Starbuck Tales: Part One

Yes, Pretty Lady Lisa, the owner of the best little coffee place in Western Washington (CHEERS--Off of roughly 50th and South Tacoma Way in Tacoma --if your local tell her Kim and Sarah sent ya!), I stepped out.  I cheated on you and Scarlet (one of the Cheers Scooter Chicks and awesome barista).  Forgive me, but I seriously needed WiFi and I thought I was getting a quiet location where I could write my case briefs and memos in a semblance of silence while I pondered search and seizures and the rule of law, not to mention what REASONABLE really might mean.  Yes, I succumbed and spent $8.00 for that venti mocha, begged for 4 shots, which I paid for, and became part of an unwitting audience.  Who puts only two shots of espresso in a big 20 ounce mocha?  Even with those 4 shots the smoothness of Cheers could not be matched.  But I will admit, I was entertained and I am told people really go their for the "experience" not the coffee.

Looks nothing like the Mocha I got!
Picture from the Starbucks web site

Ok, Lisa got her name, PRETTY LADY, from Sarah.  Bear thinks Lisa is the best, but Scarlet is a close second.  Even today Bear calls Lisa "Pretty Lady" and so, as fate would have it, I do too.  Anyway, I digress......  I went to Starbucks to study, thinking I could capitalize on the free WiFi, instead I spent 2 hours being entertained by customers. 

You see, I didn't retreat to a local neighborhood Starbucks, though I am sure even in my working class neighborhood conversations would have been similar its just I would have encountered people wearing clothes from Freddies or Target instead of Nordstrom. Now I am not anti-Nordy, but for all you Nordstrom fans, I'll be up front and say I have never been that impressed with their quality of customer service, but maybe I look too ordinary?  I feel like I am being watched by hidden cameras when I venture through their store at the Mall.  Yeah ok, I'll leave now and take my behind and CASH to elsewhere.  Please leave your CIA level security scanning the weirdo lurking around the escalators, oh wait, I think he works there. 

So what does Nordstrom have to do with Starbucks?  A lot.  The Starbucks I was in was in a allegedly classier part of town and those yoga pants weren't the ones bought at Walmart, you know what I mean?  Money never has impressed me, which is why I had a hard time not laughing at some of the tales I heard and the way people, even married couples, were treating each other.  In real America, working America, people don't treat each other that way, you know?  I mean yeah, we're nice and polite (most of us still have enough fear of our mommas not to be) but we also act like we like each other, our body language doesn't spell distance.

I went in to Starbucks on a weekday, a Monday mid morning to be exact, thinking I would have no problem finding a quiet corner, but boy was I wrong.  I guess Starbucks drinkers find time, even in the middle of a recession, to buy their $6 brews and chat the day away with the "girls."  Well, maybe guys because there were plenty of men in there too.  Men on laptops, men on smart phones, men reading novels...

Here are a  few of the tales I heard while at Starbucks that made me feel like I was on some reunion television set for Knots Landing meets Real Housewives:

Part One:  Because I have a real life and need to sleep.

Couple number 1.  They were there for a while. They had a little girl about 2 that would soon be displaying her parents traits I am certain.  But before I go further, let me lay the groundwork....  I carried in my laptop, got my books out of my bag and struggled with connecting to the Internet, finally got the correct account and logged on, opening up my school account so I could access my needed databases.  There is where my attention span waned.  At first I was only mildly interested in the couple.  Their manners and actions struck me as a blind date meeting for the first time or pyramid scheme salesman trying to sell his product to an ultra polite woman he just met at the gym.

Their conversation was very stilted and ultra polite.  He kept checking his phone, looking up all sorts of nonsense and conversing with her about things like shares and if so and so liked what he said.  He said maybe he came off to strong and drove her off, and oh wait what's this message....  I'll be right back, I need to find a restroom, and stuff like that.  I thought for sure the woman would use this break to make an escape.  Wrong, as Mr. Business Polite in khakis and "deck" shoes walked away baby girl toddled after him and cried "Daddy."  Really????  Daddy?  Wow.  Ok.  I pegged that one wrong, but it was a honest mistake.  Seriously, what married couple with a child treats each other like that?  Its insane. I bet little girl will be enrolled in Annie Wright for preschool, and you all know my views on preschool.  I digress again.

Well, the woman has more guts than I do....  I'm not sure I would have stayed and waited for his return from the bathroom.  I would have feigned forgetfulness, said la de da and packed up toddler child, purse and vamoosed to Hawai'i or wherever else rich people in a recession go. But that's for another tale on another day.... yeah, another conversation involved wealthy elderly hoarders, downsizing, and wild trips with girl friends to Hawai'i, because I guess that's what rich old ladies do.

Anyway.... Until later.

Sweet Avery's Bucket List

UPDATE:  ON 4/30/2012 at about 3 PM Sweet Avery passed away.  Please go to her blog for information on how you can find out more about SMA and if you feel led, to donate toward a cure and testing.  Most of all, send some prayers to her loved ones. 
Thank you.

A friend shared a blog today.  I almost didn't follow the link but had a few minutes and did.  I left the blog in tears.  Sarah asked why I was crying and sad so I showed her the pictures and told her little Avery was a baby but very sick.  In typical 4 year old fashion she commented on the lollipop and said she wanted to share and could she be friends with the baby.

Later she asked me a question about why the baby came from Jesus sick.  Oh, how do you explain this to a child that's 4?  I told her sometimes babies are born sick, as sad as it is, sometimes its just God's will.  "But why mommy?"

Oh dear, hunny, this is a question that's hard to answer and there really isn't an answer.  Sometimes God just allows people to be sick but maybe by this sweet lamb of a child being sick others might be well.  Anyway, we, in our finite knowledge, try to justify or answer the unanswerable and for now she was satisfied with hearing that Avery is sick and Jesus still loves her dearly and would make her well if He could, but He can't so He gave her wonderful parents and a bright smile to brighten the days. 

I leave this blog link with you; follow and share it, share a little smile, love and encouragement with Sweet Avery's parents and grandparents and read her story.  And each time you see it, say a prayer for her and her family. 

Thank you and blessings to you, my dear sweet gentle friends. 

Avery's Bucket List

A weekend in Seattle

Throw in 2 cab rides, a bus ride, one motorcross, a late afternoon spent swimming, a harbor cruise (educational!), 2 cups of coffee, 2 mochas--NOT STARBUCKS--, some pizza (Serious Pie), fish and chips on the historic waterfront, a couple long walks, and add in a long visit to the Seattle Aquarim and you get a great weekend in Seattle! 

Here is a photo journey of our recent mini vacation.  I'm glad you have been able to "visit" Seattle with us.

Our beloved Space Needle got a new "do" for her 50th birthday. 
I happen to like it, though I think I am in the minority around here

2012 Monster Motorcross Semi Finals (I think).  :-)

The 9th lap of the MAIN EVENT

Number 29, the winner of the big bikes!

Sarah at Pike Place Market

We spent about an hour just at the tide pools. 
They are a very family friendly aquarim.

Baby (coho?) salmon

 Two Harbor Seals-- we were told.

Sarah was the map reader (Educational!)

Our tour guide on the Harbor Cruise
(Argosy Tours)

The oldest daily newspaper in the state, I think, the Seattle PI.
Now on-line only 

Our awesome mountain!

California Sea Lions

Century Link (Formerly Qwest) Field:  Home of the Seahawks
Safeco Field:  Home of the Seattle Mariners!  

So, the next time you need to get away, do it.  Take the family and go explore--even if its a getaway in your back yard.  Do some educational tours and have fun exploring your own neighborhood.  Sarah learned stuff from experts in their fields and little tidbits about our area that she will remember for a life time.  Later on Monday when we were driving toward Discovery Park and Fort Lawton she pointed out the grain terminal.  She became fascinated with the cranes and made up songs/poems about them.  A rich educational experience!  I am so glad we went!

Oh and if you ever get to Seattle, blow our beloved needle a kiss!

Favorite Foto Friday

Two of them actually!

Helping Daddy build the swing set

Still here, just on a break!

We are still around, but on a bit of a break for a week.  Its been so hectic and time is running fast away from me.  We are going to Seattle for the weekend as well.  Hopefully we will encounter some good weather!

Sarah got her swing set this past weekend and that was turned into a learning experience as she and Bob took care of building most of it together.  Her understanding grows by leaps and bounds and it was showing forth helping her daddy.  She was so happy.  She said all weekend long, "I love my Daddy" and even asked if she could marry him.  LOL  Well you know that warmed her daddy's heart.  I am so glad they got to do this project together. 

She loves it, by the way, as is telling by the hours she spends playing on the structure. 

Friday I went to a curriculum chat and was able to see a few things up close and touch them.  I think I really like the concept of Math U See.  I like Hand Writing Without Tears, and I like All About Reading as well.  I also like the science books from Apologia, though I think that will begin in first or second grade for us.  Any input on that from others would be great.  I also, until we start Apologia, like the looks of Real Science-4-Kids.  It looks like it has the guided structure for me but can still be child led (unschooly) for Sarah.  She loves science and experimenting so I think it will work very well for a Kindergarten program.  Its exciting to be getting things lined up.  To all you home school parents, have you started looking yet, if so have you firmed up plans for next year?

Thank you all for continuing to read my blog, it's my little voice and way to share! 

Ouch, that hurts.....

Some of you know, though many might not, that I suffer from Chronic Pain. Yes, I am one of those people. In 2006 I hurt my back at work and it really messed me up. I "healed" enough to go back to work though, got pregnant and had my daughter and thought the occasional pain flare ups were part of being older and just a fact of life from getting hurt; a couple days off, an adjustment, and I was back to feeling ok. Then in 2008 I reinjured myself.

Photo Credit:  CCPC Organization

The rest of the year and the first 2/3 of 2009 I was hurt more than I was well with several re-aggravations. It seemed every little bend, even bending over beds raised up high, would aggravate my back and I found myself limping and stumbling more with sensation disappearing from my right leg. Then the straw came which forced my doctor to make that final call, the judgment call that would end a career I not only enjoyed, but loved and felt called to do. It was like a death knell had been rung.  I struggled with what happened for nearly a year and now, over three years later I still struggle with the loss of something I felt was integral to who I was.  I felt called to care for people and honestly felt I made a difference in the field and the job I was in. 

The light at the end of my tunnel for understanding was when I was enrolled in a pain clinic, not a clinic that helped you manage meds (which they did for people that needed that) but a real honest to goodness top to bottom pain clinic.  One that not only helped us with our new physical limits but also mentally recognizing that YES we have pain and yes it hurts and here are some things we can do to COPE.  We learned it will never go away, but we can, through strength training and mental outlooks, find ways to lessen its impact on our lives and the lives of our loved ones.  We were encouraged to do something I call finding a NEW NORMAL.  Maybe weeding takes longer now because we have to rest more and maybe we have to sit to do it, but we can still do it. 

We also learned about Biorhythms.  Are you looking at me cross-eyed yet?  Yes BIORHYTHMS.  It takes the mind off pain, increases oxygen to your muscles, and well, it just relaxes you.  By the time I graduated the four week intense 40 hour a week program I was able to see a lowering of my blood pressure and pulse rates.  During our exercise I was able to actually remove myself from my setting and visualize a different place in my mind.  Afterwards I was able to sleep better and that right there is the whole reason why I thought it was good.  Of course I see other spill overs, when I practice it, I am calmer and able to cope with my wild child better.  Do I still have pain after all this?  Yep, remember, I said it will never go away we just find ways to cope and continue on in an active life.  My goal was to be able to play with my daughter.  Yes I have backslid, we all do and I am attempting to get my strength back up.  I have been asked what my pain is like; Try having a natural birth every day, without the aid of pain killers.  Good days are mild labor; the bad days are full labor pushing the baby out x 2.  I know what labor without aid of pain killers is like, so that is the best way I can describe it.  I guess for a man to understand, it’s like passing a kidney stone.  How do I cope?  Massage and occasional adjustments work wonders to helping me and refocusing my mind.  Mostly I just COPE. What else can someone do?   I don't take pain medication unless it is very bad.  I am not tooting my own horn, but when I take pain medication most of the people reading this would be begging to be put out of their misery.  I have learned other ways to help me cope and resorting to narcotics is a last resort for me. 

Why have I gone into all this?  I have several friends around the country lately that have mentioned pain.  One I am back in contact with after a couple years apart (Thank you Heather).  She was there for me when I first got hurt and talked me through a lot, helping me in ways she may never fully grasp.  I am grateful for her and I guess for the two of us I just want to explain what chronic pain is and is not.  I have went into all this to explain Chronic Pain because, odds are you know someone who has it and understanding it can help you understand your loved one or the coworker that often looks tired and worn. 

Acute pain is what you feel after a surgery or breaking a bone.  It is not something long lasting, though you might feel it for weeks at time.  It might be relieved by medication effectively.  Personally I can attest to chronic pain not being relieved by a variety of medication. 

Chronic pain is something lasting more than 6 months with little to no relief (though some claim 3 months).   With chronic pain the problem is the signals of pain remain active in the nervous system. This causes both a physical and emotional strain on the sufferer and the loved ones, especially the immediate family. This is why I am writing this, to explain to you what it is so you can understand it better.    

Often times people with chronic pain suffer from a variety of depressions, sleep disorders—which accentuate the depression, lack of life enjoyment, hopelessness, distrust, anxiety, and a general deterioration of health over all.  We often get colds more frequently, because we have deprived sleep.  We may suffer more from weather changes because our injuries may end up being affected by barometric changes.  Sometimes we get angry more easily—to which you ask why?  Because we are often in some form of pain, be it mild or intense and our sleep may go for weeks on end being fitful at best.   

So each day is a new day and those of us with CP wake up and go forward.  Someone that recently hurt their back asked me how I can function daily and do what I need to do, and my answer to them is what I answer to you now:  I just do it, it hurts sometimes but I can’t let pain control my life.  By moving, even when its hard, I am kicking it to the curb and telling it that I am in control. 

Please Google Chronic Pain and read more about it. 

Here are a few sites to get you started:

Web MD
Chronic Pain
Understanding Chronic Pain

Thank you gentle readers.  I had written this sometime ago, but haven't had the "courage" to publish this, but I think the time has come.

A rocky road...

Life the last few weeks have been a bit over the top, I am trying very very hard to keep to the "Simpler Life"routine, but sometimes outside forces really try hard to rock your boat and send you tumbling headlong into an abyss of epical proportions.  Why is it that it always seems to works this way? When it rains it pours.

One situation is our old fellowship.  It had gotten so small and so stagnate that we decided when Sarah was still under a year old that we needed more in the way of teaching.  We sought out the local Church of Christ Church, and we really like their teachings but after nearly two years, left because there wasn't a sense of family.  Really, how could you have a sense of family in a church of 400 people? 

Since then we have been floundering, and it is telling in our life.  I miss church, unsheathing the sword and putting on the belt (Eph. 6).  It isn't the same at home, I mean yes we can do it on our own, we don't need a body of believers, but for most of us who have flesh and blood bodies we do need the accountability.  Anyway, I think lately with our Saviors resurrection looming and being upon us the lack of a spiritual walk is really weighing upon not only me, but the family.  I think I feel like I need it the most though.  I need the prayer for a long suffering and slow to anger heart.  I need a peaceful spirit.  I really and truly want this.  I don't like disorder, but lately my life seems to be not only surrounded by it but overcome with it.  

I could try to justify my unease and anger at things with a bunch of "buts" BUT that would not be fair to my loved ones or to myself.  I am owning up to my short comings, and asking my gentle friends to please, be in earnest prayer for my peace and even a heart change so that the simpler life I desire with such a fervent fire can be something our entire family benefits from.  Please pray that we can find a church that will be a good fit for our little family.

That's my post for today.... short, nothing homeschooly about it but assuredly something about tending my garden.  My inner space and peace.

Blessings to each one of you, May God's face shine upon you.

SLIMED!

Today we learned about slugs.  Did you know slugs have more than one type of slime?  Or how about that slugs have small holes on the side of their heads that they use to breathe from?  How about that their antenna eyes can move different directions and look at different things at once?  Yeah, ok, I guess slugs are pretty amazing creatures as well as.... well....SLIMIE.  :-)

From the web site
Accidentally Green

We found a slug trap and I think we will be making one the next time we have a jar from Prego.  :-)  Yeah we use Prego...  I admit it.  You could use anything that had a smooth side though.  The bug trap we are looking at is here.

Tomorrow may find us on a small nature walk, trying to see how close we might be able to get to some pond water to explore what might be in a small sample of it.  It depends on the weather though, I don't want to be getting all muddy and falling into the murky water myself.  The Bear doesn't care, but I do! 

Through these lessons we are gaining Some very important skills:

• observing;
• learning the importance of following directions;
• collecting and counting samples; and
• researching or looking up things we don't know. 

All these are valuable skills which can be extremely useful as building blocks for kindergarten, 1st grade and beyond.  Speaking of which, someone is very excited about the concept of saying they will be in kindergarten, almost as fun as saying "In August I will be 5 years old" and holding up five (5) fingers.

Saturday and Sunday were beautiful here.  Saturday we spent much of the day outside after our morning business was taken care of.  They whole idea was to get the play house ready to sell.  Before the end of the day friends we have known for a few years bought the play house and slide as well as a train set we really didn't have room for.  I am so glad someone will have them that will use and enjoy them. 

Now on to a yummy side note:

I tried a new recipe tonight for Zucchini pops.  I adapted the recipe from something I found here, at The Curious Country Cook. 

My recipe for what I call 'Zucchini Pops' is below:

2 medium zucchinis chopped (approx 2 cups)
1/2 cup of chopped onion
1 cup of shredded cheese (mozzarella, Parmesan and Romano mixed together if you have them all)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup of Italian bread crumbs
1 tsp of garlic
2 tsp of Italian seasoning

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly oil a mini muffin tin. 

Chop zucchini and onion place in a medium size mixing bowl.  Add the eggs, bread crumbs, seasonings and cheese and mix together.  Use a spoon or a small cookie scoop and fill the cups of the mini cupcake tin.  Place in oven and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes depending on oven.  When done remove and eat like you would a potato pop.  Enjoy!

(sorry I didn't get pictures of the family enjoy this yummy item.  The grown ups enjoyed it a lot, Sarah was unsure). 


I just noticed, the slug tale and then food......  not a great combination.  LOL