New Habit? Not Quite!

Mindy bought both these vases at the Ohio State Fair.

The last time that I checked the clock it was 5:20am. I figured I’d sleep another ten or fifteen minutes. Wrong! The next thing I knew, it was 6:07am.I popped out of bed and headed downstairs to begin my day. The extra sleep was no big deal, however, because I had made plans to stop at my doctor’s office on the way in to work to pick-up a prescription, and they didn’t open until 830am. It did, however, remind me that I hadn’t yet beat this new habit.

I exercised, walked Ykraps, and still spent some quality time meditating. When I finished I jumped into food prep. By 710am I was done eating breakfast and back on schedule. I went out to water the backyard flowers.

After my shower and while Mindy repaired my glasses, she asked if I planned to golf after work. I’m glad she reminded me because I would’ve forgotten to take a pair of shorts as well as my clubs. I left the house at 8:10am.

I arrived at my doctor’s office sometime after 8:15am. Even though they don’t officially open until 8:30am the receptionist was nice enough to greet me at the door and tend to my needs. They had my script all ready to go. I simply had to have them modify it to reflect “90-day supply”. They did just that, and soon I was on my way to work.

Work went well. It was kinds quiet, at least for the first half of the day. I left for a run around 12:50pm. The sky was overcast preventing the sun from making it oppressive. I ran up a pretty good sweat even still. We had a meeting right after lunch that lasted until 3pm. And because of golf league, I readied for a moderately early departure – 430pm. But as luck would have it, things got really dicey from about 330pm until I left. Never fails!

Traffic on I-270 heading towards Groveport was quite a snarl for the first few miles. I called brother Tommy while driving to catch up on what he’s been up to. I got angry just listening to the antics that his soon-to-be ex-wife is pulling. What a mess! We talked for a while. In fact, we were talking as I zoomed right past my preferred exit- Alum Creek Dr. Instead, I had to take 33east to Hamilton Rd. I’m now convinced that it’s much further going that way. Still, compared to most weeks, I was making decent time. Bob called around 5:15pm checking on my whereabouts. He, Bob, and Chuck were already there. I pulled up moments later. Bob was waiting with cart in the parking lot. I didn’t take me long to prep. Five minutes later we were teeing off.

Like a broken record, I shot a 7 on the opening hole. My drive, a rather long one, went a little left and ended up actually inside of a large tree root cavity. I was already hitting number three. And like happens often, I shot bogey golf for the next handful of holes but leaving several legitimate scoring opportunities on the table. On hole number eight I hit a very poor tee shoot way right and into the creek. My next shot, another drive form the tee box, went only about 100 yards. Next shot, a duffed 3-wood. Nothing seemed to go right despite my willingness to shrug it off. I did hit a nice up & down (chip & putt) to save an 8!

Hole number nine is a long par three over a creek, about 240 yards. Like the hole before, my tee shot was errant and went in the nearby creek. It was a terrible shot. My next tee shot was a low line drive about 40 yards short of the green. I salvaged a 5. Bob I. didn’t play that last hole well either. He couldn’t find his somewhat errant tee shot. After we finished, Bob I. and I were determined to play number nine over again. There was no one behind us for several holes. Bob B. took Chuck back to his vehicle.

I tee’d off first. My driver was back! I hit a relatively low and straight drive right at the flag. It bounced on the green and looked like it rolled possibly even in the hole. I doubted that it truly went in but figured that it could happen. Bob hit a tee shot similar to his prior. Bob B. returned after dropping Chuck to play it again too. We all went towards the hole. I couldn’t see a ball on the green, so as you might expect, I got excited about the possibility of striking a hole in one. But as I walked up to the green I saw my ball setting directly behind the pin - about nine feet out just on the edge of the green and thick cut rough. Wow! Still a great shot, and certainly an exciting way to finish.

Bob dropped me at my Trooper and we parted ways. We briefly discussed Friday night and whether or not either of us would be at Barley’s. Not sure. I checked a waiting VM on my phone. It was Lisa Shultz calling for Mindy. I called Mindy to let her know that Lisa called back. Mindy was in the middle of something – can’t recall. I arrived home around 8:15pm. I was prompted to tuck in the children who were patiently awaiting my arrival. After the tuck I attacked the Chipotle nachos leftover from Mindy’s dinner. I encouraged Mindy to have neighbor Becky pick some tomatoes. We have a large bounty of nice ones! It turns out that she was already doing so.

I thought about watering all night but opted against. There was a minimal chance of rain and quite honestly, I just didn’t feel like going out and getting that whole operation underway. Mindy and I sat and chatted for a few eventually succumbing to sleepiness and going to bed very close to 10pm.

An Ordinary Tuesday

For two days in a row I’ve managed to find my way out of bed by 5:30am. I attribute that to two things. First, a good night’s sleep, and secondly, a strong will. Once again, I used my time wisely not wanting to waste those valuable minutes. I was able to dedicate a full 15 minutes to meditation.

I packed my lunch, ate breakfast, and then headed out to water flowers. I didn’t bother watering the front. Instead, I watered just the back. It takes most of the hot afternoon anyhow. Besides, I planned to get out the sprinkler when I got home from work, and after the weekly lawn chores.

I prepped and left for work on schedule. I arrived shortly after 8am. The sky was overcast thus keeping the temperature under 80 degrees. It wasn’t even 80 degrees when I left for a run. That was at 12:45pm. I forgot my ball cap and subsequently ran without one. I felt darn near naked.

I talked with Mindy during the afternoon about her first day in the classroom this school year. Turns out, she stayed only a couple of hours arranging the classroom furniture. And by the way, she had her friend Teri watch the kids while she went into school. She took the kids to the grocery store during the afternoon. The only drama that ensued was Jacob telling her that he wasn’t carrying anything in. This was a Jimaken Tuesday. The kids were gone when I arrived home. Mindy and I walked Ykraps together.

My plan was to mow the lawn so I didn’t want to eat a dinner beforehand, knowing that it would make me more tired than I already was. Come 6pm I changed my clothes and headed outdoors. A few neighbors had their kids out front fishing in the pond while I mowed, so I did my best to avoid trimming and mowing in the immediate area.

I finished the mowing about 1.5 hours later. Before going in I drug out my lawn watering kit and got it all going. I started watering the strip of lawn between the street and sidewalk. It’s the only part of my front lawn that looks beat up form the summer heat and drought.

The kids were home when I finished. Bella came out to give me a hug. Jacob, on the other hand, was already off playing with the neighbors. I was eager to get in the shower to wash off the little bits of yard debris. Afterwards, I chose to enjoy my Friday night Barley leftovers, which consisted of sauerkraut balls and Gates of Hell wings. We all sat on the deck together before Mindy herded the kids inside to ready for bed.

I updated my blog and then sat down to read more of my new Tony Dungy book. I stopped to tuck in the kids but then returned quickly to resume my reading. Mindy headed up to bed around 9:30pm. I read until 1030pm.

... Shaking off any remnants...

I was energized and ready to go. Perhaps it was the extra-early bedtime, or maybe just a fluke. Either way, I was up and milling about just before 5:30am Monday morning. It was pitch dark, too, which wasn’t the case just a handful of weeks ago. The days are without a doubt growing shorter. I choked down my One-A-Day then hit the “go” button on the coffee maker.

I began my exercises in earnest and finished even before 5:45am. Under a star lit pre-dawn sky, Ykraps and I walked the neighborhood shaking off any remnants of a good night’s sleep. I noted the time of our return. It wasn’t yet 6am. I spent the next 15 minutes reading the Daily OM and checking out the headlines. But I was careful with my time and abruptly walked away from the PC at 6:15am wanting instead to spend the next 15 minutes in meditation.

The meditation went well. It was awfully nice to enjoy that peaceful part of the morning just before the sky lights up in contemplative silence. Come 6:30am I switched gears and got crackin’ on food prep. I didn’t have a lot to do. I remembered not eating my Friday lunch which consisted of a salad topped with turkey along with a fruit medley. All I had to pack was some tuna fish salad, which was already made, and some nuts. I finished eating my breakfast just before 7am. I headed outdoors to water flowers. Needless to say, the beds were dry not having been watered since early Saturday morning, and that after two hot and sunny days. I watered everything front and back. I was a little discouraged to see what appeared to be lots of rabbit damage in my petunias. But I wasn’t surprised. They do it each and every year, especially when it gets dry. I try not to disturb their nest. Rather, I try to co-exist with them, realizing that it’s next to impossible for them to eat them all.

I noticed too that the lawn is once again showing signs of stress in all the usual places. I’ll need to unleash the sprinkler again. But for now that would have to wait. I needed to get back inside, grab a shower, and head to work.

I left for work at 8am and arrived a few minutes later. It was a gorgeous summer morning with temperatures hovering in the mid 60’s with plenty of brilliant sunshine. The morning went by quickly. We were very busy. I planned to run at my usual time – as close to 1245pm as possible. This would be my first afternoon run since last Tuesday. When I left for a run it was only 84 degrees with 40% humidity – far cooler than the tropical afternoons of last week. The sun still felt very warm but I barely broke into a sweat. It felt really good.

I returned to my desk around 150pm where I ate my packed lunch. The salad from Friday was still very good. The afternoon went quickly. Before I knew it, it was time to go home. I left the office at 5:20pm and made it home by 5:40pm.Mindy shared that she had taken the kids to visit her friend Teri and Massimo instead of going to the pool. The kids were playing upstairs when I arrived home. We walked Ykraps together as a family. When we returned, Mindy made a simple dinner – hot dogs, green beans, and salad. She heated some chili sauce and diced an onion to top off the dogs. It was very yummy & hit the spot.

While waiting on dinner, I updated my blog. After enjoying some dinner I decided to spend some time weeding the flower beds and once again watering. Often when the beds get dry, two good soakings are necessary to help soften the soil so that water doesn’t simply run off. I also replaced the three spot lights that burnt out over the last week and a half. It’s funny how that works. I hadn’t had one burn out in almost six months, but three of the four went in that short time span. While outdoors I plucked a few more tomatoes, too. We have more than I know what to do with.

It must’ve been close to 745pm when I went back inside. The Monday Night football game was about to begin. Mindy called the kids in from outside to get baths. She had them in bed by 8:20pm, although neither went to sleep right off. As the game began, I snuggled up in my reading chair with my book. I had the volume muted with soft music in the background while I read. Jacob came to the balcony complaining of a tummy ache. I really think that he just wanted some one on one attention. I asked if lying on the couch would help. He said yes. I let him come down with me for a spell. That, miraculously, made his tummy ache go away. :) Mindy jettisoned him back to bed about 30 minutes later.

It wasn’t too long before Mindy announced her own bedtime. I was still wide awake and enjoying my book, so I stayed up for another 1.5 hours reading. Come 10:40pm I finally caved and closed the book even though I wanted to keep reading. I knew that if I didn’t get to bed soon that I’d pay for it in the early hours of the morning.

A Tiger Atop the Food Chain

I slept rather well on the lodge bed. It was very comfortable. With the curtain drawn, it was hard to determine the hour or the sky’s condition without jumping up and peeping out the window, so I glanced at the clock setting on Mindy’s nightstand. It was 7:30am. I was really thirsty, had to pee, and was eager to get up and moving. A glance out the window confirmed what I assumed. It was morning and it was very sunny. After taking care of my personal hygiene issues I donned my running shorts and shoes and took off for a run through the immediate area.

Like before, there was light fog in the area making the scenery even more beautiful. This time I spotted a large buck prancing through the woods between the lodge and the cabins. He must’ve been a ten or twelve pointer. Further along, I took the cabin/dock side trail desiring to check on our boat while out. It’s mostly downhill to the lake but a long, arduous uphill back. I ran along the entire cabin/dock area and then up a maintenance- only trail that lead to the “buzzing” building one can easily hear from the lake. I assumed it to be some sort of pump house. I heard it the last time we were here and was curious about its origin but never made it down. Arriving at the locked gates I peered through glancing over the infrastructure like a curious reporter. Best I could determine was that this is the lodge’s own sewage treatment plant.

I made my turn and headed back to the lodge, the only difference was that it was all uphill. UGH! Along the way I spotted another buck, only this time it was a young one. He was bedded down along the road just off in the trees. I stopped and had a look. He didn’t budge. I ran on happy that he stayed put long enough for me to gaze his way. I made it back and up the steep incline completely winded. I just don’t run enough hills back home. I was back in the almost pitch black room by 8:25am after approximately 30 minutes of running. Mindy was obviously still sleeping. I grabbed my Tony Dungy book and went to the balcony to read and bask in the morning sunlight.

About fifteen minutes later Mindy got vertical and made us each a small cup of coffee in the one cup-at-a-time coffee maker provided by the lodge. I showered before heading off to breakfast. We thought when we left the room that we’d eat a hearty breakfast then take a hike, just like we did in July. However, the wait for the breakfast buffet was about thirty minutes long, and by the time we were seated and had eaten it was already 10:30am - time to check out of the lodge.

We headed back to our room only to find house keeping already inside preparing to clean our room. Damn! We asked that she give us a few minutes to actually checkout. After all, it was only 10:35am. It didn’t take us too long. Probably ten minutes we were out the door with our gear. I loaded the cooler with ice form the lodge then carried all of our gear to the Trooper. While I loaded the Trooper, Mindy took the keys back to the desk to officially check-out. By 11:00am we were at the dock refueling the boat for another day on the lake. The ten gallons of gas we brought was the perfect amount. That brought the tank to full. At the outset we headed south and took a nice long ride at a moderate speed. Eventually we pulled into the boat swim area where we inflated our Swimway rafts for a float. Mine was losing air fairly quickly. I got out after about ten minutes. Mindy stayed in for a while longer. Another boat pulled up within about 50 feet of us. They were a noisy bunch. After about fifteen minutes of that we bolted for the other side of the lake hoping for a bit more peace and quiet.

We cruised to the end of the north ski zone then back a little ways. There we discovered a deep cove that wound far back off the main lake. I nthe cove, we found a somewhat secluded little inlet off of it where we anchored and spent the rest of our afternoon. Mindy floated while I read some of my book. We pulled anchor around 3pm and made our way to the dock. The afternoon sure went fast. We had no trouble trailering the boat. Unlike early July, the boat took on minimal dirt. The light scum line rubbed off easily. We were on the road for home by 3:30pm – about the same time Jimaken called to tell Mindy that he was leaving the Reds game and headed home with the kids. She let him know that we might not be home still until 7pm. We knew that we’d be home sooner but looked forward to the hour or so before the kids arrive to settle in. We made good time on our travels home. We dropped the boat in storage and made it home even before 5:30pm.

The first thing I did was walk Ykraps. He seemed happy to see us. I spent the next 30 minutes putting everything away and watching the PGA championship. Tiger Woods was once again the man to beat. Bottom line, no one could catch him. He won! Mindy began making dinner as soon as she returned from taking a shower. We had Texas burgers on marble rye. They were scrumptious! The kids returned just as we were sitting down to eat. But to be fair, it was 6:57pm. We should’ve expected them. They sat with us while we ate. Both Jacob and I were looking forward to the night’s NFL preseason game pitting the Seahawks against the Chargers. The game came on at 8pm. The kids were allowed to stay up after a bath until 830pm. By kick-off, I was feeling extremely nappy. I watched the game from the family room floor all the while lying on two large pillows.

After the kids were in bed, Mindy suggested that we watch the game from bed. I agreed, but knew what would happen. I’d fall asleep. And after about twenty minutes of viewing, I fell asleep!

Jump Bump Goes Boating

1) Eye Spy - there was a peep hole in the side of our booth.
I took a picture of the unassuming folks on the other side.
2) Kennedy Rockhouse - notice the two-dimmesional sheep
on the hillside behind the house.
3) The Jumps
4) Me - accentuating my dimples
5) A lovely view of the lake from the lodge restaurant
6) Mindy at dinner - lodge

I had talked of leaving the house at 8am, but knew deep down inside that would be nearly impossible unless I rose at 5am. I certainly never intended to wake quite that early. Even still, leaving early was my goal. I ended up rising at 6:15am. I flew through my exercises and walk with Ykraps. I was eager also to learn how the Viking game turned out. Turns out they lost 13-10, but a lot of positive things happened. Thankfully it’s only preseason. I left for a run at 7:30am.

It was gorgeous outside. It was only about 67 degrees, but the humidity was still pretty high – about 80%. Despite the cooler temps, I ran up one heck of a sweat. It was a fruitful run. Mindy was up and about by the time I returned. It was just after 8am. After toweling off, I got busy with a few other tasks. First, I retrieved the 22lb bag of ice from the basement freezer and then went out to water the rear flowers. I took a shower before loading up the Trooper. By 9am we were loading our gear for departure. Only one minor mishap occurred. The quart of oil I bought for the boat hydraulics had somehow burst open while rolling around in the back of the Trooper. Lucky for me I had it in a bag. We were all loaded and hit the road at 9:15am. Mindy placed a call to dad. He didn’t answer either phone. We left a VM.

It occurred to us both that we hadn’t eaten anything. That’s rare for me. I was very hungry after running and doing all my chores this AM. I kept a close eye on the boat cover this time not wanting a reoccurrence of early July. It did fine. We stopped just east of Zanesville to get some food. We first tried McDonald’s but they were serving only breakfast. We wanted burgers. We walked from the McDonald’s lot to Wendy’s, which was right next door. It looked deserted, but they were indeed open and serving burgers, too.

We ate rather quickly and returned to the freeway for the final 35 miles in. The drive went much faster this particular trip. We were there before we knew it. It was 11:30am when we pulled up to the boat launch. There was no one in line making the put-in easy. Soon we were on the lake. We already knew that Jeremy & Courtney were on their way, and I figured them to be about 30 minutes behind us. We headed southeast on the lake towards the main marina through the large no-wake zone. As soon as we gave her some gas in the ski-zone Mindy’s cell phone rang. Jeremy & Courtney were at the lodge docks. We happily headed back to get them.

It didn’t take long to get back and board our guests. We were back out in the open waters by 12:20pm. This time we headed north. It’s a little quicker to the fast water. We were surprised at how crowded the lake was. There were an uncomfortable number of boats all seemingly going to the same place at the same time. I chose to decelerate a number of times to allow a crowd of boats to go on ahead of us thus avoiding the large wake. I wanted to keep my passengers, most notably the “jump bump”, safe.

We cruised up the lake almost as far as it seemed to go. The topography of Salt Fork is more like a river than a common lake, which typically looks more like a big puddle. The lake twists and turns through the foot hills of Applachia. We made our way by the famed Kennedy Rock House. It was pretty cool, built around 1840 as I understand it. We weren’t sure why but there were two-dimensional sheep placed all along the hillside behind the home. Perhaps had we docked and visited we would have learned why. Seemed kind of “sheepish” to me! :) Learn more about the Rock House at the link below. www.usgennet.org/usa/oh/county/guernsey/places/kennedyhouse.html

After a leisure cruise along the winding lakeside we went into action skiing and tubing. First, it was Jeremy taking a turn water skiing. He did well, getting up with no trouble and allowing us to pull him around a small section of the lake for quite a while. Mindy was next, skiing better than she has all summer. She had no trouble getting up and crossing the wake, however she did so cautiously. After skiing, Mindy and Jeremy each took a turn on the tube. Jeremy did a fantastic job controlling the tube all the while taking a wild ride side to side. Courtney looked a little panicked a time or two as she watched her husband, Jeremy being tossed from side to side. Mindy did a good job, too.

After the tubing we found our way to the official boat swim area right around the corner from the lodge/cabin docks. We sat in the hot sun and swam for about an hour before heading back to the dock. It was 5:40pm when we pulled into our dock slip. Jeremy & Courtney decided to head back home. Mindy and I went to the lodge to register and find our room.

It didn’t take long for us to register and find our room. This time we were on the top (3rd) floor overlooking the shuffleboard court just west of the outdoor pool. It was a slightly nicer room than the one we had in early July, but without a hillside/lakeside view. I cracked a beer and read while Mindy showered after making 8:15pm dinner reservations. I showered after her. We left for the Wildlife lounge around 7:40pm eager to get a couple of drinks in us before dinner. After our first drinks we were both feeling no pain. I tried talking Mindy out of going to dinner and instead going for a walk and an evening boat ride, but she wanted to eat. By the time we were seated we agreed that we’d go back to the bar after dinner. However, I knew that would likely not happen if we had full bellies. So, I proposed that we eat only light appetizers in lieu of a full fledged dinner. Mindy agreed. We each ordered a bowl of lobster bisque and then shared an order of crab cakes. That was plenty, and they were very good. As darkness set in we strolled out of the restaurant and back to the bar. We only lasted for only one more drink before Mindy wanted to return to the room.

Back in the room I cracked another beer, grabbed my guitar, and headed for the balcony. The noise & commotion coming from the shuffle board court below was deafening. But I didn’t mind as much as Mindy. I just played my guitar happily. I knew the noise wouldn’t last too long. After all, it was a large family at play – grandpa, mom, dad, and kids.

Sometime between 10 & 11pm we went to bed. Mindy could still hear the noise. I couldn’t, or at least didn’t let it bother me. I fell asleep quickly.

SKOL

Friday was a fantastic day. And just like the previous two days, I decided to run early from home even though the treacherous heat and humidity was expected to be somewhat diminished this afternoon. I packed a lunch but was leaning towards a lunch away from the office with a peer – most likely Jay Pierce.

Mindy asked to be woken early since she and the kids were planning to attend the 2007 Ohio State fair. She planned to meet her friend Teri and Massimo at the 17th St entry gate. I woke her at 7:25am just before entering the shower. I left for work around 745am.

The work day was a pleasant one. Despite it being Friday, things never got as hairy as they often do. As planned, I made arrangements to go to lunch with Jay. We figured we’d leave around noon. Before hand, I had a meeting scheduled with a U.S. government official seeking information about a former employee, Rich D. That went smoothly and was over after about fifteen minutes. We left for lunch at noon, just like we planned.

We ate at Bravo. I hadn’t eaten there in about a year, or the last time I tried recruiting Jay from the bank. We chose to eat outdoors on their patio. It was a tad warm, but I am a summer kinda guy. I had chicken parmesan. Very good! I left completely full.

Work was a little busy upon my return. That did nothing but ensure a quick afternoon. Things stayed that way – busy- until I left around 520pm. I stopped at Lee’s RV’s on the way home to pick-up the boat. I stopped again at Thornton’s on Wilson to fuel both the Trooper and boat. The boat took only 7 gallons; the Trooper took another 17. I still needed to fill-up my two five gallon containers to avoid paying the exorbitant marina gas prices, but that would have to wait until morning. That move will save me at least $1.50 a gallon, or $15.

I arrived home by 6pm. Mindy was home alone as the kids had already departed with their daddy. Mindy and I walked Ykraps together. Along our way back we encountered the strange man that walks his collie mix that likes playing in our pond. I wouldn’t mind so much but the guy’s in my yard almost twice a day with out fail. That’s annoying.

We spent the next hour organizing ourselves for our weekend getaway. By the time we departed for Barley’s we had everything ready to load into the Trooper come morning. The only major prep remaining would be loading the coolers. We drove the BM’er to Barley’s.

We arrived shortly after 730pm. It wasn’t too crowded at all. Steve, Bob & Mary Ann, and Jeremy & Courtney were already there enjoying a stress-free evening. We inserted ourselves as usual. They had Cup O’ Joe on the firkin. I didn’t care too much for it, however, and left what remained of mine for Mindy. Instead, I ordered a guest draft – Hop Juice. That was very good stuff – strong too!

Bob & Mary Ann were fresh back from their Ocracoke trip. I haven’t seen Bob since our camping trip. He brought me a gift. He found some Bridgeport IPA down there, and for cheap too. For the first time in a long, long while, I ordered some Gates of Hell wings. I ordered them well done. Mindy had a bunless pulled pork sandwich. We left Barley’s around 10pm. Before leaving, we invited our Barely friends to join us out at Salt Fork. When they left, it sounded like Jeremy & Courtney just might. They just recently had to have their dog, Molly of 14 years euthanized. She was like their child. They did everything with her. With the loss, they now have the freedom to come and go without worry – that is until baby Jump comes along.

We arrived home well before 1030pm. Mindy was tired and wanted to get some rest before our coming trip. I was still wide awake and was looking forward to seeing how the Vikings did in their pre-season game against St Louis. It was tied 10-10 when I finally went to bed.

Are You Ready for some Football?

I woke to another day of extreme heat and humidity. Just like the day before, I knew when I got up & out of bed that I would be running before work. The reduced stress on my body is well worth the trade-offs. So, after a quick round of exercise and a walk with Ykraps I donned yesterday's damp running shorts (forgot to wash anew) and took off out the door for a four mile run. I checked the conditions just before setting out. It was 77 degrees with 75% humidity. Once again, it felt like a warm wet blanket caressing my skin.

I returned from my run at 7:20am. Mindy was already up & had scrambled eggs cooking on the stove. She was preparing for her first day of work – an off-site retreat with all of her school teacher peers. I threw together a quick lunch while waiting on the eggs to finish. Mindy’s efforts reduced my prep time considerably. Truth is, I probably would’ve skipped breakfast as was the case yesterday. However, the difference was that I didn’t have a fixed appointment this AM. I enjoyed the eggs that were mixed with our fresh garden-grown tomatoes.

After woofing down my breakfast I dashed off to the shower. The kids and Mindy were gone when I returned downstairs – much like any other school day. I like that feeling!
I wasted little time and left for work around 8:15am arriving just after 8:30am.

Like the day before, I worked straight through having run at home, although I did retrieve & eat my packed lunch around 2pm. I liked the change of pace. I didn’t escape the grip of my office until 520pm. For the first time, I used the Bluetooth technology on my new cell phone to talk with Mindy along my drive home. I like the cordless/hands free thing! Very cool! She was making dinner as I drive. The kids were with Jimaken at Galaxy Golf once again tonight. I called my dad just before arriving home. I needed to check to make sure that he was available to tend to Ykraps this weekend. After some technical difficulties, we finally connected. He agreed to tend to Ykraps, and then shared a bit about his Argosy trip with the Simsic’s on Monday. Sounds like he had a good time.

I arrived home feeling good about having nothing really pressing to do other than relax with my family. Mindy and I walked Ykraps together before sitting down to dinner. She made chicken stir fry with low-carb pasta. It was very good. Most, if not all, of the veggies were garden grown. I picked another batch of ‘maters before sitting down to eat. After clean-up I quickly advanced to updating my blog. The kids returned home shortly after 7pm. Mindy was quick to rush them upstairs for a bath and jammies eager to get them back on a regular early bedtime as the school year draws nearer. Jacob pushed back a little being keenly aware of the upcoming pre-season NFL game kicking off at 8pm. He wanted badly to see it. Mindy agreed that he could watch from his bed. While she dealt with all of that I read more of my new book, Quiet Strength. She called me to tuck in the kids about twenty minutes later.

I tuned into the NFL pre-season kick-off in Jacob’s room. He didn’t want me to stick around long. He said he wanted ot watch it alone. Hmmm? I headed back downstairs eager to watch from the family room. Football season is officially underway! Wahoo! As I watched the game I strummed the guitar. Come 9pm Mindy headed to bed. I guess the early rise along with being OTR took its toll. I stayed up watching the game. I popped & enjoyed some corn all the while I watched the rest of the game. Sleepiness descended upon me near 10:30pm. I headed to bed.

Hot, Steamy, & Tropical

Pterygium

Hot, Steamy, & Tropical – again. But I’m not complaining. Rather, I am just sharing as well as documenting the event. Come the “ber” & “ry” months, I’ll be longing for such conditions.

I slept until 5:50am. My usual game plan would be altered today due to my ophthalmology appointment. I planned to head directly there before work. And to simplify the rest of the day, I also planned to run from home. The added benefit of that would be avoiding a run in the treacherous afternoon heat. To that end, I wasted little if any time exercising and walking Ykraps. After a fast cup of coffee I donned my running shorts & shoes and headed out the door. Sure, the air was very moist & thick but the lack of direct overhead sun made it seem like winter compared to the 1pm runs the days prior.

My frame of reference was so much brighter after a morning run. I noted that for future opportunities. Before heading up to shower I packed a lunch really quickly and then turned to make Mindy’s coffee. I delivered as usual and then jumped in the shower. It took me a few minutes to get my contacts in but I did it with little trouble. By the time I gathered all my daily necessities it was 5:52am. I left swiftly for the eye doctor’s.

The drive was most pleasant up Lane Avenue towards route 315. Dr. Julie’s office is on Olentangy River Rd pretty much across form Riverside Hospital. I arrived just a few minutes late. Even still, I was the only patient there. After completing an updated information card Julie came and fetched me. It’s been a year and three quarters since I have seen her. She’s still cute as a button! Our first order of business was testing my vision through my contacts. She learned what I already knew. I couldn’t read so well with them any longer. Because my prescription is multi-focal, she thought I might benefit from switching from low to high in at least one of my eyes. She opted for my left – the weaker of the two. Next, I removed the contacts and then we proceeded through the routine of what’s better game. What’s better – one or two; two or three, etc.

As I always do, I asked about advances in contacts or laser surgery for eye issues like mine. Further, she measured my Pterygium. They haven’t gotten larger. I asked about the option of removal which she recommended against. I asked lots of questions. She decided to tweak my eye glass prescription a smidge. Next, she sent me to see Christie to help me choose new frames. I had handed Christie my old frames upon arrival hoping she could fix the broken hinge. While she thought that she might be able, she couldn’t She said she’d have to order a new “arm”. That would cost only $18 – not too bad at all. They’ll serve as my back-up pair after my new set arrive. Dr. Julie gave me a complementary set of contacts to try out. They’re pretty much the same brand/type as before only with the fore mentioned high low change to the left and a quarter point increase in power in the right. I left for work.

Work moved swiftly, but it’s no wonder since I didn’t arrive until 9:35am. As the morning passed and it changed to afternoon the day turned strange. That was because I didn’t run at lunch. Instead, I worked straight through choosing to eat my packed lunch at my desk. Mindy had originally planned to visit the pool but according to her cryptic email, I assumed that it must’ve rained hard at home. Later she confirmed that it did. I was happy for that. I left work shortly after 5pm and headed directly home. Mindy and the kids opted for a movie in lieu of the pool. They were going to dinner after. I was happy just to go home and have some Jimmy time. After walking Ykraps and tending to my miniscule chores I dug into the new book Mindy bought me. It’s called, Quiet Strength, a memoir by Tony Dungy. For those that don’t know, Tony’s the coach of the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. He’s a principle centered man as well as a voracious Christian. Among other reasons, I admire him for his cool, calm demeanor as well as his moral character. I became familiar with Tony when he was the Defensive Coordinator for the Vikings. When Denny left I hoped that he would become the Vikings head coach. Obviously that never happened. Reading his book it sounds like he wouldn’t have accepted it even if it were offered. Besides, his lovely wife despised the bitter cold winters of Minneapolis.

Mindy and the kids returned home around 630pm. Mindy brought me a surprise – chips and salsa. I snacked on those after waking from a reading coma. J After eating a little, I got back to reading. I read more than 100 pages. I found the book surprisingly gripping.

Mindy headed to bed before me. This was a “school night” for Mindy. She has retreat in the morning, so she’ll be up getting ready just like a normal school day – and so will the kids. I headed to bed after securing the home. It must’ve been close to 1030pm.

Oppressive

It was Tuesday. It was hot. Any momentum I had gathered waking at my projected rise was a shattered as I didn’t get out of bed until 6:04am. I think it’s safe to say that I'm a slacker! But I tried not to think about it and did so successfully. I glided thru my usual routine as if I were on schedule. Once again, it was like a warm wet blanket outdoors. In fact, it was warmer this morning than yesterday. It was a balmy 77 degrees at 6:15am. The humidity, a sticky 75%.

I whizzed thru the rest of my pre-food prep time period in an effort to regain a little time. A quick look at the flower beds proved once again that there was little need to water. I suppose that’s one major benefit of such high humidity levels. Generally, when temps reach the low to mid 90’s, the flower beds could really use two daily waterings. I was surprised to find them still damp from Sunday’s rain.

In the end, I regained all my lost time. I even had enough time to help Mindy prep for her party a little. I emptied the bathroom trash can, Windexed the front and rear glass doors, the TV, and the dishwasher and stove. Those small minor messes made me antsy, anyhow.

I took Mindy coffee. She was still a little groggy but got up to sip away. She really needed to be up if she had any hope of being ready for guests at 11am. I finished my own prep and departed for work just before 8am. I wore my contacts today for the first time in over a year. I was able to install them on the first try. That isn’t always the case. I used a brand new pair. They felt comfortable but I could tell that the prescription wasn’t right anymore. I couldn’t read fine print!

I arrived at work just after 8am. It was tough for me to carry out my work at my PC with my contacts but I was able to do it. I could feel the muscle strain in my eyes. I tired adding my older pair of glasses but that proved way too much. I reverted to simply contacts for the remainder of the day. The temps were heating up outdoors. The heat index was approaching 100 degrees. I left for a run about thirty minutes early. The air was warm and close! There was a sharp breeze gusting out of the SW. It was somewhat comforting on the run out but almost nil on the run in. I began feeling extremely hot with a half mile to go. I wished I had run in the early morning hours. I survived it, however.

The afternoon went fast. I talked with Mindy around 230. Her party was over although a few guest remained. Sounds like she generated a number sales. I left for home around 510pm. I stopped at Target to pick-up a new boom box for Bella. I found one reasonably priced, and well equipped for $35. I bought. Mindy wondered why I was late. Gessh! It was only 5:38pm. I arrived home ten minutes later. The kids were gone with their daddy. Jimaken took the kids to putt-putt.- Magic Mountain. It was still very, very hot. I nibbled on some of the cheese dip, crackers, and veggies Mindy had leftover from the party. We walked Ykraps together.

I didn’t really want to but the lawn needed cut. After a short rest, I changed clothes and headed out doors to begin cutting the lawn. I took it slow to reduce the fatigue. The kids returned home after I finished edging and weed wacking. I was quite hot during the actual mowing. It felt great to get on my tractor where I could feel a breeze. The lawn looked nice when I finished – surprisingly green even during the hottest of weather. Thank God for my sprinkler pump!

After sneaking a few more snacks I headed up to shower away the yard fleck. Mindy watched a movie with Jacob while Bella played with a neighbor. Jacob claimed that his mother never spends any one on one time with him. That lasted about as long as it took for the neighbor to knock on the door asking for Jacob. He quickly tuned coat and headed out to ride their scooters together. Mindy worries of the day when he won’t want to spend any time with her.

I spent a little time updating my blog, and then customizing matting for our art work. I didn’t buy, however. I want to think it through first since once you buy custom cut mats you’re stuck. The kids finally came in and got their baths. They were sweaty! We tucked them in around 830pm. Mindy’s goal is to slowly wean them back, or at least close, to their typical school time bedtime of 8pm. School officially starts for Jacoby August 22nd – 2 weeks out. Yuck!!!

After the kids were in bed we talked for a while. We went to bed around 940pm but didn’t fall asleep until much later.

Swimmin' in 'Maters!

I was able to overcome my demon and get up and out of bed at my regularly scheduled time slot. By the time I was downstairs to begin my morning regiment it was 5:40am. It was noticeably darker – a sure sign that summer is waning and the days getting shorter. Although, in truth, I do realize that the days are constantly getting shorter or longer depending on which side of the solstice we’re on. In addition to the lengthening darkness, it was overcast and moist, which only served to accentuate the feeling.

The coffee was staged but not turned on. I pushed the “go” button after choking down my One-A-Day. I began my exercises pronto. By 5:55am I clipped Ykraps to his leash and headed out doors. Wow! It was humid & warm. It felt incredibly sticky yet it wasn’t even 6am! I can’t recall a more humid morning in years. When Ykraps and I returned I checked the official weather conditions online. It was 74 degrees and the humidity was 75%. Very sticky!

I burned up a lot of time fooling around on the PC. Finally, around 6:35am I got started on food prep. Because of the Sunday and overnight rain, there was no need to water. I did take a few minutes after breakfast to walk the yard and check out the tomato plants. Looks like we’ll be inundated with ‘maters any day now.

Like always, I poured Mindy a cup of coffee then delivered it bedside. Before showering I flossed, brushed, and shaved. I noted a much improved performance from my electric razor after cleaning the cutters with isopropyl alcohol. I showered and dressed next. I tinkered with the idea of wearing my contacts today but didn’t. I have an eye exam on Wednesday morning and they requested I wear my contacts in. I haven’t worn my contacts in almost a year. Maybe tomorrow?

I packed up my laptop and gym bag then left for work at 8:00am. I broke a sweat just walking into the building. It was really humid outside. Work was busier than ever. The net affect was that it made the morning go even faster than usual. I kept an eye on the weather. It was heating up quickly. Because of this, I left for a run about fifteen minutes early figuring every few minutes meant another degree in heat. It was 90 degrees with 75% humidity when I left for my run. Those humidity levels are almost unheard when it’s so warm because the sun usually burns it off to below 50% even on the most humid days. Today was different. There was a saving grace, however. There was a substantial breeze, albeit a hot one, blowing out of the southwest. Too, the sky was overcast keeping the direct sun from beating directly unto my skin. With about a mile to go the sunshine broke through the thick overcast and really heated me up. I was covered in a thick gooey sweat and I could feel my skin temperature rising fast. I was eager to get back inside to the AC.

Most of the afternoon hours were spent meeting with team members & following up on customer issues. I managed to wrap up by 5:15pm and depart for home. I headed straight home not making a stop anywhere. It was STEAMY! Now, the clouds had burnt off leaving the humid conditions in full sun. It was almost unbearable outdoors. I had toyed with cutting the lawn, but Mindy argued against cutting it this evening for a couple of reasons. Her number one reason was that she’s hosting a jewelry party tomorrow and doesn’t want the inevitable grass clippings drug into the house. I agreed, not at all regretting avoiding the intense heat and humidity. I walked Ykraps. When I returned I started the grill. We were having pork chops, corn on the cob, and salad. I soaked some hickory chips in water to add extra flavor. Like always, I roasted the corn first. Later, I added the pork chops along with some chicken for Jacob and two hot dogs for Bella. Dinner was fabulous. The chops were moist, tender, and very flavorful.

After dinner the kids headed outdoors to play with the neighbors. I used the time to update my blog and add pictures. I failed to mention that we reserved a night at Salt Fork lodge for the coming weekend. We’re looking forward to it. Also, the two replacement dining canopy poles arrived in the mail today. I opened the box just to make sure they were the right ones. They were. I took them to the basement where I added them to the existing kit. Issue resolved. I like that!

Later, after the kids were tucked in, I tried one last time to repair Bella’s CD player that was damaged during our wet camping trip - the sole remaining issue. But despite my best effort, I couldn’t get it working. We’ll have to buy her a new one. After giving up and putting it back together Mindy sat to read my blog. I, in turn, sat in the reclining Queen Anne chair and finished reading my current book. I was sufficiently ready for sleep thereafter. We headed to bed before 10pm. We laid there chatting for while before falling asleep.

The First Family Breakfast at Frisch's

I set a goal to be up by 6am, but I didn't get up and going until 6:15am. However, I was satisfied with that since I knew that I could still easily accomplish everything that I needed and wanted to before leaving for Sunday breakfast.

This was to be our first official Sunday family breakfast. We agreed last week to meet the first Sunday of each month for breakfast at 9am. For sure, it would be brother Bob’s family, dad, along with my new family. But we also invited Tommy and Shaun too. We asked that Tommy make Charles aware. The idea of course being to stay in touch beyond the holidays and the occasional summer get togethers. As far as we’re concerned, the more the merrier. If you’re a reader and want to join us, please feel free. Again, we’ll meet the first Sunday of the month at 9am at Frisch’s on Rome-Hilliard Rd.
The next one will be Sunday, September 2nd, Labor Day Weekend.

I exercised, walked Ykraps, moved the sprinkler, drank coffee, checked in with work, and ran four miles all before 8am. It had rained over night but not too much. I was smart enough to place a clothes basket over top of my pump protecting it from moderate moisture. There was a chance of rain all morning but given our history, I wasn’t willing to bet to on it.

Mindy was already showered and dressed by the time I returned from my run. In fact, she was getting Bella dressed. Jacob was still sleeping, but it doesn’t take him too long to get out of bed and dressed. I got in the shower. We were all ready to go by 8:20am. We had some time to kill. We assembled our swimming bag in case we decided to head to Bob’s afterwards. He left a VM yesterday inviting us to do just that. I moved the sprinkler one last time before departing.

We arrived at Frisch’s just before 9am. Dad was already there in the lot. We parked right next to him. Jacob’s taken quite a liking to Dad and was eager to get out of the vehicle to give him a hug. Bella, of course, followed suit. It wasn’t too long before Bob’s family arrived. I already knew that Tommy & Heather wouldn’t be joining us. I talked with heather earlier and she indicated that Tommy was still sleeping after a couple very busy days. Just the same, I made sure that she knew that they were invited.

We all got the buffet. There were eleven of us in total but only ten eating. Evan was partaking in a few nibbles of Bob’s. Bambi was our waitress. She’s grown up to look more human than I ever thought possible. She even speaks fluent English. J We hung at Frisch’s well past filling our bellies. We laughed & joked for quite a while, then, after settling the bill, we retreated to the lot where we made plans to head over to Bob’s. It rained pretty hard while we were eating and the sky looked threatening again. It really wasn’t optimal swimming weather but the kids didn’t seem to mind. We could stay no later than 1230pm since the kids would be joining their father for lunch with his family today.

We hung out Bob’s till 1230pm as planned. It rained two or three times in the hour we were there. We left for home and phoned Jimaken on the way. He was on his way to our house to get the kids. Good timing! When we got home Mindy told me that I should bring in the pump since it was threatening rain, and according to the radar, a pretty significant storm. The pump had been running since Friday at 6pm. I relented and went out to retrieve the pump. Just as I was under the honeysuckle bushes gathering it up the rains came, and heavily it did pour. I rushed into the house and into the garage being mindful of the last time this happened. I was more careful not to drop the pump.

Jim arrived to fetch the kids at the same time. He left with them in the downpour. After they departed Mindy asked if we could take Glenn’s art to Michael’s Crafts for framing. I agreed. We also thought we might visit a few model homes to get some painting/decorating ideas. We headed to Michael’s first. It’s located just north of the Hilliard Giant Eagle. The young lady working the framing shop was very helpful. We were surprised, no- shocked is a better word, with the estimate. She said it would be about $550. She said we just missed the half price sale. We asked if they would still honor the price since the sale ended yesterday. She said no. We asked how often they do the sale. She said once a month. Well, hell, thin about it. Wouldn’t it be wise to honor the price rather than risk us going elsewhere? Still, she wouldn’t budge, although she was pleasant. We moved on.

With that kind of estimate, we decided to explore framing it ourselves. From my way of thinking, I don’t want the frame and mounting to be the focus. Rather, the art itself should be the focal point. We found beautiful 24X36” frames for around $60 complete with mounting and glass. All we have to find now is a plain black mat.

We left Michael’s and headed a few store fronts further north to Kirkland’s Home. Mindy was excited to see one so close to home. It’s right by the brand new, yet to open, Target. We browsed their offerings for about 30 minutes. It’s much like a Pier 1 store, only with a narrower offering. Mindy bought a lead crystal vase on sale.

After Kirkland’s we drove towards home. I wasn’t in the mindset to drive to find model homes. Instead, I would research where we can find the biggest cluster of such homes and go another time. My guess is Dublin/Powell/New Albany, and possibly Grove City would net the best results. As we headed home we remembered the three new TK homes models strangely placed along Wilson Rd just south of the Thornton’s. We stopped in just to browse. The houses are neat but most models are. They cater to folks like me that like openness and no clutter. Missing are the little nick-knacks a typical family clutter. I mentioned as much to Mindy. We enjoyed the visit but saw little that offered any good ideas. We both agreed that they were catering to starter homes, albeit nice ones.
We headed home.

At home I was determined to get a nap. The kids arrived minutes after we got home. They never stay at Jimaken’s family get togethers for too long. Mindy said 90 minutes tops. Before I knew it was early evening. After my quick nap I watched Tiger Wood bully the rest of the pack at the Firestone Championship from Canton, Ohio. He was on today! As that wrapped up I got the grill fired up for our filet mignon and shrimp dinner. Mindy made fresh garden salads, too. While the grill heated, I took Ykraps on his evening walk. I returned to get grillin’.

We ate around 6pm. The steaks turned out perfectly according to Mindy. They were just pink enough inside. As usual, Bella had only a hot dog. She doesn’t care for steak and such. She could live on fruit. I’d guess to a great extent that it’s in her genes. For dessert we had keylime pie. Very good! We finished dinner around 630pm and began clean-up. Jacob and I were both looking forward to watching the Hall of Fame game – the first preseason game of the year. It was slated to begin at 8pm. He asked if I would agree to play with him in the basement until it started. I agreed.

Down the basement, Jacob wanted to play football. I didn’t. That’s a rough game to play on the concrete floor and he always ends up hurt. I encouraged him to choose basketball instead. He ultimately did. We began playing basketball like we always have, but he was in a pissy mood and ended up fouling and playing very rough. In the end, he got hurt and quit. I wasn’t too discouraged. I didn’t really want to play anyhow.

It wasn’t long before Mindy encouraged the kids to go back to the basement to pick-up their toys which she helped organize as recent as yesterday. They did their usual complaining. In the end, however, she got them to clean it up. I laid down on the family room floor and napped. Soon Mindy ushered the kids upstairs for bath time. She asked if I would do the honors. I begged out. This, as I saw it, was the first I had relaxed all weekend.

The kids were out of the tub and in their jammies before 8pm. I was excited to tune into the football game at 8pm. We watched the fifty greatest catches of all times leading up to kick-off. Finally, it was 8pm. Are you ready for some Football!!!!!!!! Apparently NOT!
We searched the TV high and low for the game. We couldn’t find it anywhere or on any channel. I was certain this was an oversight of sorts. I retreated to my PC to search Yahoo for the programming information. Yahoo Sports solved the puzzle. Sadly, the game was only being shown on the NFL network which Time Warner is not carrying on their basic cable programming package. I was disappointed, and so was Jacob. Damn!

Mindy tuned into some of his favorite programming to ease the pain. I was set to watch the Family Guy if I couldn’t watch football. Mindy, right fully so, wouldn’t agree to such viewing in front of the kids. I headed up to bed to view it. I was tired anyhow. Turns out Fox was hosting a Family Guy marathon. There were four episodes on in a row. I saw the final three, or up until 10pm. Mindy joined me after putting the kids to bed for the final two episodes. She asked that I tuck in the kids before watching the rest. I did. I fell asleep soon after the fourth episode ended. Weekend history.

Swangin'

I woke around 6am and managed to push myself out of bed to go outside and move the sprinkler that had been running on the front lawn all night long. I returned to bed where I slept another couple hours until 8am. I had a somewhat troubling dream just before I rose where my BM’er was towed for parking in a poorly marked no parking zone. The guy on the phone told me it would be $250. Plus, by the sounds of it, they managed to damage the car slightly, too. And if that wasn’t enough, as I walked home Bella came running up. I realized then that I had almost forgotten her in my haste to find my BM’er. I was relieved to have her back in the fold, dreading the wrath I would’ve received should I have returned home without her. Because of this, I woke stressed.

Happy that it was just a dream, I got busy with my Saturday morning. I made a pot of coffee and got started with my exercises. It was 8:20am by the time that Ykraps and I made our way out for a walk. It was noticeably less steamy that Friday, although the air still warm. I returned home to enjoy a couple cups of coffee before setting out on a run. While sipping some coffee I set up my laptop and logged into work.

I set out on my run by 9:30am. The house was alive when I left. Everyone was up. Mindy had the kids working on cleaning the playroom. Mindy asked if I wanted breakfast. I didn’t. I wore my MP3 player during the run. I was quickly reminded that I really need to soak/wash the arm band upon my return. It reeks heavily of stale sweat! I ran along Hague and Trabue against very light traffic.

Mindy was showering when I returned from my run. I got to soaking my MP3 player arm band and then dug into work. I worked for the next couple of hours interacting with the Saturday team. Mindy and Bella left for a shopping spree around 11:00am. We still planned on heading to the Anderson’s together later in the afternoon. I confirmed that before she left. Jacob chose to stay home with me. While I made a sandwich, Jacob went to play with the neighbor. I asked him to return shortly. Around 12:30 Mindy phoned to ask if Jacob & I simply wanted to meet her & Bella at the Anderson’s since she was already up off Sawmill Rd. I agreed having just completed my shower.

Jacob and I readied to leave fifteen minutes later. I moved the sprinkler just before leaving. Mindy wanted to get some filets and pork chops from the Anderson’s. I wanted to look at their playset gear along with their miscellaneous hardware. We got up to Sawmill fairly quickly. Mindy & Bella were still eating lunch. We told them to meet us their. They had the Carhart NASCAR car on display at the Anderson’s. It was cool checking out the interior. Jacob won a Carhart ballcap with a scratch-off given to him by the fellow in charge.

Inside, we made our way to the toys and the hardware section. Jacob tried his best to get me to buy him a toy. I abstained. I ushered him to the hat area to redeem his scratch-off. Just as we found the playset gear we saw Mindy & Bella coming our way. We looked over all the options together. In the end, Mindy bought both a disc & tire swing. We planned to hang/mount both in trees at the rear of our lot. We next made our way to hardware where we met Bill, the hardware guy. He helped us pick adequate rope for the disc/tree swing. We bought 50’ of their beefy ½ inch poly rope. We also picked up an important u-ring to extend the rope length that comes with the tire swing. From there we made our way to the butcher counter. Mindy took the number but asked that I wait and get the meat. That troubled me a little only because I wanted to peruse outdoor hardware for a watering wand, but Mindy didn’t bend. I think that she had unshared ulterior motives. Under strict orders, I waited at the meat counter and ultimately picked six 8oz filets, eight 6oz pork chops, and four shrimp skewers. I joined Mindy and the kids hovering up the way in the yardscape area. And while they didn’t have the telescoping watering wand I wanted, they did the handy 12” wands with a variable watering head. Mindy agreed to but the purple one. J We checked out soon after.

Jacob and I took the cart to the car while Mindy took Bella to the potty. Mindy parked right next to us. After loading our haul into the Trooper Jacob asked that I take him to Chipotles. I agreed. We waited for Mindy and Bella. Mindy said she had a surprise for me in the car. It was a copy of Tony Dungy’s book, Quiet Strength. For those that may not know, Tony Dungy is the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and former Vikings Defensive coordinator. I have always admired him on many fronts. I will very likely enjoy his book.

We parted ways and agreed to meet back at home. Jacob and I stopped at Chipotles just as he had asked. I got him his favorite chicken burrito bowl and got myself a bag of chips and salsa. We agreed to share a large lemonade. Despite our stop, we arrived home even before Mindy and Bella. Not sure what slowed them. In any case, we unloaded our stuff and Jacob went in and ate his burrito bowl. While I repositioned the sprinkler on the side yard, Mindy & Bella pulled up.

After a few minutes Mindy got the kids back in the basement to finish cleaning organizing the playroom. They love to play down there but hate to clean-up their mess. Bella is an especially messy kid. She can make a mess in no time flat but never wants to clean up. It’s a pattern repeated numerous times at our home. In the meantime, I got busy prepping both swings for the trees. I had to augment each, but the tire swing more significantly. I removed the short 6 or 7’ foot rope attached to the disc swing and used it to extend the tire swing. I’d use the new 50’ of rope on the disc swing since it would hang from about 25’ up. It took about thirty minutes to get both tree ready. While the family remained down stairs I grabbed my tools and headed out back to get the project underway.

I hung the tire swing first having already picked the perfect spot on a young walnut tree with an almost perfectly horizontal branch hovering about 11’ above the ground. The tire swing came with a greased ball & socket bracket to allow for spinning without twisting the rope. In truth, that‘s what makes it so costly. That went well. Soon it was hung and looked good save for the honeysuckle bushes needing trimmed form its path. Next, I got started on the high hanging disc swing. This, I was excited about doing. I knew it would make for a thrilling ride through the numerous nearby trees.

The trick was going to be getting the rope over the high hanging branch – about 25’- in just he right spot. I didn’t dare climb out on the limb. That was too dangerous. I figured instead that I would have a go at tossing it over with a weight attached. But the rope I bought was a half inch thick and would very likely prove difficult to toss, even weighted.

Not to be deterred, I grabbed a roll of twisted pull sting from the garage along with an old baseball. I drilled a 3/16th inch hole through the baseball then threaded the pull string through. I now had a decent device for tossing over the big Ash tree branch. I tied the loose end of the pull string to the new ½” swing rope. I stepped back about ten feet, took aim, then tossed the baseball skyward. The ball soared just over the desired branch. And as luck would have it, it came down just inside of a “y” in the large branch that I was trying to avoid but worried would be impossible. It made for perfect placement. I was stoked that it worked so well and on the very first try.

The rest was easy. I pulled the new rope over the branch and looped it back through itself with a slip knot. I fed the remaining tail through the disc, added a washer and a knot, and it was done. I left the twenty foot tail dangling from the swing so that it could be used for leverage. I sat on both swings myself making sure that they would hold sufficient weight, although I was certain that they would. I went to fetch Jacob to give both swings a try.

Jacob came out thinking that I was gonna have him helped install the ropes. He was surprised to see both already complete. Confused, he asked what I needed him to do. “Test ride”, I said. He hopped on the disc swing first. The extra knot I added for gripping seemed just the right height. I let him rip. He let out a shriek of excitement as he soared over the gulley and between the trees. It held him fine and tracked nicely through the slim opening. I was pleased. He took another ride only this time slightly higher. H e was very excited. Before going in, I asked that he try the tire swing too. He did.

I carried in my tools and cleaned up the rather small mess I made completing the project. Jacob went in to tell his mother and Bella the good news. They soon joined us to give it a try themselves. Everyone enjoyed the disc swing ride – even Mindy. The kids enjoyed it so much they uttered their love for me like never before. Kinda cute! It wasn’t long before they had all the neighborhood kids over giving it a try. The kids called the grandmother asking her to come over and see their new swings. She agreed. Mindy went to fetch her.

In the meantime, I moved the sprinkler to the back yard. By now, it had been running 24 hours non-stop. I watered the rear flower beds by hand with city water. I had failed to do so earlier in the day. In this kind of heat (90 degrees and sunny) the plants can go little longer than 24 hours without showing signs of stress – a very good example of “what have you done for me lately”. Mindy returned shortly with Gloria. She walked out back to watch the kids soar between the trees on their new disc swing. I could tell it troubled her to watch as at times they reach heights close to ten feet above the ground. We all enjoyed hearing their screams as they swung. When Mindy and Gloria headed back in I was stuck outside playing with seven kids – our two included. They played for over an hour on the swings.

I gave up and went to change gears after the hour. After Mindy gave all the kids something to drink, she left to take her mother home. I poured myself a beer. Wahoo! When Mindy returned we discussed our dinner plans. We had originally planned to grill filets but I was to tired and too impatient to grill this evening. Besides, I wasn’t that hungry either. Mindy was. So, she reheated some tasty leftovers just for herself. She heated up brats and corn on the cob and ate some of the homemade cucumber salad, too. I had some of that, also. It was very good after setting for a couple of days.

Mindy got the kids a much needed bath. And to my surprise she headed to bed very early for a Saturday. I stayed up, at first working on a tough problem. Eventually, because I was achy and sweaty, I got in the hot tub with a cold beer. Afterwards, I tuned into Mad TV. It was funny. I began dosing just after 1130pm and headed up to bed.

Gates of Hell Lizards

Sunset over Raymond Memorial at approximately 730pm on Friday, August 3, 2007

I was up by 5:45am preparing for my Friday. It was another steamy morning in paradise. I completed my morning routine in its usual order. In kind, the start of my day was no different than most others. After my breakfast I spent a solid fifteen minutes watering the thirsty flowers in the backyard. The rain we received a week earlier was nothing more than a faded memory. Accept for the lawn, all the flora was looking stressed.

I showered and dressed for work by 7:50am. Mindy mentioned that she and the kids would be visiting Teri in Westerville today. I left for work in the Trooper just before 8am.

The morning went by speedily. We were very busy. I prepared and left for a run about fifteen minutes earlier than usual. It was already sweltering outside. It was extremely hot & humid. I ran up one heck of a lather. It felt terrific to hit the AC once back in the gym.

I showered and quickly dressed. Ten minutes later I was outside in the Trooper determined to complete two quick errands – both on Parsons ave. My first stop was Harr’s Auto Glass. After calling them, they thought that they might have some clips I could use on the Trooper passenger window. I figured that it was worth the drive to check ‘em out. In addition, I planned to stop in the local Ace Hardware just up the road to see if they had the Gilmour telescoping watering wand I wanted. I found it on their webpage and could’ve ordered it online, but since I would already be down there I figured I simply stop in the store.
Long story short, both stops were fruitless. The clips were not what I needed, and the Ace didn’t have the watering wand I had hoped. The Ace Hardware guy tried hard to be the “helpful hardware man” just like the commercial says, but I found him a little annoying. During our close encounter I realized that it was a guy I went to high school with. I couldn’t remember his name until he wrote in on the back of a business card that he insisted I take for any possible future hardware needs. I never let on that I recognized him, and he didn’t either. In fact, I don’t know if he recognized me. As I pulled away I remembered that he was in my art class. He looked so much older than I.

Before returning to work I made it a point to drive by my old pal, Tom Clark’s house in Miriam Village. I hadn’t seen his place for the three years since he left town. It looked largely the same. The grass looked like it needed cut. Satisfied with my trip, I headed back to work. I arrived around 2:30pm to finish off my day. I was the on-call so I’d be taking work home for the weekend. Because of this, I wasn’t in my usual Friday celebrative mood, although I wasn’t in a bad mood either.

I departed for home around 5:15pm. I stopped at Lowes along my way home to check out
Their miscellaneous hardware to see once again if I could find a clip to possibly retro fit my passenger window. I also checked out their playset hardware and lumber quality. I arrived home around 6pm. After little toil, the first thing that I did was unleash the sprinkler pump on my drying lawn. I wanted to make sure and water heavily over the weekend since we would be home through most of it and the threat of rain almost non-existent.

Mindy had made arrangements for Christopher, her friend Tara’s son, to watch our kids so that we could do Barley’s. His dad dropped him off around 7pm. We sat on deck chatting with Doug, Chris’ father, for about thirty minutes. He entertained us with horror stories about his nosey neighbors calling the cops on just about everything they do. The stories were entertaining.

. The kids were happily playing with the neighbors under Christopher’s watchful eye. We left for Barley’s around 7:40pm. Not too unexpected, the Barley’s crowd was thin. Still there were plenty regulars in attendance. We sat at the bar along with Steve & Mark all the while a few others trickled in. I was reminded that I missed the Zappa on Zappa concert last Friday night. And by the sounds of it, it was an incredible show.

We hung at Barley’s until 10pm. Mindy called Chris’s dad just before we arrived home so that he could come fetch him. Mindy paid Chris handsomely before he left. After checking some headlines we headed to bed. I’ll bet we were in bed by 10:30pm. My body, especially my legs, was very tired.

Hot & Humid II

It’s almost as if I am being prevented from getting out of bed on time by some other force. I still commonly wake at 530am but instead of pulling myself up like in the past, I subconsciously choose an additional fifteen minutes of sleep. Today was no exception. I wasn’t downstairs until the clock struck 5:50am. This would usually serve as a barrier to nothing but because of my summer watering requirements my morning mediations have suffered.

I choked down my One-A-Day and then got started on my morning calisthenics. There was almost no pain in my left lower back after having Mindy walk on it the evening before. I also took an anti-inflammatory that I am certain helped tremendously. I finished my remaining exercises before setting out on a walk with Ykraps. We walked west even though he chose east. I overruled his short sighted decision. :)

Our walk was fruitful, shall I say. He did lots of number one and a double number two. We were back at home pursuing coffee and a dog treat by 6:20am. He had the dog treat.

Before making food, I checked email and read the headlines and the Daily OM. At 6:37am I pulled myself away form the PC to address my two meals. I made tuna fish salad, a lettuce-less vegetable salad, nuts, and fruit for lunch. I made cheesy scrambled eggs for breakfast. ON strict orders, I went to wake Mindy at 7am. She wanted up by then to give herself time to shower and perhaps even enjoy her coffee before the grand kids arrived. Today was the second of Rocky’s two dental appointments. Bella and Jacob were set to have their molars sealed at the same time.

I had food ready for Mindy along with her coffee. I hurried through my breakfast and headed out to water flowers. During my watering, the super glue job from Tuesday fell apart leaving waste to my wonderful telescoping watering wand. I anticipated this happening therefore wasn’t too put out. I finished the watering using my thumb as the variable sprayer. I moved to the front where I happened upon a baby bunny sitting still by one of my petunia beds. He didn’t move as I watered his digs. Lindsey dropped the kids as I watered. I encouraged Rocky to stop over to see the bunny. He was excited to see it.
In fact, he was so excited that after viewing it for a while he went in and got Mindy. Later he returned with Bella.

I headed in to shower and dress. I was ready to go by the usual 7:50am. By the time I pulled away from the home it was 7:55am. I arrived at work shortly after 8am. I worked through the morning hours without incident. Come 1245pm I headed out for my run. By then it was plenty warm. I ran up quite a sweat again today as the temp was again near 90 and the humidity near 50%. I was happy to have another warm run in the bag. I showered in cooler than usual water. It felt great!

The afternoon went by in a flash. Today was the final day for one of our engineers, Joe P, and Mindy and I were planning to meet him & his wife along with several other co-workers at Digger & Finch, a Scottish pub located on Riverside Dr just north of 161. Mindy phoned to confirm directions so she could simply meet me there. She also informed me that she must’ve accidentally killed our two lizards by leaving them out in the sun on the deck while at the dental appointment. When she returned she found them cooked alive inside their steamy terrarium. The kids, as one might expect, we shaken to the core, especially Jacob. Mindy took them to get two more.

I left work around 5pm but made a quick stop at Straders on the way to Digger & Finch in hopes of finding a Gilmour telescoping watering wand to replace my broken one. They didn’t have any. I also looked to see if they had any nice hanging baskets to replace our stressed purple petunias. They didn’t.

Mindy phoned while I was already enjoying my first beer to let me know that she was lost. In reality, she wasn’t yet far enough north. I guided her in. She joined us at the bar around 6pm. After greeting everyone we found ourselves two empty bar stools where we sat and ordered some food. Mindy ordered their fish & chips. I ordered a house burger. Both were very good. Mindy left before me needing to be home by the time Jimaken returned with the kids. I left about ten minutes after her – 7:30pm.

When I arrived home I took care of putting out the trash since Friday morning is trash day. I then retreated inside to relax for a spell. I took a brief nap on the family room floor after tucking in the kids. We went to bed not long after the kids.