Sitting at one of my favorite coffee shops spots, I can't actually remember the last time I did this. Just sat, and put aside the day to write. I am ready and excited to get down my thoughts and share them with what seems to be a growing audience.
Maybe I would like to pretend the audience is bigger, but no, I do believe it is. I have had a few creative minds- strangers and friends- write me comments about my recent blog entries or about a book or website I listed on one of my many blogs that has inspired them.
It feels great to know that people actually read, and listen. And this listening to my advice makes these times that I sit, sometimes for hours, at coffee shops, all worthwhile. It's the readers that keep me going, and maybe also these warm cosy drinks that the baristas often make up for me.
I don't usually get anything too extravagant. I'm not a "no foam, no whip," and whatever else people ask for in their drinks. Usually, I get a chai tea latte. I love them, I really do. But by the time I ask for an alternative to milk- either soy (which I am not crazy about), or almond milk (yum yum!), the bloody latte that comes in this teeny tiny cup is close to five dollars!
I can't afford a five dollar drink every time I want to sit down and get to work, or play, however you want to look at it. So, I am trying to slowly wean myself off of that kind of extra expense. I am not a huge fan of the green teas or any of the herbal teas, for that matter, at Starbucks. That's where I am by the way.
Yah, yah, I know! Me, at a Starbucks? What am I thinking, right? I've never been into the 'bucks chains. But, this one is a little different. It's quainter, more cosy and although it's in North Vancouver, it makes me feel farther away. It's set up in this little cottage like building at the top of Lonsdale. I like that it's away from the main strip of stores, has it's own parking lot, and just makes me feel well enough away that I can get my head into my books, or into my writing, but only really have to drive about ten minutes from home.
Anyway, I digress. Where was I again? Oh yes, Starbucks green teas and herbal teas have always been less than appealing to my tea taste buds. I used to love their white tea, but for some reason they have discontinued with that kind here. But as far as reasonably priced (or lower than a latte, at least!) warm drinks go, that seemed to be the most cost effective.
I learned over time that I could not acquire a taste for the watery teas here, and so today I sided on a hot chocolate. Now, the tricky part- I don't want dairy in it, but I don't want a watered down hot chocolate that i could make at home for free. (okay, well, it's not really mine, but I steal the chocolate cocao from my roommate. I'm sure he doesn't mind) So the barrista asked if maybe I would like to try a hot chocolate that is made of part soy and part hot water- half and half. I thought, what the heck! Sure, I'll try it. It helped that he was pretty cute, and had an intriguing accent. I still can't quite figure out where it's from.
But guess what? The hot chocolate is pretty darn good! Creamy enough to not just be hot chocolate and water, but light enough that it won't upset my stomach.
And now I know that I'm off to a great start on my day set aside for writing. The first step is to find somewhere comfortable to plant my butt, somewhere that is not cluttered, relaxes my mind and thoughts, so that I can focus on the task at hand. Otherwise, the clutter around me seeps into my writing, and my mind becomes blocked, and full of frustration. Here I am, seated high up on a bar stool, with huge glass windows surrounding me. The rainy weather, brightening every green leaf in site, brings a refreshing calm that slowly overcame me, settling into the tips of my toes and fingers.
My finger tips are ready to release the creative juices that have been running throughout my body for more than a few weeks. Finally seated, I can let you into all that I was creating in my head.
Maybe I would like to pretend the audience is bigger, but no, I do believe it is. I have had a few creative minds- strangers and friends- write me comments about my recent blog entries or about a book or website I listed on one of my many blogs that has inspired them.
It feels great to know that people actually read, and listen. And this listening to my advice makes these times that I sit, sometimes for hours, at coffee shops, all worthwhile. It's the readers that keep me going, and maybe also these warm cosy drinks that the baristas often make up for me.
I don't usually get anything too extravagant. I'm not a "no foam, no whip," and whatever else people ask for in their drinks. Usually, I get a chai tea latte. I love them, I really do. But by the time I ask for an alternative to milk- either soy (which I am not crazy about), or almond milk (yum yum!), the bloody latte that comes in this teeny tiny cup is close to five dollars!
I can't afford a five dollar drink every time I want to sit down and get to work, or play, however you want to look at it. So, I am trying to slowly wean myself off of that kind of extra expense. I am not a huge fan of the green teas or any of the herbal teas, for that matter, at Starbucks. That's where I am by the way.
Yah, yah, I know! Me, at a Starbucks? What am I thinking, right? I've never been into the 'bucks chains. But, this one is a little different. It's quainter, more cosy and although it's in North Vancouver, it makes me feel farther away. It's set up in this little cottage like building at the top of Lonsdale. I like that it's away from the main strip of stores, has it's own parking lot, and just makes me feel well enough away that I can get my head into my books, or into my writing, but only really have to drive about ten minutes from home.
Anyway, I digress. Where was I again? Oh yes, Starbucks green teas and herbal teas have always been less than appealing to my tea taste buds. I used to love their white tea, but for some reason they have discontinued with that kind here. But as far as reasonably priced (or lower than a latte, at least!) warm drinks go, that seemed to be the most cost effective.
I learned over time that I could not acquire a taste for the watery teas here, and so today I sided on a hot chocolate. Now, the tricky part- I don't want dairy in it, but I don't want a watered down hot chocolate that i could make at home for free. (okay, well, it's not really mine, but I steal the chocolate cocao from my roommate. I'm sure he doesn't mind) So the barrista asked if maybe I would like to try a hot chocolate that is made of part soy and part hot water- half and half. I thought, what the heck! Sure, I'll try it. It helped that he was pretty cute, and had an intriguing accent. I still can't quite figure out where it's from.
But guess what? The hot chocolate is pretty darn good! Creamy enough to not just be hot chocolate and water, but light enough that it won't upset my stomach.
And now I know that I'm off to a great start on my day set aside for writing. The first step is to find somewhere comfortable to plant my butt, somewhere that is not cluttered, relaxes my mind and thoughts, so that I can focus on the task at hand. Otherwise, the clutter around me seeps into my writing, and my mind becomes blocked, and full of frustration. Here I am, seated high up on a bar stool, with huge glass windows surrounding me. The rainy weather, brightening every green leaf in site, brings a refreshing calm that slowly overcame me, settling into the tips of my toes and fingers.
My finger tips are ready to release the creative juices that have been running throughout my body for more than a few weeks. Finally seated, I can let you into all that I was creating in my head.
