Tag: Editorial

Corporate Coffee Still Sucks

Editorial

This morning, on the way to somewhere. I tortured my wife with a game of “When I was a kid. We were so poor.” After starting several truths with the same “When I was a kid…” I knew that her tolerance was thinning. Whether she knew my intentions or not. The subject soon turned to coffee and I recalled how my Father never had anything but the leftovers of a six pack of Heineken and last nights take home from the bar. Despite owning a coffee maker. The only purpose it served was as an anchor in case the counter top decided to run away. While visiting on the weekend. He would always sleep until noon or so before he opened one eye enough to locate me looming by the doorway to say, “Coffee, Black. Two.” It was then, and only then. When I’d take whatever amount of money left on the side table or his pants. Usually enough for two cups of coffee. A dill pickle, (Those were good.) and a soda. Times were different. So two dollars would not only cover it, But provide with the loose change I needed to start my days adventures. As my wife suggested to stop at the local Starbucks to get some work done. I agreed. Thinking devilishly, of that Cafe Latte she’d purchase to keep me occupied and quiet while she had her nose in the computer. However, spending six to eight buck for a fucking cup of coffee and getting a funny look when you don’t adhere to their contrived sizes of Tall, Vente, and Grande. Imagine a construction worker, or bus driver ordering from those choices. I bet it’s like a kick in the balls. While I consider myself a realist, and I don’t expect a cup of coffee to cost thirty five cents in 2024. Wouldn’t we be better people if we made our own coffee and/or limited related outings to mom and pop or independently owned spots? Just a thought and an All-American rant. Drink Deep.

That’s When the Fun Starts.

Editorial, Festivals, Finding your Zen, Uncategorized

When agreeing or planning to attending any type of county or state fair. You have to open yourself to being exposed to some outlandish and outright redneck culture. Outdated and often unsafe carnival rides that feature soundtracks from the earl 80’s. D list cover bands who haven’t updated their sets since the Reagan. Deep fried everything and of course, the occasional Trump supporter or mullet fashioned family. It’s low brow entertainment in the third degree. And like it or not. Once you enter the fairgrounds,  you are a consenting, willing  participant and member of its subculture. FFerris-1or, it is only with that acceptance and embrace, that you will truly know the pleasure of eating bacon on a stick while crowding near a pen of newborn piglets to coo and look on in awe of their cuteness without even a minute sense of irony.

Over the last two weekends, we traveled to two separate fairs. One a County fair, the other, the mighty State fair. While I avoided the rides, one of which was featured on the news due to it breaking down. I took a bunch of pictures, had the worst  BBQ in my entire life and chose not to seek the answer to the question, “WTF are elephant ears, anyway?”

So go, try the bacon wrapped hot dog, mount your five year old on an unwilling sheep and ride the wooden roller coaster and have a blast. Life is short and the rewards often outweigh the risks. Worst case scenario, you end up on the news when the fire department arrives to rescue you from a ride called “Satan’s Revenge”.

Piglets-1.jpgPiglets-1-2.jpgGoat Fight-1

“How Do You Measure Success?”

Documentary, Measuring Success

Earlier this evening I was interviewed for a project a friend of mine is working on. As her small crew (two people) went about setting up and making me feel beautiful I had a pretty good idea of the line of questioning I was in for. The interview went pretty much as planned. Being that I was being interviewed by someone who looked as nervous as I felt relaxed me a bit and made me feel a lot less self conscious. Then came the question that just took the train right off the tracks, “How Do You Measure Success?”.  I sat there, reaching deep, like the scene in “A Bronx Tale” where Calogero is in the back seat of a stolen car with his friends and a case full of Molotov cocktails, “Someone was pulling the chain and I was going down the toilet.” Okay, so it wasn’t that bad but it was a question I felt needed the right answer. I stumbled and staggered for a moment before pulling myself from the abyss before referencing Henry Rollins and Ian McKaye as two individuals who became great successes both creatively and monetarily on their own terms.

In retrospect it was the easy answer. As I look back on my life I’ve had my share of successes and failures. I’ve cheated death a few times and fought back from what I was told to believe were insurmountable. Growing up I was taught to believe that success was gained by money and fame. It was a road I never really traveled. Regardless, I feel that I’ve experienced plenty of success in my life.  Part of that success comes from the fact that I love what I do. I love the people in my life. Both inspire, energize and influence the feeling that I did something right with my life and I treated people as I wanted to be treated. I’m living life on my own terms. Booyah!!!