Fail!

In my last episode, I told you that I may have reconciled with 'Bucks but I didn't get the bonus stars as I had expected. 

After I ordered my drink, I noticed that I had exactly the same number of stars after my drink as I'd had before. I thought that maybe the stars would only be awarded at the end of the promotion period which was still a few days away, not that there had been any precedent for this. But, no. It turns out that I hadn't ordered a latte as was required by the promotion offer. (The promotion was for 30 bonus loyalty stars when I purchased a latte within a certain timeframe.)

I ordered this:

Instead of this:

See the difference?

That light foam at the top is what makes coffee and milk a latte. Without it, it's called a flat white.

I ordered a flat white - a latte without the light foam - which IS NOT A LATTE!

Really?

I guess I really had forgotten how to order at Starbucks. But, to be fair, I didn't know a flat white was not a latte. In fact, when the flat white was first introduced on the Starbucks menu, it was listed as a latte. But, whatever, it's not a latte now.

My grandkids like Starbucks so later in the week, I found myself there buying them sugary drinks just before I returned them to their parents. That was enough to push my star balance up over 300. (I already had nearly that much already.) That allowed me to get a pound of whole bean coffee FOR FREE. Which is like gold. 

I wonder what would happen if I order a latte, hold the foam?

Meh.

After I had my latte Hubby asked me, "How was it?"

I had to think about it.

Which is to say, not memorable.

Um. A medium, please?

It’s been so long since I’ve been to a Starbucks that I forgot how to order!

I’ve been boycotting Starbucks ever since they started to throttle their loyalty stars program under the leadership of their new CEO. If Starbucks didn’t want to reward my loyalty then I wasn’t interested in giving them any. It was a standoff. 

But the standoff had its benefits. I saved money by not going to Starbucks and I reduced my calcium intake, which benefits me in other ways. I got used to having either an iced coffee or doppio at home for my mid-morning break although I missed the extra calories that the milk in my regular latte would provide. It was like a small snack just filling enough that I could put off lunch for a little while. 

I soon got used to the new routine and thought, if loyalty stars never come back I’ll be fine. In fact, I should start giving my loyalty somewhere else! Support local businesses!

But then a few weeks ago this showed up in my Starbucks notifications. It was for a drink that I would never order. 

Not long after a second offer appeared. This one was more interesting in that I could order something that I liked, but I had to go twice and the reward was minimal for my effort. 

Today I got this offer. I could order any latte and get 30 extra stars and the offer was at a convenient time for me. How did they know? 

I was a conflicted at this point. I felt successful in changing my habits. I no longer needed that milk latte every day whether I was out or at home but there I was buying a Starbucks on a day when they were willing to give me 30 extra stars for ordering a cup of coffee. Well, I thought, if I was trying to deliver a message to the CEO that stars were important to me then I thought I’d let him know that I approved of the new direction they were taking by sending another message: Yes, I will have a cup of coffee for your stars. I will take it that you have received my message. 

Hopefully, you get this one too.

Under the bleachers

 

Pick me!

Coffee brewing methods can have a big impact on heart health

" The method used to brew coffee can significantly affect levels of natural cholesterol-raising compounds called diterpenes, according to a new study. It might be that the way your coffee is made is affecting your heart health. "

Drip coffee through a paper filter is best so if you already make your coffee this way, you're probably fine insofar as coffee-related diterpenes go. But to be absolutely sure, researchers need more data.

" To determine the precise effects on LDL cholesterol levels, we would need to conduct a controlled study of subjects who would drink the coffee. ”

Hm... 

The Coffee Rabbit Hole

Someone gifted me some coffee beans from Mostra Coffee which I just finished. I looked up the coffee company just recently and learned that Mostra is located in San Diego and their coffee is not cheap.

I also learned that Mostra roasts some of the best coffee in the world according to Coffee Review. Mostra Coffee describes Coffee Review as "an online publication that reviews coffees on a 100-point scale and comments in formally written tasting reports."

Of course, I had to check it out.

Mostra has 24 reviews on Coffee Review with scores in the low to mid-nineties meaning their coffees are exceptional or better. Their coffees that rated 95 and above are considered "flawless, ... shockingly distinctive and beautiful."

By contrast, Starbucks has four reviews with only one receiving a score above 85 which makes them "fair," at best. One, Pike Place Roast, scored 78 which is considered "poor." (Pike Place Blend, apparently different, scored 84. One, Sumatra Dark, rated a 90 or "very good to outstanding."

None of my local roasters even made the list (or have not been tested by Coffee Review).

Nevertheless, down the rabbit hole I went. 

I found this article on Coffee Review: How Do Six National Specialty Coffee Brands Stack Up? (As previously mentioned, Starbucks did not do well.) As it happened, after I read this article, I found myself in a grocery store perusing the coffee aisle and what to my wondering eyes should appear but the highest rated coffee reviewed in that article: Forty-Six from Counter Culture Coffee. I was very excited to try it.

My first impression was "bright" which I would maybe describe as sour. So, I went to the Counter Culture Coffee website to see if I could learn more about the coffee I had purchased and what I was tasting. It certainly didn't taste like the coffees that I had become accustomed to and I didn't see what was so special about it.

Down, down, ....

That's where I found brewing instructions: using 18 grams of coffee, "weigh your ground espresso and adjust the dose to ensure accuracy. We recommend dosing within 0.2 grams of the target weight." 

Oh, I was deep down in the rabbit hole then.

I got out my kitchen scale and tried again. It was still sour. Or, was it bitter? 

Next, Counter Culture's website suggested adjusting the grind. So I tried it with a finer grand. Then, I tried it with a courser grind. I was getting downright scientific about it. But I kept at it and now I've found the perfect combination of grind, bean, and water to make a cup of coffee I genuinely look forward to in the morning and enjoy.

The point is I'm trying new things. I suppose there were easier ways to get there but, hey, no one said life was easy.

Neither is a good cup of coffee.

I'm opening a new spa!

✨Introducing Mimosas and Mammograms: The Spa Experience You Didn’t Know You Needed✨

Gather your besties and treat yourselves to the ultimate day of relaxation, rejuvenation, and empowerment at Mimosas and Mammograms! Kick off your experience with a refreshing mimosa and slip into a luxuriously thick terrycloth robe made from the finest cotton—available for purchase at the end of your visit as a stylish souvenir. 🍾✨

Your journey begins with a soothing shower or bath, followed by your choice of indulgent treatments: manicure, pedicure, massage, or facial (brow shaping included). With all-you-can-drink mimosas in hand, you and your squad will be pampered while soft lighting and your favorite playlist set the perfect mood. 

When it’s time for your personalized mammogram*, enjoy the unique experience of a little radiation, one by one, as you take part in this life-saving service. This is more than just a spa day—it's an opportunity to care for yourself and your health, all while having fun with friends!

Whether you’re booking an hour or an entire day, Mimosas and Mammograms is the perfect blend of relaxation and wellness. Make it a celebration you won’t forget—because taking care of yourself has never been so fabulous! 

*Note: Spa services do not require prior approval from your doctor. Complimentary deodorant, lotion, and powder will be provided post-mammogram. Some restrictions apply. Written with the aid of ChatGBT.

Button, button, who's got the button?

Went to lunch with my gal pals and wore a new pair of linen slacks. The waistband had two buttons, one on the inside and one on the outside. Apparently, the inside button is called a French bearer - something I just learned.

Anyway, I was looking sharp.

But, when I went to the restroom later, I found the inside button was missing - the French button could bear it no longer. I glanced around the floor of the bathroom but didn't see the button and wondered where I could have lost it. I had only dressed a short while earlier and drove the restaurant. Maybe when I got in or out of the car? No matter. I still had the outer button.

When I got home after lunch, again I had need to go to the bathroom. This time, as I pulled up my pants I heard the button fall out of the leg of my pants. The question was, where was it all this time? Stuck to my navel? A mystery....

The mystery now is where did I put that button now? I still have a pair of pants missing its French bearer. If I lose the remaining button, I'll not only be out of a French bearer but I myself will be bare.

Très embarrassant!

Brought to you by Christopher Kimball and your local library.

 

Delicious!

This is Umbrian-Style Chicken alla Cacciatora from Milk Street Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball. You can find it at the link from Amazon. 

I found it at my local library. 

Stars Matter

I had a dentist appointment on Monday and before I went in, I flossed my teeth. It's sort of like cleaning the house before the housecleaner arrives. But I got chastised last time. The hygienist said she picked meat out of my teeth!

It wasn't meat. It was oatmeal which is what I ate for breakfast that morning. I had brushed my teeth before going but, apparently, I didn't get it all. I could have flossed but I figured she was going to do it less than an hour later so I didn't. I didn't see the sense in torturing my gums twice in rapid succession when it wasn't, in my opinion, necessary.

This time, I brushed, flossed, and used mouthwash before heading to the dentist.

This time, I got praised for my dental hygiene. "Gold star!" they exclaimed.

Why does it still matters to me that I get a good report from my dentist?

Must be the stars.

They don't make me faster but I can wear them with flip flops.

 

Happy feet!

I've never cheered so much at an NBA game!

This was the LA Lakers versus the Philadelphia 76ers on January 28, 2025, at Wells Fargo Center which (and I had to look this up) is in Philadelphia. I was at a restaurant where the game was on TV in the bar. When I happened to glance up and saw it, I thrust my fists in the air and made a quiet cheering noise like a whisper, "Whaaah!" 

Was it for the 76ers or the Lakers? Was it for LeBron James? An amazing play?

It was for a sponsor: "Libby: the reading app."

Yay for reading! Yay for libraries!

Libby Promotes Literacy as Proud Sponsor of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Lakers Literacy Program

" This multi-year sponsorship kicks off with the 2024-25 season and marks a long-term commitment to supporting California libraries. "

"Libby" appeared to be painted on the court floor but it was a virtual ad. This allowed for a sponsor of the LA Lakers to promote its brand on national TV while the Philadelphia audience could have been seeing the ad or logo for something entirely different. 

I'm not much of a basketball fan, as you may have determined. But I am a fan of reading and I'm glad to have seen Libby being promoted on TV. 

Read more, watch less.

Camera One, Camera Two

Edited photo

Original image

The problem now is I lack motivation. How about an urban hike?

Without a goal, I'm pretty damned lazy. But with one, watch out. I'm committed as hell.

I got sick in January and, because of that, missed the half marathon I had been training for. I lazed around the house getting well but falling out of my exercise routine. As anyone knows, it's harder to start an exercise routine than it is to maintain one so I have been rather lax in getting back out there. 

• "It's cold out there."
• "I can do it later."
• "I'm too busy."
• "What for?"

These are examples of excuses I've been using. Also, when I walk longer distances (6 or more miles), I don't get anywhere because I generally confine my walks to the streets and trails in my own neighborhood. This can get a little boring.

Sometimes, I wonder about going somewhere. For example,

• Old Town La Quinta is about 5 miles from where I live. This includes breakfast places, shops, restaurants, a brewery, and regular art and farmers markets - plenty of destinations. I have, in the past, walked the 10 miles round trip, stopping for a coffee along the way. (SilverRock Grill, along the way, is 4 miles and a nice stop for breakfast.)

• Ernies Bar & Grill at PGA West is also about 5 miles.

• Trilogy La Quinta is about 5.5 miles. Cafe Solaz is open for breakfast, lunch, and happy hour while Kitchen Ten Eleven is expected to open soon.

• In the other direction, Big Rock Pub is 5.5 miles.

• Desert Wine Shop is about 7 miles.

• Cantina at Eldorado Polo Club is an easy 1.5 mile walk.

• Downtown Indio is about 3 miles.

The point being, there are plenty of destinations within a reasonable walking distance (depending on your definition of "reasonable"). And, we - as in, a group of us - wouldn't have to walk both ways if we got other people to meet us there and drive us back. Exercise with a social carrot at the end.

There are other urban hikes such as El Paseo or parts of the CV Link but all of the ones mentioned above can be accessed from right from our own front doors.

I'm all for hiking. (I should really try to do more of it.) But even with hiking, you don't really get anywhere except to where you started from. You also have to drive to wherever it is you want to hike. What I like about urban hiking is it could really start from wherever you are.

I need some motivation. Anyone want to walk with me somewhere? 

My loyalty only goes so far.

Talking to you, Starbucks.

In an effort to reestablish itself as a premium coffee brand, Starbucks is making some changes. Among them, fewer opportunities to earn Stars in their Rewards program. The idea, originally, was to create brand loyalty and to lure customers into their stores.

Per the Terms of Use: 

Starbucks Rewards is one way in which Starbucks endeavors to reward and thank loyal customers for patronizing our business and purchasing Starbucks products. Starbucks Reward members are able to earn and accumulate "Stars" that can be redeemed for Starbucks Rewards Benefits.

One can earn Stars at a rate of two Stars for every dollar spent when paying through the Starbucks app. The more you spend, the more stars you earn and when you earn enough Stars, you get free stuff. For example, 200 Stars can be redeemed for a coffee drink such as a latte. 300 Stars can be redeemed for packaged coffee such as whole beans.

Additionally,

From time to time, we ... may offer you opportunities to earn additional "Bonus Stars" through special promotions.

Except, they also may not and that's what has been happening lately. No special promotions.

I admit it; I went to Starbucks exclusively when offered some sort of bonus in the form of more Stars which is to say my loyalty can be bought. I would go on Double Stars Day (earning four Stars per dollar), or on days when an extra 20 Stars were offered if I purchased a particular item or combination of items. Sometimes, I would be offered 100 Stars if I went a certain number of times in a week for any purchase of any size. If I wasn't getting something in the form of some kind of bonus within their loyalty Rewards program, then I wasn't going.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has been at the helm less than six months. Has the change in the Rewards program supported a shift in the perception of Starbucks as more of a premium brand?

Not for me. Loyalty goes both ways. 

For better or worse, I've been a Rewards member forEVER and given a choice, I would always choose Starbucks over any other place for coffee. One reason, besides the Stars, is that I could count on a consistent product no matter where I went. I developed a taste for their coffee and had trouble enjoying coffee from anyone else. In short, I was addicted.

Two years ago, Starbucks had a promotion on their Christmas Blend coffee beans. I think it was half off at the time. I had never tried it so I bought a bag. It was good. 

The following year, they promoted their Christmas Blend again so I bought another bag. Every time I went into Starbucks that December, I bought another bag so long as the promotion was still in effect. Before I knew it, I had more than a year's supply of Christmas Blend taking up residence in my freezer. (I just finished the last of it.)

The last promotion Starbucks offered was for a cup of coffee which I could get for free on the Monday following the Super Bowl. Big deal. I can get that in any church basement or hotel lobby. In fact, there's free coffee every day in the lobby of the clubhouse where I live. 

I will not be getting a year's supply of that.

Ironically, at home, I generally brew coffee from beans that are roasted locally despite my recent stockpile of Christmas Blend coffee. I also seek out local breweries here and elsewhere. Other than locally roasted coffee for at-home consumption, I never developed the habit of supporting my local coffee shop like I've done with local breweries when out and about.

That's about to change. It's far past time that I developed a new habit: supporting local coffee.

Who needs stars anyway? If a Sneetch doesn't need them, then neither do I.

I say "sardines" . . .

 . . . you say,

"Ew," probably.

Once upon a time, I had sardines at a tapas bar and was pleasantly surprised. So, naturally, I went to Costco and bought a case. Not really. It was just six cans but the package had all the buzzwords: sustainably caught in the North Pacific Ocean, wild. . . .  I felt compelled to try them at home. Plus, canned sardines are a very shelf-stable protein source to keep in my pantry in case we are overrun by zombies. (They are also a source of omega-3s, vitamin D, iron, and calcium.)

After storing them for a period of time, I thought I should probably figure out what to do with them. I opened a can and tried one. Gastronomically speaking, I can say I was not looking forward to any kind of apocalypse. So they continued to sit, unopened, in my pantry.

Until one day, "Sardine Puttanesca" popped into my head. Where does a thought like that even come from? Lo and behold, I found a recipe on NYTimes Cooking for the very same thing. (By the way, the NYTims Cooking app is very good.) I proceeded to make them for dinner with no backup plan in case it didn't turn out.

I am pleased to report that it was delicious. I have two more cans of sardines and leftover anchovies (also called for in the recipe) so I plan to make Sardine Puttanesca again and again.

Try it and I'll bet that next time I say "sardines," you'll say "yum!"

It's not just me.

Everyone was, is, or will be sick.

Virus season roars back with "quad-demic" of illness (Axios)

The spread of influenza A, COVID and RSV is "high" or "very high" across much of the U.S. at the same time norovirus cases are well above normal levels, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and wastewater surveillance data shows.

If you click on the link to the article above, you will see a graphic that shows the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report for the week of January 4-11 prepared by the CDC. It shows that the activity level of visits for respiratory illness that includes fever plus a cough or sore throat was high or very high for most of the country. If you go to the CDC website now, you will see that illness activity is down in many places (although still relatively high in California). 

Walgreens also has a flu index map which is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. While both the CDC and Walgreens show improvements they also indicate that California had high rates of influenza this flu season.

Put it on your calendar now for next September or October:

• Get a flu shot.
• Inventory your cold and flu remedies and stock up. (Take old medicines to a Walgreens or other disposal kiosk.) 
• Make sure the pantry and freezer are full of quick and easy meals. (Don't forget the chicken soup.)
• Consider getting a puzzle or craft items to keep you busy in case you need to stay home.
• Above all, try not to get sick in the first place. Consider digging out your COVID mask especially for times when flu activity is high. (Check the CDC and Walgreens for more information.)

Again, from Axios:

Saskia Popescu, a member of APIC's Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force, told Axios.... "All of those mitigation efforts that you can do — washing your hands, covering your cough, cleaning, disinfection, being mindful of ventilation in shared spaces — that's all going to help."

Be well, people, and see you in the Spring. 

My $4,000 staycation ...

... has just ended.

I've been home for a month. Almost exactly. My last driving day was December 20 and my first day back on the job was January 22. In between there were two major holidays and time with family and friends, although it turned that Winter Break went by way too fast. We enjoyed spending relaxing days at home, reading, playing games, and pursuing hobbies. A very nice time. 

And then we both got sick and our holiday extended longer than we expected in the form of a self-imposed quarantine. If it wasn't for the getting sick part, it would have been great. Between the coughs and sniffles, we still managed to do a lot of relaxing and generally enjoying each other's company. We had stocked up on food and hobby supplies so we didn't really need to go anywhere or do anything. We just settled in and got very comfortable in our own little bubble.

I don't know that we saved $4,000 by staying home but I can tell you we did save a lot of money by not going anywhere. We were getting alerts from our credit card company saying, "Are you guys all right? Do you need to buy something?"

We couldn't plan time like that - a whole month's vacation - until maybe May. Wouldn't that be great? Maybe I'll just stay at home again in May. Just take it easy.

The ridiculous part of this is I'm retired. I could take it easy any day. The problem is, I don't which isn't a bad thing. It's good that I'm keeping busy. But, for the last month, I've been reminded of how nice it is to just slow down and enjoy my own company. And, isn't it great that I can spend a month just hanging out with Hubby and want to do it again?

And the savings is pretty grand too. Which is to say we live a pretty good life the rest of the time.

I'm feeling grateful. Lucky to be alive and have the life I have. I'm grateful for my family and friends and the time we spend together. I'm grateful to have the freedom to spend my time alone, too, if that's what I want to do. I'm grateful for the beautiful space and place I live in and that I'm fortunate enough to afford living here.

I'm grateful for my "job," too, which is driving the Littles around from place to place so their parents can work. It keeps me busy and it keeps me connected to people that matter to me so I'm okay with that.

Another half marathon in the books.

Not mine but, you know, somebody's. 

I was training to walk in the Arizona Rock 'n' Roll half marathon. I logged countless hours and countless miles. (That's a lie. I counted them all.)

And then, to celebrate the new year, I got sick with the flu or some damn thing. My first symptoms appeared 11 days before race day. I had time to recover.

Which, I did. But not in time to do the race. Hubby has it too. Has - as in the present tense. Actually, I'm not really sure. He had it - whatever it was - and now he has something else: a persistent cough. He's been sick, literally, for all of 2025 so far. And I don't know if "sick" is the right word anymore. But he just can't shake this cough.

In any case, between the two of us, we thought it best to just stay home.

But I'm just wondering. Do I still get a medal?

It's like Quarantine...

 ... because it is quarantine.

Hubby has been sick for three weeks and I have been sick for two. We've barely been outside of the house or spoken to another human being in days. And it seems the whole neighborhood has been affected. Many of our neighbors are also at home trying to shake this thing. We are nearly out of food while we are well stocked in toilet paper. 

Any of this sound familiar?

I don't think we have anything more serious than the common cold or flu. Not that we tested because it didn't really matter: We were dropping out of society regardless. Our symptoms are not severe. Not in the slightest (although they were worse for Hubby). They are annoyingly persistent, however. The tail end of this thing seems to be a dry cough which Hubby is struggling to shake. 

And yet, like Quarantine, it's not all bad. There have been pockets of boredom but in other ways it's been a lot like a staycation. We are playing games in the evening. I'm reading books, cooking things from scratch, kitting a blanket. And we are saving a ton of money by not going out. Not anywhere (except for essential services like coffee [jk - I meant groceries]). It's intimate and cozy.

But there are some things I miss like people. Sunset cocktails with the neighbors in the driveway. Hanging out with our besties. Taking the kids to school (my hobby). Going out for dinner!

The other side of the coin is sleeping in and perpetual pajamas.

If it wasn't for the getting sick part it would be a toss up, really.

Maybe I should consider becoming a hermit.

[Editor's note: The office of Chocolate Chip Mint is encouraging everyone to come back to the office. Actually, we're pretty much through it now and have been out in the wild. All good here.]