Project 1: “Mo Java”: Observation and Reflection

As I set foot inside the front door, I'm pleasantly greeted by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. A variety of flavored muffins line the front counter. There is a tray of green apples to the left of the three coffee pots each filled with either decaf, the house brew, or the coffee of the day. I always get the coffee of the day, even when I don't know what it is because nothing beats variety for the same price. That way I'm surprised every time I go there. Speaking of selection, the choices are almost overwhelming. Mo Java's menu hangs above the front counter for easy customer viewing. It looks as if someone meticulously wrote all the menu choices on this chalkboard without leaving a single smear of chalk anywhere. The fact the menu looks as such, reminds me of a classroom back in elementary school except this one has a delicious selection to choose from instead of English notes. It is like education embodies the place even though it is not evident just by walking in the front door. Located only a few blocks away from Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU), students seek it out to focus on homework, and teachers go there to chit-chat about students' education because of its atmosphere. I find it to be a more productive and enjoyable environment than the University Library or my dorm room. The atmosphere of Mo Java calms the senses and unexpectedly focuses them. Maybe the selection has something to do with it.

Not only do they have coffee and various other hot drinks, but also cold drinks such as big train smoothies, iced mochas, and Italian soda; deli sandwiches that are special orders; bagel sandwiches such as the cafe melt and the breakfast begal; and soup (seasonal) such as Asiago Bisque. Best of all, nothing is over $7. Even their specialty mochas run less than $4: almond joy, black forest, German chocolate, and raspberry truffle. The selection makes me curious as to just what is in a variety of these hot drinks? The specialty drink German chocolate has a mixture of coconut and hazelnut syrups in it. Almond joy is blended with coconut and almond. Most all of the hot drinks and bagel sandwiches have the toppings and ingredients listed beside the choices on the menu to let customers know what exactly they are soon going to consume.

Any coffee house could have a wide selection like this. I had to ask myself, "Why do I seem to like this place so much?" Well, as soon as I set foot in the door, I was greeted with a smile. The customers already there seemed relaxed and were laughing most of the time. The aroma that embodies the place, is so tantalizing and smooth that I can actually taste the flavor of Mo Java with the smell of fresh brewed coffee and a hint of chocolate. Curiously enough, there is a pig with ridiculously large wings hanging from the ceiling just inside the front door. I'm sure hardly anybody sees it, but its still there! I just so happened to look up while sitting at a table and it consumed all my attention with laughter. Whoever put it there probably chuckles every time they walk by it. Mo Java has other things placed throughout the building just like this pig. One lamp in particular also caught my eye. I thinks of its base like a Roman column except it twists like a roller coaster; on top of the capital of this green column sits a freeze is a reddish brown head of a woman like resembling a frieze. To top it all of is fitting off-white lamp shade. This personal touch is only noticed by the regulars and the wandering eye. Once, a person is part of this aura, it makes them want to come back again and again. Mo Java portrays this aura effectively just by how it is arranged. The front room has several small tables with two chairs at each. Two of the tables, the ones closest to the windows, have the depiction of a tiger with the words CAFE IMPORTS wrapped above and HARIMAU SELECT below. It is a room made for coffee lovers and caffeine addicts and those who want to have a good time.

In the left corner by the front counter sits yet another menu, smaller in size. The "man" at the top of the menu is obviously a chef judging by the toque on his head, his double chin, and a big grin on his jolly face. "His" purpose is to display the current day's soup such as asiago bisque and specials offered like kickin' chicken pizza. It only makes sense to place it right there by the counter where everybody can see it. The front counter actually forms an "L" with the other half going to the back of the room to form a "bar" with four bar stools provided for comfortable seating. On the back wall there is a set of shelves with approximately twenty large glass jars filled to the brim with coffee grounds and coffee beans of various flavoring! The walls are a blotchy yellowish-tan color while the floor shows a color of green with spots and drips of white and red paint resembling the floor of a paint studio. Even with such a wide variety of colors composing the main elements of the place, every colors fits uniquely in its own spot like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. I find it absolutely fascinating! I had never noticed the use of color in places like this till now. Even after taking a painting class and being in another, I never realized first hand the manipulation of color to give off a sense of coziness, relaxation, and of a soothing sensation. Most of the time I'm thinking of how colors will interact when I am putting them on the canvas and not the overall effect once the paint has dried.

Mo Java is actually composed of two rooms, the front room that I've been describing and another side room with coffee tables, couches, and lounge chairs. In and of itself, the side room has been furnished uniquely just like the front room, yet one without the other would ruin the complete image of Mo Java. The color scheme once again is that of some brew of coffee, whether it be light chocolate brown, a deep red, or even as dark as what coffee lovers call black coffee. Unlike the front room, it feels more like a living room of a house. There are two couches, one light chocolate brown with peacock pattern on the material along with another couch, dark brown at first glace, but the material up close is actually a mixture of red, green, tan, and dark brown. Both are soft, cozy and relaxing. Also the room has lounge chairs, grey in color with "S" squiggly patters of a darker grey all over them. There are three tables for two with two cherry wood chairs at each. Another larger table is meant for up to fix or six people and is often used by groups of students doing college homework together. For me, it isn't the coffee that is addicting but rather the atmosphere. The conversationalists and employees always seem to have smiles on their faces just like the man and woman I saw there who just so happened to be on a first date. Even their attire was that of coffee; she had on a black top and black slacks while he was wearing blue jeans and a light chocolate brown fleece. The side room is more cozy and relaxing compared to the front room making it a great place for a man and woman to calm their nerves when on a first date.

This is the room I like the most and is the reason of my presence. It is away from the front door and counter minimizing distractions caused by people talking, the random blare of a blender, and chit-chatting coworkers. Every time I picture this side room I think of how students like me use it to our advantage to get things done. A library can be used for the same purposes but the hardcore studying attitude most students have when in a library can be stressing and down right overwhelming. Mo Java on the other hand provides and educational atmosphere that is more free-going, more relaxing than your average study environment. For me, there is no better place to focus on one's education than the coffee house located on 2649 N 48th street.

5 Bands to DIE Listening to!

Eagles: The Very Best of ~ Available for purchase

Puddle of Mudd: Famous ~ "$"

Johnny Cash: 16 Biggest Hits ~ "$"

Smashing Pumkins: Gish ~ "$"

Bill Evens: Bill Evens Trio with Symphany Orchestra ~ "$"

If I was deserted on a desert island with a boom box and only five cassette tapes, just why would I pick these five artists in the above order? Well, it is rather simple! The Eagles just so happen to be on of my father's favorite bands, and on top of it all, there isn't anything in the world like Classic Rock. The one song on their album The Very Best Of that I love is the song Hotel California. Just like the song I would never be able to leave my desert island.

Puddle of Mudd is one of those bands that I like because I like it, nothing else to it. I really don't have any other reason for choosing this band other than the fact that Famous is on their one album. Short, sweet, and to the point.

Johnny Cash--honestly who wouldn't want to listen to some Johnny Cash. Songs like Ring of Fire, In the Jailhouse Now, I Walk the Line, Riders in the Sky, and the best of them all A Boy Named Sue! Songs like this may remind me of just how the world can be, but the sweet aint as sweet without the sour. To me he is a father figure in a way.

My brother in his younger days was a music junky! He bought CD after CD and the artist out of all those CD's that he loved the most was the Smashing Pumpkins. There is one Simpson episode that always comes to mind when I think about this band and my brother at the same time. I don't remember how it went but he freaked when he heard them playing on the TV and came sprinting into the living room all pumped up. I hope I never forget that day because my whole family was in watching that episode.

I searched and searched for one more artist. It had to be somebody...anybody who played classical music that I hadn't heard before. The reason is that classical music can be soothing, exhilarating, and mediocre all at the same time. Music like that would allow my mind to just let go and forget about everything else in the world.

ICE FISHING

As I set my right foot out on the ice I feel a sense of excitement as the snow and ice crunches from the cleats beneath my feet. No worries though, the ice is well over eight inches thick. The sun is slowing creeping over the orange and pink horizon, while I carry fishing poles in a bucket in my right hand and pull a sled full of equipment with my left. Birdlike shapes on the ice quickly catch my eye.

The early bird gets the worm. However, these Canadian geese aren't looking for worms as they sound their low clucks and honks, rather they are scouting out nesting grounds for when the ice thaws and the snow melts. Tall brown grasses and reeds line the shoreline and sway with the blowing wind, a perfect nesting site.

The air bitterly blows against my face taking away the feeling I once had in my nose. When its below zero plus a wind chill, warmth is a luxury when ice fishing. With the sun now shining brightly, various colors appear in the reflection of the ice and bring warmth to a cold body. Soon the roar of the ice auger plunges down into the lake along with the grinding sound of metal against ice. As someone scoops loose ice from the holes with a dipper, the chips land on the ice as if someone had dropped their lucky marbles.

Now the only sounds that can be heard are the whispers of fishermen and the melody of the lines of rigged fishing poles as wind passes over them. Most everyone is focused on the bobbers floating on top of the water, beacons to signify a bite. Excitement again rises as the competition to catch the first fish begins.