Lukewarm coffee

Yesterday I once again picked up a cup of lukewarm coffee (well, actually, Choffy in this case--more on that in a future post), and I realized something.

I hardly ever drink a full cup of coffee, or Choffy, or tea, at home, while it's hot. I forget about it. Later I put it in the microwave to heat it up. I forget it's in the microwave. After an hour or so, I heat it up again. I sip it while I make dinner, and then I once again forget about it.

And I realized this says something about my ability to sit down and truly relax.

Last night I set the alarm on my cell phone. I got up this morning, made Choffy, and sat, without a computer. I spent time with God, because my spirit needed be fed. At the end of my time, I realized I could relax better in the seldom-used dining room, and I moved there.

Tomorrow I'll set my alarm for 15 minutes earlier, since Zoodle and Chickie woke up soon after I did. But despite several interruptions, the time was sweet.

And this was the result:

Giveaway--Blog makeover!

So here's something you should know about me. I get into some sort of hobby, and I'm passionate about it, until I get it out of my system. I really enjoyed making over my friend Laurel's blog, and then I learned some new skills and made mine over. Now I want to do another one. Here's what it includes.

• I'll work with you to come up with a theme that fits you--if you want something less busy, brighter, or more masculine than my blog, you've got it!
• I'll make a repeating tile for the background. (That's a small graphic that can repeat on the background of your blog without any obvious lines--like the flowers on mine.)
• I'll make a new header/banner/masthead/whatever you like to call the title graphic.
• I'll make a favicon (the little tiny icon that goes up to the left of your URL.) Sorry, but I am having zero luck getting a favicon to work on my friend Laurel's blog. Unless I miraculously figure it out, no favicons.
• If you'd like to temporarily add me as an author with admin privileges, I'll also install all this for you, widen your posting column &/or add a third column (if you'd like me to), and add coordinating colors and borders behind your posting column and sidebar(s). If you prefer not to add me as a temporary blog author, I'll give you some links to help you figure out how to use the files I've sent you and how to make more changes.

There are some pretty big caveats:

• You need to use Blogger for your blog. Sorry if you use WordPress or another platform--I'm clueless on how to use those.
• I'll be using Blogger's Minima White template and modifying it. In other words, your blog's basic layout will be like mine, of course with different colors and graphics.
• After I submit the first file(s) to you, you'll have opportunities to request changes twice--after that, any more changes are at my discretion. Of course, if I can't come up with something you like, you don't have to use it!
• I'll want to post before and after screenshots on this blog when I'm done. (I'm happy to post a link to your blog too if you'd like me to.) If you have a private blog, I can digitally erase any personal information from it before posting.
• I'll get it done...some day. It won't take forever, but it won't be overnight either! So please be patient.

Here's how you can enter:

1. Leave any comment here--including a way to contact you (clickable name, e-mail address, etc.)
2. Follow me by clicking "FOLLOW BLOG" on the blue bar at the top of the page, or subscribe to my blog in a reader. If you're already a follower or subscriber, you get an entry for that (one entry max even if you follow AND subscribe.)
3. Tweet about this. (Example: "Enter for a free Blogger blog makeover thanks to @cbethblog at http://cbethblog.blogspot.com!")
4. Follow me on Twitter.
5. Post about this on your blog.

Post a separate comment for EACH entry.

If the winner lets me know that you referred them to the contest...you both win blog makeovers! So you don't lose anything by referring people; it just increases your chances.

This is a short-term contest--I'll use random.org to choose a winner by the end of the day Thursday the 2nd. Good luck!

Sick Zoodle

Zoodle has had a fever since Sunday night. Tuesday at 3:20 a.m. he woke up fussing, and his fever had spiked high enough for me to take him to the ER at the fantastic local children's hospital. A chest x-ray showed what might be the beginnings of pneumonia, so he's on a (ridiculously expensive) antibiotic. His fever broke while we were in the ER, and they let us go home.

Zoodle's fever is still coming and going but it hasn't gotten terribly high again. He's been sleeping a lot, so I think his little body is working hard to fight this off. I'm pretty fried , so I'm claiming my occasional right to publish a boring, non-creative blog post. (What, you didn't know about that basic human right? It's an important one!)

Once again, I'm so thankful to be living in an era, and in an area, where we can get quick, quality medical attention. My biggest worry is what the bill is going to look like, and that's really not a big deal in the whole scheme of things.