What's on my mind Thursday, February 13, 2020

As I left early this morning amid the lightly falling snow, I noticed a guy clearing the flakes and ice from his car. His car with Florida plates. I hope he's enjoying Michigan.

They say the best things in life are free. I find that generally true: a child's laughter, a beautiful panorama, sunrises and sunsets. But among the things which are high on the list yet with small cost is the aroma of Tim Horton's coffee filling your car on a cold morning. For two bucks, it can give the free things a run for their money.

We're going to end up with about an inch of snow after the various prognosticators were calling for anywhere from one to six, depending on which one caught your ear. It makes me believe that beyond death and taxes, routinely wrong weather forecasts are certain too.

Baseball is coming. Just saying it. Repeating it actually. And I will be repeating it often in the coming weeks.

Baseball is coming.

See? Told ya.

A review of an adventuresome but otherwise dull Friday

Yesterday, Friday, June 7, 2019, was a routine day in the life of Charles Martin Cosgriff. I know because I am he who lived it.

It began earnestly if early enough at a little after 1 o'clock in the morning. I woke before my alarm, ran through the shower, and was on my way to Electric Eel Manufacturing as is my wont once or twice per week. I drove about thirty miles and stopped for a coffee at a Love's Truck Stop simply because I had never had Love's coffee before. I was bitterly disappointed. I should have went to the next exit for the 24 hour Tim Horton's I knew very well was there.

Fog shrouded my journey, particularly after I had reached US Route 68 just south of Findlay, Ohio. One feels isolated and alone in the wee hours of the morning when it is pitch black and you are moving through a ground cloud. I sipped my coffee because I will not throw out even bad coffee paid for. It was still bitter.

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel was enjoyable as I sat with a good friend. Biscuits and gravy. Them's hard to beat. The coffee was hot, smooth. No bitterness. I was thankful for that.

I loaded my order at Eel with the help of the shipping clerk. On my way home I made without event deliveries at both Lima and Toledo, Ohio. Not one but two cars with Alaska plates shared the road with me. Though unusual, it was not earth shattering. I've seen Alaska plates before.

Back at the Shop I unloaded, and dealt with three customers, garnering a total of $235 from them. I've done better, much better, yet it still put me $235 ahead of where I have found myself on many a day. It helped dissipate the bitterness I still felt over Love's coffee.

I went home, and it occurred to me that a review of my day might make a mildly interesting if only time killing and space filling blog post. So I did so. Sometimes it is the best one can do. I excised the dull parts just the same.

The great unanswered coffee question

As I related a couple of months ago, I bought a used Keurig single cup coffee maker for use at the Shop. My home percolator is not yet happy with me but our relationship is thawing, albeit slowly. You can read about that here if you like: http://thesublimetotheridiculous.blogspot.com/2018/05/lazy-coffee-jealous-percolators.html
Anyway, I was surprised at the cost of the coffee pods, those little plastic cups with a single serving worth of ground coffee which are used with the Keurigs. My daughter helped me on that question by buying me refillable pods (thanks Sweetie!). Still, I can't pass on a good sale when I see one, and I saw one yesterday. It was forty filled pods for ten bucks. So I bought a box.
My only issue is with the flavor: it is listed on the box as 'donut shop'. But which blasted donut shop is it?
Around here, when I think donut shop I think Tim Hortons's. But it's not Tim's flavor at all. Far too weak, and not the least bit robust. Nor does it seem to be Dunkin's or Biggby's or, thankfully, Starbucks (which in my mind is overpriced and tastes burnt). The newfound coffee tastes fine, but I can't associate it with any particular donut shop at all.
I think truth in advertising ought to compel them to simply call it coffee. That's what it is, and they should say as much. Curmudgeon rant over.

Thursday's stream of consciousness

Starbucks or Tim Horton's?

Tim Horton's of course. That isn't even a fair question.

You ever notice how many people call conservatives out on religious principle on subjects such as health care, poverty, and immigration but expect us to check our religious sentiment at the door on issues such as abortion and euthanasia?

Winter hasn't been too bad thus far. Only the one big snowfall, and except for a week or two it hasn't been that cold. And we're only about five weeks from being past the worst which winter has to offer. I'm liking this.

I'm curling tonight. I just thought you might like to know.

Yeah, Tim Horton's. Not even close.

Detroit Tiger pitchers and catchers report to Lakeland, Florida on Monday, February 13. Spring is almost here; Ernie's ready to read from the Song of Solomon. If you've never heard him recite from that book of the Bible, look it up. I'm sure it's on You Tube.

I gotta go pick up a jetter from a Sunbelt Rental in Sterling Heights. I thought you might like to know that too.

Oh yes, of course Tim Horton's. Why did I even bother to bring it up?

Ariana Grande and the furries

Remember when Sunday mornings were for going to Church? Well, now that I'm firmly ensconced as a Saturday Catholic, my Sunday mornings are free for other fascinating adventures. Adventures such as taking my granddaughter to Tim Horton's for coffee and timbits (doughnut holes). I discovered they have red velvet doughnut holes. Oh joy oh rapture.

While we waited for our order a song played over the store's speakers. As I know little to nothing about popular entertainers, I asked my granddaughter if she know who it was. "Ariana Grande, I think", she answered. She then got out her phone and found the song and artist in less than two seconds and showed me the results. There was a picture of a young woman in bunny ears.

"Why is she dressed like a rabbit?", I asked.

"Maybe she's a furry." my granddaughter explained.

"A what?" the clueless grandfather responded incredulously.

The hip granddaughter patiently explained, "A furry. People who like to dress up like animals." Now that I'm home and online, I find that there's a whole culture of people who like to dress up like anthropomorphic animals.

And now I'm also thinking that I need to just go back to going to Church on Sunday mornings.