Thursday, June 2, 2022

Coffee Talk

Let's catch up over coffee! What are you having? I've got my usual Dunkin' with a scoop of GLG collagen and a splash of half and half. We tried to buy some Colectivo last weekend in Madison but the line was too long. Sigh...

What would you tell me over coffee?

If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that a few weeks ago, I got my 2d covid booster. I was well overdue, but I was dragging my feet on getting it. I had a strong reaction after my 1st booster, so I was dreading this one. Yes, I did have another 24 hours of yuck after getting booster #2, but I took tylenol and was able to go to work. While there are no guarantees that I won't get Covid, all signs indicate that being boosted prevents complications and long-Covid. Since I'm exposed frequently at work, it was the right thing to do.

Sure, why not? And yes, I see the typo

If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that while we were in Alabama for the wedding, Cocoa stayed in Madison with my youngest. When he was at work, his girlfriend took care of her. It sounds like she had a good time there and seemed fine when we got home. She was very happy to see us, though!

On the Memorial Union Terrace, wearing her Badgers jersey

If we were having coffee, I'd tell you to never use Booking.com to make travel reservations. When we arrived at our hotel in Birmingham, there was no record of our reservation. I called Booking.com and was told that they would send an email to the hotel and I'd have to wait until they heard back. Umm, no...I put the guy on speaker so he could speak to the hotel manager. Long story short, the rep had no idea what to do and I had to book another room through the hotel and am still waiting to get my money back from Booking.com. I've filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (along with thousands of others) and filed a dispute with my credit card. The rep there told me I was the second person to do so that day. The worst thing about all of this is that I didn't realize I was booking the room through them--their website masquerades as the hotel! How this is allowed, I have no idea. Anyways, stay tuned...


If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that on the advice of my husband, I put my large pots of succulents outside a few weeks ago. I was concerned about that early heat wave that we had, but he assured me they'd be fine. I should have listened to my gut because they were NOT fine. They are still alive, but they are looking a little stressed. They all dropped leaves and are drooping. Kind of a metaphor for how we are all feeling right now, lol. Here's to hoping my succulents and all of us are feeling stronger in the days ahead.

My sad succulents

If we were having coffee, I'd ask you if you have seen Maverick, the sequel to Top Gun. The hubs rarely wants to go to the movies, but we're going on Monday to the local IMAX to see it. I'm so excited. I've heard that it's so good. 

What would you tell me over coffee? Covid boosters anyone? Have you ever used Booking.com to make a reservation? Any advice for my poor succulents? Have you seen Maverick?

I'm linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date and with the ladies of Fit Five Friday:  DarleneMichelleReneeJenn, and Zenaida.




34 comments :

  1. Ugh that stinks about Booking.com! It crazy that they could pretend to be the hotel site - I hope you're able to get you money back without too much hassle. Enjoy the Top Gun movie! I've heard great things and can't wait to see it.

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    1. It's really a joke how they fool you into thinking that you are booking with the hotel. Beware!

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  2. Yikes on Booking.com. That is SO wrong. Thank heavens you were able to get another room! Glad Cocoa enjoyed her overnighter. Who wouldn't love a college town? Haha!

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  3. Oops, that's an ugly story with Booking.com. I use them quite often and up until now things have gone well.

    Once, though, I booked 2 rooms for 5 nights on the wrong date. When we got there, we had to cancel the original reservation and I was told by the website that I would have to pay the full bill (USD 2'000.-) for cancelling short-term. I nearly freaked out, but Booking.com fortunately could resolve it. Phew.

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  4. Oh, the poor succulent babies! The quick heat wave took all of us by surprise, but now that June is here it seems like the "summer" weather has stabilized (I just wish the wind would mellow a bit). I'm holding off on booster #2...I had terrible reactions to the previous ones, all of them.

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  5. No, i've never used Booking.com and I'll be sure not to! That's really infuriating. I'm glad the hotel was able to accommodate you- what if they had been fully booked?
    On the (possibly dubious) advice of my doctor, I have not gotten any Covid boosters. She told me that after getting the two original shots, and then getting Covid, my body has everything it needs to fight it if I get infected again. Since I had a reaction to the first two shots, I'm happy to take her advice- but I will just be checking in with her again over the summer to see if she's changed her mind. Your situation is different from mine though, so I think it's good that you got them.

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  6. I love your Cocoa pics! We really struggle with dog care for ours so we do not go out of town together often. Our last paid pet sitter was awful so we are back to square one in the search. So great to have family that is good to puppy care!

    On Memorial Day we went to the movies (rare for us too) but regular screen for Top Gun Maverick. We both really enjoyed it, well worth going. But I do have to say I really get motion sick so I could not see this movie at the IMAX! lol

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    1. I'm glad to hear that you liked Maverick! i'm looking forward to seeing it!

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  7. I got my booster shot in December so I think I am overdue for a second booster shot.

    Yikes! Thanks for the heads up about booking.com. I didn't even know their website existed, but I will be very careful booking any travel moving forward.

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    1. I'm seeing a ton of Covid in clinic, so I'm really glad I got the booster!

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  8. Right there w you on getting all the vaccines-thankfully I have not had any reaction at all to any of the 4. But seriously, did we need the monkey pox?! I have not ever used a booking service and now I don't think I would! Hope you get that straightened out. thanks for linking!

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  9. We are just now eligible for our second booster but haven't scheduled it yet. Our succulents live outside year round and are happiest in the heat. I'm sure it was just a shock for yours. We currently have Filipino coffee in our rotation - straight from a friend's farm on Mindanao. Some of the best coffee I've ever tasted!

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  10. I've used booking.com quite a lot but always feel a bit nervous about it. When we have had any sort of query they have always sorted it out quickly (sometimes there is a clunky system to get in touch with the owners or managers of flats we've stayed in).

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  11. I am skeptical of all those aggregating websites. Sorry you had a bad experience though. I need to get my second booster -- probably should have done that before my upcoming flights. I'll sit on a plane, but am not sure I can sit in a movie theater yet...

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  12. Thanks for the tip about booking.com & so sorry you had to deal with that. I was writing about wanting to see Top Gun Maverick in next Tuesday's post, LOL -- but we'll probably wait til it's been around a bit longer. If I can even convince my husband to go.

    You're very lucky to have someone to take care of Cocoa! The pet sitting has always been a challenge, and now of course they have all raised their rates. I get it, but it's expensive!

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    1. We have another out of town wedding in August but it looks like we will have to board Cocoa. Ugh.

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  13. I have not used Booking.com and thanks for the warning not to use it!

    It's funny you mention your husband wanting to go see Maverick. We never go to the movies and we both said that we want to see it. We plan to rewatch the original Top Gun again first, though.

    I chuckled and though of Deborah's comment when I saw your meme about the small cup of coffee.

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  14. I had a massive fight with booking and will never ever use them again to reserve a hotel room. I was able to get my money back from American Express even though they said booking had to refund me. They never did so Amex said "cool, we'll give you your money back, you've waited long enough".

    I don't have a 2nd booster yet. Here in NL it's like covid never happened so they just stopped offering boosters as well.

    while I am happy that people are enjoying the Top Gun movie, it's not for me. I have a real issue with Tom Cruise, though I have to say the way current celebrities behave, Tom Cruise is starting to look ok again to me...

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  15. TOP GUN MAVERICK IS SO GOOD GO SEE IT IMMEDIATELY! Ok.
    I need my second booster. A needs his first. He's about due (we had to delay his shots a little due to some heart issues when he was born).

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  16. I'm glad you got the second one! I've been trying to get my parents to go get it but they haven't yet (I think they're planning to soon though, so there's that!).

    I hope your succulents perk back up soon! I wish I had advice but...I feel my plants thrive best when I neglect them and that's probably not what your succulents need right now, haha ._.

    I haven't seen Maverick yet but I've only heard good things so far, so I hope you have fun! :]

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  17. I just watched the original Top Gun and was not impressed with it. Would it have been better if I had seen it when it first came out? I've also heard that Maverick is good! That sucks about Booking.com and hopefully you'll get your money back.

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    1. I think you would have liked it better back in the day. Yes, the dialogue is cheesy but the movie was pretty entertaining.

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