This week, we ushered in the month of May. It’s great to be in this part of the country at this time of year. From the Kentucky Derby at the start of the month to the Indy 400 at the end, the month of May has always been my favorite time of the year. When the kids were little, it was the time when we would open the pool and retreat to our backyard oasis. It was also the time when I would see Mom more often than any other time of the year with Mother’s Day, Week 19, Mom’s birthday and her and Dad’s anniversary. In more recent years, it has been special for our family as it is the time of Dance Revues, Prom and of course, graduations. The weather is so weird this year – just last week we had snow…hell, we had 3??? of snow! Now this week we set a record for highs in the 80s. We saw plenty of rain and sunshine – I guess April showers really do bring May flowers, eh? As for this week, Ann & I were happy to see that 450N finally re-opened after being re-paved…and is Black Betty approved! Ms. Phyllis had successful surgery to replace her broken hip after falling a couple weeks ago. She is making good progress in the hospital and we wish her a speedy recovery! Matt is counting down the days until summer vacation and the start of his new job with Cathy. He is sad to leave his kids, but its something he needs to do right now. He’s also counting down to his knee surgery that will occur after school lets out. He’s ready for it, that’s for sure. It was really giving him trouble when we talked with him today (Sunday) on the phone. He’s also very excited to start his new job once his surgery is complete. It was good to see him for a little while this week. Abby had a busy week at school. She is still trying to figure out a path to get that accounting minor. She had a big week with the sorority, that made her week very busy. She is counting down the days until finals start – something like three weeks or so! It was great seeing her for a day and enjoyed our adventure. Luke had the biggest week of all with school, work, sports and especially his junior/senior prom. He seemed to really enjoy all the pomp and circumstance. Ann got in more steps this week than she has a in a long while. She had a fast week or work, with only one full day and a three-day weekend. She was a big part of helping put on the Prom / After-Prom event and was really in her element this week – the kids, parents and school staff all lover her… I finally met my exercise goal with a little over 15 miles of exercise this week. I also managed to lose three pounds along the way. I had a couple checkups that went mostly well. I also worked only one full day in the office as well and enjoyed a really fast week. I also got in more steps that I have in a really long time and it felt good – except my ankles, which were a little achy this week. It was good to see all the kids this week and I hope this is a preview of the coming weeks and spring / summer weather…bring it on! Hello again and welcome back to the Scheu Family Blog.
It was back to work and school on Monday morning. The week started off amazing with temps stretching up into the 70s. Ann & I both had long days at work – a typical Monday, for sure. Justin & I went to lunch at the China Buffet and I ate way too much. In fact, I didn’t eat again the rest of the day! I began my monthly EOC rounds that afternoon and then walked three miles outside in the lovely spring weather. By the day’s end, I had gotten over 10K steps again. Luke had school then football practice. He later went to the Y for more lifting and to run. When he came home, he was all full of new ideas. I love how the kid is always thinking, I just wish he wasn’t so easily influenced and hope he grows out of it quickly. Ann & I ran some errands when we got back to town and were pretty tired when we got home. We took it easy in the living room and watched a few shows before calling it a night. Here are random pictures from our recent adventures.
Unlike yesterday, Tuesday flew by in comparison. It was noticeably warmer on our way in to work. In fact, I think the A/C ran – it definitely did on our return home that afternoon. Our new hire orientation class was cancelled, mercifully, which allowed me to start in on day two of my EOC rounds. The boys helped me facilitate a fire drill that afternoon and then Ann & I left town early. We ran to the high school to pickup some prom prizes then went out to the fairgrounds where Annie helped get things started out there, where the event will be held this year due to COVID restrictions. While she met with other planners, I went across the street and played a couple rounds of frisbee golf on a rather blustery day. It truly made things interesting. Whereas I aided me in getting a pair of birdies on the island (hole 5), it wrecked me on most holes, especially 1 and 3, which were headlong into the teeth of the wind, causing me to throw my worst rounds in a long time with a 30 and 31 (yikes!). Although my shoulder was starting to tighten and ache, I began a 3rd round but this time moved to the front tees. I only got in one hole when Ann texted saying she was done and ready to head home. We ran to Walmart to get more Prom supplies, along with a few food items – including a ready-to-bake pizza from their deli area. It was surprisingly good and really cheap! I think we would do that again. We got the one with bacon on the thin crust. Luke had a fast day as well, attending school then going to football workouts. He said he upped both his bench and squat maxes again! He helped Ann by spray painting some stuff out in the front yard. He was still out there when Jimmy stopped by to drop off another load of shirts for me to take to work in the morning. We chatted for a bit, made some future plans to get together for grilling and drinking before he headed out just as the pizza was ready to eat. We watched a couple DVR’d shows and then began binge-watching a new show on Netflix called The Serpent until we both fell asleep with the dogs in front of the fan. I think we set a record for the high temps when it got up into the mid-80s that afternoon. It was a far cry from just one week ago when we received three inches of snow! We wound up closing up the house when we went to bed that night in preparation for the rain and storms that were expected to move in overnight and be with us the next couple days…
Luke was up early and the first one out the door on Humpday. He went to Leadership Academy for football that morning that had a “boring??? day at school. Meanwhile, Ann & I had another whirlwind day at our work. Although I didn’t do any EOC rounds, I did prep everything for me to work from home on Friday. The boys and I went to lunch at Chicago’s pizza and then we left Columbus early for Ann to attend her dentist appointment where she had to get a filling. ? Even worse, our dentist is retiring in a couple months. Thankfully, he already has two partners to carry on the business. Afterward, I dropped Ann off at home and went out to play a quick round of frisbee golf. The only problem was that it was raining. It rained harder and harder the longer I played. I managed to get in 9 pretty quickly. Luke wound up joining me for the 2nd round in the steady rain. It wasn’t cold, but it did make the disc a little slippery. Still, I managed to eke out a 3-over 30 from the back tees. I moved to the front tees when Luke joined me. I scored a 3-under 24 while he had a 34. His buddy Konk joined us and he and Luke alternated throws. When we finished, we were pretty soaked. The boys went to Wendy’s for dinner while I came home and edited pictures and videos for this week’s blog. As luck would have it, it stopped raining the moment I got home. Ann spoke to Bu that afternoon. Unfortunately, Taff Furniture is not hiring a summer intern this year, so Abby did not get the position. So, she is still looking for a summer internship (she needs it to graduate next year), so if you know of anyone that would do an internship in business or marketing, please let us know! We ran past the high school and picked up more gifts and Ann put together the prize baskets that night. I ordered dinner from Koch’s and had them deliver it. We chilled-out and watched a couple shows as it began to rain that night. I fell asleep early on the couch (surprise!) and went on to bed. We have lots of social media pictures to share this week.
It was still raining when we got up on Thursday morning. It rained hard on our way to work. Black Betty voiced her displeasure a couple times but did just fine. Just my luck – I get to work and it stops raining… We both had long days at work – literally and physically. Not only was it the first (and only) full day at the office for both of us this week, but we were both busy the entire time. Ann had a full day of dealing with patients, staff and an inspection while I finished up EOC rounds and did a couple IT projects. After work, I got out and walked a 5K on a dry afternoon. Ann and I came home after getting gas (I’ll be damned if it didn’t go up again) and I helped her get all the Prom prizes put together for the big event this weekend. We both laughed that it felt like Christmas Eve in April with her working at the kitchen table and me going back and forth. Luke came home for a bit after work then went out to the YMCA to lift. That night, he baked his own chicken for dinner! Ann & I had a find-your-own dinner and we watched a few of our favorite DVR’d shows with the dogs.
I was up early and out the door before Ann and Luke even got up on Friday. I had a dentist appointment first thing that morning. It went really well and Dr. Katie gave me an A+ on my dental report card – LOL! I ran a couple errands, picked up Ann and took her out to the fairgrounds where she worked on Prom / After-Prom set up in the Livestock Pavilion. I came back and went to work from home. That afternoon, I went to a doctor appointment for my annual physical exam (isn’t being over 50 awesome?!). Although overall it was good, my blood sugar was too high, so there’s a new med in my life. The office is in the process of being renovated and looks really nice. I saw Mom & Sandy at the doctor when I was leaving. They followed me home and came over to talk for a while. Afterward, I returned to work for another couple hours. It was so windy that day. I loved having the house opened up and letting the fresh air blow through it. Matt came down to pickup his birth certificate and social security card so that he could get a passport in order to go to Mexico with Taylor later this year. We grabbed a ladder out of the shed and took it down to the fairgrounds for Ann to use (who are we kidding, it was for the other workers – her knees aren’t going to allow her to get on that thing!) in setting up the decorations at Prom. Bryan and Nuthin Fancy were doing their soundcheck for tomorrow night’s performance. We chatted with them and with Ann for a few. Afterward, Matt went over to visit with Gma & Gigi for a while before heading back up to Carmel. I came home and cleaned up the house and sat down to watch the NFL draft and wait for Luke to get off work. He worked at Hibbett’s right after school that evening. I picked up Ann after she put in 12 hours of work out there. She was so tired that she could barely move We met up after he got off and went to dinner at El Rep. I had a couple margaritas with my Mexican-style tacos (2 tilapia, 2 shrimp) – yum! Afterward, I came home to find Ann struggling to stay awake and get comfortable in her chair. She decided to go on to bed. I stayed up and checked in a few new Hot Wheels and watched a couple shows before following suit myself. Luke & Oakley woke me up when they came to the house. Luke got a few things then they went out to the Y for a late-night workout and then wound up staying the night out at Oak’s house. Here are pictures of recent additions to my Hot Wheels collection.
Saturday was one of the busiest days of the year so far. I got up with the barking dogs, shortly after sunrise on May Day. I did a few chores around the house and checked fluids in the vehicles. About mid-morning, the dew had dried up well enough that I was able to load up Betty White and head over to Mom & Sandy’s house to mow & trim. I tried to blow off all the trimmings afterward but found my blower spitting fuel whenever I pulled the start cable. I ran over to Tops hardware store but didn’t really find anything that I wanted. So, I came on home and got started on our lawn. It took me a little longer than I thought it would because the grass had grown so much with all the recent rain and then all the sunshine. Meanwhile, Luke had come back from Oakley’s house and he & Ann went out to Expressions to pick up flowers (his boutonniere and her wrist corsage). When I got done mowing and weed-eating, I hopped in the shower and expected Abby to be home. However, she had a busy morning at FC. It was initiation day for her Pi Phi (Indiana Alpha chapter) sorority. There were a few bumps but they got it figured out, but that put her behind on her timeline. Still, she made it in time for Prom pictures. Matt wasn’t able to come down for the festivities as he worked at a shindig for Cathy as a bartender. Ann helped Luke get all dressed up and then we met Mom & Sandy at the house and went next to the Stapp’s house in the edition behind us. Mom & Sandy followed Ann, Abby and I over to get Prom pictures of Luke & Sarah. We had a little bit of time when we finished, so her folks invited us in to have a beer and watch some of the Kentucky Derby. Next, we went to the housing edition behind them to the Acra’s where a large group of Luke’s friends had gathered to get group pictures with them all gussied-up. We had enough time to come home, get a drink and head out to the fairgrounds to watch Prom walk-ins. Luke & and Sarah went and did more pictures in the park then got in line to come to Prom. It was fun to see the kids walk-in again, as we missed it last year. When Luke & Sarah went in, Ann went to work while Abby & I said good-bye to Gma & Gigi, ran home to get a few last-minute things for Ann and then we went to Batesville. Abby & I played 9 holes of frisbee golf at twilight, which was really cool. Next, we went to Lil’ Charlies for dinner and drinks. We enjoyed a couple Long Islands and a Long Beach with a yummy seafood dip and pita chip – which were outstanding! We could only eat less that half of our bacon & bier cheeseburgers (on pretzel buns) and waffle fries. They were so good, but we were full. Unfortunately, we got home and realized that we had left our leftover boxes on the table. ? Dammit! We stopped by their big liquor store only to find out that we had five minutes to make our selections – another bummer (who knew they closed at 10 on a Saturday night???). We found a couple things and thanked the owner for staying open for us. We came home and had a stogie and a drink on the back porch. We heard from Megan that there was a report of someone with a gun at the Prom that night, but that turned out to be false (thankfully!). At the end of the night, I went out and picked up Ann and the supplies that we had run out there, catching the last song by Bryan and the band. When we got home and got everything unloaded, the wind had picked up again. It was windy during pictures earlier but by walk-ins, it had died down. It wasn’t too bad in Batesville nor when we had some porch time earlier. With the return of the wind, Abs and I didn’t stay out back long. Instead, we came in for another drink and to watch a new “episode??? of Rick & Morty. It turned out to be like an 8-bit video game. It was a little trippy but kind of pointless, TBH. Luke came home to change after the big dance then he took Sarah out to the Stapp Barn for an after-prom event. He stayed out there a while then caught a ride home and went out to Oakley’s house to spend the night again. Abby fell asleep on the couch and wound up sleeping there all night… I went to bed around 2 am while finishing with over 20K steps on the day, including about 4 ˝ miles of walking exercise ~ whew…what a day!
I got up earlier than what I had planned on Sunday morning. It wasn’t the dogs barking that morning, but rather my bladder. I woke up Abby and we ran to Walmart, since we simply ran out of time last night. We also picked up a few things for Ann to make breakfast. We finally decided on biscuits and gravy. The house smelled so good, but it was worth the wait as her food really hit the spot that morning. Luke & Oakley came over about noon to help send Abby back to school. We loaded up Tonya and sent Abs back to campus. The boys ran around for a while then went to the YMCA to lift. Meanwhile, I did our weekly household chores and later, I watched DVR’d sports and TV shows while working on the blog as Ms. Ann finally had a chance to catch up on her well-deserved sleep. Mom & Sandy stopped by to let me get pictures off her camera from yesterday. They went shopping at the outlet mall for a few hours then surprised us when they brought me new shorts! I had jokingly said something earlier and didn’t think they’d really do anything. I was genuinely touched by their generosity, which is nothing new if you know these two… Ann made cheesy popcorn for dinner and we watched a couple shows on the big screen. It rained for a little while during another really nice day with temps around 70 degrees. Luke & Oak popped over for a while to chat after their second workout of the day. Lukey showered and then spent the night out at Oakley’s house again. I’m sure his folks are getting tired of seeing his mug out there so often! We wound down the night watching another couple shows before calling it a night and putting a cap on another fast week…
Next up is our Waybac segment which continues to feature the set of Deanna’s pictures from her digital camera in 2004. We lead off in April – Easter Day with the Owens fam; May – Dixon Dance Revue with Abby; in July, we have the family having fun on the 4th, at the Fair Parade and at the fairground, Grace’s birthday and Sandy’s birthday; August – we say hello to Minnie Mabel and Charlie Campsendelle; September – Abby’s birthday; and December – Christmas Parade day and the Owens fam on Christmas Day.
Next up is our video segment which includes on home movie from this week as well as several from around the interent.
Well, that puts the kibosh on this week’s episode of the Scheu Family Blog. Thanks for keeping up with us this time out and we’ll catch up with you again next time. Until then, have a good one and stay safe out there. We miss ya, Mom.
Later, Scheu