The New Coffee Room

We just arrived at the hotel.

@jon-nyc said in Piano Party 7/27. Klaus is coming to visit:

Dude let me know when you’ll get here. I’ve figured you’d be around Saturday night at least. You, me, and the Klaus’s could have dinner. Let me know your plans we’re flexible.

Will do!

We hit the road tomorrow. First stop in PA to visit with my sister and her family. Then to NY either Friday or Saturday. Sunday is Jon's party then we continue enroute to Bangor Maine to visit my daughter.

Breathaversery.

Very happy that you are still with us. I'm looking forward to seeing you again.

Took delivery and I have had it for a week now. I am very satisfied with my experience with Carvana. The car is about as close to new as you can get. I am going to have the paint hand detailed. Clay bar to remove the old wax, water spots and general dirt that are baked into the surface. Minor swirling, abd a few scratches buffed, etc. It looks new from a few feet away but up close inspection reveals that it needs this treatment.

It will be a nice vehicle to drive to PA, Jon's party in NY, and Maine later this month.

Climb baby, climb!

I only have 134 million of them.

Just hit .0001 and I will be very happy.

My Mother in law.

I might have mentioned this but she went down the dark path of dementia and she was living with us in 2016 until the beginning of 2020.

She was at an assisted living facility until March of this year when they gave her a 30 day notice of eviction to their memory care facility which was $12k per month.

We prepared a room for her here at the house. New carpet, paint, new bedroom set including bed, recliner, dresser and nightstand. It was our "Master Bedroom for the past 28 years. We also renovated my daughters bedroom and moved into the acual "master beddrom". All of our daughters called it their room at one time or another over the 26 years that they lived here at home.

Taking care of a loved one with severe dementia is exhausting, physically and mentally. It was one of the hardest tasks I have ever participated in over the course of my 63 years on this rock.

Sarah, (Mrs Mark) did an incredible job once again taking over the role of primary caregiver. We had mom here for about 3 months and it seemed that we were living in a "Groundhog Day" movie scenario. That's what we called it anyway. Mom was stuck in a world that made no sense to her. She could never grasp the concept of her location, even in the house. She called Sarah, "mommy" heck, she called me "mommy" too.

We called the local ADRC office and made an appointment to have them visit and meet Maxine and us and to assess her current condition. Hospice was recommended as she was starting to decline pretty quickly.

She moved out on June 6 and into a wonderful memory care facility which was far more "affordable" at $7,500 per month.

She was there less than a month and died yesterday early evening.

Maxine was 80 years old.

Rest in peace, Mom.

My new car is being delivered to my home.

On a Carvana delivery truck.

The Toyota Crown is very nice. For a Toyota. It misses the mark for me with too many bugs in the electronics and software. It's ride is compliant and smooth but a little too cushy and a little too loose feeling for my taste. It doesn't feel as confident in the handling department as I would prefer. It's increased height doesn't contribute to great handling characteristics. It doesn't "feel" like a Mercedes.

I gave it a try. It was a nice car but one that I knew I wasn't going to keep long-term. I lost a few dollars in depreciation but that is always the case when buying a new car.

I wanted to pay it off to stop the interest payout monthly, but I didn't want the car.

I just wanted to be back in a Benz. I have been driving them since I was 25 years old. I have had many models in various vintages. I just sold my 2005 S500 that served me well for 13+ years and 100k+ miles. We didn't need 3 cars. We still have a 2021 Subaru CrossTrek.

It feels weird to do this but I am giving Carvana a chance to impress or disappoint.

Hopefully, I will be impressed.

C300 Coupe. 2022 3,770 miles on odometer. Still under factory warranty.

Traded the Toyota Crown for it. Even up trade pretty much. Paid cash, and that is a first for me on a car of this caliber. Taking that $540 monthly I was paying on the Toyota and putting it into a Roth.

So very happy to hear everything worked out. I had goosebumps from fear and anxiety reading that.

I'm about to pull the trigger on a car purchase from Carvana.

Trading my car to them as part of the transaction too.

I have a 64mm Flat Burr grinder that was a "sample" that an online retailer made available after I submitted a support ticket that my 2 year old grinder had stripped the threads on the adjustment ring but it was out of warranty and this particular damage was not covered by the warranty any way. So he offered my a couple of options that were all very good deals. I took the cheapest option and it has outperformed any grinder I have owned to date. That includes one of the Baratza Encore models in the article

It has zero retention. 20 grams in = 20 grams out.

It makes some of the best espresso I have ever had.

Of course, Roasting my own beans helps a lot in that department.

.

lol.

@Klaus We are also looking forward to it. Don't expect much in the way of new pieces from me however. I still dabble with the Bach,Beethoven and Chopin and but not nearly as much as I should to stay performance ready. I suppose I will have to step up and do some practicing.

We are planning on it! Going to head to Maine after the party to visit my daughter and her partner. She might attend as well. She is checking their schedules.

Hearing aids...

I remember that. I do know the photographer. Not a close friend, more of an acquaintance.

Years ago...