Hi, Everyone! With Joke Hettema having done her great introduction of the Citizens of Boomtown app last week, I thought it would be nice to begin this week by introducing all of you to the extraordinary lady who since September 2022 has been the person behind making all new things dreamt up for Citizens of Boomtown come to life on the website by making it technologically possible. We have a coffee house that's going to be opening soon that you all can walk into with a notebook tucked under your arm, daydream out the window while listening to the songs we're going to have playing that you're going to love, & jot down your Ask The Rats questions before you forget! I took the opportunity on this crisp fall morning to sit down with Joke at one of our window seat tables while we were being dazzled by the finishing touches being put up all around us!

JENNIFER: Good morning, Joke!

JOKE: Good morning, Jennifer!

JENNIFER: So, obviously, I know the Rats are your favorite band! Tell me, who's another favorite band of yours & what's a subgenre within rock 'n roll that you really love?

JOKE: My favorite band after the Boomtown Rats is a Dutch band that was very popular in the 80's, called Het Goode Doel. As the 80's turned into the 90's, I found myself getting really into grunge bands.

THE BARISTA BRINGS US A MENU WITH SOME BRUNCH OFFERINGS.

JENNIFER: Since our menus have just been brought to us, Joke, tell me, what are your favorite foods?

JOKE: I love almost EVERYTHING! From Italian to Indian or a good Wiener Schnitzel.! And I eat a lot of vegetables!

JENNIFER: Me, too, Joke! I'm, in fact, vegan! So, on Thanksgiving, I don't EAT turkeys ~ on Thanksgiving, I CELEBRATE the turkey!

JOKE: (laughs)

JENNIFER: Speaking of holidays, which one is your favorite?

JOKE: I love summer so much that all of summer is a holiday to me!

JENNIFER: That's because you love nature & have been in your garden so much, isn't it?!

JOKE: YES!

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Just then, one of the coffee house' building crew had to install a very warm & cozy lamp right above the table we were sitting at, so Joke grabbed her bright red notebook (red is her favorite color!) & went to sit by the roaring fire to write about everything else she would love for you to know about her. Tomorrow Joke hands me her notebook & lets me share it ALL with you and you won't want to miss it! Tomorrow I'll meet you in front of the roaring fire & share the rest of Joke's story!

Pete's been meeting with the coffee mug designer and I think he's at the back door, so let me go and get that...

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