Gwyneth B. McGlinn

A week ago I picked up a new french press and I’ve decided to take the old one to work. The coffee provided at work is some Tully’s blend. It can be an okay coffee if made just right. This is nearly impossible with the current coffee maker at work. So what happens is I have to put a lot of sugar and flavored creamer in.

This lead me to my decision to make my own coffee at work. I’m currently in the process of picking a good coffee. This week I have enjoyed Equal Exchange Organic Columbian. I picked up the beans at Central Market. It’s been pretty good. I’ve managed to use a lot less sugar and no creamer.

It’s not perfect though. It needs to be drunk quickly due to the no creamer. I’m still on the lookout for something I can savor without having to trek up to the fridge and back. (Powdered creamer tastes very acidic to me so that is not an option.)

The other news is that Zoka is no longer making Columbia Villarica. I’ll have to wait till the next Cup of Excellence columbian arrives. Until then I’m drinking their Brazilian offering.

I’ve concluded that it is a great coffee for summer. It works well for making before running out to play in the sun. Or it will be great for that when the sun arrives. So far it’s still early spring like around here. It has a nice smooth taste and is perfect with a little sugar and half & half.

Once summer is over and the cold comes back I’ll be ready to sit and savor more complex flavors.

Thanks to these people. I now want to go to Bellingham and wander around. Must see Digs and Avalon Discs & tapes.

Items I have been dreaming of recently:

•  Deena & Ozzy Menswear Pump

• Tweed pants

• Vertical Stripe skirt

• Denim skirt like This A Levis one would be perfect.

• Menswear Striped shirt

• Cableknit Foldover Collar Sweater In Orange.

More will follow later.

For lack of a proper nickname we’ve taken to calling Kirkland Zoka Z4. Tonight it appears we got here just in time to be offered actual cups. My new thing is to order one of the house drip coffees and go with sugar and no cream. At least this is my second time doing so. Tonight I’m having the Costa Rica. It is the Cup of Excellence winner. It has a nice somewhat fruity flavor.

I have bought some Columbia Villarica beans to take home. Maybe three years ago I got an amazing cup of excellence columbia that has set the bar pretty high. It is the coffee which I base all other coffees off. The one I purchased today only took 4th but I have high hopes for it.

I’m listening to Modest Mouse We were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. It’s  keeping me company as I browse for vintage/thrift shops to visit. A long time ago I ended up in Buffalo Exchange on The Ave. At the time I just thought it was a neat place. Now I keep reading blogs where people have actually bought cool stuff there. It inspired my wish to go back.

I also must make it to Crossroads Trading Co. I need to get shoes for Halloween. I’m going as my favorite Vampire from Buffy. I’ll leave you guessing until the 31st.

On and exciting note Tagtober is coming back for 2009. Once again I’m toying with the idea of shooting instant film. Maybe the best idea is to throw in one or two instant pics and do the rest digital.

Last night we had a lot of fun getting sushi and hanging out with friends. We even met two friends in person for the first time. Then we went to the falls and back to Michael’s packed apt. There isn’t much room inside for the 5 occupants + 1 cat.

After we dropped Tom off in Capital Hill I managed to get about 4 hours of sleep. It was worth it though!

Listening to Royksopp on vinyl with Milo. It’s a two record set. I just love how side A starts off with Royksopp Forever. The whole vinyl album seems to have a better flow than the digital one. Simplistic is not the right word but it’s how the music sounds.

Thanks to last weeks sidewalk sale at Sonic Boom Records our collection has grown 53 or so. I’ve decided there is little point to buying CDs because I never get around to listening to them. My poor Portishead P3 album has been collecting dust just inches below the turntable. It’s stuffed in the 5 disc changer with some other great CDs like the latest Secret Machines and Air.

The feeling of putting on a record is superior to pushing a button on the remote. Yes it’s crazy, but there is something about the feeling of the record and having to get up and turn it over.

I’m currently saving up for a Portland trip. That means lots of vinyl shops so I must save up. There is something really exciting about going out of town and getting a different take on vinyl and coffee.

I’ve been doing a lot of blog reading lately. My current trend is daily wear bloggers. Girls who put together interesting outfits that don’t quite fit any popular trend. They blend well together though. Since I have a very dull clothing style I will spare you the same but I do think I have pretty good taste in vinyl.

One fashion thing I do have to note is that I am totally lusting after a pair of Kenneth Cole New York Stripe Less shoes.

Now you must all check out the hotness that is The Impossible Project. People in mass can do nifty things.

Time for side C of “disc 2″ that cracks me up.

The skies opened up
Silence isued
Suddenly I’m back in dance class dancing to Bad.

I’m currently looking for a good knitting pattern to make a Mary Tyler Moore style hat. One like the hat she throws in the opening sequence of the MTM show. Also I have plans in the works to make some scarves based on characters from Buffy.

Last week we got Steve and this week we get the Leighs. Also I took the plunge. Since Tom joined Facebook I figured I should too.

I can happily say it’s been over two months since we last tried to go to Zoka. On that night we planned to go to OZ but they were closed with no sign on the door. We then went to UZ and of course they weren’t serving coffee and hadn’t been for quite a while. I decided they don’t want my business so I don’t need to go back.

A few weeks later I happily gave Victrola money for mochas and columbian beans. There were a few customers floating in and out. We asked the guy if he would serve someone if they walked in right a closing. He looked at us like we were crazy and said yes. He would serve people till they stopped coming in.

Oh, I should mention he was working alone. University Zoka has 2-4 people working and can’t manage to serve espresso for most of the last hour they’re open.

On the fifth Tom threw a wonderful birthday part as his place. I must say the Rye Serene recommended was very good. I’m going to have to purchase some before new years. J.P. had a (possible) record three drinks. We finally stumbled home in the wee hours and slept most of the next day.

Last Saturday we supplied the power, speakers, one projector and a screen for Smitefest. We had to drive two cars because we took almost every extension cord we own. It was a huge success. Next time we should bring the other two obstruction lights. The dual set looked lonely.

I sat back and played Galaga on my laptop. It impressed an old pro who easily scored higher than me when he took a turn. I then let a teen who was hopped up on Bawls and coke play an online RPG. He was so hyper he was having trouble finding the keys.

You can check out the pictures at Redeemer’s Flickr site.

I know I’m a bit behind on things but I just discovered this and Michelle is always so cute.

Boy