Friday, November 2, 2018

Coffee Talk

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Let's have a cup of coffee and catch up! I love coffee so much that you don't have to ask me twice. Let me get the Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Protein and some half and half. What do you take in your coffee?

What would you tell me over coffee?

Did you read the recap from my trip to Nashville?

If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I cannot wait until November 7. I just want these elections to be over. I don't know what it's like in your state, but here in Illinois, we are having a very contentious gubernatorial election. Sadly, neither of the candidates is a good choice. The ads that have taken over the TV are just plain nasty. I hope that after this is all done, we can all return to a place of civility and tolerance.



If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that Bradley Cooper can sing and Lady Gaga can act! I saw A Star is Born last weekend with my sister and all I can say is wow. What a movie. I moviefess that I've never seen any of the three previous versions, so I went in uninitiated. No expectations. It was just excellent. I've been listening to the soundtrack all week.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that the weekly injection I take for rheumatoid arthritis has been changed to a pain-free formulation. The old formulation was so painful that I had to psych myself up for the shot every week. It felt like a bee sting and burned for about 30 minutes after I took it. The first time I injected myself with the pain-free version I questioned whether or not I got the medicine. Then I stressed about it all night. How messed up is that? I'm still feeling pretty good, so I assume that the new formulation is working just fine.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I'm optimistically looking ahead to running in 2019. The cooler weather of fall seems to have magical powers for me. While I'm not getting faster, I'm finding my endurance and running long distances is happening again. I haven't formally committed to anything yet, but there are 2 tentative events on the calendar for January. Spoiler alert: they aren't outside in the cold. Stay tuned!


If we were having coffee, I'd share some of the books I've read this past month, which have been the best books I've read this year!
-All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin was a well-timed read. I picked it up right at the time of the Kavanaugh hearings. The story unfolds as a wealthy prep school boy takes advantage of a drunk high school girl from the "wrong" side of town. Sounds like a cliche, but Giffin does a great job telling this one.
-Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was amazing. This beautiful, quiet coming of age story takes place in the marshes of North Carolina, where a young girl, abandoned by her family, raises herself. The twists and turns in the story will keep you enthralled. I could not put it down and was sad when it ended. This is probably my favorite book of the year.
-From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Doran-Stein is a real-life account of a young White House stenographer during the Obama presidency. It's juicy with behind the scenes details of what its like to be a White House staffer. The book is also full of personal details of the author's life--kind of her coming of age story, too. Really well written, this was another page-turner.
-Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman is a short but really intense story about a post-war soldier who returns home to die. Burned beyond recognition, his wife struggles to end his suffering as she visits him daily. The story is told by his friend, who was killed in the same battle. This book is haunting, but not morbid.

True story!
What would you tell me over coffee? Are you tired of all the negativity? Have you seen A Star is Born? What are your running plans for 2019? Do you have any book recommendations for me?

I'm linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date and with Miranda and Lacey for the Friday Five.


48 comments :

  1. We saw A Star Is Born the night it premiered, which is so odd for us since we rarely see any movies. It was fabulous though! I hadn't seen any of the previous iterations either. The critics are picking it apart but I loved it. I don't remember Humira hurting like that. I've probably blocked it out. Sick to death of political ads, including the calls and texts.

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    1. I'm glad I didn't know the critics were tearing the movie apart when I saw it. Yeah, I get it--there was some cheesy stuff, but people it's a movie!

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  2. I'm also ready for the elections to be over. I am so over it, especially here in CT. The ads play nonstop and we also have two less than desirable candidates up for governor. Sigh.

    Like you, I'm all about the cold weather running so I'm looking forward to logging some winter miles at the end of this year and in 2019!

    I really want to see A Star is Born! I've heard nothing but good things about it. I may try to see it this weekend.

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    1. I'm really enjoying running in this weather! It makes me not mind the cold.

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  3. Yeah, once midterms are over it's time for the presidential campaigns to start. :(

    I think I'm gonna have to drag Mr. Judy to A Star is Born. Most of my girlfriends aren't that into movies and Darlene's already seen it. I have seen the Streisand version.

    My running plans for 2019 are a bit up in the air at the moment. I'm actually signed up for one half, but not completely sure I'm going (I can defer it) and I know the other one I'd like to do.

    I kind of really wanted to do Rehoboth Beach (beginning of Dec) but I also know my body is ready for a break. So not this year.

    How the heck to you read so much?

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    1. I don't watch much TV and I go to bed pretty early. I love to read. Plus we had all those trips to Madison this month! Lots of time in the car=lots of time to read.

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  4. Soooo ready for the elections to be over! We are electing a governor, a senator, and of course, a bunch of local offices. I am voting for one young woman just because her ads are unfailingly positive. None of the negative stuff.

    I have 2 events for January, too. both of them outside in the cold and snow, however! :)

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    1. I'm afraid that with you know who in the White House, it's just going to stay ugly for 2 more years...

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  5. A Star is Born...if that's not an Oscar sweep, I don't know what is. Lady Gaga and dear Bradley are incredible. As you probably know, I don't do politics, and all the negative ads just reinforce why. I'd much rather hear all the good each candidate has in mind rather than all the bad their opponents have done. It's great to hear the cooler weather has been good for you...keep on keeping on ;-)

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    1. The negativity with this year's elections is unprecidented. I have my theories, but like you said, I don't talk politics. Altho maybe it would be better if more people did.

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  6. Lady Gaga is a national treasure. Such incredible talent in so many arenas and a good person, too. If you have a chance to see the Netflix documentary about her, "Five Foot Two," don't pass it up. You will love it.

    I'm so glad that you found a painless alternative to your medication. It's bad enough to deal with the issue, but do add pain to the mix is just not fair.

    Until I retired, I literally almost never watched TV. I still do not watch any network fare, but do view some amazon prime, Netflix, and PBS series. Until now, what little time I had available was given over to reading and needlework. Based on your goodreads review, I am on the wait list at our local library for "Where the Crawdads Sing."

    Again, because I never turn on the TV, I don't see many political commercials, only those that air when my better half watches the news while getting dressed in the morning. So hateful, most of them. I agree with Kimberly, I want to know what good they plan, not attacking their opponents. Last night we saw one from our current Senator, Sheldon Whitehouse (You might remember him from the Kavanaugh hearings), in which he stated what he has accomplished and hopes to in the future. Not a word, nasty or otherwise, about his rival. THAT's what I want to see.

    As far as that heinous man in the Oval Office is concerned, I've run out of words. It's going to be a long two years, unless Mueller changes things. He's holding his cards mighty close to the vest. Because of him, I have a glimmer of hope.

    Have a great weekend.

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    1. I hope you enjoy Where the Crawdads Sing. I think you will. It is an exquisite peace of writing and an amazing story.

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  7. So weird. I comment on my phone and they never appear. So I apologize if you think that I ignore you.

    Anyway..again.

    I love A Star is Born. I want to see it again. I didn't see the previous versions.

    I love to read so thanks for the recommendations. I rarely watch TV. I am reading After the Fall - a mystery about a plane crash.

    I have 3 half marathons on my schedule for 2109 - Feb, Mar & May. My goal is to stay healthy and run at least 2 times a week! Hope the same for you!!!

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  8. I LOVED From the Corner of the Oval. She was so relatable and it read like a novel. So weird that the career exists in this day and age.
    I feel you on Election Day -- I watched the football game last night and was getting NJ and CT race commercials. Cuomo isn't advertising as near as I can tell in NYC DMA. So I don't get my own.

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  9. Yay for the pain free injections! It's a shame that something that is suppose to help you hurts you in the process! Hope you see results with it.

    I too have felt like I've gained endurance this fall!

    Thanks for continuing to link up with us!

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  10. Oh those books sound good. I would recommend the ones I've read this month, actually, on my weird hybrid books-n-running blog that my blog has turned into!! I have The Plan of course, the ultra in July 2019. And hopefully going up a licence level in my Endurance Offical and getting my level 1 Track and Field Official.

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  11. I'm right there with you on wanting to get to November 7 - I am so tired of hearing about the elections!

    While I'm not a huge Bradley Cooper fan I really want to see A Star is Born! So glad you enjoyed it!

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  12. I can't wait for election day to be over too. The commercials are invading almost every channel I watch this year, AND when my alarm went off this morning, a political ad was on. That'll make me turn off the alarm real fast!

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    1. Yikes! I use a zen alarm, so there's no speaking. Just chimes.

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  13. Wow, those books sound intense. I did read All We Ever Wanted. I'm reading The Hate U Give -- really good. We're getting all the ads for MD and VA, although the people I'll vote for are expected to win easily -- but I WILL vote. I wish it would be "over" after November, but some seem to be campaigning for 2020 now.

    Glad the new medicine formulation is making a difference. Now I want to look up the patent for it. ;-)

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    1. Please do! I love all the work scientists are doing on developing biologic agents to help with diseases. I feel so lucky.

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  14. Your indoor January race wouldn't be in Milwaukee would it?

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  15. My endurance was in the tank for about a year and a half before/after I got diagnosed with CFS. Any run longer than an hour left me wiped for days. Obviously that improved drastically this summer. My rheumatologist says it's common with autoimmune diseases to have a couple bad years to start and then start feeling (relatively) better. That was a long-winded way to say, I hope your running optimism is a good sign overall. And the pain-free injections have to be a plus!

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  16. I'm so over getting all the political crap in the mail. What a waste of money! Glad to hear that your new shot is painless and working!
    I'm finishing up the book you recommended about the Navy Seal (can't recall the title and don't want to get up to get it ;-) ). That Navy Seal guy is CRAZY! Love the writers' voice in the book. I wish he wanted to be friends with me. Lol

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    1. He also wrote a book about living with monks. That would be entertaining!

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  17. I heard that movie was really good. I'd like to see it. I'll probably wait until it comes to red box.

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    1. Oh, I don't know if I'd do that. The big screen is the place to experience the amazing music in this one!

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  18. I really need to watch A Star is Born! I've been hearing so many good things! (I didn't even know there were previous versions, haha.)

    I'm glad the new version is pain-free and that it seems to be working! :]

    I haven't read any of those books yet but they definitely sound interesting! I'll have to add em' to my to-read list!

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  19. I really want to see A Star Is Born. I may go to that tonight. I haven't heard anything about the Illinois Gov. race. I see on fivethirtyeight.com has the Dem favored to win, which will really help in case Trump's new Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe and all kinds of other shitty things that could be then left up to the states. A crazy right wing Trump supporter who hates teachers (he said we could all be easily replaced) is running against our incumbent Dem Gov. Tom Wolf, and Wolf is favored to win. But I'm not counting on anything so I will be VOTING and I really hope the dems take back the house. Then they can open investigations into Trump and maybe we will finally see his tax returns!

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    1. I saw today they opened up some kind of tax returns. But the thing is, his base doesn't seem to care about all the lying and scamming. I find that incredibly scary. Who are these people?

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    2. They are the HEARTLAND, Wendy. Lol just kidding. :)

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  20. The cooler weather really has felt amazing! That's great news that your shot is no longer painful. I hope it continues working for you!

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    1. Things have been really good lately. I've learned to live with the joint pain I have but other than that, I've adjusted pretty well!

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  21. I have nothing specific on the calendar for 2019, but I have a few races dancing around in my head. I'd actually love to do more trail races and perhaps a duathlon.

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  22. maybe it sounds odd, but we have so much coverage here in NL of what is going on in the US, and I am so sick of it. I can only imagine how much more you guys are getting. I'm not apathetic, in fact I'm probably way too involved in my head than I "should" be, but hey, it's still my birth country and I still feel very passionate about what is going on and how it affects my family.

    I'm glad you have a new formulation for your shot! That's awful that something supposed to help you actually was hurting you! You mention a "bee sting" feeling - that's actually what I was having with every step with my foot! I have meds for that and was referred to the rheumatologist but RA is mostly ruled out at this moment (I only have issues on one side of my body and mostly in my foot so I never thought I had RA). With my meds I don't have that feeling anymore, just weird been-to-the-dentist-and-the-shots-are-wearing-off feeling in my toe.

    2019 has only Liverpool RnR Half on the books. I'm also going to try for Chicago. Ron's already in, because he had a qualifying time. It'd be nice to actually get to run it as well. If I don't get in, then I don't know what I'll do. Either something in the Chicago area since we'll be there already, or maybe something else I have on my list of to do races (like Valencia). Curious about what you have coming up!!

    I hope to get to the cinema soon to see A Star is Born!

    I am so in awe of how much you do Wendy! I have no time for reading! With work + side job + working out + attempting to blog I just don't manage to read at all. and I miss it!! I'm flying to Las Vegas on Thursday and I plan on reading Ultramarathon Mom as it's written by a woman I know in Germany (american lady) who sent it to me for a read and review!

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    1. I'm sure your doctors have considered it, but that feeling you describe sounds like a neuroma. Armchair quarterback, here!

      I can only imagine what Europeans think of our current situation. It's a bad situation and I hope that Tuesday's elections remedy some of it.

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    2. and you would be spot on if they hadn't already removed the neuroma 2.5 years ago... so it's a damaged nerve + something else going on causing the swelling and inflammation. I have mentioned a stump neuroma several times but they all kind of look at me like I'm nuts. Neurologist says nothing can be done but meds, Ortho has sent me to another Ortho for 2nd opinion, and I had to go to the Rheumatologist to rule out RA so that I can be referred to the Pain Policlinic. It's been such a fun ride...

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  23. We saw A star is born too and I agree-fantastic. I have always had a thing or Bradley Cooper and he did not disappoint. Lady Gaga was incredible and I am so glad she had a chance to show it. Great entertainment. Glad to hear you new shot is less painful. Thanks for linking up for coffee!

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