I Still Hate Pike Place Blend/Roast

Maybe it is time for me to find a real coffee place. I like the convenience of Starbucks, but when I can’t buy coffee any more, it is time to find a place that serves COFFEE. I wrote about this issue back in April when Pike Place Blend/Roast came out. I was upset, but I got over my sullen thoughts because I had a choice with other coffees for sale.

August 20, 2008, I don’t have a choice any more. My favorite Starbucks stores don’t serve Verona, House Blend, Cafe Estima, Brazil, Espresso Roast, and what happened to Yukon? What happened to serving Coffee? I don’t go to Starbucks for an egg sandwich or a Vivanno surprise. This summer, all our Starbucks have been serving is Pike Place Blend/Roast as their main and decaf coffees. There are NO other choices in the morning. Even when the carafes are changed on the half, real coffee isn’t being produced. It is replaced with a new batch of Folgers. That is, when somebody walks in the door and asks for a medium coffee, they will get a grande cup of Pike Place Swill. I am not sure what Starbucks was thinking when they decided to replace their fine coffees with the ubiquitous Pike.

A Sean Opinion Dynamics Poll found these favorite quotes that are worth documenting:

“Let's forget the fact that I personally don't like Pikes Place blend (which tastes slightly better than a cup of coffee you might get a greasy-spoon diner) at all, but rather, consider the rational necessary to come to the conclusion that pulling the rug out from underneath millions upon millions of loyal customer is a good idea, in an attempt to lure away new customers from Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds. The marketing geniuses behind New Coke would be proud.”

“It is not good coffee, it is not anything special, and it’s just marketed to seem that way. If Pike is meant to bring the chain "back to where it all started,” how come it waited 37 years to sell it? It is safe to say that I am disgruntled.”

“The new "everyday" coffee blend that's supposed to rescue Starbucks is more likely to sink it. The only way Pike Place Roast could save Starbucks would be to force it down the noses of competitors until they drowned.”

“Pike Place is supposedly "smoother" and "friendlier" and "fresh." So, what were all those other blends - stale?”

“It's metallic on the tongue, like supermarket brands favored by Fat Americans stuffing themselves on T.J. Cinnamons. It tastes under-roasted and cheap, although it costs you just as much as the bolder blends.”

“Pike Place is precisely the kind of limp brew that has long ruled American taste. It's just what I - like millions of others - came to Starbucks to escape.”

Do I need to say more? Yes in fact I do! I am converting to the coffee club at Mystic Monk Coffee. I am going to advertise for them here:

Welcome to Mystic Monk Coffee! Roasted to perfection, full of taste and flavor, we guarantee that in each bag of Mystic Monk Coffee you will find a delicious, consistently smooth and rich taste. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or simply a friend of monks, our own unique monastic roasts are certain to please and delight. Each bag of coffee is roasted and prepared for you in a hidden, cloistered monastery where each roast is the work of perfection and a labor of love.

Providence

I had been feeling a bit down about a turn my life is taking (don't worry, the baby is fine:), when I picked up the stack of mail and discovered that the September issue of Magnificat had arrived. Opening it to the first page, my eyes fell across this quote:

"Nothing that happens to us is contrary to the will of Providence, and everything that is sent to us by God is for our good and the salvation of our soul. Even if it does not seem beneficial at the present moment, we shall understand later that it is what is willed by God, and not what we ourselves desire, that is useful to us...This is why we should offer thanks for all this to God."
-Saint Nilus Sorsky

Henry Poole is Here

Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit.
Bidden or not bidden, God is present
--Carl Jung

I loved it--a quiet little movie about faith, miracles, and my favorite theme, redemption. Henry Poole moves to a slightly rundown suburban neighborhood, running away from life, a fatal diagnosis, and God. Soon after he settles into a lonely life of donuts and alcohol, the face of Christ appears in a water stain on the stucco on the side of his house. It quickly becomes a makeshift shrine in the neighborhood, much to the already bitter and disgruntled Henry's vexation. And then come the miracles....

The film-makers handle this topic with respect for the faithful and for faith itself. The priest, played by George Lopez, is intelligent and compassionate--how refreshing! I loved Esperanza's unshakable faith and great big heart. The scene when little Millie receives her miracle had tears sliding down my cheeks faster than I could wipe them away.

This is the kind of thoughtful, positive film that we need to see more of in theaters.--perfect for a date, but take your teens, too. I have to say, the ending surprised this jaded movie-goer in a positive way. Go see it--you may just walk away believing in hope, and perhaps even miracles.

(And for those of you in So Cal, you may recognize its La Mirada film location.)

P.S. Ebert loved it, too. :)

Faithful Friends

I am grateful for faithful friends, old and new....

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter,” says Sirach 6:14, “he who finds one finds a treasure.”

Yesterday I had a few conversations with some wonderful old friends, who encourage and sustain me, and made a few new friends with the ladies of the local running club that Sean belongs to. (Don't worry, I am not becoming a runner.) We went out for dinner, and saw "Mama Mia". And we laughed. And I needed that.

And in the 15 minutes between my leaving and Sean getting home from work, Mr. Frodo Baggins managed to take everything movable in the living room and put in on the floor, and drag a brand new bag of flour, now with puppy teeth punctures in it, across the floor, spilling expensive King Arthur flour everywhere. I wish I had a picture, but my dear husband had it all cleaned up by the time I got home. What a star.

So, if you ever need to have some fun, invite Frodo over. He can have a party going in just 15 minutes.

Frodo Wants Some of That….

Look Frodo… Fruit!!!!!!!!!!!

Wake Up!!!!

Central Valley Bounty

Look what I picked up at the farm today....

Have you ever seen such gorgeous produce?

How does your garden grow?

Pumpkin--Last week

Pumpkin this week!

We have loads of tomatoes!

The beautiful celtic cross stepping stone a dear friend gave us for our wedding.

Curious but lovely little white flowers I found this morning

Welcome Aboard, Little One!

Welcome Aboard, Little One!
Why is the picture so blurry, Sean?

“I think he is a runner baby. Look how fast he is moving his legs.”

He? :) We'll see......

The Trellis: Enhancing Our Outdoor and Indoor Living

You don't need an addition to add luxury to your home, just reclaim that unused space outside. We did just that! We added this structure, and it turned out to be an attractive addition to the backyard. It a trellis for the new jasmine, bleeding hearts, impatiens, geranium, and morning glory we added help cool off the house. The house gets such a morning blast from the sun. We needed to put something in the way to dissipate the heat. When the creepers and vines start going up, up, up, the vegetation will help with the blast with a vegetation carpet, while still being able to see outside. We are still considering what to do about the upstairs windows; traditional shutters or the bahama style. I am taking a vote on the type. Vote here, vote now, vote often!

The trellis will be a garden accent indispensable for utility and function, as well as for beauty. What could be more natural than to design a trellis to be functional over the pool? I even added a drip sprinkler system. I may have to turn it on when it is hot outside. It will add a nice spray to the plants as well as to the un-anticipating sunbather. Here is yesterday’s sunset picture of the backyard. Even with a small budget you can create an enjoyable outdoor trellis for your “growys” and the garden.

Scurrying in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO -- Over 19,000 people ran the 31st Annual San Francisco Marathon races yesterday. The start and finish line was located at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero as previous years. The start for the event was an early 5:30 a.m. After a scurry to the start line from my faraway hotel, I joined the thousands on the Embarcadero for the first half of the Marathon. The course ran along the Embarcadero west to the Golden Gate Bridge, past Pier 39, and then through the Richmond District to Golden Gate Park. No tourists were to be seen at this early hour.

The second half of the Marathon continued through the Park, the Haight and Ashbury District (the Panhandle), and back to the Ferry Building for the grand finale. The modest crowd that lined the Embarcadero was noticeably subdued this year, even at the end of the Marathon. The Richmond crowd wasn’t very noticeable either. Maybe 5:30 was too early for most people? I do remember the Sports Basement crowd with their drums, tambourines, and cheering at the start of the big hill proceeding up to the bridge, the entrance to Fort Scott.

The Golden Gate Bridge was as crowded with runners as ever. “Can you let us run by please please?” All 600,000 rivets in each tower were still in place as I ran by. I counted! The view was meager due to the overcast conditions and it was relatively cool up there on the roadbed. In fact, the entire race was a cool 50-some degrees. The way back was equally crowded, the cars behaved, and the run continued into the Richmond District towards my finish line. I was done by the middle of Golden Gate Park. “Where are the buffalos? I want to see buffalos!” Anyhow, I was tired, sweaty, and ready for my water, banana, and tidbit of sourdough bread. I gathered my medal, and then I proceeded on the busses past the pretty rose garden, and back Market Street.

The rest of the weekend was equally as fun. We went to our forth Mission, Mission Dolores. Mission Dolores is a central place for religious, civic, and cultural life in San Francisco. It was founded June 29, 1776, under the direction of Father Junipero Serra and is the oldest original intact Mission in California. It is one of the oldest buildings in San Francisco. The Basilica Parish of Mission Dolores was a beautiful site with a vibrant, intact parish. The Mission has a unique historic, religious, and architectural significance, which makes our fourth mission a destination for others to visit on the mission tour. We toured the historic spot, and then we had to rush to our meeting with Lara’s old friend from Us in the Son, Matt Yellow, who also ran the Marathon. We went to mass at Old St. Mary's. Dinner was at the Stinking Rose (Matt's treat! Thank you, Matt!), where made some new Texan friends, and the company and food was delightful.

Other events for the weekend included the tourist thing to Ghirardelli Chocolate, eating at Fisherman’s Wharf, Cable Car, pubic transportation on the Muni, the Bart and bus, and finally, home to the Central Valley via Bart once again. Can you believe that the hotel wanted sixty dollars a day to park our car? Bart was the only way to go into the City. The car would have been an inconvenience anyway. So public transportation worked for us for once. The weekend was quick, the race fun and enjoyable, and we had a really good time. Our next race is where Lara?

San Francisco Marathon - 1st Half Marathon
Bib: 14066
Name: Sean
Place Overall: 2560 out of 6679
Men: 1562 out of 2983
M 30-39: 582 out of 1083
Age Grade: 45.85% Place: 2560
FINISH: 2:09:10 pace: 9:52
7.5 Mi: 1:16:23 pace: 10:11
Chip Time: 2:09:10
Gun Time: 2:25:00

Image from:
http://seeangelarun.blogspot.com/2006/07/73006-san-francisco-marathon.html

http://www.noehill.com/sf/landmarks/cal0784.asp