Um. A medium, please?

It’s been so long since I’ve been to a Starbucks that I forgot how to order!

I’ve been boycotting Starbucks ever since they started to throttle their loyalty stars program under the leadership of their new CEO. If Starbucks didn’t want to reward my loyalty then I wasn’t interested in giving them any. It was a standoff. 

But the standoff had its benefits. I saved money by not going to Starbucks and I reduced my calcium intake, which benefits me in other ways. I got used to having either an iced coffee or doppio at home for my mid-morning break although I missed the extra calories that the milk in my regular latte would provide. It was like a small snack just filling enough that I could put off lunch for a little while. 

I soon got used to the new routine and thought, if loyalty stars never come back I’ll be fine. In fact, I should start giving my loyalty somewhere else! Support local businesses!

But then a few weeks ago this showed up in my Starbucks notifications. It was for a drink that I would never order. 

Not long after a second offer appeared. This one was more interesting in that I could order something that I liked, but I had to go twice and the reward was minimal for my effort. 

Today I got this offer. I could order any latte and get 30 extra stars and the offer was at a convenient time for me. How did they know? 

I was a conflicted at this point. I felt successful in changing my habits. I no longer needed that milk latte every day whether I was out or at home but there I was buying a Starbucks on a day when they were willing to give me 30 extra stars for ordering a cup of coffee. Well, I thought, if I was trying to deliver a message to the CEO that stars were important to me then I thought I’d let him know that I approved of the new direction they were taking by sending another message: Yes, I will have a cup of coffee for your stars. I will take it that you have received my message. 

Hopefully, you get this one too.

Under the bleachers

 

Pick me!

Coffee brewing methods can have a big impact on heart health

" The method used to brew coffee can significantly affect levels of natural cholesterol-raising compounds called diterpenes, according to a new study. It might be that the way your coffee is made is affecting your heart health. "

Drip coffee through a paper filter is best so if you already make your coffee this way, you're probably fine insofar as coffee-related diterpenes go. But to be absolutely sure, researchers need more data.

" To determine the precise effects on LDL cholesterol levels, we would need to conduct a controlled study of subjects who would drink the coffee. ”

Hm... 

The Coffee Rabbit Hole

Someone gifted me some coffee beans from Mostra Coffee which I just finished. I looked up the coffee company just recently and learned that Mostra is located in San Diego and their coffee is not cheap.

I also learned that Mostra roasts some of the best coffee in the world according to Coffee Review. Mostra Coffee describes Coffee Review as "an online publication that reviews coffees on a 100-point scale and comments in formally written tasting reports."

Of course, I had to check it out.

Mostra has 24 reviews on Coffee Review with scores in the low to mid-nineties meaning their coffees are exceptional or better. Their coffees that rated 95 and above are considered "flawless, ... shockingly distinctive and beautiful."

By contrast, Starbucks has four reviews with only one receiving a score above 85 which makes them "fair," at best. One, Pike Place Roast, scored 78 which is considered "poor." (Pike Place Blend, apparently different, scored 84. One, Sumatra Dark, rated a 90 or "very good to outstanding."

None of my local roasters even made the list (or have not been tested by Coffee Review).

Nevertheless, down the rabbit hole I went. 

I found this article on Coffee Review: How Do Six National Specialty Coffee Brands Stack Up? (As previously mentioned, Starbucks did not do well.) As it happened, after I read this article, I found myself in a grocery store perusing the coffee aisle and what to my wondering eyes should appear but the highest rated coffee reviewed in that article: Forty-Six from Counter Culture Coffee. I was very excited to try it.

My first impression was "bright" which I would maybe describe as sour. So, I went to the Counter Culture Coffee website to see if I could learn more about the coffee I had purchased and what I was tasting. It certainly didn't taste like the coffees that I had become accustomed to and I didn't see what was so special about it.

Down, down, ....

That's where I found brewing instructions: using 18 grams of coffee, "weigh your ground espresso and adjust the dose to ensure accuracy. We recommend dosing within 0.2 grams of the target weight." 

Oh, I was deep down in the rabbit hole then.

I got out my kitchen scale and tried again. It was still sour. Or, was it bitter? 

Next, Counter Culture's website suggested adjusting the grind. So I tried it with a finer grand. Then, I tried it with a courser grind. I was getting downright scientific about it. But I kept at it and now I've found the perfect combination of grind, bean, and water to make a cup of coffee I genuinely look forward to in the morning and enjoy.

The point is I'm trying new things. I suppose there were easier ways to get there but, hey, no one said life was easy.

Neither is a good cup of coffee.

I'm opening a new spa!

✨Introducing Mimosas and Mammograms: The Spa Experience You Didn’t Know You Needed✨

Gather your besties and treat yourselves to the ultimate day of relaxation, rejuvenation, and empowerment at Mimosas and Mammograms! Kick off your experience with a refreshing mimosa and slip into a luxuriously thick terrycloth robe made from the finest cotton—available for purchase at the end of your visit as a stylish souvenir. 🍾✨

Your journey begins with a soothing shower or bath, followed by your choice of indulgent treatments: manicure, pedicure, massage, or facial (brow shaping included). With all-you-can-drink mimosas in hand, you and your squad will be pampered while soft lighting and your favorite playlist set the perfect mood. 

When it’s time for your personalized mammogram*, enjoy the unique experience of a little radiation, one by one, as you take part in this life-saving service. This is more than just a spa day—it's an opportunity to care for yourself and your health, all while having fun with friends!

Whether you’re booking an hour or an entire day, Mimosas and Mammograms is the perfect blend of relaxation and wellness. Make it a celebration you won’t forget—because taking care of yourself has never been so fabulous! 

*Note: Spa services do not require prior approval from your doctor. Complimentary deodorant, lotion, and powder will be provided post-mammogram. Some restrictions apply. Written with the aid of ChatGBT.

Button, button, who's got the button?

Went to lunch with my gal pals and wore a new pair of linen slacks. The waistband had two buttons, one on the inside and one on the outside. Apparently, the inside button is called a French bearer - something I just learned.

Anyway, I was looking sharp.

But, when I went to the restroom later, I found the inside button was missing - the French button could bear it no longer. I glanced around the floor of the bathroom but didn't see the button and wondered where I could have lost it. I had only dressed a short while earlier and drove the restaurant. Maybe when I got in or out of the car? No matter. I still had the outer button.

When I got home after lunch, again I had need to go to the bathroom. This time, as I pulled up my pants I heard the button fall out of the leg of my pants. The question was, where was it all this time? Stuck to my navel? A mystery....

The mystery now is where did I put that button now? I still have a pair of pants missing its French bearer. If I lose the remaining button, I'll not only be out of a French bearer but I myself will be bare.

Très embarrassant!

Brought to you by Christopher Kimball and your local library.

 

Delicious!

This is Umbrian-Style Chicken alla Cacciatora from Milk Street Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball. You can find it at the link from Amazon. 

I found it at my local library. 

Stars Matter

I had a dentist appointment on Monday and before I went in, I flossed my teeth. It's sort of like cleaning the house before the housecleaner arrives. But I got chastised last time. The hygienist said she picked meat out of my teeth!

It wasn't meat. It was oatmeal which is what I ate for breakfast that morning. I had brushed my teeth before going but, apparently, I didn't get it all. I could have flossed but I figured she was going to do it less than an hour later so I didn't. I didn't see the sense in torturing my gums twice in rapid succession when it wasn't, in my opinion, necessary.

This time, I brushed, flossed, and used mouthwash before heading to the dentist.

This time, I got praised for my dental hygiene. "Gold star!" they exclaimed.

Why does it still matters to me that I get a good report from my dentist?

Must be the stars.

They don't make me faster but I can wear them with flip flops.

 

Happy feet!

I've never cheered so much at an NBA game!

This was the LA Lakers versus the Philadelphia 76ers on January 28, 2025, at Wells Fargo Center which (and I had to look this up) is in Philadelphia. I was at a restaurant where the game was on TV in the bar. When I happened to glance up and saw it, I thrust my fists in the air and made a quiet cheering noise like a whisper, "Whaaah!" 

Was it for the 76ers or the Lakers? Was it for LeBron James? An amazing play?

It was for a sponsor: "Libby: the reading app."

Yay for reading! Yay for libraries!

Libby Promotes Literacy as Proud Sponsor of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Lakers Literacy Program

" This multi-year sponsorship kicks off with the 2024-25 season and marks a long-term commitment to supporting California libraries. "

"Libby" appeared to be painted on the court floor but it was a virtual ad. This allowed for a sponsor of the LA Lakers to promote its brand on national TV while the Philadelphia audience could have been seeing the ad or logo for something entirely different. 

I'm not much of a basketball fan, as you may have determined. But I am a fan of reading and I'm glad to have seen Libby being promoted on TV. 

Read more, watch less.

Camera One, Camera Two

Edited photo

Original image

The problem now is I lack motivation. How about an urban hike?

Without a goal, I'm pretty damned lazy. But with one, watch out. I'm committed as hell.

I got sick in January and, because of that, missed the half marathon I had been training for. I lazed around the house getting well but falling out of my exercise routine. As anyone knows, it's harder to start an exercise routine than it is to maintain one so I have been rather lax in getting back out there. 

• "It's cold out there."
• "I can do it later."
• "I'm too busy."
• "What for?"

These are examples of excuses I've been using. Also, when I walk longer distances (6 or more miles), I don't get anywhere because I generally confine my walks to the streets and trails in my own neighborhood. This can get a little boring.

Sometimes, I wonder about going somewhere. For example,

• Old Town La Quinta is about 5 miles from where I live. This includes breakfast places, shops, restaurants, a brewery, and regular art and farmers markets - plenty of destinations. I have, in the past, walked the 10 miles round trip, stopping for a coffee along the way. (SilverRock Grill, along the way, is 4 miles and a nice stop for breakfast.)

• Ernies Bar & Grill at PGA West is also about 5 miles.

• Trilogy La Quinta is about 5.5 miles. Cafe Solaz is open for breakfast, lunch, and happy hour while Kitchen Ten Eleven is expected to open soon.

• In the other direction, Big Rock Pub is 5.5 miles.

• Desert Wine Shop is about 7 miles.

• Cantina at Eldorado Polo Club is an easy 1.5 mile walk.

• Downtown Indio is about 3 miles.

The point being, there are plenty of destinations within a reasonable walking distance (depending on your definition of "reasonable"). And, we - as in, a group of us - wouldn't have to walk both ways if we got other people to meet us there and drive us back. Exercise with a social carrot at the end.

There are other urban hikes such as El Paseo or parts of the CV Link but all of the ones mentioned above can be accessed from right from our own front doors.

I'm all for hiking. (I should really try to do more of it.) But even with hiking, you don't really get anywhere except to where you started from. You also have to drive to wherever it is you want to hike. What I like about urban hiking is it could really start from wherever you are.

I need some motivation. Anyone want to walk with me somewhere? 

My loyalty only goes so far.

Talking to you, Starbucks.

In an effort to reestablish itself as a premium coffee brand, Starbucks is making some changes. Among them, fewer opportunities to earn Stars in their Rewards program. The idea, originally, was to create brand loyalty and to lure customers into their stores.

Per the Terms of Use: 

Starbucks Rewards is one way in which Starbucks endeavors to reward and thank loyal customers for patronizing our business and purchasing Starbucks products. Starbucks Reward members are able to earn and accumulate "Stars" that can be redeemed for Starbucks Rewards Benefits.

One can earn Stars at a rate of two Stars for every dollar spent when paying through the Starbucks app. The more you spend, the more stars you earn and when you earn enough Stars, you get free stuff. For example, 200 Stars can be redeemed for a coffee drink such as a latte. 300 Stars can be redeemed for packaged coffee such as whole beans.

Additionally,

From time to time, we ... may offer you opportunities to earn additional "Bonus Stars" through special promotions.

Except, they also may not and that's what has been happening lately. No special promotions.

I admit it; I went to Starbucks exclusively when offered some sort of bonus in the form of more Stars which is to say my loyalty can be bought. I would go on Double Stars Day (earning four Stars per dollar), or on days when an extra 20 Stars were offered if I purchased a particular item or combination of items. Sometimes, I would be offered 100 Stars if I went a certain number of times in a week for any purchase of any size. If I wasn't getting something in the form of some kind of bonus within their loyalty Rewards program, then I wasn't going.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has been at the helm less than six months. Has the change in the Rewards program supported a shift in the perception of Starbucks as more of a premium brand?

Not for me. Loyalty goes both ways. 

For better or worse, I've been a Rewards member forEVER and given a choice, I would always choose Starbucks over any other place for coffee. One reason, besides the Stars, is that I could count on a consistent product no matter where I went. I developed a taste for their coffee and had trouble enjoying coffee from anyone else. In short, I was addicted.

Two years ago, Starbucks had a promotion on their Christmas Blend coffee beans. I think it was half off at the time. I had never tried it so I bought a bag. It was good. 

The following year, they promoted their Christmas Blend again so I bought another bag. Every time I went into Starbucks that December, I bought another bag so long as the promotion was still in effect. Before I knew it, I had more than a year's supply of Christmas Blend taking up residence in my freezer. (I just finished the last of it.)

The last promotion Starbucks offered was for a cup of coffee which I could get for free on the Monday following the Super Bowl. Big deal. I can get that in any church basement or hotel lobby. In fact, there's free coffee every day in the lobby of the clubhouse where I live. 

I will not be getting a year's supply of that.

Ironically, at home, I generally brew coffee from beans that are roasted locally despite my recent stockpile of Christmas Blend coffee. I also seek out local breweries here and elsewhere. Other than locally roasted coffee for at-home consumption, I never developed the habit of supporting my local coffee shop like I've done with local breweries when out and about.

That's about to change. It's far past time that I developed a new habit: supporting local coffee.

Who needs stars anyway? If a Sneetch doesn't need them, then neither do I.

I say "sardines" . . .

 . . . you say,

"Ew," probably.

Once upon a time, I had sardines at a tapas bar and was pleasantly surprised. So, naturally, I went to Costco and bought a case. Not really. It was just six cans but the package had all the buzzwords: sustainably caught in the North Pacific Ocean, wild. . . .  I felt compelled to try them at home. Plus, canned sardines are a very shelf-stable protein source to keep in my pantry in case we are overrun by zombies. (They are also a source of omega-3s, vitamin D, iron, and calcium.)

After storing them for a period of time, I thought I should probably figure out what to do with them. I opened a can and tried one. Gastronomically speaking, I can say I was not looking forward to any kind of apocalypse. So they continued to sit, unopened, in my pantry.

Until one day, "Sardine Puttanesca" popped into my head. Where does a thought like that even come from? Lo and behold, I found a recipe on NYTimes Cooking for the very same thing. (By the way, the NYTims Cooking app is very good.) I proceeded to make them for dinner with no backup plan in case it didn't turn out.

I am pleased to report that it was delicious. I have two more cans of sardines and leftover anchovies (also called for in the recipe) so I plan to make Sardine Puttanesca again and again.

Try it and I'll bet that next time I say "sardines," you'll say "yum!"

It's not just me.

Everyone was, is, or will be sick.

Virus season roars back with "quad-demic" of illness (Axios)

The spread of influenza A, COVID and RSV is "high" or "very high" across much of the U.S. at the same time norovirus cases are well above normal levels, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and wastewater surveillance data shows.

If you click on the link to the article above, you will see a graphic that shows the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report for the week of January 4-11 prepared by the CDC. It shows that the activity level of visits for respiratory illness that includes fever plus a cough or sore throat was high or very high for most of the country. If you go to the CDC website now, you will see that illness activity is down in many places (although still relatively high in California). 

Walgreens also has a flu index map which is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. While both the CDC and Walgreens show improvements they also indicate that California had high rates of influenza this flu season.

Put it on your calendar now for next September or October:

• Get a flu shot.
• Inventory your cold and flu remedies and stock up. (Take old medicines to a Walgreens or other disposal kiosk.) 
• Make sure the pantry and freezer are full of quick and easy meals. (Don't forget the chicken soup.)
• Consider getting a puzzle or craft items to keep you busy in case you need to stay home.
• Above all, try not to get sick in the first place. Consider digging out your COVID mask especially for times when flu activity is high. (Check the CDC and Walgreens for more information.)

Again, from Axios:

Saskia Popescu, a member of APIC's Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force, told Axios.... "All of those mitigation efforts that you can do — washing your hands, covering your cough, cleaning, disinfection, being mindful of ventilation in shared spaces — that's all going to help."

Be well, people, and see you in the Spring. 

My $4,000 staycation ...

... has just ended.

I've been home for a month. Almost exactly. My last driving day was December 20 and my first day back on the job was January 22. In between there were two major holidays and time with family and friends, although it turned that Winter Break went by way too fast. We enjoyed spending relaxing days at home, reading, playing games, and pursuing hobbies. A very nice time. 

And then we both got sick and our holiday extended longer than we expected in the form of a self-imposed quarantine. If it wasn't for the getting sick part, it would have been great. Between the coughs and sniffles, we still managed to do a lot of relaxing and generally enjoying each other's company. We had stocked up on food and hobby supplies so we didn't really need to go anywhere or do anything. We just settled in and got very comfortable in our own little bubble.

I don't know that we saved $4,000 by staying home but I can tell you we did save a lot of money by not going anywhere. We were getting alerts from our credit card company saying, "Are you guys all right? Do you need to buy something?"

We couldn't plan time like that - a whole month's vacation - until maybe May. Wouldn't that be great? Maybe I'll just stay at home again in May. Just take it easy.

The ridiculous part of this is I'm retired. I could take it easy any day. The problem is, I don't which isn't a bad thing. It's good that I'm keeping busy. But, for the last month, I've been reminded of how nice it is to just slow down and enjoy my own company. And, isn't it great that I can spend a month just hanging out with Hubby and want to do it again?

And the savings is pretty grand too. Which is to say we live a pretty good life the rest of the time.

I'm feeling grateful. Lucky to be alive and have the life I have. I'm grateful for my family and friends and the time we spend together. I'm grateful to have the freedom to spend my time alone, too, if that's what I want to do. I'm grateful for the beautiful space and place I live in and that I'm fortunate enough to afford living here.

I'm grateful for my "job," too, which is driving the Littles around from place to place so their parents can work. It keeps me busy and it keeps me connected to people that matter to me so I'm okay with that.

Another half marathon in the books.

Not mine but, you know, somebody's. 

I was training to walk in the Arizona Rock 'n' Roll half marathon. I logged countless hours and countless miles. (That's a lie. I counted them all.)

And then, to celebrate the new year, I got sick with the flu or some damn thing. My first symptoms appeared 11 days before race day. I had time to recover.

Which, I did. But not in time to do the race. Hubby has it too. Has - as in the present tense. Actually, I'm not really sure. He had it - whatever it was - and now he has something else: a persistent cough. He's been sick, literally, for all of 2025 so far. And I don't know if "sick" is the right word anymore. But he just can't shake this cough.

In any case, between the two of us, we thought it best to just stay home.

But I'm just wondering. Do I still get a medal?

It's like Quarantine...

 ... because it is quarantine.

Hubby has been sick for three weeks and I have been sick for two. We've barely been outside of the house or spoken to another human being in days. And it seems the whole neighborhood has been affected. Many of our neighbors are also at home trying to shake this thing. We are nearly out of food while we are well stocked in toilet paper. 

Any of this sound familiar?

I don't think we have anything more serious than the common cold or flu. Not that we tested because it didn't really matter: We were dropping out of society regardless. Our symptoms are not severe. Not in the slightest (although they were worse for Hubby). They are annoyingly persistent, however. The tail end of this thing seems to be a dry cough which Hubby is struggling to shake. 

And yet, like Quarantine, it's not all bad. There have been pockets of boredom but in other ways it's been a lot like a staycation. We are playing games in the evening. I'm reading books, cooking things from scratch, kitting a blanket. And we are saving a ton of money by not going out. Not anywhere (except for essential services like coffee [jk - I meant groceries]). It's intimate and cozy.

But there are some things I miss like people. Sunset cocktails with the neighbors in the driveway. Hanging out with our besties. Taking the kids to school (my hobby). Going out for dinner!

The other side of the coin is sleeping in and perpetual pajamas.

If it wasn't for the getting sick part it would be a toss up, really.

Maybe I should consider becoming a hermit.

[Editor's note: The office of Chocolate Chip Mint is encouraging everyone to come back to the office. Actually, we're pretty much through it now and have been out in the wild. All good here.]

My watch has a hold on me.

If you've ever seen an Apple Watch, you may have noticed three rings on its watch face - concentric circles in red, green, and blue. Watch faces can be customized so not every one will have it but it's common. Those rings are part of what is know as the Activity app and it keeps track of your daily physical activity. Each ring represents a different goal: calories burned, exercise minutes, and how many times you stand in a day. It's this last one - the Stand goal - that makes me a little crazy.

The overall goal is a daily physical routine that will close all three rings by end of the day. When I first got the watch, I found the Stand reminder in the Activity app to be a little annoying. The watch will alert you at 50 minutes past any hour in which you have not taken the opportunity to stand for at least one minute. When I was working in a high pressure job, I found the hourly reminders disruptive. But then, I got to appreciate it. My job was sedentary and it was probably a good thing for me to get up from my desk and walk around a little. My work performance may have even improved as it allowed me to clear my head and relax a little.

But then, as I am wont to do, I became obsessive about closing all three rings every day and I know I'm not the only one. If that meant I had to march around the house for six minutes just before bedtime, so be it. I was closing that goddam ring. If I hadn't satisfied my Stand ring, I would just stand while watching TV. This was only slightly awkward if I was a guest in someone's home but often they were Watch wearers as well so everyone stood up at fifty minutes past the hour.

Near the end of the day, the Watch will alert you with a chirpy "You can still do it!" reminder to let you know you still have time to close your rings. It will follow up with a suggestions such as "A brisk, 12-minute walk should do it" or "Time to stand!"

When I started training to do a half marathon, closing the rings became easy. But there's one little catch: The Stand ring doesn't care how long you stand. It only records how many different hours you stood and moved around for at least one minute. Meaning, you only have to stand for twelve minutes but in twelve different hours of the day.

So, you can imagine how annoyed I was when, a couple weeks ago, I walked 13.1 miles, was actively on my feet for three and a half hours burning over 1,000 calories, covered over 26,000 steps throughout the day and then while sitting down to watch TV, my watch chirped "You can still do it!" Despite all the day's activities, I had only stood for 10 minutes during 10 different hours.

And I thought, "You, bitch!"

But damned if I didn't stand up anyway.

Twice.

What are my hobbies?

 This was a question my grandson posed one day. I started listing off the things I do. Namely, walking (training for a half marathon), learning Spanish and ASL, taking care of the house. All boring stuff. So boring, in fact, that I have nothing to say at a cocktail party. 

I never really have. Keep in mind, I was previously an accountant before I was a full time grandma. Not terribly interesting, unless I'm in a room full of other accountants.

As usual, the better response came to me several hours later. (Does that ever happen to you? The snappy, witty response never appears in the moment.) It was, "You. You are my hobby."

Alright. Maybe that's not snappy and witty but it's the truth. And, it's not full time but I do spend some time with the littles nearly every day driving them around because it's a lot. I don't know how parents could manage multiple kids' schedules without help.

I do those other things too. Walking, Spanish, etc. I started knitting a blanket once. It was meant to be a Christmas present. Three years ago.  

Maybe I could pick that up again. 

That would be a good hobby.

[Editor's note: Between the time I drafted and posted this, I did finish that blanket and started another one. And it is a good hobby.]

I’ve had some time on my hands

Cold and Flu

Nailed it!

I saw this quote and it spoke to me:

"... if this is your preferred way, you are likely an older sibling and you file your taxes in February."

Correct on both counts.

Not an online personality quiz, this quote comes from an article from Bon Appétit: How to Soften Butter - Quickly - According to a Pro Baker.

I tried the method called "The Only Adult in the Room" but I think I'll go with "The Rule Breaker" next time.

Or maybe I should just plan a little in advance.

On Getting Old

I don't know the half of it, I'm sure. (Considering my age, I think I should know at least the half of it.)

So far, getting old is a little like high school. Consider where I live: a 55+ community. The one I live in is about 1,000 homes which makes its population about the same size as my high school. There are the same cliques: jocks, stoners, band, choir, student council. There are popular kids and outcasts. And rumors. So many rumors!

Then, there are the surprising and unexpected changes in one's body. For example, when I look in the mirror, I sometimes don't recognize who is staring back at me. Sometimes, I see the me that's always been me. Other times, I just see an old lady and I wonder, "How did this happen?" I think about my granddaughter and what she sees when she looks at me. "Old" can be the only answer even when I feel as young as ever (mostly).

Body parts ache or don't work the same as they used to. Flexibility and physical capacity are diminished even when my mind believes otherwise. Why don't things work like they used to when I don't feel any different on the inside?

Speaking of inside, there's a betrayal going on. My body - the one that's been with me my whole life - doesn't respond the way it used to and it doesn't recover as quickly. Take the common cold or flu. I used to be able to brush it off, push through it, hardly miss a beat. Now, it takes days or weeks.

In our community of old people, a cold or flu spreads quickly and thoroughly. Texts are exchanged to share symptoms and to find out how long whatever sickness lasts. Quarantine is self-imposed and we miss seeing neighbors for far too long.

That's the current situation. Hubby and I are both at home waiting for wellness to return for it can't be rushed or coaxed. My current cold/flu symptoms are mild so far but I've seen the neighborhood text network. It could get much worse and last for another week or more. My kids, however, aren't worried about it. Maybe I'm contagious but they're still invincible. They might get it but no biggie. And the littles - if they get it, they'll get over it quickly or even go to school in spite of it.

Well, my children. You will get old one day, too.

Back to Square One

I'm not in the Grinch Onsie so maybe we're back to Square Two. I'm back to lounging around in sweats all day without a bra, however. 

I just came down with the "icks." I don't know exactly what I have or how long I'll have it but Hubby has been sick since Day One. By that, I mean January 1. So far he's been sick for all of 2025.

And now I have it. Whatever it is.

I'm on day two (meaning, I just started feeling icky yesterday) and my symptoms are mild: a little bit of a runny nose, a little bit of post nasal drip, and a little achey. Not bad enough to crack open the cold medicine (although I stocked up jic). But it is bad enough for me to disengage from society again. If I have what Hubby's been struggling with, things could get bad for a couple of days and I wouldn't want to give that to anyone.

One complication is that I'm signed up to do a half marathon in ten days. All training has ceased so I can concentrate my energy on getting healthy but I don't want to lay around long enough to lose all the progress of my training to date. 

It seems one or both of us get sick around this time of year which isn't too alarming since it's cold and flu season. It's also tourist where I live. Around the holidays, people from other parts of the country - many of whom traveled through crowded airports - make their way to the grocery stores and entertainment venues that surround us.

A few years ago, I was more sensitive about wearing a mask during trips to the store. Now, things have gotten more casual. Even when I go to the doctor's office, not everyone wears a mask - in a place where sick people go, as a general rule. 

NOTE TO SELF: Somewhere around Thanksgiving, start wearing a mask again. Self, you can take it off when the entire neighborhood is no longer quarantined due to the common freaking cold or whatever new virus is getting passed around.

It's not all bad, being mildly sick. It sort of extends my holiday vacation. Plus, I got the yarn for my next knitting project so I'm reasonably content.  I just don't want it to get worse and I need it to get better soon. I've got a half marathon to do!

Still on the right track.

I was dressed in street clothes before noon today. Not much before noon but 11:30 still counts as morning. I did this even with no intention of leaving the house.

Yesterday, I finished the knit blanket and a book that I had been reading. Today, I started a new book and started a new blanket project. At this pace, the blanket will be done in 2030. (While I am a slow reader, I expect I'll finish the book before February.)

Around dinnertime, I decided that I had been in street clothes for long enough (a few hours, it was) and went to change my clothes. I reached for some green and blue flannel Seahawks pajama bottoms and even pulled them on before I realized the backslide. From the corner of my eye, I saw the Grinch onsie hanging on its hanger and I knew I was that close to putting it on. (I have to admit, it's very cozy.)

I resisted and put on yoga pants instead. Some people think that counts as street clothes. I don't but it should count for acceptable relaxing clothes. 

Tomorrow, I plan to be dressed before I go out into the world at 8:30 in the morning. 

Probably.

Okay, maybe.

Today, I'm impersonating a functioning member of society.

 Not any particular member, just in general.

I took a shower, washed my hair, and put on clothes that are acceptably worn in public, including a bra. Never mind it was mid-afternoon. I want credit for having done it at all.

Mind you, I'm not actually going out in public today, meaning since I showered. I figure that's extra credit: getting dressed without any particular reason to do so. That should offset the fact that this morning I went out in public wearing sweats and no bra. I will note that I did brush my teeth and hair before going out. Maybe all of that averages out but I'm thinking I'm ahead at this point.

I ate a healthy breakfast and a reasonably healthy lunch (if a cheese sandwich counts) and have avoided sugar (other than some raisins but that's fruit, right?).

I also did two banking-like chores and washed some dishes. I have a plan for binding off the knit blanket that I completed yesterday and I'm almost done with my book - just a few pages left which I can take care of after I start a load of laundry. I also have a plan for dinner (which is one of the reasons I went out earlier).

And I haven't played any solitaire! So not bad, right?

At least I'm getting there.

And then there was sugar.

 So much sugar from friends and family wishing us a new year full of diabetes, apparently. Sent with love, I feel obliged to eat at least some of it. Okay, all of it. It's a little here and a little there so that by the end of January, I'm not only not sober (a bandwagon I have not jumped on yet) but I'm fat.

Fortunately, January coincides with my peak marathon training so I'm hoping the extra miles offset everything and makes things more or less even.

How long can you wear the same pair of sweats before you have to wash them?

 Asking for a friend....

What day is it?

2024 skidded to an end like going over a cliff - the first few days of 2025 falling, falling, suspended in air. The last month of the year was a blur as we raced and raced to prepare for - no, not the apocalypse, quite the contrary. We raced, stressed out of our minds like preppers for the endtimes, to - ironically - what's intended to be quite the opposite: a celebration of life, love, family, and togetherness. And, apparently, presents, large meals, and copious amounts of sugar that is both distributed to and gathered from the people we love.

When it's over, the momentum of December launches us into January and a new year with no particular purpose. So, we make them up. They are called resolutions. But I don't have any so these last few days have been directionless inertia like floating in jello.

What's know as "the holidays" suspends my Monday through Friday routine for two weeks. For the first week, and the whole prior month if I'm being honest, Monday through Friday carries the extra burden of a deadline for all this cheer. No wonder everyone comes down with something as soon as it's all over. We're all exhausted and physically drained leaving our immune systems exposed to the elements and/or each other.

When the hustle and bustle is stripped away and the Monday through Friday is still suspended, I quickly found myself losing track of what day it is, wandering from room to room in sweatpants and no bra. I haven't worn a bra for nearly 10 days now and I'm concerned I may never go back. (This is not something I've ever experienced before and now I'm wondering what took me so long to discover this new joy.)

"Snap out of it!" I keep telling myself. (In my journal, it's in all caps with a lot more exclamation points!) Monday is literally around the corner and I will not only have to find a bra, I may have to shower, wash my hair, and wear actual clothes instead of my pajamas.

There's a very real part of me that doesn't want to go back to "normal" even though I know that's what's best for me. I could quickly devolve into a bowl of jelly if I don't learn to interact with other humans soon. Alas, I downloaded a solitaire app to my phone and I can't make myself stop playing it. This, when I have a perfectly good book to finish, soups and stews I could be making, and a knit blanket project that is literally only a couple of rows from being finished.

I am managing to exercise every day and we are feeding ourselves - mostly leftovers, however. We are not totally lost. 

But we still don't know what day it is.

Writing Prompt

 I can't write unless I ignore EVERYTHING else. Which, is hard to do.

There's a laundry buzzer. Some paper on my desk that needs attention. My husband asked me a question that he can google just as well as I can. I have 10 open windows on two screens, two of which are email servers. I peeked at one - just one - and that created a To Do item. There are so many more lurking there.

One open tap is for the "word of the day" in ASL. Don't look! 

I have open tabs on my phone. Some are writing prompts but it's so easy to get distracted.

The writing prompt on Holidailies today was something about goals for the new year. Shit, I'm just trying to get through today!

[Editor's note: This was written at least a week ago. Since then, the Grinch suit has been washed, hung to dry, and put away for another year.]

Long Winter's Nap

I sat down with the intention of writing about the fact that I actually had time to sit down. I feel like I've  been running nonstop since October.

Which, is partially true. I started training for a half marathon and I'm up to 11-mile walks now. That takes up quite a lot of time.

But, what's with Christmas? And laundry? I am constantly doing laundry and I can't figure out where it comes from. There's only two of us! I think it's because our winter laundry is physically bigger than our summer laundry. (Jeans and sweatshirts are bigger than shorts and t-shirts.)

Looking at my journal (not to mention this blog), there are huge gaps when I must have been doing something but I didn't have the time to jot down what that was. And, if I don't write it down, I don't remember it. Which is to say, I don't remember what in the hell I've been doing for the last two months.

Ever since Thanksgiving, I've been baking cookies. I know this because the evidence is all around me - dozens and dozens of little red and green cookies. I have a list, too, of people to give them to but haven't gotten around to that yet. Still in production mode - pumping out three to six dozen cookies a day. I see that coming to an end real soon.

There have been birthdays, travel, gifts to buy, and dinners to plan. All of that on top of a regular life of carpool driving, cooking, cleaning, and so much hockey I could barf. (If that came off as cranky, it might have something to do with the Grinch onsie I am currently wearing.)

But, today was the last day of carpool driving before Winter Break - two weeks off. And, for a second, I felt like doing nothing. Just relaxing and enjoying being in my own space. Feeling like most of the preparations are behind me and there's nothing left to do but enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Yet, before I could make it to my desk - before the end of my cup of coffee - I thought of other lists to make, lists to finish, stuff that still needs to get done when all I want to do is take a nap. 

There'll be time for that. 

It was a short little break from a hectic schedule, that cup of coffee. And, I liked it.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Bananas

Pretty good mileage

 

22 gallons of coffee works out to roughly one 8-ounce cup per day. That might be someone else's average but mine is closer to two cups per day or 44 gallons per year.

According to my phone, I walked 1,500 miles last year which only pencils to 34 mpg.

Still, that's about as good as my Honda got.

So it that like 5%?

  " ...almost half of Starbucks current customers in the U.S. who pay to modify their beverage at company-operated stores will see a price reduction of more than 10%. "

Starbucks Announces Removal of Extra Charge for Non-Dairy Milk Starting Nov. 7

Starbucks has announced it will no longer charge extra for non-dairy milk in their espresso beverages. My own savings will be 11-12% depending on the size of drink I order. It's still a lot to pay for a cup of coffee. But now, you know, it's less.

If you're buying, my drink is a Tall (or Grande) Flat White with Soy Milk. It's almost free.

… and turned it into this

I took this picture …

#Grateful

Languid Heat

When I first left, the air was still cool and fresh as dew on my skin. As the sun climbed languidly into the sky, the earth began to steam, slowly at first. I myself began to steam with the passing miles and the effort of climbing hills that I am not accustomed to. Soon my sweat and the earth's were the same, heavy and moist.

The air, which had started fragrant with the smell of a thousand flowers like an omnipresent perfume, blended with the smell of sweat and a mildew that is inescapable here. Although I came from an arid climate, my clothes already smell as if they have been damp for a long period of time, unable to fully dry out.

The birds that were so excited in pre-dawn in anticipation of the new day have settled into their quieter daytime routines,  their vocalizations less urgent.

I am less urgent too, enjoying a gentle breeze in the shade knowing full well that only steps away it is hot in the full sunlight.

Nothing is urgent here. Life moves slowly as if swimming in an ocean except the swimming is effortless and lazy, buoyed by saltwater. 

Toast

It's easy to take things for granted. Take toast, for example. Bread in, toast out. A little butter or jam and there you go.

I've been making my toast the same way all my life. And by "all my life," I mean I've been using the same toaster for 60 years. Literally.

My mom probably made it for me when I was little but it's the same toaster. I think it was a wedding present long ago. I don't remember when she decided it was time to get a new toaster but I can understand why. It didn't make good toast.

Maybe it did 60 years ago but now, I can tell you, it burns one side of the bread while only gently warming the other side. The knob that is supposed to adjust these things is sticky so the best you can do is dial it down to just warm bread on both sides of the bread.

But that's the way it's always been (as far as I can remember anyway) and while my husband reasons we have gotten the most of this toaster - more than anyone can reasonably expect - I still refuse to replace it.

So, I won't tell him that the toast we had this morning in our vacation rental was probably the best toast I've ever had. It's funny that he didn't say anything, come to think of it. I guess he just knows that it's futile to suggest getting a new toaster.

I guess he just takes it for granted.

What You Should Know About the Latest Apple OS Update and Data Encryption

Mon, Sep 16, 4:28 PM (3 days ago)

From: IT

To: Me

Got all the new software installed. It does have a few nice tweaks — especially a password manager app that picks up passwords stored in the keychain and makes it all easier to use. And they must have done some serious optimizing, because everything feels a little livelier (although a lot of housekeeping gets done during an upgrade).

Most of the AI stuff, however. Is “still in beta” and expected to be released “soon.” All said, the new OS is worth the trouble but nothing you need to be in a rush to get.



To: IT

From: ME

So this was the software update on the MacBook? 

From: IT

To: Me

The update was everything — MacBook, iPhone, iPad, watch, speakers, and a saucepan in the kitchen. Or maybe the pan was something else. Seems different, somehow.

They weren’t very specific about when the ai stuff is scheduled to arrive, but said “this fall.” 

To: IT

From: ME

As long as your saucepan doesn't have your social security number, you should be ok.

From: IT

To: Me

All my pans are encrypted.

[H/T IT Department]

In the dumps.

 Have you ever been so efficient as to go backwards?

I always think about this when I see someone speeding. If he gets a ticket, did he really get there any faster?

Trying to be efficient one day, I grabbed a load of items destined for the recycle bin. I also grabbed a small lock that needed to be placed on an outdoor gate and a little plastic bag that need to go back in my trunk to be reused the next time I went shopping. It seemed logical to grab all these things at once since I would pass the car and the recycle bin in close proximity on my way to the gate. It would save me the trip of having to come back into the house before going back out in over-110 degree weather.

Car trunk ✔️ - I dropped the plastic bag onto the lid of the trunk. My arms were overflowing with recycling material. I would put the bag in the trunk on my way back in.

Recycle ✔️✔️ -  I managed to get the lid of the bin open and dumped my armload of recyclables in. Along with the lock.

Crap.

The bin is a large one which was useful three years ago when we first moved in and had lots of cardboard boxes to recycle. Now, my recycling lays at the bottom beyond the reach of my outstretched arm. 

Did I mention it was a small lock? It, like car keys in my purse, dove immediately to the bottom, out of sight. The only way to get at it was to tip the whole thing over and to crawl in.

I was already showered and dressed for the day. I was wearing a skirt and a white shirt. I squatted down and reached for the larger items within reach in the sweltering heat: wine bottles to be sure, Sunday's newspaper, loose junk mail items but I could see no lock. 

I was now crouched on the open lid of the bin with everything I was able to reach now at my feet. I sifted through the items again more carefully. Surely, the lock had to be there. I had only just tossed it in.

But, no, I could not find it which only meant one thing. It was still in the bin at the very bottom. Was I really going to have to crawl in on my hands and knees?

I went back to the garage and put the plastic bag in the trunk while I tried to think of something long enough to reach the bottom of the bin. I had a push broom but that was too unwieldy. And then I spotted it. Something one might not think to have in the desert: An umbrella. 

Back inside the bin, it worked brilliantly. I pushed away the remaining debris at the bottom of the recycle bin and used the tip of the umbrella to fish the lock out. All that was left was to put all the recycling back into the bin and stand it back up.

But first, I put the lock in my pocket.

Speaking of pages ...

 I used to have a page called "WUV" which stood for What's Up Vancouver. It was subtitled:

Fun Stuff to Do Around Town

With the following explanation:

This is in no way an exhaustive list of things to do. This just represents the things that appeal to me. And, frankly, it's all about me anyway.

I still keep it up in a manner of speaking only now the events are those that take place in and around Coachella Valley and there's no link to the page from Chocolate Chip Mint (other than this one). One thing remains the same: it's still about me. 

I'm thinking about revitalizing the page, changing the name, and updating the links. I love to explore what the valley has to offer in the way of restaurants, events, things to do. People often ask, "How do you know all this stuff?" I guess because that's what interests me, that's what I look for on websites, in the newspaper, and on social media. These are the things I put on my own calendar. That doesn't necessarily mean I go to all these things but I like to know what's going on and I like to have that at my fingertips for when the inevitable question come up, "What should we do tonight (or this weekend)?"

Let me know if you have an idea for the name. CV Happenings? That might lead you to the Community Calendar for Coachella Valley Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (which is an interesting website if you're interested in the workings of an HOA). 

How about "S'up CV?" for What's up Coachella Valley? 

I tried searching for "Around CV" and got a lot of information about constant velocity axle boots and I've had enough of that this year!

Maybe a take on the words "desert" or "cactus" or "hot." 

What do you think?

Did you know...?

 There are 77 instances of the word "chicken" on my Eat Me page. I only discovered this when I wanted to  find a recipe that I posted some time ago - like years ago - but couldn't remember the title of it. All I could remember was that it had chicken and olives in it. ("Olive" is mentioned only 22 times but most often in relation to "oil.") After sifting through several recipes that utilized chicken, I decided it must have been the Chicken, Quinoa, and Green-Olive Stew that I was looking for.

Or maybe it was Moroccan Chicken with Green Olives and Lemon.

I guess I'll just have to make both.

In the end, all we have are the memories.

 It's the end of summer and I've been spending a lot of time with my soon-to-be 12 year old granddaughter before she goes back to school next week. We've been swimming in the afternoons and we've had pedicures. She's gel-coated my nails and added copper tinsel to my hair. She's repaired one of my beaded bracelets and made a new one from tiny buttons. (Buttons, btw, that were left over from when I knitted her a sweater when she was baby.)

We are creating memories. Much like the memories my late mother-in-law created for her grandchildren. I have great memories of my grandparents and, now, I have the great privilege of making memories with my grandchildren.

Sometimes making memories is exhausting. Like holidays and family reunions. The preparation. The noise. I also spend most of the school year with my granddaughter and her brother. Four out of five days, I'm involved in getting them to or from school. By the end of the year, I'm ready for a long break.

It's all a loving chaos. Family soup. Toss in all the ingredients and most of the time, you end up with something unexpectedly good that warms the soul.

Today, three of the gel nails are still hanging on, most of the tinsel has fallen out, and I have knots in my hair. But I also have the memories and I hope she cherishes them as much as I do.

I like Maxwell House coffee.

 There. I said it.

Honestly, if Facebook thought I was posting offensive or deceitful things, this probably is worse than the story about washing my car. Can you imagine? Influencing people to like Maxwell House? Go to your room!

It happened by accident, like most things do. I was traveling and that was the coffee in my hotel room. It was a coffee pod - the kind that work in Keurig-type machines.

My choices were to drink the coffee or don't. What was I to do?

I drank the coffee. Obviously.

It's a medium blend whereas I've always been a hardcore dark roast coffee drinker. Am I getting softer? Or less discriminating? 

Don't panic. I haven't switched brands. I'm not suddenly hoarding Maxwell House Original Roast (like I hoard Starbucks Christmas blend). It's not my daily drinker.

But I bought some pods, nonetheless. Could be handy the next time I'm traveling.

Or if coffee prices keep going up. Maxwell House is less expensive. But, it's still "good to the last drop."

I'm just saying it's worth giving it a try. At least, there's nothing to be afraid of.

In Color

Gettin' to it.

 For the record, I filed my tax return. Sort of. The FED return got e-filed but I just learned that the "free" state tax return that came with TurboTax actually isn't free to file. Yes, you can create the return for free but it costs $15 if you want to file it electronically.

So today's task is to print it and mail it. Can anyone spell FUN?

And since I'm writing about it, does this count as two things I didn't avoid?

Either way, it's hot.

 First thing this morning, I opened my weather app and saw the high was only going to be 99°F today. I say "only" because that's COOL for us this time of year. It would feel marvelous to be able to go outside anytime after dawn and actually enjoy being outside. We could even consider sitting a spell in the shade. With an outdoor misting system, it would be absolute heaven.

In the app, I scrolled down and saw temps would stay below 100 for the foreseeable future. I thought to myself, "What a relief!" I started shopping for new running shoes and plotting a training routine to prepare for a half marathon coming up in January. I wondered if I could also train for a 100-mile bike ride in March (because "overboard" is my default speed). I'd been going the gym or doing laps in the pool and I was ready to get outside and on land.

It's a little early in the season to start thinking about training for long distances in the summer desert but I was encouraged by the lower than average seasonal temps.

Then, in the next moment, I realized I was looking at temperatures for the city where my brother lives.

Which is not where I live.

First thing this morning, he was probably looking at the same weather information and thinking about how HOT it was going to be, converting his routine of being outside to being in the gym or in swimming in the lake near his home, quite the opposite of what I was strategizing.

Sadly, we are both stuck inside for the foreseeable future. Here, today's high will be 112°F. Additionally, we are under an Excessive Heat Warning and have been since since July 1 almost continuously. We will likely remain under an Excessive Heat Warning roughly through the end of August.

Looking at my weather app again, it looks like it's hot everywhere.

Everywhere except Copenhagen. 

Maybe I should look at taking a trip.

Caught In The Middle

 I almost filed my tax return*. I was just about to pat myself on the back for getting to a chore that I've been avoiding until I realized that I was using that as an excuse to avoid writing.

Think about that. I would rather do taxes than write.

Either way, I avoided something.

*I filed an extension in April.

Up Against The Wall

Tied Down

Hot Swappable

 I have two identical coffee machines. I bought the first one at least 20 years ago. It's a discontinued home espresso machine made by Saeco that was marketed by Starbucks for a time. It looks like this.

I loved this machine. Still do. Still using it.

About ten years after I had purchased my first one, I came across an ad on Craigslist, I think it was, for a used one in Portland, Oregon. I don't remember why the seller was selling it but I jumped on the chance to buy it and was willing to pay full price: $75! (I probably paid around $200 for the first one.)

At the time, this was not only a good price but convenient as I was now commuting between two homes and having the same coffee maker was like having a creature comfort in both places. 

Later, when we consolidated back to living in one home, I had a spare. Which, I have never had to use.

Remember, this model is discontinued as are many of its parts. It's irreplaceable. 

Then, one day, I broke it.

I came around the corner of the kitchen to show Hubby the damage and I saw it in his eyes. The fear. The rising panic. The true and certain knowledge that I could - and probably would - melt down.

Until he remembered and said, "It's a good thing we have a hot swappable."

Indeed, I have not missed a single serving of coffee. And, as it turns out, the broken part was just the plastic scoop for measuring beans. 20-25 years old, it held up for a long time but now it was gone.

Good thing I had an extra one.

"Good thing," sighed Hubby.

“Sorry, honey! I used all the cold water!”

You will never hear those words in Duluth.

You will hear that in southwest deserts of the United States.

Every summer.

By the Numbers

 We recently got back from a two-week roadtrip to the Pacific Northwest, a place where we lived most of our lives and where we first fell in love with beer. (Not to mention each other.)

It was a trip fraught with car problems the entire way. Not exactly ideal. Each time we stopped at an auto repair shop, we tried to evaluate if it was time to retire our 10 year old car with 156,000 miles on the odo. It's a diesel and run likes a champ. Except lately, when it doesn't.

The problems started on Day 2 of our trip. We could have turned around - cancel the whole trip - but we didn't. We pressed on. Things didn't seem all that bad. We arrived at our first destination on Day 4.

On Day 6, we took it to a mechanic. The first of three. 

We were shocked when they told us an axle needed to be replaced. We were also surprised by the cost. It was expensive. We contemplated trading in the car somewhere and buying a new one so we could continue our trip. We also thought about flying to our next destination and onward towards home. We did neither of those things. Two days later, Day 8, we were on the road again and to our relief everything seemed fine.

But then, two hours later, we made a pit stop. As we exited the freeway we heard a sound like we had blown a tire but I had no trouble controlling the vehicle. At our stop, we inspected the tires and everything looked fine. Puzzled, we took it to Mechanic #2 who said one of the tires - the one on the newly replaced axle - just needed rebalancing.

Two hours later, we were on the road again.

Just an hour and a half after that, we pulled over again. Something was not right. The car was shuddering. Enter Mechanic #3.

This time, all four tires were rebalanced. Another two-hour delay. When we finally hit the road, we only made it a couple of blocks before we circled back to Mechanic #3. Things were not better.

With a total of four hours delay for the day, we decided to call it quits and spend the night. We weren't going to make our destination that day. Not for the first time, we contemplated ditching the car forever. Instead, we rented a car and left ours with Mechanic #3. 

This was Day 9 which just happened to be July 3, the day before a long holiday weekend. The mechanics would not be working on July 4. Luckily, they were able to work on it the next day - Friday, July 5. On July 6 - Saturday, Day 11 of our trip - we returned to see if they figured out what was wrong with our car.

Mechanic #3 said the problem with our car was that the new axle fell out. Not all the way out. Just enough to make everything rattle and shake. It wasn't seated properly; it couldn't be. Mechanic #3 said we needed to take it back to Mechanic #1 because the axle they installed was too short. This is why it "fell out." However, he said it was safe enough to drive the 220 miles back to the first mechanic. 

This was nerve wracking.

We called Mechanic #1 but the shop was still closed for the holiday weekend. They wouldn't be open until Monday.

We re-routed our trip, skipping our next intended destination, and backtracked to the first mechanic. We had two days to kill: Saturday and Sunday. Naturally, we found beer. (You can see all the beers we tried on our trip here.)

On Monday, we were on Mechanic #1's doorstep when they opened. (We tried to call ahead but they were closed.) They were just coming off a long weekend and were not thrilled to see customers first thing that Monday morning. They told us they couldn't work us into the schedule right away. Maybe they could do it that afternoon, they offered. 

We insisted. We had already checked out of our hotel and the car was fully packed with two weeks worth of stuff. They could fix it right away or we were going to camp out in their waiting room until it was done. Ten minutes later, the car was on the rack. Shortly after that, we overheard them conferring. Indeed, the axle had fallen out and needed to be replaced again.

A new one was ordered and someone was dispatched to get it. They had us on the road again a couple of hours later. Day 13. 

Day 15 we were home and the car has been fine ever since, all thoughts of disowning it long forgotten. Through it all, we covered

• 3,600 miles
• $3,200 in car repairs
• 28 different beers 
• 14 nights
• 11 breweries
• 8 hotel rooms
• 6 stops for mechanical issues
• half a dozen friends
• 4 states
• 3 auto repair shops
• 2 relatives
• 1 rental car

And one raging case of hemorrhoids, in the end....

Despite the discomfort, the delays, the hand-wringing and uncertainty, the unexpected costs, and a missed stop . . .  despite vows that we'll never do it again, we had a great time because that's what roadtrips are for: surviving the unpredictable. Besides, it could have been worse.

There could have been two raging cases of hemorrhoids.

Do I Have To?

 You know that voice inside your head reminding you that you should probably should exercise more? Ignore her.

With all our recent travel and the extreme heat at home, I've fallen out of my exercise routine which, under different circumstances, consists almost entirely of walking outdoors. I really like walking outdoors. I'll go for miles and miles and miles.

I don't tolerate heat well so it's somewhat paradoxical that I should live in a place where temperatures are easily over 90 degrees for half the year. Right now, in fact, it's over 90 degrees before the sun even comes up. It's just too hot to walk outdoors. Anywhere.

I could walk on a treadmill but that's boring. Besides, it's hard to keep an indoor routine going when we spend the summer traveling. Oh, I have several more flimsy excuses.

That's where that little voice comes in. She reminds me that it's not too hot to swim. In fact, it's a perfect time to swim. Just make a reservation at the pool and do it. Putting it on the calendar will be motivating.

I signed up for a swim lane at the pool. I have it for an entire hour. 

It worked. For a minute. But then I remembered.

I don't like to swim.

Speakeasy

Yellow

My fridge is full of garbage while my freezer is full of Christmas

 I've been out of town the last four Fridays. Which means my garbage hasn't been picked up in a month. To be fair (to be fair), there wasn't much garbage to pick up because we've been out of town. 

However, in the last five weeks, we were home for about ten days. And in those ten days, we produced food waste - aka compost - which is picked up on garbage day.

Well, I wasn't going to just let that sit and rot on my kitchen counter until the next time we were going to be home on a garbage day. So, I put it in my refrigerator to keep it from smelling up the house and attracting bugs. 

But now, because my fridge is half full of beer (collected during said travels), the garbage takes up most of the remaining space. Indeed, there's a chicken carcass in my freezer. 

But speaking of my freezer, I also have an oversupply of Starbuck's Christmas Blend coffee. 

What? It was on sale! I couldn't help myself! Think of it as my version of Christmas in July.

I only have 159 days left to drink what's left of it (before it goes on sale again).

Meanwhile, the garbage goes out today. Not exactly Christmas but close.

Banned Reading

 Yesterday I posted on Facebook. It was roughly five words long - something like, "What's there to be afraid of?" - and a link to yesterday's blog post here on Chocolate Chip Mint.

My Facebook post was banned and removed by Facebook.

According to their website: 

" We do not allow content that is designed to deceive, mislead, or overwhelm users in order to artificially increase viewership. "

You got me. 

In truth, I was trying to artificially increase viewership because who else is going to read this? 

The gist of yesterday's blog post was that I had washed my car and I hoped it wouldn't rain.

For the record, I never designed to deceive or mislead anyone about the fact that I washed my car. 

Five words and a link to yesterday's post is hardly overwhelming.

If It Happens, It's My Fault

It's been raining. Yay! (We need it.)

We had bursts of rain in small patches. On Sunday, one side of town got 1.5" in 30 minutes, while the other side got next to nothing. 

My car was parked outside on Sunday and I was in an area that got rained on. The shower lasted only a few minutes but prompted flood warnings. Yet, by the time I got to my car, everything had dried up and my car was left with rain spots all over it. Boo!

On Monday, some people saw hail (called snow in Pennsylvania) while I saw nothing. 

Today, I washed my car. Yay!

But, I forgot to bring a towel. By the time I got home, my car was covered in spots again. Boo! 

So I washed it again in my garage by hand. I only had to spray it with a little water and wipe it with a microfiber cloth to remove the water spots from the carwash and accumulated dust from the drive home. Yay! 

But I still have to do an errand and fetch some Grin-itch spinach. Boooo....

I just hope it doesn't rain. Noooo!

A Genre With All The Words

Question:

Name any movie in the genre of "made-for-TV, science fiction, action, comedy, horror, disaster." Hint: There was a series of films made in this style between 2013 and 2018.  Per Wikipedia: "The first two films received mixed to positive reviews from critics, while the others received negative reviews." Rotten Tomatoes gives the first film 75%, the second one 61%, and the remaining movies anywhere from 14% to 36%.

Answer:

Sharknado. 

So bad, it's good. 

We stumbled upon it quite by accident because we would have never seen it otherwise. Indeed, we've been actively avoiding the Sharknado movies. The name alone should tell you that it's not worth seeing.

Then, one day, I heard an interview about "Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!" by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. I thought, that (Airplane!) would be a fun movie to see again.

While I was looking for ways to stream the Airplane!, we came across Sharknado and the only reason we picked it was because we could stream it for free. 

It was entirely worth every penny! 

But then we were hooked. The first one was bad but the second one was elevated to cult level bad. It's like everyone got the joke with the first one and wanted in. The cast of the second movie includes Vivica A. Fox, Richard Kind, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne, Judd Hirsch, Robert Klein, Matt Lauer and Al Roker, Michael Strahan, Downtown Julie Brown, Kelly Ripa, and so many others.

My recommendation for this Friday's pizza and movie night is Sharknado and Sharknado 2: The Second One. Even more people signed on to be in the third movie, aptly named Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! If you've got the stomach for it, just keep going. We only made it to the third one. Luckily, there are three more! 

Woo hoo!