how to make a mess or maybe Dunkin' isn't such a bad idea after all

When you dump the ground beans in the filter, fill the coffee machine with water, turn it on and walk away...forgetting the coffee pot is still sitting in the drying rack.

the negotiation

FYI: Today is "free latte day" at Dunkin' Donuts. They are giving away lattes in an effort to steal business from Starbucks...just don't try pulling a fast one on the Donuts crew.

me: Hi, are you only giving away lattes? Or, could I by chance have an americano?
dunkin dude: Only lattes.
me: So, just espresso and hot milk, not espresso and hot water.
dd: (stares)
me: Any chance I could get espresso with hot water instead of espresso with milk?
dd: (stares), No, just hot milk. No hot water.
me: No water instead of milk?
dd: No, just milk.
me: Ok, I'll have a latte
dd: Want sugar?

My thought is this will not steal away business from Starbucks other than possibly some of the morning rush crowd and the "I really need a coffee but Starbucks has a huge line" business. I have read before and tend to agree that the Starbucks experience, more so than the coffee itself, is what draws most to their stores. Unless this is a start to branding Dunkin' more as an experience? Will we eventually see plush couches, ambient music, and headphoned MacBook Air users at Dunkin?

it's in the eye of the beholder

If you are a frequent reader of dooce.com you will have noticed a new segment to her blog: daily style. It is here Heather Armstrong takes artistic photos of everyday things she has in her home. They are normally very stylish and artistically shot...colorful, a hint of fading or shadowing on the edges.

So, in order to fill space on our blog I have decided to add some style posts as well. Mine will be less frequent and less stylish and less artistic. Like I said: space filler. So let's begin.

Recently, I have noticed many women walking around Chicago wearing spotted and colorful rain boots (apparently known as Wellies?). It has been a very snowy and wet winter here in the city so these wellies seem to be all over. Is this a new trend? I think so because I don't remember the last time rain boots made a fashion statement. Unless, of course, you've been wearing these:



These are my boots. Green and brown and beautiful all over. Rubber sole with a stylish canvas top. Bought at Meijer maybe 6 years ago for 20 bucks. Not worth the $20 you say? Well, my dry feet beg to differ. As do the envious stares I get clompin and stompin through the neighborhood.

everyone has an opinion

http://www.defectiveyeti.com/oscars/?21025

Click above and partake in a simple little Oscar pool. I think I get an email with your votes or something. Maybe I can announce a winner. Or loser. Just like this weekend when Adam, the host of the 2nd annual Superbowl cookoff, was announced not the winner.

meet josh jetson

Last weekend our friends Becky and Josh stopped by Chicago between stops their NYC and Portland, OR stops. We did coffee, dinner, Wii and discovered something amazing. Well, discovered may be the wrong word. More shown I guess. We are no Ponce de Leon.

What Josh showed us was that we can video chat with friends through iChat on our Macbook.  Did you know this?  I was shocked.  Simply shocked.  So, we tested it.  I sat at the dinner table and Josh walked into the kitchen.  10 feet away.  It worked.

The true test, though, came when I saw my cousin Mike logged into his AOL IM and next to his name was a little video icon. (This was difficult as I had to first try and remember my password which I hadn't used for at least 4 years and then try and remember who all these random IM names belong to.  WILDMAN723?  Must have known him during my crazy and wild days.  If you are reading this mr. wildman723 drop me a line.  Let's reconnect.  Talk about old times.)

So, I clicked the icon, it rang all the way in Denver, and the next thing I know I am having a conversation with Mike like he was there in my kitchen.  Amazing!  He gave Brooke and I a tour of his and Amy's apartment, showed us some of his self created art and then we talked about Zelda and how cool it is going to be when we can race each other on MarioKart when it comes out.  So cool.

So, if any of you have an iSight on their 'puter just let me know and let's chat like neighbors.

daddy day camp

I have not seen Daddy Day Camp the movie, and have no plans to, but I would pay good money to watch critics watch Daddy Day Camp. Here is a sampling of criticism found on metacritic.com:

Daddy Day Camp is a perfect family film for the blind and deaf. -- Film Threat, Michael Ferraro

It's gotten to the point where Gooding's presence on a marquee practically guarantees we'll be bashing our heads against the seat in front of us. Bonk, bonk, bonk. -- Washington Post, Desson Thomson

About as much fun as being given a wedgie and hung from the camp flagpole -- The Globe and Mail (Toronto), Liam Lacey

a modern take on that boy from My Side of the Mountain who lived in a tree trunk

Have you ever been to an Ikea and thought to yourself "Wow, that 300 sq. foot fake apartment is really tiny but so very stylish. I wonder what it would be like to live in a room like that? I wish I lived in an Ikea."

Well, this guy Mark is doing more than just wondering. He is doing. Watch updates of his week living in an Ikea here. (via coudal partners)