Friday, August 26, 2005

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.

12 comments:

Spinning Girl said...

I am sooo coming over for coffee.
I use a coffee press (&fresh-ground beans). Maybe I should try a percolator.

Lee Ann said...

Yeah, I really enjoy the first hot cup of the day. After that, I move on to cold caffeine. Diet Dr. Pepper is my vice.
Have a great weekend!

Bottle Rocket Fire Alarm said...

Those are some mighty fine pipes you sport! I listened to one of the demos.

My only suggestion is adding an apostrophe to the main page pitch. So it reads "Dave's voice" instead of "Daves voice."

Kerouaced said...

Coffee is getting as expensive as gasoline. What's up with that?

Damn, you do have a good voice. Now when I read your blog it will come to me in your radio voice! Good stuff...

Chris Cope said...

I'm a tea guy exclusively, but who cares about that? I am extremely distracted thinking about the possibilities when it comes to that picture of the flexible coffee drinker.

Weary Hag said...

Tea girl here, though nothing smells quite as good in the morning (aside from Napalm of course) as a brewing pot of coffee.

Distracted by the image for different reasons than Chris I'm sure ... but I hope she's not a waitress. If she ever burned anyone and they sued her, seems to me she wouldn't have a leg to stand on in court.

Anonymous said...

I once had a collection of stove top perculators. I love them.

You have a great voice!!! What do you do when you get a bad sore throat and cough? How do you get it over it quickly?

Spinning Girl said...

I listened to your voice-over stuff. Not bad! I know Frank Simms (he's the Kool Aid guy---oohhhh, YEAHHHH--and the Honey Comb SUgar Bear, among others). He does a career day presentation at our school for 8th graders.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Crafty new site.

I wonder if Moog could have synthesized your voice, and made you unnecessary? Too bad he's dead. (I'll bet he thinks so, too.)

Ken Dillon said...

"Oh....Hello, Jim!"
Frank Haynes, WDAF

Dr. Mike said...

Forget the perculator coffee pot... I want the waitres--err, I mean, tile pattern on the wall in the background.

Rob Seifert said...

The website is pretty cool and much better than the last. The demos are the same but reasonably effective. I'm sure I've heard your stuff on various jaunts across the country. Coffee is good but Hazelnut creamer is the nectar of the gods...

RCS