In this life. In a coffee shop. Embrace.

November is a beautiful month. Perhaps not so in relation to the weather, as it is rather unpredictably gloomy then gorgeous then gross all in a week. But the thing I like about November is that, after the outward beauty of October, one must appreciate things around them that are less obviously beautiful, per sé. See, October is like an acid trip for us visual people, and after such a high, when the leaves fall, something in us kind of collapses inward, and we get really introspective, or something. I realized that I was really itchy for a lil' me time this week, and all, and I swear its the weather. Un-Minnesotans laugh when we talk about the weather so much, but --

no.

shut up.

it's important.

it's like a reality series for us. every day.

and it effects our lives more than you mono-seasonal pansies can even comprehend.

So, in short, I am highly enjoying my more immediate surroundings now, versus the spinning world of colors that just fell off the trees.

I like coffee shops.

Once the weather really keeps you inside, well, that's it. It therefore sorta decides what you're going to do with yourself. And I have decided that coffee shops are the way to go. That, and book shops.

Lucky for me, here in Dinkytown, there are several of each, and my two favorites happen to be right next to each other: Cummings Books and Espresso Royale. I am currently seated in the latter, just soaking it all in.

Living in the moment. That's what November makes you do.

As many of my close friends know, I am all about experiencing music in the moment. And letting music define a period in my life. If you ask, "what happened to you senior year in high school?", based on events, I probably can't recall a ton. But, based on my playlist, I could chronologically list events for you. Yeah. It's that bad.

Anyways, I am now in coffee shop mode, and am currently compiling a November + coffee playlist.

This video, which I found via my Facebook wall via Caius Rickard via wherever he got it, has honestly set the mood for today. Yes, it is a subliminal bike shop ad, and I am not much of a hardcore biker myself, but it has this mood about it that I can't shake. "Cosmopolitain-Euro-Parisian-hipster-bike-and-coffee-shop-junkie" is about how I can describe it. And I like it. It fits my mood to a T:

Click here for said video after the jump

yes. props to Caius. (if he happens to read this, which would be surprising, hope you're livin' well, man. Haven't seen you in an eon or five,y'know.)

I am currently listening to that exact remix of Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine as I type. That has been a favorite song for a while, and this remix....ah. Just....ah.

I tell yah. I love when I have tangible evidence of my mood. This video, this song, and this playlist I am compiling are just what I need.

Here are some of the songs I have clumped up so far:

Cosmic Love (Slow Club Remix) by Florence + The Machine

Canvas by Imogen Heap

Futile Devices by Sufjan Stevens

Heart is Strange (Active Child Remix) by School of Seven Bells

The Mystic's Dream by Loreena McKennit

Im Telech by Idan Raichel Project

Bo'ee by Idan Raichel Project

Fjöll í austri fagurblá by Sigur Rós and Steindór Andersen

Living in this coffee shop world is like a little slice of hipster heaven. The people, the music, the lights, the hum of the city, the skyline off in the distance, the culture at your fingertips, the old places you find yourself in...it's all a bit magical to me right now.

Currently, I am sitting at a little table in the corner of the shop, from where I can scope out most of café. The walls are a dull gold, and the lights make this place glow like a little haven of warmth. The creaky wood floors are snaked with computer cords, leading up to the various Apples and PCs around me, with their studious owner's faces glowing in their bluish light. I can smell roasting coffee, taste a raspberry mocha in my mouth, and stare at the friendly glowing case of the counter, filled with cheeses, baguettes, and other baked delights. I see a blonde, bearded hipster in his narrow biker capris, knee-high socks, and dark rimmed glasses striding up to the counter to buy his hot drink of the night.I also see many pieces of local art staring back at me from these gold walls, begging to be put in my apartment. Under me, I can feel an old spring in this upholstered bench thing I am on fight with my butt, trying its darndest to keep me uncomfortable. I straiten the scarf around my neck, and proceed to think about the reason I came here in the first place--to read about American history.

Hey, as I am surrounded by such good things, this should not be a problem. I will not let it be a problem. Reading history in a coffee shop is just as poetically romantic as falling in love at a coffee shop would be (HAHAHAHA I find this so unrealistically funny that I think of this song every time I come here. Sappy people...good grief.)

Yeah. So I think this history thing should happen now.

Peace, love, and concentrated doses of caffeine.