Coffee And Cuddles

Important Note for Our Listeners: Coffee and Cuddles is not undergoing a permanent changeover! This episode is a temporary departure to check in with Anna Marie (aka Cuddles) and give an update on what she is currently navigating, as well as introduce her new personal journey. Don't worry—Coffee and Cuddles will return soon! 

In this special episode, Anna Marie (Cuddles) shares the backstory behind a major new chapter in her life. After experiencing severe back pain that was initially misdiagnosed as back spasms, a serious blood infection attacked her spine and resulted in a complete spinal cord injury (T8/T7). 

Anna Marie opens up about her time in the hospital, finding hope through her neurosurgeon Dr. Hansen Bowe, her current physical therapy at Orange Healthcare and Wellness Center, and what learning a "new normal" looks like. This episode is an honest, vulnerable conversation about processing life-altering medical challenges without losing hope. 

Key Highlights & Topics Covered:

• The Diagnosis: How severe back pain led to the discovery of a blood infection attacking her spine. 
• Medical Journey: Working with neurosurgeon Dr. Hansen Bowe at UCI Orange and finding a team that maintains hope. 
• Rehabilitation & Therapy: Learning trunk control, arm strength, and finding a new center of gravity with her PT team. 
• Mental Health & Emotional Outlets: Processing anger, letting go of platitudes, and allowing yourself the space to cry and feel. 
• Living with Non-Traumatic Paraplegia: Navigating independence, accepting help, and focusing on what you can do yet. 

Episode Quote:

Join the Community:

Anna Marie wants to hear from you! If you or a loved one are navigating a spinal cord injury, or if you have questions about her journey, leave a comment or reach out. Be sure to follow along for future updates! 

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It's been a while. We were using my phone without any external mics. Sorry for the audio. We ordered some lavalier mics. 

Host: Hi. Hello, and welcome back to the show! It's been a long damn time. A long time. Uh, some things have transpired since the last time we talked to you, so bear with us. You may have noticed I am in a much different chair. This is my mobile throne, if you will. So what we were originally told were back spasms and muscle spasms that would go away in six weeks did not go away. 

Co-Host: Turned out to be thoracic myelopathy, which just means that she had an infection in her spinal column that kinda destroyed T7 and T8. Well, it destroyed T8. 

Host: It was working—almost... 

Co-Host: It was working on T7... It was munching away on T7 and working its way, I don't know if it was up or down the thoracic spine. Either way, thanks to the quick thinking of Dr. Hansen Bo at UCI Orange, she got into surgery within, like, three hours of him getting her scans and her paperwork and everything. Did the surgery, a laminectomy on her spinal column, T5 through T10. Took care of that. Took out the infection, put in some rods and some screws. Please pardon the noise. We're outside because she finally has freedom! 

Host: Freedom! 

Co-Host: She's not in her brace anymore, so that's good. 

Host: Yep, no more brace. We're happy about that. I'm not limited on how far my head can be up. 

Co-Host: Hold on. And we're back. 

Host: Okay, so I'm not limited on how high my head can be up when I'm laying down. I don't need to use my brace... Oh, I'm sorry, it stopped. I'll have to stitch this together later in post-production. 

So today is the first day with no brace, which means I did physical therapy with no brace. I did occupational therapy with no brace. I am in my wheelchair with no brace, and it's okay. I was a little apprehensive, a little scared out of my mind, but, you know, I had that brace on for so long, it was kinda hard to say, "Okay, I'll stop wearing it," but I did. 

Co-Host: Thanks to the amazing physical and occupational therapists here at the rehab facility she's at in sunny Southern California. The team here is nothing short of amazing. They make sure that they're not pushing her too quickly, not pushing her too far, so everything is controlled and measured. They know what they're doing here, so we have absolutely no complaints whatsoever about Jacob and Arnold. So thank you, guys, if you ever come across this podcast. 

Like I said, we haven't done this podcast in a while because she's been on her back and in a hospital room, so I thought today would be a good day to catch us up. 

Host: It was very hard. I spent six weeks in the hospital on my back. When I would have therapy, it was basically just sitting on the edge of the bed trying to understand where my center of gravity was, and being able not to have to depend on somebody to put me back right when I was falling backward or whatever. 

I was told one of the future things I'm gonna do in physical therapy is they're gonna have me sit on the mat in the therapy room—

Co-Host: Ooh... 

Host: —which means they would lift me out of the chair, put me onto the mat, and have me sit there, which is a little daunting. But the one thing I never wanna do is I never wanna say, "I can't do that," because I've always told my students there's no such word as can't. It's, "I can't do it yet." 

Co-Host: Growth mindset! 

Host: The second you say you can't do something, your brain switches off and says, "You know what? You can't do that." So am I apprehensive? Yes. Am I anxious? Yes. Am I nervous? Yes. But I've done things in therapy that I didn't think I could do. Like today, I was holding on to the bar, and I was in my wheelchair, and they wanted me to lift myself, like trunk lifts. So basically lifting my back off of this chair and going forward. At first I thought, There's no way I could do this, and once I got it going, it's like, You know what? I can do this. I've used heavier weights than I thought I could actually do, so it's just little, little gains every single day. 

Co-Host: Very nice. She's kicking butt. She really is. I've never once heard her say, "I can't do that," or, "I'm not gonna do that," or, "I'm not even gonna try." So we here at the podcast are very proud of our warrior, 'cause she's kicking butt and taking names. 

Host: Now, do I cry sometimes through what I have to do? Yes, and I told my occupational therapist, "Let me cry through it. If I start crying, don't stop me. Let me do it." There's absolutely nothing wrong with crying. Sometimes that's just your body saying, "This is too much crap. I need to unload it somehow." So you gotta get it out. Crying is perfectly fine. Just don't give up. Never, ever quit. 

Co-Host: Nope. Never, never give up, never surrender. 

Host: That's right. That was something that he wrote on his message board for me in the hospital, and I would wake up every morning looking at that and telling myself, "You know what? That's right. I'm not gonna give up. I'm not gonna surrender. I'm not gonna let this define who I am." 

Co-Host: And no matter what her new normal is, we're gonna adapt to it... And the new normal could change by the week, by the month, it could change by the day. Someday her spine is gonna wake up and say, "Oh, I'm supposed to be working all this time." And then we'll work through that, and we'll get her legs working again, and she'll be up and running down the beach. 

Host: The one thing that I especially love about Dr. Bo and his team is never once have they told me that there's no chance, never once have they told me there's no hope of recovery. So as long as nobody tells me there's no chance of improvement, then there's still hope. 

And I just got attacked by an avocado leaf! 

So that's what I cling onto. With everything I have done with regards to Relay For Life, I know how hard those people that have and are battling cancer work. I know that there are things that they probably have a tough time doing sometimes, and I see how strong they are, and I'm drawing my strength from their strength. 

So what else? I think that covered all the major things. We didn't want you to forget about Coffee & Cuddos. We're still here. We're still kicking and screaming. Some days it's not worth fighting to get the straps off, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And we're gonna keep kicking butt. 

So thanks for listening. Thanks for being our loyal fans. Your mileage may vary. We love you all, and God bless. 

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Anna is having more issues. Currently in the hospital for much needed work. We'll update as we can.

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In this episode of Coffee and Cuddles, Craig (Coffee) and Annamarie (Cuddles) dive into the strange, daily occurrences in their lives that defy logic. From a sudden, unexplainable thoracic spine injury that has Annamarie sleeping sitting up, to their eerie ability to finish each other's sentences and guess identical words during Wordle, the duo explores what it means to be completely in sync. Plus, they share funny updates on their pup, McCoy, who has developed some highly specific routines around car rides, drive-thrus, and predicting when his humans are about to leave the house.

Key Moments & Topics Covered

• The Mystery Spine Injury: Annamarie updates listeners on her sudden back injury, the lack of medical answers beyond "muscle spasms," and the struggle of trying to sleep while elevated.
• Telepathic Connection: Craig and Annamarie discuss their 7-year history of thinking the exact same thoughts at the same time, from guessing the same Wordle answers (like last night's "gavel") to predicting phone calls and grocery runs.
• McCoy’s Drive-Thru Dilemma: How McCoy mistook a Walgreens pharmacy drive-thru for his favorite local coffee spot, Ziggy's, expecting a pup cup from the window.
• Uncanny Canine Instincts: A look into McCoy's routine-driven behavior, including how he knows Craig is leaving just by the sound of a phone call, and his self-taught habit of raising his paw to say "please."

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Check out the viral video of McCoy expecting his pup cup on Instagram (over 600 views!).

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They say man plans and God laughs—and after an unexpected hiatus, Craig (Coffee) and Anna (Cuddles) are back to explain exactly what went down. Now that school is officially out for the summer, Anna shares a terrifying middle-of-the-night health scare that spiraled into an ongoing, severe 10/10 back pain saga. From a bizarre 99-year-old urgent care doctor to an emergency room visit at Memorial Care in Long Beach, the duo navigates the frustrations of a new mattress fail, inconclusive CT scans, and prepping for upcoming physical therapy.

Meanwhile, Craig drops some major personal updates, celebrating nearly four years of sobriety and a successful round of dental surgery. He also shares a massive milestone: maintaining an A at the University of Phoenix, pushing through online business management courses, making the dean's list, and joining multiple national honor societies despite a lifetime of being told he wasn't cut out for academics. Wrapping up with a heartfelt discussion on chronic pain management, teacher retirement realities in California, and community shout-outs, this is an unfiltered episode you won't want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

• Summer Break & The Back Saga: Anna shares the intense physical toll of an unexpected midnight health episode that completely threw out her back just as the school year ended.
• The Medical Merry-Go-Round: Navigating different opinions from eccentric urgent care physicians, the ER team at Memorial Care Long Beach, and a primary care doctor while awaiting physical therapy.
• The 14-Inch Mattress Fail: Why the duo's brand-new replacement mattress might be headed straight to Facebook Marketplace.
• Four Years of Sobriety: Craig reflects on his upcoming August sobriety milestone and the daily choice to stay on a healthy path.
• Crushing the Academic Odds: Craig discusses maintaining his straight-A average at the University of Phoenix, overcoming old special education labels, and proving a toxic high school math teacher entirely wrong.
• A Heartfelt Request for Advice: With Anna's severe back pain impacting her daily life, the hosts call on any California teacher retirement experts to reach out regarding medical retirement guidelines.

Key Takeaways & Local Notes:

• Calling All California Educators: If you have expert knowledge on CalSTRS or medical retirement rules for California teachers, please message the show to help Anna navigate her next steps before the new school year.
• Our Two Cents: As always, your mileage may vary! Have a wonderful week ahead, God bless, and thank you for tuning in.

Connect With Our Friends:

• Support Diane Napper for Minnesota Senate: Check out her platform and support her campaign for Minnesota State Senate District 63 at https://dianenapper.com/
• Real Estate Needs in New Jersey: If you are buying or selling a home in the Garden State, connect with Craig's high school friend and top realtor, Jeff Gagnon, via Re/Max at https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/jeffrey-gagnon-east-brunswick-nj/102123684

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After a few weeks' hiatus, Craig and Anna are back with a brand new episode filled with life updates, countdowns, and hilarious stories. Anna breaks down her survival strategy for the final nine days of the school year and her weekend mission to prep her classroom for an upcoming fire inspection. Craig gives an update on his healing hand, shares his recent scheduling saga with medical transportation, and tells an unforgettable story from his days working at Harbor Freight. Plus, the duo dive into Anna's fast-paced binge of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, embracing her new "nerd alert" status. 

Episode Highlights:

• The 9-Day Countdown: Anna counts down the final days of the school year and discusses the exhausting logistics of classroom time. 
• Hand Recovery & Arthritis: Craig shares an update on his hand's range of motion and the natural trade-offs of arthritis kicking up as he heals. 
• The WellBe Logistics Saga: Craig details his scheduling frustrations with his Grandpad device and missing his requested doctor appointment rides. 
• The Classroom Purge: Preparing for a fire inspection, letting go of a historic 29-year-old chart stand, and giving away classroom furniture. 
• Calm Down Corners: Anna plans for future classroom improvements using a bag of fidgets and a miniature teepee tent. 
• The Legendary Harbor Freight Story: Craig recalls a stubborn customer who literally took his backseat out and left it in the parking lot to make a toolbox fit. 
• Nerd Alert Era: Binging The Mandalorian, asking questions every 45 seconds, and why Craig loves having a nerdy girlfriend who is getting into the Star Wars universe. 
• Smart Cars & Summer Wrap-up: Whimsical thoughts on custom Smart Cars painted like Little Tikes toys, grocery pickup pranks, and shifting the podcast schedule over the summer. 

Key Takeaways & Local Notes:

• Torrance Freebies: If you are in the Torrance area and need a five-drawer file cabinet or a collapsible chart stand, let them know! Craig will wheel it to your car, but he absolutely will not load it. 
• Our Two Cents: As always, your mileage may vary. Have a great week ahead, God bless, and we love you! 

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We're back! Whether you like it or not, Coffee and Cuddles are back behind the microphones after a two-week hiatus. It has been a wildly busy couple of weeks, packed with school, family events, and some major medical updates. 

In this episode, Craig (AKA Coffee) shares the saga of his left hand. After months of fighting for proper care and struggling with severe trigger finger—to the point of having only 10% use of his hand—he finally went under the knife. He gives a massive shout-out to his incredible surgeon in Long Beach and shares the hilarious contrast of walking out of the operating room flexing his fingers while everyone else was still completely numb. 

With Mother's Day fresh on their minds, Anna (AKA Cuddles) and Craig also take a trip down memory lane to celebrate a major milestone: seven years of friendship. They reveal the heartwarming (and slightly accidental) story of how they first met in the virtual world of Second Life, how Craig "fanboyed" over Anna's DJ sets on T1 Radio, and how they officially became the inseparable "A Team". 

Plus, they dive into what it takes to make a long-distance virtual friendship transition successfully into the real world, the art of daily compromise, and a recent Mother's Day shopping trip to the Fabric Barn that ended with a surprise crafting machine. 

Pull up a chair, grab your beverage of choice (whether it's Ziggy's Coffee or "green dirt" matcha), and join the conversation!

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Welcome to May! In this episode, Craig (aka Coffee) and Anna (aka Cuddles) dive deep into the world of education. After a quick recap of a busy trip to Los Angeles and Pasadena—complete with a special delivery for a favorite barista at Ziggy's Coffee—the conversation turns to the heart of the show: the joys and intense challenges of being a teacher in today’s world.

In This Episode:

• The "Rally Monkey" Mission: Why Craig had to jump out of the car at Ziggy's to surprise Mary Grace.
• Family Reflections: A heartfelt tribute to Craig’s cousin, Tony, and the importance of treating children with respect.
• The Reality of Teaching: Anna shares her 25+ year journey in the classroom, from the inspiration of her own 4th-grade teacher to the modern-day struggles of administrative "piling on," testing pressure, and student behavior.
• Success Stories: Moving memories of students like Victor, who found his voice through song, and Brittany, whom Anna cheered for all the way to her wedding day.
• The State of the Classroom: A candid look at why 40% of teachers leave the profession within five years and the hidden work that goes into sub plans and weekend prep.

Favorite Quotes:

Show your appreciation! If you know a teacher, buy them a coffee, give them a hug, or just acknowledge the incredible work they do every day.

Connect with us: Check out Remainders Creative Reuse in Pasadena for amazing sustainable art supplies: https://remainderspas.org/

Don't forget to Rep the Halo! 😇☕️

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Hosts: Craig (AKA Coffee) and Anna

Episode Summary

In this episode, Craig and Anna explore the profound difference between being physically present in a relationship and truly "having" your partner. They discuss the transition from past experiences of isolation—where they felt they had to handle everything alone—to a partnership defined by proactive support and mutual recognition. Using a mix of personal stories and a very famous movie metaphor, they break down why the simple phrase "I got you" is the ultimate relationship safety net.

Key Takeaways

• The "Two People, One Brain" Connection: How treating your partner the way you want to be treated creates a relationship where needs are anticipated rather than negotiated.
• Proactive vs. Obligatory Help: Craig shares why he jumped in to help Anna when she was sick—not because it was his "job," but because he is wired to take the weight off her shoulders.
• The Art of Hearing: Why listening isn't enough. Craig explains how repeating back key parts of a conversation ensures your partner feels genuinely heard and validated.
• Breaking the Cycle of "One-Upping": A look at the toxic dynamic of "who had the worse day" and how to replace it with simple, restorative sympathy.

Memorable Moments & Detours

• The Titanic Metaphor: Anna compares the feeling of a supportive relationship to the moment Rose realizes she isn't alone on that floating door.
• The 91 Freeway: A classic Southern California moment discussing the "parking lot" that is the 91 freeway.
• Bobby the Caretaker: A heartwarming story about a medical facility worker named Bobby and the power of a simple thank-you card.
• Portillo’s vs. Porto’s: The team clears up the very important distinction between cake shakes and potato balls.

  Listener Challenge

We want to hear your "I got you" stories! How do you show your partner that they aren't in this alone? The first person to send us feedback gets an exclusive Coffee and Cuddles fridge magnet! 

Connect With Us

• Support the Show: Please share this episode if it resonated with you! 
• Our Parting Shot: "This is just our 2 cents worth. Your mileage may vary." 

"We love you all and God bless." 

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In this lighthearted episode, Craig and Anna explore the "silly love tests" trending on social media—like the infamous mustard and ketchup tests. The duo puts their own relationship to the test with a "Love Meter" quiz, debating everything from matching western shirts to the "correct" way to load a dishwasher. Between the laughs, they share a deeper look at what real love looks like: doing the small things for each other without being asked.

Key Discussion Points

• The Love Meter Quiz: Anna grills Craig with "inane" questions to test his devotion, including whether he’d let her choose his date-night outfit and if he’d watch her favorite "stinker" movies every year on their anniversary.
• The Matching Shirt Trauma: Craig recalls a cringeworthy fashion moment from his 20s involving matching western shirts with flame designs.
• Social Media "Tests": A discussion on the "Mustard Test" and why purposely making a mess to test a partner might be a red flag rather than a bit of fun.
• Household Harmony: The "Unicorn" husband reveals his secrets: Craig handles the laundry, dishes, and cooking, all while avoiding the "wrong way" to load the dishwasher debate.
• What is Real Love?: Moving past the silly tests to appreciate the everyday acts of kindness, from opening car doors to finishing the laundry before the other person gets home.

Notable Quotes

"If your way works, then it doesn't matter if your way works or not because there's no need to quibble." — Craig

"Real love is the things that you do for each other without being asked to do them." — Anna

"If you're in a relationship where you feel that you have to do testing on your partner, then break up and go find someone else." — Craig

Mentioned in this Episode

• New Coffee and Cuddles Website: Check the link in our bio to find our new hub.
• The Beehiiv Newsletter: Sign up via the new website for monthly tips, tricks, and "fur baby" photos.
• Straight No Chaser: The source of their favorite matching t-shirts.
• Cheese in a Can: The ultimate "Love Meter" home game prize.

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