Friday, October 5, 2018

Coffee Talk

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The temperatures have dropped, rain is falling, and it's the perfect morning to catch up over coffee. We could run, but running in the cold rain isn't much fun, right? How do you want your coffee? I've got half and half and GLG Collagen Hydrolysate to spoon in--do you want to try it?

Before we pour our coffee, I'm going to put it out there...I'm beside myself with is happening in Washington. Actually, I'm sick over it. I don't want to ruin our coffee date with negativity and I won't say any more than that. I think most of you know me and where I stand. All I can say is make sure you vote this November. It really does make a difference.

Ok, moving on. Tell me what's new in your world?

Thank you to Holly for this fun mug! 

If we were having coffee, I'd talk about my health. Isn't that what old people do? My RA has been behaving itself, but my internist gave me a list of things that need to be taken care of by the end of the year. I had my annual physical and everything was fine. I did that Cologuard test in lieu of a colonoscopy and found out that I'm in the clear. I had my mammogram and it was negative. The last thing is to see the dermatologist, which I have scheduled for next month.

moving on...
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I was chosen to be an All Community Events Ambassador. ACE organizes many local races in the Chicagoland area. I'm already running one in November, the Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon. I run this race almost every year. It's one of my favorites. It's also the last half marathon of the year. I'm looking forward to running some new-to-me races next spring--I hope some of you will consider joining me!

If we were having coffee, I'd share with you some of the excellent reads from this past month that have given me book hangovers. I just finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which was a quick but very intense read about one of the prisoners in the role of tattooing the other prisoners. It's based on a true story. I also read The Woman in the Window, a thriller about an agoraphobic woman who watches her neighbors. I couldn't put it down. Currently, I'm reading our TTLWH book club selection for October, What Made Maddie Run, which is not as much about running as it is about the culture of perfection, social media, and its impact on college students. It's an excellent read, especially for parents of teens and young adults.

source
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I am heading back up to Madison again this weekend to watch my Badger play rugby. It's just so exciting to me to see him play at this level. UW-Madison's rugby team is currently ranked in the top 20. This weekend they play Indiana and if they win, they'll move up in the rankings. Plus Indiana is the number one team in the Big 10--the Badgers hope to take that spot from them. It should be an exciting game! Oh and by the way, there's a football game later in the day...


If we were having coffee, I'd share that having my son at college has brought our whole family closer. My husband, my oldest son, and I have all been making the trek up to Wisconsin for visits and games. While my husband drives up to his father's cabin with his dad, my oldest and I have been making the 2 hour drive there and back. What's been really great about that is how much we talk on those drives. Moms, you get me right? There's something about being in the car that brings on conversation with otherwise reticent teens/young adults. Yes, I let him drive.


What would you tell me over coffee? What good books have you read lately? Moms, do you find your kids more talkative in the car? Are you good about getting your annual health screenings done? If you need more information about what you should be doing, here's a great article that breaks it down.

I'm linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date and with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Sunday at the Weekly Wrap!



28 comments :

  1. Health screenings? Ummmm....I just got the mammogram letter from my Dr. Good for you for getting all up to date. I am so not. Bummed you won't be there tonight!

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    1. Kind of funny--one of the internists at my office yelled at me--yes yelled at me--for not getting the colonoscopy. Number one: MYOB. Number two: educate yourself on options. I found the whole conversation fascinating. So glad my doctor is accommodating!

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  2. I feel your pain about what's happening in Washington right now. I can't even look at TV news anymore. Vote, vote vote!!!

    I used to love those drives back and forth to college with my sons. The oldest went to a school about 4 hours away, so he came home less often, but the 2 youngest ones went to different schools about 1 hour away from home. The talks we had during those drives are still etched in my memory.

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    1. I'm looking forward to another one of those drives up to Madison tomorrow!

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  3. I have another couple of years until that particular fun begins. I have to do some research but with a family history of non-cancerous issues, I have a feeling I'll need the colonoscopy. Glad your RA is behaving right now.

    Yeah, long car rides are great for chatting with older kids.

    -MCM Mama

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    1. One of the doctors at my office yelled at me, yes, yelled at me for doing to Cologuard instead of the colonoscopy. Seriously? He needs to retire.

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  4. We have gotten closer to all of our kids via the college experience. The trip to Philly (with the youngest as my chief navigator) was wonderful. We had upwards of seven hours of cumulative car time together. Although I was a nervous wreck in all that traffic, she was great keeping the conversation lively so I could laugh intermittently.

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  5. Yes there is something about driving that elicits the kids chatting about things! I am glad that you are all feeling closer than ever. Congrats on the race ambassador gig it's a lot of fun and a great way to get more tied into your community. Have fun w Marcia this weekend! Thanks for linking up today

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    1. Sadly, I"m actually not joining Marcia this weekend. Our schedules couldn't connect.

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  6. I have heard that walking (or being in the car) tends to make people more talkative because there's no eye contact. No idea if that's true. My parents almost never came to visit me at college, I am the baby and they were shoving me out of the nest. :)

    That's great that you are an Ambassador for races you love! But no, I won't be making it to Chicago anytime soon. Not that I know of anyway.

    Enjoy your family & your weekend!

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    1. I'm the oldest and my mom was all about shoving me out of the nest. I didn't want to go, but I had no choice.

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  7. The best part of this post is your conversations with your older son. Yes, we other Mamas get it.
    Sending hugs your way.

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  8. Since I had such a nightmare colonoscopy last time, I might try cologaurd. It's either that or go into the hospital to be put under...glad it worked for you! I read Woman in the Window; really liked it too. Am now reading "You Are a Badass" (like I didn't know it:) and "The Perfect Couple."

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    1. I'm thrilled there's another test besides the colonoscopy! I've heard about You Are A Badass but I felt like I didn't qualify....

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  9. Yup, I get my health screenings. My new company is also all about that stuff and will bring in doctors to do skin cancer screenings and that like. Makes me feel good that they care about all that stuff.

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    1. That's really awesome! We health care professionals are not good about getting all that stuff done. This year, I'm on it. Even got 3 vaccines today!

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  10. Congrats on being an ambassador. If we were having coffee I would ask why they call it Chicagoland. I hear that term often. Is it actually the name of a suburb or just the Chicago area?

    The Tatooist of Aushewitz was actually on my list. I have enjoyed the other books I've read from that era although they are quite sad. For that reaso. I keep putting it off. Do yo think it was worth the read?

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    1. Oh yes, I definitely recommend the book! It's sad but it's a quick read. Very intense.

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  11. I lost my mom to breast cancer when she was only 58. She was of the "no news is good news" mindset. That didn't work out so well when she finally got around to her first mammogram. I started getting mammograms in my 30s. I don't enjoy all the health checkups, but I know what ignoring them can do.

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    1. I have been getting mammos since my mid-30s. When I scheduled this one, I was surprised that I missed it last year!

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  12. I used to love driving with my kids, and I think it's the same as running with someone - your eyes are facing forward, but you're side-by-side and somehow it's easy to let everything out. Glad you all are enjoying the college experience!

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  13. I'm sick over what's going on in Washington too. :[ I'm glad your RA is behaving itself, and I hope all goes well with your derm visit! Congrats on being chosen as an ambassador too! I bet you'll do an amazing job!

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    1. Everything else has gone well but the derm visit is the one I'm dreading.

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  14. I hear you about Washington. And sadly, it's gotten even worse since you wrote this! Thanks for the reminder. I need to schedule all my annual stuff too. Glad to hear you're healthy and feeling pretty good!

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