Finding Narnia, inspiration, and a friendly swordfish.

And now, a few places I have come across in recent travels:



1) THE LOFT- Dexter, MO. I was a town that had a Walmart and not much else. After being there a week and a half I felt very claustrophobic. The roads seemed to lead to nowhere. I didn't feel like I could get out. That is when I found Narnia. There are times in life when Narnia needs to be found. Of course I am not talking about the real Narnia, but the concept. A magical place that draws you in a teaches you things. This one was called The Loft. On the outside it is a brick building with fancy doors. On the inside it is like something out of a novel. They sold lotions and candles and jewelry and weird foods and hats and ties and furniture and plates and Christmas ornaments and weird dolls and quill pens and a large assortment of other strange things. Upstairs there were four separate rooms, each decorated to the max with expensive art and comfy couches. And there was a huge wardrobe(see, I told you it was Narnia). One the roof there was a long couch, a grill that was shaped like a bull and made of copper(it looked like a monster from a Percy Jackson book), there we tables with umbrellas, and there was a seven foot tall giraffe(for no apparent reason). Downstairs there was an outside patio with a fountain and chairs and plants and table and a gate. And downstairs inside there was a grand piano and a little coffee set up. The machine they used was probably a couple a thousand dollars and one of the best parts of the whole thing was that the workers had no idea what they were doing.It all felt very innocent and welcoming. The guy making my Café Au Lait was asking my for directions.When I asked the owner why he had this whole incredible set up he said he just wanted a place where people could just come and drink their coffee and enjoy themselves. And he succeed at just that.

                                        

                               

                               

                                                                                                                                                               






2) THE BLUE DOOR COFFEE BAR, Stuart FL. Named Appropriately. It's hard to miss the yellow building with the bright blue door. This little gem inspired me mostly because of the art. When I walked in I saw it almost instantly. It was a huge painting done with oil paints that took my breathe away. This summer I decided I wanted to learn to work with oil paints because I usually use water and acrylic. So when I saw this painting I was reinspired. I must learn how to this.
  And every time I went back to Blue Door I found another little painting or sculpture hidden somewhere in the tiny shop. There was even a little upside-down bird sculpture under the counter where I sat one day. 
  The coffee was lovely. And the tea. I really appreciate when coffee houses have good tea. They did that too. When I can go into a coffee shop and order tea that I know will be unique it just makes me happy. Oh, also they had Lavender syrup to flavor drinks with...I think I will explain why that is important in another post because it's kind of a long story.

3) STUART COFFEE, also Stuart FL. This little place is filled with art and conducive to community. Also, while in town I got two free drinks by using their punch cards. (: Along the walls and shelves there is an assortment of local art. And on certain days artists come and paint in the window. I love how they support local artists. And their coffee was pretty good. I also like how they had a bookshelf with games and novels. And a comfy couch. That was good too.

  I think it is very important in a coffee house to make sure your iced coffee is just as good or pretty close to your hot coffee. Sometimes people get lazy with the iced coffee and that is just a shame. Also, at Stuart Coffee I got a s'more iced coffee... now that was good. I'm always a huge fan of creative drinks.

  My only complaint would be the workers. From their outfits to their attitudes it just all felt too professional and stiff. The drinks and atmosphere were relaxing and very Florida themed, but I just don't like when coffee is over professionalized. I like when people feel at home making coffee and people feel a sense of home in drinking it. I like when workers talk to me about life and coffee. I guess I feel like coffee is a universal language so when I'm treated like a costumer I feel jipped. I suppose I shouldn't be too upset since I am a customer... But I'm not just that. I'm a person. And so are all the other people who come in.
Coffee of all things reminds us that we are human. And coffee houses should be a place where we can come and feel like humans.
  That's all I have for now. More to come soon. But until then remember that the people you come in contact with are actually people. I think sometimes we all forget that.

Things about writing.

 I'm a writer. I write things. I write blogs and essays and poems and song and ramblings. And books.. I write books too. It's fairly common that when I say that I write(especially if I say I write novels) people get curious and want to read something I have written. This does not bother me at all, I like that people are interested in my work and I feel bad that I don't have anything to give them. You see, I've always felt that no one should read my books until I am finished or close to finished. Otherwise they will see a sloppy version of the story. 

  One of the hardest things for me is when some asks THE QUESTION (cue dramatic music)...................... "So, what's your book about?"

I cringe just typing it. You might wonder why this is such a problem for me. You might roll your eyes and tell me that it's not that big of a deal. 

But it is. Oh, it is.

  Here's the thing: Writers are supposed to be eloquent, right? Sure. Awesome. You give me a piece of paper and pen and tell me to write about my book, no problem. But you ask me to explain it to you in conversation and it goes something like this: "Well, um, basically there's this guy and there's a terrorist and he falls in love with his daughter...I mean... he doesn't fall for his own daughter, he falls for the other guy's daughter... and...  it's complicated because, like, he has to stop these bombs..." 

*insert face to palm*

  I wish I could give you two sentences that would spark your interest, make you want me to keep writing, make you want me to finish, and get published, and put me at the same table as J. K. Rowling and Stephan King. (Seriously, where is that table?...I want to hang out there."

But instead of arousing intrigue and wonder I arouse a half-hearted, "Well, I hope that works out for you.." *person awkwardly changes subject*

  The reason why I am writing this post is because I'm thinking about putting an exert from one of my books up here so instead making a fool of myself I can just send people this way. And also for you people who are reading this so you can have something if you curious. Or bored. 

  So yes, I will look over my stuff and try to find something remotely interesting.  

  In other news I got a film Camera from an Antique store and it is amazing. I will posting pictures soon. 

  And in other news other than the other news: I started an Instagram account for my blog (@coffeecountry) so I can post little things, give updates, and mostly just show a lot of cool pictures of coffee shops and coffee mugs and other such coffee things around America. So you should check that out. 

Lastly, I have three coffee houses to talk about and show pictures of that I am pretty excited about, so tune in next week (probably) for that. 

  Peace out.

  (Did I just say 'Peace out'? Sorry... I'm tired, okay?)

Snobbing

  Here's the thing about coffee: It's okay if it's bad... Seriously it's totally fine. It's actually a really comforting thing to drink bad coffee. It just has to be in its place.

  Throughout my travels I run into a lot of crappy coffee. But often I'm okay with it because it's a form of stability for me. When I walk into a hotel I know exactly what the coffee will taste like because it's hotel coffee and hotel coffee always tastes the same. It's not very strong, it has a different consistency than normal coffee, it's simple. And it also gets cold faster that any other coffee... At least I think it does... Now that I'm saying it out loud it seems like maybe that not a scientifically proven fact and I've just believed something that my sub-conscience has tricked me into thinking is truth.

  But I'm pretty sure it's true.

  Unless it's a specialty restaurant, restaurant coffee all has the same general taste and feel as well. It comes in a  simple ceramic mug and it's made in a typical coffee brewer and it makes me feel like an elderly person. Don't ask why, it just does.

  Keurig coffee always has a weird bite to it. And even though it's technically a mini version of the normal brewing process it still has a fake taste.
And there are plenty of other types of coffee that are generic coffees that I drink  and I say all this to explain something to the people who see me drinking coffees like this and say, "I thought you were a coffee snob?" 

  Oh, don't worry, I am.

  I'm very snobby. 

  I can snob the heck out of any coffee. 

Right now I'm drinking a cup of Dunkin' Donuts. It's not good nessescarily but it's still enjoyable, it's not the best but it's still coffee.

  When I was a kid I would go swimming in water that was cold because even though it would have been better if it was warm I loved swimming and cold swimming was way more fun than not swimming. Same principle. 

  The point of all this is to say: I drink all kinds of coffee because I appreciate coffee even if it isn't the best version of itself.