You are not alone, and you are loved, everyday!
Don't forget to tell your loved ones they matter, every single day.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!
Feb14
Happy Valentine's Day Everyone
Feb12
Shrove Tuesday - getting ready for Lent
It hardly seems possible, but tomorrow is the first day of Lent for 2013. It seems to have crept up quickly on us this year, but that may only be because Easter is in March this year for the first time since 2008. I haven't really given much thought so far this year as to what I'm going to do or not do as I observe Lent this year.
Lent starts with a big party called Fat Tuesday! #MardiGras
Feb12
Is Your Relationship Being Run by A 5 Year Old?
Relationships...we live in them, from them and for them. We fight for them, we hurt because of them and we hardly ever look any closer than that.
Whoa...I just slipped that in there didn't I?
I know this Valentine's Day many people will be celebrating with their partner the love they have cultivated with one another. Others will be lamenting over lost loves, bad relationships…
Valentines Day?
Aug8
Hiking to the clouds, Longji
Hair wrapped artfully in a turban of black cloth, her tough frame is softened by a lilac top and short frilly skirt. As she saunters in and out of the room, I watch the light momentarily catch on her earrings – they are two silver crescents, raw and slightly tarnished, sweeping around a hollow in the shape of the full moon.
A beautiful place to see:
Aug2
Your Mission Should You Choose To Accept It .........
I have been tagged by the very lovely Jeri over at The Life and Times of JVS and the rules are:
At your perfect dinner party you can invite;
5 guests + yourself, relatives allowed but it’s more interesting if it’s a public figure.
Dead or Alive
Any language.
Fictional characters allowed!
Ideally my dinner party guests would include all of you and copious amounts of cocktails - what an evening that would be and you wouldn't want to pay that bar bill either!
Get Well Smart & 99:
Aug2
Study Finds Nations With Most Food May Lack Best Diets
An abundant food supply doesn’t guarantee that a nation will have the healthiest or safest diet, according to a study of global food security.
The U.S., Denmark, Norway and France are the world’s most “food-secure” countries in terms of availability, cost and nutrition value while Israel, 22nd overall, had the best quality and safety, according to the study released today by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Poor Eating Habits Defeat Good Nutritionally Available Food:
A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in products such as soy milk and low-fat yogurt, has been shown to reduce breast cancer incidence laboratory tests.Credits: Photo & Quote by Wikipedia
Related articles:
-
Canada's Food Guide Servings Misunderstood By The Public (medicalnewstoday.com)
- Gluten-free diet fad: Are celiac disease rates actually rising? (cbsnews.com)
- Better Food=Better Heath (stomachfatlosstips.wordpress.com)
- Science Discovers that Whatever You're Eating Right Now Will Probably Affect Your Grandchildren [Food] (jezebel.com)
Jul15
The Kafe
The freshly brewed coffee was poured into the cup.
A daily ritual's aroma was mingled with freshly baked bread, dipped into the black sea of sweetened coffee. Bread drenched with this morning's goodness, made its way to the anticipating lips. A scene that played out every day, of every year.
Coffee beans hand picked, roasted then roughly ground, held its own uniqueness.
I luv this piece so much,I wrote it in my Grandfather's voice.
Jul7
The Soda Jerk vs The Barista
Back in the day, when drug stores occupied the neighborhood corners, as staples of the landscape and the need of the community, there was a job vacancy known as the Soda Jerk. Not so much that the neighbor’s kid applying was a jerk, but more like they would need a strong arm to jerk the soda machine, you see! It was the landscape that Edward Hopper painted about, the neighborhood that we came to know as home.
The Corner Drug Store was indeed a diner as well, where you could meet up with friends, or go for a bit of solitude when reading the Sunday paper you just bought, sound familiar? If so, you probably have caught on to my catchy title. Really many things could be said, but the importance of coffee in our society, has replaced the Soda Jerk with The Barista! When was an egg cream replaced by a capuccino mocha? I don’t know, but it’s worth finding out. How did our needs change so drastically? Wasn’t coffee considered something to drink at meetings, business conferences, other serious stuff, and not much fun! After all, the soda jerk was not only responsible for jerking the soda arm to pour the fountain drink, he (I’ve never seen a woman soda jerk) was to make it look like fun, creating a show in the process. People went to the counter to get an Italian Soda, but also to see a show! And if Hopper didn’t do it for you, check out Norman Rockwell‘s rendition in the Saturday Evening Post!
Rockwell even got the dog, and it seems mesmerized too. Admiration! The Soda Jerk had admiration, meaning he probably had to work his way up, to that coveted position of ample clout. Lets remember that the soda machine itself represented uncharted territories, it was new, and few had seen drinks being made this way before. Importantly, the soda machine was to embody what our Nation represented; a forward thinking, innovative place, where we could all flourish (and enjoy it)! There was comfort, in knowing we could be home, and be excited about it because we could expect the best there.
Let’s come all the way to todays Coffee Shops. Obviously, the Corner Drug store had to separate its services. New laws, stipulations, and mandatory guidelines required different, and changing roles of the once corner (and counter) hang out. Our neighborhoods were changing too. Moms went to work, kids went to day care, Grandma and Grandpa became nudists (they even joined a colony)! With the movement of society into the “me” individualistic age, the need to socialize at a level of conformity became obselete. Jane didn’t want to run, and Jack had to climb his own hills (all by himself). Jill was getting a mani & pedi!
That had to be it, the change in our habits to more individualized focus! The “I’m ok, You’re ok” mindset had prevailed, created out of a need to grow.
Poor Soda Jerk! Gone just like that! Out of a job! Never to look back seeing the same landscape, in their own heighborhood. Ouch, that hurt! With time, all things must change, and change they did, sort of!
Today we have a Happy Barista, a throw back to the days of behind the counter services, but autonomously individualisticly pouring great coffee, with a flair. Once again, can we confine ourselves to our neighborhood cafes, mingling with neighbors, and friends.
The role of The Barista has become one of not “just” service but one that provides knowledge about coffee; becoming a professional in his/her own realm of creativity as well. With an apron tied around, one can’t help but feel that this is serious business, enjoyment is inevitable when you taste the finely brewed cup (or glass) of perhaps flavor infused cafe! Enjoying as many varieties as possible, everyday is a new discovery; whether your everyday cup of joe is
organic, blended, cappuccino, espresso, or maybe even tea! There is also a show of sorts, a pretty one. Oh yes, pretty! Coffee is pretty, when out of the froth pictures are created!
Nice.
There is the wi-fi service which keep you connected, conferencing, or tweeting (actually you could do all at the same time), while reading the paper you just got emailed. Good thing is, you can stay as long as you want, maybe things haven’t changed that much!
Images Courtesy of : Bing Images (LarryFresch, Hospitality Connections, Miss Wangy /Underground)
See also
Related articles
- Anti-soda jerks rule Cambridge (bostonherald.com)
- Business Lessons from a Soda Jerk (brandautopsy.typepad.com)
- The Soda Jerks (peopleofwalmart.com)
- New York mayor to ban super-size sodas (vancouversun.com)
- Never stop marketing, even at the Starbucks coffee counter (thehumanracehorses.com)
Jul4
July 4th, NYC Style
Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. "Summer in the city..."
It is also the day that I kick back and see the world in a different way. It's a day I seriously "people watch" as you will find many wonderful things going on all around you.
Children acting without a care in the world-just relishing the joy of being a child.
"Hot Time In The City" HAPPY JULY 4TH 2012!!!
Jun30
Regina Spektor — "What We Saw From the Cheap Seats"
Blooming Spektor
By Eric Webb
A brief, inarguable list of the best things from or tangentially related to Russia:
x
x
5. Laika
4. Vodka tonics
3. Glasnost
2. Zangief from Street Fighter
1. Regina Spektor
Born in Russia and transplanted to New York as a kid, Miss Spektor is a force of nature. There is no point in denying this.
I feel the energy by reading the first paragrah, Who Wants More Coffee?
Jun23
Will audiences show up for 'Rock of Ages'? - CNN.com
Will audiences show up for 'Rock of Ages'? - CNN.com.
Movie Musicals; Hit or Miss ? What does Tom Cruise have to say about Rock of Ages ?
(CNN) -- You're on a bus to Los Angeles and the cute blond girl in the third row breaks out into a rendition of "Sister Christian." You have two options: You can stare at her awkwardly or pretend you're Kelly Keagy and lend your vocals to the chorus.
Ages of Rock?
Jun5
The Fox And The Flower
When I stumbled across Kari Herer's still life photography artwork I was... how do I put it in words?... Exhilarated, thrilled, enlivened, completely and utterly inspired! Not only am I wholly enchanted with the talents and creativity of the people that surround me, but it is also the incredible strangers in the world that touch and amaze me. Find these stunning works of art here
Imagery & Flores
Jun5
Quotes For Home and Hearth
A Man's Home Is His Castle (remember that when it comes time for Le Divorce, pray it shan't ever be so!)
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Mi Casa, Es Tu Casa (that's more like it)
Be It Ever So Humble (Mon Dieu!), There's No Place Like Home
Quotes Merci: Not sure whom said what, but we've all heard them…
While on the subject, check out these Quotes:
Jun5
Friends of John Guzzey
Souvenirs spill
From the
Unsealed
Yellow envelope
Its brightness
Contrasted against
The black shirt mourning
The feebleness of a friend
The sun spills a square or two of light onto
The fenced gravel road
Cell bars cast by shadows
Cage his friend in steel
A one man prison
As whip-thin branches flaunt buds
Freshly emergent and tall, pushing against the early spring wind…
Poetry for you, prose for someone else:
May17
Want To Live Longer? Drink Coffee
Here’s some sweet news to add to your morning coffee: Regular coffee drinkers are likely to live longer, says the largest study ever done on the subject.
Even better, it doesn’t matter whether you drink regular or decaf.
To examine the relationship between coffee and health, researchers with the National Institutes of Health looked at the coffee drinking habits of more than 400,000 AARP members ages 50 to 71 between 1995 and 1996, then followed them until 2008.
KafeMandela agrees! Organic too!
May17
What Foods are Good for Me This Week?
In today’s New York Times, there is one article discussing the benefits of drinking coffee and one article questioning the positive health impacts of high levels of good cholesterol. It was comical to observe that one of the studies made me cheer – yay, more coffee! – and one of the studies made me frown – boo, less guacamole!
I Luv Coffee too! Especially Organic!
May17
It Is Finally Here... Facebook Formally Prices Its IPO! (FB)
Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) has priced at $38.00 per share, at the top of the already-raised range of $34.00 to $38.00 per share. The offering size is 421,233,615 shares of Class A common stock and the latest prospectus amendment noted that if the underwriters exercise the overallotment in full as we are currently expecting then the total share count would come to 484,418,657 shares in the offering.
Finally!!!!!!!
Apr30
The Process: Plant to Coffee
Process of handpicking
depulping & washing
fermenting & drying
Coffee picker on Salvadoran cooperative Ciudad Barrios, certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Credit: Robert Goodier (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
collection at local cooperative
transport to regional cooperative
receiving & inspection
patio drying
Sorting and pulping coffee beans at a fair trade cooperative in Guatemala (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
de-husking & screening
quality controls
tasting, testing prior to export
packaged
Avatar FTUSA every purchase matters
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- On Day Two (katedockeray.wordpress.com)
- Touring Arizona Coffee Houses: Havens For Writers – “KickStand Kafe” (thewritelife2.wordpress.com)
- What’s the best coffee in the world? (coffeeam.wordpress.com)
- This Sunday: Chanting, Yogi Tea and Icosium Kafe (savitreekaur.com)
Apr30
My Take on New York Times 'Ethical Meat' Contest
A contest called Put Your Ethics Where Your Mouth Is by The New York Times, has recently tried to figure out who can write the best argument supporting the idea that meat is ethical. Panelled by Mark Bittman, Jonathan Safran Foer, Andrew Light, Michael Pollan, and Peter Singer, I was eager to read what their picks would be.
Overall I must admit that the finalists are better than I had expected, but nonetheless they have yet to make a truly good argument.
How You Spend Your Money Makes a Difference!
Apr30
Canada’s “Dirty Oil” Exports to US to Triple (TRP, KMI, ENB)
The development of the Canadian oil sands is expected to increase the amount of crude oil produced at the Alberta oil sands from its current level of about 1.6 million barrels/day to as high as 8 million barrels/day by 2020. Current exports to the US amount to about 500,000 barrels a day, and are expected to exceed 1.5 million barrels/day by 2020.
Who Pays for Dirty Oils? One Guess!
Apr30
1000. heartfelt | thanks for the coffee
Well, here we are at 1000 cups of coffee. We made it! This mosaic was created out of the photos I took along the way, all 300 of them (this may be obvious, but click on the photo to enlarge it). Feel free to use it and share it, wherever good coffee is appreciated. Coffee|Served Daily began as a small idea and morphed into an opportunity to connect, caffeinate and create.
Coffee and Thanks!
Apr25
“Bad Decisions Make Good Stories”
our Virtual Coffee Shop http://paper.li/f-1333042092#!photos Montage of photos, friends, & quotes! Lots of info & news, be sure to subscribe to our daily & RT to your friends!
Related articles
- Joey’space 1000th Post Giveaway (joeychong.wordpress.com)
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- #MyAction4Khawaja (frankiespeakingfrankly.blogspot.com)
Feb12
Heads UP! Welcome Meteor/Asteroid and Party Crashers
The Ultimate Wild Ride!
There is a 150 foot meteor/asteroid racing towards us at alarming speed, no lie, and it is supposed to come within 17,200 miles of Earth on February 15!
What is alarming about this event is not that it could easily knock out satellites nor that it will be a lot closer to us than the moon
Meteors & Comets?
Feb12
La Hoja Announces Cigar Events at Florio's Ristorante (New York)
The immensely popular Hoja de Flores announced recently that it will be throwing a number of cigar events at the famed Florio's Ristorante, which was closed for some time but has now reopened. For those of you who haven't smoked Hoja de Flores cigars, they are fantastic Dominican puros with exceptional smoothness and fantastic construction - we reviewed them for you here…
Smoke gets in your eyes, not really this is every cigar afficionado & foodie dream come true!
Jan15
Where I’ve Been
The Rockquettes Kick It Here
RockPlaza Christmas Tree
Ferragamo’s Fifth Ave Display 2012
Chocolate and Soldiers
HW Christmas Windows
Bloomberg Christmas Tree
Pieta, Enduring Love
Swarovski Tree Star 2012
As The Shoppers Rush Home With Their Treasures
Christmas Tree Bryant Park NYC
Tree with Skaters at Bryant Park 2012
Virgin of Guadalupe, St Patrick’s Cathedral
Minnie Follows Me Everywhere
Decked For The Holidays
Currier and Ives would have painted this
This isn’t some stuffy essay (er…blog) about How I Spent My Christmas Vacation, on the contrary, it will be a very honest account of how many times I went up and down Fifth Ave in NYC, looking at all the Christmas window displays! Let’s not forget how many times I stared at Rockefeller Plaza, gawking at the ice skaters, amazed at the Christmas Tree. Never mind all the lights on the tree, but all the tourists whose smiles were brighter than the season itself. Spectacular. The break-dancers amazed, and were extra sweet, hugging me when I joyfully shouted, “Merry Christmas from New York”!
I couldn’t get enough, I was like….well a kid at Christmas!
St Patrick’s Cathedral captured my heart as well, with as many visits as possible, and visiting the famous crèche, albeit, the Baby Jesus was in its cradle Christmas Day (not before). I visited every Saint, and marveled at all the prayer candles lit by the faithful, and the curious; then there was the Virgin of Guadalupe brimming with so many flowers, that the mere aroma intoxicated the alter with at least a thousand fragrance. The special chapel devoted to Miraculous Mary, allows no pictures, and is almost silent with reverence when the Rosary is not taking place. Every one had a special request at this church, a Cathedral, but my presence was only to say one thing.
Thank You for letting me see another Christmas, and Holiday Season, in the craziest, most dynamic, diversified, beautiful city that I called home for most of my life! Gratitude. Total respect. Organic? Yes, organic. The reason I shout out about organic was a trip to the hospital, after finding out that I had renal failure; not one kidney failed, but two (of course NYers have to go all the way)!
No one knows how my disease came about, except that stress is a killer, and at times silently catching up to all our hard work, and efforts. So, I say to you that seeing NYC at Christmas was as marvelous, as being given a second chance at life, especially to shout out about organics, everything that you eat, drink, and stress out about.
Of course, I was with many helpful friends this past year (what I call my recovery year); people came out of no where, as though guided by my very Angels to speak to me, and teach me about my best approach to health. If you didn’t know, kidney disease doesn’t just go away, it’s something that hangs around to remind you of your new limitations. Eventually, if you get the right doses of rest, relax, and more, you will start to feel better; and those whopping episodes of fatigue will in themselves, perhaps become a memory of the past.
My Doctors, who I owe so many thanks, an incredible team that will always be in my heart (I hope to inspire them about meditating, and the values of organics), and who are still part of my well care health regimen. I learned so much from those guys, and what a humble bunch they are!
Whether I was at Bryant Park, Brooklyn, my old college, having a reunion with my BFF from high school, at every single moment I was at a very special place, called gratitude.
Dec22
Christmas Joy - Day 22 (Devotional)
I'm following a fantastic devotional series called "Christmas Joy" by Mel Lawrenz, The Brook Network. Please join me. Here's day 22:
Light
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. – Luke 2:30-32
The winter solstice on December 21, the darkest day of the year, means for many of us who live halfway between the equator and the North Pole, that we have breakfast when it is still dark outside, and that by supper, the sun has long set.
Christmas Joy, Indeed, share it!
Dec22
Christmas Time Makes It Easier To Love
It’s always interesting to watch my family and friends get along better during the holiday season. I think it maybe the temperature of the weather being cooler so it calms everyone’s nerves or maybe it’s just the idea of it being Christmas.
Whatever it is things sure do change around my house and in the places I go. It seems like everyone pulls out that smile that’s been stashed away all year or a song that just needs to be sung.
Thoughts for Christmas!
Nov1
Soy and The Amazon’s Devastation
“This image is of the The Kayapo tribe being expelled from their homes for the construction of the Belo Monte Dam, which will flood 400,000 acres of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil.”
“We want life for our people, Land is life, Land is our Mother.”
In The Name of Progress video
Oct23
Fall Garden Color
You gotta love the vibrancy of Fall color and a dash of morning or late afternoon sunlight.
Take a garden walk, enjoy the fall colors:
