Cream or sugar? (Coffee House Part 2…)

white coffee mug on brown surface
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

So my visit to Austin’s Coffee (https://austinscoffee.com/) was so fabulous, that my blog post about my experience is a two part summary. See yesterday’s blog “Meanwhile, back at the Coffee House” for Part 1.

Upon my arrival, I had the pleasure of meeting Prophet, a writer new to the open mic poetry scene. He was very friendly, and we struck up a conversation immediately. That night was his first time presenting his poetry in a public forum. Prophet was very passionate about his message. He had overcome difficulty in his childhood and started writing because he needed a change. “I needed a medium to be able to express myself and better understand myself,” Prophet shared with me.

As he took the stage, Prophet’s message gripped the audience as he rapped a poem entitled “Hidden Brilliance” that reflected on the realities of life. He was so engaging and committed to his craft that the onlookers were riveted. One of the delightful aspects of this open mic forum is that it fosters an immediate sense of community. I not only heard amazing poetry, but I made new friends.

An added bonus of the evening is that Sammy and I presented our poetry to the group as well. Our work was well received, and it’s so exciting to have passed down a love of writing to my daughter. I’ve often said of her, “I know I can write, but Sammy is better!”

Stay groovy…

–Susie

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back at the coffee house…

Austin's

One of my favorite local spots in Orlando (okay, actually Winter Park), is Austin’s Coffee (https://austinscoffee.com/). Not only do they have a wide variety of excellent coffee and tea, but they also serve numerous adult beverages and scrumptious nibbles. More significant…Austin’s hosts live entertainment nearly every night.

Now what makes this hang out even more special is that the live entertainment is in an open mic format. Check out Austin’s website noted above under the “Events” icon. Austin’s hosts local up and coming talent for general music, jazz, hip hop, stand up comedy, and poetry. It’s a fun, safe environment for artists to share their work and welcomes an eclectic group of friendly patrons.

I had the pleasure of attending a poetry slam at Austin’s just last night. The first poet, Arjun Bala, has been on the poetry scene for a little over a year, and he’s making an impact. After being mesmerized by his spoken word, I was thrilled to discover that he is the featured artist on Friday, July 13, 2018 at the Friday NYte SpotLYte by 1000 Tongues Production. Stop by Dodie’s Place, 1516 East Colonial Drive Suite 304 Orlando, FL 32803 at 9:00 pm. Your $10 donation helps raise money for the “Homeless Poet”, a poet who lives on the streets of Paramour.

Referenced: (https://touch.facebook.com/events/2107619229493937)

A good time, a good cause…What more could you ask for?

Stay groovy…

–Susie

 

I am my keys…

monochrome photography of keys
Photo by George Becker on Pexels.com

Have you ever lost your keys? If you have, you more than likely experienced sheer panic. Even the coolest cat in town will come unglued when the all important keys go missing. But why?

Our keys are so much more than merely a means to enter our home, start our car, or open our confidential file cabinet. To most, keys represent security for ourselves, our family, and our property.

So the very act of losing our keys makes us feel vulnerable. We dash around our space searching, searching, and searching some more. We retrace our steps, and retrace our steps, and retrace our steps again. We engage anyone within earshot to help us find our keys. After wrapping all of those around us into a total frenzy, we find them…We always find them. Seriously, have you ever known someone to lose a set of keys and never again locate them? Unless you flush them down a toilet or drop them down a sewer, they will more than likely turn up.

Lyrics from Jack Johnson’s song “Losing Keys” makes an interesting point:

“I’ve been losing lots of keys lately
I don’t know what that means
But maybe I’d be better off with things that can’t be locked at all”

Referenced: (https://genius.com/Jack-johnson-losing-keys-lyrics)

Keys: Are we locking others out, or are we locking ourselves in? Something to ponder…

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

Prosperity through product placement…

Crabtree

So the tale of our family reunion continues with a bit of whimsy. When I placed my toiletries case on the bathroom counter as I unpacked my luggage at the Hilton Melbourne Beach (https://hilton.hiltonwifi.com/MLBHIHF/), I noted a difference from the previous years’ generic toiletries. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Crabtree & Evelyn brand (http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/). Now I haven’t given a thought to that particular product line in years. I used to see storefronts for these toiletries in many a mall, however recently they were hard to come by, at least in my town. So over time, I simply forgot the brand existed and also forgot how wonderful the soaps, shampoos, and lotions were.

Now I have extremely sensitive skin. I must be very careful as I choose any product, and one wrong decision turns me into an itchy mess! I approached my Crabtree & Evelyn soap with cautious optimism. To my delight, my skin not only accepted the Verbena and Lavender soap, but it thrived! The body lotion, the shampoo, the conditioner…WOW!!

It got me pondering the prosperity that product placement generates. I am now online ordering Crabtree & Evelyn products, yet I would have never rediscovered them had the Hilton not supplied these treasures in my hotel room. Are many others choosing Crabtree & Evelyn now due to that product placement? It is most likely so…

“…It’s standard for brands to actively approach hoteliers about their offerings…Some beauty/hygiene companies are specifically focused on the hotel market, while others see it as an opportunity to get their products in front of guests who might then buy the products independently. ”

Referenced: (https://www.slate.com/articles/life/travel_explainer/2015/08/hotel_toiletries_how_are_the_soaps_and_lotions_in_the_bathroom_chosen.html)

So now I wait for the delivery of my Crabtree & Evelyn soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. Thank you, Hilton! From me…and my skin!

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

 

‘Cause sometimes you gotta have ice cream for breakfast…

Moo

Eggs, bacon, pancakes, cereal…These are the typical, tried and true breakfast foods. But isn’t it fun to mix it up now and then? A visit to Moo’s Soft Serve (https://www.facebook.com/MoosSoftServe/) has become a yearly tradition on Sunday morning during our family reunion, and I’m not the only one who thinks ice cream for breakfast is a good idea…

“In a discovery that will give nutritionists the shivers, a Japanese scientist has discovered that consuming ice cream for breakfast improves a person’s alertness and mental performance. Yoshihiko Koga, a professor at Tokyo’s Kyorin University, has carried out a series of clinical trials in which test subjects were required to eat ice cream immediately after waking up. They were then put through a series of mental exercises on a computer. Compared to a group that had not eaten ice cream, Prof Koga’s subjects exhibited faster reaction times and better information-processing capabilities, the Excite News web site reported.”

Referenced: (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/23/ice-cream-breakfast-makes-smarter-japanese-scientist-claims/)

So why do we eat ice cream for breakfast at Moo’s? To put it simply, it’s delicious! We always talk about going to get some after dinner the night before, but we are always too stuffed from enjoying Bunky’s Raw Bar (https://www.bunkysrawbar.com/) or Squid Lips Overwater Bar and Grill (https://www.squidlipsgrill.com/melbourne-squid-lips/). In addition, we are committed to supporting locally owned establishments. Each location noted here will qualify. Plus, it’s just fun to be naughty sometimes. People are creatures of habit, and there appears to be an approved list of breakfast foods. Why? I have no idea!

So tomorrow morning, how about enjoying some leftover pasta for breakfast? Or how about that tender steak from last night? Even better: Those brownies are calling your name. Yes, having dessert for breakfast daily may not be your best nutritional choice, but occasionally, throw caution to the wind and start your day with a piece of cake!

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

 

 

Life’s a beach…

Nan and Pop Ocean View 2

A recent survey revealed that “Sand is thicker than blood: Summer travelers prefer beach over family…”

For your summer excursions, ”…you might be starting to plan that big trip to visit the folks or other family. Unless, that is, you’re like many travelers and you’re planning on hitting the beach instead. That’s among the findings of the 2012 Flip Flop Report, a global survey sponsored by Expedia.com… When asked if they could take only one holiday, 33 percent of respondents said they’d prefer the beach vs. 10 percent who said they’d want to visit family or relatives.”

Referenced: (https://www.today.com/money/sand-thicker-blood-summer-travelers-prefer-beach-over-family-survey-775242)

Well my family has discovered a wonderful way to have the best of both worlds. For a long weekend each summer, the 37 of us gather at the Hilton Melbourne Beach (https://hilton.hiltonwifi.com/MLBHIHF/) for some family fun in the sun.

When we were all young, gathering was far easier. My parents had what we call the original six kids. Over the years, we have all become adults, married, had children, and now our children are having children. The group has grown larger every year. We’re scattered not only throughout Florida, but in Georgia, Washington DC, and New York.

We try to meet up during the holidays, but often some or many can’t make it. Therefore the Family Reunion has become our touchstone. The date is set far in advance and we visit the same Hilton each year. My sister, Tammy, makes the magic happen.

So each summer we gather at the beach, boogie board, build sand castles, fish, enjoy delicious cuisine, imbibe in “adult beverages” (only for those over 21), visit, talk, and laugh…oh we do laugh!! We catch up on the events of our lives whether major or minor, enjoy our photos in matching shirts, and bask in the joy of family. And one of my favorite moments is when we receive our memory book from the previous reunion. It’s a beautiful chronology of our lives.

So if you’re debating over whether to visit family or go to the beach this summer, I say do both. Time flies; we don’t know how long we have. So make the calls, make the reservations, and make the memories.

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

 

 

 

My latest acquisition…

IMG_0035

So I had a meeting downtown, and as I departed during rush hour, I faced a virtual parking lot on SR 408. Not wanting to move at a glacial pace, I took a detour to visit one of my favorite shops in Orlando. As I entered the Gypsy Apothecary Herb and Metaphysical Shoppe (https://www.gypsyherbshop.com/), I basked in the instant feeling of peace and serenity. One of the thousand things I love about the Gypsy Apothecary is that it feeds my passion for herbs and crystals. I also appreciate that it is a small, locally owned business.

As I prepared to purchase my honeysuckle (a must have herb in your home apothecary to ward off illness), I caught a glimpse of some beautiful rings. I was immediately attracted to the one pictured above. This silver plated prehnite ring was calling my name. It was not only lovely, but the prehnite is a significant crystal for any collector.

“Prehnite is considered a stone of unconditional love and the crystal to heal the healer.  It enhances precognition and inner knowing.  Enables you always to be prepared.  Prehnite calms the environment and brings peace and protection.  It teaches how to be in harmony with nature and the elemental forces.”

Referenced: (https://www.charmsoflight.com/prehnite-healing-properties.html)

Do you have a favorite, locally owned “go to” shop in your city? Leave a comment with the name, specialty, and web address, so we can all help local businesses prosper.

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

 

Happy Independence Day…Or is it Happy 4th of July?

 

administration american flag country daylight
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

So today is July 4th, and I am so proud to be an American. Get ready…You are about to enter the world according to Susie. Here goes: On July 4th, do you say, “Happy Independence Day” or “Happy 4th of July”? I know this may seem silly, but it’s a declaration about which I have an opinion. Recognize this is only my opinion. I support the first amendment right you have to totally disagree with me. No judgement from me…

If you do an online search of “Holidays in 2018”, you may see that July 4, 2018 is listed as “Independence Day”. Yet I am faced daily with people declaring, “Happy 4th of July!” So why am I obsessed with saying, “Happy Independence Day”? Truthfully, I have no idea. Except maybe:

“In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Referenced: (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript)

I think my obsession relates to the fact that July 4, 1776 is more than a date…It is a belief. Our forefathers fought for our independence. The date is important, however I feel the philosophy is critical. This is unrelated to the current struggles we are facing with immigration. I just don’t want to forget that they fought for us to be free.

So “Happy Independence Day” or “Happy 4th of July”! Whatever you choose to say, use this day to celebrate the joyous wonder it is to be an American. Have fun, be safe, and celebrate!

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

 

Let the music play…

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a member of a large family, I had teenage siblings who strongly influenced my taste in music. So as my friends listened to pop, I developed an interest in The Beatles, Eagles, America, The Who and Rolling Stones to name a few.

As a junior high school student (called “middle school” today), I played the clarinet. I was never first chair, but I enjoyed the process of putting instruments together and creating musical art.

This brings us to today. My husband plays the bass guitar and the drums. He recently gifted me an acoustic guitar recognizing my interest in our local bands and women in music. I am excited to begin and soon share my musical journey.

How about you? Do you make music? Which instrument do you favor, and do you play independently or with a group? Share your thoughts, and let’s get the conversation going.

Stay Groovy…

–Susie

musical instrument string instrument guitar instrument
Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com

The Groove Begins

Greetings! I’m a spiritual wanderer, seeking to maintain a harmonious groove through life experiences, creativity, and achieving zen. This eclectic site will have a little bit of everything, so click the “Random Thoughts” icon daily. The Harmonious Groove – I found mine. How ’bout you?

Stay Groovy…

–Susie Krivacic

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

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