Different Brew

As I entered my usual coffee spot this morning, I came upon a big yellow school bus parked outside the front doors. Now I have seen students before, in fact, I see some students there almost every morning. But never before have I seen them bussed in.

I watched them as I enjoyed my cup of java and bagel.

They sat in groups at the various tables. The groups seemed to represent many of various "high school culture" groups. There were some with brightly colored hair and piercings, some that looked to be athletes, some that looked to be what we used to call the preppy group.

As they ate their various breakfast selections from the bagel/Kids, pastry case and drank their coffee drinks, sodas and juices, they chattered away in their teen language. Some of the conversations were mellow and quiet while others were spirited. Still some were melodramatic, carried on in the way that only teens can get away with.

I am not sure what the group of teens was doing there, but I have to applaud them. Although they were in a big group and among their peers, they were polite and respectful to those around them. They cleaned up after themselves, and conducted themselves with maturity while they were there. They were quite a different brew than what I often observe in large groups of kids.

I wonder what the bus ride was like after the caffeine and sugar kicked in......

Breakfast with Boo

This morning I went to a very large coffee chain for coffee and breakfast. My middle daughter, Boo, didn't have school today, so she joined me for a coffee drink and oatmeal.

As we sat there, I was amazed at what goes on in a coffee house. There is a constant mix of almost frantic activity and calming relaxation. I know those two don't mix, but they sure sit in juxtaposition in this setting. I watched men carrying out business transactions and a mother lecturing her grown son. But, sitting right next to them were people quietly reading the paper. I watched a new trainee at the counter become obviously flustered as he took orders as well as a seasoned calm coffee professional trying to coach him through his trial. I saw complicated drink orders being processed right along side the simple drip brew. These elements that seemed so contrary to each other existed in harmony in this place.

The coffee house is an interesting world to watch. But for today, the only interest I had was sharing breakfast with Boo!

Morning Coffee...

I don't know about all of you, but I am useless until I have my morning coffee.

Like many, I am a self declared coffee addict. Now it's not the caffeine. I can go decaf with no problem. It's not the fancy-schmancy drink combos you can order. I can go just plain brew straight up with no additives and still be ok. It's not even the whole status thing of walking out of any particular coffee joint donning a high fashion, oh so now paper cup. I am just fine with my 99 cent refill mug.

For me is simply the experience of coffee. It's the smell of the beans, the look of the steam rising from the cup, the sheer joy of that first sip of a deep dark roast wake me up coffee! The perking up of the senses as the morning's first cup trickles down my throat is a thrilling and exhilarating experience every day.

I may sound over the top about this whole coffee thing. This may be true. But every at place I have purchased a cup of coffee, I have experienced new things, made new observations, and simply enjoyed taking in the atmosphere.

In my postings here, I hope to share some of my thoughts and observations with you as well as have you share yours with me.

So grab a cup of brew, have a seat, and let's chat over coffee!