As I write this “article”, “tidbit”, “diddy” or whatever you want to call it, I am sitting on my back deck.

Let me set the scene!  Currently it is approx 90 Degrees, the sun is on its descent, and there is little – to no breeze.  The tiki torches are lit, along with some citronella candles.  In case you can’t tell the “skeeters” are out in a big way.  Peyton (the middle child – 6 years old) is hanging upside down on the monkey bars.  Cooper (the youngest – 4 years old) is inside the house aggravating Artemis (9 month old Bullmastiff).  Caylee (the oldest 11years old) is at the beach.  Melinda (the best wife and mother a man could ask for) is in the kitchen attempting to understand the new stove that was purchased last weekend so she gets the tater-tots just right.

So you know what everyone else is doing, I guess I should probably give you some details on what I am up to.  Today marks the end of another jammed packed week in the life of this “Insurance Guy”.  The insurance business is funny.  Every day offers new challenges and opportunities.  This week our agency achieved the highest Tier possible in Erie Insurance’s “Commercial Blitz” (with over a week left until the contest ends).  For those who aren’t insurance geeks, basically we have written a ton of new commercial insurance policies.  Most seem to be in the construction arena.  Maybe we could take that as a good sign that the economy could be turning around?!?!?!

Today was definitely hectic for this guy!  Starting the day off I knew I was going to have to leave the office early (we’ll get into that later).  Anytime, I know my day will be short, it seems that things just don’t seem to run as smooth as I would like them to.  Honestly, nothing horrible took place.  I actually got the majority of the stuff that was cluttering my desk taken care of.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Trish’s (ALLCHOICE’s Customer Protection Specialist) day went quite as well.  Again, nothing too much out of the ordinary.  However, Trish & I had an impromptu conversation about how we could increase our organizational efficiency.  She did say something very odd to me.  She said that she always gives me ideas about how to improve things but that I never listen to her.  I find it amazing that both my wives (my marital wife and my work wife) seem to make the same story up about me.  I think they both need professional help!

Enough of that!  Now down to the real action.  I had to leave the office at 2:30 so I could make it to Winston Salem by 3:20.  Peyton has been in theater camp all week and today was the conclusion of said camp.  The camp culminates with a Theatrical performance of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.  Peyton had the role of “Dopey”.  I must say that all the kids did a great job.  They were all exceptionally adorable.

Peyton Wingate as dopey with Cooper Wingate

After the performance I started to head for “Mi Casa”.  While driving, I thought that it would be a good idea for me to go ahead and get dinner figured out.  You see, in the Wingate House 99{66506b27ca8f5234034d808fc0aabc14bc16ceb45d71027974b073b60f711cfe} of the marital tension can be traced back to one thing….”What’s for dinner?”!  I went ahead and headed for Harris Teeter.  When I called my wife to ask her idea for dinner, she only offered up that Shrimp sounded good.  Well, in my book, Shrimp does not make a full meal in themselves.  I typically like to couple grilled shrimp with some form of beef.

My first thought was to find a nice looking Flank Steak to join the shrimp with.  To my horror, Harris Teeter had no flank steak.  Always quick on my feet, I pivoted from the original plan and grabbed some burgers and brats.  I thought, we could do burgers and brats tonight.  Then I could grab a nice flank steak from Costco tomorrow and we could have our shrimp and flank tomorrow night.  BOOM!  I had just taken care of dinner for two nights.

As I sit here enjoying the deck, I am grilling hamburgers and shrimp!  Bet you didn’t see that one coming!  I know I didn’t.  So much for having dinner taken care of for two nights!  No points for me!

Well!  I think that about wraps it up.

From the back porch, this is just my perspective on things!

PS – I am pumped about last nights return of Burn Notice

PPS – I am just as pumped about watching Friday Night Lights tonight