Category Archives: coffee

Friday Night

Yesterday was amazing! I had the day off. But I always have Fridays off. However, yesterday was different. Yesterday was my Friday. I am in between semesters, so it was the first Friday when I wasn’t working on stuff for school. Well, this is not to say I am not already pouring over my material for next semester. But it was the first Friday in a while when I didn’t have to. And it made my research so much more fulfilling.
Fridays are generally reserved for grocery shopping and errands. I did do these things, but I wasn’t in a rush to get back to do anything else. The day was mine to do with as I pleased. Once my errands were done, I got a nice work out, and relaxed before having coffee with a dear friend I haven’t seen in a long time. Well, his wedding was just a little over a month ago, and I did see him there, but it was not really the time to catch up on anything. Today he flew back to Champaign. So we were going to grab a quick cup of coffee since it may be years until we see each other again. Three hours and three cups of coffee later I think we were all caught up. I don’t think y’all understand what this means! I had three full hours to have an actual conversation with another person! And it was during daylight hours!
Then I went to my parent’s house. It was nice to see them as it has been a few weeks. We did the usual, where I helped my dad send emails. My dad, being in his seventies, is not going to understand this whole technology business anytime soon. So by helping him send emails I mean I open his emails so he can read what others wrote, and then reply while he paces around behind me shouting in three different languages as I am furiously attempting to consolidate them into one and reminding him that he is writing to so and so and not the other guy. I have to mention that my dad becomes very animated when he dictates email. So the pacing, shouting, and wild gesticulations make it seem as if he is preparing for war and rallying the troops instead of recanting his latest trip to Italy. For anyone unfamiliar with our dynamic watching all this would be terribly amusing. Maybe a little frightening. A word of advice: do not stand within three feet of him. You may get an eye taken out. I had so much free time yesterday we were able to email everyone in his address book!
Then it was time for the much anticipated main event. I met with my friend Tanya and we went to a jazz lounge in LA. Only a few weeks ago I was very disappointed I would not be seeing Tina Dico in concert. To cheer me up Tanya found something else I may enjoy, Dayramir and Habana. I looked them up, and their samples online sounded pleasant enough. I was more taken with the venue, and was glad to spend some time with Tanya. I was pleasantly surprised to find their music was immeasurably better than the samples I had heard.
The venue was amazing. It was a small, intimate lounge. We got there early enough to sit right behind the piano. They had amazing food (because I forgot to eat all day again), and a wonderful drink that combines Grand Marnier with ginger spices. I had three of those, and probably should have only had two. But I wasn’t driving, and Tanya doesn’t drink. So what was the worst that could happen? She gets pulled over because her passenger is tipsy? I know it has been a while since I have gone out, but I am pretty sure that is not how that works.
It was such a wonderful all around day I didn’t even mind the traffic. And there was plenty of it. On the way there we encountered three accidents. Each worse than the one before. On the way back we encountered a bunch of people who couldn’t drive, and found that the main freeway leading back to the valley was closed. There was no better way to end this wonderful day than with an adventure. Since neither of us have any sense of direction, finding our way home without using the freeway was quite interesting. In case you were wondering, we found it. And at some point around two in the morning, when I finally got to lay down, something wonderful happened. I slept. For the first time in a long time.
I can’t wait to do this again next year!

How I Deal With Annoying People

The phone rang. I looked down at the caller ID, and promptly silenced it. It was a friend of mine. I have known him for a long time. I hate it when he calls. Our friendship has continued over the years simply because every few months/years he guilt trips me into having a cup of coffee with him, or even worse, returning his call.
He has done reasonably well for himself. Got a degree at one of them fancy institutions. He has a nice house in a nice neighborhood. He has a decent job in the finance world. He drives a fancy car.  So you would think he would be an okay guy. The kind you invite to BBQs in the back yard, introduce to your husband and help form life long friendships. You would think I would be good friends with his wife since we have known each other so long.
The problem is, none of this is feasible. He is not the type to invite to parties, or any other type of occasions where other people would be present (because they will blame you for his presence). He is not that great at conversation (mainly because he is the only one doing any of the talking and would not let another person get a word in). And his wife is not that great, because she doesn’t exist. No one can put up with this guy long enough to date him, let alone marry him.
I have tried being a true friend to him, and actually point out all of the above and how he might be able to fix it, rationalizing that he either takes my advice and becomes a better person who I would truly want to be friends with, or he resents me forever and never calls again. Win, win right?
That is not how things work. He didn’t take my advice, because apparently I am too ignorant to know anything, but he can’t be mad at me for my ignorance, so I guess we are still BFFs.
I am sure by now you are wondering why he is so obnoxious. It is a combination of his bragging and the satisfaction he gets in putting others down.
As I mentioned, he is doing pretty good for himself. I cannot say I feel jealous because the majority of his bragging centers around his career. I have absolutely no desire for his career. I have enough trouble keeping up my own finances, and I in no way want to keep track of anyone else’s. Most people I know would also not have a jealousy issue with him. It is the second part of his personality that gets everyone. He loves making others feel bad about themselves. No one wants or likes this.
No matter what stance you have on a subject, or how knowledgeable you are in a specific area, you are wrong, you are ignorant for being wrong, he is right, and he is going to let you know. There is no arguing with him, because, well, you can’t argue if you can’t get a word into the argument.
And when he is done making you feel stupid, he starts with the boasting and bragging about how awesome he is, how much stuff he has, how great his job is, and how far he has reached in life. When he is done your head will hurt so much you will just smile, nod, congratulate him on being born, and pray to never have to withstand his company again.
So I pushed the ignore button on my phone. As much as I love coffee, this time I am going to pass.
Do you have anyone like this in your life? How do you cope with them?

4 Common Myths About Inducing Labor

If you are pregnant, or have ever been pregnant, or even know anyone who has been pregnant, than you have probably heard one of these myths. These items or activities supposedly induce labor. I am only a few days away from giving birth, and if any of these were true, I would be in labor right now instead of writing this. And last time when I was pregnant with my daughter I would have given birth a lot sooner as well.

Basil

Basil is a staple in our house. Very few dinners we consume do not contain this herb. I am still waiting for the contractions to start.

Walking

I walk an average of four miles a day, half of which is at an incline. Again, I have not induced anything more than perhaps some toned legs. As toned as legs could get when you are nine months pregnant and retaining more water than you ever ingested. Is that even possible?

Coffee/Caffeine

This one is not so much an induction myth as a myth about premature babies caused by mothers drinking coffee while expecting. Regardless, according to my previous post, my baby should have been born early. As before, I am not saying caffeine has zero negative side affects, it just appears that early delivery is not one of them.

Sex

The specifics of this activity are really not for public disclosure. All I can say is that I should have popped this kid out last week.

Disclaimer: The sample size of my findings is one. I am the only subject used in this, um, study. If any of the above happens to help you induce labor, please share. If anything else helped you, or anyone you know, along, I would love to hear about that too.