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Oh my gosh

2010-02-13T12:42:00.000-06:00

Yeah, so, haven't written in like a year basically?

Currently half-watching "Babar" and drinking some Guatemala Antigua whilst blogging and hacking the net.

Can anyone else not believe that the IOC is allowing the video of the luge accident that killed the Georgian athlete to be schlepped across the internet? It's one thing for second-hand copies to make their way onto YouTube, local news (where it's at least edited), etc., but for it to remain posted (and as the top-ranked video!) on the official NBC video website is, I think, a bit in poor taste. Media sensationalism is a true American tradition, however, so I have no doubts it will remain.

Gosh, I watched "Carriers" the other night...I need to learn not to watch horror/thriller movies, no matter how brave I am feeling. I know I should be able to separate fiction from real life but sometimes things have a way of getting under my skin, and it messes with my head. I suppose it was good, but I think I do better with a "less is more" approach when it comes to these types of movies (think "The Happening").

Oh let's see...what else...

I'm coming up on two weeks of quitting smoking. It's hard, and it super sucks. But it's the best thing I can do for my health right now, so that's just too bad I guess. Dying early and having lung cancer/heart disease would suck a lot more.

I'm hoping to panel for ASM by the end of the month/early next month. There are rumors of ASM positions available in the Pewaukee/Oconomowoc area so that's encouraging...we'll see what happens though. If something doesn't happen by the end of March, I'm going to have to move on. I just can't wait forever.

I had a weekend free last week so I went to Madison to visit the Soules plus Rick. Good times were had by all, to say the least. Beer boots are my favorite, and so are random cool cab drivers. And drunk Facebook updates.

So what's the deal with Canada getting the Olympics?

1. Super lame opening ceremony. Tap dancing...seriously? Who signed off on that one?? I'm surprised there weren't giant character french fries drenched in cheese and gravy parading around the stadium. Oh, sorry--TAP DANCING around the stadium.

2. Wayne Gretzky having to DRIVE to light "The Other Olympic Flame". Whoa whoa whoa. There is ONE Olympic Flame, OK? None of this "outdoor version" crap.

3. Did anyone else see the MOBS that were chasing the truck down the street???? And the ONE guy in a semi-official-looking uniform try to persuade them to keep them away? Mayhem. That's Wayne Gretzky we're talking about. And the f-ing Olympic Flame. You stay the f#*k back.

Ok Candadada. You screwed up the French language, now quit messing with my Olympics.

I would like to complain about somethings, and also mention some good things.

2009-07-21T16:36:00.003-05:00

So that is what I'm going to do, because this is my blog.

Had to open today on free pastry madness day. It would have been better:

-If the closer had not been a borrowed shift (manager from a different store) and knew how to set us up better for success (NOTE: this only happened because the original shift was scheduled even though she asked off)

-If our partners were used to setting up the case at night like I would have them do if I had the clout

-If there had been better communication to partners apart from posting the need-to-know in back and writing "READ" on it

-If there was clear direction on how much extra to pull in addition to the pre-shipped samples

-If I had an extra opener to set up the case (20% more work to do) and set up some samples for all the extra traffic

-If both "extra" partners didn't leave at 9, and the third at 9:30, leaving us with 3 part coverage thereafter, and only two while I had to take a lunch and prep the deposit. Two part coverage at peak. Way to go.

-If people didn't complain so much about working hard and tried acting like they were having a good time while they work, and didn't try to pretend it was astronomically busier than normal. We only did $1,100 by 1030, which is $100 over our usual school year day at that time and $250 in comp'ed pastry. Big whoop.

In the end, it held not a candle to the horror that was Election Day.

Also, my car was having additional problems related to the battery contacts which I thought had been resolved earlier last week. So I was stuck at work for two more hours trying to clean them off and ended up wasting even more time having to fish a lost screw out of the radiator housing. Good grimy fun. And I missed lunch with Gary. BUT I got my phone back from him, and got a call back from Kafevino, the newest soon to open coffeebar in the Third Ward.

Anyway. Cute little closing shift tomorrow, off on Thursday, and then a wonderful weekend of work. Again.

Cheers,

The Cup of Coffee

2009-06-26T17:56:00.003-05:00

As I sat with my cup this morning I thought about why it's such an obsession for me. Really, though, I think it's more of a fascination. Few people take the time to truly comprehend what a complex effort it takes to get them their coffee--at home, from the C-Store, from any specialty retailer or fast food place...style, price, quantity and quality don't matter.

Let's work backwards, starting with "the last ten feet" of coffee's trip. Of course it's you, the customer, the paying consumer, paying an average of $2-$3 for 10-20 ounces of any combination of brewed coffee, syrup, espresso, and milk. But looking behind the "bar" you can see so many others working with it, taking so much care, measuring and brewing, steeping and plunging, tapping and grinding...labor-intensive work with little margin for error, ending in spectacular results that you the consumer have come to regard as a requisite coffee experience these days.

A true-blooded Barista can tell you how much coffee to water is a good ratio, how long to steep a press, why you shouldn't freeze your coffee or keep it in the fridge, what goes well with chocolate and what goes well with cherries and why, and rattle off ten or so brewing methods and what coffee pairs well with each of them--and why. They know coffee is boiling hot (190-200 is requisite) and have learned to repress that flinch we all experience when spilling hot liquid ourselves, because they know it will only make a bigger mess. They're honestly not trying to display their superior knowledge when they ask you what type of coffee filter you use at home (and when you don't know), they're just trying to get you the best coffee they can. And they'll thank you for that quarter in the tip jar--and really mean it.

Those Baristi are the trusted front-linesmen charged with delivering the final product, so carefully crafted by the roasters, to the public. Largely unseen by consumers, the roasters take the bean from green to brown, taking painstaking measures to balance fire with time, temperature with moisture, and have learned to listen to the beans as they travel the roast spectrum. They know what temperatures are best for what origins, how to grade bean sizes by eye, and tell you how long a batch has been roasting with their nose. Once second, one degree, one bean too dark or too light can spoil an entire batch, an entire year of hard labor for the most under-appreciated player in the coffee game.

The farmers and pickers, growers, agronomists, co-op heads, sorters, processors, baggers, porters. Think of them the next time you proclaim your reliance on "coffee" to "live". For them the two are inseparable. They are the beginning of it all, the most important part, and yet the least familiar to us all. True, this is applicable to most agricultural products, but the amount of effort and energy it takes for even one pound of beans to make it to the last ten feet of its journey are astronomical. The average coffee tree takes six years to mature into a flowering plant, and only then can it produce beans. Pickers work by hand to identify only the ripest cherries on the tree leaving the younger ones for a later harvest. The steep mountainsides will be braved by the workers up to four times a year to bring in as many crops as possible.

Each region processes differently, but it is always a labor of love, of treating the bean the way it wants. The world expects an Ethiopia to taste a certain way, and that tradition is passed along through the ages, the nuances of milling and washing, drying and raking, turning, sorting, aging. Fending off rot and mold, pests, storm, and theft. And sadly those that work so hard rarely enjoy their own hard work's results, as each high-quality bean must be sold for profit, leaving none for those who labor so hard to produce them.

So this is why I get a little upset when people are too lazy to time their shots. Or when they say "we just do half batches and keep it for an hour." It's not something I can effectively communicate in a split-second of coaching, or with a point to a line in a resource manual. Sometimes I want to fly off the handle, into an passionate diatribe about their utter ignorance on why we do what we do and why they should care, and at the very least, why I do care.

Maybe I should.

TGIF?

2009-06-19T08:12:00.004-05:00

Well here we are at Friday. I would be saying a hearty and true TGIF, save the fact I have to work all weekend. And not just work, but OPEN Saturday and Sunday. And Monday. Booo.

I have a second interview at Iron Horse today at 4:30. It looks quite promising. The woman I interviewed with yesterday, Andrea, was very involved in the process and spoke quite genuinely with me about what the company is all about, their values/culture, and even went into specifics of what they offer as far as wage and benefits.

She let me know what openings they have among their dining venus. A few spots are open in "The Yard," the outdoor bar dining area. Needless to say, if you know me you'll remember my absolute disdain for outdoor dining, and so being a server in that environment didn't thrill me all too much. However, as Gary brought up (after the fact) the real money-making could potentially be done there, especially for the summer season. Regardless I passed that up and jumped at the mention of an opening in Smyth, the newly-opened fine-dining full-service restaurant. Offering a high-end menu and boutique wine and liquor collection, this place is fancy but laid-back, which is something that really resonates with me. The overly-pretentious atmosphere of most upscale dining establishments can create an off-putting and pretentious arrogance that turns away many potential clients, for whom the enjoyment of true haute cuisine should be as accessible as those with a more experienced palette. Downing the risk factor lets people explore, ask questions, and discover a truly great dining experience. Look at me, not even hired and I'm doing free PR.

The position is for a server's assistant, so it's a higher wage (9.00/hr) plus 15% tip-out from the servers. I feel more comfortable entering the restaurant in a position like this, because it gives me a chance to learn the menu, wines and liquors with a little less pressure, and develop a feel for how the team runs. It's a close-knit staff (six servers, two assistants--one of which will be me--and a maître d') that trained in and opened the restaurant together less than a year ago, so it should be a well-oiled machine by now.

The upside is that they strongly believe in cross-training, so I'll have opportunities to work banquets, cocktail and work The Yard and Branded (the bar restaurant) as I learn. Also, as part of their employment benefits, they offer fully-paid R&H (restaurant and hospitality) development classes.

So basically, after walking into my store this morning to find nobody up front, dirty pastry case glass and front doors, and essential product safety recall signage still not posted, I'm ready for a change.

Welp

2009-06-03T12:47:00.002-05:00

Jeeze, Liz is really making a comeback in the Bloggersphere; giving me a run for my updating money. Hmm, we'll have to change that.

So, okay. I have really settled on having a love-hate relationship with work. I love the people I work with. I love doing what I do behind that bar. I love being good at it. I love helping people feel successful and knowledgeable about their jobs. I love some of our customers. I hate some of our customers. I hate how dirty everything is, and that nobody else really seems to care unless the suits are coming to visit. I hate that some folks cannot understand what "DON'T RE-STEAM MILK" and "NO SHOTS INTO ICED CUPS" means and that it's not negotiable, and that I'm not pulling stuff out of my ass when I tell them the right drink recipes. I hate that people can't put a stupid sticker on things when they pull them out of the stupid freezer. And ultimately, I hate that I could probably do a better job than some store managers but will likely never get my own store.

So, I'll just open my own. Someday. Mark my words, everyone. I've got a used UNIC 2-group I can buy off of Gary's friend for $200. Add a couple 12-cup Bodum presses for brewed coffee, a Bunn hot water tank, a spree at Wisconsin Restaurant Supply and some gadgets from Espressoparts.com, and you've got yourself a coffee bar. Well, aside from the actual location. There's always the truck idea. With the lakefront festival season in Milwaukee, it might be do-able to turn a profit doing special engagements. Anybody got some primo real estate laying around?

There is a new show on A&E called "Obsessed". It chronicles the therapeutic experiences of sufferers of OCD. It is fascinating. If you get a chance to watch an episode or two, you should.

Well it's summer, and that means the return of "So You Think You Can Dance." Love it. I do wish, however, that Bravo would get busy with a new season of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover," because she is basically my hero, and I can't get enough of her. I think I just might have to hunt down her email and get the inside scoop. Or at least an autographed photo.

I had my first-ever puke story happen to me last week while I was working at the Miller Park Way store. Some teeny-boppers who had been hitting the strawberry daquiris (at least that's what it looked like to me) a little too hard stopped in for some frappuccinos, and one of them let loose all over the bar area. Thanks honey. You could at least have aimed away from the main food product preparation area. Jeeze. If there weren't people sitting in the cafe I probably would have made them stick around and called the cops/paramedics. I mean, it went EVERYWHERE. Like, on the machines (beautiful brand new Mastrenas!!), on merchandise, glass panels...everywhere. I think I'm still in shock...

Anyway. Next weekend is Pride Fest at the lakefront, and Ashley is coming down to visit. Should be a hootin' hollerin' gay ol' time. In the meantime, I fight the losing battle against laundry and keeping the dog from peeing on herself (she's on steroids right now for her allergies, and loss of pee control is aparently a side effect. Rock and a hard place). Oh, and living a vicarious existence through planning for my imaginary coffee shop. And debating on going back to school in the fall. And looking for a new job. Join the club, right?

And also, to you all, I miss playing Sega with you. You know who you are.

Have a great day now!

-Jacob

Sunny with a high of 80º

2009-05-20T11:37:00.002-05:00

So it's a very nice day outside, and it was a pleasure enjoying my morning coffee watching the birds go about their business. I did a 50/50 blend of Arabian Mocha Sanani and Guatemala Antigua in a paper cone pour-over, which yielded a pleasantly rich and spicy brew with a moderate body, interesting acidity and a slight cocoa and fruit background. I would classify it as "very drinkable" (a term I reserve for a select group of coffees such as Christmas Blend). Elegant and exotic coffees (like straight Sanani) tend to be overwhelming and too complex to enjoy mugfull after mugfull, personally. But when you can introduce complementary flavors and find a balance within the taste components of a brew, it's like a nice pair of jeans you could wear for the rest of your life.

Gary and I made a trip to Minneapolis this past weekend to celebrate his birthday. It was a good time, and we got to see Ms. Claire Tiller! Drinks and eats at The Local on Nicolet mall was (for me) the highlight of the weekend. And I say that not just because I know Claire will be reading this, but because all our other activities were somehow compromised with too much walking, spending $$ or doing things which I would otherwise not have wanted to do. But relationships are about compromise, and when you figure in that it was time spent with someone I like and enjoy hanging out with, it was more than a good time overall. Plus we got to bring Gary's dog Tobee, and I got to watch Gary inadvertently fool more than one person into believing he was seeing-impaired and that Tobee was his guide dog. My guess is that it was the wearing of sunglasses in the elevator that started it all. Oh well. Memories!

So now it's back to the grind (ha ha) at Starbucks. Something needs to change in the work aspect of my life...many factors are contributing to my dissatisfaction. More recently it has been the slow realization that I need to MAKE MORE CASH MONAAY. My average 30-35 hours per week at my current wage is just not making it happen. Consolidating all my riddiculous student loans will help but overall I need to begin making the slow steady crawl into "the black" if I ever want to feel like a grown-up.

A wise person once told me that the constant change in us all is inevitable. We cannot control that. What we can control, however, is how and when those changes happen to us. You can be a victim of change or an agent of change. You can make your life change, or let life force change upon you. And you can probably guess which of those will most likely deliver results that are to your liking.

/moment of Zen

The ABC's and 123's of our Popular Culture

2009-04-01T18:21:00.003-05:00

So, on a whim I decided to see what each letter of the alphabet and the numbers 1-10 propagated in the Google smart search toolbar on Firefox.

A: Amazon
B: Best Buy
C: Craigslist
D: Dictionary
E: Ebay
F: Facebook
G: Gmail
H: Hotmail
I: imbd
J: JC Penny
K: Kohls
L: Lowes
M: MySpace
N: Netflix
O: Obama
P: Photobucket
Q: Quotes
R: Radio Shack
S: Southwest Airlines
T: Target
U: USPS
V: Verizon Wireless
W: Walmart
X: XM Radio
Y: Youtube
Z: Zip Codes

1: 12 Days of Christmas
2: 2009 Calendar
3: 30 Rock
4: 4chan (A British image-posting site)
5: 50 cent
6: 60 Minutes
7: 7zip (a .zip archive utility site)
8: 808s & Heartbreak (the Kayne West album)
9: 90210
10: 106 and Park (the BET show)

A quick glance at what's driving the world's interests and this moment in time. Over time I suspect the same survey would give varying results. Something to ponder.

C'mon, it's only been three months...

2009-03-19T22:06:00.002-05:00

Right now, I am:
-Watching the Cosmic Wars episode of The Simpsons ("Co-Dependent's Day", #328)--also the revered "Someone Left the Cake Out in the Rain"/Oktoberfest/alcoholic/drunk driving episode
-Chewing some nicco-gum
-Thinking that the dresser drawer I forgot to close is starting to get on my nerves
-Trying to get sleepy because I get to wake up at 3:30AM to open Sbux
-Pissed at TurboTax for "doing" my taxes but not "really doing" them which means I just "really" did them and hope I get my $$$ soon

Aaaaand, that's about it.

So yeah, it's been about chree months since the last posty-post. What has happened? Well, in all honesty, not much. I suppose the most notable thing would be meeting a certain fellow named Gary. Connected through online personals, decided to have a date or two, and here we are three months later. So, it's been a steep learning curve for me as far as relationship dynamics go, since I have never been "involved" with anyone for longer than a few weeks--and that was over a year ago. I won't say it's been easy. I have learned a lot of lessons--well, okay, just a lot about a few specific issues--which will hopefully stick. I tend not to learn from mistakes or situations unless the stakes are high or the consequences are severe, despite my desire to be more reflective.

I'm pretty well giving up on Starbucks. There is simply no longer any guarantee of advancement. The vast, verdent feilds of opportunity, filled with frolicking, aspiring shift supervisors and ASMs has turned a wicked shade of putrid yellow. A thin, dry wind carries dust to the eyes, blocking out the sun and robbing you of breath. I feel taken advantage of. I feel immobile. I hate that I have no clout. My store is filthy, smelly, ugly, and nobody seems to care. Everybody complains about it (...umm, like I just did...) but nobody does anything about it. Yes, I have done things I shouldn't be responsible for, or be held accountable for, but I need to realize that it just enables the apathy of others.

Okay, I need to get to bed. Miss you all, love you all.

A Yuletide Morsel

2008-12-10T22:30:00.002-06:00

Oh, it's that time of year. And so here we have a graphic representation of the season, compliant with most social expectations established by centuries of tradition, commercial manipulation, and laziness.

Not much is new around these parts. It's been snowing--a lot. I've been fortunate in that I've not had to work on the days when most of the snow fell, so the driving nightmares have been minimal for me.

The dog has reached the end of her smells-like-rotten-egg-and-perm-solution-shampoo treatment, and she's still as itchy as a porcupine in a wool sweater in July. She's still on the medicine though, so we'll see what happens.

Thanksgiving was what it was--eating, lots of young children stealing the show, my culinary triumph of chocolate pumpkin cheesecake (from scratch...I'm that good), and not quite enough blackberry wine. Watch out Christmas--Jacob's bringin' the gin.

So, at work the other day, I'm sitting at the desk in the back room. I find, amongst the mess of papers and whatnot, an envelope from The Rep containing two vouchers for tickets to any performance of A Christmas Carol. Now, this is not your Eau Claire Children's Theatre production, (no offense), we're talking $50+ for decent seats for weekend performances, critically acclaimed actors, all at the gorgeous Pabst Theatre in downtown Milwaukee. If you are not in the "spirit of the season" after attending this spectacle then you need to don a Yamika and call it quits. So...back to the envelope... No name, no "from/to" or anything. My first instinct was "SWEET...*yoink*", but I wanted to be certain. I brought it up to a few baristas on at the time, and their response was minimal in enthusiasm, and none seemed to grasp the magnitude of the discovery. So, I put the envelope on the bulletin board, and if it's still there tomorrow, I'm callin' finders keepers. Merry Critmas to me. So who wants go to???

Oh what else...the 'Bux is hoppin' this time of year. Marquette is in final exam weeks, so we're basically constantly busy. AND we've just been informed that we are to run 3% below our forcasted labor allowances until further notice. Effective immediately. Read: send everyone home early all the time, work harder, and get paid the same. But, I am frankly just happy to have a well-paying job that I enjoy for the most part, so I cannot complain too much. Yet.

Tried to put lights on the tree..ahem, excuse me, da tchree, today, and turns out we have about 30% of the lights we need to make it look not pathetic. *I* would very much like to just forgo the lights all together and go old-school ornaments and ribbon and yadda yadda, but I'm sure that wouldn't go over too well.

I think that I could watch Food network, Bravo, and TLC all day and be absolutely fine with it. Oh, wait...that's what I did today.

And Days. Man, Sammy is a whacko.

Okay, as promised in the subject:

At last the dinner was all done, the cloth was cleared, the hearth swept and the fire made up. The compound in the jug being tasted, and considered perfect, apples and oranges were put upon the table, and a shovel-full of chestnuts on the fire.

Charles Dickens — A Christmas Carol

TOP CHEF SEASON 5!!!!!!1!!!ONE!!!!

2008-12-03T22:21:00.004-06:00

And yes, lo and behold, he returned dutifully to the blog, to ponder, reflect and savor the thoughts, sights, sounds, textures and tastes of a sun rised and set.

A word of advice, and I do this out of humanity--if you ever find yourself on Paxil/paroxatine, don't ever, ever miss two days of doses. You don't want the "paxil flu". Google for more if you'd like.

Well it has been an interesting month or so. Not "awesome" or "terrible". Just interesting. Interesting enough. It's now clear to me why people take "vacations" and "time off". Doing the same thing every day can be pretty stupid. And don't try telling me that going to school is doing the same thing every day. You're paying to do it, so it's like constant vacation. See? You skip some classes one day, different ones the other, leave early, etc. etc. It's your call. Vacay. And you walk everywhere. Like Disney world. Crappy expensive food. Like the zoo. Performance class. Like "KIDS" at State Fair. Hahaha.

Well it's busy at work now, basically, all the time--finals are in two weeks and we're like the fricking Central Perk of Marquette University. I hate reitterating that point, but I feel like people dont really understand that I DO mean "all of the time". As in, there is not a moment when there is not someone waiting for a drink to be made, waiting to order, or asking for more stupid nonfat milk or asking what the difference between signature hot chocolate and regular hot chocolate is. Or for the bathroom key. Or telling me that the bathroom is out of toilet paper with a little tinge in your eye as if I was purposefully ignoring the little "toilet paper empty" blinky light behind the counter/blocking the psychic messages you were sending while begrudingly using paper towel instead, like it could have killed you or something. And no, we didn't "run out" of regular cinnamon dolce syrup, the goddamn distribution center did, so it's not my fault, they fricking didn't even make enough to begin with, so just suck it up and get sugar-free because it's all chemicals anyway.

Well, work-related rant over.

For now....

But hey, I got my Black Apron!

So, what are everyone's plans for new year's?

2008-10-17T12:02:00.001-05:00

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

$25,000, some space, and lots of good beans

2008-09-13T12:46:00.003-05:00

That's all I'd need to start up my own shop.

Obviously, this is a very rough estimate based off of a few hours of googling and browsing Bunn and Espressoparts.com. But I think it's do-able.

Mind you, this is a long-term goal. I won't be up-and-quitting Bux any time soon. Besides, I have virtually no collateral for that substantial of a business loan.

That's not including leasing a space, labor, paper supplies or coffee and milk. All of which are a huge component of start-up and overhead costs.

I'm envisioning it...me, working 7 days a week, all day long, conning my family in to helping out (Mom with the book-keeping, Dad with the mechanical and maintenance sort of stuff, and Jord with retail support. Or security :P ).

The new store is going well. I've only worked a handful of shifts so far; I start my first full week on the schedule on Monday. I'm looking forward to getting into a rhythm and finding out what sorts of business patterns we have. It mostly depends on the Marquette U's class schedule; our rushes follow that pattern pretty regularly. Our biggest opportunity, cleanliness, I think, can be solved in the "off time," which is allegedly in afternoons and evenings. I was flabbergasted at the condition of the store the mornings I've opened. No pastries set up, floors filthy, glass greasy and streaked...I'm thinking to myself, "what are they doing at night??" Stocking and prep is important, but those are tasks that are easy to draw out into hours and hours of putzing. Raising standards of cleanliness and execution is a key factor too, as is holding people accountable for those standards. What is difficult is that those things that are important and valued by the baristas (stock, prep, more stock, organization, etc.) are not in any way immediately valued by the customer. Speed is key, but so is the experience. I feel that it's at the tip of our tounges, but just isn't being spoken fully yet. Better staffing and delegation of daily duties will help that a lot....that's something I'm hoping will start to materialize after our first shift meeting and store meeting.

The store itself is very unique, and is something hope they retain during the ever-impending remodel. We're nearly ten years old now (built in 1999) and it shows. Outdated (though charming) decor, chipping paint and laquer, insufficient work and storage space to accomodate the beast we've become in the last ten years. The coolest part(s) are the lobby--huge high ceilings, a fireplace, carpet in the seating areas, and a study room at the back of the store.

Also, something I just realized yesterday.... I had been trying to figure out why there was a concentrated area of dimpling and dings in the metal countertop at the espresso bar, to the left of the machines. Then it hit me--before the roll-out of the Verismos in 2000/2001, the LaMarzocco machines required manual dosing and tamping into portafilters for each double shot. The portafilters have a little double-spout on the bottom, and the repetitious tamping with 30lbs. of force onto the countertop left all those indentations. Makes perfect sense--the traditional workflow goes left to right, grind, tamp, brew, then back to the grinder area to knock out the grounds into the knockbox (now a garbage chute) cut into the countertop.

That's history right there. Old school. Character. I hope they leave it in when they remodel.

[ oh, so true ]

2008-09-02T00:28:00.001-05:00

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic

At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung

You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping

Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

2008-09-02T00:21:00.001-05:00

You Are a Spork

You have a playful, eccentric sense of humor.

You are creative. You see the world in bold colors.

You are a dabbler. You love to experiment.

You aren't an expert in anything, but you know a little about everything.

What Utensil Are You?

[ hmmm i see ]

2008-09-02T00:16:00.001-05:00

You Should Follow Unitarian Universalism

For you, religion is about asking questions. Questions that might never be answered.

In fact, you're more likely to consider yourself spiritual than religious.

You don't have any set beliefs, besides the belief that you should work to improve the world.

You are a true humanist who works for social justice and world peace.

What Religion Should You Be?

[ harder than i thought ]

2008-08-21T20:51:00.004-05:00

To you all, you know who you are (and sadly some do not, though I hope to remedy that soon enough)--I cannot imagine what it will be like to leave you.

It is an oversimplification (and borderline patronizing of me) to bring up the fact that our futures are always so unpredictable. I cannot imagine prophesying the joys, successes, sorrows, heartaches, tears, laughter, fear, and change that has passed by all too quickly over this phase of my life.

Do I feel older? More experienced? More confident? Smarter? Different, yes. I feel different. Everyone, at some point, looks back in time and realizes that they are not who they once were. This is a fundamental tenant of our existence. However, only the truly wise are able to transform those experiences, and the realization of change itself, into a positive energy that propels them upwards and onwards in life--whatever their direction.

Now, I'm not trying to say that I'm smarter than everybody else or anything pompous like that. Not yet, at least. I guess it's simply that I don't feel like I get how this slice of the pie fits into the grand scheme just yet. And it makes me uncomfortable enough to be reluctant about the future. Welcome to the club, I guess.

I haven't really had a "go for it" moment in awhile. So, this will be good for me. Deep breath, eyes squeezed tight, say goodnight, and go.

Yeah, I might have cried too, so what...

2008-08-15T20:31:00.001-05:00

Hey, I figured out how to do it this way

2008-08-15T20:18:00.001-05:00

[ waiting on the world ]

2008-08-11T08:17:00.002-05:00

Well I've basically had enough of this ambiguity crap. I'm calling the department this afternoon to give them a final dose of "I know it's not your fault, but I really need to know, like, really, really really really need to know what the hell is going on."

Working a lot, sleeping a lot. It seems like everybody else who's in town is busy when I'm not, so that sort of sucks. Dickerson got back on Saturday from his DCI trip (he went to semi-finals).

I dreamed that I was in school again, and struggling to get to class on time (for whatever reason) and the professor (who was actually my 10th grade algebra teacher) kept giving me 0's on the beginning-of-class quizzes because I wasn't there in time. This was one of the few odd dreams I had last night--always fun.

I'm holding my Coffee Master seminar on Thursday--it's on iced coffee brewing. It's the last thing I have to complete before my certification. Gimmie that black apron.......give....

And as to the Favre "situation," I say, what a selfish move. That's all I really get from it; it shows that it's really all about him in his mind. There are many, many people who will take it as a flat-out betrayal and make much more harsh pronouncements. And, done.

This has been a ridiculous 72 hours

2008-07-24T11:53:00.003-05:00

Let's lighten the mood a bit, shall we?

Click-a here.

And here. (this one's the best)

And here too.

A bit late in the summer, but still, click here.

Man, I wish I got lunch from Saz's today

2008-07-24T10:35:00.002-05:00

But, instead, I'll have to settle for paying $100 to get my car back.

Story: Jacob comes home from driving his ass all around Champaign/Urbana trying to find LaBamba's ("Burritos as big as your head") and back. Gets lost at least three times in the process. Why? All the roads are laid out in a grid, but half of them don't connect with each other, are one-way, or are named twice (i.e., E Green ad W Green, the E and W meaning relatively nothing, especially when trying to navigate a city.) So instead of relying on my usual inclinations of navigations ("Go that way") and ignoring street names and directions, I should have, apparently, had some idea of where I was going before I left. But whatever, I found a Sonic on my way home and got the best shake I've ever had. Coconut cream pie. Yeah, it was as good as it sounds.

So I finally arrive "home," emotionally and physically exhausted, defeated, and ready for bed. So I try to figure out where to park, pick somewhere, and tell myself, as I'm backing up, to be sure to clear the driveway in front of the car (because, you know, I don't wanna get towed or some stupid shit like that). So I did.

Now, the funny part is that I *clearly remember* looking back at my car, seeing the gravel path that I was, as it is now clear to me, in fact, blocking to a greater than lesser degree. But it just did not register...at all. I blame all the fake driveway things on campus at UWEC that I grew accustomed to ignoring, and which would totally score you a sweet spot on Chipp because some idiot thought it was a *real* driveway.

Well folks, this one was a *real* driveway. I'll spare you the invigorating details of the conversation with the girl at the tower's house, who I am pretty sure is either somewhat cognitively disabled or was just f$*ing with me (she "didn't remember" where her grandmother worked or how to get a hold of her). So as I google all of the towing companies in Champaign/Urbana and pray that my phone doesn't die (where's the charger? IN MY CAR), I finally find the right one. And now, I walk.

Walk tall.

Shit, meet fan

2008-07-23T18:24:00.002-05:00

I've come to the realization that as much as I claim to not believe in fate or any other type of destiny, certain things in life do have their "place." While there is always a path of least resistance, I feel like we are able to navigate ourselves according to our own perceptions, regardless of the oppositions we meet. However, truly wise individuals are able to hone in on the signals that are given to us when we might not be navigating in the truest possible way.

A heavy dose of wisdom is bestowed upon me, or rather, is in the process of being so bestowed. Yesterday I checked in with the graduate office to square away registration details and found out (over a month after the fact, due mostly to clerical oversight and miscommunication--but that is a moot point) that based on my final 60 credits, my GPA is not admissible for the graduate program.

This is three hours after I signed my lease.

After managing to get my head around the situation and talk the situation through with the very sympathetic and relatively unaffected secretary, we discovered that they were missing my final transcript with the indication of degree conferral. I sent her what unofficial documents I had access to, and told her that the Grad/Professional Studies office should be receiving official copies in a few days. The final fact of the matter is that with everything as it stands now, it still may not be enough.

I just would have liked to know a little more ahead of time.

I've gone through enough life-altering situations of far more severity than this to be truly bereft and devastated, but it flat out sucks a whole lot, and there are a bunch of emotions goin' on up in hurr. What's killing me currently is (besides the mold and pollen count--visine 'gets the red out' my ass) the waiting game, and having a potentially expensive blunder sitting just below the water. I should, according to "Jennifer", know by Friday.

So, life, if you're trying to tell me something, you've sure got my attention.

see sub-headings

2008-07-22T12:27:00.003-05:00

Reasons why I'm excited right now:

01. the chocolate croissant I'm eating right now (from Cafe Paradiso) is delicious
02. I now have an apartment
03. My Francis!Francis! espresso machine is en route for delivery

Things left to do in Champaign:

01. Stop by the computer people office and get my passwords re-set
02. I think that's about it...

Things I'm not looking forward to:

01. The drive back home and to Eau Claire
02. Filling up my gas tank at least two more times
03. Discovering, sadly, that all "independent" coffee shops are, in all reality, and to the shock of so many loyal regulars, identical (except for the food at Racy's, which still, in all my many journeys, has yet to be out-done).

But wait....mis-matched chairs and tables and....! Oh. Yep. Okay, what about like, crazy polaroid photos on the wall of fun customers who...! Check. Well they have like chalkboards where they write quips about their daily specials and the fo.... Hmmm. (/tongue-in-cheek)

Well, this place (Paradiso) uses Intelligentsia beans, which is a good step in the quality direction. The problem, though, is that the true indicators of a good shop are not visible--the training and development of the baristas. It's especially difficult in a town like this, where most of them are students and rarely work over 10 hours a week. There is little time to teach, not to mention put theory into practice. The result--under-tamping, improper grinds, poor extractions...bad shots.

Anyway...so transfered the blog to a different email address, so if your comment disappeared, I claim no responsibility. Blame the interweb. Or junkyard.

Welcome to Chambana, here's a giant hurricane storm

2008-07-22T10:32:00.003-05:00

Good lord, I don't think I can remember a storm as intense and flat-out scary as the one that passed through last night.

All I wanted was some T-Bell. I had been driving all day, finally found Ryan's (my) apartment and got "settled" in, and I was starving. I didn't really know where to go, but I remembered that there was an clump of restaurants out by Hwy 74. So I get in the LeSabre and head out. Yeah, it's raining. So what?

And, torrential downpour. Gale-force winds. Virtually constant lightning. Jacob is pretty sure he's going to die. So I finally make my way to the promised land, and by this time it's so bad I decide to wait it out in the parking lot before hitting the drive through and heading back. Trucks are pulling off the highway, the roads are virtually empty. "This is ridiculous."

So anyway, everything turned out okay. The apartment is nice; it has a "bonus room," because it's on the end of the unit--they turned the entryway vestibule into part of the lower level on the inside of the apartments on either end. Score.

Located within three or four blocks of my place is: A Baskin Robins/Dunkin' Donuts, a sushi restaurant, an oriental grocery store, a mexican grocery store and taquiera, a 24-hour CVS, like three drycleaners and laundromats, some Chinese restaurants, a couple pizza places, and a turn and a straight shot down Green Street (it's like the Water St./State St. of Champaign).

I'm excited, of course, but also a little bit intimidated and anxious. I'm signing the lease at 11 today, so it's go big or go home. I stopped by the Starbucks on Green St. and I was a little discouraged. Girl on R1 in a GRAY sweater, a logo baseball hat (?? she was the only one wearing one), gross long blond hair in a messy pony tail and a busted apron with the neck strap tied on one side. And she "couldn't" tell me when their store manager would be in. "We're not really allowed to say when people work." God, do you get it?? I'm a partner, I'm transferring, I need to TALK TO THIS WOMAN. I'm sort of starting to think about just forgetting the whole thing. Finish up my Coffee Master certification, sport the black apron for the home stretch, and call it at that. Because I know wherever I go, it will never be as good as the store I've been so lucky to be at for the last two years.

3123 N Broadway St

2008-07-21T14:33:00.003-05:00

Chicago, IL 60657

Just had my first shot of Black Cat espresso blend from a sassy Latina barista. It was pretty much what I expected--quite close to perfection. The experience was fleeting, but memorable. It's the finish I can't really get over. The baker's chocolate is the most pleasant coffee "aftertaste" (if you can call it that) I've ever experienced.

An unexpected surprise? This place is smack dab square in the middle of Chi town's gay neighborhood.

This is just a weird experience.

All I want to do is sit around and try drink after drink, get presses of their coffees. I think I will try a press of their Kenya, and possibly La Tortuga--a Honduran coffee. Interesting.

Just ordered it...they seem a bit flustered; must be an odd time for there to be the amount of people around that are flooding the bar as I type... Anyway. Basically, I wish I could live here and make this my new Racy's.

Apparently they are out of their stock Kenya, and only had a reserve auction lot that isn't for "regular customers" (I guess telling the barista that I drove from Milwaukee for this didn't do what I'd hoped...). So, I have a cup of La Tortuga in front of me.

My perceptions? Perhaps this one shines better in a straight-up cupping. It's a Latin American, and I guess I should have known better. I think that because I'm so used to drinking LAs, not much really "pops" out at me. But when you have a cup of Kenya, or a dry processed Indonesian or rare microlot (from anywhere), there are stark differences that are immediately apparent.

Their set-up is strikingly simple but logical. Three staff: cashier, barista, and bean clerk. (side note: I'm liking the Hondouran more as it cools. Fruit is easier to enjoy and the cocoa is showing up. I think it was just too hot.) They too have a BaristaScreen™ (a monitor displaying all of the orders in queue)--something that originated with none other than we, "big green".

And...I just almost choked on my coffee...sitting here...at the original Intelly. Good lord, humility has a new meaning. Not because of how it tastes or anything at all like that. I just forgot how to swallow or something. Awesome.

Something I'm glad to see is the absolute lack of pretentiousness I was anticipating. Not a whole lot of retail, either. A Rancilio Rocky (grinder) and a Sylvia (prosumer espresso machine). Some moka pots, presses and replacement beakers, and your usual mug/cup assortment. What?? No stuffed animals??

Before I leave I will be purchasing:

A mug
1 lb of Black Cat
1 lb of Diablo Blend (their Vienna roast blend)
A t-shirt?

Maybe grab some local fare before I hit the road for Chambana. But right now, I have to go to the bathroom.

An Illinois Excursion

2008-07-21T09:57:00.003-05:00

Today I travel down to Champaign to tie up loose ends before the final move-in takes place in August. Meeting w/ university folks, my new store manager, and my new landlord.

I'm actually quite a bit more excited to stop here on my way down. Chicago traffic be damned.

I saw The Dark Knight yesterday. Really not much to say about it, aside from the fact that if you have not yet seen it, you are missing out on one of the better movies made in the history of motion pictures to date--period. And if you have seen it, you know what I'm talking about. Not since Peter Jackson's LOTR movies have I been as captivated by and completely engrossed in a film. (Though, I'm sure the gigantic UltraScreen helped). I could write a whole separate entry on this alone so I'll have to stop.

A pleasant surprise at the new Marcus "Majestic" theatre is a small ice cream and coffee shop with Stone Creek Coffee as its headliner. I was shocked and a bit encouraged to see a La Marzocco two-group Linea (semi-automatic) paired with a Swift grinder. So, I ordered up a double and gave it a go. The staff seemed to be comfortable enough with the process, which is, due to the Swift, far less involved than it would be without such a piece of equipment. I watched the pour, and the tails were very uniform and viscous. Despite being poured into those annoying little metal "brew pitchers", and then into a paper (!) cup, there was a surprising amount of crema and a decidedly delicious flavor and aroma. I just never thought I would get a good coffee at a movie theatre. In the US. In Wisconsin!

Now, the Linea costs a pretty penny, but the Swift itself is near as expensive as a two-group machine. A sound investment for a company looking to ensure quality beyond a single location, while still holding on, kicking and screaming, to manual machines.

I'm at the Oconomowoc location right now, enjoying an overly-milky :( cappuccino. (lovingly called out as a "capp" by the arguably bereft (of passion?) and "I couldn't get a gig at Alterra so I guess this will work for now" barista. The Swift takes all the guesswork out of dosing and tamping (for the most part), so all that is left to La Mano ("the hand") is coupling the portafilter into the grouphead, brewing (a bit more involved if you're not using a timed extraction) and steaming milk to build the drink with. I'm pretty sure the puck was ruptured when the portafilter was locked in (with a bit of unnecessary vigor and flair--I was the only one in line), because there was severe channeling during the pull. Tasted okay, but a tad bitter and obviously not as good as it could've been. Good dense foam, but a bit hot (makes it go stiff/fall quickly).

Enough pseudo food-columnist-blogging for now, I must hit the road. See you at Alterra.

108 W Charles St., #105

2008-06-11T14:06:00.001-05:00

Is where I'll be in the fall. (click here) (and here)

Wherever you go

2008-06-11T10:26:00.003-05:00

Well here I am at chez Dickerson, and it is quite the pad. Best thing? Washer and dryer in the basement. Love it.

I had a few really odd dreams last night, including one with a Saturday Night Live performance in Zorn arena (which had a proscenium stage, apparently) featuring singing and dancing, and Jill from the mall store was in it. When I asked why they were here doing a show, I was told it was for Sawdust City Days. Also, in the same vein, the DNC was holding their caucus on campus as well and all were joyously celebrating the attainment of previously Hillary-supporting superdelegates to vote for Obama. Very emotional. Even I was crying. I mean, I like Barack and everything but, wow.

Also featured was a trip to a theme park built on the site of a nuclear power plant. There was a lot of venting gases and steam and all the workers had gas masks on but nobody else did. The only area that was like this, however was the main entrance, and once you got inside the park everything was peachy.

The touch of summer

2008-05-21T11:10:00.003-05:00

Racys + nice day + nothing to do until work = blog entry

I suppose I do have a reasonable amount of things to do, but they rely on each other in a cascading-like fashion, and so I'm pretty much at the mercy of fate. Or something.

I need to wait to hear back from the Illinois Sbux store manager to figure out when I will officially start. Depending on that information, I will need to either:

a) Head down to Chambana, stay with Ryan for a week or so until I find a place that's immediately available

or

b) Re-transfer to a store in the Waukesha area and stay at home for June-July until most leases start up in Chambana

Option "a" is infinitely more desirable, and plausible, as a transfer for only two months (especially in the summer) is unlikely. Transferring is a hairy process to begin with.

I also just need to stop spending money, point blank. Like, cut up the ol' debit card. Because it's pretty much getting ridiculous.

Also, the new pair of shorts I bought have these pointless tie-like things which seem to function by closing the leg openings, and I can't understand why one would elect to do so, and so they simply dangle and frighten me and make me think something is crawling up my leg.

That is all for now...

Sixteen

2008-04-30T19:28:00.002-05:00

That's how many days remain in my undergraduate college "career".

Until today, I've been pretty chill about the whole thing. But I really officially started the panic stage today.

Why? I'm just worried. Worried that I won't do well enough to graduate, that I'll miss something and find out I didn't take a class or some dumb shit because a secretary forgot to send an email, and about the transition to Illinois. I really need to get in touch with my prospective future room mate, so if any of you have contact with a one Ryan Cavis, you should probably tell him he should give me a call or an email or a telegraph or something of that sort.

I also need to get transferred down to the Green Street Starbucks and get all that junk situated as well.

Remaining in my academic obligations are four final exams/tests (three in art history lectures, one in History 184: Nazi Germany), one group presentation about the Polaroid Camera and instant photo industry, and that's it.

Needless to say, I'm a little anxious about these final days......

[ it's been awhile. . . again. . . ]

2008-04-02T14:46:00.003-05:00

Again, at Racy's, pondering, so, naturally,

blog post time.

New barista at Racy's. Kyle, I believe. Looks very, very familiar.

Sometimes I wonder if people know that Chai is not a very caffeinated beverage.

School is going well...for once... There are a few large project-type things about to come due in the next few weeks, so it will be crunch time relatively soon. I would rather not "step up" and become the "leader" in my 333 group (I already am in my photo. hist. group) but I sort of want a good grade, so it is probable that I will end up doing so in the end.

Orchestra is alright...I really can't believe that our concert is as soon as it is. Nobu pitched a fit last VBall rehearsal about how nobody knew the music, but that's only because 90% of the winds are new, and the strings' music is hard, so, yeah. Yay excuses!

Dr. Heidel is leaving Eau Claire for the University of Iowa's Director of Bands position. Congratulations to him; it is a fabulous career move and where he will probably spend a good portion of his career.

This weather sucks, period. Spring please.

Work is going well too. Lots of changes, especially in the area of brewed coffee. Brewed fresh every 30 minutes, with coffee ground that day and that has been roasted within two weeks maximum. And we get to use a spoodle--it's the thing we use to scoop the grounds into the filters. Every Starbucks in the US has one now, and guess where they were made? Sheboygan, WI. I know!!

Starbucks has bought The Coffee Equipment Company, makers of the CLOVER brewing machine. Big news too--google it.

Whelp, that's all for now.

[ the pant-suit demographic ]

2008-03-12T23:15:00.002-05:00

The title has no relevance whatsoever to the post, fyi.

So I sometimes sit around and daydream about the future, and I've decided that Noodle is a good name for a dog. Preferably a Great Dane.

The future that will never be holds in it my own espresso bar, location to be determined (any suggestions?). Grey Tree Espresso. With an 'e'. Why? Cause it's Euro, and awesome.

Have fun on band tour, kids.

[ sometimes ]

2008-03-05T21:25:00.002-06:00

WELL, I am...

1) At Racys
2) Supposed to be studying
3) In a reflective mood

Therefore, all signs point to...

BLOG ENTRY.

You know some days, or snippets of thought, or whenever, when you just want to hug certain people? Today's definitely one of those days. Oh, and if you're curious, I am unable to spell the word "definitely" correctly on the first try. Ever.

Back to the hugging. Today seemed to be a rather emotional day--not for any particular reason, just sort of in an all-around sense. This was not something I expected... My photography class is always sort of a crap-shoot, because the professor is, though scatter-brained, a very passionate liver (life-liver, not the organ kind) and you never quite know when he's going to tangent his way into some unforgettable rhetoric. So there was that, and then orchestra. Going from playing pretty intimate music to sitting there listening to the strings practice for thirty minutes (sorry guys) to the trumpets yapping on and on for the entire rehearsal to Nobu pretty much chewing out the 'cellobasses' to yadda yadda.... Then we watched a documentary (part of the "Great War" PBS series) in art history class...yeesh.

And now, a report on the rise of Hitler's regime to power in Germany. But it's cool, just three double-spaced pages worth of 100-level essay-ism. No big deal. I hope.

Peas and love (and hugs too I guess).

[ and how do you end an hour-and-a-half-long symphony? (for Hayley) ]

2008-02-29T00:13:00.000-06:00

Like this!

[ how do you end a 25 minute-long 1st movement? ]

2008-02-28T02:39:00.001-06:00

Like this.

[ ...when you least expect it... ]

2008-02-26T13:58:00.000-06:00

RE: Deferral
Boyle, Jacob Joseph

Sent:	Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:55 PM
To:	Griggs, Joyce Lynn [griggs@ad.uiuc.edu]
Attachments:

Hi Ms. Griggs,

Yes, with all emphasis and elation, I will most definitely be attending the U of I this coming Fall 2008 semester, in the Masters of Music Education + Certification program.

Please let me know what further information you will be needing from me, if any.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Jacob Boyle

________________________________________
From: Griggs, Joyce Lynn [griggs@ad.uiuc.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:31 PM
To: Boyle, Jacob Joseph
Subject: Deferral

Jacob,
Will you be enrolling for Fall 2008?

Please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Joyce Griggs | Assistant Director
University of Illinois School of Music
1114 West Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217.244.7899
MSN/GoogleTalk: uimusicadmissions
www.music.uiuc.edu
[cid:3286877516_1077305]

[ oh me oh my ]

2008-02-16T23:57:00.002-06:00

The wisdom of Imogen Heap is never too far from our reach.

Oh, let's see.

The unexpected always seems to occur when least expected. Which is, I suppose, to be expected.

Wait...

Sum nah losian metod.

(Olde English)

[ it's about time ]

2008-02-11T21:10:00.000-06:00

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004177380_webbarista11.html

Starbucks retraining baristas on Feb. 26

By Melissa Allison

Seattle Times business reporter

Starbucks will close 7,100 stores nationwide for three hours on the evening of Feb. 26 to retrain about 135,000 in-store employees and people who oversee the stores.

"We will have all new standards for how we create the drinks," said spokeswoman Valerie O'Neil. "They will be trained in creating the perfect shot, steaming the milk and all the pieces that come together in a drink."

Some people have speculated that Starbucks will return to manual espresso machines, but O'Neil said the espresso-making equipment will be the same. "It's really about ensuring that the customer experience that we provide is the best that it can be."

Starbucks began telling employees about the training over the past couple days. It will close company-operated stores from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. local time on Feb. 26.

Workers at the 4,000-some U.S. stores licensed to do business with Starbucks in supermarkets, airports and elsewhere will be retrained at about the same time but not necessarily on the same day, O'Neil said.

The retraining is part of Starbucks' plan to revive its brand and sales growth, which by one measure sank to an all-time low last quarter. Chairman Howard Schultz took back the job of chief executive last month to oversee the turnaround.

Starbucks already said it will slow U.S. expansion, grow faster in foreign countries and stop selling warmed sandwiches. On Monday, it announced a switch in wireless Internet providers and said it will offer two hours a day of free Wi-Fi to certain customers.

More changes are expected to be unveiled at the company's annual meeting on March 19.

Schultz said in an interview last month that he is committed to "reinvent and reinvest in training the likes of which we have not done."

"I think our people are the reason we've been successful," he said. "The equity of the brand is based on the experience they create, and we want to unleash that creativity and that passion. They have it. We just have to give them the tools and the resources for it to come out."

2008-02-09T14:34:00.001-06:00

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/141838

[ things are good ]

2008-02-04T19:14:00.000-06:00

It snowed again this morning, and well into today...and it's supposed to keep snowing...until tomorrow...

I was just looking at some of Dave Long's pictures from when he studied abroad in Ireland and the U of Limerick, and I started tearing up. I just really, really miss that place.

Don't get me wrong, I completely enjoyed Rome, Florence and Athens. But there, Ireland, I could just feel something different...maybe it's as simple as the language. But as Irish as my family is, I feel like it's that much more special. To be able to go back to the Ó Boaghil territory, meet people who really could be/are my relatives... Anyway.

I hope to find myself back there someday... Doing what...that's another question...

[ click here ]

2008-02-01T12:02:00.001-06:00

Well, here, for a an entry that warrants being on both blogs. I couldn't decide, so, yeah.

2008-01-31T14:24:00.001-06:00

From: University News Bureau
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:41 AM
Subject: Chancellor's message regarding strategic plan

================================================================================

On behalf of Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich, this message is being sent to all UW-Eau Claire students,

faculty, staff, emeriti faculty and retired associates.

================================================================================

To the UW-Eau Claire Campus Community,

At the close of 2007 I was proud to join our Foundation’s Executive Director Kimera Way to announce the successful completion of our first comprehensive campaign. Not only did we reach, but we exceeded our goal, with a final tally of nearly $54 million, truly a landmark achievement for a university of our size.

The Foundation’s efforts did not stop when the goal was reached, however. Initial plans for a second campaign are in the works, completion coinciding with our centennial in 2016. The Foundation Board currently is beginning to develop a strategic plan that will align with our university strategic plan.

In addition, there are several initiatives underway now that promise to benefit UW-Eau Claire tremendously.

The All Steinway campaign has set a goal to make our university an all-Steinway campus, enhancing the quality of our music programs and benefiting our students with the best musical instruments available.

I'm sorry, I guess that's the key to success I've been missing in trying to better my playing and the quality of our ensembles. STEINWAY PIANOS IN THE KEYBOARD FACULTY'S STUDIOS!!!! EFFING EUREKA!!

We had better get a goddamn apology out of this one.

[ 44˚ F ]

2008-01-28T14:05:00.000-06:00

I feel the need to make the ubiquitous comment, "does anybody read this thing anymore?"

Well here it is, January 28th, and almost 50 degrees outside. But don't worry, we'll be back to normal by tomorrow. What the EFF.

Car = being fixed. I've been making use of my free bus pass (Student ID) quite regularly. Surprisingly, and thankfully, it's pretty easy to get around. Turns out that cabs are expensive in Eau Claire. But, so is gasoline.

Mario, Amy O and I went to the Red Room on Saturday night, and had a BLAST. It's a rather cozy bar with free popcorn and all-red decor. It's not non-smoking, which might deter some people, but for our work crowd it works rather well. We should make it a regular thing, I think. Thursay nights. Or Friday nights. Whatev.

Not much else. I'm in orchestra for sure. Thankfully the rehearsal time isn't as obnoxiously late as it is in the fall so my work availability won't change too drastically.

Our "holiday party" is on Friday; we're going playing in the snow at Christie Mountain. Sort of excited. Not a fan of the cold, but long underwear and three pairs o' socks should take care of that. I think there's some fresh snow coming tomorrow too.

I wish that for one year, the vocal department here would do away with vibrato and just give straight tone a TRY. Seriously. Please?

[ things that happened today ]

2008-01-23T22:57:00.000-06:00

Worked 6-11:30

Had my year and six month review

Found out I still suck

Took bus to campus for class

Arrived to class ten minutes late because bus broke down

Made zero headway in getting car fixed (Well, I guess this one doesn't count, but oh well)

Went to bookstore to get books

Discovered that wallet was forgotten at home; book quest in vain

Night class 6-9

Decided to audition for orchestra; discovered that excerpt is something I have already learned

Polished up audition excerpts

Took bus to Transfer Center downtown

Walked home; lost feeling in legs

Probably going to have some cereal/watch SVU/go to bed

P.S. - Happy Australia Week. (??)

[ good intentions ]

2008-01-20T19:41:00.000-06:00

This morning: stopped by McDs to pick up some trans-fat sodium white bread processed breakfast for the crew at work, 'cuz I'm that nice.

Got Mancinos for lunch because we were absolutely annihilated from 10:30-12:00 and I wanted to drown my sorrows in a Chicago Steak hoagie. So I did.

And that's that.

[ bright ]

2008-01-18T13:25:00.000-06:00

Well hey, lookit that, the sun is out. This is good. I'm in a better mood I think. It just sort of stinks when you keep forgetting what time of day it is because you have no point of reference. Besides clocks and watches.

For work-related blogging, please now see http://blackapronquest.blogspot.com. It's just a little experiment.

So, yeah.....

Pretty much really ready for school to start. Like, ridiculously ready. As in I almost went and did readings and worked on assignments that won't be due for another three months. Yeesh. Glad we put a stop to that. Thanks Soules and bad decisions.

I had sushi with Amy O last night, and it was very enjoyable. Tea, a "saketini", and enough to fill me up for under $20. A steal. You should try it--sushi happy hour from 3-5 at Shanghai.

It's really cold, like really really cold, it sucks, thanks climate change, *middle finger*. The new snow helps the landscape a bit, but it's winter--I get it. Enough with the negative highs.

Well, that's about it for now. Happy last Friday of winter break.

[ bit by bit ]

2008-01-11T13:50:00.000-06:00

In my causal browsing of others blogs recently and not so recently, I come across sentiments of malaise over the directions of our lives. I can only offer consolation in the form of commiseration, in that we have all been there, or are there right now.

It will have taken me six years to graduate from college when all is said and done this spring. And it WILL be said and done: I am back to "Good" academic standing, a 3.0 for the semester, 1 GE left (the infamous "Nazi" class), and as many ups to the minor GPA as I can muster (re-takes, electives). Also, orchestra (hopefully) and chamber ensemble too. Anybody in a string quartet that wants to play the Mozart clarinet quintet with me???? Hayley??

All of this comes out of what have pretty well been the worst two years of my life thus far. Taken in perspective, I really should be proud of what I've been able to overcome. BUT at the same time, I cannot settle. But I do need to be realistic. The future may have inevitably changed as a result of the past and from events that were not within my immediate realm of influence, and that's something I just need to deal with. I have always shunned regret. But I guess that's not always an option.

I've found out that UI has simply stopped doing deferrals, because it's "simply too hard to keep track of." Thanks, snippy secretary. The short answer is, then, that I'm simply out of luck and can wait to re-apply for the Spring 09 semester in the Fall. The long answer is that I've called the admissions director and left her a voicemail. I'd like to talk to her directly and see if there are any other options on the table. Plus, she was a student under Dickerson when he was asst. Dean there, so... Well, connections help.

Otherwise, I guess it's home I go in May. I'll probably look to transfer to a high-volume store down there as a barista (it's easier than trying to find a spot as a shift). Yeah, I'm going to miss my store and everybody up here immensely, but things change, life goes on. Where does my life go from there? Well I know already that my parents will be on me to find a "real" job somehow relating to my field of study. I suppose I could hawk lessons out of Interstate or White House or something like that. More appealing is earning my educator certification, start subbing and looking for a teaching job. I've always been known to take the road less traveled anyway. Plus, UWM isn't that bad. Too bad ol' T.D. is goners, though. I kinda missed him. I could take some lessons from Todd and Bill...wouldn't be bad at all.

I could go on, and I will... Time for work though.

Cheers

[ well, i'm back ]

2008-01-10T06:57:00.000-06:00

Where to begin, really?

I'm pretty well burnt out on airplanes, airports, and traveling in general. If there was a way to get back there without spending 20 hours on planes, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

For those of us who have yet to experience what it's like to be a "foreigner", it is definitely something that we should all go through. In Italy it wasn't too bad, because you could sort of catch on to words or phrases here and there. Greece? Not a chance. Even if people did speak English, they usually preferred not to, or their heavy accents marred any chance of comprehension.

The trip there was exhausting. Huge saga involving stand-by flights, delays, and the like ended up putting 7 of us from my flight group (77) about ten hours behind everyone else. We got there, and that's what counts. Plus, we got 8 Euro for lunch from United Airlines! Well, I got 12 because they lost my ticket at the counter. Huge. Saga.

Rome is incredible, relics and ruins everywhere you turn, ancient buildings next to modern ones. Which are more numerous: the pickpockets or pigeons? Depends where you are. And don't forget to watch out for the Gypsies. Food? Pizza pasta and pastries. For real. I thought it was too cliché to be true. But I searched high and low for somewhere between a street card and a fancy sit-down place with something other than the traditional fare and found--McDonalds. Best Big Mac I've ever had.

The coffee was what you would expect. Espresso--although they just call it "caffé"--for about a Euro, as a cappuccino (the most popular) or macchiatto (topped with a spoon of sweet, dense milk foam) usually served with some sort of chocolate or sweet on the side. You can get a cornetto (sweet croissant-style pastry, made with brioche dough and filled with jam/preserves, chocolate, custard, or plain) for about another Euro if you want too. You order it at the bar, drink it there, and pay on your way out.

As for all of the old stuff--you really doubt that it's thousands of years old. Most likely due to the transient and disposable nature of things today, you fight to believe that things stand where they always have since they were built. But then there's a breakthrough--you finally accept it, let your imagination run things for a little while, and start to feel the sense of place and history all around you.

I only wish that the weather could have been better. It was cold, and we spend a lot of time outside on tours or just exploring on our own. Myself and a lot of other people got sick with sniffles and such because of this. More constant sunshine would have really highlighted things, especially our day cruise to the Greek Islands. That was cool--donkeys, stray dogs and cats, and pigeons that could eat a squirrel.

I'll leave you with that piece of poetry :)

[ this is more for me than for you ]

2007-12-23T18:58:00.001-06:00

But, in case you're interested...

MONDAY, DEC. 24

5:00AM Open Starbucks.
1:00PM Depart for home.
5:00PM Estimated time of arrival.
Play with pup in snow.
6:00PM Leave for Aunt's.
10:00PM PrEzENTs!!!!1!

TUESDAY, DEC. 25

9:00AM Awoken by mom making coffee.
10:00AM Eat; demonstrate to parents why French press coffee is superior and/or make lattes and capps for parents to impress them.
11:00AM Back to bed.
1:00PM Threats by mom to get up because we're eating soon.
4:00PM Practice mace.
5:00PM Play with pup in snow.
7:00PM Eat again.
8:00PM General debauchery.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26

6:00AM Woken up by mom getting ready for work; pup is let into room to prevent naughtiness.
7:00 AM Pup has to go outside.
11:00AM Wake up; coffee; eat
1:00PM Pup has to go outside
2:00PM Leave for EC
7:00PM Laundry, pack, sleep.

THURSDAY, DEC. 27

12:oo PM Rehearsal with Rome/Italy band in Zorn Arena. Realize how terribly out of shape I am mace-wise.
3:00 PM Figure out how to get a 5-foot British mace on board an international flight.
9:00PM Pre-Rome party. Make unwise decisions in light of need to depart for airport at 6AM the next day.

FRIDAY, DEC. 28
5:00 AM Final cross-check before sealing of luggage. Panic, double-check for uniform in suitcase. Assure self that it is there.
6:30AM Panic on way to airport that uniform has been left behind. Doubt self-assurances that it was in fact double-checked that it is in luggage.
7:00AM Sleep in airport; spend money on internet access to update Facebook status.
9:00 AM Cinnabon.
11:00 AM Board flight. Find seat next to/behind/in front of odorous child/infant. Suspicions are confirmed upon overhearing of one-way conversation by mother to infant concerning aforementioned "poopy diaper".
3:00PM Layover in Chicago; reminded of loathsome nature of O'Hare International.
5:00PM Enter space-time continuum warp. Board flight for Germany. Bribe flight attendant to continue serving despite visible signs of intoxication. Pass out. Awaken sober, realize that only 25 minutes have passed and 8 hours of flight remain.
6:00PM Begin bludgeoning self with tray table.
10:00PM Forget name, purpose of trip, and how to form sentances
3:00AM Pass out in Munich airport.
4:30AM Spend 17 Euro on a croissant and German equivalent of Surge energy soda.
5:00AM Awake after power-nap with unhealthy level of energy.
8:00AM Arrive in Rome; realize that gauntlets remain in Eau Claire.

[ da tree ]

2007-12-20T13:20:00.001-06:00

[ some fresh ground Guatemala in a tiny little French press ]

2007-12-19T09:07:00.000-06:00

I'm done with my finals. I have one last class meeting for ARTH 342, but we've already taken the exam and we're just doing one final "participation opportunity" because Karen says that it's a University requirement.

So, I get to bum around until Friday at 2pm. To sit and talk about something. For a couple of points.

Some rules are meant to be broken...

In other news, I have not been able to sleep for the past three nights. I think my internal clock is just way off. Like, flipped completely around. That's what working four closes in a row will do to you. On the up side, this means that should I leave this situation as it is, I will be perfectly calibrated for Rome/Greece time. Sweet.

While we're on that topic... I bought a watch for the trip. At an to-be-unnamed retailer. For three dollars. Yeah, the band is vinyl, but it has a sort of retro-chique about it. Like something a thick-framed-glasses chemist in one of those black-and-white science class movies from the 60s would wear. So I guess that ended up not really being on topic at all. Let's try again.

I bought the aforementioned watch because I found myself without one in Ireland, being able to reference my phone or a computer, etc., in other situations. And yeah, my phone does work overseas, but then I'd have to re-charge it, and I'd be tempted to use it, and that can get expensive. Anyway. I physically have possession of my passport; I held it for several minutes last night to convince myself of that fact and to dispel any future bouts of panic. I also plan on bringing it home for Christmas and giving it to my mother as a gag gift. Now I know she trusts me, but, ya know. Stuff happens.

I am excited to work over the final holiday weekend at BUX. I think that we'll be busy enough, especially Saturday morning, what with everybody headed out or in or through or wherever they're going. Shopping, traveling, etc. We're a popular last-minute-gift destination, so hopefully our merch backstock can withstand it. Things are a little sketchy after the 20% off weekend. I do plan on snatching up a demo Venus or Kitchenaid. For the 'rents. 30% off + 10% off + free pound of beans with brewer + two more markouts' worth of beans = sweet deal.

Christmas eve morning should be interesting. Could be pretty busy, could be pretty slow. But you can say that about any day I suppose.

Heads up: next promotional period will bring with it sugar-free mocha syrup. Made with Splenda ® brand sweetener. Blech. I'm sorry. I can't wait for:

"A decaf grande non-fat sugar-free mocha......with the whipped cream."

[ quite possibly the most memorable of them all ]

2007-12-18T02:51:00.001-06:00

[ this one's for claire ]

2007-12-18T02:28:00.001-06:00

[ giving KPD a run for her money ]

2007-12-18T02:20:00.001-06:00

[ gee, thanks ]

2007-12-16T02:00:00.000-06:00

"You have really nice teeth."

Thanks, middle-age crisis guy. Thanks.

I need to get out of here. Now.

[ one more ]

2007-12-13T13:58:00.000-06:00

What you won't read on Starbucks.com

[ the very first starbucks menu, ever ]

2007-12-13T13:27:00.000-06:00

My how times have changed.

[ THIS is why nobody likes the Michigan band ]

2007-12-11T09:13:00.000-06:00

MAJOR ISSUES

The drum major was quietly fired from his post in July

By Gabe Nelson on 9/27/06

Engineering senior Ben Iwrey can't stand going to Michigan football games anymore. The shame of sitting in the bleachers instead of marching with the band on the field would be too much.

In July, Iwrey went from being drum major to nothing in less than a week.

Jamie Nix, director of the Michigan Marching Band, fired Iwrey and promoted LSA senior Iden Baghdadchi to the drum major position.

Months earlier, on April 18, Iwrey had won a hotly contested competition, defeating Baghdadchi and Engineering senior Rob Reed to become the student leader of the band.

Although Iwrey had played clarinet for the marching band since his freshman year, he had no experience as a drum major. He decided to stay on campus over the summer to learn the ropes.

After three months of work at Revelli Hall, the marching band's home on East Hoover Street, Iwrey thought he was making great progress.

"I was under the impression that I was forging some great relationships with the staff," Iwrey said.

He was surprised to learn the staff thought otherwise.

Nix and his staff, unhappy with Iwrey's work during the summer, gave him a letter on July 19 that said they were considering demoting him from his post. It listed about a dozen instances when Iwrey allegedly acted in an unprofessional manner.

"Over the course of the past several weeks, as you have begun serving in this highly public leadership and service role, you have demonstrated repeated inability to conduct yourself in a professional manner as required by the higher standards of this position," Nix wrote.

Iwrey was shocked.

"There was some tension between me and Professor Nix, but I was confident that we'd push through the season for the sake of the band," Iwrey said.

He said most of the allegations were not discussed with him before he received the letter.

"The letter implies that I was warned on numerous occasions that I may be removed, and this is 100 percent false," he said. "At no point did they imply to me that my behavior was such that it might lead to my dismissal. I thought I was doing fine."

Iwrey met with the staff on July 20 to discuss the allegations but couldn't persuade them not to fire him.

According to a September report by Daniel Washington, the associate dean for faculty affairs at the music school, staff members "did not go into the meeting of July (20) planning to remove (Iwrey) and that if he had shown a sliver of awareness that he needed to change, he would probably not have been removed."

But Iwrey said the exact opposite happened.

"I could not have been more apologetic or conciliatory in that meeting," he said. "I said on countless occasions 'I will do whatever it takes to make this situation right.' They made it clear from what they told me that nothing I said was good enough."

The next day, Iwrey received another letter from Nix, this time informing him that he would be dismissed as drum major.

"All of us feel that you are valuable as a student and member of the band, just not in the position that requires more humility, awareness, respect for authority, and professionalism than you have proven to naturally and publicly exude in this role," Nix wrote.

They offered him an opportunity to return to the band as a regular member or rank leader.

Iwrey made a number of requests but said he would return to the band regardless of whether they were met. But Iwrey said the staff told him he was in no position to make demands, and chose to kick him out of the band altogether.

Nix, who declined to be interviewed for the article, informed the other band members via e-mail that Baghdadchi would be replacing Iwrey. He didn't offer any explanation for the switch.

Two months later, most members of the marching band still don't know what happened to the man they elected drum major.

To an extent, neither does Iwrey.

In an attempt to find out, he made two Freedom of Information Act requests, asking for all the e-mail correspondence regarding his removal from the drum major position.

Both times, he said he was told public interest was best met by not sharing the information but was not told why.

Iwrey continues to seek reinstatement.

In August, he filed a grievance with the School of Music refuting Nix's allegations.

He has a meeting with the associate dean and dean of the School of Music tomorrow afternoon.

"I'm hopeful that the School of Music will realize that the situation was not handled ethically and professionally, and this will come to a successful and happy conclusion," Iwrey said.

The blame game

In the July 19 letter, Nix wrote that he had told Iwrey not to pursue former U.S. President Gerald Ford as a speaker for a special band event.

Nix wrote that Iwrey then overstepped his authority by asking Bruce Madej, associate athletic director for communications, about Ford's availability.

Iwrey maintains that although Nix told him to focus on other candidates, he did not forbid him from pursuing Ford.

Nix's letter also accused Iwrey of encouraging scalping football tickets. While speaking to new band members, Iwrey suggested they buy football season tickets - which band members don't need - and sell them. Iwrey admits to this and has apologized for the incident. He considers it his worst mistake, he said.

Nix's letter also said that Iwrey spoke in a "biting, arrogant and offensive" manner with the mother of a prospective band member.

The woman had implicitly insulted Iwrey's height, he said, by saying she was glad there was no height requirement for the drum major. Iwrey is 5' 9".

Iwrey said that although the question annoyed him, he and the woman had a friendly discussion. "We shook hands, and we wished each other an enjoyable summer," he wrote in his grievance.

Nix also criticized Iwrey's casual demeanor, writing that he frequently used inappropriate language while serving as drum major.

"After being told it is not advisable in your role to say phrases like 'what the hell' and 'pissed off,' you asked a staff member if Professor Nix would be pissed off if you knocked on his door when he was on the phone," Nix wrote.

But Iwrey said his language fit the occasion.

"I don't find that choice of language at all inappropriate," Iwrey said. "At no time did I get the impression that freshmen were insulted, intimidated or offended."

Iwrey also allegedly made sarcastic observations about the program that cast the band in a negative light, including saying "Professor Nix is intimidating"

The letter also cited a few instances where the staff disapproved of Iwrey's behavior prior to his election as drum major.

At a 2003 women's basketball game where Iwrey was performing, he commented on the racial make-up of the Dutch national basketball team. He said the team was surprisingly white and remarked that there must be no black people in the Netherlands.

Iwrey admits to making this comment, but said that it was not intended to be racist. He wrote a letter of apology to the Michigan cheerleading team, one of whom overheard the comment and complained. He said he thinks this incident is no longer relevant.

"This happened three years ago," he said. "To even bring it up is pointless."

At the 2005 Rose Bowl game against Texas, Nix instructed members of the band not to use the "Hook 'em Down" gesture, which is Texas's classic "Hook 'em Horns" signal turned upside down.

In the letter, Nix accused Iwrey of making the sign. Iwrey denies it, saying that it was another band member caught on tape.

"You could simply review a tape of the (game) to prove my innocence," he wrote.

What are the drum major's responsibilities?

- Perform a pregame routine, including the "back bend" and the "goalpost toss." The drum major takes off his hat, bends backwards and touches his head to the ground. He then runs to the end zone and throws his baton over the goalpost. If the drum major drops the baton, legend says Michigan will lose the game.

- Serve as the band's public face and the liaison between the band and the staff.

- Instruct the marching band with vocal and whistle commands.

[ a little guilty ]

2007-12-10T13:40:00.000-06:00

While everyone around here is freaking out about this coming week (the last week of classes before finals) and panicking about finishing projects on time, etc., etc., I find myself at a loss for something to panic about.

As a result, I find myself feeling a little bit guilty for not being as busy as everyone else. I might daresay I miss being busy. Yes, I think I do...I miss having substantial classes that I actually care about and are applicable to my pursuit to get involved in. American Indian history and the characteristics of pre-Gothic cathedral construction doesn't exactly get me fired up. But oh well.

Things will be much better in the spring when I won't be taking classes from one K. O'Day anymore. I think she feels the same way, too. I don't like it when I feel there is a "beef" between a professor and myself, and truly, it has happened very few times here before. But I feel like she has made up her mind about me and will be as glad as I will when she can simply be rid of me for good.

Tonight I need to do some laundry, get my finance situation figured out, and finish cleaning up the humble abode. Also, I think some Gaelic lessons--I think I'll drag Claire along too if she'll indulge me.

Funny (sort of) story about the mouse situation to come soon either here or on Ms. Claire's blog. It's a good one.

Time for a painstaking re-hashing of our test review and "prep" sheet for the Karen O'Day art history final.

Slán go fóill.

2007-12-07T08:37:00.000-06:00

[ smack ]

2007-12-06T12:34:00.001-06:00

Overheard:

"Well, I have to have a meal plan."

"Do you live on campus?"

Stop talking.

[ fly fly fly ]

2007-12-06T12:25:00.001-06:00

[ -11ºF ]

2007-12-06T07:48:00.000-06:00

"I'm sorry, but are you wearing SANDALS?"

I don't care how many pairs of granola-munching hippy hiker socks you're wearing, it's freaking cold and you're a moron.

It's to that point where you're walking, your legs are practically frozen, and then you think "Hey, it's not that bad..." and you finally realize it's just the beginnings of frostbite.

There were a bunch of crows geeking out near fine arts as I waked this morning, and I couldn't figure out what the hub-bub was all about. Finally I figured they were just saying "Christ on a bike, it is effing FREEZING; why the hell don't we get smart and book it to Florida like the freaking geese? Jesus man."

Two more inches today. Mother nature, to global warming: *middle finger*

[ hmm ]

2007-12-06T00:55:00.001-06:00

I don't know if I should keep the beginnings of a beard I have right now. It's practical, yes, but also irritating. Warm but itchy. It's like having a wool scarf on your face 24/7. I know the irritation will subside as my face (pronounced "fa-che") gets used to it but still...I don't know if I'm diggin' the look.

Dear plow:

1) where the f@#$ were you about a day ago and
2) please don't plow my car in. Thanks.

I think I've decided. Tomorrow it comes off. Besides, I can still have some fun with the sideburns.

[ what in the HELL is this?!? ]

2007-12-02T03:24:00.000-06:00

http://www.spp.gov/

[ perspective ]

2007-11-30T12:55:00.000-06:00

I think too much about Starbucks. The philosophy of "no such thing as part time" often turns into "career-minded is the only -minded," and I just don't have the room for that right now.

I'm the only supervisor who is in school full-time and working 20-30-35+ hour weeks. And, I feel that because I'm not a favorite or a career-path-er (although recent developments have changed that situation as well), I just can't muster the gumption to care enough to be outstanding and above average all the time.

Above and beyond, all the time. That is, literally, the expectation of us. How is that even philosophically possible?

"We cannot give 110% It is mathematically impossible to give more than 100%."

Oh the wisdom of The Simpsons.

So anyway, I'm pretty much through with it at this point. The magic is gone, the honeymoon is over, Elvis has left the building. Not only am I tired of not having a real store manager, but of being subjected to crabby co-workers who are forced to pick up slack in areas they are not compensated for, nor are really supposed to be. It's almost to a point of ethics now. NOT regarding the company, or any of its operations regarding to the coffee industry or stuff like that. Just local soap-opera sort of crap. I know it goes on everywhere, but I'm just too tired of seeing it affect the lives of people I've come to care about a lot. They're leaving, I'm leaving, not to make a point (well, not entirely), but because we have to in order to maintain our sanity and quality of life. They can't live on empty promises, and I can't live with half truths and façades.

Lessons--know what you're getting yourself into, know that twentysomethings always tell each other everything, and know when it's time to move on.

P.S.--Brew-on-demand drip coffee is coming. It's test-marketing in Seattle and will save the company millions of dollars in unsold expired brewed coffee.

[ ohai ]

2007-11-29T09:27:00.000-06:00

Last night was the hörnerchor konzert, and it was very enjoyable indeed. I really thought that Verle Ormsby Jr.'s frankness and Wilford Brimley-esque honesty was a refreshing change from the transparent façade of pretentiousness that is so often fronted by many concert events at this school.

So, I am registered for the spring semester. Three Art History classes: history of photography, Renaissance art, and art of the 20th century, which is a re-take. I'm debating about re-taking Art Since 1955, which is being taught by a different (and less eccentric/borderline senile) professor at a much less ruthless time (1 pm vs. 8 am). I'm banking on not making a C in HIST240, so I'm signed up for the infamous "Nazi class" (History of Nazi Germany). I'm just glad I'm not taking it this semester...it's been quite the downer so far, what with all the oppression, genocide, etc., etc. relating to Native American history. I think it's time for something a little more uplifting.

And so, I give you this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vGy4j6qYE30

Well, that is all for now. Scholarly analysis paper due at 2pm. See you then.

j

[ nut • el • la ]

2007-11-27T22:21:00.000-06:00

Things Nutella ® is good on:

- Bread
- Toast
- Tortillas
- Bagels
- Popcorn
- English Muffins
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- Pretzels
- French Toast
- Crêpes
- Fruit (strawberries, banannas, pineapple, apples, etc.)
- French Fries
- Ice Cream
- Sorbet
- Cheesecake Poppers (from Arby's)
- Nilla Wafers
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Any other sort of cookie, biscuit, cracker, etc. (sweet or otherwise minimally savory-seasoned)

Things Nutella ® is NOT good on:

- Onions
- Celery
- Chicken, fish pork, beef...any sort of meat product
- Carrrots
- Mushrooms
- Tortilla chips
- Cheese
- Vegetables in general
- Chinese food
- Eggs

Things Nutella could possibly be okay on/with, not the worst thing on, etc.:

- Spaghetti
- Potatoes

Nutella is good with:

- Milk
- Coffee
- Ice Water
- Diet Coke ®
- Cranberry Juice
- Red Wine

That is all. Claire and I were just having some roommate together time and decided to put our conversation to good use. Now you too can enjoy the greatness that is...Nutella.

[ alors ]

2007-11-26T01:08:00.000-06:00

So I'm a little less negative at the present than I was twenty four hours ago, and that's a good thing. Life is full of continua.

I want to change to a French minor, because art history is really f*cking boring. Really, really boring. And my adviser hates me.

And why is it taking an hour for me to get my what-if degree audit?? It's 1:13 AM for chrissake.

The UBand concert is tomorrow night; I'm excited I guess. I bought a new tchirt and tie because all of my dress clothes are at home :( The tempo on my piece needs to be just a leetle more brisk and everything should fall into place nicely.

I think I am working too much. That does not bode well for me seeing as Sarah W. is leaving in a few weeks, and there is potential for more re-arranging to be taking place. A soap opera if there ever was one.

Rome in less than a month. Christmas in less than that. I could use some snow right about now please, thank you.

That seems to be all for now. I have a slight tum-ache. It's Wendy's. But it was worth it.

[ lost ]

2007-11-24T00:27:00.000-06:00

The search for meaning.

I have spent six years at a University that is constantly trying to be something that it is not. Three to four of those years I felt reasonably confident about what I wanted to do with my life, and about the experiences I was subjecting myself to, for the satisfaction of that confidence. It was a confidence born from comfort with a craft that I found myself to excel in, at least in comparison with certain peers, and due partially to a emotional and otherwise indecipherable compatibility with music. "Music"...a broad name given to such a diverse group of disciplines. Anyway, I found enjoyment in being involved in music, and felt a good deal of gratitude to those who had influenced me and enabled that enjoyment.

So, fast-forward. I'm in school in the middle of nowhere (in my opinion), floundering academically, grasping for meaning and substance in a system of education that I believe I ultimately did not find any answers in. Why....? I think I was asking myself the wrong questions. I was trying to put the puzzle pieces into the wrong final picture, and that's why they didn't fit. I look in awe at people who are so engaged in their experiences here, who are so elated at the opportunity to "learn" about how to give a speech, or what the hell a hyperbole is, or what timespan can be defined as Roman, pre-Byzantine, Byzanto-Roman, Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance... In my opinion, to learn something requires a consequential reaction following the absorption of knowledge. Because otherwise, you're really no different than you were beforehand. To learn is to change, to adapt, to grow...this can be applied in a negative or positive context; we usually associate "grow" as a good thing, but one can grow more foolish, or more ignorant, among other things.

I was going somewhere with this, but the eloquent snippets that formed in my head earlier are fading quickly... To summarize, I saw "Lions for Lambs" tonight, and it really, simply, upset me. Not because it was bad, or because it was graphic, or honest, or unapologetic, but because it forced me to think about things that most people choose not to think about, and avoid thinking about by filling their minds with meaningless, vacuous, wasteful, decaying chaff. Fodder.

Hmm. I'm tired...good-night.

[ soon ]

2007-11-18T13:34:00.000-06:00

Right now, it is 40º outside. It is grey, windy, chilly, and gloomy. Rain and flurries come this week, with overcast and spotty sun.

In a little over a month's time, I will be at a sun-drenched table in a rooftop café, gorging myself on baklava, figs and ouzo. Staring across the azure blue Aegean sea, white sand beaches and craggy cliffside villages. Listening to a hodgepodge trio of indecipherable instruments play melodies older than my country, who's composer and title have been long forgotten and aren't really important anyway. Turkish coffee so thick you feel the need to chew before you swallow.

Soon...soon.

[ well, here i am ]

2007-11-17T15:47:00.001-06:00

As you can see, I've decided on a new layout and color scheme for the ol' e-journal. Just thought I'd try something new.

I've been trying to improve my typing skills as of late--not for speed or agility's sake, but for my heath's sake. The wrist position really needs to improve, and the use of the ring finger for "delete" is something I feel has caused a lot of the problems with my right arm. I'm also striving for a more fluid motion and to keep my fingers closer to the keys--something that's really easy to do on the MacBook.

If I could go back in time, I would start learning Stenography at a very young age. Do you know how much those people can make??? Jeeze. Plus, it would be sweet to know a completely different language.

So I'm at Racy's, and Mike just gave me a $.50 discount "for ordering the best drink on the menu, and knowing what it actually is, and being the only one to order it [an espresso macchiato]...all while working at a Starbucks." !!! I love this place.

That's all for now. More later, probably. I'm off all weekend with not much to do.

You should go to www.lolcatbible.com. Trust me.

j

[ the joys of a "liberal arts" education ]

2007-11-15T07:22:00.000-06:00

A summary of the conquest of North America:

"Dear The Indians,

Hi were the [British/English/other European colonial force]. U guys r really cool!!!!!1! Here have this disease but sorry i guess its hard for u to not die from it LoL! Oh and btw god sez ur really dum for prayeing to the sun and stuff and that u should red the bible and that u should be xstians b/c satan has liek control of u!! OMFG!!!But no 4 real, we need ur land so we can save every1 from teh devil!!! lol. So just sign some stuff and well give u guz and booze and mayebye we can CoEXis† u kno???? But u better just listen 2 us b/c god sez. OK well be back so we'll ttyl ok? L8tr--

Signed,

[Brisith/English/other European colonial force]"

[ oh my ]

2007-11-06T21:40:00.000-06:00

Well, today would have to be chalked up to the "completely wasted" category.

Not in the alcoholic sense, but the productivity sense.

I did rise and shine with the sun (thank god that's the way things are now...the getting-up-while-it's-still-dark business was getting old), had some oatmeal and trotted off to Indian History at 8am...and experienced an hour and a half of grating, high-decibel lecturing and countless indecipherable overhead projected maps with lines and squiggles and arrows and circles and underlines and.... You get the idea.

Then I came back home and slept. And slept. And slept. Slept through my 12:30 class, didn't do laundry like I ABSOLUTELY NOW NEED TO DO tomorrow morning. It's not like I had a whole bunch of things I had to do, but it would have been nice to not sleep through my day.

Ah, well.

So, tomorrow morning, I will hit up the laundromat (why isn't it "laundrymat"?) as early as possible, buy my ticket for the "free" Minneapolis Institute of Art field trip, and spend the day in the cities trapped at the MIA.

Then, come home and go to the review session for the above-mentioned Indian class, and then to work for the Holiday hard set until, oh, 2AM. Then class bright and early at 8am...again. And open the store Friday and Saturday. It is now chilly out, so we should be hoppin'. Excellent.

Good luck and good night.

[ it's too late to be this early ]

2007-11-04T23:32:00.000-06:00

I've "found" a new show--ABC's "Brothers and Sisters." I owe this new discovery mainly to the fact that Claire and I only get ABC on our TV. But really. It's a very good show. It features Rob Lowe, Calista Flockhart (?), and Sally Field.

I'm pulling again, which I am (obviously) not happy about. A haircut would definitely help, but I think it just comes down to school getting the best of me. New plot twists have arisen and I may be around for "one more semester." That sounds familiar...

Calendar parking is stupid.

And so is daylight savings.

Oh, let me see... I discovered how to record/play duets with myself using GarageBand on the ol' Mac--great motivational practice tool. I suppose it's not limited to duets, really. Trios, quartets, hell, even clarinet choir pieces. Awesome.

This Wednesday I get to pay $12 to take a school bus to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and draw Native American artworks. And then, write a paper about it. Super.

Wednesday night I will be setting up SBux for the Holiday merchandise launch until 2AM. Awesome. But no really--it should be a good time. There will be many fun people there, plus free food and "A Chipmunk Christmas" music provided by JLarson.

Other weekly highlights include a group meeting or two, UBand rehearsal and a possible trip to the Lac Courte Oreilles Veteran's Day Pow-wow on Sunday.

Holy hell, I really need a haircut. It's starting to develop a wave.

[ i'm moving to japan ]

2007-10-24T00:47:00.001-05:00

[ untitled ]

2007-10-24T00:36:00.001-05:00

[ well shit ]

2007-10-22T01:16:00.001-05:00

Julian Bliss, British clarinetist and student of Sabine Meyer, the Yo-Yo Ma of the clarinet world. He's 12 here; he's 17 now.

[ the good news ]

2007-10-19T22:52:00.000-05:00

Sokay, I didn't get fired. My store manager seemed pretty unaffected when I told her and said that she'll "figure it out" and get me some new keys. Guess I don't have to pay for new locks either. Or at least, I'm guessing so. Because she didn't mention it to me. So there ya go.

Game tomorrow...I/we get to be "in charge"...I just wish it was under better circumstances. Dickerson's mom died on Thursday morning, so he's down in Mississippi until Tuesday. But, like I told the band, he would want us to have a good time and close out the season with a bang, so that's what we're going to do.

And now I am going to change my color scheme, watch some youtube videos and go to bed.

j

[ may the siren smile upon you ]

2007-10-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, so, still have a job. That's good.

I can petition to have the course that I took as AIS changed to ARTH so my re-take will count, even though I was told that because it was cross-listed that it *would* count (never listen to secretaries).

Better...but I still need to turn myself into an A student in six weeks.

[ stuff and shit ]

2007-10-18T01:18:00.000-05:00

Well it is 1:30ish in the morning and I lie here blogging, with a class waiting for me at 8AM. After that I shall go in to work to tell our store manager that I have indeed conceded to the fact that my keys are completely and utterly gone. Lost. At the bottom of some river somewhere, or in some sewer drain or in a pile of garbage or in the crazy River Lady's pockets.

I've decided that I am probably going to get fired. If not because I 1) failed to inform her when I initially lost them or 2) simply because I lost them, but because I have two prior "corrective action forms" on file, and in Starbuck Land, three time's a charm. So there's that. At least I'll have a bunch more free time.

Also, I don't think that I'm going to graduate this semester. It just comes down to the cold hard numbers. It will be an act of many, pious gods if I am to get the grades I need to in order to land a 2.0 in my minor.

Another re-take of a class over winterim should do it. Hmm...sort of going to be in Europe for a third of the classes....

Well, shit, let's make it a solid six years then.

"*gasp* What about Illinois?"

Indeed...what about Illinois.

Well, shit happens, I guess.

A plethora of clichés come to mind for a closing, so I will simply list them all.

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, plan for the worst, hope for the best, life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, when life gives you lemons....

Ok, that got old fast. Good night and good luck.

j

to: b to the randen

2007-10-15T22:14:00.000-05:00

I dunno, man. I’m just feeling really lost right now. Yea. I know. You just have to buck up and do it…play the games, jump through the hoops.

I keep wondering if it’s some sort of sign that I keep returning to thoughts like these…thoughts of just going home. Just home. No more of this, no more classes, meaningless lecture, empty quizzes, group projects, powerpoints, worksheets, exams. It’s like a job. Some people just aren’t cut out for certain jobs. Other people are. I’ve always said, “Let those that can, do.” Hence, why I don’t play (or, rather, attempt to play) jazz. Maybe I’m just looking in the wrong place.

Maybe I’m just blowing things out of proportion (how unlikely, right?). I can’t act like I’m the victim here, though. That much is false. I created what I have now, and if I haven’t learned from the past yet, then that is my own problem.

But it’s not an “if.” I haven’t learned. Hm… the learning process… I think it takes me a much longer amount of time to process things and to learn from them than it does the average person.

This feels like one of those episodes of Star Trek where the crew travels to an alternate reality where captain Picard didn’t make it back from the Borg, or something like that…and everything is sort of normal, but different, and “wrong” to our eyes. You’re not supposed to be dead. I’m not supposed to be writing a fake letter to you to try and help me cope with all of this. There's not supposed to be a piece written to commemorate your and others lives.

Where’s the remote? When’s the commercial break? When does Data figure out how to fix the space-time continuum? Wake me up when it happens, man. ‘Cause this episode really sucks.

[ ha ]

2007-10-06T19:55:00.000-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/10/05/airlines.dress.debate.ap/index.html

[ g-damnit ]

2007-10-04T09:28:00.000-05:00

Well, I lost my keys. It happened sometime last night during this sequence of events:

11:40 - Jacob and Forrest close Starbucks. Jacob drives to the library and parks outside of KT hall.

11:40 - Jacob gathers materials and exits car, juggling several awkwardly held items (water, keys(?), computer bag, day-old scone, etc.) due to the fact that his front pant pockets both have holes in them and cannot hold 1) keys 2) wallet 3) anything else smaller than a wallet

11:50 - Jacob chats with Jill outside of the library main entrance.

12:00 - Jacob enters 3rd floor computer lab to buddy study with Claire.

1:00 - Jacob and Claire exit library via stairwell. Upon exiting building after viewing the homecoming photo exhibit in the corridor, Jacob discovers his keys are missing. All pockets are checked, and computer bag is effectively turned inside out.

So, Claire drove me home and I walked to the library at 7AM today, only to find they did not have my keys. Nor does the service center--yet. They told me it sometimes "takes awhile" for stuff to "make its way" there. Well, shit. I guess that means a $20 parking ticket today, and thank god I don't have to work or be anywhere.

I have retraced my steps multiple times (the front desk staff probably thinks I'm crazy or have IBS or something). I'll do one more thorough car search, but I'm banking on them showing up at the Service Center, sooner hopefully than later.

*general anger and grumpiness*

[ ]

2007-09-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

[ anima mea ]

2007-09-20T14:34:00.000-05:00

So, yes. I could use some motivation right now...towards what end is debatable...but anything, at this point, would be welcome.

I was genuinely surprised today when Claire reminded me that it was in fact Thursday. Opening on Monday sort of threw off my internal clock. It may take some getting used to; I do the same thing for the next three weeks. Grumble.

Shifty weather lately...perhaps a clue towards my similar state of mood. Hmm.

Marching band has been spurting and sputtering along lately, and isn't inspiring much confidence. I really hope we can get everything together by next week. I'm sticking to my guns in saying that the second tune ("Yassou Maria") is not a good choice for the show. It's awkward in all respects, too long, and sounds too much like....oh I don't know...not marching band music. Sucks to me, since that's one of the two tunes I'm conducting. :\ I'm hoping I can sneak off the podium and spin for a bit in the closer. That would be pre'sweet.

Well I was hoping to close with some insightful, inspired rhetoric, but I guess you'll have to settle for this.

Yep, that was it.

[ ? ]

2007-09-16T12:18:00.000-05:00

END OF THE SUMMMER!
2007

1.] Was this summer better than last?
I wouldn't normally answer a question like this, but yes. Better.

2.] What was your favorite part of summer?
I think it would have to be the various trips to the Cities with various people to do various things like see concerts, go to art museums, and walk like 20 blocks from downtown to the MIA.

3.] What was the worst part of summer?
Getting called out for being late to work ALL THE TIME. Oh, and being poor. And by being poor I mean sucking at not spending money.

4.] Would you do something different that happened this summer if you could?
I probably would have been more attentive of work matters, which would have alleviated various undesirable situations.

5.] What was the funniest night of the summer?
Oh hell, I don't know. Probably something involving Liz, Becky, Theresa, and slightly illegal activities. A winning combination.

6.] What was the most memerable night of the summer?
Nancy and Brian's wedding was a lot of fun, and it was a very very picturesque evening.

7.] Have any regrets this summer?
Hayley you are right, it was.

8.] Kiss someone you just met?
Hahahaha Hayley! And yes, me too.

9.] Meet someone who made your summer complete?
No, I don't think so.

10.] Pull an all nighter?
Close. Bed at 3:30, work at 5.

11.] Did something you wouldn’t think you’d do?
Yeppers.

12.] Do something you have always wanted to do?
Yeah, sure.

13.] Do anything against the law?
Sorry, what?

14.] Did you fall for someone this summer?
Kind of. But it was more of a trip than a fall.

16.] Sleep in the opposite sex’s bed?
Perhaps.

17.] Did a friendship end that you wish didn’t?
I don't know if you'd say "end".

18.] Make any new friends?
Some. I met some of Stacy's friends in Mpls and I met some of the extreme Racy's crowd. They're not really my friends yet though.

19.] Did you go to any concerts?
I'm really tired of talking about this subject...but yeah.

20.] Kiss anyone of the same sex?
Ha!

21.] Have the best time and wish you could have stopped time at one moment?
Yeah, when I was sitting on the patio at work after close with Eliot and Ashley, and we were just b.s.-ing, talking, whatever.

22.] Did something that hurt a friend?
I think I'd be acting naive if I said no.

23.] What’s one thing you took advantage of this summer?
Good question...

24.] who made you laugh the most this summer?
Work people...probably Forrest, Jennifer, or Ashley

25.] Who did you hangout with the most?
Oh let's see...the fellow Starsbuck managers, Claire, Hayley, and Tracy, Dickerson.

26.] Do you still have feelings for anyone you had feelings for this summer?
Sure.

27.] Did you gain hate for anyone this summer? Why?
Hate is a really strong word.

28.] Did anyone gain hate for you? Why?
Maybe. It's possible.

29.] Pick one song to be the "soundtrack to your summer" & explain why.
Something Imogen Heap.

29.] Did you gain feelings for a friend you didn’t think you’d fall for?
No, I expected it.

30.] Do they know?
They could probably guess.

31.] Best movie of the summer?
The ONLY movie of the summer: Knocked Up

32.] Did you get in any major trouble this summer? Why?
Just at work

33.] Realize who your one true friend/friends are?
Those are the only kinds I really have

35.] The saddest?
Watching people leave and realizing how sad I'm going to be when I have to do so, too.

36.] When you look back on something you did this summer that embarrassed you, can you laugh now?
Hahahahah...no.

37.] Did you get a gift this summer that meant something really special?
I guess so, yeah.

38.] Favorite picture of the summer?
Not really a picture person.

39.] One thing that you will NEVER forget about summer 07?
Dating the WEAU 13 weather guy ;)

40.] Last minute goals you want to do this last week of summer?
n/a

41.] Did you make the most out of your summer?
I hope.

42.] Do you look back on something that you wish you would have done?
No regrets, man.

44.] Are you ready for summer to be over?
No choice, really.

45.] Are you excited for school to start?
Only so that it can end.

[ subtitles for the hard of hearing by the hard of hearing ]

2007-09-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

[ f***ing insane ]

2007-09-12T01:40:00.001-05:00

[ the good old days ]

2007-09-10T23:45:00.000-05:00

"Le Quotes"

-"Oh my god, I couldn't even read that, it was too Swedish. There were Ks and Es all over the place!" -Angie

-"Dr. Heidel I'm HOTTTTTTTTTT!!!" -Me/Angie

-"It's like I'm drunk....on BAND!" -Ange

-"Poopty Peupty Plantetsssss." -B.Atherton

-"Le _____ " -Everyone

Andrea (to me): "I'll give you $1 if you can fit all these carrots in your nose."
Me: "No way."
Branden: "Okay, 4 carrots."
Me: "Okaaay..."
Branden: "NO...5."

-"I lost my tour syllabus." -Angie

-"Are they allowed to call bunches of groups of trailer homes a 'city'? Oh, wait...they have a saloon, it's okay." -Ange

-"Shut up your face talkin' to me!" -Everyone

-"If I were gunna kill myself, this is where I'd do it." -Me, commenting on the beautiful surroundings

-Sign on the side of the road: "LANd foR SAle"

-"I motion that Pat not be allowed *verb missing from sentance* for the rest of tour." -Me

-"Remember that time when Dr. Heidel screwed up the concert order?" -Ange

-"High Schoolers don't usually give it up that easy." -Dr. Heidel

-"...called him DR. WEBSTER!" "Who?" "COLIN!!!!" -Me/Ange

-"Just make sure you SPECIFY." -Bitch of a waitress @ Garfields to Maggie, r.e. requesting a BOWL of soup vs. a CUP, who Jill went to High School with; "Brooke"--but not "THE" Brooke.

-"I will kill you." -Everyone to everyone else

-"Remember that time when...*insert recent event here*" -Me/ Ange

-"I'm so sick of going up and down HILLS!!!!" -Ange

-"This? This is a carrot." -Evan, to Kenyon at lunch

-"Sack Lunch;" "Don't forget your sack;" "Grab a sack," etc.

-Paul: "ACHOO"
The Band: "SHHHHHH"

-Andrea: "I wanna see (the quotes list)"
Me: "No."

-"What's on your tie? Oh...it's supposed to be like that." -Andrea

-"God, I hate you." -Ange, to me

-"Aren't you like, in High School?" -Cavis, to #5

-"If I wanted to become a woman, I would get..." "A transbestite!?" -The front of the bus, playing catch phrase

And, the clencher---

"Fine, that's how you give an enema. I don't care." -Joe, to Hertel.

[ help me out here ]

2007-09-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

http://www.uwec.edu/newsreleases/07/sept/0904ConstitutionDay.htm

Let's celebrate the anniversary of the Constitution by talking about...

THE BILL OF RIGHTS!

WTF, mate.

[ musings ]

2007-09-09T23:32:00.001-05:00

Currently debating: Decision to not play in ensembles this semester

Biggest fear would have to be falling farther “out of shape” than I currently am. Also, though, is missing out on the whole “see you in band” thing. It’s nice having that time where you get to “touch base” with all of your friends, and do something special together. Not a lot of people get to enjoy that sort of thing.

I’ve always known this was a special place, and that to expect the sorts of things I enjoy now after leaving here would be wishful thinking. So I guess it’s just time to suck it up and take it like it is.

Besides, it’s easier to lose one element of the whole as opposed to all of it at once. Maybe.

What would change if I had actually gone to grad school this semester? I would still be missing orchestra tour, I would still be missing band. But I would also be missing all of the people. At the same time, however, I would also be filling my time with other activities. Other new, exciting activities…I hope…

I was expecting a clean break. All or nothing. So this sort of lukewarm immersion is confusing for me.

Well the fact of the matter right now is that it’s a done deal…I can’t walk in to band on Monday and say “Sorry, I changed my mind.” Although, now I sort of want to, because that would be really funny.

Anyway. The biggest objective for this week is to start setting some good habits. I don’t have class until 2:00 tomorrow, but I know if I don’t get up in the morning I won’t do anything all day, and I need to start getting my Financial Aid situation figured out. I don’t know why, but I never feel like school really “starts” until the second week. Sort of like the first one is “just a practice.”

“Marge, I’ll clean the bathroom when I pull it from the chore hat and it’s not a practice. See, there it is! But that was a practice.”

Green Tea,

J

[ here goes ]

2007-09-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

HIST/AIS 240

This professor has completely dispensed with the concept of education and instead has perfected the art of the lecture. Highlights include randomized periods of shouting, dramatic pauses, and rhetorical questions which barely miss being answered by some d-bag sophomore who has it all figured out by about .5 seconds. Let's not forget the 20-minute stint on how where you sit correlates to your grade in the class, during which he made the geniuses who chose the back three rows feel like absolute pieces of worthless shit (The A's sit in the front three rows, by the way). Finished up with bragging about he had that Rhoads Scholar kid, who is pretty well smarter than he is, in his class, and how he tried buying a seat from people in the front row, because he missed the first week of class due to some internship resarch on the East coast. His point? Ya got me, friend.

Regarding class content, it seems like it will be a re-hashing of all the material I've been through in my two previous American Indian-focused classes, due mostly to the gross under-education of pubic school students on the topic. Why does "American History" always start with Columbus? This place was around way before that, you know. And even if we do teach it, it's a separate entity, not to be grouped together with 'our' history: "Pre-Columbian" History, etc.

The final nail: this guy gets off on group work or something. Seriously. 75% of our grade is group work-based.

I got asked if I was a sophomore today.

ARTH/AIS 324

Second time's a charm.

Karen is as entertaining as always. I really would love to see her drunk...

ARTH 217: Medieval Art/Architecture

Gene is a really knowledgeable guy, especially regarding this time period. It's one of my favorites, and where I would choose a "specialty" if I had to. So it should be pretty good. Small class, so it'll be laid-back enough to score some decent participation points.

Happy Thursday.

[ day one ]

2007-09-04T15:35:00.000-05:00

Here I am, at the beginning of yet another end.

Generally in a bunk mood, so a post at this point is probably not a good idea. But I shall soldier on.

Mike keeps messing with my things and trying to play tetris on my computer. Hmmm.

I wish, I hope, I try, I can, I will, I might, I should.

?

[ pup pup pup pup pup pup ]

2007-08-23T11:42:00.001-05:00

[ the wisdom of Tumm ]

2007-08-23T11:02:00.000-05:00

"Get off your keyboard for a minute...and stop and think..."

The irony against our ever-growing connectivity is an increasing lack of large-scale thinking among us all.

Click-send-wait-reload-check new messages-logoff-logon-click-tap fingers-new message:

"Did you get my email?"

This phrase is, in my mind, becoming a anachronism, and in its place is now the subtextual meaning, "Why haven't you gotten back to me yet?"

Enter the rich, syrupy cynicism of Barbara Tumm. If ever in need of a good ear to listen to you for the long haul, after which to issue a small but weighty gem of wisdom to be put in your pocket and saved to examine and wonder at later, talk to her. You won't be disappointed.

So, this slew of shitty weather has been wreaking havoc on my nasal passages. Not to mention the thick and suffocating atmosphere of both humidity and electrified anticipation. But low-voltage electrified. Nothing too crazy.

Looks like a week of mid-80s for camp...booo I say. I just hope that things dry out a little...I know it is cliché, but the humidity is worse than the heat, as we all know. This will be a very new season...new in the sense that not all of our music is going to be recognizable by the band, the drill is going to be harder in a different way--more demanding, but not more difficult really. And, hopefully, RCD will be a bit more staunch on what he asks of us. We're done building up, now it's all in the fine tuning and details.

Well hello there 20 lbs., where did you come from?? I don't think we've met. Not that I'm too surprised....I guess I forget too soon what last sumer was like for me. I agree with Claire, however, that more structure will help me build better habits....and get rid of worse ones. :-\

I suppose I'll close this one out with another update...I may have what you would call a person with whom I am spending time on a semi-regular basis, and who is named Andy and who is 25. As you know, I hate labels and so "the b-word" is hard for me to use in this case since I'm not really sure where things are going...but that's okay, because neither does he, and he's fine with that. So that's good. A little stability and some unpredictability. Isn't that from the Full House theme song? Which reminds me...you should watch.....*searching*....this.

[ fasd;lfkjasl;f ]

2007-08-08T00:59:00.000-05:00

So I arrive home from a hard night's work at Starsbuck, and leave my car, grabbing for my apron and bag from the passenger seat. A scurry of something catches my eye: a grasshopper, an injured moth perhaps. Further investigation reveals nothing other than a creepy-crawly nasty-@$$ SPIDER IN MY CAR CRAWLING ITS NASTY WAY AMONG MY SHITE. My alarm would not be as high as it is were this spider one of your run-o-the-mill unthreatening-looking, spindly-legged basement-dwelling annoying type, but this was a seriously-proportioned, business-oriented arachnid. Nevertheless, I uttered "AAW SHIT," while attempting to crush it to oblivion with a green apron-protected hand. I could discover no remains to assure me of its demise, and so, I will forever drive in fear. An open letter to the aforementioned spider:

Dear Mr Nasty Asst Spider,

I do not understand your need to inhabit my messy, (probably) poor-smelilng automobile when there are plenty of lesser-disturbed and better-suited habitats in which to conduct your day-to-day spiderly duties. A bridge; an iron fence; a wood. Expect every effort to be made on my part to ensure the highest possible interior temperature of the vehicle which will hopefully hasten your demise, and know that there will be virtually zero probability of ensnaring any poor wandering misguided insects for your consumption. Consider this your first--and final--warning.

*angry face*

[ well ]

2007-08-06T14:23:00.001-05:00

Apparently I am being required to author another post in order to avoid shunning, both public and private, by one Miss Hayley Virginia Nelson. So, here it is.

Today, I am:

- Doing laundry
- Moving out of my room and cleaning it
- Working from 5PM until close (11:30PM)
- Etc., etc., misc.

I do hope that suffices. See you all sometime sooner or later.

[ untitled ]

2007-08-02T21:25:00.001-05:00

AARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ oh, i don't know ]

2007-08-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

My biological clock is officially messed up. I'm wide awake at 1:00AM. Not cool. I blame society. Well, society and the fact that is has been just too effing hot to do anything during the day lately.

Today I just vegged out on the couch watching Days and Passions. For breakfast I had peanut butter toast and an Americano, lunch was a tuna sandwich with dill and lemon pepper (thank you Laura Wenzel) and some crisps. I didn't really have dinner. I just don't have much of an appetite when it's this hot. Mix in a handful of naps and some kitchen cleaning and you have my day in a nutshell. I stopped by the 'bux to visit and found Ashley there doing the same so we shared some work-related chat over espresso and cigarettes.

*gasp*

What? Yes, folks, the first step to recovery is admission... I have become "a smoker". I don't know, I'm an idiot, okay? Why, you ask? Well, I could dissect the various reasons why, including self-destructive tendencies, peer pressure, and society. Society I say! There's a glam factor, yes. It's so tragically hip and artistic too. But I think it boils down to me just being weak-willed and a sucker for visceral pleasures. Yeah, I know it's gross. But you know, coffee, cigarettes, chocolate milk...

Where was I...

Oh. The not-doing-anything. I DO need to pack up the shit in my room and decide what I will be taking with me for my tenure at Ms. Tiller's apartment. I'm thinking:

- mattress
- bedding
- clothes (not the whole lot, because that would be impractical)
- toiletries
- compy and audio components
- alarm clock and beside rubbermaid drawer-thingy
- wire clothes-storage cubes (more of which I will be needing to purchase)

and I almost forgot,

- the espresso machine

That should probably be the "bare essentials"...anything else I will need to store in the Hastings basement or lug home sometime between now and band camp. In past moving endeavors I've found myself to be more of an all-at-once type person as opposed to a little-at-a-time person. This weekend looks to be advantageous because I open on Saturday and close Sunday, so I'll have that time in between totally free. Claire--thoughts?

I'm on a The Fray kick right now. I also dig a few tracks off of Silverchair's new album. But mostly the album cover. iTunes has opened a whole new world to me--and my checking account. :-\ I unlinked my check card with my iTunes account today. It was getting a little out of control.

I see we're playing favorites in the Middle East again. Great idea guys, nothing bad happened the last time we did that...

Dear UWEC:

Please chill out about my summer tuition. If you freaks would just let us roll over our tuition from summer to fall or winter to spring, 1) You would have a lot more people taking interim classes 2) You would probably even be able to offer more classes during said terms, and 3) I wouldn't be bothered with threats to drop me from my fall registration when I haven't even paid to register yet, sent to my home address, without any other such notifications being sent to me directly.

Hey, look at that, it's August 1st. *panic*

Normal View...

Oh my gosh

I would like to complain about somethings, and also mention some good things.

The Cup of Coffee

TGIF?

Welp

Sunny with a high of 80º

The ABC's and 123's of our Popular Culture

C'mon, it's only been three months...

A Yuletide Morsel

TOP CHEF SEASON 5!!!!!!1!!!ONE!!!!

$25,000, some space, and lots of good beans

[ oh, so true ]

[ hmmm i see ]

[ harder than i thought ]

Yeah, I might have cried too, so what...

Hey, I figured out how to do it this way

[ waiting on the world ]

This has been a ridiculous 72 hours

Man, I wish *I* got lunch from Saz's today

Shit, meet fan

see sub-headings

Welcome to Chambana, here's a giant hurricane storm

3123 N Broadway St

An Illinois Excursion

108 W Charles St., #105

Wherever you go

The touch of summer

Sixteen

[ it's been awhile. . . again. . . ]

[ the pant-suit demographic ]

[ sometimes ]

[ and how do you end an hour-and-a-half-long symphony? (for Hayley) ]

[ how do you end a 25 minute-long 1st movement? ]

[ ...when you least expect it... ]

[ oh me oh my ]

[ it's about time ]

Starbucks retraining baristas on Feb. 26

[ things are good ]

[ click here ]

[ 44˚ F ]

[ things that happened today ]

[ good intentions ]

[ bright ]

[ bit by bit ]

[ well, i'm back ]

[ this is more for me than for you ]

[ da tree ]

[ some fresh ground Guatemala in a tiny little French press ]

[ quite possibly the most memorable of them all ]

[ this one's for claire ]

[ giving KPD a run for her money ]

[ gee, thanks ]

[ one more ]

[ the very first starbucks menu, ever ]

[ THIS is why nobody likes the Michigan band ]

MAJOR ISSUES

The drum major was quietly fired from his post in July

[ a little guilty ]

[ smack ]

[ fly fly fly ]

[ -11ºF ]

[ hmm ]

[ what in the HELL is this?!? ]

[ perspective ]

[ ohai ]

[ nut • el • la ]

[ alors ]

[ lost ]

[ soon ]

[ well, here i am ]

[ the joys of a "liberal arts" education ]

[ oh my ]

[ it's too late to be this early ]

[ i'm moving to japan ]

[ untitled ]

[ well shit ]

[ the good news ]

[ may the siren smile upon you ]

[ stuff and shit ]

Man, I wish I got lunch from Saz's today