Coffee Talk: May 2021

 

Hi friends! It’s that’s time again for the Ultimate Coffee Date with Deborah and Coco. A perfect time to share some non- running related (if you so choose) things over coffee. I’ll be having my usual French Roast with some Natural Bliss Classic Caramel creamer and GLG collagen. Has anyone ever tried flavored protein powder in their coffee in place of creamer? My daughter suggested it but I haven’t tried it. Seems like a good idea though.

*Update: I tried the protein powder in my second cup of coffee and it wouldn’t dissolve. So much for that.

Over coffee I would tell you that I am attempting to grow some vegetables using hydroponics. If you haven’t heard of this method and are interested you can click here. Basically it’s growing plants without soil and using less water than traditional methods of growing vegetables. Since I live in a state that is always in a drought I thought I would give it a try. My first attempt was a bust because I didn’t have my pipe system ready when my lettuce was ready to be transplanted. I started seeds for lettuce, arugula, spinach, cilantro and chives. Only the lettuce and arugula grew. I have since bought new seeds and am starting over. 

Has anyone tried using hydroponics before? 

 

The seeds get started in this.
Then put on top of a heating pad and under this light.
And the seedlings get transplanted to this contraption.

Wish me luck!

Over coffee I would tell you about my most recent camping trip. We went to Malibu and camped overlooking the coast. It was amazing! I’ve always wanted to camp along that section of  Pacific Coast Highway and I was not disappointed. As soon as we got there we had a bunny visit our campsite and hung around for a little while. The next morning we saw dolphins…twice. The first pod looked like small killer whales but upon further investigation I determined they were Common Dolphin. The second pod were Bottlenose Dolphin. Gray Whales were reported off the coast but we didn’t see any. And not for lack of trying. I was looking through my binoculars for a good part of the day.

On my trail run I saw a skunk that I quickly (and quietly) ran past, and a dog trainer holding a very large snake. He said he was training the dog to avoid snakes. Good idea if you’re going to be in those hills with your dog. My dog stayed home.

I didn’t want to leave.

And lastly over coffee I would tell you about my fiasco with my latest paycheck (or lack of) from the college. I work part time (once a week or every other week) at a local community college in their health office seeing students for minor things and immunizations. They pay us once a month, but last month someone forgot to turn in our timesheet…oops…so we didn’t get paid. Our options are to request a check and pick it up at the corporate office or wait until the end of the month. 

I didn’t like either option and requested that they mail a check to me. Long story short, they will not, cannot, mail me a check. I’m a little pissed about the whole thing. This is my extra job and I don’t really need the check, but what if I depended on it? How does someone just forget to turn in timesheets? Good grief! So now I want my check, sooner rather than later, and I don’t want to be inconvenienced to get it. Is that too much to ask? Anyhow, rant over. But would you be irritated or just let it go and pick up the check?

So what’s going on in your part of the world?

Happy Nurse’s Week to my nursing peeps. 

Until next time…

                                  Denise

 

 

 

22 COMMENTS

  1. Kim at Running on the Fly | 8th May 21

    Happy Nurses’ Week to YOU!!!! Thank you for all your service <3 Your camping trip sounded amazing, says the no-camper gal LOL

  2. deborahbrooks14 | 8th May 21

    That seems like a lot of work to grow lettuce! I am currently growing herbs with an aerogarden we shall see how that goes. Happy nurses week to you! Yes, I would be annoyed if someone forgot to turn in my paysheet as well. I guess you can get it next time you go in. Looks like your camping trip was fun!

    • Denise | 8th May 21

      It does seem like a lot of work. I guess it’s just the satisfaction of growing something.
      Unfortunately the health office isn’t in the same place as the district office. Maybe I should just ask them to bring it to me. 😉

  3. Coco | 8th May 21

    That campsite looks gorgeous! Glad you had a good time. I do not have a green thumb, so I wouldn’t try hydroponics, but my AeroGarden herbs have survived me.

    Ugh on the paycheck. They way USPS is these days, I’d go get that check. I’ve had some letters get delivered on time and some take weeks!

    • Denise | 8th May 21

      I really like that AeroGarden. Do you start from seeds?
      I’m probably going to go pick up the darn check. I’m just being stubborn. 🙄

  4. Marcia | 8th May 21

    Happy nurses week! What a beautiful place to camp! I’ve not tried hydroponics. I hope it goes well for you. That is a total PIA about that check.

    • Denise | 9th May 21

      Thanks Marcia.
      And yes it is a total PIA!

  5. Chocolaterunsjudy | 9th May 21

    I have tried to interest my husband in trying out a small RV. Let’s say his resistant. The one time we tried Bandit in a hotel it really didn’t go well, but it’s been a few years. I’m hoping for a short vacation (not this one, later in the summer) in another AirBnB & try out Bandit in that.

    Your trip sounds amazing!

    I haven’t tried hydroponics either. Interested to see how it goes for you.

    People DO really depend on their checks, but then again, the mail is so unreliable, too. So maybe it’s better that they can’t mail it. good luck with that, too!

    • Denise | 9th May 21

      Thanks Judy.
      What does Bandit not like about hotels? I love staying in a hotel! 😂
      I’ll keep you posted on the hydroponics. Fingers crossed.

      • Chocolaterunsjudy | 14th May 21

        He gets anxious. Doesn’t want to eat & barks every time someone walked by the door. My other 2 dogs were great in hotels!

        • Denise | 14th May 21

          Awww. I had a dog that wouldn’t poop all weekend while we were camping. Dogs can be funny when taken out of their routine.

          • Chocolaterunsjudy | 14th May 21

            All our dogs have been rescues, but Bandit was a senior rescue. He came with baggage.

            We’re going to try an AirBnB with him in July. Hopefully that’ll go better.

          • Denise | 15th May 21

            Our dogs are rescues too. My old girl Sadie was afraid of men and laundry baskets. Hahaha. She’s all good now.

          • Chocolaterunsjudy | 15th May 21

            Bandit came to us at 8. He’s almost 13 — we think. He wasn’t great with men at first, nipped my husband when he tried to help him into his lap the day we met him. Was aggressive to our other dog & elderly cat after about a week. Growled at random people. We couldn’t pick him up for months, which was hard, because he doesn’t like to jump into the car.

            More than one professional told us we weren’t bad people if we put him down.

            It took a lot of work and finding the right supplement to help with his anxiety, but you’d never guess any of that if you met him now.

          • Denise | 15th May 21

            Oh wow. So glad you stuck with him and he’s better now.

          • Chocolaterunsjudy | 15th May 21

            Thanks! We are too, but in the beginning I was actually desperate to rehome him! He’d actually bitten the first vet I took him to for a wellness check & rescues mostly wouldn’t even talk to us. It all worked out in the end, though.

            And that all happened while my mom had surgery with a rocky recovery & we moved them to where she now lives!

          • Chocolaterunsjudy | 15th May 21

            Laundry baskets? That is random!

          • Denise | 15th May 21

            I know right?

  6. Wendy | 9th May 21

    I had to laugh, or more like commiserate about your paycheck fiasco. As a provider, I get a CME allowance every year. Last year I didn’t use it, so I bought a new laptop instead. After 8 weeks of waiting for my reimbursement, I messaged the CME team and they said ‘patience requested’. Apparently, they were 12 weeks behind. Um, no, that’s my money. It’s so odd, because in the past it was usually 2 pay periods. Our CMO, who used to be my collaborating physician sent me an email for something else. I responded with a ‘by the way’ comment and voila, it was on my next check. I have to turn in my request for reimbursement for my remote conference. Let’s see how that goes…

    Anyhoo, good luck with your hydroponics. I have never tried it. I’m not much of a green thumb, tho!

    • Denise | 10th May 21

      “Patience requested”…uh, no.
      I hope you get reimbursed for your conference promptly.
      Fingers crossed on the hydroponics. I forgot to add water to the first set of seeds so we shall see if I can do this. Lol

  7. Debbie @ Deb Runs | 9th May 21

    Happy belated Nurses Week! I have not tried hydroponic gardening, but it sounds interesting. I gave up on growing vegetables because the deer and squirrels wouldn’t stay out of it even with a fence around it. You camping trip (and location) sound fabulous!

    • Denise | 10th May 21

      I wish I lived where we had a deer “problem”. I’m more concerned about attracting rats. 😮

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