El Beit, Brooklyn

really beautiful space in back of El Beit!

I recently stopped by El Beit with a friend and had a great espresso and really nice iced coffee.  We stepped out back to grab some fresh air and I was really taken aback by the simplicity of the back porch area, both covered and uncovered.

ahem, pardon me I think I just touched your butt.

Really I feel more out of place when I apologize for bumping into someone, stepping on their foot or sitting squished next to them, sharing sweat and a seat.  Today was good and so was yesterday.  I talked to someone recently about blogs and how they should check mine if they want updates about what is going on and they brought up the issue of so many bloggers apologizing so often for not updating.  So, in the spirit of new things, new experiences and me, no apologizes.  

Yesterday:

Stuffy on the plane and rude women next to me on the plane.  We were in the 2nd row and there was a woman and her very young child, maybe a year old, behind us, maybe a couple of rows, that was really loud, high shrieks, the whole deal.  I thought it was funny, the kid is probably uncomfortable and I am sure the mom was too.  Anyways the women had the gal, next to me, to comment not only on the nose level but on the fact that perhaps she, the mom, should have thought about Tylenol PM or something to keep the kid quiet. Whatever, they were so inconvenienced by the nose, big fucking deal right.  The kid was quiet after a while, even before we took off I think.  I just thought it was funny and annoying of these women.  Um, hello it was definitely close to the end of the world with the noise.  You’d think that if you are flying to NYC that you can handle, whatever, rambling now.

So after too much TV on the plane, Jet Blue, and a few wheat snacks to put me to sleep, as I am slightly allergic to it, I finally fell asleep.  I snore, sometimes but I got some shut eye non the less.  I woke up at like 4:45 or something close to 5.  We’re supposed to touch down just shy of 6 AM.  I get to the baggage claim, pick up my too heavy bags and quickly, accidentally kick into place and onto the concrete one of my troublesome wheels on a cheap bag.  So I drag my purse and stupid suitcase down the sidewalk to the taxi line.  I am handed a form that states that the taxi has some fixed, flat rate and it also gives me the # of the cab should I leave anything behind, that I want back.  My driver was nice, helped me with my bags and drove me to the Parker Hotel to grab my apartment key.  $45 to the hotel, $5 toll, should I have paid it?  I don’t know but I did.  Then I jumped out, grabbed my key from Lena who was wonderful, she is Lisa’s sweetheart and Lisa is Tim’s sister, my former roommate in Oly.  Back to the car and up to Harlem.  I get up there to the door with my stupid heavy bags and this young lady, 10-12 maybe 13 held open the elevator door for me that no longer has a very strong odor of cat piss.  Up two flights to the apartment that I first visited in March.  I got in and dumped everything down in the room and took a nap.  It was supposed to be just a few hours but I slept till 12ish.  It took me about 2 hours to get from JFK through Queens, Hotel, to the room.  

Downtown finally in Chelsea, stopped by Murray’s Bagels, absolutely delish, cheap and fast.  I will definitely go back.  I got lost, didn’t listen to intuition about direction when I should have.  I just walked further away from Grumpy’s than I needed to, called Caroline, got a call back from Ed and made it to the last 3 coffees to cup.  They were alright.  Mostly I am just blown away about being here so everything is just, whatever, weird, amazing, okay.  And don’t get me wrong, I am happy to be here it’s just kind of unreal.  I was in Oly a day and a half ago and now I am here.  I was talking to a friend last night, having an interesting conversation, and something he said went something like this, quoted from somewhere else too I think: “Everywhere you go, there you are.” It’s true.

Anyways, coffee and bagel later I wonder up 8th or 9th close to 20th Ave and find a little store.  I have never been in a store that was so perfectly faced.  Seriously, I got some butter and as I cleared the corner someone was walking past me to go front again…  $58 bucks later I made it home before the popsicles melted and made some food.  One of the roommates showed up and we chatted a bit.  I think that I need to move out sooner than I had expected but I don’t think that it’ll be a big deal.  Just a little shuffling around.  I have talked with a few people already and probably wrote, “Hello, My name is Sasha King and I just moved here today.  Blah, blah, blah tell me about your room, oh yeah and where is that located?”  20 times.  I got some interesting responses.  I am really excited about a few of them and am meeting two people tomorrow. Both are in Brooklyn, which would be fine.  It’s not what I had planned but it’s NYC so why not, it’s okay.  

I actually went to Brooklyn today and stopped by El Beit and had a lovely espresso, I didn’t ask for the barista’s name… lame, oh and before Brooklyn I stopped by Ninth St. in the Chelsea Market and met Nick and Christine? Kristin?  and had a tasty Stumptown bit from a Marzocco, and an iced coffee.  

So, Brooklyn, I walked to Greenpoint, maybe 30 minutes?  It started raining while I was talking with my parents.  They are helping me out a bit for rent and it because of the little rush to get out of my Harlem stay is going to be very helpful to get into a place by the 1st of July.  Again not part of the plans but whatever, I can adjust.  Maybe freak out a little but I can handle it, or I can’t and we’ll see what happens.  Do stay tuned.  

…

I got to Grumpy’s Greenpoint and met Nick?  Cheryl made me the best espresso I had today.  Crazy clean, sweet, medium rich body, absolutely lovely.  I hung out a bit.  I was shaky.  I think it was the lack of food, new beginnings, pent up anxiety, excitement and way too much coffee for today.  I bought a french press and oh, I forgot to mention it was fucking raining, pouring, thundering and lightning like crazy.  I grabbed a free umbrella and walked back to Bedford Ave.  I was totally soaked, undies, shoes, sandals rather, bag, everything.  It was warm and I was pretty amused and grumpy simultaneously.  I stopped by E Music or something, some record/coffee/grub shop.  They were out of food or a cook, I can’t remember.  

I finally got to Bedford and got a lovely Arugula, pear and gorgonzola salad, a glass of Pino Grigio and 12″ pizza with Arugula, parmesan, prosciutto and some other cheese.  My butt was wet, I was tired and only had a bit to eat before I left.  

Onto the subway, back to Harlem, there was construction, the weather is shitty, I’m tired but I finally made it home.  So, now that I am home, here you are, a bit to read.  And something from The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran:

“Love one another but make not a bond of love:

Let it be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.  

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.  

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. 

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. 

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.”

I can’t wait to have kids, but I will, believe me. 

 

Getting there.

I am sorting through more and more stuff at home trying to deem what is good and worth keeping and what isn’t.  Much like my cat’s last day back in March I am kind of hating it right now.  It’s a little emotional here and there but mostly I am feeling slightly impatient.  I am trying to buckle down more and actually take the time to do my homework and do the things that freak me out.  I am finalizing things with my housing, work and just generally finishing things up.  

My birthday was amazing and I wasn’t as much of a wreck as I feared I would be.  Dinner was amazing, friends and love was great and so were the last few sips of whiskey.  I only had 2.5 drinks and the last half was Booker’s whiskey and it was so so good.  

I think that Brian tipped Dave White off about some cider, maybe it was Elvin but either way Dave let me know today that he is going to bring some by tomorrow.

I read something recently in a horoscope from the Stranger about Taurus’ doing stuff that puts you well out of your comfort zone,  which is so so appropriate for where I am in my life right now.  I wonder sometimes when I am feeling a little sad or disconnected or just very thoughtful I wonder, “what the hell am I doing?” Here I am moving  clear across the country to experience new things and meet new people.  I feel pretty safe about the whole thing because I have friends there already.  

I am distracted again but well enough.  Back to the movie.

Unacceptable

I hope that I don’t get any of those on my sensory score sheets.  I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I have posted, how boring.  

I just got back late Monday night from the USBC, so many of us have.  I am getting over being sick just in time for my freakin’ birthday on Saturday.  Sometimes I base the coolness or how potentially rad my birthday will be depending on the day of the week that it falls on.  And I think that all of my calculations are pointing towards something totally fun on Saturday night.  I am meeting with friends for dinner and drinks at The Mark here in Olympia.  I’ll be 24!  

I have lived in Olympia for almost 6 years now, I have grown up and gone through so much since I graduate high school and moved here to Olympia.  Even with Batdorf I have grown up so much.  After leaving new friends in Minneapolis it kind of hit me when I got back to Olympia that I am going to have to say goodbye to so many friends, something that I am not looking forward to.  Not to say that I am not excited to see my friends but that I am tender and sad about leaving.  But on the same note I am so fucking ecstatic it’s ridiculous.  

The amount of stuff in my room is continuing to drop, furniture by TV by clothing and dressers, one thing at a time.  

That’s it, that’s all for now.  Since I won’t be in class later in June I hope that I can update more.  

xo

Sweet little latte.

Skot made me a great little soy latte this morning.  The latte art made it all the way through to the bottom of the cup.  Stacie, who is a great employee and is sadly moving on to another job, made a very hot but lovely little cappuccino/ latte this weekend.   I am impatiently preparing for my trip, 17 days now.  I went shopping and got some nice button downs and pants for the occasion.  I look forward to playing dress up for all of these up coming meetings.  If anyone has any great suggestions on how to get a really nice shine on shoes let me know.  I have most of the tools to shine my shoes but would love any suggestions to clean them up.  I haven’t heard from Andy Atkinson yet about a shift with him and I am happy to just spend time with Michael from Intelly while in Chicago.  I need to firm up my places up in New York.  Nick Cho and Lois were wonderful enough to give me two peoples names in New York to potentially hook up with and talk coffee among other things. Two more things, shout out to Heather and her new car!  And anyone who is interested in giving me a ride to the airport on March 20th, Thursday leaving Olympia at 6am I’ll bake you something.