Summertime @TheDarkFowl (tweet it y'all)

It is a interesting thing, management that is.

Since last post, i have been busy about the work that I mentioned in a prior post. The work that I had no idea existed until fell on me with much the same weight of a wrecking ball mid swing.

Blackbird Coffee has become a deep passion, and my bosses have started to verbalize their recognition of this development.

To date, there are no evaluation forms for this tiny shop that is slowly approaching artisan status, at least that's what we are shooting for; there is also no training manual, or no procedure manual, and until about 3 months ago there was no pre-typed application. This is by no means a knock to the past management at Blackbird, the years that we do have under our collective belt have been nothing short of a learning experience; a learning experience that we all feel and hope will not come to completion any time soon, but that we will continue to develop and further; changing from first points of education to a mastering of skills.

As of this week and the past months work, I have successfully created a printable application, and have finished an in depth outline for our evaluation sheets; I am also working on new recipe sheet formats and a training manual.

Tomorrow I get to go to an Espresso Lab in Atlanta. I called today, last minute to see if there was still room and, randomly enough, I turned out to be the only one that was wanting to sign up for the class. I talked to Rob Tuttle (www.everythingcoffee-tea.com) for a bit, and I have to be in Atlanta from 9 - 5 tomorrow; I can't really believe how excited I am right now. This is the first time that I have had any legitimate instruction since entering the coffee world with the exception of a little time hanging out with Jason Dominy (http://www.dilworthcoffee.com).

So, to understate it I have been hella busy here lately.

On a more personal note:
I'll be moving in about 2 weeks into a new apt. with a barista/ musician friend.

Music is interesting right now. I've decided to take a little time off from tying to right for performance, and simply shoot for going back to learning to write good songs. I used to be decent at this, but in joining other bands, and not be a part of the major song writing, I didn't continue honing that skill, and have drastically backpedaled. I also feel as though my interests have changed quite a bit since those days. So I will still be playing music with friends, and on stage with them, I look forward to reworking and writing new material for the world, or (and probably more honestly my family and nice friends).

I date this girl, she pretty much rules (<- biased) :)

I want to make my own caramel.

I am currently walking up the torrential downpour stricken, muddy, gooey, slip 'n slide 'esque - hill known as QUITTING SMOKING. I hate doing this, every time I have tried before I have face planted on every attempt, but I really want this.
Hang-ups are as follows: I love the taste, I work in coffee (everyone here does this...worldwide), I play music (no real description need here, go hang out with a struggling musician), and I will be living with a smoker. Life is not easy though.


Werd.
That's this for now.
Peace and love. Make coffee not war,
Chris

the 20/20 over my shoulder

Undoubtedly I have neglected this little clipboard of my thoughts for the better part of the last few months. Funny how we can start things off with such vigor and zeal and then along the way forget the location of the logs that keep the fire going....

I recently discovered just how much grace I have been given by bosses of the course of the past year. Blackbird can be a Thanksgiving Day plate of food.....every single day, but then again what other management role isn't?

When I came back I thought I had a big "S" on my chest and a bright red cape on my back. I didn't realize the hard work that my bosses had been putting into their coffee shop, I completely missed that. This is a tough industry to introduce into an unknowing market, and they had not given up, rather they were getting a little weary, I was the rookie just up from the minors, that they were placing trust in. I walked out onto the field and fumbled around like I'd never played before, did some things right, and ultimately came out average. The greatest part of this is that my bosses didn't give up, they put me in my place, and even though we don't exactly agree on everything, things have started improving. Seeing their appetite for success, specific success, helped me see what I could and still can learn.

This post is a is in complete apology and gratitude towards Jimmy and Iona. I am a barista because of the shop that you were a part of starting and have found an industry I want to be a part of for the rest of my life because of the shop that you now run, with a little help.

Also, this is not a sad post, quite the opposite. I just felt as though these things needed to be said.

I look forward to the future of Blackbird coffee, and what I will do with what I learn from this experience, no matter what that means. Thanks, both of you.

Peace, love, and coffee,
Chris