We're heading down to Texas today for a wedding today. Looks like it will be a nice day to drive 5-1/2 hrs each way. =) We'll be in good company, too, with David and Alyson Frederick. And the kiddies get to stay with the grandparents today, so it's going to be like a long double date. =) Fun stuff...
The wedding is for Breanna Ellis and Tim Elam. I worked with Bree and her family in Australia (they're Aussies) for almost a year back about 5 years ago so we're really looking forward to seeing them all again and catching up with her parents, too. We went through some really stressful times together and it always seems that going through difficult times bonds hearts together particularly well.
I also found out my good friend Adam has finally found himself a girl to go after. =) Way to go Adam. And what a girl! I couldn't be happier for you. Married life can be SO great if you get the right one. It's great to see friends take their time and make the best choices.
Feeling very blessed today with all of the above in mind. If you haven't listened to The Afters new album "I Wish We All Could Win" you definitely should look into it. I particularly like the songs Wait and You and All That I Am. Check 'em out... (Thanks, Levi, for introducing me to The Afters!) Their official website is here.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Coffee Tasting
I don't know how many people start drinking coffee when they're 28, but you can count me among that number. I've been making up for lost time ever since. I just love a good cup of coffee... or a cheap cup of instant cappuccino from the corner gas station mixed with whatever they have in the pot sitting on the Bunn coffee-warmer. I wasn't very discriminating when it came to coffee.
Recently, though, I've been able to tell the difference between roasts and even brands of coffee, to a certain extent. I always considered Starbucks to be really good coffee, I guess mostly because it was what got me started on coffee (the first coffee I actually enjoyed). The natural next step was to start buying whole beans and grinding them fresh for the best and freshest coffee. After a few months of that, I could definitely taste a difference between our fresh stuff and, say, the huge can of ground Folgers that's been in the freezer at work for 2 or 3 years.
Well, a friend of a friend started his own roaster down in Austin, TX. Great beans. So fresh that the oils are coating the beans and even after the bag's been opened for a few weeks, the beans still look like the bag was just opened! Man, that is good coffee. Well, here, all along there's a roaster here in OKC that I didn't even know about. PrimaCafe is the name of the joint and it's putting out the best coffee I've had to date. They have a website, but it's pretty basic looking (http://www.primacafe.com/). A pound of their best is actually cheaper than Starbucks and much fresher in my experience and opinion.
Anyway, after a long day of work today, I joined a small group for a coffee-tasting at Hearthstone Assisted Living down the road a couple of miles. It was put on by two of Starbucks' coffee-masters. They brought a huge container of their "extra-bold" Arabian Mocha Sanani. It's their "most exotic and unpredictable coffee," according to their website. Not sure exactly what that means, but it doesn't necessarily sound like something you'd want to deal with first thing in the morning before you'd had your big French press of coffee.
It was actually very good. Strong as I'll get out, but good. I was glad they brought hundreds of their chocolate covered cherries to go with the tiny shot-cups of coffee. I had 2 of the tiny cups and must have put down 5 or 6 cherries with each one to help sweeten it. =)
Okay, enough on coffee. Have you seen my little brother's trail journal? He's hiking the AT (Appalachian Trail) with a 10 lb. backpack and that's it. No computer, no cell phone. He even cut the handle off of his toothbrush to make it lighter! I don't think he even considered my suggestion that he take a car battery to use for recharging a computer, GPS and cell phone. He earned his trail name a few weeks back: "Jumpstart" since he's usually up, packed and hiked down the trail a few miles before anyone else is awake. That, in stark contrast to his normal habit at home to sleep through the alarm clock from hell.
Okay, enough rambling. Time for a movie or for bed or something.
Recently, though, I've been able to tell the difference between roasts and even brands of coffee, to a certain extent. I always considered Starbucks to be really good coffee, I guess mostly because it was what got me started on coffee (the first coffee I actually enjoyed). The natural next step was to start buying whole beans and grinding them fresh for the best and freshest coffee. After a few months of that, I could definitely taste a difference between our fresh stuff and, say, the huge can of ground Folgers that's been in the freezer at work for 2 or 3 years.
Well, a friend of a friend started his own roaster down in Austin, TX. Great beans. So fresh that the oils are coating the beans and even after the bag's been opened for a few weeks, the beans still look like the bag was just opened! Man, that is good coffee. Well, here, all along there's a roaster here in OKC that I didn't even know about. PrimaCafe is the name of the joint and it's putting out the best coffee I've had to date. They have a website, but it's pretty basic looking (http://www.primacafe.com/). A pound of their best is actually cheaper than Starbucks and much fresher in my experience and opinion.
Anyway, after a long day of work today, I joined a small group for a coffee-tasting at Hearthstone Assisted Living down the road a couple of miles. It was put on by two of Starbucks' coffee-masters. They brought a huge container of their "extra-bold" Arabian Mocha Sanani. It's their "most exotic and unpredictable coffee," according to their website. Not sure exactly what that means, but it doesn't necessarily sound like something you'd want to deal with first thing in the morning before you'd had your big French press of coffee.
It was actually very good. Strong as I'll get out, but good. I was glad they brought hundreds of their chocolate covered cherries to go with the tiny shot-cups of coffee. I had 2 of the tiny cups and must have put down 5 or 6 cherries with each one to help sweeten it. =)
Okay, enough on coffee. Have you seen my little brother's trail journal? He's hiking the AT (Appalachian Trail) with a 10 lb. backpack and that's it. No computer, no cell phone. He even cut the handle off of his toothbrush to make it lighter! I don't think he even considered my suggestion that he take a car battery to use for recharging a computer, GPS and cell phone. He earned his trail name a few weeks back: "Jumpstart" since he's usually up, packed and hiked down the trail a few miles before anyone else is awake. That, in stark contrast to his normal habit at home to sleep through the alarm clock from hell.
Okay, enough rambling. Time for a movie or for bed or something.
Looking for Chris?
I guess a lot of people go by different names at different stages of their lives. One of my best friends goes by Freddie, David, and all variations of both. When I was a kid, I went by Christian, but in my adolescent years, I found Chris less hypocritical and maybe a bit more incognito. =)
Well, since being adopted into the Sangree family at the age of 13, I've often wondered how my old friends from childhood would ever find me if they wanted to look me up. Maybe this will help.
If any of my childhood friends are looking for Christian Ledeatt or Chris Ledeatt, you've found him! I've been Christian Sangree since the late 80's, and I'd love to hear from you! There's a link to our business "Prints Charming Photography" in the side column, and contact info can be found for me there. Old friends, please do stop by and say hello!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Fun stuff...
How fun! An outlet for my rantings, etc...! If you haven't heard "Praise you in This Storm," by Casting Crowns, you can listen to it here. It's probably my favorite at the moment. Or at least among my top 10 right now. =)
We're hanging out at the Heard's today. Went to church actually on time today, and wondered why it was mostly empty. Thought maybe it was the annual ATI conference or something. Turns out everyone has whooping cough. The people who were there had mostly recovered and everyone else was home sick. "Um, okay! Thanks for the info!" and out the door we went. No time for whooping cough today, thanks very much. If you haven't had an immunization within the last 10 years, chances are you can get it. And with Holly in her first trimester, we didn't think it prudent to take the chance. We've been wanting to visit some churches a bit nearer to home, so now may be our golden opportunity to do so.
I've had two offers on my Miata now and it's not even really up for sale yet. Not sure how much I can sell it for. I have like $10,000 of extras on it, but I fear it may not be worth much more than $5k regardless. =) It's time for a 4-door, though. Holly doesn't like putting Addie in the trunk. (That was a joke, of course!)
Welp, just about time for lunch. I'm excited about blogging. We just got one up for Addie for the family. It will be a lot easier than creating webpage albums for the family and will get updated much more often than the web pages I was having to create every few months.
Catch ya later...
We're hanging out at the Heard's today. Went to church actually on time today, and wondered why it was mostly empty. Thought maybe it was the annual ATI conference or something. Turns out everyone has whooping cough. The people who were there had mostly recovered and everyone else was home sick. "Um, okay! Thanks for the info!" and out the door we went. No time for whooping cough today, thanks very much. If you haven't had an immunization within the last 10 years, chances are you can get it. And with Holly in her first trimester, we didn't think it prudent to take the chance. We've been wanting to visit some churches a bit nearer to home, so now may be our golden opportunity to do so.
I've had two offers on my Miata now and it's not even really up for sale yet. Not sure how much I can sell it for. I have like $10,000 of extras on it, but I fear it may not be worth much more than $5k regardless. =) It's time for a 4-door, though. Holly doesn't like putting Addie in the trunk. (That was a joke, of course!)
Welp, just about time for lunch. I'm excited about blogging. We just got one up for Addie for the family. It will be a lot easier than creating webpage albums for the family and will get updated much more often than the web pages I was having to create every few months.
Catch ya later...
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