What Made a Bar Attractive in My Youth?

     As a college brat in the late 1960's in a little town in Northern California I found my favorite bar to be a little place just off of the town square called Marino's.Club.    This was one of the coolest bars in Arcata, California, a small lumber town.    This was the place that I had my first Zombie in 1967, and a goodly number of other cocktails during my school years at Humboldt State College.

     It was one of those classic bars of the 50's and 60's era, it would fill up nearly every night with a great group of "working class" people and students from the college.    It was a place to go have a few cocktails, good conversation and the occasional "hook-up".    It reminds me of the fun little bar here in Key West (The Rum Bar) that I work at now.   I feel that a lot has been lost with these large show bars that dominate the bar scene today, the homey little places that are quiet enough for conversation and fun really is what a lot of people go to a bar for.  

    The large "dance hall" fast drink places lack the personal touch that I looked forward to when I went to a bar in the first place.   The Rum Bar at which I am a barman today is one of these small 15 seat conversation pits for which many people stop by to have our craft cocktails and enjoy conversing and meeting new people.  It is both a tourist and local friendly, You can usually find it filled with both.  The tourists like talking with the locals getting insights into the town and places to eat, drink and see.   The locals enjoy meeting people from all over the world and especially from their hometowns .

     I guess when it is all said and done,
what I liked in my college days is pretty much what I still like today.  The warm, homey, friendly local tavern or club that people get acquainted and have good conversation and fun.  This is the bar that I still will be frequenting  today.   My hangout bar (The Hurricane Hole)  down here is an outdoor waterfront bar that is about as fun as they come.  I can be arrive at by boat, car or bicycle, but how you get there doesn't really matter, it is the fact that you are there that counts.   Just people enjoying people and having fun, that is all that really matters.   ;o)

Stand Up Paddle Boards in the Mangroves, Pure Nature and Beauty

     One of the most popular water sports these days in the Keys is the "Stand Up Paddle Boards", they are what appears to be a large surf board with a paddle.   The idea is to stand and paddle your way through the calm and shallow areas around the mangroves and observe the incredible marine and other wildlife that make the mangroves their homes.

     Not only do they paddle through the shallows, but there are yoga classes and other exercise groups that get together in the early evening and afternoons on the boards.  You can find groups of 10 or more that will be gathered on the edge of the mangroves just having fun and getting into shape at the same time.  It is amazing to watch as they go through their routines and still stay balanced on the boards.

     No matter how you use the boards, they are a lot of fun and provide a great bit of exercise at the same time.  I can understand why so many people are becoming involved with this sport.   Getting exercise while cruising through some of natures most fantastic views is really great.    I've seen people out on the boards with their dogs riding along, carrying coolers and all kinds of other stuff to get them through their outing.  It really seems to be taking off in a big way down here, in addition to on lakes all over the country.

     There are a number of outfits that will rent you a board and give you instruction around the keys.  One of my favorite is the Lazy Dog outfitters at the Hurricane Hole.  They have a great selection of good quality boards and paddles to suit your needs plus the people that are very good at instructing you on the boards and their use.  They also have Kayaks if you don't feel comfortable standing on a board. 

    Next time you are around a really cool water feature, give boarding a try.  You'll find it to be a lot of fun.  ;o)

The World's Most Expensive Rum

     Legacy by Angostura, there is nothing in the category to compare with this one.    The Legacy is created by  Angostura Distillers as a celebration of Trinidad's 50th Anniversary of their Independence.   There are only 20 decanters of the precious rum that will ever be released.  They will carry a price tag of $25,000 each.   This makes legacy by Angostura the world's most expensive rum.    Legacy is the culmination of nearly 200 years of rum production heritage, it is a blend of seven of Angostura's rarest and most precious rums.   Legacy is present in a "bespoke 500ml crystal and silver decanter specially made by jewelers to the Prince of Wales, Asprey of London.  

     The closure for the bottle boasts a beautiful silver  hand carved butterfly.  There is a unique Barcant Butterfly collection the company bought from Malcolm Barcant in 1974. It has been at the company’s Laventille premises since then and has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of visitors over the years.   Among this collection is a very rare butterfly known as a Faunus-ab Lamonti seen below that looks very much like the one on the decanter's crown.








The real story is in the rum, which according to

Angostura master distiller, John Georges, Legacy by Angostura is crystal polished dark oak in color, with bronze and gold highlights. It enters the palate with sweet, dried fruit flavors and, as it fills the mouth with warmth, the notes become nutty and spicy. The finish is long with trailing flavors of orange zest and oak.   This is a fitting finish for the "world's most expensive rum", and one that if I am so lucky one day may get the chance to sip.  ;o)

 

 

Havana and the Art

    Walking through the streets I have seen many incredibly beautiful buildings and places.  Under the sculptures that are the buildings of Havana there are some pretty incredible art works as well.   In the area around the Plaza de San Francisco and the Port of Havana there are many plazas in front of the many churches and cathedrals.   Around these churches there are many more displays in the courtyards of the "Catedrals".   The amazing part to me is the fact that this art is out in the open and still in really pristine condition.




      As you walk through the streets of Havana you will also find an abundance of "street art" as well.  Much made from debris that is collected from the back streets of the city and put to good use as art work helping to decorate the city.  This is the art of the people, and also very important to the expressiveness of the people of Havana and their love of the arts.    The creativeness of the Cuban people is what I find so wonderful about the country.  The seem to be able to make things from the scraps of the countryside and have an end product that is really beautiful.












No matter the subject of the arts of Cuba they are absolutely spectacular, making up one of the more interesting parts of the city and countryside that is Cuba and Havana.   ;o)

Labor Day Daiquiri

     The Daiquiri is always a wonderful cocktail to sit back and relax with whether on the patio or at a cocktail party.  Today I have a nice little tropical daiquiri that you will probably really enjoy.   Today's offering is from my book "Bahama Bob's Cocktails and Tails", and one that I know that I really do enjoy out on the aft deck of the boat on a warm afternoon.  





Tropical Daiquiri

 

· 1 oz. Spiced Rum

· 1 oz. Banana Rum

· 1 oz. Pomegranate Liqueur

· ¾ oz. Lime Juice

· ½ oz. Cane Syrup

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.   Strain into a martini glass and float a lime wheel on top.

 

     Have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend and if you drink use alternative transportation to make sure you get home safe and you can smile the next day as well.   ;o)

Labor Day Weekend vs DUI Enforcement

     This is one of the biggest DUI arrest weekends of the year, and you don't need to become one of the statistics.  It is so senseless in this day and age with taxi service being provided by many bars, public transportation and "friends" that should never allow their friends to drive under the influence for you to become an offender.
    

     "The Transportation Department kicked off a $14 million advertising campaign to convince Americans not to drink and drive as talks continue on funding a second round of research to make it impossible for intoxicated people to drive future-generation vehicles."

 

     "From Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, more than 10,000 police departments and law enforcement agencies will be out in force to crack down on impaired drivers for the "Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. The TV ads are targeted especially at young men ages 18-34 who account for a large share of deaths. The nearly 10,000 annual alcohol-related deaths account for 31 percent of road deaths. The campaign will also advertise on 1,500 websites."

 

    Read more at http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130822/METRO05/308220108

 

    The real sad issue is that over the labor Day weekend the rate of alcohol related fatal crashes  climbs dramatically.  During the entire year of 2010, there were 2,444 fatal crashes in the state of Florida, 32% of which were alcohol related, but in the same year over the Labor Day Weekend 43% were alcohol related according to The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.  This is a clear indication of how the trouble multiplies over the holiday.    

 

     The police will be having enough trouble keeping the highways safe over this coming weekend because of the increased traffic flow without us adding the alcohol factor to the problem.  Please use your head if you are drinking.   I like my rum as much as any one, but when it is time to say when, listen to that little voice and if you have had to many to be driving,  get home by an alternate method.  I really don't want to loose any of my readers or friends to a drunken crash or even a DUI, which can be catastrophic to your lifestyle if not some one elses.

 

    

Sunshine Wins the Battle

Friday the weather tried hard to throw a damper on the day, but the sunshine prevailed and I had a wonderful day of drifting and running through the channels in the mangroves shooting pictures and enjoying the sunshine again.   This was an afternoon that I needed in a big way, so peaceful and relaxing.

Summer of Rum Festival Today in Tampa

     The 2013 Summer of Rum Festival is today in Tampa.   The doors open at 4:00 PM and the event runs through 11:00PM.   It I recommended that you arrive early and get your wrist band so you can get right in when the gates open at 4:00 pm.    there will be live entertainment from bands like "The Landshark Band", "Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso", "Rocksteady @8" and "Impulse World Beat" all on the "The Tampa Tribune" Stage.  





     There are several zones to go to for your rum shacks and all of the other fun things that will be making up this event.  Each of the zones will be for your pleasure and rum fun.    There is plenty of parking on site and even more fun once you arrive inside.   There are two types of tickets available both on line and at the gate is there are any remaining at the time.     The G/A is your admission to the event, this will allow you access to all of the zones only your drink tickets will have to be purchased once inside.  The other is "The Endless Rum Cup", these tickets include the G/A plus a endless rum cup to have refilled as often as you want at the multitude of rum shacks in the show.     The ticket also includes branded swag from the participating rum producers.  You can read more and get your tickets at http://www.summerofrumfest.com/ .

     The only thing I ask of my readers is to drink responsibly, I really don't want a great day of rum fun ending in a DUI or even worse a tragedy.     Have a designated driver, take a taxi or a motel room with in walking distance of the event.    The event planners have a Concierge Desk to help you if you can not drive home.   You will not be towed if your vehicle is parked at the site and left overnight.

     Just go and have a fun day.  ;o)
    

 

Looks Like a Sunny Day Off

     If the weather holds out, today is a mood lifter.  Headed out to the quiet keys to the north and west of Key West.   Time to break out the camera and a nice bottle of  rum to chill me out from the rain.    I just find myself getting lost in the moment as I drift on the tides through these areas.   I guess it is called peace and quiet, and it just brings me back to life in a big way.   I know that most of you don't fee sorry for any of us that live down here in paradise, but we nee the sunshine and blue sky also.  

      It never seems to surprise me when I see some unusual sight as I drift through with my flask of rum and my camera.   It could be an octopus or a bird or just some unusual colors in the water, but what ever it is I love to see the stuff that I haven't seen before.  It makes my day just watching all of the wonders of nature as I pas through trying to leave nothing more that a small wake as I pass through.   You should try this where ever you are, go  to an area that you haven't visited before and open your eyes to all of the things that surround you.   You'll be amazed at what you can see when you take the time to look.


     It doesn't have to be a "wild kingdom" type of shot or sighting, it could be a cat just resting in the shade, just get out and look around you'll be surprised at what you notice.   I'm sure that I'll have some new stories and photos from the day in the next few days as I see what the days travels have produced.   ;o)

Day Three and Still the Rain Remains

     You can see the blue skies trying to push the grey clouds away, but the storm clouds are winning for now.  This is the rainiest summer that I can remember here in Key West.  The grey sky and the streaks of sunshine trying to push its way through.   I'm beginning to feel twinges of "cabin fever" setting in, I want to get out on the water to do some drifting and photography, but it just isn't happening these days.

     The nice days seem to be my work days, but that isn't all bad either.  It is easier to go to work and be the fun loving bartender when the sun is shining.   I guess that I would love to have a sunny blue sky day to bring the waters to life and my spirits back to a state of joy again.

     The tough part about this weather is looking out at what is normally beautiful blue, aqua, and green waters and seeing grey in its place.   Today like so many of these days will pass too and the sunshine will return.   The good news is that the ocean temps are down from their usual near 90 degree mark for this time of year and lessening the chances for tropical development in the area now.


    I'm looking for sunny days ahead, but for right now I'll just keep a stiff upper lip and smile the grey sky away and
dream of the blue skies again.  ;o)

The Blue Moon of August

     Tonight there will be a Blue Moon rising in the sky.    This is an unusual "Blue Moon" in that it is the first full moon of August.  How can this be, the "Blue Moon" is suppose to be the second full moon of a particular month.  This is true, but there is a little more to t
he definition.

     According to a article by Joe Rao of Discovery News on August 20,2013 which read in part,
 
     "Back in the July 1943 issue of "Sky & Telescope magazine, in a question and answer column written by Lawrence J. Lafleur, there was a reference made to the term "Blue Moon." Lafleur cited the unusual term from a copy of the 1937 edition of the now-defunct Maine Farmers’ Almanac (NOT to be confused with The Farmers' Almanac which is still published in Lewiston, Maine)."

     "On the Maine Farmers' almanac page for August 1937, the calendar definition of the Blue Moon explained that occasionally "one of the four seasons would contain four full moons instead of the usual three."
 

     "There are seven Blue Moons in a Lunar Cycle of nineteen years," continued the Almanac, ending on the comment: "In olden times the almanac makers had much difficulty calculating the occurrence of the Blue Moon and this uncertainty gave rise to the expression 'Once in a Blue Moon.'"

     Even though this is the first full moon of August it is the fourth of the summer season.  No wonder this has been such a crazy summer, four full moons instead of three.  Key West is crazy enough with out the extra full moon tonight.   Nothing earth shaking, but an interesting story of what these blue moons are all about.  ;o)

 

Cruzan Announces Velvet Cinn

     The rapidly growing market for a very special flavor from "Horchata con Ron" has brought the return of a version of Rum and Cream by Cruzan.   Cruzan has introduced it's version of this very popular spirit.   Cruzan is pushing back toward the premium side of rum and the Velvet Cinn is very much a part of this push.   The Diamond Estate line of aged dark, light, and Single Barrel expressions are a big part of this push by Cruzan.

    

     "Cruzan Rum is made from tropical rainwater and high-quality molasses and is distilled to be the cleanest-tasting rum on the market. Crafted by Cruzan Master Distiller Gary Nelthropp, whose family has been making rum on the island of St. Croix for generations, Cruzan Velvet Cinn stands out among other horchatas.  In addition to containing Cruzan Rum, it combines the flavors of bakery cinnamon and rich dairy for a smooth and creamy combination reminiscent of cinnamon toast. Velvet Cinn also has a higher proof than others in the category. "

     “As rum horchatas gain in popularity and presence, Cruzan Rum saw the opportunity in the marketplace to develop a premium rum horchata option. Velvet Cinn makes an excellent addition to our exceptional portfolio and fills a need in the marketplace for a premium cream rum liqueur,” said Nabil Wanna, Senior Brand Manager of Rum at Beam Inc. “It fits right in with our expansion of flavors and provides rum horchata lovers with a high-quality alternative.”

     "Horchata is a milky drink that originates from Mexico and is especially popular when mixed with rum. Cruzan Velvet Cinn takes the naturally sweet flavor a step further by adding a robust and lingering taste of cinnamon."

 

     This will make a great shot, it is also wonderful with a small amount of Marie Brizard's Chocolate Royale drizzled in to the shot.   It mixes well with many of the finer liqueurs, like Frangelico, or Amaretto.   It also can be used in any cocktail that calls for Irish Cream.   This is a very versatile spirit that can be used as often as your imagination will take you.

if you like Fireball, try this Velvet Cinn based shot

• 1/2 oz. Velvet Cinn
• 1/4 oz. DeKuyper Hot Shot
• 1/4 oz. Cruzan Single Barrel

Stir together and serve as a shot.  This one is a really great flavored shot.   ;o)

U.S. Postal Service Looking at Spirits Delivery

     In a Fox news report on August 2, 2013 The U.S. Postal Service was looking at delivery of spirits through the mail.   Allowing the Postal Service to deliver beer, wine and spirits is high on his wish list for raising cash for his financially ailing agency, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said Thursday. 

     In an interview with The Associated Press, Donahoe also endorsed ending most door-to-door and Saturday mail deliveries as cost-saving measures for his agency, which lost $16 billion last year. 

     Donahoe said delivering alcohol has the potential to raise as much as $50 million a year. He mentioned how customers might want to, for example, mail bottles of wine home when they tour vineyards. Donahoe said his agency has looked at the possibility of using special boxes that would hold two, four or six bottles and ship for a flat-rate to anywhere in the country. 

     "There's a lot of money to be made in beer, wine and spirits," Donahoe said. "We'd like to be in that business."

 

     Lately UPS has quit delivering liquor, leaving a gap for the "online" liquor sales business.   I know that I can no longer receive deliveries from some of my favorite rum providers through UPS or Fed Ex, this will help make the attainment of good rums much easier.  ;o)

 

 

Tranquility in August

   The Dog Days of Summer are upon us and tranquility is the order of the day.  ;o)

Morning in Havana

     One of the best parts of visiting Havana is waking up early and watch the progression of night time into daytime.   The changes in the city are amazing as the sun gets higher and higher into the sky.  The progression from the fist streaks of light to the bright light of morning is absolutely breathtaking as I sit at the window of my hotel room.   The first signs of light and the way it peeks between the clouds is amazing.

     Then things begin to brighten behind the buildings and  last vestiges of night are being seen on the front side of the buildings across the park .   The neon lights seem to glow in the faint light of the dawn and the outlines of the buildings give way to the colors and faces of each of these unique buildings.






     With the sun nearly reaching a full illumination of the city, you begin to see more of the detail of the city and the movement of more and more people headed to their assigned places for the day's work and exploration.









     Then it seems to happen like some one  flipped on the switch and the night has become day and the city is back in full swing with people, cars, trucks and buses filling the streets.  This is the start of the new and exciting day of exploration and life as we get to wander around the town looking for our next adventure.  ;o)

    

National Rum Day: A Day to Celebrate the Spirits of the Sugar Cane

     August 16th is National Rum Day here in America, giving us a chance to celebrate and enjoy the wonderful varieties of rums available to us today.   My question is where did National Rum Day start.   That seems to be the question of the day.  So far I have not found a rum company marketing firm or anyone else who claims responsibility for its origin, nor does any one else claim it to be their idea.  This seems to be the consensus of many of the rum writers around.   I guess it is like rum, no one really knows where it started, other than being a spin off of the sugar production wastes in the late 1600's and early 1700's.   Unlike any other spirit, rum has a very colorful and romantic high seas history, it is a spirit that has matured with age and has become a very big part of the main line spirits of today.

     Wayne Curtis in his book, "And a Bottle of Rum, A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails", Wayne takes you through the history of the new world and how rum was right there in the middle of it.   "Curtis takes us from the taverns of the American colonies, where rum delivered both a cheap wallop and cash for the Revolution, to the plundering pirate ships off the coast of Central America, to the watering holes of pre-Castro Cuba, and to the kitsch-laden tiki bars of 1950s America. Here are sugar barons and their armies conquering the Caribbean, Paul Revere stopping for a nip during his famous ride, Prohibitionists marching against “demon rum,” Hemingway fattening his liver with Havana daiquiris, and today’s bartenders reviving old favorites like Planter’s Punch. In an age of micro brewed beer and single-malt whiskeys, rum—once the swill of the common man—has found its way into the tasting rooms of the most discriminating drinkers."

     Rum has had a profound effect on America, both as the bottom feeder liquor of post Prohibition America where bar owners were forced to by it in order to get the more desirable whiskeys.  This practice lead to the development of many of the staple cocktails that we still drink today.  Today rum enjoys its position as one of the premium spirits of our time.  With sales of rums growing faster than any other category, the addition of more premium and ultra premium rums ever year, this day's dedication to rum is very well deserved.  Enjoy your National Rum Day with your very special favorite rum served just the way you like it.  'o)

Your Weight and Your Drinking Habits

     An article in the Wall Street Journal by Sumathi Reddy feels that there is more involved than just the drinking.     It seems that the real culpurate to weight gain related to drinking is not so much the alcohol consumption, but the extra greasy, fatty, red meats and other foods that are consumed during and after a day of moderate drinking.  

     Men tend to take on an extra 433 calories, 61% comes from the alcohol consumed.   For women it is about 300 calories, but for women according to the study, this was not statistically significant.   The real point is that men and women ate healthier on days that they did not drink alcohol.

     The findings fit together with controlled lab studies.  Researchers have found the use of alcohol may enhance the "short term rewarding effects of consuming food" according to a 2010 report in the journal, "Physiology and Behavior" that has reviewed previous studies relating alcohol, appetite and obesity.

    Another study showed an all together different trend.  Moderate drinkers gain less weight over time than people that are heavy drinkers or abstain from drinking all together.  This is particularly apparent for women who only drink one or two drinks a day.  "People who gain the least weight are moderate drinkers, regardless of beverage choice" according to Dr. Erik Rimm, an associate professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard Medical School.  He continued to say that "starting to drink is not a weight loss diet".

     Alcohol is a real "wild card" when you are talking about weight control according to Karen Miller-Kovach, chief scientific officer of Weight Watchers International.  Several studies have verified that moderate drinkers waist lines stay the most stable over a long period of time versus heavy drinkers and abstainers.

    Dr. Rimm also said it really wasn't clear why moderate drinkers seemed to be protected from long term weight gain,  but he felt that it had something to do with metabolic adjustments.  He noted that after people drink, their heart rate increases, burning slightly more calories.

    Depending on which study you believe there seems to be more tha a pure physical reasons for alcohol and weight gain or loss.   There seems to be a psychological side to it as well.  I find it very interesting how different people studying the same data and are able to come up with results that are so different.
In my case living on a Weight Watchers program, I am painfully aware of how much less food I am allowed when I have consumed alcohol.  I think that if you follow your program and when you are drinking, you reduce your food intake allowing the body to stay in balance, but when you drink and binge eat afterward, especially greasy foods you are going to gain weight.   The balance between drinking and eating is what I really believe to be the key to being able to enjoy a good cocktail or two a day and maintaining a stable body weight.  ;o)

Havana Club Offeres a Reformulated Anejo Especial

     According to "The Spirit Business", Cuba's Havana Club announced that they have developed a new recipe and bottle for their Anejo Especial expression.   This is to celebration of their Latin American roots.    The new Anejo Especial blends rums that have been aged in white young oak casks to produce an expression with notes of vanilla and caramel and an underlying scent of tobacco, cinnamon and orange peel.

     Along with the new formulation, there is a new bottle and label for the package.  Aiming for a better shelf eye appeal,
"the label is styled to look "handwritten" with an oak barrel graphic to highlight the craftsmanship and Havana Club's core values of authenticity, quality, and tradition".
    

“At the Havana Club distillery in Cuba, we are continuously working on developing new recipes that will appeal to a wide range of rum fans around the world,” said Havana Club’s Maestro Ronero, Asbel Morales.

"He added that the edition has a unique flavour profile as the rum undergoes an unusual aging process before being blended and aged for a second time."

     “The influence of the barrel aging is evident in the flavor profile with notes of vanilla and caramel really coming to the fore, which makes it an ideal base for Cuban cocktails, particularly the Cuban Libre.”

     Nick Blacknell, international marketing director for Havana Club International, said the brand hoped Añejo Especial would also entice whisky drinkers “looking for equally good, yet more exciting alternatives to their brand”.

     He said: “With this new formulation and premium look, we are confident that Havana Club Anejo Especial will satisfy demand from sociable young adults seeking a naturally sweeter taste profile, but for whom authenticity and high quality are equally important purchasing cues.”

     The rum will continue to be presented in a 40% abv.   This is a rum that has all the earmarks of the traditional Havana Club rum, but is being aimed at the palates of those looking for a sweeter than normal Havana Club expression.  The rum will be launched in September in Germany, and then spreading to the rest of the world over the next year.  ;o)

School on the Horizon and Summer is Waning

Waning Summer and the prospect of fighting all of the "back to school" shoppers is not a pretty one.  I have a fun solution, sit on the aft deck of the boat or even on the patio, grab a nice cocktail and relax. Enjoy all of the sights that the sky has to offer you and a fun cocktail.

     Today because it is really warm out there, it is hard to beat iced tea.  I Panama a couple of years ago I ran across a great concoction called "Lord Panama".   This is a traditional cocktail of Panama and one that is always refreshing and tasty on a hot summer afternoon or evening.

    Give this one a try this evening, you won't be disappointed.   It offers the refreshment of iced tea and the great flavor of an Abuelo Rum.



Lord Panama 

• 1 1/2 oz. Abuelo Anejo Rum
• Juice from 1/4 Lime
• Unsweetened or Semi Sweet Iced Tea

Place all of the ingredients into an iced tea glass and garnish with a slice of lime.

    Today is a perfect day to cool off with a refreshing Lord Panama.  ;o)

Monday is Back

    The weekend has slipped away again, and it is a back to work Monday for so many of you.    For me every morning is a back to work morning, so what  day it isn't really that important.  The price of a seven day a week blog.    Don't let this day get you down, it could be very worse.  You might be in a situation where your job has been deleted or you are no longer able to work.   I look at Monday as an opportunity for a new adventure, a chance to expose myself to some new information or events.   I'm convinced that attitude is three quarters of how that you feel about things.  If you find yourself looking at things from the plus side instead of the minus side it is amazing how much easier a difficult task before you becomes.

    If you look at the sky and see clouds that is what you will operate in, but if you look at the sky and see the sunshine through the clouds, that will brighten up your entire day.   I guess that is what I like so much about photography, you can take a picture of gray and see color if you look hard enough.   Bringing the color out of gray is the coolest thing in the world.  You find your smile growing just like the color in the picture.  Focus on the things that bring a smile to your face then your day quickly becomes brighter and the day's chores go by much faster while your mood and attitude become more rosy.


    That is about enough crazy rantings from a old bartender, just keep looking for the pluses instead of the minuses, your day will go by faster and you will find yourself enjoying what you are doing a lot more.  Just keep looking, the color is  becoming more radiant while gray seems to disappear with the passing of a little bit of time.   ;o)