Coffee Complications

Last night I went into Starbucks to buy a coffee and as I stared at the menu board I wondered to myself...when did coffee get so complicated. They have 3 sizes and not called your regular small, medium and large...no they have gone to Tall, Grande and Vente. Plus there are flavour shots and toppings and let's not even go into milk options. So I decided to look further into the origins of coffee and discovered some man in Ethiopia discovered his goats were a little perkier than normal when they ate these brown beans...so he tried them...being the good goat Herder he is..and discovered he had the same perkiness....back in the ninth century! So I am sure he told two friends...who told two friends...and so on (Thank you Alberto V05).

The first coffee shop opened in the 1500's and is wasn't until coffee made it to England that the bastardization began. (History lesson completed). Now don't get me wrong I am as guilty of my complicated coffee order as the next person, but if I am paying $4 for a coffee I want it with my half fat, no foam, vente caramel macchiato. My orders over the years have constantly changed to the point where my husband will no longer place my order, but instead shoves me up to place my order before acknowledging that he to is with me (cappuccino with brown sugar and chocolate sprinkles man).

Coffee orders have gotten so complicated that there are actually rules on how to order: Decaf, Shots, Syrup, Milk, Custom, and Drink. So I would like my decaf, mint, caramel, half fat, extra foam iced coffee.

Then there is the other popular brand which has made a medium double double an order sonomous with coffee...too bad I do not like there coffee. Yes there are many differences between coffee places and being the coffee snob I appear to be, there is nothing like a fresh French-Pressed hazelnut vanilla coffee.

Imagine it..You wake up in the morning to the smell of the coffee brewing (only because my husband has crawled out of bed first and started the machine). You feel enough energy to stumble your way out to the kitchen to ensure your senses have not deceived you (after you avoid a dog very happy you are up and a pissed off cat over the fact the dog is happy you are up). You stare at the coffee maker hoping that it will not fail and give you the jolt of caffeine you could only better receive had it been inserted intravenously. After the first sip you grab hold of the cup with both hands and deeply inhale the aroma wafting through the air and realize this was worth crawling out of your warm bed and that all is ok in the world. (Necafe commercial not included.)

So the next time you go to order your cup of coffee think about that lonely goat Herder and his coffee beans and think do I actually like the taste of coffee or do I prefer my grande extra hot soy with extra foam, split shot with a half squirt of sugar-free vanilla and a half squirt of sugar-free cinnamon, a half packet of splenda, oh and put that in a venti cup and fill up the "room" with extra whipped cream with caramel and chocolate sauce drizzled on top.

Life's Mysteries or just my luck?

Have you ever noticed some people have all the luck while others...well...have less luck. While it is not what I would call bad luck it is more of circumstances and timing.

For instance, have you ever been excited to see a new line open up at the grocery store? They call you over to take you next..YOU..they picked you out of the line up. You think to yourself ...yeah ..but then you realize she doesn't have the key to the cash register and when she does get it, after she has called her supervisor she then has to locate a cash box because the last person didn't leave it in there. Meanwhile you stand there with a pleasant "oh well" smile on your face but inwardly fuming over the fact that 10 people in the line you were in have gone through. But what can you do but wait as you have laid all of your groceries out on the line and push your cart out of the way. Suddenly that cucumber doesn't look as important as it was when you walked in the door. Is this my bad luck or a fact of life.

I have talked to lots of people who have claimed they have been in this experience as well but if so many people have had this happen to them...where are all the lucky people? Are they becoming a dying breed..going the way of the doo doo bird?

Why do I spend all of my time finding a closer parking spot when I could have choosen one further away and been inside before I found the spot closer? Why does the dog feel compelled to wake me at 6:30am but leave my husband to sleep? Why do the pants fit perfect for the first time but then seem to shrink on the second wearing? Why does Goofy wear pants but Donald Duck does not?

Well...I spend all of my time to find a parking spot closer because with my luck and place I live, it could be raining when I comeout. Therefore, while it may be dry when I go in, I will be thankful for the ten extra minutes I spent finding the spot when I come out. Side note: This has yet to happen but at some point the odds will be on my side.

The dog wakes me up first because he knows I will feed him right away and let him out to pee while my husand will first make coffee and look around to get completely dressed before taking him out.

The fit of my pants may have something to do with the caramel flakey I felt compelled to scarf down but whose to say as I prefer to blame it on the brand. As for Donald vs Goofy...I guess somethings are meant to be a mystery.

Although I may feel like an unlucky person at times and I am sure the mysteries of my life will contemplate me for the rest of my life but I have had some luck in my life.

I won the perfect attendance draw for $1000 at one of my jobs
I have two loving parents who are still together after almost 47 years.
I have married a guy who loves me for all of my quirks and blunders; he may say otherwise...but HE is not writting the blog so my bubble remains in tact.
I have great friends who support me in all I do and rise to the adventures at hand no matter how crazy they may seem...and even buy special equipment just incase there is a next time...and above all have maintained a sense of humour throught this pesimistic society.

So I guess I will take my luck good, bad or otherwise....and maybe some day I will go looking for a doo doo bird.

I have gone and done it!

It has only taken me several years to get into the blogging of things. I have joined facebook, started a blog, LinkedIn and now the possibilities are endless..maybe I will even twitter! I have decided to use this site as a creative outlet...as staring at a computer screen for 8-10hours a day has not made my brain go numb enough that I have decided to extend it to a nice round 12 hours; to ensure no neurons are firing any longer.

I have named my site "What I know at 38" as I have just turned the big 3-8 and have sat back and reflected as to what I have learnt during that time. I think I have the same basic knowledge as others:
1. Don't eat yellow snow
2. Running with scissors can be fun
3. My mother was right!
Amoung other countless useless pieces of knowledge that only seem to be good in Trivial Pursuit. What do I know today?

Mixingbowl.com
The other day I picked up a magazine called MixingBowl.com which also, oddly enough, has a website with the same name. As I glanced through the numerous recipes, my taste buds began to water at the sight of the pictures and recipes. I have inherited a great trait of being able to know what a recipe will taste like by reading it. I have tried 6 or 7 recipes thus far and have been impressed by all but one. (Roasted Tomato Salsa - too much effort and not enough flavour). I would like to say I make only recipes which are health conscience and full of nutrients but then I would be 5'7" and 120 lbs instead of 5'7" and more than 120lbs. One recipe has stood out as being the best for me.

Thai Cobb Salad by NEOPHTYE99.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bottled fat-free Italian salad dressing
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 to 11/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
8 cups torn mixed salad greens
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped cooked pork, beef, or chicken (8 ounces)
1 avocado, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup coarsely shredded carrots
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts (optional)

Directions:

For dressing, in a large bowl combine salad dressing, soy sauce, ginger, and crushed red pepper. Add mixed salad greens, toss lightly to coat.
Divide salad greens among 4 dinner plates. Top with meat, avocado, carrots, cilantro, green onions, and, if desired, peanuts.

I did veer off the path and change things a bit as I used ham, egg and chicken..carniverous as I am. See picture..please note I cook, clean and ocassionally do windows but food styling is not my forte. And contrary to the look of my plate it was delicious. Spicy and sweet all in one. YUM!