Kaukauna Coffee & Tea - Share The Love

WRAPTASTIC

With today's nice weather, we're thinking spring, and for some reason, a wrap just seems more fun in the spring. One of our new additions, the Cool Cucumber Wrap, features honey ham, bell pepper, cucumber, cream cheese, and greens on a freakishly (naturally) green cucumber wrap. You just have to try this one .. It's fabulous, and will have you thinking spring, too!

Gift Basket Love

This is just the beginning! We have lots of locally-supplied goodies to add yet. Hand-painted glassware, hand-knits, gift certificates, and more! Fill out a raffle ticket once a day from now until Friday!

Fabulous February

We love February for a lot of reasons, mostly involving love and chocolates, but on the top of our list ...

It's anniversary month!

This year, we're celebrating FOUR years of exceptional coffee, sandwiches, and service! We appreciate our loving and loyal customers, and this time of year, we make sure you know it! The week of Valentine's Day, February 11th-16th, we're celebrating with drink specials, freebies, and a coffee shop basket give away. You'll have to stop on by to see what surprise each day holds! We're pretty excited - we love to send you away with smiling faces! We hope to see you!

KC&T's Christmas Wish!

Click here to vote!

Kaukauna Coffee & Tea has submitted a wish to the 'Small Business Big Wishes' contest, and with your help, we could get new, energy-efficient front windows! Cast your vote with the link above. We appreciate your help! The more love our wish gets, the better chance we have! Thanks everyone!!

The Great Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza!

Join us for pumpkin carving tomorrow night at 5:30! Pumpkins galore, Charlie Brown on the big screen, Candy, Treats, and so much fun we might burst. I'm just excited for the SEEDS from these organic pumpkins!

It's Frank's Profile!

The last response made my day! Be sure to come next Thursday morning to celebrate Frank's 77th Birthday. We're baking cookies and counting out candles.. He'd love to see your smiling faces on his special day!

Name: Frankie DeWitt

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite kind of car: A yellow car

Favorite Race Car Driver: Jimmy Johnson #48

Favorite Football Team: THE GREEN BAY PACKERS

Favorite Baseball Team: Timber Rattlers

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Favorite place to hang out:  Kaukauna Coffee and Tea. 127 West Wisconsin Avenue, Kaukauna

Favorite place to eat lunch: At home

Favorite Dessert: Ice cream

Favorite Radio Station: Y100 “The Big Bear”

Who is your favorite coffee shop girl?: “Andrea is first, and Abbey is #2^nd. Or both.”

Where was your last job?: Kaukauna Cheese

Favorite animal: “Dog, because I feed Roxey’s all the time.”

Favorite place to go: On rides with my girlfriend Marla in her semi.

Favorite Season: Winter

Favorite TV show: Dr. Phil

If you had any super power, what would it be?: Being able to blow stuff up.

Meet Miss Andrea!

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Well, I answer to almost any name. My birth name is Andrea Michelle, however, since I am related to almost all of Wisconsin, I have found myself answering to other family member’s names. My mom recently called me Shadow (the name of our dog)…. sadly, I answered. Other names I go by are Drea, Dre, but my favorite people of all *my nephews* called me Auntie Bebo.

How long have you been a barista? I still don’t know if I’m really considered a barista—I’m more of the clown running around behind the counter, trying to invent new drinks. But I AM really good at filling up cups with ice. :)

How long have you been a kc&t barista, as in, one of the best baristas ever? Well, I would have to go check my schedule book to see when I first penciled it in… but I think it was around March or April. Best APRIL FOOLS joke ever?!?.... my employment here.

Where were you born? Room 442 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, on the frightening night of Halloween. Was I a trick, or a treat?

Where did you graduate high school? The BEST KHS in the region. Kaukauna High School, that is.

Where did you graduate college? University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Go Phoenix!

Where did you graduate medical school? If I see blood, I throw up or faint. My 5 year old nephew has to give me my allergy injections every week because I also cannot handle needles. He also cares for my wounds when I have stitches—which is often.

What is your favorite coffee shop? HAHA trick question.  Well, considering that I work at the best coffee shop ever and I hang out here even when I’m not scheduled to—I’d choose KC&T. The environment is welcoming and we have some of the best customers. (Shout out to Dallas Janssen  :))

What is your favorite kc&t coffee beverage? I thoroughly enjoy just a regular coffee, but the new fall flavors have kept me, and my taste buds, extremely happy.

What is your favorite kc&t non-coffee beverage? I like any of the smoothies, but I recently invented a new smoothie that consists of blueberries, spinach, skim milk, and frappe powder! YUMMM.

What is your favorite kc&t sandwich? Turkey and havarti Panini with Mediterranean olive hummus, hands down!

What is your favorite kc&t bakery item? I’m not a huge sweets fan, but the fact that there are NO CALORIES in ANYTHING that we serve here at KC&T makes it easier to choose from. The white chocolate caramel cashew brownie was pretty fantastic.

What is your favorite food in general? Anything pasta!

Tell us something else about food: I’m allergic to calories—so any food that is not consumed at KC&T. I know I’m allergic because whenever I eat things with calories, my whole body swells.

What is your favorite kc&t decorative feature? I LOVE the wedding photo that’s hung above the computer. It constantly excites me for when I will get my wedding pictures taken. My wedding is scheduled for 2063—and you’re all invited.

Please inform us of any other kc&t favorites we failed to mention: As Ali had previously stated in her Q&A, a new game of “Hide and Seek with Kyle Megna and the Monsoons” is played here at the shop. Some of the members of the band are more obvious than others, and I often make artwork from their outdated posters. Most recently has been a diorama vegetable garden, and I also vandalized a picture that Lee Mothes drew by covering it with the band’s faces posted on model’s bodies.

Tell us a favorite story from baristaville: Every day here is a new chance for an even better story. Ali’s favorite story that she posted about “espresso power hour” happens to be my worst story. That being said, working with some of your best friends always makes the days enjoyable. One of my favorites would have to be playing outside in the pouring rain with Miss Abbey, only to discover that working while you’re soaking wet is no fun. Another favorite story would be the time when Ali and I practiced gymnastics in the back of the shop. WARNING: the floor is EXTREMELY HARD.

What is your favorite color? Anything bright like the sun. J

Do you have pets? A favorite? I have a Teddy Bear dog named Shadow—he would be in a doggy nursing home because of his old age, but instead my mom and dad take care of him. That includes daily moped rides with my dad. My brother-in-law has a Yorki-poo dog that also seems to be at my house more than I am. My 5 goldfish and 1 cat fish/sharking-looking thing won’t die. I’ve been trying for about 5 years now.

What is your favorite sport? Perhaps a favorite team? Player? My favorite sport to play is tennis, although I don’t mind watching my future husband Rafael Nadal play. I LOVE watching football, and it would be sinful for me to cheer for anyone other than the Green Bay Packers!

Who is your Biggest Celebrity Crush?  Dwayne (The ROCK) Johnson. :heart heart sigh:

What music do you play when you start your shift? Believe it or not, I like to have peaceful, quiet mornings. We have a playlist that Kristin made a while back called “rainy day”, and that’s generally the one I start out with. It just has a bunch of mellow songs ranging from Adele, Jason Mraz, Gotye, and She and Him.

What is your favorite book? Favorite book of all time would be To Kill A Mockingbird, thanks to Mr. Keehan and CAPP English!

What is your favorite movie? All of my favorite movies include Will Farrell. Elf, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys. But that’s not to mention the awesome documentaries that I watch.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla ice cream with bananas and chocolate syrup.

Are you sarcastic? Was Auschwitz in Poland?

Do you believe the above was unnecessary to put on this questionnaire? I do not know vut you are talkeen abowt. *you tried to sound that out… I know it!*

Were you named after anyone? Yes, my middle name is from my Aunt Michelle!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I actually found a journal entry from when I was in first grade. It said that I wanted to be the garbage person that rides on the back of the garbage truck. I’ve accomplished that goal. J

And now, what do you want to be when you grow up? Retired. Or Adele.

If you were reborn, what would you want to be? A sloth. Hey Noel, what rhymes with sloth?!

What do you wish you had more time for? I think this is a fancy way of asking ‘What is your favorite pastime?’ That’s an easy answer—my family. We all become so consumed with work, errands, chores, and our own little things to complete, but taking the time out to spend with my family is some of the most enjoyable times I’ve had. We get a bit rowdy (go figure!), but sitting around the dining room table playing dominoes for hours have provided me with some of the best memories. To make it even better, my family keeps growing! I have my nephews Teydon (5) and Carson (born July 27), and my niece Claire (born September 17). Also to be included is my godson Hayden (4) and my two “adopted” nephews Brayden (3) and Kaleb (1).

Have you ever been out of the country? Where is the farthest you have been from home? Yes I have! I took a little trip when I was 17 and went to Spain for 3 months. On my journey over in Europe, I made stops in France and Germany. When I was a senior in high school, our choir took a trip to Canada (a trip that I got to go on with Miss Janel). WHAT HAPPENS IN TORONTO, STAYS IN TORONTO!

How many states have you visited? How many have you driven through and technically been to? I’ve obviously gone to the traditional surrounding states (Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois), and other than that I’ve been to California. I guess you could include when I had a layover in New York for a few hours and took a taxi ride, just so I could say I did it. Not to mention all the states me drove through to get to Canada. We even stayed overnight in some weird state—I think it was Idaho.

Do you have a favorite national monument? If they made a national monument of Janel Abel, it would be my favorite.

Do you think people usually have a favorite national monument, or is that odd? I don’t even know what a national monument is…

What is your favorite of the Seven Wonders of the World? Go ahead, we’ll give you time to Google: I don’t feel like googling right now, but I DO think Stevie Wonders is pretty cool.

What is your favorite winter activity? I’m accident-prone, but I still love snowmobiling and sledding. I’ve had minor accidents the last couple years, but I’m still alive—so I’ll probably still be fine to do it again this winter.

What is your favorite summer activity? Pretty much anything outside! I know, I know—my skin color still matches the sunscreen I put on, but I swear I go out! Taking my nephews swimming and going camping are up there on the list.

Which season is your favorite? Spring, because everything is reborn. J

If you were an Olympian, what would your sport be? I’m not agile or fast, so in that case, I would become the first Olympian to star in making snow angels for the winter Olympics. Dallas told me once that if shouting were a sport, I could win in the Olympics.

If you could be any vehicle, what would you be and why? A minivan! It’s like a movie theatre/luxury suite on wheels! They ALWAYS come with a good sound system, and just THINK about all the room for my baggage!

What does your horoscope say today? “Shared experience bonds you with your colleagues. This is humanity at its best: belonging to one another in some intangible but very real way.”

How do you feel about that? I couldn’t have said it better myself.

What is your pet peeve? When people at restaurants don’t put the salt and pepper shakers back into their holders, and when people say “I’m bored”. When two different songs are playing at the same time. The BEEEEEP alarm clock noise. The list goes on….

If you could talk with any kind of accent for the rest of your life, what accent would you choose? The one I already use on a daily basis. If you’ve ordered a coffee from me, you’ve most likely heard it. It’s a mixture between Eastern Indian, Chinese, Hispanic, and German. I’ve come to notice that everyone in my family talks with an accent at some point during the day, and it’s also become contagious to people such as Miss Ali who now uses it habitually.  But if I were a man, I would like to have a Scottish accent.

Do you think you’ll be a cute grandma? Negative. In my mind, the ideal grandma is the petite, calm, sincere, little tiny, looks-so-fragile-you’re-scared-to-hug-her, grandma. I’m 5’9”. I will NEVER be short. Unless I get extreme arthritis and osteoporosis, therefore causing me to lose a foot of my height. But if that’s the case, then I’d probably have a crazy hunch back, so I’d be Quasimoto grandma—and that’s not cute.

Do you play a musical instrument? I play clarinet, saxophone, a little bit of piano, and guitar. I like writing my own tunes so people can’t tell me I’m doing it wrong.

Do you speak any other language? Spanish was one of my college majors.

What is your favorite coffee cup and why?!  (Include a picture if you can!)  I have two favorite mugs. One of them is a mug I got from the kids that I nannied, and it has a picture of them from their first day of school. The other is my UWGB Alumni mug that I got as a graduation gift from college. It’s a nice feeling when $50,000 later, you get a mug and a certified piece of paper.

Does your car have a name? Yes, his name is Charlie. He’s a cobalt. He doesn’t like other people driving him.

If you were any mythological creature, what would you be? I would be a BluGold because my college career started out at UW- Eau Claire, and no one could figure out what it was. They’re trying to get people to believe it’s a mythological bird, but I’m calling shennans.

Did you know Mr. Rogers was a sniper in Vietnam? Actually, Mr. Rogers fought in Korea, and  he was not a sniper. But he was an ordained minister, just like my baby cousin Jared Koehler.

Are you a convicted felon? I have many aliases, as to be sneaky and cunning. So convicted?!—haha, no.

How is your driving record? Considering that I generally always have a child in my car, I’m a very safe driver. I got a speeding ticket a week after I got my license, which showed up on my record as “demonstrating excessive power and noise”… but I was driving my purple minivan named Ty. Once I turned 18 it was erased from my record though. I’ve been pulled over enough, but I’ve found that being honest and polite to the officer generally ends in a warning. J I think I’m a good driver, but Ben says I’m a maniac.

Fresh crop of Honey Crisp apples to side with your favorite sandwich! Yum. Be sure to try our light appetite favorite: Apple with Peanut Butter mixed with Granola and Chocolate Chips.

Click the menu tab to look for current menu updates, but check back soon as we head into the colder months for our winter specials!

P.S. Another barista profile coming next Friday. And be sure to check on the 20th - The Profile we've all been waiting for! ;)

Meet Miss Abigail!

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? abigail. abbey is also acceptable, but denise and lucy are not in any way a part of my name. there has been some confusion.

How long have you been a barista? cumulatively, 5 - 6 years, but not in sequence. the last two-ish have definitely been the best. (:

How long have you been a kc&t barista, as in, one of the best baristas ever? if you count the random farmer’s markets i worked in 2010, almost two and a half years! if you don’t then just under two years.

Where were you born? st. louis, missouri. ozzy smith had a baby on the same day in the same hospital. PRETTY COOL.

Where did you graduate high school? kaukauna.

Where did you graduate college? i didn’t, but i have attended UW Milwaukee and UW Oshkosh, and I am currently taking classes at NWTC. Ask me again in 2 years! I will tell you UW Green Bay.

Where did you graduate medical school? is this question for comedic value? i am sometimes surprised we are qualified to handle hot coffee and relatively sharp knives.

What is your favorite coffee shop? HAHA trick question. HAHAHAH what if i wasn’t going to say KC&T? I was, but I was going to mention a close second - the lazy dog in west virginia (alison mothes!).

What is your favorite kc&t coffee beverage? black coffee is my all-time favorite, and black coffee is usually what i drink after thinking about what i want for five minutes.

What is your favorite kc&t non-coffee beverage? oolong! nomnomnom.

What is your favorite kc&t sandwich? oh goodness. in theory, it is the goudasparagus, but the sandwich i eat most often is a grilled cheese with veggies.

What is your favorite kc&t bakery item? carrot cake. i have no self control.

What is your favorite food in general? i don’t know! it used to be a perfectly ripe tomato, but now it might be apples (or alterra carrot cake).

Tell us something else about food: it is a good thing to ingest on a semi-regular basis.

What is your favorite kc&t decorative feature? the baristas. (: ha ha ha ha. i am pretty partial to the free library, but i also really like the eclectic dish collection.

Please inform us of any other kc&t favorites we failed to mention: customers. we have the best customers! i am not even sucking up - i really think nicer people come to KC&T than go most other places.

Tell us a favorite story from baristaville: my favorite baristaville story happened in high school when my dear friend, lauren, got distracted while putting the lid on an especially dry cappuccino. she squashed the cup, and the froth from the cappuccino shot into the air and landed all over her face. she could only open one eye. it was PRETTY FUNNY, but maybe you had to be there. i can’t pick a shop favorite. i think kristin has the best shop stories. she did once learn the wonders of ginseng, and that was hilarious.

What is your favorite color? GREY. i know it isn’t very bright or shiny, but it is my favorite color in a symbolic sense. nothing is black and white; everything is grey area. if i have to pick a real color, not a shade, it is green (olive, moss, pea... all of the gross ones).

Do you have pets? A favorite? i do i do! we have some “family” pets, but the only one that is truly mine is zuzu the kitten. i had a chihuahua name billy, and no one loved him because he was kind of a jerk, but he will be my favorite for eternity even if he lives in the soil. he was irreplaceable. (:

What is your favorite sport? Perhaps a favorite team? Player? baseball. i am a cardinals fan at my core, but i have recently become pretty enamored with the brewers. this is not a point of contention for me, but it seems to stress other baseball fans out a lot. one time, i tried to wear a cardinals t-shirt and brewers hat at the same time; it met a lot of opposition.

Who is your Biggest Celebrity Crush? BILLY JOEL. come on. after that, it is probably edward norton.

What music do you play when you start your shift? something bouncy. lately, a lot of fun. and florence.

What is your favorite book? still life with the woodpecker! tom robbins <3 he is my favorite author.

What is your favorite movie? i am a big fan of being john malkovich, the royal tennenbaums, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, etc. i am not good at picking favorites.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? haagen-das has a pineapple coconut ice cream that could solve the world’s problems.

Are you sarcastic? there is no way to win answering this question.

Do you believe the above was unnecessary to put on this questionnaire? NO.

Were you named after anyone? my middle name was my great-grandma’s married last name (kaeller). she hated that i was named after her married name because she hated her husband and got a divorce in the late 1920’s (which was almost unheard of). however, “abigail bertha” did not have a very good ring to it.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? a vet and a waitress. one home movie suggests i wanted to be my brother’s gangster assistant.

And now, what do you want to be when you grow up? i would like to work in counseling specifically with youth and/or families. i would really like to join the peace corps in my next life. i also would enjoy doing pyschosocial research.

If you were reborn, what would you want to be? A UNICOORRRRNNNNNN.

What do you wish you had more time for? I think this is a fancy way of asking ‘What is your favorite pastime?’ Liam! you can never have enough baby time(: additionally, i would like more time and money to travel.

Have you ever been out of the country? Where is the farthest you have been from home? i have! australia.

How many states have you visited? How many have you driven through and technically been to? i haven’t been keeping track, but i will make an educated guess. i can remember about 13 states i have truly visited, but i have driven through more than 30 (i think).

Do you have a favorite national monument? the arch! duhhhh (:

Do you think people usually have a favorite national monument, or is that odd? no. i actually thought about that for a long time, and yes.

What is your favorite of the Seven Wonders of the World? Go ahead, we’ll give you time to Google: did you know that there are ancient, new, and natural lists for the seven wonders of the world? i am having a hard time picking one, but it might have to be the pyramid at giza, machu picchu, and gran sabana.

What is your favorite winter activity? complaining that my feet are cold and i hate it. once in awhile i like to go sledding and build snowmen.

What is your favorite summer activity? baseball gaaaaaaaaames(: being outside - the actual activity is not so important, but i do like to be on or around or in the water.

Which season is your favorite? not the one where my feet are cold.

If you were an Olympian, what would your sport be? i would a synchronized swimmer! if that fell through, i would be an olympic sailor with a fencing background.

If you could be any vehicle, what would you be and why? i would be a hot air balloon because they are cool and technically a vehicle.

What does your horoscope say today? “Your future is contained within your dreams and now it's time to remember them more clearly than ever. But this isn't about a new vision; it's more likely about a familiar one that's been lingering with you over the years. Dust off your old fantasies so you can explore them anew, even if your feelings about them are mixed. Don't stiffen up with resistance or fear; instead, reclaim your flexibility and stretch into the uncertainty to see where your emotions lead.” (huffington post)

How do you feel about that? it is fluffy and ambiguous, but better than the first one i read. (:::

What is your pet peeve? off the top of my head, my biggest pet peeve is either not using blinkers on the road or not using manners in general.

If you could talk with any kind of accent for the rest of your life, what accent would you choose? french!

Do you think you’ll be a cute grandma? i think i’ll be feisty.

Do you play a musical instrument? i used to be able to play a violin, clarinet, and saxophone, but i don’t think i am currently capable. i want to learn piano, please and thank you. (:

Do you speak any other language? not any recognized favorites. i could get by well enough in french and i know a miniscule amount of spanish.

What is your favorite coffee cup and why?! i really like the unicorn mug for obvious reasons (there is a unicorn on it).

Does your car have a name? not yet. i have only had it for 12 hours. i need time to get to know it.

If you were any mythological creature, what would you be? i would love to say unicorn, but they are real. is the loch ness monster a mythological creature? if it is, i want to be the loch ness monster.

Did you know Mr. Rogers was a sniper in Vietnam? no.

Are you a convicted felon? no! i am not even an alleged felon.

How is your driving record? it used to be pretty fabulous, but the last three weeks have not been a prime example of that.

Meet the BOSS.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? That depends on who’s asking. I go by Alison, Ali, Sally, and Boss. Oh, and Miss Andrea likes to call me Alejandro.

How long have you been a barista? I’m counting. I think eight years.

How long have you been a kc&t barista, as in, one of the best baristas ever? Well! A combined total of about five years.

Where were you born? Not Oregon, like I should have been. Appleton Medical Centerrrr. Bored.

Where did you graduate high school? Kaukauna High

Where did you graduate college? What is college?

Where did you graduate medical school? Oh, that’s easy. Nana’s College of Nursing. I can fix a bee sting.

What is your favorite coffee shop? HAHA trick question.

What is your favorite kc&t coffee beverage? Can one decide on such a thing?! I love a cup of Black Earth Blend, but if I’m feeling fancy, I go with a seasonal latte, currently, Pumpkin Pie or Maple Spice, aka PANCAKES!!!

What is your favorite kc&t non-coffee beverage? Since I drink it every day, I must like iced tea. Any variety, really, but lately Lemon & Minty Green mixed togezzer.

What is your favorite kc&t sandwich? GoudAsparagus, all the way. But naturally, I’m going to say THEY’RE ALL GOOD.

What is your favorite kc&t bakery item? Cream cheese frosted cinnamon roll from my infamous baker, BFF Bakery! UPDATE: Fresh delivery of Pumpkin Loaf has me changing my answer. There is NOTHING BETTER.

What is your favorite food in general? Do you know, now that I’ve finally parted with my picky eaterness, this is much harder of a question. I love food, and not just good food…Janel and I are currently competing for the title of Sweet Tooth Queen. Better have that carrot cake for breakfast…

Tell us something else about food: If you ever want to feel super guilty about eating processed, pre-packaged, non-organic, non-free-range, non-grass fed food, watch Food Inc. To this day I won’t eat an egg that isn’t cage-free. I <3 my chickens and I want them to be happeee!

What is your favorite kc&t decorative feature? Once upon a time it was Alice Cooper, watching over me as I made shock rock lattes all day. Now, I definitely have to say it’s our big Little Free Library made from upcycled doors and stocked to the brim with books free for the taking. I love
free stuff. I also love awesome customers who think of crazy ideas like that one. Thanks, Jon!

Please inform us of any other kc&t favorites we failed to mention: Abbey was spot on .. our customers (you!) make everyday a wonderful day! We wouldn't be here without you, but you know that. Can't wait to see your smiling facessss.

Tell us a favorite story from baristaville: DISCLAIMER: The following is not to be tried at home. Nor will the coffee shop serve ten shots of espresso at one time to any given person ever. Again.  And that brings me to Espresso Power Hour. Fun for the first half an hour and five shots, near the end our pupils were probably the size of Pluto, which is still a planet in my book, and heart rates and breathing patterns were just short of spastic. That’s why neither Andrea nor I chose that photo for our barista profiles.

What is your favorite color? I don’t have one. I have a favorite color scheme, and I think that is well expressed in the décor. Red and baby blue .. I CAN’T GET OVER IT.

Do you have pets? A favorite? We as a family have pets. A couple few kitties. Technically two of them are mine, and technically Duncan is my favorite, but we don’t talk about that.

What is your favorite sport? Perhaps a favorite team? Player? While I am not sporty in the LEAST, I do enjoy a good football game. And by that I mean Packer game, and when I say enjoy, I don’t mean that I follow and necessarily know what’s going on, but I will oggle Clay Matthews and his beautiful hair as often as the cameramen will let me.

Who is your Biggest Celebrity Crush? Jeff Bridges ;D

What music do you play when you start your shift? I’m so boring, and usually in a hurry, so every day for the past month or so I’ve played the same mix of The Civil Wars, Of Monsters and Men, David Gray, Kyle Megna and the Monsoons, Feist, Fleet Foxes .. typical coffee house melodies.

What is your favorite book? I don’t have one anymore. The last book I read was Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins, and it was good enough to send me on a Tom Robbins kick, so I guess that’s good enough.

What is your favorite movie? Probably Garden State, or some other quirky independent film I can’t think of off the top of my head. You know.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I’m a big supporter of the darkest, richest, chocolatiest custard with any type of nut. If you’re going to do it, do it goooood.

Are you sarcastic? That depends entirely on the company I’m in. So yes, at times.

Do you believe the above was unnecessary to put on this questionnaire? In Andrea’s case, for sure.

Were you named after anyone? Yes, my middle name, Louise. But that’s a rather long and confusing story. I do know that I was supposed to be named Raegan (Ragan?) and I think that would have been baller.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Kerri Strug. Before that, a teacher.

And now, what do you want to be when you grow up? A potter.

If you were reborn, what would you want to be? A tree, most likely a willow, in the middle of one of Canada’s national forests right by the water. Are there willows in Canada? Is that a stupid question?

What do you wish you had more time for? I think this is a fancy way of asking ‘What is your favorite pastime?:' I don’t think it’s a matter of needing or wanting more time, it’s how I can use my time more wisely and utilize more minutes in my day. If I could figure that one out, I would clean and set up my basement to be the potter I want to be when I grow up!

Have you ever been out of the country? Where is the farthest you have been from home? Yes! London is the farthest I’ve been. And I’m going back. Tomorrow.

How many states have you visited? How many have you driven through and technically been to?
Visited: California, Oregon, Ohio, Mississippi (only to pose in front of Brett Favre’s Hometown sign, lame), Louisiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Washington DC (?), and driven through a whole mess of states on the way to all those listed. Look at a map, you can figure it out.

Do you have a favorite national monument? Though I’ve never been there, and it’s not a monument but a landmark, I’m fascinated by the Grand Canyon. Roaddd Tripppp!

Do you think people usually have a favorite national monument, or is that odd? If it’s the Washington Monument …then it’s odd.

What is your favorite of the Seven Wonders of the World? Go ahead, we’ll give you time to Google: Having just closed the book on Still Life with Woodpecker, my interest in pyramids has been renewed. So that’s my current but not final answer.

What is your favorite winter activity? Ice skating! It’s been a few years, and I did ski for the first time two years ago and that was pretty exhilarating. Maybe it’s a toss up.

What is your favorite summer activity? Water skiing if I get the opportunity, but I enjoy anything that can be done outdoors.

Which season is your favorite? It’s always been a battle between Spring and Autumn, but this year I think I’ve officially decided on Autumn. The latte flavors tipped the scales.

If you were an Olympian, what would your sport be? Luge

If you could be any vehicle, what would you be and why? the Scion IQ because I’d be little and cute and smart.

What does your horoscope say today? Aries (March 21-April 19): You have an uncommon talent. That’s
precisely why you can’t expect the common man to recognize, utilize or praise it. But there is work you can do to make our gifts accessible to everyone.

What do you think about that? Better than yesterday’s, and I’m out to find my uncommon man.

What is your pet peeve? Solicitors. Drivers. When there is no take-a-penny-leave-a-penny dish and I get 4 pennies back in change.

If you could talk with any kind of accent for the rest of your life, what accent would you choose? like a BRIT.

Do you think you’ll be a cute grandma? I’ll have white hair! So yes, yes I do.

Do you play a musical instrument? I can, but you didn’t ask if I can play it well! hahaha joke’s on you.

Do you speak any other language? I can! Again, not well, but I know a word or two.

What is your favorite coffee cup and why?!  (Include a picture if you can!)

This one, because my sister gave it to me for my birthday, Mickey Mouse is my favorite, and no one else has ever given me a coffee mug! What in the world!

Does your car have a name? The Chariot. No, it really doesn’t, it feels unnecessary to name a minivan. Even Beetle didn’t have a name. I only named my first car, Frank, and I’m still sad about his demise and stand by my theory that he would still be truckin’ today if it weren’t for his unfortunate winter mishap with a bus. I know this because one time I forgot to get my oil changed and I ran him completely out of oil and drove that way for about a month and a half, mostly ignoring the noise that was increasing by the day, until finally I decided Jerry needed to give him a check up and I learned what I had done. I only say this because when Maddy did the same thing to her Saturn, it died instantaneously, and Joe’s Garage had that engine in pieces to make it better again. Frank for the win!

If you were any mythological creature, what would you be? Medusa, because I like her hair and she’s always who I think of when I think of mythological creatures.

Did you know Mr. Rogers was a sniper in Vietnam? Those quiet ones always have the darkest secrets…

Are you a convicted felon? The sky is very blue today...(No, or course not!)

How is your driving record? Once, as you’ve learned, I hit a bus. And once my registration was sent to my old address so I never put renewal stickers on my car, but I’m quite upset about how this all went down. Let me tell you. We went to Milwaukee that day for Summerfest and I discovered that morning about the sticker, but I’m young so I take chances and I went anyway. On the way home at 2 am, there was absolutely no traffic on the highway and I’m going the speed limit and suddenly there is a patrol car in front of me going FIFTY-FIVE miles an hour. So, I have no choice but to pass him or he’ll wonder what the crap I’m doing, so I had to knowingly set myself up for being pulled over. Lame. He let me go. The end.