Oh, my mistake
My husband Jonathan reminded me he's become a lot more traveled in recent years, and my saying he had been to five states was way off. He has now been to 19 states. That includes the overnight we spent in Chicago when our plane was grounded due to mechanical failure.
He also didn't agree that he had been cutting people off in New Jersey. Cough cough. That's better. Yes he was very considerate and polite while driving in New Jersey. My mistake.
I told him he needs to start posting and set his errant wife straight, but he's too busy with a paper on coffee shops as the third space. So consider the record clarified.
So it's New Jersey
We're getting closer to departure day. Slowly. Jonathan's wrapping up final assignments, and he even has his cap and gown now. Too bad he can't walk due to a sprained ankle.
I've been pouring over road maps, thinking about all the options. Letting folks know when we expect to be in their neighborhoods. And I've been drinking plain black coffee lately, since Jonathan has been too busy to turn on the espresso machine and concoct his legendary beverages. We even have Stumptown Coffee ready and waiting. Alas, too many term papers and final exams in his life right now. Not to mention the swelling and bruising of that ankle.
One thing's for sure. This summer will be interesting. We're heading to my part of the country, the East Coast. I've driven up and down I-95 more times than I can count, some for fun, other trips between New Jersey and Virginia while my family was moving. Jonathan's been to five states or so; I've been to 45. Really, how I've missed Arkansas and Nebraska I can't fathom. It's not like they're exactly out of the way or anything. In the grand scheme of things.
New Jersey girl that I am, and proud of it, I've taken him there twice. It was a prerequisite of marriage. The second time was for my tenth high school reunion, when he found his Jersey driving voice and was cutting people off and cursing them out with the best of them. In my friend Tamara's new car, no less.
Over dinner tonight at our local McMenamins, he informed me he didn't believe New Jersey is really the Garden State. Until he saw a dead deer on the highway.
He phrased his sudden insight this way: "There is wildlife in New Jersey and it does get hit by cars!"
This could be a long summer... but as long as we have caffeine, we'll be smiling and singing along to whatever road tunes we find on the radio. Or at least talking really fast.
Here's to the road and speed but not too much, here's to perfect merges and sunsets the color of strawberry lemonade, to a well-functioning minivan and wonderful friends, to tires that grip the road and stay holding on even in thunderstorms, here's to summer picnics in strange weed beset parks, geese that don't poop on our heads and lots of memories.
Twelve days and counting...
At home with espresso
When we're at home, our coffee generally looks like this, delicious but a little messy. Jonathan's the barista, and he uses our Rancilio machine. I don't know much about the Rancilio, other than it's shiny and pretty, makes good shots and has a Harley Davidson sticker on it from my father's last visit.
The start of something delicious
My husband Jonathan and I love coffee. We met in a coffee shop in Portland, Oregon, and later got engaged there. Our wedding had a subtle espresso theme.
This summer, we're taking off on a cross-country road trek to search for the best coffee and espresso drinks we can find. We'll update our blog as often as we have web access and drinks worth raving about, starting June 1.
One part Americana, one part love story, fully loaded. No decaf here, that's for sure.
I'm a fiction writer and freelance journalist with a penchant for lattes and occasional cups of tea. Jonathan's a business guy, with a fresh and shiny degree in management, and a hunger for the perfect dry cappuccino. We have the time now to hit the road and get caffeinated, so that's the plan.
