Monday Inspiration: Coffee With A Friend

When I was a little girl it was nothing unusual for someone to stop by for coffee at my Grandmother's or my Mother's house. Later when I was in college we always went out for coffee to chat and study. Even later still, my best friend and I would always stop for coffee after a night out of dancing. For years after we moved here I had another friend who I would meet for coffee at least once a week, and sometimes as many as four times a week. Sadly she was much older than I and she is gone now.

Every time I read Artful Blogging I am convinced that I am not doing it right. Maybe I should quit reading it. People tell stories of their blogs and how they strive to inspire people every single day, or how their blogs are personal journeys of a spiritual nature or self discovery. Some of them try to teach about their art and share their techniques. Other post amazing pictures they take and beautify the world at large. Whatever the story is behind each blog featured, it's always something huge and monumental...life changing even. It makes me feel bad, as if I am lacking by not doing that.

I would love to write something like that. But I can't, I don't know how. Maybe I don't view my blog in the right way, and that's why I can't. I am not sure.

When I sit down to make a post, I almost always have a cup of coffee...I figure it's the best time to post since I am taking a break and not focused on anything else. It's a little bit of time to relax. I approach it from the perspective of sitting down with a friend to have coffee. If I was having coffee with a friend, I would talk about what I did or needed to do that day, something that irked me or made me afraid, something that I thought was cute or funny, something that I got fascinated with, or simply show my friend my latest piece of work.

I am pretty sure I have never changed anyone's life over coffee in the past, and I probably won't ever do it through my blog. Sometimes I do make self discoveries through what I write, but I have never considered it a journey to be taken...more like a nice surprise I wasn't expecting.

I start off each week with Monday Love or Monday Inspiration, but those are more things that I love or inspire me than I expect them to inspire you. I just like to try to start the week off on a positive note.

Neighbors may not drop in to each others houses anymore for coffee like they used to, and I may not meet up with my friends in the real world much any more since they all live so far away, but I have made some lovely friends through blogging and I look forward to having coffee with them for a few minutes each day through this medium.

When I first started blogging, I wasn't sure I would keep doing it. I had tried keeping a regular journal in the past and always gave up after a few weeks. So when I came to blogging I didn't know what to expect of myself. I didn't know what to say, or if anyone would ever read it. But then again, when I had my first cup of coffee I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, or what to put in that either.

I may never type anything huge or monumental, and may not be following some mystical formula...but maybe I am doing ok anyway? I wouldn't trade those hours spent with many a friend over coffee, and I wouldn't trade my time blogging with you either.

Just One Hour

Yesterday I woke up and hit the ground running. Ok well maybe it was more of a brisk walk, but still. I got up, changed the bedding, washed the sheets, went to the gym, went to the grocery store, did a little cleaning, washed dishes, fed myself in there somewhere, played with the dogs, finished the cubcake, photographed it, did the graphics for the give away, (see previous post) watered my jungle, had a bath and fell into bed.

Today I after having slept well for once, I got up and looked out the window. It was another beautiful day with bright blue skies and sunshine. I decided I would take a quiet hour for myself just to dust out my brain and rejuve a bit.(something I rarely do) I got my coffee to head out to the deck. I opened the door and walked out, then turned right around and walked back in. It was false advertising on Mother Nature's part! It was cold and windy! I was rather disappointed, I hate days that are deceptive like that, I always feel sort of cheated somehow.

However I decided I would still take my hour...just one hour...one lovely peaceful hour. I crawled under the quilt on the sofa with my coffee and a couple pretty magazines. I settled in and turned on a show I recorded a few days ago I had been wanting to watch. I was about ten minutes in when the phone rang. My Mother was having computer problems. She had already called about five minutes after I woke up.

Now it's not that I mind helping her, it's just that sometimes it's difficult to explain how to handle issues over the phone, especially when the person isn't computer savvy. So I helped her the best I could, and settled back in. Five minutes later R called to tell me he was on the way home and was stopping for a haircut.

Back to the sofa and my quilt...ahhh. It wasn't even two minutes later when Buster came and gave me the mournful puppy eyed look that signals he has to go potty. You couldn't tell me before I sat back down??? More sad eyes...I guess not. *Groan* Up the stairs I went to let them out.

Back to the sofa, and a door slams followed by pitiful meowing. Gypsy has an odd habit of shutting herself in the bathroom every once in a while. She instantly freaks out at the thought of being locked in every time she does it too.

Off to rescue kitty...back to the sofa...the doorbell rings. Someone trying to sell me aluminum siding that ignored my no soliciting sign.

At this point I gave up. I think it's impossible to have just one peaceful hour...sigh~ Sadly on the days when I wish for activity and phone calls there aren't any. Why is it always like that?