Cup of Coffee

February 13th, 2013: Missing the Cold

118 Comments

I didn't see anyone set the timer on the coffee pot, so I made a fresh one. Its been relatively hot down here in Florida, and I don't like it because its February and I have 31 of those telling me its supposed to be cold. Its no revelation that I enjoy cold weather, but I definitely miss it right now. Shorts in February. Bah, I say!

118 thoughts on “February 13th, 2013: Missing the Cold”

  1. Yeah, I didn't set one up...I've got a house full of sick kids and this just got lost in the shuffle.

    I'm almost done with my 17-day stretch of work days...today will be sixteen. If I finally get my two days off and I'm sick for them, I'm going to be annoyed.

    1. I got in what should have been Sunday night but ended up as 2 am Monday morning, so since then. I get out of here tomorrow morning, just in time for Valentine's Day.

    1. Right now, my beard is about the same size. It's definitely the longest I have ever grown it in my life (haven't trimmed it in about three weeks). Maybe I should shave my head this weekend.

        1. Mine starts looking too unkempt if I let it go longer than about a week and a half.

          Also, it looks in the picture like he's trying to move something with his mind. If he can hone that skill a bit, he could be a very solid LOOGY.

          2. I'm getting up there in beard length, too, though I try to keep at least the cheeks trimmed to a respectable length.

        1. When I get around to shaving, I was planning to go through various stages of Civil War generals. I would probably post those pictures on the Book of Faces.

          Edited to add: right now, I basically have a U(nconditional) S(urrender) Grant.

          1. Also, while shaving I think I could manage to progress through Joseph Johnston, Beauregard, and end with the most-despised man in NOLA prior to Roger Goodell: Benjamin Butler.

              1. But that eliminates all the fun people who kept some hair on their chin. Plus, my sideburns will need a few extra years to shoot out long enough to look similar.

                1. I shaved down close to the Ambrose a couple weeks ago (for a friend's engagement spiel.), although not nearly as long on the sides and not nearly as bald on top.

                  1. I should also note that I immediately started growing that chin hair back. I shoveled just after shaving and it was cold.

      1. I'm liking it more in the photos of it in use than I did when I first saw it.
        Even more than that: it's a real baseball cap, and not something with stretch side panels or whatever.

      1. Spoiler SelectShow

  4. Ash Wednesday, also getaway day. I have been neglecting the Fitness column. Will get back on it tomorrow.

      1. I'm guessing he changed and left before the game was over. Anyway, I got a laugh out of it. There isn't a lot of detail about what led up to the moment, but I'm going to pretend his story is similar to my high school sports experience, in which I was ignored by the coach and never played despite working far harder in practice than the guys that did play a lot.

    1. It's unlikely that anything will ever truly come of it, but it's a conversation that the internet on whole can't afford to let die. Good on him.

    2. That led me down a rabbit hole that's going to have me throwing every computer in the house away in a few years.

      1. Welcome to the internet, my friend. It's a f-ed up place, and that's putting it rather mildly.

        My poor kids, I already know too much about the internet. They'll never be allowed to do anything.

  11. Forget podcasts, I've taken to playing Michael Palin BBC travel specials off of youtube on my second monitor. I don't get to watch it much, but it makes nice background.

    2. I can't fight this feeling anymore. Maybe I've got too much time on my hands, but I'd go if it were free for all.

        1. I think he was expecting that one year from the fall. So, I assume this is one last go round to earn some lawyer money.

        1. if there is a band that seems to be disdained around here, 'twould be Eagles.

          Me, being of A Certain Age, actually still enjoy listening to Eagles songs and albums. Not like "all the time", but as part of a rotation.

          1. You can't hide your lying eyes. And your smile is in disguise. Tho't by know you'd realize. Ain't no way to hide your lying eyes. Just sayin.

  14. So these past few days have convinced me that Florida is not a place I ever want to have to visit again. Lets just say ideological differences, a general feeling of a lack of logical thinking (two people came into the bar I was at and bought six packs... for $30!), and some of the worst driving I have ever seen, including FIBS has contributed to these thoughts.

      1. While I haven't seen any of thoe, I don't doubt that they're just as bad as the native residents of Orlando.

          1. I've never been that far south, though I imagine that area would be more tolerable. Northern Florida is definitely not a place I agree with, though.

              1. I did have good brisket in Jacksonville on Tuesday, and the weather was better than the last time I was there, which was in August. (humidity, ugh.) Its a beer wasteland, though. Orlando is better in that regard.

                1. yeah, earlier that night we were at a much finer seafood establishment on the water that supposedly brewed their own beer. the verdict was okay to bad.

                    1. You should have mentioned where in FL you were.* I lived in Jacksonville for 2+ years while in the Navy. Best brewpub/restaurant for my money was this place. Technically in Atlantic Beach, but only about 20 minutes from that place you went. Great seafood, B+/A- beer selection and not as "touristy" as you might think.

                      As for your feelings about North Florida in general...well, I wouldn't exactly disagree. I thought, as a single, 22-year-old, that FL would be awesome. Maybe South Beach and the Keys would have been, but N. FL just seemed an extension of the South. As a naive kid from the upper midwest, I was not prepared for life below the Mason-Dixon. I wouldn't trade the experience, and I'd visit again, but I wouldn't choose to live there.

                      *If you did, I missed it.

                2. Also, part of the reason it's a "beer wasteland" is that there's an AB-Inbev brewery up by the airport. You get a lot of cheap swill with that in place.

                  1. there is a Bud brewery in Fairfield, CA (between Sactown and the Bay Area). And yet....

                    So I'm not gonna give other parts of the country a pass. That would be like saying that the existence of a McDonald's in a metropolitan area deters fine dining.

                    2. I agree, I didn't mean it as an excuse for bad beer, more of an explanation from my now 10-years-old experience. Craft brewing wasn't as widespread and I wasn't exactly the enthusiast that I am today. My "favorite" beers circa 2002 were Guinness, Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss and whatever BudMillerCoors product was on sale.

                      Also, not to be an ass*, but ...part of the reason it's a "beer wasteland" is ...life below the Mason-Dixon. I know there are good beers from the south, but the vast majority of my current "favorite beers" are mircobrews of the west coast/ Pacific NW, upper mid-west & north east persuasion.

                      *in regards to the south...

                    3. I was going to make some comment about the South being rife with teetotalers to help explain the relative lack of quality, indigenous beer. Certainly, there are lingering effects of prohibitionism in the region. But then I discovered that California ranks 46th in per-capita beer consumption in the U.S. (with NJ, CT and NY ranking 47th, 48th and 49th, respectively).

                      so maybe its the mint juleps and moonshine?

                    4. There are a lot of microbrews in St Louis but didn't all of them open after the InBev purchase? I seem to remember reading that the laws loosened up once that purchase went through.

                    5. So I'm not gonna give other parts of the country a pass. That would be like saying that the existence of a McDonald's in a metropolitan area deters fine dining.

                      If McDonald's were to lobby to prevent fine dining, this would be a better analogy.

    2. I've been there a few times. There are things to like (Cape Canaveral and Spring Training were awesome). But yeah... I wouldn't ever want to do anything there but be a tourist.

    3. Yesterday, I encountered the worst driving I have ever seen. Driving East out of G-Town, I was sandwiched between two cars on the state highway. It was icy and foggy and snowing. A semi came up from behind us and attempted to pass all three cars. Meanwhile a car was coming from the opposite direction. The semi pulled in, forcing me onto the shoulder. The semi, other car and I took it three wide. Remember, we just had 20 inches of snow, and as a result, the shoulders were a little narrower than usual.

      I stopped in SBGville to pick up some stuff and headed East again. A few more miles down the road, I met a car trying to pass a car, with the passing car bearing right at me, forcing me onto the shoulder again, with another three wide situation. I have never had that happen to me before in my life and it happened to me twice in 30 minutes.

      Did I mention that it was icy, foggy, and snowing?

      1. I've been forced 3-wide on Hwy 14 down here. It happens with some frequency on that road, and is terrifying.

          1. That road is one of the deadliest in the state. Absolutely hate it. People passing have no patience, pass multiple people all the time, etc.

            1. Well, I know there have been multiple deadly accidents at the intersection of highways 14 and TH15 ("The Wishbone") just across the River from NU.

              I always took TH68 to Kato when I was driving. Much prettier, No Nicollet County cops.

        1. Speaking of which, Barry Bonds' appeal is to be heard today. I don't think it's quite accurate to say that Bonds was "acquitted" of perjury charges, as my recollection was that there was a hung jury on all the other counts, but I do think his basis for appeal is not frivolous*.

          *Considering that Calcaterra incorrectly asserted that Bonds was acquitted, you may want to take his statement of the facts with a grain of salt. Even so, I've always thought that the fact that he answered the question was a pretty good defense against the obstruction of justice charge. If the jury was not allowed to consider the fact that he answered the question (whether or not the answer was truthful is another question), well, that would be reason to throw out a conviction, no?

          1. Not frivolous? I would say downright excellent. He was convicted of being a little awkward and nervous while under oath. The jury instructions were in complete error.

  16. Anyone have any Valentine's meal suggestions? (Cooking at home, weeknight so less time in prep the better. (Really going all out, huh?)).

      1. I was leaning towards steak (non-venison (did you provide the deer?)), but I'm not breaking out the grill tomorrow, and steak not on the grill seems wrong to me.

        1. Steak in a screaming hot, cast-iron grill pan is just fine as a substitute for the grill, thankyouverymuch. But if your missus is anything like mine, she's not all that impressed with the steak dinner. I'd go with something like roasted or poached salmon, or sea bass. This photoessay on sea bass with lemon-shallot butter looks pretty good.

          (all that said, I AM grilling ribeyes tomorrow for my parents and a cousin who is visiting; with roasted red potatoes, grilled mushrooms, and a green salad)

          1. Living in Mankato, I'm always a bit skeptical about the fish available. Also, today was meatless and Friday is meatless, so I'm having meat tomorrow. And I don't have a cast-iron grill pan. I should rectify that.

          2. I've decided something with mushrooms sounds good though. That's a good idea. Philosofette does enjoy mushrooms too. And probably potatoes, given the suggestions of you both.

            1. see Bittman's note about adding mushrooms with the shallots in the steak diane recipe below. You won't be disappointed.

              1. That's basically what I'm planning at this point, but with a red wine and peppercorn combo instead of the Worcester and mustard combo (Philosofette is not much for Worcester).

        2. I did not. I don't hunt (I help my father-in-law cut up the deer).

          I'm thinking baby red potatoes in white sauce would be tastier than simple mashed potatoes, but that ship might have sailed.

          1. You didn't strike me as the hunting type, but I apparently don't strike people that way either.

            I've settled on a porterhouse in red wine & peppercorn sauce from epicurious.com. If it turns out, maybe I'll put up a Nation Has Appetite post.

    2. I rarely do much for Valentines day, EAR's birthday falls exactly one week before, and now we've got LBR's stuck in the middle too.
      Last week, I pan-fried Venison tenderloin. Made a sauce with a bit of reserved marinade, an onion sliced very thin, some red wine, and some cream as I was finishing it off. Turned out quite well.

    3. Steak Diane is always a crowd pleaser.

      Yup, that's what I'm making for dinner tonight. I'll likely make sweet potato pancakes and wilted greens to go with.

        1. Kareem?

          I think Abdul-Jabbar is underrated. Dude was unbelievable in his prime and his longevity was just about as incredible. Plus, what an actor!

          2. I've been in the Kareem camp since the early 1970s. But I am willing to admit that maybe Wilt was the GOAT.

            Kareem has three of the top seven Win Share seasons. Wilt has three of the top six, four of the top eight, and seven of the top 22.

            On my short list would be Wilt, Kareem, Oscar, MJ.

            In the next tier would be guys like Magic, Russell, the Logo, and a few others, probably including Bird.

            Russell, of course, gets no love from Win Shares (best season ranks 48th all time) because he was not much of a scorer and the NBA didn't track blocks and steals during his career.

            1. I'd put Magic ahead of Oscar because of Magic's versatility. He could play everything from point guard to center.

              1. Oscar jumped center in the NBA, averaged a triple-double for an entire season, shot 48 percent from the floor for his career and was a good defender. Oscar was the epitome of versatile.

          3. My problem with Kareem is that I only really saw him when he was past his prime. I just remember him only making it to about half court on the defensive end and then getting an outlet from Magic for an easy dunk.

            I know he was basically unstoppable in his prime but I am just tainted by those memories.

            The top 3 in my viewing lifetime would be Jordan, Magic, and Bird but you would have to say that LJ will knock one of the 3 down to #4.

            1. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2A194yTWoQ

              I very much remember Kareem in his prime. He had what is still the most undefendable move in the history of basketball (sky hook with either hand), and he was an awesome defensive force. Wilt may have been a better all-around athlete (I'm not old enough to really remember him, and he was never on TV in his prime anyway), but Kareem was really awesome.

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