It is National Coffee Day

Well, I mean everyday is an unofficial coffee holiday, but this one is O-F-F-I-C-I-A-L (I think I spelled it right.  It's so hard putting a dash after each letter...that's what she said...)  Most of the people I know enjoy a couple of mugs each day, well except for my family.  But I still love them...

In fact, I’ve got a cup right here next to me.  However, I usually don’t drink that cup.  It just sits here keeping me company as I write.  Then I do take a sip and I remember that it’s cold, so I have to refill my mug.  But, it’s here right next to me.  Oh wait, I just took a sip, so you can ignore this paragraph.  Oh look, I took a sip again!

I wish I could pass along some coffee trivia to you all, as this seems like an appropriate place to do so.  Something like, the coffee plant was originally harvested to make twin births more common or an unripe coffee bean tastes similar to bubble gum.  But, those are false.  Actually, I don’t know what an unripe coffee bean tastes like, but I imagine it’s far worse than bubble gum.  It probably tastes like dirt and I don’t know, a bean perhaps.  Or maybe it tastes like cotton candy, just without the candy.  You know, the way the paper cone tastes, I mean not that I’ve had just the paper from cotton candy.  I’m just sayin…

One way I would like to have coffee is with a French Press.  I’ve had espresso, a counter top coffee maker, a Brew Station, Starbucks  and while camping I’ve made quite a few pots over a campfire, but never from a French Press.  Although I like the name that Wikipedia gives it: A Coffee Plunger.  Wouldn’t want that near the toilet.  I also have not had coffee and a donut.  I’ve had both separately, but never together.  I guess you could say I haven’t dipped my crawler in a cup.  Actually, maybe you shouldn’t say that.  People may look at you funny.

And I do like coffee mugs.  Last year I asked my Facebook friends to send me photos of their mugs to be displayed in MugShots.  I probably should have made a coffee table book of coffee mugs, but that sounds too Seinfeldish.  While I was recuperating from my stroke, I actually got a few coffee mugs as gifts.   Each one is a part of my personality.  That sounds kinda weird.  What I mean is that each one REFLECTS a part of my personality…

We are entering my favorite time to drink coffee: the fall and winter and spring and summer.  It’s my favorite because they have all those holiday creamers and because at places like Starbucks they have special flavors – like Pumpkin Spice!  And of course it’s cool then.  I drink hot coffee when it’s hot but I usually start feeling sweaty while doing so, I know: too much information.  Maybe I should try iced coffee…

So in honor of National Coffee Day I say to you: raise up your mug and join me for a toast.  Although after reading this post, I should probably cut down on my daily caffeine consumption.  But where’s the fun in that?!!!

In Remembrance...

Since I started blogging, I repost this on September 11th.  I hope you don't mind...


At the very end of July 2001, my family and I (pre-twins of course) all flew up to New Hampshire and then to Maine for a family reunion. We had a long wait on the tarmac at the airport in Newark and realized that we might get to fly past New York. In anticipation, we got out my brand new digital camera (you remember the old ones that cost $500 for a 1 megapixel unit). 

As we took off in the little puddle jumper that would take us up the coast, we got an aerial tour of New York City. Although we certainly weren’t expecting it, we got to see many of the landmarks the city is famous for. We were treated to views of the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and even Yankee Stadium (which at the time was the highlight for me). But as we would come to realize just 2 short months later, our real highlight was getting to pass the World Trade Center and its 2 magnificent towers. The picture to the left was taken simply and casually as a tourist would take a picture of something they recognize. It has now become as cherished as any photo from that entire wonderful trip.

I post it in remembrance of September 11, 2001, when this country was forever changed.

Repost: Star Trek

On this night in 1966, Star Trek premiered.  It gave us Leonard Nimoy and Mr. Priceline, William Shatner.  This is what I wrote on 40th anniversary way back in 2006...

40 years ago tonight, NBC aired the first episode of what would become a cultural phenomenon and highly successful franchise. Star Trek hit the air on September 8, 1966. I have referred to Star Trek numerous times during my relatively short stay in blog land but in honor of this momentous day, it’s time to pull out all the stops.

I just finished watching “The Trouble With Tribbles” on TV Land and after not having watched an episode of the original series in several years, I was surprised at how vivid and bright all of the colors were. Watching as an adult, I was also caught off guard as to how campy everything about it was. Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve always been a fan and am (almost) not embarrassed to admit that I donned pointy ears back in the 7th grade and dressed as Mr. Spock for Halloween. The answer to your question is no, I did not have a date for that night’s junior high Halloween dance, but that’s not the point!

I have a lot of random thoughts about the show I want to share with you. The biggest one is that for such a logical and by the book guy, how cool was Mr. Spock. You know you’re watching a hip alien when he has a Beatle haircut. And how about those Klingons? Watching them made me realize how different creatures can evolve at such varied paces. In the 1960s episodes they were in, Klingons look pretty human, maybe a little beatnik, but definitely human. Fast forward just a few short years and they have evolved into menacing figures with foreheads that are eerily similar to an aerial view of California’s San Andres fault. Perhaps a better comparison for their heads would be what my puckered and stitched open-heart surgery scar looked like the day following surgery (although that might be better explained in a different posting; I told you this would be pretty random).

Watching Star Trek in syndication as a youngster ruined my understanding of space. I was almost in my teens by the time I came to accept that stars in space were not held in place by cosmic fishing line. I am proud to say that I was informed enough to know that the show was called “Star Trek,” not “Star Track” as so many people called it. Sadly, I would correct them. In hindsight, when it came to alienating my friends (so to speak), that was not such a logical thing to do.

The ideas, philosophy and technology on the show are still influencing us today. Did you know that television’s first interracial kiss was between Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura? When NASA asked the public to name the first Space Shuttle, the unanimous choice was The Enterprise. The cell phone was obviously derived from the original communicator. We should thank Start Trek creator Gene Roddenberry every time we place a call from the middle of nowhere or ask the person on the other line, “Can you hear me know?” That phrase has become the new Millennium’s version of “beam me up.” The new cell phone wireless head-set blue-tooth ear clip on things (that as you can tell from my description I obviously know nothing about) sure remind me of the ear piece Uhura used to hail Star Fleet. Don’t you agree?

From everything I have read and seen, the original episodes are about to be exposed to yet another generation. TV Land is going to start airing the show nightly beginning in November and I read on MSNBC.com that high-definition versions of the original series with updated special effects (maybe they’re using George Lucas) will start in syndication around the country next week. I saw a promo tonight and I think they might have updated more than just the special effects. I could have sworn I heard Dr. McCoy tell Captain Kirk, “Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor, not a blogger!”

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

I know it's Labor Day Weekend...but I sure hope you aren't working! It's seen as the last weekend of Summer, though the heat will be with us for a while. But soon we'll be putting pumpkin creamer in our coffee cups and toasting the coming of Fall. Well, except for Southern California...we kind of go from Summer to Winter, which is a drag! Enough about that. Let's enjoy what we have while we have it.

I'm starting the weekend under the porch smoking a couple of racks of ribs. I've got the Ipod playing Jimmy Buffet and a cold soda within arm's reach. Well I just tried to reach my soda, so I'll say one and half arm's lengths. I wearing my “I Love To BBQ” t-shirt and my family is laughing at me...well, laughing WITH me (I hope). All that's missing is the Tiki statue (my family knows where to get one)!

So I hope you all have a great end of Summer. I trust that you won't be dumb as I am and that you will stay inside today. But if you are outside, I hope that you've got a pool. Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!

I Need To Stop At The White House To Make A Deposit

Looking to buy a piece of property? I heard about one in Georgia that might be appealing. It's a replica of...The White House. It was a bank that went out of business. It's 13,000 square feet but does not have an Oval Office. But it has a drive up window! The real White House doesn't have that.

You could have the White House with a touch of Elvis – you could install a Jungle Room. With the windows all in black and jungle print wallpaper. You won't get that in DC. Plus, you could shoot out the TVs when something you don't like is on.

Do you have something to tell your family or friends? You could tell them in the White House Press Room. Complete with a press release and telling them you won't take questions on where the family dog is. Or you could issue a news blackout...perfect for shutting up the loudmouth Aunt you have. How about using the Cabinet Room for...storage? Looking for something? Oh, it's in the Cabinet Room. Or could could use the Rose Garden for Bocce Ball.

What if you sold used cars in it? That would be something to tell the neighbors. I'm gonna buy my used car at the White House. You could negotiate the price in the Oval Office. The sales people could be dressed like secret service agents. Only the difference is, you could tell them what to do.

It would be perfect for a fast food place. I can see me getting a bacon cheese Lincoln Bedroom burger. Or a side of State Room fries. And let's not forget the Oval Office shake. Do I want lettuce with that burger? No! Veto the lettuce.

Yes, I could live in the replica White House. I just wouldn't let it go to my head. No limo, no plane and no secret service. Well actually, the plane would be fun!