The Coffee Bourgeois Blues

Happy Saturday morning. So, our town fielded a crazy week. No big rant from this end, just that over the last number of years this great town has been like a rudderless ship. It’s what happens when a single party, especially one embracing every and all woke & DEI ideas, gains and maintains absolute control.

Let it just be said that our ‘silver tongued’ Mayor, Aftab Pureval, is so far in over his head it’s ridiculous. Aftab “quack quack’ Pureval (as in ‘pure-evil’) felt it more prudent to let a nationally seen and discussed ‘beat down’ not by taking the helm, but by spending personal time in British Columbia.

Ok, I’ll stop before this turns into a rant.

Remember: “Cincinnati doesn’t have time for National or International news; we’re too busy pi**ing with local issues.” ‘Willie’ Cunningham, WLW700 radio

Now for a solid mug of dark coffee. Here is where the Coffee Bourgeois Blues come in. While reading sit back and enjoy a bit of Jake Speed and the Freddies skewer Starbucks while promoting water used from the ‘Big Muddy’ (Ohio River) as the proper way to make coffee. Now here: Coffee Bourgeois Blues

Last evening I wandered the Ohio riverbank as Paddlefest 2025 started (noted as the Nation’s largest ‘Paddlefest’ at well over 2,000 kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes on an almost 10-mile paddle), listened to Jake and his gang, enjoyed some truck food, and enjoyed a craft beer from Mad Tree. Most importantly, I talked with a number of people representing a myriad of non-profit environmental groups. One that stuck out was called the “Ohio River Way” which promotes hiking trails and paddling along a 3 -State (Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana) 550-mile charted way.

No more Shopping for Dirk – or so says Marcia, as with pounding heart she fearfully peers out of the front window any time I come home and open the car’s trunk. Last evening, coming back from my evening at the Paddlefest 2025 event I had done it again. I managed to snag, at well below half price, a new but “out of the box” blow up DAMA Stand-Up Paddle Board”. It’s a perfect addition to the water activities at our Northern Comfort. Add to my find that this weekend it’s “Back to School Sales Tax forgiveness” weekend and my purchase qualified. How good does it get?

Mentioning Northern Comfort – I completed my quick journey north without any hiccup. Border crossings were as smooth as I’d ever experienced. The cabin was fully intact and solid. The new neighbors were what anyone would hope for. And all wildlife has once again been put on notice as to who exactly is in charge. ‘All’ that is except for the a flock of Canadian Geese who stopped by the day before my arrival and left the waterfront area loaded up with their ‘Tootsie Rolls’.

My journey back to the ‘Nati did have a slight detour as I visited with Paul and Dia for an evening. It was a perfect finish to my solo week out. Thanks guys!

One minor addition – About a half hour from home I got caught in some very severe rains. These were to the point where other traffic ground to a halt in the middle of I-74. This was NUTS! By morning I heard on the news that I’d driven through what was now labeled as a F-1 Tornado. Ignorance surely is bliss!

For my Car-Lovers readers – At the Paddlefest weekend festivities I spotted this gorgeous Lucid. This was the first Lucid I’d seen. A quick check has these details: a full EV, some models can go 500 miles on a single charge and do 0-to-60 in under two seconds. Price ranges from $100.000 to $200,000. This is a serious set of wheels.

Lupe Ongolea – Tevita’s mother, Lupe, passed away and Tevita, Adrianne, Vai, and Vili all traveled to Tonga for the services (left for the airport Sunday at 4:45AM and arrived in Tonga Tuesday morning). In Tonga the passing of a person, their death and the celebration of their life, is a family and community affair managed without a professional ‘funeral’ class.

Having attended the ‘Green’ funeral of my friend, Jeff a couple of years ago and now seeing photos of Lupe’s passing in Tonga has given me a sense of just how this becomes a family event; thus, more appreciative of the pain in the immediate, and joy in remembering what has been. For both Vili and Vai being an intimate part of Lupe’s journey is truly a life-altering experience.

Rest in Peace Lupe – be proud of the family you have nurtured and raised; you’ve done well!

Cincinnati Open – the Cincinnati Open 2025 Tennis Tournament is starting this week. Bright and early last Saturday I had my training and credential time which started with an outdoor breakfast prior to the temperature climbing to about a 100. My first shift is from 6 to 11 PM this coming Thursday. I took the picture below from the vantage point I experience on my shift.

A Factoid: commentator on Fox News, Katie Pavlich: Your regular reminder that when Israel completely disengaged from the Gaza Strip in 2005, including digging up Jewish graves, they left thousands of productive green houses to the Palestinians – nearly a billion dollar produce industry. All this infrastructure was immediately destroyed by the new ‘occupants’.

Now that France, the UK, and Canada are talking ‘Statehood for Palestinians’, it might be good to reflect on Pavlich’s quotation above.

Pan Rocks the music of Rush, 2025 – Earlier this past Spring Vai with her school band played her steel drums at a major concert held at the Miami University’s Millet Hall Arena. Just released this week was the professionally assembled song “Fly by Night”. The reason I am posting it is that starting at the 1:17 mark and on towards the conclusion there are some great shots of Vai doing her ‘stuff’ – (she played at the end of a row and thus look for her on the right side of the screen). It’s a great piece of listening – ENJOY!.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which stall should you use in a Public Bathroom? Which is the cleanest stall in a public bathroom? Science has finally figured it out.

1) “closest to the entrance”
2) “go to what’s furthest away”
3) “the middle stall”
4) “any end stall”

Want the details? Click here