... redesign is almost done, just need to put finishing touches on so i don't need to use an IFRAME tag ...

Envy me. I'm writing this post from London with my iPAQ, via dial-in access through the IR port of my mobile phone.

Technology rocks.

1. i am alive, i promise.
2. thanks for the vote of confidence, stephen! it's 4am, i got up at noon today hungover from my birthday party yesterday (23yrs), and you just might see some changes to the site this weekend if i get coherent ideas.

miss y'all,
-- mike

Ok Mike, I'm gonna try to be a more supportive blog-mate. I totally understand the business factor. I never thought I wouldn't thave a spare moment to jot down a thought or two, but it's happened. I think it has to do with that sticky transformation to a productive member of society that I was putting off for so long. Not that I'm necessarily one now... But I digress.

Actually returning to a caffienated theme: I actually found a coffee shop in St. Louis that I like. It's called Aesop's Cafe, and not only do they have your basic coffee shop fare, but also a vaiety of good, un-coffee shop food. (like the tasty Buffalo chicken wrap...mmm...) They have live music every Wednesday (I think), but as far as I can discern, it's just the same two guys every week playing quirky pop songs that are not-so-subtly like the Barenaked Ladies. It's a great place to read or play chess or grade quizzes (I've been TAing an intro biology course this semester).

So Mike, how the hell are you? How's Europe and how's the foot-and-mouth disease, not to mention the good ol' Mad Cow Disease? How long are you overseas? The last time we spoke you were considering a somewhat longterm stint. And there's nothing wrong with tea. Some of my best friends drink tea. (And I do too.) I've gotten into the habit of making a big batch of Earl Grey and refridgerating some for iced tea. It's especially good on warm days, not that we've had many around here. It's 60 degrees today (Wednesday) and it's supposed to snow on Friday. It's been like that since mid-Fedruary. Oh well. Cheers and don't eat the meat.

Stephen

Okay. Dangerously close to a month between posts. Here goes:

First, I have to give rave reviews to The Troubador, a little cafe/pub south of Earl's Court in west London. This is the first place I've been to that feels like a major hangout spot, while not being a chain. I don't know if they have beer on tap or not; all I saw was wine, coffee, and the occasional dinner. Very cozy (not quite cramped, but close), it had a very alive feel. I sat there for a few hours reading a book over two lattes and a cup of tea. Yes, I'm drinking more tea, but we'll get to that. Mike-bob gives it two thumbs up.

Okay, tea. Yes, I admit it, I'm drinking wussy tea. Mind you, the Brits must use completely different plants than we get over in the States. British tea is a dark, strong, almost bitter brew that really is something that must be tried. I still put coffee ahead of it for caffeine kick and motivation, but tea makes for great relaxing, curl-up-with-a-book feelings. It also has the big bonus of being easier to make than coffee -- hot water over a prepackaged bag. Can't beat that.

Now, the ugly truth. I'm out of ideas. Yes, I've tried my best to keep this a caffeine-themed site, but I'm just out of ideas. You try and think up something new about a topic every day and see how long you can stay original. I still owe Lura Lee an article about coffee in London, but that'll get written. Part of this also has to do with the fact that I'm astronomically busier than I was when this project was conceived, and can't make as much time for interesting coffee adventures. Am I hanging up the towel? In a sense. I'll still write when I get a chance, but maybe not about coffee. So in a sense, this is a goodbye, but not really. Thanks much to my ex-girlfriend, ex-roommate, and ex-officemate for reading this to try and glean what's going on in my life. Hopefully, that'll be easier.

Ta, y'all.

So, sitting in the basement office of the building waiting for a call to go out to dinner means a few moments. Blissfully alone. So quiet, so peaceful...

Work continues to be interesting but stressful. We are making progress, never in the ways that we expect it but always managing to move forward. We've moved into new offices, situated in the ever-so-scenic basement of the building, next to the (full-size, including upper deck viewing gallery) swimming pool. It's a bit surreal to find such a subterranean pool, but hey; that's life for you. Frankly, I don't think it's bad at all; others have complained about burning eyes from chlorine vapors.

A friend and I snuck out at lunch to go see a coffee place across the street. Located underneath Hungerford bridge on the South Bank of London's Thames River, Drury fine teas and coffees is a nice little shop selling fresh beans. They won major bonus points for blending the mocca with the java right there in front of me. I haven't had a chance to get home and try it, but I'm looking forward to it.

Freezing my bum off in London,
-- Mike

no time to post. life is pull-your-hair-out-stressful - same thing i've been writing for a few months here. i'll save you the broken record routine and just say this:

whoever used the search box to look for "please change the color back", go see the feedback line at the bottom of the page. c'mon, own up.

-- mgmt.