Coffee Talk Mom

Angels amidst Chaos

Many of you know that Colorado has quite literally felt "engulfed" by flames, fire, and heat for the past week. Colorado Springs is my hometown and watching the images on the television last night was absolutely heartbreaking, especially since our very dear friends live in the "Mountain Shadows" subdivision mentioned multiple times in every report.

Saturday evening we found out that they had, in fact, been evacuated and were now calling the Academy Hotel home. Of course they had multiple offers of help and food and homes for their dog etc…What I realized very quickly was that they probably needed time to just let it "sink in" and wonder "what did we forget"? From the very first moment, they knew that "it's just four walls" but there is something about a place that houses your memories, your kid's games, your favorite guitar, your books and photos. Since there was nothing to do but pray, that is exactly what I did. It was an amazing "vision"…I know that sounds crazy…but God just gave me a picture in my mind of an angel…It was if I was standing on their back porch, and an angel was in the brush up against the hill, wings fully open and surrounding their home. Every time since then that I have prayed, the picture has come to mind as if God was saying "I've got this".

I met my college son for dinner last night in Golden. It was pouring rain and I couldn't help but wonder if it was raining in Colorado Springs. We talked about the "new" fire in Boulder and how my son would be enduring no air conditioning, 100 degree temps, and smoke in his house. How about the firefighters? We gave quick hugs in the rain storm and off I went to C470 only to be "awed" by the plume of smoke I saw in the distance. Once home, I watched for hours as the live coverage showed structures burning in what I KNEW was our friends' neighborhood. The angel kept coming to mind and I had to turn off the coverage and just think about the fury and intensity of God's love for us. It's a little bit like the fire…amidst the uncertainty HE is fully in control…sometimes it is just hard to see…there is too much smoke. The smoke of anxiety…worry…and despair.

Today I had the picture again, but the angel was in the sunlight, not the smoke. I got a call from our friends. Their house is safe…their neighbors are not.

There are no guarantees with this fire. What is there today may be gone tomorrow. I think I will just continue to hold on to God amidst the smoke and ashes, knowing that he has sent angels to guard our hearts (and hopefully our homes).

Coffee Talk Mom

YUMMmmmm!!

A place called "The Kitchen" has seen a whole lot of press lately as they have gone from a small restaurant in Boulder into the huge scene in Denver. Hailed as the king of the "farm to table" concept , it has the well deserved reputation of fresh, locally grown produce brought in new, innovative ways to your table. Personally, I like the place, but as good as it is, be ready for small portions and a large check!

That is why I was excited today when I happened in to a lunch spot in the Denver Tech area (Arapahoe Road) called Mod Market. It was prime time and the line went out the door. You order at the counter and pay, and then are given a pager to pick up your food when it's ready. The menu consists of fresh salads, wood oven pizzas and sandwiches. Good or bad, the calories are posted. You can opt for the half size portion pizza which was plenty to me. I had a prosciutto /arugula pizza and it was yummy. They don't serve coke or Pepsi products but organic sodas (along the lines of Whole Foods) and you may find yourself looking for a table, but it was worth it. Great, fresh food and you are not taking out a second home mortgage to pay the bill.

Just thought I would share since we usually end up picking between The Cheesecake Factory and White Chocolate Grill for a girl lunch. It's fun to have a new option. I would simply recommend you go either early or late. The Mod Market is here to stay!

MOD MARKET
www.modmarket.com

8575 E Arapahoe Road

Greenwood Village

303-220-9961

 

Locations in Boulder and Glendale too!

Let me know what you think!

Coffee Talk Mom

Foot Massage … just don’t ask!

I hesitate to tell you this story, but for the sake of my readers...here goes...another day in the life of Coffee Talk Mom!
I am truly blessed because occasionally, when Dave goes somewhere for work, I get to tag along. Such was the case last month when I took the day to drive coffee talk dad to Boulder to speak and for various meetings. It's nice to get away, even if it is close to home. Boulder Colorado is a different world, but in a good way...lots of coffee shops, independent shops, and amazing food. In fact, as I write, I sit alone at The Mediterranean off Pearl Street to enjoy a glass of vino and an amazing Greek salad. There are enough students and business people to not feel totally out of place sitting alone, although the waitress did originally tell me that she would get me a couple of waters! Do any of you remember the time you first went out to eat alone? That is a kind of strange thing to ask, yet, since I have been married since I was 21, I suppose it doesn't happen much. It is strange, yet empowering to know that yes...you can eat alone and it's ok!

I decided that although the thought of massage at the hotel was tempting, I would venture out to see if there was something a bit more reasonable. The massage was about 3 Bucks a minute....who gets paid three dollars a minute? Well, like the dork I am, I wandered into a Chinese massage place (see previous blog...aka...They are reasonable and fairly awesome if you can get past the lack of English!)...Lets just say, I was happy to get it of there with my wallet and in one piece....When I first walked in, the lady was eating lunch...some kind of crazy seaweed thing. She informed me that "I have opening in 10 minute after my lunch"...I wondered if I should stay, but against my better judgment, I waited while she watched Korean soap opera on her PC and ate her lunch. Little did I know that when my time came, she would simply swivel the PC and set me up in a chair next to the front desk. As she did I was thinking to myself, "Girl...what the heck are you doing? " It was too late, so I had my foot massage while catching up on the Korean version of "As the world turns"...I had to laugh at myself a little...why do I always end up in these situations. About half way through I got a great idea...This woman speaks 2 words of English...I'll get out my I Pad and find an app that goes from English to Chinese! The conversation went something like this:

Have you lived in Boulder for a long time?
3 (using hands)
Do you have children?
Baby...live in LA
your baby lives in LA?
Hum...yes...
You must miss your baby...?
No...I work

Ok...so forget the translator!..Who knows what it was actually asking when I would lean in to show her the Chinese symbols. We had our next customer.

Customer: I would like 1 hour massage...with acupressure
Lady: I busy
Customer: When can I come back
Lady: too busy
Customer getting ticked because of the language barrier...
Mañana?
Me: She doesn't speak English so I'm pretty sure she doesn't speak Spanish.
Customer to me: When do you think I can come back? Well...she just told someone else on the phone 40 minutes, so I would come first thing tomorrow...
Customer: Thanks...
Before she walks out the door, we are back to the semi-lame foot massage and intently watching the Korean TV...How do these places stay in business?

FYI Readers…stick with Oriental Chi at Park Meadows…no "Green Tea Massage" in Boulder!

Happy Weekend!

Coffee Talk Mom

Everything is bigger in Texas??

SO off we went…from Oklahoma City to Ft. Worth Texas.

Lucky for the teen, there was a "Triple D" stop along the way in Denton Texas. I would have to say…the "Redneck Sushi" is bigger in Texas! That is what we experienced at the Rooster's Roadhouse. It was the BEST "sushi" ever! Tortilla wrapped brisket with spicy sweet pickles and cheese with some sort of horseradish dipping sauce! I took about 2 bites and knew my calories for the day would be wiped out if I had any more. I ordered a yummy side salad (very fresh ingredients) knowing I wanted to try the "jelly jar" dessert. The choices were banana pudding (hello?..love) or some kind of fried peach pie. I went for the bananas and it was SO good. I'm sure my body was burning calories at rest just staring at the "Hell Burger Eating Challenge" poster behind our table. You guessed it, the Food Network Show "Heat Seekers" has featured it and YES…you need to sign a waiver to participate! For some fun pics…go to: http://www.roosters-roadhouse.com/about-us-folder/

I am SO blessed with amazing friends, and we were well on our way to Ft Worth for the high school graduation of my goddaughter when I got the dreaded text: "Hi Ya'll…steaks and potatoes tonight at our house!"….Now, when our friend Chuck says "steaks"…they are not feeble little morsels. This would require a workout! After 3 days of yummy food/snacks/BBQ/and graduation cake, it was time to hit the road back to Colorado. I must admit, we are SO spoiled here! I thought I would melt into a puddle in Texas…now I know how Frosty the Snowman felt! During the awesome grad party, most of the guests stayed inside looking out the window like fish in a fishbowl, opting for the air-conditioning!

I am now in recovery mode…I think I am BIGGER because of TEXAS!!

Try someplace new this weekend!!

 

Coffee Talk Mom

ROAD TRIP!!

It always sounds so glamorous, so spur-of-the moment, the
epitome of freedom: the American “Road Trip”! 
The movies portray them as a dive into the heartland of America,
experiencing landmarks and cuisine like one has never experienced.  That is, until you have had your second round
of the runs as a result of the twist on the carnival fry bread.  That’s when you start to think: what the heck
am I doing in Hays Kansas and how far is it to the nearest hospital (just in case!).  The gas stations or “truck stops” are a whole
other story.  I always tell my
husband…”No truck stops!” but sometimes you just don’t have a choice when you
are flying down the open road and nature calls. 
I mean, what is a road trip without road snacks and a giant Diet
Coke.  Forget New York, no congressman in
Oklahoma would even consider the possibility of banning the Big Gulp!  What would the truckers do?  What would I do? 

The adventure began last week as we left the metropolis of
Denver to journey into the great unknown of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.  I would encourage you all to road trip
through the heartland once in your life. 
Where else could you find the “Jesus is Lord” truck stop or meet Bob
Meaty at the Whataburger.  Yes, I did ask
Manager Meaty if that was his real name…I just couldn’t resist!

If your TV can be a bonding experience, then I have to
resign myself to the fact that Swamp People, Man-vs-Food, and Diners Drive Ins
and Dives are part of this coffee talk mom’s world.  That is why, to please the teenage boy in the
back seat, we maneuvered our way to several “Triple D’s” on our journey. 

Our friends in OK City have been part of our lives for 17
years.  With them, we can laugh until our
stomachs hurt, cry at loss, and celebrate new beginnings.  With that in mind, we started our day at the
Oklahoma City Bombing memorial.  Tears
fill your eyes when you see the empty chairs for each victim and the small
chairs representing each child who was killed that day.  It was definitely worth the trip, since my
youngest was born the week of the event, and we quickly forget the history of
these events when our lives continue on at 80MPH. 

OK, back to the new beginnings: Mary was not at all
surprised when we had the address to our lunch destination: Mama E’s chicken
and waffles.  The funny part was, as we
approached the yellow…hum…restaurant, she said “I have never been to this part
of town”.  How have you never been to ANY
part of OK City after 6 years?  There are
no words…just happy, helpful people willing to take our order over a steamer
table.  Ahh…what to order?  Mary went for the burger dog (see photo…and
keep in mind she couldn’t actually fit her mouth around it to take a bite), and
the rest of us did some combo of chicken…and ummm waffles?  Suffice it to say, Kool-Aid was on the menu
and we were off to the races and some indigestion!  The kid’s eyes were rolling back with every
greasy morsel as we sat in more of a storage type of area than the
restaurant.  They definitely saw us
coming and the $10.99 special was not offered. 
We didn’t care…we were experiencing the real OK City!  It’s all part of life.  Skip the McDonalds drive through and head for
adventure…

NEXT: Road Trip #2

Happy Days,

Coffee Talk Mom