kmc, I am a caffeine lover and have gone through a number of grind-brew machines. My mother-in-law bought my first one quite a while ago (I think 12 years) when Starbucks was having a sale. It was a Saeco that was non-digital. Price was about $5i00 or $600. Three of them broke down over a two-year period and Starbucks cheerfully replaced them (restarting the two-year warranty each time). With the third, they said they no longer sold the non-digital and I would have to upgrade to a digital (another $300). I did and over 1.5-2 years, they replaced another couple and then said they were not carrying this machine any more and gave me the total purchase price (original plus upgrade) – now about $960. I went online and tried to find out I would need to buy to get a machine that lasts longer. I was told that all the valves and tubes needed to be metal and that you’d need to spend $1500+. I found a $1500 Gaggia machine that was on sale for $1200 and bought it. It lasted a few years, but needed repairs at around $300 every couple of years. On the second one, the repair guy said, “Look. These machines all have the same brew unit. Just buy the inexpensive model and it will make excellent coffee and discard it when it dies and buy a new one.” So, I bought one and used my Amex Platinum card that added a year warranty – I had done so for my office and at least once, the machines had died within the extra year and Amex cheerfully paid me to buy a new one. I’ve done that a couple of times at home and this time bought a refurbished machine with an extended warranty for under $300. It has lasted since July 2104. Not quite as good as the previous one in terms of taste, but I am happy with it. I brought it from Massachusetts to the houseboat.
Oregon, ShawWife who is a not girly type – does makeup and heels only when she needs to and is much happier kayaking or cycling or building cabinets – is talking about some cosmetic stuff. Someone here was stunned that she hadn’t yet done one of the procedures.
NM, I read A Man Called Ove and really enjoyed it I’ll even admit to crying at the end.
I’m in Pensacola right now and the university where I’m working closed early due to the threat of severe weather. I quickly needed to learn what county I’m in so I could decipher the weather reports. Picked up some dinner on the way home and am back at my hotel. We’re currently in a tornado watch. Hotel doesn’t have a storm shelter (doesn’t seem they are common here?). Hopefully it won’t be an issue! They said if the power goes out they’ll have flashlights available for us at the front desk.
I hope all is ok by now, college_query. Do you know how to use the flashlight function on your cellphone if you need it?
Shawbridge – that sounds like a very good repair guy. Our appliance repair guy has told us to keep the old washer going as long as possible – it was the last year it was made with all metal parts rather than plastic ones, and he has nothing good to say about the longevity of the new ones.
Had some minor amusement at the dealership this morning getting my car worked on – their computer system was down for several hours, and so they needed to price and total charges for repairs manually. I hope whoever has to ultimately reconcile all that for entry into the system has a lot of wine available.
The severe weather is supposed to last into the wee hours, so not out of the woods yet.
I do have a flashlight app on my phone - and my phone is charging up right now!
As long as I have power, I can keep myself entertained between the TV, reading my book, and the computer. If we lose power, maybe I’ll try to catch up on sleep!
I am envisioning scores of people somehow finding the fire stairs and then somehow finding the front desk, in the pitch dark. Glad most people have flashlights on their phones and hope you don’t need it!
arabrab, I did something interesting the last few times we’ve bought cars. I found several dealers with essentially the same car so I had some leverage. Before I would come visit, I would let them know that I would only buy from them if they pick up the car from me when it needed repairs or regular service visits. Some said no (I can’t find a local Audi dealer who would do this) but several Acura and BMW dealers agreed to do so. Then, no waiting in dealerships.
Also, I think replacing a washer/dryer is a bit of a pain. Replacing what the trade calls a superautomatic coffee maker? Not so much of a pain.
c-q, good luck. That part of Florida does indeed get some seriously bad weather.
We had two huge sea lions right around our dock. They were barking. Later, only one was swimming around, but was silent.
Those sea lions can get really noisy, but they sure are fun to watch. Any whales make it in that far?
We had a bit of snow last night, and when I stepped out right before bedtime I saw a cute set of rabbit footprints ending disappearing under the edge of our porch. I hope the snake that lives under the porch is hibernating at the moment. (Though these footprints are not nearly as cool as the mountain lion paw prints we see from time to time.)
c_q – I hope the storms have passed with no problems.
Hello everyone! H & I are off later today for 10 days in FL. First stop: Cocoa Beach for WPI Board of Trustees meeting (spouses invited) and insiders’ tour of the Space Center. WPI Pres is ex NASA. (Have I already mentioned this? If so, apologies.) On Saturday we’ll drive to BIL & SIL’s home on the west coast. The weather forecast there is great, so several days relaxing on the beach will be the order of the day. Maybe a Red Sox spring training game …
Last week I took my car to the dealer for the annual state inspection. It failed because water had leaked into one of the headlights, which is a safety hazard. Long story short – the headlights had both been replaced when all the front end repairs were done back in August. The auto body shop replaced the headlight (no charge) and my car passed the inspection. I actually don’t mind waiting at the dealer if the work is only an hour or so – very comfortable, great coffee, healthy snacks. Getting a loaner is no problem if the wait is going to be longer.
Fingers crossed CQ is safe and sound and that CBB gets to FL when everything has died down storm wise!
Shaw, thanks for the post and the tip While I just bought the replacement, I’m thinking next time I’ll get the extended warranty and maybe even buy a backup to be at the ready…and save myself the frustration of trying to find that elusive “lasts forever” brewer Even though the home studio is a mere 30 feet from the kitchen, I originally had a second one in there…I will just get a second one for there.
They’re calling for a storm today in my neck of the woods with up to 9" snow. Hard to believe when its been so spring like the last few days!
Missy - I don’t want to spoil your “ignorance of pool workings” here because, yes, we should all be allowed to leave something to our SOs (In my household, however, am the pool-Meister)
But if hubby is in over his head, so to speak, you can give him this tip: go to troublefreepool.com, post the specs of pool, filter type, etc. and what the problem is. There are myriad tech guys there that know more about mechanical than I…I bet they’ll help diagnose and possibly even give tips to fix.
Thanks for your concern - yes, I am fine. Pensacola did get a tornado last night, but it did not touch down on my hotel.
I don’t think the hotel personnel working last night were familiar with emergency procedures. After the emergency broadcast system went off on my phone, I went out into the hall (interior hall/windows) and no one was there. I found everyone crowded in the front of the hotel, watching weather broadcasts in a big room with tons of windows. I suggested getting away from big windows might be a good idea. Also, I asked the front desk if they were going to notify hotel guests of the situation, and I would have assumed they had a way to sent a phone call to every room. If they did, they didn’t seem aware of it. I helped knock on doors and notify hotel occupants.
Fortunately the guest in the hotel room next to mine was an area resident (sold house, in the process of moving) and he could track the storm on his laptop and was familiar with the area. He let us know when the storm was east of us.
c_q – Seems you have more practical smarts than the folks on the desk.
Years ago when I was worked for a large consulting firm, they brought in a fire marshall who lectured us on hotel safety. His message then was that hotels do a very poor job of protecting people during emergency situations because their focus is on not inconveniencing the guests, their turnover is high, and there is inadequate training for these kinds of situations. I guess things haven’t really changed.
kmc, thanks for the link I sent it to H. He hasn’t replied. I know that he has already done quite a bit of trouble shooting - He went to the pool supply place twice on Saturday.
c_q, you are a pretty amazing person. A lesser person would have started her post talking about how she didn’t get any rest, had to bail our the terrible hotel staff, etc. You must be a genuine joy to be around in IRL!
hello been crazy busy. its nice to read your adventures.
I went to Hawaii for two weeks it was lovely. I was a week late starting school which sent me into panic. Plus my friend is not doing well so am very sad. Anyway I had to do a head to toe assessment on a pt. however I did not get to actually assess anybody on vacation. so I told them I wasn’t going to do it the day they wanted me to because I wasn’t ready. so they wanted me to get a tutor , so I asked Shaw D but she was busy .It would have been fun. anyway I practiced on my husband and passed. It has taken me two weeks to catch up so I will never do that again. Too stressful. Plus spending time in the hospital.
I want to get my eyes done. with my luck I would be bug eyed. I don’t have many wrinkles. But this was the year I really aged.
D1 came home to see the dog. We had a nice visit. The dog is 13 and has a tumor on his foot, that we have to bandage etc… We don’t think he has a long time to live. both my girls were home and I was very happy.
Glad CQ is well. and everyone is getting through the winter!
so good to hear from you dt.
This is also the year I aged and it is quite the surprise.
And humbling!
Great for you for passing and catching up.
c_q–so great of you!
Why is it that at times life drags and other times there is not enough time?
H had a colleague for dinner and to help with the new computer. All went well.
He is a widower by 3 years now. HIs wife of 40 years dropped dead in her garden on sunny day.
He had GF for a short while. Now he seems so lonely.
He is somewhat famous in his artistic field as well as a doc but he has that crazy guy look with the long white beard and bushy brows…
I would never be able to kiss him…just too much unkempt hair and …
I think I must be in a very shallow phase of my life to have written that! and to have seen a plastic surgeon this week too!
H and I talked after and I said that I hope he would remarry within a year as long as she was a lousy cook . Therefore he would always remember me fondly.
And I never ever will remarry or even live with anyone again. Did plenty cohabitation young. But a nice companion living a few doors down sounds perfect! AND he has to cook!
DTE, great to hear from you. ShawD felt bad but I think she had a clinical or an exam or something.
Oregon, I would hope ShawWife would find a new mate if I passed away. She is so social it probably wouldn’t be difficult, although I see lots of our divorced female friends above a certain age staying single but not by choice. It will be interesting to see what happens to one friend of ours who was just widowed. I have always found her attractive and really alive – she just sparkles with vitality and it makes her quite attractive. If she wants a partner and can’t find one, I’d be surprised. ShawWife is equally full of life. Compared to the two of them, many of the women seem bitter or tired or not very full of life.
I would really hope I would find a mate if the situation were reversed. I’m not great at organizing social activities or cooking for myself (I’m a pretty good cook, but wouldn’t do much for myself). I lead a pretty interesting life and, in my observation, that seems to lead to interest from probably a broader age range than would be around for some of the women above. But, I’m hoping this is not an issue either of us has to confront.
CQ, glad you got through the storm and were able to help the hotel understand a better way to navigate these things
The widower pair-bonding topic is interesting to me since I’ve had the opportunity to observe my mom in action. My mom and I are very different in many ways. One way is that as a young adult, then later as a divorced adult, I really enjoyed living alone, and even with mch, only gave up having my own separate household after six years of dating (McH has turned out to be very easy to live with, and very interdependent as opposed to dependent, likely because he lived on his own for 20 years prior.
This “alone” thing historically alarmed her a great deal in younger days as I don’t think she was “on the market” more than six months at any point in her life from age 18 onward. To me, her fear of being alone appeared to have something to do with poor choices in mates (in terms of ultimate personal happiness.)
So after my stepdad died, we discussed this topic at length. Nonetheless, within the year, a new boyfriend (who she refuses to marry, though is having difficulty from him and his family over this) was living with (and off) her. Then two years ago, he survived a stroke, which has certainly affected their lives and leisure.
But even before the stroke, she confided in me that she “missed” elements of living alone, however briefly, and that to some degree she now wishes she’d have taken more time for herself and done as I had suggested (which was to retain separate residences and take a good few years to really determine compatibility, to just enjoy dating and perusing her own interests a bit.) It makes me sad to know deep down, her fear prevented this.
There’s a lovely book called Our Souls at Night that addresses love/intimacy in late life. When I read it I thought to myself if there was ever an “after” in my case, that might be how I’d want it to be
H is out of town, so I was going to drive 3 hours south this weekend to see my niece’s new baby. But now I have a raging cold. I don’t feel physically terrible, but I just cannot be the old relative who comes down and coughs and sneezes all over an infant. Disappointed, but I know I’m doing what is right.
While I just bought the replacement, I’m thinking next time I’ll get the extended warranty and maybe even buy a backup to be at the ready…and save myself the frustration of trying to find that elusive “lasts forever” brewer 
(In my household, however, am the pool-Meister)
. Therefore he would always remember me fondly.