Coffee

Dear Readers,
Today I finished my third consecutive day of working at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Carpinteria. While its not the most glamorous job, I decided to take it for a couple of reasons: 1. I want experience handling food 2. I don't want a stressful job and 3. I want FREE COFFEE! And the perks of this job only go as far as that, although I think I get $15 a month to purchase on store items. I first wanted a French Press, but after trying it today, I think I'm going to stick with plain coffee flavored with tons of cream - or a Chai tea latte (best thing EVER!).

So what haven't I learned how to do? Make a latte! Can you believe it? It seems like such a basic thing, but actually lattes are more complicated than the iced blended drinks because you have to deal with steam, which can be really scary. Plus, getting the milk to foam perfectly is quite an art (one that I'm beginning to master though). Espresso goes bad after 30 seconds, so you have to be really quick about serving it or putting it in a drink. I haven't even been told about different powders or syrups (maybe tomorrow...)

But more importantly, I'm learning. And as my boss always tells me: Its just coffee. No pressure.

Revision

Dear Readers,
I hate to revise my work. Especially my poetry. For some reason, I can't get it through my head that the finished product will be better than the beginning. And this semester has taught me a lot from that standpoint. Having to constantly revise my short story for Creative Writing taught me a lot about how to use the delete button on my computer. And while I still have a hard time letting phrases disappear from the page, I'm becoming more used to it.

So without further ado, here's a revision of the poem "Joy Eluded Us". I really like the way it turned out, which I guess speaks to the benefit of revision *shudder*. haha, but really readers, sometimes only practice makes perfect.

The day we learned

Joy eluded us in that moment, took
its black coat and slipped softly
out the glass doors. I remained
with the cold sunlight
that somehow pushed its way
through the black glazed windows.

There were violets outside the hospital,
rich blue-purple velvet, the kind of color
you want to dive into. They drooped
a little with the heat. Water would have helped.

That day we learned that germs
can’t travel through white, and hospital
beds can resemble coffins under the right
circumstances. But he wouldn’t go in one,
wouldn’t stop the day for a moment
to take off the stiff lab coat and enjoy
the weight of the full April sun
which burst through my open windows
where I sat thinking not of philosophy
nor the fact that my yellow roses
were starting to wilt from lack
of water.

ALSO - I mentioned a short story. If you would like to read that, just shoot me an email. Just to whet your appetite, its about two deadbeat men who rob a 7-11 to get money to start their own basement marijuana business. Don't you want to read more? haha