James Pearl Thinks Blogging is Dead

Black River

I recently ordered some coffee from Treeline Coffee Roasters out of Bozeman, Montana. I had picked up a bag when we were out there, and while it was not cheap, I was pretty stoked with how excellent the bean & roast was. As usual, it was an Ethiopian. An unexpected surprise is that Treeline is woman owned & run. Girl power in Montana. I like it!

Unfortunately, the shipment isn't getting here until Friday night. And this morning, I was on my next-to-last cup of that crappy stuff I got the other day. So I had my next-to-last shitty coffee, then hit the road for an early swing by Black River. While they're not my favorite shop in the world, it does the trick. I got an espresso in addition to the beans, and it was quite excellent. Their pour-overs and espressos have gotten better in the last year. Since they've been in business, they've had their ups & downs. I think right now they are on a bit of an up.

When I got there, I realized I should have brought my laptop and worked for a few hours just to get out of the house. Maybe next time. Just because I'm not yet retired doesn't mean I can't act like it from time to time, does it?

In any event, I got back in the car and went home, then made a better cup of coffee than I woke up to. All of this is to say that my Tuesday was pretty uneventful; and the most exciting thing to happen today was that I drove to Black River to get a bag of coffee.

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Norm said:
When I got there, I realized I should have brought my laptop and worked for a few hours just to get out of the house. Maybe next time. Just because I'm not yet retired doesn't mean I can't act like it from time to time, does it?
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This is a great idea TBH. Since I've been WFH I've often had the thought of taking a long lunch somewhere out that direction, then finishing it off with a stop at BRR. But why not bring the laptop along. I might have to steal your idea some day soon.

What's your favorite in the area? I usually enjoy whatever I get from Black River, sans their cold brew which is underwhelming to me. Ambee is OK too (though I don't get the impression they roast their own, I could be wrong?) and with the 3 spots it's usually a quick detour for any weekend travels we have. And while their cold brew is better than Black River, I don't love it. I'm OK with the hot coffee from either spot but I've not been on the quest for a great pour over.
 
rlb said:
What's your favorite in the area?
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1 is probably Paper Plane in Montclair
2 is Penstock in Highland Park
3 is Black River

I live 1/2 mile from Ambee, which is probably all I need to say about that shop.
 
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Norm said:
1 is probably Paper Plane in Montclair
2 is Penstock in Highland Park
3 is Black River

I live 1/2 mile from Ambee, which is probably all I need to say about that shop.
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I've been seeing many 12oz bags lately and it's bugging me more than a little. Crescent moon in Mullica sells coffee by the lb and their racoon creek blend is pretty awesome...
 
shrpshtr325 said:
thats not saying a whole hell of a lot tho, charbucks is pretty bottom of the barrel for coffee.
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100% agree, but sometimes you just need a damn cup of coffee on the run and you have to stop at whatever is available. Given the reasonable choice I'll always go to the independent coffee shop.
 
Rubber Bands

Rubber bands, they stretch. Bear with me.

I have added some stuff to my stretching routine and we're now up to about 30 minutes every night. I often watch (or listen) to TV when I do this. Right now, I'm watching season 4 of Shoresey. I recently finished the last season of Shadows. This is a great way to watch these quick 25+ minute shows that you never get around to. I may do Scrubs next. That was always a favorite of mine.

The recent changes have been a game changer. My hip is rapidly getting better, and I'm feeling overall better than I have in a few months from the Aches & Pains Scoreboard. As a side note to EJ the DJ - it's the left hip and right knee. So while you make a good point to see the doctor, I'm not sure those 2 things are related. I suppose you never know.

I don't know who will care but if a single person gets value out of this, I will share it here. I cannot recommend this enough. I've been doing some iteration of this for a few years now and this is my latest/greatest that seems to be addressing all the stuff that's been bugging me.

Here's the list, which as we all know will cause someone to tell me why x-or-y-or-z is bad. Because internet. Have at it:
  1. Standing hamstring stretch - 1 leg at a time
  2. Seated glute
  3. Clamshell leg lifts - piriformis strengthening
  4. Seated twist
  5. Leg cross laying on back thing - IDFK what the right name of this is. It's like #2 but laying on your back pulling your leg into you
  6. Back bridge - piriformis strengthening
  7. Bird dog - piriformis strengthening
  8. Knee to chest stretch
  9. Piriformis stretch

IMG_0435.jpeg
 
Norm said:
Rubber Bands

Rubber bands, they stretch. Bear with me.

I have added some stuff to my stretching routine and we're now up to about 30 minutes every night. I often watch (or listen) to TV when I do this. Right now, I'm watching season 4 of Shoresey. I recently finished the last season of Shadows. This is a great way to watch these quick 25+ minute shows that you never get around to. I may do Scrubs next. That was always a favorite of mine.

The recent changes have been a game changer. My hip is rapidly getting better, and I'm feeling overall better than I have in a few months from the Aches & Pains Scoreboard. As a side note to EJ the DJ - it's the left hip and right knee. So while you make a good point to see the doctor, I'm not sure those 2 things are related. I suppose you never know.

I don't know who will care but if a single person gets value out of this, I will share it here. I cannot recommend this enough. I've been doing some iteration of this for a few years now and this is my latest/greatest that seems to be addressing all the stuff that's been bugging me.

Here's the list, which as we all know will cause someone to tell me why x-or-y-or-z is bad. Because internet. Have at it:
  1. Standing hamstring stretch - 1 leg at a time
  2. Seated glute
  3. Clamshell leg lifts - piriformis strengthening
  4. Seated twist
  5. Leg cross laying on back thing - IDFK what the right name of this is. It's like #2 but laying on your back pulling your leg into you
  6. Back bridge - piriformis strengthening
  7. Bird dog - piriformis strengthening
  8. Knee to chest stretch
  9. Piriformis stretch

View attachment 256785
Click to expand...

#5
The figure 4 stretch?
 
Paint

I mentioned before that once I got laid off in November, I started painting the kitchen ceiling. When that was done, I put that light fixture in the reading room. Next up is the living room ceiling, where we had some water damage from when the roof leaked and needed to be replaced a few years ago. Yes, I said years. It's just taken me a while to get around to it. Finally, we're there.

I do this in the same general tone that I mow the lawn. I do some until I'm done for the day, then I stop. I will translate this a bit for those of you who cannot read between the lines. There is currently a ladder in the middle of our living room. Sue me.

The gallon of paint is getting close to the end so I went to the hardware store in town this morning to pick up another one. Somewhere along the line, this shit now costs $54 a gallon. I looked online and ACE Hardware has it at $60 for the same stuff, so it's not like they're price gauging. But shit, when did a gallon of paint get so expensive?

You could make the argument that I could do this stuff when I do, in fact, retire. To that I would say that I am choosing to start living as if I'm partially retired, and I will do the proverbial needful in the work context. Every morning I get up, read a book while I drink my coffee, then I spend some amount of time painting something. The amount of time could be as long as an hour, or as little as 15 minutes. It all depends how much time I have.

So then, when I retire I can wake up every day, read a book while I drink my coffee, then lay down on the couch and stare at the nice, perfectly white ceilings.

IMG_0436.jpeg
 
Norm said:
Paint

I mentioned before that once I got laid off in November, I started painting the kitchen ceiling. When that was done, I put that light fixture in the reading room. Next up is the living room ceiling, where we had some water damage from when the roof leaked and needed to be replaced a few years ago. Yes, I said years. It's just taken me a while to get around to it. Finally, we're there.

I do this in the same general tone that I mow the lawn. I do some until I'm done for the day, then I stop. I will translate this a bit for those of you who cannot read between the lines. There is currently a ladder in the middle of our living room. Sue me.

The gallon of paint is getting close to the end so I went to the hardware store in town this morning to pick up another one. Somewhere along the line, this shit now costs $54 a gallon. I looked online and ACE Hardware has it at $60 for the same stuff, so it's not like they're price gauging. But shit, when did a gallon of paint get so expensive?

You could make the argument that I could do this stuff when I do, in fact, retire. To that I would say that I am choosing to start living as if I'm partially retired, and I will do the proverbial needful in the work context. Every morning I get up, read a book while I drink my coffee, then I spend some amount of time painting something. The amount of time could be as long as an hour, or as little as 15 minutes. It all depends how much time I have.

So then, when I retire I can wake up every day, read a book while I drink my coffee, then lay down on the couch and stare at the nice, perfectly white ceilings.

View attachment 256811
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Yup that shit is expensive but having been the one that has painted and repainted many rooms in the current house and houses before this one, it’s the best quality paint for the money IMHO.

Also glad I am not the only one that hasn’t yet painted water stains on ceilings from years ago.
 
Ace has sales on BM paint, that's the time to buy.

And they do free delivery.

Painting sucks but it's not something worth paying someone to do, painters are the worst.
 
Norm said:
Paint

I mentioned before that once I got laid off in November, I started painting the kitchen ceiling. When that was done, I put that light fixture in the reading room. Next up is the living room ceiling, where we had some water damage from when the roof leaked and needed to be replaced a few years ago. Yes, I said years. It's just taken me a while to get around to it. Finally, we're there.

I do this in the same general tone that I mow the lawn. I do some until I'm done for the day, then I stop. I will translate this a bit for those of you who cannot read between the lines. There is currently a ladder in the middle of our living room. Sue me.

The gallon of paint is getting close to the end so I went to the hardware store in town this morning to pick up another one. Somewhere along the line, this shit now costs $54 a gallon. I looked online and ACE Hardware has it at $60 for the same stuff, so it's not like they're price gauging. But shit, when did a gallon of paint get so expensive?

You could make the argument that I could do this stuff when I do, in fact, retire. To that I would say that I am choosing to start living as if I'm partially retired, and I will do the proverbial needful in the work context. Every morning I get up, read a book while I drink my coffee, then I spend some amount of time painting something. The amount of time could be as long as an hour, or as little as 15 minutes. It all depends how much time I have.

So then, when I retire I can wake up every day, read a book while I drink my coffee, then lay down on the couch and stare at the nice, perfectly white ceilings.

View attachment 256811
Click to expand...
your paint can tidiness is some what expected but I still cringed a bit.
And yes, painted has really gone up, i think the top of the line stuff is approaching $80 a gallon
 
Sherwin Williams contractor grade
Benjamin Moore is for home owner suckers 😀
Latest fad has been I color wall and ceiling throughout the whole house. It's how I rolled my house.
 
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