I mentioned in yesterday's post that on our recent trip to Toronto my husband and I went to Ethiopian House for dinner. It was a restaurant that came highly recommended and along with the recommendation was "don't miss the coffee ceremony". Now I'm a tea drinker from way back. I love tea. I never have coffee. I have a bad association with it in writing a Spanish final that I knew didn't go well back in university and really haven't touched it since.
Well as they say, when in Rome...
So we ordered the coffee ceremony. After our meal our server came round with a pan of roasting coffee beans and had us smell the aroma. She then brought out a bowl of popcorn "coffee snack" she declared. The coffee was then presented to us on this box, holding the coffee pot, two cups, spoons, sugar and a container of burning incense. It was really neat.
Then came the moment of truth, would I actually drink the stuff? I was actually quite nervous about it. I thought after all of this coolness of experience, what if I really hate it? I took a sip, and then another. I loved it. And matched my husband cup for cup drinking it all up. Isn't this a cute little cup?
Since we've been back, I've started having coffee cravings. I've tried a few kinds, love Tim's, not so much a fan of the Starbucks Sumatra (though J assures me there's a blend for me there). So it's true, while I'm a tea granny at heart, I've found a place for coffee in my life after all.
My brother has a very cool bucket list. Just recently he worked backstage at a Megadeth show. He can also check off eating snake and being in a music video. Truthfully, I wouldn't want to do at least two of those things (I can check off working backstage, but mine was for Shakespeare, not Heavy Metal). But I think it's very cool nonetheless whenever he tells me about something new he's been up to. It's gotten me thinking about my own bucket list. Yet to come usually involves travel experiences (one day I will visit the Holy Land and go on an African Safari) more than adventurous pursuits. My dream list would include things like eating at the kitchen table experience of one of Gordon Ramsay's Restaurants or being on the Amazing Race (please start accepting Canadian contestants!). Okay, and I'm a little jealous about the music video cameo ;)
As I reflect are 10 cool things that I can cross off my bucket list.
-been to a Paul McCartney concert (truly fantastic!)
-driven across Canada (a must for all Canadians!)
-parasailing (I'm really glad Dad and my brother talked me into this one, amazing!)
-gone to an All Star Sporting Event (my brother and I went to the Home Run Derby in Seattle)
-seen both the World Series Trophy and the Stanley Cup
-been up many tall places including the Eiffel Tower, The CN Tower, and the Empire State Building
-given my testimony to Nicky Gumbel in front of a whole conference of people
-been part of a game show audience (Wheel of Fortune and the long gone Classic Concentration)
-ministered on the streets of New York
-taken ballroom dancing lessons
And just for fun, here's the video my brother is in - he's the guy adjusting the mic at about the 3 minute mark :)
I'm the sort of all over the place crafty. I have ideas, I have projects on the go but I'm no expert at anything. I love to create in the kitchen with recipes and a little cake decorating. I am the proud owner of a brand new sewing machine that I'm learning how to use. I have crafty projects with my kids. I scrapbook (but not so much since said kids have been around). I love photography. See, I'm all over the place. I have a small wishlist of crafty accessories that I'm saving for. First a much better lens for my camera. Second, a rotary cutter and self healing mat. We'll see what I can do when I have them.
For some women it's shoes, for others, purses or fabric. For me, it's blogging. I know it probably says something very profound about the fact that I keep several blogs, compartmentalizing myself. I just see it as proof of my organizational skills. I like to cook so I keep a recipe blog. I love to read so I log my books in my book blog. I have thoughts about parenting so I joined up with my friend Jill to write a parenting blog. I also have a personal, private blog that close friends and family can read. I like to have projects on the go and want to blog about them too, but needed a place to put them so voila! this blog is born.
