Friday, September 6, 2019

Coffee Talk

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Good morning! I'm so glad we have this opportunity to catch up with everyone over coffee. I'm drinking Colectivo Co-Optiva, which is a delicious medium roast coffee available locally in Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. It's nice change of pace from Starbucks. I'm enjoying it with a splash of half and half and some GLG Collagen.

It's been very busy month since we last had coffee. Here's what's been happening in my world.



If we were having coffee...I'd tell you that I took my youngest back to school at the University of Wisconsin. This year he's living in a townhouse with 3 other guys. He and I spent the day cleaning, unpacking, shopping, and organizing his stuff. Full disclosure: I had trouble leaving at the end of the day, but I did not cry. I just felt kind of empty. It never gets easier, does it?


If we were having coffee...I'd tell you that my husband, my oldest son, and I all went back to Madison the following weekend. We had a few more things to bring up to him plus it was the annual Taste of Madison, which is held on the capitol square. It's a lot of fun with food to sample and music stages. My husband wanted to go home early, so I hung out with my boys and my son's girlfriend, who transfered this year to UW. We had a great time and my oldest and I ended up getting home after 11 pm.

On the Memorial Union Terrace with Tom, Matt, and Diana
If I look like the happiest mom ever, it's because I am.
And yes, we're drinking Spotted Cow.
If we were having coffee...I'd also tell you that my youngest son made a trip to the ER in Madison. He has anaphylaxis to all tree nuts and ate ice cream that he did not realize was made from cashew nuts. He called me in a panic but had already used his epi pen. Fortunately, the ER is only 2 blocks from his townhouse. This mama was very relieved that not only did he know what to do, the ER docs did exactly what was needed and my boy was fine. Me, not so much.


If we were having coffee...I'd share my excitement that football season is here! As I write this, I'm preparing to make chili for the Bears vs Packers game. This is the oldest rivalry in the NFL and it is fierce! It's been a fun week watching the build-up to the game. Chicago has the 'Superfans'  and then there's Charlie Berens from the Manitowoc Minute who is a Packer Fan. He was on the local news this week. Made me laugh out loud...



Of course, the Bears lost...Keep 'er movin'.....

If we were having coffee...I'd tell you that I'm in a fantasy football league this year! Being the uber competitive person that I am, I welcomed the opportunity to join up with the league at my CrossFit. With the help of my husband, I drafted a pretty good team. The name? 'Run Away', from Monty Python's The Holy Grail.



If we were having coffee...I'd share with you the good reads from the past month. I read more books this month than I expected. My favorite was Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. Two families, next door neighbors, endure a terrible tragedy--the story is about life after that. It's so good. But I also enjoyed City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (an entertaining coming of age story in a theater in the 1940s), The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal (yes it's about beer but also redemption), and of course, my running book club book of the month, Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall. I finished but didn't care so much for Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center, altho by the other reviews on Goodreads, it looks as if I'm in the minority. I started but couldn't finish The Escape Room by Megan Goldin. OMG, the characters were insufferable and the story never went anywhere. It was another book where my opinion was not the popular one.


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

One more thing, if you want to read about my camp adventure, another highlight of August, you can find that here. Ok, enough about my month! What would you tell me over coffee? Anyone take their kids back to school? Football fan, yay or nay? Anyone else in a fantasy league? Do you get the reference to the name of my team? What books have you read lately? Are you following me on Goodreads?

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




36 comments :

  1. That is a great photo of you and the kids! I'm sure it's always hard.

    Nope, not a football fan (don't really follow any sport, not even running that much), and my husband isn't super into it either, which allowed us to cut the cable cord years ago and save a whole lotta $$!

    Most of my reading has been Yoga related this summer. :)

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    1. I didn't take you for a football fan! But we too cut the cable and have food ways to get around it and watch football.

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  2. Thanks for the book suggestions. Just put them on hold at the library...

    I'm not hugely into football, but, umm, Go Pack! ;)

    -MCM Mama

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  3. I totally get how you feel leaving your son at college. Living in a townhouse with other guys -- be prepared to bring in the hazmat team at the end of the year. :-O I need to do an update on my reading, since I've actually read a few books recently. A thriller - Here To Stay -- was a good page turner. "Less" was entertaining enough. I've got Ask Again Yes, Things You Save in a Fire and The Dressmaker's Gift up next. I think I'll add Cty of Girls for my upcomign airplane trip reading.

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    1. I'll check out your book suggestions too! So many books...so little time! And I need to start studying for my certification exam.

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  4. I runfess if Maddie was at a school that close I'd be up there, prowling around way too much. I'm so glad Matt was ok after the nut fiasco. We LOVED all the lead up to the Bears/Packers game...and then the actual game was a total snore. :/

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  5. Isn't it great when your kids are old enough that you can have an adult beverage with them? That is a great photo of you and your boys and your son's girlfriend!

    So glad your son was OK after the ice cream scare. They never get too old for us to stop worrying about them, do they?

    Our book club read "City of Girls" for this month. Discussion is this Sunday. It took me a long time to get into the book. I just didn't like the main character. I eventually liked it, but there were several times when I almost gave up.

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    1. You know I miss him terribly! We were supposed to back this weekend, but his rugby game was cancelled. How dare they!

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  6. What a horrible scare with your younger son. Even though he was prepared and aware, mother's never get over these frights. I'm glad he is okay.

    Football? Can't abide it, although I live in Patriots country. I cheer for the home team from afar. I cannot stand to watch a game. Yes, I get your reference. One needs to watch out for those little bunnies. My three guys are all Monty Python fans, my better half for decades. We've seen "Holy Grail" countless times.

    Both my boys went to college less than an hour away so the jolt wasn't too harsh, but I cried buckets when my younger son moved to Los Angeles from Providence nearly nine years ago. We've seen him once since, sob. Thank goodness for Skype, we talk for and hour or more every Sunday, or this Mamma would still be crying.

    I love that photo of you and your two sons. Ah, the best things in life.

    I always enjoy your well considered and well-written reviews on goodreads and often take your suggestions...and non-suggestions. I've read 35 books so far this year and about to finish another this morning. Too many to note here, but I relate to your obsession.

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    1. Yep, the killer bunnies are to be feared! My boys were raised on that movie, so it's fun to keep referring to it!

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  7. It is never easy to let our kids go! So glad to read that your boys are doing so well. We have a huge football house as well. My boys are Eagles fans as my hubs is from Philly. Our opening game is against the Redskins. Also a fierce rivalry! Have a fun weekend and thanks for joining for coffee

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    1. I enjoy a good competition! Sad that the Bears lost, but hey, if it's the Packers...

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  8. I love that you were able to spend so much time hanging out with your boys!

    Oh man, that must have been so scary when your son called you, but it's great to know that he was able to use his Epipen and that he's located so close to the ER. I'm glad that he's okay!

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    1. It took every ounce of self control to not get in the car and make the 2 hour drive to Madison. He would have killed me. But geez.

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  9. Glad your son is ok! How scary!!! Love that cartoon about kids going to school vs going to college!

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  10. Yikes on the cashew ice cream but good to know that your son is a pro!

    Thanks for the book suggestions. I loved City of Girls. Also hated The Escape Room. Sounds like we should be in a book club!

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  11. Drinking some Columbian coffee that Les got from his sister for his birthday.

    My dad played football in high school and one year in Junior college so I had a personal teacher to explain the game when I watched it. I don't have a team that I pull strongly for, but do enjoy a good match up. Les was born in Minnesota, so Go Vikes ;0

    Glad your son is okay!

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  12. OMG Charlie Berens is hysterical! I've never heard of him but I'll be watching him on the YouTubes now. Not a football fan at all but GO PACKERS! (completely influenced by the video you linked, LOL).

    The picture of you and your sons is lovely. I'm glad you get as much time with them as you want vs leaving with your husband...my friend does the same thing. Also, there is nothing scarier than getting a call from a kid in a panic. Really glad he was able to take care of himself and get to the ER!

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    1. Yeah, I'm straddling the line between between the Bears and Packers. EVeryone tells me it's wrong but hey...if it's wrong...I don't wanna be right...

      Enjoy the Manitowoc Minute. Cracks.Me.Up.

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  13. I'm glad your son is okay - that is scary!
    Most of my reading has been parenting/baby books, but ones with a cultural slant - Achtung Baby, Bringing up Bebe, etc. I love German culture enough as it is and it's super interesting to read about a different aspect of their culture.
    My husband and I are already pathetically plotting how to get our daughter to go to our alma mater...which also happens to be right here in town.

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    1. So funny that you're reading those German baby books! Aching, baby! :p

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  14. You know I can totally relate to that cartoon! So glad your son is ok after that nut scare - that is not a call you want to get!

    I love the name of your fantasy football team :) I love football season, but runfess I fell asleep on the Bears/Packers game last night. I am looking forward to seeing the Pats hoist another banner on Sunday night!

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    1. I've gotten pretty much all the calls a mom doesn't want to get. Seriously, my oldest put us through that. Proud of my youngest for figuring it all out. Geez. The gray hair don't quit.

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  15. I love football, but I'm more of a NCAA fan. No pro teams in Iowa, so I never developed much of a love for it (though I do watch the Superbowl every year). We seem to be a divided state with Packers and Vikings...kind of surprised there aren't more Bears fans. The hubby and I are going to the Iowa vs. Wisconsin game in November, so I'll finally get a chance to see Madison. Glad all went well for your son. UGH. Motherhood never gets any downtime.

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    1. I cannot root for the Vikings. No how, no way. You'll have to let me know how you like Madison.

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  16. Since I teach group fitness classes on the side, all my free time goes into learning the choreography, timing, etc. that I never feel like I have any time left to read a book for enjoyment. You would think all the flying I do, I'd have plenty of time, but my crews are pretty cool and we manage to just find other ways to pass the time. Maybe this fall I should put that on y to do like.....read a good book!

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  17. OMG that ER trip, that's scary - good for him doing exactly the right thing and glad he lives so close to the ER. Argh!

    I've read some good books in August and very much looking forward to Margaret Atwood's The Testaments which should arrive on Tuesday. I have to re-read The Handmaid's Tale tomorrow!

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    1. He's had some training..we've had to do the epi pen/ER trip a few times. I'm just glad he knew what to do. Including calling mom!

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  18. I'm so glad your son is okay!

    I went to Wisconsin for the very first time during my road trip--it's such a gorgeous state!

    Not a football fan but I have watched a number of games due to a previous ex and also my interest in sports medicine. :P

    Just followed you on goodreads!

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