My trip to The Bitter End

On Saturday Nate and I took a trip to The Bitter End. The Bitter End is an indie coffee shop in Grand Rapids, MI that offers free wireless and is open 24 hours a day. I'm always up for visiting new coffee shops. (It's a part of my growing coffee shop research, which means I need to visit as many coffee shops as possible if I ever want to open my own coffee shop in the future.)

I found The Bitter End to be delightful with swanky antique lamps, dim lighting and walls covered with various art pieces. My mint mocha was average but I was completely smitten with the coffee shops cozy ambience. Or, maybe I was just smitten with the company I was keeping.

More photos of The Bitter End are up on my flickr.

The Bitter End
752 Fulton St W
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 451-6061
Click here for a map of the location.

The family meatloaf recipe

Use the following ingredients:

1 lb. Hamburger
½ tsp. Salt
1 Egg (slightly beaten)
1 Can Tomato Soup (do not add water or milk)

Mix together the ingredients into a bowl. Fill the soup can with oatmeal and add this to the mixture.

Optional: You may also add onion or other vegetables to the hamburger mixture.

Place the mixture into a pan. It should form a loaf type shape. Bake at 350 degrees for about one hour. Remove from oven. Allow the meatloaf to cool slightly before serving.


* My Mom sent me this recipe.

My next-door neighbor dropped off a note written on The Little Prince stationary. I love it. It's good to know two fans of the book live in such close proximity.

I think it's fabolous that my lovely and uber-talented friend, Marites and her band, Celestial Mischief, made the Track of the Day. Click on the link to listen to the song "Ecstacy In Dreaming" and read more about the band.

Fun fact: Years ago Marites taught me how to thread movies and work a theater projection booth. This is a skill I haven't had to use in years but if the situation arises where a projectionist is needed, I'll be ready.

I love letter writing and so I plan on participating in this Halloween letter swap. The details of the letter swap are included below:

This is a letter swap that has a subject for you to write about. There will be a new one every month with a new subject. Don't worry it's not a essay ;) but at least keep it to 2-3 pages minimum. You will get one person to write to and this months subject is Halloween, you can write about a good ghost tale you know or maybe how you recall Halloween when you were a kid, etc.

Sounds like fun, right? For more online swaps, go Swap-bot.com. If you want to sign up for the Halloween letter swap, sign up by October 12.

I'm happy when a boring product gets redesigned into something with a little more style. I think the Puffs kleenex box is a perfect example of this. To view their designer line of tissues go here. I like the red one best.

Sometimes a Pony Gets Depressed

Hello Darthy

Also, I'm really looking forward to The End. Even if I'll be sad it's over. I guess I'll have greater feelings of sadness when the Harry Potter series ends. *Sigh*

When I’m feeling particularly bored at work I like to switch over to asking customers trivia questions. This way, the customer has the chance to really earn his/her cup of coffee. I have one customer, a shaggy-haired International student from Europe, who is especially thrilled by the trivia question game. Before I make him his drink he expects a trivia question now. Each and every time, without fail.

I started off with world capitals. Lately I’ve moved on to art history. However, he has recently taken to asking me trivia questions in return… and it’s amazing how my own game has made me feel completely clueless. I’m either going to have to find a new way to pass the time at work or start brushing up on trivia.

No, I'm not eating potato chips. I'm eating Cheese Puffs from Whole Foods. So they must be good for me, right?

I like this room very much. I like the idea of having a room devoted to escaping to another world. Although maybe the amount of books might make one feel a little overwhelmed. Would I even have the time to read each one?

Twice this week I have visited coffee shops with members of my family. (Today was the second time.) Both times I've noticed how loud my family is, even in public. I'm certain the other coffee shop goers had the chance to hear the conversation as I heard it. It's no wonder I crave quiet, solitary places (like a secret reading room) for a change of pace. Of course, I don't mind being from a loud family... it's just interesting how much noise can fill up one room.

Also, I think it's adorable that as I took off items from my bagel sandwich both my parents looked at me with a look of absolute horror. It's amazing that I didn't hear the question, "Were you raised in a barn?" No need to worry, though, they quickly finished the items I had discarded. No food on my plate was wasted, thank goodness.

One of the reasons I selected my new apartment is that the complex borders the river and city arboretum. I like the idea of having elements of city and country close by. The other day I explored the trails near where I live and encountered a kayaker on the river. He appeared peaceful, gliding with ease. For a second I had the thought, “I need a kayak” before remembering I could just rent one nearby.

Today while browsing online I came across a travel group in the Pacific Northwest that offers Moon Light Tours via kayak. I can think of nothing more beautiful. Maybe I should start practicing my kayaking here before taking on such a task?

Items I need/covet

Printer

Office desk chair

Coffee table (or side table)

iPod nano (for working out)

a new pair of Crocs

Stir fry cooking pan

I might need to take another trip to Ikea soon.