Coffee Spills

What I hear and see and think about at the coffee shops I patronize.
Brisk. Fresh. Well-balanced. Occasional nutty and bittersweet overtones.
If you got here from my profile, you probably need to visit my main blog, Collecting My Thoughts which is updated every day.

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Needs another set of hands

At the coffee shop this morning I settled on the sun porch to read the house newspaper and had a nice view of all the activities of main street Lakeside (which is 2nd and Walnut). I noticed a 30-ish man buying a huge box of hot donuts from the restaurant across the street. He was leading two huge dogs, about the size of half grown calves--Newfies?--while carrying the large box. He carefully stopped at the newspaper kiosk, lowering the box of donuts, and inserted his money for the Sunday Plain Dealer (very large with all the inserts). Balancing the paper on top of the box, holding it in place with his chin, he made it across the street with his herd of dogs, one of which was wearing a surgical collar the size of a starched tablecloth. I think he paused at the coffee shop, but thought better of adding to his juggling act.

He carried no pooper-scooper with him, so everyone on 2nd Street watch your step today.

Friday, May 27, 2005

New Coffee Shop In Lakeside, Ohio

Coffee and Cream is the new coffee shop on Second and Walnut in Lakeside, and it opened today. They'll be opening at 6:30 a.m. which means I'll be able to walk to my morning cup this summer. They have wireless for your computer, a nice dessert and snack section and a gift store on the second floor. They serve "Cup of Joe" coffee. I think it will be very popular and we've needed something like this.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Cinnamon in her coffee

I’m not particularly fond of tea, but when I make a small thermos, I dangle a tea bag for a minute or so in the hot water, add some orange juice or apple cider if I have it, and sprinkle in a little cinnamon. The other day I saw a woman sprinkling cinnamon into the half n half before she added her coffee at Panera's. I commented, and she said her doctor had told her to add about 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to her daily diet to help her diabetes and cholesterol. I looked it up, and here’s what I found.

“A small study completed last year on the possible health benefits of cinnamon was "very exciting and promising," according to Dr. Andrew Greenberg, director of the obesity metabolism laboratory at Tufts University, who is so intrigued he has begun studying it himself.
The 40-day study, of 60 people in Pakistan with Type 2 diabetes, found that one gram a day of cinnamon -- one-fourth of a teaspoon twice daily -- significantly lowered the subjects' blood sugar, triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood), LDL (or "bad") cholesterol, and total cholesterol.” Boston Globe.

Too much of a good thing is toxic, and cinnamon is one of those. But add a little to your cereal or tea or pudding--couldn’t hurt.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Stranger in the Coffee Shop

Stranger in the Coffee Shop

One by one
She whispers to me
mistakes of 1981

leaving college, of course,
and early marriage
with babies, diapers and divorce.

One by one
She outlines for me
her new goals, no fun,

tired and sinking under masses
of expectations,
while taking night classes.

One by one
She arranges her thoughts
because romance has begun,

wearing a skimpy sweater
that would have fit a child
who probably knows better.

One by one
She counts her blessings
eating a cinnamon bun,

while sitting by the fire
with the man who’s joined her
touching her hand with desire.

One by one
she flicks her dreams
in the morning sun

into the fireplace flame
and tosses her head
with no one else to blame

Saturday, May 07, 2005

What kind of coffee are you?

You're a Classic Cup 'O' Joe.
You're a Classic Cup 'O' Joe!


What Kind of Coffee are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Not quite a coffee blog, but. . .

"Have coffee will write" tells about the writing/coffee connection here.

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Instructional DVD

Today at the coffee shop Jim recommended an instructional DVD, Introduction to the Canon Digital Rebel, 3000. He said that even if you don’t own this particular model, the instruction is so well done and so clear, you will benefit. Using something other than printed text or lecture to teach interests me, so I looked it up on the Internet. If they know how to teach the complexities of digital cameras, maybe they have other things to offer. I found two other instructional DVDs for other camera models. Nothing else. Pity.

Monday, May 02, 2005

Instead of a card

Send that new graduate a package of coffee--personalized. Whodathunkit?