the international city...

Earlier I talked with a new cashier at the co-op who had an interesting accent and it turned out
she was originally from Germany.  But not Berlin.  I exposed my unfortunate level of ignorance
because I hadn't really heard of the city she was from and asked if that was the Bavarian region, mostly because I have heard of that and it's one of the factoids I know about geography.  Except
this woman was from somewhere in the North and apparently that is nowhere near Bavaria (in the south).  Also unfortunately I distracted her so much with my chit chat and questions and curiosity that she forgot to give me my change! ( I think she was new working there).
I probably could have thought of more things to ask her but there was another customer in line.

more secrets of the syrup...

Today at the Grove cafe...
the owner issued a stern warning to a customer who was about to handle
the syrup in an incorrect manner-- which would have caused syrup to spray in a sort
of direct projectile and get all over everything.  The syrup pouring must be done in a precise
manner to avoid such conflict.
Luckily today I had grilled cheese and no need for use of the syrup or any potential mishandling of it.
Phew.

Cy-borg

I picked up this "Cy" mask at a local store:
Our ISU mascot... part bird, part Cyclone