I just returned from a trip to Marquette, Michigan. Marquette is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Go look at a map. Find Marquette. Do you notice how all major highways end before they get to the U.P.? The nearest interstate is like four hours away. We set foot outside this sleepy city and got lost in the woods. I'm not kidding. You're in the middle of two seas- the freshwater sea that is Lake Superior to the north, and the sea of trees that is, well, pretty much everywhere else. Pines and birches and poplars and maples whizz by, for hours, and you'll want to fall asleep at the wheel, just to put yourself out of your misery. You need a cup of coffee. But you're in the middle of nowhere, where can you turn? A man can only subject himself to so many Creamy French Vanilla Cappucinos from the Holiday station.
Luckily, there is a Starbucks in Marquette. The civilized world just got a whole lot closer with the sight of that wondrous green logo. You exhale a sigh of relief, grab your travel mug and walk in to order a triple grande soy no whip mocha, requesting that they rinse the inferior Holiday residue from your mug so as not to taint what is good and holy.
I used to hate Starbucks. They're too big, I said. Their coffee is burnt. Their stuff tastes like crap. They feast on third-world countries, I said. And they're EVERYWHERE. Yes, I used to hate Starbucks.
Then I matured into their coffee. I realized they don't feast on third-world countries... rather, they cultivate them. Their drinks taste great, and that funky, Euro-modern feel? Cool. And then I realized for the first time- these guys are EVERYWHERE. When you need a good cup of coffee, when you need to meet someone somewhere, when you need a place to chill for awhile, a place to have down-to-earth human contact, there's a Starbucks for you. Find me a more consistent cup of coffee that you can find practically anywhere you are. It's an amazing thing.
Starbucks can be overdone, absolutely. Too many four-dollar mochas will rack up the pounds, as well as leave a large hole in your wallet. But with everything in life, moderation is key. You can eat too much health food. You can spend too much time at church. You can watch too much football. Yeah, I know.
Let's go back to church for a moment, shall we? God is everywhere. He can be really divinely annoying sometimes, too, because of His omnipresence. But you know that He's there, right? When you need Him more than the air you breathe, He's on every street corner, in every strip mall, even as close as your kitchen cupboard, right? And so it is, to a significantly lesser extent, with Starbucks.
So in a quite literal, worldly way, Starbucks is indeed the God of coffee.
Spoken like a true Starbucks partner, right?
10.22.2006
10.14.2006
10.11.2006
Snow & Cold
It's October again. The trees are slowing dying, their last words communicated via hues of orange and red and yellow. It's getting cooler, too, down into the 50's and 60's for highs. And who pulled the shades on the sun? It looks like a mid-summer evening at noon everyday. This is the stuff of which fond memories are made, the days of autumns past, the perfect October photo op.
And if you live in Minnesota, it means the first snow is most assuredly on its way.
Last year, we received our first inch of snow on October 6. Though there is no such snow in the forecast today, Old Man Winter has been trying his darnedest to blast us with turbocharged flurries today. It was beautiful outside, more like December than October. It was mildly cold; I use "mildly" as a relative term, since it was only in the mid-30s, with a windchill of about 20. Good Minnesotans know that 35 is not cold, and a windchill of 20 is simply an invigorating breeze.
I like cold. Those of you who have been reading my musings since the summer know that a significant part of me dies every time the thermometer rises above 80. Cold wakes you up in the morning and gets you into a hot shower and off to work more quickly. Cold causes the static metamorphosis of liquids, allowing our ponds to become hockey rinks. Cold also causes our women to be more conducive to cuddling and becoming more smoochy. What palm-shaded sandy beach causes female reactions like that?
But most of all, cold sets you apart. You are automatically different when your loyalties lie below the freezing mark. You laugh because, when the rest of society bundles up in their North Face parkas, you are sitting pretty in your hooded sweatshirt. And heck, if you're being active outside, that's even too warm... jeans and a tee will do. You snicker at the shmuck who just coughed up 50 g's for a four-wheel-drive Escalade and put it in a ditch, as your Escort effortlessly plows through the drifts and safely delivers you to your next destination. And there is nothing like a shirtless toboggan run to get your blood flowing.
Cold is not a problem. And if one insists upon that premise, it's nothing wool socks and a hot cocoa can't fix.
But alas, this premature bout of snow is all but a passing fancy. It will warm up again, to 50 by Saturday, they say. There is still much of a wonderful, crisp, cool autumn left to enjoy.
As Garrison Keillor says, "October is a month for intellectual clarity. Try to keep that in mind. Cold is a stimulant, heat a depressant."
And if you live in Minnesota, it means the first snow is most assuredly on its way.
Last year, we received our first inch of snow on October 6. Though there is no such snow in the forecast today, Old Man Winter has been trying his darnedest to blast us with turbocharged flurries today. It was beautiful outside, more like December than October. It was mildly cold; I use "mildly" as a relative term, since it was only in the mid-30s, with a windchill of about 20. Good Minnesotans know that 35 is not cold, and a windchill of 20 is simply an invigorating breeze.
I like cold. Those of you who have been reading my musings since the summer know that a significant part of me dies every time the thermometer rises above 80. Cold wakes you up in the morning and gets you into a hot shower and off to work more quickly. Cold causes the static metamorphosis of liquids, allowing our ponds to become hockey rinks. Cold also causes our women to be more conducive to cuddling and becoming more smoochy. What palm-shaded sandy beach causes female reactions like that?
But most of all, cold sets you apart. You are automatically different when your loyalties lie below the freezing mark. You laugh because, when the rest of society bundles up in their North Face parkas, you are sitting pretty in your hooded sweatshirt. And heck, if you're being active outside, that's even too warm... jeans and a tee will do. You snicker at the shmuck who just coughed up 50 g's for a four-wheel-drive Escalade and put it in a ditch, as your Escort effortlessly plows through the drifts and safely delivers you to your next destination. And there is nothing like a shirtless toboggan run to get your blood flowing.
Cold is not a problem. And if one insists upon that premise, it's nothing wool socks and a hot cocoa can't fix.
But alas, this premature bout of snow is all but a passing fancy. It will warm up again, to 50 by Saturday, they say. There is still much of a wonderful, crisp, cool autumn left to enjoy.
As Garrison Keillor says, "October is a month for intellectual clarity. Try to keep that in mind. Cold is a stimulant, heat a depressant."
9.21.2006
Can't We All Just Get Along?
Alright folks, it's time to fire up the patriotic music, pose with the nearest small child, and dance in a shower of hanging chads!
It's election season! Yay!
And in no other state is the voting populous treated to more entertainment than in the lovely state of my residence, Minnesota. Among the stage acts this year is the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Mark Dayton, a seat that Republicans would love to nab, with Minnesota being a blue state and all, and so the mudslinging has begun. Upon the first polls being released, Republican U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy has found himself down by as many as 24 percentage points to Democratic Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and in order to make up ground has begun to release ads smearing his opponent. Point to Klobuchar for staying on the political straight-and-narrow.
Now, we've learned that some random Democratic blogger sent one of Ms. Klobuchar's top aides an email containing an unreleased campaign ad from the marketing agency in charge of producing ads on behalf of Rep. Kennedy. This aide allegedly viewed the not-yet-released campaign ad, and it was brought to the attention of Ms. Klobuchar that this had occurred. Instead of ignoring or making excuses for the aide's behavior (which we've seen PLENTY of in the politics of the past few years), the person was promptly fired by Klobuchar, an FBI investigation into the incident was requested by Klobuchar, and a public apology was issued.
Long story short, Klobuchar is now under attack from Kennedy for everything but high treason, and now Republicans will have us believe that Ms. Klobuchar sent political operatives out onto the internet to dig up dirt (or as much dirt as you can dig up in a self-promoting campaign ad) on Mark Kennedy. And they believe we're all going to cry foul, flock to an honest Republican like Mark Kennedy, and sweep him into office on a wave of votes and kisses.
I, personally, am impressed that Amy Klobuchar stood up and said "This is not what my campaign is about" and dropped the person from her campaign, no excuses offered and no questions asked. Let everyone spin the story how they'd like... the fact is, the candidate who is massively losing will always be the first to sling mud and the first to cry foul. And you can't convince me that a desperate man who has made it his first and foremost campaign plan to smear his opponent can be trusted to provide us with any truth about this situation, much less so lead our lawmakers in Washington.
Ah, election season. I agree, politics is dirty... and politicians maybe more so. Let's all be opinionated, but let's all do something about it. Vote. Please. I don't care if you're Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Veterinarian, Green, Blue, Red, Purple, Pink... just don't be Grey when it comes to voting, this is a basic American privilege, and if we are indeed a nation who will bomb and occupy other nations so that they can have this right, shouldn't we be the first to excercise it?
It's election season! Yay!
And in no other state is the voting populous treated to more entertainment than in the lovely state of my residence, Minnesota. Among the stage acts this year is the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Mark Dayton, a seat that Republicans would love to nab, with Minnesota being a blue state and all, and so the mudslinging has begun. Upon the first polls being released, Republican U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy has found himself down by as many as 24 percentage points to Democratic Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and in order to make up ground has begun to release ads smearing his opponent. Point to Klobuchar for staying on the political straight-and-narrow.
Now, we've learned that some random Democratic blogger sent one of Ms. Klobuchar's top aides an email containing an unreleased campaign ad from the marketing agency in charge of producing ads on behalf of Rep. Kennedy. This aide allegedly viewed the not-yet-released campaign ad, and it was brought to the attention of Ms. Klobuchar that this had occurred. Instead of ignoring or making excuses for the aide's behavior (which we've seen PLENTY of in the politics of the past few years), the person was promptly fired by Klobuchar, an FBI investigation into the incident was requested by Klobuchar, and a public apology was issued.
Long story short, Klobuchar is now under attack from Kennedy for everything but high treason, and now Republicans will have us believe that Ms. Klobuchar sent political operatives out onto the internet to dig up dirt (or as much dirt as you can dig up in a self-promoting campaign ad) on Mark Kennedy. And they believe we're all going to cry foul, flock to an honest Republican like Mark Kennedy, and sweep him into office on a wave of votes and kisses.
I, personally, am impressed that Amy Klobuchar stood up and said "This is not what my campaign is about" and dropped the person from her campaign, no excuses offered and no questions asked. Let everyone spin the story how they'd like... the fact is, the candidate who is massively losing will always be the first to sling mud and the first to cry foul. And you can't convince me that a desperate man who has made it his first and foremost campaign plan to smear his opponent can be trusted to provide us with any truth about this situation, much less so lead our lawmakers in Washington.
Ah, election season. I agree, politics is dirty... and politicians maybe more so. Let's all be opinionated, but let's all do something about it. Vote. Please. I don't care if you're Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Veterinarian, Green, Blue, Red, Purple, Pink... just don't be Grey when it comes to voting, this is a basic American privilege, and if we are indeed a nation who will bomb and occupy other nations so that they can have this right, shouldn't we be the first to excercise it?
9.18.2006
ch-ch-ch-changes
No, not life changes, haha. That's not 'til January. I just decided to try something a little different with my page. I figured that since there are a lot of people who change their layouts, you know, once a week, that probably makes me a little outdated. Relatively speaking.
So I have been on jury duty for a week now. Besides being in downtown Minneapolis during my favorite time of year, the 2-hour lunch breaks, finding the best coffee in the Skyway (the Dunn Bros in 6 Quebec will fill your personal mug for a buck with free refills!), meeting a few new people and feeling like you're fulfilling your civic duty, it kind of sucks. When you get selected to be on a jury, YOU are the first person who goes on trial. Yup, witness stand and all. You get asked personal questions about your life by the judge, the defense AND the prosecution. And after waiting around for hours in a little white room, they decide that they don't want you, the confident, caffeinated, khaki-wearing rube that you are, to be on their case. "Thank you for your patience," they smile and tell you, "You may report back to the basement so that we may or may not randomly select you for another trial." So you shoot down 19 floors to the basement of the Hennepin County Governement Center, the room that shakes because it's directly beneath 6th St, and has a little computer lab full of vintage '95 Compaq Presarios, the kind that are great for playing Solitaire and 3D Pinball, and no internet. But at least I had my coffee and my CityPages.
So here I sit, waiting to be called downtown again, not quite sure when I'll be able to go back to work, yet not allowed to go anywhere. I actually miss work, I wonder if everyone still remembers who I am? I promise I'll be back, guys! Confident, caffeinated, khaki-wearing... just please don't put me on trial.
On second thought, go for it. I'd much prefer it to little white rooms and musty basements that shake with the passing of democracy in action...
So I have been on jury duty for a week now. Besides being in downtown Minneapolis during my favorite time of year, the 2-hour lunch breaks, finding the best coffee in the Skyway (the Dunn Bros in 6 Quebec will fill your personal mug for a buck with free refills!), meeting a few new people and feeling like you're fulfilling your civic duty, it kind of sucks. When you get selected to be on a jury, YOU are the first person who goes on trial. Yup, witness stand and all. You get asked personal questions about your life by the judge, the defense AND the prosecution. And after waiting around for hours in a little white room, they decide that they don't want you, the confident, caffeinated, khaki-wearing rube that you are, to be on their case. "Thank you for your patience," they smile and tell you, "You may report back to the basement so that we may or may not randomly select you for another trial." So you shoot down 19 floors to the basement of the Hennepin County Governement Center, the room that shakes because it's directly beneath 6th St, and has a little computer lab full of vintage '95 Compaq Presarios, the kind that are great for playing Solitaire and 3D Pinball, and no internet. But at least I had my coffee and my CityPages.
So here I sit, waiting to be called downtown again, not quite sure when I'll be able to go back to work, yet not allowed to go anywhere. I actually miss work, I wonder if everyone still remembers who I am? I promise I'll be back, guys! Confident, caffeinated, khaki-wearing... just please don't put me on trial.
On second thought, go for it. I'd much prefer it to little white rooms and musty basements that shake with the passing of democracy in action...
9.17.2006
Vote For Bucky!
This is the most serious blog I will ever post... Bucky needs our help!
http://www.capitalonebowl.com/Default.aspx
Log in to this page and vote! You must vote in every matchup, but every mascot is cute and furry, so it's not too hard. And especially vote for Bucky!
I'm going to go watch the Vikings game now...
http://www.capitalonebowl.com/Default.aspx
Log in to this page and vote! You must vote in every matchup, but every mascot is cute and furry, so it's not too hard. And especially vote for Bucky!
I'm going to go watch the Vikings game now...
9.05.2006
A Blog About A Blog
So indeed, I need to be up in the morning, but doggonit, when you work at a coffee shop that doesn't close til 11pm, you're jacked for quite awhile! And when the happy couple in the apartment below you is hard at work being a happy couple, well...
So I post in anticipation of posting a somewhat useful and mildly introspective muse on the state of life and other observations, for all interested parties, coming soon... sometime... eventually... maybe... aren't you glad I've warned you in advance?
Stay tuned, folks. It's coming. Let the hype begin...
So I post in anticipation of posting a somewhat useful and mildly introspective muse on the state of life and other observations, for all interested parties, coming soon... sometime... eventually... maybe... aren't you glad I've warned you in advance?
Stay tuned, folks. It's coming. Let the hype begin...
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