Month: April 2020

I am going to try a new coffee. I am awaiting its arrival in the mail.
☕☕☕ I’m going to use my blog to document the experience.
I’m told this will make me happy! 😊😁😄
stay tuned!
Everyone wants Lorene happy!

Oh my, it’s one of those mornings I don’t want to leave my coffee pot’s side.
I feel the need to sleep in.
Stay in my dark quiet room.
Snuggle under the covers.
Anything but get out in the world today.

I need a me day.
A day to de-stress
Regroup
Relax
Breathe deep
And just…
Be

It’s a good thing I can take time in the morning and refuel with my coffee, decompress and motivate myself for the day.

Mini time outs will have to do until I can take a full day.
In reality I probably don’t need an entire day, my mornings are very therapeutic.

I just get into a mood of “I don’t want to!”

I’ll stomp my feet, roll my eyes and get dressed anyway. Take my fanny to work like a good little adult.

But first, another cup.
Maybe 2, I have some time.
I’ll listen to the birds, the house sounds and enjoy my time.

Then, I will adult.

☕ cheers my friends.
Have a spectacular day!
Catch a few minutes of downtime and cup of Joe.

Lorene

It’s common knowledge Maddie is a “Daddy’s Dog”.
Troy Woo will do anything to keep that the status quo.
Maddie goes to the shop with him Monday thru Friday, she usually stays home with me on Saturday. Not voluntarily I might add.

While Troy is getting ready this morning, Maddie is getting excited, she has no concept it is Saturday, or she does and really doesn’t care.
While I am making coffee, I hear the conversation he is having with Maddie.

Troy: “oh baby girl, you know today is Mommy daughter day. I know you don’t like that, but you’ll get used to it. You know I want to take you, but Mommy needs your company too.”

Seriously?????
Undermining my relationship with our fur baby!

I cant stop laughing.
And yes, she whined when he left her.
So I will get to watch her sleep all day.

I love my life! Now where is my coffee….

Lorene

I want to commend all those that have had to adapt to working from home. And kudos to those of you doing it since way before.

I was thinking about my job and if I could do it from home. I would say yes. With help from staff that are hands on.
My physical self really doesn’t have to be there except for moral support.

Could I do it from home?
Sure, if I had to.
But let’s look at this.
Working from home takes discipline.
Lots of discipline!

We joke around about wearing pajamas all day. Or no pants for zoom meetings. Drinking wine from a coffee cup with a tea bag string taped to it for such meetings.
No makeup, messy bun, soaps on TV or Netflix.

Work from bed, or out by the garden, long lunches or even a bubble bath in the middle of the day.

Sounds like the perfect job.
Or not.

Part of the reason I love what I do is the people around me.
Social interaction.
Coffee with friends.
Lunch breaks with conversations that are not in my head.
Dressing up and feeling human.
Walking across the parking lot for some exercise.

I can’t say for certain I would do all those things if I worked from home, I’m afraid I might be that one with wine in the cup.

Bravo to all of you that are successful at working from home. I truly admire your discipline.
Getting up and dressed, clocking in, doing your thing for 8 hours, and then and only then, clocking out after completing all your tasks, grabbing that wine and putting your feet up.

I’m fortunate I can go into the office on a daily basis. I feel at ease in my chair, pushed up to my computer.
Being there for my staff if they need me.
Or I need them.

I do wish I had that coffee cup with wine at times. 😉

Wherever you are working from today, thank you.
You are essential.
All of you are essential.

Lorene

Coffee
Why does it warm my soul?
Not my tummy or body,
My soul.
That first sip, when taken in a quiet, cozy place, can guarantee a beautiful day.
No matter what happens.

Coffee is like a wing man as you go into battle. It gives you that mental clarity, calmness, energy, and the will to push forward.
Reminds you that you are ready for anything.
You got this!

Or a secret lover.
One you cant get enough of by the fire on a winter evening. Snuggled under a blanket.
You sneak away to have a cup to recharge or just relax. The smell, the taste on your lips, lingers for hours.
Your next cup is always on your mind. Any time of day is a good time. Your hands wrapped around the cup letting the warmth spread throughout your body.
Coffee time is the best time.

Magical beans?
Maybe.
Lorene is totally out of her mind?
Maybe.
But I bet this next cup will help me find my way back.
☕☕
Have a beautiful day, I hope I’ve made you smile.
Now go grab your wing man and slay the day!

Lorene

Staying positive can be tough at times.
You have no control over someone else’s actions and that can be frustrating. Not that you can’t control them but how it can make you feel.

I’ve always said I will not let someone else dictate the type of day I will have.
And that’s true.
But I do have feelings and emotions and those can and do get stirred up now and again.
That’s just human nature.

But it is what it is.
And if you can’t change it, you just adjust and move on.
The world isn’t ending, it just a little inconvenient today.

Don’t let it take your happy away!
Take a second and experience the moment. Get mad, stomp your feet, slam a door, mumble under your breath, roll your eyes.
Let it out.
But only for a minute.

Then….
Breathe in deep
And
LET IT GO

The day will happen no matter what mood you are in, so you may as well have a great one.
It’s only 24 hours long and most of you will sleep at least a third of that away.

Smile
Have a cup of coffee
Have that second doughnut.
What the hell, go for 3!
Lick the chocolate off first.
Whatever makes you happy!

We can’t solve all the world’s problems, but we can manage ours. Maybe not solve them immediately, but make them bearable until then.
Keep moving forward with a smile on your face. You will attract all the good vibes.

Now I want a doughnut.
☕🥯
Love Big today.
Lorene

You bring about what you speak about.

Most of you have heard me say this numerous times.
Some to the point where you probably want me to shut up.
Well, I got a taste of my own medicine the other day and could only laugh and say “yes ma’am “.

I am a sucker for a fresh baked, just out of the oven hot roll. Slathered in enough salted butter you have to lick your fingers after and possible your elbow.
Well, you could use a napkin but, really? Who would want to?

Carla, one of our cooks, stuck her head in my office and said, “Donna just pulled rolls out of the oven”, I replied with, “I hate Donna.”

Actually I love Donna, I want to clone Donna.
But that’s another story.

I run into the kitchen, well, more like jogged or skipped, those that know me, know damn well I do not run.
I stepped out the office door and see Carla slathering melted butter on the hot, slightly browned, smells like heaven, perfectly proportioned balls of bread.

She hands me one wrapped in parchment paper. I am sure she thinks I will lick the butter off this also and that’s why it’s not on a paper towel.
I’ll never tell.

I glance over at Donna, lift the bread to my nose, inhaling all that joy and happiness into my body. The yeast, butter, the warmth in my hands. I break it open to reveal steam with an aroma that sends my brain into over load.

“This is why I am gaining weight.”
I tell Donna.
Her response?

“SHUT UP AND LOVE YOURSELF”

I laughed, out loud, and said “yes ma’am”.

What a great reminder. I, too, at times need to be reminded.

I took my bread back into my office and enjoyed every single bite.
And yes. I licked my fingers.
And yes, I shut up and loved myself.

Lorene

Look!
There is Friday peeking around the corner.
I know for some of you staying at home every day is a Friday, or a Monday if you are stir crazy.

I actually enjoy going to work.
I can’t imagine not working.
I do miss cooking for people.
I love whipping up something tasty and watching people smile as they eat.
Taking their time to taste the love in each bite.
It could be home made pizza or sea bass, rustic or upscale. Whatever the food, it is always comforting.

When I cook at home, there are times I go into Chef mode. Plating our meal to look like we are at a restaurant.
Beautiful food.
Because it’s what I love.

We should all do what we love.
Some of us can’t do it on a daily basis, but when we do we are in a happy zone.
For me, it is creating in the kitchen for people.
It could be anything,
Reading a good book cover to cover.
Volunteering

Whatever it is that makes you happy, take the time to do it.
Focus on making yourself happy and you will infect those around you.

Sometimes being infectious is a good thing.

Go, make yourself happy, and watch the smiles around you spread.

Love Big
Be Happy

Lorene 2020

Good morning, I have my coffee in hand, my daily routine playing out.
Comfort.

I slept through last night’s storm. I suppose growing up in Oklahoma conditions you. We would all be walking zombies if we didn’t sleep every time there was a storm.
I’ve learned to tune out noises but my brain can still pick up warnings.

Troy has asked me before how I can read a book, sitting next to him while he watches television. How can I concentrate?
I guess it’s focus.
Or a Mom thing.

Moms can tune out everyday noise that kids make.
All the screaming, laughing, fussing etc. But when there is a cry of pain, Mom senses pick up on it. It’s like our brain categorizes the sounds entering our ears and prioritizes them.

I’ve kept that superpower. I use it in everyday life.
I can hear the everyday noises of the kitchen, timers going off, pans clanking, talking, singing, phones ringing, water running etc.
Then there is that occasional crash. Something hitting the floor and I’m up and out of my office to make sure no one is hurt.

I am filtering out sounds.
Just like I filter out conversations.
Hearing and listening are 2 different activities.
I will listen to you all day long, but refuse to hear complaining, self pity, negativity and hate.
That stuff will consume you!
My mental health is on the line.
I love you and will be there for you, but you have to project what you want to return.

People will absorb the hate and negative talk like it is gospel. I don’t understand how it is easier to believe and talk negative than it is to spread and speak the positive.

Shut that storm out.
Listen for the warning signals.
Project sunshine and it will return.
Repel the negative.
It’s much more fun to be happy.
I promise.

Lorene 2020

Coffee….
The second best part of waking up.

Look at this view.
Colors only God could provide.
The every day miracle of the sun rising, reminding us of the promise of a new day.
Fresh and clean,
a new start.

Every day is a new beginning.
Yesterday is over, tomorrow is not here, put your focus on today.

How will you make today matter?
A kind word.
A gift of time.
A sweet note.
A smile.

We won’t discover the secrets of the universe but will find hope, happiness and love.
You just have to look.
You can find things in the oddest places.
Like in a sunrise, or smile, or a sweet note.

Today slips away into yesterday way to quickly to hesitate.
Once that happens, it’s gone.
“Should haves” and “could haves” mean nothing now.

Focusing on tomorrow steals from today.

Today is what I live for.
Now.
It’s all I’m promised, this very instant.
I will live for the moment.
It may be my last.

So today, right now, let me say…
I love you and so should you.
Enjoy the sunrise like it’s your last.
Live like you want to be remembered.
Love Big.

Lorene 2020