28 Days Part Two

Winter isn't my finest time to begin with, given that S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) compounds my long term battle with depression. Add in some feeling pudgy and sluggish and you've got a major black cloud hanging over you.

So.. with the arrival of spring and thoughts of cute summer tops and capri's to wear, I went into a little bit of panic mode when I discovered the change in my body (thanks post-menopause) over the winter months meant those cute clothes just didn't fit right anymore. I knew I had to do something.

A few days later in a conversation with my daughter-in-law, she mentioned a diet that several ladies she knew were following. She said they were eating all the time and losing weight. But she said it was super strict, in that there were lots of things prohibited on the eating plan. Still, they were losing and liking it. I was intrigued and later that day I googled the title and did some research on the diet.

The Fast Metabolism Diet was the name of the book and author Haylie Pomroy assured readers that they could lose up to 20# in just 4 weeks through the fat burning power of food. I didn't feel I needed to lose that much but so much of what she wrote about resonated with me because of my prior days of owning my own fitness center. We taught a weight management program at Curves that espoused ways to raise your metabolism so you'd lose the weight and keep it off. (That eating plan didn't work so well for me once I realized I was wheat/ gluten --and to some degree, dairy- sensitive). I realized just a few chapters into the book that the main problem for me was that the restrictive calorie intake had messed big time with my metabolism. I also wasn't eating enough of the right kinds of foods and I needed some help to get me back on track.

Now, you might think I'd know how to eat right but I'll admit right now, in the last few years I've gotten lazy in the kitchen. My cooking had gotten into a rut and I'd been going for fast, easy and cheap when it came to food purchases and prep. And because I am wheat/gluten and semi-dairy sensitive, it's a challenge to find food I can eat sometimes. I needed a meal map to point me in the right direction. Fortunately The Fast Metabolism Diet was full of maps and pointers. A kind of GPS for my tummy!

The diet is strict: NO wheat, corn, soy, dairy, sugar, artificial sweeteners, fruit juice, alcohol and, (the biggest one for me) NO COFFEE!! (I almost said "I can't do this" when I read that part. In fact I negotiated with myself thinking I could give up all of it but the coffee but once I finished the book I decided if I was going to commit to doing this, I needed to commit fully and give it my all)
And that's what  I did. I began to wean myself off the caffeine. I sat down and wrote out a meal map of my own, using some of the books recipes and suggestions, substituting some foods with ones I liked better (but that were still on the approved foods list) I prepared a shopping list. Best of all, my husband said he wanted to do this with me!

While the diet is strict, and with that list, you think "well, what's left to eat?" but honestly, I've never eaten better! Fresh fruit, veggies by the bushel full, lean meats--organic and nitrate free whenever possible, healthy fats like almonds and cashews, hummus and  avocados. Yes, I've missed my coffee and cream but it's not for forever. It's 28 days of eating strategically, designed to light your metabolism on fire! I've not felt deprived or starving and when I'm hungry it's because it's time to eat not because I've had to skip a meal to try and justify calorie intake.

 I feel better than I have in years! I have energy and stamina. My digestive issues have settled down to almost nothing. I've had only one bad day of fibromyalgia symptoms and I know it was related to snacking on some questionable food items at a party. I've lost inches all over and definitely seen a reduction in that troublesome tummy area! And weight loss? As of this morning I've dropped 10 lbs and am at the lowest weight I've been since... I can't remember when! (hubby reports he's lost about 5 lbs and definitely feels better and really loves and appreciates the wholesome goodness of the meals)

Bottom line is... it works.

coming next.... What follows 28? 

December Baby

Sunday. Coffee in front of a crackling fire. Music (not Christmas) playing softly on the iPod. Blanket tucked around my legs, a cat balanced precariously between my lap and the arm of my chair, hoping to overtake the position my laptop occupies. The house is quiet; hubby just left for early church. And I am staying home this morning, hoping to recoup what I lost during the night: a solid nights rest!

Maybe the frigid temps of the past several days have caught up with me. Walking around all tensed up in an effort to keep warm, wreaks havoc on the muscles. Accidently-on-purpose ingesting some foods with suspect gluten in them (darn those tempting holiday treats!)  certainly adds to the problem for it does not take much (gluten) to inflame my body and bring on a dreaded fibro-like attack. So this morning I sit in my chair by the fire and try to just rest and relax. I cannot let these aches get the best of me. For this, this Sunday marks the one week countdown to my birthday and I intend to celebrate ALL WEEK LONG.

I told my friend a few weeks ago as we began planning for my birthday party, that truly I am not 'turning' 55. Rather I celebrate reaching the end of my 55th year. Think about it. When we reach our first birthday, we are celebrating our very first year of living outside of mama's womb. Each year we are living out the birthday number that is to come. So in that aspect, I have been living out my 55th year since my birthday last year! I know, I know, that's just too deep to comprehend this early in the morning. We'll need more coffee.


So, yes, I am beginning the celebrating of my upcoming day, today! Why not? Why not have more than one day to be joyous, to play, to have fun? We do the whole countdown to Christmas and build anticipation with each snip of the construction paper chain, each opening of the Advent Calendar window. Blame it on being a December baby, who sometimes felt cheated out of the focal point of her birthday by a jolly fat man in a red suit, but I really want to have some fun with my birthday this year. Hence, the celebrating beginning today, the birthday party at the end of this week and then, next Sunday, special plans on my special day, with my special man.

I have a date with my sister for this afternoon. She is treating me (and herself, truth be told) to a production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" playing at a local theater. We are excited. I have a fond recollection of this play, as eons ago, when I was a youth group leader, I cajoled 20 some teens and pre-teens, along with a handful of adults from our congregation to put on this same play for our church one Christmas. It was a crazy huge undertaking and I shake my head with wonder at the thought. There I was, this 30-something mother, with 20% organizational skills, and 80% spunk, pulling off a most ambitious production! But, pull it off, we did and it will be fun to sit in the audience and watch this play now. I am curious to see just how much of it I will remember!

Other plans for this week include some SELF PAMPERING. A hair appointment, shopping for something to wear to my party, a massage, maybe a mani-pedi, and certainly at least a couple of coffee dates with some sweet friends are all marked on my calendar for this week.

Yep,I will be living it up!

A Walk, A Talk and A Good Cup of Coffee

Yesterday was the first day I believed Spring was here.

Hubby and I headed into town to visit one of our favorite coffee house locations but it was just too perfect of a day to sit inside and drink our beverages. We took ours to-go and headed down the road in search of the trail head that would take us along the water front from downtown to one of our favorite little parks.

It was about a 2 mile trek one way and the sun was glistening over the bay as we walked.

 We had much to talk about as we traversed. We'd met that morning after church with our pastor and his wife and another couple we love and respect to talk about hubby's upcoming mission trip and the impact it has had on our lives of late. I may be in a much different place than I was a month ago but I find I am still wrestling with feeling unsettled and emotional. Having our church family supporting us with their prayers and words of wisdom and encouragement means so very very much. We were both glad to have had the time to talk with them, listen to their good words and take some suggestions with us to mull over.

It was a near perfect day. 

Orientation: DONE!

And we're home again!

No matter where I may roam and no matter what our adventures may be, there is nothing like coming home. Even if the cat has left several little deposits of 'barf' for me and the house is cold and there is all this unpacking to do.... even still, it's just good to be HOME.

It was another long day, but at least I slept better last night so that when the alarm went off at 5 it didn't make me cringe. Actually I woke up about 5 minutes BEFORE the alarm went off and laid there appreciatively until I needed to disarm it. As the day before I needed to be at Orientation by 7 and as the day before my sweet chauffeur drove me. (He was feeling better this morning, thank you Jesus for healing touches!!)

I was struggling to keep my eyes focused by lunch break and again, there was no coffee to be found. Someone mentioned a cafeteria that had vending machines so I set off in search of this oasis. Alas, the vending machine that dispensed coffee was out of order! And I was feeling too chilly to choose a coke. I decided to walk the perimeter of the inside of the processing plant.

the large photo shows a man riding one of those tricycles with a large basket on it. I want one of those!

I don't know how to convey how large this place is but it took me 20 minutes to walk the perimeter of JUST ONE ROOM. We are talking HUGE!

As I finished my round I spied another 'break room' and dashed in to see if this one had a coffee vendor. It did and the selections looked fantastic! I gently fed it my crinkled dollar and pushed the selection for French Vanilla Latte. I heard the gurgle and then watched in heartbreaking dismay as the hot golden liquid was dispensed...... right down the drain!! Yes, the COFFEE was working but there were NO CUPS!!! Can you believe it?? I nearly wept.

But not to be undone by this misfortune I trudged back upstairs to the conference room where our orientation was being held. I could do this. I sent an S.O.S. text to Bruce who was going to be checking out of the motel soon and had plans to hole up at the nearby Starbucks until it was time to pick me up. I wanted him to be sure and bring me a coffee! About an hour later I received a reply from him that he had been at Starbucks, until it lost Power and everyone was asked to leave. So now he was sitting in the car in the parking lot outside the Postal Processing and Distribution Center. What could I do but laugh at this news?

You know, it really is a choice we can make about how we handle frustrations or challenges. As I sat with my table group this afternoon we were given several different scenarios to discuss and problem solve.One of those scenarios had to do with waiting in a long line at the post office. Another was about mail being delivered to the wrong address. We were to look at this from both a customers point of view and a postal employees point of view.  I was amazed with the sense of entitlement that many of my classmates had. There was a real sense of anger and hostility from several of them over having to wait in line for more than 5 minutes for service. There was even more anger conveyed over being a resident who didn't get her mail on time. I listened for a long time before I spoke up and said (in response to the wait time) "I think a lot of life is about waiting." One of the women at my table gave me the stink-eye over my comment but another woman sort of nodded in a contemplative way as if to say "you are right, and maybe we shouldn't get so uptight about it." I thought but did not say, in response to the lost mail complaint, that we could all learn a lesson in offering grace to ourselves and to others. After all, we are humans and humans make mistakes. I intend to do my best to not make mistakes in my new job but I know how easy it will be to transpose some numbers in an address and put a letter in the wrong box. I won't be doing it on purpose and I hope if someones mail is delayed a day because of that mistake, they will offer me a little extra grace.

I hope I will do the same for those who might step on my toes from time to time...

I am grateful to be done with orientation and looking forward to actually starting training and work at my little post office next week.

And grateful for my sweet hubby who took me to a different Starbucks after he picked me and bought me a yummy Cinnamon Dolce to celebrate my completion. And again, I am grateful to be.... HOME.

A Cup of Joy

all the way to Seattle....

Despite the burly rainstorm we drove through to get here, and despite both of  us lacking a good nights sleep, I woke up this morning feeling comforted with the very real presence of the Holy Spirit and I knew I was going to get through the day just fine.

bright eyed and bushy tail at 6am

Despite the walls being thin  and thinking our neighbors were really elephants-- or perhaps were playing a rousing game of lawn bowling, and despite thinking that a fierce windstorm was raging outside, only to discover how really close to the freeway this motel is located as being the source of the sound of wind, life can't be too bad when you drink your morning joe in a cup like this.

seriously, why don't I have a mug with this label on it??

Orientation was pretty much both what I expected and what I never imagined.

I expected to feel a little overwhelmed by outside stimulation (people, noises, new surroundings) but I never imagined they'd want to take my picture first thing upon entering the building. Oh yah, I can't wait to see my new employee ID Badge after I have run across the parking lot in the driving rain and wind and am still drip-drying in the lobby of the office where I have reported!

I expected to have to fill out more paperwork and be shuffled to a room with all the other new hires but I never imaged we'd spend the first 35 minutes watching an old Abbott and Costello DVD while we waited for the rest of the class (stuck in traffic due to the high volume of wind and rains on the freeway) to arrive.
I'm not kidding. One of our trainers popped in the DVD, reminded us we were getting paid even as we waited and encouraged us to relax and enjoy the time! Too funny!!

I expected that orientation would be an employee handbook and lots of power points, much talk about conduct and legalities, attendance, safety and performance. I never imagined that my instructor would speak with such an accent that I would think he said he was hired to be a Christmas Casserole... something he repeated about a dozen times before I finally understood he was actually saying 'casual' not casserole.... casual is in temp. labor for the holiday mail, not something crunchy and fattening made with Campbells soup.... not that I really thought he was hired to BE a casserole for Christmas but after watching A&C for a half an hour, I really didn't know what to make of this!!

The postal distribution center is Ginormous. It's the largest one on the state. I only got to glimpse a small portion as we walked across it to the training room. there are conveyor belts and little trains hauling boxes and boxes of mail.... there are people riding those adult tricycles with big baskets on them with more mail. It is quite a sight to see and hopefully we will get to see more maybe tomorrow.

I met a woman in the class whose name I cannot pronounce nor can I spell but it is a very very long name and I am not sure of her nationality nor the language but I did learn her name means '70 times 7" any guesses where that name came from? I am quite fascinated with this and would like to have asked her more questions but I will have to figure out a way to do it without making her feel uncomfortable. Although I suspect she must get asked questions a lot about her name. It has about 28 letters in it and even though she said it 3 times i can't wrap my tongue around it.

Finally, after training Bruce and I stopped at a little corner store for coffee filters and my eyes fell on some books the proprieter had on his counter.... all of them had great titles and I recognized at least 3 books by Lee Stroble. (The Case for Christ among other book titles) He recommended I take a closer look at one book entitled "When A Nation Forgets God" by Erwin W. Lutzer. 7 lessons we must learn from Nazi Germany. I was interested and contemplated buying it but lacked the $8.99. I said I would have to come back. He put it in my hands and said "I trust you. Take it, read it, have your husband read it. You can bring me the money later"
So.... We have a new book to investigate. Anyone heard of this book?

I am pretty wiped out from my adventerous day, Bruce is wiped out from day 7 of this bad cold and he has crawled back into bed to sleep. I have a dinner date with our niece who is coming by after work to pick me up-- we'll see if hubby is up for it.
Quite a full day for a Monday.
Quite a full cup. Of Joy.

Date Night

We don't get to go on very many 'real' dates. Either we don't have the funds for it or hubby is working hard and working late and we don't have time for it. We make 'dates' out of the mundane; those trips to the dump,  the hardware store, or whatever errand running we've got on the list. So when we are able to separate the 'things to do' from just relaxing and being a couple in love, oh what a joy!

Last night was one of those rare occasions. Made even rarer since it was A. not an anniversary or a birthday. B. A dark and rainy Friday night and C. hubby got home LATE and I was sure the last thing he would want to do after working hard all day (all week) with a meeting almost every night this past week, would be to turn around and go to town for a cup of coffee and a heart talk.

So kudos to my man for sucking it up and insisting we were still going out. We spent a cozy couple of hours nestled in a buttery leather couch, with our drinks (velvety smooth London Fog for me, kickbutt chocolate Mudslide for him) and without any interruptions, except people watching, we got caught up with one another.

It's been an intense week and I hope to be able to write about it in a few days in a way that helps others, but for now, let's just say that there was a lot of hurt going on in the hearts of many people we care deeply about and it burdened us greatly. There was much prayer and mini conversations happening which was a good thing and while it has not been totally resolved, there have been forward steps taken and the seeds for reconciliation planted. It was good to be able to sit together and reflect over the events of the week the way we did last night. It was a great little date with my honey.

Today, Saturday, is my sister Anita's birthday. She is 5 years older than me and is my closest friend after my husband. we are separated by the miles (she lives in S. CA) but thankfully we have email, facebook, skype and the blogworld to stay connected. Oh, and phones. LOL. Yesterday I called her and told her I thought I'd use an old fashioned device to update her on some things. funny how easy texting and email and instant messaging has replaced those face to face or ear to ear conversations!

Anyway, in honor of my sister's birthday, she is throwing a party over on her blog AniLouMinary. You are invited to drop in and enjoy a slice of joy with her. (You can wear a party hat if you like but it's not required.)

One last thing.... it's time to FALL BACK tonight. Happy weekend everyone!

Let's Meet for Coffee

coffee.... part of the fabric of our lives...

maybe that sounds kind of cheezy but I'm a cheezy kind of girl. I'm not trying to sell anything but today with all its gray liquid drizzling down and the fireplace blazing orange flames and cushy socks on my feet and a steaming hot cup of cinnamon laced coffee at my side, I just feel like writing about my favorite beverage. 

I grew up drinking coffee. As a very young girl, growing up on a dairy farm, my job was to bring the cows in from the field to be milked. Early every morning my daddy made me a large mug of coffee… O.K. it was mostly cream and sugar with a splash of coffee in it, (the original latte) but it made me feel important, grown up and most of all, loved.

One of the first dates with my hubby was at a little coffee house in Fairhaven where I introduced him to mochas. (He'd not been a coffee drinker before that and now he's quite hooked.) Some of our favorite dates take place in coffee houses, where we'll sink gratefully into the buttery softness of the leather chairs in front of the gas fireplace, steaming beverage in our hands, where we will ild away the hours, waxing poetic as we watch people come and go. 

A road trip isn't a road trip without a stop at a coffee stand to start us out.(and keep us going) A trip to the dump isn't complete without getting an espresso reward somewhere along the way. If you have been following my blog for any amount of time you probably know that just about every morning my hubby has coffee made and waiting for me when I finally roll out of bed. I tell him it's what keeps me in love with him and I'm not really joking! ;)  (OK >> I love him regardless but it's that sweet little act of service that endears him to me. coffee, the language of love, who knew?) 


I love the aroma, the feel of the mug in my hands and the conversations that take place because someone says, “Let’s meet for coffee.” It's the common denominator in the beginning when you are just starting to get to know someone , it's the standard MO when you've been friends a long time and it's the gesture that says "I want to spend some time with you" when offered. 

Who would you like to extend the hand of friendship to today? Ask someone to coffee. And watch the relationship develop over a cup. 

Sunday Outing

Hubby & I had a DATE today!!! 

(And it wasn't to the dump!! whoo hoo!!)

Art in the Park was happening in a nearby town... 

a friend of mine was there with her husband 

showing some of his fantastic moving art-- 

he is a kinetic storyteller! It's fun, it's innovative and very original! 

American Automata is the name of his business. Check it out! 

After touring the Art Work we continued the journey through the sunshine by walking up river to this sweet little park, aptly named Riverside Park. 

 these concrete pillars have some cool stuff embedded in them. 

 of course, I'm a sucker for any kind of water feature.

 the Mighty Nooksack River looking North

 looking the other direction.... 

this river causes a lot of heartache in flood season.....

and.....

courtesy of the awesome PicMonkey site... a fun collage!

We finished out the date with coffee at Wood's. 

Pumpkin Latte for me, Salted Caramel Mocha for the big guy.

much talking ensued ~ connections of the mind & heart.

 thanks for the date honey. It really *perked* me up!!

and the coffee grows cold

I can't drink it.

This is the saddest post ever I am sure but for several days in a row, a strange thing has occurred. I can't drink my coffee. I am plagued with heartburn, which was brought on by the prescribed prednisone, which was needed to counter-act the hives that broke out as a reaction to the ant bites. I am living off of tums, yogurt and acid reducing medication. Just the smell of coffee starts twisting my gut right now. And itching? Oh yes, still, after more than 2 weeks, the little bite marks on my foot and ankle are still making me insane!! the hives are gone, thank God, but I still itch where the original bites took place. So I am still ingesting Benadryl on a regular basis and applying topical anti-itch cream.

And then my toilet broke.

It's Robyn and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

But, and I mean this, I will NOT let the enemy steal my JOY. I am a Child of God and the enemy cannot touch me.

It is comforting to know that JOY comes from a place that has nothing to do with circumstances. Happiness might, but JOY comes from a deeper well, a well that is filled by the Spirit of the Living God.


I found this verse this morning (with my own paraphasing added.....) in Romans 14:17:

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,(coffee)  but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

So, I will persevere. This allergic reaction will eventually subside. The toilet will eventually get fixed. and hopefully, soon, the *joy* that I usually experience over my morning cup of java, will return. 

meanwhile.... my cup of coffee sits untouched and I need more tums. 

A Cup of Joe

I promised a post about the coffee situation in the south. Here's what we learned: We, in the Pacific NorthWest, are fanatic about our coffee. Coffee Connoisseurs, Coffee Snobs, whatever you want to call us, we love our coffee! In the southern states, however, it's Sweet Tea. Sweetea like it's one word and sweet tea as in if you order tea it will be cold and it will be sweet, unless you say otherwise. And if you did order it otherwise you might get a funny look.

the first morning in our motel room we tried drinking the coffee provided, made in our little in room coffee pot, adding the hard caked powdered creamer to the incredible vile smelling brew. One sip and I was spewing. It was TRULY awful!!! We already had planned a little trip to the grocery store to stock up some breakfast items for our room, so REAL coffee and cream went on the list. We stopped at the motel reception area before we left to see if the coffee there was any more palatable. It was not.  We shuddered and drove on to the market.

quintessential vacation shot. 

Several times during our stay in Pensacola, in the midst of a mid-afternoon slump,  we thought about-- even ached for-- an icy mocha or a frappachino. We searched for any kind of espresso stand or coffee house.... Not to be found. Waffle Houses, yes. Starbucks, no. At the Winn-Dixie we searched for iced coffee in the coolers. Pepsi products, including always, iced tea, were plenty. But we were not very successful in locating any iced coffee drinks.

Until one day on the way home from the beach, we stopped at a Winn-Dixies near Perdido Keys, and I found a 4 pack of Starbucks Frappichino on the shelves. Oh, happy day!! And then in the cooler, already chilled and waiting for our thirsty consumption, were single sized bottles!! I danced all the way to the check out.

stocked up the fridge!

We finally spotted a Starbucks on our next to the last day in town, when we headed to Pensacola Beach. There in a trendy strip mall in Gulf Breeze, we saw the familiar green and white sign. We didn't stop but I did shriek a little at the sight! 

I did develop a taste for Sweet Tea while there. It's good. It's sweet, oh my yes, but it's refreshing. Still, if I'm going for a caffeine fix, give me coffee. Please.

good to the last drop. Aaaaaahhhhhhhh......

What Are They Selling?

We were on our way, trailer in tow, excited to be escaping for a couple of days. Time together, alone, away from phones and internet and doorbells, to reconnect and share. We didn't care if it was raining or blowing; we were just happy to be together.

Hwy 20 heading West... as always the road trip calls for The Coffee Stop. Espresso to go, tall, double, mocha, whipped..... latte-land here we come!

And we passed at least 3 or 4 because pulling a trailer means calculated stops; room to turn around or pull through easily.... and so we traveled on, thirstily eye-balling each approaching roadside coffee stand.... and then I saw a sign.... espresso stand....1/4 of a mile. We're ready for this one! Lots of room for pulling off...

the sign on the building showed a special that had me salivating; pumpkin pie latte. Yes please! Bruce pulled up to the window as I rooted in my purse for the wallet. I couldn't see her but I heard the perky voice of the barista as my hand connected with what I sought. I righted myself and saw my husband looking at me a little oddly. "Pumpkin Pie Latte with Soy" I told him but he looked back towards his window and I heard him say "Uhhhh" then quickly look back at me.

"Pumpkin Pie-- " I began to repeat myself but the look on his face told me he was not confused by my request. Something else was up. Before I could get it figured out however, Bruce looked back at the barista and said "We've changed our mind. We don't want anything here."

A suspicion formed in my mind as he put the truck in gear.  I leaned forward and caught the rear end of why we didn't want anything. Literally, caught her rear end. As in, bikini-clad-barely-there. No wonder my poor sweet husband looked so uncomfortable.

Oh. My. Word. I said quietly as he pulled back onto the highway. We drove away without speaking, each trying to formulate our thoughts to share our indignation in appropriate ways.

What kind of a person operates a business that makes showcasing young girls bodies the premium service they offer? What kind of girls want a job like that?

I am befuddled by the bikini barista business although I know they have been around for a few years now. I find the whole thing demeaning and I can't understand the mentality that drives the young women to take a job like this. Does she really enjoy working in her barely there costume? Knowing her wardrobe is the reason for her customer base? Are the tips she receives for showing such 'excellent service' all that much different from the money earned by strip club dancers and the like? Isn't she selling a little something more than just a beverage ?

it's a troublesome world we live in. Sad. I feel sad for the young ladies who take a job like this.

We drove on, stopping finally at a Starbucks. We know what we'll get when we shop there.

Blissfully Blissful

sleeping in, side by side
sunshine streaming, pierces eyes
snuggling deeper under the quilt
if we linger there is no guilt


tangled sheets, tousled hair
still we manage debonair
sleepy eyes, hint of teasing
morning kisses, oh how pleasing


whiff of coffee, tantalizing
padding barefoot, hand out reaching
quiet house, a little chilly
back in bed, blissful tranquility

 

Like An Old Denim Shirt

"Saturdays should be like an old denim shirt." I said this morning to Bruce as we sat on our front porch sipping coffee in the sunshine.

(Except he thought I said "...like an old Deming shirt." and was trying to figure out which of his shirts looked like our little town of Deming.)

But really. I have an old denim shirt and it's awesome! It's large enough to hang loose. It's soft from many washings. It's light weight and easy to wear. I don't have to worry about spills because it already has paint stains in a couple of places. I can roll up the sleeves and get to work if I need to. It will fit over other clothing. It is comfortable and comforting. It's the perfect Saturday shirt and it is a perfect example of what Saturdays should be like.

So today, I put my old denim shirt over my P.J.'s and basked in the morning sun as I sipped my special brew and chatted with my sweetie about our plans for this day. I love Saturdays and all they are intended to be. A day to catch up on sleep. A day to enjoy a second cup of coffee without feeling rushed or guilty. Time for contemplation. No hurries, no worries. Pancakes with fresh strawberries for breakfast. A dump date* with my sweetie!  I think I'll wear my old denim shirt.

* dump date: a day where we take a load of garbage to the dump. it may not sound romantic but it's a measure of uninterrupted time together that always seems to spark deep conversations. Maybe it's the subconscious thought of hauling away the old junk to make room for fresh and new that causes the reflective conversations. Whatever the case, we have a lot of fun doing it.

Rainy Days and Mondays

What about Rainy Mondays? And a day that starts with no water? Well, there was water-- my sweetie got his shower and we did get coffee and I was just thinking I should get in the shower because I knew yesterday that there was a leak in the town's water pipes and we lost water for 4 hours on Sunday while they worked to repair it (and our local guys deserve a standing ovation for what they do to keep our little town supplied with clean safe water-- they do it as volunteers!) and at the risk of a very long run on sentence, before I could get in the shower I discovered the water had already been shut off!

So this is the start of my week: water, water everywhere and not a drop to spare. I am watching the rain outside and super grateful for the sunshine I got to soak up yesterday. I am still in my jammies and because I don't have to go anywhere today, I might just stay in my jammies and pretend to be celebrating the fact that I don't have to go anywhere... but truth be told, I am still just a little lost over not having a job to go to this morning.

I don't want to sound whiny and I'm not really. I mean, it is nice to just relax and feel no pressure... got my hubby out the door with a well fed tummy and a nice lunch packed. I have a list 'yeah-long' of things that need attendance after being shelved all these months. Important things (though not life changing) like cleaning clutter. My husbands side of the closet looks like a tornado struck. My tupperware drawer is upside down and backwards and makes for a frustrating time when I want to match lid to bowl. There is a stack of things that need ironing (my favorite time saving device for his shirts is to throw it in the dryer with a damp towel for 5-10 minutes and then shake it really hard-- it works in a pinch-- and a pinch is what I have when I am working)

I have my goals list too. The novel (1st draft) that needs the re-write. The search for schools and a literary adviser. And there is my mother's needs to see to.

But today there is no water for a shower and it's raining again and my jammies and blanket feel very warm and comfortable. And it is after all, my first official day of being unemployed. So, sitting by the fire is really quite nice.

Now, if only I could make another cup of coffee....

sunny memory of yesterday... my beautiful Camilla bush.

Saturday in the Park

I think it was the 4th of July... (okay not really, it was today)
People talking, people laughing, a man selling ice cream (um, espressos actually)

Yep, we went to the park and drank coffee. Well that sounds a little boring, until you learn that the park was Blvd Park which is right on the water... the pacific ocean to be exact. And the coffee was Woods Coffee which is Whatcom County's local espresso chain and some of the finest java in a cup! Mmmmm.

We had a lovely time strolling thru the park and ran into some friends in Woods Coffee. We were chilled good and proper by the wind coming in up off the water. Came home and my sweetie cooked supper. Brupper we call it-- eggs and bacon for dinner! Yum!

but enough of that, lets look at the pictures!!

with coffee in hand we walked the trail along the water's edge

my sweetie

the love-burkes

looking south at the Taylor Street Dock

fossils and footprints

beautiful shelter in blvd park

fancy shcmancy art work

back at home... preparing supper; I think he was showing me how stretchy the bacon is.

BACON! it's whats for supper!

cooking up an omelet!

yum!

this day was brought to you compliments of our Creator God
(and Wood's Coffee hee hee)

Oh, the Joys of Fridays and Friendship!

Coffee at Woods... always a good start!

Catching up on life and love... with a dear friend... even better!!

Empty coffee cups, full hearts.....

A little shopping.... retail therapy at it's very best!

A rainy day but sunshine in my soul...

Life is beautiful and you, my friend, make it so!

Wonderful Wednesday

I truly love Wednesdays.
Middle of the week
half way to the weekend
for me, it's a working respite.

Going back to work after a long break, it has taken me a while to get 'back in the groove'. I work Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesday is a long day because of class in the evening. And I work Thursdays. Friday is often an errand day or an office day to catch up on whatever Bruce has been involved with. So knowing I have Wed. off is like seeing that warm glow of lights on the horizon after you have been driving all day along a bustling highway.

I love to not set the alarm clock and wake up when I am ready. (Sure I do that on Saturdays but doing it on a weekday feels so delicious because it's not expected like a Saturday is!)
I love to lounge in my jammies and have a second cup of coffee. Spend some time on Facebook, check my email, read the paper (on line), play with my cat, and watch the squirrel outside. All the things I don't have time for the other days of the week.

I don't know how those who work full time do it anymore. Seriously, I don't know how I did it!! Some people are hard wired for that life but, whew, I just don't have the bandwidth for full on intensity. I am such an introvert, desperately needing those down times after social interaction. Funny too how some things will drain me so much quicker than others.

So, I love my Wednesday. True we do have ALPHA class that we are teaching on Wed. pm's but that's hours away! For right now, another cup of coffee sounds more than delightful.....