Just 24 days

Things have changed since my first child was born in 1961. The thought then was that they needed some time to build up immunity before meeting the world and its bacteria, viruses and contaminants. When I was on my way out of the coffee shop this morning I stopped at a table and asked, "How old is your little one?" "Three and a half weeks," she said. So I looked it up at several web sites thinking perhaps there was new advice. Doesn't seem to be.

"During the next several months, the antibodies passed from the mother to the infant steadily decrease. When healthy babies are about two to three months old, the immune system will start producing its own antibodies. During this time, the baby will experience the body's natural low point of antibodies in the bloodstream. This is because the maternal antibodies have decreased, and young children, who are making antibodies for the first time, produce them at a much slower rate than adults. Once healthy babies reach six months of age, their antibodies are produced at a normal rate."

Dads in coffee shops

This morning there were two cute toddlers having races and playing tag at the coffee shop. Round and round they went, narrowly missing customers who didn't see them coming. Now if coffee had been spilled on them. . .

Hospital scrubs

I saw two adult men in hospital scrubs at the coffee shop this morning. They bumped elbows instead of shaking hands (the new flu greeting). Yesterday I saw a doctor in a white coat there--could read the embroidered name.

That's odd if you're concerned about germs--that you would wear your protective covering home and to the coffee shop. I asked the chemistry teacher in the next booth about it. She told me they probably change when they get to the hospital/clinic/office. Hmmm. So that means they brought yesterday's germs home to the family and neighbors?

Love story overhead

How old are you?

Twenty three.

When did you get married?

Twenty-one.

When did you meet?

Nineteen.

How did you meet?

We both worked at Krogers.

You can probably tell, but the questions were by a female, and answers from a male.

Bag Lady in suburbia

Bag Lady sung by Erykah Badu

Bag lady you gone hurt your back
Draggin all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you
All you must hold on to
Is you, is you, is you

One day all them bags gone get in
You way (x4)

So pack light (x4)

I saw a young, slender attractive "bag lady" in the coffee shop--don't know what else to call her. She had 4 or 5 large bags outside next to the window so she could keep and eye on them, and inside she was sorting compulsively through smaller bags, wallets, boxes, etc. She was dressed for cool weather. I remember seeing her about 5 or 6 years ago at Caribou when unemployment in Ohio was under 5%, so I don't think the current Obama economy is the cause of her condition. She's probably eligible for numerous programs, especially if she's disabled because of mental illness, but perhaps in her mind the social workers just want to entrap her. Or maybe she just lives in the neighborhood and enjoys carrying her worldly possessions with her.

Good Luck, Amanda!

She's been welcoming us early birds for several summers, and has now graduated from college. We wish her the best--always has a smile and hot coffee for us.

Coffee in Italy

Last summer we were in Italy, and found nothing that tasted like what we call coffee in the United States. The closest is Caffè Americano - A shot of espresso with hot water added and served in a larger cup. After we got home, I found this nice newsletter from Bill and Kristi Steiner called Adventures in Italy. The URL I see includes my e-mail, so if you plan to visit Italy soon, just google that information for a subscription. Anyway, about coffee. The latest issue includes names of the various coffee drinks you will find in Italy.

"The number and variety of coffee options Italy has is amazing. Most of us are exposed to some of the selections found in Italy through coffee houses in the U.S. But the Italians have an amazing array of choices. You won't find a menu listing your options, you just have to know what they are. Here are some of the different kinds of coffee to explore, but we would never say this is a complete list!

_Caffè_ - In Italy the word “caffè’” means an espresso. There is no need to specify “espresso.” It is served in a demitasse cup “tazzina” with its own
saucer and little stirring spoon.

_Caffè Macchiato_ - “Macchiare” means to stain. This is an espresso
“stained” with a tiny bit of hot milk, probably frothed.

_Caffè Macchiato Freddo_ – Freddo means cold. An espresso served in a
demitasse cup with cold or lukewarm milk on the side. It is a regular caffè next to a carafe of milk, which you add.

_Cappuccino_ – Most of us know this one – an espresso and steamed, frothy milk added so that there is a layer of milk foam in a larger cup, a tazza. Many barristas make an art of the way the foam appears. An Italian cappuccino is smaller than you get in the U.S. - and better!

_Marocchino_ - In some areas of Italy, also called an Espressino or Mocacchino. It is a shot of espresso served in a glass demitasse with a sprinkling of cacao (chocolate) and milk foam spooned on top.

_Latte Macchiato_ – This is an approximation of what we call a caffe latte: Milk “stained” with coffee, and served hot in a glass cup or in a tall cup, larger than a cappuccino.

_Caffè Corretto_ – This literally means a corrected coffee. It is an espresso in a demitasse cup, with a “shot” of liquor of your choice.

_Caffe HAG_ – Hag is a brand of decaffeinated coffee. Ask for it or decaf, which they will probably understand. It is often instant coffee."