Owner: It's Just the Coffee Talking URL:http://www.coffeetalking.blogspot.com Join Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:22:15 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Behind every successful woman... is a substantial amount of coffee. Me, blogging and chatting over coffee every morning about almost anything. From ants to zero-gravity. Site statistics:Click here
Gigantic Invisible Crashes 1970-01-01 00:59:59 One night Coffeehusband and I were sleeping in bed when we heard a tremendous crash from the main level of the house. The crashing was a mixture of something heavy crashing to the floor, thumping and smashing along with the sound of break glass accompanying it. At the first crash we both bolted awake and then realizing whatever it was crashing wasn't something we could stop by rushing down, we sat in bed staring at the doorway until the crashing stopped. It had lasted about 8-10 seconds.We both had the same vision in our mind; our kitchen cupboards must have somehow fallen off the wall and crashed to the counter and floor below. The house is new construction and should be sturdy, but I was immediately berating myself for the heavy canned goods in one of the cupboards, and for putting the good china in the top cupboard, as well as lamenting the loss of all what sounded like every single glass, mug and cup we owned.Coffeehusband and I came down the stairs expecting to find a huge Read more:Crashes
The First Occurence in this House 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It's a very quiet lazy day in the Coffee Haus. I was thinking about some of the odd things we had happen in this house and some of the other places we've lived and then I realized that when I deleted the archives from 2004-2006 I guess I deleted the posts I had wrote about the strange happenings throughout my life. Six lashes with a wet noodle to me for that as I doubt I'll ever feel like writing about 'all' of them again... not to mention the fact I have to remember them all, and most I guess have slipped my mind as they get to be so 'common place' sometimes.I just checked my archives and sure enough, it looks like they are all gone. Crap.Ok! Well, most of you will remember this one....A few months after we moved into our current home I was in the kitchen doing the dishes. No one was home but me. As I stood at the sink I heard a butter knife fall to the floor and felt it fall next to my bare foot. No big deal, I bent down to pick up the knife... except there was no kni Read more:First
, House
It's Monday Already? How about some Career Babble? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Coffee's on!Coffee: Gevalia Signature BlendMug: Black DeWalt Tools (one of my favs!)Job Thoughts: Ever have a party in your honor and you didn't want to go? I have a job interview today and I do not feel the slightest bit like going.It's not nerves. It's more... well, apathy. Not apathetic towards the company. No, this is a company I would love to get my foot in the door with and this position could do that for me. Apathetic towards the whole job-search in general. I don't want to interview for any job right now. I really really want to finish the next two weeks at my current job, get someone trained in and then take at least 3 or 4 weeks 'off' to do nothing but reconnect with my home, my family and myself.This company is one I've been interested in for about a year and a half and they almost never have openings. This opening came up at just the right time... but yet, I don't really care. And that worries me! All I can think about is finishing up the current job and then takin Read more:Monday
, Career
, Babble
The Polite Way to Decline 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My kids have been brought up to know better than to say they don't 'want' a certain meal. I do not care. I refused to raise children that could eat nothing but hotdogs and macaroni and cheese. We have a three-bite rule and only after three bites can they tell me they don't like something. Fair enough. If after three bites you don't like it, you don't have to finish it. I will probably make it again in the future and you will be expected to try it again in the future. Because of this way of raising the children I am blessed to have kids that love everything from bruchetta to guacamole and shrimp scampi to oyster stew. Not wanting to be rude they sometimes come up with rather imaginative ways of expressing their displeasure with a planned meal. This afternoon would be one of those times.Coffeegirl: "What are we having?"Me: "Linguine with clam sauce and homemade cheesy garlic bread."Coffeegirl thinks for a moment and then replies; "You mean you are going to sacrifice th Read more:Decline
The Teenaged Soap Opera Continues.... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Coffee: Folgers Gourmet Columbian DarkMug: Starbucks metal and ceramic travel mug (with no top)I have no idea where all the tops to my travel mugs are! There are 5 of them MIA after the kids have done dishes. For those of you reliving your high school years through BabyGirl and the boy drama ~ the latest installation; ExBoyfriend has begged and pleaded about five times for her to take him back. She still really likes him, but has had a fun time going out and talking with other guys and keeps telling ExBoyfriend 'no... not yet. I'm not ready to get back together'. They talk, they have fun, they've gone on a long walk and hung out and watched a movie, but she hasn't gone out with him since they broke up. In the meantime I had been keeping her ring for her (the one he gave her for Christmas) as she gave it to me the night they broke up. I had placed it up in the kitchen cupboard. Yesterday I asked her if enough time had passed that she would want to wear it again just be Read more:Teenaged
The Internet... Making Car Buying Easier Than Ever 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Our son is 14 and after he actually studies the drivers guide and takes his drivers test; in our state he can get his driver's permit. This will allow him to drive with someone over the age of 21. Once he has his permit for 6 months he can take Drivers Education through school and apply for his 'school permit' which allows him to drive to school, sports practice, games and school functions on his own (with stipulations). And in just 1 more year we are going to be looking for a car for this kid.For my regular readers, you'll remember we went through this with our daughter and last Fall before school started. Armed with her school permit and no busing in our school district for the high school age, we searched through word of mouth, newspapers and the online used cars ads to find her a car that was within our (very low) budget, was in good working order but also looked 'cool' to a 15 year old girl. Our biggest and best resource was the internet.Years ago when I was just start Read more:Internet
, Buying
Live Earth Concerts 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been doing some reading in the last year or so on global warming. I know it's a hot topic right now and is being embraced by the Hollywood crowd as the current fad-to-be-supportive-of. Whether or not I think global warming even exists in the form that is being touted as an epidemic of sorts, boy are we gong to get some awesome concerts out of the deal!There are going to 7 concerts on different continents for Live Earth
Against Global Warming. If you are at all interested in good music, (who isn't?) you'll want to check out these Live Earth
Concerts. Read more:Live Earth Concerts
Way Back Wednesday 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Way Back Wednesday
- "Stripper Style!"Well, it is Wednesday again and TKW has a new theme for us:(wolf whistle) Show us some skin!! It can be as innocent as wearing shorts or something racier...you choose!Obviously my photo from last week fitsamazingly well for this weeks themeso I'm re-posting it.Hey! He's serving in Iraq right now...what's he gonna do about it?*evil big sister laugh*To be fair....here is me - in a bikini,froliking on the beachWooo whooo!
Don't Worry, I'm Still Talking..... ok, babbling 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Yes, I actually participated in Way Back Wednesday today... how could I not? I had that perfect photo of my brother nekkid as a jay bird! I actually had a perfect photo of me in mind to play but once again (as always) my photos are AT MY PARENTS HOUSE hours and hours away from here. I give you what I have... which isn't much.WORK BABBLE: So yesterday the CEO of company 1 called and apologized for having to cancel our interview on Monday. She was 'stuck' in Cancun due to the rotten weather here in the States. STUCK IN CANCUN. Ahhh to be so unlucky. We rescheduled for Thursday afternoon. This job is a part time (probably 3 days a week?) and a step backwards on the resume and a step (or two) down from what I currently do. It's basically a 'job' verses a 'career'. But... after the past 5 months of hell it was exactly what I was looking for after all the stress and frustration I had gone through in my current position.***** Now this could get confusing if you don't Read more:Talking
In the market for framed prints or pottery? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Last Fall I wouldn't say I 'redecorated' (that sounds way more exciting than what I actually did) but I 'decorated' the Family Room. We removed the cellular shades and replaced them with wood blinds, took out the large armoire and replaced it with a simple small desk and brought the framedprints
from the Living Room in to the Family Room. This of course left me with blank walls in the Family Room. No fear! Halloween was just around the corner. I went to the party store and bought silly 'Halloween' prints (American Gothic with a farmer with his eyes falling out of their sockets and a vampire version of Mona Lisa). Then of course Christmas came and I was able to cheat by having the Christmas tree on one of the walls and a Christmas themed frame storyboard on the other.But then the inevitable happened and I had no holiday to cheat with. I was left with blank walls. So, for the past month or so I've been scouring books, magazines, stores and websites looking for a fr
I suck ass ... with a lisp 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Coffeehusband's day 'off' this week was yesterday so when I got off work we decided to go to Costco together. On the way there I was glancing at license plates when I saw a truck 1 car ahead of us.Now, a little background first; when we moved to Iowa the one thing that was oh-so-weird at the time is that everyone... no really, everyone had something "ISU" or "Iowa Hawkeye" on. A sweatshirt, jacket or hat... or at the very least their license plates were alumni plates. They have landscaping rocks with the college emblems, flags flying outside their homes, signs and stickers in their windows. I swear to you that every person living in the greater Des Moines area graduated from either ISU or Iowa. I questioned this because I've lived all over the United States and never saw this much (much!) college pride... not even in Tennessee where the Vols ruled.Well, I obviously grew immuned to it all because I barely notice it now and I'm actually more surprised to see a 'regular'
GUMMIES! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Look what I buyed! Look what I buyed!(hear this in a very happy little girl voice)SIX POUNDS, BABY! SIX FREAKIN POUNDS OF GUMMY BEARS!I call the red ones!
Prom Dress Shopping 1970-01-01 00:59:59 She was just asked yesterday and I certainly had no intention of buying a dress yet... but today I had to go to the mall to return a jacket and when I walked in the doors I saw this dress. I remarked to my husband, "That's BabyGirls dress!" I just knew it! I called her on the cellphone (she was still in school) and left her a message that I just saw 'her' dress. She called back after school and I was in Costco at the time, but just checking out. She was on her way to the mall to see 'the dress'. We got there at the same time and I was able to take a million photos of her trying on 'the dress' and a few more just to be sure. Somehow we both just knew - this was the dress. I consider myself lucky we found "IT" this quickly. Now at least we can spend the next 8 week focussed on buying the shoes, the right strapless bra, the jewelry and the hairstyle. We got the most stressful part done already and it wasn't even stressful! Read more:Shopping
Supermom Am I 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I went to work this morning dressed as if I was in Italy instead of Iowa. My black on black ensemble and while I admit my boots were not Italian made, they are Steve Madden, which I know in some circles carries some weight. (Not my circle... I think they are perhaps thee MOST uncomfortable boots I've ever own in my life outside of when I was younger and wore a size 7 but my mother refused to go shoe shopping so I was still jamming my feet into my size 4 boots when the outfit called for boots instead of tennis shoes... remember, my mother didn't win any Mother-of-the-Year awards when I was growing up... nor now).After work as I was leaving a very high profile legislative person came into the building and he gave me a big hug, asked where I would be going once I was gone and if I had any job leads. I told him there have been a few offers (there have been ummm... 4 so far I think? Five?) But 2 were not in the field I hoped to go into and 2 more were full time only. He said he
If you are looking for the snowmen posts......... 2007-03-03 01:40:00 I'm getting a lot of traffic looking for the snowmen
photos - they are farther down the page. Just scroll down about 3 posts
. Here are direct links too;Snowman Boyfriend Steals Her HeartKiller Snowmen on the Loose in my yard!
Cleaning Your Oven in Iowa in the Winter 2007-03-02 22:10:00 I've been working so many hours that I never seem to have the time to stay home at least 2-3 hours to clean my oven. Yes, it's self cleaning, but only an idiot would leave their house while the oven was on self clean! Dude... if you do that you're stupid. Did you know it gets up to like, 500 degree's in there so it can literally burn off all the oils and drips inside?So! Today - I cleaned my oven. A full 3 hour cycle as I had a lot of pizza oil drip down over the past 3-4 months. Sure enough it caught fire and I had lots (and lots) of flames inside while it burned it off. The smell of the self-cleaning cycle is awful for the first 10 times (or so) that you use it in a new oven so I quickly opened a window.Bad idea.Snow. INSIDE my window.Yes there IS a screen there.The wind blew it THROUGH THE SCREEN.So now you get this;Climbing up on the counter with a bowl and a spoon toclean the stupid snow out of your windowso you can CLOSE IT AGAIN.(photo courtesy of Coffeegirl who Read more:Cleaning
Sandals and Flip Flops... 2007-03-02 21:54:00 One of my reasons for staying at my job long past my 2 week notice is that we've been trying to put every bit of my paychecks into a special 'vacation account' to take the kids to beach in April. Since I don't make very much this fund isn't all that big enough I'm now past week six of my two week resignation! I've not thought much about our trip since making the reservations last month. However this week when I went to Costco I saw they had their swimsuits and rash guards out. I felt a little excitement stir. As I sit here in my family room, curled in an electric blanket while the snow and wind rage outside, I'm surfing online to look for 'beach wear' and came across reef sandals online. If you're also planning a trip somewhere warm this Spring, or if you are just lucky enough to live somewhere warm you can check it out too. I also need to point out for Mrs. Underground and The Kept Woman that they have Joe's and Sevens jeans in addition to flip flops. You both might Read more:Sandals
, Flops
, Flip Flops
More Snowman Fun in the CoffeeHaus 2007-03-02 14:14:00 Yesterday before before the blizzard and white-out conditions BabyGirl decided to go outside and build a snowman. I thought it was a great idea so I sent her brother out as well, which is how we ended up with a killer snowman scene in our front yard. (Yes the neighbors will love us). Not wanting to overload you with photos last night I posted Coffeekids then and now, I give you BabyGirls. We dedicate it to the ExBoyfriend.My 16 year old still builds snowmen....Dedicated to the special guy in her life... hee hee
First Rule of Thumb for Online Shopping..... 2007-03-02 13:37:00 ... you never pay retail!A few years ago the internet was just 'catching on' (yeah, remember that? When you or your friends would question if you really 'needed' to get a computer or internet and what in the world you would do with it?). At the time we lived in a suburb of Minneapolis and I had every store I needed within driving distance. Anything I needed or wanted was probably within 20-40 minutes.Then the unthinkable happened. We were transferred to a small community just a hop, skip and jump from the Canadian border. Suddenly I was thrust into a world where I couldn't find card stock to make Christmas cards, no Old Navy store for the kids annual Fourth of July t-shirts, I couldn't even buy printer ink anywhere in town! Thankfully I could get internet (dial-up and it tied up the phone line, but I could get it!) and my world of online shopping began.I got the printer ink. I got the Old Navy $5 t-shirts. I got the kids winter coats from LandsEnd. I also discovered and Read more:First
, Thumb
, Shopping
, Online Shopping
A Murder Mystery at the Coffee Haus 2007-03-02 04:14:00 Tonight as the blizzard rages outside I walked through the living room on my way up the stairs to the bedroom. Looking out the window, almost completely whited-out with snow and ice I spy what looks to be a murder taking place! It's a bit blurry in the wind and driving snow, but it seems to me there is a stabbing taking place!(Look closely through the snow filled window into the night beyond)Now without the flash. Yes! A murder!It's a killer snowman on the loose!Or...maybe it's just the snowmen Coffee
kid made today before the blizzard hit.His older sister was going outside to build a snowman in the backyardso I called him up from the cave basement,where he was playing video games and hanging out on MySpace all dayand told him to go outside and get some fresh air and exercise bybuilding a snowman.He thought I was nuts until I suggested a"Calvin and Hobbes-ish" snowman.Suddenly he had a little more enthusiasm.Coffeekid starts the first snowmanHis plan is in place...Mean middle Read more:Mystery
, Murder Mystery
It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas.... 2007-03-01 20:30:00 You think I jest?Nope.So... blizzard conditions here mean what?Come on, think... what was today?Today was my SECOND ATTEMPT at interviewing with that company.The second time in a week I dressed impeccably, hair perfect, carefully but tastefully applied makeup, just enough accessories but not much.... only to get a phone call literally 3 minutes before I walk out the door that it is CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER.This time the CEO is not stranded in Cancun, Mexico, but instead, is going to attempt to leave the office and drive home even though she lives 30 minutes away, there is already 6 inches of snow on the ground in her hometown and they have closed the interstate she needs to get there.So... the interview is rescheduled for next week.I swear there is a reason for this.... I can't wait to see what it is!*edited*30 minutes later it STOPPED. The snow has stopped. SEE? It was JUST to cancel my interview. That's it. I SWEAR providence has a hand in this! :)*edited AGAIN*It se Read more:Christmas
WHY are they so BIG? 2007-03-01 15:32:00 And WHY do I have NO WILLPOWER?????Costco muffins are evil. EVIL I tell ya.Having coffee and a huge blueberry Costco mega muffin. I cut it in half and had the first half but realized I forgot my hot coffee on the counter and didn't drink any with the muffin! Since the whole point of having the muffin was to drink strong, hot coffee with it and enjoy and savor the moment, I felt compelled to get the second half of the muffin and sip my hot java with the moist deliciousness of the muffin.Only half way through the muffin my stomach was getting full and bloated with the coffee and muffin filling up space quickly! I pushed the last quarter of the muffin away but apparently it was too late. I'm sitting here at the kitchen island, leaning over the counter and deep breathing. I feel like I'm going to be sick. WHY did I drink coffee with food!? I never ever drink liquids with my meals... because it makes me feel bloated and sick! Dang you Costco. It's all your fault for making tho
John's Been Shucking My Corn 2007-03-01 14:41:00 Are you ready for some deep honesty here? No, seriously, this is almost embarrassing. I was going to try out this new 'widget' for uploading songs and files and I wasn't sure what to upload for my 'trial' just to see how quick and easy it was. Out of no where I thought about the song I used to love (love love love) when I was six years old. My little brother and I could (and would) sing every single word of this song and I can still remember the visual I had in my head while singing it; A 40 something year old man in over-alls and a plaid shirt going out of his farm house at night, peering into the corn field to see a monkey pulling the corn off the cobs and shucking it. The farmer gets angry and storms back into the house where his really fat wife in hair rollers and a ratty house coat is in the kitchen waiting.Seriously... as a six year old that is what I thought the song meant. So here you have a little angelic looking kid singing;Old John’s got a farm right next to
I LOVE BEING A PARENT OF TEENS! 2007-03-03 22:30:00 He thinks I'm goofy and I think he's cool.After working on my vacuum I broke out into song;"I figured it out! I figured it out! With a pencil and a pad I figured it out! Only five years from today.... Only five years... from today....""Mom! Please!""What!? I figured it out!""I know! Great! But you don't have to sing that song!"I couldn't help myself... within about 10 seconds I broke out in song again.I started the vacuum and started to vacuum the landing and went into Coffeekids room as well."Mom! You're still singing that song! Stop! It's stuck in MY head now!""Oh... Well... would you like to know what play it's from?""No!""Sure you would! Especially now that it's stuck in your head! It's from......""Mom! NO! Don't SAY IT!""The Pajama Game!""The pajama game? Moooooom I don't need to know this!""Oooohhhhhhhhh The pajama game, is the game I'm in! And I'm proud to be in the pajama game!""Mooooommmmmmmm.""Ok Ok... I'll vacuum out here...."And suddenly a
Havin' a Party 2007-03-03 16:14:00 A bunch of people are partying this week; meeting each other, learning about each other, surfin' the blogs and visiting the at home businesses a lot of them do. To participate you have to post at least one 'party' post this week and serve food and tell a few things about yourself. Well I have lots of food for my guests... check out my other blog here for hundreds of yummy recipes, most of which have actual photos too. As for mingling and telling something about ourselves? Ok I'll give ya a little 411 on me;I'm 36 years old and I've been married for almost 19 years. I have three children; BabyGirl is 16, Coffeekid is 14 and the little Mini-Me is 11. I'd love to have 2 more. Pregnancy, babies, kids and parenting comes pretty easy and naturally to me and I love being a Mom.I love vegetables. If there was a plate of sautee'd onions sitting here with chocolate cheesecake right next to it, I'd take seconds on the onions and not touch the cheesecake.Coffeehusband and I Read more:Party
Back to regularly programmed Saturday Coffee Talk... ok, 'rambling' 2007-03-03 14:54:00 Coffee: Folgers Gourmet Supreme Columbian DarkMug: Dallas, TX I'm sipping coffee and looking out the window from the kitchen. The snow is crazy but the sun is shining and somehow that makes everything all right in the world. I love the sunshine so much!Tonight Coffeekid wants to have a teen 'movie night' here at the house. Probably about 20 kids or so... and a few overnight when it's done. I agree'd to four extra boys staying the night and assuming that Coffeegirl is going to want to have a friend over too. Last night BabyGirl and ExBoyfriend were here watching Pearl Harbor. ExBoyfriend was already in town at his Dad's place for the day and even though the blizzard and white-out were in effect the crazy kid was going to walk to our home to see BabyGirl! I told her to tell him he was NOT to attempt that! I knew he would only have on his letterman jacket and probably no gloves or hat! She said he told her he had a hat and gloves.... I still said no. I was going to at Read more:regularly
, Saturday
, Coffee
Tiny Little Ghostie Update 2007-03-04 17:12:00 My version: I was sitting in the kitchen this morning enjoying the silence and looking out the window at the sunlight on the snow when Coffeehusband came upstairs from the basement. He opened the basement door rather slowly, peering around the corner with a smirk on his face and looking towards my feet or the floor. His eyes rose to mine and he asked with a grin, "Did you just say 'Don't'?" "No....?" "Were the cats just bugging you?" "No....?" "Did you just tell them to 'Stop it!'?" "No... I haven't said anything at all."He looked confused.His version: He was walking up the stairs from the basement and as he got to the stop of the stairs he heard 'my' voice say "Stop it!" "Don't!" so he opened the door slowly and grinned, thinking the cats were bothering me again and rubbing up against my feet as I sat on the bar stools. He didn't see the cats anywhere around me and I was just sitting there at the laptop and didn't look like I had been talking to anyone.After Read more:Update
My New Best Friend 2007-03-04 15:48:00 Forgive me... I'm in a very very pissy mood today and when I'm pissed I post a lot. I have so much built up inside me I'm just a bundle of energy. SO! I want Maggie Gyllenhaal to be my NEW BEST FRIEND. I wonder how I could do that without coming off as a stalker????"Hi Maggie, I'm Meritt. Come over for coffee! We can be best friends!" Read more:New Best Friend
Hinges on the political 2007-03-04 15:22:00 I try (really hard) to avoid political
posts because, well, remember; arguing political and religious topics is like wrestling with a pig. Nobody wins. You both will get dirty and only the pig will enjoy it.So I bite my tongue until it bleeds while I read about the poor-poor Katrina 'victims' waiting and waiting for more handouts that won't help themselves and of course will be milking the term 'victim' for the next 15 years... and I bite my tongue when I read about the stupidity of school boards across our nation, the knee-jerk reactions our leaders use to put stupid laws in place when none is needed and while I watch the average American lose more and more rights every day....So this story is not really political. But it hinges on it.I was reading about the rich Venezuelans coming to live in Florida over the past 7 years and how the number has doubled since Chavas came into power... and the media of course wanted to do a tear-jerker story about a mother and two young girls
Coffeekid Will be Pissed 2007-03-04 14:20:00 Good Morning! Coffee's On!Later today you might hear the wail of Coffeekid
when he finds out Mom changed the password on his MySpace and he can't get in. He was on a lot yesterday and he was messaging back and forth like crazy. I won't let him get AIM or any other IM program because I don't like how kids talk to each other on them at that age and they do no nothing but cause problems. So he talks to his friends on their pages and through private messages on their spaces, but I reminded him a couple of times yesterday to watch what he says because other parents read the MySpace sites too. (Remember the nosey mother from 3 weeks ago that told me details about all the kids in our hometown because she studies their pages every night?) So last night when I got to the end of the internet I clicked on both my kids pages, which are private so you have to sign in to see them.... and the password didn't work. I tried again and again. Sure enough, Coffeekid apparently changed his Read more:Pissed
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