Getting In the Mood : Best Christmas Albums (vol.10)

I think it's pretty clear I'm a guitar guy, and there has been plenty of guitar on this list, and today we are adding more.

Joel Paterson : "Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar"

Paterson is an exception guitarist with a love for Christmas music as he released his second Christmas Album this year., "The More the Merrier." I haven't gotten it yet but I'm hoping Mrs. Claus brings it to me! For Hi-Fi Christmas we'll start with "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

Now we'll move onto his soulful take on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

How about "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

His take on "Jingle Bells" is such a great groove! Oh and he does "Jingle Bells Rock on this album too.

As we know, I always go with "White Christmas if it's on an album, and I need to keep hearing it, because it doesn't look like we're gonna have snow in Erie for Christmas. But in fucking April we'll have 6 feet.

Let's do one more, because I love me some good guitar playing! "Christmas Time Is Here."

Enjoy!

Track List: 

1. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

2. I'll Be Home For Christmas

3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

4. Mele Kalikimaka

5. Silver Bells

6. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

7. Jingle Bell Rock

8. Blue Christmas

9. Pretty Paper

10. Jingle Bells

11. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

12. White Christmas

13. Winter Wonderland

14. Christmas Time Is Here

Getting in the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 9)

 

We're back with volume 9 of the best Christmas albums and we're going with an album full of oldies and goodies! 

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector : Various Artists 

Since this song has been on most of my lists, we'll do it again. Darlene Love's take on "White Christmas."

When you think Phil Spector you think the Ronettes and then you think "Sleigh Ride."

And you gotta love The Crystals version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!"

We can't forget Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans with "The Bells of St. Mary."

This is just great old school Christmas tunes that you kids out there need to get hip to.

Enjoy

Track List:

1.White Christmas (Darlene Love)

2. Frosty the Snowman (The Ronettes)

3. The Bells of St. Mary (Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans

4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (The Crystals)

5. Sleigh Ride (The Ronettes)

6. A Marshmallow World (Darlene Love)

7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (The Ronettes)

8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (The Crystals)

9. Winter Wonderland (Darlene Love)

10. Parade of The Wooden Soldiers (The Crystals)

11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)  [Darlene Love]

12. Here Comes Santa Claus (Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans)

13. Silent Night

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 8)

 

It's been a busy week or so and I haven't been able to get back to the list, but Christmas is fast approaching so it's my duty to get you the quality Christmas tunes! With number 8 we're going to rock a bit.

Bad Religion: "Christmas Songs"

There's something wonderfully ironical about Bad Religion rocking out Christmas songs, and they don't shy away from religious ones. Lets get started with "O Come , O Come Emmanuel."

As you should know by now, "White Christmas" is one of my favorite Christmas songs, so we have to hear their version!

And this next one, takes me back to the days at St. James Elementary School, but we didn't do it like this..."Angels We Have Heard On High."

If your looking to spice up your Christmas music playlist, and get a little umph, this is the way to go. Enjoy!

Track List:

1. Hark the Herald Angels Sing

2. O Come All Ye Faithful

3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

4. White Christmas

5. Little Drummer Boy

6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

7. What Child Is This?

8. Angels We Have Heard On High

9. American Jesus

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 7)

 

Well for volume 7 we are going back...Back to my youth, back to Cleveland, Ohio. The Singing Angels is a Cleveland youth choir that was formed in 1964. My parents had a Christmas album of theirs and every year while we opened presents, The Singing Angels were the soundtrack to our unwrapping. A few years back, while missing my mom, I started searching itunes for that album. I couldn't find the exact one, but I found a 2005 version with almost all the same songs. The Singing Angels always hit me in the feels.

The Singing Angels: Somewhere in My Memory

Here is the closing number on the Album, "We Wish You the Merriest."

Here is "One Little Candle."

Next, we have "Away in a Manger." My Catholic upbringing peaking through with this album.

We'll close with "Merry Christmas Darling." This one isn't on the updated album, but it's on that one I remember so fondly, and this is my blog so I can do what I want.

That concludes this trip down memory lane. If you enjoy any of this, checkout The Singing Angels. 

Track List:

1. The Most Wonderful Time of the Tear

2. Somewhere in My Memory

3. Jingle Bell Rock

4. Away in a Manger

5. Step into Christmas

6. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

7. Sing for Hanukkah

8. A-Caroling We Go

9. We Need a Little Christmas

10. Feliz Navidad

11. One Little Candle

12. O Holy Night

13. We Wish You the Merriest

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 6)

 

We're onto volume six and if you're a Jazz fan like me, and enjoy that big band style, you'll enjoy this.

The Count Basie Orchestra: A Very Swingin' Christmas!

We'll start off with "Good Swing Wenceslas."

From there we'll move onto "Let It Snow" because you gotta have snow for Christmas.

Now we'll slow it down with one of my favorite versions of the classic, "Silent Night."

Let's swing out of here with their version of "Sleigh Ride."

Keep getting in the mood. I'll be back tomorrow with another round.

Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. Let It Snow

3. It's the Holiday Season

4. Silent Night

5. Good "Swing" Wenceslas

6. The Christmas Song

7. The Little Drummer Boy

8. Sleigh Ride

9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

10. Winter Wonderland

11. I'll Be Home for Christmas

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 5)

 

We are onto volume 5 and this one is all old standards done by some of the great crooners. You can thank my parents for this one, as this was one of my father's went to when decorating or wrapping presents. 

The Rat Pack: "Christmas With the Rat Pack"

Let's start at the beginning with Dean Martin and "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Next, we'll go to Sammy Davis Jr. and "Christmas Time All Over the World."

And you can't have The Rat Pack without "old blue eyes" himself. Here's Frank Sinatra with "The Christmas Waltz."

Of these guys, I'm a big Dean Martin fan, so we'll go with one more of his numbers..."I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

The album is all oldies and goodies. pour yourself a drink, kick back, relax and enjoy.

Track List:

1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!  (Dean Martin)

2. Mistletoe and Holly  (Frank Sinatra)

3. Christmas Time All Over the World  (Sammy Davis Jr.)

4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing  (Frank Sinatra)

5. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm  (Dean Martin)

6. The Christmas Waltz  (Frank Sinatra)

7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  (Dean Martin)

8. Jingle Bells  (Sammy Davis Jr)

9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  (Frank Sinatra)

10. Baby, It's Cold Outside  (Dean Martin)

11. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear  (Frank Sinatra)

12. Winter Wonderland  (Dean Martin)

13. The Christmas Song  (Sammy Davis Jr)

14. The First Noel  (Frank Sinatra)

15. White Christmas  (Dean Martin)

16. I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)  {Frank Sinatra}

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 4)

 

So, our latest edition of Getting in the mood: Best Christmas Albums we're going a different direction. This is the first on our list that isn't an album full of standards. 

JD McPherson: "SOCKS" has an oldies vibe and nods to tradition Christmas songs, but it's from 2018 and is so much more. Original, humorous, with heart and rockin'. Let's start with the opening track, "All the Gifts I Need."

I mentioned humous...When I heard the next song, "Bad Kid," I honestly laughed out loud at some of the lyrics. And it has a great groove to it.

We can't skip the title track, "Socks" a true anthem for the kids out there, unsatisfied with some of their gifts.

And who hasn't had the "Ugly Sweater Blues"

I also mentioned this album having heart. If you didn't hear any of it yet, here's some of it. "What's That Sound?"

Besides Socks, JD McPherson has released a number of Christmas singles. He also does non-Christmas music. He's doing a Christmas tour this month, if he passes by your town, check him out.

Track List:

1. All the Gifts I Need

2. Bad Kid

3. Hey Skinny Santa

4. Socks

5. Every Single Christmas

6. Ugly Sweater Blues

7. Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy

8. Santa's Got a Mean Machine

9. What's That Sound?

10. Claus Vs. Claus

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 3)

 

Here we are again, getting in the mood. Be sure to check the previous two posts, as well as the Getting in the Mood posts from 2020. Today we are on number three of my picks of the best Christmas Albums. If you didn't get the hint from number two, I'm a big guitar guy and I love Surf guitar and Surf Rock. So today I give you...

The Ventures:  "Christmas Joy"

Let's start with their take on "Winter Wonderland"...What a groove.

Next up, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Not how you typically would expect to here this one, which is why I like it. A totally different feel and vibe to it.

Now lets get to that oldy but goody, "Sleigh Ride." If you're talking about Surf Rock and Christmas, this is exactly what you want to hear. Straight rocking, big drums, plucky groove and all.

How about one more for good measure. "Jingle Bells" opening up the album with a strong bass line, bring in the drums, organ and guitars boys...

That's some quality Christmas grooving.

Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. We Wish You a Merry Xmas

3. Winter Wonderland

4. Joy to the World

5. O Christmas Tree

6. Silent Night

7. Jark! The Herald Angels Sing

8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

9. O Holy Night

10. The Christmas Song

11. Sleigh Ride

12. We Three Kings

13. What Child is This

14. O Come All Ye Faithful

15. Deck the Halls

16. Feliz Navidad

17. Christmas Joy

Enjoy!

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 2)

 

 We're back with the second installment of Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums. Today's pick is from a legendary Jazz guitarist. One of my all-time favorites, and one of Jimi Hendrix's major influences...

Kenny Burrell: "Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas"

We'll start with the opening track, "The Little Drummer Boy." It starts out how you may expect a Jazz guitarist to put their spin on the song, but eventually Burrell goes off with a solo that any shredder would love to play, and he's doing it clean with no pedalboard tricks. 

Now we'll move onto his rendition of my favorite, "White Christmas." Burrell's is beautiful, smooth and soulful. I simply elegant.

Now we move on to "Children Go Where I Send Thee." This is a total jam! Mixing Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Bing Band, the song just rips. You can't help but tap your foot and smile.

Burrell puts his unique and skillful style on every one of these classics, and for anyone who may say Jazz is boring or dull...There is nothing boring or dull about this album. Check it out kids!

Track List:

1. The Little Drummer Boy

2. Have Yourself a Merry Littles Christmas

3. My Favorite Things

4. Away in a Manger

5. Mary's Little Chile

6. White Christmas

7. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

8. The Christmas Song

9. Children Go Where I Send Thee

10. Silent Night

11. Twelve Days of Christmas

12. Merry Christmas Baby

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums ( vol. 1)

 

In 2020 I did a series of posts titled "Getting in the Mood," all about some of my favorite Christmas songs. This year we are going to be talking about Christmas albums. It's easy to put out one good song. It's something special to put out a album full of Christmas "bangers" as the kids say. Some may not find all the songs on these albums to be "bangers" but fuck them! They're clearly uncultured shit-bags who don't appreciate jazz, blues, soul, rock and the classics the way this old fucker does.

So, number one on the list...

Booker T. & The MG's: "In the Christmas Spirit"

This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

And how about this jam of "Winter Wonderland!"

Then they take "Silver Bells," a traditional slow, somber tune and give it soul, and it's a version you actually hear plenty of jingle bells in, and in the end as it fades out they give you a taste of the songs original tone.

Every song from beginning to end is fantastic and grooves.

Full Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

3. Winter Wonderland

4. White Christmas

5. The Christmas Song

6. Silver Bells

7. Merry Christmas Baby

8. Blue Christmas

9. Sweet Little Jesus Boy

10. Silent Night

11. We Three Kings

12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Check it out!

Monday Moaning (10-16-23)

 

  Well, I came back for a second week in a row. A little late this week, but I'm trying to make myself go through this exercise. I was pondering what to write about, my LAST POST didn't get much traction. I was actually expected some backlash, but no such luck. Then again, I've been away for a while, and well, so have many of the bloggers I follow. It made me wonder, where have all the good bloggers gone?

 I first started blogging in 2007 on "The Sporting News." It was a great community of bloggers with great back and forth. Many of the bloggers were better writers than Sporting News staff. The website noticed our community and sneakily started to boost stuff from the blogging community. Shortly before they killed off the blogging community, some guys started their own site and invited some of us to join. I eventually bought into it and helped run it, as well as posting every day. Other groups started their own sites, and rivalries that began at "The Sporting News," continued at these different sites. I miss the blogging wars. All those places are gone now.

 They aren't the only ones. When I started this blogspot page I found a world of other blogs and bloggers. There were people posting poetry, creative writing, introspective pieces, politics, pop culture, photography blogs, people who used it like a journal. There was "A Frank Angle" and "The Daddy Files" which were never miss reads. There was something for everyone and there were things you didn't even know you would be interested in. They seem to have faded away.

  Our attention spans have gone to shit. The written word is dying. No one wants to read 8 paragraphs on my perfect Heisman trophy prediction, or Aaron's trials and tribulations of being a father of 3 uniquely different kids and trying to balance work and family obligations, or a nuanced argument on the days latest horrifying events. Everything got broken down to a quick tweet, or an Instagram pic with a couple hashtags written below it, or stupid short videos on TikTok or Instagram. The world has bought into "less is more." It's not.

  Some may say, I'm being over dramatic saying the written word is dying. Let me prove you wrong....English class is not called English class anymore. It's called "ELA." Phonics is not taught isn't schools anymore, neither is cursive. I have two high schoolers who work for me, both are in "Honors ELA." They both can barely write anything legible. They can't read or write cursive. They have horrible grammar and struggle to properly pronounce everyday words, and the admittedly don't read, nor are they assigned reading. I wasn't in honors English in high school, and I was required to read a book every week the first three years of school and was tested on them. These kids have no idea who Jack London is. 

  On top of that, we have communities, cities, school boards, lunatic governors, banning books throughout this country, and there is little push-back against it. There is little coverage from the media, and less coverage of the small push-back. Does the media/journalists not realize that they'll be next to be censored or banned. We are dumbing down our kids...We are dumbing down ourselves. 

 I'm going to keep writing, even if no one is reading...And I'm going to start searching again for whatever quirky blogs are out there, sharing their own little slice of madness.

Have a week.

Grow the F*ck Up Kids

 

@chaotic_philosopher I'm tired of workers' rights not being prioritized in this country. And we're entitled for suggesting it should be different... I don't think so. #workersrights #employeerights #workers #capitalismsucks #capitalism #thesystemisbroken #fyp ♬ original sound - ♻️🌎Chaotic Philosopher♾️🇺🇸

 This is little brat can fuck right the hell off! "Time blindness"!?!

 Okay, so I looked this horse shit up and people say it's a symptom some people with ADHD and Autism have...Ok...That sucks...But I don't care! As someone who has spent many years in management positions, I am here to tell you, it is not my job as a manager, nor is it the company/employer's job, to cater to your every whim or "need." It is not my job to make accommodations for you, so you can stroll into work whenever you want. That's not how business works. Yes, if you have a job, you are part of a business and the business doesn't give a damn about you avoiding looking at a watch, clock or that fucking phone you made this idiot TikTok on!

   And don't you dare come at me like I'm some evil, right wing, boardroom asshole. I'm liberal as fuck! Been kicked off Twitter 5 times for telling Republicans they're pieces of shit. The facts are, some of this crap is just straight up laziness and entitlement. Some have ailments, but some are just fucking lazy...and again it's not my responsibility overcome your ailment for you. It's on you and your doctors. If you want to be a functioning member of society, you gotta knuckle up.

 I have full time job that I get paid for 40 hours a week, but I work at least 50 hours a week. Why? Because of lazy people. People who call off, people who don't want to work full-time. People who don't want to work. People who don't take initiative. People who just want to paycheck to appear in their bank account, without having to earn it.  I also have a part-time job I was asked to work,  because of people needing accommodations and lazy people.

  Yeah, I'm a 48 year old man, who started working at 13. Do I sound bitter? Probably. I'm not bitter about having to work. I like going to work. I'm happy to work. I would feel weird not going to work and busting out food in that kitchen. But I'm sick of this TikTok generation that thinks the whole world owes them an easy life. "Chaotic Philosopher", you hate capitalism, fine, fuck off. Find somewhere to live without money. Who paid for your phone you made that TikTok on? Who pays for the WiFi you're using? Who pays for your clothes, or that bedroom you're sitting in, spewing your ignorance? Who paid for you "time blindness" diagnosis? I'm going to guess your parents' hard work. You'd be fucked without it. 

 Yes miss, you are a spoiled, entitled, obnoxious brat. Set alarms, write yourself notes, take initiative. Grow the fuck up.

 You will never make the societal changes that live in your lazy ass, TikTok dreams, by bitch, moaning, and complaining that the world should make everything easy for you. 

Fuck TikTok! 

Except the funny stand-ups on their!

 

Monday Moaning (10-9-23)

 

  Yep, it's 2023 and I'm still starting a blog off with some eye-candy! Why? Because clickbait works. Always has, always will. Doesn't matter if it's a bullshit headline, or an attention grabbing thumbnail. They get the job done. What, is someone going to cancel my blog? I haven't posted anything since March, the spastic, internet police have bigger fish to fry than me. But don't worry, I'm not the same guy that I used to be, way back in the early blogging wars day...Like when I created another page called "Cock Burger" just to troll some other bloggers from "The Sporting News" blogging community, after one of them accused me of having "no balls" and I posted pictures of my cock and balls as well as some shots of me polishing the bishop and yes, I snapped a pic busting...great shot of the load in flight. Ahhh, the glory days of the internet, when it was the Wild West.

  Enough reminiscing about the past, let's talk about the here and now. 

I haven't written squat about sports in a few years, but they're still something I truly enjoy. This weekend has inspired me to fire off a few hot takes for the sports world.

1. After getting shutout Sunday by the Saints, it's time. The New England Patriots need to fire Bill Belichick. Yeah, he had a great run, but it all started slipping away when he made it clear he wanted to move on from Tom Brady, and Brady wanted to get away from him and constantly taking pay cuts for "the good of the team." Brady clearly came out on top, winning a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay and padding his stats. Bill, just started slowly floundering, and no longer seems to have the mystique that made guys want to play for him...and good coaches wanting to be his assistants. The team is a shit-show. His hand-picked QB is an asshole and he's not that good. Mr. Kraft needs to kick Bill to the curb. Time for a full-scale rebuild.

2. If you ever followed me, you know I'm a longtime, Notre Dame fan. I've never been one to be the guy saying fire the coach a year or two in...But I am now. Marcus Freeman seems like a great guy. He's an excellent coordinator, and good coach. But good doesn't cut it. Everyone was talking non-stop about this being a playoff team and National Championship contender. Non-stop hype about transfer QB, Sam Hartman. Listen, let us never again fall head over heels in love with a guy based solely off the stats he put up at Wake Forest. It was Wake Forest. A good QB at Wake Forest doesn't mean he's the First round NFL pick, savior at a major football program. He's fucking average...But back to Freeman. 10 men on the field the last two plays against Ohio State. Piss poor play calling before that, helping to put the defense on the ropes. Piss poor and boring play calling against Duke, barley getting out of there with a win. Then getting completely pushed around all night by Louisville and losing in embarrassing fashion. His record is 14-7 and that isn't going to get you anywhere near the College Football Playoffs. Freeman needs to go.

One announcer talked about ND playing 4 prime-time games against ranked teams in row, looking ahead to USC this week, and talking how "taxing" it must be and "hard on these young men."  WHAT!?! Mother fucker, that's exactly why they signed up to go to Notre Dame. ND refuses to lock into a conference 100%, so they have to build a strong schedule. They're getting scholarships and now NIL deals, they knew what they signed up for. That whole Offensive line should be running laps all week long...They were fucking atrocious.

3. Hockey Season is about to get started and there has been a trend for too many years now that's only getting worse. Clean hits leading to having to fight. I'm never the guy trying to take fighting out of hockey. If a guy takes a cheap shot, dirty hit, keeps slashing you, yeah, drop the gloves, beat his ass. But if you take a clean, legal check, get up, get back in the play, don't be  a fucking child. And fuck anyone of your teammates who thinks he has to jump the guy that just put you into the boards with a perfectly clean hit. That happens, he should be suspended two games for being an asshole.

And fuck Mark Stone for bitching about a kid doing anything he can to make the roster...Kid blasted him with a good clean hit, Stone and his whole team jumped the kid and then after the game Stone talked shit about the kid and his career and bitched about the hit. I'm rooting for Stone to get his knee Nick Chubbed opening night!

That's it for now...

Have a week.

Monday Moaning 3-13-23 (Life Changes)

         

 

I haven't posted in a long time. As a matter of fact, back in December I realized I hadn't posted anything for all of 2022. That depressed me. I loved writing on my blog. I know I walked away from it for awhile because I was always ranting about politics. I still rant about politics but I have tried to limit how much I let it into my life. The level of ignorance and hate was getting to me. It should get to you, but if I'm posting on my blog and sharing it through my social media, most of those people it's going to hit know where I stand, and plenty have muted me or unfollowed me because they disagree or are sick of hearing me be right!

There was also something else going on that took up most of my time.

For the last couple years I have been working at a local coffee shop. Running the kitchen, learning the business, learning how to roast coffee and enjoying it. I fell in love with the place. When I started there, I was doubting myself and my career path and lacking confidence. Working there got me my confidence back. I was enjoying cooking and creating again. Eventually I took on more managerial duties including running the social media. In January I took over as the General Manager as well as being the Chef. 

Right off the bat I made some minor changes that made the place more profitable. Sales are up 75%. The owner is very hands off and trusted me to do what was best for the business. Some of this trust was based on what she saw from me as well as my history in the restaurant business. Also, she was looking to retire and was in talks to sell my wife and I the shop. We were really excited about this. I had always wanted to have my own business of some form...

But the last few months taught me something. I don't want to own a business. I have often let my job take too much hold of my life and this job was consuming my life. I was working seven days a week, with no benefits, no vacation time and only getting paid for five days a week. Even if I had a day off I was worried about the shop. I was getting texts or calls asking questions or to come in. I was responding and still updating social media. I was still checking the numbers on an app. When my wife and I started crunching the numbers, what profit is there at the end of each month, It all has to go back into the business for at least the first five if not ten years, to build a cushion for maintenance, cosmetic changes and because we would want to pay the staff what they are worth and get benefits for the staff. Two things not offered by the current owner. It has been all consuming and I'm not happy. This is not the life I want to live...It's not a life at all.

I want to be able to go to work, do my job and do it well, then clock out and not worry the rest of the day and night about work. I started quietly looking for jobs, did some interviews and found one that really felt good. I had three interviews and then was offered the position. I accepted. I will be the Culinary Services Director at a local Retirement/Assisted Living Community, that is owned by a family that has numerous facilities in the U.S. and has been doing this for over 20 years. It's a five day work week, I write my own schedule and get benefits and PTO...and my life back.

This week will be my last at the coffee shop. I am doing my best to set them up with my recipes that have become staples there, as well as stocking them up on the soups, dressings and syrups I make. I care about many of the people there, staff and customers, and want the place to continue on it's upward trajectory. 

Once I am officially gone, I'll probably write a post about the Erie coffee shop scene which drives me nuts. There is another shop that gets all the publicity while always being empty and making tiktok's trashing customers and talking about how slow they are. Also in this town, you only get awards, if you pay for the award, so some other places win awards simply because we wouldn't pay for an award. The shop I've been at is the only one that roasts it's own coffee, the rest all buy theirs from one of two larger roasteries. But I've learned most people don't really taste coffee. Yeah, I've become a coffee snob.

I hope to get back to writing somewhat regularly as I have missed this outlet.

Have a week!