If We Were Having Coffee On This February Morning…

/ Ally Bean

THE SETTING:  

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We’d be sitting in my kitchen at the table, staying warm, glancing outside at the bleak leafless trees that make you wonder if you’ll survive this time of year with your sanity intact.

We’d be drinking basic brewed coffee, with cream, and eating donuts because carbs are where it’s at when the world is this dull and gray.  

We’d be listening to the local university rock radio station because on Saturdays they play hits from the 60s & 70s & 80s– and it’s fun, once in a while, to groove on tunes from the past.

THE CONVERSATION:

√  We’d be sharing… our latest reading obsessions, which in my case would be 3 different books that I seem to read depending on which room I’m in.   My father did this and I realize I’m doing it now, too.  So, when I’m in the tv room I’m reading The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin.  In the living room I’m reading 1215, The Year of the Magna Carta by Danny Danziger & John Gillingham.  And in our bedroom I’m halfway through The Key by James N. Frey.  You’d assure me that this book-reading behavior isn’t as weird as it sounds.

√  We’d be discussing… how I find Cheryl Tiegs’s out-of-touch criticism of Ashley Graham’s size and look to be sad and spiteful.  I’d mention that I never thought CT had much on the ball, so I suppose she hasn’t noticed that the ideal body image of models has evolved and diversified since her days as a model.  I’d realize that I was being snarky, but conclude that sometimes it’s the only response to stupid.

√  We’d be laughing… about how this week, after months of effort, I got to Level 445 in Candy Crush Soda Saga, and how I believe I just might make it to the end of this game, which is Level 565.  You’d roll your eyes at me because whatever, but I’d still be proud of this achievement considering I’ve never come this close to finishing one of these silly games before.

√  We’d be talking… about how when Zen-Den went to buy paint for one of our bedrooms, he made me the happiest girl on the block when he bought me a brand-new slick and wonderful Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap Fan Deck that has in it, according to the SW sales clerk, 200 new shades of paint.  My little amateur interior designer heart is racing with the possibilities.

THE CONCLUSION:

IMG_0028We’d have to part after an hour or so of chit-chat because we each had obligations in the afternoon to get ready for. 

We’d hug and promise to get together sometime in the Spring, which for both of us is busy, then realize that maybe it’d be Summer before we do this again.

And we’d thank each other for listening to & laughing about our small victories and wacky ways.  Like friends do everywhere.  Often over a mug of coffee.

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Idea for this post came from Diana at Part-Time Monster.

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49 thoughts on “If We Were Having Coffee On This February Morning…”

  1. Sounds like a real thing. I do this all the time with my friends although sometimes it’s at dinner. After years of being sporadic we have made it a routine to meet once a month. Mostly it works but every once in a while life intervenes.

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  6. Oh, thank goodness for donuts. Sometimes that’s all that works. Horrendous week -post about that tomorrow/whenever, so it’s nice to be here.
    Magna Carta is a fascinating era – didn’t know anyone else read about it. History passes so many byes.
    Models forget they are to be seen and not heard. Do you remember when leg warmered Jan Fonda snarked “older women had no excuse to be out of shape. They are just lazy” – or something very close to that…she’s had to eat those words. MAybe it was better when people who heard stupid comments just silently glared and stared silently (while thinking you are an absolute idiot/fool/nut case) – the thought coming across very clearly in the look as an abrupt conversation change signaled “You are excluded for your horrible stupidity”. But then again thought projection was a fine skill as well as that flip to another topic – and people recognized they had been snubbed and corrected….too quiet and sophisticated a move for today’s world? They just wouldn’t get it
    Oh, dear, look at the time
    Lovely time!

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    • philmouse, I’m enjoying 1215. The book explains what everyday life was like at the time. So many of my assumptions about the era are wrong. Interesting read.

      The whole situation with CT got my goat. I mean, what business of hers is it to criticize a successful, healthy, beautiful woman who has it all going on? I was flabbergasted by such an insensitive comment from an older woman who should know better. *shakes head in dismay*

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  7. Great post! 🙂
    I like snarky. That Ashley person is beautiful and I don’t care who says what. I haven’t heard about it.
    I usta could read several books at once, but now, not so much. At best, I can read a fiction and a non-fiction, two tops!
    The Mister fetched donuts this morning. Carbs are definitely where it’s at.
    Prepare yourself, there is a great sadness at the end of one’s game. I finished my word game and felt such an emptiness. “No more game? Game all done?” SO SAD. Like the end of a beautiful book.
    Happy weekend 🙂

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    • joey, the situation with CT vs Ashley is weird, to put it mildly. I’m not sure when I started this multiple book reading behavior, but it doesn’t seem to be confusing me… yet. I hadn’t thought about how I’d feel about actually ending one of these games. I bet I will miss it. Of course, first I have to get to the end.

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    • Allie P, good point. I don’t know why I associate donuts with gray days and winter, but I do. Perhaps this summer I’ll make a point of eating one in the sunshine, just to see what that is like.

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    • Tara, I bet you’re right. I’ve never thought of CT in comparison to Farrah Fawcett, but they were around at about the same time. Interesting observation. My reading based on where I sit has been good so far. If I get too confused I suppose I’ll have to return to more normal ways, but it’s fun in a nerdy sort of way.

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  10. As I recall, that was the same thing people said about Cheryl Tiegs. Ashley Graham is gorgeous.

    Mary’s up to level 300-something. I think they keep creating levels, so make sure your game is up-to-date. My favorite game is Two Dots; I think there’s a little more strategy involved.

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    • John, is that right about CT? I didn’t know that, so maybe she’s jealous of AG’s success? On the one hand I don’t care, but it seemed so pathetic to me that an older model wasn’t supporting a younger one. I’ll check my game to see if there’s more to it than I think there is. Good idea, I must keep my goal in clear sight.

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  11. Thanks for the donut and coffee. I like country western music from the fifties, sixties and seventies.I don’t pay too much attention to the entrainment world unless sports. I read mostly mysteries and might a couple books going at a time. The book on the Maga CRta sounds interesting as it made a huge difference in the likes of the middle-class and poor.

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    • bettylouise31, country music from those eras is so different than what it is today. I don’t know any radio station around here that play it, but if you come for coffee and donuts I’ll try to find one. I’ll read almost any genre, at least for a few chapters. 1215 has been a fascinating look at a pivotal time in history that I didn’t know much about.

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      • I know country music is different now. There is no station here that plays the oldies. Since I lost my hearing it really doesn’t matter anymore.Not many realize how important the Maga Carte. I rate it as important as the atomic bomb and Pearl Harbor.

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        • There used to be a radio station around here that played old-time country music once in a while, but I think that station went out of business. I agree about the Magna Carta. I didn’t learn much about it in history class, but this book fills in the blanks.

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  12. One would think that Cheryl Tiegs, finally back In The News, would have the grace and class to observe The Thumper Rule*. I guess the old saying is true–any publicity is good publicity.

    *”If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

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    • nance, I agree. Usually anything that has do with modeling washes right over me, but this little snit-fest got to me because it is such a desperate attempt to get attention, under the guise of concern trolling.

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  13. I wish you and Nance could both come to California for a visit. We have some donuts too, and also stupidly gorgeous weather. Stupidly gorgeous because we’re in a drought. Hoping for a wet March, though, so come quickly.

    Cheryl Tiegs should shut up. Perhaps it’s not healthy to be overweight, but it’s also not healthy to be underweight, which most supermodels are.

    I do love your idea of sitting down for a long chat over coffee, though.

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    • J, I’d love to be somewhere with stupidly beautiful weather! I know our weather will be lovely soon, so I’m really just feeling sorry for myself during this month.

      You’ve nailed it about CT. In a weird way it’s pot calling the kettle black. Neither extreme is good for anyone.

      I agree about this coffee share meme. I think that it’s such a smart way to put together a blog post. Glad that I stumbled upon it. Did you follow the link and find the page with all the other bloggers who are doing this? Great list.

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    • Girl in the World, smart move with the glasses. I’m impressed. I don’t know when I started doing this reading behavior, but I figure as long as I’m reading something my brain is still clicking.

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  15. I would love the music! I do coffee dates a lot, but rarely at my house. When I do, I enjoy them because I don’t have to get all cleaned up! However, I have to work at making my mochas which are well-known among my friends. 🙂 I disagree with CT’s opinions, but she has the right to say what she thinks. After all, Donald Trump does it all the time, and he may be our next President.

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    • Margaret, I figure that if I was having someone over for coffee it’d force me to clean at least the first floor of the house– and that would be a good thing. You are absolutely right that CT is entitled to her opinions and has every right to say them. Occasionally some famous person does manage to say something that gets under my skin– and this was one of those times. Now as for DT, I pay no attention to him and hope that many other people follow my lead. 😉

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    • JerriLM, thanks for becoming a cool kid. I’m always happy to meet someone new. The weekend coffee share idea is great, imho. I don’t always have time to do it, but I try to check in on it every weekend just to see what’s happening.

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  17. Pingback: The “One More Day In February” Week That Was | The Sound of One Hand Typing

  18. I will have to pick up my coffee sharing game I play on my blog because yours was WAY BETTER than mine. I never thought to chat about something outside of food! LOL Speaking of carbs….. Anyway thanks for the inspiration!

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    • Jasmine, well, thank you. I started doing these coffee share posts and just kind of winged it. I figured it’s best for me to talk about whatever because that’s what I’d do if we met in person. Looking forward to popping by and reading your post. Thanks for saying “hi.”

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  19. Coffee and donuts sound lovely. I like plain cake donuts the best. As far as I’m concerned your reading habits aren’t odd at all. As a child I had a book going in every room. These days I mostly read on my Kindle and only one at a time. But sometimes I have an audio book going, too, for driving or doing chores.

    As for Cheryl….. that was one of the most offensive things I have read in a long time. And nearly as timely as Christie Brinkley’s advice on using face lifts, botox and fillers to remain young. I’m hoping that not all models are idiots, but it makes me sad that people listen to them.

    Congratulations on Candy Crush. I play Monster Busters, which I prefer because you can earn the helps for free if you’re patient. I don’t like getting stuck to the point that I can’t move on without extreme luck. You are a much better Candy Crusher than I!

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    • Zazzy, I rarely eat donuts, but when I do I’m open-minded about which one I eat. Don’t want to limit my choices! 😉

      I didn’t know about Christie Brinkley’s advice. Amazing. If these older former models didn’t have the influence that they seem to have I wouldn’t care. It all just makes me sad.

      I don’t know about Monster Busters, but will keep it in mind should I finish Candy Crush. You’re right though, there is so much luck in Candy Crush that it’s silly. However, I can see the end in sight and figure it doesn’t matter when I get there– weeks, months, years…

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  20. Hi Ally,
    I totally get the different books for different rooms and situations. I have books which I read in bed. These do not include more research orriented books, where I need to be more awake. I underline my books and write messages in them and that’s easier when I’m not half asleep. I have reasonably frequent long train trips so I have to be careful about taking the right book…not too heavy, enough left to go both ways and it’s a good chance to read something heavier or requiring my attention. Some books have a few blank pages in the back and many of these books get poems etc written in the back.
    I have numerous towers of books around my house. Can’t stop buying books and not reading enough to keep up.
    Hope you have a great week and thanks for coffee.
    xx Rowena

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    • roweeee, I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one with partially-read books every which way around the house. I used to be more focused, I guess– because I’d read a book all the way through, then move on to the next one. But now, like you explained above, it depends on how alert I am and where I’m going. Gotta wonder why I never did this before? 😉

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