Friday, July 5, 2019

Coffee Talk

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Happy Independence Day! While I was scrolling through social media yesterday, I started to wonder how many people actually know what we are celebrating on the 4th of July. I'm not a history buff and I certainly don't want to get political, but with all the factual distortion going on, I think it's important for all of us to take a step back from our celebrations and remind ourselves what the 4th of July is all about. I hope you are all enjoying this fun and festive weekend while being mindful of our freedom!

It's been a while since we caught up on life. I love the monthly Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. It's a great opportunity to talk about things off the road. So let's chat! How do you like your coffee? I'm still taking mine with GLG Collagen Hydrolysate and half and half. Old habits are hard to break...


If we were having coffee... I'd talk about my health. I've shared with readers on the blog that rheumatoid arthritis hasn't been playing nice this year and has affected my running dramatically. I do have daily joint pain but I can manage that fairly well with Meloxicam, which is an NSAID similar to Advil or Motrin. The fatigue has been much tougher for me to deal with. I've made the decision to drop my work hours down to 3 days per week. I'm not ready to retire yet but I am looking forward to spending less time in the office.


Speaking of work, if we were having coffee...I'd proudly share with you that I have completed my nurse practitioner licensure application for full practice authority! Last year, the previous governor of Illinois signed into law a bill that allows nurse practitioners with a designated number of hours of experience to practice fully without needing to collaborate with a physician. While this doesn't change how I do my job--my employer already allows me to practice independently, it is an important milestone. I'm so grateful that it happened while I'm still actively practicing.


If we were having coffee...I'd hope it was on my patio with my new furniture! Geez. I've only lived here for 22 years but it took me this long to figure out what to do with the little stone patio next to my deck. Maybe I'm feeling inspired by that Home Design game I've been playing. I just love sitting in my Adirondack chairs. Maybe I just have trouble making decisions.

Seriously it took me 20+ years to decide on this.
And yes, I'm trying to get rid of the grass between the stones without using Roundup. Any suggestions? 
If we were having coffee...I'd have to talk about the weather. It has been all over the place. June was so cold. And now we are roasting! Earlier this week, my car thermometer read 96. The one thing that has been consistent is all the rain we are getting. My tomatoes and flowers are loving it--I've hardly had to water them! We've had a lot of storms too. With all the turbulent weather, we have been treated to some spectacular sunsets.

No filter needed on this view from my backyard!
If we were having coffee...I'd share with you some of the books I've read over the past month. Little Faith (which is only 1.99 on amazon kindle) by Nikolas Butler is the story of a small town Wisconsin couple whose grown daughter joins an extreme church. When the church decides her son is a healer, things get interesting. I loved this book because it's written in such a quiet style that suits the small town setting. Plus my son bought it for me and had it signed at a reading he attended at the Madison Public Library. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottleib is a look into the life of a therapist. Gottleib writes the 'Dear Therapist' column for the New York Times.  It's a really interesting read and you know what? Maybe I should talk to someone... I also read Michelle Obama's autobiography, Becoming. I had no idea what to expect but it has received such great reviews that I didn't want to have FOMO! The book starts out slow--I almost got the impression she wasn't comfortable sharing about her life growing up in Chicago. But once she meets Barack Obama and shares that whole journey to the White House, the book picks up steam. I had trouble putting this one down! When I was finished, I was left with complete admiration for this reluctant First Lady who gave the job her all. She shares it all--the good, the bad, the ugly.

What would you tell me over coffee? Work, love it or hate it? Full or part-time? Do you have trouble making decorating decisions? Crazy weather by you? What books have you read lately?


What would you tell me over coffee? /via @oldrunningmom @deborahbrooks14 @got2run4me #runchat #running

I'm linking up with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date and with Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness.



41 comments :

  1. Your little stone patio is cute! Glad you got some chairs to enjoy it. You'll have to pull out that grass...or keep it cut low. It's a PIA for sure. Congrats on the completion of your licensure application!

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    1. I've been using the weed whipper frequently, hoping the grass will take the hint.

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  2. Oh, Little Faith sounds interesting. I just finished a reading spree - Where The Crawdads Sing, The Tattoist of Aushwitz and Before We Were Yours -- all good. My work is more than full time. I don't know how to dial back without checking out - it seems to be all or nothing. :-/

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    1. I've read Where the Crawdads Sing and The Tatooist of Auschwitz. Loved them both!

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  3. Well done on your qualification and I love your chairs. I've just started doing up our kind of dark patio area close to the house, as you can see it through our new blinds on the back sitting room window: I've spotted some really cheerful chairs I want to put there but when to get them. Also many plants are arriving imminently! Love your idea to drop a day of work - staying in touch but not so exhausted.

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    1. Everything outdoors is on sale now--so it's a good time to pick up some patio furniture!

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  4. A neighbor (many years ago) told me she'd poured boiling water over all the grass in between her cement cracks to get rid of it. A tedious task, but it worked for her ;-)

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    1. I've heard about that method and I've tried it--as you can see, it didn't work! LOL

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  5. Congrats on getting to practice w more autonomy and sounds like cutting back a bit will be good for you right now. Enjoy your new patio! Now if it were only cool enough to sit out there :)

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    1. The umbrella helps make it tolerable. I spent the whole day out there--blogging and reading!

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  6. Congrats on your new license! It's great that you have the flexibility with your schedule. I hope it helps. I downloaded Becoming and now I want to read it even more! Thanks for the push!

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  7. Congrats on getting your full practice license! You should be very proud. I hope that you enjoy working less days.

    Obviously, I was never career driven. At all. Although I did work for 2/3 of our marriage, something Mr. Judy tends to overlook. I keep myself plenty busy without working, although I wonder how people working full time do it all, too!

    I love Adirondack chairs. We have a few outside. I feel like I'm fairly good with decorating, but sometimes it takes living with something a while before an idea pops into your head. Enjoy!

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    1. I never thought I was career driven, but I do like my job! However, caring for people (or their kids) can be physically and emotionally draining. It's time to step back and take care of me. Feels weird and selfish, but also the right thing to do.

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  8. Your new patio area looks like the perfect spot to sit and read! I like the grass between the stones (probably because it gets so dry here that we would never have that). Our summer has been mild so far, ask me again in Sept. ��

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    1. I have some moss too, and I really like that. The grass is annoying. We've had so much rain.

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  9. Congrats on your full practice license - that's so exciting!! I've been working since I was 16 so I think that even when I can retire, I would probably just go from full time to part time. Or if I didn't work, I would volunteer. I would definitely need something to get me out of the house!

    I love the furniture on your patio! It looks like such a relaxing place to enjoy a book and a glass of wine :)

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    1. I think if I retired completely, I'd miss it too! I'll just call myself 'semi-retired'!

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  10. Congrats on the license- that is such a cool thing.
    I'm a slow decision maker too on house things. BUT when I finally decide I love it and it will probably stay the way I did it for 20 years. I also don't like change- lol!
    Sorry your running has had a rough year. I'm routing for you!

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    1. You sound like me! Once I find something I like, I keep it forever. Good thing my taste runs to the classical style.

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  11. We spent Memorial day weekend in the cute little town of Solvang. We picked up some wonderful flavored coffees there - my favorite being Cinnamon-Hazelnut. It's gone now so I just added ground cinnamon to my coffee grounds before brewing and it tastes great! And speaking of coffee, I made homemade coffee ice cream yesterday and it is incredible! It's really a good thing I don't pull my ice cream maker out very often.

    I got new patio chairs for my birthday - our old plastic ones were deplorable. The reality is, Les is more the decorator than I am. His engineering brain sees things and makes them happen. I haven't been disappointed in anything he's chosen!

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    1. I haven't been to Solvang, but my parents have and loved it! Homemade coffee ice cream sounds so good right now!

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  12. Congrats With The New Development In The Working World, As For The Arthritis Try A Session With An Ortho-Bionomy Practitioner, & Currently Reading Walking In Light by Sandra Ingerman. The Everyday Empowerment of a Shamanie Life. Have A Wonderful Weekend & Keep Smiling

    Cheers

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    1. Ok, I had to google that! I found an ortho-bionomy practitioner right in the town where I live. It sounds a lot like the monthly therapeutic massages I get. I may have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

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  13. Congrats on your new license. Spending less time in office is important for our health: it comes a day when we must take care of ourselves and our family.
    I understand what you mean about your 4th of july.
    Here, in Italy, the end of the WWII is a national celebration but it is the most divisive because we suffered a civil war that .... never ends! Of course 4th of July (USA) and April 25th (Italy) are and were 2 different situations.

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    1. I didn't know that about Italy! It's so interesting learning about different countries. I think you know that we have a very divisive situation in the US right now. I'm hoping that there is a change in leadership in 2020.

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  14. I happy for you that you have reached your work goal...and also that you are cutting back a bit. Time is a precious commodity. I know that you will fill these new free hours with what you love to do.

    I always enjoy your book reviews (I read them all on goodreads) and most often mark your suggestions on my massive TBR list. I had never heard of "Where the Crawdads Sing" until I read your review. It was such stunning praise that I immediately requested it from our town library and it flew to the top of my TBR list. Of the nearly fifty books I read last year, this one is the best. It is being considered for my book club's list for the coming year.

    Re Michelle Obama's book: I have said that if you liked her before, you will love her after reading it. That hesitation you mention is one of the hallmarks of her honesty. It must have been tough to write for public consumption so much pain and grief and hesitation ("reluctant First Lady," for sure, yet supported her husband's ambition and goals all the way), as it must have been difficult to hold back on her feelings for the current being in the Oval Office who never hesitated to denigrate to Obamas. Can you imagine this woman being brought up next door? I can.

    Sending wishes that the summer brings you joy and Peace.

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    1. I agree with you about the Obamas and after reading Michelle's book, I walked away thinking that really, she is just like us. Except we wouldn't be judged by the color of our skin. It's ridiculous and sad at the same time, especially when you consider how classy they are and how well they represented the US. I hope we can get back to that.

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  15. Congrats on receiving your license. It has been forever since I actually have read a book. I like the idea of reading and I have plenty of time on my flights but I don't do it. I need to start.

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    1. You said that last time! LOL! I've made plenty of suggestions...hint, hint...

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  16. Love your new patio furniture! Congrats on the full licensure as an NP. that is great. I am sorry that RA continues to plague you. That is so hard!

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  17. I was very career-driven until my recent job. Most of the time, I do not enjoy what I do but I do enjoy the benefits of insurance and a paycheck (for race-cations lol).

    My house looks pretty much the same for the past 20 years though we just re-did the master bath. Time...money...

    I loved Michelle Obama's book - what a lady!!

    Thanks for recommending more books. I love to read!

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    1. I wouldn't consider myself "career driven"...just driven in general. LOL. Glad to have reached what I consider the pinnacle of my nursing career. Now I can retire fully.

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  18. congrats on full practice thing! happy you are still helping children and families, even if on reduced schedule... they're lucky to have you under their care

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    1. I feel grateful that they allow me to care for their children! Thank you.

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  19. Congrats on your licensure! It's great that you are recognized for all of your years of experience. I hope your new reduced schedule works for you.

    I just started reading Becoming - I've had the book since Christmas :0 I've always been a big fan of hers so I'm really looking forward to her story.

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  20. Congrats on the licensure! And glad your job allows you to drop to three days for your health sake
    ON an unhealthy note, can I tell you I'm loving Dunkies' cookies & cream syrup? Otherwise black all the way.
    Reading: Dispatches from Pluto, Rise of the Ultra Runners, Ed Caesar's Breaking Two and currently the Bad Food Bible

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    1. I loved Rise of the Ultra Runners and saw Breaking Two--the documentary. Fascinating!

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  21. oh and totally agree re: July 4th, but also Memorial Day v. Veterans. It's part of why I don't want 9/11 to be a holiday. It will lose what meaning it still has

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    1. Exactly. It will just become another day to shoot off fireworks!

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