Welcome to my blog. This is my soapbox. If you are offended by something you read here; Congratulations, you are close minded and prejudiced. My blog is almost always about sharing my experiences, my coffee, and my honest opinions in a laid back and humorous manner. After the events that have occurred in the first half of 2020, I can not passively write an opinion piece without addressing all that has transpired. That would be insensitive and inaccurate. These current events affect the subject matter for writing this blog in general, but as a compassionate human, I can’t, in my heart, not address some of the most important human rights topics that need our attention. Leave your politics and religion out and think with your humanity first. I am always happy to discuss, in a level-headed conversation, opinions or questions so feel free to reach out in the comments or email if you need.
I have started, over the course of the last few months, several blogs. Each one morphing as time passed, the current events shifted, and became more unbelievable. However, since the first time I popped my computer on, the title I chose never changed. It covers the vast array of topics that are so valuable to moving forward in our world right now.
In the beginning, my story was to share some of my favorite stay at home coffees as a side effect of wanting to save money. My no-spend weekends allowed me to pocket cash that would have otherwise been spent by using a short set of self imposed rules to not buy anything from 6pm Friday night till the following Monday morning. As a restriction, all coffee was made at home or at the expense of another (I.O.U. coffee date usually with The Boss or at another person's home). These are the times I would spoil myself. Coffee that was gifted to me or picked up as a special treat would be the first way to find luxury on a weekend that would otherwise feel stifled. Now these once a month weekends that allowed me to pay off a credit card and travel were fun. I was excited to stay home.
But as days turned to weeks and weeks to months since I had laid my opening line on blog number 153, my world would became entangled with being glued to the news, being furloughed from my job, no longer celebrating holidays, not being by my dad’s side during a major surgery, no longer leaving the house, being filled with fear of the unknown, and watching a greatly misguided country fall behind others as we learned that each humans health is connected to nothing more than a political mindset to make money and treat the poor and the ill like a piece of toilet paper dragging under your shoe. My head spun. Every day, new information was altered to fit a narrative that costs people their lives and livelihoods. Staying home was, again, the answer.
As things involving human health were starting to be properly understood but barely, simmering civil rights issues were now coming to a boil. I was well aware racism is very real in my country yet dumbfounded in how in this era of knowing all human meat sacks are born into the same casing that some sausages manage to hold an air of superiority. I had no idea how often race played a part in how someone was treated and that is my privilege. As a woman, I knew that I wasn’t always accepted without challenge, but my friends of other races and ethnicities were truly struggling. A few years back, a friend of mine told me of the obstacles he faced based on his race and I’d never heard such stories. It was heartbreaking and eye opening. Those same stories were echoed from victims of color as the events of the Black Lives Matter movement pressed forward. I learned so much about the humans that were supposed to be protecting other humans. They had their own agendas. So did their employers and the hierarchy of government that protected them. Those agendas were hate filled and their position of power was used to crush anyone who wasn’t like them. I cheered for the protestors. They correctly used their rights as Americans to bring attention to this, previously unknown to us privileged humans, systemic racism. I knew I wouldn’t be emotionally strong enough to be in arms with them as they walked so powerfully together. Instead, I choose to support with my wallet and with my words. As tensions heated up in the major cities across the globe, I reconnected with old friends, family members from differing political parties, and youth that I would like to hope are NOW no longer non-registered voters. Open communication. Answering questions. Making sure always to find the truth and help work to fight these injustices. The major similarity in these discussions is change HAS to happen and that the current government administration was so totally wrong in trying to bring military warfare on its own people. As the sun set on the first few days of protests, rogue rioters took advantage, and curfews were put in place. I managed to make changes and support humans who should never know a life different than my privileged one, all while staying home.
These extraordinary events were just a sliver of the front page headlines for such a notorious 6 months. Wildfires in Australia, killing an Iranian General, Kobe’s passing, the farce shenanigans that was the impeachment trial for the Butt of the Joke that is the current president of our country, Brexit actually happened, the summer Olympics were canceled in Tokyo but for different reason than when canceled there in 1940, Warren and Sanders dropped out of the presidential race leaving Democrats with Biden as presumably the only choice, and whatever a Tiger King was.
It wasn’t all bad. The result of working from home led to Los Angeles having the cleanest air quality for a major metropolitan city in the world. Animal shelters were emptied as people looked for stay at home friends to keep them company or give them a reason to go for a walk. Human interaction via the internet became a norm for all ages. Changes are starting in society and accountability looks like it will become a trend. Makers, business owners, and communities run by people of color are getting recognized and finding support they never previously expected.
For myself, the anticipated release of a video game went from a few excited franchise fans, to a global phenomenon. While the outside world shut down, Nintendo completely sold out of their gaming systems and record number sales boomed for the new game. Where I thought I would spend my forced time off playing with a few friends, it turned into new friends and a deeper connection with the family that I played with. I’d gone from 3 friends on my device to now close to 50 others who wanted to share the experience with me. Toilet paper vanished from store shelves and the idea of going out every few days for fresh produce was replaced with ordering more long term foods and lots and lots of booze. I earned my “quarantine 15” but I will be back at the gym when I feel safe. Surprising to myself, when I wasn’t on the game or spending hours with friends on Zoom, I reinvested into my other hobbies. A friend of mine created an inspiring group online for art of all styles. (Quarandoodle: Quarantine Art Community) She gives a daily worded prompt, usually themed for a week ending with a musical prompt. Posting and sharing your own interpretation of the prompt or other work is highly encouraged. The daily interaction with this group is wonderful. It is mentally stimulating, I have started a new art book, and found I was filling my journals more often. A musician friend of mine has been streaming from her house and paired up with other artists to entertain while stuck at home. The stream I enjoyed most was when she played her guitar and sang while her roommate painted on canvas. They opened up for donations to BLM charities and one lucky fan won the art piece.
Sure I miss traveling and being with friends but overall staying home suits me. Rather than waiting for a no-spend weekend or special occasion, I am enjoying those special coffees and teas everyday now. Currently, I am loving the Hazelnut Creme from the fundraising coffee and tea company known as The Giving Bean. This coffee is ground super fine so using the reusable K-cups will leave a residue of coffee in your mug but a paper filtered drip coffee is perfect. A subtle hazelnut flavor with a sweet chocolate finish is absolutely a decadent treat. I was originally introduced to this coffee by my aunt. Her church was helping a group of kids akin to girl scouts raise money and she asked what flavor I thought I would like. Since then, I’ve ordered online and as the company gives an extensive list of charities to give to or start your own, I was naturally inclined to give to a cat rescue. Their tea is also excellent.
I now have friends who have coffee via text with me every day. A bright good morning message with a photo of the day's drink has become a growing habit to keep connected. My friend in London makes a french press afternoon coffee or tea to have with me when I get up in the morning in my time zone. A friend that has had to work through all of this will send me her cup from her desk. The Boss usually has a festive creamer to add to her drink while another friend will share with me her tentative agenda for the day and then pictures of her pups (one was a quarantine rescue).
Before I can even close out this blog, I am taken aback seeing headlines of nuclear war threats from North Korea and the attempted repealing of The Affordable Care Act being denied again in tonight's news. As such head shaking titles splash on screen and in papers, try to find the positives. If you can’t find the positives, create them. Always drink the top-shelf coffee. Get a favorite mug and use it with that coffee. Take regular coffee up a notch and add cinnamon and ginger to the grinds before brewing. Treat yourself well and in turn treat others well. Pet animals. Appreciate art. Unclench your body. Lift each other up. Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Pay it forward. Be kind. Vote. And when you need it; stay home.
