Books and Coffee

One of the things I left out of yesterday’s post—I can no longer drink coffee and this is giving me mondo sads. It grieves me a LOT. I miss the ritual of making the coffee—grinding the organic, Italian roast, shade grown, fair trade beans, picking out a mug (from ones handmade by potter friends) and grabbing my soy or coconut milk from the fridge while the coffee percs. I miss the taste.

WHY can’t I have this? Late last week, when I was at MGH for a CT scan, I had time for a cup. I only had half of a small and, that night, could NOT sleep a bit. I mean, I had two weed gummies which bought me an hour or two in lullaby land but THAT WAS IT!

Try decaf you say? Oh please. Maybe it’s just me but decaf just isn’t as luscious as a caffeinated brew. It’s weak sauce, insipid even. But wait…this is the 21st century. Surely, if I make a precise enough google search, I can find what my taste buds desire?

And lo, I MIGHT have just the thing!

Café Mam (say “mom”) is grown by fair trade cooperatives of native Maya farmers living in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. It is 100% organic, certified fair trade, shade-grown, high altitude, arabica coffee. (source)

They carry a decaf Italian roast which has notes of dark chocolate, roasted pecans, maple syrup and dried fruit. Sounds heavenly! Also the caffeine is removed using a chemical-free method called the Swiss Water process (only water is used, no solvents, to decaffeinate beans). 

I’m gonna order a small bag and see if it’s awesome.
~~~
I finished The Regional Office is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales.

In a world beset by amassing forces of darkness, one organization—the Regional Office—and its coterie of super-powered female assassins protects the globe from annihilation. At its helm, the mysterious Oyemi and her oracles seek out new recruits and root out evil plots. Then a prophecy suggests that someone from inside might bring about its downfall. And now, the Regional Office is under attack. (source)

It was a fine read but ended on an unfinished note. What happened to Sarah and Rose? Did they kill each other? Did Oyemi die in the fire or did she escape? Will she rebuild her empire? And what about Henry?

I suspected there might be a sequel BUT this came out in 2016—I would think that, if a second book was forthcoming, it’d be out by now. Hmmmmm.

Until my next new read (The Forever War by Joe Haldeman) becomes available at the library, I’m rereading Douglas Adams’s The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I can’t believe that I forgot how incredibly witty Adams was. WHY have I not been rereading him on the regular as I do with John Scalzi?!!!

Here’s what he wrote about the Vogons (who were responsible for Earth’s destruction, in order to make way for an intergalactic highway construction project):

The fairest thing you can say about them, is that they know what they like, and what they like generally involves hurting people and, wherever possible, getting very angry.

Vogon’s are said to be:

“one of the most unpleasant races in the galaxy—not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous”

Also:

Vogons have "as much sex appeal as a road accident" as well as being the authors of "the third worst poetry in the universe”.

Adams has described the Republican Party to a T. Okay, except for the “not actually evil” bit. The Party of Trump is MOST DEF evil. One other minor quibble—"third worst poetry” writers? I’m not aware of any right wing poets. If any exist, I imagine they’re, not third but right up at the tippy top of the awful authors list.