Give thanks

Buddha said, gratitude is the road to enlightenment.

It's daily work of course, to recognize all that you have to be grateful for. It is very easy to get caught up in the morning rush hour, the annoying coworker, the cup of coffee you dropped down the stairs on your way out the door. But really, make a point to remember the big picture. It puts things in perspective.

I feel very lucky to have landed in the life I did. I was born in America in a time when women have equal opportunity and rights. I am (knock on wood) healthy. I have a family who raised me with love, paid for dance lessons, and put me through college. I was fortunate enough to find the love of my life very early. I have precious little beagles, and scads of friends and family who love and support me. I truly have a great life. And I tell myself that everyday.

This time of year, my kids at school always do projects declaring what they are thankful for. Inevitably it is a list of: my cat, my PS3, my bike, ice cream. And to a 7-year-old who hasn't yet realized "the big picture," those are the most important things in their lives. And why shouldn't they be?

So I was thinking, what might my short-and-sweet-list be? Aside from my good fortune and the people/animals in my life, these are the things I couldn't live without:

(In order of importance, believe it or not)

1. chap stick- simple I know, but seriously, I could not live in Denver and be without chap stick at any time

2. my phone

3. books

4. my laptop-especially the Internet

5. dark chocolate

6. lotion- see #1

7. soy milk

8. sunshiny days

9. blow dryer

10. music

Though I know it sounds odd to say, I give thanks for my blow dryer, I would look like a drown rat most of the time with out it. Priorities people.

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. for those of you paying attention... Starbucks would be #11!

Rantings of an Addict

I’m not sure how other people’s work bathrooms look, but at my school we post various articles or motivational quotes on the walls. Last week, this is what I found posted. Check it out. I’ll wait.

So just let me respond.

First, Ms. Kristie Leong, M.D., stick to medical journals, because this little witty attempt at journalism, we addicts do not find humorous. Rather annoying actually. We are not “closet addicts.” Clearly you don’t know any true Starbucks patrons. We proudly carry our venti Starbucks cups into work every morning. And yes, the first glimpse of that sweet green sign in a foreign country makes our heart skip a beat. And no, it is not about the “fashionable Starbucks cup.” It is so much more… ahh, so much more.

1. Admit you’re an addict
Um, yea, we know that already…

2. Tell yourself it’s just coffee
Hold up! That is going too far. This statement, my friend, squashes all credibility you might have had. Starbucks coffee is not “just coffee.” It is the highest quality, freshest beans you can find blah-di-blah-di-blah, and besides, I have a personal theory it is laced with crack. Seriously it is Crackbucks. No one has ever used the phrase, “Oh, I go to Starbucks for the Wi-Fi.” No, we go for the crack. It is NOT just coffee.

3. Do the math
So, here’s the thing Kristie. This cliché is tired. Is that the best you’ve got? We KNOW how much cash we drink in a month. Ok, we know. But do you really want to start down that road? Shall we start calculating how much Americans spend on wants vs. needs? While we’re at it, let’s tally up how much is spent at happy hours. I don’t hear anyone railing against happy hours. Or maybe we could all start walking to work rather than spend money on gas. Oh, and forget going out to lunch, or tic tacs for that matter. I don’t think any of us would rather go to Belize than buy the $4.00 drink that makes our daily lives happy. Personally, I’ll take 365 caffeinated=happier days over 10 in Belize (where there probably isn’t even a Starbucks…). Because, don’t get me wrong, all of the above listed changes are great ones, if you’re looking to save money. But this is not your point Kristie. Your title isn’t “How to save money for a trip to Belize.” And finally, most addicts go straight for the crack: Venti drip. Very cheap. Darn, I guess that argument holds no water, or coffee, now…

4. Do it yourself
And here, we find the root: Corporate America. Well, for now I’m not going to touch that one. But again, maybe your title should have been, “I hate major corporations…”

Anyhoo, back to “do it yourself.” Here is where I can explain the love affair we addicts have with Starbucks. Let me start by telling you that I have been sober for over a year now. Sadly, my hyper-acidic stomach and I could no longer agree to disagree on my coffee addiction. My stomach won. Last October, I quit coffee. I’m still mourning the loss. Seriously. Everyday. I’m not exaggerating. For a while I thought Starbucks and I were no more. And that is when I was faced head-on with my Starbucks addiction. It’s not the caffeine (though the crackbucks is a serious drug to get over), it’s not the simple black, white, and green cup, it’s not the predictability of the store or perfect grande-skim-misto-with-sugar-free-vanilla-syrup, it’s not the reliable morning (or mid-afternoon, or 9pm) pick-me-up, or the stellar customer service, or the familiar smell when you walk in the door, or the fact that you are within spitting distance from a store at any given moment. It. Is. All. Of. Those. Things. Starbucks is a reliable friend that never disappoints. It’s a romantic experience, start to finish. It is an absolute addiction. The experience cannot be matched at Peaberry, Peet’s, or at home. Period.

5. Consider the calorie saving
Again, the addicts go straight for the crack. We don’t let milk and sugar get in the way. We may enjoy a great cream-laden beverage like everyone else. But we also don’t want to weigh 300 pounds by the end of the year. Since, let’s face it, this is a daily thing, we save our calories for the once a season specialty drinks like the Pumpkin Spice or Cinnamon Dolce lattes. (Seriously, I’m tearing up just thinking about those past loves.) Which brings me back to my personal confessions: I have since found a new drink to love at Starbucks. The green-tea-soy-latte has no crack, but the experience is pretty close. 160 calories.

And thank you to Kristie Leong, M.D. for letting me abuse you throughout this post. I’m not usually so fired up. But seriously, don’t mess with Starbucks.

Update!

Hey peeps. So I've been adding a bit of flair to the blog.


First, do you like the new picture? It reminds me of one of my favorite books, I'm not myself these days. If you haven't read it, well, you should. Fabulous, with a capital F. Josh Kilmer-Purcell chronicles a year in his gold-fish-filled life of drag queen stardom in NYC. You wouldn't believe what he does with the goldfish. No, it's not that, dirty bird.




Also, check out the new features (imagine me Vanna-pointing to the right of the screen), ooh ahh. If you liked my last post, you'll love the perma-post Currently Coveting. I have endless pieces to share, and I figured not everyone would like to read about YSL shoes and LV mini-dresses. If these acronyms mean nothing to you, you may not be interested in this column. You may, however, like to participate in the weekly poll. Turkey and cranberry sandwiches is the topic open to opinion at the moment. Just a little dispute between Mr. Cox and myself. Your help would be much appreciated.


See, we're an equal opportunity blog here at Christina Cox. Something for everyone! Enjoy!

Currently Coveting

Patent. Platform. Peep toe.

Yves Saint Laurent, people.


A far cry from my last shoe post, but hey, I don't discriminate. They are a bit more spendy as well.

Yves Saint Laurent, people.


Spendy schmendy. When in doubt, it's best to refer to Mr. Oscar Wilde:
"Anyone who lives within their means has lack of imagination."

Amen.

Around my water cooler

I'm sure that in your workplace today, there was talk of the election.

There was at mine too. Only, I hang out with 7-year-olds all day. Still, you'd be surprised at how similar your conversation and my conversation probably were:

[Names were changed to protect the innocent, yet hilarious.]

Mrs. Cox: We're going to read Arthur Meets the President because today is a special day. Who knows why today is important?

Alex: We have an assembly?

Mrs. Cox: No, it's election day. Today all the adults in America get to vote for who will be the next President.

Alex: Oh yea! I hope Bronco Bama wins! [we are in Orange and Blue Country, don't forget] Because that other lady is loco! [twisting his finger beside his head]

Andre: Can girls be President, or only boys?

Mrs. Cox: No, women can be the President or Vice President too. If John McCain wins tonight, Sarah Palin will be our Vice President.

Alex: Yea, she's loco! [resumes finger twisting]

Andre: Oh yea, I remember her. My Grandpa thinks she's hot!


See, even the kids know the most important thing about Sarah Palin is that she's hot.

Life's tough lessons

It happens to the best of us.

Sometimes we let excitement get the best of us, and we act without thinking. We throw caution to the wind. We leap before we look. We dig a mud hole, and stick our entire face in it.

And once the excitement is over, we realize that we didn't think that through very well. We didn't think about the consequence of our decision. We didn't realize we would really want to go back in the house once we were totally covered in mud.

I don't think so Big Man.

Total bummer, I know. Live and learn Freddy. Live and learn.