Todays Cup

Well, today marks a trial...I'm convinced that drinking coffee so early in the morning, so much coffee so early in the morning, is distroying my stomach. That being assumed, I'm going grocery shopping, I created a menu which includes breakfast, and I'm hoping I can over come my wired eating pattern.

So here's to the first day of an earl grey morning with breakfast, lunch, and high protein dinner!

I'm celebrating with an iced Misto at noon instead of two cups before 8am.

My body hates me...

Vroom!

Recently I ventured on a journey to South Dakota! Yep, that's right...Most notably South Dakota is known for its wide open plains and the Black Hills. I have visited this expansive state a number of times, but this time every place I passed was only a memory. Stopping only to fuel up my rental car, I rested my head in Pierre. Pierre is the Capital of South Dakota and smack dab in the middle of the state, making getting there very difficult. Driving there was fine, but driving back was torture. Ten hours, ten hours of speed across 850 miles of country. I crossed two borders and made it back to Milwaukee in relatively good time. Next time, though, I'll be starting out earlier. Driving in the dark was stressful. So, back to my journey, otherwise known as vacation. My vacation was ten days total. First leaving Milwaukee towards St.Paul, Minnesota to see a concert stay with a friend. Then I headed to Pierre for a five day stay with E. Basically, I had planned on getting there and nothing beyond and that is exactly what I did, nothing. It was a delightful time away from my usual routine. Here's to vacation!

Todays Cup

As I sit in one of my favorite coffee shopes, I am draw into conversation with my favorite barista, Genius. I also work for this shope part-time and outside of being an employee I spend every day with this place. I am dedicated to coffee, to independent businesses, to small (although Mil town is not so small) town coffee culture, and to a vision to provide excellent coffee to everyone. It's not rocket science; running a coffee shope, but it does take some thing special. The key is community. Without smart, passionate people who are invested in the same vision you will lose every thing. Not even the best coffee will keep people coming back. From the perspective of a patron you are investing in a service and a product that you could do without. Everyone can make coffee, especially at home, and everyone can save a buck by staying at home, or simply stop consuming the product. As an employee, the investment is simple too. Foremost, you're in it for the money. You need a job, but what interests you in the beginning is some thing more notable. And the same can be said whether you are the owner, manager, barista, or patron. You love coffee! You're not just addicted, you love the smell of coffee, the taste of coffee, the sound of the brewer or Espresso machine, and the feel of a warm cup of coffee in your hands. But all this would be nothing without a community of people consumed by an addiction to being served a product they could do without. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Just a thought.

Nom, nom, nom...

In this week's review, much fun was had by all...

Gert visited me! Our challenge, beat the heat. With a record high, some thing like 100 degrees, we chose to eat our way across Milwaukee. After the morning brew, Columbian, we headed out to the Pancake House. I ordered a half order of French Toast with a side of bacon and Gert ordered Potato Pancakes...and boy did she get 'em! 10 of them!!