~ trying to spend thirty minutes out of the los angeles cold, we entered norm’s – an american version of vips – to consume a cup of that to which they liberally refer as ‘coffee’. the plastic card on the table touted a new ‘coffee choice’, called ‘vienna roast’, which promised to be a ‘darker roast’ than their standard fare. we demanded that the waiter bring to us a cup, and he warned us of its strength; before our temper with him was lost over this insult – that their coffee would be too strong for us – he saved himself with the comment that we shouldn’t worry about the price, because there is no extra charge for the ‘special roast’. notwithstanding our expectation for norm’s coffee to be of very poor quality, we were duly impressed with the beverage. it is not out of the question that we may actually return to norm’s someday.

~ we and our current out-of-town guest donated platelets at the santa monica red cross office; the angry red planet encourages others to do the same in their neighborhood.

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