November 2009 – Jay Lagare

Michelle noticed the long awaited “bloody show” early yesterday morning. We quickly wrapped up house preparations, packed up last minute items, and leisurely left for the hospital. It felt strange since I was expecting to be going to the hospital at high speed, with blinkers on, and a screaming wife on the passenger seat. So I guess, so far so good.

On the way, we decided to drop by Mom and Tina’s along C-5 to buy a chocolate cake. Glenn and Mines had given one to us during the baby’s shower but Michelle decided not to eat any since the baby is becoming bigger than average. Since it was past lunch and we haven’t eaten, we decided to also have lunch there. Turned out that their lunch was quite respectable, definitely worthy of their cakes and pastry.

After lunch, we went on to the hospital, straight to the labor room, and got ourselves admitted. We were expecting that labor would take time but little did we know that it was the start of a long, sleepless day and night…and day. Michelle’s labor progressed slowly, cervix dilation was a slow 1 cm per 2 hours instead of the normal 1 cm per hour. And after 24 hours, it got stuck at 8 cm. And that’s already with an oxytocin labor-augmentation drip.

Finally, after being stuck for over two hours, we elected to go caesarian. Luckily, the doctor allowed me into the delivery room. I suited up while they started with the initial steps. They then invited me in during the emergence of the baby. I watched in awe, and couldn’t help but be misty eyed, as our baby came out squirming, kicking, and not-too-softly protesting her removal from her warm watery bliss.

The staff cleaned her up good, washing and suctioning her airways since she had already expelled some meconium due to the long and stressful labor. Also the reason why we couldn’t be with our own little angel yet since she had to spend some time under observation at the nursery.

Still it was one big event done and over with. Amelie Jeanne has been born. Michelle and I are now parents! I am now a dad! Awesome!

We got this Bialetti Dama as a wedding gift from Bing. It is a stove-top coffee maker based on the classic Bialetti Moka Express. The Dama is the newer, slightly modernized model.

The differences are actually pretty subtle: silicone rubber handle and “soft-touch” plastic knob instead of bakelite and a slightly rounded tank instead of octagonal. Both are made of aluminum and are functionally the same.

To make coffee, pour water (preferably filtered) into the tank, drop in the funnel, and put some coffee grounds (espresso grind but not too fine!) on the funnel. Screw the pot onto the tank, put on top of stove on low to medium heat (my preference), and wait as the water boils. Because of the gasket on the tank, the pressure and heat is higher. Once the water boils, steam drives through funnel into the coffee grounds, up the pot stem and into the pot. Remove from heat when, or preferably before, you hear the characteristic gurgling sound.

Pour and serve your freshly-made coffee! Okay, it’s not exactly espresso, since the pressure and heat is not high enough to produce crema and the thick consistency of true espresso. But it’s as close as you can get without spending a lot.

After use and enjoying the coffee, just wash with water. This lets the coffee oils coat and season the metal so that your espresso gets better and better as the years go by. You might want to clean the tank a bit more vigorously though since all the boiling leaves stains and calcium deposits. But, aside from replacing the rubber gasket, that’s about all you need to do to make it last.

A classic piece of coffee gear that you shouldn’t be without.

Jay Lagare

Month: November 2009

I’m A Dad!

Bialetti Dama