Origin

No More

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:07:00 +0000

This blog has run its course and will no longer be updated. I have enjoyed it, but it is time to move on. Thanks for you readership. Check out the new blog at Periodic Thought.

Results

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:56:00 +0000

I don't know if I would call the visit with my neurologist productive, but there were results. My Tegretol level was decreased back to my May levels of 700 mg/day, and another drug was added to the regiment, Topamax. Topamax works differently than Tegretol and does not have the liver and blood side effects that Tegretol has. It inhibits different receptors in the brain. I will go into this more later. It is too early to judge effectiveness, but what I can say is that I feel like a cloud has been lifted from my brain, and I have an appetite. We will see what the next few days and weeks bring. I am sure as the Topamax level increases and the Tegretol level decreases there will be changes.

The First Stage of Change

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Monday is the first day of my fall semester, and I am looking forward to it. I am taking Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. Considering I was not able to take any chemistry classes last semester, having a semester full is good news for me. I also found out that my level is too high (or has been) and that is what is making me sick. In other words, my last dose increase caused the level of medicine in my blood to be higher than it has possibly ever been. I feel better today than I did yesterday, but I have not taken my morning dose yet. The level was/is not high enough to be toxic, just high enough to make me sick as hell. This is going to dealt with soon (Tues).

To anyone who has recently dealt with me on a regular basis, I am sorry that I have been intolerable, short tempered, angry, frustrated, pissed off, and half awake. At least I know it has not all been in my head.

Focus!

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:12:00 +0000

I find writing helps focus my thoughts. If I write "it' out, whatever "it" may be, then I have a starting point.

My problem is that I feel like shit. I have for a good month or so. I have epilepsy, and have taken medication to control my seizures for about 10 years. The medication has done well for me...until recently. About a month ago I had a seizure. It was totally unexpected. My medication level had fallen pretty low, and that was the problem. I called my neurologist, she told me to take more, and then have blood drawn to verify the level. The level was not high enough, so I took more medication and had more blood drawn. The medication was still not high enough, so I took more medication and had more blood drawn. The medication level was still not high enough and was actually lower than the previous level. So guess what is next? That is right more medication and another blood draw.

But now I am sick. I have no appetite, I am angry at everything, I am confused, unable to focus, and just plain miserable. I am taking over twice the medication I was taking a month ago and I feel like crap. I don't know what is next, but I hope it makes me feel better. I am going to yell at the dog to make myself feel better.*

*For all the pug lovers out there, that was a joke.

All About the Bike (part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:54:00 +0000

This is a continuation of the blog entry All About the Bike.

If I were asked to describe how my mind works, I would say that it works like an old fashioned ice cream churn. There are many ideas, situations, theories, and events that keep rolling over and over in my mind. Then something gels and I have an epiphany. I am always surprised how simple revelations turn out to be a big deal for me. Revelations like knowing that I do not desire to be a crit racer. And, just because you own a road bike does not mean that you have certain persona to maintain. I want cycling to be exercise, but I also wan it to be fun. I also believe that cycling as an alternative mode of transportation is a great idea. St. Charles does not have the best cycling infrastructure (it really has close to zero) but you can use a bike in certain circumstances and there is no reason not to do it.

Great! I have one less thing my cluttered mind needs to think about. Now I can feel free to ride easily and peacefully (with my wife). I can ride the Katy Trail, and relax while doing it because I do not need to keep my bike spotlessly clean or maintain a minimum cadence or mph. It is a very relaxing feeling. Feelings aside, a road bike is not the best bike to have on the trail. Sure, the components on the bike are a benefit, but the tires are really too thin. I am going to purchase new tires for my wife and I's bikes. The tires are going to be a little wider and a little thicker, but the same diameter. The new tires will allow us to ride wherever we want, and not just on the road.

I am looking foreword to riding with my wife again. I am sure there will be many bike adventures to come.

All About the Bike (part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:35:00 +0000

I love cycling. For the past few years it has had a special place in my heart. I have had a difficult time deciding what kind of cyclist I am, however. This is my story.

A couple of years ago I was introduced to road bikes and criterium racing. The road bike was appealing, the racing not so much. So I bought a road bike, rode it a lot and loved it. My wife bought a road road bike, rode it a few times and decided that she was not riding with me because I was too serious. She liked the idea of biking, but not the type of biking I was doing. The more I rode, the more competitive I became. But then came the dilemma. How bad did I want to race? My bike, a decent road bike, was not race ready. If I was going to race I would need a set of race wheels. Race wheels are expensive. After looking around, I found it would be a better decision to just buy a new bike. A new bike would be a big investment, especially since I hadn't owned my current road bike for more than a year. If I bought a new bike I would need to use most of my extra free time for training and/or racing to validate its purchase and to keep myself race fit. There was another small problem. I work weekends. When are the races? Weekends. It could be done with careful planning. What I ended up deciding is that I didn't want to race that bad. And if I didn't want to race that bad, why should I put all the hours into the long rides I was doing? I had a dilemma. I still wanted to ride though. But if I wasn't a racer, I was a road biker without a cause.

To be continued...

Endings and Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:02:00 +0000

Last weekend some family come in from out of town, and I was able to spend time with my niece (4) and nephew (7). This was an interesting experience since my wife and I do not have kids, and do not interact with kids AT ALL. But the kids were great and were actually a lot of fun. My sister is raising the kids well. It was nice to have a family get together.

My family is close in a distant sort of way. We don't see each other often, but we talk on a semi-regular basis. It has actually been four years since my immediate family has gotten together, like in the same room. The last time was at my dad's funeral. He died in 2004. My immediate family consists of 4 kids and my mom. Everyone has seen each other separately, but we have not gotten together as a family unit since the funeral. I have to admit...it has been just over 2 years since I have seen my sister (she lives a few states away). It was a nice way to end the summer.

But now it's on. Next week my wife starts school. The week after that, I start school. We have our books (most of them) ordered and on the way. The supplies are bought, and the house will probably get one more good cleaning. This is going to be a big year for me. After this year, all I will need is one more class to graduate. I will take my GRE's,(chemistry specific and general), probably take the MCAT, and next year at this time I will be sending out graduate school applications. I am going to really concentrate on doing well this year. I have done pretty well up to this point, but this is the year I need to make it happen. I am looking forward to my classes. They are mostly chemistry classes. Considering I did not take one chemistry class last year and I am a chem major, it was a bum year. This year is all chemistry and one physics class.

New Blog...not really

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:25:00 +0000

I believe many of the people that subscribe to this blog do so through various feed readers. That's cool, I appreciate the readership. For those that visit the blog on occasion, you will see some changes. They have been slight up to this point, but will increase. Consider it Origin 2.0.

Aspects of the blog that will be changing are links, the main picture, and the general arrangement of stuff. As the redesign takes place, tell me what you like, what you don't. Stop by and see the blog if you haven't in a while. It is a fun place. Actually, you probably won't be able to tell what has changed. Feel free to stop by anyway.

The Task at Hand

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:40:00 +0000

I have many things on my mind. Maybe if I write it out, I will be able to get a handle on it.

The upcoming flu season concerns me, not because of health issues, but because of lack of man power issues
The fact that I have reached my federal financial aid max before my last class sucks, but can be managed
I am frustrated, and don't know why
My most important year of school is almost here
I would like to pay off a bill or two
I feel like I am running in circles
I don't think my neurologist considers me important enough to communicate with
I need to relax
I am so glad I have my wife
The hot weather is bothersome
Why do I get depressed around my birthday?
I hate cats
Bunnies are messy
The pug irritates me
Why is pugapoo itching?
Where will I go to grad school?
Analytical chemistry thrills me
A part of me wants kids
I want a small farm to own with my wife
I wish I did not have to work full time, or overtime
I hate the heat
I don't see a vacation in our future for a while
Why do only some of my delicious tags show up?
Have I made too many wrong decisions?
Fuzzytails irritate me
I need to see some forward movement, and completion
Communication needs to occur
What has changed at work?
What can I do to affect positive change?
My voice will be heard
I will make a difference
I will not be walked over
I will not be ignored

This is what is been on my mind. I don't know how to act or react. I hope the solution comes soon, or I forget the problems at hand.

Ode to Change

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:26:00 +0000

Let's be honest, unless you like baseball there is not that much going on in St. Louis these days. There is the Arch, the Cardinals, and Anheuser-Busch.

Like it or not Anheuser-Busch has been an integral part of the St. Louis community. Now that InBev has bought it, the only thing certain is things will change. Sure, the brewery is not going to move, but the hometown feel is gone. I do not have any specific love for the Arch, the Cardinals, or Anheuser-Busch. In fact, I prefer a stout or a Hefeweizen. But I appreciate what Anheuser-Busch stood for- mid western nonchangedness. I bet there are a great many people who only care to have meat, potatoes, a Budweiser, and their truck. It is an American icon that is not American any more. Globalization has hit the heart of St. Louis. In memory of all things American that are not any longer, I will drink a Bud Select. I might drink a couple.

Devils Dying Before Our Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:53:00 +0000

There is a story I have been following for about a year or so that I want to share. The Tasmanian Devil, a carnivorous marsupial native to Australia, is dying. It is not by being killed by the hand of man through hunting or habitat destruction. The deaths are being caused by a facial cancer of unknown origin. The story is both bizarre and unfortunate. Reuters recently published an article on the subject titled, "Tasmanian Devil mating earlier to beat extinction."

This story interests me because we often hear about how horrible humans are to the environment. We hear and read about how humans are destroying the Earth. We tend to forget that the Earth is dynamic, and that it has gone through cycles of destruction and rebirth since it has existed. I am not saying that humans have not played a role in the destruction of the earth, because we have played key roles in some cases. But we are not the only cause.

The facial cancer that these devils have, as far as I know, is not due to any type of human interference. The cancer is being passed from one devil to another. The problem is the cancer is being passed on faster than the animals can breed. The infected animals are dying rapidly and there is a possibility that the only safe animals are those in zoos. It is a sad tale. We could be watching the extinction of a species occur more rapidly than has ever occurred before. As of yet, the cause of the cancer is yet to be identified.

No Point

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:34:00 +0000

I have been fairly busy of late. This is nothing new of course. Mostly, I have been working. Secondly, I have been busy with the aquarium. Lastly, I have been thinking...a lot. There have been some issues that have been on my mind. One of them is this blog. Other issues are the economy, housing, gas prices, grad school, work stuff, and my financial well being.

As far as the blogs go, I am not all that fond of keeping two blogs. I knew that I wouldn't be when I designed the other one. (My other blog is 1.026 Specific Gravity for those that don't know). I want to combine both, somehow, in a way that reflects both but does not do injustice to either one.

What I am not doing is riding my bike this year. Was it a fad? No. But I don't think I am/need to be a road cyclist. I do think that cycle sports are great and fun to watch. I really like the idea of using my bike for regular transport. But here is the thing. I am not in a position to have the infrastructure or the time (between school and work) to make it beneficial. It would be more problematic actually. As a result, the bike is currently not being used. This is temporary, however.

This post is kind of rambling its way through. It is almost as non focused as my thoughts have been.

I Have Returned

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:41:00 +0000

So, I am back from Cali. We took so many pictures, I am still digesting it all. The ocean is mesmerizing. I could stare at it all day I think. Pics will be up soon. Until then, here is a quick recap:

Mazda 3's are great cars
San Francisco is overrated
The ocean is awe inspiring
California has more farmland than I thought
The lack of humidity is a great thing
California is beautiful
Sea Lions are big and lazy

It is hard to explain, but I feel different somehow. Going to California, Monterey Bay specifically, has been a goal of mine since I was like 12. Monterey Bay is the largest marine preserve in the US. I am highly interested in the ecology of the bay, the history of the bay, and the geology of the bay. Now that I have visited the area, I am even more interested in the research that is going on in the bay. Multiple universities have research stations on the bay and the Monterey Bay Aquarium has an active research program.

As I said, the pictures are soon to come.

California!

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:41:00 +0000

Today is day 1 of a 10 day stretch of freedom! Jen and I are going to California for a week starting tomorrow. We leave early tomorrow morning and will be in Monterey, Ca and the surrounding area for the next week. I will be posting lot of pictures over the next week or so. For right now however, I am finishing packing and all the other pre-travel stuff. I have not been to an ocean, so this will be my first first time.

Away we go...

2008 Goals-revisited

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:23:00 +0000

In Dec. I wrote the post 2008 Goals. I thought now would be a good time to evaluate some of those goals.

1.) Visit more than one farmer's market.
I received an email that the St. Charles Farmer's Market begins its season tomorrow. A few others have been already been open, and some never close. As far as I am concerned, the season starts tomorrow. Nothing like fresh produce.

2.) Take a trip
Jen and I are going to California in about a week, and Ohio in Aug. I say this goal is pretty much satisfied.

3.) Complete my coffee list
Here is the list.

So far I have had, #3, #4, #5, and #6. I have a few more to go but I have made progress. I will not be drinking #2 because they send you 12 0z. bags and not a full pound. A 12 oz bag is not enough coffee to last me a week. As a result I would have to buy coffee twice in one week and that is expensive.

4.) Do well in Calc.
I got a B, and that is good enough for me.

5.) I will have less debt at this point in 2008 than I do now.
I am paying down the bills, so yes, this is going in the right direction.

6.) I would like to discover more new beer.
I have been drinking various beers. Most recently I had Kalamazoo Stout that I found interesting. Not great, kind of malty, kind of spicy, but enjoyable. 4 out of 5.

7.) I would like to find a new cologne.
No new cologne yet.

8.) I would like to improve my cycling fitness.
I bought a trainer. I have ridden it a few times. I have not rode my bike a lot yet this year. Ummm, I suck.

9.) Baking
No new baking, only eating baked goods. Does that count?

10.) Eat more vegetables.
I have eaten lots of vegetables because my cholesterol is up...again. In fact I am only eating meat about twice a week. My cholesterol went up about 30 points in 6 months. I have decided my genetics kind of suck. Maybe stress has something to do with it?

11.) Explore wine-especially Prosecco.
No wine to speak of. However, new bottles of wine keep appearing in my apartment. The wine fairy is an interesting creature.

I will update this post again at the end of the summer.

Nothing Going On

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:57:00 +0000

I am in the process of setting up a salt water aquarium. I have been analyzing each piece so that I make informed choices about what I need, what I should buy, and what my different options are. Right now I am finishing up my inquest into lighting. If you are interested in what I have been doing you should check out my other blog 1.026 Specific Gravity. If you are like what you see, subscribe!

Jen has posted some pictures of our new bunny, Basil. He is cute and growing fast. You can find those pictures on her blog Shabby Cheap.

Pikachu, my pug, has developed seizures. It is a new thing and poor guy has had three seizures this past week. We took him to the vet, and now he is on meds. We shall see what happens. Hopefully the meds work.

Other than that, there is nothing but relaxation going on with me. Just call me Mr. Tranquility.

Completed and Defeated

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:08:00 +0000

One more semester down the drain. It is a nice feeling, but I don't feel satisfied. I worked my ass off all semester in my Calc. class. I recopied all of my notes and all of my assignments. I got A's on all the tests until the last one. I just burnt out. Instead of copying all my notes, I only copied some of them. Instead of doing more problems than I needed to do, I did just what I needed.

Part of the problem was that I just didn't like the material. I couldn't wrap my brain around it. I couldn't get past the fact that I don't see how I can use it. (I am sure I am going to be proven wrong in the future). Then I got sick for a week and a half. Then Jen got sick. Two days later I took my last test and didn't do so hot (64%).

So, even if I get a perfect score on the final, the best I can get in the class is an 89%. The detail is, even if I get 50% on the final, I still end up with a B. Talk about motivating. Anyway, I took the final and did what I needed to do to ensure a solid B. It is kind of depressing.

With school done for the semester and summer right around the corner, I thought I might write a quick blurb about what I expect my summer to bring. This summer will not be like last. I believe that this post, Awake, from last summer describes the situation pretty well. In short, last summer was a necessary evil. I hope I don't EVER have to do it again.

This summer starts with a trip to California. Jen and I are going to Monterey/Oakland/San Francisco for a week in the beginning of June. Shortly after that, my saltwater aquarium will be up and running. I have actually started another blog that talks all about it. Here is a link to the blog, 1.026 Specific Gravity.

In August, Jen and I will be headed to Ohio for time with family and a visit to Amish country. In Sept. the Tour of Missouri rolls through St. Charles and St. Louis.

I am sure there will be more on the agenda, but the summer looks like it will be a good one.

What are your plans?

Lowe's Blows-cont.

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:35:00 +0000

Please read Lowe's Blows before you read this post.

I had to finish my sump endeavor although my confidence was in question. Were my measurements right? Should I have just spent the money on a pre-made sump?

Following my visit to Lowe's, I visited the the local in town hardware store, Jehling Hardware. Jehling is exactly what you would expect from a local hardware store. There are only a few guys that work there and they seem to know their stuff. I will make them my first source for everything I need from now on.

When you walk in they would prefer to help you find what you need. You say jump and they ask how far, how high, what color you want the line that marks your spot to be, and what type of ground you are going to be marking. These guys are great. I feel bad for not using them more than I have.

Anyway, I tell them my story about Lowe's and give them the measurements, 11 and 15/16" x 11". I give the width a little larger than actual measurement I need because I figure I can sand it down if it is too wide.

*quick note. The inside width of the tank is 12". Those that know more about sumps than me suggest that you subtract 1/4" from the width because the plexiglass will expand when in water and you need enough room for the silicone. The bond actually occurs between the silicone and the glass, NOT the glass and the plexiglass. The silicone does form enough of an attachment to the plexiglass to hold in in place however. A glass to glass bond is preferred, but more expensive.

The guy then verifies that I don't want the measurement down to a few 32nds, and that 15/16 is ok. I tell him that 15/16 is fine. The guy just earned bonus points. Gaining a little more confidence, I picked up a caulk gun, masking tape, razor blades, and Jen picks up a couple of cheap garden tools.

When the guy brings back the baffles, they are all cut PERFECT! He even brought out a measuring tape so I could check the measurements and make sure I was happy with them. EXCELLENT! And what was the total price for all of the stuff? $14.55. Why so much less? I just paid for what he sold me, not a whole lot more I didn't need. I had to go buy another tube of aquarium safe silicon from a different store, also locally owned which cost another $14.50.

Grand total:$29.05
Lowe's Refund: $30.59

One more time, I paid $30.59 for a 48" x 24" sheet of plexiglass that was not cut right, returned it, and bought...

4 baffles cut correctly
a caulk gun
a 10.5 oz tube of aquarium safe silicone
a roll of masking tape
a small package of razor blades
a small garden trough
a small hand rake

...for $29.05.

Here is a picture of the finished product:

It is not perfect, and silicone ended up a few places more than it needed to be, but I think it will work just fine. I have to wait 24 hours and then give it the water test to make sure each section is water tight. The object is for the water to flow over the baffles (under in one case) but not through the baffles.

Lowe's Blows

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:25:00 +0000

I tend to harp about buying local and supporting local businesses. The following is an example why.

I had to have four plexiglass inserts cut for an aquarium project. The inserts were to measure 11 and 3/4" x 11''. I figured Lowes could handle the job. They cut it for free, so why not? Big mistake. The whole process turned into a bad series of events.

First, guy #1 didn't know how to operate the "thing" that cuts the plexiglass. I guess there was a spring missing so it wasn't cutting right. This resulted in guy #2 who manhandled the machine to make it cut. I ended up paying for a 42" x 24" piece of plexiglass (about $30). I only needed half of what I bought, but I felt certain I was going to need extra. Guy #2 must have wasted twice as much plexiglass as I actually bought. This should have been my clue to cease all activity with Lowe's and move on. Not leaving at this point was my first mistake.

My second mistake was that I didn't bring my tape measure. The cut pieces were not all the same size. They were close, sort of, but definitely not equal. After I spent an hour cleaning up the edges of the mangled pieces, sanding them smooth enough and straight enough to use (still had not measured them by the way). Can you guess what happens next? Of course you can...they don't fit. They were close enough to try, but not close enough to use. And I did try. I made a mess of silicone and...it wasn't pretty.

I finally decided to measure the baffles. The first one was close to 11.5". The second was close to 11 and 9/16". The third one was 11 and 3/4"...at one end, about 11 and 9/16" at the other. I didn't bother measuring the fourth. I tried to take a picture but it did not work well. I was pissed.

I returned to Lowe's the next day plexigalss in hand. I made no attempt to clean off the silicone from the plexiglass. Naturally the return lady did not want to take them back. I didn't care. I told her flat out that it wasn't my fault that they, Lowes, had cut it wrong. I also told her I had no desire for them to cut any more. She said no again and I asked to talk to the manager. I ended up getting my money back, but not before she said some snarky comment about me alleging that it was cut by Lowes..

Bitch.

This is not the first bad experience I have had with a large chain store, and it won't be the last. BUT, it will be the last one at Lowe's in St. Charles. I will be hard pressed to go back to that store.

Bona Fide Blend-correction

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:20:00 +0000

In the post written on 4/24, I commented that there was not a roast date on the Goshen Coffee's Bona Fide Blend. I have been informed by Alex Brooks of Goshen Coffee that there is a roast date on their bags. They place a day of the year (DOY) date (001, 002, 003,...54,...352) that references the day of the year the coffee was roasted at the top right hand side of the bag. As a result, I am reposting the corrected review. I apologize for the misinformation.

I recently tried the Bona Fida Blend by Goshen Coffee Company. Goshen is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and is part of the 222 Artisan Bakery. I enjoyed the espresso. It did not stand out overly positive or negative. I will be likely to buy it again if I need espresso in a pinch.

i)Aroma
What aromas can I pick out? nutty
Are there more flavors tasted than smelled? (+1 for each) chocolate (+1)
The flavors have combined well; nothing stands out.
Does the espresso just taste bad? No

ii)Crema
Is there suboptimal(-1), adequate, or copious amounts of crema (-1)? Adequate
Does the crema stick around or dissipate quickly (-1)? Stick around

iii)Mouth Feel
Is the first taste pleasant(+1)? +1
Is the last taste pleasant (+1)? +1
Is the aftertaste pleasant (+1)? +1

iv)Body
Is it light or heavy (butter or molasses)? This espresso seems to taste better when thicker, but wants to pull lighter.
Is it sweet, balanced, or sour(-1)? Balanced

v)Complexity
Was this difficult to dial in(-1)? No
Is there a narrow range of drinkablity?(-1) Yes (-1)
The dose amount seems to be touchy with this espresso. Too small a dose and it blonds quick, to heavy and it channels. If you find the sweet spot (16/17 grams in a double basket on my machine) it pulls fairly well.
Are the flavors dirty(-1), earthy, robust, clean, or clear? Clean
Does this blend prefer a higher or lower temperature? No higher than 200F.
Would I buy this coffee again? Yes

vi)One week test
Has the profile of the espresso changed significantly after one week? If it hasn't, then (+1). +1

Other Notes:

-7 to 0 => Not Good
1 to 5 => Average
6 to 9 => Good
10 to infinity => Exceptional

The Bona Fide blend receives an overall rating of 4. Overall, it was a nice espresso. It was nice to have around.

Bona Fide Blend by Goshen Coffee Company

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:08:00 +0000

I recently tried the Bona Fida Blend by Goshen Coffee Company. Goshen is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and is part of the 222 Artisan Bakery. I enjoyed the espresso. It did not stand out overly positive or negative. I will be likely to buy it again if I need espresso in a pinch.

i)Aroma
What aromas can I pick out? nutty
Are there more flavors tasted than smelled? (+1 for each) chocolate (+1)
The flavors have combined well; nothing stands out.
Does the espresso just taste bad? No

ii)Crema
Is there suboptimal(-1), adequate, or copious amounts of crema (-1)? Adequate
Does the crema stick around or dissipate quickly (-1)? Stick around

iii)Mouth Feel
Is the first taste pleasant(+1)? +1
Is the last taste pleasant (+1)? +1
Is the aftertaste pleasant (+1)? +1

iv)Body
Is it light or heavy (butter or molasses)? This espresso seems to taste better when thicker, but wants to pull lighter.
Is it sweet, balanced, or sour(-1)? Balanced

v)Complexity
Was this difficult to dial in(-1)? No
Is there a narrow range of drinkablity?(-1) Yes (-1)
The dose amount seems to be touchy with this espresso. Too small a dose and it blonds quick, to heavy and it channels. If you find the sweet spot (16/17 grams in a double basket on my machine) it pulls fairly well.
Are the flavors dirty(-1), earthy, robust, clean, or clear? Clean
Does this blend prefer a higher or lower temperature? No higher than 200F.
Would I buy this coffee again? Yes

vi)One week test
Has the profile of the espresso changed significantly after one week? If it hasn't, then (+1). +1

Other Notes:
A roast date would be nice.

-7 to 0 => Not Good
1 to 5 => Average
6 to 9 => Good
10 to infinity => Exceptional

The Bona Fide blend receives an overall rating of 4. Overall, it was a nice espresso. It was nice to have around.

Amusing

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:24:00 +0000

I was alerted to this video...everywhere. In fact, it has gone so viral that it would be hard to miss if you looked at anything related to coffee today.

The video demonstrates what some people are able to do with their espresso machines. I simply make espresso with mine, how boring.

On a side note, it was such a beautiful day I decided to ride me bike. I got on my trainer and just rode away. I rather like the trainer. Don't get me wrong, I am anxious to get outside. I need to get in some type of riding shape before I do though.

Days Like This

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:10:00 +0000

Today there is nothing going on. I did not have class today, I do not have any new material that I need to look over, and I do not have any old material I need to review. If only I didn't have to go to work. To commemorate such a wonderful occurrence I decided to write a short blog post.

To everyone in blog land...enjoy your day.

New Blog

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:39:00 +0000

I am starting a new blog! It am going to use it to document my adventures in reef keeping from beginning to forever, I guess. The new blog is 1.026 Specific Gravity. Subscribe yourselves and hang on. The blog is still new, but there will be a lot of pics, and I know how much some you of love to laugh at my mistakes. (If you work at St. Johns, that would be YOU). And remember Theresa, pugs love fish!

My New Project

noreply@blogger.com (lonewolfbefree) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:07:00 +0000

I have a problem. I am bored with school. Maybe it has to do with the weather. Maybe it has to do with the new apartment. I don't know. What I do know is that I have managed not to do any homework for over a week and I like it.

In the mean time, I have been completing projects that I have wanted to get done. Here is a short list:

moving
anything that is related to moving, like all the address changes, unpacking, and finding everything that you know you had before you moved
blog stuff
tax/FAFSA stuff
vacation stuff
family stuff

I manged to do a few other things, like buy a new computer (which I really like by the way), and find a new project. I will give you a hint:

Yes, I am starting an aquarium. I thought I was just going to set up a freshwater aquarium, I really did. BUT, I just can't do it!

Since about the age of 10 I have maintained some type of aquarium. About four years ago I tried my hand at saltwater. I started with a 55 gallon aquarium, and maintained it for about two years. Saltwater aquariums are funny things. They are not difficult to maintain, but are difficult to get started. Once you have one, you either love it or hate it. I loved it. LOVED it. But, due to circumstances beyond my control, it had to be given up. I vowed that it would not be my last, however.

Now the time has arrived. I am going to start a 20 gallon reef aquarium. I will be acquiring the tank soon. Next I will decide on the pump, filtration, and lighting. I already know what lighting I am going to use, it is just a matter of finding the unit. All of the details will come later.