GLRBC Photos

Here's a couple photos of me competing at the Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition. Photo courtesy is from Matt Gassaway from The Italian Cofffee Bar located in Chicago, IL. B. Hayes has more photos on the way.

friends

This one is short and to the point:

You're friends should mean everything to you (obviously family and significant others, etc. as well). They are there for you in the toughest of times and in the greatest of times. Never take them for granted and if you find yourself sitting around not doing anything, call one of them and hang out!

Summers in MKE

Yesterday was the first game of the season for mke kickball. Normally held on Wednesdays it was just to amazing outside to not be playing some kickball. Megabolt and I were the first to arrive with Evan, Antonyo, and others following soon after. We didn't have enough people to play a "proper" game, but when some members of a "real" kickball team arrived we thought why not challenge them. Wow. Way to much fun and way to close of a call, but we ended up winning 16-13 thanks to some last minute scores. Kayla and Gabby voted me MVP, but I give more credit to Steven for hitting two homers (they told me they like my sassiness ha). A great game and a whole lot of fun. We followed up by heading over to Comet and tricking on Irving while waiting for the table. After a stomach full of deep fried vegan riblets, we (myself, Antonyo, Gabby, Kayla, Josh D., Katie B.) headed out to dirty stallis and bowled the rest of the night. Antonyo wanted to throw some money on the game and I gladly obliged. Needless to say, I took his root beer allowance.

Last night got me thinking about all the amazing times I've had in MKE when the weather starts turning from winter to summer. How EVERYONE is so excited just to be outside and how riding around on our bikes means the world to us. Just to have our skin touching fresh air and watching the sun set. Milwaukee truly is the greatest city in the world during the summer and whatever ends up happening in the future with where I end up, I won't be forgetting nights like last night spent with great friends and in one great city.

That's me on Steven's back riding into the sunset of a huge victory ha.

Thank you

It's late so I guess I'm going to keep this shorter than I'd like. But then again, probably best because I could go on and on about this one.

Reason being, I have so many people to thank for helping me get the opportunity to compete at this year's Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition (and do so well too)!

There are a few people that really, really made this happen and had my back when times got tough and help me push through it all and stay focused on crafting some wonderful coffee.

Eric - My couch, my backbone. Since day one you believed that I could pull great espresso and work on building up a presentation worthy of the heavy competition I faced. Lots of long nights and way to much coffee, we found what would become the ever-changing name blend ha. We pushed hard and we came out with our fists bumpin, like a boss!

Steve - Plain and simple, without you sponsoring me with some of the greatest coffee I've ever experienced we wouldn't have been able to do this. Even more so, when registration said it was full, you were on the phone in a matter of no time working on making this happen! Steve, you still are and always will be, the man!

Ryan - Competing in these events is not cheap. You and Roast came through big time on helping me make sure that I got what was needed to make sure to have a beautiful presentation and quality glasses, equipment, ingredients, etc. As well, getting to use Roast and your knowledge and experience really did help seal the deal in us getting to harness this coffee.

Chase - My main man. I know I treated you like a taxi for weeks and weeks, but you being so unbelievably flexible in driving me and my equipment around and staying up late to help clean and talk coffee when you don't even drink it really means the world to me and only shows again that I have the greatest best friend.

Now, there are A LOT of other important people who made this possible as well and I'm going to try and name all of you. I am, however, going to apologize up front if I forget your name:

sL, Lukey, Courtney, James, Peta Peta, Laura, Ben, Jason (Revolution), Matt, Jer, Lindsey, B. Hayes, Baltina, Guy, Josh, Joe, Billal, lil' Julie, Dave, Tif, Skraus, M. Boni, A. Sather, and a million others that I can't think of right now.

You all made this happen in your own way and for that I'm extremely indebted to all of you and once again,

Thank you.

Let's Begin

I've had this account now since September and haven't done anything with it. I had planned to, but just never got around to it. For some reason, I guess today was the day.

This blog is going to focus on most anything/everything going on in my life. Yes, for those of you who know me, it will be predominantly coffee based (being my true passion and profession), but that doesn't mean I'm going to leave out all the other important aspects of my life. So expect to see a whole mix of topics that I hope you enjoy.

My first real post is going to be today, March 18, and you'll see it up a little later tonight.

Welcome to BBW

soon...

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