Friday, July 6, 2018

Coffee Talk

I can't believe it's been a month since we sat down for coffee. Since it's too hot for regular coffee, would you like to try my iced coffee? I think it's pretty tasty.

Let's catch up!



If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that we've got a busy weekend coming up. I'm hoping to go SUP with my son today. On Saturday, he's got a rugby tournament, which is an all-day event. I'm planning on bringing my running shoes so I can sneak away to a nearby forest preserve for my run. Oh, and did I mention that the temperatures are going to be much cooler? Even if it's just for 2 days, I've got happy feet just thinking about it!


If we were having coffee, I'd want to talk about the ridiculous hot flashes I've been having for the past couple of months. Burning up and sweating for no reason? Waking up in the middle of the night, completely soaked in sweat? With the heat we've been having, it's been especially unpleasant. Besides, I thought I was done with this. I remembered that one of the supplements I take, Milk Thistle, can mimic estrogen. I started taking it a few months ago when I developed liver toxicity from one of my RA meds. Since that has resolved, I decided to stop taking the Milk Thistle to see what happens. Guess what? I had a sweat-free sleep last night. Mystery solved.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that last month I made my final payment on the student loan I obtained for grad school!!! Happy dance!!! Talk about timing. We've got my youngest leaving for college in August. Which means we'll probably have a new student loan to pay on.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I kind of lost it at work last week. All the providers, nurses, and medical assistants sit in a giant work area, which is called a pod. Yes, we are pod people. Anyhoo, I sit next to another provider's medical assistant. Who talks to herself. Who talks to me. Guys, she never shuts up--even if I ignore her. If I don't answer her, she pesters me until I do. Did I mention she's not my medical assistant? This past week, I answered one of her questions way more forcefully than I intended. It got pretty quiet in the pod. I walked myself into her boss's office. I know I'm not the first person to do this. Hoping to be the last...


If we were having coffee, I'd share that the last 3 books I've read were really, really good. This was a good thing because prior to this, I was on a streak of really bad books, several of which I DNF'd. I read these 3 books in less than 2 weeks because I couldn't put them down:

  • Tell Me Lies is a psychological thriller about a manipulative boyfriend and a vulnerable college coed. We've all known men like this. He's got a hold on her and she can't let go. There's also the contentious relationship she has with her mother. Plenty of betrayal to go around. I couldn't put it down.
  • She Rides Shotgun is about an ex-con father and his young daughter being pursued by gang members who have put a hit on them. Scary stuff. The girl and her teddy bear are the heroes of the book. Way badass.
  • Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is a funny but thoughtful book about a 50-something woman whose husband leaves her. She's let herself go while caring for her family and raising her now grown children. She's forced to pick up the pieces and find her way. So good. 
Do you follow me on Goodreads? I follow back. It's the best place to find out about good reads. Pun intended.

Tell me something: how was your 4th? Did you do anything fun? What are you up to this weekend? Any good books to share? How do you tell a talker to stop talking? Do you like iced coffee?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for the Friday 5 and with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date.




57 comments :

  1. Ha! I didn't know you were active on goodreads. I will connect with you there. I write many reviews for the site. It's one way to get my writing seen!

    Our Fourth was lovely, celebrating our grand-daughter's birthday, a quiet day with just us, our son and his family. No running involved.

    This morning I completed 5K, my first since I returned to running. More to come. Very happy.

    This weekend is extended family celebration for our grand-daughter and a big day on Monday (I know it's not the weekend, but this is big). Our grand-daughter will be officially "ours." She is my daughter-in-law's niece whom she and my son are adopting. Court date is Monday. We are ecstatic. It's been a long road.

    As it's Coffee Talk Friday, I'll tell you that I drink hot coffee black; I like iced coffee, with a bit of cream.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have read two really great books lately that I would recommend. I just finished "The Perfect Couple" by Elin Hilderbrand yesterday. The book is big over 400 pages and I read it in about 2 days. I thought this was the best this author has done so far the story is a combination chick lit and light mystery. The other great book was "The Book Of Essie" by Meghan Mclain Weir another page turner. Also I friended you on Good Reads.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome! I"ll friend you back. Thanks for the recommendations!

      Delete
  3. I worked on the 4th, and then we went to my niece's house for a party. It was so hot and sticky, and then the storms came. My youngest had friends over so we caught up with them when we got home. They're all heading back to college for the senior year soon. Speaking of which...congrats on paying off your loan! That must feel fantastic. I was lucky to never have school loans. We've paid for our kids' college, and when all is said and done, we'll have shelled out almost $600,000.00! I don't know how the hell we did it. One more year to go, then it's smooth sailing! We paid our house off last year.

    One of my co-workers never shuts the hell up. She goes on and on and on, and mostly about how smart she is, how good she is at her job, how stupid the docs are...seriously! The day I met her she literally said, "everyone thinks I should apply for Mensa, but really, why bother?" (trust me, she's not that smart) Luckily we don't work together too often. I usually just ignore her and she eventually walks away (I'm sure to go ramble in someone else's ear).

    I drink about a pot of coffee every day, but I somehow can't embrace the iced!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could walk away but I need to sit at my desk and work. I want to tell her that I'm not there to be her friend. It's hard to hold back.

      Delete
  4. Luckily I have my own classroom because I get so much more done when I have peace and quiet. I ran a race in Vermont a couple weeks ago and for the first 3-4 miles, there was a woman talking with her friends and she was basically screaming. She was talking SO LOUD. I was getting enraged, but we were running like the same pace so it was hard to get away from her. I kicked it into gear for a few minutes or so and luckily I lost her and she never caught up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations on paying off your student loans, that is amazing!!!! I feel like we'll be paying my husband's for the rest of our lives. You are right, this heat has been ridiculous, the humidity just makes is so much worse.

    I have been reading a lot of "self help" books, just focusing on staying in a positive mind set. My favorite was "The Universe Has Your Back" by Gabby Bernstein and I went a different direction with "The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck" by Mark Manson. It's quite good so far and his honesty is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the book recommendations, I'm always looking for good reads. Didn't know that was a thing...I'll have to check it out.
    Some days every break I go on is with the 1 or 2 people at my work that never stop talking, ugh!
    I worked the 4th but was flexed off early because we were "the Q word", we don't ever say the word because we are superstition like that. Hahaha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't that the truth? Altho working in an office is a little different. The "Q-word" isn't such a big deal. We do avoid saying certain patients' names tho, for fear they'll turn up on the schedule!

      Delete
  7. Years ago I sat next to a chomper - every time she ate it sounded like she was starving, it was her last meal and she had 5 minutes to eat it. I shudder even now just thinking about it. I have a problem with food noises that I just learned has a name - Misophonia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misophonia.)

    Summer hit us today. It was a comfortable 70 at 10:30 last night, 2 hours later it 80 and it was 87 at 6:00 a.m. But with only 22% humidity it's a dry heat (for what that's worth.) Had my coffee iced this morning.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the book recommendations! I am hoping to get back to reading this summer.

    That dancing pickle made me laugh but hooray for upcoming cooler temperatures!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I quote the scarecrow a lot at work, if under my breath. The thing about a university is sometimes people are in their positions because of longevity, and not knowledge.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Have a great time SUP. I haven't read any good books in awhile. I do enjoy iced coffee, especially when it is super hot in the summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We ended up skipping SUP today because there's a beach hazard warning. It's super windy.

      Delete
  11. I need some new books so thanks for the recommendations! That constant talking would send me right over the edge - one of the advantages of working from home is a little distance from some co-workers ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I needed that list of can't-put-down books... thank you! And I do not know how you deal with the pod people situation. I work in a cube farm and that's bad enough (and we don't have anybody as bad as that). I'm like the queen of giving people dirty looks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everyone just tries to make the best of it. It's an experiment gone bad.

      Delete
  13. I wish I had a good book to share, but no dice (my bad). I've taken on more hours at work and am not seated at the front desk with the main office manager. Ugh. This gal talks to me some, but is constantly on the phone with her husband and grown daughters. They call her at least once an hour, on the main phone (not her cell)...so, I'm now the chief phone answer-er because she's usually in deep conversation with someone else. Fun!! (I have not "lost it" yet...#staytuned)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've been meaning to tell you I love the header of your blog! Hope the hot flashes settle down for you especially with the heat. We had a good 4th, spent it by a lake!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I've had it for a while. I was thinking about toning it down a bit--it seems like the trend is to go more simple.

      Delete
  15. I need to become more active on Goodreads. Also CONGRATS on paying off your grad school student loans. I am at the start of repaying mine (plus undergrad loans) so I've got a wayssssss to go. I am also super excited for a weekend of "cooler" temps!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No worries, we'll have new debt with my youngest heading off to college this fall.. sigh...

      Delete
  16. I do not know about goodreads! That first book sounds like a great summer read thanks! I am so excited for the cooler weekend as well. I am already dreaming about having an epic run tomorrow morning. Hope you do too! Thanks for linking up for coffee can't wait for our in person coffee soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait either! I'm thinking about Cherry Blossom for the spring, so maybe we can make it a double?

      Delete
  17. That's good that you were able to figure out the cause of the hot flashes. They can come & go for a long time -- but I seem to take after my mom in that department, going through menopause pretty late, and while she never got hot flashes & I have had them, mine are very mild & don't keep me up at night.

    Paying off a loan always feels good!

    My 4th race was lots of fun, and after that it was just a quiet day at home. I made ribs in the instant pot because it was so ridiculously hot, and they came out really good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad to hear that you had an instant pot success! My husband is so skeptical of the instant pot.

      Delete
  18. Oh man, if you find an effective way to deal with your work neighbor, let me know. I'm in almost the exact same situation, sitting next to someone who's not in my department, has absolutely nothing to do with the work I do, and yet insists on attempting to engage me in conversation at all times (well, not "all times," but usually several times throughout the week). And if I don't talk to them, they'll talk TO ME about how I'm not talking to them! Take a hint, would ya!! They don't even respect the headphone rule of corporate America (that rule being if someone has headphones in, it means they want to be left alone), which really takes things to a whole other level. I will admit that I've snapped at them more than once. I try to be polite, but that kind of neighbor can really wear on your patience after a while!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You aren't kidding! When she kept begging me to "look at my salad", I really thought I was going to lose my shit. Don't even get me started on her "30 day challenge"...

      Delete
  19. I read a book about Einstein’s wife. It was very good. I’m reading Run The world. You should review it on your blog.

    Opted for a quiet day on the lake instead of a race with friends on the fourth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, I did review Run the World a few years ago. Check it out in the book club tab above.

      Delete
  20. Girl you had a week between Chatty Cathy and then student loan payoff (jealous).To Sweat free sleeping looks like you had a fab week. Its was great sipping with you

    ReplyDelete
  21. So much to comment on! Thanks for the book recs - the third sounds most intriguing to me. I hope you have fun SUPping, and get a break from rugby for your run. I played rugby in high school for the one season we had a team. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm jealous that your weather is going to cool off for a couple days. It was 119 today with no sign of letting up. Yes, it is going to cool off a bit. To 110!!!

    I've worked with people that never seem to shut up or realize that nobody wants to hear what they're chattering about. Frustrating when you're kind of stuck with them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard because at work you have to be professional about it! I've been off for a couple days and it's been nice. We'll see how things go next week.

      I hope it cools off by you!

      Delete
  23. Congrats on paying off your loan! I can't wait for that day!! LOL
    I miss running in the forest preserves! Especially in the summer!
    Those books sound interesting!
    My 4th was boring for the most part, and I am ok with that! Did cleaning and organizing and unpacked then repacked for trip 4 of the summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our 4th was boring too. It was really too hot to do anything much.

      Delete
  24. I sit in a cubicle so people don't really talk directly to me, but I can hear everyone around me. Some people can just be so loud all day long! Thanks for sharing those books- Ive been looking for something new to read this month. Hope you enjoy the cooler weather this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The weather has been spectacular! The mosquitoes, not so much...

      Delete
  25. Wendy, what is your Goodreads name? I will totally follow you as your books are always fun to check out and I love seeing what others are reading- my To-Read pile is ridiculous right now, but I need a fast one to get me over the hump- yours sound great for that! ~ Barrie, Hardly A Goddess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can click on the highlighted text above (follow me on Goodreads) and it will take you to my page. I'll follow you back!

      Delete
  26. OMG the weather yesterday was so fantastic! Dancing pickles for everyone!

    I'm a talker but not ALL THE TIME. I have been shushed is a race but that was by someone who was tired and cranky (my friend and I beat her). Sorry about the work drama!

    Thanks for the book recs!

    Can you please let me know the meet up plan for RnR Chicago? I was messaging w/Deborah about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I'll include you in the RnR FB group I created! I'm not sure what we're doing Saturday but some of the ladies are going out Friday night. I'm having all kinds of issues so the half is looking iffy for me.

      Delete
  27. That's really interesting about milk thistle - good detective work!

    Thanks for the book recommendations. The third one sounds especially good to me. Your eecard speaks to me - today is the last day of my vacation and I thought I was going to have time to read so many more books than I actually did! I need another week, at least :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the book recommendations... those sound really good! I hope you enjoyed a little respite from the hot temps.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I don't think my books would be interesting for you (police procedurals) and the only good/major book related news is that I left my kindle on the airplane yesterday. BOOOOOO.
    Luckily, Prime days are in a week. #score

    ReplyDelete