old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops—in Danger Bay - 09/02/07 11:21 PM
A Complete Episode (no link-click required)!

Happy Labor Day, Gentle Readers! It is a fine Saint Paul, Minnesota morning with the temperature a pleasant 65ºF. I was just thinking that all too soon we’ll be reporting temperatures in degrees below zero [[shudder]]!
Pleasant as the weather is in Saint Paul, we decided to have our chipped & well-used “Codger Collectible (January ’07 Edition) Mugs” of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-Roast coffee, here in Danger Bay at Silverthorn’s Café instead. We both have a very busy Labor Day in front of us.
As we clumped up on the boardwalk and entered the … (8 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Garage Update & “FOLs” - 03/27/07 10:17 PM
It was a cool 48ºF, and had been raining (we need the rain) as I walked out to my garage, this fine, cloudy Saint Paul morning (our heat wave was of the one-day variety, we’re back to late-March normal temperatures), to engage the services of my new travelin’ companion” for our trip to the coffee shop. I picked Medford up at his place, and we proceeded to the Cyber-Café.
As we sat at our usual table, the one in front, by the plate-glass window, where we can (and often do) observe passers by, and make our comments (always pro-social), and got … (21 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops—if it seems too good to be true… - 03/25/07 10:19 PM
…it probably is!
As Medford & I made our way to the Cyber Café for our meeting of our fellow Codgers, we were enjoying the 52ºF St. Paul morning. The expected high for today (a March heat-wave) under a partly cloudy sky is 72ºF!  We also enjoyed listening to the chorus of song-birds and their spring repertoire of “come hither” verses.
We were all at our table. The one in front, by the plate-glass window, where we can (and often do) observe passers by, and make our comments (always pro-social), enjoying our (January Edition) porcelain, not China (but made in China) … (16 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops, Tuesday Morning at the Cyber Café—Harold Quits Barbering - 03/19/07 09:11 PM
This fine Saint Paul Tuesday morning the old replica “Pruett’s Pig Powders” thermometer tells us it is +26ºF, with a light wind, making it feel like a brisk +20ºF, as we linger on the back porch a moment or two, enjoying our (January Edition) porcelain, not China (but made in China) Codger Collectible™ Mugs (have I mentioned the spiffy March Edition is still available?) full of hot organically & shade-grown, Fair Trade, French Roast coffee warms us and to jump-starts our remaining brain synapses into synapting, before making our way to the Cyber Café, and our waiting crew of Codgers.
… (19 comments)

old men coffee shops: Cyber Café Conversations—Molly IS the Decider! - 03/14/07 09:52 PM
As Medford and I stepped off Boomer’s back porch to walk over to the Cyber Café this morning, the old Pruett’s Pig Powders thermometer tells us that it is 33ºF this fine clear St. Paul morning. This past Tuesday we enjoyed beach-weather of 66ºF (absolutely shirt sleeve weather)!
We arrived at the café to find Molly calmly speaking to someone on the phone (Molly? Calm? And just why would a cyber café even need a phone?): “I’m sorry sir,” we overheard her say, “we already have a coffee supplier, and are quite happy with the service.”
She acknowledged our presence … (40 comments)

old men coffee shops: Part II, Carl & the Remaining Codgers™ Discuss the Missing-in-Cyberspace Jay & Medford - 03/10/07 08:42 PM
(By Carl McIntyre) “OK, we’re here this morning again bright & early,” I said, placing my Codger™ Collectible mug of really good coffee down on our table by the front plate-glass table here in the Cyber-Café, “to see what has been learned since yesterday of Jay, Med Boomer & Daisy.”
“Especially Daisy!” interjected Harold.
“I see you got your priorities straight.” Fred said looking up from his morning Pioneer Press, “there’s nothing in the paper again this morning.”
“Sorry,” Harold said, leaning back in his chair, “nothing new at the barbershop yesterday.”
“Where’s Molly?” I asked, “Maybe she got another message.”
… (19 comments)

old men coffee shops: Carl & the Remaining Codgers™ Discuss the Missing-in-Cyberspace Jay & Medford - 03/09/07 07:09 PM
(By Carl McIntyre)

“OK, we’re here this morning bright & early,” I said, placing my (how does Jay write this?) Codger™ Collectible mug of really good coffee down on our table by the front plate-glass table here in the Cyber-Café, “to see, what, if anything, has been learned of Jay & Med.”
“Boomer & Daisy too!” interjected Harold, “they are missing, as well.”
“HEY GUYS.” Molly began…
“Not now Molly!” I said, a little more testily than I intended, “we’re kinda busy here.”
“There’s nothing in the paper,” Fred said looking up from his morning Pioneer Press, “you’d think their disappearing … (32 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Tuesday February 27, 2007—No Whine-No Complain - 02/26/07 09:19 PM

“Good morning Jay,” Carl greeted as I sat down at our usual table by the front plate glass window in the Cyber-Café with my porcelain, not China (but made in China) or stoneware Codger Collectible Mug™ filled precariously full of organically & shade-grown, fair trade, Guatemalan-Roast coffee, “I hear you’ve been running around with that new camera of yours shooting things.”
“Why yes,” I answered, “yes I have.”
“Do you have that dangerous weapon with you?” Harold asked, and then continued, “I hope you’ll leave it in its case, ‘cause the sign on the door says ‘No Weapons Allowed’.”
“It’s new,” Medford, as usual … (13 comments)

old men coffee shops: Another Episode of “Old Men & Coffee Shops” Thursday Feb 15, ‘07 - 02/14/07 09:38 PM

This Episode of “Old Men & Coffee Shops” is brought to you by:
 
“Olde Codger” Organic and Shade Grown Potato Chips “They’re ALL THAT and a bag of Chips!”
 
 
 
 
 
 
...and by:
 
 
 Merton, Boardman, Ambrose and Company, For all your Codger wanna-be needs.
 
 
  
 
“Yet another +1ºF St. Paul morning, Med,” Jay said as they entered the Cyber-Café for their morning porcelain, not china OR stoneware mug of organically & shade-grown, fair trade, French-roast coffee, a little conversation, and if they are particularly daring—breakfast!
 
 
 
“It’s getting a little old,” Medford replied, “we’re more’n half-way through February, should be getting warmer.”
 
 
“QUIT YER WHINING, Y’ OLD GOAT,” Molly … (12 comments)

old men coffee shops: Gentle Reader—Relief from our Blatant Marketing is Near! - 01/04/07 09:18 PM
Today I had little time to reflect on my back porch, as the Codgers™ wanted to meet early this morning at the coffee shop to discuss our recent efforts in field-testing our “Blog Marketing Plan.”*
The usual suspects, Carl, Harold, Fred & Medford, were all seated at their usual places by the front plate-glass window, and already had their china, not stoneware mugs of organically & shade grown, fair trade, coffee, as I walked in out of the +36ºF heat into the café.
“So,” began Medford, stirring his usual cream & sugar pollutants into his coffee, “how did yesterday’s … (69 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Molly Gets a Face!—and a Choice! - 12/29/06 09:48 PM
“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 … (24 comments)

old men coffee shops: Today the Codgers Pause to Remember a Good President and a Great Man! - 12/27/06 09:14 PM
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 … (26 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops: Continued Blatant Trolling for Comments on a Saturday Morning - 12/15/06 11:05 PM
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 … (21 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops: Blatant Trolling for Comments or Active Rain Blog Marketing ? - 12/14/06 09:08 PM
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 … (11 comments)

old men coffee shops: OLD MEN & COFFEE SHOPS Monday 4 Dec '06 Snow or No Snow - 12/04/06 06:46 AM
“Against the wind I was running against the wind I found myself seeking shelter Against the wind” - Bob Seger
And so it was as I made my way to the coffee shop, anticipating that hot mug of organically & shade grown, fair trade, French roast coffee, first warming my hands, then warming me to my soul!
“Right this way,” shouted Molly as I blew in through the door, “I think I can find a place for you in the back room.”
“Sure Molly,” I said as I sat at our table, in my usual chair, the second one in from … (7 comments)

old men coffee shops: Sunday Stuff - 12/03/06 03:10 AM
This is our "Cyber Cafe" banner all dressed up for the Christmans Holidays. This one I didn't have to build from scratch.
Yesterday, in our post: “We Can’t Help Ourselves—Today’s BAD Joke,” in our last comment we posed a bit of a puzzle for any subsequent reader/commenter: “Take a good look at the pirate ship, there is something very wrong with the picture (a very common error when non-sailors draw sailing ships).”
No one took us up on the challenge—quite possibly no one even read the post/comments after the challenge was issued—the joke was pretty bad.
Anyway, here is the answer—the … (0 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops, Thursday, 30 Nov. 2006 Edition, Rushing Winter - 11/30/06 08:07 PM
The temperature still hovered about the +6ºF mark as I made my way, nicely (and warmly) bundled in my air force style survival parka, 3M Thinsulate™ gloves, and woolen socks. The headwind was bit brisk with the wind chill a tad below zero (funny—when I was young, there was no such thing as “wind chill,” we just knew it was colder when the wind blew).
I wish we had some fresh snow, the squeak of the compressed snow under the boot, the otherworld silence as the snow muffles the normal sounds of the day, and the little sparkles in the … (8 comments)

old men coffee shops: Old Men & Coffee Shops—Our New Friend Molly Vents! - 11/21/06 09:47 PM
As Medford and I made our way towards our usual table, the one by the front plate-glass window, where in the summer months we can (and do) make comments about the passers-by, but in winter we generally avoid looking out—the reflection’s not pretty, we were AGAIN stopped in our tracks by:
“HEY YOU TWO GENTLEMEN,” Molly yelled, “SIT OVER HERE!”
“AND A FINE GOOD MORNING TO YOU TOO,” Medford yelled back, and then in his indoor voice: “we’ll just have our usual mugs of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French-roast coffee. Don’t forget the cream & sugar.”
“Yuk,” I muttered, almost under … (2 comments)

old men coffee shops: RANDOM THOUGHTS ON A SATURDAY MORNING (without those pesky segues) - 11/17/06 10:37 PM
By Medford Ambrose
I WON THE IRISH SWEEPSTAKES BY EMAIL (or, maybe not)! I have never used any of those spam blockers that everyone recommends because, for me, the delete key works just fine. So, since this message was not blocked, I got a free ticket and it won over £2,000,000, according to the message and all I had to do was send them $400 in handling fees. All of my friends say I got took and I will never see the money. Maybe, but many of them spent more than $400 on powerball tickets and haven’t seen the money either. … (5 comments)

old men coffee shops: Friday Morning at the Coffee Shop—Funny Red Thing That Sneezed Outside the Window - 11/17/06 11:20 AM
A pleasant, albeit cloudy, morning enveloped me as I walked to the coffee shop for my usual meeting with the codger elite. We were gathered at our table, the one by the front plate-glass window, each with his mug (china—not stoneware), filled with organically grown-fair trade-French roast-coffee, most without being polluted with cream & sugar—and Fred, buried behind his morning Pioneer Press. We were deeply engrossed in a spirited conversation about the latest goings-on at the city council when we heard first the rustle of a newspaper and then:
“What th’ heck is THAT?”
“It’s red,” answered Harold, the retired barber.
… (7 comments)