Category: Ultimate Coffee Date

Fit Five Friday and March 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

New Ultimate Coffee DateWelcome to the March edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am no longer going to NYC to run the half marathon.  The training hasn’t been there.  I thought about running it without training but feel like I will end up injured.  And that is the last thing I want.  I am happy I ran it last year and maybe will plan to go again another year.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last month I told you that I paid over $600 for night guards.  Imagine my surprise when I got a message from the receptionist telling me that apparently my insurance did cover it and I was getting a check back.  That money went straight to my savings account.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you about my fun experience when I went to get a mammogram.  Last week on Thursday I got a reminder for my appointment the next day at 8:40am.  The next day I left a little early so I could get something to eat for breakfast and to hopefully be seen before my appointment time.  I knew it wouldn’t take long and the plan was to go back to work.  I arrived at the hospital but the receptionist told me that she didn’t see my name on the calendar.  I was confused thinking that maybe I had the wrong date and time.  But how could I when I got a reminder the day before.  Suddenly, I realized that I was in the wrong hospital.  I had gone to the one I used to go.  Luckily, it was still early and the correct hospital was about 15 minutes away.  I arrived on time and was done in about 10 minutes. 

I got my results yesterday.  Everything is normal.  

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that a few weeks ago I made an offer on a house and it was not accepted.  My offer was $30k OVER the asking price!  My agent told me the owners received 32 offers.  The house was “cheap” and it needed some work to be done.  I was ready to do it and was actually excited about it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you I am now a fan of shopping at Aldi’s.  I remember the store as a kid.  I also remember it (years later) the store being closed on Sundays and they would only take cash or debit cards only (not the case now).  I have found some great options there and for a lower price.  I like to buy chips, fruit, and vegetables.   I also like the balsamic vinaigrette for my salad.  Can you believe that these past two weeks I have eaten a salad for lunch?  Yep, my salad has spinach, strawberry, chickpeas, feta cheese, and walnuts or sunflower seeds.  It is delicious and looks so pretty. 

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things in your gym bag.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Fit Five Friday and February 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

New Ultimate Coffee DateWelcome to the February edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you I wish I were in Orlando for the Olympic Marathon Trials.  In 2020 I went to Atlanta to spectate and had a lot of fun.  I also ran the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon so it was a busy weekend.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am excited for Kara Goucher’s partnership with Brooks.  I will admit that at first I didn’t know too much about her but remember watching her compete in various races.  It wasn’t until I read her book that I learned more about her and began to like her more.  I briefly saw her in Atlanta but have never met her.  

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I just spent $675 on a night guard.  I’ve been wearing one for years but I think I spent $100 or so for it.  It was time for a new one but didn’t realize it would cost that much money.  I couldn’t get the same one as before because my previous dentist retired and now I have a new dentist. Unfortunately, my insurance company doesn’t cover it – and I have good insurance!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today is the 100th day of school.  Wow!  Times does fly by.  It was a busy week with too many assessments, etc., so we celebrated with a movie and popcorn party.  We are watching the Toy Story movies and currently are on the third movie.  Of all of them, that is my favorite one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that sometimes I get annoyed when people are vague on social media.  Someone I know posted an Instagram story and mentioned 29 weeks.  I then sent her a message asking 29 weeks for what.  She then responded “Training”.  And then I asked her “Training for what?”  She then said she was planning to do a marathon in August.  I should have stopped at this moment, but I didn’t.  I then asked her which one which she then proceed to leave me a voice mail message.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things you love about working out.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fit Five Friday and January 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

New Ultimate Coffee DateWelcome to the January edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I got a new domain for my blog.  I do like zenaida.net but wanted something different (the former still works and if you type that, it will direct you to the new one).  I really wanted a .com domain but it wasn’t available – it was over $2,000 to get it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I was not picked to run the Chicago Marathon this year.  I read that 120,000 people entered the lottery.  I had mixed feelings about it.  I was relieved but at the same time upset.  I was hoping to run it this year but now am wondering if deep down I really, really wanted to run it or was it that I was inspired when I went to spectate in October.  I won’t pick another marathon nor will I apply through a charity, but if I get a bib then that will make me happy.  I plan to spectate again and that is ALWAYS fun.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that on Monday I went to an Amazon Fresh store.  Wow!  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  Not sure why since it is like a regular store.  I liked that I used a code on the Amazon app to get in and exit/pay.  I found a few things on sale and ended up buying all of the Starbucks Holiday Blend K-cups for me and my nieces.  Each box was $5.

I went to another one the next day and the experience was different.  I didn’t need a code to go in.  I had to use the self-checkout or the cashier to pay and exit.  There was a miscommunication with the price of iced coffee and the worker would not give it to for the price that was posted on the wall.  She told me that it was for another type of coffee (same brand) that was sold out but the sign said “All Varieties”.  I went to check again and took a picture of the sign to show her.  Then I showed it to her.  She had to go check again.  I was waiting for her to come back when another worker came by to ask if everything was OK.  I told her what was happening.  She then told me that any price discounts could not be done at the self-checkout and I had to go with a cashier (which the line was LONG).  She knew I was frustrated and proceeded to take care of me at Customer Service.

I know stores like Target would give me any discounts whether I pay with the cashier or a self-checkout.  I don’t understand why the same cannot be done at the Amazon Fresh store.  Overall, I like the stores.  They’re not close to my house but can see myself going again whenever I am in the area.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today is my last day of Winter Break.  Two weeks off is just what I needed.  Another week would have been nice but oh well.  I created a few draft blog posts and wrote a few posts to be ready to be published.  I also read, watched TV, cuddled with my cats, and took it easy.  Next week I have a Teacher Institute Day on Monday so I won’t see my students until Tuesday.  I did miss them and can’t wait to see them again.

My next long break will be in April for Spring Break and then the last day of school is Thursday, May 30th.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I have unfriended a few people on Facebook.  They weren’t really “friends” but more like acquaintances.  I became friends for a reason but a few of them I’ve never met (I am sure you are asking why I became friends with them in the first place) and others I haven’t seen or talked to in years.  I have a friend that passed away a few years ago and her page is still there.  I want to unfriend her but at the same time I don’t.  There is one person that noticed I unfriended her and she sent me another friend request.  I rarely see her and don’t talk to her so I was very surprised to see another request from her.  I deleted the request.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things you want to accomplish this year.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fit Five Friday and December 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the December edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

This is the last coffee date of 2023!  What a year it has been.  I wanted to participate every month but made it to all except for two months.  Not bad at all.  It is fun to catch up and read everyone’s post.  Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I was inspired while spectating the Chicago Marathon last month and entered the lottery for next year.  I will find out in a few days if I get picked.  I haven’t run a marathon since 2016.  I got a PR that year and bettered my time by 40 minutes from my first marathon in 2006.

I read my race recap and laughed.  Erica wrote about how disliked “The number of people who report being “disappointed” after running a personal best in the Chicago Marathon”.  I agree with her, but I wrote the same thing in 2016.

I may not have gotten a huge PR and I am a little disappointed in myself.  I trained hard this summer. OK, so I did miss a few runs and the last 3 weeks I hardly ran at all.  I am glad I was able to finish but I know I could have done better.  I was hoping to finish under 5 hours. Sigh. Maybe I should just stop here, let it go, and move on.  Another marathon in the books and call it a day.

I also entered the lottery for the NYC Half Marathon in March and I got picked.  I was actually surprised that I got picked again.  I am excited about it.  I hope to actually train for it and that it isn’t too cold like it was this year.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that even though I am not a big fan of Halloween, I had a good time that day.  It was wild!  I spent the morning going over reading and math, but the afternoon was all about Halloween.  We passed out candy; played musical chairs, bingo, and hot potato; we danced; and then we had a school parade.  My students said they had fun.  Mission accomplished!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last week I got the covid and a flu vaccines along with the second shingles booster.  Last year I only got the flu and shingles and was sick the next day.  The same thing happened this year.  I had a fever and my whole body ached.  I could barely get out of bed, but I managed because I had to eat and use the bathroom.  Priorities.  On Thursday I felt so much better and felt like a new woman.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that Kim will no longer host the Tuesday Linkup with me.  Her last post with me will be on December 26.  We had a good time together and am happy for those years we hosted it together.  I am pleased that Jenn will be hosting the linkup with me.  I have been working on a new graphic for us.  It was fun creating one and I even made one with our favorite pets but, no, we will not be using that one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I’ve been looking for a race shirt.  I’ve always liked how Erica has one shirt she wears for her races.  During a big race it is “easy” to find her.  The shirt that I originally wanted wasn’t available in my size.  I found another one in a different color but in a men’s size.  It doesn’t fit quite well.  I will keep looking and hopefully will get one soon.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 running/fitness safety tips.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fit Five Friday and October 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the October edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you’ve been a victim of credit card fraud.  I’ve had two credit cards that were both in my possession ALL OF THE time used by two different people  One person used my Chase card and purchased over $600 on the Adidas website and someone else used a debit card (from another bank) to make multiple purchases (almost $200) from Little Caesar and Uber Eats.  Luckily, Chase removed the charges and issued me a new card.  I am still waiting on the other card.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you I had the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso from Starbucks and IT IS SO GOOD.  Thank you Marcia for the recommendation!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that one of the things I hate about doing laundry at the laundromat is that I tend to lose some socks.  I don’t know how since I am careful and double-check the washer to ensure I don’t leave anything behind.  Well, somehow I “lost” a sock.  I noticed it when I got home and put the remaining one on top of the drawer meaning to throw it away but then I forgot about it.  Well, the other day I wore a jacket that I hadn’t worn in a while and guess what I found in the pocket?  Yep, the missing sock.  Running socks are not cheap so yes I was happy to find it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you what your thoughts on about the cut-off time for the 2024 Boston Marathon.  It is unfortunate that even though people qualified, they cannot run it due to the cut-off time.  I understand the history of it, but why not just have a lottery like the other major marathons?  I wonder if people will still be drawn to it even though it doesn’t require a qualifying time.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I entered the lottery to win tickets to see Hamilton and I won.  Yep, I found out yesterday.  I was given 2 hours to claim the tickets and made it with 40 minutes to spare.  I asked my friend to go with me and we’ll be going on Wednesday.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 goals for the last 1/4 of the year.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter