Friday, January 17, 2014

HERE'S TO YOU FRIDAY Plus Tell Me When and More Coffee Please!

Peeps, this is a BIG DAY. Seriously. Big.


I posted my Battle of the Bands post on Wednesday (okay, late Tuesday for you sticklers) and wanted to give it plenty of space at the top of the heap before covering it up with something else. That meant delaying my HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY post to... well, today. Friday. Remember all of that blah blah blah about it not really coming together (a creative way of saying that I lacked footage).  Well, that all changed as soon as I typed it. I have dedications coming out the wazoo. Woohoo!

So, if you didn't vote in Battle of the Bands Click Here and go vote. I will post the winner of the battle on (or near) January 21.


Today is also the TELL ME WHEN blog hop.  Stina Lindenblatt is publishing a novel with a storyline involving stalking. This hop invites anyone to share their own personal story, a story of someone they know, or really just anything that creates awareness for this serious issue. Click Here if you want to share or read contributions to this hop.  I have read quite a few heart-wrenching stories by you. If you shared, thank you! I don't have a personal stalking story. I do have a dedication for Stina (see below). Sarah McLachlan wrote and sang a song called Possession way back when on her Fumbling Towards Ecstasy album. The song was about her experience with a fan (or fans) who stalked her by mail. I understand that she even used some of the (scary, crazy) things that they wrote in the lyrics. Really gives the song a whole new flavor when you know the history. Being stalked is terrifying.




Michael Di Gesu over at  ...Michael Di Gesu...In Time is hosting a Coffee Blog Hop. Michael says this about the hop: So all you have to do is post what you love most about coffee. Let's have a good time and LAUGH over a steaming cup! The most hysterical entry will win a pound of authentic Colombian coffee.  It is not too late to join in the fun. Click Here if you want to participate or just want to read funny coffee stories.


Before I talk coffee, I want to talk Michael for just a moment. He is someone that I have "seen" in the blogosphere for a very long time. However, it wasn't until I read about his Coffee Hop that we came together. I gave him fair warning that I am a long commenter and it turns out he is, too. How awesome is that??? I love making new blog friends!!!!


Now, let's talk coffee. I actually have a coffee story (and I shared it already with Michael, but I also want to share it with YOU). My parents were coffee addicts. For many years the coffee pot started brewing first thing in the morning and they continued to refill it and drink until bedtime. I really don't think they drank anything else!!! Then, they decided it was time to cut back and even started mixing regular and decaf to cut back on the caffeine. Plus, they stopped drinking all day long. No more after dinner. That sort of thing.

My younger brother and I didn't like coffee. I was sure that the coffee gene simply skipped us. In fact, we both said that we would NEVER DRINK COFFEE EVER. How many times has someone offered me coffee and my response was, "No thanks. None for me. I don't really like coffee." My mom was always first on the "Yes please" side of that equation. Well, my dad, too. As many of you know, my father passed several years ago (a coffee drinker until he died) and my mom still drinks 4 cups every morning. She just bought a Kuerig so that she can make a cup at a time if she wants just one (or two) more.

The unthinkable happened this Christmas. She convinced me to try a cup of coffee with some mocha creamer in it. It was wonderful. Except for the eating your words part, which went down rather bitterly, I drank two cups that day. And have been drinking coffee ever since. It is what I look forward to as soon as I open my eyes. It is how I convince myself to get out of bed. I can have my coffee if I get up. It is shameful really.

I haven't told my brother yet. He still won't touch the stuff and I am afraid he might disown me.

And that's my story. 

Michael, I also have a coffee dedication for you (see below) that I think conveys how I FEEL about coffee. I hope you enjoy it!!!  I'm crossing my fingers that you'll pick lil' ol' me as your coffee winner because I've never experienced Authentic Colombian Bean, but I really want to try more new things this year:)






Whew. Let's have a drumroll please! Ba da ba da ba da boom!!! It's HERE'S TO YOU day. Finally.


If you don't know what this HERE'S TO YOU stuff is about, let me explain.  This is a weekly event landing typically on Thursdays.  The best (or worst) part is that I am not going to explain why I chose "whatever" footage for each of you. If, you watch your footage and are scratching your head at the end, well that means I didn't do a very good job. However, all is not lost. You can email me at rarichards68@gmail.com and ask me what I was thinking when I chose that particular piece of footage off of youtube and connected it to you. And then I will tell you. Then I will start sending up prayers that I haven't offended the crap out of whoever is on the receiving end of that email....lol. Because, honestly, I will tell you right now... I admire all of you enormously so I really hope that doesn't happen.

Also, this is not an exclusive venture by any means. I hope that you will take the time to watch ALL of the footage because I don't pick bad footage:-) I also hope that you might check out the blog of the person I dedicated the footage to because they are pretty darn awesome. If you haven't figured this out yet... I pick the footage based on something that you've written or something that I've gleaned from your personality. Think on that for a while... If you are having trouble watching the entire video (meaning it is being cut off on one side), click on it a couple of times and it will take you straight over to youtube. If you click on the four squares at the bottom corner of the video, it will enlarge it to fill your screen. The escape key will bring it back to normal size. The back arrow will bring you back to my page.

Now, let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!!

This one is for everyone:



This one is for Stina Lindenblatt:



This one is for Michael Di Gesu at ...Michael Di Gesu....In Time:



This one is for Hillary Melton-Butcher at Positive Letters...inspirational stories...:



This one is for Empty Nest Insider:



This one is for Red Shoes at Red Shoe's Chronicles (For the rest of the interview go to YouTube):


This one is for Karen Walker at author karen walker...following the whispers :



This one is for Christine at A Deliberate Life:

29 comments:

  1. Funny you found a coffee one for Michael.
    I still won't touch the stuff, although my wife occasionally tries to make me a good one.

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  2. Hi, Robin. I liked your coffee story.

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  3. I never thought I would drink it either. My mother liked it black, which was just gross. But I found if I dumped enough creamer and flavor into it, I could drink it. Now I'm hooked.

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  4. I would feel every bit as bad if someone told ME I wasn't a "single lady".

    That was so funny I had to watch it 3 or 4 times!

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  5. Busy, busy, busy - good thing you have some coffee to energize your system now.

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  6. Awww to the 'Single Lady' video. He was heartbroken, lol!!

    I bought my mom a mini-Keurig for Christmas. :)

    Love mine (Keurig)!!

    Headed over to vote at Battle of the Bands!

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  7. Stalking is scary stuff, for sure, but so is a shotgun in your face (my cure for stalkers). That being said, I'm still waiting for someone to develop the caffeine patch that delivers the equivalent of ten cups of coffee in a continual stream. I can dream, can't I?

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  8. Welcome to the Coffee drinking crowd! That was a little sneaky of your mom, but many who don't like coffee do like it with a little flavoring. . .
    Me - I like the taste, but I prefer to make it myself.

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  9. Great post as always, Robin! I love my morning coffee, but my stomach can't handle it all day. My computers slow so I only watched single ladies and chuckled, thanks.

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  10. Oh, you distract me so much with your Thursday(dare I say Friday) posts. Great coffee story. My mother always drank coffee like your parents too.

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  11. I've been stalked, but thank goodness it never became serious.

    As for coffee, I started drinking it in high school because I was cold and it was hot. It became a morning staple that I HAD to have every day. Recently I've begun to cut back and only have a cup or two when I feel like I need it to get me going that day.

    Nothing fancy for me... Folgers Classic Roast with a splash of fat free creamer will do.

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  12. Alex ~ Love The Gilmore Girls. Lorelai and her coffee addiction is Legend:) Learn from my experience... don't ever say never... your wife might just pull it off one day!

    Suzanne ~ Thanks!

    Diane ~ I don't think I could take it black, but I like it with flavored creamer. But maybe if I had Authentic Colombian beans....:)

    Stephen ~ Every time I hear that song I think of that video. Hilarious!!!!

    M.J. ~ Yeah, I was up at the crack of dawn today sniffing around for coffee.

    rosey ~ Love the Kuerig:)

    Steven ~ So is a shotgun in the face... hahahaha. You never know... coffee in an IV might be The Next Big Thing.

    D.G. ~ Yes, she is sneaky!!!!

    Cathrina ~ Glad you enjoyed the Singles Lady Devastation. Happy Friday!

    Carol ~ :)

    Susan ~ I think it is a generational thing. Most people in my parents' generation drank coffee. Now, it is more hit and miss.

    cube ~ You are lucky. So many stalking stories do not end well. Three cheers for coffee!!!

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  13. Robin, love your coffee story! And, you inspired me to go through old posts and re-run one I wrote over four years ago. Man, I love Loralie Gilmore. How can make believe people become so real to us.

    If I hadn't said so before, you have such a talent with these "Here's to you" posts. They are so personal and astute.

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  14. HI, Robin...

    What a FANTASTIC TRIBUTE to COFFEE!!! And how sweet to dedicate that fantastic COFFEE CLIP for me.... Brownie points.... lots of Brownie points... LOL. You guys are seriously making this tough for me!

    Thankfully I have TWO days to review all your entries and decide... You, my dear are definitely in the running!

    Have a great weekend, my newest blogger friend!

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  15. Yay for Stina's new book! I wish her much success with such a powerful and relevant topic. The pic on her hop promo is just gorgeous. Isn't it funny that you never liked coffee - until you did. Tastes can change as you get older. (Not that you're "older" lol)

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  16. I love coffee..and my video. Thank you.

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  17. Cute story about being a late coffee bloomer, and the Gilmore Girls' video tied in perfectly with Michael's hop! The Grey's Anatomy video really brought me to tears. Standing up for yourself is one thing, but fighting for your child's life is a parent's worst nightmare. Thank goodness it had a happy ending! I am always amazed by your thoughtfulness, Robin!

    Julie

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  18. Here's to long comments! I tend towards that myself :)

    When I was little, my parents would drink coffee and I'd ask for some. They'd pour a little coffee in a cup with a load of sugar and milk. I thought I was so grown up! As I got older, I didn't like coffee. Then, about 12 years ago, I had a white chocolate mocha and I was in love! Since then, I've progressed to where I will only drink coffee out at small, local coffee shops and I prefer it black, thank you very much! Yesterday at work someone was talking about coffee substitutes and I told them I liked them but they weren't coffee. "I drink coffee for the taste," I said. "The drug is secondary!"

    I've never been stalked (thank God) but a girl I went to school with once was. It was a messy affair that ended in court and thankfully whoever he was left her alone. *shudder*. That's so invasive!

    Happy weekend!
    Jen

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  19. Liza ~ How did I know that you would enjoy the Coffee dedication???? I am thrilled that this post inspired you to re-run something old that most people (including me) have never read. Your old posts are so enjoyable. I keep telling myself that when I have time I will go back through and read them. That day with all the extra hours hasn't materialized yet. Bah. Did you notice that I delayed so it would be right on time for you (Friday vs Thursday)? Hahahaha.

    Michael ~ I am so glad you appreciated the coffee tribute, since you'd already read the coffee story. Everyone wants your coffee. Of course, we are making it as tough as possible!!! It really is so sweet that you are doing this at all. I am sure that all participants had fun with it, win or lose. I know I did! Have a great weekend!

    Lexa ~ Some of the stalking blog posts are scary. I found myself holding my breath. I am sure that the book will be amazing. As for coffee and all foods really.... yes, my tastes have changed. I am enjoying eating and drinking things now that were not at all appealing when I was younger. It's a good reminder to always try something again. You just don't know!

    Christine ~ Yay for coffee! Yay for your video!

    Julie ~ Do you notice that I keep choosing Grey's Anatomy videos for you? I hope you like the show!!!

    Jen ~ I don't remember my parents ever trying to tempt me with coffee. I don't even recall when I first tried it. I do remember thinking it was bitter and terrible. I still think it is bitter black. I like it with some flavored creamer. If not that, plain creamer with a dab of sugar. Since it is cool outside (I live in FL after all) it has been lovely this winter drinking something hot first thing.

    About stalking... I have never been stalked, either. One of college friends had to take a restraining order out on someone after we graduated. I didn't live close at the time, but I know she was scared when she did it. He stopped bothering her, thank goodness.

    Happy weekend and hurray for long comments!

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  20. Coffee drinking...Ah, you've come into the light:)

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  21. LOL I'm glad you've had more experience with coffee than stalking. A lot more experience. :)

    I know so many people who have a stalking story from when they were in college. I was also a victim. But fortunately my story won't become an episode of Criminal Minds, but it was scary at the time.

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  22. Good luck to Stina and I love your coffee story. I was also introduced to coffee by my parents, but took to it much younger. I keep hearing of studies showing how coffee drinking shields you from cancer and a bunch of other things, so I say have at it. Plus, it's just so awesome :)

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  23. Neither a coffee or beer drinker be I. I've tried many types and ways and it just doesn't work for me. But it is fun to find things that we end up liking that we didn't think we would. My food tastes change so drastically about every 7 years or so that I find things I hate becoming things I love and things I have loved forever to be intolerable. I haven't yet met anyone else that this happens to. Thankfully, my tastes seem to change only once on any one food item. I cannot tell you how weird it is to be all excited about eating something only to find that I don't like that item anymore!
    Stalking is the absolute worst, most painful experience. I think anyone who is willing to talk about it is brave and has a special place in heaven. I was stalked by a family member and still cannot talk about it.
    Isn't it nice to have something to be able to dedicate to Christine? So happy to see her again!

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  24. Sandra ~ Today I overdosed on coffee. There is such a thing as TOO MUCH caffeine.

    Stina ~ Stalking is scary. Period.

    Shell ~ It has taken quite a few years for my mom to wear me down....

    Jasmine ~ I haven't found that I dislike that many things that I used to like... although it does happen. For instance, all of those boxed foods that used to taste so good... now, not so much. I think I am running down on processed anything. But I also like a lot more foods than I used to... so good. I am sorry you went through a stalking episode... and with a family member no less. How agonizing. It is good to see Christine. She has a lot to say!

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  25. Hey YOU!

    Don Felder!!! You have another name for him...

    I really really really like this guy... and I like that he stood up to Henley and Frey when they started demoting everyone else in the band.

    Thank you so much for this, Robin...

    I've been sick, Robin, but what else is new?

    :oD

    ~shoes~

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  26. Hi Robin - I found it - thanks for pointing to Thursday's post! Happy Birthday to me .. I shall be belated celebrating this weekend ..

    What a great song and 'story line' - I used to glide .. so this was very appropriate for me .. and I love being by the sea, the dunes etc ... and that party looked like it was such a gooooood one ...

    Many thanks .. and so thoughtful of you ... cheers Hilary

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  27. That's a great story! Love that Dave Barry quote :-)

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