Coffee gets it's turn at a Thursday Thirteen

1. The aroma of coffee brewing in my kitchen is enough to pull me from the deepest sleep.
2. Coffee is the number one reason I drag my sorry butt out of bed most mornings.
3. Coffee doesn't talk back, argue or give me a hard time before I'm ready.
4. Coffee is warm, patient and always available.
5. You can sit and drink it or take it with.
6. Coffee travels well in the car without asking how long until you get there.
7. All the variety. There are hundreds of things one can do to a cup of coffee.
8. I like mine with milk, a little cream if I'm sinning.
9. If I'm really sinning, I add cinammon and just a dash of vanilla.
10. Coffee gives me something to do with my hands.
11. I have one mug that goes with me into the yard most mornings to check the flowers that bloomed overnight. The dog, the coffee and I make a good, early morning team.
12. I finish whatever the kids leave me in the pot. My favorite times are when there's not enough for a second cup, and I can make more.
13. And last, coffee is universal. I could wander the whole world and every country has coffee. Unlike Dr. Pepper, which gets harder to find as you leave the South!

Thirteen things about Valentine's Day

1) All that candy!

2) It's a great chance to tell your family, your kids and everyone around you that you love them.

3) Whether you have someone special or not, it's a great holiday.

4) Since I love flowers, I'm easy to shop for.

5) One of our family traditions is that I always got the kids a stuffed animal for Valentines. I only stopped when they told me they were too old.

6) It's a great excuse for a date night, dinner together, something. Especially for people like us who rarely make time for one another.

7) Valentines Day is one day I don't have any trouble sitting down to write.

8) Valentine's Day is a great excuse to buy lingerie for yourself.

9) Or even your significant other!

10) I always feel the need for Frank Sinatra music, love songs, Pavarotti, Domingo and all those great Italian songs! Yeah, baby! Sing to me!

11) Valentines Day is a great reason to bake sweets. Almost as good a reason as Christmas time. But I don't feel like I have to make more than one thing, so it can be special. Thinking about a chocolate torte this year.

12) Watching my kid leave for school with stuff for his girlfriend he'd purchased without my help made me happy. He's growing up.

13) Valentines Day is one of those days I think of the people I'm grateful for and celebrate those relationships.

And since it's the 14th, let's do one more!
14) No matter where you are, what your circumstances, whether you have a significant other or not, whether you and your S.O. celebrate or ignore it, take a moment and think about all the people you love. Send them a little lift, a little bit of your spirit!