Surprise!

Hey, look who showed up aboard the HypnoVessel today...our old friend Stevie and his Johnson. He sat down ate with us, played guitar, gave free lessons, told stories, and sang. The kids loved joining in on percussion, and Chloe even got a turn on the ax. Thanks for the entertainment and the rice! A lot of visitors from occupied America passing through, just like last weekend, further illustrating the presence of snow, and more in the forecast...two (2) feet?!

This Town Is Your Town, This Town Is My Town!

The filing of forms!

Today is the last day for filing your intent to run for city council. Did you get it done? I thought not, but don't fret, three (3) HypnoDenizens filed today! Tip 'o the hat to: Jeremy "Bubba" Golston, Cindy "Meyer House" Robeson, and Summer "First Lady of Hypno" Williams. These three (3) brave citizens are putting themselves out there for the betterment of our wee hamlet; let's support them like panty hose! Are you registered? If not, get your registration forms at HypnoCoffee. Yes, you must live in Davis to vote, and yes Davis must be your residence, not your vacation home. We are planning voter education, voter registration drives, get out the vote parties, and of course a big bash on election day. Get your hand ready for plenty of shaking, wash that baby's face for kissing, and plan for all manner of local campaigning. Hell Yeah, we can!

It may seem like the HypnoBlog is turning into a political action committee, and I give it over to the cause of my own free will. This is an important time, when our young merchants step up and choose to serve our community in the capacity of council person. Many of us have discussed it, and three (3) have actually committed to it, so let's make sure we do our part in seeing to their placement on the board, and then their success while serving.

Gaslighting

Annie

Yes, I am gaslighting you. Today most everyone walked right past the coffee to its former perch and then looked up at me as if I had kicked their kitten. "Where's the coffee ?" The coffee now resides right in front of the door for your convenience and confusion. You haven't even begun to notice the other psychological changes I am making in your daily HypnoRoutine... or have you? The brownie's cinnamon content goes down one (1) teaspoon per batch, the lights are increased two (2) lumens every Thursday, the table's height changes daily with the use of three (3) centimeter shims I put under the legs, and the building itself moves to the east one (1) inch every week. Haven't you noticed? You thought you were just going crazy? The answer to both is, "yes".


Tomorrow is the last day for filing your intent to run for city council. Pick up the forms at town hall, or at HypnoCoffee. Let's not wait another two (2) years before we engage in our collective home. Free drinks for candidates!

E. Pluribus Hypno

Your 'ol Unkie Mackie wants you! No not you...the girl behind you in the third row of anatomy and physiology. I mentioned the call in a previously well written post, and today you began to answer that call. The deadline for filing your intent to run for office ends Friday and the urgency to serve our community is beginning to come to a head. Today I spoke with four (4) HypnoFriends about their serving on the city council and received two (2) yeses and (2) maybes. No, I won't tell you their names until after Friday. Let us savour this moment, when your friends and neighbors were in the preambles of volunteering their time to serve our community. Prepare to back, support, and in other words, vote for these proud denizens intent on making this wonderful town an even better place. HypnoSupport to you all!

Talking To Myself

It wasn't too long ago, I would spend many an hour aboard the HypnoVessel alone, dawdling the day away with music, movies, the Internet, and magazines. I don't have that much time to myself anymore since we relocated to Davis. Respite is a past pleasure, and too bad, for yesterday my father-in-law sent the HypnoVessel a care package that would have alleviated my doldrums. A simple, solitary, framed black and white photo of Elvis Presley greeted Summer as she opened the shipping container. A young and handsome Elvis forever grinning up at her. Had I been so fortunate to possess this image back in our slower days of sailing, I would surely have found a companion to distract me from the other idle time killers. Elvis and I would have swapped stories, his being a thousand (1000) times more interesting of course, laughing at the size of his Physician's Desk Reference book, reading passages to one another and discussing which 'scripts are assigned to which false illnesses. Not ones to tarry just in humor, we would dig deeper, discussing his growing up in Mississippi, his stint in the Army, and of course introduction to and mastery of rock music.

I have positioned Elvis' visage across from the counter, smiling at me. Or is it snickering at me? Either way, if I'm alone in the ship and you peer through the windows and see what looks like me talking to myself, now you know better.

Shocker In Gloomtown

Well, it is with hesitation that I write this, but I do so out of compulsion to tell the story of our collective lives through the lens of the HypnoVessel. I'm sure you recall a time when the HypnoShip was docked in the waters of Thomas. For the first eight (8) months of occupancy a curious and strange local figure would skulk past the portholes, sneaking looks at the sailors within. This onlooker was Thomas character, Kip. For those who know Kip, I am sure a quick and some what humorous visual comes to mind; Kip, hair in his face, floral print shirt unbuttoned, well-swollen midriff exposed, smoking a cigarette, talking to himself, and his head darting around left to right. It wasn't until Kip fell under the employment of our then neighbor, Robin, that the curious figure began to frequent our vessel. Not always the easiest person to understand, I got to know Kip through his mumbling and rambling; learning about his background growing up in West Virginia, his love of listening to baseball games on the radio, his obsession with crossword puzzles (something we shared), and his addiction to Papua New Guinea coffee. Oh sure I heard about his myriad of other addictions; his background as an engineer of sorts, but I never saw evidence of either. No, Kip was a character in the best sense of the word, and I looked forward to his daily visits. Today Kip was found dead in his home and although I have missed him since our move to Davis, his weird sense of humor is now forever lost to us all. Goodbye.

Tesh-n-Go

Since the last one (1) sold so quickly, Gary made for us another Italian Cream Cake. The thing is enormous, ostentatious, decedent, and ripe for entendre. Willie, Chip, and I slashed through the jokes at other's expense. I made the comment how if I laughed any harder I was going to pee my pants, when in walks local adult diaper saleswoman, Moriah. I shouldn't marginalize her role. Moriah works for Granny Gear, the purveyor not just of diapers, but also walkers, wheelchairs, cleansing wipes, under-pads, bath seats, etc. Sometimes, timing is everything. Thanks for sharing the laughs this morning.

Also contributing to the snickering was my recently won (skeet tourney) John Tesh Alive, Music & Dance CD, DVD, and book! Quoth the Tesh, "From my piano, I like to focus on the faces of children in the audience.", "It's pretty clear that I enjoyed watching the dancing as much as I did performing.", and "This is hip hop?" Awesome isn't a strong enough word. Inspiring is closer. Thanks to Jeremy (of Highland Prospects) for the gift of music and dance he brought to our skeet tourney. I know how difficult it can be, donating a beloved personal item like that, just rest assured it has found a new, loving home.

Dog Training

There is a lot of looking to our national leader for inspiration these days. It's been awhile since we the people have had anyone we might consider being proud of, and since the HypnoFam too is hopeful, we look to a president for guidance on matters relating to canines. LBJ was one (1) dog handling prez. full of brutal, effective techniques. The HypnoFam may be misguided, but we know where to go for sage advice. The technique Mr. Johnson employed above is very similar to the method I use to get Charlie to eat...and go to the potty. I will start tomorrow with the presidentially prescribed doggie discipline.

Heeding even more recent presidential advice: we aboard the HypnoVessel, shall as the new president says, "conduct business in the light of day." As most of you already know, the HypnoVessel's plan for fueling the economic fire entails the selling (retail and wholesale) of our roasted coffee beans. Thus far, three (3) (Keith, Jeremy, and Mackie) friends/customers have stepped up of their own volition, and beat the pavement on our behalf in an attempt to garner wholesale customers. We are truly lucky to have such fine sailors aboard the HypnoShip sailing these tumultuous seas. Now is the time for you, o' lucky reader, to heed the call of your captain, asking not what Hypno can do for you, but you can do for Hypno. You've drank our coffee, is it better than what you are drinking at your neighborhood (Alexandria, Silver Springs, Arlington, et. al.) mud-slinging shop? I thought so. Would you rather they purvey the superior caffeinated grog you enjoy aboard the HypnoShip? Ask us for samples, and then pull the old "give and pester". Not only will you enjoy the eternal gratitude of the HypnoCrew, but a pirate's booty be ye reward! Talk to us next time you're aboard or call us to discuss your helping the scurvy dogs of Davis.

The Next Step

Wii Tourney! Chloe was the boxing champ!

Chip, enjoying Chloe's knock out of her old man in the first round.

I imagine our little community to be like other, bigger ones, its denizens divided between cynics, optimists, and folks torn between the two (2). Tomorrow a party will take place (Hellbender 8-11) to celebrate the inauguration of a new President and is undoubtedly hosted by folks falling into the optimist camp. Today Bubba pointed out to me that this summer the town of Davis will hold elections, and that five (5) council person seats and the mayor position are up for grabs. You have to file by the end of January if you want to throw your hat into the ring. It is often discussed, debated, and waxed philosophical on how this or that should be done, or the direction we need to take, and how we need to get involved. Now is your chance! Let's start talking about who's going to run and what we want to see happen in our town. I nominate Melissa (of Hellbender fame), if she runs our local government with half the efficiency she runs the 'bender kitchen we'll be in good stead. Plus she needs to get out of that kitchen.

Twelve

Two (2) down and one (1) to go. Today the HypnoFam hosts a combined party for Charlie and Chloe. As she officially enters the tween years, we are presenting her with the tools needed to rock. Nothing dispels teenage isolation and angst like rock-n-roll. Rock has been saving kids and adults alike for nearly six (6) decades, and I suspect it will be a saving grace for my girl too. Also joining the HypnoFam is a two (2) year old hound mutt, sprung from her stint in the Garrett County Animal Prison. She was sentenced to death for eating chickens. Since I too eat yard bird, I feel we've acquired a kindred spirit.

Dead batteries and frozen pipes greeted many a denizen for a second morning. This morning should be the last of it, at least for awhile, as predictions are for snow and temperatures reaching into the balmy mid-twenties.

For the visitors coming into town with the duel purpose of enjoying our winter weather and escaping the madcap activities of inaugural Washington, welcome. If you're feeling a little chagrin in the missing of festivities, not to fear, Hellbender is hosting an inaugural ball on the 20th. Wow, you get your cake and eat it too.

Old Man Winter Smiles Upon Us

Finally! I haven't seen a morning this glorious since mid-November, and no I didn't install that floor length mirror outside of my shower. Oh no, my non-mountain top reader, I awoke to a thick white blanket covering all. I was afforded the opportunity to ski to work again, a pleasure lost on 99.9% of America who must operate a motor vehicle to convey themselves to work. With temperatures beneath zero (0) this morning, I even donned my balaclava (fancy word for a ski mask) making me look like a clumsy Ninja as I kicked and glided my way through at least six (6) inches of white recreation. The snow is still coming, obscuring my normally clear view of Sirianni's and Davis businesses east of the HypnoVessel. Poor Mackie, he picked a lousy time to go back to college. Maybe he should have waited a couple of more decades. Of course, I am making a much bigger deal out of some snow than necessary, but if you live here than you understand my glee given the weather conditions of late.

Need something to do Friday night? Stop by the HypnoShip Friday night for a drink after dinner. That's right, starting Friday night we are plunging into the darkness. The benefit of an espresso drink after your meal, but before you go out for the night is clear, the boost will fuel your nocturnal activities, whether it be a moonlight ski, listening to music at the Purple Fiddle or the Brewery, sled riding through the streets of Davis, or participating in a snow ball fight with reigning snowball fight champion Robbie B. Sorry ladies, but most will consider it an additional benefit not having to hang out with me, the much easier on the eye, Nicole will be serving Friday night.

Thanks to all of the well wishers who dropped by yesterday with one (1) year birthday wishes for the HypnoVessel. One (1) more birthday to go this week, Chloe turns twelve (12) on Saturday, and if you're free around 1 pm stop by the HypnoFamily abode for her party. I think she wants her father to receive a keg of cask conditioned IPA from Mountain State, thanks for asking!

One

Your neighborhood coffee slingers accomplished what many said was the impossible, we discovered life on another planet and stayed in business for a term of one (1) year. We have gone through one (1) location, two (2) tea companies, six hundred and eight (608) growlers of Mountain State beer, countless chairs, dishes, demitasse, and plates (you know, the items we typically throw at you), one (1) Director, and one (1) maternity room visit. We've kept our noses clean and our mouths filthy, a combo that seems to work for you...and us. To those who have been a part of our lives aboard the HypnoVessel, swashbucklers, pirates, and even land lubbers; thank you all and we look forward to serving the mast with and for you in the next year.

Party Over Here

These are going out to family and friends. Charlie got high on cupcakes and crashed giggling like a college student at his very first wake-n-bake.

Three

Tenuous beginnings.

Confident presence.

We were a lean team upon our first visit to West Virginia, just Chloe, Summer, and myself. So struck with the state that by the time we were home shopping we had a three (3) month old son, and a salient desire to raise our growing family here. Charlie has spent the last year; one-third of his life, aboard the HypnoVessel. His speech has gone from high pitched squeaks and mumbles to the adorable toddler speak, where cookie is tookie, dino-swores fight He-Man, and dey all go ROAAAR! He's a few pounds heavier, a couple of inches taller, and about the only thing that hasn't changed is his ever-present bed-head. So many neighbors have participated in his life over the past year; whether you just say hello and have a short, sometimes incomprehensible conversation with him, or if you are one (1) of our friends that notice when we are bustling, you loiter a bit longer in order to play with Charlie and distract him from his busy parents. Poised to spend another year within the hulls of the HypnoVessel, you will no doubt continue to play a role in the shaping of Hypno's only son, and we can not think of better influences.

The Exodus Continues

The mountian top's newest lady killer.

Becky spent her last day on top of the mountian aboard the HypnoVessel. She sat in the Kid's Corner making T-shirts most of the day; her idea, I didn't put her up to it. The shirts possess both the Spitz and the Swallow images she has become so fascinated with. There may be hope for her yet, if it were not for her leaving. A warm goodbye as she trips the highway fantastic towards Vermont. May the Green Mountain State embrace and keep during her travails there. Who's next to abandon ship? Will it be Dave, Ginger, and Keagan? I hear they're cruising the nether regions of occupied America in search of gainful employment. What, skeet shooting and SpongeBob drinking games not good enough for ya?

The recent exodus of young people alarmed the Director so much he telephoned the HypnoVessel today inquiring as to what I was doing to drive so many away. I assured him my plans did not involve banishment, save for him. No, we will all feel the affects of our neighbors moving on, even the Director embroiled in paternity suits (two (2) now) and weaning himself from HypnoCoffee acknowledged the vacuum. Speaking of vacuums, one (1) of our neutron stars, Mackie, was late for his first class today. What happened? Cougar got you by the tail?

So Much To Do, So Little Time

Our first lady of Hypno.
Our last lady of Hypno.

How could you not buy Hypno by the pound now?

Davis' new rapper, MC Charilious.

The week ahead is promising. Huge events on the HypnoCalander include: Charlie's birthday (3rd) on the Tuesday the 13th, HypnoCoffee's birthday (1st) on Wednesday the 14th, Hypno's first night hours on Friday the 16th, Chloe's birthday (12th) on Saturday the 17th, and the snow is scheduled to coat the whole magilla in white! Combine these gala events with MLK weekend and our building of a website for the purpose of dealing coffee, and we've got our hands full. Having said that, when you order your skinny half-caf mocha, no whip, with a shot of toasted marshmallow, but you receive a soy chai tea latte you'll know what's with me.

Adios

The community lightened up today. Nick (of C. Hunt fame) left for Austin to pursue his dream of being a country music star, Nate and Kristine left for Hawaii to fulfill their dream of marrying Tom Selleck, and tomorrow finds Mackie leaving for Morgantown in pursuit of his dream to develop the next performance enhancing drug for the cycling community. This exodus is tough on us as a community, and even a visit from Elkin's favorite son, Stevie (of the Johnson fame) only made a dent in the malaise. We stand to loose a few more denizens next week, so brace yourselves for going-away drink-a-thons and potlucks a-plenty.

Godspeed to Nick, and I hope your AAA account is still active. Aloha to Nate and Kristine (bring me back a lei!), and to Mackie...Phi Beta Epsilon all the way!!!!

E's B-Day

The artist formerly known as Glue-Eye.

Hypno, now with Spitz and Swallows.

It is true. Back when Charlie was a fetus riding around in Summer's womb, he had an arrival date of January 10th. I begged and pleaded with Summer to induce labor on January 8th, only two (2) days ahead of the expected arrival, but with benefits that last a life time. For those not in the know (and you really should be ashamed for not knowing) the King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8th. Was it so terrible to want my son going through life sharing a birthday with the King of Rock-n-Roll? I thought you'd agree. Happy birthday E!



Appearing on our wall today, and doubtfully given as a gift for the King, was a beautifully illustrated dog. I was informed by the serendipitous artist, Becky (of glue-eye fame) that the rendering is of a breed known as a Spitz. The Spitz complements and fits in nicely with our images of Swallows. Thanks Becky, and well done!

The Dating Game

Bachelor (suit by Botany 500)

Bachelorettes

That dated game of dating finally arrived atop the mountain and fortunately since none of us have watched TV since the nineties (90's) the concept seems fresh. Nick played the role of eligible bachelor, and Tasha, Moriah, Sheena, Kristine, and Janel filled in as the bachelorettes. We had Nick sequestered in the Kid's Corner, and he busily downloaded questions meant to simultaneously delve into their personalities and impress the potential date with his sense of humor and use of double entendre.
Nick: bachelorette number one (#1), complete this sentence, I would do anything for you except...
Bachelorette number one (#1): giggle, your whites!
Nick: bachelorette number two (#2), if, during our first date, we should go to the fair, would you be more likely to enter the hot dog eating contest or the seed spitting contest?
Bachelorette number two (#2): what's wrong with you? I'm a vegetarian!
Nick: bachelorette number three (#3), if I were Santa, and you sat on my lap, what would ask for?
Bachelorette number three (#3): a new bike, because my old one (1) makes me sore!
You get the idea. On and on it went, this killing of time on a rainy afternoon. Nick, after much deliberation picked his date, and the winner is...

The lucky couple receive an all expense paid trip to...Duluth.

Back In Black

"Hell Week" hath ended, let the pranks begin!

Okay, let's get back to this thing. For those not abiding, aboding, and in other words surviving atop our mountain, last week saw thousands of northern Virginians visiting our community. Appropriately referred to as "hell week" by my fellow servers, we, as merchants, plodded through; borrowed from one (1) another, swapped stories in attempt to stay sane, and hopefully made a little scratch. The HypnoVessel stayed abuzz with customers; sometimes to a fault. Fortunately the Vessel has many a friend, and not of the fair weather variety, evidenced by HypnoFriend Mackie, who stepped in and pulled shifts several times throughout the week. That's how it goes, you may come in to loiter, but a rush of Virginians later, and it's all hands on deck, and that means YOU! Special thanks to Mackie for his voluntary term of service, a volunteer force is still the best thing going.


An informal inventory of my fellow merchants has all hands, fingers, feet, and toes accounted for. As we replenish our barren shelves and sigh relief I'll get back to the requisite rumor mill. Let me kick things off by reflecting back on "hell week" and the disappearance of our local outdoor gear purveyor, Bubba. It seems he broke into Grandpa's still the night of our TCT Fun Raiser and didn't surface again until January 2nd. Could there be a hidey hole in our midst, one (1) so elusive that a local celebrity could disappear right in front of our eyes? Obviously there is, and I hear said hidey hole is in the vicinity of GhettoHeim. Two (2) stories surfaced after the disappearance; the first involved Bubba (in a moonshine induced blackout), who was ferried home only to awake with a paramour, whom he "holed" up with, only stepping outside long enough to hose off on the lawn. The second has Bubba (in a moonshine induced blackout) coming to somewhere in the Buffalo Strip Mine area, cold, in a semi-state of undress, and with a blinding headache. Confused and stumbling around the strip mine, he became lost, subsisted on cranberries, and slept in a makeshift bivouac of sticks and mud. Finally, on the third day, he heard shots being fired at GhettoHeim, and used those sounds as a bearing to get home. Either way we welcomed Bubba back into our lives Sunday; he looked fine, a little tired, he complained of soreness, and the onset of a rash, but other than that he seemed fine...tight-lipped, but fine.

Happy New Year

Baby New Year.

We welcomed the new year with snow, and that has to be considered a good start. Thanks to the anonymous Davis resident who fired off the impressive fireworks display at the stroke of midnight. No resolutions made, as resolve is the trait I possess in spades. What did you resolve to do in the coming year? May I suggest: quit smoking, work on your backhand, get involved in your local government, volunteer your time to those having less than you, drink less, shave and shower more, participate in the Ride @ Five (5), frequent local merchants for goods instead of shopping through the Internet (no, this doesn't include trips to WalMart), take a vacation, activate that business plan and hang your shingle, save twenty (20) percent of every paycheck all year, ride your bike to work, get down to your fighting weight, take up a new sport, read at least one (1) book, and of course, drink more coffee. Oh, and yes, I had you in mind while jotting those down.


The HypnoVessel doesn't need date specific traditions to plot its course, we have set goals that include garnering wholesale accounts and expanding our roasting beyond the HypnoHull. If we all apply the "plan and execute" principles used in Vessel guidance we might actually get something done this year. We'll see to it that your quality of life continues to improve in respects to your consumption of caffeinated beverages over the year.