Category Archives: Friends
Authentic coffeehouse experience
“Howard D. Schultz, the chief executive of Starbucks, announced sweeping changes on Wednesday for the company as it seeks to reconnect with customers who have left for competitors or pared back their coffee budget in hard economic times. The initiatives are intended to restore an authentic coffeehouse experience to the stores and, in turn, re-energize an ailing stock that has lost half its value in the last 15 months.” — NYT
I’ve never thought of Starbucks as “an authentic coffeehouse experience.” You can still find that in some cities. Madison, Wisconsin has some great coffee shops. And we have a nice one here in Jefferson City.
The Coffee Zone is my favorite hang-out. Taisir is the owner and he’s there every morning at 6:30 (that’s when he opens, I’m sure he’s there earlier).
He knows what his regulars drink and often has it for them by the time they step up to the counter. He’s got free wifi and plays an eclectic mix of music that beat’s Starbucks hands down.
When I come back from a trip I sometimes tease, “I got me some Starbucks while I was in (wherever).” To which Taisir replies, “Tastes like Maxwell House, yes?”
O. Kay Henderson: The Voice of Iowa
“She’s the voice of Iowa. If you want to deliver a message and you’re not talking to Kay, you’re not doing it effectively.” — Tommy Vietor, Iowa Spokesman for Senator Barack Obama.
The quote is from a nice piece that ran in the Chicago Tribune on January 1st. I’m posting it here so I –and Kay’s many friends– can find it.
Pedal like your life depends on it!
Bob lives in Madison, WI, where it’s damned cold. And every morning (and every evening) he hops on his bicycle and peddles pedals five miles to work. Whatever the weather, no matter how cold. Or so he says and I want to believe him. I don’t know how you ride a bike in ass-deep snow but Bob says you can (special tires?).
He snapped this photo this morning. It was a few degrees below zero. Note his rosy cheeks.
When it’s that cold, what happens when you sling a bucket of warm water into the air? It freezes before it hits the ground.
Update: Willie Lohman “peddles” like his life depends on it. Thanks, E. for the reminder.
Jim Lipsey
Jim Lipsey was one of Learfield’s first employees. He was part of the KLIK gang (Derry Brownfield and Bob Priddy) that helped Clyde Lear get the company up and running.
On Friday we got Clyde, Jim and Bob in a studio to talk about those early days and Jim’s contributions (there were many). Jim will be 87 his next birthday. I want to be him when I grow up. When I joined the company in 1984, Jim showed me the ropes of affiliate relations. It was a privilege to work with him. Here’s 10 minutes from a half-hour chat.
Andrew Lear gets tased
As part of his training to become a police officer, our little buddy Andrew had to subject himself to a few thousand volts from a taser. For reasons not clear to me, they video the experience. This clip only lasts 7 seconds but you can watch it over and over.
Rather than go with the department-issue Taser, Andrew decided to spring for something that would make a statement on the street.
Lucky Money Toad
A lovely Christmas Eve at Susan’s with her family and friends. Janny (an anglicized version of her Chinese name) gave several us Lucky Money Toads. From the Wikipedia entry:
“Chan Chu means “toad; frog”, especially the “Lucky Money Toad” or “Three-legged Money Frog”, a popular Chinese symbol for prosperity. It is often portrayed with red eyes and flared nostrils, sitting on a pile of traditional Chinese cash, with a coin in its mouth. According to Feng Shui lore, it is believed to drive away evil, protect wealth, and increase income.”
I like that drive away evil part. Thank you, Janny.
And she can sing
I always get a few “you filthy perv” emails when I post one of these photos of Kennett’s Favorite Daughter, Sheryl Crow. I promise, I’m motivated by nothing more than small-town-pride. And appreciation for the work it must take to keep a 45-year-old body looking this fine. (I’m getting close to perv, aren’t I?)
What can I say? Smart, talented women in control of their lives is a turn-on for me. Okay, it doesn’t hurt if they’re hot.
The cover is from the October issue of Shape. Previous posts on SC.
West Coast Fez
Bay Area buddy Jamie Nelson is the newest member of the Order of the Fez. Jamie might look familiar due to expensive (and painful) cosmetic surgery that allows him to pass for a young Larry David.
Jamie is thrilled “to be part of the fez-wearing, non-little-car-driving, elite” and is the first tassel-less member.
“I like the more stripped down, Istanbul “street” look: More stability in a strong breeze off the Hellespont.”
Jamie is the 7th (often regarded as a mystical and powerful number) member of The Order.
Monkey Fez
The Order of the Fez now has enough members to play ping pong doubles. Please rise and join me in recognizing David Brazeal, Order of the Fez #4:
“Hereby is submitted my application to the Order of the Fez. Thanks to ebay, I have obtained a fez from a monkey trainer in Tel Aviv. It belonged to his dear, beloved macaque, Ahmed, who was recently crushed to death in a fruit stand accident.”