Coffee Spills

A carry-in McDonald's breakfast

2012-02-19T08:21:00.002-05:00

A large overweight man brought in a huge sack of McDonald's breakfast items to the coffee shop at Giant Eagle. Maybe only the window was open at McDonald's and he wanted a sit down breakfast. Giant Eagle has a very tasty and inexpensive alternative to all that fat. A bowl of oatmeal with a lot of fresh fruit plus coffee or tea for $2.00.

Bi-lingual breakfast

2012-02-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

A father and his young son were having breakfast together today at the coffee shop--sort of. The father was speaking Spanish and the son was replying in English and Spanglish. Then they both opened up their computers and worked separately. You gotta love these family bonding times.

What's wrong with teenagers these days?

2012-01-29T19:21:00.001-05:00

This author in the Wall Street Journal seems a bit cranky. The only teens I meet are either at church or Panera's and they all seem pretty nice, hard working, motivated, polite and smart to me! It's the people in their 20s who seem a bit immature as they postpone growing up. Maybe this prof lumped them all together.What's wrong with the teenage mind?

Her name was Norma Jean

2012-01-22T17:23:00.000-05:00

I talked to a man at the coffee shop who knew my name was Norma because the cashier had called me by name. I told him (he was very young) that he probably didn't know many Normas. He agreed. Then I said, "Marilyn Monroe's real name was Norma." That surprised him, he'd never heard that, however, he wasn't really too sure who Marilyn Monroe was! Like I said, he was very young, and she would now be 86.

Merry Christmas from a stranger

2011-12-23T18:33:00.000-05:00

This morning at Panera's a stranger came to my table before he left (not having spoken to anyone else) and said, "Have a Merry Christmas," and I returned the greeting. Maybe he saw the "Merry Christmas" button on my purse. Then when I got ready to leave I went to the table of a retired biologist from OSU and said, "Have a Merry Christmas," and he smiled and said, "Happy Holidays."

Good deal on oatmeal

2011-12-18T16:49:00.001-05:00

There's a very nice breakfast offered at the Giant Eagle--steaming hot oatmeal with either coffee or tea for $2.00. A customer showed it to me--lots of fresh fruit in the oatmeal, plus hot milk. I don't see many people in the coffee shop there in early a.m. Only one or two. But the Christmas music has been very nice, and the coffee is very good.

Coffee conversation about working and rewards

2011-12-14T11:15:00.002-05:00

A woman who works for a very large company told me she'd won a prize for perfect attendance at work. Everyone who has shown up and worked their assigned shift has their name in a drawing-$50 prize. She said they do that not for people her age (I'd guess she's about 55), but for the young workers who haven't yet learned "a day's pay for a day's work." So the corporation has to "teach" them by offering prizes what their parents should have. Years ago you would have had your pay docked, and if that didn't work, you'd be fired. I wonder which method teaches the lesson more effectively?

Coffee with the girls

2011-11-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

October 3, 2011 at McKendrie Cafe in Mt. Morris, Illinois with Lynne and Nancy, high school classmates MMHS 1957.

A Baptist and a Catholic discuss the new mass

2011-10-07T15:34:00.000-04:00

"What do you know about this new mass?" asked the Baptist.

"They've been doing something to get us ready, but I really don't know anything about," said the Catholic.

So the Baptist pushed the morning newspaper across the table to her Catholic friend so she could find out about the new mass.

Catholic Culture : On The News : 'Loyal opposition' to the new Mass translation

How state lawmakers pump up pensions in ways you can't – USATODAY.com

2011-09-23T19:27:00.000-04:00

I heard people talking about this at the coffee shop--thought they must be wrong, but apparently not. More than 4,100 legislators in 33 states are positioned to benefit from special retirement laws that they and their predecessors have enacted to boost their pensions by up to $100,000 a year.

How state lawmakers pump up pensions in ways you can't – USATODAY.com

Too noisy today for my regular table

2011-09-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

I think they were bandies (members of the Upper Arlington High School Band) having a good time, but it was too noisy to read, so I moved to another part of the store. There I overheard some men talking about friends and relatives they love, but don't understand because they voted for Obama.

"My brother and sister-in-law are very liberal--we no longer discuss politics. They have an expensive car, nice home, but they cheat on their taxes. Drives my mother crazy."

Coffee Art® | coffee + creativity = art

2011-09-05T10:45:00.000-04:00

I've noted this "coffee as watercolor" blog before. Still enjoy looking at it.

Coffee Art® | coffee + creativity = art

Proud and relieved Dad

2011-09-03T10:47:00.002-04:00

Chatted with a man in the coffee shop who said his son just got an MBA at The Ohio State University--and a job! His daughter received a B.S. in Education (also from OSU) and has her first teaching job. His third child is a junior. He says it's very, very quiet at home.

Man with a Bible in need of coffee

2011-08-22T19:54:00.002-04:00

This morning a man walked in the door of Panera's and called out his order at the door. Then walked to a table and laid down his Bible, and walked up to the counter to pick up his cup. First things first.

My summer coffee spot--Coffee and Cream

2011-08-10T06:22:00.000-04:00

This summer Coffee and Cream is being run by four young siblings. Collectively they've worked there many years, and now they are the managers.

Back at Lakeside

2011-06-23T17:24:00.000-04:00

Locks of love

2011-06-11T08:50:00.000-04:00

The pretty college student and I were chatting about John Boehner (Speaker of the House) being the speaker at her graduation ceremony. Then I noticed her hair had been cut since the last time we spoke, so I asked about it. And she told me about Locks of Love. This is the second time she's grown out her hair for others. Quietly and beautifully doing something for others.

I don't want to be egotistical about this, but. . .

2011-06-05T19:21:00.000-04:00

We always know what's coming next, don't we? Something egotistical.

This fellow, who was about 100 lbs overweight, was comparing himself with a pro-athlete--and of course, he could do it better. He was also eating a very large breakfast while discussing his athletic abilities. He was with a very kind and patient friend.

Coffee reduces breast cancer risk, study suggests

2011-05-12T15:46:00.000-04:00

Too bad I need to be careful about how much coffee I consume. The research is so much better and more positive than in the past. But then, that could all flip again.

Researchers from Sweden compared lifestyle factors and coffee consumption between women with breast cancer and age-matched women without. They found that coffee drinkers had a lower incidence of breast cancer than women who rarely drank coffee. However they also found that several lifestyle factors affected breast cancer rates, such as age at menopause, exercise, weight, education, and a family history of breast cancer. Once they had adjusted their data to account for these other factors they found that the protective effect of coffee on breast cancer was only measurable for ER-negative breast cancer.

Coffee reduces breast cancer risk, study suggests

Exciting course at OSU

2011-02-12T16:39:00.000-05:00

"What's your best course this quarter?" I asked an Ohio State student at the coffee shop.

"Hands down, it's the Sociology of Terrorism."

Seems to be a fairly new course, and I may be paraphrasing the title. I remember right after 9/11 a new program was set up that was cross disciplinary through several colleges drawing on a lot of expertise.

Dads and their kids at the coffee shop

2011-02-11T15:26:00.000-05:00

This week I saw some great bonding going on with dads and their kids over breakfast--lessons being taught. One dad was teaching his daughter fractions by writing them on the napkin and then drilling her. She looked old enough to have been taught this some time ago in school, but was having a struggle. Probably Chicago Math.

I also overheard a British dad instructing his kids in proper use of English and why it's important to wash hands. "You're doing well, not good," he reminded the younger one who spoke American English. "Go wash your hands so you don't catch colds." That may be the first time I've heard someone tell kids to wash after they've eaten.

Coffee is a health food

2011-02-01T13:33:00.003-05:00

Coffee, a History | Medicine Hunter

A degree in sociology

2011-01-31T15:40:00.000-05:00

I met a lovely, raven haired, clear skin OSU student at the coffee shop. I asked her what she was studying, and she replied, Sociology, but had changed her major after an accident had put her out of sequence in her first choice and she could get the right classes. "What do you plan for a career with a degree in Sociology?" I asked. "I don't know," she said, "maybe a non-profit position." Shouldn't there be some career counseling by now before spending $60-$70,000 on a college degree?

“F” as in Fed

2010-12-11T17:50:00.000-05:00

Had a long discussion about the Federal Reserve at the coffee shope this morning. Can't repeat it all, or even part, but here's something to think about. Follow the links. I learn a lot at the coffee shop.

“F” as in Fed | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty

Hides her age

2010-11-30T07:50:00.001-05:00

I saw a very young girl at the coffee shop today, thought maybe she was middle-school, but she was studying very hard.

Me: What are you studying?

She: For the CPA exam.

Me: Really? I thought you were were about 12.

She: Yes, I get that a lot.

He said, she said

2010-11-03T11:48:00.000-04:00

She said: "Maybe."
He said: "Is it so hard to keep your word? Be a woman of integrity."

And then he walked out the door, she gave him a dirty look, and I was left wondering what in the world was going on.

Bed bugs?

2010-10-21T10:34:00.000-04:00

A woman at the coffee shop this morning told me she now unpacks her suitcase in the garage because of the bed bug scare. An article in the paper suggested you not put your suitcase on your bed after returning from a trip to unpack.

In order of ugly

2010-10-01T08:12:00.001-04:00

For men

Baggy pants
baseball caps
hoodies

For women

tight, sausage link jeans
dress down/casual Friday wear
lace up high heels, wedgies or boots

Saying good-bye to Coffee and Cream

2010-08-29T15:37:00.000-04:00

Linda greeted me most mornings--the first person of the day I talked to. Hope to see her next year.

Ice Cream for breakfast

2010-08-08T16:35:00.000-04:00

When I was at Coffee and Cream for my early coffee, the college girl at the next table was having a hot fudge sundae with M&M sprinkles and whipped cream about 7:20 a.m. She said, "I love vegetables, but I just hadn't had ice cream in a long time."

Then after church we went to the Patio Restaurant for breakfast and I saw two young girls, maybe 9 or 10, with dishes of ice cream walking out about 10:20. I think they'd been sent there by their parents to get breakfast. Oh well, can't be much worse than donuts--may have even more nutrition.

Seen at the coffee shop

2010-07-22T16:19:00.001-04:00

What a delight to see Pastor Eric Waters walk into the coffee shop this morning. It's a busy day in Lakeside--the tour of homes, and the craft show. There will be a lot for his 5 children to see.

Problems with drug cartels in Florida

2010-07-17T08:46:00.000-04:00

Today at the coffee shop I chatted with a woman from a beautiful ocean/lake/river area of Florida. She's lived there about 30 years, but originally came from this area of Ohio. In the last five years, she said, there's been a huge influx of crime from the Mexican drug cartels. She's very sympathetic with the Arizonans and believes there will be more laws like this if the federal government doesn't step up and do it's job. Another customer chimed in about his area--Atlanta. It's not just Arizona's problem, folks, and we should thank Governor Brewer for bringing it to our attention.

"The time to act is now. These cartels already have a known presence in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Until Washington restores its credibility on border security more states will be forced to act much like Arizona did. Washington needs a sense of urgency, or many American families will lose their sense of security.

Border security isn’t just a border state problem, it’s a United States problem." Sen. John Cornyn, (R) Texas.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/OpEd-Contributor/Sen-John-Cornyn-Porous-border-opens-door-for-Mexican-drug-cartels-95776869.html#ixzz0twXb2Rlr

Fashion policing the coffee shop

2010-06-03T08:02:00.000-04:00

Usually, I would nix a school teacher wearing athletic shoes to class. I think they need higher standards than the kids. However, when one foot and leg are in a soft cast for bunion surgery, and the other foot is in an open toe, backless wedgy, ummm, No, go with the athletic shoe for stability. Let's not have a fall and break the other leg.

Summer coffee, please

2010-06-01T11:04:00.001-04:00

A dad walks in the coffee shop in bare feet about 6:30 a.m., pushing the baby stroller. The clerk mentions the bare foot rule, but he says he can't leave the baby, so she gives him his coffee and he goes outside. While he waits, he unwraps a package of cigarettes. Soon Lakeside will be removing that choice from all public places too, even outside. I hope he doesn't smoke in the car with the baby strapped down and unable to get away from the smoke. In some states that's illegal too.

Secondhand smoke is responsible for an estimated 150,000-300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year, and riding in a vehicle is one of the main ways children are exposed, the CDC says.We shouldn't need laws for that "choice," but some parents/adults don't care that the rest of us don't want to stink or breathe their smoke.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/08/1568478/proposal-ban-smoking-in-cars-with.html#ixzz0pc7mUtB0

Procter & Gamble Says Pampers Dry Max Don't Cause Rashes

2010-05-14T15:31:00.001-04:00

Silly me. I used cloth diapers. A chemistry teacher was explaining at the coffee shop the gel in the diapers that holds the urine and makes them feel dry. She uses them for lab experiments. Look, mommies. If a product gives the baby a rash, change products. Everyone has allergies to something. And don't make that poor kids sit around 2 hours in a urine soaked and absorbed diaper.

Procter & Gamble Says Pampers Dry Max Don't Cause Rashes - WSJ.com

Made her day

2010-05-13T09:23:00.000-04:00

A woman in a simple black sheath, black belt, modest jewelry and black high heels with a good haircut and understated make-up walked past my table.

"Job interview today?" I asked.

She looked a bit puzzled, and then said, "No, just going to work."

"Well, you look absolutely fabulous."

As she left, she paused at my table and said, "Thank you, you made my day."

Sighing

2010-05-12T18:43:00.000-04:00

I asked why the big sigh as we stirred our coffee. "Four kids out the door, now I face a classroom of 14 year olds who have been 9 years in the same building and want to be elsewhere."

Warblers

2010-05-11T09:05:00.000-04:00

"We missed you at church on Sunday," I said as she passed my table. She paused a moment thinking and replied, "We were at Magee Marsh watching the warblers." I think she said they saw 25 different warblers.

"There are about 37 species of warblers that usually make an appearance here. Due to their reluctance to cross Lake Erie, the birds pile in on the forested beach ridges in large numbers and provide spectacular bird watching opportunities."

Four weeks until school's out

2010-05-10T12:27:00.002-04:00

Today at the coffee shop I asked a school teacher how long until school lets out and he said "142.5 hours."

A capitalist's dream

2010-04-23T18:39:00.003-04:00

The young man said he was a business finance major at Ohio State University.

"Maybe someday you can be called before Congress to testify as an evil Wall Street CEO," I joked.

"That would be my dream," he smiled.

And where else but America could a counter clerk working his way through the state university dream of becoming a mover and shaker, colluding with the White House and Congress to influence regulations to restrict the competition?

Bible study at Paneras

2010-04-13T12:00:00.003-04:00

I saw a woman writing in her notebook and sifting through Bible texts by the fireplace today. "Doing Bible study?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. "It's 3 women and my class is tomorrow." "Are you at UALC" "No. [??] Methodist." UALC's Women of the Word is offering this video based study, "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David," based on the teaching sessions with small group discussions of Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur

Mondays, 7:00-8:45 pm at MR (begins April 12)
Tuesdays, 6:45-8:30 pm at LR (begins April 6)
Thursdays, 9-11 am at LR - Childcare available (begins April 8)
Thursdays, 12:30-2:30 pm at MR (begins April 8)
Saturdays, 9:15-11:15 am at LR (begins April 10)

Cost is $15 (includes workbook).

Crying babies, patient parents

2010-04-11T10:55:00.002-04:00

Usually I don't approve of medicating hyperactive children, but today at the coffee shop there was a screaming wiggling running toddler, with 3 or 4 other quieter siblings. Maybe Mom could take something.

"My wife's first baby daddy . . . "

2010-04-10T15:12:00.002-04:00

I didn't catch the rest, but did wonder how many more baby daddies his wife has, and how many would have ruined the relationship. Young people today. . .

Career change?

2010-03-31T07:50:00.002-04:00

She wants to be me, she said--sitting in a coffee shop taking notes. I've never noticed her, but she says she sees me every morning. So we chatted a bit. A former librarian turned lawyer. Actually, she sounds like she thoroughly enjoys what she's doing.

It's nice to be remembered

2010-03-26T08:29:00.002-04:00

A tall, nice looking man carrying a broom stopped at my table and said, "Didn't you used to walk at the Lane Avenue Mall?" I had no idea who he was and didn't recognize him, but I agreed, that was indeed me for many years. Coffee at Caribou; walk for 30 minutes at Lane; on to open the Veterinary Library at 7:30.

"How did you remember me after all these years?" I asked, after he told me he was a maintenance worker there in those years.

"I always remember pleasant people," he said.

Maybe he remembers the times I forgot to change back into my dress shoes and had to come back and look for them.

Overheard standing in line for coffee

2010-03-14T11:45:00.002-04:00

"Like I mean like he tears up everything like what I give him like the stuffing is everywhere and I'm so afraid like he'll swallow something and like get sick like. . .?"

Are you still blogging?

2010-03-10T08:59:00.002-05:00

Father and son greeted me at Panera today. Apparently reads this blog. Or used to. Wonder how I tagged him? Today it will be "fathers." Also the young teen son said he'd check out the fan page I made.

Harold, Jim, Mrs. Friendly and others

2010-02-27T10:40:00.003-05:00

I see Harold every Saturday morning. He stopped at my table as usual and asked what I was writing. I've tried to explain web logs (blogs) to him, but if you've never seen one, it's hard to imagine. Who reads them, he asked. Not too sure, I said, but I'm a good writer. Jim stopped by too to ask me where the Wall Street Journal was. Another lady waved and spoke--don't know her name. Mrs. Friendly (don't know her name but she's friendly to everyone) mentioned that she was tired of snow. Chatted with the manager. He hasn't yet looked at the Panera's fan page for 5 points that I started. He and another clerk told me about FB on their cell phones, but my eyes glaze over at the complexity of it--just like Harold when I tell him about blogs. When I left, Jim had decided to read the Columbus Dispatch, instead.

I was trapped in an elevator!

2010-02-04T08:47:00.002-05:00

"How have you been?" I asked the adoption lawyer as I put on my coat to leave as she was settling in.

"The most exciting thing? I was trapped in an elevator!"

"Are you claustrophobic?"

"The lights and fan stayed on and I had my cell phone, so I called my staff and told them where I was. When I finally got to court, everyone clapped."

Met a Vet student today

2010-02-02T10:21:00.005-05:00

At coffee today I asked the young man seated near me at the fireplace what he was studying, and it turned out it was large animal veterinary medicine! And he was a farm boy. When I was a librarian at OSU vet library, my best student employees were the ones raised on farms. Great work ethic, and rarely ever called in with crazy made-up excuses for not showing up. My favorite student type. He had graduated from the University of Finlay, so we chatted a bit about Marathon. That segued to the book we'd read for bookclub, The mighty queens of Freeville, and the story of butchering "Shirley," one of the cows. He told us that on his farm they had bottle fed and raised two cows which eventually his father slaughtered and put in the freezer, but his mom didn't want to eat them. One day when his dad was gone his mother had the children dig a large hole in the pasture but didn't tell them why. She then had them carry the packaged meat from the freezer and bury it.

She married her high school prom date

2010-01-24T10:28:00.003-05:00

They'd only had one date in high school--to the prom. Each had married someone else. But because the school was small, and the class close, they knew of each other's activities over the years. She'd been a widow for over 20 years and he was recently widowed when he called. But she was busy with a rich and active life. They made a date for lunch in September and were married by January, about seven years ago.

Banners

2010-01-20T06:11:00.001-05:00

Yesterday at Panera's I noticed a banner that should hang in every church: Refresh
Restart
Renew

Small, small world

2010-01-18T12:58:00.001-05:00

I'm in a book group that meets at Panera's and a very sweet school teacher was in our spot by the fireplace (no school because of MLK day). I watched and as he got up to leave I saw a handsome young woman come through the door, and I thought I saw her glance at the coveted seat. I grabbed my books and slammed them down on that table faster than you can say "crazy old lady."

After I'd settled in with my coat, purse, books, etc., I peeked around and saw she was sitting within 4 inches of me where I had been sitting. And then I saw it. "Edible Columbus." "Is that a new magazine?" I asked. "Yes, but it isn't out yet; I'm the publisher." I thought I'd swoon. I'm a first issue collector and here I was about to see a birthing! [No website yet, try this for Edible Brooklyn.]

So we chatted a bit--she's a former New York chef who discovered a "series" of Edible. . [insert name of city or region] magazines and she bought the rights for Columbus. She explained the concept--it will focus on locally grown, sustainable sources with seasonable eatables, great traditions, recipes, related items like gadgets and ingredients, day trips, and events. Some of these events will be held in her mother's newly opened tea room which has room for classes! Right here in Upper Arlington. Swoon twice--a new place to go for coffee or lunch. This will start as a "free-circ" and I suggested she get it in the local public libraries as part of the serial collection to be sure it gets cataloged.

As my group started to arrive and her friend sat down, she asked me my name. When I told her, she said, "We live in your former house!" Small, small world. I don't like what the previous owner (from whom she bought it) did to the kitchen, but it will be great for a chef.

Some parts cross posted at my other blogs.

Maybe he's watching Mad Men

2010-01-15T08:23:00.003-05:00

There was a young Asian man at the coffee shop this morning in a dark suit, white shirt, tie, gray overcoat, and hat. Must be a fan of Mad Men TV show.

Listen. The theme of "A beautiful mine" is from "Autumn Leaves" lead in.

Coffee shop regular

2010-01-12T16:04:00.002-05:00

I can't even remember when I first saw this couple--I think it was long before I started coming to this coffee shop. Slim and trim. Biking. Jogging. Lately she'd been alone. So while I was refilling my coffee I stopped by her table and asked, fearing the worst. I'd recently seen him and he looked very frail and hesitant in his formerly athletic step. It wasn't a stroke. Or ill health. He was hit in a cross walk by a teen driver. When she told me, I put down my coffee and hugged her. Still don't know their names.

Face Time, not Facebook

2009-12-30T11:43:00.004-05:00

I had the most delightful, surprising conversation with a clerk at Panera's this morning.

"Did you have a nice Christmas?" (me)

"Yes, we had a wonderful time? And you?" (him, 20-something, but looks younger)

"Yes, we did. Plans for New Year's?"

(Pause.) "Well, I'll just be doing things with the family. We're going to try out the board games we got Christmas."

(Shock and awe.) "You mean, real board games, not computerized games?"

"Oh yes. My wife got Scattergories and my sister got the new Monopoly. Have you seen it? And I got (couldn't understand what he said)."

"You have a good day."

"You too."

Imagine. An evening with family playing board games.

------------

Off topic: I planned to link to the board games' webpages. Scattergories had 4 glaring errors in one paragraph plus one really awkward sentence. Who's writing for them? See if you can find them. I don't expect perfection in blogs or e-mails, but webpages for brands should give a potential client some confidence in the company.

"Scattergories (it's official title 'The Game of Scattergories') was devised by Hasbro in 1988. Hasbro own the famous boardgame brand Milton Bradley Corporation (MB), and published the game under that brand. Since it's launch Scattergories has become a classic, even spawning it's own daytime TV gameshow with NBC's Dick Clark in 1993.

Hint: Possessive pronouns. You don't write her's, or hi's or their's; don't write IT'S if you want to indicate the possessive case. IT'S is a contraction for "it is." I doubt that spell checks catch this. You just have to memorize it.

Dupuytren's Disease

2009-12-29T16:05:00.001-05:00

Today as I was leaving the coffee shop I chatted with an acquaintance and noticed his hand was bandaged. He said he'd had surgery for Dupuytren's Disease which is when one or more fingers start to curl. It happens primarily to people of northern European ethnicity, usually when they are older. When it happens in the foot, it's called Ledderhose's disease. He'd had the other hand done some years ago, and it hasn't returned, although it can. Apparently there is no cure, only treatment. He described the surgery. Not pleasant. He lifted the bandage to let me have a peek, and I felt woozy. I'm a wimp. There's a reason I was a librarian and not a nurse.

Drinking coffee at home

2009-12-20T18:37:00.001-05:00

It's just not the same. My daughter asked if I'd like to have a nifty, expensive one cup at a time brewer for a Christmas gift. No, I said honestly, I like to go out, read the newspaper, listen to music, sit by the fire, and chat with the neighbors and strangers. Like the other day. After getting a refill, I stopped at a table of a man I've been nodding to for sometime. It turns out he comes in only one day a week because he's the care giver for his wife who had a stroke shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary 8 years ago. Some days she's better than others, but he can slip out briefly while she's still asleep. We talked for quite awhile. No, drinking coffee at home is just not the same.

Today I saw Pat. We used to have coffee together at another restaurant down the road. We laughed about "our section," the Christmas parties we used to have, the people who had died, who had moved out of town, and so forth. "And your children?" I asked. "That little girl you adopted?" She's 27 now and has a child, he said. The boy's 25 and in business. The youngest is 19 and in college. No, drinking coffee at home is just not the same.

Eye candy

2009-12-17T19:57:00.002-05:00

Six handsome young men on tuxedos with long tails were at the coffee shop this morning. I spoke to one when I was getting a refill. They were from the high school ensemble and were doing a Christmas concert at the junior high. I told him I remembered when my daughter did that in the mid-80s. He smiled. Then I realized that was probably his parents' age.

Anyway, quite a change from sweat shirts and butt cracks.

Coffee shop book groups

2009-12-07T13:29:00.005-05:00

On Monday morning I meet with four other women from my church at Panera's. I regularly visit two different Panera's and they are popular spots for Bible study and book groups. There's a group of men from St. Tim's that meets at the same time my group does. Today I asked if I could take their photo for my blog.

We're taking a brief pause from reading "A faith and culture devotional; daily readings in art, science and life" by Kelly Monroe Kullberg and Lael Arrington (Zondervan, 2009) to use "Messiah" by John Gugel (Creative Communications for the Parish, 2003) during Advent.

Same baby, 14 days older?

2009-12-04T08:21:00.004-05:00

Maybe it wasn't the same baby. The mother said it was 30 days old, and the one I saw two weeks ago was 24 days. Anyway, too tiny to be out and about. This time, Dad came along.

Yesterday packing away some things I came across my son's immunization and well-baby pediatric booklet. I think at first it was once a month, then every 6 months, then once a year. They do grow up, and I do mean up, very fast. I doubt that I took him anywhere except to the doctor when he was that small. Might have had a few people stop by the house to get a look at him, but I didn't have a car, so we probably stayed home until it was stroller weather in April and May.

Just 24 days

2009-11-20T08:21:00.005-05:00

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

2009-11-14T11:45:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-20T10:43:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-07T14:25:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-12T08:51:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-09-04T09:45:00.005-04:00

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

2009-08-23T18:02:00.002-04:00

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.

Leaving grandma out

2009-08-03T12:50:00.002-04:00

At the coffee shop today I saw a large family group. Four young adult and teen grandchildren and grandma. The kids were all reading their lap tops; grandma had no one to talk to. Lakeside is certainly going the way of the world! I invited her to my table, and they all laughed, but for a few minutes did make eye contact with her. I have no grandchildren, but if I did and we were in a restaurant or coffee shop, you can bet they wouldn't be ignoring me! Yes, yes. I know the coffee shop has wi-fi, but manners are never out of style.

At another table I handed a woman my i-pod while her daughter read the lap top. Turns out she was a language arts teacher. She messed with it a little then handed it back. "My school bought 50 of these and I'm supposed to come up with uses for my 8th graders. So far, I haven't found any." Keep in mind, the kids aren't supposed to go on the internet. She was also concerned about the "young adult" literature which she thought I might be familiar with when she found out I'd been a librarian. I had to confess I didn't read it when I was a kid and almost never as an adult, unless the title came up on the book group list. I told her that from the reviews I'd read--topics like divorce, abuse, date rape, bi-sexuality, bullying, etc.--I didn't see how they offered much. Topic driven; language impoverished; morally challenged. Sexually ambiguous. Sort of Jodi Piccoult for teens.

Katrina survivor

2009-08-01T08:01:00.002-04:00

I talked to a woman at the coffee shop, a 5th generation Lakesider, who is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina. She lost her business and her husband lost his career. They didn't leave right away, but after he found positions in other locations for most of his colleagues, the company cut his job. He got a number of job offers and about 3 years ago they relocated in Tennessee. They love it. She thinks the people are the friendliest she's ever met. Life is great, she said.

Black coffee

2009-07-21T19:17:00.001-04:00

Nana Mouskouri - Black Coffee 1966
by soulpatrol

HT Righty Blog

Ten dollars worth of donuts

2009-07-12T11:28:00.003-04:00

As I was leaving the coffee shop this morning I overheard two young boys--9 or 10--talking. One boy was husky (chubby) the other wiry, and both were on small bikes. The heavier child said to the other, "My mom gave me $11 for donuts, but I only spent $10." He handed the smaller child the sack who opened it and took one.

Staying connected

2009-07-05T05:30:00.003-04:00

I asked if they were e-mailing each other, but they said not--just checking in while the kids slept. Waking up with some great coffee.

Cool today, possible rain

2009-07-02T09:45:00.002-04:00

These t-shirts for sale at Coffee and Cream in Lakeside would feel good.

How an 8 year old sees it

2009-06-25T09:22:00.002-04:00

On my way to the coffee shop this morning my neighbor's 8 year old grandson was walking a few steps behind me. "Have you got a big day planned? I asked. "Oh yes," he said with enthusiasm. "I'm on my way to get doughnuts." (Patio Restaurant serves fabulous warm doughnuts in the morning, freshly made.) "How about the other activities?" "Oh yes, I've been coming here for eight years and there's so much to do."

Schedule change

2009-06-22T09:41:00.001-04:00

I had a new walking plan for our summer at the lake. Part of this glorious plan was inspired by the coffee shop which this year isn't opening until 8 a.m. instead of 6:30 last summer. So I was going to get my walk in along the lake before it got hot. But on my way there today at 8 a.m., I see that the new proprietor of Abigail's is opening at 6 a.m.

Day Care

2009-06-20T18:32:00.003-04:00

We were waiting for the rain to stop so we could make a dash for the parkihg lot. She told me the day care is $250 a week. Wow. That's $13,000 a year--even if there's a tax deduction, that's pretty pricey. There's a sliding scale based on income, so the more you make, the more you're paying for the parents who are barely making it, so paying less. But everyone's connected in some way with the university, so that's not much diversity. Smart kids and the care takers all have degrees. She thinks it is really odd that when the parents have a week or two or even a holiday off, they leave the child/children at the center anyway. "Don't they want any time with their kids?" she asked rhetorically.

My children had the best money can't buy--me.

She's dating five men!

2009-06-18T09:07:00.002-04:00

He thought they had a relationship, he said. Well, maybe not exclusive, but he didn't know there were four others plus an ex-husband calling several times a week. She called him to say she had a "boyfriend." So that more or less ended it, which is how I heard about it at the coffee shop. Her mother takes care of her, houses her, and drives her places because she's on permanent disability. Apparently, neediness is quite appealing these days.

What would I do?

2009-06-17T09:11:00.000-04:00

How have you been--haven't seen you for awhile. Are you still working? I asked. Yes, I turned 70 in May, but what would I do? she sighed. She's a recent widow, and has probably been working since her teen years in the restaurant business--her co-workers are like family--I hear about them and their trials and foibles, too.

I have no life anymore, she said

2009-06-14T11:12:00.004-04:00

Her mother is 88 and the daughter (single, no children, 60-ish) is her chauffeur, companion, and at her beck and call. I realize not everyone--in fact very few--were fortunate to have a mother like mine, but I sure wish she were here so I could take her to church, and to the grocery store, to the library, to the doctor, to concerts, or where ever she wanted to go.

Vanity Plates

2009-06-13T18:01:00.003-04:00

"I don't have vanity plates anymore," she said, as she looked at a car in the parking lot through the window. "I got so tired of people telling me they'd seen me at the hair dressers, or the library or the grocery store. I had no privacy."

Getting children to read

2009-05-30T20:29:00.002-04:00

I had breakfast with another retired librarian from a different metropolitan area today. She told me that their local PBS station was doing a reading campaign for children. So many poor families, she said, had no books at all in the home. So the station was contributing DVDs about reading to the families because they all had the latest in viewing equipment.

Hmmm. Books in the hands of children. What an interesting concept, just when libraries are giving up on them and encouraging everyone to use e-content.

O Blessed Holy Caffeine Tree

2009-05-25T18:27:00.001-04:00

For those who love the holy bean, check out this site to hear it beautifully sung.

Time to call?

2009-05-23T15:08:00.002-04:00

The problem with cell phones is you overhear conversations that 1) are meant for someone else, and 2) you only hear one side. What in the world was this about? "I haven't talked to my Grandma in two years." The woman appeared to be about 45. I wonder just how long she thinks grandma is going to be around, and what will she say at the funeral?

Stepped on

2009-05-15T20:45:00.002-04:00

When I asked how she was doing, she said she'd been stepped on by a horse. Not her horse. She doesn't own one. But one at Marmon Valley. When I was a young woman, there were a number of horse farms where now we have northern suburbs, but it didn't take long to get there. Marmon Valley is where I think my daughter went to camp. And was thrown from a horse and broke her elbow. It's still crooked.

Listening calisthenics

2009-05-05T15:44:00.002-04:00

You've heard of active listening? "Sometimes known as empathetic listening, active listening is where an individual confirms that they have heard and understood by paraphrasing the information back to the speaker." Today I saw calisthenic listening. Two women were sitting across from me. One asked the other a question. When she answered (I couldn't hear, only see) the questioner began with the Ohs and Ahs, then the hand waving, head nodding, finger pointing, knife slicing (the air) body bending, earring bobbing, eye blinking, eyebrow lifting, hand clapping, facial contortion, loud laughter and subtle giggles. It worked; the other woman soon said nothing.

How many years is it?

2009-04-27T08:36:00.003-04:00

At first I thought it was 1974, so that would make this a tidy 35 years we've been meeting for coffee, but then we began tracking where our daughters were in pre-school when we met at First Community Church Harried Housewives Bible study group, so we think it's been since 1972. In either case, that's a lot of girl talk.

Hope I misunderstood

2009-04-25T18:20:00.003-04:00

Two women were discussing something about their jobs, and the 9 or 10 year old daughter of one was sitting near-by. Work problems and physical danger during pregnancy came up, and the one commented about how she had done something dangerous (not sure what it was--didn't hear that part) during her pregnancy with her daughter, who overheard this. The daughter said, "Why did you do it?" And her mother said, "I was a xxxxx xxxxxxx and I had to go."

Hmmm. Not a good message.

Great legs

2009-04-18T08:41:00.005-04:00

No one has ever suggested I have them. I had short, stubby legs as a kid, and still do. Fat does shift around. My waist is now larger than my right thigh, but that wasn't the case for many years. Small waists and pear shape are definitely the healthy plan, but that's not how you get attention. Here's what one of those waist to hip calculators says:

Your shape puts you at reduced risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Frequently referred to as pear shape, you tend to keep fat off your midsection and more on your hips. Your body does not convert this lower body fat as readily as midsection fat, which keeps cholesterol down.Recently I've seen a stunning blonde at the coffee shop. Don't know her age, but if she's not 40, she's at least close (either side). She has long, long legs; high high heels; short short skirts. I'm not usually a leg watcher, but I tell you, she is something else and turns a lot of heads.

I don't know her career track, but it's somewhere at the bottom (or else she's the boss of a small company) because they send her to pick up the morning snacks. Yesterday it was bagels; today it was 8-10 cups of orange juice. I may not have great legs but I gave up being a go-fer when I was 21 and the secretary in a tool and die company.

Rachel's in Oregon, Illinois

2009-04-14T20:13:00.003-04:00

Rachel's at 113 North 4th Street opened sometime since the last time I visited in 2007, and expanded into the former pizza shop so is now a very handsome coffee shop/lunch room spot open Monday-Saturday. Lots of yummy things on the menu, and a handsome decor. We visited Saturday morning--early, maybe 7 a.m.

Is that your cell phone?

2009-04-03T19:40:00.002-04:00

We were all reading our papers. Music. Fire in the fireplace. I kept hearing a cell phone, but there were only the 3 of us in the store, and I don't have one. "Is that your cell phone?" I asked. She looked startled because I could tell she didn't hear anything. She reached in her coat pocket. Looked at the message, and called back.

I think it's the rock music that gives us seniors better hearing than the boomers.

Should she walk away?

2009-04-02T09:08:00.005-04:00

Saw an old coffee buddy today. She'd moved out of town last year to take a vice president job in another state. She's back. Fired. But did really well on the severance package.* She found too many errors in their finances (she was hired for her business skills) and was apparently a threat to HR and CEO as well as CFO. Anyway, her condo is still for sale and she's thinking maybe foreclosure might be the way to go. She's done everything right all these years, but Obama's "deals" are only for those who didn't do the standard 20% down, the fixed rates, who didn't pay all their bills on time, or who supported the various bond issues. Also, she's going to be very careful about how much she earns in the future. "It won't pay to earn more than $100,000," she sighed. And maybe it will have to be less than that? She says she is horrified at how fast he's dumped us all into socialism. And this is what small business is saying, folks. This is the future of our country. Small business is what drives the economy--even Obama's teleprompter said that not long ago.

*Her compensation package is called a contract--and that's what Congress is in the process of dismantling, not just for AIG and auto makers, but for you too, especially those of us with pensions. Once we throw out valid contracts that specified AIG's pay scale, none of us are safe. I don't care if someone earns $20 million + stock + cavorting at Barney Frank's dinners. That's up to the board and shareholders to decide, not Congress. Then if Congress decides to loan that company money instead of letting them go bankrupt, it needs to honor prior agreements or get them rewritten legally, and not pass an after the fact law.

I wish my wife were here.

2009-03-28T11:32:00.004-04:00

While we were on the Holy Land Cruise, Steps of Paul, somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea, I was having coffee on deck 9, early of course, just like at home. At the next table I over heard two men about 60 years old talking.

"I wish my wife were here. She'd have a blast. She just wouldn't know she was having a blast."

Nashville, Indiana

2009-03-20T18:06:00.003-04:00

"Nice coat," I said as we both refilled our coffee cups.
"Thanks. I got this in Nashville, Indiana." He did a half twirl.
"Oh, we were there once. Artist colony, right?"
"Yeah."
"Brown County?"
"I think so."
"Our daughter was a baby--now she's 41."
"Oh."

Dress for success

2009-03-02T18:23:00.002-05:00

I think people are dressing better. Suits and sport coats are coming out of the closet. Must be job interviews or networking. If nothing else, looking like you have a place to go and people to see should help the disposition.

Father and son

2009-03-01T18:17:00.002-05:00

A father and his teenage son were sitting next to me by the fireplace yesterday. Dad recognized me from Caribou, one of my other spots, and said he stopped there after his morning workout. So we chatted a bit. They were familiar with Lakeside--his grandparents had once owned a cottage on Peach.

Today I think I saw 15-20 UALC first service people and one from X-Alt. We should have called a committee meeting.

Asiago Bagel Breakfast Bake

2009-02-25T17:31:00.002-05:00

From the Panera Recipe site:

Treat your guests to a savory egg and Asiago bagel [my very most favorite bagel] breakfast bake that you can prepare in advance.

8 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon fresh chopped tarragon or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon paprika
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 ounces Monterey Jack or medium Cheddar cheese, grated
6 ounces Asiago cheese, grated
4 Asiago cheese bagels

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, salt, milk, tarragon, and paprika. Season with pepper.

Mix the grated cheeses together in a bowl.

Cut the bagels into bite-size pieces.

Grease a 2-quart soufflé or casserole dish.

Starting with the bagel pieces, alternately layer bagel pieces and grated cheese into the dish.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything, cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour, until the top is golden brown.

Makes 8-10 servings.

I know it's just the regular old breakfast casserole, but doesn't this sound yummy?

Sourcing the Morgenthau 1939 quote

2009-02-21T10:46:00.001-05:00

At the coffee shop this morning another imbiber handed me a quote on a torn piece of paper, "We are spending more money than we have ever spent before, and it does not work. After eight years we have just as much unemployment as when we started, and an enormous debt to boot. - U.S. Secretary Henry Morgenthau. . . May 1939." Being a librarian, I looked into his handsome face and said, "Do you know the source?" And he didn't.

Continued at my regular blog.

Unemployed

2009-02-20T15:58:00.003-05:00

It's never fun. I see people networking at the coffee shop. One guy who talks to me is applying for disability and I hear the same story every day. Today he sat down at my table and wanted to know what he'd done wrong. But I never expected that she would be laid off.

Disbanding a household

2009-02-15T13:58:00.002-05:00

The women were discussing responsibilities for disbanding their mother's home. It was difficult to know whether she had died or gone into a nursing home. One was very positive and upbeat, a regular Pollyanna; the other quite distressed and full of gloom and doom. No sentence was ever finished. . . I don't think they were listening to each other.