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October 27, 2004
More Canoeing Shots
I really like how the water floated on the surface of the lillies.
Posted by Kristin at 10:21 PM | Comments (4)
October 25, 2004
Canoeing
Chris bought a 17' Wenonah, and we took it out one day last week on Lake Glendale, which is tiny as lakes go, but is quiet and calm and beautiful.
More to follow.
Posted by Kristin at 7:19 AM | Comments (3)
October 23, 2004
Cha$ching
I was paying for chocolate truffles at the Chocolate Factory (across from Dixon Springs State Park, where my mom and uncle both once worked, and on the way to Golconda) when the cashier noticed the penny I gave her had a strange look, and offered it back. It's a 1919 wheat penny. It's only worth about $1, but still, it feels like a windfall.
Posted by Kristin at 8:19 PM | Comments (2)
October 21, 2004
Q: Lisa writes to ask: Does Starbucks really burn their coffee?
A: A former Starbucks roaster who had opened his own coffee shop once ranted to a friend and me for the entire time it took us to down our coffee about how Starbucks intentionally burns their beans. According to him, it makes the taste stays consistent longer (burnt beans don't taste stale, they just taste burnt), and that's played havoc with many Americans' coffee taste buds, who think good coffee is supposed to taste that way (and apparently with the Brits now too; the last time I was in London, everyone was carrying around the white and green logo'd paper cups).
I don't know if the story's true, although I've always thought it tasted burnt, too.
Posted by Kristin at 2:49 PM | Comments (4)
October 18, 2004
Hospital Food
Starbucks has come to my hometown.
My grandmother has been in the hospital for several weeks, a combination of a stroke, pneumonia, and old age. I'm in town to be with her. Mom and I went to visit Saturday after my flight got in, and she told me I'd have to see the new lounge area in the hospital. "They've got a Subway. And a Starbucks."
I thought she meant maybe that Subway served Starbucks coffee, but no, it's an actual Starbucks, in the hospital. I hate Starbucks coffee, but they make decent espresso, and I needed caffeine, so we went in and ordered Americanos. Turns out the barristas had just made two up for practice, so they gave them to us for free. They told us it's the only Starbucks for 100 miles. There are five parking spaces in the hospital lot particularly reserved, with 'for Starbucks customers only' signs.
My favorite coffee shop in the world is in downtown Paducah, and I don't want them to lose out on any business, but I have to admit that I'm sort of delighted by the hospital Starbucks. Even though they burn their coffee.
Posted by Kristin at 9:53 PM | Comments (4)