tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53796053424932179972024-03-18T19:57:47.068-07:00StumptoonsWords and images from the fecund mind of self-proclaimed boffin David Smith, and of likely interest only to friends, family or other folk with too much free time.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-10558168644677468572009-09-30T14:00:00.000-07:002009-09-30T14:02:46.824-07:00Why I don't post on the local newspaper forum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqh-A8PEzAw5Oi1Nb4T9P6rcmd_9TPlyreCp0g8rD-VoRqzAq57NnWfyOeAzgeh-BS_y1m-iwvZiWZs_K3cHKk2FaR5-phkgA4_y-9X_ygH3O_dYotJ0tdYIeL2a8rSk88zAIBmeBrNY/s1600-h/angry-man.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqh-A8PEzAw5Oi1Nb4T9P6rcmd_9TPlyreCp0g8rD-VoRqzAq57NnWfyOeAzgeh-BS_y1m-iwvZiWZs_K3cHKk2FaR5-phkgA4_y-9X_ygH3O_dYotJ0tdYIeL2a8rSk88zAIBmeBrNY/s320/angry-man.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387366427832435890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Wednesday. The first day of the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Stumpjack</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > week...our Monday really. Lots of little and big online tasks to try to get done today (updating blogs and sending out a newsletter), along with the usual in-shop duties like making cold brewed coffee, getting groceries, making a quiche (Kim does that...</span><span style="font-family: arial;">mmm</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">mmm</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >, good) and making </span><span style="font-family: arial;">gelato</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >. Made a yummy cinnamon vanilla, peach, raspberry, and a darn hot and spicy chocolate </span><span style="font-family: arial;">gelato</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > today. That one is definitely not for sissies, little children or certain online forum participants.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >I continue to get asked why I no longer participate on the newspaper chat forum. I don't think I've posted anything other than a couple posts pertaining to </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Pato</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Banton's</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > gig at Ethnic Fest last week. The simple reason is that I just don't care for the negativity and stupidity that is now so rampant on the forum. The newspaper's forum has pretty much become a cesspool of negativity largely inhabited by bitter sourpusses who seem to think they possess some special level of wisdom or insight (and worse, who also seem to believe that other people actually want to hear their grumbling dissatisfaction with the world).</span> <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhTqHDuSxg92_KByAtRJKcOBizvy5HR7ASc-5vgzEljNEGKOUv-hc-znaVWE6lr9_5P_LJndWLDbf5igYbsAPfsR16zsS-EEaV68tmBbngR2401oZPyOuxgArSTSWfg6APibnFwpjxzY/s1600-h/angryman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhTqHDuSxg92_KByAtRJKcOBizvy5HR7ASc-5vgzEljNEGKOUv-hc-znaVWE6lr9_5P_LJndWLDbf5igYbsAPfsR16zsS-EEaV68tmBbngR2401oZPyOuxgArSTSWfg6APibnFwpjxzY/s200/angryman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387366734325809554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >The forum didn't used to be that way. Of course there are/were always a few grumblers who complain about almost anything. But they have become the overwhelming majority nowadays. There used to be more of a sense of humor, some level of mutual respect and even actual dialogue between opposing views on any particular issue. No longer. Cynicism, rudeness and the desire to yell the loudest and have the last word are the order of the day on the forum now.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >People hide anonymously behind screen names and snipe cowardly without accountability or any sense of courteousness. They appear to take pleasure in other people's misfortunes. Gossip has replaced genuine conversation.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGfeyIpH-FIb7KHa_hzBUFZBHoNIHplfMbVikqeXEJ98Y-ru1Dntsz-qa0An8yVB3kroE_THdxYFOSmn5JRNaR0NmKti6PmF4qXwbIVKum6aKtkoJgGNvQe0VahPWMsDbhby75e0nSSM/s1600-h/dunce-cap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGfeyIpH-FIb7KHa_hzBUFZBHoNIHplfMbVikqeXEJ98Y-ru1Dntsz-qa0An8yVB3kroE_THdxYFOSmn5JRNaR0NmKti6PmF4qXwbIVKum6aKtkoJgGNvQe0VahPWMsDbhby75e0nSSM/s320/dunce-cap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387366447755396882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >I just don't care for that low level of dialogue, where precious few intellectua</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >ls are so outnumbered by ill-mannered churls. Conversations that might begin thoughtfully enough become peppered with rude and outright stupid interjection by the unwashed mass.<br /><br />Thanks but no thanks. I'm generally not interested in even superficially scanning what's on there anymore. Hope that puts the question to rest now. Onto better things...</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-49049898461206680612009-08-11T11:46:00.000-07:002009-08-13T17:45:20.491-07:00First homebrew and good news for Dad<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxXJOS4fYsUuoihC758TOkXlEXuVqLq9zgXgpfKsW0HUn4Bag5jBQM3GNy5ba7WRKQZaRmOwd4qe22GTvsU26pxGLNCV8xnY3fSB9OR7JXjhuZCqp9KUpmXARQYXR2-mxnWQi3_H3AVbl/s1600-h/100_7553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxXJOS4fYsUuoihC758TOkXlEXuVqLq9zgXgpfKsW0HUn4Bag5jBQM3GNy5ba7WRKQZaRmOwd4qe22GTvsU26pxGLNCV8xnY3fSB9OR7JXjhuZCqp9KUpmXARQYXR2-mxnWQi3_H3AVbl/s400/100_7553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368782311873172322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Look at that gorgeous color! And the taste was just as great.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Cracked open my first homebrew yesterday. It was freaking great! Brought a bottle up to the cottage. Very tasty and a beautiful color. Enjoyed it with an equally tasty John Bull cigar. Both were great and doubly so because we just got a call from my Mom that my Dad qualified for insurance covered OT and speech therapy. He was happy and we we happy.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi0-ebVcFjDXFmNmbCJAP2mZsg-s935jhPyLzzPQunulk62tRe8Qw2hKxylvPJc6FOcDsxt33MQnpOhvzKKsTvWnagDTHmh3ULX6NpLlvbVtz5ZyTbzaGyqmucLufa4FuC0gjzjC-cdAB/s1600-h/100_7546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi0-ebVcFjDXFmNmbCJAP2mZsg-s935jhPyLzzPQunulk62tRe8Qw2hKxylvPJc6FOcDsxt33MQnpOhvzKKsTvWnagDTHmh3ULX6NpLlvbVtz5ZyTbzaGyqmucLufa4FuC0gjzjC-cdAB/s400/100_7546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368782303783481090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Everybody takes a taste.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">We're at the cottage, about a half-hour from the hospital in Green Bay, taking care of their dog and their stuff at the cottage before going back to GB tonight to see how he's doing.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />The beer and cigar were a nice way to cap the afternoon and enjoy the good news of his being able to get therapy that would be covered by the insurance. The downside is that one of his qualifiers is that he has lost some sight in his right eye.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />More on that later. Kim wants to get on her laptop here and I don't want to sit in a coffeeshop too long - it's too nice outside.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-84924339348167561642009-08-04T13:54:00.000-07:002009-08-04T14:05:45.482-07:00Spam, one of the funniest foods on the market.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzFpkcciWF2zsJL-Lk5xt_lTJ0fEgn2FFXtIQmzZrHk0XAzoYt4PvflbeJ55rAPXg63uuBMOJui4IUwP4b8afWtMPV8IKceXmn7G_RlUHrl_m-C8sVzykUEyGPzvsiO3WrJNnvEm-dpIz/s1600-h/Spam+and+us.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzFpkcciWF2zsJL-Lk5xt_lTJ0fEgn2FFXtIQmzZrHk0XAzoYt4PvflbeJ55rAPXg63uuBMOJui4IUwP4b8afWtMPV8IKceXmn7G_RlUHrl_m-C8sVzykUEyGPzvsiO3WrJNnvEm-dpIz/s400/Spam+and+us.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366215214702280434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >We took a day trip to Door County last week. Kim asked me to get a little something for her to munch for our drive into Peninsula State Park for a siesta. Jesse and I went into the local Piggly Wiggly and got some Spam and a little jar of Gerbers oatmeal and pears baby food for her. Needless to say she didn't partake of those treats. Jesse and I thought it was pretty funny (how can Spam not be funny!), but Kim just looked dismayed and exasperated. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So I got her some cheese curds, which made her happy.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />The Gerbers was actualy pretty tasty, if you ask me.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-59608803519545029972009-07-20T07:23:00.000-07:002009-07-20T07:41:30.670-07:00My latest favorite youtube vids<span style="font-family:arial;">First, a funnier than hell video by Punks Not Dad doing "In Me Shed." "Stirrin' up some paint!" "Havin' a quiet fag!" "Cleaning a spark plug!" "Sortin' out me cherry jars!" "Where a bloke can be a bloke!"</span><br /><object style="font-family: arial;" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ThOOrac-KQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ThOOrac-KQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This vintage cigarette commercial featuring the Flintstones is classic Americana. Too funny and too bad stuff this cool could probably not be broadcast today (you can broadcast animated cartoons swearing, engaging in vulgar talk and overt sexual naughtiness, but showing tobacco is verboten!).</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"They sure work hard, don't they Barney."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"Yeah, I hate to see them work so hard."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"Yeah, me too... Eh, let's go around back, where we can't see 'em."</span><br /><object style="font-family: arial;" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NAExoSozc2c&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NAExoSozc2c&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And this one where Jerry, of Tom and Jerry, rolls a smoke like no one else, to impress a pretty female cowgirl cat. 30 seconds of animated beauty.</span><br /><object style="font-family: arial;" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NxSdA0oWKuU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NxSdA0oWKuU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-73405638100731995582009-07-08T08:03:00.000-07:002009-07-08T08:25:48.782-07:00Some cottage pictures from this past week.<div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A few pics from the July 4th extended weekend up north.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQYL3U2kwIxoerBZ9IXfS1cuvEnGZNqve06iWYPwg3S27Qt292hyc6R8mpTzWLzliyg6Mu3FAcUUUo8atj_0-TpiMsyXhSHsuWrArYovNkHlqz8JDri1NDouLaZhWQvwR6X3SOiBpKhH7/s1600-h/Cheyenne+Camp+7-5-09+a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQYL3U2kwIxoerBZ9IXfS1cuvEnGZNqve06iWYPwg3S27Qt292hyc6R8mpTzWLzliyg6Mu3FAcUUUo8atj_0-TpiMsyXhSHsuWrArYovNkHlqz8JDri1NDouLaZhWQvwR6X3SOiBpKhH7/s400/Cheyenne+Camp+7-5-09+a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356106620256806178" border="0" /></a>A number of Wisconsin lakes still feel like Canadian shield lakes.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjjC5jKGLwjuatAzVKvdC1ETVhyphenhyphenEnK2BwDIx-mP494kjgCMH1BcCXPp6DmEpmbndZUaedLIDE19fUoRtPLDuqxsQ5t1xi3dbwHnafPvk4NqlJx2GfDz8D6XlpRBIqi_aOwxKz4Nl8pELS/s1600-h/Jesse+and+Andrea+July+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjjC5jKGLwjuatAzVKvdC1ETVhyphenhyphenEnK2BwDIx-mP494kjgCMH1BcCXPp6DmEpmbndZUaedLIDE19fUoRtPLDuqxsQ5t1xi3dbwHnafPvk4NqlJx2GfDz8D6XlpRBIqi_aOwxKz4Nl8pELS/s400/Jesse+and+Andrea+July+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356106615783297106" border="0" /></a>Jesse and Andrea meet a camel near Lakewood.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7luVG1WKeiMSDceU8xc2-6wqc_gRPZwjerr6JoIdIbwYT8q8fGTaeQ1zYA2j9Mq4TkHlS3TnA9chd7-_FGGiCUGvzrS-wuIHzoHUD1JX3uxgIPmzT2f_Sgu64-FpQGWoVWYjAmeaIJGK/s1600-h/Kim+and+camel+July+09+a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7luVG1WKeiMSDceU8xc2-6wqc_gRPZwjerr6JoIdIbwYT8q8fGTaeQ1zYA2j9Mq4TkHlS3TnA9chd7-_FGGiCUGvzrS-wuIHzoHUD1JX3uxgIPmzT2f_Sgu64-FpQGWoVWYjAmeaIJGK/s400/Kim+and+camel+July+09+a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356106626885729554" border="0" /></a>This camel was unusually friendly.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_HpqC6butokD7xGuqsM-8-mB0uVcUbf3GWrihLQ_CmyYOzI9axm1Oaer9P0L2IBlpeWcBHDgGVbW3UQkhp72TH2LVMwyrGvDZvJ2lD-uSK2lmnFbD68VF83ojUZEC0h4gnYVciOI4QDx/s1600-h/Kim+and+camel+July+09+b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_HpqC6butokD7xGuqsM-8-mB0uVcUbf3GWrihLQ_CmyYOzI9axm1Oaer9P0L2IBlpeWcBHDgGVbW3UQkhp72TH2LVMwyrGvDZvJ2lD-uSK2lmnFbD68VF83ojUZEC0h4gnYVciOI4QDx/s400/Kim+and+camel+July+09+b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356106631075571330" border="0" /></a>Kim wants to take him home.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aRRCT8bVQW3g49cMyLAjTSx_Ko8DJN1d0MbNnGoF3rnr27-2tqOKjlm6RJ_dYtirlXS0LZmVczVnDxvb0TlCsXDnAtnPd0sn7cpZnrNEiQGYEIHuGhFzM1eb85lX136_lvdSiSqSukP9/s1600-h/squished+turtle+July+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aRRCT8bVQW3g49cMyLAjTSx_Ko8DJN1d0MbNnGoF3rnr27-2tqOKjlm6RJ_dYtirlXS0LZmVczVnDxvb0TlCsXDnAtnPd0sn7cpZnrNEiQGYEIHuGhFzM1eb85lX136_lvdSiSqSukP9/s400/squished+turtle+July+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356106633962190050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Turtle pancake...the end.</span><br /></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-46299464512146493052009-07-03T16:04:00.000-07:002009-07-03T16:40:17.281-07:00Some recent cottage visits<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGsghXswvnxrUJeEIyD7r3TEGlxEGo9QY4r0YYIBzWeYdUa2dlY_T7jloITJGzhXxiAy1CSlc-iAezQfKp8lmHbOYZPMTeKaAJdL8vhFwBHsoAv_sh0rjmPMLIMQFLxAHc3ZHwHRKHHd2/s1600-h/100_7054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGsghXswvnxrUJeEIyD7r3TEGlxEGo9QY4r0YYIBzWeYdUa2dlY_T7jloITJGzhXxiAy1CSlc-iAezQfKp8lmHbOYZPMTeKaAJdL8vhFwBHsoAv_sh0rjmPMLIMQFLxAHc3ZHwHRKHHd2/s400/100_7054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354379628034867826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Still Life with Nature's Medicine</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Is it really the 3rd, and almost the 4th, of July already? I mean is it <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >really</span><span style="font-family:arial;">? Truly this is one of the seemingly fastest </span>moving summers in memory. We've made up our minds that this year we are no longer going to be putting in the 85-hour work weeks, and we're going to take those days that we're closed for some hopefully quality "up north" time for ourselves. The aromas of pine, campfire and wet earth combine with the sounds of crickets, loons and bullfrogs<span style="font-family:arial;"> to make us feel the way God intended human beings to feel. Sleep is more peaceful and the days more adventuro</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">u</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">s. Hell, the beer even tastes better.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdvCzpl6p7g-jiYOM_63S916GKivHgjZwT6oZZDV6O_VKfq1__1uxQR_ehRpzV9zz3qb68HIGj2PiIYU7mdoLTPMd2KlhbXowQrx4u3CpzMTu8NCxKbYTkLBEDpmIJ6goo29kXycwas8o/s1600-h/100_6946.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdvCzpl6p7g-jiYOM_63S916GKivHgjZwT6oZZDV6O_VKfq1__1uxQR_ehRpzV9zz3qb68HIGj2PiIYU7mdoLTPMd2KlhbXowQrx4u3CpzMTu8NCxKbYTkLBEDpmIJ6goo29kXycwas8o/s400/100_6946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354379646600843026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Made that bench out of an three tiered branch and weathered board.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are a few pics from the last couple of "weekends" (weekends for us run from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday evening).<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5Q_vdg6hWGsti7VlBIezJk9rA-IZ1hGReheDoC_3IN0IA8RfGqfOr2E1-F3EXOfZ-fhXUT7MKGD28HoX-5jtJr-_trIJqaAKZ23PhXpjyQAIhZLDfLjgcs542X91KNEVQqAzFsZS-2fc/s1600-h/100_6925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5Q_vdg6hWGsti7VlBIezJk9rA-IZ1hGReheDoC_3IN0IA8RfGqfOr2E1-F3EXOfZ-fhXUT7MKGD28HoX-5jtJr-_trIJqaAKZ23PhXpjyQAIhZLDfLjgcs542X91KNEVQqAzFsZS-2fc/s400/100_6925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354379637809211090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If I'd run across this old gal a month later she'd be dinner. </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">But it was egg laying time and out of season.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5UNT5B6gHbD4voSf0TDSflNk5vAIxt0F7H3-waFMlC0Tb_gfrnAAk-DsnbhFQe2fgoNxC2uM39LnUJdvQ55hnKnfcUE6QynAF_3l2GhyphenhyphenY5xM7NtJPiz3VKx5sFHGvecDzhwfBpTBmpt7/s1600-h/100_7058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5UNT5B6gHbD4voSf0TDSflNk5vAIxt0F7H3-waFMlC0Tb_gfrnAAk-DsnbhFQe2fgoNxC2uM39LnUJdvQ55hnKnfcUE6QynAF_3l2GhyphenhyphenY5xM7NtJPiz3VKx5sFHGvecDzhwfBpTBmpt7/s400/100_7058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354379653619583682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of odd ducks at the Shawano Park beach.</span><br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z286WY23uJJiR0Q0YxiCP-jZlrMx2ZvXT3kTJlXG0XsfyfGo-qhFuAu66iAtjPp5L6fF45CIws2htKDxTTyiVXT13fYVxJbjZdvpq0GQhzW4TipbIlBVsldw8GyGVmGr1yh000-f9iv-/s1600-h/100_6960.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z286WY23uJJiR0Q0YxiCP-jZlrMx2ZvXT3kTJlXG0XsfyfGo-qhFuAu66iAtjPp5L6fF45CIws2htKDxTTyiVXT13fYVxJbjZdvpq0GQhzW4TipbIlBVsldw8GyGVmGr1yh000-f9iv-/s400/100_6960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354379641066556466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!</span><br /></span></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-40689110268276594432009-05-22T07:14:00.000-07:002009-05-22T07:22:59.546-07:00Another day in the pines.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwa2r5TPfI4mkwD4eY5slnCZe2CXGRTaUOCnAlU4eRXCexG71S66ggmAQG44Kzg_lRoQ5hJv7qxKexgYChUATOzaOdzeo9jpnQgTxOTCRNOPnJsPgGfXnAndrJDAAwzpeE9vNJFeYPFgB/s1600-h/cottage+a+5-18-09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwa2r5TPfI4mkwD4eY5slnCZe2CXGRTaUOCnAlU4eRXCexG71S66ggmAQG44Kzg_lRoQ5hJv7qxKexgYChUATOzaOdzeo9jpnQgTxOTCRNOPnJsPgGfXnAndrJDAAwzpeE9vNJFeYPFgB/s400/cottage+a+5-18-09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338652224450966594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cheyenne making smores.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">We hit the cottage again this past Monday and Tuesday. Even more gorgeous out than the week before. Kim worked on her mosaic mirror. I field tested the hammock. The girls did some painting and walking. We took a walk down a trail through the woods, afternoon sunlight streaming through the trees at an angle, and hundreds of shiny little black dragonflies fluttering up from the ground ahead of us as we walked, shimmering in the warm sunlight. A very cool scene.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5CdaMGW7NBjahOrU6vLr5_fDeT7whlnt1ZVprhz5YiXPc7qM3Iht3m4_dBkvpu4jVHMreH_ixLMF3sKmLkcO-aKSpIxajI3c7dpkkRPDZveeQb5XklSScW8DanA29n67xi7FTiiEJ3BN/s1600-h/cottage+l+5-18-09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5CdaMGW7NBjahOrU6vLr5_fDeT7whlnt1ZVprhz5YiXPc7qM3Iht3m4_dBkvpu4jVHMreH_ixLMF3sKmLkcO-aKSpIxajI3c7dpkkRPDZveeQb5XklSScW8DanA29n67xi7FTiiEJ3BN/s400/cottage+l+5-18-09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338652221597324930" border="0" /></a>King for a day.<br /></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-43449760406861577282009-05-15T08:17:00.000-07:002009-05-15T11:18:50.853-07:00Two beautiful days in the northwoods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIomDbf090A_PmnCBMz7L0CRR6Q8RAXgKPyeY_8b_-Fv9AgqPI43ybAuqENpluWT-ZYiHIyaqPce8sgEs2UnwXoy5Dcxu73yTZB4B5eduPVnjfGNqxa5pz2iquDwXvRafzMQnWlMNAnR1D/s1600-h/100_6709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIomDbf090A_PmnCBMz7L0CRR6Q8RAXgKPyeY_8b_-Fv9AgqPI43ybAuqENpluWT-ZYiHIyaqPce8sgEs2UnwXoy5Dcxu73yTZB4B5eduPVnjfGNqxa5pz2iquDwXvRafzMQnWlMNAnR1D/s400/100_6709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336114447391771154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Last Sunday Kim and I took off for my parent's cottage outside of Cecil, near Shawano for a couple of days of R&R. We needed to mellow out from the junk from the week before concerning a crummy story about the shop in the local paper and we needed to outline our summer plan of attack for Stumpjack. I also wanted to do a little art work and painting and Kim wanted to start a new mosaic.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHL0qsP1sWayftWYFeTemz51aXZ3xRDQ2MSnJN_KgQ2HMNfzjVJK6jvL9VS2dxj3nd5jFLj_KWwySKTPdyVLQ9lNJnotGUJxCzcG-sN3cBkxi-bbcMLDRcq0N_uaxwkpXScYg_oNZNjSq/s1600-h/100_6707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHL0qsP1sWayftWYFeTemz51aXZ3xRDQ2MSnJN_KgQ2HMNfzjVJK6jvL9VS2dxj3nd5jFLj_KWwySKTPdyVLQ9lNJnotGUJxCzcG-sN3cBkxi-bbcMLDRcq0N_uaxwkpXScYg_oNZNjSq/s400/100_6707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336114450127080946" border="0" /></a>Leinies 1888 Bock and a La Vieja Habana<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKP8SJjVCX2pRuRw7bFqz7g_cxmIaASbL5bBnUF8dO1nPblQAMNnDYo_YV2IWNXOL__iVjbq-9qXyDrTIDImZDpuFPlrcQp0Q_THhiQ1fzbsljyPsMJXutaqBPRU4WpAm3y4ia6ZYe4uE/s1600-h/100_6712.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKP8SJjVCX2pRuRw7bFqz7g_cxmIaASbL5bBnUF8dO1nPblQAMNnDYo_YV2IWNXOL__iVjbq-9qXyDrTIDImZDpuFPlrcQp0Q_THhiQ1fzbsljyPsMJXutaqBPRU4WpAm3y4ia6ZYe4uE/s400/100_6712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336114456085106306" border="0" /></a>Laying some wood<br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">It was a wonderful 2½ days. The weather was great, with Tuesday morning hitting around 70°. We took a couple of good long walks each day and my knee handled it well, which was a relief. Experimented with some breakfast pizza recipes for consideration at the Stump, made some awesome hamburgers, and enjoyed some mighty fine beer.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NMVXdGFyQoU_YSRzSJ5yXeTym1W-vwyUsxObGjQKHqveTCvjG_45ak2PhWCF9fKEg0rbNkQpWhiE3CpB6NrDrBzfLAWZjTcEoo_SFc0B8UiOc40k79Q4pFFcJgPXTf0NUNoGitlSSYbR/s1600-h/100_6714.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NMVXdGFyQoU_YSRzSJ5yXeTym1W-vwyUsxObGjQKHqveTCvjG_45ak2PhWCF9fKEg0rbNkQpWhiE3CpB6NrDrBzfLAWZjTcEoo_SFc0B8UiOc40k79Q4pFFcJgPXTf0NUNoGitlSSYbR/s400/100_6714.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336114460499197202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Doing some painting while enjoying a Crystal Springs Honey Ale and a 5 Vegas Series 'A' cigar. The ale is a delicious homebrew courtesy of friend Brian Jensen...although there is some question as to <span style="font-style: italic;">how good a friend he really is</span> since he only gave me <span style="font-style: italic;">one</span> bottle of his brew. Not to worry, Brian, I'll give you an opportunity to rectify this woeful disparity. Click the image to enlarge.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-42373091586878066722009-04-10T15:29:00.000-07:002009-04-13T16:12:30.987-07:00Coffee and Cigars<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9J9_UnrzeCluNDCiAPD0WJxZa1vfceYw-F0J-SFKtol50mY44P9wZE9xS-qL4Rs5rhyphenhyphenk9cZaHoygCz3fQpC8aA8B5PW_JT7aPTXNv14K6on6dT2qlheoHVl0BAIaz51fh6DshHkPTwM/s1600-h/cigars+and+coffee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9J9_UnrzeCluNDCiAPD0WJxZa1vfceYw-F0J-SFKtol50mY44P9wZE9xS-qL4Rs5rhyphenhyphenk9cZaHoygCz3fQpC8aA8B5PW_JT7aPTXNv14K6on6dT2qlheoHVl0BAIaz51fh6DshHkPTwM/s320/cigars+and+coffee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322498106505981682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">image by Keith Kee Fu Yeung</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Below is an essay I wrote for my HTR bi-weekly coffee column a week ago. The editors decided it would go better at the top of the OpEd page rather than in its usual location on the Food page. After it ran I received a number of comments, all of them complimentary and supportive of the article's point-of-view...that is, all except one. The piece also ran in the Marshfield News Herald and the Wausau Daily Herald and caused a bit of a stir up there with at least one woman who not only commented on the article online but also left me a couple of rather nasty voice messages. You can listen to those messages by clicking on the audio gadget in the right-hand column (they're too funny to not share). Here's the article.</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exemptions needed in proposed smoking ban</span><br /><br />Coffee and tobacco have surely been bedfellows ever since they first met. They are paired in literature, film and the visual arts, and in our collective cultural consciousness in much the same way that we’ve become accustomed to think of wine and cheese as an ideal pairing. I enjoy both coffee and tobacco, and have participated in paired tastings of the two, but my enjoyment demands a rather specific qualifier: that they be handcrafted or artisan produced.<br /><br />Specialty coffee is artisan coffee. It is usually grown, processed and produced with more personal, hands-on attention and involvement from small groups of people who are as concerned with high quality and uniqueness as they are with making a living at it. It is perceived as coffee that is, from seed to cup, produced with passion and love by “real people” with their own special stories. This perception contrasts with that of the industrial, pre-ground and canned grocery store coffee produced by huge, faceless corporations. The reality is also that the two end-products, specialty coffee and mass-market coffee, are generally as different in quality as are, say, a fine vintage French wine and a cheap and fruity 4-pac wine cooler. They both use the word “wine,” but are really quite different.<br /><br />Similar realities color the world of tobacco, but public perceptions of this product are not nearly as sophisticated as they have become for products such as coffee, wine or craft beer. I think these days most people understand and would readily agree that there are clear differences between artisan products and their mass-market counterparts. Tobacco, on the other hand, is generally viewed solely via the image of a cigarette, and is perceived as only bad.<br /><br />That is unfortunate, because just as is the case in the fields of coffee, beer, wine, cheese or practically any organic, consumable item, so too under the general umbrella of tobacco there are very different products produced by very different methods, using dramatically different source materials, and by philosophically opposed producers. I am talking about the differences between mass-market cigarettes that are produced by the “big tobacco” companies, and fine, handcrafted cigars produced by smaller companies and family-run operations. They are two different animals in just about every practical aspect, including, I would argue, their effects upon one’s health and well-being.<br /><br />The adverse effects of cigarette smoking upon a smoker’s health have been apparent for decades and most would argue that those ill effects outweigh the positive effects. However, cigar smoking, as a pastime and social activity has both scientific and empirical support for positive benefits upon one’s physical and mental health, including in the areas of longevity, disease resistance and anti-depression. The primary attraction of a good cigar, however, if the delightful variety of tastes and aromas that it produces, which are not at all unlike those of a fine coffee.<br /><br />The proposed smoking ban that is included in the State of Wisconsin budget is supported by incomplete and even misleading information, nor does it differentiate between two very different products and their attendant risks or benefits. It is also a direct assault on entrepreneurial freedom. Cigar bars and lounges, opened by Wisconsin entrepreneurs specifically with cigar lovers in mind will likely become extinct. Cigar lounges, such as Manitowoc’s Lakeshore Cigar Company, serve much the same function as coffee shops in that they are “third places” that bring people together, foster social well-being and enhance community. The loss of such places, if this proposal is passed without exemptions, would be most unfortunate and wrong.<br /><br />One of my more treasured pastimes is the joy of experiencing excellent coffee and cigars with friends in a setting that encourages stimulating conversation, relaxation and a sense of community. I do sincerely hope that common sense prevails and that the smoking ban does not pass as it is now written. Our community will be the lesser for it if it does.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAxwYBafWaZHvIbG_VtlIFXvK16kabux8TXWM-B9xcH6OYnHcXYxJ4iLjZVJs9pGF3VhSMkNcrr5gPKFMyK6ToN0dntRHVZDfnAMTxqCCxzpCRBXPapcyXrmUirZ8qGnw_Q3alatoDzI/s1600-h/cigars+and+coffee+I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAxwYBafWaZHvIbG_VtlIFXvK16kabux8TXWM-B9xcH6OYnHcXYxJ4iLjZVJs9pGF3VhSMkNcrr5gPKFMyK6ToN0dntRHVZDfnAMTxqCCxzpCRBXPapcyXrmUirZ8qGnw_Q3alatoDzI/s320/cigars+and+coffee+I.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322498108719076386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">image by Abstract Gourmet<br /></span></span>------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I've included below the additional online comments (copied just as she posted them) from this woman that she posted on the Wausau Daily Herald's website following my editorial. My replies to her goofy comments follows after.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="gslComWroteBy" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=5c0c10cb165c42a1bb82971920f420e3"><b>1HardWorker</b></a> wrote:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You are CLUELESS David for writing this article on Smoke & Coffee, you lost your mind from inhailing all thoughs DEADLY TOXINS you talk so fondly about. Who cares about the past time between the two! It was proven decades ago the deadly effects it causes to the body affecting lungs, heart, arteries, throat, blood pressure,skin etc. We need the smoking ban to protect us from people like you who refuse to see the OBVIOUS DEADLY EFFECTS it causes to yourself & more importantly to us innocent non-smokers who are forced to breathe in YOUR RIGHT! As us non-smokers hear all the time: It is your right to smoke & slowly kill us innocent people off by polluting the air we are trying to breathe. WAKE UP DAVID-YOURS IS A NASTY HABIT THAT HARMS OTHERS & INCASE YOU FORGOT ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU WERE DOING ALL THAT STUDYING ON TABACCO PASTIMES AND YOUR STINKY COFFEE -CLEAN OXYGEN IS A NECESSITY FOR US TO LIVE! Where does OUR RIGHT TO BREATHE fit in your boring,babbling history lesson?! YOUR NOT SMART</span><br /> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><span class="gslComDate">4/1/2009 7:27:47 PM </span></span><br /><br /><span class="gslComWroteBy" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=5c0c10cb165c42a1bb82971920f420e3"><b>1HardWorker</b></a> wrote:</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Another thing-were I work I am forced to breathe in smoke for almost 14 hours a day, I have actually vomited at work several times breathing in that "aroma" you talk about it severly effects my work & my body-I always feel like crap, I have to use one hand to cover my face so I can take short breaths to breathe. I am forced to be exposed to harmful air in order to make a living usually by people milking the system on unemployment, disability or SSI checks while they complain about the failing economy but they always manage to get their cigarettes, while I have to work for my money & breathe in toxins. I've lost 6 babies because I inhail so much second hand smoke while I'm at work, that it caused my blood to thicken from all the toxins I breathe and it killed my innocent babies. What rights did we have? It's not the pleasant experience you talk about in this article-in reality it's horrifying & deadly! I don't share your fond opinion of this silent KILLER! I can't wait for the ban!</span><br /> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><span class="gslComDate">4/1/2009 7:52:15 PM </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" ><span class="gslComWroteBy"><a href="http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=ee6839aa75f2465d968e68ff908925d4"><b>StumpjackCoffee</b></a> wrote:</span></span><br /><div style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="gslComBody"><p class="replyingto">Replying to <span class="author">1HardWorker</span>:</p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"You are CLUELESS David...[semi-coherent ranting]... YOUR NOT SMART"</blockquote>Why thank you, 1HardWorker, for taking the time to edumacate me. I had no idea...what are these...toxins(?)...you speak of? I suddenly feel so enlightened and I owe it all to you, dear lady.<br /><br />Seriously, you only know a small portion of what you speak here. I understand your position and I do empathize with it. However, when writing a comment on an article it would help if you actually read the article first. If you had, in fact, read the article you would know that 1) I am not a cigarette smoker and 2) my call is for exemptions for cigar bars and cigar lounges, places I doubt someone like you would be interested in going to and which are designed specifically for cigar smokers. Thus, your much of your argument is irrelevant as it does not address anything related to my article anyway.<br /><br />Again, please try to think before speaking next time. Rabid emotion doesn't improve your position.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="gslComDate">4/2/2009 12:33:28 PM </span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="gslComWroteBy" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=ee6839aa75f2465d968e68ff908925d4"><b>StumpjackCoffee</b></a> wrote:</span><br /></span><div style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="gslComBody"><p class="replyingto">Replying to <span class="author">1HardWorker</span>:</p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"Another thing-were I work I am forced...."</blockquote>I am sorry to hear of your troubles and challenges with your place of employment. But again, the points you raise have nothing to do with my article. I won't get into the issue of you supposedly being "forced" to work at such a place, but will simply repeat that you might want to actually read and think about what you read (it's called reading critically) before opening your mouth or touching a keyboard. When you just rant and rave and shout things that are irrelevant to what you're supposedly commenting on you just sound...well...a little "extreme," shall we say?<br /><br />Also, if you are going to make comments either here or by phone (got your voice message...very entertaining, thanks much), you might want to have the courage of your convictions and use your name. If you stand for something then don't hide behind a screen name or make anonymous calls. Anonymity weakens your argument. Good luck to you.<br /> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="gslComDate">4/2/2009 12:45:54 PM<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> I'm also proud to note that I just found out that the column was also reproduced on the <a href="http://www.cigarrights.org/news_WI.htm">Cigar Rights of America (CRA) site</a> as well as tobacco.org. Sweet! <span style="font-size:85%;">4/13/09</span></span><br /></span></span></div><br /></div></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-34298937611347345642009-03-26T06:18:00.001-07:002009-03-30T06:50:28.549-07:00Madtown ain't really mad town<span style="font-family:arial;">Kim and I went to Madison for a couple of days to unwind after a particularly high tension two or three weeks of work. Haven't been to Madison for a while. It was a fun and mighty rejuvenating little trip, even with a drizzly rain day on Monday. Here are the highlights.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday night</span> </span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooncapG-jzN9jG-smHHkHLwZsqn0zEwc0WyQyX_AAoFDkViAEfJ_vNZyc4mRH84dRJAVEeqaQCfkyQ3eWNcv8Op5Yybmf9boFGWWfEVhVTNYJ9zZ7E-hU32PzjT6nnNCD3g1i4uBpZ3j8/s1600-h/100_6112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooncapG-jzN9jG-smHHkHLwZsqn0zEwc0WyQyX_AAoFDkViAEfJ_vNZyc4mRH84dRJAVEeqaQCfkyQ3eWNcv8Op5Yybmf9boFGWWfEVhVTNYJ9zZ7E-hU32PzjT6nnNCD3g1i4uBpZ3j8/s400/100_6112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317543868663037730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A slice of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Maduro</span> Cigar Bar. </span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJQLTEGJliHkhBQnhsAMx0umkYAg-ushP8z7PLw_30ghSJMbghZW-Osah4yq3EFDgy9gu2iOwARdAdFLLXG1kds50bN-LBJCeTDpLngkPE3pOoRnYL0GChKRqpHvhSG_roa9lKA9Ehqo/s1600-h/100_6114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJQLTEGJliHkhBQnhsAMx0umkYAg-ushP8z7PLw_30ghSJMbghZW-Osah4yq3EFDgy9gu2iOwARdAdFLLXG1kds50bN-LBJCeTDpLngkPE3pOoRnYL0GChKRqpHvhSG_roa9lKA9Ehqo/s400/100_6114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317543862673859650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Bartender Lucas at the tap. He knew his beer and where to send us for a bite.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Sunday night at <a href="http://www.madurocigarbar.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Maduro</span> Cigar Bar</a> on E. Main. This is a fantastic place, very cool ambiance...dark brown or burgundy decorative tin ceiling; exposed brick on one side & golden-hued wall with big poster art on the other; rustic wood, ceramic <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">inlaid</span> bar; requisite heavy padded leather couches; an awesome selection of spirits and some mighty fine beers; and best of all, cigar smoking allowed and encouraged!</span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hQ7JQpVQzdHezCY932mBEBNdMTK4XKDXrsZ_lNsU0rciOUXiUwksLmch60uvTlFRVupmLiyp3zMZWZsDWevtookLZIsHGwhwDZILKCOLOXc94OxbytuSuvkJDh-2clC8g-un2jnHUQfH/s1600-h/100_6092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hQ7JQpVQzdHezCY932mBEBNdMTK4XKDXrsZ_lNsU0rciOUXiUwksLmch60uvTlFRVupmLiyp3zMZWZsDWevtookLZIsHGwhwDZILKCOLOXc94OxbytuSuvkJDh-2clC8g-un2jnHUQfH/s400/100_6092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317543872885613778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Kim tells the Wisconsin legislature to vote down the smoking ban. Damn right.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I am very distressed over the current proposed legislation to ban smoking in all businesses. There are no exemptions for cigar lounges like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Maduro</span> in the legislation as it stands now. This nonsense is a direct infringement on entrepreneurial freedom and will adversely affect or even put out of business places like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Maduro</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lakeshore</span> Cigar Company in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Manitowoc</span>. It's wrong, folks, just plain wrong. Even my wife, Kim, who is not a cigar smoker, is very upset over this infringement on our rights. She had a great time at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Maduro</span> with me, enjoying a couple of fine ports while I had a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Samichlaus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Dopplebock</span> followed by a La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Chouffe</span> Golden Ale. Both were outstanding.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawAgoD7AugsmsqS22i9zawsR9j8MKRbpKpqScBdC2V-MR6qvK61OYdSBsfV8eg0zUyarnda2l4K6SUui-taQbHZqdPZTEG4lK5AG6CTcEwz1ZY01SNM1S-5TSr9fNV3Ys-FOZo06ocHDa/s1600-h/100_6135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawAgoD7AugsmsqS22i9zawsR9j8MKRbpKpqScBdC2V-MR6qvK61OYdSBsfV8eg0zUyarnda2l4K6SUui-taQbHZqdPZTEG4lK5AG6CTcEwz1ZY01SNM1S-5TSr9fNV3Ys-FOZo06ocHDa/s400/100_6135.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317544347107859650" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Pondering the next beer from the wall board.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We took a break from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Maduro</span> to grab a quick bite around the corner at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Natt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Spil</span> at Lucas', the bartender's, recommendation. It's a funky little space that's so hip it hurts (yeah, they know it, but I kinda like that). A yummy little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">greek</span> pizza did the trick and it was back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Maduro</span> for another stick and a couple final libations. The place filled up for an hour or two then quieted down for a very fine end to the evening.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrJQLTEGJliHkhBQnhsAMx0umkYAg-ushP8z7PLw_30ghSJMbghZW-Osah4yq3EFDgy9gu2iOwARdAdFLLXG1kds50bN-LBJCeTDpLngkPE3pOoRnYL0GChKRqpHvhSG_roa9lKA9Ehqo/s1600-h/100_6114.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKdegcs44fY5quNDo6R7ctLETmMvunISP3894TtJqr4g4E18gAWpL00VByfAGCDHkI3EQTtV3XxJOQE6WxxmB11XyX-rm0bU3JjI-REMsDixpcDpyvlBBu3zK2nsMZTMaZmrfU6Kc1n-C/s1600-h/100_6147.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKdegcs44fY5quNDo6R7ctLETmMvunISP3894TtJqr4g4E18gAWpL00VByfAGCDHkI3EQTtV3XxJOQE6WxxmB11XyX-rm0bU3JjI-REMsDixpcDpyvlBBu3zK2nsMZTMaZmrfU6Kc1n-C/s400/100_6147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317559982983556914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Marked espresso from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Café</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Soleil</span></span></span>...ta<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">sty. I think they use Just Coffee Co-op</span></span>.<br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Hit <a href="http://www.letoile-restaurant.com/aboutthecafe.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Café</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Soleil</span></a> next to the capital in the morning for espresso and cappuccino. Outstanding espresso (tasty enough that I had two marked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">dopios</span>) and Kim's cappuccino was mighty good too (I tasted it). I feel bad that I don't recall the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">barista's</span> name (I did ask her...I want to say Mandy, but I'm not sure) because she was doing a wonderful job keeping up with a steady line of customers at both the register and espresso machine, and her drink prep was consistent and smooth.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiDhlRiyduPT84v6TBy2f3t26pi6ZJGfXPXAeZPiIw0J8P10yljXY93KxemarnR2RzCK79ukP8Ty7Uc4J_6G-F_6A5CMLhovVUxEdDpndFLBi4lObOsQI5FzPYjkP_URIOcL-YW7uIBzT/s1600-h/100_6144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiDhlRiyduPT84v6TBy2f3t26pi6ZJGfXPXAeZPiIw0J8P10yljXY93KxemarnR2RzCK79ukP8Ty7Uc4J_6G-F_6A5CMLhovVUxEdDpndFLBi4lObOsQI5FzPYjkP_URIOcL-YW7uIBzT/s400/100_6144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317559989619970002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sitting by the front window.</span></span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h3iIYSOdg2mEV9x299XHV3JdF73nDl1fb3pGpJSogptQQsJ0WiaOQtQXtEnf5v0MwFHX0n_JH26APdv69z-bcNmTCBucPw1PQx1gP9HzBJo2kMgYLhVC789tYDi7Mq3lSUMEAYLfOnPu/s1600-h/100_6139.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h3iIYSOdg2mEV9x299XHV3JdF73nDl1fb3pGpJSogptQQsJ0WiaOQtQXtEnf5v0MwFHX0n_JH26APdv69z-bcNmTCBucPw1PQx1gP9HzBJo2kMgYLhVC789tYDi7Mq3lSUMEAYLfOnPu/s400/100_6139.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317559979114038578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Kim's cap...</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG48SorKfalOo-zuVRMfw0JYgsJx8zwFQuQYL-_DC0bu7JC0utLlCCHK95E3WpRWmuFK_pFym_tEmdjF1KDf1sxS9Jajqh-oSEOBI4QSGlygNAJAKE0hMdz0LOnDAMSBdFu-VPdKJpmQi1/s1600-h/100_6136.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG48SorKfalOo-zuVRMfw0JYgsJx8zwFQuQYL-_DC0bu7JC0utLlCCHK95E3WpRWmuFK_pFym_tEmdjF1KDf1sxS9Jajqh-oSEOBI4QSGlygNAJAKE0hMdz0LOnDAMSBdFu-VPdKJpmQi1/s400/100_6136.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317560000503527570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Café</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Soleil</span> straight ahead in the narrow pink and red brick building.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was a little drizzly with rain outside, but still nice for walking. We left <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Soleil</span> and headed across the square to <a href="http://fromagination.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Fromagination</span></a>, a wonderfully interesting and friendly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">artisinal</span> cheese shop. This place fired us both up to get into the artisan cheese thing a bit more seriously at the Stump. We got so carried away with sampling and looking and chatting that I forgot to take any pictures (check out their website link above). Met a fine fellow by the name of Patrick who gave us the "tour" and let us sample a bunch of different cheeses (which caused me to spend way more than I should have, but what the heck, it was dang good cheese and I was in the moment). Also chatted with the owner/head <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">cheese monger</span>, Ken, who appears to have a well-defined aesthetic and vision for his business and really knows cheese.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">After getting to know Patrick a little bit he suggested we have dinner that night around the corner at the <a href="http://www.tornadosteakhouse.com/">Tornado Club Steak House</a>, as he was the sous chef there. We ended up doing just that, arriving at the Tornado at around 7:30. The Tornado used to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Crandall's</span>, a place that had the absolutely best <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Friday</span> night fish fry ever. Well, the place looks exactly the same as it did then, and probably the same as it did when it first opened back who-knows-when? (late 50s/early 60s maybe?). Which is to say that it looks awesome, with an effortless retro vibe that comes from the various owners maintaining what was there.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We sat at the bar for a while before being seated, which was perfectly fine by me as it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">gave</span> us a chance to check out the bar layout, discuss which of their menu and drink ideas we could co-opt for the Stump, and try a few drinks. </span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooncapG-jzN9jG-smHHkHLwZsqn0zEwc0WyQyX_AAoFDkViAEfJ_vNZyc4mRH84dRJAVEeqaQCfkyQ3eWNcv8Op5Yybmf9boFGWWfEVhVTNYJ9zZ7E-hU32PzjT6nnNCD3g1i4uBpZ3j8/s1600-h/100_6112.jpg"> </a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVESag2rcliVOQgTbTc2kh13EzPOQ9NYcs3xsXA88xbbIU-kDreJScpSBSxddRP-vG_KIX0l2WD3QyzNIvqfBkghIRQcKiVFFZCwWmDQ1Qveljj4TAdK28lnFgLOTrP_N9dIRzL9AU9P7/s1600-h/100_6153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVESag2rcliVOQgTbTc2kh13EzPOQ9NYcs3xsXA88xbbIU-kDreJScpSBSxddRP-vG_KIX0l2WD3QyzNIvqfBkghIRQcKiVFFZCwWmDQ1Qveljj4TAdK28lnFgLOTrP_N9dIRzL9AU9P7/s400/100_6153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317577113439353154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Tornado Club frog's legs in syrup to kill for.</span></span> </div><span style="font-family:arial;">Kim had escargot, which she loves and which always reminds me of that scene in Trading Places where the rich snob tells Eddie Murphy the "S-car go" joke at the restaurant table while Dan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Akroyd</span> looks on woefully from outside in the pouring rain. I had frog's legs, a treat I've always liked since I was a little shaver and my Dad and I would regularly go bullfrog gigging and bring back a couple gunny sacks full each time. This dish, however, was no ordinary crispy fried frog's legs dish. They were indeed breaded and crispy fried but they were also lying in a pool of the mos</span><span style="font-family:arial;">t exquisite, sticky sweet, garlicky sauce. I finished the legs and when our waitress (maybe her name was Mandy?) tried to remove my plate that still held the golden nectar I covered it with my arm like Dracula covers his face with his cape. "No way!" says I, "Please just bring me some bread, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">coz</span> this is gonna be my dessert." Oh so good.</span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA_KTG_LaoVkowWaoEHkhQ7AbkahR9ZiyQTRRj_yp8lhia_vwddb8FmiSoahqZCIA8wO0cJ9FRLpUl8TNb0ni-8hyZ2ivY7k8estZZp4rx5CsvyYh5tpsuKaK8JRk8U5o3sCaxJ95E70J/s1600-h/100_6159.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA_KTG_LaoVkowWaoEHkhQ7AbkahR9ZiyQTRRj_yp8lhia_vwddb8FmiSoahqZCIA8wO0cJ9FRLpUl8TNb0ni-8hyZ2ivY7k8estZZp4rx5CsvyYh5tpsuKaK8JRk8U5o3sCaxJ95E70J/s400/100_6159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317577128912523810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Salad architecture.</span></span> </div><span style="font-family:arial;">Next up, a spinach and bacon dressing salad for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Kim</span> and a wedge salad for me. I've never much card for french dressing...it always tastes like I'm putting a vinegary ketchup on my salad. But I asked the waitress which salad she liked best and went with her suggestion. It too was awesome. A big chunk of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">lettuce</span> cut off the head, set upon the plate like a little building, over which blue cheese, carrot slices and french dressing were added. Fresh, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">succulent</span> and crunchy.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE0x-DLb7zJ3VK2pM0ngeuYSH02GHFVHl1WkxKeXmMX4NVI5UqU9GMDc7yv2BVt_uKSG-WPCIGqwxv__rwm1TCn1BYKUxFyCWkfquuXUGP5RAHp5ilGKFcaLvrtBcCUv7xjR_lourrPs0/s1600-h/100_6163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE0x-DLb7zJ3VK2pM0ngeuYSH02GHFVHl1WkxKeXmMX4NVI5UqU9GMDc7yv2BVt_uKSG-WPCIGqwxv__rwm1TCn1BYKUxFyCWkfquuXUGP5RAHp5ilGKFcaLvrtBcCUv7xjR_lourrPs0/s400/100_6163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317577132276135890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Steak for a <span style="font-style: italic;">man</span> (or a really interesting woman).</span></span> </div><span style="font-family:arial;">Patrick came out to say 'hello and nice meeting' you before the main courses arrived, which we appreciated...we were impressed with his friendliness and confidence. Kim had duck with cranberries and it was buttery smooth and tender, and looked like a breast <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">fillet</span> spread out on the plate. I had a big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">honkin</span>' steak that was charred and smokey on the outside and bloody rare on the inside, just like I like it. Had to be two inches thick and nicely marbled.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">It was the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">best, most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">delicious</span> and enjoyable meal we have had in quite a while. Everything was simply fabulous, from the food and drinks to the people to the atmosphere. We both left comfortably <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">fu</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">ll and feeling like the king and queen.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">..at least for a day or two.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHGJm7qHq4TPkw_SmzP-0uADM_nDHzQoRoCw-uo2X9PRMCLO-sgyAmFYi7KOJ-xziBZcivXIFXKkZu6oWkHe0iCeWEgjLv6AqKYBvwXfbpy8gDq8p8pVFDCv3PBDwqCMXXw1hnfyUj0Pa/s1600-h/100_6167.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHGJm7qHq4TPkw_SmzP-0uADM_nDHzQoRoCw-uo2X9PRMCLO-sgyAmFYi7KOJ-xziBZcivXIFXKkZu6oWkHe0iCeWEgjLv6AqKYBvwXfbpy8gDq8p8pVFDCv3PBDwqCMXXw1hnfyUj0Pa/s400/100_6167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317588945965550658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Ate some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Dunbar</span> Blue Cheese and honey from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Fromagination</span> on the way home. </span><br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fH_9wJgKuS8FZUYauuCBkThlUzfwU_no4bzzwCXvcv5vzWTQLQtqW2i4yMHPYn-HMVnPDZN_xxufartbOoCKqAmjaBVZN_ucOUplH_wjsEKtMDTnUJeHmmn4_eoAL9E_th5TlSgwEh9Q/s1600-h/100_6172.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fH_9wJgKuS8FZUYauuCBkThlUzfwU_no4bzzwCXvcv5vzWTQLQtqW2i4yMHPYn-HMVnPDZN_xxufartbOoCKqAmjaBVZN_ucOUplH_wjsEKtMDTnUJeHmmn4_eoAL9E_th5TlSgwEh9Q/s320/100_6172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317589298540891586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Back to bizness now.<br /></span></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-3284333011030613882009-03-17T12:33:00.000-07:002009-03-18T17:39:17.739-07:00It's warm outside! YEEHAA!<span style="font-family:arial;">Dang near 60 degrees out today (Tuesday the 17th). This calls for a good brew and a good stick.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxKqQWcuUmsD_oL8ZfFS9h-FH4K_TMEUoY3ARhU60ky1mcgPpR2NpytiiauJMxzvN5O1W0ieWACVNXYkb9XTUKUwgEeZEfBhwPxJwt2GPbQLjyEX6-z_B2u4XyNw7oJJVrG87m8TdO4Ue/s1600-h/ScreenHunter_01+Mar.+18+19.35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxKqQWcuUmsD_oL8ZfFS9h-FH4K_TMEUoY3ARhU60ky1mcgPpR2NpytiiauJMxzvN5O1W0ieWACVNXYkb9XTUKUwgEeZEfBhwPxJwt2GPbQLjyEX6-z_B2u4XyNw7oJJVrG87m8TdO4Ue/s400/ScreenHunter_01+Mar.+18+19.35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314691718997792770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Enjoying a Leinies 1888 Bock and a Drew Estate La Vieja Habana while the snow and ice melt around me.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-15399677800574776172008-12-21T09:55:00.001-08:002008-12-21T10:10:09.098-08:00All hail the Tiki!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWhsIhBbtmZTWZ8V0AevCawPo0Mj5ur3FkESAiCP0gO6GLUdswGYuG5dWr0U3q2wNv3DVWYpwQo2ahCPNXi9cjeGxjLzeS2EaZudRY_imrqTzzxTq3d69yb3bSZ7wBk2Kzd6DPrdTCgGp/s1600-h/100_5282.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWhsIhBbtmZTWZ8V0AevCawPo0Mj5ur3FkESAiCP0gO6GLUdswGYuG5dWr0U3q2wNv3DVWYpwQo2ahCPNXi9cjeGxjLzeS2EaZudRY_imrqTzzxTq3d69yb3bSZ7wBk2Kzd6DPrdTCgGp/s400/100_5282.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282303962893545794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mike and Becky gave me these very cool tiki waterfall thingy last night. It was a Christmas present (thanks guys! I love it!). We all (Mike and Becky, Christine and Aaron, Kim and I) went to Riverbank Lounge after Becky's fun gig at Stumpjack. We had a great time and lots of laughs. Riverbank is the cat's pajamas...<span style="font-style: italic;">love that place!</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRQBVd2hQzC07aFewIIRpdbyL3YLq1Mwvmd80wmIise2m3oDfyE2i18RpdvqgJR2HqdC1QQsViYXe-7ZHTs5pgumwmT8GxFXDhyunDBnCGtwvo3QptV4pN2_Fe1E0z-zEKtxMQXZTjgqU/s1600-h/100_5285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRQBVd2hQzC07aFewIIRpdbyL3YLq1Mwvmd80wmIise2m3oDfyE2i18RpdvqgJR2HqdC1QQsViYXe-7ZHTs5pgumwmT8GxFXDhyunDBnCGtwvo3QptV4pN2_Fe1E0z-zEKtxMQXZTjgqU/s400/100_5285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282304000386519762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">It's a desktop waterfall and he's got a candle atop his noggin'.</span><br /></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-56759825241200556842008-12-04T09:40:00.000-08:002008-12-04T09:45:54.324-08:00Stumpjack art from Jesse<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe76Lzujy-zBKP7Sgk2ZIw2sRQZqZ0C_boriws3Rux6voLNmQhGKQ12V89wtJ3KZdMmFgbycFqa9y8YF4T8uU_g0a-_RFPAsRKULyPZJGPxQHZgzs3syzUGt7MqWOkq6FBnmXjQJKdrf7I/s1600-h/ScreenHunter_02+Dec.+04+11.41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe76Lzujy-zBKP7Sgk2ZIw2sRQZqZ0C_boriws3Rux6voLNmQhGKQ12V89wtJ3KZdMmFgbycFqa9y8YF4T8uU_g0a-_RFPAsRKULyPZJGPxQHZgzs3syzUGt7MqWOkq6FBnmXjQJKdrf7I/s400/ScreenHunter_02+Dec.+04+11.41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275991648413668706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's a very cool set of linocut prints that my 13 year-old daughter Jesse made for me for my birthday last month. Click to enlarge. Yes, my kids are very talented artists.</span><br /></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-53826719972420191142008-11-16T16:19:00.000-08:002008-11-16T16:25:04.696-08:00The Good, the Bad and the Ugly<span style="font-family:arial;">Marty and Lori gave me a cool birthday card today. It has a rendering of Clint Eastwood from his spaghetti western days on the cover and when you open it it plays the opening bars of the theme song from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," one of the greatest westerns (and movie theme songs) of all time. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I found this very cool video on youtube tonight...The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain...this is awesome.</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V3gp7B8WC4Q&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V3gp7B8WC4Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-40640714649342764202008-11-16T08:21:00.000-08:002008-11-16T08:32:42.150-08:00More mermaids<span style="font-family:arial;">Here's an image of a small painting that my 16 year-old daughter, Cheyenne, made for me for my birthday yesterday. Dig the stumpjack fish swimming at the top.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MNqCxICz3xIbNIeRSdYCiB9ZWwXGOjNhACz5t907w9jY6lAUXal2hAgdL5SQexfB_vfuD54Ggbs8WVXS_ewtRn1XeEl_4kpPSGkjlYgYLk5oMaRPuM1zG-HFIbZS-7BkIYKClBgYKqND/s1600-h/Cheyenne's+Mermaid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MNqCxICz3xIbNIeRSdYCiB9ZWwXGOjNhACz5t907w9jY6lAUXal2hAgdL5SQexfB_vfuD54Ggbs8WVXS_ewtRn1XeEl_4kpPSGkjlYgYLk5oMaRPuM1zG-HFIbZS-7BkIYKClBgYKqND/s320/Cheyenne's+Mermaid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269292850239731826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Cheyenne also has a sculptural piece presently being shown at the JM Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVyYpTOl5RVKViE5SgAH2b9AXRkPw3EW3VF-A54aD-dFyjkRDsLCoKJjQwSiuvzsKXBQkr8ZBrzZTQCBSHdRe9p8imRLuEuGML_W9G2fWyoCKePT-8hVfIRtesC4lZ2BWfK6ueaUSLaYo/s1600-h/Cheyenne+Kohler+Arts+I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVyYpTOl5RVKViE5SgAH2b9AXRkPw3EW3VF-A54aD-dFyjkRDsLCoKJjQwSiuvzsKXBQkr8ZBrzZTQCBSHdRe9p8imRLuEuGML_W9G2fWyoCKePT-8hVfIRtesC4lZ2BWfK6ueaUSLaYo/s320/Cheyenne+Kohler+Arts+I.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269292851050106562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z5lWoqi0rLgchu1KtjpP6-z4OgpdNZukfuwK64E43c5HC7NAYg-ZHoStwa6btPHz8Mxa2fcCd20JN0-YeOKKAvJW-MMBIAP6SH_kpyXp6srZhQBAgI0gw20xF8uPe7OPRolKwzDeznOA/s1600-h/Cheyenne+Kohler+Arts+II.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z5lWoqi0rLgchu1KtjpP6-z4OgpdNZukfuwK64E43c5HC7NAYg-ZHoStwa6btPHz8Mxa2fcCd20JN0-YeOKKAvJW-MMBIAP6SH_kpyXp6srZhQBAgI0gw20xF8uPe7OPRolKwzDeznOA/s320/Cheyenne+Kohler+Arts+II.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269292856113011618" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-82414352012488772512008-11-11T12:51:00.000-08:002008-11-12T09:41:36.845-08:00Two tasty treats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqpPOKFbkOEgoITMfDndJBglnSMCHjGo9nhn63LKa1lgwp-R0XZKOkYfEC6YlDXG6z8MFs8eaWPk3oTtIbsUROAXx5nXf3PlBpH1nTea-NNtfZ-69NoHoSz5bVGYSvrUno8JkxdDpThlz/s1600-h/ScreenHunter_02+Nov.+12+10.49.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqpPOKFbkOEgoITMfDndJBglnSMCHjGo9nhn63LKa1lgwp-R0XZKOkYfEC6YlDXG6z8MFs8eaWPk3oTtIbsUROAXx5nXf3PlBpH1nTea-NNtfZ-69NoHoSz5bVGYSvrUno8JkxdDpThlz/s400/ScreenHunter_02+Nov.+12+10.49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267816061049054674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">It's been a super-chaotic last week or so, but then this year that has been more often the case than not. Mix together a few music event reschedulings, a new tastings schedule (see Kim's <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://stumpjackwinebar.blogspot.com/">Wine All You Want</a> blog), updating our menu, the new Stumpjumpers Club developing, more online ventures than you can shake an empty coffee mugs at...toss in a couple of foolish individuals with more ego than common sense trying to rattle the Stump cage, even more uninvited equipment repairs, the downturn in the economy...measure in few handfuls of new, exciting projects, including a couple of significant writing projects besides my bi-monthly coffee column for the newspaper, and some preliminary work on a couple of very cool projects with our friend Dave from <a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;" href="http://lakesideapparelandsigns.blogspot.com/">Lakeside Apparel</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />That's an extremely long-winded and clunky intro for what is really just a post about a couple of good cigars.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GMGphj1Frux0fq5D7NXt_5xkQOTSj4VDk7o0pqdmjsPkXwsNqTk4XyyUW2BvBgD37nYASxMA9o0bjGcjWlxJVav8xja3JV9et52towOq5xPsPgPwPIBb4DQQ9JW5lmm1AvMfD0otdN7K/s1600-h/100_5058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GMGphj1Frux0fq5D7NXt_5xkQOTSj4VDk7o0pqdmjsPkXwsNqTk4XyyUW2BvBgD37nYASxMA9o0bjGcjWlxJVav8xja3JV9et52towOq5xPsPgPwPIBb4DQQ9JW5lmm1AvMfD0otdN7K/s400/100_5058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267815930104773506" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Slow-Aged Lot 826</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > by Perdomo</span><br /></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There aren't going to be too many days left for sitting out by the campfire without being fully bundled in wool and Thinsulate, so I gotta take advantage of the evenings now while I still can. The first little beauty (pictured here) was a Perdomo Slow-Aged Lot 826. It's a moderately robust smoke, smooth and easy to draw from beginning to end. This one was a gift from my pal Bill Granger and I had it with a Leinies Fireside Nut Brown Ale. Excellenté!<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfMExSoYnmi-vsWCswTSoTFkPEEoKu0opyfQgFeSgMCq3PMeYDJXqhgfdGtIK8Bqe-A7n4OX9RzWKSr2ay6o3HGKGPQMSe-pIcqargpRgwvIem3025o93wGFtVpgHa11SIteR9j5AJU1J/s1600-h/cigar_rolling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfMExSoYnmi-vsWCswTSoTFkPEEoKu0opyfQgFeSgMCq3PMeYDJXqhgfdGtIK8Bqe-A7n4OX9RzWKSr2ay6o3HGKGPQMSe-pIcqargpRgwvIem3025o93wGFtVpgHa11SIteR9j5AJU1J/s400/cigar_rolling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267824807111239922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">No picture of the Angry Joe cigar, so I went with this image of a guy rolling a cigar. He looks kind of angry though.<br /></span></span></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Next up was a neat little number from our friend Joe Donati of Lakeshore Cigar in Manitowoc. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died before I could take a good picture of this cigar that he calls Angry Joe's (or <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >In Angry Joe We Trust!...</span><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm not exactly sure which is the true name). This is an as-yet bandless smoke that Joe says he spent some time working on, until he found just the right combination of tobaccos to satisfy his discriminating palate. In my opinion, he did a great job, because this is a lovely cigar...smooth and hearty. </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfovtgs80h1KP46pw0i_LEcgncPrqaUuA8ZajCdIGpJ0n-sQnm2Vz9WxSXFx2PSakAERdB8HrI97Wn0Sg28DBHIlF-2mYYxKRc9KJK6vk9PcU7eFjRb-S86DSavEYzXbZ7CpeN41GKUNm/s1600-h/ScreenHunter_03+Nov.+12+11.39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfovtgs80h1KP46pw0i_LEcgncPrqaUuA8ZajCdIGpJ0n-sQnm2Vz9WxSXFx2PSakAERdB8HrI97Wn0Sg28DBHIlF-2mYYxKRc9KJK6vk9PcU7eFjRb-S86DSavEYzXbZ7CpeN41GKUNm/s400/ScreenHunter_03+Nov.+12+11.39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267827434600469666" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">I enjoyed Angry Joe's with a little glass of Apple Pie Liqueur, an apple cinnamon liqueur from the Missouri Tavern in Springfield, Wisconsin. The sweetness of the liqueur contrasted nicely with Angry Joe</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">. You can, of course, get Angry Joes at Lakeshore Cigar in Manitowoc on Washington Street (and you should! This is a great shop and Joe always has something tasty in the humidor and plenty of warm conversation...it's a place where no-one is a stranger, even if it's your first visit).</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-46072202435491433022008-10-28T06:03:00.000-07:002008-10-28T06:28:00.661-07:00Marina ROCKS!<span style="font-family:arial;">Marina sent this awesome photo of herself drinking Stumpjack coffee underwater (try that sometime!) from an authentic Stumpjack mug.<br />WE LOVE MERMAIDS!</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQBjGfHgOiYLidNedMC860JmEh8intsN9EZhWH-mkQxwXKXisie5_qnH4lXf2CbK4h_aOQhpD2DADSfurRXXC8rgkcVuzd48AGFYDZFCQ4GSCXt_NOfx0FnSgT9gzruPjBl8HRleBTueu/s1600-h/Marina+with+Stumpjack+mug.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQBjGfHgOiYLidNedMC860JmEh8intsN9EZhWH-mkQxwXKXisie5_qnH4lXf2CbK4h_aOQhpD2DADSfurRXXC8rgkcVuzd48AGFYDZFCQ4GSCXt_NOfx0FnSgT9gzruPjBl8HRleBTueu/s400/Marina+with+Stumpjack+mug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262194037041796722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">She also said,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >"This Mermaid LOVES her Stumpjack Mug!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Seriously- I use it every mornin' before my swim~</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Your Coffee Lovin' Fire Eating Mermaid.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >~Marina~ "</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Check out <a href="http://www.myspace.com/medusirena">her very cool MySpace site </a></span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/medusirena">here</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-40297404597100307342008-10-21T11:46:00.001-07:002008-10-21T12:58:05.072-07:00Pat Dinizio appreciates the classics<span style="font-family:arial;">Last month Pat Dinizio, leader of the still-awesome and hardest working band in America, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Smithereens</span>, emailed this message and the image that follows it:</span><br /><br /><div><span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" ><strong>My old friend, the artist/painter Christine Peloquin, who painted the wall murals in my house, is working on this backdrop (a work-in-progress, not nearly finished!) for our Winter 2009 Tour, which is an exact replica of the backdrop/banner that Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are seen performing in front of while entertaining WW II troops in</strong></span></span><span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" ><strong> the middle of a battle at the very beginning of the classic</strong></span></span><span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" ><strong> holiday musical "WHITE CHRISTMAS".</strong></span></span></div> <div><span><strong></strong></span> </div><span><strong></strong></span> <div><span><strong><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" >Best wishes and love,</span></strong></span></div> <div><span><strong><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" ><span class="nfakPe">Pat</span> D.<br /></span></strong></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h2SDOokSH4IJ8qX22XDwUF7OHgv9IkOGMPd8_pmolF686XYgmbt6Mm_n4f-qX84JGAUmBy2loH5rfenJxwcff0QVIW3OvitSPZy9JsMkaKXG34kPundHkou3RHv95yCJ8ZE7wrrtrk0h/s1600-h/Smithereens+backdrop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1h2SDOokSH4IJ8qX22XDwUF7OHgv9IkOGMPd8_pmolF686XYgmbt6Mm_n4f-qX84JGAUmBy2loH5rfenJxwcff0QVIW3OvitSPZy9JsMkaKXG34kPundHkou3RHv95yCJ8ZE7wrrtrk0h/s400/Smithereens+backdrop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259695494060785954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I did a little online digging and found the following two images, one of the opening title credit to the show, "White Christmas," that Pat was referring to, and one with Bing actually standing in front of that original backdrop. This is the coolest...I love that Pat tips his hat to this classic broadcast, and in such a subtle man<span style="font-size:100%;">ner<span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span></span><span><strong><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></strong></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmGba2YxY59SVKF8D-opAlMhBC1bwipG3kR6wN-IHbOEXo9bfKKcFd8i6xG1oSOLodXPahD3UXER-6zO8gQPecBy9C_A4bPNqfSPbVfg204fWxcs_qwr0EVClSSSjmFMTuoeK0uyPU0Jh/s1600-h/backdrop+image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmGba2YxY59SVKF8D-opAlMhBC1bwipG3kR6wN-IHbOEXo9bfKKcFd8i6xG1oSOLodXPahD3UXER-6zO8gQPecBy9C_A4bPNqfSPbVfg204fWxcs_qwr0EVClSSSjmFMTuoeK0uyPU0Jh/s400/backdrop+image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259695498669939394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">In a follow-up email Pat indicates that other images will follow as the piece progresses. I'll post those images when he forwards them. Don't forget, Pat Dinizio is gonna rock Stumpjack sometime in early 2009 (Jan or Feb I believe...will let you know as soon as he forwards his itinerary). It's going to be the event of the year folks, guaranteed fantastic.</span><span><strong><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></strong></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2on-rObFwAwKGhpu-yvbvzCaHqU-vqczjqVSRKGtMRx0BviXWtYSDtllzAFN9U0vR5yRTX6MD5QVcMVthH80LVmyNbaVZEbL5k2GSbuZXHQfZnCS4tAzFr6gc-zMifusIV49hyTKlb7t/s1600-h/Bing+with+backdrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2on-rObFwAwKGhpu-yvbvzCaHqU-vqczjqVSRKGtMRx0BviXWtYSDtllzAFN9U0vR5yRTX6MD5QVcMVthH80LVmyNbaVZEbL5k2GSbuZXHQfZnCS4tAzFr6gc-zMifusIV49hyTKlb7t/s400/Bing+with+backdrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259695503440912850" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:arial;">This is a great pic of Bing Crosby in front of the original backdrop painting.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-65943926113345556392008-10-07T09:45:00.000-07:002008-10-08T07:19:26.027-07:00Limey Stumpjumpers!<span style="font-family:arial;">I don't believe that "limeys" is a derogatory term, but is rather a kind of friendly nickname for the Brits that Americans used in WWII (I think, however, that it originated well before that, in the British navy when the English tall ships ruled the seas...those guys kicked major tail). Anyway, I'm us</span><span style="font-family:arial;">ing it as a term of endearment for our friends Paul Fox and Talane </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Miedaner</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, who are back home in England after spending some time with us this past summer here at Stumpjack in Two Rivers.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Wanted to share this picture Paul emailed to me yesterday of himself and Talane aboard a </span><span style="font-family:arial;">rickshaw <span style="font-style: italic;">"in London's West End just before [we] saw the 'Lion King' on stage."<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEjavE8dS15M_8XZQ-fZfyHet2iWpH7f4clvnsslKXZY-l5nodSgqL8t4rKTZQfVoB-vlZH5MK3wmyWh4ZDwGw8jv498pDQt_s8aGy9P6P6xBAoJZ8OFgTnDFphPv-uQM5DvTj_RsaOPi/s1600-h/Paul+%26+Talane+in+rickshaw.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEjavE8dS15M_8XZQ-fZfyHet2iWpH7f4clvnsslKXZY-l5nodSgqL8t4rKTZQfVoB-vlZH5MK3wmyWh4ZDwGw8jv498pDQt_s8aGy9P6P6xBAoJZ8OFgTnDFphPv-uQM5DvTj_RsaOPi/s400/Paul+%26+Talane+in+rickshaw.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254459976429251378" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > Paul & Talane in </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">rickshaw...I love the look of the street and buildings behind them.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Paul also emailed me a link that shows an area of his hometwon of Exmouth live via a webcam atop some building in town...I was able to pan around the town looking at different locations, zoom in or out to get close-ups of people unaware of my spying...made me feel very much like a character in a Robert Ludlum novel.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Paul mentioned a couple other things but his writing had such a heavy English accent I couldn't figure out what the hell he was talking about.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74q4R0UwD528844fC143Xc7Rpppvbdr8fnjiaYBInRjJMkxrH0y89KhL7EIRwJ-benQJMYeikJauO_YF9sHWkxmE_ZID9TUjbpt1Kn4kIQ72GcgJ1Jvu1iAvJSnxcO6qEj4yCOW4CGl8P/s1600-h/Paul+and+Talane.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74q4R0UwD528844fC143Xc7Rpppvbdr8fnjiaYBInRjJMkxrH0y89KhL7EIRwJ-benQJMYeikJauO_YF9sHWkxmE_ZID9TUjbpt1Kn4kIQ72GcgJ1Jvu1iAvJSnxcO6qEj4yCOW4CGl8P/s400/Paul+and+Talane.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254459983709931394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Maria, Keralee, Paul and Talane at Stumpjack this summer<br />(Keralee and Talane are sisters).</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">If we open a London branch, which ought to be called something like </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Stumpjack Royal Tea & Coffee Emporium</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, Paul will be in charge of drinks and entertainment. We'll also be publish our exploits with a newsletter titled "Stumpjack Bullocks."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Ok, time to bugger off...blimey...John Bull...fish and chips...crumpets and what-what...</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:10;"></span></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-67096816444159652492008-10-01T07:29:00.000-07:002008-10-01T08:43:15.182-07:00Stumpjack Survival Party<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >This past Sunday we held the 2-year anniversary party for Stumpjack Coffee Co. Anyone who's in business knows that the first two or three years are the most precarious, demanding and scary. Survival is the primary mission. Once you get over that 2-3 year hump then you can breathe a little, but just a little. It's been a rough and tumble time, with more than it's share of ups and downs, a lot of juggling and a good many smiles and laughs. </span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Here are a few images from Sunday's shindig, and more can be found in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumpjack/sets/72157607623517583/">the Flickr set</a> and two or three videos on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/StumpjackCoffee">YouTube</a>. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86_xk3qthsuK1Xv7wIY1f5pP0Nygu6zouh6iI3Hfr31RN_76vFdF5dnzawg5f5_ReQ1hvolYi6A2LIYjGk8IEr926DARgoPR9YVfgacDnLlc0CWSjOqn_SW9tIHNbUok5Kxn4wgHug2wB/s1600-h/100_4583.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86_xk3qthsuK1Xv7wIY1f5pP0Nygu6zouh6iI3Hfr31RN_76vFdF5dnzawg5f5_ReQ1hvolYi6A2LIYjGk8IEr926DARgoPR9YVfgacDnLlc0CWSjOqn_SW9tIHNbUok5Kxn4wgHug2wB/s400/100_4583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252202909107989458" border="0" /></a>Jeremy working as the sommelier<br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT9dFavs3X2c2St1joNkQX-KYrBpgADvi3oNIa_1lPzbe45SD5vGTEfA86ayEutpz8taoA1tK2f8VE5lzO_idxH0DQI7bvXdPeHdjAbdzQf5ip1eo2AtT4AKy5Qh-JidbWZyjo1bLV-ny/s1600-h/100_4629.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT9dFavs3X2c2St1joNkQX-KYrBpgADvi3oNIa_1lPzbe45SD5vGTEfA86ayEutpz8taoA1tK2f8VE5lzO_idxH0DQI7bvXdPeHdjAbdzQf5ip1eo2AtT4AKy5Qh-JidbWZyjo1bLV-ny/s400/100_4629.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252209184930007058" border="0" /></a>Paul Braun and Julie Ruh<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP467lUWXhrxkr1DyngmKbAPUgFTBUD4OIBAMcSg5G6UZ9VCJkhIoYNZ2YB7EXpwmqdoYdVlWi_ZyPO8ujVGjtcsXCFY-yCq5nQft_ltgiIN3MYvyY6JrlQQmFfbdiXE9VcFxLhhyphenhyphenQCZ0/s1600-h/100_4622.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP467lUWXhrxkr1DyngmKbAPUgFTBUD4OIBAMcSg5G6UZ9VCJkhIoYNZ2YB7EXpwmqdoYdVlWi_ZyPO8ujVGjtcsXCFY-yCq5nQft_ltgiIN3MYvyY6JrlQQmFfbdiXE9VcFxLhhyphenhyphenQCZ0/s400/100_4622.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252209355865918914" border="0" /></a>Joe calculating some math problem<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86_xk3qthsuK1Xv7wIY1f5pP0Nygu6zouh6iI3Hfr31RN_76vFdF5dnzawg5f5_ReQ1hvolYi6A2LIYjGk8IEr926DARgoPR9YVfgacDnLlc0CWSjOqn_SW9tIHNbUok5Kxn4wgHug2wB/s1600-h/100_4583.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86_xk3qthsuK1Xv7wIY1f5pP0Nygu6zouh6iI3Hfr31RN_76vFdF5dnzawg5f5_ReQ1hvolYi6A2LIYjGk8IEr926DARgoPR9YVfgacDnLlc0CWSjOqn_SW9tIHNbUok5Kxn4wgHug2wB/s1600-h/100_4583.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4pMCHRs93miPpDt1fJuaKT-AlLbmimLrBSAZM1rEjB50cPf2aNe_AEBeSU7Af3uhUp224FrY7jbLMFM3ivAB0GVEyYPZl-iD5cxdh7ROKyIku5Fkn5kYlIyJe_2DnwO12lnIXKeAlJXB/s1600-h/100_4624.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4pMCHRs93miPpDt1fJuaKT-AlLbmimLrBSAZM1rEjB50cPf2aNe_AEBeSU7Af3uhUp224FrY7jbLMFM3ivAB0GVEyYPZl-iD5cxdh7ROKyIku5Fkn5kYlIyJe_2DnwO12lnIXKeAlJXB/s400/100_4624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252209179629738930" border="0" /></a>Gettin' crowded<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ylo1Uzu0LCTPOdHdYNNdT9F2hrUspVJ4GNTTYpuJApIfTzPNmXIJ96ze9wNZbbrkeGwZ4SfL9b21sOx4pBKZXxZU3Jlc1RQjEcOwLlUoR6UP9ay3ABm4WdLq5slh5FfOOUDdrKBgyrA7/s1600-h/100_4636.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ylo1Uzu0LCTPOdHdYNNdT9F2hrUspVJ4GNTTYpuJApIfTzPNmXIJ96ze9wNZbbrkeGwZ4SfL9b21sOx4pBKZXxZU3Jlc1RQjEcOwLlUoR6UP9ay3ABm4WdLq5slh5FfOOUDdrKBgyrA7/s400/100_4636.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252209185165058946" border="0" /></a>Larry and Peggy...probably our most dignified friends<br />(whut da hell are dey doin' in dis joint?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssJxYqQllObdCLRp0p-zkglXFOHqItIBrOU1LS7FmLsNv3E_neqalzkEELOETvCMWMCSTW-bxAfMSY_WHEctWjcB8CvQkxEBVB7-fIhVh6mThMkmhJRUrUHzEjU2CGtWscTVLf8PgcEVZ/s1600-h/100_4601.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssJxYqQllObdCLRp0p-zkglXFOHqItIBrOU1LS7FmLsNv3E_neqalzkEELOETvCMWMCSTW-bxAfMSY_WHEctWjcB8CvQkxEBVB7-fIhVh6mThMkmhJRUrUHzEjU2CGtWscTVLf8PgcEVZ/s400/100_4601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252209192424508338" border="0" /></a>The new, and still unfinished wine bar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4hEz6Fg-VP1ovWPvbbEq5jLiSAHULuOrxQ_FyvDttxT0a99uHkRp76bMSfBRpPBP6rvnY0G6-ZXbmEImKX82J3wthvhD0fJPE4_aJdT0DK1MLwogOCfyqcmohnqm9e4os1VgQ2Ub1PSH/s1600-h/100_4620.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4hEz6Fg-VP1ovWPvbbEq5jLiSAHULuOrxQ_FyvDttxT0a99uHkRp76bMSfBRpPBP6rvnY0G6-ZXbmEImKX82J3wthvhD0fJPE4_aJdT0DK1MLwogOCfyqcmohnqm9e4os1VgQ2Ub1PSH/s400/100_4620.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252202905543285650" border="0" /></a>Nick laying it down<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcZs0ut4ZxKwhGy7h9Y7w1WU9al7OW1nDmufcn0upN_1Xa7IQHDa8RqJFu1e1zjbMNKnk0urMOqsld-BYnjAgqodtTJqZewPdoisBceRE9jj4igm2oa31h5A9eSP-85C_gmYil7Ydqm14/s1600-h/100_4630.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcZs0ut4ZxKwhGy7h9Y7w1WU9al7OW1nDmufcn0upN_1Xa7IQHDa8RqJFu1e1zjbMNKnk0urMOqsld-BYnjAgqodtTJqZewPdoisBceRE9jj4igm2oa31h5A9eSP-85C_gmYil7Ydqm14/s400/100_4630.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252202911660354786" border="0" /></a>The evil Spock in the alternate universe episode.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirj4V_8FVZXxfmVQcP78TGPZ9m1TtKz4QG9WBUzpOjFEZs0IGt7NhVGmTN64CaZYBqLtmmfrumD_pydffbCDVpYbNSKSL7Yj2ZxFqovXm5HOXBMK826emujhyjJtJNIDRBWnawEaQsQxC7/s1600-h/100_4634.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirj4V_8FVZXxfmVQcP78TGPZ9m1TtKz4QG9WBUzpOjFEZs0IGt7NhVGmTN64CaZYBqLtmmfrumD_pydffbCDVpYbNSKSL7Yj2ZxFqovXm5HOXBMK826emujhyjJtJNIDRBWnawEaQsQxC7/s400/100_4634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252202910968432530" border="0" /></a>Allie came down from Menomonee<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWNJ_NDyibG67IdENaqzVMVb31WxmWtDnWAuHfXZ5-9B2w7ecK07YR8Bf9E8S9GLhj_vJmV23FrUuC5hOVQwYBoQinKOCIRK_8X-Z3sBpu1pcbqkFC8xDUIGG3Lhsevq4QAa7RiJz4tFY/s1600-h/100_4657.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWNJ_NDyibG67IdENaqzVMVb31WxmWtDnWAuHfXZ5-9B2w7ecK07YR8Bf9E8S9GLhj_vJmV23FrUuC5hOVQwYBoQinKOCIRK_8X-Z3sBpu1pcbqkFC8xDUIGG3Lhsevq4QAa7RiJz4tFY/s400/100_4657.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252202915493580914" border="0" /></a>Nic shows up just a little <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> fashionably late.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">And a great time was had by all... Here's to next year, cheers!</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-92173693475071084062008-09-06T11:41:00.000-07:002008-09-06T11:55:06.177-07:00a few wasps I killed and collected in the past 3 days<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxXSKFU6GnXBaFc5j59BgYqOlCPyIDeqavBuq8pIP11JRHJtNnvJUrUA4DNm-Rf3GFXXk6N8McTHi2_sgKDA3-VzGyJr5d9OF_s7gPYp1Cw-ihF1KeSAOHN5BPJlXD3czMnDCuFqK5epy/s1600-h/a+few+wasps+I+killed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxXSKFU6GnXBaFc5j59BgYqOlCPyIDeqavBuq8pIP11JRHJtNnvJUrUA4DNm-Rf3GFXXk6N8McTHi2_sgKDA3-VzGyJr5d9OF_s7gPYp1Cw-ihF1KeSAOHN5BPJlXD3czMnDCuFqK5epy/s400/a+few+wasps+I+killed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242982386246644274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" >My latest artwork...I call it "Exercise in Black & Yellow #3"</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">We had a wasp problem. There's a wall nest under the siding on the outside of the building. Our landlord doused it with poison and plugged it up, and now the little critters are looking for a way in and the ones that were in the nest are making their way into our bathroom and back hallway via inner wall routes. Here's a portion of the ones I've killed in the past 3 days (methods of death: numerous cans of spray, newspaper swatters, my boot, and my bug crushing fingers - had one in my shirt, amazingly didn't sting me). I have killed and collected...I kid you not...over 700 thus far. Here's a picture of one small part of the piles.</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-70782340180119772302008-09-05T09:44:00.000-07:002008-09-06T11:41:24.760-07:00I'm writing a book and it's gonna be called...<span style="font-family:arial;">"<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Living with Drama Queens: The Rational Man's Survival Guide</span>"</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Chapter 1: <span style="font-weight: bold;">The "You were a jackass...six weeks ago" Housewife Drama Queen</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 2: <span style="font-weight: bold;">The 20-something "He's so hot...I'm moving to Hawaii!" Drama Queen</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 3: </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The High School "I need to go to that concert or I'll die!" Drama Queen</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Chapter 4: </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >The Junior High "I can't stand her anymore!" Drama Queen</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Chapter 5: <span style="font-weight: bold;">The dog's a male but he's around female humans all day so he has become an irritating drama queen now too</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 6: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dealing with the frequent detours through crazy town</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 7: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >How to remain a rational man in a household full of irrational women</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 8: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sanity in a Bottle: The properly stocked liquor cabinet for the man living in a drama queen household</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 9: <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Creative ways to escape without actually having to kill anyone, including yourself</span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chapter 10: <span style="font-weight: bold;">How to write a journal for your descendants so that they know what hell you went through "back in great, great grampa's day"<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hhlcyiQS23MSOWAuRR5kJNcRl2yCykA3wNvtuIvKU5RfGyQ6eNKmuDnaxBY0N3_8-OZKPRr2E_kYgVhfJL8KfkOWjOEs3CV5M_PwrboXRZ1XSlD6pFf-nzxuf_4nXKuzO5uJDi__SWY4/s1600-h/ScreenHunter_01+Sep.+05+12.01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hhlcyiQS23MSOWAuRR5kJNcRl2yCykA3wNvtuIvKU5RfGyQ6eNKmuDnaxBY0N3_8-OZKPRr2E_kYgVhfJL8KfkOWjOEs3CV5M_PwrboXRZ1XSlD6pFf-nzxuf_4nXKuzO5uJDi__SWY4/s400/ScreenHunter_01+Sep.+05+12.01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242583813927801698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >This way to my house...</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-3674149155839082892008-08-29T15:25:00.000-07:002008-08-29T16:03:33.273-07:00"Spill the Beans" newspaper column from 8/27/08<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">My "Spill the Beans" newspaper column is normally published both in the Herald Times Reporter and online on <a href="http://www.htrnews.com/">their website</a>. For whatever reason, while it was printed in the newspaper it wasn't published online this week (8/27/08), and someone asked on the paper's online forum that I place it here on Stumptoons. So here it is...and you get the added benefit of some cool images that you don't get in the regular newspaper version.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Bully Coffee from Puerto Rico</span></span><br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal">Given that this is an election year I’m going combine a little political trivia with the discussion of coffee. I’m also going to get more openly political than I normally do. I’m going to come out and just tell you who my favorite presidential politician is.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Ready? </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">My favorite politician is…Teddy Roosevelt!</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKTWWPZdHpMgaL55DNT44KhgKbg73b_ivk_p-cH3QPNwsEB-S-pZpuk045m_ONVDlv13Socy2bdfO8h2V35BY6VScPzKepvYUwaq5NTf2aqOkoJ9fCcr5IPN9kDduXvq72aqln2DCWxe2/s1600-h/Teddy+Roosevelt+IV.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKTWWPZdHpMgaL55DNT44KhgKbg73b_ivk_p-cH3QPNwsEB-S-pZpuk045m_ONVDlv13Socy2bdfO8h2V35BY6VScPzKepvYUwaq5NTf2aqOkoJ9fCcr5IPN9kDduXvq72aqln2DCWxe2/s400/Teddy+Roosevelt+IV.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240073403744410690" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Teddy looking determined...and he was.</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Yup, he of the old Bull Moose party and Rough Riders fame, who advised “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” and whose popularity inspired the creation of the Teddy Bear. That was a little disingenuous of me to name a past president, but it’s the truth, Theodore Roosevelt truly is my favorite president and as luck, for me, would have it, he was also a passionate coffee connoisseur. His place in the coffee world was secured with two things: one, when he requested that premium coffee from Puerto Rico, which he described as “grand!” be served at official state dinners and functions.</p><h1 style="font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo-2j8BtcoRMQBLqYAuHTTzZrahcDTQCvulFyfvt7cgFYo_dQLYxSQA7Z0e8UJ4_2nuICl1hsWkvalAR-R9Vvylhyphenhyphen7i6kFlvsDGSFmKiTiBb3Fv1LvgxpnVN2mV0Shda-Lfbgn_CB1tyz/s1600-h/Teddy+Roosevelt+V.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo-2j8BtcoRMQBLqYAuHTTzZrahcDTQCvulFyfvt7cgFYo_dQLYxSQA7Z0e8UJ4_2nuICl1hsWkvalAR-R9Vvylhyphenhyphen7i6kFlvsDGSFmKiTiBb3Fv1LvgxpnVN2mV0Shda-Lfbgn_CB1tyz/s400/Teddy+Roosevelt+V.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240073397118344978" border="0" /></a></h1> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Roosevelt and the boys ready to kick some tail if'n they don't get some Puerto Rican coffee NOW!</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Roosevelt chose wisely in requesting Puerto Rican coffee. It has been deemed one of the super premium coffees in the world for over a hundred years, and justifiably so. Puerto Rico shares much the same growing conditions as other coffee growing island countries of the Caribbean and the Hawaiian Islands. All have the high mountains (1,000 to over 3,500 feet), rich soil and equatorial weather that produce superior coffees. These coffees exhibit what is known as an “island profile,” a cup that is, generally speaking, incredibly smooth, very low in acid (described and tasted as brightness or bitterness) and well balanced with an almost buttery mouthfeel.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGni0cHoXfVru4KzwR0k8ldDYQc3ZUBpmbZ9a3mS_1dwa23J2PR6FyxS6Ikjb4M7ptQOqOoO7qbll29cB3bh5lp9wf4H0wWo4T-bgmzJANOJ1KSEsKZgp6pBB4xbUwyWdzUZWDTo8SzLz/s1600-h/Teddy+Roosevelt+I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGni0cHoXfVru4KzwR0k8ldDYQc3ZUBpmbZ9a3mS_1dwa23J2PR6FyxS6Ikjb4M7ptQOqOoO7qbll29cB3bh5lp9wf4H0wWo4T-bgmzJANOJ1KSEsKZgp6pBB4xbUwyWdzUZWDTo8SzLz/s400/Teddy+Roosevelt+I.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240073398863269298" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >"You there! Get me a cup of Stumpjack Coffee now, dadburnit!"</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Freshly roasted Puerto Rican, at an upper medium, full city roast, produces a distinct and delightful cocoa aroma for the first few days following the roast. It is not a coffee that rocks you with overpowering flavors or boldness. It’s soft, creamy and oh-so-smooth; a wonderful brew for people who either can’t drink a lot of coffee because of things like acid reflux or who just aren’t into bolder coffees. You may detect a gentle sweetness in the cup, and its mildness makes it the one that I enjoy best in the evening.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_1g8k6d-6WHoab7T59GjkWCd8uj9E-URCh2hbQRTbZKXPaOGAjjgOSm0pSwnyjJ_DyFKGLCkhdH1PBIVvz2rfxhpv05AC7DsXN4Yu1XlDPgQCcXn3k8NsKWSoJjvNEm1NVNiro5jouq0/s1600-h/Teddy+Roosevelt+II.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_1g8k6d-6WHoab7T59GjkWCd8uj9E-URCh2hbQRTbZKXPaOGAjjgOSm0pSwnyjJ_DyFKGLCkhdH1PBIVvz2rfxhpv05AC7DsXN4Yu1XlDPgQCcXn3k8NsKWSoJjvNEm1NVNiro5jouq0/s400/Teddy+Roosevelt+II.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240073400977681666" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >After drinking Stumpjack Coffee Roosevelt is in joyful mood and waves to crowd.</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Puerto Rican coffee is, in fact, very similar to the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain (JBM). JMB has been marketed more effectively than Puerto Rican, but both compare very favorably in terms of taste, aroma and texture. At one time, however, Puerto Rican coffee was <i>the</i> premier coffee in the world. During the mid to late 19<sup>th</sup> century Puerto Rican was the most expensive coffee on the planet, and set a standard of quality that other premium coffee growers aspired to achieve. At our shop we only partially joke that “Puerto Rican is the coffee that the pope drinks.” At one time that was in fact the case, as it was indeed the coffee consumed at the Vatican, as well as by royalty and heads of state throughout Europe and the U.S.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">However, a couple of hurricanes in the late 1800s crushed Puerto Rico’s coffee industry. The slow recovery following that devastation, along with certain political influences and the increasing profitability of the island’s sugar cane industry, were too much to overcome and the country never reclaimed its former dominance in the coffee world. That’s actually good news for us today. The coffee is as outstanding as ever and yet does not generally command the same prices as other similarly excellent island coffees. To be sure, it is not <i>cheap</i>, at anywhere from $20 to $28 or so per pound. But compared to JBM or Hawaiian Kona that both go upwards of $50 per pound it is quite a deal.</p> <span style=""><span style="font-family:arial;">The other thing that Roosevelt is famous for in the coffee world? After finishing a cup served him from the Maxwell House Hotel in Tennessee he uttered the phrase “It’s good to the last drop,” which became the popular slogan for Maxwell House Coffee.<br /></span></span><h1 style="font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaFVNtEV6fltIHMVATxi1HBZQxMFL9vmsQhA2HvpYrIT5IYF0kxLUlvHI9wgTDzxgxwCQP5P0CWxYqAyqe1cyVVyEnB0CoTFHM9FOTlVeL6Ac7LPI6JojD9MbcrWk2uH6ZGz-wZUpmJun/s1600-h/Teddy+Roosevelt+Maxwell+House+Coffee.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaFVNtEV6fltIHMVATxi1HBZQxMFL9vmsQhA2HvpYrIT5IYF0kxLUlvHI9wgTDzxgxwCQP5P0CWxYqAyqe1cyVVyEnB0CoTFHM9FOTlVeL6Ac7LPI6JojD9MbcrWk2uH6ZGz-wZUpmJun/s400/Teddy+Roosevelt+Maxwell+House+Coffee.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240073393679465170" border="0" /></a></h1> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">click to enlarge this vintage ad</span></span><br /></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-1059418832521816082008-08-19T14:35:00.000-07:002008-08-19T14:46:30.258-07:00Grampa's Musky<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGkD7I7ZRF7JzzNj4Ilg4uC9PCQu8p0Ct8zAHaozHsxvZRRfEYUdv4b_4MITQkSehOjlc5LEbIf5pNfr-gIBt6hOLj9qCCcHz_kIBoC9TvmDHhrwk66fgTWEIg_76cucSrCtuNxJCdzex/s1600-h/ScreenHunter_02+Aug.+19+16.33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGkD7I7ZRF7JzzNj4Ilg4uC9PCQu8p0Ct8zAHaozHsxvZRRfEYUdv4b_4MITQkSehOjlc5LEbIf5pNfr-gIBt6hOLj9qCCcHz_kIBoC9TvmDHhrwk66fgTWEIg_76cucSrCtuNxJCdzex/s400/ScreenHunter_02+Aug.+19+16.33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236348142192711666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">My Grampa, Fred Smith, caught a nice musky from a Trout Lake near Minocqua in 1974. Grampa is 94 now and he's still kicking the crap out of fish wherever he chooses to wet a line (he still makes at least one or two trips to Canada each year just to put the fear into them and let 'em know he's got their number). This musky now hangs in the Stumpjack here in Two Rivers.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKTNnghIxdII0WAgP_Cg30h_YF5vtt7D9O6m-7s6Bj3DH0SQF_xFFNJ4UOFJX8HovVa8n6LWKKJxlULDrEbcvGdNAKcf7a24lvLN8byoQ4zMnVmf0DC8JqUHf9Bx5H5m_DwVUINC967yQ/s1600-h/100_3800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKTNnghIxdII0WAgP_Cg30h_YF5vtt7D9O6m-7s6Bj3DH0SQF_xFFNJ4UOFJX8HovVa8n6LWKKJxlULDrEbcvGdNAKcf7a24lvLN8byoQ4zMnVmf0DC8JqUHf9Bx5H5m_DwVUINC967yQ/s400/100_3800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236348145716419010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_M0PyZ4c7NyOla6C0JNtf6T6A3E2-wHpw9nKyUhbW18_4yK06ZzYnc-MNCCNbgXkwTf9JBElShRQUxQV6ZJU8qLxI_h2K7QjHbSrGWkB-t1g8-jtNB57hSGaQtq7CQxaR511j7VXHQqI/s1600-h/100_3806.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_M0PyZ4c7NyOla6C0JNtf6T6A3E2-wHpw9nKyUhbW18_4yK06ZzYnc-MNCCNbgXkwTf9JBElShRQUxQV6ZJU8qLxI_h2K7QjHbSrGWkB-t1g8-jtNB57hSGaQtq7CQxaR511j7VXHQqI/s400/100_3806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236348137917307842" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5379605342493217997.post-34819169402064239522008-08-15T10:28:00.000-07:002008-08-19T16:00:23.470-07:00SputnikGirl, Door County, Stumpjack Peru<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ13EITbOTOoqi0e9DNnhiWaCe_5E36XWJxc60XBLWAG4Mi-L1akEEEWFA3kHdAsjKRTu1D65dEm71HpGZp22H9DtnDop3JtftY_I99ERkToSJLcGtYcd0FKCQccqd1qh5eT67EPD9mWWy/s1600-h/sputnikgirl_poster_web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ13EITbOTOoqi0e9DNnhiWaCe_5E36XWJxc60XBLWAG4Mi-L1akEEEWFA3kHdAsjKRTu1D65dEm71HpGZp22H9DtnDop3JtftY_I99ERkToSJLcGtYcd0FKCQccqd1qh5eT67EPD9mWWy/s400/sputnikgirl_poster_web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234800175845436946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">We have a few signed and numbered limited edition prints of this poster by illustrator extraordinaire Tina Kugler. Tina's art opening is tonight at <a href="http://www.persimmonsgal54220.blogspot.com/">Persimmons</a> in Manitowoc.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">A few pics from a recent day trip to Door County.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTOBipkdThOPA_yTubCecOvi819G85sfESJ1Z_dDp6TD5LHJ5TcJtWyesod6StPehXGOLTpSebUH36JvdvoWrWrMvIf_nW-2qRmshKPjOgjQdGxz7uXyJYCVxD0B1SYBrINE6JpQUOOB4/s1600-h/100_2953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTOBipkdThOPA_yTubCecOvi819G85sfESJ1Z_dDp6TD5LHJ5TcJtWyesod6StPehXGOLTpSebUH36JvdvoWrWrMvIf_nW-2qRmshKPjOgjQdGxz7uXyJYCVxD0B1SYBrINE6JpQUOOB4/s400/100_2953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234800160746596306" border="0" /></a>This will be my chair from which I'll deal with salespeople who pop into the shop unannounced (they will be forced to sit on the floor before me as I humiliate them for their presumptuous behavior).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcANu55pcmyHVa3L9oUziBtczJfZ6oD2RRjWYvuU2dXhnH5C2hq2xYOtV2ccMfEEStOzNkgT9LgRiAnR44_X9tc_3tc20sM4wKuxd3OdHJlcFDr3S-0S5UcqZxsHzRU2VmhYsLHBaEi5Po/s1600-h/100_2954.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcANu55pcmyHVa3L9oUziBtczJfZ6oD2RRjWYvuU2dXhnH5C2hq2xYOtV2ccMfEEStOzNkgT9LgRiAnR44_X9tc_3tc20sM4wKuxd3OdHJlcFDr3S-0S5UcqZxsHzRU2VmhYsLHBaEi5Po/s400/100_2954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234800167603091202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Jesse will hold court in my absence.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41_LyxWuBWPYvjnQeIfwMOb2im0UUq4pa1whV4ze3B3oPBB4phDyu_Yb1fCt0Hays3vJJ54rwcpmMS4QXJh6WYke7cCPNqZxVtSd8pPMxi5XwOYyCJurdMH8aQ4kjmfH4Qf4xlp3M_64T/s1600-h/100_2957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41_LyxWuBWPYvjnQeIfwMOb2im0UUq4pa1whV4ze3B3oPBB4phDyu_Yb1fCt0Hays3vJJ54rwcpmMS4QXJh6WYke7cCPNqZxVtSd8pPMxi5XwOYyCJurdMH8aQ4kjmfH4Qf4xlp3M_64T/s400/100_2957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234800171912733234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">They will then be dropped into the snake pit with all of the various deadly vipers that the girls have collected.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgGCflu2gnzOsZ-q79JwTSMRT6XLJy4otdoodoQGVYWwMYP9X9d5DVxu9UYzArK8bSkhZIaFAkJozZIGVS1DVb93TfomC5TRNFpEj-KOSR3S_QVax-7VxQwspAMwnxtm84K2tOG1Ui7DQ/s1600-h/DSC00034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgGCflu2gnzOsZ-q79JwTSMRT6XLJy4otdoodoQGVYWwMYP9X9d5DVxu9UYzArK8bSkhZIaFAkJozZIGVS1DVb93TfomC5TRNFpEj-KOSR3S_QVax-7VxQwspAMwnxtm84K2tOG1Ui7DQ/s400/DSC00034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234806667654075842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Laurie Svatek, mountaintop in Peru <span style="font-size:85%;">(I'm pretty sure she said Peru)</span>.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit1WMAJkXIn8KDHCTgaY6_i5CbAExOYcKC64hk_LArAGHHbTfADfWRdmH0id2ABG9KsUYYR1ZXZrr6MsPm4q0FzNkM_B6eb0Ep0iWvPGqVJ6Coz4Nw4JAMoIrkURP1fwDQ2WYt6sHcXl1/s1600-h/Stumpjack+Peru+Caf%C3%A9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit1WMAJkXIn8KDHCTgaY6_i5CbAExOYcKC64hk_LArAGHHbTfADfWRdmH0id2ABG9KsUYYR1ZXZrr6MsPm4q0FzNkM_B6eb0Ep0iWvPGqVJ6Coz4Nw4JAMoIrkURP1fwDQ2WYt6sHcXl1/s400/Stumpjack+Peru+Caf%C3%A9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234809419822473842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Stumpjack Peru Café at the top of the hill.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bFbdypDntDJuCvDPMP2dZDoAhGi-JyS9wFWhGorw9Yaio-X3rw5VT1QfxIiCEfMilHm8GlyHPnsacc2P8f681JQcC3a3pyJTxCiUhhyphenhyphenejyImC9u2lSsHULV5ZviM-F-U_bnfBk06YA7w/s1600-h/Stumpjack+Peru+Caf%C3%A9+detail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bFbdypDntDJuCvDPMP2dZDoAhGi-JyS9wFWhGorw9Yaio-X3rw5VT1QfxIiCEfMilHm8GlyHPnsacc2P8f681JQcC3a3pyJTxCiUhhyphenhyphenejyImC9u2lSsHULV5ZviM-F-U_bnfBk06YA7w/s320/Stumpjack+Peru+Caf%C3%A9+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234809556588208546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Detail...with people in line waiting for a spiced coffee.<br />That's another one of Marty's cool neon signs in front.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338006856009324832noreply@blogger.com0