Exhausted, Drained, Empty and Worn Out....and it is the first thing in the morning

Have you ever woke up in the morning and felt more tired than you did when you went to bed? Like you are already pooped before the day even begins? What happened to that iconic image of waking up to the sunlight pouring into you room from the nearby windows and you stretch and smile and say "What a wonderful day!". Yeah Right! Me too. Somewhere in the middle of this millennium I lost morning wake up smile.  Usually I wake up because my back hurts and I cannot lay there in bed any longer.  Or...I got to go pee. I am up and usually hear the snap, crackle and pop of my bones....most of them in my neck.....snap, crackle and pop are even a bit soggy these days.

Self motivation is hard to come by these days. It takes a lot more effort to move this sack of potatoes than it did twenty years ago. Things appear a bit more pessimistic than they did back then as well. Now I am not trying to bring anyone down.  Just giving the State of the Union address here and wishing (maybe self-motivating thru these words) to get up and running again. I have enjoyed my sanctuary garden in the back patio but that sometimes wears off its excitement too. "Waking up to Folgers" doesn't always do the eye-opening trick either.  But it does help.

Sometimes, Mavrick....our bit-of-a-pain-cause-I-chew-everything-but-still-so-cute puppy wakes me up standing on my chest licking my face. He brings in one of his chewed-upon toys in wanting to play. Wet paws and all from his morning jont around the backyard. Not sure that helps but you can't help but smile.

I haven't seen the movie yet but I have seen the previews of Captain America.  You know where the skinny weak guy climbs in some hyperbolic chamber and then climbs out a tough muscle bound stud. I need one of those machines! Or even waking up in the morning and feeling like it was Christmas. That would be awesome as well.

Sometimes we get lost along the path of life and loose the JOY in our lives.  Our lives become routine and lacks adventure.  Yes I did say adventure.  I don't have to be a pirate or secret agent to have adventure.  We all need adventure even it is small.  I have bucket list and some of those things are quite adventuresome.  I can't wait to start marking some of them off. Adventure keeps our lives from getting into the doldrums. LIFE itself can take a beating on you and it takes a bit of self-motivation to shake it off and wake up with that smile and say......Good Morning! I really mean it.

So my friends.....Have a Great Day.....and make it an adventure.

Share you adventure...great or small.

The Aroma of Coffee in the Morning

I am becoming very much the coffee freak these days! I say that because I never really liked coffee before.  I would have a cup every now and then and my wife would say I was playing grown up, like a little girl pretending with Tea and Cookies....except just the opposite.

I would try to drink some coffee during my days in Architecture school at Oklahoma State.  You know....for the reason of trying to stay awake.  Nope, couldn't do it.  It was enough struggle to keep going, but the coffee just upset my stomach. Of course the JOLT cola didn't do much better!

I think I must have been converted while my in-laws were living with us. My father-in-law would always get up first thing and make a pot of coffee......and then before long, he was make two pots of coffee for all of us. I think what I like most about the coffee habit is being able to pour a cup of coffee in the morning and then go out and sit on my patio surrounded by the flowers in my garden, (that I planted, by the way) and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet before the hectic day is to begin. Now our backyard is not exactly a fortress of solitude, but it has it's ability to take me away at least.

Of course that is in the spring or summer time.  In the winter time, I wake up and then my lovely wife (to whom I am so appreciative....staggers back from the kitchen with sleepy eyes partly opened and bring us our first cup of java for the morning).  ummm, wonderful smell, wonderful taste.....just right!

Now I don't go about adding a bunch of stuff to the coffee. No creamer. No milk. No sugar. No nothing.  Just plain black coffee! And we don't get a abnormally special coffee either.  Just FOLGERS breakfast blend or something like that. (Please don't ask me to buy it at the store....I am sure I wont buy the right stuff!) No if I go out for breakfast, and have a choice like PANERA, I will get some of the darker blends....but still no additives. Here is my MOTO: "If you are going to drink coffee....then drink coffee!"

We or maybe it is just I have started a collection of different coffee mugs from where ever we go.  We have a few from Eskimo Joe's in Stillwater (my wife has broken hers twice). We have a couple from Vegas, (my wife broke hers....now you see a theme happening here?). We have some Christmas ones, I got a Steeler mug for my Birthday....it is the best....big, strong and indestructible......ok, don't tell my wife about the indestructible part.

Juan Valdez...bring me another cup!
Have a blessed day my friends and remember to enjoy it to it's fullest!