If we were having coffee: Making waves

The waves broke and spread their waters swiftly over the shore. One after another they massed themselves and fell; the spray tossed itself back with the energy of their fall. The waves were steeped deep-blue save for a pattern of diamond-pointed light on their backs which rippled as the backs of great horses ripple with muscles as they move. The waves fell; withdrew and fell again, like the thud of a great beast stamping.

~ Virginia Woolf, The Waves

If we were having coffee, I would welcome you back with open arms.  It’s so great to see you again!  Come on in.  It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?  The wind has finally calmed down a bit, the sun is shining, and they say it will be near 60°F today.

I have the usual assortment of coffee and teas.  Hot chocolate or hot cider are a possibility too, if you’d like.  Nothing has changed in the world of snacks around here.  Hummus, pita, vegetables, salsa, and beet borani are available.  I bet M has some potato chips and pretzels stashed away somewhere, too, if you’d rather have those.  Are you craving something sweet?  Have a chocolate.  M brought me some for Valentine’s Day and I will gladly share.

The beach is usually several feet beyond the signs that mark the end of the road.

Let’s take our drinks and snacks out to the porch where we can soak in some sunlight.  We have had so many grey days this winter that I don’t want to miss the opportunity to give my body what it needs to manufacture some vitamin D.  It’s nice and warm out there, too.  I hope you don’t mind if Izzy and Bella, our resident diva cats, join us.  I’m pretty sure they believe the porch is their territory on sunny days.  You might not see Izzy at first.  It takes her a while to work up the nerve to say hello.  Bella, on the other hand, is sweet and welcoming and maybe a little too friendly, especially if you’re the type of person who isn’t comfortable with cats.  Somehow or another, cats hone in on the person who likes them least, plopping themselves on their lap.  I don’t know why that is.  Do you?

Sunset light on waves.

How are you?  How has your week been?  Have you traveled anywhere?  Gone on any big or small adventures?  Have you spent time with family or friends?  Have you gone on any good walks or hikes?  Read any good books or seen any good films?

Splash!

I have nothing new to report in the book department.  It is taking me forever to read Neal Stephenson’s The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer.  To give myself a bit of credit, it IS a long book.  499 pages long.  I wouldn’t describe it as a fast read, either.  I am still enjoying the story itself even if it does take me a while to work my way through it.  I am curious about the main character, Nell, and where the book (the primer) will lead her.

More splashing around.

As for films, I recently watched Benny and Joon.  I know.  It’s an old movie.  Not old-old, of course, as in silent or black and white films.  It’s from 1993 and somehow I missed it back in the 90’s.  I missed a lot in the 80’s and 90’s.  I was busy working and raising children and doing all the things you do when you are in your 30’s and 40’s.  Anyway.  I liked the movie, and thought Mary Stuart Masterson and Johnny Depp were wonderful in it.  Tonight M and I will be watching Janis: Little Girl Blue, a 2015 documentary about Janis Joplin.

The Eagle Tree at sunset.

If we were having coffee, tea, or something else to drink, I would tell you that the quote I started with is perfectly perfect in describing the waves we’ve been experiencing out on the Sound this week.  Strong winds have been whipping and frothing the water, wave after wave crashing to shore and carrying parts of the beach back with it.  It was only a little over a month ago that the beach at the Point had been built up by sand carried in.  This week’s waves have been eroding the shoreline, and the places where I usually walk and stand have been disappearing.  Mother Nature giveth, and Mother Nature taketh away and maybe she will giveth once again with the next round of wind and waves.

When the sky turns green.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that the Coast Guard’s Boating Skills and Seamanship Exam was this week and I passed.  Yay!  I scored an 86 which isn’t fantastic, but it’s good enough.  I missed seven questions and at least five of those were wrong because I second guessed myself.  Sometimes (most times, perhaps) it’s better to go with my instincts rather than sit and think things out.  We still have a few more weeks of classes.  Now that the exam is out of the way, the rest will be fun stuff.

Rough water.

If we were having coffee, tea, or some other beverage, I would tell you that I went to the boat show in Ocean City yesterday just to have a gander at the boats I can’t afford.  I saw a lot of pretty boats, and it was nice to be informed enough to know what questions to ask.  M and I will have to buy a used boat if we buy one, but having a look at the new boats gave me some ideas about pricing and what it is we want in a boat, if we should happen to buy one.

A pretty boat at the OC Boat Show.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I couldn’t go to Ocean City and not take a walk on the beach and visit with the ocean.  It was a beautiful day, and Mother Ocean was calm.  That was a pleasant change from the rough waters we’ve had most of the week.

Walking out to visit with the ocean.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that M and I had dinner in Ocean City last night at Bourbon Street on the Beach.  It didn’t look like much from the outside, but I have learned it is never a good idea to judge a restaurant by the outside.  Bit like judging a book by its cover, isn’t it?  As it turned out, it was lovely inside.  The food was great, and the staff and owners were wonderful.  If you find yourself in Ocean City, Maryland someday, I highly recommend you stop by and give them try.

Not quite sure what this guy was doing.  The gull version of tree pose?

If we were having coffee, tea, or something else to drink, I would tell you that we are almost finished with the Great Bathroom Renovation.  I’ve been taking pictures and will show you all about it soon.

The water was crystal clear.

If we were having coffee, it would be time to turn this over to you.  There is more I could ramble on about, including some thoughts on our current political climate and how I think it’s time we start ignoring the man at the top.  We’re only feeding a massive ego and we’ve long known that he considers all publicity to be good publicity.  Better to start looking at what the rest of the government is doing, starting at a local level and working our way up to Washington, D.C.

Make phone calls, attend marches and rallies and town halls, write letters, send postcards, and make sure your voice is heard.  Practice your art.  I’ve come to the conclusion that my art is showing you the beauty of everyday nature.  My art may not be much, but maybe it will be enough to convince others that this beauty is worth saving.

Would have been a good day for swimming if the water wasn’t so cold.

Thank you for stopping by for another coffee chat.  Feel free to stay a while and relax on the porch.  Or we could go for a walk.  Later, we can head over to the Point for sunset which is scheduled for 5:45 PM.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

One last look at the ocean before we go.

This post is in response to #WeekendCoffeeShare which now has a new home.  Thank you to Nerd In The Brain for taking on the job of hosting it, and to Diana for starting it. Put the kettle on, start the coffee maker, open a bottle of wine, or whatever your preference is, and join us.  I’d love to hear all about what you were up to this week.