Stumptown's not bad. I introduced a friend to coffee when she was in town a couple years ago, and that's where I took her.

Also, "Park West" sounds super-fancy, like it should come with butlers and a snooty white family with a long lineage.

This is true.

I quite like Stumptown, I visit every time I"m in Portland, but it's a little pricey and I have to order it and have it delivered, and they stopped grinding for shipment so there are expense and inconvenience issues. Stupid tastebuds, having standards. I need to ask my local shop if they ever had decaf beans for sale (they didn't last time I was in there, but maybe they sometimes do and would set some aside for me?)

I brought a salad for lunch, but I really want something hot. This is a problem when Chik-Fil-A is in the building.

Swanky apartments, shrift!

I expected the rent to be high, but that's astonishing.

I'm sorry, tommy. Cognitive decline is the hardest thing to see a loved one go through, I think.

But she enjoyed it in the moment, so maybe you can focus on that too.

The moments matter.

shrift, them's fancy-looking digs! I hope you get a place that suits you quickly and easily.

Aging fast or slow: my face is aging slowly, thank you night-shift job in my twenties, but the rest of me seems to be on schedule, what with the rising markers of aging as I enter my 50s. Body, this was not the deal. We were going to remain 35 forever, remember? Man, I've just got to remain mostly intact until the cyber-revolution.

Also, I have to wonder what's up with the ATL airport. This is the third time in 2 months that my lock has either been missing or attached but unlocked when I'm transiting through that airport.

TSA has pawed through my stuff twice, and now that you mention it, I think both times were when I went through ATL. I don't bother locking my bags anymore; I just use a twist-tie to secure the zippers.

Coffee lovers in or passing through Nashville ought to check out Bongo Java Coffee. They'll mail you a bag too. It's good. I'm not even a coffee lover really, I just drink it medicinally.

I'm sorry, tommyrot. It's hard, but maybe you can find a way to shift your expectations. As others above have said, pleasure in the moment means a lot more when the moment is all you have. And the rest of it, knowing you visited, knowing she's being cared for properly, those are for you and your well being.

My visit to HMB introduced me to Philz Coffee, which is muy hipster but very tasty. Definitely a Bay Area thing, but I see they have an LA location too.

But she enjoyed it in the moment, so maybe you can focus on that too.

My sister's coworker told her the same thing. And my brother agrees.

Also, I have to wonder what's up with the ATL airport. This is the third time in 2 months that my lock has either been missing or attached but unlocked when I'm transiting through that airport. No note from TSA saying they had to check my bag, and nothing's been missing.

Sounds like TSA needs another housecleaning. They probably would've stolen if you had anything good in there. Boo.

I am in Omaha. Whee? So sleepy--had to get up at 6am to make my flight. Finished a meeting early and am now having more coffee. Two more meetings and three reports to write. Ugh.

Also, I feel I am quite well-paid, but those SF prices scare the crap out of me. Dear lord!

Yuck, could have used a tag or warning before someone on my friend's list posted a pick of a bouncy-house staph infection. I hate that facebook doesn't give you a choice about opening pictures.

Also, I feel I am quite well-paid, but those SF prices scare the crap out of me.

As well they should. "The median rent in San Francisco, according to the index, now sits at a terrifying $4,225/month." [link]

Edit: there are a lot of arguments that the median rent isn't actually that high, but it's still Too Damn High.