Coffee Ramble 2 - Coffee Nerd, and a Trello!

Fun busy times this last few weeks.  Estates require a lot of running between various institutions, all of which whom have their hand out for something, and few of which want to give benefits out (Looking at you, Federal Government).

The up-side is that this is the last time I'll ever have to do this.  Other than family in Eastern Canada, and two aunts, I'm basically on my own now (and yes, it's lonely.  I'll probably end up chasing butterflies with a rake.)  As the tax portion of the circus draws nearer to completion I'm able to take a bit of time to breathe, and try some things that I haven't before.

One of those being a macchiato.  I've always been a meat-and-potatoes coffee drinker.  Usually just brewing my own from store bought grounds or, later on, K-cups.  All of which was decent enough to drink and did it's job dutifully.  But I've never really tried out craft coffees before.

My last sojourn to the bank meant that I could have a post-meeting coffee at a really nice, upscale coffee place that is just steps away, so I finally crossed that off the list, and gave it a try, as a dear friend encouraged me to over the months before.

I have to say.. I've been missing a LOT when it comes to coffee.  I tended to drown most coffee in sweeteners and tinned evaporated milks, drowning out the bitter with something more mellow.  I was expecting a tiny drink of this nature to be bitter enough to peel the enamel off of my teeth.

The surprise was that it was intensely flavourful.  There was a lot going on in that little cup that I haven't had before.  Paired nicely with a peppermint chocolate-chip muffin and I was finally seeing the appeal of cafes like this.

I also did a bit of writing while there.  I was the 'old man' in the crowd for sure.  Many sitting with open laptops and tablets, and I, sat with a little notebook that I was scribbling notes into, and drawing pictures of a half-toppled tower.  It felt rather nice, and there was an almost libraresque feel to everything.  Like I was in a study-hall where you could quietly chat and pour over ideas without music or people screaming to drown it out.

I guess I've joined the ranks of coffee-nerds.  I plan on making this a bi-monthly kind of thing.  Financially I can afford that, and it's a pleasant break to get out among people, even if I'm not directly socializing with them, and just be a part of an atmosphere of the place.

Plus that was a pretty amazing muffin.  

On the art front, I've managed to get the sketchwork for page 3 of the comic underway, and I'm inking page 2.  It's an interesting learning experience to have to figure out pacing in a more story-bound format, but with modern digital distribution I'm not limited to having to keep everything within that 32 page format.  I have no plans on actually having books of this produced, as it would take a nightmarish amount of money to do on my own, or would take me giving up total control of my content if I went with a publisher.  Neither of those really appeal to me.  

I've also set up a Trello board for the folks who are on the commissions list.  It's publicly viewable though can't be edited from the outside.  You can take a look at it here https://trello.com/b/zKXp2ful/commission-status to keep up with the goings on with the list.  I'll be keeping it as up to date as I can.

That's all the rambling I have for this time around.  Tune in next time.  Maybe there will be bats.

-T.J.