Baristagirl

RULES FOR COMMENTING FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY READ WWW.BARISTAGIRL.COM BUT HAVE YET TO MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN!

1.) I speak only english, and not that well. If you are NOT an english speaker I can’t read your comments if they’re in, oh say, Russian I apologize if you’ve wanted to say something relevant and it hasn’t been posted. Sorry comments I don’t understand will not be approved and will be swept up with the rest of the spam garbage.

2.) If you are a real person (not spam) and you want to say hello don’t give me a bunk email address, it won’t sign you up for newsletters or anything that will inundate your inbox with random Barista Girl babblings its just a precautionary measure to assure you’re not a pinocchiobot. Other wise I won’t approve your comment and you won’t be able to say hello if you’re interested. Unless you’re president and ceo of the shakeweight and you go around commenting on webcomics don’t use your company email. Simple as that.

3.) Only I, and I alone, reserve the right to abuse my readers. This too is as simple as that.

4.) Finally; I am a Barista in real life. With that you must know that my funding for the things that I do around here is limited- in fact my budget isn’t fixed it’s neutered. Don’t don’t DON’T try and sell me anything, I’m a glorious tightwad you’re wasting your time. You are more than welcome to BUY from me to even out convention and operating costs. This as well as all above is simple as that.

Cheers babies.

-R-

As I sit next to the open window with the rain pattering outside on the pavement of the suburban cul de sac in which I live the gloomy chilled wind reminds me of…something I can’t remember in a place where I’m not sure with someone who probably never existed. Perhaps with a chinchilla I never owned!

I had another dream where my teeth fell out, not rotting, but like a mouthful of tic tacs. I rolled them around (quite vividly) on my tounge and spit them out in to my hand– horrified I ran to a mirror and sure enough I was missing my front teeth and several of my canines. But under the Molars there were new teeth…and all the teeth that fell out and all the teeth that remained were gleaming and pristine milk white. Perfect if not for the fact that they were rolling out of my mouth like a winning slot machine. It was quite odd. Infact, I’m a coffee drinker and a smoker so my dream teeth before and after making the hasty escape from my head were whiter than my real life teeth. Damn Crest white strips that I never use.

So I beg the question; what did my dream mean? This WAS the second time I’ve had this dream…

Am I sick?
Am I a liar?
Am I gonna get some money?
Finally, I think it has alot to do with the perpetuation of stories in which I am not a party to. I work at a place that would could run forever on gossip if it was a fuel of some sort. I imagine my work is no different and I just thank my lucky stars that I don’t work at a salon, as I KNOW it’s far worse.

My tummy hurts.

I’m babbling incoherently since I sort of just woke up- I have something exciting I’ll be doing today and I can’t tell what it is! I’m so nervous, I was shaking last night…I didn’t realize how excited I was about this until I thought– it doesn’t matter. I’ll tell y’all all about it tomorrow. Eeeep.

Sorry but the comic isn’t going to go up until tonight, I apologize as I pride myself on being on time–my record of what 3 late updates? NO later than the actual day its supposed to go up still stands. If you even count it, but since my comic is supposed to post 12am Friday and Monday late to work is late to work.
My suggestion? Watch, Raising Arizona. Its a good movie.

I was listening to some audio noises yesterday and  I heard this band called Discovery, give em a listen they’re coooool. I think. I heard thier rendition of “I wanna be your boyfriend” as made popular in my ears by The Ramones.

Don’t sweat the petty things.

Don’t pet the sweaty things.

Cheers!

-r-

Java Train
1341 Pascal St. Paul

According to legend this fledgling little joint was requested by the locals as it used to be a flower shop. Ultimately and sadly the flower shop part has closed but made way for a lot of sitting space. Kitchy lunch boxes on tiny tables- this is a coffee shop that caters to mostly mom’s and kids, however a cool train theme with graffiti and industrial style exposed brick and ceiling pipes might lead one a different idea when you first walk in.

The counter is pushed back against the far wall when you first walk in, a doorway to your left leads into a giant pew style seating area where Hamline College kids can do thier homework. Hard times for them since loud children overpowering the ambient safe nonoffensive almost elevator light music might make it hard to focus. The music playing is again misleading upon 1st glance of Java Train, I expected something a little more edgy.

Lots of space for a live band but JT is not a venue, enormous basement set aside for events ala kids parties and church groups. This place is a diamond in the rough and has a bit of potential but there is a lot working against it.

Examples of which would be 2 major violations in my list of rules:

1. They are completely invisible and hard to get to, mediocre signage leaves me wondering how they get any new customers. Miles away from anywhere and buried by the nearest bridge they’re close to the fair grounds but its lost if no one knows they’re there.

2. Talks of turning it into a restaurant bar with coffee makes me wonder- “Why don’t they just take the plunge and go straight bar?”

I ordered a “Depth Charge” or “Red Eye” a dialectical term that varies coast to coast referring to a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso in it. I like Depth Charges for the simple fact that you can tell how almost every drink that is espresso and coffee based will taste.
JT calls it a “Dark Spike” I’m pretty sure its a shop specific term what with the train theme and all…

The coffee was strong and the espresso was alright– on a scale of 1-5 1 being vomit inducing and 5 a religious experience I’d give the ”Dark Spike” a 2. I imagine the espresso probably tastes better in jelly bean coffee but that reflects negatively on them since a real cafe should have coffee that tastes good on its own. NOT covered up in all kinds of sweet flavors.

The girl behind the counter was very sweet- stretched ears and a couple little wristy tat’s (mod friendly joints make me smile) she was shy but friendly with her regulars. Sadly it’s bad form when I walked up to the counter and she didn’t know what a Depth Charge was. Maybe it’s just me. I also didn’t like that fact that my drink was made behind a wall, hiding their espresso machine- again it might just be me but I personally like to see what I’m getting how it’s made and where my shots are coming from manual semi or what?

Finally, I happened upon this shop for a job interview! Yup I got hired and everything, too bad my ear decided to explode the morning I was supposed to start and caused a no call no show on my part forcing the holy hand of ”The Owner”. I sent him an email as soon as I got the wherewithall to let him no what happened but it didn’t help. Oh well.

In the case of Java Train the jury rules that: In the middle of nowhere, with the cool shit on the walls, kids all over the place, the nice (but a not quite schooled) Barista, the soon to be bar and food jobber with sub par coffee and espresso gets a C-.  Don’t hop this “Train” wait for the next one.