BloggingThis

I’ve been a coffee drinker for nearly a decade now.  Normally, we brew one 8-cup pot of standard Folgers classic roast.  I take mine with cream & sugar.  It was once an occasional treat, then it became as important to my morning as the sunrise.  Then, over the past few months we did something drastic.  We started buying expensive Starbucks coffee and using it at home.  I must confess, the first week or two I couldn’t wait for morning to arrive.  It was like starting off each day with dessert.  Seriously.  I was not regretful of the expense one bit.  I was certain that it was worth it.  Now, I’m not so sure anymore.  I took a treat that was rare and extraordinary and made it standard.  I am no longer delighted by the Starbucks coffee in the morning — it has become just coffee.  It doesn’t exceed my expectations any longer.  I ruined it.  This is probably just as well since I’ve quit.  So far day two and the shakes are beginning to rattle me.
– steve

Morning coffee

Coke with lunch

Afternoon Dr. Pepper

Sweet tea with dinner

I’m a caffeine addict.  I don’t seek the caffeine directly, but rather I enjoy several products that contain it.  I’ve noticed lately that skipping my coffee or opting for water with lunch leaves me with a pounding headache.  But that’s not the worst of it.

There is another embarrassing problem.  Halitosis.  My lovely wife tells me when I have bad breath.  Turns out, she is the only person who will tell me*.  She will ask “what did you eat today?”  The trend seems to indicate that Dr. Pepper, my favorite drink in the world, may be a leading cause of my less-than-sweet breath.  But we haven’t rules out coffee and other sodas.  They may also be guilty.

So, I’m thinking about quitting, solving both problems.  Cold turkey.  Not just the Dr. Pepper but the Coke and coffee as well.  I think I’m going to try going all water.  (except beer when the mood should strike)  I almost hope the bad breath continues so Dr. Pepper can be vindicated and allowed back onto the menu.  Time will tell.

I’m a little worried about the headaches and energy drop I may experience but this article offers help.  Wish me luck.

– steve

Let me take a moment to proclaim my love to my wife.  You are my best friend and I could not imagine my life without you in it.  You are the center of my world.  Thanks for the warm homemade cinnamon rolls you baked this morning.  They were a wonderful surprise.  I can’t wait for chocolate fondue later tonight!

I love you.

– steve

A better education in music, kiddo.  We were watching the grammys last night while the kids were in and out of the room pretending to get ready for bed.  There were some cool throwbacks to Frank Sinatra and the Beatles I guess becasue it was the 50th anneversary of the grammys.  Whatever.  During one of the Beatles tributes, my daughter (8) says “oh no, not the Target commercial!”  It was All You Need Is Love by the fab four!

Oh man.  I’m failing badly in the music education department.  She didn’t know who the Beatles were!  I hope to remedy this very soon.  Now I’m worried what other perversions of music she has been subjected to that I should straighten out.  The one funny one that comes to mind is this classic.  Who ya gonna call?  If you shout Ghostbusters — you’re with me.  If you shout Auto-Way! I must assume you’re 12 years old or less.  I can let the Ghostbusters go- it’s no great loss.  The Beatles?  I’ve got work to do.

Has this happened to other parents out there?

– steve

 Meet Hunter.  He is my wife’s dog.  I’m not really a dog lover.  See, I’m more of a dog liker.  I always had a cat growing up so I’m a cat person.  I don’t have a cat anymore — my last one ran away while I was in Mexico.  I blamed Hunter for running him off, but who knows what really happened.  Anyway, Hunter might be the best dog in the world.  He lets me kick him when I’m angry.  He won’t leave my side when I’m sick.  He can detect a slice of cheese being removed from the refrigerator from three rooms away — while sleeping.  I find that amazing.  If I come home for lunch and my wife isn’t home, Hunter will not wake up or leave my daughter’s bed where he is sleeping.  Unless I open cheese.  He will let my kids do anything to him with no regard for his own safety.  The baby bites his nose.  My four year old will ride him.  We’ve dressed him up before.  What a sport.  Come to think of it, Hunter makes being a dog liker difficult.  He’s growing on me.  He’s a good ole’ dog.– steve