Tag Archives: coffee

Monday Memos

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Monday MemosDear Self, 

Nothing beats a really good book that grabs you and keeps your interest, something you just do not want to put down.  Even better is when that book has a “part 2″ and it is very inexpensive so you download it right away and start reading.  After all, having a Kindle means no driving to the book store, which happened to be closed upon reaching the end of book #1, so even better.

However, while the books were indeed very good and recommended reads, perhaps 2:30am was just a little late (or maybe early depending if you mean late at night or early in the morning) to stay awake and finish a book.  You are not 18 anymore, you NEED a good night of sleep just to resemble ‘normal’ on your best day.  So, what do you think, maybe leave the Kindle in your purse tonight and go to bed early?

Love,
Me

Dear Amazing Individual Responsible For Coffee,

I don’t know you.  I have no idea whatever possessed you to grind up coffee beans and mix them with hot water to create this glorious potion in my cup, but I cannot thank you enough.  There simply are no adequate words.  No doubt you were given gold wings when you arrived at the pearly gates as a reward.

In awe,
Caffeine Addict

P.S. – every living creature on  2 or 4 legs that crosses my path each morning sends their unabashed gratitude as well.

Dear Scale,

Okay, I get it, time to duct tape my mouth shut.  The screaming in agony was really uncalled for, even if my ass is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. RUDE!

Regards,
Pleasantly Plump

Dear I-75N Morning Commuters,

When traffic that normally cruises down the highway, far exceeding the posted speed limit, is suddenly at a stand-still, then inching along, I expect carnage!  Twisted steel, shattered glass, maybe even body parts and blood on the pavement, a life-less hand sticking out from under a sheet.  Sun is NOT an excuse to suddenly screetch to a halt and then drive along trying to see through your fingers and dirty windshield.  BUY A PAIR OF GOOD SUNGLASSES!!  Nearly every stop-n-rob and gas station has a rack of eye protection that varies in price so there is something for every budget.  You all drive this same route every day, this is not a new event, it should not come as a shocker!

You should also consider GETTING OFF THE CELL PHONE so you have a free hand to shield your eyes, and put down the coffee for the same reason.

Sincerely,
Thinks Road Rage Might Be Justifiable – Thank whoever discovered coffee that I’ve not aimed my grandpa’s proverbial “gun that shot sh*t” at your car and opened fire.

Tuesday Coffee Chat – In The Coming Year I Would Like To…

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I love Tuesday Coffee Chat!  If you blog (and if you don’t why not start now?) you can click to coffee cup above to link up.

Today’s Coffee Chat is:

In the coming year I would like to…

Celebrate and embrace my 50th birthday by paying-it-forward through 50, random acts of kindness throughout the year.  And while it feels weird to consider blogging about them, as if it would be tooting my own horn, I hope it might inspire others to do the same. In fact I’d love to see many do them too, in line with their own birthday number.  Wouldn’t that be cool? As there are 52 weeks in the year, I need to average one a week. I can do that.

Start my novel writing career.  I have several I want to write and I am not getting any younger so why not just DO IT!

Shed around 30 pounds and get fit.  I am entirely out of condition physically and it is time to fix that before serious health issues result.

Build up my Avon business enough that it is paying all of my monthly expenses, and have 100 people in my down-line.

Donate blood every 8 weeks, because each donation can save up to 3 lives, and that is the only satisfaction/repayment one gets donating so it is pretty unselfish.  Well okay you do get good cookies afterward, and I jokingly say I do it for the cookies.

Get my Etsy shop stocked and online so that I can have additional income doing something else that I dearly love, hooking (crochet) blankets and baby things.

Resurrect family dinners once a month.  We used to do this, with my parents and siblings and their offspring.  We started it after 9/11 because we realized how quickly those we love could be taken (both of my brothers are fire fighters and my son is a cop).  It slowly fizzled out after a few years and I miss it so much.  I will be pulling this together, in fact today I’ll pull the Diva’s together and we’ll get this started since we certainly have a big enough house for it.

What about you, what will you do in the coming year?

Friday Confessional ~ Derailed Diet Edition

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I confess… 
I did not get my 6th wish posted until this morning (it was due up yesterday) because I was just too tired and brain dead by the time I got in front of my laptop.  Gave up trying to get all the pieces in place and went to bed.  So I posted it this morning and the 7th will go up later today.

I confess… 
I totally went off the rails last night as far as my eating healthy and counting/tracking all grams of any type going into my mouth.

My son and his wife and daughter came over for dinner and grilled up some bacon wrapped venison steaks and OMG were they delicious.  The venison, corn and small potato were not the problem.  My choo-choo jumped the track at the peanut butter cookies, white chocolate peppermint M&Ms (available exclusively at Target) and a few beers.

*hanging head in mock shame*

Yeah, not really all that upset with myself over it to be honest.

I confess… 
There is cinnamon, walnut iced coffee cake sitting on the kitchen counter calling my name.  I am resisting at the moment but it would be best if the cats grabbed it and hid it some place far from me.  I’m weak in the area of sweets, I admit this.

I confess… 
I just caved and had a small piece.  I just had to have it.  I’m placing all blame on the cats for not acting fast enough.  Okay not at all…but then they have no interest in coffee cake.  We need a dog.

I confess… 
It is after 10am and I am still in my jammies.  I haven’t had a shower either.  And the worst part? I really would be just fine with staying like this all day, complete with the smeared mascara on my face from yesterday because I also confess I didn’t bother to wash my face before bed.  Just do not feel like getting myself together and getting ready to face the day.  Some times I just LIKE being lazy.  Okay I love it.  However that isn’t an option today so I’ll be headed to pull myself together as soon as this post is finished.

Friday Confessional

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FridayConfessionalMamarazzi

AH Friday at last.  Time to confess for the week.  Confession is good, they say, for the soul.  It can also make for a good post, though if you came here looking for “naughty” stuff, sorry, I’m being a ‘good’ girl, no seriously naughty things to share.  And this is a family friendly post, after all.

I confess… 

Despite the decent efforts, I did not lose a single pound this week.  But I have to admit I broke from the restraints, and chewed my way to a few beers and snacks that, while I recorded them, weren’t good choices.  Last night, my snack was baby carrots, raisins and grapes.  Oh and water.  No beer.

I confess… 

I figured out how to get an additional handful of calories into my count.  150 to be exact.  I now prepare my old fashioned oats in water rather than whole milk.  Even with a bit more brown sugar to flavor it, I’ve managed to carve out some play room to add other things like nuts or raisins, or even banana slices.

I confess… 

It is most unlikely that I will give up the coffee in any amount.  I like coffee, even if it makes the breath smell like, well, butt.  Being fairly sure that I’m at least somewhat ADD, based on how I am without the coffee (ie: 1000 thoughts flying around in my head and I cannot focus at all on one), I think for the sake of daily accomplishments this is good.  Especially if I’m driving a car.

I confess… 

Last night I was mean to my cat.  I took her little fuzzy away from her again.  She was playing fuzzy soccer all over the room, driving me bonkers when I was trying to sleep.  The look on her face was priceless when she realized it was now mine, under my pillow, under my head, where she wan’t going to get to it.  She plopped herself down by my leg and pouted.  I fell asleep so I guess she was there most of the night.  She came right up to my face this morning when I stirred and just glared at me until I gave it back.  Sadly, she won’t ‘learn’ anything by it, so it won’t be the last time I have to take it away.

I confess… 

I don’t have writer’s block…I have total ideas for posts static confusion.  I have SO much I want to write about but cannot ever nail it down to one.  Nothing feels right.  Maybe I need more coffee.

Day 24 ~ 30 Days Of Thankfulness 2012

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Mom said it best this morning:

“I’m thankful for a warm house.”

I second that one!  It is 35 degrees outside at the moment.  Someone posted on Facebook a little while ago that they were seeing flurries.  Oh yippie.  I don’t  like winter.  I love snow if I am inside looking out on it with a hot cup of coffee in hand.  But I do NOT like being cold one bit.

So, as it is cold outside, I’m very thankful for the warm house we live in, keeping us comfortable on this cold day.

Friday Confessional

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I confess… 
I did NOT want to get out of my bed this morning to go do this vendor event with my SwissJust upline.  But I needed the exposure to some of the products and knowledge she has, and she was going to be alone at an event that typically has 17,000 people through it in the course of the weekend so it didn’t seem fair not to go.

I confess… 
I am SO glad that I went to the event.  I did learn a lot and it helped me with my push out of my shy comfort zone.  And it was fun.

I confess… 
I am starting to really look forward to going to school in a few weeks to get my nurse aide certification.  At first I wasn’t but I love old people, and getting to work in the nursing home with them, helping to care for them, is appealing.  Having medical insurance again is a huge plus too.

I confess… 
I am somewhat glad that one of my favorite shows, Blue Bloods, is not on tonight.  I came home with a migraine today and it totally kicked my butt.  I don’t get them often, so when I do, I am always astounded at the amount of energy they drain from my body.

I confess… 
I am about to go re-heat my pumpkin spice coffee for the third time because I keep getting distracted online and forgetting to drink it.

Day 7 ~ 30 Days Of Thankfulness 2012

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I am thankful today for all 5 of my senses…and that mysterious 6th one.

I woke to the sounds of my sister getting ready for work, then my mom, before the sounds of my cat purring reached my ear as she made her way up the bed once she knew I was awake.  Though it isn’t as good as it once was, I can hear!

I could smell fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen, and the last traces of lavender oil on my pillow case.  My nose still works!

I could taste that wonderful cup of coffee, and the toasted cheese sandwich that was my breakfast.  And the Almond Joy mini candy bar that followed. Those taste buds are still working!

I can feel the softness of my cat when I’m petting her, and the blanket on my bed that I made that she has now adopted as her own.  I can feel the cool spray of body balm when the hot flashes are in over drive today.  I can feel the rough carpeting under my feet change to cool hard floor as I leave the steps and head into the kitchen.

I can see, even if with the assistance of glasses or contact lenses, my adorable cat stretched out on the blanket on the bed, the sunshine pouring across the land,  the bowl holding the candy bars, all my favorite things in my room as I’m looking about me.

And that mysterious 6th sense, my gut feeling, intuition, better judgement…whatever you want to call it…that ‘red flag’ that gives me cause to stop and use the other 5 senses I have to investigate and double check my surroundings.

So many come through this life without some of these, or lose them throughout the course of their time here on earth.  That I have all of mine and they are working well this morning, for that I am very thankful.

Day 3 ~ 30 Days Of Thankfulness 2012

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As silly as this sounds, I’m thankful for coffee.  

Coffee = good morning!

Coffee = over the counter meds for us ADD types.

Coffee = countless flavors all year long.

But most importantly:

Coffee = memories.

Around here coffee is a major food group on its own.  If someone is awake in this house, there is a pot of coffee on.  And a fresh pot often will equal sitting down at the table, or in the family room or living room, coffee in hand sharing about how our day transpired.  Sometimes it is a pow-wow or brain storming session to solve an issue.  Sometimes it is a gathering of the Divas to help one of us through a rough spot.  Most often it is a time to sit together and laugh, share and relax.

Coffee brings back memories of my friend, Marita, and sitting together with coffee in hand, nails clicking on the table top and cups because we’re both rather animated when we talk.  I miss her and our long talks over our coffee cups.

Coffee sometimes means memories made when out Black Friday shopping, or sitting at Tri-County mall with my old tutor, Bob, working on my signing language skills and laughing at the ridiculous stories he’d sign for me to interpret that would have me laughing hard enough to spew the coffee out of my nose.

Coffee carries with it so many fond memories of other times and places, recent events and good times, and sometimes just the peaceful quiet of being the first person awake to make it and feed the cats.  Different flavors give off different scents bringing to mind many different times and places.

I’m thankful for not so much the coffee, itself, but what it is and does in my life.

6 Drinks/Beverages I Love

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As part of the 100 Things I Love, here are 6 drinks or beverages that I love!  Again, as with the other lists, no particular order is given.

Diet Coke - happens to be sitting on my desk at the  moment.  When it comes to sodas, I prefer diet as the regular stuff is just too sweet.  I also prefer diet Coke to diet Pepsi.  And a fountain version is always far better!

Coffee - another drink that happens to be sitting on my desk at the moment, a hot cup of pumpkin spice coffee.  I love coffee, especially flavored, and I drink it black.  In the winter I sometimes use a flavored creamer as a treat, but over all just plan black coffee is tops.

Beer - I am of mostly German roots, some Hungarian and a splash of Irish to keep it interesting.  Naturally my German side loves beer.  Of the many beers, I prefer Mich Ultra though it gives me migraines if I have one or have several.  Next up is Bud Select 55.  Yes yes, diet beer I know.  I also like Fireside Nut Brown Ale in the winter months.

Wine - I enjoy wine, though I know about nothing regarding quality, I either like it or I don’t.  I buy wines based on the labels.  The  more amusing the more likely I will try it.  One favorite to date is 7 Deadly Zins.  I kept that bottle, and the Middle Sister wine, Forever Cool, because the label is so on target with my personality.

Herbal Tea - Cinnamon Apple Spiced and Cinnamon Rose are favorites, as well as Peppermint.  During the summer I enjoy mint iced tea like grandma made.  Many of us in the family got hooked on mint tea, and some of my cousins have mint from grandma’s garden.  I need to get some from them to start my own mint bed.

Eggnog Shakes - UDF (United Dairy Farmers) makes the world’s best eggnog shake!  McDonalds doesn’t have too bad of one either, but it rates second in my book to UDF.  I LOVE these and they are only available during the holiday season.

When it comes to beverages those are the first 6 that come to mind.  There are likely many others but 100 Things list only asks for 6, so there you have it.

Saturday Morning Coffee Musings

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With just 10 minutes left in one of my favorite shows, Blue Bloods, the power went out last night.  It couldn’t just go out, it had to blink off for a few seconds, then back on for a few seconds, then off again for a brief second, then on again for several seconds, like a teaser, then finally off.  All that fan fair, and then the dark silence as the hum of all things electric in the house died away.  A trio of “NO!” followed and then all 3 of us watching TV had to use our cell phones for light to wander around and find candles,  Febreeze Luminaries (which we can no longer find anywhere around here in any store), and a few battery powered lanterns.  Seems like over kill, I know, but we have 2500 square feet of house to wander about in so we need lights along the way.  It is also a quad and each floor is large and spread out, so it takes a few light sources to keep you from walking into walls in the dark.  And it was DARK.  The entire neighborhood had been plunged into the light-less abyss.  We found out a transformer blew on a nearby pole.  Thankfully there is Prime Time On Demand or we’d have no idea how Blue Bloods ended last night.  The funnier part is prior to the power going out we were all getting tired, but once we had NOTHING we could do, we were wide awake.  We did finally give up and go to bed, only to be teased with a few brief moments of power a while later before it died out again.  Sometime in the night it did come back, however, so we are all good today.

Good as in COFFEE!!!  I do not do mornings without my coffee.  Actually, truth be told, I don’t do life period without my coffee.  It is an all day thing with me, that ever present cup of liquid sanity and joy.  8 hot calories a cup, gotta love it.  And it keeps the body count down, which is even better.  My OCD side thinks I must have the coffee in one of 3 cups, which are mine, do not even THINK about using one.  Warning to my brothers: I lick the rim of each of  my 3 cups, so rethink using one to mess with me!  It simply cannot be in any other cup or I cannot drink it.  Don’t judge, it is just how I am.  Just like, even when sick, if I’m going to be out of the bed for longer than using the bathroom, then the bed must be made.  Immediately if not sooner.  I cannot get in bed to sleep if it hasn’t been made.  Before I owned more than one set of sheets, I nearly had panic attacks while the linens were in the washer and dryer, because the bed was not made!   It took a lot for me to get used to removing all the decorative pillows in order to prop myself against the others to sit on the bed and watch TV, read or have hooker time with my crochet hook and some yarn.  I’m okay with that now, but it can only be in the evening.  The bed must remain looking beautiful and “together” otherwise.

I’ve mentioned this week that I got sucked into FarmVille2.  I’m kicking myself again, as the first thought in my brain after we learned the source of the power outage was “ERMAHGERD! My crops will wither in the fields!”  I know, it is just flat out pathetic.  I also started playing in my favorite, virtual world again, Neopia!  I finally remembered my password to my Neopets account and I’m back in to the only place I am a millionaire.  Laugh, but I am going to have to schedule, on my daily planner, game time to take care of all of my little virtual critters.

It is a bit chilly today, which is kind of nice if you like this time of year when the leaves are changing and days growing shorter.  It is perfect football weather, which I love.  But I admit, I have mixed feelings about the change in season, I do not like being cold.  I am a tropical climate kind of gal, I do not care for being all bundled up trying to stay warm.  Well okay except in my room. When I sleep it has to be cold in the room, I even shut the heat vent in winter.  But that is the only time I want cold air around me, when it is time to snuggle in deep in the covers.

I noticed for the first time how much damage is done from tanning when I was drying after a shower the other day. Damage to some of the skin on my legs, which thankfully is minimal but nevertheless still there.  I don’t tan anymore, as I have seen one too many women I know/knew who look like weathered leather now from spending time going for that “healthy glow” in the tanning bed or sunshine.  Not a real attractive look when you are only 50 and much older and worn out.  All traces of tan lines are finally gone from my body and I don’t mind it one bit.  And the skin care regimen I religious follow is paying off in that I’m getting guessed younger than I really am so I’m happy about that too.  While I had no issue with a nip and tuck, and some enhancements elsewhere on me, I refuse to have cosmetic surgery on my face.  Too scary, if something goes sideways there is no way to hide that.  I’ll just grow old gracefully battling that with good products and keeping my Yankee Belle, lily white face shielded from the damage of UV rays.

Great bible study time yesterday with the ladies from church.  Reconnected with a sweet friend from the past there, which made my whole day.  I cannot wait for next week, this study is SO good.  But that is more of a post for my other page, This Broken Angel.  I am so thankful I finally sucked it up and just went back with the right attitude and it was the right time this time around.  :)

Well the coffee cup is empty, for this moment, and the pancake I was munching on is nothing but a few crumbs, so I suppose it is time to cease the musings and get my tail in gear.  Wishing you all a wonderful Saturday and a win for your favorite, college football team.  Unless they are playing the UC Bearcats today, then no offense but I hope you lose! (that would be the Miami Redhawks).

Boogers And Clouds In My Coffee

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Actually the clouds are NOT in the coffee, they are in my brain.  Last night I sat up watching season 4 of Sons Of Anarchy with my sister.  We got to about episode 6 or 7 I believe, maybe further.  Clay killed Pinney in the last episode we watched before it was 2:30am and we gave in to our bodies  over riding the want for more SOA with a sincere desire for sleep.  It sure seemed like a good idea at the time, staying up way too late.  Now I’m sitting here with a heavy fog slowly lifting from my thought processes.  I need much more coffee.  I cannot wait until my little sister here is caught up so that we are only catching one episode at a time, on TV, in season 5.  Though I have to admit I became spoiled being able to watch an entire season at a time.  Tuesday nights at 10pm can now not arrive fast enough to suit me, and we’re only one episode into the new season.

This is the part of my life reality show where perhaps a script  might be a good idea, one that says “Marti  exits the scene and tucks her exhausted self into bed early, setting a good example for all of her readers”.  But then if you look to me for a good example of anything, you are seriously in the wrong place.  Unless of course you need an extra for a movie about the zombie apocalypse, in that case I currently look every bit the part and without the help of special effects artists or makeup.  I am the walking dead this morning.  Please don’t shoot me in the head unless you are firing extra caffeine.

This is so cute! I found it while hunting for booger images. Maybe I should buy one and name it after the stalker?

The Booger has finally stopped sticking to me (and my daughter) via our Pinterest boards.   “Booger” is the less than affectionate name I’ve assigned to our stalker.  We’ve all had it happen at some time in life, where we sneeze, covering our nose and mouth with our hands, only to have some nasty, sticky thing end up on our finger and with  no tissue handy try to shake it off but it won’t go.  Then we find some something to wipe it off and it still seems to be there, unrelentingly hanging on.  *Note to my readers:  you are welcome for the visual, no need to thank me!*  That is our stalker, but she finally got the picture and stopped following us.  I have a few more hanger-ons but as long as they keep their snotty (pun intended) comments to themselves and off of my boards and blog posts, I won’t sweat it.  If I had to guess, though, my money says she still looks at the boards, Facebook, Twitter etc, because she is obsessed with knowing what we are doing.   *waves hello to Booger* – Yep, you are still looking aren’t you?  Hopefully not but just in case, I didn’t want to be rude.  I always find it humorous when someone looks at your social media to  see if you are talking about them, then gets their panties in a wad, when if they just didn’t look in the  first place they’d never know.  People can talk bad about me all they like, as long as it is not on my own outlets.  What is that saying, “love me or hate me, either way you are thinking about me!”.  Yeah, I am really powerful like that, occupying folks thoughts, it’s how I roll. *insert wicked, evil laugh*

I really need to find a new allergy medication, the one  I have been using for years is no longer cutting it.  Suggestions welcome!

Happy National Chocolate Day!!!  Think I’ll grab a Hershey Special Dark and celebrate!

Having just returned to the laptop with the umpteenth cup of coffee of the morning, I have to say that is one of the positives of working for myself, from home.  Aside from the fact that I am sporting my zombie attire, is knowing that no one takes the last cup of coffee, leaving a swallow behind, then slinks off without starting a new pot.  Here in the Diva Den it is just assumed that more coffee is wanted and  someone makes a fresh pot.  At the very least when one of us takes the last cup we quickly take a poll to see if another one should be made or if everyone has reached their ideal level of adult ADD meds.  Seems coffee drinkers, I mean serious ones, not those one cup a day types, are believed to be adult sufferers of ADD.  Like the medications for kids, the stimulant of caffeine helps us focus.  Considering I can drink an entire pot (as can the others here) and then go to bed and sleep like the dead, I think there is some accuracy to this line of thought.

Oh look at the time, need to go get ready for a conference call.  Might have to freshen up my look and smear my mascara further down my cheek.

#37 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

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Remote Wars

#37

Never having to fight over the TV remote.

No one comes in and says something rude like “OMG you aren’t really watching THIS are you?”

No one picks up the remote during your show, or favorite commercial and changes the channel.

No need to hide the remote or remove the batteries.

It’s all yours!

I could only find the photo, not the place to actually order this adorable, universal remote. But I want one!

#35 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

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Scheduling Conflicts

#35

Never having to get back to anyone after you chase down your S/O to find out if you are available for parties, showers, movies, whatever it is that needs to be done.

No one bitches because you have to work late, conveniently, on the night of your mother-in-law’s birthday extravaganza…the one that you’d rather have a root canal without the benefit of numbing medications than attend.

It’s YOUR schedule, you fill it in or leave open space as you see fit.

#32 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

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Coffee – IS Good To The Last Drop

#32

No one takes the last cup of coffee, or ‘almost’ last cup, and leaves a swallow or an empty pot behind.

Nothing sucks like wanting a cup and discovering the last person (and only other person in the house that drinks coffee) took it all and didn’t make more.

Hot coffee, you always know exactly how much is left!

In A Sideways Funk Friday

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I am in a funk, a marvelously confusing funk at that.

I’m not in a bad mood or a bad place.  I’m just stuck, in a rut.  It is one of those times that I have a thousand things I want to do but just cannot settle on any one thing.  ADD much?  I guess I need more caffeine so my brain can settle down some.  At least that is what I’ve read (sorry cannot locate the link anymore), that people that consume a lot of coffee are likely adults with ADD, as the stimulant in the coffee has the same type of affect on them as the meds used by kids.  Makes perfect sense  to me!  It certainly never keeps me awake, full pot down and I can sleep like a baby.  I’m not in the mood for more coffee at the moment.  Or anything to drink for that matter.  *sigh*

None of the games I play on Facebook are holding my attention.  Bingo Blitz, Bingo Bash, Words With Friends, Farkle…nothing.  No desire to start any new ones either.  My farm is likely over grown and the livestock is probably all dead in Farmville, haven’t been there in months.

I have 8 different crochet projects, 4 of which I haven’t started, and I cannot even begin to figure out which one I want to do.  3 are sitting here next to me….just sitting there calling to me and I want to grab a hook and then again I don’t.

It isn’t just what I need or want to do as far as activities, it is food today too.  Nothing appeals to me and yet everything sounds good at the same time.  I know, it’s crazy.

There are no less than 700 topics in my list to blog about, but I cannot settle in on a single one :(

I’m one hot confusing mess today.  The only truly decisive thing I did today was make the bed.  I’m really OCD about that.  As for anything/everything else? I’m totally sideways today.

Restless yet calm.

In a funk.

Wine & Cheese ~ 49th Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 49th serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WINE

:( I hate traffic in the morning.  Especially when the congestion is a full blown tie up on my commute.  Yes, I work at home.  My morning ‘drive’ is from bed, to shower, to the coffee pot.  Or in this case, as I got up late this morning, it was bed to coffee maker, the shower will be later when the baby is napping.  There was heavy cat congestion on the steps this morning heading to the kitchen.  Traffic was backing up and that wasn’t good as I didn’t need much reason to turn around and crawl back into my bed.

:(   Nothing like self-inflicted exhaustion.  At my age I know that being up late equals a rough morning.  Being up night after night into what is really the wee hours of the morning makes for a grumpy, tired, asleep-at-the-wheel daycare provider.  This sitter is running on borrowed energy and an IV-drip of coffee.  Thinking jumper cables are in order, the direct line of caffeine isn’t doing it for me today.

:(   This weather SUCKS.  It’s cold, raining and overcast.  My arthritis in my neck is screaming at me today and the discomfort is giving me a killer headache on that side, bordering on a migraine.  SIGH…needless to say I will be sleeping when the baby sleeps today.

:(   My baby girl called me last night sobbing her heart out so hard I couldn’t even understand her at first.  She walked in her room and found her beloved bird, Lilo, dead in her cage.  My daughter is an animal lover, and gets very attached to her pets.  Just not a good night for her at all.  Then one of her sick bunnies died too.  I hate that I’m not there to hold her while she mourns :(   but I sent a stand in angel in the form of her friend that lives across the street to comfort her.

CHEESE

:)   Nothing beats a job where naps are part of the schedule, and when the ‘boss’ naps, I can sleep too!  I’m counting down the minutes to said moment now!

:)   A nice, warm, relaxing shower, which I will be taking while the little one is asleep, is just awesome.  Nothing says “I feel human again” like your favorite bath gel and shampoo.

:)   Looking out of the window at the rain coming down, while I sit here inside where it is warm, in my jammies, coffee in hand and a fireplace to add to the cozy atmosphere.  Working from home rocks.

:)   A purrrfect greeting from my cat in my ear  when I rolled over this morning.  It always makes my day when she comes to say ‘good morning’.  And to think I used to hate cats!

DESSERT

I really don’t have anything funny to share, so just thought I would share a picture of my baby girl and Lilo.  RIP little bird, thank you for bringing so much joy to my daughter while you were here.

Wine & Cheese ~ 47th Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 47th serving of some wine and cheese!

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WINE

:(    They’re BAACCCKKKK! Those random hot flashes of edging into the menopausal years of life.  I am far less than thrilled.  I get them in spurts, and currently I seem to be within a phase of said self contained tropical climate outbursts, as out of no where I am suddenly so hot that I could defrost a walk-in freezer.

:(   Dust.  I totally dislike dust.  I wish I could blame the cats but even in the marital residence there was an excessive amount of dust, even if we went at it daily.  I wish I had a solution but I don’t.  One furnace was new with great filters etc, one is probably older than dirt.  This just sucks.

:(   Open windows draw cats.  See, windows are kitty cat television.  And an open window is way, high end viewing as the sound is enhanced and there is fresh air.  Hot flashes = open windows next to me even when it is very cold outside.  Open windows = cats sitting on the edge of my desk which = cat hair on the desk, as the little floozies feel the need to bathe themselves in the fresh air of the open window, leaving behind fur.  Dust, cat hair, hot flashes…I cannot win!

CHEESE

:)   I have a new coffee cup.  It is white  outside, PINK inside (instant love) and says JOY in big, pink letters outside.  In the background it says Joy in light pink letters…oh heck I’ll just show you a picture.  I love this cup.  It was time to retire the mug with the cat on it from the Count.  I won’t get rid of it, just not going to use it for now.

I follow the My One Word idea rather than New Year’s resolutions.  Last year my word was SEEK..as I was seeking my way back to God.  I was searching and praying for a word for 2012 and when I received the coffee cup as a gift, I knew my word for 2012 is JOY.  Finding JOY in the Lord first, and then in all things in life, as I believe there is a silver lining of JOY in all things.

:)   Hee hee…knowing where the last of the Christmas tree cookies are hidden, all 4 of them, and  making them into my breakfast because I’m the only Diva awake in the house.  Waahaahaa!

:)   Looking ahead to the new year, planning and writing down my goals, plotting a course toward them.  All the purging I am doing is helping me to focus on what I am keeping in my life and what I can do with it.  And not taking ‘no’ or ‘can’t’ as an option.  I can. I will.

:)   Embracing being a single woman, REALLY  embracing it and all that it means.  It’s truly all about me this coming year and I’m going to make the most of it and run with it.  Male friends are fine, and going out now and then is fine, but this year I want to focus on ME.  Just me, no ‘us’ but just ME.

DESSERT

Okay now this is funny, I don’t care who you are!  It is NOT directed at my ex-husband or an ex-boyfriend, it is just amusing so I’m sharing it:

A Black Coffee Kind Of Life

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I drink my coffee black…no cream or sugar. It is very simple, just straight coffee.  As I have gotten busier of late  with building my Avon business, I’ve started to see the need for my life to go black coffee as well.  Simple and easy, just straight without all the extras that simply are filler that make it taste sweeter but in reality just add unwanted, drag me down pounds.

One way I have already done this is to clean up my Twitter account. I stopped following over 100 Tweeters.  It isn’t anything personal, just that I noticed I was scrolling past oodles of tweets that I had missed because I didn’t have time to read them.  If I am not reading them, no point following them.  I am following a number of folks that I look to for inspiration and marketing ideas, in addition to family and close friends.  Those  are the tweets I wish to find in my feed at the moment.  No offense if I  stopped following you, just too busy right now.

Over the coming week, I will be making time to clean up my Facebook account.  I follow a lot of people on there that I simply ‘know’ in passing and really don’t have anything to do with in my life, those will be going too.  I will also be cleaning out my closet and drawers, purging a bunch of clothes I have no use for any longer.  Many were from a former time in my life that I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them now.  Others are things I haven’t worn in the 17 months since I moved into this home, so they obviously are not needed.

Scaling back and simplifying is something I’ve done periodically throughout my life, it is like cleansing the soul and mind.  Not necessarily bad things just ‘stuff’ that is cluttering up my mind, heart or time that I need to let go of so I can grow and move to the next chapter or stage in my life.  Even my television habits have under gone some purging, I only have a few shows that I really enjoy and care to spend time watching, and when I do have them on I am usually working on something at the same time to make it a profitable time spent.

I’ve not had the kind of time to devote to writing, which has to change as my blog is my therapy and being neglected.  In order to do that I need to make some adjustments to the way I am doing things and eliminate things I do that are just time wasters.

*sipping black coffee*  Time to start purging…

Tomatoes In The Toaster

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I love the  imaginations of toddlers, they never stop when they play.  Their world is one of pretend, and there are days I envy the little people that I care for during the week.  A world full of fun and play where the biggest problem they have is when the plastic, play tomato slices from the toy kitchen get stuck in the toy toaster because they have crammed 6 of those pieces in the slot.  Then it’s “help me, I need help, it not work”.

Some days I feel like my world is full of my own tomatoes in the toaster, and it just “not work”.   The ‘problems’ and complications are nothing major, small compared to what I see on the news, but those slices crammed and stuck in the toaster of my life still unsettle and disrupt my peace and harmony.  Especially since they aren’t plastic pieces, these tend to be a bit more messy.  I want to yell “help me, I need help” .

For example, trying to get breakfast on the table for a 1, 2 and 7yo first thing in the morning before they are coming in the door to spend the day at Miss Marti’s little in home daycare, while watching for the other 7yo’s school bus to arrive.  The infant is crying to be fed or changed, coffee pot is now empty and those 3 that need feeding are due any moment.  I open the cabinet to get out cereal bowls and there are none.  The dishwasher is full of dirty dishes because no one noticed the night before, we were all gone or busy.  Not sure why I thought it would be easier, but I opted to make scrambled eggs and toast so I could use plates that were already clean rather than wash 3 bowls by hand.  Getting the baby settled down, full tummy and cooing at her cousin who is here waiting for her bus to come to take her to school, was one less slice of tomato in the toaster.

After driving the other 7yo to school and coming home, settling the rest into play time and getting a load of laundry in the washer, I was unloading the dishwasher and laughing at myself.  I am a bit OCD when it comes to coffee cups.  I get attached to one in particular for a while and I HAVE to have my coffee in that cup.  No, it does not taste any better, it’s just that I am attached to a particular cup.  There I was unloading every single one of the cups I have been stuck on, wondering if  I’m just a major odd ball or do other people have to have their coffee in a particular mug to make their morning better?  When I had went for that first cup of java this morning, none of the favored cups were clean, which totally set my morning off all wrong.  I also had slept  in 30 extra minutes, so my routine was out of sync.  More tomatoes in my toaster.

From the outside, my toaster in life looks pretty cool to most.  I am home all day, get to write, play computer games, watch TV, read, get cleaning and laundry done…what they do not see is that inside my colorful little toaster, are a lot of tomato slices jamming up the inner workings.  Diapers, bus schedules, school car pool, feedings, dishes, laundry, “help me”, baby spit up on my shirt, someone is fussy, a nose is running, and many days just out and out chaos.  In the middle of it all I’m trying to build my vanity crack (Avon) business into something big.  But, I’d not trade my colorful little toaster of chaos and juicy tomato drippings for a clean, chrome, boring toaster for all the toast in the world.  Pass the tomato slices, please!