Outside the Box

Woke at 440am after a sound night of sleep. Only problem was, I wanted so much more. That wasn’t to be however. I needed to get up and moving. I drug myself from bed and headed to the bathroom where I brushed my teeth and added drops to my dry red eyes.

My head in a sleepy fog, I slipped into my exercise tennies then promptly whipped out 55 sit-ups. After sit-ups I chugged a little Gatorade then did 55 push-ups. Still tired, I got into my running shorts and shirt and headed off to the gym to do my run.

Now aware of the technology available on the treadmill, I was looking forward to getting lost in a TV program of some sort while running. Problem was, the satellite feed was down to the treadmill I chose. Not wanting to switch, I toughed it out without benefit of TV. I simply stared out the window and got lost in thought.

I ran 3.2 miles, or 5k in 31.5 minutes. Running on a treadmill utilizes more/different small muscles in my feet, I’ve noticed. I felt good. It was 545am when I headed back to the room for a shower. I felt the need to hurry a little bit. I was shaved, showered, dressed and ready by 610am

I promised a few co-workers that I’d meet them in the lobby at 630am and show them the subway ropes. I decided to head to the lobby at 615am. I ventured into the café’ where I bought some coffee and a banana for about $6. There was no way I was gonna suffer through hunger and coffee deprivation like I did on Monday. By the time I had sucked down half my coffee my travel mates were in the lobby. Two of the three were older and none of them had ever ridden in a subway. They were nervous.

I showed them how to buy their passes then lead the way to the #4 train heading downtown. No problems. We got off at the Fulton St MTA center, or just east of the WTC site. Learned that one of the women has asthma. Taking the stairs up from the subway caused her to need her puffer. They told me I could go on. They knew where they were. Cool!

Arrived to more heckling. Ended up in the office at 702am. Did more training. Finished by  9am, or time for breakfast. This time breakfast was more organized, and for the entire building, or about 600 of us. It wasn’t much, but still appreciated and good. I am jonsing for some eggs! Instead, we had coffee, muffins, cereal and fruit. The coffee was good – strong.

Did a little more training after breakfast. I was about to fall asleep. Lots of rumors swirling around, like how long we might be staying. Many were already directed to extend their hotel reservations to into September. I was reluctant to do so until receiving official word. Laundry concerns are arising. May need to have the hotel do mine. I definitely wont’ have time to do it myself.

Lunch was served around 1pm – pasta, meatballs, salad, bread. By the time I got through the line the salad was gone. Many complained. I kept my thoughts to myself. The pasta wasn’t bad. I thought about making a run to Whole Foods with a few others, but didn’t.

The afternoon moved slow. Spent a great deal of time waiting on work assignments. Moderate to heavy rain moved in mid-afternoon. I wasn’t at all looking forward to walking to the subway in the rain at 7pm.  I’ll need to pick-up an umbrella if my stay is going to be extended. Heck, perhaps a jacket too.

Got a couple IM’s from peers back home midafternoon sharing their well-wishes. Said they were anxious for me to come back home. That was nice to hear.

Because I’m blessed, the rain stopped around 6pm and the skies brightened. I headed out at 7pm. I really wanted to head out with two others staying at my hotel for the safety factor, but they were out faster than I. Elevators are packed at quitting time.

I was on my own once again. I snapped a few pics on my walk to the subway. As you might expect, the WTC area is bustling even at 700pm. I did well this time, though still a tad nervous. Not too many missteps. I was pleased when I walked in my room at 725pm. That’s faster than I can walk out of my office and drive home in Ohio. Not bad!

I took a few minutes to relax and freshen up before calling home. I talked with Mindy for about ten minutes catching up on each others days. Mindy shared some good airline rates she found for the upcoming weekend. Thinking of coming up already. I only shared that coming up so soon might not be the best plan given the rumors about our length of stay. I suggested she come up after 2-3 weeks, instead. She understood. The ambiguity of my situation is annoying Mindy. I am trying hard to simply roll with it. Not much I can do about it.

Agreed to call Mindy and the kids again after getting dinner. I took another five minutes to relax before heading out to get some food. I promised myself to go a different direction so I could see more of the city at night. I headed north on Lexington Avenue towards Central Park. Att totaled, I probably walked 20 blocks but in a big square, never straying too far from my temporary home. Popped in three or four deli-style shops looking over their offerings. Nothing seemed to tickle my fancy.

Sad to say, but I ended up back at McD’s getting another Angus burger with bacon and cheese. That sounded better than anything else available. I took a couple photos with my Droid, and texted one to Mindy and Ashley. Beautiful at night!

Headed back to the room where I quickly got into my flannel cut-offs then settled down to dinner. I watched some TV too. Happy to see that the stock market went up about 450 points. All the talk shows were squawking about it. Mindy called me back Around 9pm or just after. I talked with Mindy and Bella. Not sure where Jacob was.

Mindy asked that I call her back before going to sleep. After finishing my dinner I did some reading about strong field theory. Awesome stuff. Talked with Mindy briefly once more just before crawling into bed. Good night princess. Asleep by 945pm.

Long Day in the Big Apple

I woke just a couple minutes ahead of 430am, my self-assigned wake time. Ideally, I would’ve slept more soundly, but who controls that? I wish I did. Despite my body craving more sleep, I pulled myself from bed and made my way to the adjoining bathroom to start my day. I brushed my teeth and doused my eyes with drops.

I slipped into my running shoes then tucked my toes under the lip of the bed and whipped out 55 sit-ups and then 55 push-ups. I had only water available to drink – no coffee and no juice.

By 5am I was on my way to the fitness center to do the first treadmill run since my last trip to NYC way back in ‘99 or ’00. I was hopeful that at least one treadmill would still be available. Turns out, only one other was in use. I hopped aboard figuring out its operation on the fly. I started off slow just to get my blood flowing. I ran the first ¾ miles at a jog while I got used to the treadmills operation and features. Had no idea they have TVs built into the treadmill’s screen. They also have music as well as an iPod USB interface. Holy smoke! I used the TV, but having not brought any headphones., I couldn’t listen to the audio.

I kept upping my speed until I was running at 6.8 miles per hour or my usual 8’ 40” miles. I ran 5K or 3.2 miles in 30 minutes. I didn’t feel comfortable going longer. I was surprised at how quickly the time went, but also missed running outside. There wasn’t any way I wanted to run the streets of midtown Manhattan, let alone Central Park, in the dark.

The workout was a good one. Felt terrific. Back to the room I quickly got a shower. Found a few quirks in the bathrooms design. For one, only one of the shower’s glass doors slides. The one closest to the wall is fixed, meaning that one has to get in to turn on the shower. Guess what? You get wet.

The other is the ledge above the sink impedes on the space over the sink. Otherwise, the place looks exceptional with the neo modern design. I was showered dressed and ready to head out by 6am. I wore jeans and a black t-shirt. I checked and double checked to make sure I had everything I’d need. Yep, off I went.

I passed on the breakfast café at the hotel after reading the menu from the room. A pot of coffee was something like $12. I later learned that was for room service. I figured I’d get something once down by the office or the WTC. Off to the subway.

I passed the thru the turnstile gate but then thought better of taking Tina’s word alone. I asked one of NYC’s finest standing nearby how to get to the WTC. He told me the same as Tina – number 4 or 5 train. OK. I followed the confusing signage to the 4 train holding out hope I was going the right way. One quickly realizes that there are several off shoots –gates – to choose from.

First stop was 14^th St, then Brooklyn Bridge. I knew I was going the right way. My stop was next – Fulton St. Just like getting on, there isn’t clear signage pointing to the right exit to the street. I followed the masses and ended up on Church St, I think. But I was quickly able to identify with the landmarks, including Freedom Tower (the new WTC 1) building going up). Awesome! I felt goose bumps as I approached the quarantined WTC area. Construction blockades up all the way around it. Unfortunately, my destination was directly behind the WTC on West St. How to get over there efficiently was anybody’s guess. I had the option of going north or south around the barricades. I chose south, which was the long (wrong) way. The barricade forced me all the way to Battery park looking out over the river and out at the Statue of Liberty already gleaming in the gorgeous summer sunshine. That was sweet!

Quickly, I began to soak my black t-shirt with sweat. Nervous about getting to my destination, I decided to put my desire for coffee and food on the back burner. I simply wanted to get to my destination. I ended up having to cut through the World Financial Center  maze of buildings eventually asking for help from their security guards. Typical New Yorker. Wouldn’t give me a straight answer. Enjoyed the fact that I was lost. I played along realizing I needed him more than he needed me. His directions were too fast for me to comprehend. I made do and used my internal GPS.

I ended up going along the west river marina and finally around a park and running trail.  I could see the building I needed to get to but was still unsure. I eventually found my way. Making things even more tense were the raucous and rowdy strikers directly out front screaming at folks like me. I made little if nay eye contact and headed on inside. What a relief. I remembered needing to be on the 13^th floor. I rode the elevator up with any immediate recall of my temp supervisor’s name. As soon as I exited the elevator, someone asked me who I needed to see. While searching my Droid for the email, I uttered Shelly. Someone walked up and said likely Sheri, follow me. Yep, that was right.

I arrived at my destination at 657am – a whole 3 minutes early. J I wanted nothing more than some coffee and something substantial to eat. There was nothing. I was hoping after checking in I could run out, but no one else made any such gesture, though several were in the same shoes as I – without breakfast and coffee thus far.

After about an hour of intros we met the department director who promised some sort of breakfast and lunch moving forward. Wasn’t clear about that day, however. Around 1030-11am coffee and donuts were brought in. I practically knocked others over to get to it.

Rarely has coffee ever tasted so good. I ate a chocolate frosted donut too, and later had some donut holes. By the way, they were from Dunkin’ Donuts.  Spent a lot of time getting acclimated to systems and tools. Before we knew it, we were called to catered lunch – wraps, chips and soda. The wraps were exceptional I wasn’t even sure what was on the two I snatched up. I grabbed what I thought was a can of rootbeer but ended up being cream soda. Yuck! Hate that stuff.

Went back and snagged a can of Sprite Zero. Much better. Spent the afternoon in training getting a feel for the job at hand. Let’s just say that the experience was eye opening. Trained until 650pm when we headed back to our cubes and packed up for the day. I was tired and looking forward to getting back to my hotel and then getting some dinner. I was getting hungry again.

Several others were at my hotel but were cabbing it, afraid to subway. They quizzed me about it and said maybe tomorrow. Others were staying down in the financial district complained of nowhere to go after the business day. In fact, one of them said she was moving her hotel to ours. Liked the idea of being in midtown – shops, restaurants, etc.

I found my way to the subway easy enough, and certainly quicker than my way in that morning. Problem was, the signage was tricky – which train to take – uptown, downtown, both said train 4 and 5. As I stood on one side I got the feeling I needed to be on the other so I darted down the stairs, under the tunnel and over to the other side. While waiting on the train I asked a smart looking fellow. He said I needed to be where I was originally to head to midtown. Agh! I hurried back the way I came. I was in just as much of swat as I was earlier that morning.

The train was packed full, but I was immediately comfortable that I was on the right stopping first at Brooklyn Bridge and then 14st and finally Grand Central Station, or 42^nd St. But believe it or not, the crazy wasn’t yet over. Like I shared earlier, getting off at the right station is one thing, finding the exit from the maze of off shoots and tunnels is something else. I walked back and forth, I am sure looking like a lost idiot to some. Finally, I found my way out to 42^nd St just down the street from my hotel. Could see it within eye shot. I was discouraged that I couldn’t easily find the way I came on that morning without even going outside.

Instead of walking along the street which was bustling, I darted into Grand Central Station at first opportunity. That proved ridiculous too. Got turned around in there as well. What a butt head I was. Ended up on Park Avenue. Geesh! Back tracked to the hotel’s entrance.

I was never happier to be home. I hustled off to the room anxious to dump my gear, freshen up, call home, and then head out for more food and provisions. I was once again a sweaty mess – my once tight black t-shirt hanging off me loose and damp.

It was quickly approaching 8pm. Where had my day gone? I took a minute to regroup then phoned Mindy. We talked about my day first, me sharing my harrowing experiences on the subway system and then having difficulty finding my way to the office building. Oh boy! She in turn shared how her day at the zoo went off with the three of the four grand kids, our kids, and Lindsey. Sounds like a poke-a-stick-in-the-eye kind of experience.

Mindy expressed missing me. I missed her and the kids too, but was overwhelmed with the entire experience at hand as well. Understatement, I know -  Columbus is not Manhattan. J We chatted for about five minutes before I begged off to get dinner (NYC pizza). Promised to call back just after 9pm to so I could chat with Bella.

Headed out and down to the 2^nd pizza shop that one passes along 42^nd st walking west.  Found it the night before. They’re pizza looked awesome. There I bought two  extra-large slices of Sicilian style cheese pizza. After picking up some pizza I stopped at the carry-out a few store fronts down to get some Gatorade and snacks. I really intended on picking something up that could serve as breakfast too, but instead got only snacks – pita chips and jerky. Back to the room. I hurried along, now ready to eat the box the pizza came served in.

Not in my room five minutes, I was changed into my flannel shorts and eating my pizza rinsing it down with red Gatorade. AHHHH! I ate fast. Still hungry after woofing down the pizza, I ate some pita chips and jerky. Called Mindy and Bella. Talked with Bella right away. She was juiced and just finished with gymnastics. Said she bit her tongue. Very chatty. Said she was exhausted too. I talked with them until they were home and Bella handed the phone to Jacob. We chatted briefly, him sharing how crazy their zoo day was.  Mindy sounded somewhat sad, perhaps overwhelmed. She asked if she could call back before she heads to sleep. Of course.

It was approaching 930pm. I did a little reading then headed to bed with the TV on and tuned to the Discovery Channel. I watched passively for about 5-10 minutes but soon drifted off to sleep. I was dog tired. I think Mindy called around 10-1030pm. I was out of it. We chatted for just a minute. I begged off to sleep for what I hoped was the best sleep since last Thursday. Good night NYC!

yeah, yeah, yeah - NYC

I heard my blackberry ringing around 530am but by the time I realized what it was and reached for it, it stopped. I’d already gotten up once just after midnight, but at the time there was no word on my status. I decided to get up at 535am and go check my email and the message if any left on my blackberry.

I checked email first. Word was in. Heading to NYC. The news was like a jolt of caffeine – just the realization that I’d be leaving home and family for an undetermined amount of time.  I followed up by checking my blackberry VM, That was some much needed pleasant news. My flight to NYC had been moved from 11am to 140pm. That meant I could go back to sleep for a couple more hours. Yahoo!

I headed upstairs to bed, where Mindy was awake waiting on the news. She wasn’t happy but understood. I quickly followed up the deployment news with my flight delay. I ended up sleeping until 740am. That felt great and was much needed. Truth be told, had I not had so much on my mind relative to my trip, I would’ve slept even later.

I got up and made coffee and prepared for a run in a short amount of time. I checked email again just to make sure nothing had changed. It hadn’t. I left for a run at 830am. I ran just three miles in my spare running shoes, choosing not to leave my newer pair sweaty in my luggage.

It felt terrific to wake feeling well, and not hungover.  Mindy was awake shortly after I returned from my run. I was already in final prep mode organizing and packing portable electronics, chargers, and cables. Discussed the logistics of our day. We’d be leaving for the airport at 1145am.

After some coffee and all but finishing my packing, Mindy and I took a brief nap. We were expecting the kids home at 11am so Jimaken could go to some auto race (Mid-Ohio, I think).

We were both showered and ready by 11am. The kids arrived right on queue. Jacob was in and out in less than five minutes – off to play with Evan. Bella ran off too. I asked Mindy if they were coming with us to the airport. Jacob didn’t’ want to. Bella did. Time went quickly. It was time to leave for the airport. I was both a tad anxious and nervous.

I drove us to the airport. Traffic was a complete non-factor. Didn’t take 15 minutes door to gate. At the curb, Mindy, Bella and I shared a group hug and then a few  tears. Mindy and I haven’t spent much time apart at all. As I recall, just two days when she went to a funeral in DC a few years ago. And to be honest, I was nervous about the unknowns of being in Manhattan (getting to the hotel from the airport, riding the subway to work, etc.).

Moderate line at American airlines but it moved fast. No problems. To security.  Security went fast – full body scan. I was pulled aside for a more in-depth search after not removing my belt. Oh behave! A fella ran his finger around my waist just inside my trousers. Ewh!

Off to my gate – B32. As  I glanced in CBC as I passed by. Believe me, beer didn’t sound good at all. I immediately spotted a familiar face – Larry Chaffin – a former co-worker from CompuServe. Hadn’t seen Larry for 12 years, I’ll bet. We recognized one another right away. And it turned out, we were on the same flight to NYC, though he obviously for different reasons. He runs his own communications company now.

After he finished his sandwich and beer we met again at the gate. I quizzed him on the best way/means of getting to Manhattan from LaGuardia. He said taxi. Subway apparently doesn’t’ run there. His opinion was that I should’ve driven. J

Our seats were close too,. His right behind me in row 12. It was a small jet – just three seats across. We left on time and had a smooth flight into NYC. I was happy to be back on the ground. Think it was 315 when we landed.  I wished Larry well from the back of the plane. Didn’t see him again.

I was quick to baggage claim, and very surprised to find my suitcase already waiting by its lonesome – almost as if I were the last off. I later guessed that I might’ve been one of few with checked baggage.

Arranging transportation went one hell of a lot smoother than expected. I called Super Shuttle who said they be there to get me in 25 minutes or less. Said it would be $14. Sounded fair to me.  Not two minutes later a gut stepped inside the door and called my name. Shuttle waiting. Cool!

I got the last seat on the shuttle into Manhattan. Must’ve been about 12-15 passengers aboard. Heard one guy on the phone belly aching to his listener about how long he’d been waiting. I felt good as we approached Manhattan. Texted mindy some pics. Of the skyline. Promised to call once in my hotel. I was fortunate. Shuttle dropped me first. Grand Hyatt at Grand Central Station – 42nd St & Lexington Ave in Mid-Town. Nice!

I was checked in and on my way to my corner room on the 17^th floor by 4pm. So far, very efficient. The room was nicer than I expected, which is always nice. I got my gear stowed quickly and then took a break and called Mindy. They were just getting ready to head to dinner at Olive Garden in Grove City with her mom, Olivia, niece, sister, and brother-n-law. Said my dad agreed to go along too. Hmm? That was nice.

We chatted only briefly, me very eager to get some food and then scope out the subway access as well as the rest of my immediate surroundings. I freshened up then headed to the lobby concierge’s desk. Tina, I think, she was very helpful – very friendly and nice. Assured me just how easy getting to the subway would be. Didn’t even need to leave the hotel. Really? That’s why it’s called the Grand Hyatt. She advised that since I’d be staying for so long, she was there to help in any capacity.

I had to take some stairs and then a few turns where I ended up in the heart of Grand Central Station. Awesome, beautiful, ornate- bustling too. I followed the directions taking my time to remember my steps (lots of turns and stairs). Eventually made my way to the credit card kiosk Tina told me about. She recommended I but the week long pass for $29. That would get me unlimited use for the week. Said I’d take the 4 or 5 train to WTC come morning. Cool. I bought the pass without a problem. I was half tempted to take a ride downtown to the WTC area right then but decided not. I felt pretty good about where I needed to go.

I felt good having my travel bearings. Now it was time to get some much needed sustenance. I walked along

42^nd St between Park Ave, 5^th Ave, and eventually Madison Ave.   Got a photo of the Chrysler building with the sunshine gleaming off it. Don’t ask me why, but I opted for some McDonald’s in lieu of all the yummy NYC pizza shops I passed. I just wanted something fast and familiar. I got a heart attack combo (bacon cheese burger). :)

 

Food in hand, I headed back to the hotel and my room. On my way, I stopped by to ask Tina another question. How to find the fitness center. Easy – floor 24 – all to itself. Thanks! Before going to my room I checked out the fitness center. I figured as much initial reconnaissance I could do ahead of time the less stressed I’d be come morning.

Fitness center isn’t huge but very nice. Looked like about 8 treadmills. I didn’t bother going in. Just peered in through the window. Back to my room to devour my food. After eating my McD’s combo meal, I  logged on ,my laptop looking for a wireless connection. Turns out, the hotel charges $10 per day. Not sure if it’s reimbursable per company policy, I didn’t’ buy. Instead, I found a rogue wireless network and used that connection for a while. I tuned the TV to the Discovery Channel eager to watch the 8pm program with Steven Hawkins addressing the ‘God’ question. Bella said she was gonna watch too.

Called Mindy right before 8pm to see how dinner went. Said it went off fine. Everybody had a nice time.  We talked for a while with me eventually begging off for some reading, TV, and bed. I was exhausted and expected to getting up at 430am to accommodate exercise, a run, shower, and subway ride. Needed to be at the office by 7am. Good night Frank!

Not Pretty

I woke just after 7am slightly tired but otherwise fine. I slept soundly, too.  However, by the time I brushed my teeth and got downstairs I began feeling a little nauseous.  Suddenly, nothing sounded better than the sofa. I went horizontal in a hurry.

As with most hangovers, it was a struggle getting back asleep, but eventually did. I slept until 830am when I got up for a second time and readied for a run. I didn’t really feel that much better but the idea of a looming run was too much to take. I needed to get it over with.

I headed out around 845am feeling rough. But like the handful of other times I’ve run under similar conditions, I was quickly able to shake off my ill ways. At the outset my face felt almost numb. I also knew that I’d almost certainly feel like crap once back at home. After a three mile run that was the case.

The sweating felt great. Needed to rid my body of the toxins. Back at home I toweled off the sweat and then found the sofa for another round of shut eye. Sleep was hard to come by. At some point I got up and took 2 or 3 more Advil. I didn’t have a headache, but didn’t want one either.

Mindy woke near 11am. I remained awake but stayed on the sofa. I acknowledged her presence and shared how bad I felt. She quizzed me on Friday night’s antics. I had only vague recollection of the last hour. Don’t recall going to bed.

Mindy eventually brought me a Tagament to help ease my upset stomach. I did little good. Felt like crap most of the day. Mindy opted out of yoga for waking so late. She expressed disappointment in me for feeling so bad, because it was self-inflicted. After all, this was our last day together for a while with me slated to ship off to NYC Sunday morning.

She was right, but there wasn’t a thing I could do about it after the fact. I did my best to be productive. I headed out to cut the lawn even though it was one of the last things I wanted to do. Not only was I hungover, but it was 90 degrees too.

I cut the entire front and about half of what I cut in the back before I was overcome by the heat and nausea. I headed inside in a cold sweat. And after toweling off did more sofa diving. At some point Mindy suggested I drink some Gatorade. I doubted it would help but tried it anyway. Hell, I had nothing to lose, and I’d been sucking down the ice water with little relief.

I drank it warm. And miraculously it made a big difference, and almost immediately, too.

While cooling off inside, quick but fairly strong downpour struck. Lasted about ten minutes. I left the mower out and exposed to the rain. I didn’t bother going out to move it.

After the rain I headed out to finish the lawn. Took no more than five minutes to finish the push mowing, and the tractor piece was easy. I decided to keep going and whacked, edged and blew. Wasn’t long before I felt like crap again. Ugh!

Took a break after finishing the lawn but then headed right back out back to take care of the two drooping walnut branches needing pruned. For the first time, I used the 14’ pruning pole/saw I bought new back in May.

Mindy came out and watched me work. I was feeling marginally better after guzzling some more Gatorade. Hmmm? Feeling good about getting those two large branches pruned, I decided to go ahead and spray the weed in the lawn too, yet another task that I haven’t found the time to do thus far this summer – latest ever. Didn’t really have many that warranted attention until recently. But at the present, they’re getting out of control.

I ended up using almost 3 gallons of a 4 gallon batch. That’s a lot of spraying. Used a lot on the morning glory/ivy.

Now around 5pm, Mindy once again expressed frustration over me being hungover She was looking forward to a date night. I agreed to give it a go, but knew it would have to be an early night and nothing too wild. My stomach was uneasy and queasy. After a shower I felt even better. More than anything, I needed a rock solid night of sleep. Nothing else would do.

Mindy wanted to dine at Milestone 229. We left around 630 – 700pm. I drove. Just thinking about being the passenger left me nauseous. We took position at the outdoor bar. Thinking back, that was probably a mistake. The AC felt far better inside, but it was crowded inside. The exterior bar wasn’t, at least when we first arrived. It eventually filled up too, though.

I drank only ice water. More than once, Mindy expressed sadness over my Sunday departure, though it wouldn’t be 100% certain until sometime after midnight.  We simply enjoyed the time we had the best we could. We enjoyed some pretzel bread and then personal entrees. I had their ‘Three Little Pigs’ while Mindy had their salmon. We both agreed that our dinners were just OK. Lacked superior taste – kind of bland. The presentation alone was top notch.

With a belly full of food, I was eager for home and eventually bed. I was tired. Took a while to get our check and then get it settled. We headed for home around 8 – 830pm. I drove home. My mom called while in transit home to wish me a safe trip home.

We weren’t in the door ten minutes before I rushed off to bed, but not before checking my email looking for direction regarding NYC. Nothing. I told Mindy I’d get up just after midnight to check again. She suggested I simply check again in the AM. As bad and as tired as I felt, I couldn’t easily fall asleep. Go figure!

Sleep finally befell me. Thank God!

Too Much Good Stuff

Up around 715am

Mindy up ahead of me and in the shower. Taking Ashley to OSU dental

Brush my teeth and head downstairs while Mindy showers

Exercise : sit-ups / push-ups

Cloudy – warm – 74 degrees

Ashley shows up at 740am. Says OSU website says they’re taking only 10 patients this day (usually take 40).

Mindy & Ashley leave at 750am

Play on the internet while enjoying coffee until 845am. Talk with Mindy via cell phone. Says to leave the kids a note about being on a run

Run 3 miles – sunny warm

Home / Kids still asleep

Mindy texts. Still waiting. Will cost as much as $1300 for the entire process. She pays $180 that day.

Bella up around 10am. Plan to go to breakfast as soon as Jacob wakes

He doesn’t wake until almost 11am. Collectively, we decide to do lunch instead. Select Big Fat.

Mindy calls, says not taking Ashley back until noon. Will be a while.

Inform Jacob that we’re both getting our haircut while out – before or after. He elects after lunch.

Arrive at Big Fat at 1110am. Just opened.

Alex is our server. Jacob orders scallops, me a Gyro, Bella pasta with parmesan (no sauce).

Lunch good – pricey $39 b4 tip.

Too Mill Run Great Clips

Kenny calls. Can’t get away to golf. Crap!

All three of us sign up for cuts, Bella just her ends cut. She goes first, then Jacob. Me last. $33 for all three b4 tip.

Home – Mindy still at OSU. Kids head out to play. Mindy home around 230pm.

Mindy walks down to Teri & Mike’s to see kids. Gone just a few minutes. I read and nap. Take it easy. Thought about cutting the grass, but decide to postpone.

Spend some time napping and writing before kids leave with Jimaken for the weekend. Kids give big hugs. May not see them for a couple/few weeks.

Mindy and I plan to go to Barley’s.. Not heading out until 7pm. Time went fast. Mindy sends broadcast text to our peeps.

Arrive to a semi-full lot. We park out in the adjacent lot to protect the Accord.

Hooked up with old pal, Doug H already sitting at the bar. He’d been there for a while.

Did a Green Flash, West Coast IIPA to start. Good. Moved to Centennial IPA after. Met Troy who was sitting next to Doug. His wife is a dentist with a new practice in Lincoln Village - Murray Hill Dental Care.

Mindy’s school peep, Phyllis arrived. Strangely, she new Troy somehow. Small world.

Bob I. showed up too. Begged me to sing. Well, OK, Bob, but only for you.

Later, brother Tommy showed up. He and I sang and drank. Oh boy! Steve Wonn was there too. Before long ,I sporting a darn good beer buzz.

Darwin arrived late as I recall, The rest of the evening got a bit foggy from there forward. I had two too many beers. This I readily admit.  April kept them coming out of the view of Mindy. I’ll bet I had 6 or 7 all totaled.

Had fun. Mindy left me there. I apparently made arrangements to ride home with Darwin. Only stayed an additional 10 minutes, or long enough to finish my current beer. I was buzzzzzzzzzzzed!

And while I didn’t remember early Saturday,. Pat & Lisa Shultz were at the house when I got home. They were just leaving. Honestly, I don’t remember much more. Good night Barley peeps.

Ire of the Tiger

I was  up at 530am, yet despite a healthy night's sleep I was craving more. That wasn't to be, however. I needed to get moving. I headed downstairs where I quickly started sit-ups then spent 5 or 10 minutes on the computer. No immediate threat of storms but a chance of rain later in the day. Expecting a high near 90. Saw the Reds dropped another one run game. That's been their achilles heel this entire season.

After push-ups I poured coffee and returned to the PC for another 10 minutes. I checked some work email as well as that from home. Read the Daily OM, too. After meditation and a stretched I prepared for a run. It was 640am when I headed out the door.

It was comfortable and cloudy. I ran the full 4.1 mile route without incident. Felt good and went quickly. I was back at home near 720am and started prepping lunch and breakfast right away. I looked for a salad but found nothing. I decided to skip a salad and go with tuna instead. I had a couple packets in my office. I cut up some cheese and packed some fruit. I made a spinach and cheese omelet using an italian blend of shredded cheese. I sprinkled in some real bacon bits too. It was superb!

With Mindy's coffee in hand, I headed upstairs. Gave her a hug then hurried off to shower. Ready by 8am. Mindy stayed in bed. Had nothing on the agenda. She sounded thrilled to have nowhere to be after a week of running here and there.

I left for work at 810am. It was a pleasurable drive in. Short - just seven miles. Got settled in fairly quickly. Felt good to be back in my regular digs. I wrote out a to-do list that included a number things I needed to address just in case I'd be leaving for NYC Sunday morning. Yeah, I was a tad nervous about that.

I kept real busy all day long, a day that included two meetings via conference bridge. I didn't leave for lunch, but did take some time to write, so it would be fair to say I took about an hour out for myself. I had a brief chat with my boss. He's been running around like a crazy person all week. I learned that, like me, he's taking Friday off. I had to prepare for that as well.

The day moved along quickly. Don't think I had a chance to chat with Mindy all day. Took me a while to get my OOO set up. I was very happy to have Friday off. I gave Mindy a call once I was on the road for home. She said the kids went skating with the neighbors but were already back and off again to have dinner with Jimaken. She did some laundry but not much else. We planned to have dinner at Barley's.

Mindy wasn't pleased when I shared my desire to golf on Friday afternoon. She felt because I leave on Sunday that I should spend my day off with she and the kids.  I argued that I need some play time before a potential long string of 12 hours work days. After all, I haven't been water skiing and/or going to Zoombezi Bay like they have all summer. Plus, I'd be spending the entire morning with the kids while she takes Ashley to OSU for a root canal. We ended our phone conversation just as I pulled into the subdivision.

As soon as I walked in the house I offered an alternative - that I could just as easily golf Saturday. Mindy quickly agreed that was better. I was fine with that, too - It's all about laying the ego aside and finding the third alternative. After all, I am a problem solver.

I was eager to get out of my monkey suit and into cooler casual attire. I changed into shorts and a t-shirt, brushed my teeth, and rounded up my personal electronics before heading off to Barley's. Barley's sounded really good.

Arrived to a parking lot about 3/4s full. Not bad for a Thursday. The bar, however, very sparsely populated. As she generally does, Mindy stopped to chat with her peeps on the patio. I headed inside. Save for three or four stools taken, the bar was wide open. I chose stools facing west. Mindy asked that we take the end two. Janet was tending bar and served us the 'usuals', me a Centennial and Mindy a Pint of Joe.

We talked at length with April, who was serving tables around back. We also chatted with Zack, one of the newer managers. His girlfriend works at CBC. We also talked with Justin asking if he's heard from Diedra. Guess she's not doing too well.

Saw that Tiger Woods shot a -2 under par 68 at the Bridgestone right up the road in Akron. His first tour appearance in 2.5 months. Hope he keeps it close. I ordered the Thursday special, smoked reuben. Mindy ordered the tuna steak with veggies. Didn't take long. The reuben was superb. Mindy said her perfectly square tuna steak was tasty too. I had a 2nd Centennial.

Weren't there that long. Left shortly after the kids called advising that they were already at our place waiting with their dad. Wasn't even 745pm. Mindy gave Jimaken permission to go in through the garage.

Once home, the kids ran off and out to play. Mindy shared that Chrissy was having a bad day. First, she had to leave work to take Lillian to the emergency room for an Xray after falling while roller skating, and then, she had no sooner pulled in the garage at home when she received a call that her dad suffered a stroke. Off to the hospital once again. Kenny was home with the kids. Enjoying the idea that I didn't have to work Friday, I poured another beer - a CBC IPA -  and headed down to chat with Kenny.

Jacob was down at Evan's. Saw me heading towards Kenny's. Waved me down telling me that Kenny was at Mike & Teri's. I headed over there instead. They were all inside sitting down to dinner - tacos. I joined them, though didn't eat. I was full from dinner. We chatted for a while before Mindy eventually came over. Said Bella was still bummed and sitting at home alone, apparently upset about my almost certain trip to NYC. Once we all headed out to the patio, I walked down to chat with Bella. Did my best to cheer her up. Poured another beer, too, only this time a Hop Wallop.

Bella said she wanted to stay back and watch TV. But once the girls caught wind that she was home alone, they all headed down to pull her out of her funk. She finally joined the rest of us down at Mike & Teri's. Chrissy came down, too, once she got home from the hospital. She gave us an update on her dad. Apparently doing a lot better. Talking normal even.

It was near 930pm when we called it a night and headed for home. Mosquitoes were getting ferocious. Kenny and I talked about golfing Friday afternoon after Mindy had a change of heart.

At home I tuned to another DVR'd Science Channel program, Wonders of the Solar System. Everybody else headed off to bed. Next thing I knew I woke on the sofa around 1030pm and headed up for bed. I tucked in Bella and Jacob. Mindy was still awake reading. Good night Brain Cox.

Mashed Potatoes & Graviton (rough start to my day)

I was up at 532am. I really wanted to sleep longer but knew I needed to get up and get moving. I remember hearing the irrigation system running while at the same time hearing the slight rumble of thunder and the pitter-patter of rain on the roof. I considered the merit in getting up and disabling the irrigation system but thought better of it. For one, it costs on average, $2 a day to run it. And two, I had no idea how brief or how hard it was raining. I quickly let go of the thought and returned to sleep.

By the time I brushed my teeth and was in the kitchen it was 540am. It was raining, but only lightly. I fetched my exercise shoes then headed to the living room where I whipped out 55 sit-ups. That woke me up for good.

Before moving on to push-ups, I spent some time online checking the weather. According to the radar, we were about to get hit with a pretty decent thunder storm moving in from the NW. And as fate would have it, it looked like the worst of it would hit right around 630am, or the time of my run.

I completed push-ups then got some coffee. The storm now overtop of us, I decided to hunker down and wait it out by spending the time on my PC. There wasn’t any way I was running in it. It looked like it might clear in about 30 minutes. I used the time to write Tuesday’s blog. I stopped around 645am and did both stretching and meditation. Both went well. The only problem with a storm delay was that this was my offsite work day. I didn’t really want to be late to my customer’s site. They might get the wrong impression of my time management skills. 

It’s absolutely crazy how many runs have either been delayed or completed in thunderstorms this summer. I’ve gone years without having to contend with thunderstorms.

The storm didn’t let up enough to safely run until 710am. By then I was more than ready to go. I really had no choice but to trim my run back to three miles in order to get some time back. And even then I’d still find myself well behind the eight ball.

I ran three miles comfortably. It was really nice out – cloudy and 74 degrees. As you might expect, worked up quite a sweat. Wasn’t back at home until 745am, and by the time I enjoyed breakfast and packed a lunch, it was already well past 8am.

I took Mindy some coffee and quickly got a shower and groomed myself. I looked good! By the time I finished prep, Mindy was already up, had the bed made, and was downstairs milling about the kitchen. She and the kids were headed to the fair. The cloudy cover was probably a good thing in that respect.

I checked, then double checked, to make sure I had everything I needed to work remotely. I even made sure I had some plastic ware with me so I could eat my packed lunch. I left the house around 830am.

No sooner had I jumped on the freeway when traffic came to snails crawl, the back up as far as the eye could see. Crap! Had I known, I would’ve taken I-270 around to the North and east. It took 45 minutes to get to I-670 and 315. Still no end in site, I took the opportunity to bail and headed north on rt 315 all the way to I-270 then around. I called Mindy to advise her to go a different route on their way to the fair. 

Once on 315 I made good time and arrived at my destination at 930am. Had to get a temp badge, but the paperwork was already approved to get a ‘real’ badge. Was getting settled in when I realized I’d forgotten my laptop power cord and mouse. Crap! No, double crap! Inside I was enraged. I called Mindy asking for a big favor. I asked if she would be so kind to bring it to me in route to the fair. She happily agreed. I begged for a delay to our 10am meeting.

To make matters worse, they hadn’t gotten my phone line activated. I had to use my blackberry all day. While waiting on Mindy, I headed to security to get my permanent access badge, which involved having my photo taken. Five minutes later I was official.

 I called Mindy when I figured she should be close. She’d just turned into the campus. Sweet. I walked out to meet her. Bella was quick to want a hug and kiss. Mindy handed me my gear in a large Ziploc. I felt a sense of relief. Up till then, it had been a rough morning.

We delayed our meeting until 11am. I got myself logged on just in time, actually a couple minutes late. The meeting went about 45 minutes. We agreed to get together to discuss some carry over matters after lunch. Perfect. I was eager to take my lunch and head to the Easton Golf Galaxy. Actually hoped to get there last Wednesday but it didn’t happen.

Felt good to get away. Must’ve been about 1230pm. I was looking for a 5 Rescue wood or possibly a regular 5-wood to match my others. Being a lefty, they never have many on hand. They might have 20-25 of the club I want in a righty, but then just one or two in a lefty, and that’s if they have it at all.

They didn’t have the 5 Rescue but did have the 5 fairway wood. It was pricier than the Rescue but would serve me well. Besides, I don’t plan on being in the rough that much anyway, which is what the Rescue is really intended for. I nabbed the lone Taylormade lefty 5-wood. With my coupon and gift card, it cost me only $20. That’s a steal. I felt good about it, anyway.

Really wanted some gum. Didn’t have any in my back pack. I headed just up the road another ¼ miles to Wal-Mart. Yikes! Scary crowd. I wanted only a 3-pack of my favorite gum – Eclipse – Polar Ice. I was in the 15 items or less line again. Oh boy! A nice lady with about ten items suggested I go in front of her. I thanked her for her kindness. I didn’t get the impression that she would eat me either. J

Ashley called just as I was walking in the building from lunch. Said she had some good news. At first I couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic or for real.  She was for real. Dr Monfort emailed that he would be eating the entire cost of fixing her lower bite. Then, if braces end up being needed on the top bite afterwards, he’ll only charge $300. However, she’ll be responsible for the cost of removable retainers. And as I understood it, all totaled, her maximum out-of-pocket would be about $750. That’s more than fair, and a huge load off my mind. My baby needs her bite fixed/restored.

 Back at the office, I met with the customer’s leadership team to discuss a couple pending issues more in-depth.  Stayed busy all afternoon. Time flew by. I was determined to leave around 5pm in order to get home as close to my normal time as possible. That was a success. I left just after 5pm.

To avoid the downtown traffic, I decided to take I-270 around to the north and west. Wise choice. It may be a few miles longer but a lot faster.  I was home by 535pm. I’ll need to keep track of my mileage for reimbursement purposes. About 36 miles more than my regular commute to and from.

Mindy and the kids weren’t yet home from the fair but were in route. Mindy called just as I was exiting the freeway. While home alone, I quickly managed thru my few everyday chores. The house smelt terrific. There was something cooking in the crock-pot. I never did check what it was. I walked Eiknarf for the first time on a weekday after work in a long, long time. She only peed. I wasn’t back home too long before Mindy and the kids arrived.

Mindy quickly transitioned to dinner prep. Said we were having chicken enchiladas. While she worked on dinner I worked on editing a couple blog entries. Dinner was ready by 600pm. The enchiladas were scrumptious and far better than the last batch she made. Everything was better – the meat, the taste and amount of sauce. I had only a half serving to start but then returned for another. Kids seemed to like it too.

During dinner the kids talked about their day at the fair. Said they had a good time, but were hard pressed to recall what they enjoyed most. Ate lots of fair food, caught some fish, and rode three rides: the giant slide, sky ride, and the carrousel. Nothing jumped out to either kids when I asked what was the most fun. For me, it was NOT going. J

Kids ran off to play while I did clean-up. Mindy immediately went into her WW online to update her daily points. Sounds like she used her weekly allotment of bonus points at the fair. After clean-up I headed upstairs to change into comfy sleeping attire. Downstairs I did a little reading and took a nap. All totaled, that was about an hour. Woke around 815pm after the girls - Bella and her peeps -  were making lots of noise.

Once awake, I decided to pour a beer, a Hop Wallop. Mindy and I sat on the deck for a while, or until the mosquitoes started biting. Mosquitoes aside, it was a nice evening to site outside. Not too hot.

Now almost 9pm, I decided to watch another episode of Through the Worm Hole that I DVR'd Sunday night. Turns out, I’d seen part of the episode before, but this time I was fully conscious. J This one was about the merge of quantum theory with general relativity. Cool stuff! The kids were off to their rooms by 930pm. Jacob had neighbor Evan spending the night. Think they were watching a movie. Mindy headed to bed around 930pm too. I stayed up till the show was over, and then tuned into another live version of the same program but different episode. I managed to stay awake until 1030pm. Time for bed. Good night Albert!

Durban Beach

I was up about ten minutes late but didn't allow that to alter my morning routine in any way. It was a mostly cloudy start but still fairly warm - 72 degrees at 545am.  The forecast called for partly sunny skies and temps in the upper 80s. By comparison, a cool day if you can believe it.

I completed sit-ups and later push-ups. In between I checked weather, headlines, and email. I enjoyed coffee between 555 & 610am, or just ahead of meditation and stretching. Both of those went well. I had a better outlook on life and the day ahead, certainly far better than the evening before.

I prepared and left for a run around 640am. I ran the full 4.1 miles track encountering the usual cast of characters; the red head that walks her toy Manchester and the old sluggish runner I pass each morning, as well as a few others. The run went well and only helped get my mind back on the right track.  I was home before I knew it and ready for some eggs.

I preheated a skillet while I prepped cheese fruit to go along with the salad Mindy prepared for me the evening before. I made a cheese and spinach omelet, the first in a few days. It was delicious. Instead of half an English muffin, I ate one of those croissants from the Market District along with the usual fresh fruit.

I was off to the shower by 740am. I took Mindy a cup of coffee. I knew she had a doctor's appointment and also planned to lunch with her mom. What I didn't know was at what time. Turns out, the appointment wasn't until afternoon. She was in no hurry to get up and out of bed. It's that time of the year that she and the kids need to start thinking about getting up a little earlier. School begins in three weeks.

I shaved and showered and was ready just before 8am. Mindy asked if I had time for coffee. Yeah, I figured I had 5-10 minutes. She joined me downstairs and quickly asked if we could spend it on the deck. I gave my pat answer - no. Too warm and humid. It was once again very sultry, the humidity around 85%. I didn't want to sweat up my work attire.

I vented and whined about a couple work related matters as well as Ashley's ortho debacle. I just needed to get some of that stuff off my chest. It worked. I felt better heading out the door. Mindy said she'd call later. I wished her well at her cardio appointment. She's been worried lately, get this, because her blood pressure has been almost normal without taking her meds. Her pulse has been fairly low too. I assured her that it was a good sign and mostly likely the outcome from being around me. :)  Off to work.

It was a sunny drive into the office, although there were lingering gray clouds hanging low in the sky, but none that looked threatening. Once at work, I got settled in fairly quickly. My boss responded favorably to my email request for Thursday or Friday off. Talking with Mindy later, Friday sounded like the better option. She & the kids had a fair day planned for Thursday.

I took a couple impromptu online technical training courses during the day. three hours worth. I was interested in both topics, but not sure I got the level of understanding I hoped for taking prerecorded online classes. But at least I got some initial exposure.

I ate my lunch from my desk. My boss and his peer from Cincy sprung for pizza. Not sure what the occasion was. I thanked them for the offer but remained in my office using what would be considered my lunch hour writing, eating and working.

Mindy called a couple times around the lunch hour, once on her way to her doctor's appointment and the another time on her way back. She was excited to share what her cardiologist told her. She need not come back unless symptoms return. Said her heart is fine and her numbers all normal. Shouldn't need blood pressure meds any longer either. That's great news!  Advised that her feeling somewhat lethargic and the fact that her blood pressure was low (normal)  were unrelated.

I figured to be home on time. Saw nothing coming that would keep me late. To that end, I prepared to leave the office just after 5pm. I think it was 510pm when I packed my stuff and headed for home. I called my mom for the first time in a couple weeks once I was on the road. Said she got a call from my dad sharing that his knee replacement surgery was cancelled. Said something about having an appointment for her own knee coming soon. I guess she doesn't want dad to get all the attention. :)

Seemed to be doing good. Also mentioned hearing from Tommy the other night. Maybe those two have put their feud behind them. One can only hope.  Shared that I may be leaving for NYC Sunday morning. That made her nervous. Thinks of it as crime ridden. We ended our call as I neared home.

Arrived home just before 530pm. Mindy was busy watering the flowers on the deck. Had dinner cooking on the stove, too - pasta and salad. We discussed dinner earlier. I shared that I would in all likelihood skip the pasta and eat only a salad. Pasta tends to put me in a coma, especially right after work.

Jacob was being extra nice, turns out he wanted something. Asked if I would buy him a quad (think four wheeler). Neighbors Emily & Evan each have one and ride them in their yard and then back in the honeysuckle forest. I later learned he had asked Mindy earlier, but she sent him to me. My first instinct was to give him an emphatic no, but then stopped myself and said _maybe.

Of course he kept after me about it through dinner. I clarified further that I wouldn't be deciding that night or anytime real soon. They're very dangerous, you know. Told him he'd know my answer about the time he'd be driving a car. : ) I caved and decided to have a small portion of pasta - about half of what Bella was served. I was satisfied fully with my dinner.

After dinner the kids bolted out to play with friends. Mindy and I managed clean-up. After changing into my comfy clothes I once again slipped into the family room chair to do some reading. It was 710pm. I read and napped for about an hour. I woke still sleepy, and with Mindy asking me to join her on the deck. I couldn't even move I was so tired. She wasn't too pleased.

I eventually got a second wind and tuned the TV to the Science Channel after remembering I had recorded two episodes of Through the Worm Hole late Sunday night on the DVR. The first episode was awesome, about man's quest for eternal life and recent scientific advances towards that end. Lots of cool science out there right now, with many experts believing we'll have the ability to extend life to 200 years and beyond perhaps within the next 25 years.

The episode was over by 910pm. Jacob was chomping at the bit to watch their latest Harry Potter DVD purchase. That interested me none. While he and Mindy settled in to watch that, I took to my blog adding photos to the weekend's entries. It must've been around 940pm when I slipped upstairs to bed. Bella was in her room watching TV. I went to tuck her in and chat. She doesn't care for Harry Potter either. But to be clear, it's not that I don't like it. Instead, I just don't want to O.D. on it. Bella was watching Shark Week on the Discovery Channel . I watched about 5 minutes of it with her before tucking her in and heading to bed.

I turned on our bedroom TV to use as a sleep aid. Bella soon joined me. She told me what channel to tune into to catch the rest of Shark Week. Watched for a while. Interesting stuff. Ended up watching even after Mindy joined me in bed. She wasn't super keen to the idea, worried about nightmares. We watched until I could take no more. I'm guessing it was approaching 11pm when I let her steal the remote and turn it off.

7 down 5 to Go

I slept well and woke at 428am, and just a minute or two before the irrigation system kicked on. I was brushing my teeth when it kicked on. Man, was it loud! I heard Mindy toss and turn from bed just then. She complains of the irrigation system frequently. I gathered my running hat and shorts then headed downstairs.

Despite being up a full hour early, I felt pretty darn good. It was clear outside, plenty of stars to stare at overhead. The forecast said it would get as cool as 66 degrees but when I checked the weather it got no cooler than 72. I hit the go button on the coffee maker then started calisthenics. My routine was the same as any other work day, just a full hour ahead of schedule to facilitate meeting Ashley at her 720am ortho appt.

I did everything I usually do, including meditation and stretching. I was ready for my run slightly ahead of 530am, which any other day I would’ve just been getting out of bed. It was completely dark when I headed out the door with just a hint of daybreak on the eastern horizon.

I happened upon a couple other runners who I never see at my usual time. It was kind of nice running in the dark for a change. I was back at home by 610am and ready to make my lunch and cook my breakfast. Mindy made me a salad the night before. I cut up some cheese, threw together a container of fruit, and took the last good banana. Had three old ones needing pitched still hanging around.

I fried two eggs for breakfast and washed them down with a big glass of OJ along with  some freshly cut fruit. Off to the shower.

I was heading upstairs without coffee, but then rethought my thinking. Figured that despite the early hour, Mindy would almost certainly still want some.  I didn’t shave all weekend so that was an absolute. Started making shower racket right away. I was ready to got by 650am. I wanted to be out of the house by 7am to make to Ashley’s appointment on time.

I said goodbye to Mindy from bed. She promised to keep me apprised of the developments with my dad’s knee surgery that was scheduled for mid-day. Just before leaving, I made sure that Ashley hadn’t called or sent me a text. Nothing since confirming the appointment the night before. I quickly loaded up all my gear and headed out.

I arrived at Dr Monfort’s office by 715am. Ashley was already there and waiting in her car.  I could see that she had Olivia with her. I was a little worried that she might be unruly inside. Wasn’t sure what to expect. She was happy to see me. We all three walked in together. Olivia sat on her momma’s lap. Eventually explored the play room, which has only books and chairs.

Called us back around 730am, or ten minutes later than our scheduled appointment. Dr Monfort and Janice greeted Olivia, then jumped into the business at hand. Dr Monfort asked Ashley a series of predictable questions about when she noticed her teeth moving and then shared what he thought needed to happen to fix the problem. He had photos of the finished product from 7-8 years ago and used the models they took last week to show what’s since changed. Aside from the most obvious issue, the extreme shift of her lower register of front teeth, he pointed out that her upper molars on one side have seemingly shifted inside the lowers. He then went on for a minute or two about how he was unsure how to fee the correction. He assured Ashley that it wasn’t her fault, but took no blame himself either. He also pointed out the cavity in her upper molar, the one Ashley's having addressed this Friday at OSU. Must be huge for him to catch it/see it in the impression models. Said that needs addressed before any braces on those teeth. His preference was by a professional, not a student.

He shared that normal fees for the correction would be around $6K and then told Ashley that her root canal and crown could easily be another $2500. I think he was just trying to impress upon her the investment. She began to cry. The room grew silent while Ashley collected herself. He didn’t tell her that she would have to pay that much. He said he wants to discuss it with his billing specialist and fee it fairly. In my mind he should take full accountability for the lower teeth. He took Ashley’s email address and promised to send her an email with his decision. In the meantime, he set up an appointment to have the lower teeth braced on Aug 11 at his Arlington office. Said that it won’t be a full set. Instead, just here and there. Some even on the back side if I understood correctly.

Before we left, I asked about removing my permanent retainer. Said to set up an appointment. Hmm? Last time he said he’d have it done the next time we were in. Pat at the reception desk said they just had a cancellation and could do it then. Ashley & Olivia headed out. I stayed behind. Barb removed my retainer and then took molds for a removable, which I hadn’t previously considered. I’d have to shell out another $220 for that. I almost balked at the idea, but then thought better of it. I should get it. It would be so nice to have the permanent retainer removed, but at what cost? I want straight teeth.  I paid for the removable.

Said it would be ready in two weeks. I shared that I would likely be in NYC on that date so we moved it out yet another week. See ya in 3 weeks. It was 825am when I left for work.

My office isn’t too far from Dr Monfort’s place. Just a few miles.  I was there by 840am and settled in a few minutes later. Talked with Mindy around 10am. Said Bob updated facebook that Dad was already in surgery prep. Promised to provide more updates as they flowed in.

Meanwhile, work was moving at a leisurely pace. Nothing crazy going on. That was nice after last week’s frenetic pace and then the weekend I had on-call. I planned to ask my boss for comp time for the weekend’s hours. Not sure the time when I talked with Mindy again, but she shared that my dad’s surgery was cancelled due to extra low potassium levels. No further information. Better safe than sorry.

I didn’t bother taking a formal lunch break. Had no pressing errands. I ate my packed lunch around 145pm and did a little writing too. I finally remembered to call the car detail guy that Germain recommended to ask about his window tinting pricing and options compared to Ziebart, who is very close to home, but scheduling 3-4 weeks out. Matt answered after a couple rings. Turns out, his pricing is pretty much right on par with Ziebart, and he quoted a 2.5 week lead time. Add to that, his location is very inconvenient (Indianola & Morse Rd) and would need to keep the car all day. I thanked him for the information. Sounds like Ziebart will be a far better option.

My afternoon got a little busier but still well under control. I left for home around 530pm. Arrived home a short time later. Despite a sunny forecast, the skies looked to be threatening rain from the north. It wasn’t long after I got home that a small storm blew in and dumped wind, rain and lightning on us. Unlike Friday, it moved through fast – a narrow band moving through quickly.

Mindy and the kids had a busy day. Went to the grocery and cleaned the fridge top to bottom. We were having leftover steak, grilled corn-on-the-cob, salad and leftover green beans for dinner. It was ready shortly after 6pm. Even after two full meals, there was still a little steak left from the original three Rib Eye’s. I did clean-up. The dishwasher was already near capacity. Took some doing. Mindy helped restack.

Both kids headed off to play after dinner.  I changed into my flannel shorts and a t-shirt then went to the family room with my book. I was feeling a little off key and discouraged likely brought on by a short conversation I had with Ashley who called mid-afternoon very discouraged with the Dr Monfort meeting. I see where she’s coming from but pointed out that we don’t know what he intends to charge yet and asked that she not jump to conclusions.

It was around 7-730pm when I got comfy in the chair and did a little reading, which quickly turned into a nap. You fill my belly with steak, corn and salad and then let me relax in a chair, you’re gonna get a nap almost every time. Dinner is probably the only time each day that I eat that much. That was the end of me for the rest of the evening. I eventually upped and moved to the sofa, but went right back asleep. I woke again around 930pm and quickly slipped off to bed, but not before giving Mindy a hug and kiss. I was zonked. Might have something to do with getting up at 430am that morning too. Good night MZ!