Wednesday, October 4, 2017

5 Things I'd Share Over Coffee

Good morning! Care to join me for a cuppa? I can't think of a better way to start the day. Do you take yours black? Cream and sugar? Or are you jumping on the pumpkin spice latte trend?

I'm drinking my coffee from my hotel balcony in lovely Palm Desert, California! It's time again for our annual sister trip. Today on the blog, we're just going to catch up on life off the road. Kind of nice, isn't it?


FYI, I prepared this post before I left. I did some editing on my iPad using an app called Blogo. It's my first time doing that, so if the post looks weird you'll know why!


If we were having coffee, I'd share that this trip to California couldn't have come a better time for me. Sometimes a break in the routine is therapeutic. Earlier this week, I shared my anxiety about the Las Vegas shootings and my upcoming trip to run the R'n'R half marathon there. I've also had an increase in my RA symptoms this week. In fact, I had to quit on a run this week because my knees did not want to let me move. There may have been some tears at that point. While we are in California, I'm hoping that the arid desert conditions will do my joints some good. I'm going to look for my mojo on the trails here. The temperatures are predicted to be in the 100s while we are here. But as we like to joke, "it's a dry heat!"


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I've been feeling very nostalgic these days. That's probably because I'm reading one of the most fun books I've read in a long time. It's called Sting-Ray Afternoons (affiliate link) by Steve Rushin. It's a memoir of his childhood, a coming of age story about growing in up the suburbs of Chicago and Minneapolis in the 1970s. His writing is superb and the book is hilarious, especially for me because it's all so familiar, since I too grew up in that era. I don't know how he remembers all this stuff but every time he mentions some product or icon from that time, it takes me back! While I was reading this book, Spotify serendipitously came out with a new feature called "Your Time Capsule" which is a personalized playlist to take you back to "your teenage years".

My sister and me, 1969 That is my birthday crown on my head!

If we were having coffee, I'd tell you how sad it was to learn this past week that Tom Petty passed away. Still feeling nostalgic, I remember when his first single came out. When I was 16, I was working at the Fotomat-clone in the shopping center parking lot, listening to rock and roll on "The Loop", Chicago's album-rock radio station (40 years later, they still play that same music), and this whiny voice came out of my radio singing I Need to Know. Considering that I used to love the hard rock of that era, like Rush, Boston, and the like, this new sound wasn't an instant hit with me. Over the years, I grew to love the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. When I first started running with music, Running Down a Dream was on my original playlist and there it has remained since. I do have one other Petty song on my running playlist, You Wreck Me, for obvious reasons!

Tom Petty was a regular on The Simpsons

If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I've started seeing patients at my new clinic and it's a loving/not loving thing for me right now. The clinic is beautiful and I'm seeing a lot of patients from my old clinic, which is really wonderful. The nurse that I work with (and sit next to) is a scream and we make each other laugh most of the time. My commute is cut by about 20 minutes so that I can leave my house 15 minutes before I need to be there. The pace is much more relaxed than at my old clinic, which was crazy. And yet...I miss my old clinic and my colleagues. I'm sure I'm still adjusting. I also think that I'm just a little burned out on healthcare. Last week, I asked my husband when I could retire and he told me 5 years...

Some of my former amazing colleagues.  So nice to have lunch together while we attended the AAP national conference last month.

If we were having coffee, I'd need some mama brag time. I'm actually starting to think that maybe my oldest finally has his frontal lobe! He completed his 12 week college classes he needed for his IBEW apprenticeship, receiving all As in his classes! He's back on the job and is happy to be there. He's also taken up golf. Who is this kid? More good news on the homefront: this week we learned that our youngest son was named a National Merit Scholar. While this is an amazing honor, I can only hope that it leads to some scholarship money for college. Hence, the reason I can't retire yet.

Why I want to retire: Me at work, all day long. And for the last time, vaccines do NOT cause autism. My boys are fully vaccinated.


What would you tell me if we were having coffee? Dry heat or humid heat? Current read? Have you listened to "Your Time Capsule" on Spotify yet? Any running songs that have endured for many years on your playlist? Loving/not loving? Mama brags? Tell me everything! I love coffee and if we get too hopped up we can always switch to wine.

I love this link up! You can share your coffee post with The Ultimate Coffee Date, hosted by Deborah and Coco. I'm also linking up with the Friday 5, hosted by Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness. Have a fantastic weekend!







55 comments :

  1. It sounds like there are alot of good things about your new clinic, so hopefully it will just take some time to adjust. Change is always hard. I am so resistant to change but usually when I look back I realize it was for the best. Hope you have a great time in California!

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    1. The timing was great for me to take a short break. Hopefully I'll feel more enthused when I get back.

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  2. Love it!!! I'm leaving today for my annual weekend getaway with my aunts. Now, we are going to be in Maine where it will be cold and possibly rainy but, who cares? We will have a blast nonetheless...and my runs should be good too. So glad you're in the sun with your sister. I'm sure you will return feeling refreshed and perhaps with a hint of mojo :-) Enjoy!

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  3. Sounds like things are mostly going well! Can totally understand your anxiety about the RNR Half in Vegas. I'd feel the same way.

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    1. RnR hasn't come out with any updates so far--makes me wonder if the race is even going to happen.

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  4. Have so much fun in that "dry heat"!! Huge congrats to Matt. I'd bet there'd be some scholarship $$ in his future. Awesome! 5 years isn't that long but hey if opportunity knocks before then...

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  5. So sorry your symptoms are coming back, but glad you are traveling. I'm sure it's nice to have the change of pace.
    Congrats to your son too.

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    1. I'm still learning about this disease and my triggers. Although if it would go away, I wouldn't be sad!

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  6. Enjoy your weekend in California. It is always nice to get away.

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  7. Ugh on dry heat - there's not enough lotion when our humidity disappears like it has this week - red flag fire warnings for this weekend with humidity as low as 8%.

    Long Distance Runner by DeGarmo & Key will always be on my running playlist. A song that starts with a thumping bass? Oh yeah!

    Wife brag - Les and his brother are on day 7 of their cycling trip across the US. They've made it to New Mexico!

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    1. I'm following them on their blog! Did you send more cookies?

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    2. Not a chance! That is not a precedent I want to set.

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  8. I hope you are having a wonderful vacation with your sister!!

    I am currently reading two books, Hillbilly Elegy and In The Country We Love.

    Congratulations to your son! I do hope that leads to good scholarships!

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    1. Curious to hear what you think about Hillbilly Elegie. His definition of a hillbilly is different than mine.

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  9. I have anew job too. It's hard to adjust. I miss my old friends.

    I have a friend who lives in Palm Desert and I visited her twice. I loved the trails!!!!

    And the dry heat feels great.

    Hope you have fun. Can't wait to hear all the details.

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  10. It sounds like your new clinic is great. I hope you just need to get used to it a little more. Also, your kids-WOOHOO!! You should be proud!! Have a great vacation!

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    1. It wasn't too long ago that I didn't have anything to brag about--I am glad things are turning around!

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  11. That dry heat outta have you reclaiming your mojo in no time flat ;-) A favorite Tom Petty song of mine is American Girl. I love the fast beat of it, though every time I hear it pop up on my Ipod or radio, I think of Hannibal Lector LOL

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  12. Sounds like the new job will do you a world of good. Of course you miss your old job, but it sounds less stressful and that can only help.

    I don't miss working. Not one little bit. But I'm mostly a laid back kind of gal (although I'm sure Mr. Judy would beg to differ).

    Dry heat. It makes a huge difference. Seriously, does anyone like humid heat?

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    1. Actually, it's the same job, just a new clinic. I'm going to give it some time.

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  13. I have You Wreck Me on my playlist and love it! My chiro said to have fast songs, so that got put on there. I had Runnin' Down a Dream for Bolder Boulder but needed a break from most of those songs.

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  14. I finished reading Devil in the White City earlier this week. I haven't picked out what to read next.

    Yay for frontal lob development! It's so good to hear that both of your sons are doing well.

    We have all kinds of humid heat here in the mid-Atlantic...

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    1. I loved Devil in the White City! Of course, the setting was so familiar to me.

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  15. I am so glad to hear that your son has found something that he enjoys and succeeds in. I do remember the few rough patches you both had. Hope your weekend away with your sister is just what you need to recharge. See you for coffee in the morning.

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    1. We are having a great trip! Heading out to meet Debbie Woodruff for a hike as we speak!

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  16. Sister time is the best! Have a great trip! Dry heat is better than humid heat.

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  17. I'm so happy that your oldest is doing well. I think the very first comment I left here was some commiserating about sons. I'm pretty sure I told you he'll get through it. See! I was right!

    I'm also very sad about the loss of Tom Petty. I saw him live a few years back (well, 10 years ago). It was a great concert and he was a great artist.

    Hope to see you tomorrow. Hiking, running, walking, coffee, it's all good for me!

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  18. If we were having coffee I'd tell you that the last big news about Tom Petty suing Sam Smith really spoiled my view of him. I was really disappointed when he did that considering Sam Smith's song literally sounded nothing like Tom Petty's. I loved his music before that happened.

    You look adorbs on your bikes!!! I miss being a kid. It was a simpler time.

    I hope you have a great time in Cali and come back feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

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    1. I didn't know that Tom Petty sued Sam Smith! I haven't heard anything that resembles the other...

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  19. If we had coffee talk, it'll tell you that I'm looking forward to CanaIan Thanksgiving this weekend AND pacing a 10k race!

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  20. It's definitely been a tough week and I was so sad to hear about Tom Petty :(
    I hope that you are having a great time in California!

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  21. Sorry the symptoms are giving a hard time - hopefully some time away will help. Love the pic of you and your sisters on bikes :)

    Great stuff happening for both of your sons!

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  22. Enjoy your sister time! That book sounds like a lot of fun. I’ll have to see how much resonates for me not growing up there. Do you watch the Goldbergs? Some of their throwback references kill me!

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    1. My husband watches the Goldbergs! I work late on the night it's on. He thinks it's hilarious.

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  23. ahhh, a sister trip! That sounds like something I need to start doing with mine :)

    I'm not sure any of my three boys frontal lobes have yet to mature.... you give me hope!

    I have always loved me some Tom Petty ...Free Fallin' being my favorite. But the one song that has remained on my playlist forever ....(and I don't know why) is Steve Winwood's "Back in the HIgh Life". It just motivates me. :)

    Have fun Wendy, you deserve a break!

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    1. That whole frontal lobe thing is in flux...just saying...

      That Steve Winwood song reminds me of college!

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  24. I think I am one of the few left under the rock who don't use Spotify! I don't know why I fight some of the things I do! I still don't use Spotify, have a Snapchat account, or have an Amazon Prime account. And I am all for dry heat! Humidity and I don't do well together!

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    1. I love Spotify! So much so that I pay for a premium account. I also have Amazon prime, which includes Amazon music, however, it doesn't have as much as Spotify.

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  25. I love the idea of a sister trip- and somewhere warm is key, it wouldn't matter to me if it was dry heat or wet for that matter!! Change is always a little hard I think- Five years will go fast hopefully and you can retire, which might be the biggest change yet!

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    1. As much as I love what I do, I think I'm tired of it. We'll see how it all plays out.

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  26. i hope you got to relax a bit in CA!!! And kudos mama, you do get to brag :)

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  27. I saw your pics on Instagram, it looks like you and your sister had a fabulous trip together. Glad that you were able to get in some much needed sister time!

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  28. Break My Stride is one of my all-time favorite running songs, and I think it always will be. Hope your sister's trip to CA was just the therapy you needed. :) I'll have to investigate that time capsule thing on Spotify. It might be fun to be taken back to the 90s. It's weird, but most of the music I listen to is either the 80s or current. I often skip right over the 90s, which should be my jam. LOL.

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