Friday, December 6, 2019

Coffee Talk

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Good morning! Would you like to join me for a cup of coffee so we can catch up on life off the road? I know how busy things are this time of year, but it always feels good to take a break and sip on a hot cup of joe! I'm drinking a Holiday Blend from Whole Foods. Super tasty and with my GLG collagen and half and half, I could drink it all day!

What's happening in your world?



If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that this mama is feeling pretty melancholy right now. My oldest moved out last weekend. He had been planning on moving to an apartment with one of his high school friends in May after his friend graduated from college. Two weeks ago, he told us over dinner that he signed a lease and would be moving the first weekend in December. To say I was stunned is an understatement. While I know he's ready for it and truthfully, his father and I are too, I just wasn't ready for it to be happening so soon. He and I mended a lot of fences over the past couple of years. I'm so grateful for that and for the fun we've had, especially this past year. I guess knowing that we are in a good place makes it a little easier for me. He texted me a picture of the dinner he made for himself on Tuesday and that made my heart swell. I miss him a lot.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that my husband has told me twice in the past 2 weeks that he can't eat the dinner I prepared for us because it's "too healthy". As if that is something to complain about? I didn't make anything crazy--this week it was breaded baked cod and broccoli. Feeling a little vulnerable with my oldest gone (he would have eaten it!) I may have gotten a little upset. We resolved our disagreement by compromising that when I want fish, he'll have a steak.


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you how that ornament in the photo above is the only ornament on my tree right now. I have done ZERO Christmas decorating and very little shopping. Mostly because my heart hasn't been in it. I did do a lot of cleaning, though! I plan on decorating this weekend and getting the house ready for the holidays. It's just not a lot of fun when it's just me doing it.

I'm going to need a little help with that!
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that while I've been feeling really good--RA wise--for the past month or so, I have been very hoarse. So much so that there are times when I have no voice. I saw my internist who at first thought it was allergies, but I have no other symptoms. So off to the ENT I go. Yay me, I'll get the scope down my nose so he can look at my throat. Hoping that it isn't anything concerning. Going through life and sounding like Darth Vader is not how I picture myself...


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that there is a store near my house that is called Market Fresh but is mostly an international grocery store. This place has the most interesting stuff. I had to go there recently to pick up some items and found myself just wandering the aisles. I found things that I have no idea why you'd buy them. Like this:

So many questions.
What kind of juices?
Why is there no label?
Why is this even a thing?
If we were having coffee, I'd share what we've been watching and reading over here.
  • We just finished Schitt's Creek, which was hilarious. Sad that it's over! We started Season 9 of Shameless, but I'm not so sure I care anymore. 
  • Bookwise, I spent most of the month reading Prairie Fires which is a very detailed, well-researched biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I'm a huge LIW fan but this book was a little too heavy on history and Laura's daughter Rose (who seems like a pill, if you ask me) and not enough about life on the prairie. I also read Everything You Are by Kerry Anne King, a story about an alcoholic cello player who has to raise his daughter after her mother is killed in a car accident. Although the subject matter sounds heavy, after reading Prairie Fires, this felt almost breezy! If You Tell by Gregg Olsen was a horrible book, a true story about a crazy, and I mean crazy mom raising 3 daughters. I only stuck with it to see how it all turned out. I just can't believe this was a true story. Yuck. Awful. Thank goodness it was a free pick from Amazon First Reads. Currently, I'm reading The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker. It's a Reese's (Witherspoon) book club selection and is about women working in a law firm dominated by men. It's just ok. Let me comment that because a celebrity has a book club doesn't mean the selections are always good. Hoping to find some better books coming up.

What would you tell me over coffee? Any empty nesters out there with advice for me? Does it get easier? Do you stop missing them so much? Are you ready for the holidays? Do you and your significant other eat the same food every night or do you do your own thing? Have you seen anything interesting at the grocery store? Any ideas what you'd want Pork with juices for? Finally, any Netflix or Amazon show recommendations? What books would you recommend for me?

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



40 comments :

  1. Porkceoth juices? That is very interesting. Maybe it's more flavorful and now dry? Who knows! We are all decorated with christmas tree up and village out. I even have most of my shopping done.

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  2. Oh my gosh I get you 100% on your son. Mine came home from grad school a few days before Xmas last year and had signed a lease for an apt to move the first weekend in January. And he eats vegetables and sometimes cooks dinner. Don’t get me started on husband eating habits. Mine has stocked up on processed carb junk food bc they are low in oxalate. :-/

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    1. So tell me what you do for dinner? Do you make 2 different things? Last night I made a stuffed spaghetti squash which he actually ate. It's like living with a toddler.

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  3. I've been thinking about decorating since Thanksgiving. While my fall stuff has been put away, Christmas has not yet appeared. Maybe today...
    Awww I can just imagine how tough having him move out suddenly, ahead of time had to be. Hugs mama! We'll definitely catch up over lunch after the holidays. xo

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    1. Yes! I miss you. I'll tell you, motherhood is not for the weak.

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  4. While Mr. Judy isn't into healthy eating, luckily he likes fish & we eat it often. I usually do it really simply, just searing it (which is also fast). Sometimes we do eat different dinners, but most of the time we eat the same thing. He may not always like it, but it's rare that he won't eat it.

    Even though it's not something I'll ever do, I know that empty nesting is hard. It's a big adjustment. It's also a sign that you did a great job as a parent!

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    1. It's so weird that my hubs has become so picky! It used to be the other way around. Men, can't live with them, can't kill them...

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  5. I just ordered a selection from Reese Witherspoon's book club too. I have never ordered one before and I was a little dubious. Now I am second guessing myself. I can't even remember now what the title of the book is.

    I was sad when my kids moved out too. At the time, I had a slightly rocky relationship with my oldest, but eventually I did realize it was for the best. We now have a good relationship and we communicate often, even though he lives 2000 miles away. When it's time, it's time.

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    1. I've read a lot of Reese's book club books--some have been really good and some meh. Hopefully you picked a good one!

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  6. I love it that you read so many books. I have just finished "The Stoic Challenge" by William B. Irvine. So many good points to deal with challenges in life.
    I don't have kids but I can imagine it's tough when kids move out. Nice that he stays in touch with you! You will always have a special place in your kids' hearts! I bet you're a fun mum to have.

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    1. I like to think I'm a fun mom--we sure have had a lot of fun this year! I hope now that he's living in the city, that will continue.

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  7. My husband and I make our own dinners each night and it works out great. Much better than trying to find the slim category foods we like in common (he's a veggie-hating omnivore and I'm a vegan). It's so much better this way.

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    1. I always vowed not to make special meals for my boys when they grew up--I wanted them to eat everything and they pretty much do! I never dreamed my husband would be the picky one.

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  8. That pork in a can is scary. And, good question. Why IS it even a thing?

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  9. Awww. Lots of love to you. I know you must be so happy and proud, but also missing the heck out of him. All I can do is send huge virtual hugs.

    I don't want to know another thing about that can of pork. That can stay right on the shelf, thanks.

    I'm sorry you're husband hurt your feelings. While I'm glad you resolved it, it's a bizarre thing to complain about. I don't know if I would have been so gracious ;)

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  10. Yep, family of four with four different food preferences. There are days when I feel like just making what I want and telling everyone else to help themselves to mac and cheese. Hugs to you as you adjust to your empty nest.

    Last book that I could not put down - The Lost Girls of Paris.

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    1. I've heard about that book! I think I'll add it to my to read list.

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  11. Since You Asked, My Model Of The World Is Fabulous And Been Enjoying Those I Surround Myself With - Was Definitely Taken Back By Your Hubbies Comment Regarding ANOTHER Prepared Meal With Love - But Hey, Thats Just Me - Maybe His Stocking Stuffer Should Be Pork In A Can - You Can Giggly About That But Explain To Him How You Have ALWAYS Wanted A Tin Man Fabricated By Recycling Soup Cans

    Stay Strong
    Cheers

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    1. Your suggestion literally made me spit out my lunch! LOL! I told my hubs your suggestion and he laughed out loud.

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  12. Too healthy??? Yeah, I'd get him some Pork in a Can with JUICES and see how he liked that. Hmph. Always had an empty nest here but I can see how hard it is now some of my friends are hitting this age. Lots of love to you xx

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    1. LOLOLOL!!! Which was his reaction when I told him your (and The Padre's) response.

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  13. OMG can we start with "Pork in Juices" - what the heck?! Oh so many questions.

    Hugs to you as you adjust to the empty nest. It's great that he's ready to take this step...but so hard to miss him.

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    1. I think I'm doing ok and then I hear a song that reminds me of him....being a mom is so not easy!

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  14. I was actually going to mention that I loved the ornament in that photo, so I had to laugh to myself when you said it was the only ornament on the tree. I put up my holiday decorations last weekend but my heart really wasn't in it, so I totally understand what you mean.

    Okay so the pork in juices can just made me gag - yuck! I can't imagine what it would taste like - probably something like Spam?

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    1. I knew I had a Starbucks ornament, so the whole venture made me carry my boxes of ornaments up to the tree. I will decorate this weekend. Feeling a little more merry...

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  15. Aww, I recently moved back in with my parents and I feel like I honestly didn't realize they'd really missed me til now. (It's been over a decade since we all had a chance to eat dinner together semi-regularly as a family). I'm glad your son's doing well and hope the adjusting gets a little easier!

    Too healthy?? That'd be something I'd be happy about, haha. Props to you on the cleaning! I'm trying to declutter the house with my brother right now!

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    1. Decluttering is going to be my mantra for 2020! We've got our work cut out for us.

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  16. I'm not even sure what season of Shameless we're on...maybe 4 or 5 (?). We took a good 10-month sabbatical and I honestly did not miss it. I know it's about survival in dire circumstances (and there is a lot of humor in it), but the ongoing substance abuse is too dark for my taste. As for decorations...I've had the trees up, all decked with ribbons and lights, but the ornaments have not happened yet. Most of the other decorations are done, as is the shopping. I just got to fire up the oven and don the baker's hat...

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    1. I totally enjoyed Shameless up until probably Season 8. This new season is all about activism and it seems like every character has a crusade. It's not nearly as fun as the decadent behavior from the past. Pretty sure the series should have been over after about season 6-7.

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  17. It's so hard to get my husband to eat healthy. I'm trying to get him to watch The Game Changers but he refuses. Says he's not giving up meat...ever!
    Schitt's Creek is on my watch list and I go through phases with Shameless, haven't watched it in a while. Thanks for the heads up on the books.

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    1. I don't mind some meat. I just feel so much better eating mostly plant based. Oh well.

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  18. Amazon keeps recommending Prairie Fires to me - it just doesn't appeal. Some of the recent Kindle Firsts have been just meh.
    I'm sorry re: your melancholy. Hope he's still close enough to visit? Also cod > steak anyday

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    1. I just didn't want all the detail of Prairie Fires, I guess. And I sure didn't want to learn more about Rose. I'm sure in present times, she would have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

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  19. If you like adventure stories and tales of endurance in sports besides running, I loved Without a Paddle: Racing Twelve Hundred Miles Around Florida by Sea Kayak by Warren Richey and On Island Time: Kayaking the Caribbean by Scott B. Williams.

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    1. Thank you for the recommendations! I will definitely check them out.

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  20. I'm SO with you on the "too healthy" thing - SO frustrating, especially given how much more we know about food choices nowadays - our husbands would have some things in common! My patience is often thin. On the positive side, my adult children are way ahead of where I was in my 20s with knowledge of healthy food choices, so there's that...

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    1. My oldest isn't eating so healthy, but my youngest does. He works in a salad place on campus. Can't complain about that!

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