Monday, December 31, 2007
The Magical Day is Upon Us!
&t
What Magical Day you ask?
It's this special day called "New Years."
I'm not sure how (but I suspect elves) but on this day, you make a list of things you want to do or accomplish, and then you end up doing these things.
Now you can't do this on any other day of the year except this day, so be sure to get your list ready for the magic.
Do you have to leave it under your pillow?
No, that's just for teeth.
Oh.
[zefrank style]
Ok, in all seriousness, you know what I'm talking about.
Why wait for this one day to write a list of things you will never do. Why not write that list now, because you're not going to do it anyway?
That's why you have to stack your list with things you know you can do.
Here is my list:
- Wake up before 9 am on a weekday
- Shower once a month
- Write 1 email a day
- Blink 14 times a day
Here is a sample "bad" list:
- Get in shape
- Quit smoking
- Blog more
- Find my bioligical parents
See the difference?
Ok, I'm glad we got that straight.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
I'm ready for another weekend!
One weekend down! Mini weekend coming up!
What?
Yeah, I work tomorrow, off Tuesday, then it's Wednesday! Which means Thursday really... you know how it goes.
Having my mother in law in town was fun, busy but not nuts or anything. Her and Jenni mostly just went shopping.
We went to Pops today though. You know, that Route 66 attraction? Yeah, the one with all the soda.
We had a late lunch and brought back some soda and t-shirts. Fun time!
Well, we are watching "Crowned" now, Google it. Talk to you later!
What?
Yeah, I work tomorrow, off Tuesday, then it's Wednesday! Which means Thursday really... you know how it goes.
Having my mother in law in town was fun, busy but not nuts or anything. Her and Jenni mostly just went shopping.
We went to Pops today though. You know, that Route 66 attraction? Yeah, the one with all the soda.
We had a late lunch and brought back some soda and t-shirts. Fun time!
Well, we are watching "Crowned" now, Google it. Talk to you later!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Templeton's Christmas Present
My Mom and Dad gave a present to Templeton, watch him open it, and see how long it lasts!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Christmas Shopping Made Cheap
Did any of you get cash for Christmas? I know that it's usually something your Uncle gives as a gift, but I find it to be very efficient (is that the word?) in picking out what I really want.
An example...
It wasn't until Christmas day that I figured out what I wanted. I mean, I always want something but to find something that usually costs between $5 to $200, that can sometimes be hard.
Plus, I would rather (sometimes) have a ton of little quality items thatn one giant high dollar item.
I am the proud owner of a Timbuk2 messenger bag. I love my bag. If you own at Timbuk2, then you know. If not, I'm sorry.
Well, I wanted another Timbuk2 bag, but a backpack this time. I thought I swore off backpacks, just because I love my messenger bag and its design, but I found a backpack I love almost as much as my messenger bag (wordy?).
It's the Timbuk2 Underground Day Pack. It is right up my alley! It has all the qualities of the bag I'm used to, but with a doublestrap, when I carry those larger loads the weight will be distributed better (and more comfortable) and I love the way it opens. Easy access!
But I'm also getting a book, Starbucked, and a movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I found those on Amazon.com for a decent price!
Oh, but back to the whole Timbuk2 bag thing.
They are $75 on timbuk2.com. With a little searching, I checked eBay and found the bag I wanted, from an eBay Store (be sure to check the feedback and everything) for $38. One day left. So I bid!
...and...
I won!
Now, with shipping, it brought it to $50, so that's still a deal.
So check these sites when you online shop:
- eBay
- buy.com
- Craigslist (deal locally and only in cash)
- Google Checkout (if it's your first time, you get $10 off!)
- Amazon
- Dealhack
Aight, that's good for now. Talk to you later!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Merry Christmas!
A little late in posting! But Merry Christmas! Oh, and we did just wake up a second before this was taken.
Is it the beginning or the end?
No, I'm not talking about CatDog. Does anyone remember CatDog?
Anyway... it's Wednesday, but technically Thursday in my mind. Now that Wednesday is over though. But it's not completely over for me!
Tonight, we are gonna watch some Dumb & Dumber, maybe have some pecan pie... who knows!
See ya! Maybe I'll have more to talk about tomorrow!
Anyway... it's Wednesday, but technically Thursday in my mind. Now that Wednesday is over though. But it's not completely over for me!
Tonight, we are gonna watch some Dumb & Dumber, maybe have some pecan pie... who knows!
See ya! Maybe I'll have more to talk about tomorrow!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas is here... and leaving fast!
All this buildup for this one day and it's over. Luckily, it's not really over. Jenni and I are going to see the movie Juno. I heard it's good.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I did! I got everything from undershirts to a pair of Merrell shoes.
I also got a new t-shirt and undershirt. I love them!
Anyway, I just got back from Juno. I really thought it was funny!
"Don't forget there's pecan pie!" she tells me. Yes! I love pecan pie. I'm also a fan of blueberry.
With that said. I gotta go!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I did! I got everything from undershirts to a pair of Merrell shoes.
I also got a new t-shirt and undershirt. I love them!
Anyway, I just got back from Juno. I really thought it was funny!
"Don't forget there's pecan pie!" she tells me. Yes! I love pecan pie. I'm also a fan of blueberry.
With that said. I gotta go!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Late Night Post Session
What up yo?
I don't have cable. For a few reasons.
We don't really watch a ton of tv. Just the main shows. But that doesn't even really matter now because of the writers strike. We are more into movies and video games for me anyway.
The other reason is the cost. I guess you can combine that with the first reason because if we watched it a lot, then I guess it would be ok, but time and cost just don't equate.
I also have an HD tv. Nothing amazing. Just a 32 inch Vizio. Very decent. Relatively inexpensive. It is HD though.
So why have an HD tv if you don't even have cable? Well, I bought an HD antenna. Yup, you can get HD over the air. And it looks pretty good! Actually, really good!
So right now, I'm watching OETA. Just some great PBS shows about the F86 Sabre Jet and downed pilots, and some Hawaii history with lava and humpback whales.
In HD!
Oh, it snowed today! Got icy a little too, but not too bad. It was pretty windy though, whipping the snow around. Just enough of an accumulation that with cold temps and cloud cover, it may just be a white Christmas. Who knows!
We went to Church on The Move tonight. Well, we usually go on Saturday nights, but tonight was their special Christmas service.
It was really well done! Great music and an awesome performance. They had like this gigantic LCD screen... panels all attached together that must have been like... 40-50 feet wide or something! Really cool!
DoubleShot (Coffee Company) had some Kona Coffee in, and you had to pre-order, so I had to get some. I've heard great things about it.
Brian, at DoubleShot describes it as this:
"Traditionally, since Kona is an island coffee, it is very bright, clean, fruity, and delicious. You can definitely expect it to come alive in your mouth, especially if you drink it while it's still really fresh."
So, I thought I'd try some. I made a cup tonight and I really enjoyed it! Also, Jenni isn't used to (and doesn't really plan on) drinking coffee "black;" but I make her try one sip of every new coffee I get.
She usually grimaces and grabs for a cup of soda or water or something, but when I had her try this Kona, she didn't make any faces or anything! She said that she actually liked it. Now, I don't think she will always drink it that way, but is this a start of another coffee snob in the family? Perhaps!
So, if anyone wants to try a cup of excellent coffee, come on over! I'll make you a cup. But you can't add sugar or milk and you have to drink the whole thing. Don't worry, it won't be much (I don't want to waste it on you!).
You know what I haven't had in a while? A fountain soda from QuikTrip. Now, they aren't any different from your soda's in other places but if you've been to QuikTrip, then you know what I'm talking about.
Ok, now I'm thirsty. I'll be right back.
Wow. It didn't look like I even left, but to me it did.
Anyway, I'm back.
I guess that's it for now. Let me know if I forgot something. How is your Christmas break going? Mine is good so far. See ya!
I don't have cable. For a few reasons.
We don't really watch a ton of tv. Just the main shows. But that doesn't even really matter now because of the writers strike. We are more into movies and video games for me anyway.
The other reason is the cost. I guess you can combine that with the first reason because if we watched it a lot, then I guess it would be ok, but time and cost just don't equate.
I also have an HD tv. Nothing amazing. Just a 32 inch Vizio. Very decent. Relatively inexpensive. It is HD though.
So why have an HD tv if you don't even have cable? Well, I bought an HD antenna. Yup, you can get HD over the air. And it looks pretty good! Actually, really good!
So right now, I'm watching OETA. Just some great PBS shows about the F86 Sabre Jet and downed pilots, and some Hawaii history with lava and humpback whales.
In HD!
Oh, it snowed today! Got icy a little too, but not too bad. It was pretty windy though, whipping the snow around. Just enough of an accumulation that with cold temps and cloud cover, it may just be a white Christmas. Who knows!
We went to Church on The Move tonight. Well, we usually go on Saturday nights, but tonight was their special Christmas service.
It was really well done! Great music and an awesome performance. They had like this gigantic LCD screen... panels all attached together that must have been like... 40-50 feet wide or something! Really cool!
DoubleShot (Coffee Company) had some Kona Coffee in, and you had to pre-order, so I had to get some. I've heard great things about it.
Brian, at DoubleShot describes it as this:
"Traditionally, since Kona is an island coffee, it is very bright, clean, fruity, and delicious. You can definitely expect it to come alive in your mouth, especially if you drink it while it's still really fresh."
So, I thought I'd try some. I made a cup tonight and I really enjoyed it! Also, Jenni isn't used to (and doesn't really plan on) drinking coffee "black;" but I make her try one sip of every new coffee I get.
She usually grimaces and grabs for a cup of soda or water or something, but when I had her try this Kona, she didn't make any faces or anything! She said that she actually liked it. Now, I don't think she will always drink it that way, but is this a start of another coffee snob in the family? Perhaps!
So, if anyone wants to try a cup of excellent coffee, come on over! I'll make you a cup. But you can't add sugar or milk and you have to drink the whole thing. Don't worry, it won't be much (I don't want to waste it on you!).
You know what I haven't had in a while? A fountain soda from QuikTrip. Now, they aren't any different from your soda's in other places but if you've been to QuikTrip, then you know what I'm talking about.
Ok, now I'm thirsty. I'll be right back.
Wow. It didn't look like I even left, but to me it did.
Anyway, I'm back.
I guess that's it for now. Let me know if I forgot something. How is your Christmas break going? Mine is good so far. See ya!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
[Insert Witty Title Here]
I caught the very end of some American Idol "Choir Edition" and I was like... Why do we have to have an ultimate choir in a America? I don't know, maybe it does make sense.
Oh, and Michael just hit Meredith with his car.
That's right, The Office is on. But don't get excited yet, it's a rerun.
I'm so excited! Jenni is making me some macaroni and cheese! I love that stuff!
Work today and tomorrow were and is going to be very busy. We are pre-taping some of our interviews and performances for the Christmas Eve and Christmas shows. It was nonstop busy today.
But they did order us lunch! I got a panini from Camilles. I hope we get Camilles tomorrow!
Well, I gotta go!
Oh, and Michael just hit Meredith with his car.
That's right, The Office is on. But don't get excited yet, it's a rerun.
I'm so excited! Jenni is making me some macaroni and cheese! I love that stuff!
Work today and tomorrow were and is going to be very busy. We are pre-taping some of our interviews and performances for the Christmas Eve and Christmas shows. It was nonstop busy today.
But they did order us lunch! I got a panini from Camilles. I hope we get Camilles tomorrow!
Well, I gotta go!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A clean home is a happy home!
After dinner (homemade meatball subs by the way), Jenni and I looked around and saw a mess. The insides of Templetons latest toy (he tore the squeaker out as well as all the hard to vacuum green stuffing), some junk from the tree, and just general dirt. Oh, and the dishes were absolutely horocious.
So, I emptied the dishes, the clean ones, and replaced them with the dishes that had nacho cheese on it... some glasses that didn't get quite clean and some bowls with nasty milk and spoons stuck to them.
Bam! Kitchen done! Well, she does the hard core disinfectant cleaning type stuff. I just clear it up and get it primed and ready.
Then it's vacuum time! VROOOOOROOOOROOM... Ahhhh... The carpet feels like the hair of angel after using shampoo and conditioner from Aveda.... That's soft!
It is finally time to kick back and relax. I got a shower, took out my contacts, slip into my feeties (no, I don't really have those... remember the one piece pajamas with the big long zipper? yeah, feeties), and watch some good old fashioned television.
That's it! Thanks for checking in!
Monday, December 17, 2007
I HAVE THE POWER!
Yup, you guessed it! We have power again.
If you didn't know we were without power for almost a week. It wasn't too bad, I've camped in the cold before.
Being from the North East, I think I'm pretty good in cold weather and snow. But that's the thing, Tulsa doesn't get snow, it gets ice.
So Tulsa had a pretty bad ice storm that knocked out over 500,000 peoples power around the state and 150,000 (I think) in Tulsa itself. I know everyone was worried about Templeton, but don't worry, we kept him very warm. He got a jacket for his birthday and some little booties (they're really cheap but don't tell him).
So things are pretty good now. Weather should be in the 50's now.
It's been cold so I haven't been on my bike in while. I went to go for a ride a few days ago, but I noticed I had a slow leak because my rear tire was flat! Dang it! I have to go to T-Town to get another tube.
I did take some pictures of the big ice storm because I had to drive in to work. It was pretty nasty with all the downed trees. But I don't feel like posting them right now because I'm getting tired. So there.
But I do have a video I found interesting that I want to post. I'll just embed it from YouTube.
Well, Christmas is coming up so be sure to relax a little! And be sure to get that shopping done! Take care, see y@!
If you didn't know we were without power for almost a week. It wasn't too bad, I've camped in the cold before.
Being from the North East, I think I'm pretty good in cold weather and snow. But that's the thing, Tulsa doesn't get snow, it gets ice.
So Tulsa had a pretty bad ice storm that knocked out over 500,000 peoples power around the state and 150,000 (I think) in Tulsa itself. I know everyone was worried about Templeton, but don't worry, we kept him very warm. He got a jacket for his birthday and some little booties (they're really cheap but don't tell him).
So things are pretty good now. Weather should be in the 50's now.
It's been cold so I haven't been on my bike in while. I went to go for a ride a few days ago, but I noticed I had a slow leak because my rear tire was flat! Dang it! I have to go to T-Town to get another tube.
I did take some pictures of the big ice storm because I had to drive in to work. It was pretty nasty with all the downed trees. But I don't feel like posting them right now because I'm getting tired. So there.
But I do have a video I found interesting that I want to post. I'll just embed it from YouTube.
Well, Christmas is coming up so be sure to relax a little! And be sure to get that shopping done! Take care, see y@!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Christmas Tree in Room 2
`We just got our Christmas tree, a real one! It's about 6.5 or almost 7 feet tall.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Inspiration of Tracy Jordan
I've heard it all before...
"I'm black, she's white...
I'm black, she's light skinned black...
I'm black, she's 17..."
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Cleaning Frenzy and I'm an Okie!
Hey ya'll! Sorry, I'm just trying out my new accent. I'm an okie now, see?! Well, I do want to live in Seattle for a while though... what do they call them?
The other night, Jenni
and I were trying to get some major cleaning done in the spare room. I mean, we threw a
way a ton! And we aren't done there! Mom, you would be really proud! I'm throwing away perfectly good stuff!
Anyway, we got a little crazy so here are some pics! Even Templeton got crazy!
Also, I'm going to post some other pics I've been sitting on for a while. Nothing much to update! Although on Friday I'll be working all day for the Oklahoma Statehood Day. Watch it live on oklatravelnet.com.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Trippin on the mother road.
Jenni and I decided to take a mini road trip today. We went to Pops. It's this new attraction on Route 66 and it's actually one of the "sponsors" of OklaTravelNews. Here is the breakdown for Pops. It's a gas station, restaurant, convenience store, and soda shop that has over 500 kinds of soda.
Jenni and I drove to Arcadia (just northeast of Oklahoma City), only about 90 miles away, to have some soda and a nice burger. Plus, we always show the "Pops cam" on OklaTravelNews so I wanted to see it in person.
It was really a lot of fun and Jenni enjoyed the drive. We also stopped and took a peek at the round barn.
I'm sure we'll go back and we'll have to take some friends with us. They have so many different types of soda! It's fun looking at all the labels and trying to pick an interesting soda.
Well, I gotta run but check out their website here.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Memories of summer
I really started thinking about last summer. Not this last summer but the one before that. It was my junior year summer and I was working at ORU at ETV. Josh and I were living in the dorms together and it was a blast. It give me a taste of "real life." I mean that working from 9-5 then being able to do what you want! Yes!
Anyway, Josh and I would get back from working, have some frozen dinners, watch TV then maybe play a movie, Halo, or Second Life. Second Life. Boy that thing is weird. It's like a game but it's kind of an online environment that has everything the real world has. Like shops and cars and beach houses...
So Josh and I would play and talk to people, because everyone you saw was a real person. It was crazy! But we quickly grew tired of it because there were a lot of freaks out there. Sorry if anyone reading this is a normal Second Life user but it's turning/turned into a creepy place. Not everywhere though. I don't recommend kids getting on there, but I heard they have a Second Life teen or something.
[Get on with it!]
I know... I know...
Well, yesterday, CSI had a case involving Second Life and I told Jenni about it. Then tonight, The Office had a bit about it. Dwight had an avatar (character) in Second Life. It was awesome!
So I downloaded it and made a new account. I was all gung ho, but literally the second it came up and I started walking around I was bored again. I guess I just don't have the patience for it right now. I'm sure I'll get on there and play around sometimes though.
But I just wanted to share that with you. I hope that totally wasted your time.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hey!
I don't know what it is today, but I feel as if I can conquer the world! It was looking like a rocky start this morning though.
I got up later than usual. Like 10-15 minutes later, not bad, but when you're tired you feel like you're really late! Then I got all dressed and ready in like a minute, so then I was really early! [Someone must be messing with my clocks]
So I decided to skip breakfast at home and Jenni was sleeping because she had off yesterday and today. I'm so freakin jealous! Guess where I went?! I'll give you 10 seconds to guess...
10
9
8
6
7
5
4
3
2
1
{BUZZER!}
I went to DoubleShot! I haven't been there in a while, mostly because I've been busy but I've also been making my own coffee in the morning. Well, it's DoubleShot coffee beans ground in a DoubleShot hand grinder, steeped and served in a DoubleShot press pot and consumed in a DoubleShot travel mug... So I guess I've also been there every day!
But a day ago, we ran out of beans. So I stopped in this morning, got a small Americano (thanks Isaiah) and brian scooped me up a pound of Guatemalan El Injerto. Oh, and I got a toad in a hole (kind of like a huge pig in a blanket). Then I spread out (literally) on the couch and read some articles from Coffee & Tea.
Well, I'm at work now, ready to conquer the day! Because it's Friday! Talk to you later!
Be sure to conquer your day too! It feels so good after...
p.s.
Did any of you catch the error in this post? It was on purpose...
I got up later than usual. Like 10-15 minutes later, not bad, but when you're tired you feel like you're really late! Then I got all dressed and ready in like a minute, so then I was really early! [Someone must be messing with my clocks]
So I decided to skip breakfast at home and Jenni was sleeping because she had off yesterday and today. I'm so freakin jealous! Guess where I went?! I'll give you 10 seconds to guess...
10
9
8
6
7
5
4
3
2
1
{BUZZER!}
I went to DoubleShot! I haven't been there in a while, mostly because I've been busy but I've also been making my own coffee in the morning. Well, it's DoubleShot coffee beans ground in a DoubleShot hand grinder, steeped and served in a DoubleShot press pot and consumed in a DoubleShot travel mug... So I guess I've also been there every day!
But a day ago, we ran out of beans. So I stopped in this morning, got a small Americano (thanks Isaiah) and brian scooped me up a pound of Guatemalan El Injerto. Oh, and I got a toad in a hole (kind of like a huge pig in a blanket). Then I spread out (literally) on the couch and read some articles from Coffee & Tea.
Well, I'm at work now, ready to conquer the day! Because it's Friday! Talk to you later!
Be sure to conquer your day too! It feels so good after...
p.s.
Did any of you catch the error in this post? It was on purpose...
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Fall, is that you?!
This morning it was about 50 something degrees. Oh, so nice!
I put on my North Face wannabe jacket (green with black shoulders), grabbed my coffee and headed out the door, after walking Templeton of course.
But it probably wasn't totally necessary that I wore a jacket, I just love wearing jackets. Maybe it's because my mom had an obsession of buying me jackets...
So to make it worth while, I drove to work with the windows down. That made it chilly enough be cold but comfortable in my jacket.
Wow, that's not much, but that's a lot of talk about a jacket. I just really love the colder weather!
It's supposed to get a little warmer this weekend, which sucks, but it's going to get cooler again after that. High of 71 today I think. Awesome!
I also got to work early today because I have some videos that need to be uploaded by tomorrow. I love getting to work early because the drive is less crowded, the sun is still low, it's colder out, I can get more work done without interuptions... it's just nicer. Also, parking in the garage is easier!
Ok, that tape is done capturing so I'm gonna get going!
October 15th is Blog Action Day.
I put on my North Face wannabe jacket (green with black shoulders), grabbed my coffee and headed out the door, after walking Templeton of course.
But it probably wasn't totally necessary that I wore a jacket, I just love wearing jackets. Maybe it's because my mom had an obsession of buying me jackets...
So to make it worth while, I drove to work with the windows down. That made it chilly enough be cold but comfortable in my jacket.
Wow, that's not much, but that's a lot of talk about a jacket. I just really love the colder weather!
It's supposed to get a little warmer this weekend, which sucks, but it's going to get cooler again after that. High of 71 today I think. Awesome!
I also got to work early today because I have some videos that need to be uploaded by tomorrow. I love getting to work early because the drive is less crowded, the sun is still low, it's colder out, I can get more work done without interuptions... it's just nicer. Also, parking in the garage is easier!
Ok, that tape is done capturing so I'm gonna get going!
October 15th is Blog Action Day.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
More Mountain Biking
As if I didn't get enough mountian biking last weekend, I'm going this Saturday to Lake Thunderbird in Norman, OK. It's supposed be an easy trail, but it should be fun! I'm already itching to do the Womble again!
I need to clean my bike off though! It's got some dust on it from the dirt roads and the gears need some lovin because they are ghost shifting a little bit.
The weather is starting to get really, really nice! That means I'm going to have to bike to work soon! I may bike this week and stop for breakfast at the Blue Dome DIner. They have great homemade bread!
Blue Dome Diner
I thought this pic was funny.
I need to clean my bike off though! It's got some dust on it from the dirt roads and the gears need some lovin because they are ghost shifting a little bit.
The weather is starting to get really, really nice! That means I'm going to have to bike to work soon! I may bike this week and stop for breakfast at the Blue Dome DIner. They have great homemade bread!
Blue Dome Diner
I thought this pic was funny.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
ORU
I don't know if you heard about it or not, but ORU is being sued by 3 former professors. These just recently terminated professors are bringing some interesting things to the table. I've met two of them before and these guys seem to be firm in what the believe.
I hate to say anything because I really love ORU, but like many other students at ORU, I have heard rumors in the past and with people in high places, sometimes they stray.
But here is what I have to say. Richard Roberts has been an ok guy. I've never met him personally though. I'm personally not attached to him in any way and if he is guilty, then I can't say I didn't see it coming.
BUT!
I am very thankful and appreciative of the education I received at ORU. Just because Richard and some VP's or whoever have been lying, stealing, cheating... doesn't mean that my professors have been doing the same.
I can vouch for my major course professors that they are much better people who are honest and have a high level of integrity. They taught me some amazing things from video editing to Christianity.
I'm not going to let Richard "steal my joy." (hah! but really)
So, do a Google search and you can even download a PDF of the legal file of the lawsuit or whatever it's called. If you have any comments, feel free to shoot em my way.
But to recap...
- I love ORU because of the friendships I made
- I spent some long nights with guys on my floor talking about religion and what not
- Playing Halo all night or watching movies!
- I am very thankful for the time and effort that my professors gave for me to get such a great education.
Well, I guess we just sit and wait...
Monday, October 01, 2007
Weekend is over... boo hoo...
I had a pretty nice weekend! I just played Halo 3 practically the whole time! But I'm really looking forward to this upcoming weekend!
This upcoming weekend is the Womble! The ORU Mountain Bike epic! Jenni is going and this will be her first time. She's gotten really good at mountain biking but I'm interested to see how she does on the seemingly never ending terrain. I'm sure she'll do fine.
Camping. Mountain biking. That's all you need for adventure. I'll be sure to bring the camera for the pics and maybe some video... that would be fun! I need like a helmet cam or something...
It's supposed to be in the upper 80's this week. Hopefully it drops a little bit for this weekend. I like it better when it's around 70's. That makes it cooler in the shade and just warm enough in the sun and when you're biking you go in and out of both.
Oh, a friend from work is going to Seattle and I'm going to have her pick me up some coffee. I'm just looking at what the good shops are and I think Trabant Coffee & Chai is the place. They have a free download of their local artist compilation, so if you are into the indie music scene and enjoy some coffee house style music, check it out at: trabantcoffee.com
Have I told you that I'm addicted to Mountain Dew? Well, it's not full blown yet but it's getting there. Jenni really loves it and I'm am starting to as well. Josh has always loved it to so I just can't get away from it!
I got a friend of mine hooked on Firefox and Google and all the "power user" computer/internet stuff. I think he's enjoying it but I know that stuff can get hard to figure out sometimes. What makes one person more tech savvy than the other?
Is it just that one person has more of an interest? Are they younger and more in touch with computers? Is it natural?
Computers and electronics and video games... they just come so natural to me. Some people can just figure their way around a computer while others are using the CD tray as a cupholder. I don't know.
That's all. Bye!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Longest Sunday Ever
I don't really know why today was the longest Sunday ever. It just was. I think it's because I did so much stuff in one day! I'll focus on the highlights.
Pretty much, the big highlight of the day was mountain biking. Oh, and playing Halo with Josh.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to go riding today. Well, I know I did but I hadn't totally convinced myself to get up and do it. I think I just really wanted to ride with someone. I made a few calls but no luck. No big deal, I didn't really want to ride anyway. But then I did!
That's not confusing..
So I hopped up, got dressed and put the bike on the van and took off. Just as I clipped in at Turkey Mountain and was just pedaling around the parking lot, I saw Tanner. He went to ORU and did the Womble a bunch of times in the mountain bike class. We talked for a minute and then we ended up riding together.
He is a really good rider and he races quite a bit, so I didn't want to slow him down or make myself look slow, but I rode with him anyway. If he didn't mind me tagging along, then great! So it's not anything utterly amazing but it was just a lot of fun trying to keep up with him even when I was really tired! I need some really good riders to ride with so I'm pushed really far. They will make me get faster and get in the racing mindset.
So after a quick 8 mile ride, about 55 minutes later... I was worn out! Ughhh... Not tired though, jut physically wore out. But Josh came over and we had some Mountain Dew and Halo. Man I love Halo! Halo 3 comes out on Tuesday, so get ready!
Halo makes me feel as if I'm back in college. I would love to go back to college! But here's why: I know have a real job with real money which means I have a 32 inch (dont laugh, it's big enough!) HDTV, a really nice cross country race bike, new furniture... and a million other things! But that's the only reason I want to go back to school, I want to have the awesome dorm room!
Cassidy and I had the best dorm room ever, even Josh and I had a decent setup. I'll have to dig up some pictures... Actually, they are probably on my Flickr page...
We'll I'm going to get going, maybe Josh and I will play some more Halo. Jenni is watching the girls so I'm free for just a little while longer... Hah!
Oh, and I can't find my little SD card adapter to upload pictures from my camera... so I've just been taking less!
Pretty much, the big highlight of the day was mountain biking. Oh, and playing Halo with Josh.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to go riding today. Well, I know I did but I hadn't totally convinced myself to get up and do it. I think I just really wanted to ride with someone. I made a few calls but no luck. No big deal, I didn't really want to ride anyway. But then I did!
That's not confusing..
So I hopped up, got dressed and put the bike on the van and took off. Just as I clipped in at Turkey Mountain and was just pedaling around the parking lot, I saw Tanner. He went to ORU and did the Womble a bunch of times in the mountain bike class. We talked for a minute and then we ended up riding together.
He is a really good rider and he races quite a bit, so I didn't want to slow him down or make myself look slow, but I rode with him anyway. If he didn't mind me tagging along, then great! So it's not anything utterly amazing but it was just a lot of fun trying to keep up with him even when I was really tired! I need some really good riders to ride with so I'm pushed really far. They will make me get faster and get in the racing mindset.
So after a quick 8 mile ride, about 55 minutes later... I was worn out! Ughhh... Not tired though, jut physically wore out. But Josh came over and we had some Mountain Dew and Halo. Man I love Halo! Halo 3 comes out on Tuesday, so get ready!
Halo makes me feel as if I'm back in college. I would love to go back to college! But here's why: I know have a real job with real money which means I have a 32 inch (dont laugh, it's big enough!) HDTV, a really nice cross country race bike, new furniture... and a million other things! But that's the only reason I want to go back to school, I want to have the awesome dorm room!
Cassidy and I had the best dorm room ever, even Josh and I had a decent setup. I'll have to dig up some pictures... Actually, they are probably on my Flickr page...
We'll I'm going to get going, maybe Josh and I will play some more Halo. Jenni is watching the girls so I'm free for just a little while longer... Hah!
Oh, and I can't find my little SD card adapter to upload pictures from my camera... so I've just been taking less!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Memories (2)
Don't worry Nick, I'll bust you out soon... just have to tie the chain around the hitch and we'll pull those bars off... Ride free!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Bike To Work Day!
Two things.
Today is Bike To Work Day in Tulsa.
That means free coffee and toad in a holes at DoubleShot.
Also, this is my 500th post. Sorry its not utterly amazing.
Today is Bike To Work Day in Tulsa.
That means free coffee and toad in a holes at DoubleShot.
Also, this is my 500th post. Sorry its not utterly amazing.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Coffee Thoughts
I'm reading a book right now. Yup, a real book. Not a magazine but a real book.
It's called “Coffee - A Dark History” by Antony Wild.
I got it on Amazon dirt cheap, used. But it looks as if it's new.
Anyway, there is a paragraph that I really enjoyed, I'll just type it here.
“ Coffee had become universally consume in the nations of Europe and in the USA, much of it in coffee houses that became meeting places for men of commerce, politics, and culture. The effect of caffeine itself insured that there were always likely to be lively, well-informed debates and intense, original exchanges, in contrast to the only other public meeting places of the time, the tavern or church. The coffee house played a pivotal role in the creation of many of the financial institutions that in turn supported the expansionist trading empires that had led to the growth of coffee consumption in the first place.”
That paragraph made me think of what people believe coffee houses are these days.
Before I dove into this whole new world of coffee, this is what I thought of coffee houses. I thought they all were more or less like Starbucks. Whatever that means. I thought that coffee houses were places for college students to come and do homework or study. I thought coffee houses were supposed to have outlets all near the tables/chairs so people could bring their laptops and surf the net.
What are coffee houses to you?
Josh:
I find it a good place for conversation. Great for talking about serious issues even though you may not usually talk about such things. But it's certainly a place to socialize. It's quiet like a library but not stuffy. It's interesting because people don't go to “donut shops” or “soda shops” to talk about things like they do at coffee shops.
Joanna:
I don't drink coffee but I see it as mostly a social place. It used to be a date place for me and it was a major student hangout. But I don't like the pressure to buy something. I'm either forced to buy iced tea or chai. I think they should have more non coffee drinks.
Margaret:
They are for lonely people who just want to read their US Weekly magazine,
Jenni:
I think of it as a place for people to hang out and talk.
Ok, so it looks as if coffee houses are certainly a place to hangout. I can say that with my short time at a real coffee house (I don't think Starbucks counts and I'll tell you why in a minute) that coffee houses to me are a place for two or more people who are totally different in age and social status can share a beverage and just talk. I've talked to more people at DoubleShot than I have at any other coffee shop.
Ok, why I don't think Starbucks is a real coffee house. First let me say that I am not a part of the “I Hate Starbucks” movement. I have friends that hate Starbucks and I have friends that love Starbucks. I'm fairly indifferent but mostly because I haven't done my homework yet to have a truly valid opinion.
A reason I don't like Starbucks is that they won't acknowledge that they are fast food. They are nothing more than the McDonalds of the coffee world.
A reason I like Starbucks is that if you are somewhere totally unfamiliar then you can always count on Starbucks being the same, because they are on every corner. But that's also why I don't like Starbucks...
I also think that the local coffee shop is like your local bike shop. I think you should support both. But only if you like their products and services obviously. Gosh, I'm certainly not the kind of person who goes to the local farmers market and only buys locally grown produce but I really enjoy my bike shop, T-Town Bicycles and I want to keep them in business. They have been good to me, they always give me a discount, and I trust them working on my bike.
Same thing with the coffee shop. Brian and Isaiah at DoubleShot have taught me a lot about coffee and I appreciate their time and the pride they put in their work. So naturally I would rather buy and support what they do.
Starbucks employee vs. Real Barista
I see the Starbucks employee as someone who just knows how to pull some levers and squirt the right amount of syrup. But I want someone who knows about coffee and who pulls real shots of espresso. The other day, I was just watching Isaiah. He poured some espresso grounds, which was ground seconds before, into the portafilter and started to tamp it. Is that the correct term? I know it's called a tamper... Anyway, while he was “tamping” it, he noticed it was uneven. Instead of just pulling a shot like that, he duped the grounds out and tried again. I love that!
Ok, that's enough coffee thoughts for now. Peace out!
It's called “Coffee - A Dark History” by Antony Wild.
I got it on Amazon dirt cheap, used. But it looks as if it's new.
Anyway, there is a paragraph that I really enjoyed, I'll just type it here.
“ Coffee had become universally consume in the nations of Europe and in the USA, much of it in coffee houses that became meeting places for men of commerce, politics, and culture. The effect of caffeine itself insured that there were always likely to be lively, well-informed debates and intense, original exchanges, in contrast to the only other public meeting places of the time, the tavern or church. The coffee house played a pivotal role in the creation of many of the financial institutions that in turn supported the expansionist trading empires that had led to the growth of coffee consumption in the first place.”
That paragraph made me think of what people believe coffee houses are these days.
Before I dove into this whole new world of coffee, this is what I thought of coffee houses. I thought they all were more or less like Starbucks. Whatever that means. I thought that coffee houses were places for college students to come and do homework or study. I thought coffee houses were supposed to have outlets all near the tables/chairs so people could bring their laptops and surf the net.
What are coffee houses to you?
Josh:
I find it a good place for conversation. Great for talking about serious issues even though you may not usually talk about such things. But it's certainly a place to socialize. It's quiet like a library but not stuffy. It's interesting because people don't go to “donut shops” or “soda shops” to talk about things like they do at coffee shops.
Joanna:
I don't drink coffee but I see it as mostly a social place. It used to be a date place for me and it was a major student hangout. But I don't like the pressure to buy something. I'm either forced to buy iced tea or chai. I think they should have more non coffee drinks.
Margaret:
They are for lonely people who just want to read their US Weekly magazine,
Jenni:
I think of it as a place for people to hang out and talk.
Ok, so it looks as if coffee houses are certainly a place to hangout. I can say that with my short time at a real coffee house (I don't think Starbucks counts and I'll tell you why in a minute) that coffee houses to me are a place for two or more people who are totally different in age and social status can share a beverage and just talk. I've talked to more people at DoubleShot than I have at any other coffee shop.
Ok, why I don't think Starbucks is a real coffee house. First let me say that I am not a part of the “I Hate Starbucks” movement. I have friends that hate Starbucks and I have friends that love Starbucks. I'm fairly indifferent but mostly because I haven't done my homework yet to have a truly valid opinion.
A reason I don't like Starbucks is that they won't acknowledge that they are fast food. They are nothing more than the McDonalds of the coffee world.
A reason I like Starbucks is that if you are somewhere totally unfamiliar then you can always count on Starbucks being the same, because they are on every corner. But that's also why I don't like Starbucks...
I also think that the local coffee shop is like your local bike shop. I think you should support both. But only if you like their products and services obviously. Gosh, I'm certainly not the kind of person who goes to the local farmers market and only buys locally grown produce but I really enjoy my bike shop, T-Town Bicycles and I want to keep them in business. They have been good to me, they always give me a discount, and I trust them working on my bike.
Same thing with the coffee shop. Brian and Isaiah at DoubleShot have taught me a lot about coffee and I appreciate their time and the pride they put in their work. So naturally I would rather buy and support what they do.
Starbucks employee vs. Real Barista
I see the Starbucks employee as someone who just knows how to pull some levers and squirt the right amount of syrup. But I want someone who knows about coffee and who pulls real shots of espresso. The other day, I was just watching Isaiah. He poured some espresso grounds, which was ground seconds before, into the portafilter and started to tamp it. Is that the correct term? I know it's called a tamper... Anyway, while he was “tamping” it, he noticed it was uneven. Instead of just pulling a shot like that, he duped the grounds out and tried again. I love that!
Ok, that's enough coffee thoughts for now. Peace out!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Awesome weekend! Hopefully this next one will be equally aweseome!
Jenni and I had a really great weekend this past weekend! We biked at Osage Hills State Park with the COTM MTB crew. That was on Saturday, also on Saturday was Josh's birthday so a bunch of went out to eat then we went to a movie. We went to Abuelos and they have really good fajitas!
Let's see...
Sunday was a day of sleeping in and getting things done. We had to do a lot of stuff like gas up the cars... oh, and that made the credit card company call me because they thought someone stole my credit card! There was just a ton of cleaning to do, food shopping, napping... that sort of thing.
I can't believe it's practically Wednesday! See, Tuesday, when work ends, is technically Wednesday.
Upcoming Events!
Ok, here are some things that are up on my calendar right now...
Friday is Bike To Work Day in Tulsa. So, if you live in Tulsa, I encourage you to bike to work. I need to get my Hardrock SS (single speed) tweaked for Friday...
http://www.tulsacommuter.com/Bike.htm
It was getting cooler, but the temps are going back up so I'm not starting a full blown bike commute just yet. Yes, I'm that wimpy.
Saturday is Turkey Mountain Trail Maintenance with the ORU kids. I think that Jenks H.S. comes out too...
So, if you are in Tulsa (yet again) come out for trail maintenance. We would love to have another hand to help cleanup the trail.
On the topic of trail maintenance, I think some people have different ideas as to what that means. Some people think that trail maintenance means removing all rocks, smoothing over roots and making the trail easy hardpack. I don't believe that at all. I do believe in fixing trail. Perhaps water keeps eroding a section, come up with a way to create a gutter with rocks. We actually did that a year or two ago and it worked pretty well.
Well, I'm going to get going now, so I'll talk to you later! Have a great early Wednesday!
Let's see...
Sunday was a day of sleeping in and getting things done. We had to do a lot of stuff like gas up the cars... oh, and that made the credit card company call me because they thought someone stole my credit card! There was just a ton of cleaning to do, food shopping, napping... that sort of thing.
I can't believe it's practically Wednesday! See, Tuesday, when work ends, is technically Wednesday.
Upcoming Events!
Ok, here are some things that are up on my calendar right now...
Friday is Bike To Work Day in Tulsa. So, if you live in Tulsa, I encourage you to bike to work. I need to get my Hardrock SS (single speed) tweaked for Friday...
http://www.tulsacommuter.com/Bike.htm
It was getting cooler, but the temps are going back up so I'm not starting a full blown bike commute just yet. Yes, I'm that wimpy.
Saturday is Turkey Mountain Trail Maintenance with the ORU kids. I think that Jenks H.S. comes out too...
So, if you are in Tulsa (yet again) come out for trail maintenance. We would love to have another hand to help cleanup the trail.
On the topic of trail maintenance, I think some people have different ideas as to what that means. Some people think that trail maintenance means removing all rocks, smoothing over roots and making the trail easy hardpack. I don't believe that at all. I do believe in fixing trail. Perhaps water keeps eroding a section, come up with a way to create a gutter with rocks. We actually did that a year or two ago and it worked pretty well.
Well, I'm going to get going now, so I'll talk to you later! Have a great early Wednesday!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Re: Real Coffee
An excerpt from an email from my mom:
"re your coffee musings, don't worry, no one really cares if you are a purist or not, life's too short to not drink coffee with sugar and cream.... nothing like caffe con leche in spain.. or cappuchino in rome... or espresso in isreal.. . its all good. so drink up whatever you like, and don't forget you have many years to evolve your preferences...
personally, i can't get into flavors added, but years ago, i liked them... still want the sweetner and cream... i don't see why suffer without the extras, myself.
but standing behind the teenieboppers at starbucks who order a triple vente doubleshot mocha-caramel frappachuno with double whipped cream and jimmies.... i just wanna say, just buy a snickers bar, will ya! they are so not coffee drinkers, and they're gonna be 300 pounds by the time they graduate..."
So that's where I get it from...
"re your coffee musings, don't worry, no one really cares if you are a purist or not, life's too short to not drink coffee with sugar and cream.... nothing like caffe con leche in spain.. or cappuchino in rome... or espresso in isreal.. . its all good. so drink up whatever you like, and don't forget you have many years to evolve your preferences...
personally, i can't get into flavors added, but years ago, i liked them... still want the sweetner and cream... i don't see why suffer without the extras, myself.
but standing behind the teenieboppers at starbucks who order a triple vente doubleshot mocha-caramel frappachuno with double whipped cream and jimmies.... i just wanna say, just buy a snickers bar, will ya! they are so not coffee drinkers, and they're gonna be 300 pounds by the time they graduate..."
So that's where I get it from...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Help Find Steve Fossett!
If you were good at "Where's Waldo" then you're gonna love this! If you haven't heard of Steve Fossett, then Google him. Here's the scoop... rich guy with a pilots license. Yup. We can't find him. So Amazon and Google have teamed up to have you and I look for him.
http://www.mturk.com/mturk/preview?groupId=9TSZK4G35XEZJZG21T60&kw=Flash
You can use either Google Earth or Amazon will give you 300 ft by 300 ft pictures and ask you if you see anything that looks like anything. You need an Amazon account if you don't have one though.
Good luck!
Hint: It looks like this...
http://www.mturk.com/mturk/preview?groupId=9TSZK4G35XEZJZG21T60&kw=Flash
You can use either Google Earth or Amazon will give you 300 ft by 300 ft pictures and ask you if you see anything that looks like anything. You need an Amazon account if you don't have one though.
Good luck!
Hint: It looks like this...
Saturday, September 08, 2007
"Real" Coffee
The one thing I really really hate are posers. This is pretty much anyone who is not true to what they say or do. Some examples...
- “Outdoorsey” people who buy all the North Face gear, Nalgene bottles, and titanium cookware, but never go 1 mile into the woods.
- Coffee connoisseurs who just buy mochas and frappuccinos (Ok, I like mochas, but I'm trying to expand my palate, is that spelled right?) and hang out at the coffee shops with their Mac computers.
- I know there's another example, I just can't remember it.
I bring this up to say that I don't want to be a poser. I know that I'm not, but the thing I'm afraid of is being perceived as a poser. But, at the same time, I really don't care what people think about me, especially if I know they are wrong. Ok. well maybe a little.
Here are some examples of reasons I may feel like a poser...
- I bought a really nice cross country race mountain bike and I wear spandex (most of the time) and I haven't raced yet. In my own defense, I do plan on racing. I mean, I don't think I'll make podium but I just want to try it and have fun. I used to run cross country in high school and I really enjoy that feeling of racing even though I was always nervous!
- I love Nalgene bottles, fork/knife/spoon combos, and Suunto watches, but I don't go hiking or camping every weekend. I wish I did, but I don't really have the time.
- I have a Timbuk2 messenger bag, but I don't act like I'm a bike messenger. Although that seems like fun, I just don't think I could do it.
- I really enjoy coffee (although some would say that mochas aren't coffee) but I don't know the difference between an Ethiopian _______ and a Costa Rican _______.
What I think the difference is, is that I know that I'm not “posing” but I just enjoy these things, and I do use them as much as possible.
Ok, I had to give all that background info and examples to go to my real topic. “Real” coffee.
If you read some of my most recent posts, then you'll know that I found this coffee shop that is just awesome! Something has inspired me to take my knowledge of coffee to a new level. But see, I don't want to pose, so I'm not trying to say I can taste all he notes or tell what day the bean was roasted or whatever. I just want to appreciate coffee for what it is.
So, with a background of drinking mochas, my taste buds are a little tainted to say the least. I went to DoubleShot and explained my dilemma.
Isaiah, the barista at DoubleShot, understood what I was saying and hooked me up with some beans from Costa Rica, Monte Crisol I believe. I also bought a french press and a hand grinder. Basically, this is something I can take camping, or make my own coffee anywhere there is hot water.
I had two cups last night and I don't recommend doing that late in the evening unless you wanted to stay up till 3. Then I made some in the morning and had another two cups. I think one thing I really enjoy, is the process of making the coffee. I put the beans in the grinder, cranked that thing till they were all ground up, then put them in the french press. I added the water, waited 4 minutes, then pressed down slowly pushing the grounds to the bottom. Ok, if that sound like manual labor to you, then this isn't for you at all. But if you love the feeling of doing something yourself and doing things with your hands, then you would totally get a kick out of this! It's so much fun that if you want a cup of coffee, come on over and I'll make you a cup!
Alright, I'm new to this coffee thing and to really appreciate coffee, I have found that you shouldn't “tarnish” the drink with milk or sugar. Brian, owner and barista of DoubleShot believes that adding anything is a way of covering up bad coffee. He roasts all of his own stuff and I think that it really tastes great!
What scared me when starting this new adventure was that all the memories I have of drinking coffee plain, I was about 10 years old and it probably Folgers or something. I remember it sort of because when my Dad was in Ecuador or Nicaragua my Mom told me I was the man of the house. What does the man of the house do? He drink coffee, like Daddy does. Wow, I hated it! So I never tried it again. That's probably the first and last memory I have of drinking straight coffee.
But the coffee I had last night, didn't make me cringe or make a funny face. I enjoyed it. Now, I won't deny that I did want it a little sweeter but that's just because I wasn't used to it.
Jenni is gone for the day, taking her teaching exams so I have to find a way to occupy myself. I decided to go to DoubleShot, just to hang out. Well, I got thirsty so I asked for a mocha. They didn't give it to me. They wouldn't let me take it. They used some jedi mind trick to make me think I wanted a latte. No, just kidding, it's not like that. I guess Isaiah and Brian are my coffee “accountability partners!” Anyway, the latte was good, actually really good!
Weather:
I don't know if you know what Tulsa weather is doing, but it's raining right now. Perfect for slowing down, relaxing, enjoying some coffee. Man I love making my own coffee! I was planning on going mountain biking today, but it's raining. I just really want to get back on the bike.
I'm starting to rethink the DoubleShot Duathlon. I just don't know if it's the best thing for me for a first race. I don't really have a problem coming in last, but it's no fun when you do! I was talking to Brian today and he said I could shoot some video if I didn't race in it. I don't know... should I do it? Should I wait? All I care about is completing it. To refresh you, its running, biking, and running. Also, they say that it's no easy thing to do. Not that that scares me, but I just want to be prepared.
So, I'm trying to kill time before Jenni comes home. She's in like a 12 hour test, ok not that long, but it's all day! Templeton is acting really funny. When there is just one of here, he is all sweet, but when the other one comes home, he gets super hyper and really excited to see us. Right now he's just lying there half asleep and half watching to make sure he doesn't miss anything fun.
Well, I'm going to get going. Let me know if you think I should do the DoubleShot Duathlon as my first race and if you have any coffee stories or special creations you wish to share, leave a comment.
Thanks for reading! This blog post was brought to you by DoubleShot Coffee; increasing your jitteriness to blog for hours!
- “Outdoorsey” people who buy all the North Face gear, Nalgene bottles, and titanium cookware, but never go 1 mile into the woods.
- Coffee connoisseurs who just buy mochas and frappuccinos (Ok, I like mochas, but I'm trying to expand my palate, is that spelled right?) and hang out at the coffee shops with their Mac computers.
- I know there's another example, I just can't remember it.
I bring this up to say that I don't want to be a poser. I know that I'm not, but the thing I'm afraid of is being perceived as a poser. But, at the same time, I really don't care what people think about me, especially if I know they are wrong. Ok. well maybe a little.
Here are some examples of reasons I may feel like a poser...
- I bought a really nice cross country race mountain bike and I wear spandex (most of the time) and I haven't raced yet. In my own defense, I do plan on racing. I mean, I don't think I'll make podium but I just want to try it and have fun. I used to run cross country in high school and I really enjoy that feeling of racing even though I was always nervous!
- I love Nalgene bottles, fork/knife/spoon combos, and Suunto watches, but I don't go hiking or camping every weekend. I wish I did, but I don't really have the time.
- I have a Timbuk2 messenger bag, but I don't act like I'm a bike messenger. Although that seems like fun, I just don't think I could do it.
- I really enjoy coffee (although some would say that mochas aren't coffee) but I don't know the difference between an Ethiopian _______ and a Costa Rican _______.
What I think the difference is, is that I know that I'm not “posing” but I just enjoy these things, and I do use them as much as possible.
Ok, I had to give all that background info and examples to go to my real topic. “Real” coffee.
If you read some of my most recent posts, then you'll know that I found this coffee shop that is just awesome! Something has inspired me to take my knowledge of coffee to a new level. But see, I don't want to pose, so I'm not trying to say I can taste all he notes or tell what day the bean was roasted or whatever. I just want to appreciate coffee for what it is.
So, with a background of drinking mochas, my taste buds are a little tainted to say the least. I went to DoubleShot and explained my dilemma.
Isaiah, the barista at DoubleShot, understood what I was saying and hooked me up with some beans from Costa Rica, Monte Crisol I believe. I also bought a french press and a hand grinder. Basically, this is something I can take camping, or make my own coffee anywhere there is hot water.
I had two cups last night and I don't recommend doing that late in the evening unless you wanted to stay up till 3. Then I made some in the morning and had another two cups. I think one thing I really enjoy, is the process of making the coffee. I put the beans in the grinder, cranked that thing till they were all ground up, then put them in the french press. I added the water, waited 4 minutes, then pressed down slowly pushing the grounds to the bottom. Ok, if that sound like manual labor to you, then this isn't for you at all. But if you love the feeling of doing something yourself and doing things with your hands, then you would totally get a kick out of this! It's so much fun that if you want a cup of coffee, come on over and I'll make you a cup!
Alright, I'm new to this coffee thing and to really appreciate coffee, I have found that you shouldn't “tarnish” the drink with milk or sugar. Brian, owner and barista of DoubleShot believes that adding anything is a way of covering up bad coffee. He roasts all of his own stuff and I think that it really tastes great!
What scared me when starting this new adventure was that all the memories I have of drinking coffee plain, I was about 10 years old and it probably Folgers or something. I remember it sort of because when my Dad was in Ecuador or Nicaragua my Mom told me I was the man of the house. What does the man of the house do? He drink coffee, like Daddy does. Wow, I hated it! So I never tried it again. That's probably the first and last memory I have of drinking straight coffee.
But the coffee I had last night, didn't make me cringe or make a funny face. I enjoyed it. Now, I won't deny that I did want it a little sweeter but that's just because I wasn't used to it.
Jenni is gone for the day, taking her teaching exams so I have to find a way to occupy myself. I decided to go to DoubleShot, just to hang out. Well, I got thirsty so I asked for a mocha. They didn't give it to me. They wouldn't let me take it. They used some jedi mind trick to make me think I wanted a latte. No, just kidding, it's not like that. I guess Isaiah and Brian are my coffee “accountability partners!” Anyway, the latte was good, actually really good!
Weather:
I don't know if you know what Tulsa weather is doing, but it's raining right now. Perfect for slowing down, relaxing, enjoying some coffee. Man I love making my own coffee! I was planning on going mountain biking today, but it's raining. I just really want to get back on the bike.
I'm starting to rethink the DoubleShot Duathlon. I just don't know if it's the best thing for me for a first race. I don't really have a problem coming in last, but it's no fun when you do! I was talking to Brian today and he said I could shoot some video if I didn't race in it. I don't know... should I do it? Should I wait? All I care about is completing it. To refresh you, its running, biking, and running. Also, they say that it's no easy thing to do. Not that that scares me, but I just want to be prepared.
So, I'm trying to kill time before Jenni comes home. She's in like a 12 hour test, ok not that long, but it's all day! Templeton is acting really funny. When there is just one of here, he is all sweet, but when the other one comes home, he gets super hyper and really excited to see us. Right now he's just lying there half asleep and half watching to make sure he doesn't miss anything fun.
Well, I'm going to get going. Let me know if you think I should do the DoubleShot Duathlon as my first race and if you have any coffee stories or special creations you wish to share, leave a comment.
Thanks for reading! This blog post was brought to you by DoubleShot Coffee; increasing your jitteriness to blog for hours!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Most Recent Womble Trip
This is the most recent Womble pic. I can't wait to get some more pictures next month!
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