Nothing seems to warm a person up on a cold day like a hot cup of coffee, or at least that’s what my dad said when he filled up his Thermos each morning. But each time I tried a cup of his coffee, it tasted like dirty water.

I never understood the attraction, and whenever a friend or customer wanted to meet for coffee, I would embarrassingly order a hot chocolate — until my friend and CITYVIEW columnist Joe Weeg convinced me to slowly wade into this ocean of java. Yes, Joe is a pusher. I have written about this before, but there is a new result.

Joe introduced me to cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, mochas and more, and I learned that these things are sinful. After taking out a small loan and going to the next notch on my belt, I decided maybe these cousins of coffee were not such a good idea. So I took a necessary hiatus — until my daughter Samantha familiarized me with dairy creamer. Not the basic stuff, mind you. French vanilla. Italian sweet cream. I was hooked again.

While at an industry conference, my Tennessean friend Will Thomas watched me pour a cement truck load of creamer into my coffee. Will, a definite coffee snob, helped me come to the realization that I didn’t like coffee at all and that what I really liked was coffee creamer. He was right. If you have done any research on this, you know that coffee creamer is awful for you, but the addiction is real.

So I tried going cold turkey with the creamer, but I was instantly reminded of the dirty water taste of Dad’s coffee. I tried cutting back on creamer, which isn’t easy to do when it pours out so quickly and easily from that perfectly contoured 32-ounce bottle. Then my wife encouraged me to try almond milk and a bit of honey in my coffee. So I tried almond milk and more than a bit of honey — and it was delicious. I am working on reducing the honey, but she tells me that it is better for me than dairy creamer, so I am going with the lesser of two evils.

Now, nothing seems to warm me up on a cold day like a hot cup of coffee — with almond milk and honey.

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

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One man’s pigeons are another person’s pet peeve?

By Jeff Pitts

Larry White fears for his flock of 200-plus pigeons. The City of Des Moines has asked him to reduce his flock to 30 birds. White has applied for an exception.

Life is good for the 200-plus pigeons living in domestication within the detached structures behind Larry White’s southside home. Food is plentiful for the pigeons — they eat mostly grains — and they live 15 years or so on average. At least they do as long as they aren’t let out at the wrong time.

“If you turn them out at the wrong time,” White cautions, “they’re hawk food.”

White’s birds, known as Birmingham Roller Pigeons, are different from homing pigeons. Rollers have the ability, as their name implies, to roll while flying in mid air.

[...]

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Indianola Living magazine is published each month and mailed to every household in the community. The January issue cover story, "Pets of a different kind" is about locals who have chosen unusual pets and what they have to say about them. Also included are other features, informational articles and local photos. Each edition, as well as the archives, may be viewed at www.iowalivingmagazines.com. Read the January issue here.

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