A Thankful Coffee Date (TToT #5 & UCD #2)

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It's time for another Ultimate Coffee Date (UCD) — which I am going to attempt to combine with this week's Ten Things of Thankful (TToT) post, so tell me how I do!! (I didn't want to choose! Can you blame me?? 😉 )

(On a similar note, if you're popping over from the Blog-tember Challenge, please know that today's prompt, (A “currently…” post. Tell us what you're loving, hating, reading, eating, etc.) will be done on Monday, because I already participate in a weekly “Currently.” link-up that I quite enjoy. SO, I hope y'all don't mind me improvising to fit it all in!)

Now, COFFEE!! 😀 Instead of meeting up at a local coffee joint this month, why don't you come join me at my place? I love Starbucks & all, but I am really  trying hard not to get completely hooked on an endless amount of coffee each day — & they're just so darn expensive! Now, I don't have a coffee maker, as mine broke a while back — BUT the handsome husband surprised me by coming home with a mini French-press this week! (Thankful #1) We'll have to make our coffee a cup at a time (which will help us savor it that much more!) & I can whip up some of my delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies while we chat! 😉 Make yourself at home!

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that Little RJ's visit went quite well. (He's been gone for almost two weeks now, after a nearly three-week visit.) Part of me wishes we could go do a bunch of GRAND, over-the-top activities when he is here to visit, but that's just not how we are — even if we could afford to do it every time. With that said, we did get over to the science center in Phoenix. (The one in Seattle is WAY better, but — hey! — now we know! LOL) He really seemed to understand that's how things work. For that I am tremendously grateful! (Thankful #2) That kid has a pretty good head on his shoulders & he makes me proud.

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that school is off to a good start! I think a good chunk of the reason why it seems to be going well is because I have been making it a priority & staying ahead of my assignments. . . With that said, though, I turned in my first paper for my English class & I think it was an early draft, rather than a final that I uploaded on accident! I had a mini-heart attack, but couldn't help but giggle about it too! What a bonehead mistake! I uploaded the RIGHT version a day after the due date, but before she got around to grading it & sent it with a comment explaining what happened. . . She must've taken pity on me because she didn't dock me any points! I got a perfect score! (Thankful #3) The paper was about how the handsome husband would make a better househusband than I do a housewife. . . I might post it here another time. It was a fun mini paper. 😉 When I alluded to the topic of my first paper on my personal Facebook page, he was quite the sport, basically saying that he wants to retire early & if that's the route he has to take to do so, it'll be fine with him! LOL. I definitely snagged a keeper with him! (Thankful #4)

Also on the topic of school, if we were having coffee today, I would tell you that I was quite nervous about my first quiz in my math class. . . It has, after all, been about 15 years since I took a math test such as that. BUT, I am SO happy to report that I scored a 90%! Not a shabby start, right?? I am pretty darn proud of it! 😀 (Thankful #5) I am definitely aiming to maintain a 90% or better in ALL of my classes this semester. . . I know it's a tall order, but it IS attainable AND I believe you should aim high. 😉

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that I finally went back to an ophthalmologist for my uveitis. I got stubborn for a while & didn't go, but now, I am not only on a daily regimen of Durezol drops, but also on a new drop that is supposed to help control the pressure in my eye (which is caused by using the Durezol — a pretty potent type of steroid). Bleh. Go figure! BUT, as I know I have mentioned before, I am grateful that I have my vision — even if it isn't without its faults — & even if it is being threatened by the possibility of glaucoma. . . .It's still something to be grateful for! (Thankful #6)

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that, on Tuesday, I — FINALLY!!!!! — got the phone call I've been waiting for!!! After finding out about our miscarriage on our one-year anniversary back in May, my HCG levels are finally back to normal!!!! (Thankful #7) This means that the handsome husband & I can try again to get pregnant & that we can put all of this miscarriage business behind us! FINALLY!!! 😀 (I knew this was a weight on my shoulders, but I didn't quite realize how big of a weight it has been! I am so glad it's finally over!)

On a similar note, I have to say, if we were having coffee today, I would tell you that until this, I never realized that a miscarriage was quite like this. . . I might be unnecessarily advertising my ignorance here, but I thought that miscarriages were typically one single, messy event that happened & that the physical part of it all was over. . . I didn't realize there were so many things to monitor & (TMI? Sorry!) a constant need to carry feminine products with you & mood swings as your hormones leveled out (& Lord knows what else that I didn't pick up on) as a result of my body freaking out on me. It's been three-&-a-half months since the night the handsome husband had to take me to the emergency room. . . Yet, while I wouldn't wish this experience upon even my worst of enemies, I still count myself lucky. (Thankful #8) Even though it has felt like my body has completely betrayed me, in reality, it did as it was supposed to do. . . The “pregnancy that wasn't” was taken care of naturally. . . I didn't have to take any special pills for my body to get rid of the tissues that didn't belong there any longer,  nor did I need to have a D&C. It really could've been a lot worse. . . I take a bit of comfort in that reminder. . .

On a lighter note, but still speaking of babies, have you seen this video yet? One version or another of this has popped up in my Facebook news feed a few times & I couldn't help but smile while watching it. . . It really pulls at your heart-strings. . .

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that our dog Logan (or “Muttley” as I affectionately refer to him) really is quite the “guard” dog around our house. He rushes the door at any unexpected visitors, barks to warn us of anyone or anything that seems too close to the house, & takes a spot at the end of our bed (or Little RJ's, when he's here) to seemingly “watch over” us at night.  To top it off, he is a good-sized dog that has quite a presence. . . I really am grateful to have him around! (Thankful #9) It is a tremendous peace of mind. . . BUT, I don't think I will ever get used to how he runs to cower in the laundry room EVERY time there is some thunder & lightning going on! It is such a contrast! I can't help but laugh. . . Poor, poor Muttley; I know. But, really?! It's the equivalent of some dude with a body-builder, kill-you-with-a-flick-of-the-wrist physique all of a sudden crying over a splinter. . . No? Well, that's how I see it! And it's HILARIOUS!

If we were having coffee today, I would tell you that I am making an attempt at Fantasy Football this season. The Seattle versus Green Bay game got my fantasy team off to a pretty good start — but, really, I am stoked that my Seahawks started the season like the champions they are! As silly as it might sound, I am glad my friend nudged me to give fantasy football a try. (Thankful #10) I am new to football, in general, & last season was my first season of really getting into it (largely because I worked in retail management for years before that & couldn't consistently watch or learn). . . But football has been super fun for me & I cannot watch my guys now that I am out-of-state & refuse to pay the ridiculous prices for the NFL packages or switch to satellite television. . . Hopefully Fantasy Football will help me to continue to learn while having fun. 🙂

As usual, I could probably ramble on & on. .  . But, for now, I will leave you with this one thought: GO HAWKS!!! 😀

If we were on a coffee date, what would you tell me? What can you find that you're thankful for this week? Leave me a comment below, email me at mochamama@calculatedchaos.net, or find me on Facebook.

This post was written for the Ultimate Coffee Date link up over at fitnessmomwinecountry.com, the Ten Things of Thankful link-up over at Considerings, & the Blog-tember Challenge over at Brave Love. Please, take a few moments to pop over to each of these to see what others have to say today. . .