Thoughts

TC, Coffee, and Blood

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Friday, Friday, Friday! It feels like a Tuesday. Gonna be a busy day. JM has to go to his long eye doctor appointment (where they dilate his eyes). This usually takes a few hours when all is said and done. Few meetings for work following his appointment. One of my best friends, Jess and her husband just closed on a house nearby. They have two boys and I will be watching them today if the timing works, and definitely for most of the day tomorrow.

TC from the title? Traverse City? No. Although, that’s a cool place. Terry Crews. Been reading his book- about halfway through. I like him. Grew up in Flint as the auto plants started shutting down. He plays one of my favorite characters on one of my favorite TV shows, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Used to play in the NFL. He is not perfect (who is?) but I like his story so far and I think he’s a pretty brave guy. Facing a lot of heat for speaking up about things recently. He went to Interlochen for art on a full scholarship the summer before he went to play football for Western Michigan. That’s so cool.

Coffee. My best friend, remember? Day 2 of waking up at this awful time.

Anyway, I thought I would tell you about my favorite coffee in the entire world right now. I am crazy addicted to this. I drink coffee black with no cream or sugar although on a special ocassion I can be tempted into cream in the form of a cafe mocha or something. Day to day is black. I love that richness. I tend to go medium or dark. This one happens to be a medium roast and it is SO. GOOD.

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Which brings me to the blood part. I’ve been reading about the blood type diet. I don’t know that I buy into that 100%. There are issues in it I think for certain blood types and blood isn’t the whole body. I will say it’s interesting. I’m sure it does play a factor. It could be part of the reason why some foods work better for some than others. So maybe it’s worth experimenting around to gravitate to some foods and avoid some foods.

I have type O positive blood and so I’ve been reading what is good and what to avoid on that blood type. O blood is the oldest blood type and apparently relates to a hunter/gatherer. The idea is that the person’s blood hasn’t adapted to other types of food that you can’t hunt and gather for.

There’s a huge food list of course but I went through common stuff I would typically eat. Really, most of the stuff that’s either highly beneficial or neutral is stuff I eat. Meat, vegetables, and nuts are good. Grains. gluten, and dairy are bad… guess they didn’t gather the cow’s milk…hahaha.

Anyway, I used to be that kid who could seriously eat a big hunk of bread. In recent times, I don’t typically. I’ve gotten used to that. I am not saying I don’t occasionally have bagels or things that are grain related but it’s not a part of my routine and hasn’t been for many years now. Ok that’s fine. Not really good on lots of diets anyway. I guess oats and rye are ok. Rice was on the neutral list.

Coconut oil isn’t favored for my blood type. Interestingly, I do notice I don’t do as well with coconut. I cook with the oil because it has such a high smoke point. I have never handled it well otherwise- really anything with coconut in it. Makes me feel sick. So there could be some truth to that part.

Dairy is not a big deal if it wasn’t for cheese. I do love cheese. I have heard that it’s rough though- not agreeing with people in general. I bet it would probably help my skin to take a break for a bit. Apparently you can have feta and mozzarella though. K…

Alright, these things I can handle. Then. They say O blood type doesn’t do well with pork. Ham and bacon? Are you kidding me? Cucumbers? White wine (I guess red is better in moderation on this deal). Black pepper- what? And then…COFFEE.

Nope. Not ready to sacrifice my best friend just yet.

 

Upget Schoolgo

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I think Oompah (my grandfather) said this first? But my parents said it too. Anyway. It comes to mind this morning because I’m getting the morning routine back that I’ve now established into its normal time slot of basically way too damn early to be awake. 

We’ve been preparing and planning a lot virtually in recent weeks. In-person work begins for teachers on Monday, so my morning commute also begins. It is an hour north. Everyone looks at me crazy when I explain I drive that much each day. Honestly? It’s nice. I drink coffee. I listen to podcasts or sometimes nothing at all and think. I’m alone. It is the only time I’m ever alone.  Sure, it does really suck after concerts or events that the nature of my job includes. On a snowy late night it’s not particularly my favorite. But typically it’s nice and I have missed it a ton since March. More than I thought.

However, a big drawback of the drive is the time it takes out of my day. I like to be with John Michael and Joe when I come home. I like to cook. I’d rather not tie that time up with exercising so that leaves me no choice but to get up and get it over with in the morning. Ugh.

This brings me to this morning. 4am. Alarm goes off. No. Another alarm I put across the room goes off (necessary to drag myself up). Put on the headphones and went downstairs to exercise. I did it.

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I’ll be 35 in a couple weeks. I have gray hair (that I’ve had since I was in my mid- twenties…why?????) and bad shadows under my eyes all the time. Side note? In looking at this picture while I write this, the night cream really does wonders for my eyes.  Still a bit puffy. 

Came upstairs and got cleaned up like I normally would for school. Instead of the commute today, I got to write this blog post in peace. The house is quiet. Except for the clicking sound of Remi’s paws as she follows me all around. 🙂 Today I hang with John Michael and have some projects I need to do for school and for my business.

Tomorrow and the next days will be the hardest. Always those next few couple days.

Typically I’d say I’d rather be up late. I think I tend to naturally get my creative thoughts then and seems to be more of a natural rhythm for me. I do not think they will be changing the American school time table anytime soon though. “Upget schoolgo.” I will try not to be too crabby.

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But my reward? This cup of coffee. My best friend.

First Trip to the Dentist

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Not really a “funny” John Michael moment, although he said lots of hilarious stuff to the hygienist and dentist. His imagination is through the roof. They had cloud covers on the fluorescent lights. So he was telling her about how they fell from the sky and landed there. And all these elaborate things for how he thinks the water gun works there. With hand gestures.

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He did a pretty good job. He never really likes laying on his back but then he realized they wouldn’t hold him down (like when he gets a shot, which is the part he hates more than the shot). So he was just fine after that.

Talked away and thought it was the greatest thing. She said they normally clean the front ones on the first visit but because he did well, they did them all. He let them scrape, floss, and buzz his teeth with the motor toothbrush. Said he was doing a good job brushing and he got a prize. 🙂

Summertime

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Behind on the thoughts for end of July. Here’s some happenings that we’ve been up to on the home front. Building and fixing (trucks and treadmills). Photography shoots. Gray hairs (me), hair cuts, (by me), hair done (for me, not by me). Some good drinks and foods. Baseball and fires outside.

 

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Grandma Carole- we made steaks with the beans out of your garden! And cucumbers with our wings and celery!

My one. 🙂

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Ranchero Sauce

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So ranchero sauce is some good stuff. My brother’s girlfriend, Christie, is an exceptional cook. When we were in Elk Rapids the weekend before last she made heuvos rancheros. If you’re not familiar, it is like chorizo, avocado, cheese, cilantro, a sunny side up egg, and the ranchero sauce. Some pico de gallo or salsa.

We liked it so much that when my husband and I celebrated our anniversary this past weekend I made it again.

Cheers to 7 years of marriage to this handsome man. 10 years together this September!

Anyway, back to business. The ranchero sauce recipe makes a ton… I consider this a good thing.

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The next day I made the same dish but instead of chorizo, I used bacon since I was out of chorizo and that’s all I had.

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Sill had some ranchero sauce. Not a bad thing. The night of our real anniversary on Monday night I made some flank steak with a caesar salad. Thought to myself- ranchero on the side? Yes. It was incredible.

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Thanks to Christie, we have these two recipes she used.

https://www.aspicyperspective.com/best-huevos-rancheros-recipe/

https://www.aspicyperspective.com/best-ranchero-sauce-recipe/

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You need some ranchero sauce in your life.

The Party Store Guy

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In Wisconsin, they just call it a liquor store. Being from Michigan, we all know it’s a party store. The guy that works at the one around the corner from my house is a party guy. It fits.

Yesterday I stopped in to grab a few beers on my way home. So here’s the story…

I open the door, mask on. As I walk back to the cooler, the phone rings. The party guy starts toward the phone to answer it.

“If this is one more person calling to ask about Busch Apple, I will lose my mind. I will lose it. I’m telling you. You watch.” I listen as he answers the phone.

“NO! We do NOT have Busch Apple! You are like the 30th person to ask me that today. Ridgeview Liquor has it on their voicemail that they don’t have it and I’m about to do it for this place. Green Bay doesn’t have it, okay? You know what? Just pour your Busch into some apple juice. It’s literally the same. It’s the same damn thing. I promise you. I’ve had some.” He hangs up and I am laughing. I absolutely love that he answers the phone like this.

“What did I tell you? I told you didn’t I? It’s hard enough to find the good beers that I want. I put a sign up to go to the bathroom and restock. Like five minutes and the phone rings again. Ugh. And that is garbage beer. It’s these kids. They think they’re gonna have that for their party. Nope.”

Yep, I agree party store guy.

“You have a nice day!”

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Perspective

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Perspective is fascinating. From Webster:

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Perspective of course, can have a few different meanings. I am choosing to focus in (no pun intended there) on 2a. As a photographer, I’m always changing my physical perspective because I like to have lots of choices in composition. All the angles. Then I chose the perspective that draws the eye in the most and also represents what I’m trying to shoot or the subject, in the best way.

It’s like a conversation with myself- what about this angle? This depth of field? The way the sun is here? Is this better? Or that? My initial ideas on perspective of the photograph are not always right.

In our current political climate, it is so interesting how the exact same topic or fact(s) can have so many different mental photos. The hard part is sometimes finding the subject and what its true authenticity is.

We come from so many different backgrounds, race, gender, economic status, family values, beliefs, religions, history, culture. It seems obvious that we won’t agree on many topics. Our perspectives are all different and it’s extremely complicated.

Perspective is really an opinion or viewpoint but is not truth. How do we find the truth? It seems harder and harder. Maybe we start by taking shots all around the subject, research it all, and then have a conversation. Maybe people have legitimate reasons for their perspective. The solution or the photograph might still be really a perspective in the end. Maybe there are more solutions than just one. I personally love to look through the photos. By shifting through all the perspectives, we might find more truth and better solutions. The subject doesn’t change.

 

 

 

Marquette

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Joe and I spent the weekend in Marquette, Michigan for two reasons. One was to do a photography shoot for a family friend. He is an architect and wanted me to shoot a dealership for publicity. The second reason was to see some of our best friends and celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. (Okay, I’ll be real- the third reason was to spend some quality time with my husband uninterrupted by a certain child). 🙂 I went to college in this town so I lived there nearly 5 years and I always love a visit.

Here’s a song to put ya in the right mood.

The first thing you should know is that it is hard to climb 5 flights of stairs in masks. hahaha

The weather could not have been more perfect. We were worried because thunderstorms were in the forecast both days but the timing of the storms worked out. It afforded me an incredible sunrise to shoot (very early for my now acclimated Wisconsin blood- up at 4:30am my time to do so while Joe snuggled in his bed). The weather while we dined Friday night was just perfect. We went to Iron Bay and sat outside by the water. One of the best places in Marquette (that little corner) if you’ve never been. I highly recommend their whitefish tacos and chowder. Joe had fried whitefish and chips.

The next day I did a lot of photography at the dealership, did a hard workout, and ate lunch at Vangos (also outside).

For dinner we picked up Thai House and met up with Nate and Katie at Presque Isle Park (where they got married). Made a picnic outside. I brought a picnic basket my mom gave me when I graduated high school and some special glasses, cloth napkins, etc. It was our first outing since Covid began (other than our parents). Totally lovely. We had a blast talking about first dates and funny old stories. Then we ended the night with a quest to see the comet. Not a success that night for the comet sighting. We sure did have fun though. They are some of the best people I know. (Katie and I did see the comet a few days later at our own houses). 🙂

That sticker on the wine bottle? The very first professional photo I took. On an old 35mm film camera where you had to manually focus, set the f-stop, shutter speed, etc. You had to balance a needle and all.

Happy anniversary, Nate and Katie!

Sunday we stopped at Third Street Bagel (another staple in Marquette if you need a breakfast stop). Had a really good breakfast bagel on a jalapeno cheese bagel. MMM.

Anyway here are some shots from the weekend at the dealership. I’d say successful!

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We got back and picked up John Michael. He had a very nice weekend with his grandma and grandpa. Thank you so much LuEllen and Mike. It was a such a treat to go away alone for a bit.

Nate packed up a little train box of things for him which I can’t tell you how touching it was/is. What a thoughtful gift- brought a tear to my eye. Had some train books, magazines, a hat, a lantern Nate himself used on the railroad, and a hand written letter. John has been non-stop reading his magazines so far. He’s so excited.

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We’ve had a duck camping out on the planter for a few weeks. Her babies finally hatched and they are now gone. I was able to catch one shot. It’s not very good because she was hiding her babies beneath her. Still, it’s cool! So now I have the hanging plant finally hanging.

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That’s the update for now! Happy Wednesday.