Tag: Coffee

The Hard Choices We’re Asked to Make.

Anecdote, Finding your Zen, Happiness, Travel, Travel Photography

For as long as I can remember, my wife’s “What do you want to do this weekend?” has been a trigger as far as my habit to over think. While those words and that question are not and have never been intended to inflict any fear or pressure. I’ve often taken it a lot more seriously. As the years go by and we both get older. Our interests have narrowed considerably. My answers to “What do you want to do this weekend have narrowed down to coffee, photography, and record shopping. Bacon often finds its way into the conversation, but that’s just me being patriotic.

Welcoming the Fall

Fall Colors, Finding your Zen

I have never carved a pumpkin. I don’t like pumpkin pie and think the whole pumpkin spice thing is bat shit crazy. I don’t have kids, but hate that adults have basically hijacked the whole costume tradition. Aside from that, I bought forty dollars worth of candy last year and decorated my apartment door only to great ZERO trick or treators.

Pumpkins II-1.jpgThat said, I love the Fall, it’s colors and sweater weather. I love apple picking and the sound of leaves crunching under my feat. Each year, I visit the pumpkin patches, admire the hand crafted scarecrows with my wife and even convince her to sit and watch “It’s the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

Tea Cups Light the Way

Art, Canon Lenses, Finding your Zen, Storytelling

I was enjoying my Chi Tea and downtime at Rochester’s Minnesota’s Forager Brewery when I left my seat for a quick bathroom break and tour of the facilities. Most of what I found was a designers wet wet dream. Form the cool architecture, extra nooks and crannies and magazine inspiring design, I was inspired to fire off a few shots from my camera. As I’ve grown to love shadows and contrast, I find myself leaving my flash in the bag, if taking it along at all. As I made my way back to my seat, I noticed these tea cups / lights hanging from the ceiling looking quite artful. As my days as a studio photographer seem to have come to a close, I’ve found solace knowing I’m still inspired to capture and document my surroundings.

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Greasy Spoons, Muddy Cups and Crate Digging

Finding your Zen

I love Tacoma and while a long commute will probably doom any plans to settle there, I look forward to our many weekend trips there. With two years living in the great northwest tucked in our back pocket and more trips to Tacoma to count. It’s easy to appreciate the area’s laid back vibe and somewhat close proximity to our home. The problem, if you can call it one, with visiting any particular area is that you often find yourself visiting the same spots and doing the same things. And while repetition can often bring one temporary comfort, it can also produce torturous results. (Ever see the movie Groundhog Day? And while we did manage to include a couple of regular stops including High Voltage Records and Bluebeard Coffee, it was our breakfast at Marcia’s Silver Spoon Cafe and its industrial surroundings that really had us foaming at the mouth.

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It goes without saying, that, as much as visiting those old comfortable might have it’s perks, the practice itself gets old rather quickly. So, instead of visiting the same places over and over again, try turning your chosen navigation app. off and let you natural sense of curiosity take over. Getting lost is often the best wsy to find yourself an adventure to remember. It can also net you a few more favorite places to go to.

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