7/17/09
I will be forty-nine years old in October. Soon I will be so old that I'll begin typing the number instead of the word, because it takes less effort. At forty-nine, I will have been wearing glasses for over forty-three years (pardon me while I wipe away the sweat from operating my keyboard).
Because I wear glasses, I have to consult eye care professionals from time to time. Because I am diabetic, I have to see an ophthalmic physician, to make certain that my retinas are holding up under the pressure of my delicate condition.
My ophthalmologist is Dr. Leslie B. Cunningham, of Cunningham, Campbell and Taylor, a consortium of medical doctors (which makes me wonder if they ever have to knock on doors and loudly announce their status, as Dr. Agent Scully used to do on "The X-Files") who specialize in ocular care and maintenance. I went to the office in Dixie Lee Junction yesterday for a check-up. My young bride was forced to drive me there, because they must dilate my pupils. The last time I went, then drove home, it was quite an adventure... for all the people who were sharing the road with me.
In the last several years, I have been forced to remove my glasses for the purpose of reading, due to my advancing age (which we've already covered). My spectacles are now for watching ESPN and driving to our new local liquor store, The Grove Wine & Spirits. If I ever get that job in Oak Ridge that I want so badly, I'll wear my glasses to drive over there... and to watch sports and drive to the liquor store.
Anyway, we were sitting in the waiting area, and my young bride observed that the digs in this place were much nicer than the old place in Loudon, which is true. She then pointed out that the "Sports Illustrated" that she had picked up had nothing in it about fashion, decorating, or shoes. This was also true, but it was her first comment that got me to notice my surroundings.
I wonder if the physicians who inhabit the building did their own decorating. Or if, perhaps, they hired a former jock to do the decorating for them.
The office color scheme is a sort of muted green, somewhere between pea soup and olive drab. The walls are in squares of about 5" X 5" light, then dark, but all green. When I was in the examination area, I visited three rooms, which all had art prints on the walls. The colors in the prints were orange, brown, red, white and black. That was the entire color palette.
And none of the colors were pastels. They were stark and masculine. The place looks like an office space designed for an NFL coach. I, personally, was very comfortable there, with or without my glasses.
When Dr. Cunningham came to take a look at my eyebones, he was preoccupied with politics, which I am always willing to discuss with a reasonable person. I discovered that the good doctor is, like myself, a fiscal conservative, and a social liberal. What that means is that he believes everyone has rights, not just people who agree with him. However, he does not want the government to be a tax and spend machine.
He was, apparently, unimpressed with the previous administration's ways of cutting taxes and spending like there was no tomorrow. Nor is he very taken with the present administration's socialist tendency to demonize people simply because they are good enough at something to become wealthy.
We Libertarians have a high old time when we find each other, which is rare.
Soon enough, of course, we solved the world's problems with an agreement that minding one's own business was a good day-to-day policy.
Afterwards, my young bride and I passed through Lenoir City on the way home, and stopped by the Brown Cup Coffee Company yet again. This time I had a real, live macchiato, with the steamed milk-foam on top. The Boss had a Mochaccino and a piece of lemon-berry-something-or-other.
At forty-8, it's tough for me to remember everything.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
New Hangout
7/16/09
I have a new favorite place to hang out in Loudon County. I realize that, before I was downsized, my favorite place to hang out was work, but there was a reason for that.
A. I liked my job.
2. My manager was a good person.
III. It was a purpose-driven environment for me.
Since my employment went away, however, my young bride has been on sort of a mission to find something to do with me, other than let me sit around feeling sorry for myself. And I don’t hang out in bars.
One afternoon, sort of by accident (before my downsizing event) we stopped in a place called the Brown Cup Coffee Company, just to see what went on there. We had seen the place several times in Lenoir City, sitting there facing 321 in front of Home Depot. We now found ourselves with a little time to kill, so in we went.
The interior is casual-nice, with a patterned tile floor, a variety of tables – some with chairs, others with stools – and an HDTV in the back corner surrounded by comfy-looking sittery. Across from the television area is the counter, where orders are placed, while the front has a small stage where music is provided on weekends.
Having been there several times since the first, my young bride and I are apparently “regulars” now, as we are recognized by the counter staff, and they know what I want before I order it.
Oddly, the first time we were there, I ordered the chai tea. For those who are unaware, I have, in recent years, become something of a tea person. There is, as always, a story.
Around a decade ago, I decided to try some Earl Grey tea. I did this because that’s what Captain Picard drinks, and, with his educated British accent (didn’t you guys ever wonder why he didn’t have a French accent? I did.) he always made it sound like a real treat. So, on a whim one day, I bought some Bigelow Earl Grey.
Speaking editorially: GGGGGHHHHHHAAAAAAGGGKKKKKK!
At that point I decided that I must not be an Earl Grey tea kind of guy. I was, as normal, mistaken. In 2006, we were vacationing in Walt Disney World and staying at the Beach Club. Being a deluxe resort, it has all the little bells and whistles that make people with expendable funds comfortable (understand, it takes me an entire earth cycle around the sun to accrue the necessary funds to stay at a place like that – and that’s with an employee discount from an incredibly generous person). Some of those things are acoffee maker , a variety of coffees and teas, and a small microwave oven.
One of the teas was Twinings Earl Grey. Since it had been a number of years, I decided to give it another go.
Speaking, once again, editorially: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
I really liked the Twinings tea. Since that time, I have also partaken of their Lady Grey, English Breakfast, and Irish Breakfast teas. The latter is my favorite flavor (or should I spell it “flavour?”). I have also acquired a small, two-cup tea press (a generous Christmas gift from my mother) for the making of these excellent drinks.
So, with all that taken into consideration, I decided to try Brown Cup’s chai tea on the recommendation of Dr. Peter Lloyd-Jones, one of my British co-workers in better days.
Allow me to qualify this. I do not, in general, sweeten tea. I got this trait from my father, and it has been a hard and fast with me all of my life. I did not, when I ordered the chai, realize that it is sweetened. But, oh, my lord! With all the other flavors involved, hooo, boy, that’s some good tea!
However, the second time I went there, I had a shot of espresso (all of you who want to put an “x” in that word, bite me). This shot of concentrated coffee made my whole day better. Now, when I walk through the door, they know that I am going to order a double shot of espresso. Last time, I had the barista warm the cup for me ahead of time, and that was even better.
At some point, I will be obliged to stretch a little. They do, after all, have a variety of teas available, as well as espresso off-shoots like machiatto and cappuccino.
If you are a local, and want to check out the menu, you can do so at the Brown Cup Coffee Company's website. They also have a number of baked treats, and will talk coffee and tea with patrons as long as one wishes. The last time I was there, the barista even invited me backstage so I could see how the espresso is prepared.
Local artists are promoted by the display of their wares on the walls monthly, and giving musicians a place to play. It is comfortable there, the drinks and treats are of good quality, the baristas are friendly, and there’s a television. Who wouldn’t want to be a regular?
I have a new favorite place to hang out in Loudon County. I realize that, before I was downsized, my favorite place to hang out was work, but there was a reason for that.
A. I liked my job.
2. My manager was a good person.
III. It was a purpose-driven environment for me.
Since my employment went away, however, my young bride has been on sort of a mission to find something to do with me, other than let me sit around feeling sorry for myself. And I don’t hang out in bars.
One afternoon, sort of by accident (before my downsizing event) we stopped in a place called the Brown Cup Coffee Company, just to see what went on there. We had seen the place several times in Lenoir City, sitting there facing 321 in front of Home Depot. We now found ourselves with a little time to kill, so in we went.
The interior is casual-nice, with a patterned tile floor, a variety of tables – some with chairs, others with stools – and an HDTV in the back corner surrounded by comfy-looking sittery. Across from the television area is the counter, where orders are placed, while the front has a small stage where music is provided on weekends.
Having been there several times since the first, my young bride and I are apparently “regulars” now, as we are recognized by the counter staff, and they know what I want before I order it.
Oddly, the first time we were there, I ordered the chai tea. For those who are unaware, I have, in recent years, become something of a tea person. There is, as always, a story.
Around a decade ago, I decided to try some Earl Grey tea. I did this because that’s what Captain Picard drinks, and, with his educated British accent (didn’t you guys ever wonder why he didn’t have a French accent? I did.) he always made it sound like a real treat. So, on a whim one day, I bought some Bigelow Earl Grey.
Speaking editorially: GGGGGHHHHHHAAAAAAGGGKKKKKK!
At that point I decided that I must not be an Earl Grey tea kind of guy. I was, as normal, mistaken. In 2006, we were vacationing in Walt Disney World and staying at the Beach Club. Being a deluxe resort, it has all the little bells and whistles that make people with expendable funds comfortable (understand, it takes me an entire earth cycle around the sun to accrue the necessary funds to stay at a place like that – and that’s with an employee discount from an incredibly generous person). Some of those things are a
One of the teas was Twinings Earl Grey. Since it had been a number of years, I decided to give it another go.
Speaking, once again, editorially: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
I really liked the Twinings tea. Since that time, I have also partaken of their Lady Grey, English Breakfast, and Irish Breakfast teas. The latter is my favorite flavor (or should I spell it “flavour?”). I have also acquired a small, two-cup tea press (a generous Christmas gift from my mother) for the making of these excellent drinks.
So, with all that taken into consideration, I decided to try Brown Cup’s chai tea on the recommendation of Dr. Peter Lloyd-Jones, one of my British co-workers in better days.
Allow me to qualify this. I do not, in general, sweeten tea. I got this trait from my father, and it has been a hard and fast with me all of my life. I did not, when I ordered the chai, realize that it is sweetened. But, oh, my lord! With all the other flavors involved, hooo, boy, that’s some good tea!
However, the second time I went there, I had a shot of espresso (all of you who want to put an “x” in that word, bite me). This shot of concentrated coffee made my whole day better. Now, when I walk through the door, they know that I am going to order a double shot of espresso. Last time, I had the barista warm the cup for me ahead of time, and that was even better.
At some point, I will be obliged to stretch a little. They do, after all, have a variety of teas available, as well as espresso off-shoots like machiatto and cappuccino.
If you are a local, and want to check out the menu, you can do so at the Brown Cup Coffee Company's website. They also have a number of baked treats, and will talk coffee and tea with patrons as long as one wishes. The last time I was there, the barista even invited me backstage so I could see how the espresso is prepared.
Local artists are promoted by the display of their wares on the walls monthly, and giving musicians a place to play. It is comfortable there, the drinks and treats are of good quality, the baristas are friendly, and there’s a television. Who wouldn’t want to be a regular?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)