Thursday, October 1, 2020

Coffee Talk

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Let's catch up over coffee! It's amazing that in spite of feeling like every day is groundhog day, I have things to share with you. What are you drinking? I'm excited to have some Starbucks Komodo Dragon in my cup. With a splash of half and half and a scoop of GLG Collagen, of course. My hubs gifted me with 2 bags of Starbucks for my birthday. I know, Mr Excitement, right? I'm actually good with it. Keep reading and you'll see why. 


If we were having coffee.... I'd share that my husband and I are doing some much needed upgrades to our home. We are still hoping to someday retire at the lake, but after living here for 23 years, we've become those people on our street. You know the ones--they don't have to decorate for Halloween because their house looks haunted. Ok, maybe it's not that bad, but I think he finally took the hint after the 3rd home repair contractor rang our doorbell to tell us about their services. Guys, he's a carpenter by trade. It's like the shoemaker's children have no shoes. I'm just excited to get a new sectional and a new stove--both of which I've already ordered. I'm not an HGTV person or anything like that, but a homeowner's gotta do some maintenance....

We need one of those too

If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that I'm in a fantasy football league again with the CrosssFit group. I recruited my son to be my co-manager this year--I needed help and yeah, I'm competitive-- and the first two weeks were a bust. Our running back blew out his ACL in the first quarter of the game. You get the picture. This week, my son found a running back to replace him in the draft pool. An unknown player for New England and yep, he scored 34 points last week. Our defense showed up. We won the week! Can we repeat this? Oh wait...



If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that I have not renewed my driver's license, even though it expired on my birthday. We are fortunate to have an extension through November, so I'm not breaking the law. I loathe going to the DMV. I'd rather go to the gynecologist. What really creams my coffee is the requirement for me to take a vision test. You know what I'm talking about. That machine that I have to put my face on? As if the DMV employees are properly sanitizing it between patients. I highly doubt their machine is properly calibrated, judging by the way people drive. Why can't I just bring a note from my eye doctor? 



If we were having coffee... I'd share with you the books I've read this month. Compared to last month, the choices available from the library were limited! I've got a bunch of books on hold, so hopefully, I'll have some good ones to recommend next month.
  • Betty by Tiffany McDaniel was AMAZING. If you like books like Educated and The Glass Castle, you will love this story based on the author's mother's childhood in a dysfunctional Appalachian mixed-race family. Some parts are hard to get through--really unbelieveable-- but all I can say is wow. Loved it. 
  • The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim, by contrast, was kind of a slog. I should have DNF'd it but it got good reviews and I kept waiting for it to get better. That never happened. It wasn't a bad read, it was just meh. So many books I've read from Reese's book club have been like this for me, and it's become clear that I shouldn't choose books just because Reese recommends them!
  • The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi was available and it has gotten rave reviews by my favorite book bloggers. It's a coming of age story of a young boy in Nigeria who struggles with his identity. It also asks the question--do parents really know their children? Sigh. 

If we were having coffee...  I'd talk about the election. If you don't think your vote matters, I want to remind you that it does. I am blessed to care for many children who have emigrated to the US from war torn countries from around the world. They come to the US because, as one mom said to me this week as we talked about the debate, 'it's America and it's still great. You can be who you want to be." They come to our country to escape persecution for religious affiliation, for the color of their skin, or for speaking their minds. When I asked this very kind, caring mom, who is from Syria, what she thought about the presidential debate, she told me that in the past, Americans have always had 'good people as presidents' and we are used to it, so a lot of Americans don't vote. In her country, they don't have a voice. She said to me: "now you (Americans) know how important it is to vote".  

Don't let fear and intimidation keep you from voting. Our democracy depends on it. Do you still need to register to vote? Here's the site where you can get all the information. 

And wear your mask!!

What would you tell me over coffee? Any home projects going on at your place? Are you following football this year? Have you read any good books this month? Are you going to vote?

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




42 comments :

  1. I can barely figure out real football - fantasy would be beyond me. We've been in our house for 23ish years as well. There are definitely things that could be worked on, but we are moving in 5 years (notice how the 5 never changes???) Some day we are retiring.

    The only good thing about this crazy year is that my college freshman is learning from home, so I was able to take him to vote in his first presidential election. That was pretty cool.

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    1. That's very cool. I keep telling my sons and all my teenaged patients that they are living in a time that will be discussed in history classes forever!

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  2. OH YES YOU BETTER BELIEVE I'M VOTING!!! Thanks for putting the info out there. These days it's easy to become jaded and want to opt out of the whole thing because everything seems so terrible- but all you have to do is talk to someone who came here from a different country to be reminded that it's a privilege to be an American. There's always hope... things can get better.

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  3. Your home improvements sound exciting! My hubby and I went through a period of just being over our house, then we got the bug and spruced up EVERYTHING! Now I'm ready to downsize. Thanks for the voting inspiration. Right now, I feel like I would crawl over shards of hot broken glass to be able to vote this year. It has never been more important.

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    1. Well, the roof and driveway are not so exciting but it has to be done!

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  4. I am only a second generation American. My grandparents came from Russia, except one that was born here. To escape persecution. To escape being forced into the army. So yes, I think voting is important. Although I do plan to vote by mail this year.

    I let my car registration lapse for a while (it was also extended, so also not breaking the law), but obviously we didn't have to go to the DMV for that. Mr. Judy did take care of it a while back for me.

    We went to the DMV last fall to get real IDs. You know, for travel. Maybe 2020 actually started in 2019 for us . . .

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  5. We are also in the midst of some home improvements. We replaced our roof this week-what a huge process and mess! I just read the best book! If you like psychological thrillers, "the silent patient" is so good! I flew thru in 2 days. Thanks for joining for coffee!

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    1. I am on the waiting list for that one! Glad to hear you liked it.

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  6. I need to go get the vision test in December and I'm already stressing about it. Your mention of home improvements brings back baaaad memories. One day many years ago the Caveman took it upon himself to go order a new cooktop and wall ovens. Despite doing ALL the cooking, I was left completely out of the decision making process and let's just say he got stuff I would not have chosen in a million years. He'll never live that one down.

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    1. OMG, you feel me! Mike bought a new dishwasher this year and it is THE WORST. He's not allowed to make any decisions on his own.

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  7. We are in the same boat with Driver’s Licenses and eye tests, but Virginia isn’t extending mine so I have an appointment in a few weeks. Komodo Dragon is my favorite “flavor” of Starbucks coffee!

    I’ll echo your encouragement to vote. Even if you think your vote doesn’t matter in your state, I think people will be paying attention to the popular vote numbers as well.

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    1. I only wish that Illinois would allow us to make appointments. Nope, get in line, mooooo

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  8. The thought of going to my eye doctor freaks me out so I can imagine how you feel about a vision test at the DMV. I just got around to renewing my license - thankfully, I found out I could do it online and avoid the DMV. I'll have to go in-person at some point for the Real ID.

    And thank you for the push to get everyone to vote! It has never been more important!!

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    1. We get to renew our licenses every other cycle. Sadly, it's time for a live trip to the DMV.

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  9. Well that stinks that IL won't let you bring your eye doctor's results--KS does and I was glad for that when I last renewed my license.

    And oh yes, definitely voting.

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  10. Actually, IL has extended expired Driver's Licenses and ID Cards until Feb. 1, 2021 - so you can stay away even longer :)

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  11. I don't know if you're a fan of flavored coffee, but I just ordered some holiday flavors from Hawaii coffee. We're looking forward to trying the Eggnog blend.

    We turned our front planter project over to professionals to finish and it's been a bust! The stonework we wanted to match our house looks awful. Luckily our contractor came by and is replacing the current crew.

    I rode my bike past our local DMV this morning. The line was winding around the building about an hour before it opened. I renewed my license last year, glad that's not on my to do list right now.

    Yes, I always vote!

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    1. I guess I need to know why this treatment by the DMV is acceptable? It's like that here too. i just don't understand.

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  12. Best of luck with the home renovations! We've been doing a lot with the back/front yards lately but I thinkk it's finally looking okay/winding down now.

    I really hate going to the DMV too--it's usually a terrible time (except when I went to one while I was in West Virginia! Empty + super quick/efficient service and everyone was friendly. I thought I'd stepped into another world, haha).

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  13. I love that you're in a FFL this year with your son! I usually do one every year but I just wasn't feeling it this year and I knew I wouldn't make time to dedicate to it.

    YES - So important for everyone to exercise their right to vote in this election. Sitting out is really not an option!

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    1. I'm glad I had the option to add him as a co-manager. I don't know a lot of the players this year, so he's been invaluable! Plus it's fun!

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  14. I think I am due for a trip to the DMV soon as well. Ugh. I got my ballot in the mail yesterday!

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  15. Home renovations are on our list. Not that our original 1960's kitchen isn't charming in its own way but it's time to move on. I got my license renewed back in June and they really did a speeded up process so fingers crossed that Illinois is doing the same. The vision machine was in the lobby so that you couldn't even go in the building if you didn't pass your test. And yes they sanitized it between people. My vision is right on the edge of needing glasses so each time I renew I always fear that I am going to get sent to the eye doctor before I can get my license. Betty is going on my TBR list right away. I loved the Glass Castle (though I despised the movie) and Educated.

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    1. Let me know what you think about Betty! I absolutely loved it.

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  16. We've got a week off and are having an extra radiator fitted wheeee and mucking out two rooms in the house so I get a sitting room that's separate from husband working from home and an exercise room. The first room is almost there, save for a roll of chicken wire. I feel we might be Those People,too!

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  17. That Syrian mom's words were so, so wise... she summed it up perfectly. Hell to the yes, I'm going to vote. I got my mail-in ballot and will submit it as soon as the drop box nearest me opens up.

    Definitely following football - it's one of the few "still normal" things (well, it's weird in that there are no fans, but it's pretty much the same watching it on TV). Go Saints, I'm from New Orleans!!

    And I am reading a GREAT book about refugees coming to the U.S., relevant to your patients. It's called "The Newcomers" about refugee kids who just got here, dumped into a classroom to learn English (with a fantastic teacher). It's so, so good and the personal stories are really engaging.

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    1. We don't get to see much football because we don't have cable, lol! I can stream the games on Yahoo, tho.

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  18. Yay for home renovations! I know you've wanted this for a long time - you'll be so happy with the changes, I just know it. :)

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  19. Please share before and after pics of your home reno projects! We did some updates in our kitchen a few years back, and this past week we had some contractors come to talk about an expansion. I'm so excited because I could use to more storage space! ( or perhaps I should just purge things...haha) Thanks for linking up with us and have a great weekend!

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    1. It's like pulling teeth to get him to call the contractors...so don't hold your breath, lol

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  20. Thankfully our renovs are in the past. We did an extensive remodel almost 10 years ago, which stirred up all kinds of allergies I didn't know existed, like dry wall dust (sinus and skin). We just need to de-clutter and purge...

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  21. Hey Wendy! I live in the southeast, so I follow college football! As a matter of fact, my undergrad alma mater (Auburn University) is playing my graduate alma mater (University of GA) today! I am planning my evening around that game! I think I am a "fall" cleaner more than a spring one. I decided to do the laundry stripping I have been seeing on Instagram. Started today with towels, and I am actually kind of interested in just how gross the water will be after I do my workout clothes LOL! I read Austin Channing Brown's book: I'm Still Here. It was really good and not a super long read! As for voting, HELL TO THE YES I am voting! As a Black woman, my life may *actually* depend on it!

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    1. Seriously!!! I loved I'm Still Here. Such a good read and very real world. We are more NFL fans here but for sure we love our Wisconsin Badgers. But when they returned to practice 42 of them tested positive for COVID. Stay safe and thanks for reading, my friend!

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