French Press

Sometimes in life we are looking for something and find it in the most unexpected places.  (Great start for a romantic post, I should warn views that the story takes an unexpected turn).  So there I am at the Jumbo Foods in Enid, and there it is on aisle 14.  Right on the end, with an sweet aroma wafting through the air.  Alas, I found whole coffee beans, brown paper bags, and the in store grinder.  I was shocked, surprised, and elated, only to have my dreams crushed if only for a moment while I figured out how to work the grinder.  

This discovery on Saturday allowed me to utilize my new French Press to make coffee.  It was a different experience, an the kids had a lot of questions, as they watched while eating.  So not only did I get to use it, I got to explain what I was doing to a captive audience.  The coffee had a much deeper flavor, more intricate taste, the word bold does not describe it.  It was kind of messy, probably a rookie mistake somewhere.  Also, the process had a relaxing feeling as I watched the hot clear water pull the flavors and colors out of the coffee, thus becoming medium brown and flavorful.  

Please do not think I am becoming a coffee snob, my favorite brand of regular coffee is still Folgers, while my favorite coffee shop is still Roasters in Amarillo.

http://www.roasters.biz

  

The Thing Is...

Fiestaware, dishes that are manufactured by Homer Laughlin, are dishes that you either like, or could care less about.  I fit into the class of individuals who like, or are emphatic about.  Unlike my varied musical taste, I can attribute my fondness for these Classic American dishes to my parents.  I ate on them when I was a child, and they (the Fiestaware) was painted with lead paint.  Upon discovering they were not the most healthy dishes, my parents retired them, deciding to keep the dishes.    When Homer Laughlin came out with the unleaded dishes our family was back in the Fiestaware business.  My wife likes Fiestaware as well, so when we got married we picked up sets of yellow and colbalt, dishes.  We also have an entire set of the white dishes.  More recently we have collected some green settings, and Amy has gotten some of the Christmas dishes.

Last year I was at the department store looking for a salt and pepper shaker, and asked the sales associate in the dish section about it.  She made the following observation, "I notice that people that are looking for Fiestaware to purchase for themselves really are emphatic about the stuff, and are specific about the colors."  I fit that mold.  Pictures below are my breakfast and cup of coffee, after having a Pack 349 Science lock-in, I was in need of my caffeine filled beverage.

The lock-in was a blast, the kids had fun, the adults had fun, and I fell asleep while watching Stat Wars.  When I was the kids age, before the VHS or even shorter lived Beta tapes, I was luck to catch Star Wars on TV once a year.  These days, I can pop it in anytime in the DVD player and give it a spin.  In a way, the is a very nostalgic view point, it takes some of the magic out of watching the movie.  Needless to say, a great time was had by all.

I Need Coffee

Like the Lone Ranger riding off into the sunset I headed to work this morning, of course I was in a pick-up, it was dark and cold.  All in all, to very similar at all, but rewarding none the less.  I tired really hard to go to bed at a decent hour night, perhaps I should have chosen music instead of a podcast. 

I started listening to "Wine for Normal People," thinking that he discussion about grapes from France, or Washington state would put me to sleep but it did not.  I found myself utterly captivated by what gifts to purchases, and conversely not to purchase for those wine loving individuals around the holidays.  I'll give you an hint and say that  I am not in need of any books, not cute wine t-shirts.  

The end result was my drinking a cup of coffee at work, said cup is pictured below.  It was a pretty good cup, I find that the ceramic cups help cool the coffee to a desirable temperature, the fact that it was frigid in my office helped as well.

Yes, that is a little glimps of coffee, new technology (telephone) and old technology, the pen and paper.