My Favorite Coffee Shop

It's Dead River Coffee, in Marquette, Michigan. Hard by the shore of Lake Superior, where strong, flavorful coffee is a necessity. During those long winter months, when it's dark upon rising and dark by mid-afternoon, good conversation goes a long way, too. 

Last week I was road-tripping through Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and found it logical to drive an hour out of my way, in each direction, to spend a couple of hours with Theo at Dead River Coffee. A constant stream of interesting music provides a counterpoint to people discussing anything and everything. Theo even provides a pre-Internet way to settle arguments and answer questions: books!

Give yourself an opportunity to enjoy fresh, varied coffee, roasted on the premises (in fact, only feet from wherever you're sitting). Ask Theo questions about coffee, music or the U.P. He'll provide an intelligent opinion. And he loves puppies!

Honey Honey: top of my music charts

Listening to Joe Rogan Experience podcasts opens many topics. He's an interesting man with fascinating friends and a thirst for knowledge. Rogan loves passion in music, as he does in martial arts, nutrition and science. Last weekend I was blown away by Honey Honey, guesting recently on an episode. Listen to this song, find their others on YouTube, and tell me Honey Honey aren't for real. This is great great music.

A Quick Friday Night Dinner

Often, by the time Friday evening rolls around, I'm tired. My weeks as a personal trainer are a long grind, emotionally and physically draining. I don't sleep enough. I workout nearly each day. Sometimes I'm facing another day at the gym on Saturday, which messes with my head as much as my body.

Usually Friday finds us unprepared for a real, sit-down together meal. Eating out is frustrating here in central Wisconsin; most of the restaurants serve food we don't wish to eat. The meat tastes terrible, compared to the grass-fed beef we live on at home. Vegetables, if available, are prepared in who-knows-what oil. I assume it's poison. So most of the time we eat at home. And often it's the same thing: throw vegetables into a pan with bacon fat or coconut oil. Add meat (or eggs. I can eat eggs multiple times daily). Cook. Hit with gluten-free hot sauce. Maybe sweet potatoes. Open red wine. Bang, done!

Last night we changed it up a little bit. Turkey breasts (yes, grocery store sale item - I'm sorry) cut into chunks, sauteed in grass-fed butter (thank you Ireland). Added Indian curry sauce (stocked up at Trader Joe's when leaving Columbus, Ohio last month and the Arnold Sports Festival). Simmered that for a while. In a separate pan, cooked down a giant pile of kale, again with butter.

Split cooked kale into two platters, meat and sauce on top, open red wine (oops, the wine was already open, who am I kidding?). Settle down to a good movie with my best friend. Simple, healthy, quick. 

Caity Matter Henniger: CrossFit Games Winner Returns to Competition

http://games.crossfit.com/article/her-terms-caity-matter-henniger

Ten Minutes with Rich Froning Jr. and Dan Bailey