greenstar…a nice, weird place.

It being Good Friday and us with some extra time on our hands made for the perfect opportunity to go the Greenstar, the fantabulous Coop in Ithaca. Though we wandered around a bit inside, it was primarily for goat’s milk that we made the foray into the weird, wild world of the Coop (that’s cooperative, not a pen for chickens). What a busy, crazy, intense place. There is pretty much everything in the world for sale in there, especially things that are otherwise hard to get in upstate New York, such as goat’s milk. Needless to say, I found my goat’s milk and have already started a batch of Chèvre (French for goat, American for tasty French-sounding cheese made with goat’s milk). Also while in Greenstar, we perused their spice selection and noticed that I can buy bulk hops – no idea what variety, but it’s about $2.00/ounce (not TOO bad). While in spice-land, I heard someone say my name, turned and saw my former French Literature professor, Tim Gerhard. After introducing him to my wife, as they have each heard tell of the other, we had a short chat. During said chat, he told me he really enjoyed reading my final exam essays….which were incredibly long and hand-written (i.e. PAINFUL) and almost everyone who took them had that look of “well, I guess I’ll see you at the re-takes in June”. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had passed them all (as component re-testing is a possibility) and in one case, actually received a very high mark – all good things. But, to find out that my professor had enjoyed reading mine was a nice little bonus.

And, if my faithful readers had not figured it out or heard it directly, it is official: I have completed my Master’s Degree in Secondary Foreign Language Education – French. I have my diploma. Here. In my house. And I am done. Finally. Whew.

And, just as a quick addendum, I have ordered supplies for a couple more batches of beer – an Anchor Steamer clone for Eric (the long-awaited birthday brew) and a funky Ginger-Honey Lager that sounds incredibly good to me…more to come!

~ by mholl on March 22, 2008.