We spent most of the day out today -- lunch with family, then DH, Brandon and Cameron and I went to my sister's house and spent the afternoon with her hubby and, for a while, my mom and two little cousins. BIL baked Toll House cookies, which we scarfed down during an "NCIS" marathon.

Saturday night TV isn't fabulous -- no cable, no satellite -- but I love being home then. I watch "Cops" or "Law and Order" and "America's Most Wanted" and "48 Hours" and "CSI:Miami." We eat whatever I throw together (Christmas leftovers tonight), I have all the coffee or cocoa or Diet Dr. Pepper I want, and I go to bed when I feel like it. What's not to love?

I admit, I've never been a coffee drinker, but the book in progress features a hero who owns a coffee shop, so I figured I'd better at least give it a shot. I learned to like weak hazelnut-flavored coffee with strong hazelnut-flavored cream, but that was about it for me. Regular coffee? No thanks.

Then my niece, Kate, who spent the past year in El Salvador, brought us bags of Topeca coffee for Christmas. Oh. My. Gosh. She brought two varieties, and we haven't opened one yet, but the Manzano is incredible. I love it love it.

So, looking ahead to the day when this bag runs out, I checked out the company's website to find out about ordering it, and can you believe it? Their plantation is in El Salvador, but the family owns a cafe and coffee roastery in downtown Tulsa! How's that for coincidence?? And here I was thinking I'd have to send Kate back down there for refills.

I now know more about coffee varieties, grinding and brewing methods than any one person should know. I figure it'll stay in my head long enough for this book. Honestly, I think coffee's going to play into the first love scene. Never thought of it as sexy? Read a few descriptions -- smooth, bold, sweet, subtle, spicy, smoky, rich, eloquent, intense, silky . . .

Hm . . . I may need to go brew another cup.