30 Days of Gratitude - Day 13

I love coffee. Starbucks Komodo Dragon is my preferred blend.  To me, the perfect cup is black and strong.  I love everything about coffee - the smell, the taste and without it, I'm not a happy person.  I started drinking coffee in college.  Those late night all night study sessions required copious amounts of coffee.  It's a habit I still enjoy, every morning. When I travel I bring Starbucks Via as the hotel coffee is usually terrible.  I am not a big fan of mocha latte's or fancy fru fru drinks...but a traditional cup of  joe...I'm a happy gal.   I could give up wine, but never, ever in a million years coffee.  I am so thankful for coffee!

What are you thankful for?

what's in your cup?

I love coffee; the smell, the taste and I can't start my day without it.  It's become a ritual that I crave.  I drink it black and I like it strong.  Two cups will satisfy me, but three is preferred.  I'm on cup two now and thoroughly enjoying it.  My favorite blend is Starbucks Komodo Dragon but it's rather pricey and lately I've been drinking Safeway's French Roast Blend.  As long as it's not weak and wimpy, I will drink it.  You can always add more water to coffee that's too strong but you can not resurrect weak coffee. 

This is one of my favorite mugs.  It was a gift from my daughters many years ago.  

It makes me thinking of them whenever I use it.  

The coffee has given me a needed boost this morning and now it's time to get moving. I've got a full day ahead topped off by a late afternoon matinee with a friend.  We are going to see The Help.  I thought the book was super and from what I've heard, the movie is pretty darn good.  If my morning is any indication of the rest of my day, I'm sure it's going to be great!

1500 miles

Yesterday morning, Kristin and I departed our home with the goal of reaching Reston, VA on Tuesday.  That's over 2600 miles in 4 days along with losing 3 hours due to the time zone changes.  I am now sitting in a hotel room in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Much better than the Best Western in Glendive, MT.  That had to have been the WORST Best Western I've ever stayed at.  The Country Inn & Suites in Eau Claire is clean, comfy and quiet.  I will definitely sleep well tonight!  Driving may not be physically demanding but it certainly is mentally demanding.  This is the 2nd time we've done this trip.  The first was in March when we drove from Laurel, MD to home.  Though we are taking the same route, the view out the car window is ever changing.

To say Montana is large is an understatement. It’s HUGE!  Driving across the 559 miles takes a long time, but the scenery is quite pretty.  I really wish I had my good camera with me.  The rolling hills are so pretty with many, many different shades of green.  I can definitely see why it’s called The Big Sky State. Unfortunately stopping for photos (with my little point and shoot camera) was out of the question because not everyone sees the value in photography.  The eastern part of Montana and western part of North Dakota were especially pleasing to the eye, with picturesque rolling hills and painted canyons.  I did stop at a scenic viewpoint and snapped 2 pictures.  The 30 second stop was not welcomed but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  Upon entering the middle of North Dakota the terrain flattens out, though it still very green and scenic.  It’s very calm and peaceful; somewhere I would enjoy coming back too and staying for a few days to explore.  North Dakota has funny town names, such as, Beach, Home on the Range, Can Do and Zap.  Maybe someday, when I get my RV, I’ll drive and explore at my own pace these beautiful places.  Probably alone though because not many share my joys of traveling and sightseeing in the US by RV.  But I will be able to stop at all the scenic view points I want and refuel with Starbucks without a gripe from anyone!

We stayed in Glendive, MT last night and thank goodness for Starbucks VIA.  I made myself a cup of instant coffee this morning at the hotel.  Seriously, Starbucks VIA is the next best thing to cup of Starbucks coffee.  Not at all like Folgers instant coffee, which I think is utterly disgusting and 'why bother' coffee.  I was hoping to find a Starbucks enroute, as my one cup of VIA wasn't going to cut it, but we had to go all the way to Bismarck before I could find a Starbucks.  Finally at noon I got a venti skinny vanilla latte giving me my caffeine fix!  However, this was another stop my traveling companion thought was “stupid.”  But I insisted as a coffee stop was non negotiable!

We zipped by the 60 ton Bison statue in Jamestown, North Dakota.  We had stopped to have some photographs with it back in March.  Despite seeing it before, it’s a pretty jaw dropping sight because it’s so big – even from the freeway!  As we approached Fargo, the easternmost city in North Dakota, traffic picked up.  Still not an issue, but lots more cars than earlier.  Freeways have been in good shape, some spots of road construction in Montana but traffic still moved along.  We split off of I-90 at Billings and went north along I-94, which resulted in less curves and shorter distance than following I-90.  In Tomah, Wisconsin (about half way between Minneapolis and Madison) I-94 meets back up with I-90.

Interesting tidbit about roadsigns - each state has their own unique way of displaying the route numbers, interstates, etc.  In Idaho it's a rectangle box with the shape of Idaho in it and the appropriate highway number displayed in the picture of the state.  Montana uses an arrowhead and North Dakota uses a side profile of an Indian.  Minnesota and Wisconsin don't have any noteworthy signs.  Curious what Illinois, Indiana and Ohio will have! 


Tomorrow's goal is to make it to the Akron, Ohio area.  700 miles or so for day 3.  1500 miles down, 1100 to go! More than half-way.  Yippee.