Posts Tagged ‘
coffee ’
Saturday, March 23rd, 2013
2 years, 4 months.
Dear Jack,
Last Friday as I was just about to walk you out the front door of your daycare to take you to the park during my lunch break, you gave me a courteous announcement:
“I pooped.”
That’s good, because I don’t keep a separate diaper bag for you in my car. So I walked you back to your teacher, Ms. Heather, to have her change your diaper before we left on our excursion.
She gladly did, as she always seems so happy to do her job. But I admit, I felt like I wanted to tip her.
I never carry any cash on me anyway, but it just made me think:
Of all the annoying things I’ve ever felt pressured or obligated to tip…
like the bathroom attendant at fancy places I never go to anymore…
or the barista who I no longer buy coffee from because it seems even more insane to pay an extra 70 cents to get soy in my already nearly 5 dollar drink now that I’m a vegan…
it just seems that if anyone really deserves a tip, it would be anyone other than a family member who changes your diaper.
As I signed the bill as we left the ER earlier this week, I had to stop myself from doing the math to figure out what the tip was supposed to be. It’s just that the people in the emergency room who helped ensure your life was not in danger did a deed worth tipping for.
Changing your diaper and saving your life: Those are things that wouldn’t make me feel awkward, annoyed, or obligated to tip.
As for the bellhop… meh.
Love,
Daddy
Thursday, November 1st, 2012
23 months.
I say that because it’s exactly what my son Jack has been pretending to do during bath time this week while on vacation in Sacramento.
The first night here at my mother-in-law’s house, Jack wasn’t so keen on the huge jacuzzi I had just dropped him down into.
It sort of freaked him out.
But then my wife handed him three little white plastic cups designed for rinsing after brushing your teeth.
“Coffee,” Jack announced as he ducked down into the sudsy bath water he stood in.
He sprouted back up and handed my wife and me our very own Bubblecinos.
Jack has been our baby barista each night since then.
Imagine in real life a barista who bathes in the coffee they serve you… so absurd.
But not for an almost 2 year-old little boy who uses his imagination to glaze through situations he doesn’t want to be in at first.
It’s funny to me also how instantly he comes up with his imaginary surroundings.
He saw what reminded him of a bar at Starbucks, the bath water made him think of coffee, and the plastic cups became the Starbucks cups.
I’m actually halfway convinced he thought it was real when I pretended to drink his bath water.
Hey, if he can have an imagination like that, so can I.
In fact, I need to if I have any intentions of keeping up with him.
Friday, October 5th, 2012
22 months.
When you’re a vegetarian, with a toddler, it’s beyond pointless to “go out to eat.”
Can I pay $12 for pasta with veggies while my antsy toddler battles a meltdown because he’s strapped into a chair in a crowded, public place?
Ah, thanks, but no thanks.
So instead, we go out for coffee. Yes, four dollar coffee.
And no, we’re not impressed that McDonald’s won the blind taste test for its coffee or whatever.
We actually own an espresso maker, but part of the fun in fancy coffee is having someone else make it for you.
By now, it’s pretty much our tradition on Saturday mornings to start out the day right at a new place in Nashville called The Well.
(It’s actually a non-profit joint that buys clean water for people in the world who don’t have access to it.)
As you can see in the picture above, we get our son Jack a serving of whipped cream.
He calls it his “fluffy.”
Of course, we also tend to make an appearance at that other place you may have heard of, Starbucks. In fact, anytime we drive by one, Jack recognizes the green and white logo and says, “I want fluffy!”
Usually, he gets his fluffy. Because that means we get our coffee.
Part of the allure of coffee shops is the laid back, jazz-infused, sophisticated atmosphere. It puts us the parents, as well as, our toddler son at ease.
Getting coffee (and fluffy) helps us to remember it’s the weekend, amongst all the catching up we have to do during those two days.
Jack can get away with exploring the inside of a lazy coffee shop much more easily than he could a busy restaurant.
Plus, he loves it because it’s the only time we ever let him eat anything with sugar in it.
So needless to say, he quietly enjoys his fluffy; no discipline required while we’re there.
He’s pretty Joe Cool about it.
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011
Eleven months.
Cheers to my favorite season of the year, Autumn! With what drink do I make this toast? Well, of course that would be an “off menu” item none among us inconspicuously clued in as the “Dirty Chai Latte” at Starbucks. It’s a Chai Tea Latte with an added shot of espresso.
Why am I promoting it for free? Am I getting a lifetime supply of Dirty Chai’s out of this deal? I wish.
With all the great things that emerge with the fall season, my sinus and allergy problems are among them- especially here in Nashville. Some days, like today, when I accordingly get a headache so intense I nearly get nauseous, no pain reliever will heal me other than a $4 Dirty Chai.
Will you like it? There’s a good chance you won’t. But I definitely do.
It’s made with cinnamon, anise, ginger, cloves, cardamom, milk, a little bit of sugar, and of course, a shot of espresso. So it’s earthy, spicy, malty, rich, and just sweet enough for me not to feel guilty.
By all means, the Dirty Chai is a drug; but at least it’s a legal one. If you are feeling sick, its warmth and caffeine will mask your pain. If you’re feeling stressed by the reality of parenthood, it will lift you up. If are already feeling good, it will make you feel even better.
As parents, we have our vices. This is one of mine. There’s just something about drinking a Dirty Chai amongst the company of strangers at Starbucks who are lucky enough to “work from home” on their laptops that makes me feel like all is well in the world.
Passing the Mic:
I’ve shared my favorite drinkable Autumn vice with you. What’s yours? Do you have an “off the menu” item to introduce to me?
