January 12, 2007

Cream in My Life

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 5:59 am

I've been thinking . . .
In the olden days, even before I was short . . . the milkman delivered milk in glass bottles with cardboard caps. The milk was straight from the dairy just outside of town. It wasn’t homogenized. That meant that it would separate. The cream would rise to the top.

The cream is the wonderful part.

One teaspoon of real cream in a cup of coffee is better than any famous coffee shop can offer. I used to drink real cream in my coffee every morning. But now the store where I live doesn’t carry it. I suppose that’s better for my health. I’m not so sure about my well being . . .

Believe it, compared to one teaspoon of real cream, anything at Starbucks is second best. And Starbucks is also a wonderful part of life to me.

This weekend, I’m going to find some cream. Maybe it won’t be the kind that goes in coffee, but it will be cream just the same.

I might just read a novel.

Or I could take two naps on Saturday.

Maybe I’ll sit at the window and watch the lake.

I’ll watch a favorite movie.

I’ll handwrite a letter to a friend I miss.

I’ll do one thing that’s not electronic, something that is in no way related to working or moving a project forward. I’ll so something that is good for my well being — one teaspoon of rich cream.

The cream is the wonderful part. Can’t have a life without that.

Don’t forget the cream this weekend.

Liz's Signature


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36 Comments to “Cream in My Life”

  1. January 12th, 2007 at 6:16 am
    Chris Cree said

    The cream in my life usually involves hanging out with some good folks. Or coffee. Or chocolate.

    Whenever I can get more than one of those at the same time it is a big bonus!

    It’s interesting that some of the best cream can be found in some of the activities that may be perceived as less productive. But less productive does not mean less worthwhile.

  2. January 12th, 2007 at 6:20 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Chris,
    Good morning!
    Those are some of the “creamy goodness” of my life too! They just make things “go” better.

    Good friends, great chocolate, dinner in that Mexican restaurant, laughing, music, things to look forward to . . .

    Smooth as silk and delicious!

  3. January 12th, 2007 at 8:44 am
    Kent Blumberg said

    Cream for me - an hour with a good book. I’m looking forward to an hour with “The Fourth Bear” this evening.

  4. January 12th, 2007 at 8:52 am
    ME Strauss said

    Kent,
    That sounds wonderful!

  5. January 12th, 2007 at 9:02 am
    Tony D. Clark said

    Okay, apparently I can’t think for myself, because I’m stealing 3 from you guys:

    - Dinner at a Mexican restaurant
    - Then coffee,
    - Then a good novel (I read way too much non-fiction already) - I’m about finished with “The End of Mr. Y,” a very cool novel.

  6. January 12th, 2007 at 9:10 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Tony,
    I think means that we all have a penchant for excellent things. :)

    Blogger synchronicity!! :)

  7. January 12th, 2007 at 9:48 am
    Karin said

    Cream in my coffee is that sudden moment an unexpected smile comes to my face (or yours) when I see, hear or read a nice or heart-warming little thing.

    (Funny thing though - and perhaps related to the other topic ‘I’ve been thinking’ right below - it happens more often these days)

  8. January 12th, 2007 at 10:12 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Yeah, heart-warming is such a lovely word. Thinking is such fun. I’m trying to do it as much as I can. :)

  9. January 12th, 2007 at 10:17 am
    Karin said

    Hi Liz
    Smiling is fun too. (Tim - Bear - just brought this type of smile to me, he’ll know why)

  10. January 12th, 2007 at 10:20 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Karin!
    Smiling is excellent!

  11. January 12th, 2007 at 10:30 am
    Kammie K said

    Liz~

    I can see you with a cream mustache on your upper lip!! Yum:) What good stuff…

    For me it’s a good book, the beach, a massage and just chillin’.

    Thanks for the reminder to remember the cream. Have a great weekend.

    Kam

  12. January 12th, 2007 at 10:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kammie!
    A great weekend to you as well!!

    Lot cream and a cabana boy or two with an umbrella drink and a fluffy towel. :)

  13. January 12th, 2007 at 11:43 am
    Carolyn said

    The cream in life is definitely what makes it all worthwhile! I’m going to bring my book, a blanket, and a pear/brie/prosciutto sandwich and head to the park. There’s something about watching kids on a playground that reminds you how simple life should be!

  14. January 12th, 2007 at 11:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Carolyn,
    That sandwich just made my mouth water! :)

  15. January 12th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
    Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross said

    My cream will be rolling out a new blog to a group of volunteers that I believe will make it easier for them to build a sense of community.

    Then do some manual labor around the house that does not require thinking.

    And let’s not forget the primetime playoff game between the Eagles and the Saints:-) (Go New Orleans!)

    Regards,

    Glenn

  16. January 12th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Glenn!
    There you go! They say we all need food, clothing, shelter, and something to look forward to. :)

    Looks like you’ve got it all. :)

  17. January 12th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
    candice said

    Suggestion: see if there are any small/independent dairies in your area. They often still sell milk which separates like that - pasteurized but not homogenized.

    Also, if you’ve got any local chef friends, ask them if they have a really good source for cream.

    All else fails, a wander through wholefoods may come up with it too.

  18. January 12th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Candice,
    You are wonderful!
    I’m going to make down there and we ARE going to have coffee — before we go out to have the other stuff. :)

  19. January 12th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
    Francie said

    Oh my! I remember when I was very young the milkman delivering bottles of milk just as you described. One of the best things was when it was cold outside the cream that had risen to the top would push up the cardboard cap and be a little frozen. Sometimes my mother would let us have a spoonful - real natural ice cream!

    Coffe and chocolate are favorites with me. Coffee is often gulped as a warm-up in the car on the way somewhere or sipped distractedly as I work. To have the time to sit and really savor the coffee is when it’s cream to me.

    A less tangible, but equally rewarding feeling of having cream in my life is when working on a new project and things click. From there on, it’s cream!

  20. January 12th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Francie!
    What a lovely memory! It sure makes a great start for a wonderful weekend!

    Talk about knowing what cream really is!

    :)

  21. January 12th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
    candice said

    My family ran a small dairy in the city until pasteurization made it too expensive in the late 60s or so. Apparently after they closed great-grandma still kept a cow around because she didn’t trust store-bought milk.

    Not that I’m old enough to have had delivered milk, but I do know where to get the real stuff. Smith Creamery out of Mt. Vernon, LA.

    Coffee is quite the thing down here. I don’t make it at home every day anymore, because I enjoy it more if I only have it out somewhere, every day or two in the evening.

  22. January 12th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
    candice said

    And like I said, Liz, find yourself a conference. That’s how I seem to end up seeing a lot of my friends from other places.

  23. January 12th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Candice,
    Having coffee out in New Orleans certainly is an event that is special and worth looking forward to. It’s what makes that city one of the most European in the U.S.

    I need an excuse for the conference in the first place!

  24. January 12th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
    Tony D. Clark said

    Hey Liz - I had to do it. I just got back from having some Mexican food, coffee ice cream (instead of coffee), and I’m getting ready to start reading. From your blog to my reality - thanks for the inspiration!

  25. January 12th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
    ME Strauss said

    And here I sit about to have a beautiful homemade pot roast dinner. I think we both lucked out. This weekend is good!

  26. January 12th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
    Delaney Kirk said

    I moved to Florida last August and have only been to the beach twice–both times because I had out-of-town guests. Today you inspired me to forget the “to do” list and take off for the beach with a good book. I’m putting this on my calendar for every Friday afternoon!

  27. January 12th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
    Robyn McMaster said

    Liz, I remember the cream at the top of milk in glass bottles, too. But I had no idea that you were in that era since you look much too young. :-)

  28. January 12th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Delaney!
    Ah so you made to the beach on Friday! YEA!! I’m delighted you keep to that!
    You’ll be doing it for all of us all winter, you know. :)

  29. January 12th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Robyn,
    Thank you! We’re as young as we misbehave and I slept a WHOLE LOT growing up!!

    My dad used to say that when I was 100, I would only be 40, becaue I would have slept the rest of the time. :)

  30. January 12th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
    Sandra Renshaw said

    Hi Liz,

    This week we had “Christmas” one evening with two of the grandkids (first chance we had) and took time to get on the floor and play. They’re 3- and 5-yrs-old.

    One day this week I took time during my travels around town to stop at a bookstore and browse. Another creamy moment was connecting with a couple friends by phone.

    It’s so important to have balance in life. It can’t all be about work. (I’m a bit envious when I read the comments about the beach. I didn’t take enough time to enjoy the cream last summer.)

    Love the post.

    Sandy

  31. January 12th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Sandy,
    Cream is important in life — you just said it so well. But I think you’re doing find at making sure your life has plenty of it there! YEA!!

  32. January 13th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
    jimdwalton said

    Liz, I remember the cream, my Dad always said the cream rises to the top and the rest falls to the bottom, so if you live the right way and do the right things, you will rise like cream. Liz you are cream.
    Cream this weekend, watch football.The naps and a good book sound good, I am reading a novel, Cross by James Patterson

  33. January 13th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jim!
    I think reading books are definitely cream. More bloggers should enjoy the pleasure! I like James Pattson — look at that one more thing in common, Jim. :)

  34. January 14th, 2007 at 1:05 am
    candice said

    I just realized I told you the wrong town for that dairy. Mount Hermon. Middle-of-nowhere. (But I bought a pint of chocolate milk, cream intact, on Friday after ballet. All your fault.) ;)

  35. January 14th, 2007 at 4:51 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Candice,
    Can’t be my fault about the chocolate milk — gosh, that sounds delicious — my ballet classes were on Mondays and Saturdays. So you see, I wasn’t there. :)

  36. January 26th, 2007 at 9:59 am
    Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life said

    [...] Related Top 10 Ways to Become a Miserable Blogger Cream in My Life Time for Everything: Letting Go to Find Flow Flow: Zen and the Art of Having Fun Writing [...]

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