Coffee: It's what's for breakfast

Interestingly enough, as a teenager, I thought coffee a disgusting beverage both bitter and without much flavor.  The incredible heat given off made it almost impossible to pass over my underdevoloped taste buds and "charming" coffee mugs seemed less than manly to a youngster teeming with testosterone.

In a few short years, however, I began understanding the allure of coffee.  First, after several attempts at drinking it, I began to really discover it's appeal.  I tried coffee with sugar, with traditional creamers (both powdered and liquid) and later with the various flavored creamers.  After a few years of experimentation, I found that I enjoyed coffee for coffee's sake; the flavor of a good Arabica or Sumatran beans are to be cherished. 

The smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee also meant the start of a new day, a day full of new adventures.  Bed head heaped atop my frame, a pair of sweats and a hoodie, flip flops on my feet, I would stagger to the coffee pot and press the brew button and anxiously await the opportunity to come to life. 

Coffee could also be placed in a thermos and taken to a destination, whether it be on a hiking trip or possibly a hunting or fishing stay.  Later, someone got the bright idea to develop insulated cups, which served as smaller thermoses, complete with a business or a favorite athletic team's logo.

But what coffee really meant to me in those earlier years was an introduction to adulthood.  It was something to be enjoyed by those who have come of age, something to be consumed in an intoxicating fashion, without the ill after effects of alcohol.  "Children be gone," coffee would scream!

I was so dismayed, however, when Starbucks and other Seattle brewers made drinking coffee "cool" in order to attract the teen demographic.  Heck, they really weren't purchasing coffee; rather, some mocha grande frape crap(e) would be bought and topped with Cool Whip or some other nonsense.  But what they (the coffee shops) did  was take away an adult pleasure, that is, the gathering of adults to talk in relative peace about unimportant or important things minus the worry of being interrupted by some wayward teen or pre-adolescent.

Now, I just enjoy my coffee in solace or with my wife, sometimes in our family room or sometimes on our deck.  And all is right in the world again.

Peace, love and coffee my friends.......

My martial arts training and teaching

has grown considerably over the years.  As I've aged I've found it easier to accomodate larger, younger individuals by taking into account Jigoro Kano's adage, "When the enemy wants to enter your house, open the door.  When he wants to leave, show him the way."  Kano sensei was essentially telling you to take an opponent's energy and move with it, almost like dancing, which intensifies a punch, throw, kick, etc. delivered to the opponent.

Currently, I only have one student.  This will probably change in the next week or so, but it's interesting for me to watch my new student learn and understand what I see as easy concepts.  Sometimes being the teacher means being the student all over again, as I must open my mind and heart to his energy and level of understanding. 

Lastly, my newest student's screams insure I'm doing the technique correctly, but my voracious laughter at his screams make moving to the next technique rather......difficult.

My first attempt at blogging

As most folks who own a computer realize, blogging is a 21st century creation and has been embraced by millions.  And as usual, I'm bringing up the rear when it comes to fads or waves either real or electronic.  I just really have no interest in doing what the general public does, but much to my dismay, I find myself drawn by the unknown and eventually come around to what everyone else is thinking--some of the time anyway.

I elected to start this blog to support my writing endeavors, especially that of my planned book which will be entitled, naturally, That Reminds Me of a Time....

Of course, I will probably return to this page to discuss whatever comes to mind, whether it be personal, political or just to slander someone I don't care for.  No matter the reason, I will give a concerted effort to make my presence known in the cyber world of blogging. 

I may occasionally cross over to martial arts ramblings, personal protection advice, offer up some personal travel experience or just mindlessly blather on about nothing like Michael Jackson leaving his drug dealing doctor a personal message.

Hopefully, as I learn how to navigate and use the various features offered on blogspot, the look, feel and "sound" will become much better.

Enjoy!