This is why we work so hard

I remember listening to NPR last Saturday and Garrison Keillor was talking about the fruits of our labor.

I am not a very good story teller, and I am even worse at telling someone elses stories... but suffice it to say that he was waxing poetic about a man who went into the woods not to go hunting but to relax and read a book... drink a nice bottle of wine and to be by himelf.

I feel a little bit like that man right now.

It is 8:30 at night and I am enjoying a beautiful evening on my front porch. It's about 68 degrees and the light is fading. I live a block off the bustling Mississippi Avenue and I can sit and watch the young couples park in front of my house and walk to the trendy new resaurants and pubs.

Life is good. My dog is off on a run with my darling Sonja and I am left all alone with a glass of Blanton's Single Barrel (thank you Sean) and a bowl of tobacco blended by our local tobacco guru's down at Rich's Cigar Store.



Will my Super Jolly(s) hold up, will out new space be zoned for retail and food service, will I be audited this year? None of this matters right now. My only concern is if I should get up and go inside the house and grab a sweatshirt, or am I really okay with what I have on.... I think I'm okay.

My trip to Seattle two days ago was good. I proabably could have enjoyed myself more if I would have stayed overnight, but it was great to get out of Portland.

On the way there we had a little tire trouble and memories of "A Christmas Carol", ran throught my head. I think it took me a good 10 minutes. A man's man I am not














But we made it to Seattle, and my first stop was to be Victrola. I said a quick hi hello to Daniel and Jodi and plopped down for a cappa for the lady and an americano for myself. I didn't get the name of the lady who made our drinks, but she was very friendly and playful. The coffee.... was great.




The lady and I went to Hopvine down the street and had a good lunch and some brews and strolled by Vivace.

We have been leaving our doors open for the past week, and I have had troubles keeping my grind in line... I have no clue how the boys at the Broadway cart can keep up. It must be a real pain in the arse. But, I guess it's a trade of for getting to work more-or-less outside.

After Vivace my beer buzz and coffee buzz got into a fight, and I have to say I was kinda confused. Should I drink more beer... or drink more coffee. Coffee prevailed and off to Alley 24 we went.

I regret to inform the readers of this sloppy blog that I did not bring my camera with me. The lady had hers and I snapped a few, but I'm not sure of said cameras locale. Maybe I'll post a few when I get a chance.

Suffice to say it was great. I got there to see Bronwen hangin' out having some late luch before her shift.

Now the delima.

Do I get coffee now, or wait 25 minutes until she is on bar.

Solution: both.

A double espresso to tide me over, and a cappa from B to put me away.

Both we delicious... and no I am not saying that in the diplomatic sort of way. Vivace's espresso always intriuges me. I am not going to give you some bullshit about how I discerned all these flavors that really inspired me. No... the thing about Vivace that gets me is how damn thick that espresso is. If I pulled a shot that dense with the Hairbender and at that temp., it would taste like shit. So, IMHO, different is good and Vivace fulfills that.

After Vivace the "Spring Coffee Fling" was waning quickly. I had lost all desire to go to the other bars on my list, and beer became my main priority. What is a boy to do? Ahh yeah.... Elysian IPA here I come.

The rest of the day is of no consequence, so I will not bore any readers with the sundry details of my evening quest to put myself into stupor so that I could sleep the ride home.

Suffice to say that it was a good day off, but I am glad to be home, and to be sitting on my porch.

Good night.