Labor Day

Usually when Myke has a day off from work we sit around and ask each other what we should do. 

Then we do nothing.

We wanted Labor Day to be different this year so we actually planned beforehand how we would spend the day.  It turned out to be a great idea!  Someone should have hipped me to this practice of pre-planning activities.  I could have spent more days off having fun instead of sitting around watching my wrinkles deepen.  I’m a changed man.  Err…wo-man.

We began the weekend by cleaning out the garage.  Fun?  Not so much.  Spiders?  A million of them.  BIG ones.  Dog hair?  Enough to weave a stunning rug.  Satisfying?  Absolutely.  The most amazing part was that I didn’t get irritated once during the purge.  I was enjoying the cleaning and didn’t even mind that it was scorching hot and we only had string cheese for lunch.  I think this is the first project Michael and I have worked on together where my blood pressure didn’t rise to the boiling point. And I didn’t have an urge to punch him in the throat. And I didn’t swear.  Maybe I’m maturing.  Maybe.

We purchased shelving and now have a place for everything.  In fact, we have extra room for whatever future crap we’re going to need to shove in the garage.  I feel Zen walking into the garage now.  I feel especially Zen knowing we eradicated a million deadly spiders from our abode. 

Ahhh…organization.

Ahhh…tool rack.  I love you.

After all of our toiling on Saturday we spent Monday playing.  First we went bowling.  I haven’t been bowling in years and I was certain I would be terrible.  Taking all that time off actually proved beneficial to my game.  I bowled my highest score yet: 133.  I’m practically ready to go pro with a score like that.  Unfortunately, the time off was also beneficial to Michael and he secured a win for both games.  I’m suspicious that he won with skill, however.  My hypothesis is that the gutter bumpers aided in his victory.  And that he was using the assist-a-roll ramp that was meant for our child. 

Eva had a great time and jumped around squealing every time it was her turn.  During our first game Michael bowled a turkey and Eva spent the rest of day calling his bowling ball “The Turkey Ball.”  It was a load of fun and my hindquarters were sore the next day from all the crouching and concentration.  I most certainly qualify as an elite athlete. 

After our strenuous workout we stopped for lunch at a delicious sandwich shop before heading off to pick apples.  I spent most of the day Tuesday making apple chips.  Michael loves them so much I feel obligated to give him privacy whenever he opens the bag for a handful.  His excitement over the apple chips borders on creepy.  They are delicious though. 

 

It was only early afternoon when we were done at the apple farm so we journeyed to Silver Falls for a short hike.  It’s been a dry summer so the waterfall looked malnourished.  We still had a good time walking through the forest and pleading with Eva not to fall off the edge of the trail into the abyss below. She did a magnificent job hiking considering she has the same inseam as a dwarf. 

  

We spent the balance of the evening watching TV and reminiscing about our successful outings.  And I had a fudge bar.

It was a very fine day indeed.