Tour de Chocolat
Attention chocolate lovers: I have just the thing for you. I recently had the opportunity to take the Tour de Chocolat as a representative of Pan Pacific Hotel. I got a call from work the night before the tour and they said there was an open spot for someone from the hotel to go on the tour for free. Being the chocolate lover that I am I quickly said I could make it. I got the time and location and made my transportation plans. I took the bus to Seattle because I didn’t want to bother with traffic and parking and risk missing the tour van.
The tour is great. We started at the Chocolate Box located near the Pike Place Market and tasted rich hot chocolate. Our guide told us about chocolate and gave a sample from one of the local chocolatiers. One of the things I liked most about the tour is that they are smart enough to give you a little bag to save the chocolate you can’t finish. Believe it or not I did have leftovers.
Our driver took us to three different locations is Seattle. We got to take a tour through Theo Chocolates. They are amazing. I learned the process of making chocolate “from bean to bar.”
We went to Fran’s Chocolate in the University Village. There we got to sample some truffles and the nationally recognized salted caramels. One of the highlights of the tour is that you get to dip your own chocolates at one of the stops, Oh! Chocolate. I would recommend this to anyone who has a sweet tooth, but I do have a few tips.
1.Eat something with substance before you go
2.Ladies wear your hair up if possible because you wear a hair net at Theo
3.Don’t eat all of everything you sample, save it so you don’t over do it
4.Bring your wallet because you’ll probably find something you can’t live without
Most of the samples we had on the tour were dark chocolate, which is my favorite. If you like chocolate but aren’t wild about dark you might find yourself converted by the end of the tour. A cool part about the tour is that you get great views of Seattle and also get to see the Fremont Troll.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Recommendations
Hanging out with friends gives us all the opportunity to be exposed to new cool things. Since we can't hang out with everyone I wanted to pass on some cool things we recently did with some of our friends.
Movie/Documentary: Man on Wire (PG) documentary about a man who did a high-wire act between the two towers of the World Trade Center. It's fun to watch but I must warn there is brief reference to drugs, and weird nudity (the only way to describe it), but don't let that deter you from seeing it. This movie will have you on the edge of your chair at times.
Movie: Eagle vs. Shark Rated R for language, some sexuality, and brief animated violence. This is about two nerds finding each other (think Napoleon Dynamite but edgier and more random if possible). It's funny! The swearing is probably the main reason it is rated R. The violence is video game style, so it's like Mortal Combat. The sexuality is probably more rated PG-13 than R, but everyone is their own judge of that. I laughed out loud several times!
TV Series (DVD): Extras
This is a series with one of the main characters from the British Office. It's got guest appearances with actors like Kate Winslet and Samuel L Jackson. It's that same kind of awkward humor found in Office that we've all become fans of.
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream - Seattle
This is a local shop with homemade ice cream and waffle cones. It smells like heaven when you walk in the door. They have some traditional flavors, but they also have specialty flavors. They let you sample if you're not sure about the flavor. I braved it and tried Balsamic Strawberry on recommendation from Jen, I enjoyed it.
We hope these recommendations have given you ideas for something new. We're always looking for something new to do so let us know your ideas too.
Movie/Documentary: Man on Wire (PG) documentary about a man who did a high-wire act between the two towers of the World Trade Center. It's fun to watch but I must warn there is brief reference to drugs, and weird nudity (the only way to describe it), but don't let that deter you from seeing it. This movie will have you on the edge of your chair at times.
Movie: Eagle vs. Shark Rated R for language, some sexuality, and brief animated violence. This is about two nerds finding each other (think Napoleon Dynamite but edgier and more random if possible). It's funny! The swearing is probably the main reason it is rated R. The violence is video game style, so it's like Mortal Combat. The sexuality is probably more rated PG-13 than R, but everyone is their own judge of that. I laughed out loud several times!
TV Series (DVD): Extras
This is a series with one of the main characters from the British Office. It's got guest appearances with actors like Kate Winslet and Samuel L Jackson. It's that same kind of awkward humor found in Office that we've all become fans of.
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream - Seattle
This is a local shop with homemade ice cream and waffle cones. It smells like heaven when you walk in the door. They have some traditional flavors, but they also have specialty flavors. They let you sample if you're not sure about the flavor. I braved it and tried Balsamic Strawberry on recommendation from Jen, I enjoyed it.
We hope these recommendations have given you ideas for something new. We're always looking for something new to do so let us know your ideas too.
Monday, December 22, 2008
ACH Expert, from AAP to... well, AAP
So, are you all ready for some exciting work news!!! Me too!...
Wait… I do have some news.
It all began years ago with the tragic murder of the members of SCOPE (the Special Committee On Paperless Entries). The purging was devised by the evil forces of CHA (the Clearing House Association). CHA had been the sole source of entry clearing of the nation for nearly 100 years. They knew that if SCOPE was able to succeed, their domination in the banking world would be destroyed. One fateful November night the entire committee was gunned down outside of a Broadway opera house. I was but a boy then, but the events of that night would stay with me forever…
CHA was foolish in their actions. The death of SCOPE only brought attention to the cause. Soon the first Automated Clearing House (ACH) association would be formed. NACHA (the National Automated Clearing House Association) would now be the beacon of light in this world gone mad.
It’s been several years since that night, but the images still haunt me. Over the past several months I have been traversing the globe training my body and mind for the test that approached. I would join the ranks of NACHA and watch as the purveyors of check writing watched their plans for world domination burn down around them.
With my training complete I was prepared for the test; a grueling three-hour exam on all aspects of ACH. From rules and regulations to technical formats, I was questioned mercilessly. My head was swimming in information when I left the testing center. It would take the adjudicators time to evaluate my results. I would have to sit and wait.
After six weeks of agonizing waiting, the results came. I had passed. I had joined the league of extraordinary men. I was an AAP (Accredited ACH Professional). We are few, but mighty. Wherever men would seek to usurp the power of the innocent, we are there. Whenever a people are subject to tyranny, we are there. We are your electronic payment protectors. Your direct deposit defenders.
We are your Dark Knights.
Ahhh… so you made it to the end. Good job. You have passed the first test, and as your reward:
1) ACH. We all deal with the ACH network everyday, probably without even noticing it. Any time you use a debit or credit card, your online bill payments or your payroll direct deposit. ACH entries are basically any transaction that happens electronically. There are several different kinds of ACH entries and each has its own set of rules. These rules must be strictly followed or the banks involved could be penalized.
2) SCOPE. This really is the Special Committee On Paperless Entries. It was formed to consider the advantages and disadvantages of paperless (electronic) items.
3) NACHA. The national association in charge of monitoring rules violations and updating the rules book when changes are made. This is the head honcho of the ACH world.
4) AAP. Accredited ACH Professionals are actually a very rare breed. We are nationally recognized as experts in our field. Those of us who work at financial institutions make sure that rules are being followed and that ACH entries are being processed in the most efficient manner.
There are many facets to the ACH world and the AAP certification. I understand that you may have some questions about what it is I will do with my “really impressive title”; or how to find out what that crazy charge on your account is. If you have any questions, please ask away. I am more than happy to show off… I mean help, yeah help, that’s the ticket!!
Wait… I do have some news.
It all began years ago with the tragic murder of the members of SCOPE (the Special Committee On Paperless Entries). The purging was devised by the evil forces of CHA (the Clearing House Association). CHA had been the sole source of entry clearing of the nation for nearly 100 years. They knew that if SCOPE was able to succeed, their domination in the banking world would be destroyed. One fateful November night the entire committee was gunned down outside of a Broadway opera house. I was but a boy then, but the events of that night would stay with me forever…
CHA was foolish in their actions. The death of SCOPE only brought attention to the cause. Soon the first Automated Clearing House (ACH) association would be formed. NACHA (the National Automated Clearing House Association) would now be the beacon of light in this world gone mad.
It’s been several years since that night, but the images still haunt me. Over the past several months I have been traversing the globe training my body and mind for the test that approached. I would join the ranks of NACHA and watch as the purveyors of check writing watched their plans for world domination burn down around them.
With my training complete I was prepared for the test; a grueling three-hour exam on all aspects of ACH. From rules and regulations to technical formats, I was questioned mercilessly. My head was swimming in information when I left the testing center. It would take the adjudicators time to evaluate my results. I would have to sit and wait.
After six weeks of agonizing waiting, the results came. I had passed. I had joined the league of extraordinary men. I was an AAP (Accredited ACH Professional). We are few, but mighty. Wherever men would seek to usurp the power of the innocent, we are there. Whenever a people are subject to tyranny, we are there. We are your electronic payment protectors. Your direct deposit defenders.
We are your Dark Knights.
Ahhh… so you made it to the end. Good job. You have passed the first test, and as your reward:
1) ACH. We all deal with the ACH network everyday, probably without even noticing it. Any time you use a debit or credit card, your online bill payments or your payroll direct deposit. ACH entries are basically any transaction that happens electronically. There are several different kinds of ACH entries and each has its own set of rules. These rules must be strictly followed or the banks involved could be penalized.
2) SCOPE. This really is the Special Committee On Paperless Entries. It was formed to consider the advantages and disadvantages of paperless (electronic) items.
3) NACHA. The national association in charge of monitoring rules violations and updating the rules book when changes are made. This is the head honcho of the ACH world.
4) AAP. Accredited ACH Professionals are actually a very rare breed. We are nationally recognized as experts in our field. Those of us who work at financial institutions make sure that rules are being followed and that ACH entries are being processed in the most efficient manner.
There are many facets to the ACH world and the AAP certification. I understand that you may have some questions about what it is I will do with my “really impressive title”; or how to find out what that crazy charge on your account is. If you have any questions, please ask away. I am more than happy to show off… I mean help, yeah help, that’s the ticket!!
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