I remember my first taste of coffee… my mothers instant “tasters choice” YAK! I’m not sure how old I was, but I’ll never forget the laughs as my contorted face brought forth wonderful amusement for those watching. It wouldn’t be until I was 19 and fighting fire for Chelan County Fire Department. (Yes, I was a firefighter, EMT at one time). It was winter and cold. Fighting fire in the cold nights, wet and freezing, I knew I had to do something, but coffee? YAK! A friend of mine told me, “You need to drink coffee. What else is there” I told him about my experience with coffee, “tasters choice” and for what I tasted to be the “tasters choice” it must have been in the line up with chum, dirty toilet water and charcoal mixed with burnt food and water. He laughed at me like the others did so many years ago and he told me I needed to try an espresso shot.

My first espresso shot. I would like to say it was heaven, it was not. I still didn’t have the taste for coffee, but I was going to. It wasn’t a matter of liking the taste… it was a matter of staying warm. I knew I would drink coffee if it killed me and I would learn to drink it straight. None of this fancy pants stuff… Cream, sugar, etc. With as much junk as some folks put in their coffee, I doubt they are really drinking coffee.

Winter forged on and I forced every hot cup of coffee down that I could to stay warm. I was told the secret to good coffee was never washing your mug. I gave it a shot and I’m not sure when it really happened, but I got hooked… I fell head over heals for the taste and smell of coffee. I can’t imagine not having a nice hot cup of BLACK coffee. It is one of the best parts of each day. The aroma early in the morning just makes me smile.

Is it a drug? Am I addicted? Say what you want… I don’t really care. I love my coffee.

I’ve managed to have coffee from many parts of the world. Darker roasts are my favorite and I enjoy beans from Africa.

Is this a blessing? Of course it is. Take it away from me though and it could be a curse… for you.

peace.
johno~

Click on the photo and it will send you to the desktop gallery for 2010. Place your cursor over the image and a window will slide out. Save image to your desktop.
peace.
johno~

What a blessing it is to find a place on the earth you’ve never stood on before. That’s where I found myself… for the first time in my life, standing on the cliffs at Point Loma. How amazing is our Creator? My camera just couldn’t capture the beauty that was all around me. [...]

Jennifer Davis

Option #3: Trying to be like Jesus to my wife, my kids, the youth I serve in ministry, and to an impoverished world. Using photography to help others see more clearly the majesty of creation and the glory of God among us.
Many thanks to all those who gave this a shot. It was [...]

I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with World Vision to an Area Development Project in Tijuana, Mexico the last week. It was stormy… the rain was intense and falling… sideways. It was incredible to see roads washing away moments after we crossed them. Upon arriving to the ADP, we met [...]

OK, I’ve got another contest. This one will run for two weeks and I’m hoping for some fun input from a bunch of you.
One of the goals I have for 2010 is to work on my blog more than I did in 2009. (so far, so good) I want it to be a [...]

Chalk this up to my first real product shot… I have to say, “I’m blessed.”
I’m not sure I could go into all the details of this photo. Yes, I know it’s a bunch of Canon cameras, but it’s more.
Last year my family and I were returning home form the Oregon coast after [...]

With the help of my son Caleb, one of five folded pieces of paper, containing five different names, was pulled by the 7 year old Thomas kid.
AND THE WINNER IS… THE OTHER JOHN THOMAS.

10. Learn the technical aspects of your equipment, and learn them well. (Most of my photographic troubles can be brought down [...]

I’m not sure how I managed to pick these photos out of the thousands I took last year… and limiting it to 10 was tough, but I managed it. They might not be the best photos, but each one of them touch a bit of my story 2009.
These pictures are stories that [...]

Well, it’s the start of a new year and a new photo challenge. This years photo theme will be “52 Blessings.” After last years photo challenge wreck and the disaster of having my gear stolen in the 3rd month of the year, I thought it would be best to focus this year on [...]