OK, so I have a new blog! Anyone interested in following me on my newest journey is welcome to come on over!

I really do love you and you know that now because I no longer have any reason to be nice to everyone simply because I need their money to survive.

ciao!

Technorati Tags: follow me, I'm awesome, it's awesome, jenni, new, new blog

Hello all,

I’ve been waiting for months to write this entry believe it or not. I just didn’t want to start without knowing more about the exact dates and details. It has been decided that June 16th will be the last day that I will be here as the owner/operator of Brew Awakenings.

This may come as a surprise to some, but it’s just been soooooooo hard! It’s been great, but definitely more than I can handle at this given time. It’s taken a culmination of financial stresses, health problems and snakes for me to feel as though this is the best possible choice. It is time for me to move on and while I’ve learned a lot and made tons of friends, Brew Awakenings is done as you know it.

I am oddly excited about the opportunities ahead and would be even more excited if I had a job! Life has a funny way of working out and this is just one more thing for me to look back on as a time in life when I had no idea how things were going to work out and then one day they just did. I love where my life has taken me and overwhelmed with the possibilities of where I have yet to go.

This is a bit easier than I thought it would be. I think it’s simply because I am ready.

There have been some truly amazing times had in this building and I look forward to coming back to see what happens to this place.

Thanks to everyone that cheered me on, supported me, celebrated with me and spread the word.

I am sure this will not be my last blog, but it will certainly look a bit different when all is said and done. I will be writing blogs from the lobby of some other persons dream. Maybe Octane, maybe Aurora or maybe years later I’ll be back where I am now with a new dream, better ideas and more money!

We’ll just have to wait and see how life pans out for me and my sense of humor, magnetism for crazies and all of the other things that go along with being me.

I truly do have a place in my heart for all of you and this place.

Thanks for reading and following.

Stay tuned!

Ok, guys… seriously, help me out!

I need you all to go and vote for my website and help me win a new one.

About a month ago, I entered this contest called “I hate my website” and I’ve actually made it into the top 50 worst sites! I couldn’t be happier!

What I need everyone to do, please, is go and give me a 5 star vote! A 5 star vote means my site is terrible and that is what I need to win!!!!!!!!!!

I know I have not blogged in a while, but I was waiting for the right topic to strike me and by God this is it!!!!!!! I want to win!!!!!!!

I WANT TO WIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!

Technorati Tags: contest, help me, ihatemysite.com, terrible site, winning

Let me just tell you that this blog may very well cause many of you to begin breathing out of your mouths and perhaps even a few droplets of spittle will fall from your cracked, dry lips. For that I apologize.

This post is about the power of intelligence and the illusion of further education. Please do not put words in my mouth or think that you know what I am about to say, because you don’t. At this very moment, I am typing as fast as the thoughts are coming to mind, so I don’t even know exactly what I am about to say.

The frustration I am feeling is a direct result of people believing that all there is to learn is found in a book. And in that book you will find the answers to your test. After taking said test,  your ability to memorize will be validated. After so many of said tests, someone will grade them all and tell you how above average, average, below average or downright miserable you are. If you’re lucky, you’ll walk away with paper in hand stating that you’ve completed all of the necessary requirements and you are now someone!

Of course, without aforementioned papers in hand, who are you? I forgot to add that you are no one of any great importance or accomplishment if you do not see in gold lettering along the top of the paper, ______insert fancy-pants name here______.

I know very well that if you, yourself are one of these fancy-pants graduates, you will find that you are beside yourself and you will say that this was surely written out of jealousy, because I am obviously jealous of your accomplishments. If you’ve raised your hand; you’re wrong. You fail my college.

There is some angst bottled up. I am full of sarcasm. Why? I am sickened by the number of people whom are convinced that success, intelligence and potential net worth can be assessed given only ones alma mater. When did we get to a point that intelligence is only so if given the stamp of approval by a system?

I believe in, and am proud of the accomplishments of myself as well as family and friends. I know many that have graduated from some of the finest schools in their field of study, but what I applaud them for is their hunger for knowledge and their insatiable thirst for life. These are the few that get excited about buttons, metals, pleats, paintings, lace, arches, foreign languages, pinks, purples, bristles, stones, marbles…. These people saturate their lives with that of their loves and passions. I have friends that are brilliant. Not because they have masters, bachelors or diplomas, but because they love to learn.

I refuse to believe that we have so little to say of the path our life is to take unless we hold, in hand a copy of a degree that says we were amongst the 5% percentile.

What I am saying is that it only means as little or as much as we desire. If you wish to be known as a Yale graduate as opposed to Rachel. Or a Harvard law graduate as opposed to an avid reader and gracious person, so be it! We should all be more aware that there is more to our success and character than the proof that we’ve completed the appropriate coursework. Moreover, if you are one of those intolerable people that gloats and looks down your nose at people that are not ivy league graduates, do yourself a favor and worry only about how to continue overcompensating for your lack of personality. The shine will eventually wear off and people will stop listening once you open your mouth for the 122,989,664,759th time to say “when I was a junior at Princeton…”

If you have stories about your travels, great books you’ve read, fantastic movies you’ve watched, new restaurants you’ve visited and great recipes you’ve acquired, I can honestly say I’d like to sit in on that conversation. I love all of those things and I myself have much to learn.

I am in the process of enrolling back into school and I am doing it because I want to! I would be lying if I said that deferring my students loans whilst in school wasn’t a bonus of gigantic proportions. I am not against learning. I am not against college. I am not against anything other than the veil of ignorance that allows people to believe that intelligence is only so after proper testing and eventually “proper” validation and nods of approval.

I want to add, that I do, however understand that varying schools will offer better resources and increase your chances of attaining your dream job. I get that! I am not referring to those people. I am also not questioning the efforts expended to become a doctor, lawyer, architect, veterinarian, wedding dress designer, chef or florist.

If you do not comprehend the rationale of this blog, don’t waste your words to reply.

Would anyone be willing to spare some ‘class’?

Seriously. There are millions wandering the streets spitting, cursing, stealing and doing all of those others things that are simply not cute.

What brought this on you ask? Just yesterday I was all smiles and praises and let me just tell you I am still listening to Gorilla Manor at this very moment and it is not getting old in the least bit.

Ok… It all began when I stepped out to throw some things into the dumpster and I come back to find some crazy person changing a 4 year-old’s diaper on one of my benches. There is no way for me to describe the look of horror and disgust that crossed my face when I then realized he was bare bottom on the seat AND the smell? Ghastly.

The woman looked embarrassed and rightfully so as she offers a half-hearted apology explaining that she thought she was alone. She is saying words, but I am not listening because I am too busy trying not to vomit.

If you think I am being a jerk, then just wait for the punch-line… I turned my head for a moment to place another liner in the disposal and when I turn back to face this crazed individual, I see that she has placed the SOILED DIAPER ON TOP OF THE TABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG People eat there! Are you alive? Is your brain on? Who does that?

I simply stood there waiting for her to leave and kindly mentioned that there was a trash disposal OUTSIDE and bid her farewell.

I quickly grabbed my sanitizer and towel and headed over the table and chairs…

I needed to vent.

I was angry.

Unamused.

Disgusted.

Offended.

Now I am done.

ciao

Technorati Tags: babies, crazy people, dirty diapers, gross, no thanks, trashy

You’ve made me so very happy.

For all of you out there that have yet to realize that this blog is about more than coffee, get a clue. This blog is about Brew Awakenings and the crazy lady that runs it, which means it can be about everything.

On that note, this post is about the band Local Natives. There are no words to describe how amazed and impressed I am with this album. In the words of a recent customer, “pretentious, dirty hipsters” everywhere are probably shaking their heads in disapproval. I am sure someone ridiculous person could find something wrong with this album, but why waste the better part of a decade trying to find an imaginary flaw?

Seriously. I love a lot of bands, a lot of songs and a lot of albums, but as I said to someone earlier, I wouldn’t dare skip ANY song on Gorilla Manor; just let me know if there is something you don’t understand! What I am saying is that this album is perfect.

I’ve been sipping sweet tea and swaying as if I’ve got the holy ghost. AMAZING!

Even in the midst of my praise, I understand that many will be under the impression that they are somehow riding on the coattails of harmony-driven bands before them, I will choose to say otherwise because I feel that their songs are original and unique to them. I learned early on not to give much weight to the opinions of music snobs seeing as how they were all so quick to compare Kings of Convenience to the likes of Belle and Sebastian… If anyone, why not Simon and Garfunkel? And how about the Fleet Foxes=Grizzly Bear=Animal Collective conundrum? I am sooooooooo uber bored with that conversation. If you’re at all like myself, you’ll see this album for what it is which so happens to be the original, catchy, cohesive, mature handy work of a fabulous band.

I first became a fan after hearing the track “Sun Hands” on Album 88 and I was beside myself after hearing another track and another track and another track (and so on), that was just as good if not better than the one before it.

If you’re bored with Vampire Weekend and Miley, please do yourself a huge favor and pop by their site to give them an adequate listen. Pop by the store if you can because they are currently on HEAVY ROTATION here and the feedback has been favorable.

I just wanted to drop a line and let you all in on a little secret…

ciao, xx

Technorati Tags: album 88, fleet foxes, frenchkiss records, gorilla manor, harmonizing, harmony, hipsters, local natives, music, sun hands

First things first; I love you.

Believe it or not I totally missed blogging, but I did not know what to say! I have had some personal and business related stresses and I just felt like turning my brain off every chance I got. I am still in the process of getting back on the horse, so to speak, but I am coherent and relaxed enough to get a good chin waggin’ going…

So without further ado, allow me to introduce to you, Le Whif. Le Whif is one of the silliest, most adorable and random things I have seen in my 27.8 years of living. Le Whif is best known for their chocolate whif, but the one I am going to highlight is their brilliant coffee-inhaler.

I must admit that I am torn. Part of me is screaming “woooooo” and the other part is pulling my hair and asking “why”. Never mind what I think. It’s more important what you think. Would you ever try it?

If my friends jumped off of a bridge, would I do it? H-E-double hockey sticks no, but if they asked me to take a hit off of this baby, I’d say “Surely! I thought you’d never ask”.

As always, I thank you kindly for minding my babble and caring about my existence.

ciao

Technorati Tags: coffee, espresso, le whif, silly

The universe to the doper’s eye

Now that all the rivers named

And the woods lay dying

Just steps from the door in back:

The curtain fell

Crimson bright

And night walked through slow

And smooth

The darkness was thin dramatic

Elegance like clinging

Couture evening gowns

Longer than the earth’s revolution

A swirling grey of blue-black mystery

Bodies fell like pagan lovers

In a single tick of coital bliss

Flesh was spoken from such

Loud loud heights

That Some thought They would

Die away

Succumb to night, body quenched

Grinning bright and loud like summer’s children

There were no colors there

But there was life

All the beginnings of it, budding

Inklings nudging at the surface of red clay

watering those quicksilver roots

Shooting calm through lacerated veins

spreading down and settling swift

Pause, atop those lively graves

Corpse spring up as if death were trivial

And sway divine as lime bright willows

In the wind

Supple porous tips from fingers dug

Into everything

There was no fear

Just slippery grips and grabs to coax

There was no language, drugs

Or accidents either

There was phallus and flower A

nd that was all

There was you and me

An inherent awe

There was everything

In us And us In all

Technorati Tags: contributor, Elise, guest, poetry

Location: 2815 Buford Drive Suite 108 b Buford Drive Buford GA 30519

Tele: (678) 765 7985

Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am – 9 pm-ish

Email: Grea...@Brewawakenings.com

It’s Valentines day everybody; or at least it was when I first started writing this post!

Did everyone remember to get cards for those they hold most dear?

I didn’t! I did however receive unexpected gifts from some of my most amazing customers. Ever had one of those edible arrangements? Well I have and it was awesome. This would mark my first experience ever with chocolate-covered pineapple; which I really should stay away from seeing as how I am mildly allergic. It was well worth the sensation of acid eating away at the inside of my mouth!

Anyhow, I had promised, once upon a time, to deliver yet another love list. I can make no promises and I cannot be sure that I won’t forget anything… Here goes nada!

Music: “Roslyn” Bon Iver + St Vincent/”I Think I Can” Animal Collective/”I Get Up” J. Cole/”Shelia” Atlas Sound/”E for Estranged” Final Fantasy/”Rainstick” Ah Holly Fam’ly/”Swing” Zero 7/”Too Thirsty to Drink Water” Karl Blau

Movies/TV: Satisfaction/Bright Star/OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies/Married In America 2/Mildred Pierce

Places: Ricos World Kitchen/Cafe Intermezzo/Element Coffee Company/NipponMusicChamp.com/Etsy.com

I understand that it’s been far too long since I’ve done a movie review, but I can say that I’ll probably get on that some time in the near future. If you have any desire to follow the music I am currently holding nearest my heart, by all means comment and let me know you care! I don’t feel the love so much from you’s guys… Now comments? No emails? Are you only being nice because you want something?

ciao

Technorati Tags: animal collective, final fantasy, karl blau, movies, music, oss 117, valentines, zero 7