taptapnacupocaffee

“The race is not won by the swiftest but he who endureth to the end,” This old expression found an example in the recently completed NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Final Game had what looked to me as a bigger, faster University of Houston team dominating the University of Florida team for most of the game. Not only was there domination but had shut down Florida’s best player Walter Clayton Jr. for most of the game as Walter didn’t have any points until well into the second half. Google informed/reminded us that Clayton was held scoreless for 25 minutes. And he got his first points at the free throw line. Houston held on to the lead until the final minute or so. While Houston had the lead most of the game, near the end Florida took it.. But as Houston had the lead for most of the game, Florida hit its stride at the end. Where Clayton wasn’t scoring for most of the game, he was hitting shots at the end. And Houston who was scoring all game, could not get a shot off at the end. Sharp jumped up with the ball but didn’t shoot and could not pick the ball back up so he boxed out and waited for a teammate to grab the ball and shoot. Didn’t happen as a Gator tipped it, tapped it away. Florida won. It endured to the end!

Taptapnacupocaffee readers are aware of my Friday Ritual. On the way to work on Fridays this blogger stops at the Lark Central Market and buys a small cup of coffee and a copy of the “New York Post”. And the first full week of 2025 saw an Arctic cold front blow through the Capital Region, which is made up of Albany New York and surrounding areas. Well Friday January 10th, was heading to work before the crack of dawn. and it was COLD. Went to the Lark Central Market and picked up my Post and small coffee. Then, went over to the corner diagonal to this establishment and sat on a staircase to wait on the bus and enjoyed my coffee. Along with enjoying the coffee, got relief from the biting cold. Couldn’t tell you what the temperature was but judging from how my fingers felt, it was freezing. And the coffee wasn’t exactly piping hot but it was hot. And the flavor broke through. And the cold lost a little of its bite, Then, with a little bit left the bus came. Oh, the power of coffee.

Asked Google a quick question. When did people start putting milk and cream in their coffee? It promptly answered, “Back in Europe, the use of milk in coffee became widely accepted since the introduction of the method by Polish Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki(German: Franz George Kolschitzky) in his cafe in Vienna since 1684. He was a hero during the Siege of Vienna (11 September 1683) as he saved the city using his multi-lingual skill.” And according to Wikipedia “Johan Neuhof, the Dutch ambassador to China is credited as the first person to drink coffee with milk when he experimented with it around 1660.” Very interesting history. In my early years as a coffee drinker, putting milk in it was my first move after pouring it in the cup, provided milk was available. But tastes have evolved since. Make mine Light and Sweet!

Hello Everybody. Today is Veteran’s Day 2023. Its slightly cool and breezy up here in Albany. But on this fine day would like to discuss a longtime military tradition. That of the bowing of Taps at the end of Funerals and at the end of the day in some cases and other occasions. Well this has its origins in the Civil War. The tune taps was blown as a signal for troops to extinguish their camp fires. My source for this information was the late Great Peter Jennings on ABC’s World News Tonight. Happy Veteran’s Day.

Today, November 9th, 2023, we are leading into Veteran’s Day 2023. With this day honoring our Veterans on tap, am called to mind a memory of my own military service. It came during my Reserve unit’s deployment to Saudi Arabia in 1990. Was assigned to the chow hall at the tent city in Dharan Saudi Arabia. Between working there and having breakfast there on most mornings, would regularly see a young NCO come in to get a cup of coffee and perhaps get some food. But he would regularly say that he wanted “a cup of Joe.” He would often say that or some version of it. Thus another term for coffee-caffee was learned. And it stuck with me. Joe. And its a lot more common to be heard here in 2023. To the best of my knowledge this NCO was in the Air Force and appreciate him introducing me to the word “Joe”. Cup of Joe fits well into Taptapnacupocaffee. Happy Veteran’s Day!

Well today was the 22nd Anniversary of 9/11 Memorials seem to be muted this year. You don’t see 9/11 Don’t Forget written on CDTA busses this year for instance. However did see Mecca Audio remember 9/11. Intended to give blood on this day but staffing issues meant the Red Cross was not ready at 8 o’clock. Did not check back, thus did not give. But in anticipation of giving, skipped my usual morning coffee from 2C. First saw Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A, Smith have an official debate for ESPN today.

Got coffee from ward 2c and Physician assistant Michele offered to reimburse me for money spent buying creamer today September 4th.

ON Mother’s Day 2023, right before going to the Daily Grind for a caffee and sausage samich, went and picked up a flower for Marla, a woman around the corner from me on Lexington Avenue. It was a flower shop on Lark Street from which it was purchased. The day before Marla said she wanted a flower for Mother’s Day. So went and got her one. Upon giving it to her she was very Grateful. She even said she wanted to cry. It was nice to make someone happy. Its nice to reflect on that, today, May 15th.

Today, November 17, a day struggling to live in infamy, had some pork chops in the fridge at the Job. Put them there in the morning. Took one out at break time. But in the afternoon went to the same refrigerator and they were not there. What happened to them! As it looked to be reorganized figured they could be one place they could be. The garbage. Looked in there and sure enough there were my pork chops. But luckily they were in the bag among other stuff in the fridge that was tossed out. So basically they were among other refrigerator stuff. Whew. Tasted one of them and from that test it seemed they were OK to eat. Placed them back in the refrigerator. Am taking them home for my dinner. This has been a week of food and coffee snafus. Went to Donkin Donuts and ordered a vanilla frosted donut and got a Boston Creme. My fault for not paying attention. But there was Monday when refrained from my morning coffee believing blood would be drawn only to find out the Red Cross appointment slots were filled. A day or two later my normal coffee spot hadn’t even had the pot plugged in. And they threw my pork chops away. Threw them AWAY!