Moka pots, peach tea, and lipstick

 How relieved I am, now that I have hump day until the end of the week off. This past few weeks was studded with deadlines and overtime yet there were 'glimmers' here and there. For one, I have been fantasizing about espresso machines. I just couldn't commit to the cost and maintenance involved so I diverted my attention to the idea of a classic Italian Moka pot, but we have an induction stovetop. After much sleuthing, I discovered the portable Moka pot with its own heating system--very much like an electric kettle. I can now enjoy espressos, americanos, affogatos, etc.

One of my siblings drove from south of the border and brought us treats. For yours truly, my wonderful American siblings gave me Dunkin Donuts and Wawa coffee and I am over the moon! I'm very easy to please. I also requested for peach tea, which I can't find in pure form lately. You see, during the recent holidays while waiting to board our red eye, long haul flight, I asked the airport cafe staff if they had any warm non-caffeinated drink available and when the lovely lady at the register mentioned peach tea, I thought why not? It was surprisingly soothing and calming and all the feelings associated with its taste was memorable for me. The tea is called peach tranquility and it seems that it cannot be purchased outside the coffee shop. I can only replicate the sensation with a different brand peach tea...the kind that isn't blended with passion fruit or ginger or any other substance. It's a wonderful discovery, honestly. I rememeber that I liked peaches when I was younger when my mother would serve fruit salad with canned peaches and in high school when Snapple was very popular and there was a peach tea flavor. I suppose years of not being able to taste peaches and then drinking peach tea at the airport last December sort of opened a file folder of nostalgia in my brain that I could only interpret at that time as "...that hits the spot!" 

I've recently been working at the office lately and I found myself rejuvenated and motivated. I realized that I find comfort in physical order and structure...that work happens at the office and leisure happens at home. Boundaries are easier to establish when there are actual physical boundaries. I'm not sure if I'm making sense to you, but I hope I do. And because I would like to complete the whole going-to-the-office bit, I've made sure to wear lipstick. I recently rotate Revlon Mink, Mac PDA, and Mac See Sheer. Not very noticeable to others, but I feel like I'm in business when I wear any of these. Outside those colors, I wear a lot of Nivea Vanilla Buttercream lip balm (which I have in random bags and areas of the house), Aquaphor, or Lucas Papaw ointment. It's unusual that I'm enumerating these lip products, but I really enjoy these.

Anyway, cheers to life and having time off. I hope everyone is well and that challenges get sorted out smoothly. Let us pray for those who are in precarious circumstances including those living in conditions of civil unrest or natural calamity.