Bicyclists are something you see a lot of at Farmers' Markets, but there are two distinctive types:
1. Cyclists who ride everyday, whose bike is their main mode of transportation. Bicycle cap optional. Tattoos a must. Black rimmed glasses recommended.
2. Weekenders. You know, the 30-something professional who heard on NPR that riding bikes is good for you, and read an article in The New Yorker about how farmers' markets are the fastest growing food market in the U.S. So they dust off their pastel fixed gear Trek cruiser with the basket on the front, don their expensive helmets and head down to the market to purchase produce that will probably go bad before its used.
I love observing folks at these markets. You can tell a lot about people by watching them in the farmers' market environment.
5.12.2009
2.15.2009
Deep Breath
So I think I've decided to get an AS in Business from Skyline. I've been in school for so long, and I just want something to show for it. If I ever decide to get a Bachelor's it won't be in business or any science, it will be in some kind of liberal art, so an AS in Business will make me very well rounded on paper. I think I only need 9 more classes, as an added bonus, and its very relevant to my future goals, at the moment.
I'd love to open my own specialty coffee/roasting business. This changeover was a lot of work, but it's been well received, and I'm in the process of creating a cupping class for anyone who wants to attend. Now that Starbucks is serving instant coffee, there's even more room for me to open people's eyes! I would like to be the one who's making the money though, instead of getting paid too little for way too much work. So if I get my own shop, and I know how to run it, I could be really successful. I think I'll start meditating on it, sending positive vibes into the universe, bla bla bla.
Choir is going really well. T. is such a beautiful person, being around him and creating music with him is a positive experience. I like going to church, it's a disciplined activity where I'm forced to be silent and self reflective. I take from it the parts that feed me, and leave the other parts for other people.
Here we go, into another week. Pray for me in your own way, for patience, humility, kindness and understanding in all that I do. I'll pray for your health and general well-being, and thankfulness that you're in my life :)
I'd love to open my own specialty coffee/roasting business. This changeover was a lot of work, but it's been well received, and I'm in the process of creating a cupping class for anyone who wants to attend. Now that Starbucks is serving instant coffee, there's even more room for me to open people's eyes! I would like to be the one who's making the money though, instead of getting paid too little for way too much work. So if I get my own shop, and I know how to run it, I could be really successful. I think I'll start meditating on it, sending positive vibes into the universe, bla bla bla.
Choir is going really well. T. is such a beautiful person, being around him and creating music with him is a positive experience. I like going to church, it's a disciplined activity where I'm forced to be silent and self reflective. I take from it the parts that feed me, and leave the other parts for other people.
Here we go, into another week. Pray for me in your own way, for patience, humility, kindness and understanding in all that I do. I'll pray for your health and general well-being, and thankfulness that you're in my life :)
1.12.2009
Home Safely!
And glad to be! NWRBC was everything I'd hoped for and more! My palate has developed significantly over the last 4 days, and I'm ready to start training P. to compete in the WRBC 2010. Will post pictures of my awesome swag etc, but after the 6 hour drive from Ashland this morning, I'm ready for bed.
It's also time to get back to work -- I'll be at the cart at 8am tomorrow getting ready to open with a new face in one week!!
It's also time to get back to work -- I'll be at the cart at 8am tomorrow getting ready to open with a new face in one week!!
1.02.2009
Boys or Girls?
Yes!
I'm so amazed that I can have the same degree of desire for dudes and chicks. I love that I don't have to limit myself to someone's sex, or sexual orientation for that matter ;) I'm looking for a person, and what's between your legs really has no bearing on whether I like you or not. I sort of thought I was over the whole "girl thing" for awhile, but, lo and behold, I find myself attracted to another girl. It really is all about personality for me, and I am super picky on that basis, so the playing field for me is really no bigger than someone who is "straight" or "gay", it just looks really different.
Working on my mixes for the roadtrip, looking forward to irritating P. to no end with hours and hours of hip-hop and pop, along with some stuff I know we'll both like. Hey, I had to listen to the Allman Brothers incessantly for an entire semester -- time for some payback, betch!
Favorite song at the moment?
Womanizer. (You call me crazy/I've got your crazy)
Fuck yeah.
I'm so amazed that I can have the same degree of desire for dudes and chicks. I love that I don't have to limit myself to someone's sex, or sexual orientation for that matter ;) I'm looking for a person, and what's between your legs really has no bearing on whether I like you or not. I sort of thought I was over the whole "girl thing" for awhile, but, lo and behold, I find myself attracted to another girl. It really is all about personality for me, and I am super picky on that basis, so the playing field for me is really no bigger than someone who is "straight" or "gay", it just looks really different.
Working on my mixes for the roadtrip, looking forward to irritating P. to no end with hours and hours of hip-hop and pop, along with some stuff I know we'll both like. Hey, I had to listen to the Allman Brothers incessantly for an entire semester -- time for some payback, betch!
Favorite song at the moment?
Womanizer. (You call me crazy/I've got your crazy)
Fuck yeah.
1.01.2009
4 Days . . .
After 3 days of intense training, I'm so ready for a coffee vacation. A vacation centered around coffee, that is, not a vacation from coffee. No, I don't think I ever really want a vacation from coffee -- I was thinking about it today and I've never been happier at a job. Yes it's stressful, yes I work way too much and way too hard, but it's all worth it in the end. I get to do something I love, hang out with awesome people, meet new awesome people, and improve my craft. Plus, coffee folks are hot ;)
Spent a few hours at the cart getting ready for the changeover. It doesn't look like much now, but its all coming together, and when it's all said and done, the new and improved El Cap is going to be fuckin' SEXY! I'm so excited that I'll be able to serve someone a real espresso, not that hot brown liquid I've been serving over the past year. Convinced P. to get real, ceramic demitasse cups -- fancy. The cart is growing up to become a real coffee shop!
Only 4 days, 9 hours, 17 minutes left until we leave for Portland/Tacoma. My Google Map indicates that I'll be thoroughly caffeinated:
View Larger Map
Spent a few hours at the cart getting ready for the changeover. It doesn't look like much now, but its all coming together, and when it's all said and done, the new and improved El Cap is going to be fuckin' SEXY! I'm so excited that I'll be able to serve someone a real espresso, not that hot brown liquid I've been serving over the past year. Convinced P. to get real, ceramic demitasse cups -- fancy. The cart is growing up to become a real coffee shop!
Only 4 days, 9 hours, 17 minutes left until we leave for Portland/Tacoma. My Google Map indicates that I'll be thoroughly caffeinated:
View Larger Map
12.29.2008
. . . and tomorrow we spro!
Finished the first of three, eight-hour trainings sessions with BCR in San Jose today. I am SUCH a coffee geek! I love learning about the art and craft of coffee, and tomorrow is hands-on training, which I am so damn excited about!
I realized today that while I respect and need to understand coffee roasting and coffee tech (ie machines, grinders, their inner workings and mechanics), my real passion and interest is in the barista. I love the idea that I am the last hands the coffee touches on its long, complex, political journey to the cup. I want to convey my respect and adoration for all the work, care, attention and love that went into each bean to the customer receiving the awesome final product.
7 days, 11 hours, 35 minutes until the NWRBC!!
I realized today that while I respect and need to understand coffee roasting and coffee tech (ie machines, grinders, their inner workings and mechanics), my real passion and interest is in the barista. I love the idea that I am the last hands the coffee touches on its long, complex, political journey to the cup. I want to convey my respect and adoration for all the work, care, attention and love that went into each bean to the customer receiving the awesome final product.
7 days, 11 hours, 35 minutes until the NWRBC!!
12.25.2008
Christmas
Happy Christmas!
Last night's Christmas Eve service was at 11:00pm, which I was semi-cranky about. Okay, pretty darn cranky about. I crawled into bed at 6:00 or so and awoke three hours later, only to discover that one of my mother's two house rules had been broken:
1. No blood on the carpet.
2. No trips to emergency on weekends or holidays.
Thankfully, only the first rule was broken, and the breaking of said rule didn't result in the breaking of the second rule. My sis dropped her bowl of soup and cut her toe on the glass, without realizing it. All evening I kept helpfully pointing out, "You know, if the service was at 7:00 . . ." I think it was only helpful the first few times.
Woke at around 9:00 to a huge clap of thunder, to which my groggy mind asked "who's opening the garage door at this hour?" The dogs liked their stocking stuffers:
Opening stockings
Sir Winston Churchill III
Frida Kahlo and Winston
Jake
Miracle and Frida
Looking forward to an awesome Christmas dinner: Grass-fed beef roast, roasted root vegetables, fresh crunchy veg salad, Beckmann's pecan pie! Yum!
Last night's Christmas Eve service was at 11:00pm, which I was semi-cranky about. Okay, pretty darn cranky about. I crawled into bed at 6:00 or so and awoke three hours later, only to discover that one of my mother's two house rules had been broken:
1. No blood on the carpet.
2. No trips to emergency on weekends or holidays.
Thankfully, only the first rule was broken, and the breaking of said rule didn't result in the breaking of the second rule. My sis dropped her bowl of soup and cut her toe on the glass, without realizing it. All evening I kept helpfully pointing out, "You know, if the service was at 7:00 . . ." I think it was only helpful the first few times.
Woke at around 9:00 to a huge clap of thunder, to which my groggy mind asked "who's opening the garage door at this hour?" The dogs liked their stocking stuffers:
Opening stockings
Sir Winston Churchill III
Frida Kahlo and Winston
Jake
Miracle and Frida
Looking forward to an awesome Christmas dinner: Grass-fed beef roast, roasted root vegetables, fresh crunchy veg salad, Beckmann's pecan pie! Yum!
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