Author: DJones BranchingOut

Pushing 50 and it's time to try a few (maybe... 365?) new things. This blog is not about reinventing oneself or one's life, but about how much fun one can have while going out on a limb and branching out. Kicking anxiety's butt one day at a time, yeah!

On Coffee…

“Betty Gene, would you like me to bring you a cup of coffee in bed?”
The Husband to my Gramma

“Sure, kid!”
Betty Gene

The Husband proceeds to hand her a mug filled with coffee beans.

That exchange between my Gramma and The Husband happened years ago, around 1995 when she and my mom were visiting. They had the run of our bedroom while we slept in the living room. Gramma’s husband has always treated her like a queen, including bringing the morning’s first cup of coffee to her while she was still in bed. We all love to bring up that joke whenever someone offers anyone a cup of coffee… “remember the time Bryan brought you that cup of beans, Gramma?” 

I knew about her early morning coffee delivery and by the time I was a fan of coffee, too, I’d take advantage of it. Whenever Betty Gene and John drove their big RV to my parents’ home, usually for Christmas, I’d get out to their home on wheels, take over his side of the bed and sit there with my Gramma, demanding my mug, too. And he always brought it.

Friday evening, in the middle of the desert, I took advantage of a Starbucks to help break up my three hour drive home. I have high standards for coffee, and don’t care for theirs, usually. Like many people, though, I’m a HUGE fan of their concoction they offer every fall and winter, that chemical, probably crack-laced Pumpkin Spice Latte… two pumps, not three, easy whip, please and thank you! The rest of the year I find their basic coffee-shop brew over roasted, making it harsh and bitter.

What the heck, they finally got it right! Have you tried that Flat White? Are they using better beans? A different roast? Or have they just got the right amount of espresso to whole milk down, finally.

The Flat White is good. Especially when it is 90 degrees, you are in the middle of nowhere, and breaking up your long drive home.

Checking In or Checking Out… Not Always Simple or Easy

“Getting old isn’t for sissies, but it beats the alternative.”
Betty Gene Lamison

“Go play on the freeway, kid”
John Lamison, Betty Gene’s husband (to my brother and me)

**Update Easter 2015- Betty Gene passed away yesterday, on my daughter’s 18th birthday, at about 5:30 in the evening. Rest in peace, Gramma.**

Sometimes picking a New Thing O’ The Day is easy, simple and fun. A new restaurant? Love it. Act like a tourist in a new-to-me spot? Bring it on.

I took a little trip on Thursday and Friday, to see my grandparents. Every time I have stayed in a hotel, I’ve always had my mom, one of my kids, or almost always my husband along with me… for like, the last 30 years– that’s a long time! 

Thursday evening, after singing along with my brother’s keyboard extravaganza playlist in my grandparents’ living room, I checked into the hotel. By myself.

I’m hoping to make the three hour trip out to see her again, very soon.

Get Yourself A Round Tuit, You’ll Get the Muffins to the Firemen that way.

"This is a Round Tuit. Guard it with your life, Tuits are hard to come by. Now that you have one, you can accomplish all those things you put aside until you got a Round Tuit."
“This is a Round Tuit. Guard it with your life, Tuits are hard to come by. Now that you have one, you can accomplish all those things you put aside until you got a Round Tuit.”
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Grandad’s Round Tuit. Not only did he still have it, but he also knew where it was and texted a photo of it to me as soon as I asked. The guy has his stuff together… or we both just got lucky.

When I was a kid, my dad came home with a little wooden coin. He told me that it was a “Round Tuit.” It might have been something his father or grandfather had given him as a joke. I also remember clever story printed on one side. With a little searching, I found several sites showing the same clever coin, pictured left. When asked if he still had his, Dad found his original, pictured right.

I have been meaning (everyone say it with me, now) to get around to bringing muffins to the fire station ever since we had some nasty fires last May. Those fires came too close for comfort. Like, really close- see the photo on the bottom right? They closed The Girl’s school the next day, and many others in the area.

Pardon the profanity, but this is funny, yo.
Pardon the profanity, but this is funny, yo.
View from The Girl's school May 2014
View from The Girl’s school
May 2014

So, today I finally brought some goodies to the local fire station and thanked them profusely for their work. Took me long enough! This is a great example of better late than never.

I finally got a round to it.

New Glasses -or- At Least I Outlasted My Husband by Eight Years, lol…

So… I know I need bifocals. Gotta go through the whole appointment and frame choosing business. At the appointment, the news wasn’t as bad as I expected: I don’t HAVE to go into glasses full time, but can if I want. Interesting, no?

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…and how lovely does The Boy look in my old glasses? This is what happens when you leave your kid, phone, and personal items in the car while you step out to do something. Surprise photos on your camera when you return.
First pair of distance glasses from way back in September 2011. I really only use them for the theater and night driving...
First pair of distance glasses from way back in September 2011. I really only use them for the theater and night driving…

I decided to go ahead and get the progressive lenses since everyone who has them likes how they work IF these were their first experience with bifocals. I might as well face the inevitable! Off to Costco I went, to pick out a really cheap pair of frames since I am not planning on wearing these all the time. I’m looking for something on the loud or at least fun side of eyewear. I’m going with the “Go big or go home,” philosophy.

I’ll post an update in a week when the glasses come in. I did pick out an interesting frame for the new specks. In about a week I can look forward to tripping up and down curbs and stairs, according to my ophthalmologist, and The Husband can have fun with watching me get used to the new lenses. He’s had eight years of practice, after all!

New Menu Monday- Chicken Vegetable Soup, Beer Cheese Dip and Bread

www.aspicyperspective.com
Photo from, and links to http://www.aspicyperspective.com 3 Ingredient Beer Cheese Dip

It’s a New Menu Monday… I didn’t Change my basic Chicken Vegetable Soup, but instead of serving it with rolls or garlic bread, I tried a new recipe. A Beer Cheese Dip, yum!

The original recipe is from ASpicyPerspective.com, calling for three ingredients- pepper jack cheese, cream cheese and a 12 ounce bottle of beer. Not difficult to prepare, this was really nice as-is. The only change I made was to use regular jack cheese. I can see why pepper jack is called for (besides the tip off of the blog title containing the word “spicy”)… it needed a little something more. I added two teaspoons each of Worcestershire sauce and dry mustard, both standard cheese dip ingredients. The Girl loved it, but The Boyfriend and I agreed: too beer-y and needs cheddar. The Husband Approved, went for seconds and I don’t think that The Boy touched it. Chicken.

Chicken Vegetable Soup with Bread and Beer Cheese Dip
Chicken Vegetable Soup with Bread and Beer Cheese Dip

This really is a super easy dip. Cream cheese and jack are known for their meltiness, and really make this recipe. I’ll make it again, with pepper jack. And it is always fun to invent new words to describe food. Today’s are “meltiness” and “beer-y.” There will be a quiz at the semester’s end, study your vocab, students!