The Year of Coffee Blog

I will explain why this is called the Farewell Tour later, for now know that we left 18 years ago for Los Angeles and at the time it seemed like a pretty good idea.

Yes, I travel with my burr grinder and vacuum pot. I also have half and half. What I did not have was enough power. The good inverter from Deacon was stolen when the Miata was molested. The replacement did not put out enough wattage, I guess. The burr grinder worked but the vacuum pot would not.

I can only go so far on fumes. Having failed to brew I settle for a can of go.

After checking into the room and setting up a shared network, we head out to Number 9 Fisherman’s Grotto for some crab cakes, chowder, and sauteed shrimps.

The Bay is beautiful and poignant. I miss the ocean.

Presh loves sourdough. Meh.

This made her giggle.

We later head to our old apartment in San Anselmo. There is, no kidding, a vacancy sign in front. It was as if it was saying, we missed you. Come back. We saved you a place.

I loved living here.

But that was before that October 18 years ago.

Fourth Street changed so much. The barber shop is gone, George’s is empty, and Hong’s place is now some bistro. The neighborhood has gentrified and lost its soul. That place where I got my first command is now a motorcycle dealership, but the deli is still there. I wonder if their footlongs are as amazing as I remember them to be?

That was Day One of the Farewell Tour 2007.

I got really busy, then I got really sick, and today I forgot it was Presh’s birthday.

I like rhythm and rhyme. It sets tempo for my days and keeps me focussed. When the rhythm is interrupted it takes awhile for me to reestablish it or a new rhythm enters and I follow it for awhile.

I am still really sick, but getting better.

I have been meaning to catch up on the posts but like I said about rhythms…

Then I read about this - 09-f9-11-02-9d-74-e3-5b-d8-41-56-c5-63-56-88-c0 and about _rebekka and it really pissed me off. The cups will continue, if only to be able to respond to bullying and corporate fuck-ups.

Digg - I stand with you. You go we go.

Flickr - Weak response. Reflect and learn and do it faster.

See you tomorrow.

Crap, I did it again. I will not use the drugs as an excuse but they are wicked drugs.

Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Presh. Happy birthday to you… I love you.

I have been testing the Novatel EX720 Rev A ExpressCard that I got from More Mobile Internet and it is freaking amazing.

Initial test was done as we waited for a table at Benihana in Scottsdale. The graphic shows the broadband speeds we were getting. Fast enough to WoW and fast enough to www.ustream.tv which we did from the bar as we waited for our table.

After dinner we tested the feed on the drive back through the Valley. From North Scottsdale through the Southeast Valley the signal was strong and speeds were good. We never lost signal while driving at the limit down the 101 and across the 60.

Here is the speed test from my office.

I am thrilled with the coverage and the speed.

The service I got from More Mobile Internet pleased me as well.

After posting Coffee Cup 1732 , I get a phone call and email from Steve. Here is Steve. Steve is a Sprint Value Added Reseller who read my blog and saw that I had questions about the EX720. He pledges to answer any question I have and, by the way, offers the EX720 with a $50.00 rebate. And, by the way, his store is in Phoenix. I Google him, pester him with questions, and in the end he gets the sale. He even stays open late to set up my card so I can have it today.

If you are in the market for a wireless broadband solution, I can say, without reservation that I recommend Steve and More Mobile Internet or call (866) 541-0400. Tell him the coffee blog guy sent you.

Yes, I made an updated video adding the cups from 2006 but it does not work as well as the original. It is not quite as bad as the porn and chicken remix, though. If you really have to see it jabber me.

Tags: coffee, cup, blog

I got three phone calls from Mother warning me about the drunks, and the fights, and how dangerous the Strip is on New Year’s Eve.

We pour out of the Aladdin into a moderate sized crowd. It is two hours till midnight.

It starts to fill up as the casinos empty, and very quickly we are mobbed.

A fight breaks out. Three guys. I grab Presh and with little thought to my safety put myself between her and harm’s way. It is over quickly as the metro cops converge. I grab a quick shot while valiantly protecting Presh from any stray blows. She is pissed at me for blocking her view of the fight.

These two are cuffed, searched, and later released. The third guy was arrested and prolly missed the fireworks. I explain how valiant I was to Presh, who still would have rather watched the fight.

Round midnight finds us camped under La Tour Eiffel. I love this shot. The energy starts to build as we approach the countdown.

The fireworks were launched from several hotels. From where we stood we could see the show from TI, Flamingo, and Mandalay Bay(?). It was loud. The theme was supposed to be James Bond 007. If there was accompanying music, we could not hear it. Happy New Year everyone.

After the fireworks, the mob gets worse. I have been in a few mosh pits at the Whisky and others but this was insane. More fights break out. This time Presh gets to watch. The mob gets worse and the pushing and shoving intensifies. There are moments where we are so cramped it is hard to breathe. Presh starts swinging and shoving and we eventually make it out of the mess. We watch as mounted police ride into the mob, not really easing the situation. What a great way to begin the new year. The Year of Coffee continues…

Tags: Coffee, Cup, Blog, 2007