The People VS Google

 16 months is a long time for me to have gone somewhere and not blogged about it (if that was my intent).  I usually tend to have a blog on my back burner, often due to time restraints, but it has helped to have back logged blogs while being unable to explore new places.  I do always hope that places I’ve visited continue to thrive even if it takes me a while to review them.  However in this case, it’s better I waited and did a compare/contrast review of two locations rather than post about my disappointment that’s still lingering on almost a year and a half later from one place.

When Lil Sis moved to Arizona, her and her husband knew they had intentions of buying a house.  Their first digs were pretty great; a large, top floor apartment with amenities like two pools and an adorable dog park all in the major capital city of Phoenix, minutes from great food, shopping, National Parks, and countless coffee shops.  With so many options, finding a coffee spot usually involves a Google search, a peep at some reviews, and after narrowing it down to about 3 places, Lil Sis and I will pick a place the day of visiting.  

We settled on Jobot Coffee Cafe, on the hip main drag of Downtown proper, for coffee and a light dinner.  Bars, a beer garden, an artsy park, and apartments above surrounded us at twilight when we arrived.  According to the Google description, they had locally roasted coffee and vibed well with the active local community.  Upon entrance, it was clear that description was the same creative jargon you hear from a realtor about a house that was part of a WW2 active bombing; “airy and newly renovated”.  This was not a coffee house.  Everything about their online stats was an absolute exaggeration or lie.  It was a bar first and foremost, with tvs, dartboards, and board games.  The freezer to the side of the sales counter had the word “melt” on it that, according to the sign outside, was a separate ice cream shop in this location.  But the nail in the coffin of this “cafe” was the single silver pot of coffee behind the register.  How can they market this as a coffee shop when this sad pot was all they offered.  The liquid sugar and cinnamon shakers were on a table that was almost too high for me to reach above a trash can.  Sure the mild drip coffee was bottomless but so is the coffee at Denny’s which is more a coffee shop than this trendy Cheers location.  We stayed for food which was good but had it been marketed as a restaurant we could tell what kind of portions to expect.  The full food menu offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with big portions and original food ideas like the hot wings that our husband's ordered;  “Hot wings, add waffle option, served with goat cheese - heavily infused with cumin”.  That is not cafe fodder but it went over well while we played Yahtzee.  It might have been my mood or just coincidence but I'm pretty sure the die were weighed in our game because I couldn't win at that either.  Google had lied to me.  Despite the cashier having a cheery demeanor, I took my disappointment home and lamented for months about asking Google for coffee recommendations again.  (Yes, I still was angry at this place while adding these photos.)

Behind those people was the Melt ice cream case, or shop, as the sign outside has its own address on it.

Some art above the condiment area.

Lil Sis has since bought a house, moved out of the central hub of a capital city, and put down roots southeast of all the major cities about 40 mins away in the San Tan Valley area.  Just outside the new housing development, the streets are lined with farmland and homes with large plots of land.  There is one neverending shopping center to get all the things you need without having to trek back into town for a Dollar Tree or eye doctor appointment.  One thing that threw me was the private airport located by a mansion housing development, called an airpark, as you land your plane in the airport then park it inside the hanger at your house across the street.  Yes, I also want to know what rich and famous people my sister has for neighbors too!

I had made a few trips back to see Lil Sis since the Jobot incident but I had to wait a while before visiting to see the new house.  The new homeowners were also curious as to what their new locale had to offer so prior to my late October visit, Lil Sis consulted the people of her area using the Next Door app.  This app matches you up with people in your zip code to communicate about events, buy and sell items, updates and issues such as lost pets or noise complaints, and ask for recommendations, which as Lil Sis did this, came back with a nice thread of terrific ideas for us to follow up on.  The people had spoken!  With such great responses and personal anecdotes for their choices, it took about a half hour to narrow down a place.  One of the top recommended locations was Superstition Coffee at The Olive Mill in Queen Creek but we already had plans for lunch at The Mill later in the visit.   So with several solid recommendations, Lil Sis, her husband, and I were off to The Coffee Shop at Agritopia in nearby Gilbert.  

The rural difference was absolutely felt.  The early morning sun peeked up behind us as we approached a collection of tin-faced buildings.  Several restaurants and event spaces share the large section of the city block without feeling crowded.  The Coffee Shop was exactly as described on Next Door.  It was a coffee shop that offered breakfast and baked goods and the house-made cupcakes are promoted as some of the best around.  Sorry to tell you that cupcakes were not on my menu for the morning but close enough as I asked the barista for what would pair well with the coffee of the day.  The medium roast was light, akin to a blonde, paired with the blueberry white chocolate coffee cake (which would have been better warmed) was a perfect light breakfast for the day.  Lil Sis got fruit and potatoes while her husband got “real” breakfast before he had to head home to sleep from his overnight shift.  We sat outside (the Covid standard) with a mix of people and boisterous bird sounds.  The immediate scenery was a park vibe with some men working on switching out the seasonal flowers just down a pathway from the outdoor dining area.  It was very serene.  Exactly as advertised.  But it gets even better.  The Agritopia itself is actually a huge community farm and garden.  People can grab up a dirt plot and keep a garden with the mutual understanding and respect that you don’t touch anything that isn't yours.  There were sculpture gardens, herb gardens, full plots of date trees, mixed vegetable gardens, and flowers galore!  It was inspiring, wholesome, and wonderful to see the community giving back and giving to each other.  There was even a decent sized chicken coup.  Colorful feathers covered the birds of several species.  All looked healthy and happy...and delicious.  I will return to The Coffee Shop on my next visit.  The staff is nice, even when busy with lots of food options and farm feel.  I look forward to bringing some of my California friends and family to check it out, as well as the other businesses on the Agritopia property.

The Coffee Shop had their own art and was on point with current affairs.

C.O.D. on my cup for coffee of the day.

Fresh herbs growing alongside the patio dining area.

The entrance to the community gardens.

The people of the Next Door app really came through and I’d be happy to take advice from them again.  Shout Out to that person who even recommended a weight loss coffee.  If 2020 didn't cause me to eat my feelings and sub in booze for Xanax, I'd totally check out what you had.  Now I wonder if my neighbors know of some secret gems that Google isn’t promoting well enough due to algorithms or paid ads.  Oh, or what kind of places I'd learn about using my parent's zip codes too.

Neeeerrrrdddd!

 Long ago, in the ancient times, before the invention of the World Wide Web, back when Nintendo was still only known for their playing cards, a couple of guys got together and designed an interactive tabletop role playing game called Dungeons and Dragons.  Now I know what you’re thinking; this coffee blog has now entered the realm of super dorkdom that could never have a coffee crossover!  Let me make one thing perfectly clear.  If someone can make money from it, it can definitely have a coffee made for it.  Think of any hobby you enjoy and I’m certain I can find a coffee themed around it.  Dogs, video games, YouTube personalities, Disney, you can find almost anything, which is great for gift giving and supporting smaller roasters.  Patrick Ballesteros, a San Diego artist, partnered with a local coffee shop to hand draw labels for some of their Shop Blend bags, so yes, even art sells coffee.  But D and D?! What the what?

Something I imposed upon myself at a young age was to take an interest in everything.  Even if you don’t think it will be something you like, learn about it anyway.  It creates an open door to starting conversations, making friends, and finding out what truly makes you happy.  Knowing a small amount on a larger subject, especially one that a loved one shows a great interest in, is the best way to engage with them and make them feel important and heard, which in turn, builds their confidence, and is powerful in shaping their personality.  I love to hear the excitement and passion in someone’s voice when they get to share something they enjoy.  That said, several important people in my life play this interesting game of dice and storytelling.

Without going into detail, Dungeons and Dragons, has an extensive library of fictional characters to choose from, to play as, and to have in your stories, either as foe or friend.  The person hosting the game (Dungeon Master) chooses a tale from the books or creates their own story, taking the players on an adventure.  The numbers on the dice align with predetermined stats that can represent many things, such as damage taken, how much attack ability becomes available, or whether or not your character has enough charisma to complete a task.  Spread on the table are various maps or vignettes representing where the character tokens (miniature figures) are at in the story.  The randomness from the die makes the game fun and unpredictable.  I have heard that a good Dungeon Master adapts to create the best possible outcomes or funniest scenarios.  The game was designed for group gatherings in person, as seen on Stranger Things, but with time and technology, several of my friends play online, which is great for pandemic situations, and in turn brings us back to me taking a larger interest in what my mates love.  I played my first, and so far only, online D and D game last month with my bff, my cousin by heart, and her husband.  As intimidating as the game seemed, it turns out we all had a great time but I’m so bad at math that I put my fellow adventurers in charge of my gold to be safe.  

In my never ending quest to be a well informed friend, my nerd culture well runneth over.  While thumbing through my feed, I see that Emerald Knights Comics and Games has posted the newest item to hit their shelves.  The two-story shop, located near several other of my favorite independent comic and gaming shops in Burbank, Ca, is set up with ¼ of the store dedicated to comics, ¼ dedicated to tabletop games and accessories, and the last half of the first floor is all D and D related.  The loft’s second floor has tables for in-shop game matches and tournaments (pre covid, of course).  Back on the first floor dragon's lair, Emerald Knights has everything you need to have a D and D campaign at home, (paintable mini figures, books, paints, maps, and a knowledgeable staff) as well as offering a weekly mini figure paint night to encourage their overall community loving feel.  I was elated to see right at the checkout counter was a cardboard display of Geek Grind Coffee.  I’d not heard of this brand prior to buying their product but the quick overview is they hand harvest their mountain grown Columbian coffee and roast in small batches, then package and ship it themselves, being one of very few companies that are a “Certified Origin Production”.  The coffee is themed to have a broad hand over the characters found in tabletop adventure gaming, as well as a few flavors themed to the Pathfinder series (similar to D and D).  Elves, Wizards, and Dragons are a few of the eye catching words in a reflective font on the packaging.  I grabbed the Wizard’s Mist Blend of Ages light roast for myself, the Elder’s Fathom Ancient Blend medium roast for my cousin, and the husband wanted a Pathfinder blend just for kicks.  I was only slightly swayed on the Elder blend as it had a green, blue, and silver monstrous Cthulhu with its tentacles wrapped around a ship and the Lovecraftian kaiju was a large part of other in-store purchases that day.  At checkout, I can’t say I was shocked by the price, but I don’t normally drop $20 for whole bean coffee per bag but the 14 ounce bags and speciality of it lined up with what I was expecting to pay.  

Freshly ground then immediately brewed, from bag to mug, the Wizard’s Mist had a fruit forward aroma and taste.  I’m not sure if the roasted coffee flavor was playing second fiddle because the roast was so light or because the description on the back of the bag reads like a boozy produce section.  It is a good coffee.  I’d like to try the other flavors but not at that retail tag.  Because of its single origin status, to buy the coffee it can be found in very few shops like Emerald Knights or the next known location being a comic book shop in Las Vegas, or the internet.  Geek Grinds online shop offers the same size bags for the same price as in stores but in addition they offer sampler sizes for under 5 bucks, some gifting collections, and merchandise like tees and mugs.  I found some samplers on Amazon for the same 5 dollar price but sold from a 3rd party calling itself a coffee shop so I feel that might defeat the “straight to you” ideal the company wants to carry.  Overall opinion would be to get it only if you are gifting to someone who is a huge fantasy fan or if you are hosting a tabletop adventuring game and want to show off your mega nerd status, I mean, your passion for this genre.  

Now I’m not going to leave off this blog letting you still think that you shouldn’t at least open your mind and heart to the idea of Dungeons and Dragons, or anyone’s favorite pastime, for that matter.  The point of D and D is storytelling.  Something I got out of all the game’s paraphernalia was a series of storytelling guide books called Table Fables that is hands down, the most creative book for writing ideas and inspiration I’ve ever picked up.  Part unique dice rolling, random decision making, and part absolutely detailed imagery, these books give any aspiring author a lightning fast way to build stories for any reader and I think that is an invaluable tool for hobbyists of any kind.  Still don’t feel like you can relate to something so seemingly out of your league?  Here is a small list of celebrities who are in the D and D scene:  Joe Manganiello (has his own line of dice and related merch), Patton Oswalt, Wil Wheaton, Felicia Day, Vin Diesel, Anderson Cooper, Napoleon Dynamite himself- Jon Heder, James Franco, former 2020 presidential candidate- Andrew Yang, Mike Myers, Robin Williams (who was such a nerd that he named his daughter after a video game princess), the absolutely animated Terry Crews, many musicians and others (I only named the ones I verifiably know), but my favorite of all has to be Stephen Colbert.  He wears his love for Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons on his sleeve and the child-like sparkle in his eyes when he brings up these topics makes my lips start to turn up like when The Grinch’s heart grew 3 sizes that day.  Own what you love (keep it legal), share it with the world, and let others do the same.  

“Being a nerd is not about what you love, it’s about how you love it” -Wil Wheaton

Click the hyperlinks for more info.

A Quick Trip to Japan

Yeah right!  This Covid pandemic is still raging out of control in the United States.  Most other countries don’t even want us.  Even our own states are banning each other as federal guidance and education is offensively lacking or downright inaccurate.  These days, I maybe leave the house once a week.  Whatever I can do online, I really try to so I can avoid human contact as much as possible.  But then that starts to take a toll on one's mental health.  So when I do go out, I try to make it a bit more fun than just a quick errand.  One of my favorite “essential” businesses that stayed open throughout the constant health code adjustments is Daiso.  Daiso, in short, is a Japanese Dollar Tree.  It was started in Japan in the 70’s and grew up and out to different countries and currently is found in 6 of our 50 United States, with the majority here in California.  The idea of the 100 yen store ($1.50) makes one think of cheap, imported garbage.  Well, that’s only mostly true.  About 40% is imported from China, Korea, and Japan and items range from (no joke here) a blank white 100 piece puzzle and inflatable boobs for kids, to the opposite end of the spectrum with gorgeous dishware and fun home gadgets.  As of 2004, Daiso started adding additional price points but I haven’t seen anything cost more than ten bucks.  The large and varied selection is great for repeat customers and people looking to explore something different from their own backyard.

I find myself at Daiso pretty often.  Things that bring me in can be something simple like stationary or stickers to send to pen pals or a more specific Disney item I’d seen on Instagram.  On a recent trip, I noticed a new collection of coffees I had to check out so I figured I do a little coffee product review.  Of the new coffees, I grabbed 2 of the 3 available (skipped trying the decaf), and 2 coffee flavored treats.

For the first review, the coffee:  I absolutely loved the ingenuity on these single serve coffee packets.  Each package has 5 single serve cups of coffee which, according to the picture, looks like it makes between a 6 to 10 ounce cup.  How much water that should be used was not specified but that was the household consensus.

Upon opening the bag, 5 tea bag-like pouches came out and I scratched my head a moment before I realized I was gonna have to carefully tear off the english nutritional facts to find the directions to assemble my drip coffee sans drip machine.  Just like it says, bend the tabs at the perforations, tear the top of the bag open, place precariously on the side of the mug, and slowly pour hot water over the grounds.  Give it a minute to brew up and then squeeze the bag if you want a strong finish.  I had mine with milk and sugar.  (I've recently given up sweet creamers in favor of half 'n' half but at brew time, I was trying different alternatives to give my coffees the opportunity to shine and health benefits too.) 

The coffee, itself, was pretty disappointing.  Yup, after all the fun of assembling the coffee, it was a big let down.  My cup of Special Blend tasted like diner coffee.  That is fine for the $1.50 each for 5 cups price point, but I was hoping for something a bit more... special.  Further miscarry was the husband tried the Mocha Blend and it tasted EXACTLY THE SAME as my blend.  Not even the slightest hint of chocolate or sweetness at all.  Out of an arbitrary scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 5. It's not undrinkable and can make a perfect solution to a work environment with hot water but no bulky coffee maker or toss it in when you take a camping trip but be prepared for a basic cup of joe.  

As for the sweet treats I picked up, I ended up sharing with some friends before the second Los Angeles shutdown so I was able to get some outsider opinions that we all seemed to agree on.  Starting off is a soft candy called Sukoka that came individually wrapped in a bag and closely resembled Werther's Original with about the same mouth feel.  The coffee flavor was subtle but would surely leave you with coffee breath (so bonus points for people who like that kinda thing) and it doesn't stick to your teeth.  7 1/2 out of 10 on the rating scale that means nothing in the scheme of things. 

My favorite item on this short review list has to be the Pejoy biscuit sticks.  The wafer/unsweetened cookie/dry biscuit is the perfect opposite, though complimentary, taste to the super sweet, caramel macchiato flavored cream center.  This simple confection matched the flavor of a McDonald's caramel frappe to a t.  That said, I could have about 3 before having to put it down and needing a glass of water.  Without a doubt, Pejoy sticks hit 11 out of 10 because my nonsense rating system needed a nonsense, over the top review.  I could recommend them for stirring afternoon coffee or if you know someone who has left their emergency glucose tablets at home and is feeling faint.

Humor aside, it was nice to be able to try some new coffee and coffee snacks while the restaurants are still doing pick up only and I am unable to travel anywhere new for the time being.  One can not make a blog on average home brewed coffee alone.  Japan is on my bucket list and I will get there some day.  Due to the recent events, I think it will make me appreciate traveling even more when I feel safe to get out my suitcase again.  Oh, that reminds me... If you need a cat shaped luggage tag or a 100 pack of instant toilet paper tablets for $1.50, I know a place you should check out.

Staying Home

    Welcome to my blog.  This is my soapbox.  If you are offended by something you read here; Congratulations, you are close minded and prejudiced.  My blog is almost always about sharing my experiences, my coffee, and my honest opinions in a laid back and humorous manner.  After the events that have occurred in the first half of 2020, I can not passively write an opinion piece without addressing all that has transpired.  That would be insensitive and inaccurate.  These current events affect the subject matter for writing this blog in general, but as a compassionate human, I can’t, in my heart, not address some of the most important human rights topics that need our attention.  Leave your politics and religion out and think with your humanity first.  I am always happy to discuss, in a level-headed conversation, opinions or questions so feel free to reach out in the comments or email if you need.

  

I have started, over the course of the last few months, several blogs.  Each one morphing as time passed, the current events shifted, and became more unbelievable.  However, since the first time I popped my computer on, the title I chose never changed.  It covers the vast array of topics that are so valuable to moving forward in our world right now.

In the beginning, my story was to share some of my favorite stay at home coffees as a side effect of wanting to save money.  My no-spend weekends allowed me to pocket cash that would have otherwise been spent by using a short set of self imposed rules to not buy anything from 6pm Friday night till the following Monday morning.  As a restriction, all coffee was made at home or at the expense of another (I.O.U. coffee date usually with The Boss or at another person's home).  These are the times I would spoil myself.  Coffee that was gifted to me or picked up as a special treat would be the first way to find luxury on a weekend that would otherwise feel stifled.  Now these once a month weekends that allowed me to pay off a credit card and travel were fun.  I was excited to stay home.

But as days turned to weeks and weeks to months since I had laid my opening line on blog number 153, my world would became entangled with being glued to the news, being furloughed from my job, no longer celebrating holidays, not being by my dad’s side during a major surgery, no longer leaving the house, being filled with fear of the unknown, and watching a greatly misguided country fall behind others as we learned that each humans health is connected to nothing more than a political mindset to make money and treat the poor and the ill like a piece of toilet paper dragging under your shoe.  My head spun.  Every day, new information was altered to fit a narrative that costs people their lives and livelihoods.  Staying home was, again, the answer.

As things involving human health were starting to be properly understood but barely, simmering civil rights issues were now coming to a boil.  I was well aware racism is very real in my country yet dumbfounded in how in this era of knowing all human meat sacks are born into the same casing that some sausages manage to hold an air of superiority.  I had no idea how often race played a part in how someone was treated and that is my privilege.  As a woman, I knew that I wasn’t always accepted without challenge, but my friends of other races and ethnicities were truly struggling.  A few years back, a friend of mine told me of the obstacles he faced based on his race and I’d never heard such stories.  It was heartbreaking and eye opening.  Those same stories were echoed from victims of color as the events of the Black Lives Matter movement pressed forward.  I learned so much about the humans that were supposed to be protecting other humans.  They had their own agendas.  So did their employers and the hierarchy of government that protected them.  Those agendas were hate filled and their position of power was used to crush anyone who wasn’t like them.  I cheered for the protestors.  They correctly used their rights as Americans to bring attention to this, previously unknown to us privileged humans, systemic racism.  I knew I wouldn’t be emotionally strong enough to be in arms with them as they walked so powerfully together.  Instead, I choose to support with my wallet and with my words.  As tensions heated up in the major cities across the globe, I reconnected with old friends, family members from differing political parties, and youth that I would like to hope are NOW no longer non-registered voters.  Open communication.  Answering questions.  Making sure always to find the truth and help work to fight these injustices.  The major similarity in these discussions is change HAS to happen and that the current government administration was so totally wrong in trying to bring military warfare on its own people.  As the sun set on the first few days of protests, rogue rioters took advantage, and curfews were put in place.  I managed to make changes and support humans who should never know a life different than my privileged one, all while staying home.

These extraordinary events were just a sliver of the front page headlines for such a notorious 6 months.  Wildfires in Australia, killing an Iranian General, Kobe’s passing, the farce shenanigans that was the impeachment trial for the Butt of the Joke that is the current president of our country, Brexit actually happened, the summer Olympics were canceled in Tokyo but for different reason than when canceled there in 1940, Warren and Sanders dropped out of the presidential race leaving Democrats with Biden as presumably the only choice, and whatever a Tiger King was.

 It wasn’t all bad.  The result of working from home led to Los Angeles having the cleanest air quality for a major metropolitan city in the world. Animal shelters were emptied as people looked for stay at home friends to keep them company or give them a reason to go for a walk.  Human interaction via the internet became a norm for all ages.  Changes are starting in society and accountability looks like it will become a trend.  Makers, business owners, and communities run by people of color are getting recognized and finding support they never previously expected.

For myself, the anticipated release of a video game went from a few excited franchise fans, to a global phenomenon.  While the outside world shut down, Nintendo completely sold out of their gaming systems and record number sales boomed for the new game.  Where I thought I would spend my forced time off playing with a few friends, it turned into new friends and a deeper connection with the family that I played with.  I’d gone from 3 friends on my device to now close to 50 others who wanted to share the experience with me.  Toilet paper vanished from store shelves and the idea of going out every few days for fresh produce was replaced with ordering more long term foods and lots and lots of booze.  I earned my “quarantine 15” but I will be back at the gym when I feel safe.  Surprising to myself, when I wasn’t on the game or spending hours with friends on Zoom, I reinvested into my other hobbies.  A friend of mine created an inspiring group online for art of all styles.  (Quarandoodle: Quarantine Art Community)  She gives a daily worded prompt, usually themed for a week ending with a musical prompt.  Posting and sharing your own interpretation of the prompt or other work is highly encouraged.  The daily interaction with this group is wonderful.  It is mentally stimulating, I have started a new art book, and found I was filling my journals more often.  A musician friend of mine has been streaming from her house and paired up with other artists to entertain while stuck at home.  The stream I enjoyed most was when she played her guitar and sang while her roommate painted on canvas.  They opened up for donations to BLM charities and one lucky fan won the art piece.  

Sure I miss traveling and being with friends but overall staying home suits me.  Rather than waiting for a no-spend weekend or special occasion, I am enjoying those special coffees and teas everyday now.  Currently, I am loving the Hazelnut Creme from the fundraising coffee and tea company known as The Giving Bean.  This coffee is ground super fine so using the reusable K-cups will leave a residue of coffee in your mug but a paper filtered drip coffee is perfect.  A subtle hazelnut flavor with a sweet chocolate finish is absolutely a decadent treat.  I was originally introduced to this coffee by my aunt.  Her church was helping a group of kids akin to girl scouts raise money and she asked what flavor I thought I would like.  Since then, I’ve ordered online and as the company gives an extensive list of charities to give to or start your own, I was naturally inclined to give to a cat rescue.  Their tea is also excellent.

I now have friends who have coffee via text with me every day.  A bright good morning message with a photo of the day's drink has become a growing habit to keep connected.  My friend in London makes a french press afternoon coffee or tea to have with me when I get up in the morning in my time zone.  A friend that has had to work through all of this will send me her cup from her desk.  The Boss usually has a festive creamer to add to her drink while another friend will share with me her tentative agenda for the day and then pictures of her pups (one was a quarantine rescue).  

Before I can even close out this blog, I am taken aback seeing headlines of nuclear war threats from North Korea and the attempted repealing of The Affordable Care Act being denied again in tonight's news.  As such head shaking titles splash on screen and in papers, try to find the positives.  If you can’t find the positives, create them.  Always drink the top-shelf coffee.  Get a favorite mug and use it with that coffee.  Take regular coffee up a notch and add cinnamon and ginger to the grinds before brewing.  Treat yourself well and in turn treat others well.  Pet animals.  Appreciate art.  Unclench your body.  Lift each other up.  Wear your mask.  Wash your hands.  Pay it forward.  Be kind.  Vote.  And when you need it; stay home.

Holy Unexpected!

As a loud and proud Atheist, color me surprised when I agreed to meet an old friend for coffee at a church and enjoyed it.  This was an accident to be sure and it doesn’t change my belief of a divine intervention.  It was just a coffee date and that should be the last time I find myself that close to a holy building for a long time. The accident I mention?  Well, my friend lives and works in the Santa Clarita area, Boss was joining us, and I’m on the other end of the north/south valley so I let my friend recommend a place.  I agreed blindly and after looking up her suggestion, I texted Boss and asked if I'd be allowed on the property.  I was nervous but Boss and I carpooled so I knew I was safe.  She’s on the good list, if there is one.
Pillars at the Shepherd of the Hills church in Porter Ranch (known as Shepherd Church) is an independent coffee shop that is run by the paid staff from the church.  Other than the small gift shop/bookstore, that’s where the religious ties end.  Unlike Christian-run companies like In N Out, there isn’t Psalms on the paper wrappers and cups, nor are they closed on Sunday’s like Hobby Lobby or Chick-fil-A.  Sunday is probably their busiest day and they hold regular cafe hours with free church parking.  I hadn’t been to that church since Easter service while it was still being constructed.  But even as a kid, you do what you have to do to make Aunt Lillian happy which included essentially a girls trip with my sisters, mom, and grandma to see the new church.  I was impressed with the upgrades that they had done like the huge parking structure, beautiful brick exterior, suspiciously bold green landscaping, and the addition of the cafe with outdoor seating, firepit, and a serene aura.
While ordering I tend to ask for staff picks to get a real feel of a place.  I was informed that all the pastries are freshly baked and they looked as though posed for a Food Network magazine shoot.  Smooth jazz played softly in the air and images of happy families were flashed across a tv screen while my crew and I got settled on the worn but clean living room setting.  Once our orders were up, we each got something different and shared bites and sips.  My latte was strong but smooth with perfect foam and piping hot.  The vegetarian whole wheat wrap (sans spinach) and the light vinaigrette on the side salad was superb!  I was genuinely blown away by the quality and flavor of everything we ate.
We ended up spending many hours there catching up.  The sunset came and cast an, I hate that I’m using this word but it’s true, angelic haze in the wall sized windows behind where we sat.  I think the atmosphere was extremely important for our emotional playback.  I learned a lot about my friend that day.  We hadn’t been super close when we worked together but she always brought the Disney magic and was a perfect fit at our store.  In the years since we no longer worked together, we continued to stay in touch on social media.  I watched her grow as a Product Ambassador for several small businesses, traveling, being an educator, and as a mom, but as she recanted her most personal and difficult times with Boss and I while still maintaining her humor, princess poise, and her sparkling smile I was in awe of her headstrong strength seemingly unbreakable character.  She was powerful, an inspiration, and a hero in my eyes.  The two people I had coffee with that day have a spiritual side and I think being where we were set the tone for me to sit back and absorb their personalities and passions.  We were never interrupted (other than to clear plates) and I noticed we weren’t the only ones taking our time.  It was a very comfortable space.
As I praise this place and recommend you try it for yourself, I’m not sure I will be back.  It was a wonderful experience and top-notch tastings, but I feel like a phony being there.  I’m sure it’s my own perceived view but I think they can see the soles of my sandals sizzling as I crossed the parking lot and it wasn’t a hot day, if you feel me.  I’ve been borderline Anti-theist in the past but I’m truly trying to bring a level of understanding on the whole topic.  I’ve done my homework so I’m not speaking without trying the whole scene out first but I stand by my (lack of) beliefs.  I’m always happy to have a level-headed chat about it, so feel free to email me on the subject and see if you gain a new view or teach me something.