Hawaii's end

Today was the final day of Hawaiian Hazlenut.  It was certainly losing its impact but still smelled good. I had a cup at home and another on the train conversing with Marshall.  Overall, I'd give it 3 stars. I'd get it again but am ready for a different flavor for another occasion.

Hawaiian Hazlenut

Since Sunday morning, I've been brewing Hawaiian Hazlenut in the large French Press.  I bought it @ Coffee Nut Cafe on Park Ave. after the fam left the boardwalk playground b/c we're all coffee imbibers and I wanted to get something a little special.  Their flavored coffees are top notch, as far as I'm concerned and I like supporting a local business.

First and foremost: It smells great. Even just the ground beans smell amazing.  The second I put the bag in the car, everyone perked up a bit.

The first cup(s) are always the best.  I've found that across the board with special blends and particularly with French Press, which is why I only bought a quarter pound.  We had more people than normal so it'd get used faster.  Once we got to yesterday's brew, it still smelled great but was losing some of the flavor. I can't tell if that's b/c my palate adapted or b/c of too much exposure to air. (I'm opening the bag for maybe 15 seconds.)  My guess is that it's best with sugar and cream.  I'd put the sugar in first and let it melt and then follow up later.

I am curious as to whether they might just spray the beans with a flavor. I'll make an inquiry next time. Regardless, for the $4, I'm glad I get this every once in a while. The next flavor will be of a similar vain but I'll try something new.  I've had German Choc Cake, Coconut, Cookies 'n' cream, and one or two others that escape my immediate memory.

I had probably two cups (took one to-go on the train) this morning so I'm good to go. I do not need to be a Slave to the Grinds this morning.  I'm just having iced tea right now.

I'm hoping to finish it out tomorrow not just "to get it over with" but to preserve the remaining flavor.

Thank you for reading.

LavAzza reflections

My first LavAzza can is finished.  It was the espresso grind and overall I give it a thumbs up.  I made it 3 different ways:

1. Drip maker

2. Single-cup french press

3. Multi-cup large french press

Of course the drip maker was the easiest and quickest, and there's no problem with the taste, but eliminating the filter was the goal.

It certainly looks darker (and a bit grainier) in the french press and maybe has more flavor that way.

On Sat. I made 3 1-cup servings in the large one and I guess I had the setting right on the strainer, b/c very little sediment made it out.  I will keep using that and maybe do that on weekends now.

There is another LavAzza can in waiting.  I will save it though, and switch back to boring stuff for a bit.  Maybe on Friday I'll buy a half-pound of something special from the coffee nut place in LB for the arrival of my brother and sister-in-law.

Changing it up

717am
Finally waking up a little earlier so that I can get a head start on Miri, who's due to rise in 15 min.  Tonight is Armored Saint so I'm pumped.  Awful stuff happens every day -- tornadoes, earthquakes, all these terrible thing.

Having some LavAzza b/c even though I'm in a better mood (yesterday was good, today will be good, and I got some decent sleep) I figure waiting until I get to work to have anything is affecting my mood.

I'm hoping to see some more old friends and contacts this week.

Thank you for reading.

719am
So much for that 730 prophecy.

When weekends are too short

Yesterday I had a LavAzza in the morning and I'm now remembering that I had half of one with dinner.  I was up until 2 and watched 2 episodes of "Daredevil."  I'd taken a 2-hour nap earlier in the day and was a little disappointed when I awoke from it.

Today I had LavAzza in the morning and had a coffee at my parents' around noon.  I was able to hit the gym hard afterward and wore myself out. The one regret was not running hard outside.  I did get a lot of sun with Miri at the park this morning and we had a lot of fun.

Mother's Day just breezes by.  We've spent the last three at the Lynbrook Chinese restaurant.  I get melancholy when one of my girls goes to work and then I put the other to sleep. I confront more solitude and the dissatisfaction of returning to a job I despise.  It's not the job so much as it is my manager, and the idea that I'm not getting the results I feel I've earned from the job search. The ideal job is out there and I am tempted to just show up and apply.

I'm watching the penultimate "Mad Men" episode and it's ok.  Sometimes there are nuggets of wisdom there and other times it's just something that is on.  I hate to admit it but I was hoping it'd give me some direction today but I get the feeling the Joan story in the previous episode is the one I can identify with most -- "your previous status doesn't carry much water."

I wish I didn't take the work stuff so personally but it's where I spend all my time.  It's a vicious cycle. I have to work it out some other way.

Thank  you for reading.