Ugh. This week is not off to a very good start. Then again, it’s almost halfway finished now. I was just exchanging instant messages with my dad (who just got broadband this afternoon) – getting ready to help him through a few software issues. To clear my mind, I needed caffeine – so I reached over to pick up my full mug of home-brewed Peet’s. My periphery vision is not what it used to be, apparently. KLACK! SPLOOSH!

In less than a second, the creamy concoction had covered my computer desk – and without hesitation, I reached down to turn off the PC sitting at my feet. No doubt about it – this was one helluva mess. I could see that some of it had splashed onto the rear of my machine, still dripping from keyboard and monitor cables. Panic mode!

I grabbed paper towels and a dry washcloth, hoping for the best. During the cleanup process, I even invented a few new obscenities (which I dare not repeat here). Took me a good hour before I was able to reverse 90% of the damage. Holding my breath, I booted up the system – and everything seemed to be back to normal. There are still a few stains on the wall, but they should quickly disappear with a squirt (or two) of Formula 409.

I may still have to test Gateway’s hardware exchange policy – assuming that spilling coffee is not considered an “Act of God.”

• Coffee Snobs
• A Peet’s Story
• How to Make Coffee at Home – French Press and Peet’s
• Alfred Peet: Roast in Peace
• Peets vs Starbucks
• Peets Coffee Addiction
• Boca Java Coupons
• What do Gnomedex and Tweetups Taste Like?
• Peet’s Coffee in My Hawaii Hotel!
• Caption This

Dude. I just can’t stay off the juice! Last night, I was compelled to write about my experiences with the Tassimo machine (a wedding gift from Andru and Monica Edwards). Ponzi put it on our wish list – but I really wish the machine did more. Judging from the comments we’re getting, others do as well. Consider Pastor Scott Holder’s note to me a few minutes ago:

I consider myself somewhat of a coffee aficionado, and can fully relate to your comments on either automatic or perfect coffee brewers. Like you, I graduated from the Mr. Coffee era many years ago. I have brewed it, perked it, boiled, nuked it, steamed it, etc. Currently we have a professional espresso machine (it still makes the best espresso), 3 Senseo machines (1 for each: home, work, church), 2 regular brewing systems, and our recently added Tassimo Ultra. I wasn’t really interested in this machine, but my wife has become a kitchen-gadget person of sorts so we bought it. With our local SAMS Club having two on display it was too good a deal to pass up (less than half price).

I must say that the limit on coffee varieties is still somewhat perplexing. Surely there will be more forthcoming. However, I have found that Seattle’s Best does offer a couple of varieties that are worth mentioning. I like dark roast coffee so I have settled on Henry’s Blend as a good choice. Surprisingly, the Maxwell House French Roast is fairly nice, considering I can’t stand Maxwell House coffee. The Gevalia Signature Crema Coffee has a good flavor, but not as well-rounded as the Seattle’s Best. I have also tried the Mastro Lorenzo Crema and found it to be acceptable in taste.

I’m more of an espresso drinker and do like both the Gevalia Espresso and the Mastro Lorenzo Espresso. Both put a nice crema on top and have a rich, bold, almost citrus flavor to them. I’m venturing into the teas as I write this and have found Earl Grey, Green Tea (late in the day), and Tazo Awake Black Tea to all be nice options. Each has a very distinct flavor all its own. I do hope that more flavors and/or varieties will become available in the near future. I follow trends through SingleServeCoffee and also SingleServeEspresso. Both offer a wealth of information about coffee/espresso brewing and news. At singleservecoffee.com, I see non-USA sites with other options for the Tassimo and will probably try some – especially the latte and espresso offerings from Kenco. There are also a couple of different tea varieties not available in the USA that I want to try.

On the flip side, I do know that the Yuban Rain Forest Alliance Coffee is the nastiest-tasting coffee I’ve ever tried. I don’t want another cup of that stuff ever. While writing this email I noticed that Keurig is suing Tassimo over the piercing technology. It’s crazy that this kind of thing is going on. I really hope we don’t lose out after making this investment.

By the way (and this is just a pet peeve of mine): it’s pronounced “espresso” – not “eXpresso.”

• I Spilled Coffee All Over My Computer!
• A Peet’s Story
• Starbucks or Bust?
• How to Make Coffee at Home – French Press and Peet’s
• Alfred Peet: Roast in Peace
• Peets vs Starbucks
• Crashing Into Starbucks
• Peets Coffee Addiction
• Boca Java Coupons
• What do Gnomedex and Tweetups Taste Like?

We’ve posted details on the Gnomedex parties today – although nobody has yet stepped up to the plate to sponsor Friday night’s event.

Thursday night, like last year, we are having early registration and a mixer at the Odyssey Maritime museum. There will be cocktails and food. It’s a chance to see where the conference center is and get to know the other attendees before Gnomedex gets into full swing.

Friday, we are having a party at The Museum of Flight – in The personal Courage Wing. Could there be a better spot to have conversations about technology, innovation, and talk of what is to come on Saturday’s event? The Personal Courage Wing will put us in the midst of personal stories of the innovative thinkers from the past. Poetically, this is perfect because that’s who the Gnomedex attendee is – an innovative thinker for tomorrow (living today). We are still in need of sponsorship for this party – as no company has yet stepped up to the plate to help make this happen (so we’re having to fund this night out of our own pocket).

Saturday, thanks in large part to Microsoft, the party is at The Experience Music Project and The Science Fiction Museum. And my personal favorite treat – Doubletake – an art exhibit, on display at EMP. Here’s an excerpt of their discription. “These pairings include Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works from masters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Dégas and Vincent van Gogh with modern and contemporary works from such artists as Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein. We believe that these comparisons will give Impressionism a new context for modern audiences, resurrecting the power of the artists’ rebellious intent.” In case you didn’t know, Gnomedexers are the avant-garde.

Again, if your company is interested in sponsoring Friday’s party at the Museum of Flight, let us know ASAP. We still have a few other major sponsors to announce (to list alongside Microsoft, Yahoo!, Ask, GoDaddy, PRWeb, WeatherBug, and Waggener Edstrom). Each one of our parties is designed to facilitate and support conversation and interpersonal networking, FWIW.

• Tentative Gnomedex 2007 Dates
• Gnomedex is not Dead
• Gnomedex Freedbacking
• Gnomedex Will Feed You Dinner
• Gnomedex 6.0: Sold Out!!!
• The Business of Social Media
• Women at Tech Conferences: Mythbusting
• Gnomedex Registrations are Open, BTW…
• Gnomedex 7.0 Dates
• Decompressing