Seeking, seizing the Kingdom

Joy and I were heading to church two weeks ago Sunday afternoon after a long weekend in western MN. It was a grey-ish rainy day, and I had ridden my Nighthawk home from Willmar, passing a couple rain showers along the way. We were running a bit late, but I really needed some coffee to make it through the afternoon without dosing off.

We pulled in to Caribou in Monticello and stopped in the drive-through to order. I asked what they were brewing today. They had a good dark roast, so I ordered that. Joy got an iced coffee drink. It was cold and rainy, so I asked, “Why are you getting a cold drink?” She replied, “So I don’t have to wait for it to cool down.” Her temperature tolerance is less than mine, so I could understand her logic. Pulling around, they took our money, and gave us our drinks. Hers was just as you’d expect an iced coffee to be, icy cool and ready to partake. My coffee was so hot, it nearly seared my hand just getting it to the cup holder, steam nearly pouring out of it.

I was quietly upset. I knew I wouldn’t be able to even sip on this cup for at least 20 minutes, and I was already tired, and “cranky” crossed my mind. It was over 45 minutes before I could start drinking my mildly addictive drug.

I rant all this to say this: People who get gourmet coffee by driving through are probably wanting to enjoy their not-too-hot beverage soon after they drive away. It seems that the consumer should at least be given the option to have some ice added or something with a similar effect.

All I know is that come July, you’ll find me frequenting the new Dunn Bros. rather than Caribou.

Slashdot | Daylight Saving Change Saved No Power

I knew it… I just knew it.

“Carpetbomb” has been an endearing nickname for the feline who owns the house we live in, or so she would tell you. Her name is Chopin (pronounced “Show-pan”, like the classical composer), she is a priss, a princess, she likes to have full access to all parts of the house at all times, and whines because this open-door policy does not extend outside as well.

I call her carpetbomb because she will sit on the carpet, her feet hidden under her, and at night she places herself right in the normal path of travel to get a glass of water. I’ve tripped over her many times. This has happened in plain daylight too, with her walking in front of me, and she’ll just stop, like she expects me to follow her lead, and loud and despondent when I run into her. Do cats pick this stuff up in school or something?

She’s been working on new ways to torment me lately. Earlier this week, she barfed all over my guitar amp, apparently as she was standing on it. The slop made its way all over the knobs, the grill, and finally to the floor. By the time I found it, it was already dried on. Cleaning my amp was not what I wanted to do with that hour.

Yesterday (Sunday), I woke up to take Joy to work. I dressed, put on my shoes, and went downstairs to get my keys. Coming back to head upstairs, I noticed two very large piles of mostly-digested sludge on the carpet. I then noticed that I had stepped in it on the way to get my keys. Needless to say, this cat is not on my good list right now. I’m threatening to number her days here.

I’m long back from AZ, but wanted to finish out the details of my trip before I forget them all. As I mentioned, Joy and I rented a car and took off with her mom (her parents were RVing in the south and met up with is in Phoenix while we were there) north toward the Grand Canyon. (more…)

Today is the first Monday after DST came to rob me of that hour of sleep I needed. The company I’m with, Singo Solution, is based in Arizona. They unlike most of the rest of the world are smart enough to ignore DST altogether, which is great for them, but now they’re 2 hours behind me instead of one.
(more…)