iced latte

So Mercury Retrograde started today, as I mentioned a few days back. And sure enough, like clockwork, I got proof positive that it always bites me in the butt. I’m not even going to hope that today’s fiasco will be the worst of it, because every time I do that, all I seem to do is challenge it.

We’ve already been in the shadow of MR. In the past two weeks, we had to replace our washing machine. My niece was in an accident with some idiot crunching her car and giving her a concussion, another friend of mine was in a car accident—luckily he wasn’t hurt, our Samhain celebration fizzled because one of our circle members came down sick, another had her back go out, plus my niece still couldn’t get here. A friend of mine lost her job, and so on and so forth.

So when I got up this morning, I was prepared for the full onslaught. At least I can laugh over today’s mess.

As some of you may have heard me mention, I have been doing an experiment with what’s called clean coffee. I’ve read on several blogs belonging to MCAS patients on how they managed to keep coffee in their diet, because I’ve been missing it horribly, and I haven’t felt like myself without it. The common denominators seem to be finding an organic coffee that has been tested for mold, additives, and pesticides, and drinking it in smaller amounts. So I bought a package of already ground clean coffee, and I’ve been trying it out and—YAY—it doesn’t seem to give me reactions! Of course I can’t drink as much as I use to but even a one-shot latte a day helps me feel like my old self to some degree and that’s a blessing. Latte

Of course, that meant I had to buy a new espresso machine since I gave Fred away — I named this one Freida — and of course, I had to buy a new bean grinder because I had given mine away. As I said, I had bought a bag of ground coffee, but I prefer grinding it myself and this was ground for coffee, not espresso. I had been using a small grinder to grind the pre-ground coffee finer (the little ones that are good for grinding spices), but to make good espresso you really need a burr grinder.

Well, the new grinder came yesterday but Andria hadn’t set it up when she unpacked it. She won’t be here again until Tuesday, and this morning, I looked around but couldn’t find the instructions on assembling it anywhere. So, I put the machine together the best I could figure out and gave it a try.

First I tried to grind the pre-ground coffee I had to the consistency I wanted. But, the new grinder did not approve and wouldn’t grind it. So I tried to pour the grounds into the smaller grinder I had been using, managing to spill part of it on the floor. I also ended up filling the actual grinder too full, and when I tried to get the lid on, I jammed it on too tight and yes—broke the smaller grinder.

In trying to maneuver everything around on an already crowded countertop, I next managed to tip over the bag of very expensive coffee beans and they spilled all over the floor. By this time I was cursing up a blue streak. Sam came in and told me to sit down and he would clean it up for me. Gotta love my husband, he’s one of the best men out there. (We both count ourselves lucky).

Anyway, Sam cleaned up the mess, I threw away the smaller grinder that I broke, and proceeded to grind what was left of my beans and promptly got sprayed by fine coffee dust. But I ground enough for a couple of days and made my latte.

When I came back to my desk and looked up the grinder online, thinking I was about ready to ship it back and buy a different one, I saw that a metal catch-cup had come with it, along with a lid that keeps the grinds from flying off everywhere. I asked Sam where it was and he said it was in the dishwasher. So I will give the grinder another chance, now that I have a containment system, and I’m sitting here with my one-shot latte, hopefully giving you all a good laugh for the day

So, how’s your first day of November going?

Share Button
Would You Like Some Coffee With Your Retrograde?

8 thoughts on “Would You Like Some Coffee With Your Retrograde?

  • 11/02/2019 at 1:44 pm
    Permalink

    Had surgery on my stomach to fix a health issue, my pain meds makes me so sleepy, and I can’t have caffeine because of my meds so I’m gonna do the best I can and hope with in a week or so I don’t need the meds anymore, I need my fix, hope MR doesn’t bother you to much anymore.

    Reply
  • 11/02/2019 at 11:51 am
    Permalink

    Good heavens! I need my coffee too, but at least I can just drink it straight, no craziness.
    Now I know why our smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are taking turns going crazy. Chirping up a storm. My hubby is trying to keep up with them, but they don’t seem to think new batteries are adequate. Having a handyman service Monday to see if they can change the one high up in the kitchen (vaulted ceiling). Don’t care to have my 75+ hubby scaling high ladders.
    Hope everyone has better days soon!

    Reply
  • 11/02/2019 at 4:13 am
    Permalink

    It’s always nice to have a bad luck support group. I’m the kind of person that will always have a bag of dirty cat litter rip open on the way to the garbage, or a power surge erase tv shows I recorded, even when there isn’t a retrograde event.
    Fortunately, I have a sitcom approach to life- the worse my luck seems, the funnier I think it is. It really helps me to not get depressed when cars get totaled, houses crack or people die.

    Reply
  • 11/01/2019 at 9:45 pm
    Permalink

    That explains my gaffes too. I was put in charge ( last minute) of the quarterly retired teachers’ luncheon. I had invited our local Senator to speak on teacher pensions and the state of public schools. I had also invited the superintendent of a local district. First the caterers, who we had to use at the Elks Club, only supplied 2 people for a buffet of 90. I ran around getting water pitchers for each of the tables and made sure everyone had a glass. Then the food took a long time to serve. i tried to make sure that everyone had a dessert ( the caterers didn’t bring enough), then had to get someone to take pictures as some of our board members were away trying to help family caught in the California fires. The superintendent had to leave before the program began ( at least I seated her next to the speaker and she had a nice talk). The program began late and some members had to leave. I’ve learned my lesson. Begin the program even if not everyone had gotten their food.

    Reply
  • 11/01/2019 at 6:16 pm
    Permalink

    That explains a lot. My friend’s refrigerator broke, my work has no power due to windstorms here in Maine (seriously what is it with us and wind storms on Halloween?!), And my mom showed up unannounced at my house tonight to tell me she lost the $400 cell phone hubby and I just got her for her birthday in July. Thankfully a kind person found it in the parking lot of the store and turned it in to customer service. But her oven is also broken and her roof needs repair. I’m so ready to for this year to be over.

    Reply
  • 11/01/2019 at 5:56 pm
    Permalink

    I hope you have a better day tomorrow! I cannot function without coffee.

    Reply
  • 11/01/2019 at 1:20 pm
    Permalink

    My cashier didn’t show, had to hang the blow-out sale signs with packing tape instead of sign holders or scotch tape and some lady left $500 worth of costumes on the fitting room floor. I’m going home and hope dinner doesn’t do something funny now. It’s an it is what it is kinda day.

    Reply
  • 11/01/2019 at 12:28 pm
    Permalink

    Mine was hell. My truck headlight went out. When I got out of Walmart, I went to open the door and the handle came off the door. Someone had tried to break in, but didn’t succeed, thank goodness. I got home and opened the door, and my Pekingese fell out and rolled down the steps. Then I discovered that my other dog had hurt his shoulder jumping off the couch, requiring a vet visit. All before 10 a.m. I think I’m done, lol

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.