A Steamin' Mug o' Joe

I have a vice, and it's coffee.

Worse, I'm a pretentious coffee drinker. I use a grinder and fresh beans, and a Cuisinart with settings so I can contour the finished product to exacting specifications. So what? It's all a matter of taste.

If it didn't take so long I'd make it the old fashioned way, with a percolator on the stove, like my grandparents did. Every second or two the little bubble on top would turn brown and I'd hear the 'glub glub.' There is no coffee like percolator coffee. I'll bet folks in California wish they had a percolator right now, those rolling blackouts must be hell for java lovers. Can you imagine the inconvenience if they had rolling Starbucks closings?

Side note: I thought Ahnold was going to put an end to rolling blackouts in Cali! Sorry Dad, I hope you stay cool.

Honestly, the effect is all that matters. The source doesn't matter so much.

Some of the best coffee I've had was from the pot at WDAF in Kansas City, my first radio job. I was 15, basically a paid intern, and worked evenings... so I would get off the school bus and directly into Frank Haynes' car (the PM drive news guy). I never had time (nor money) for dinner, so the coffee curbed my appetite until I got home at around midnight.

Part of the reason I love coffee so much is, it always makes me think of Frank. He was a fellow java man. We would sit in the newsroom before I clocked in, and he would tell me how to write news stories. I'd tell him how much junior high algebra sucked. He would assure me that, if I got into radio, I would probably never use algebra again.

I'd like to look him up someday and buy him a cup.

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My friend and webmaster, Dave Steele, has redesigned my business website. Take a look if you want, it's pretty smooth. (you need a current version of Flash Player to view) There are a few bugs to iron out, but I like the clean, bright look. If you need a site designed, drop him a note at steele@steeleimaging.com.

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The weekend is so close I can smell it. I plan to walk the dog, clean out the garage and wash the vehicles. Beyond that, no itinerary. I'll probably keep an eye on hurricane Katrina and do some writing.