having a meeting with the district's personnel director. Didn't take lunch. Left work at 515pm. Day went fast but depleted all my energy reserves. Stopped at Kroger on my way home. Bought Mindy a dozen white roses and a card and Dove chocolates to be a b-day gift from the kids. No formal dinner - rare. Kids ate leftovers. I planned to eat the rest of my Chipotle for dinner. After dinner, the kids, Mindy & I played Kerplunk - the stick and marble game - in the familyroom. We played three rounds. I won each time, having only one single marble tumble on my account through all three games. Edited photos for about an hour. Kids headed to bed earlier than they have all week. 820pm. Mindy wasn't far behind. I stayed up reading my book, Virus of the Mind.

Happy 52nd B-Day sis Jodie! Up at 540am - groggy exercise, internet, coffee deliver coffee and wake Mindy - 620am. Mindy didn't sleep much at all - stressed. colder than expected - only 23 degrees - where's our warm-up? meditate, stretch, run - 4 miles retrieve Mindy's keys - start the Honda (frosty) eggs - yummy kids head down to Chrissy's at 805am (late start). Leave for work at 815am Work busy - interviews Go to lunch @ PF Changs with boss and former engineer - informal interview Interviews all afternoon Call Mindy at 530pm - made plans to visit my mom at the hospital in New Albany Mom asleep when I arrived. Let her sleep 45 minutes while I napped in a chair next to the bed. The nurse woke her around 645pm with a strawberry milkshake. She told them that she couldn't eat/drink it. I commented that I'd eat it. Scared the begeezies out of her. Until that point, she didn't know that I was there. :) I stayed until 730pm. Mom brought VZ phone bill along. Looking at dropping local phone service and going cellular, but the problem is she gets her internet through phone line, too. Perhaps she can go fully Time Warner. Head home hungry. Arrive around 8pm. Mindy made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. I warm a plate. Mindy very anxious about big meeting on Thursday She goes to bed early. I stay up reading until 1015pm.

Back to Work - P/U Trooper

Happy 47th b-day bro Craig! Up at 530am exercise, coffee and internet Wake Mindy - present morning coffee meditation stretching 4-mile run - no drama eggs and english muffin shower for work. Chrissy agrees to handle Wednesday morning late start drive BM'er to work - clouds and cold - but no new snow I call Aarrow at 930am Trooper ready - forgot to ask about the total bill however Ken, peer, takes me to pick-up Trooper at noon Dave shares that they replaced intake manifold gasket, fuel injector o-rings, and fixed long-time broken passenger window for a grand total of $252. Wow - not bad. We briefly debated the fix for the window, me citing that there had to be more to it. Debate ended when Dave stated that if it fails again, I won't have to pay labor for the re-repair - just parts. Cool.

Trooper runs well - back to office Mindy phones mid-afternoon hysterical and in tears. I think worst - someone's sick or dead. Principal Jane calls Mindy to the mat for missing Monday - wants paper justification - bitch! I calm Mindy - agree to continue our conversation later Leave work at 530pm. Drive BM'er home - leave Trooper

Mindy and Bella take me to work to pick-up Trooper

Discuss dinner options - give authority to Bella - can't decide

Mindy eventually picks Bob Evans - not me - I agree to meet them at home later, and Mindy agrees to bring me home a Chipotle.

Drive home - work on blog and upload Oregon ski trip photos to webalbum

Mindy & Bella home around 730pm with my Chipotle

Food seems cool to touch- I put Chipotle chips bag in microwave. Mindy freaks - Don't! Asks me to look in the bag first. Inside is a little black velvet bag w/ drawstring. Toss aside and nuke chips. Asks me again to look in bag. inside is a diamond ring - my anniversary present. Very nice! Fits nice.

Jacob home from the hockey game around 830pm - Blue Jackets ahead when they left. I bet they would ultimately lose (they did).

Kids to bed. Mindy goes to bed early but can't sleep. I follow after 30 minutes of reading - near 10pm.

PDX to CMH

From the minute my head hit the pillow I woke every 40 minutes or so worried about over sleeping. I woke for the last time at 220am and then laid there in bed until 230am PT. I quietly rolled out of bed and started coffee and then my exercise routine. I dressed and left for a run just before 245am through downtown Vancouver. Under clear skies, the moon was out and nearly full veiled only by a few thin wispy clouds. Quite lovely. But as pretty as it was, I felt insecure running in the dark, even more so than usual. I ran to Esther Short park and back. I was back around 320am and quickly got my shower underway. Mindy was already up I noticed and grooming for a long day of travel. I was ready to go by 340am. I moved immediately to loading the Escape. Mindy came out and helped. We didn't bother waking Glenn until 355am - minutes before we planned to depart. We even entertained not waking him, but after a thinking it through, Mindy pointed out that he had asked to be woken. Glenn joined us upstairs for a quick goodbye hug before we left. At 4:00am on the nose we headed out the door. Glenn snapped a photo or two from the doorway as we backed out the drive. Off we went. The drive to Thrifty was quick and easy, thanks in part to finding it via Google maps Sunday morning before checking out of our condo. By 4:17am PT we had our rental receipt in hand and we boarded on the airport shuttle. We were at the Southwest ticket counter minutes later. The line was suspiciously long and there were no clerks at the counter. Moving closer for observation revealed a sign indicating that their counter hours were 430am to midnight. So much for being two hours early. I waited by the counter while Mindy waited in line. I didn't want to drag our lengthy ski bag through the narrow people line. The Southwest counter folks were fast and efficient once they opened. The young lady helping us was a tad bit curt when asking about our skis. She said since there were two pair in our bag that they were absolved of any liability for damage. OK. Geesh! We had to drop our skis and a separate security check point, apparently due to its extra large size. We wound our way through security and eventually to our gate without incident. It was 4:45am. I went for a Wendy's breakfast sandwich while Mindy went with for coffee. We boarded our plane at 5:40am. We found seats on the right side of the plane looking out to the west. In hindsight, we should've went for the left side towards the sunrise on the horizon. It wasn't long before were airbourne and over the southern Cascades. In between naps, I read more of my book, The Biology of Beliefs. Excellent reading. It was almost a 3 hour flight to Phoenix. It went fast. It was clear, warm and sunny in Phoenix. For the first time all winter, I felt the pangs of spring fever. Our gate was one concourse over. Once settled, I walked down to Starbucks to get both of us some coffee. I picked up a cinnamon Scone too. While sipping my caramel macchiato I did some more reading. Our plane departed Phoenix at 11am. The stated flight time to CMH was roughly 3.5 hours. After flying over the warm Arizona terrain we were eventually flying over snow cover, an all too familiar scene. I finished my book in flight and started on my second, Virus of the Mind. We landed in Columbus at 430pm to cool temps, cloudy skies, and a snowy landscape. Pretty much what we left behind just six days earlier, and pretty much what we expected. Once at baggage claim we phoned dad to make sure he was nearby in the cell phone lot. He was. We agreed to phone again once we had our bags in hand. We called again ten minutes later. Outside at passenger pick-up, traffic was heavy. We witnessed one old man cursing at another older couple, even dropping the 'F' bomb. I called him out on it suggesting that his profanity was uncalled for. He only got worse. At the same time, his young passenger arrived to load his bags. The young kid said nothing, threw his bag in the car and zoomed off. Dad pulled up a couple minutes later. Just like that, we were on our way home. We chatted briefly about the trip, me doing most of the talking. Mindy was eager to see the children. Me too. Dad helped unload our bags but didn't bother coming inside. Instead, he headed back home. Deena suggested that Tony would bring the kids home saving us the drive. He dropped them five minutes later. He didn't come in either. Geesh - do we stink? We didn't wait too long before we readied and left for Barley's - plans we made with Bella on Saturday from Mt Hood. We were seated at a table by 610pm. I sent brother Glenn a text message letting him know we were home and at Barley's. We had our morning coffee in Portland and dinner in Columbus. I ordered a Centennial IPA and a Barley burger. Jacob had Gates of Hell wings and lemonade. Bella had KC wings and lemonade. Mindy had a Brisket sandwich and water. I picked up the tab. We left for home at 710pm. I was tired and wanted a nap. There's little wonder, though, I was very short slept. I spent the next hour or so unpacking all of my gear and down loading vacation pictures. They turned out even better than expected. Oh yeah, we gave the kids their souvenirs earlier. The kids were in bed by 9pm. We stayed up just 30 minutes longer. Both Mindy & I were extremely tired.