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Saturday, October 30, 2010

CoFFeE!!!

Hey hey!  It has been an awesome week for me, and I hope it has been for all of you as well :)  A lot of my week had to do with coffee...  I think it is just SO cool that I can get paid to be around other coffee geeks like myself!  I love it :)

On Wednesday, I went to see Mitch at the roastery.  Basically, this is where he decides what each bean should be roasted like, to get the best flavors out of each coffee.  He is very knowledgeable, and I had a great time.  We cupped some coffees (the coffee version of a wine tasting you could say) and I think it really helped develop my pallet!  I find it so so hard to taste those minute taste details that you hear described, but I think that this cupping helped me recognize them more.  I can't wait to do it again!  My favorite coffee of the day was the Ethiopian Nekisse.  It was simply superb!  It didn't even taste like coffee, it smelled like black tea, then when brewed it was an intense blueberry flavor with some black tea hints and just super sweet and balanced.  It. Was. To. Die. For!  I can't wait to have it again when our new store opens!  (funny note too:  this coffee was sold at Cafe Grumpy for $12 a cup!  I feel lucky to have tried it!)  I also learned that we are getting this kick ass espresso machine for our new store!!!  I won't bore you with details, but basically it is top of the line and there are only 10 in the US!

(c)

Then thursday we had coffee training, which was basically coffee history and knowledge class.  Very interesting, I learned a lot of new things.  And of course drank some delicious coffee ;)

Then friday and today I worked!  It was SO slow both days :/  It makes the shift go SO slow don't you agree??  I got to leave early today cause we were SO dead, so I went on a bike ride :)  It was nice, but windy.

Have a great Halloween! I am working tomorrow, and we are all going to dress up as communist dictators, so I am going to be Stalin ;)  Kinda weird I know, but the shift lead working tomorrow is a history buff, and he wanted to so I was like, why not.  I will share pictures ;)

Scott

Monday, October 25, 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Whoops!

I realized this morning that I forgot to address all of your wonderful insightful comments on my last post.  I want to thank you all for your insight about what to do  with my Cousin (the bride at the wedding.)  I want to help her, but at the same time there is very little that I can actually do.  When I was talking to her parents at dinner sunday night, they were saying that they hoped that being married to my cousin would be a turning point for her, and she would get better.  Of course, I don't know what will happen, but I think that for now it is best for me to pray for this new chapter in her life to close the door on ED.

Basically, THANK YOU for all of your advice.  You really help keep me down to earth and see both sides of the issue :)

Have a great Monday Loves!

Scott

Saturday, October 23, 2010

out of gas...

I mean this title literally ;)  So this morning I am driving to my ride as I always do, and as I get off of the freeway, my car won't shift.  Weird.  So then I stop at the intersection, and it won't start again!  So, I am sitting at the exit of an exit ramp, my car won't move.  Luckily, a nice man came along and helped me push my car to a parking lot not too far away.  Thank God!  So I park it there, lock it up, and ride to the ride.  Good news is I still got my ride in(more on that later!)  So, when I get back from my ride I try to start the car and it won't start.  Great. So, I thought it was the battery, because my fuel gauge still said I had 1/4 of a tank.  That is easily close to 100 miles.  I tried to ride home, but the car wouldn't lock because all of the locks are electric and I had to stay. (making me think again that it was the battery)  So, I wait for my  parents to finish their ride, and come to meet me at the car.  I assumed it was the battery, but my dad didn't think so.  So we got some gas, and sure enough, it worked!  I was happy it was so simple, but angry that the gauge said I had a 1/4 tank when it was bone dry!  So, I got home :)

True story^^  And that took way too long to explain!   Now, a quick little back track through the week in pictures...

leftover pasta with feta and random veggies

AMAZING seared ahi on jicama with avocado and chili sauce.  I died. haha ;)  This was on my half day from school when I got my bike =D

Saw this while running, and just had to get a picture.  Isn't it pretty??






So as I said, I got my bike on Tuesday!  It is so freaking cool :) Here are some pics...

The new bike was incredible!!! I rode it for the first time today, and it was like I was connected to it, and it knew what I wanted it to do!  I love it =D

And then I cooked a chicken stir fry for dinner, and that is about it.  

I hope you are having an absolutely terrific weekend!  

Scott

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Back from Sedona!

I will share some photos first, because Sedona is absolutely beautiful!






Isn't it just beautiful!?!?!

The wedding was great!  It was right around sunset, we had beautiful weather and really spectacular views.  And I got to run around the golf course on Saturday morning :)


this is to symbolize unity

this is all edible!

here are some wedding pics.  I didn't edit anything yet (color, etc) so bear with me ;)

So, here are some more pics of the wedding.  It was a bit upsetting, because the bride, I will use an M here, had lost some weight since I had last seen her, and I was really worried that she was not ok :(  I thought that I maybe am a bit too sensitive to seeing ED where it doesn't really exist.  But then tonight we were at her parents' house and she wasn't around, and it came up.  They did say she has some eating problems, and it just makes me so sad :(  I don't know what to do?  I feel like I might want to send her a letter or something, i just don't know though....  What would you do??

So, other than that and a ride this morning, I didn't do much special.  I had a nice relaxing break and am ready to work tomorrow!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!! :)

Scott

P.S. My bike is on the way!  It is supposed to be here middle of next week :)  SO EXCITED!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

First day on the job!

Yep, that's right!  Yesterday was my first day working at Press Coffee!!

Nope, I didn't pour this, but it's pretty right?? (C) Press CFW

So, it was great!  It feels good to finally get working after this long long process!  I learned a LOT on my first day!  I learned how to clean mostly, and clean I did!  A lot of things need cleaning that you wouldn't even think of!  I also learned how to take orders, brew coffee, etc.  It is hard work, but everyone is so nice, and I just enjoy being there!  My goal is to work my way up to being able to work on the espresso machine! 

Tomorrow, I am leaving for my cousin's wedding in Sedona!  I have never been there, but everyone says how beautiful it is, so I think it will be good.  I am not excited about missing my bike ride saturday morning, but I am going to running in Sedona, and i hope to have some beautiful sights!

Well, that is pretty much all I have for you, I made a few interesting food items, but I will put those in another post.  

I hope that you are all having weeks that are just as Beautiful as you are!

Scott

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sunday 10.10.2010

Hello all my fellow bloggers!  I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!

I was pretty busy this week, but I have some GREAT news!  It looks like I got the job at Press Coffee!!  I got a call on Monday about availability, and I am scheduled to come in on Wednesday for training and my first shift!  I am beyond excited =D  

And yesterday was quite an amazing day as well!  I went on a bike ride with my team, then I met my dad at this grocery store/cafe called AJ's where he stopped after his ride.  I got a Fage Greek yogurt with peach on the side.  Haven't had one of these in a while, but they were so so good!  We also worked around the house quite a bit, putting hardware on cabinets, and a lot of other stuff.  Common theme huh? ;)  Then we went to Bicycle Haus to find out about ordering a team bike for next year, as well as get me some shoes because I am was in desperate need for them!  So long story short, I love the Bicycle Haus, and I got a great deal on some shoes and ordered a bike for the upcoming season!  I am excited because it is going to be the first new bike I have ever had! (except for my first ever road bike...)  It is pretty awesome, here is a picture of what it will look like!


So I am really excited to get it!  It is supposed to come in around the end of the month...

Then I made cajun salmon last night, which I didn't picture because it looked terrible :( It tasted good, but  I cooked the skin side down first, and it made the other side look absolutely terrible :/  At least it tasted good though I guess...

Then today I went on a ride with my dad, which was really nice!  The weather was absolutely beautiful both days this weekend!  Now I really know why people love it here so much!  I won't have any trouble getting used to this ;)  On our way home from the ride we stopped by this bakery I had seen, but never been to, called Gallileo.  Anyone local should for sure try it, it is at the corner of Hayden and Mountain View, in a little shopping center.  I got some amazing bread there!!!  Seriously, it makes me want to start baking again, and it reminded me so much of the great bread in Germany!!  Here is a snap shot...

so, I ate some of that right there, and put the rest in my pocket to take home :p

Then I found this video of somebody who put a Hayabusa motorcycle engine in a smart car :p

I WANT!!!  I know I am a car geek, but don't you think this is cool!?!

Then today included a nice nap, some more work on the house, and a bit of blogging :)  Pretty good weekend I think!  Nice and relaxing :)

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend and got some great relaxation and are prepared for a wonderful week ahead of you :)

Have a great Monday!

Scott


Sunday, October 3, 2010

Great weekend!

So this weekend had a LOT of varying activities!  So, we worked a lot, I am tired now, and I hope I can get up in the morning!

First of all, on Friday afternoon, I finally got Killin's postal address and sent him a letter =D

We did a lot of stuff around the house, to help us be able to organise all of our boxes and such...

I built this shelf with my dad to put holiday things and other storage on top, and hang the bikes from underneath it:

ya, we have too many bikes ;)

My dad also cut this hole in our wall :O  No worries, it is for a dog door so the dogs can go out whenever they want to!
that is the kitchen as seen from the outside of the house ;)


And I cut the bottom of my portafilter on my espresso machine so I can see what is going on when I pull a shot <-- LOTS of coffee geek talk right there!  I'll cut to the chase, here is a video:





Then this morning I had a race!  It was the Tour De Scottsdale, and it was different than any other race I had done before.  It was open to anyone (no license needed) but it was timed with a chip and everything.  Pretty cool!  Anyway, there were 1300 riders, and it was a pretty fast race up at the front, but I stayed for quite a while with the fast guys.  The race was 70ish miles and the winner finished in around 2h:20min or so, and I got 2h:58 min, so I was pretty happy with that :)  There were a BUNCH of crashes though :/  I mean like 4 or 5, and it was pretty much all because of the organizers did stupid things to try to keep us out of the way of traffic!  Thankfully, I don't think anyone was seriously hurt though. Here are some pics my mom took of me afterwards with the medal we got for finishing.  And you can see my bike rack on my little car ;)



And I hit the Jackpot on Nut butters today!!  Three different kinds I have never tried before :p

sorry for the crappy photo, I was tired...

She does this ALL on her own!

And, of course, the dogs got some relaxation even if we didn't!  They wanted to be on my blog :)

Well, that was my weekend, all the business and fun I could handle! 

How was your weekend??  I hope it was fantastic!

Have a Magnificent Monday my friends =D 

Scott