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[Travellin Dave]

Number 2 son works at a Nespresso Boutique in the university district in Seattle.  So we got a Nespresso machine for Christmas - not one of the fancy ones - and we regularly get bag-loads of capsules delivered to us.

I was skeptical.  I like fancy coffees as much as anyone, but for daily consumption, the Mr. Coffee and fresh-ground beans from San Francisco Coffee Roasters that we get at Costco produce terrific coffee - and are cost-effective.  If I want an after-dinner espresso, we have a Moka pot.  Espresso machines have to be really expensive and take up a lot of space before the results beat a Moka pot, and in my opinion Keurig offers a sliver of convenience at too high a cost with too average a result. 

So Nespresso wasn't on my list either. But the machine and capsules didn't cost me (if you don't factor in the amount of money it cost to raise and educate the boy).  So...what the hell.

It makes good coffee.  Many of the capsules leave me asking, "WTF?"  But some are really good, and others are really good if you heat some milk in the microwave and make it cafe au lait.  This morning I'm having the Cafe de Cuba, and it's exceptional.

Would I recommend it?  Well, if you're snobby enough about coffee to turn your nose up at a drip maker, but not snobby enough to bother with pour-over or a French Press, but you don't want to shell out more than a grand for a coffee maker, then sure.  I think it makes better coffee than a Keurig, and it matches any sub-$1000 espresso machine I've encountered without the hassle.

Would I do it if I had to pay for machine and pods?  Nah. 

But I do occasionally visit the boutique.  I think it's a cool place.  More my speed than hanging out at Starbuck's. And I get a discount.

I had a Nespresso and liked it. One day it seized up on me and I am no longer able to put pods into it. It's currently sitting in my appliance cemetery in the basement. My plan is to attempt to repair it. I bought my wife a new machine that matches the appliances we put in when we updated the kitchen. Turns out it makes a good cup of coffee.

This is the new machine which grinds the beans before brewing the coffee (no pods).

Purdy!

I have a Keureg and use it occasionally in a pinch, but to me all K-cup and pod coffee tastes like K-cup coffee.

[LuvTooGolf]

Number 2 son works at a Nespresso Boutique in the university district in Seattle.  So we got a Nespresso machine for Christmas - not one of the fancy ones - and we regularly get bag-loads of capsules delivered to us.

I was skeptical.  I like fancy coffees as much as anyone, but for daily consumption, the Mr. Coffee and fresh-ground beans from San Francisco Coffee Roasters that we get at Costco produce terrific coffee - and are cost-effective.  If I want an after-dinner espresso, we have a Moka pot.  Espresso machines have to be really expensive and take up a lot of space before the results beat a Moka pot, and in my opinion Keurig offers a sliver of convenience at too high a cost with too average a result. 

So Nespresso wasn't on my list either. But the machine and capsules didn't cost me (if you don't factor in the amount of money it cost to raise and educate the boy).  So...what the hell.

It makes good coffee.  Many of the capsules leave me asking, "WTF?"  But some are really good, and others are really good if you heat some milk in the microwave and make it cafe au lait.  This morning I'm having the Cafe de Cuba, and it's exceptional.

Would I recommend it?  Well, if you're snobby enough about coffee to turn your nose up at a drip maker, but not snobby enough to bother with pour-over or a French Press, but you don't want to shell out more than a grand for a coffee maker, then sure.  I think it makes better coffee than a Keurig, and it matches any sub-$1000 espresso machine I've encountered without the hassle.

Would I do it if I had to pay for machine and pods?  Nah. 

But I do occasionally visit the boutique.  I think it's a cool place.  More my speed than hanging out at Starbuck's. And I get a discount.

Hard to beat a good discount. And you don't have to look like some sort of trendy douche hanging out at Starbucks.

The atmosphere at the Nespresso Boutique is more geeky than trendy, so I fit right in, other than I'm old.

Perfect. I'd also accept nerdy over trendy.

[LuvTooGolf]

Number 2 son works at a Nespresso Boutique in the university district in Seattle.  So we got a Nespresso machine for Christmas - not one of the fancy ones - and we regularly get bag-loads of capsules delivered to us.

I was skeptical.  I like fancy coffees as much as anyone, but for daily consumption, the Mr. Coffee and fresh-ground beans from San Francisco Coffee Roasters that we get at Costco produce terrific coffee - and are cost-effective.  If I want an after-dinner espresso, we have a Moka pot.  Espresso machines have to be really expensive and take up a lot of space before the results beat a Moka pot, and in my opinion Keurig offers a sliver of convenience at too high a cost with too average a result. 

So Nespresso wasn't on my list either. But the machine and capsules didn't cost me (if you don't factor in the amount of money it cost to raise and educate the boy).  So...what the hell.

It makes good coffee.  Many of the capsules leave me asking, "WTF?"  But some are really good, and others are really good if you heat some milk in the microwave and make it cafe au lait.  This morning I'm having the Cafe de Cuba, and it's exceptional.

Would I recommend it?  Well, if you're snobby enough about coffee to turn your nose up at a drip maker, but not snobby enough to bother with pour-over or a French Press, but you don't want to shell out more than a grand for a coffee maker, then sure.  I think it makes better coffee than a Keurig, and it matches any sub-$1000 espresso machine I've encountered without the hassle.

Would I do it if I had to pay for machine and pods?  Nah. 

But I do occasionally visit the boutique.  I think it's a cool place.  More my speed than hanging out at Starbuck's. And I get a discount.

I had a Nespresso and liked it. One day it seized up on me and I am no longer able to put pods into it. It's currently sitting in my appliance cemetery in the basement. My plan is to attempt to repair it. I bought my wife a new machine that matches the appliances we put in when we updated the kitchen. Turns out it makes a good cup of coffee.

This is the new machine which grinds the beans before brewing the coffee (no pods).

Looks very fancy, I like it.

[LuvTooGolf]

Jammin' Joe:

ACID Opulence 3 Torpedo - 10/39.99

Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto - 10/32.50

5 Vegas Gold Churchill - 10/29.99

Rocky Patel Imperial Gordo - 10/37.50

Gurkha Beauty - 10/39.99

Diesel Rage Toro - 10/37.50

Aging Room Quattro Nicaraguan Maestro - 5/32.50

Camacho Ecuador Robusto - 5/22.50

Diesel Wicked Witches Brew Figurado - 10/42.50

[LuvTooGolf]

Today's Over/Under is 11

12

[Travellin Dave]

La Gloria Cubana Spanish Press Robusto
(5.5"x50)Pack of 10
| MSRP: $8.99 per cigar

In Stock
BUY 10+ CIGARS
$3.50
per cigar
$34.99 total price
Save 61%

[razgueado]

Most of my money is passively invested - no-load, low-cost mutuals in the Roth, the HSA, and the state investment fund.  Mostly ETFs in the brokerage account. I've been trying to learn about evaluating individual companies and stocks, but I haven't been that diligent about it. 

But in December I started a "spare change" portfolio.  A collection of individual stocks that I could purchase fractional shares of.  I followed recommendations from Motley Fool. They seemed as good as anybody.  I usually drop about $50 per paycheck into it which is an approximation of what I'd net by rounding up my normal monthly expenses to the nearest dollar.  Other small windfalls get dropped in, such as credit card cash back or whatever.

It's been entertaining. It's like gambling, except in the one casino where the odds are historically in my favor. Two months in I've dropped $425 and I'm up 4.62%.  I was up 6.8% yesterday, but today the market is down.  I figure I'm winning if the return stays ahead of the 4.43% interest I get on my emergency cash. 

I don't know what I'd do with it.  Maybe if it adds up enough, someday I'll buy a guitar with it.  Somethin'. 

[Travellin Dave]

Better get the birthday ladies up before we get to page 5...

[Travellin Dave]

and...

[Travellin Dave]

with...

[LuvTooGolf]

Most of my money is passively invested - no-load, low-cost mutuals in the Roth, the HSA, and the state investment fund.  Mostly ETFs in the brokerage account. I've been trying to learn about evaluating individual companies and stocks, but I haven't been that diligent about it. 

But in December I started a "spare change" portfolio.  A collection of individual stocks that I could purchase fractional shares of.  I followed recommendations from Motley Fool. They seemed as good as anybody.  I usually drop about $50 per paycheck into it which is an approximation of what I'd net by rounding up my normal monthly expenses to the nearest dollar.  Other small windfalls get dropped in, such as credit card cash back or whatever.

It's been entertaining. It's like gambling, except in the one casino where the odds are historically in my favor. Two months in I've dropped $425 and I'm up 4.62%.  I was up 6.8% yesterday, but today the market is down.  I figure I'm winning if the return stays ahead of the 4.43% interest I get on my emergency cash. 

I don't know what I'd do with it.  Maybe if it adds up enough, someday I'll buy a guitar with it.  Somethin'.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Travellin Dave]

Diesel Unlimited Maduro d.5
(5.5"x54)Pack of 5
| MSRP: $9.15 per cigar

In Stock
4.61 out of 5
BUY 5+ CIGARS
$4.00
per cigar
$19.99 total price
Save 56%

[Travellin Dave]

Most of my money is passively invested - no-load, low-cost mutuals in the Roth, the HSA, and the state investment fund.  Mostly ETFs in the brokerage account. I've been trying to learn about evaluating individual companies and stocks, but I haven't been that diligent about it. 

But in December I started a "spare change" portfolio.  A collection of individual stocks that I could purchase fractional shares of.  I followed recommendations from Motley Fool. They seemed as good as anybody.  I usually drop about $50 per paycheck into it which is an approximation of what I'd net by rounding up my normal monthly expenses to the nearest dollar.  Other small windfalls get dropped in, such as credit card cash back or whatever.

It's been entertaining. It's like gambling, except in the one casino where the odds are historically in my favor. Two months in I've dropped $425 and I'm up 4.62%.  I was up 6.8% yesterday, but today the market is down.  I figure I'm winning if the return stays ahead of the 4.43% interest I get on my emergency cash. 

I don't know what I'd do with it.  Maybe if it adds up enough, someday I'll buy a guitar with it.  Somethin'.

You haven't bought a guitar or a gun in quite a while.

[LuvTooGolf]

Jammin' Joe:

ACID Opulence 3 Torpedo - 10/39.99

Alec Bradley The Lineage Robusto - 10/32.50

5 Vegas Gold Churchill - 10/29.99

Rocky Patel Imperial Gordo - 10/37.50

Gurkha Beauty - 10/39.99

Diesel Rage Toro - 10/37.50

Aging Room Quattro Nicaraguan Maestro - 5/32.50

Camacho Ecuador Robusto - 5/22.50

Diesel Wicked Witches Brew Figurado - 10/42.50

Espinosa Habano No. 4 - 10/44.99

[razgueado]

Most of my money is passively invested - no-load, low-cost mutuals in the Roth, the HSA, and the state investment fund.  Mostly ETFs in the brokerage account. I've been trying to learn about evaluating individual companies and stocks, but I haven't been that diligent about it. 

But in December I started a "spare change" portfolio.  A collection of individual stocks that I could purchase fractional shares of.  I followed recommendations from Motley Fool. They seemed as good as anybody.  I usually drop about $50 per paycheck into it which is an approximation of what I'd net by rounding up my normal monthly expenses to the nearest dollar.  Other small windfalls get dropped in, such as credit card cash back or whatever.

It's been entertaining. It's like gambling, except in the one casino where the odds are historically in my favor. Two months in I've dropped $425 and I'm up 4.62%.  I was up 6.8% yesterday, but today the market is down.  I figure I'm winning if the return stays ahead of the 4.43% interest I get on my emergency cash. 

I don't know what I'd do with it.  Maybe if it adds up enough, someday I'll buy a guitar with it.  Somethin'.

You haven't bought a guitar or a gun in quite a while.

It's become an issue of space.  The gun safe is crowded, so it's been over two years since I last bought a firearm. I've been stockpiling ammo, some.  I still want to get a Colt Python in blued finish.  But I've been so focused on music that I haven't spent much time with the firearms. 

I spent a lot of money on guitar gear last year.  Four amplifiers, two guitar builds, three preamps, two speaker cabinets, a couple of speakers, and five or six pedals that I can recall offhand.  Some tubes and various maintenance work.  A tape echo unit in January.  I was a bit off the hook, celebrating no longer having to pay tuition bills.  But, again, it starts becoming an issue of space. So I've called a moratorium.  There's only one guitar-related purchase left on the bucket list - an heirloom-quality acoustic guitar.  The retirement guitar.  It'll be spendy.  I'm saving up for that.

This year I'll focus on the studio, and get back to shooting more. Hence my focus on financial goals, and doubling the amount of money I put into investments.