The New Codgers

“YOU’RE LATE!” exclaimed my old new friend Molly (Cyber Café manager) as I entered the Cyber-Café for our Friday morning meeting of the coffee shop codgers, “The other opinionated old goats are already seated up front, by the front plate-glass window, with their china not stoneware mugs of organically & shade grown, fair trade, French Roast coffee.”

“Those are my lines!” I hollered back, with a little less of an outdoor voice, “You’re stepping all over my lines!”

“Oh go sit down,” she said as she turned away, “I’ll get your china not…”

“I’m going,” I interrupted, “and—we only use the line once per post.”

“So?” she asked, turning back, “What gives you the right to control the conversation here?”

“Well,” I answered with a wide smile, “I’m the co-editor with Medford, and the ‘head chronicler’ of this blog! Besides, you’re not exactly a real person, you’re a figment of my imagination—based on a real person, um—persons, actually.”

“I feel real,” she said unusually quietly, “Except—I don’t seem to have a face, like the other figments.”

“They are not figments,” I informed her, “they are real world people, who at their request have been given alter egos,’ to allow them to speak their minds more freely.”

“I WANT A FACE!” Molly exclaimed in her loudest outdoor voice, “NOW!”

“Ummmm, OK,” I said, still smiling, “Here it is:”

“Yuk,” she said, “I don’t really look like that!”

“You do—now.”

“I could quit.”

“Nope, I control the keyboard that created you. I could simply delete you.”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“You’re right, but ‘Molly’ could move away—say to Crawford, Texas, and work in a small café there, where in a coupla years a few ‘neo-codgers’ could do as we do here.”

“That’s a mighty fine caricature of me, I think!” she concluded.

"Good Choice, Molly," I concluded, and then, looking RIGHT AT YOU*, GENTLE READER, "Don't  YOU AGREE?"

Jay Merton 

Gerald R. Ford (July 14, 1913-Dec 26, 2006), held the Grand Rapids Michigan Congressional Seat from 1949 until nominated as Vice-President by Richard Nixon October 12, 1973 and confirmed by the Senate November 27, and the House December 6, 1973. Upon the resignation of Nixon August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford became President of the United States. [Dates from Wikipedia]

Gerald Ford was the right man for the time, his humility best epitomized by his own statement: “I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln.” He was an honest and plain-spoken man. A man who did much to heal this nation in a time when it was needed.

The Codgers have brought out Jay’s precious 1858 US flag* raised it full-staff and lowered it to half-staff to honor this great man & good president’s passing.

 Official White House Portrait by Everett Kinstler This image is a work of an employee of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain [Wikipedia]

 

*Graphic representation of Jay’s vintage 1858 US Flag, representing Minnesota’s statehood.

Jay, Medford, Carl, Harold & Fred, “The Codgers.”

I’m out here, enjoying my china mug of organically & shade grown fair trade Sumatran blend (I really LIKE this stuff) coffee enjoying this disgustingly repetitive weather: cloudy, near snow-less, +32F & scant wind!

My kids & kid-in-law remain asleep (slackards!), it’s really great having them here—and I don’t give ‘em crap about my lack of grandkids (at least not now—it’s time not to upset anyone with one’s selfish wishes).

While “Birthday-Boy” Rich was occupying or profile space, we used the opportunity to upgrade our photo. Maureen F. please note: the ploughshares no longer threaten the codgers.

My thoughts turn to AR friends I haven’t seen hanging around the porch or café in a while: Marc Blasi, the Far Rockaway, NY Florida transplant, Minnesotans “Blogging Bonnie” Erickson & “Blog-Star” Lisa Dunn, the REALTOR® AR senior issues expert, among others. Lisa has been MIA from AR since Nov 21, the date of her last post…

Still turning, my thoughts are on the coming New Year. I no longer celebrate—I’ve seen way too many for that! I wonder what it will bring (post Christmas Blogfood™ here!)?

Finally, my thoughts turn to the fact I’m HUNGRY! If those kids get up pretty soon they can make there own darn breakfast!

See you Tuesday!

 The codgers will not be posting on the 24th & 25th as we will be with our respective families. So now while we have at least some of our gentle readers outhere in Cyberspace...

 Wherever you may go...

 Whatever you may do...

However You May Celebrate...

 With family, friends, and thoughts for all who are dear...

 In worship, quiet reflection or in celebration...

 Whatever your tradition...

May you have a wonderful Holiday! 

WITH OUR BEST WISHES! 

Your Codger Crew 

I can see the clouds approaching from the south, more ominous in the pre-dawn sky than what they actually represent. The main storm that hit Denver yesterday seems to be passing to the south of us. We remain unseasonably warm, and any snow we receive in the next couple of days will quickly turn to slush as the temperatures will remain above freezing.

[Full Disclosure—Copied & Pasted From “The Weather Channel”]

·  Today: Cloudy with rain and snow showers. High near 40F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 60%.

·  Tonight: Periods of light wintry precipitation. Low 31F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 60%.

·  Tomorrow: Snow likely. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.

·  Tomorrow night: Light snow in the evening will give way to a few snow showers overnight. Low 29F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%.

·  Saturday: Snow showers in the morning. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 20s.

·  Sunday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

·  Monday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

It appears that we will suffer a near-brown, if not brown Christmas! In truth, we generally love our first big snow of the season—and watching all subsequent snowfalls—but quickly grow weary of the digging-out process, the salt coating and frozen slush-clunkers on our cars (but kinda like the sport of “clunker-kicking” as we attempt to remove said clunkers from our wheel wells).

My boys and girls-in-law have arrived! They are still sleeping this early AM, allowing me the opportunity to post without interfering with my happy host duties. They will, as they do when they visit, accompany me to the café, and subject themselves to the Coffee shop codgers.

I learned something important yesterday! Posts made specifically to a group DO get points—they may take a while to show—but, like magic, points are awarded.

[Full Disclosure—Copied & Pasted From My Active Rain “Points Summary”]

Date                        Points     Description

12/20/2006             235          Blog Entry: Our frist Post, Exclusive to this Group!

This means for those members of our “Codgers & Friends Conversations” may post their brains out, and the “Old Men & Coffee Shops” series will indeed have a niche home to pontificate! Because of the upcoming Christmas & New Year Holidays, the gang is on hiatus until after the 1^st.

Speaking of points—I can’t help but notice that the number of points for posts now varies—not strictly the old 200 pts. That’s really a positive change. We may now see when a post goes “thud” and when it resonates, even if it doesn’t reach “Featured” status.

Anybody know when this started??

It is +27F, and still this morning as I stand on my back porch with my (china, not stoneware) mug of coffee (gotcha—no description) warming my hands, and jump-starting my brain, making my synapses synapse.

Today I made my first post exclusive to the group: “Codgers & Friends Conversations,” and I had heard such posts don’t qualify for points—darn—it’s true!

Will that stop us—naw, the codgers and I are determined to have fun here, points or no.  The “Old Men and Coffee Shops” series will now be exclusive to the group, but our “Reflections” series will remain right here, gentle readers, so may still stop by, say “hello,” by that I mean—comment (blatant comment trolling), and enjoy a few moments in our little corner of the cyber-world.

I’ll be out and about in the real world today, but will check in from time to time.

(Still blatantly advertising our group)

Jay Merton 

Good Morning to you all, Gentle Readers! Medford and I have been working on our marketing plan for the codgers. Today we will give you an idea of what the regular crew of codgers look like—at least in caricature.

Top Row: Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose (both re-drawn).

Bottom Row: Carl McIntyre, Harold Peterson, & Fred Jaworski.

We are also considering the formation of a new AR group: “Codger & Friends Conversations” a niche group where conversation is encouraged, opinions are welcome, and the coffee is always fresh. To encourage free conversation, we believe all posts to this group be “Members Only.” A place to be accepted for who you are, for you to discuss what is important to you.

Do you, Gentle Readers, think this has merit?

More importantly—does this interest you?

I didn’t linger long on my back porch this morning as the boys were assembling early at the café today for our daily meeting. It seems they actually read our posts, and have some concerns about the blog.

“What is all this?” asked Harold the retired barber as I sat down at my usual place at out table, the one by the front plate-glass window, where during the summer months we might look out and comment on passers by.

“What’s all what?” I replied, answering his question with a question.

“This!” added Carl, the retired army sergeant-major, pointing at the screen of Med’s lap top computer.

“That’s our post from Wednesday,” I replied.

“Not the post,” added Fred, curiously not reading his still folded and unopened morning Pioneer Press newspaper, “the comment you’ve added below the picture!” (See banner above)

“Looks like you guys are asking directly for comments,” Harold said as he picked up his (china, not stoneware) mug of organically & shade grown, fair trade, French roast coffee.

“Isn’t that a bit too obvious?” asked Carl.

“Aren’t you just trolling for comments?” Fred asked, unfolding his newspaper.

“Yes, we are,” Medford said, “I prefer to call it marketing.”

“Marketing?” Harold asked, then continued, “you guys aren’t in business anymore, why would you need to market?”

“Blog marketing,” I said, “for our purposes, our ‘sales’ territory is the Active Rain cyber community.”

“We provide two places,” Med added, “Jay’s back porch & this coffee shop, where the AR cyber community can stop for a few minutes, linger over our fine selection of coffees & other refreshments.”

“But, we can’t ‘see them’ unless they comment,” I continued, “sometimes a conversation will begin with our topic, and then wander off in a new direction.”

“Just like here at the café,” Med continued, “where our conversations will wander all over the place.”

“So, those comment boxes are our attempt at marketing.” I said.

“Maybe you two blog-coots should just write better posts!” exclaimed Harold, “then the comments would just happen.”

Maybe.

Again this morning the temperature is hovering around the freezing mark, and it’s raining. This could cause some serious traffic problems during this morning’s rush. More importantly, to this codger anyway, it could cause some senior-sidewalk-slippage problems as I make my way to the morning meeting at the café!

This is Minnesota. This is December. In the Twin Cities the average high temp in December is +25ºF, low +10ºF with the mean temp at +18ºF, so I won’t complain about +32ºF on the 14^th of December (but I will watch my step). I include the current weather conditions for the benefit of our “sun country” gentle readers—and revel in their comments.

We don’t get the most snow in the nation (lower 48 states)—a puny four feet on average, we don’t get the coldest temps in the nation (lower 48 states), however Embarrass, Minnesota probably did at -60ºF! What we do get, and what I love about this state is four distinct seasons—and even more importantly—something to complain about!

I can’t imagine living where it is usually 85 and sunny:

“Morning Jay,” Medford greeted as he sipped from his organically grown, fair trade glass of coffee-on-the-rocks, “how ‘bout that weather?”

“Why must you ask me that,” I answered, “it is, as always, beautiful, and you know that.”

Actually, that sounds pretty good—except for the iced coffee. Maybe about February, when we are a just a little tired of winter, I would consider a visit to sun country—just a visit, mind you.

A challenge to all our friends in the various sun country states:

Where in “Sun Country” and why should Medford and I visit this coming February when we are well and truly tired of winter?

Jay Merton

A warm (39ºF), foggy, North Star State morning greeted me today as I stepped out on to the porch. I can linger a bit, and savor the warmth of my (china, not stoneware) mug of Kona blend coffee (I purchased a whole 1# bag, so I will have it for a while—good stuff, Maynard!).

I spent the day yesterday knocking about with that old, retired Army sergeant-major, Carl—he’s a hoot to hang with! But some of what we experienced will constitute a whole post for another day (this is called a “teaser”—“story at 11”).

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO “REALTOR®” TERESA’S FACE?

50%, or more, of her face is missing! It’s gone!

I know we’ve kept close track of all our renegade ploughshares, so that’s not the problem.

Was she imitating Kristal Kraft? Maybe—imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery.

Or—could it be something more ominous—a sneaky virus that is beginning to infect AR, beginning with kk, and now has spread to “R®” Teresa?

Naw—that can’t be it!

Can it? NOOOOOO!!!