Just Another Coffee Kind Of Day

Today I sit and drink coffee at a familiar setting but in another town, listening to my iPad music library through my earphones. The sights and sounds are all around me. I am trying hard to block out the conversations near my table. But I must admit that I am intrigued by others and what they have to say. I am not purposely eavesdropping – you could call it a ‘forced eavesdrop’ only in that I am in a confined area with no where else to go. And things are especially loud if I can hear them even with my music blasting away.

The weather is nice today – not quite as hot as what I thought it would be. Not hot like Leavenworth a couple of weeks ago, which was around 100 degrees! It is clear and about 85 – at least where I am today. The nice weather brings people to Starbucks to have iced coffees, frappuccinos and other iced beverages. People are gathered around tables, happily sipping from their plastic cups. Behind me is the ice machine and I hear coffee brewing and blenders whirling. It is just a matter of time before I take out the earphones and give in to the noise around me. At least for now.

There is a young woman in the corner absorbed in her book, “The Coldest City” (it looks intriguing) and some guy on his laptop across the lobby. He wears a pony-tail and glasses, shorts and boots.

A local policeman just interrupted me while standing and waiting for his drink on the bar to ask me, “is that a bluetooth keyboard? – I mean – does it work well?” I explained to him that it does. Both the iPad and keyboard are bluetooth compatible. “How about that”, he said. Many people have seen laptops in here and probably iPads too – but I have a separate wireless keyboard which I LOVE and I’m realizing that it is not something most people are used to seeing.

The policeman sits in a lounge chair near the window and reads his phone messages. He could use an iPad 🙂 And a wireless keyboard.

Have a great weekend

God Bless

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Before Coffee

My eyes are blurry

I’m having trouble focusing

and being “present”

I’m stumbling around

running into things

the world seems sleepy

dull

boring

and listless

I remember a time

when I can write

put thoughts together

prepare for my day

do things

but right now

there is no coffee

no creativity

no spunk

moving slow

taking my time

wrapping a single thought

in my brain

is so hard

But after coffee

I shall be motivated

inspired

prepared

on task

sharp

patient

wonderful

beautiful

wise

loving

gracious

energetic

and just AWESOME

Yeah, maybe I need to get me some of that coffee soon.

Have you had your coffee today?

God Bless

Talking In Code

Image via Wikipedia

The other day I was out with Greg after a long exhausting day – first to a friends’ memorial service and then to a wedding – back to back.  Talk about the range of emotions!  And the day before that we had taken a long road trip to visit our new puppy.   So we went from happy to sad back to happy in a very short amount of time.

At the end of the wedding – we decided to stop at Forza, a coffee place in Puyallup, for a coffee and muffin to share.  While there, seated at a high table with matching high chairs – we were sipping our coffee and we began reflecting on the couple of days.  Because there were other customers in the coffee shop, one that was directing behind Greg’s left shoulder, I had to talk to him in “code”.

You know – the “code”.  The kind of talk that two people should understand when living with someone as long as we have.  It’s “talking” – but not really saying anything.  Smaller words – hand gestures, eye contact and facial expressions.  And because the subject was delicate and sensitive – especially the memorial service – I was trying to be “discreet”.

Women totally understand this “code” and use it often.  For example, when I’m with my daughter in public – all we have to do is look at each other – or she raises her eyebrows and looks at something and I know EXACTLY what she means.  All in a “look”.

What I forgot when using this “code” on Greg is that he most definitely is NOT a woman.  Nor does he understand the “code” at all.  It was disheartening and hilarious at the same time.  Here I was trying to be “discreet” and all sly, using gestures and silent communication – thinking, “he will get this – he looks interested, but puzzled – but I’m sure he’s just mulling it over” – so I kept going.  Only to have him (some minutes later) say to me, “Huh? – I don’t get it”

I realized that this “code” works only for women – and occasionally I forget that Greg is NOT like me – but he’s a MAN.  Oh – I know that he’s a man – and believe me – I wouldn’t want it any other way – but sometimes it’s frustrating because he doesn’t use the “code”.

We ended the conversation with much laughter – all the way out to the car – me explaining that I didn’t want the WHOLE coffee shop knowing what I was trying to be discreet about.  And  S P E L L I N G   I T   O U T  wouldn’t exactly have been the best way to do this.  It was a great moment for both of us – and showed us that as much as we get along and are great friends – he will NEVER be able to think like a woman – and I will NEVER be able to think like a man.

No, I will need my daughter and woman friends – if I want to talk in “code” out in public – and maybe it’s better this way, after all 🙂

Have you ever used a “code” when talking in public?  Has someone used the “code” on you”  And if you’re a man reading this, you’re probably saying, “What is a “code”?”

God Bless

Putting On Happiness

Image by tricky ™ via Flickr

I was reading an excellent devotion this morning about a man who had been through great hardship, trial and pain throughout his life – but was considered by his friends to have the most uplifting and positive attitude of anybody they knew. His secret: He chose to put on happiness every morning.

How do I do that?

What if life is complicated, confusing – and even downright depressing?

What if others have turned their back and walked away?

What if I can’t just paste on a smile and pretend everything in my world is okay?

What if life has thrown me some twist and turns that I didn’t sign up for?

What then?

There are no easy answers to this. It seems that some have the temperament and attitude to just ‘forge ahead’ and others do not. Some take the struggle in stride – others take a whole lifetime to understand and process.

For me the answer is inside of myself. Other people do not make me happy – or unhappy as the case may be. Oh – we believe that they do – but when you come right down to it – happiness – or ‘putting on happiness’ is a choice.

It is easy to wake up each morning and unconsciously put something on. If I am not careful – or aware – I am putting on ‘sadness’ – or ‘discouragement’. I’m not even aware that I have put them on. They are familiar – like a comfortable pair of old jeans – and t-shirt. But they are not what I want to wear – or what I want others to see. I want them to see Jesus in me.

Help me Lord to remember to ‘put on happiness’ when I dress in the morning – after my morning coffee. Help others to see what a life looks like that is not perfect – but forgiven – and one that can choose to be happy in spite of my outward circumstances.

Choose to put on happiness.

God Bless

Related Articles

• Living a Thankful Life (blogcritics.org)
• Sunrise: Applying Christ (anointedplace.wordpress.com)
• Positive Attitude – 5 Steps to a Happy Life (thinksimplenow.com)
• Happiness Is Hard Work (blogs.forbes.com)

29 Reasons

This morning with my morning coffee I received a note from Greg – my husband, partner, lover and friend for 29 years today.  The note was just entitled:

29 Reasons Why I Love You

I would love to share these with you – but it is simply inappropriate to do so – they are for me alone – all the things he loves about me that are unique and personal for me to hear.  I did not need much from him – my needs are pretty simple – I don’t demand flowers, candy, gifts or any other monetary things that are unique to anniversary celebrations – and although he has lavished these things on me in the past – he knows they are not important to me.  I would rather have this note – with 29 reasons. ♥

I want to encourage you today – the ‘little things’ are sometimes the most effective.  Everyone can write a love note – everyone can do a simple act of kindness – everyone can think of something unique and special without spending any money at all.  Speak a love language of the heart – and maybe come up with your own 29 reasons – today.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband, Greg ♥

God Bless

Coffee and Other Things That Go Squish In The Night

All the humorous things in our lives seem to center around two things: Our children – or coffee.

I’m not sure why coffee is funny. We really love to drink coffee – and it should be a serious subject – one of reverence and awe – but instead we have so many stories while drinking (or spilling) it that make this impossible.

Years ago – when our children were quite small – I think Shawn was about 4 or 5 and Ashlee about 9 or 10 – we were on an airplane coming back from Fairbanks, Alaska and airplanes being what they are – split our family up into two groups – Greg and Shawn directly across the aisle from Ashlee and me – with Greg and me on the aisle.

Pretty soon – the beverage service came by and filled our drink orders. Greg had to have coffee (of course) and very proudly set the HOT beverage on his pull down tray in front of him – with a 4 year old next to him in the seat. You will need to use your imagination next – to see 4 year old Shawn having a ‘kick fest’ next to Greg’s tray. He was being a normal little active boy 🙂 After a few minutes I was zoning out – even dozing a little when I felt a tap on my shoulder from across the aisle. It was Greg. And instead of telling me his issue – he pointed to the spilled coffee on his tray – and the nice little puddle that was accumulating from the tray down his pant leg and into his sock and tennis shoe. Yes – the coffee was steaming HOT and so all he could do from his present position was look at me and mouth “Ow”. It was HILARIOUS!

But that was years ago right? And Greg has had many opportunities over the years for getting me back – for laughing at him (remember the Ashlee throw-up story?) so many times. A few years ago Greg decided to buy for himself a little Chevy truck – an S-10 to be exact. It’s cute – (Greg says sexy – how can a truck be sexy?) and little and I hate it. I hate it because it does not like me and bounces all over the road like a little puppy all eager to just go!! The suspension in that vehicle is HIDEOUS and I really hate driving in it ESPECIALLY when drinking anything! We will go through a drive thru coffee place and get a coffee and then because of all the bumps and the truck being so sensitive to those bumps – my coffee goes ALL OVER THE PLACE – usually all over my clothes. I hate it. I hate the truck. And I hate him. Yup. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

So the other night – Greg was working late in Seattle with a buddy in the truck – and they decided to stop for coffee to keep them going into the ‘wee hours’. They ordered their coffee and then drove off into the dark Seattle night. Because both guys had their hands full – they did not see the need for putting their coffee in the ‘cup holders’ nicely provided in the cab of the truck for them. No – they are MANLY and decided to hold onto them. Well like I said – it WAS dark and Greg couldn’t see the shape of the road in front of him and pretty soon they found themselves on the bumpiest road EVER!! And with each little ‘bump’ the coffee from Greg’s cup came spurting out of his cup and onto his ‘lily-white’ hand. Can you say, “Ouch”? I knew you could. (tee hee) It made me smile in some weird twisted pleasured way – just to hear about HOT coffee spilling out and cascading down his hand – when he has had NO sympathy for me! In fact – he always insinuates that it’s NOT his precious truck’s fault – but MINE! So I took great delight in coffee spilling on him too ☺ Yes – I’m a brat – but a very sweet and loving brat ♥

It’s so lovely when things like this happen. It validates me and makes me smile ☺

Have a wonderful day – and try not to spill any coffee ☺

Everyone Needs To Believe In Something…I Believe I’ll Have A Second Cup…

Today while working out on the elliptical – Greg was watching one of the HUGE flat screen TVs they have at our club – and caught a doctor’s program.  Subject:  How drinking a couple cups of coffee before working out actually helps your workout – and decreases muscle pain.  Well that was indeed good news for us – as so many people say caffeine is the enemy – or the Antichrist – or something like that.  I never personally bought into any of this heresy and would staunchly defend my right to be a coffee lover and to drink it every day – even among all the doubters and “nay sayers” out there.

Caffeine is also an ingredient in Excederin Migraine – or any other serious prescription migraine medicine because of what it does to help reduce the blood flow to the brain stem – or some such thing.  At least that’s what the doctor told me.  When you have a migraine – ingest some caffeine and it really helps!

Now my friend Ron was pointing out to us the other day that while we are self proclaimed “coffee snobs” and like Starbucks french roast – that it IS NOT the bean with the most caffeine.  It is the lighter roast bean that has the most – and better yet –  something called “white coffee”  apparently has 3 times the amount of caffeine!!  Imagine that?  I’ve never tried it – but it is said to be very mild and has no coffee taste at all.  This is probably why I have not tried it – because to be perfectly honest – I drink coffee for the taste – which is why I like french roast.  It’s not for what is does for me – but for how it tastes going down.  And drinking white coffee would be to me…well…what would be the point?

I am happy to know this information however,  and if I feel another migraine coming on – who cares about taste anyway?  I’m lucky to just get a cup of coffee down!  But that’s another story for another day – and if you look back far enough I believe I have a story or two about my migraine headaches complete with curling up in a fetal position and basically wanting to die.  Add to that the vomitting and you have a REAL winner!

I’ve been “migraine free” for about a year now – and so I must be doing something right – and drinking that coffee doesn’t seem to be hurting me – so I will continue my “bad habit” and….have another cup!

Hope you have an awesome day – would you like to join me in a cup?

God Bless