The "Thriller" Is Almost Gone

Mackie Jackson, it don't matter if you're black or white.

A day of mixed blessings...the world again turns itself onto Michael Jackson's music in the wake of his death, and our community celebrates the fiftieth (50th) birthday of Mackie. Yes, it is sad business that the innovator of so much HypnoSoundTrack has left this mortal coil too soon, but coinciding with the passing, is our HypnoPal's birthday. In both cases we now are paying attention to each man's body of work. Maybe Mackie never made a 27,000,000 times over platinum record, but I bet Mr. Jackson could never have been crowned mountain bike champion of West Virginia. Each fellow contributed something, and thank heaven at least one (1) is still here to make our days better.

Your To-Do List

HypnoCoffee has a new booking agent. Unbeknownst to the DC It Geek, he mis-communicated a band booking at the HypnoVessel this Friday night. We found out today when Sue Haywood-you-buzz-off asked which band was playing. One (1) phone call to the HypnoShip and DC IT Geek had a musician commit to playing Friday. It just so happened that when he called Ben N. (of HypnoMugs fame) was hanging out, the Geek must have begged or bought him off, but Ben relented and agreed to supply the aural vibe. May sound either serendipitous or just amazing that a musician can be had so quickly, but in this area you can't throw a rock and not hit a musician. All in all, just another great reason to live and work here.
With the Geek's eleventh hour save, your weekend just got busier. Here's the deal: Mackie is celebrating his five-O (50th) at Hellbender, and around nine (9), Ben will start to perform aboard the HypnoVessel, the woman's' ride hosted by Ms. Haywood-you-follow-me will bring the party to Hypno, and around the same time Mackie will bring his birthday cheer too. Mackie celebrating with the all-chick-bad-ass riders whilst Ben serenades sounds like a happy birthday indeed! Saturday promises just as much fun with Rob and Melissa hosting the TCT Fundraiser. This year, Rob has lost his noodle, and is kicking half of the dough raised with beer sales to TCT. No, this doesn't mean half-off your pint, but yes, it does mean you should drink twice as much. The last TCT fundraiser ended with Jeremy missing, only to resurface in the strip mind near ghetto-heim, how will this year play out?

Party and Parking

Reports are filtering in about a show at the Purple Fiddle. Apparently a band from San Francisco sashayed into Thomas and brought out every one's inner-drag queen. Remember, this is rural-remote West-By-God-Virginia, thus the view from the stage must have been tragic. I've peeped a couple of pictures from the night's Dionysus-like debauchery and suffice to say, our men DO NOT make the prettiest women.

Now for the public service announcement, or alert. This morning, observant HypnoPatrons spied an SUV backing precariously close to the HypnoCoffee road sign, and over the shouts of "OH-OH, he hit the sign!" he stopped. Short of the sign? Said precarious parker came in, ordered a Vanilla Latte, and when asked if the HypnoSign was down he tendered a "no, a bike fell down in the back." Okay...Latte made, money passed, man boards his vehicle, and pulls off. Hell yeah, the sign is akimbo! Now for the alert part: if you hit our sign and lie about it, don't forget that you were in my coffee shop the day before introducing yourself, and telling me how you are visiting your family, the Phillips, in Thomas. My memory isn't that bad yet, but clearly yours is.

Grand Opened

So many customers, so little "open".

The Highland Prospects' shindig was indeed a "Grand" Opening. The post party at the Brew Pub was a rager as well. Overall, I'd say the whole affair was a big success. So successful in fact, that despite throngs of would-be shoppers the shop was dark and unopened until Sunday afternoon. What happened to those scallywags? Where would two (2) malevolent sailors be on the Lord's day? We may never know, but by the crack of noon one (1) of pirates surfaced from the ether to unlock the door.


What I do know is that this weekend should be another bum-rush of events. A mountain bike festival is rolling into town, Uncle Mackie is celebrating a birthday with a Friday night party at Hellbender, and on the next night Hellbender once again hosts a TCT fundraiser. If you've attended the TCT fundraisers in the past than you know how much fun they are, don't miss this one; the music is loud, the prizes are awesome, and Hellbender gets hot and the only way to maintain hydration is copious amount of grog.

Pirates Ahoy!

Pirates are storming the port side of the HypnoVessel. Those scurvy bilge-sucking swine are turning the otherwise peaceful community of eastern Davis into their version of the garment district. Not even local law enforcement put a stop the skull-drudgery mine eyes hath witnessed today. If ye be the curious type, than plan on a stop-by tomorrow morning. While ye be at it, you can suck down omelets or waffles courtesy of our own galley-hag, Gary. Gary plans on whipping up:

Omelets

Havarti and Dill with Dilly Beans

Tomato Basil Mozzarella Cheese

Davis Omelet, Ham, Green Pepper, Cheddar

Waffles

Two Belgian Waffles with lady or gent's choice of Cherry Preserves, Blueberry Preserves, or Maple Syrup and a side of watermelon

Either treat can be had for a paltry $5.95. Just refrain from dripping your syrup on Ben and Jeremy's new stock. Quaffing coffee and scarfing waffles is a great way to observe the extensive glad-handing and grinning that accompanies Grand Openings. Should be fun, come out show the requisite amount of love those dastardly pirates are lacking.

Turning One (1)

Gretchen leaped across her first milestone. Already walking, signing, and building rockets, she seems to be at least one and a half (1 1/2). To mark her turning one (1) we threw a family-only soiree at the HypnoAbode, Summer made an awesome pink cake (foods in the color of pink are always delicious), Charlie helped open the gifts and blow out the candle, and after the gala she and Charlie washed away the evidence. The gifts were plentiful and required only a little assembly, and now we watch the battle over ownership begin between brother and sister.

More Beach

Hear ye, hear ye, twenty (20) tons more sand is on its way. Who will spread it? You? Great. Now that generosity and labor are pouring in, we are interested in your ideas for edging the court. My idea was sod, but Chip (of Charlie's best buddy fame) thinks it'll die like Nixon. Sandbags? Rubber mulch? Cedar mulch? Someone out there knows the solution, bring it forward. People are in motion, and we have to keep it that way.

Mark your calendars for this Saturday, June 20th. Not only are we at 737 (that's really the address of the HypnoCoffee, Highland Prospects complex) throwing a shindig to welcome the new tenants, but that evening around five (5) Ben and Jeremy are having an off-complex party at Mountain State Brewing. Food and beer will be provided, so bring both appetites.

This morning's post failed to thank Michelle at the Purple Fiddle for her efforts at the aforementioned bike race. We roast coffee for the Fiddle and sent Michelle with our wares to peddle at the 24 hour race. Not only did Mackie clean up on the podium, but Michelle cleaned up at the vendor section. Helping her kill it was a special blend we roasted just for her and the race. Half way into the first day she ran dry and we sent reinforcements her way. Thanks for giving us pub at the event, and it's cool to have local partnerships that bolster each other's bottom lines.

Beach In The Mountains

Thanks to Rob S., Chip B., and Charlie for their sand leveling skillz!

Is it Charlie's sand box, so that he and Eden can cover one another's scalps with sand, is it a litter box for our pet tiger that came with the last order of Sumatra Mandheling coffee beans, or is it a canvas for Tibetan sand painting? No, well not exactly...I guess it could be any or all of those, but it is supposed to be our volleyball court! Chip, Rob, and I put our magnificent bodies to work spreading and leveling sand. Never has manual labor looked so sexy. Some day soon Jeremy, Ben, and the HypnoFam will host an inaugural game and, of course, you are invited.

Also on the sport beat...Mackie brought home the gold, again! Mackie's generosity extended beyond the usual gold medal; this year he brought home SWAG as well. Thanks for the hydration backpack and sweatshirt... so cool! The generosity didn't stop there either. Whilst discussing the newly leveled volleyball court, ideas were discussed regarding more sand and surrounding the court with sod to both contain the sand and allow for slightly softer landings while diving for shots. The mention of both was met with an idea of fundraising for sand (two people immediately tried to pony up money) and one (1) patron even offered to purchase $200.00 worth of sod to place around the court. Wow, HypnoPatrons are the greatest! I thought such generosity and community spirit only existed in the movies. Thanks HypnoDenizens!!!

Surprise

You already know Gary's goodies, the baked good that decorate our counter, now he'll give you one (1) more reason to love him. He will set up camp in the galley of the HypnoVessel Saturdays and Sundays and churn out omelets and waffles for your word holes to lap up. Surprise and you are welcome. As with all new offerings, it needs your support to gain traction and become a regular feature. We are thinking this will last through the summer, so omelet and waffle up before crushing one (1) another on the volleyball court! Breakfast starts at seven (7) in the morning and can be had up until tenish (10ish)...I'll petition for more hours from Gary.
Whilst I'm on my HypnoThrone, I should remind my friend Rob that writing about things is doing something. Ask any essayist, journalist, fiction writer, or kid that falsifies a note from his parents. If you haven't read it, peruse the "Comments" section of my Ruminations On Elections Past. HypnoPal Rob tears into the author and accuses him of doing nothing but bitch. He knows better than to question my love for our community; disillusionment with the reality of how new comers are viewed is not disdain. As I told Rob, it's folks like him and wife that brought us here and keep us here. Our community is wonderful, gaining in numbers and strength, and a seat at the legislative table is coming as well. Rob's points are taken and I am sure I will continue to consider what he said, thanks for the voice of decent Rob.

The Sand Man Came At Dawn

Gretchen keeps a steady hand on daddy's growler...good girl.

The two (2) additional peaks in Davis arrived today. No the earth didn't spring forth her bosoms in the form of two (2) more mountains...well, not exactly. The volleyball court sand is here! As soon as the liner is laid we will have a "spread 'em party." I know that means a different kind of party in D.C., (thanks to the number of lobbyists and politicians, we know how they think). In Davis it means wheel barrow, shovel, rake, repeat...so put away the oils and surgical gloves. Stay tuned for requests of assistance.

Ruminations On Elections Past

If you are a visitor to our little mountain town you probably see faces and folks not too much different from yourself. Whether you are in Hellbender, Sirianni's, Blackwater Bikes, Bright Morning Inn, Highland Prospects, Front Street Exchange, or Hypno you interact with people who love this area for the same reason you vacation here; only we made the leap to moving here. Living next door to us, down the street, and around the block are "locals", people who grew up here, whose parents grew up here, and whose grandparents grew up here. Most local neighbors keep their distance until situations warrant, they get to know you, and they turn out to be good neighbors; just leery of strangers...at first. The distrust manifests itself in things like elections.
Within the community of new locals (denizens who chose to move here) three (3) people ran for office this year. So intimidated at the prospect of three (3) non-born-n-raised boys serving on the town council that the "local" population turned out to vote. Some would say this is a good thing in that it brought people out and encouraged participation in the electoral process. Which would be true if said people turned out to vote for a candidate as opposed to voting against a candidate, which is what I and many others suspect is the case. Why else would the municipal election bring out over one hundred and thirty (130) voters when the normal turn out is just above thirty (30)? There were no "hot button" issues, no debates, and barely even any ideas being brought about by candidates...except Cindy, Jeremy, and Summer. Most residents could care-less about their local government, as long as "tourists" (actual mayoral phrase) aren't involved. Therein lies the rub. Every local business, that you the visitor, interacts with is owned by a transplant with only two (2) exceptions. "Non-locals" not only deserve, but need a voice in our local government, since we have so much at stake. Unfortunately the generational locals wanted to send a message, that business as usual stays...for now. That's too bad since, three (3) of the candidates I voted for have energy, intelligence, good ideas, are open to compromise, and actually want to serve our town. I would think everyone can appreciate that.
Here's the downside to that attitude. The vote count was within forty (40) votes of having all three (3) HypnoEndorsed candidates making it on town council. That gap is small and represents a tenuous hold on our local government...at best. I will and encourage as many others as possible to start attending meetings, the dates and times of meetings will be updated in these pages. Our interest and presence need not go away for two (2) years; quite the contrary, we need to be felt, if only as witness bearers.
I probably know everyone who voted for my wife, and thank you all. Our friends turned out and did their part! We just need a few more to put us over the top. Whilst thanking, I want to thank Cindy Robeson, Jeremy Golston, and of course, Summer Williams for throwing their hats into the ring and setting what will hopefully be a tone of participation and activeness that carries on and grows. Until the next town council meeting it's back to bawdy jokes!

Pity Party

It's eight fifteen (8:15) do you know where your ballot is? We are waiting patiently to find out the results of today's election for Davis Town Council. I hope you got your vote on, and you know who you are. Results will reach these pages as soon as I get 'em. Time for results pushed back to nine thirty (9:30)...too many voters! Four (4) times the voters turned out this year.
No Changes...business as usual. All HypnoEndorsed candidates failed to make the cut. Same no changing, xenophobic good-ol-boys will run this town for two (2) more years. Stay on this, two (2) years fly by.

Vote For Summer

Tomorrow is Summer's big day. Will she help shape the policy and direction of our town for the next two (2) years? It's your decision. Other than the decision to marry me she seems to have made mostly excellent choices. To not vote is essentially conceding the running of our town to neighbors who are goaded into running or neighbors who harbor resentment towards their fellow denizens based on the location of their birth. I say screw that! Regardless of why we are here, we all want a town with thriving businesses, safe streets, and a responsive municipality. You may think someone else will handle that, and you are correct. But whom?

Free coffee and delectables for those who can spare a moment in the morning, hang out aboard the HypnoVessel, and place a couple of calls to their neighbors. Who lives on either side of you? Did they vote? Help us make sure they did. HypnoPhone bank party in the morning. Celebration party to be announced.

Lost In Paradise

Pictured above is the aforementioned dressing room (a.k.a. Jeremy's Love Nest). Expect lots more beach cabana-style fun in the boyz shop-o-gear. If they decide against outdoor gear they may very well go into the lady's swimwear game...or perhaps an Old Navy? What will happen? We do need a supplier of female volleyball garments, and male European beach tuxedos.
Who's teaching the next orientation course? Cade and I missed a trail and turned a five (5) mile run into a fifteen (15) mile run yesterday. Ah yes, imagine the captain and Cade..."Where's the Plantation Trail intersection?""Distances always seem larger on the map, but we've been on this path for five (5) miles now, WTF""I wish we had brought water.""What! Table Rock?! That leaves eight (8) more miles!""You wanna walk?"If you see me hobbling about today, point and laugh. Oh yeah, you won't see Cade, he claims to only rise for the bathroom. The rest of the time he is in a prone position watching Kung Fu movies...ah the life!

HI-YAAA

We have much protection. I snapped the above photo of Cory after six (6) macchiatos. Gone are my fears regarding Cory's loosey-goosey ways. Much discipline has he. A letter of recommendation from his sensei calmed our fears and you may again visit with his afro-ness this evening.

Ben and Jeremy are preparing for the worst. Just in case the roof leaks they have built a sub-roof inside the retail space. If the rain comes in, we will all gather beneath the tin shelter, unfortunately, the roof only covers the dressing room, hence we will all cram into the dressing room. Oh sure many of you have shared a dressing room with Jeremy in the past, and most of those dudes don't even laugh about it, but I may just take my chances with a drippy roof.

Tonight, Tonight

WVU file photo of Cory.

The polls will be open Saturday at Davis Town Hall. DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE...YOU! The polls close Tuesday (June 9th) at 7:30 and the count will be posted at 8:30 on the door of Town Hall. Celebrations, including drinking, lighting cars on fire, throwing garbage cans through business windows, and of course burning Tony in effigy, will follow. Find your matches, gasoline, and cast your ballot! Let's prepare for the next two (2) years in style. Party suggestions are to be brought to the HypnoVessel.


Summer's dad, Al, Charlie, and I headed Maryland-way for a quick visit to both a junkyard and a stone statue garden. Yes, it was so fun. Ask Charles about the giant stone dinosaurs.


What are you doing now? Yeah, right now. Cory is down at the HypnoVessel tonight, yeah tonight. Don't leave him alone please. That guy's got sticky fingers and a sick sense of righteousness. Alone for too long and I may think I'm opening a coffee shop, only to find a massage parlor with an empty till. I will be told money has been replaced by a clever barter system and that chickens are worth at least two (2) volleyballs, so calm down. Unless Allegheny Power now accepts trades I may be screwed.

V-Ball

Please take note of the required volleyball attire, bikinis and banana hammocks.

Have you voted yet? You will, right? I'm talking to you: John, Jody, Kim, Dave, Matt, Aaron, Nicole, Robbie, Melissa, Mackie, Roger, Randy, Susan, Craig, Kristin, Mack, Carrie, Bob, Rose, etc. etc. et al. It doesn't take too many of you to put Summer, Jeremy, and Cindy over the top. You know who you are and we are all living here for similar reasons, let's have a voice in the machinations of our town. End political statement.


There is now a volleyball net aboard the vessel. If only the sand were here, but alas we must wait a bit longer. Speaking of volleyball, July 11th will see a fundraiser volleyball tourney at the pit o' sand. We will be raising money for Oktoberfest (bands to be paid ya know). The deal-e-o is going to be something like...twenty bucks ($20.00) per team, two (2) person teams, round robin rules, single elimination, a judge, free refreshments for teams, and cash purse for the top three (3) teams. Our milkshake brings the boyz to the yard!

Sell Out

I hear ya out there, scratching at the door like a hungry cat. Where my news at? Where my funny pics of Cade be? Still here my friends, but if you are used to typing www.hypnocoffee.com in your url address bar and then laughing, well that is just going to have to change. It was a good run, but the din of debt collectors, mortgage payments, and the looming specter to three (3) kids to pump through what passes for college demands a little scrilla. We've succumb to the times and yeah they be a changin'. Most local readers know of the blog and make the blog because they are in the shop daily helping keep the lights glowing. The new store is for you, out-of-townie, loves to visit our community, stops by when atop the mountain, and gets a kick out of our local color as portrayed on these pages; it is time for you to pull your weight in these, oh these, times. After you return to occupied America, what is it in your french press, Mr. Coffee, or Rancillo machine? Not Hypno? For shame...now's your chance to make it right!
Have you seen Barbara's sunglasses? If so, bring 'em by the vessel. Gary has a big surprise for you, but you'll have to wait until the 13th, before he'll reveal it. No, its not what you're thinking.