It is better to die standing than to live on your knees. -Ernesto Che Guevara

October 9,

Ever Onward to Victory

I will tread lightly on this topic today, as it is one that often sparks a bit of controversy.  The legacy of Che Guevara is one that many people disagree on. Nelson Mandela referred to him as "an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom", while others spoke of the violence that surrounded him, concluding that he was full of hate. SS is a bout having fun and celebrating, so with that in mind, I would like to celebrate what Che' stood for. I'm not talking about school kids in shirts they know nothing of. I am not referring to the bloodshed is necessary attitude.I toast the part of him that ached for others, that wanted social equality for people around the globe, who fought for the injustices everywhere, not just in his own backyard. A lead by example type of guy, he was known to do 36 hour stretches of volunteer work, cutting sugar cane or building houses. His goals included creating affordable housing, health care, employment, and education for all. Guevara urged all individuals to view each other as equals and take on the values of what he termed "el Hombre Nuevo" (the New Man). This "new man" would ultimately be "selfless and cooperative, obedient and hard working, gender-blind, incorruptible, non-materialistic, and anti-imperialist." His hopes and dreams are as relevant today as they were then.
On October 9, 1967, Ernesto "Che" Guevara was executed in Bolivia on the grounds of inciting a revolution. Earlier that same morning, while in captivity, Guevara asked to see the school teacher of the village. 22-year-old Julia Cortez would later stated that Guevara was an "agreeable looking man with a soft and ironic glance" She found herself "unable to look him in the eye" because his "gaze was unbearable, piercing, and so tranquil". Guevara pointed out to Cortez the poor condition of the schoolhouse, stating that it was "anti-pedagogical" to expect the "campesino" (peasant or rural dwelling) students to be educated there, while "government officials drive Mercedes cars". Guevara ended telling her, "that's what we are fighting against."
Months before his death Che had wrote his own epitaph:
 "Wherever death may surprise us, let it be welcome, provided that this our battle cry may have reached some receptive ear and another hand may be extended to wield our weapons."

I extend that toast to you, let your weapons be your intelligence, your words, your heart and your compassion.

Salud! 

Che Guevara

I hope I end up with a drink named after me one day! Hmm... I could just make one and put it in a blog! Just wait for my birthday!!

Ingredients:

.5 oz. Goldschlager

.5 oz.Gold Jose Cuervo

.5 oz. Jagermeister

Directions:

In a Shot glass pour Cuervo

Then pour  Jager

Top with Goldschlager

Try to enjoy, responsibly...this one is no joke!

Bonus Drink!!

Cuba Libre

No better time to break this one out! Remember the movie Cocktail? Every bartender hates "that person" who actually orders this by name.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Bacardi

Coca Cola

* LIME*

Directions:

Add all ingredients in a glass filled with ice.

Most important! Add lime slices

That's right...it's just a rum and coke with a lime...Don't be that  DB!

"Above all, always be capable of feeling deeply any injustice committed against anyone, anywhere in the world. This is the most beautiful quality in a revolutionary."
Ernesto "Che" Guevara (excerpt from the last letter Che would write to his children)

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

October 3,

Triple Crown Baby!

 Tonight Detroit's own Miguel Cabrera has secured the Triple Crown, making him the first baseball player to win the coveted Triple Crown since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. This win will make Venezuelan born, Cabrera the first ever Latino ball player to win the coveted award. 

On this same date in history, October 3, 1919, Cuban baseball player  Adolfo Luque, a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, became the first Latin player to appear in a World Series.

While we here in the "D" have been celebrating all week, today is extra special!  

Salud y felicidades! 

Way to go Cabbie! Eat 'em Up Tigers! Eat 'em Up!

Guarapita

The Venezuelan national rum punch is a perfect drink to celebrate with!

Ingredients:

1 (14 oz) package frozen passion fruit pulp or juice (do not defrost)

1/2 cup cold water

6 oz. Venezuelan anejo rum (Santa Teresa)

1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar (Panela) or brown sugar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender to dissolve sugar.

Pour drink over ice 

garnish with tropical fruits and mint spring

Orgullo Latino! 

"If You Build It, They Will Come..."

September 27,

Last Game Played at Tiger Stadium

On September 27, 1999 the last game was played at the old Tiger Stadium. "The Corner" located at Michigan Ave and Trumbell, hosted the Detroit Tigers from 1912-1999, 87 years! A lesser known fact is that the stadium actually hosted the Detroit Lions football team from 1938-1974. 

The corner was first turned into a stadium in 1895, at that time it was just a little wooden park named Bennett Park. In 1911, new owner Frank Navin had a larger concrete and iron stadium built. On April 20, 1912, Navin Field would open to the public. Through the years the stadium would be expanded to accommodate the growing fan base, the largest expansion was in 1938, when then owner Walter Briggs would talk the city into moving Cherry St. Briggs Stadium, as it was known at that time, could now accommodate 53,000 fans, as opposed to the 23,000 when it was built. In 1961 owner Jeff Fetzer would give it's final name, Tiger Stadium. That corner has seen some history! Two World Series wins, 1968 and 1984, every baseball legend imagined, several movies, and numerous historical music events. Despite efforts to save the park, the last pieces were tore down at 9:24 am, September 21, 2009.

The Tigers are still ahead one game at publishing time! So we can double cheers the Detroit Tiger today!

 Eat 'em up Tigers, Eat'em up!

Chocolate Russian

Hold up, wait a minute...Let us put some chocolate in it! Today just happens to be National Chocolate Milk Day, with all these delicious holidays, it's no wonder our country is fat! 

So we are going to do our Tiger's toast with a delicious chocolate cocktail, that looks like chocolate milk. Hmm, maybe that should be the new name, Mama's Milk...nah.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Vanilla Vodka

.5oz Dark Creme de Cacoa

1 oz. Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua)

Cream or Milk

Directions:

Pour liquor over ice into a highball or Collins glass.

Top with the cream or milk

Are you willing to throw caution to the wind?! Wanna take a walk on the wild side?!

Use chocolate milk in place of the cream, WHAT...you heard me!

A Maz Ing!!!

(Said sing-songie)

"People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I've got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There's no future in it."

George "Sparky" Anderson

Purple haze all in my brain; Lately things just don't seem the same; Actin' funny, but I don't know why; 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky - Jimi Hendrix "Purple Haze"

September 18,

Kiss The Sky Day

Johnny Allen Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington, on November 27, 1942. Four years later his parents would change his name to James Marshall Hendrix, or as the world would soon know him, Jimi Hendrix. At the age of fourteen Jimi had the good fortune of seeing Elvis in concert, we all had the good fortune that he was immediately inspired and would get his first electric guitar the following year. Music would become a refuge to Jimi as his parents divorced and his mom later died of cirrhosis of the liver. 

After dropping out of school in 1959, Jimi played with several local bands, his first formal band was The Velvetones, then he would later join The Rocking Kings. During this time Jimi ran into some trouble with the law and was given the choice between prison and the army, Jimi chose the later. After being honorable discharged in 1962, the future legend would start the wheels in motion towards his destiny. He would play back up for the likes of great talents such as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and The Isley Bros. In 1966,  Chas Chandler, a former member of the Animals, became his manager. He would convince Jimi to go to London and join forces with musicians Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience.  While in London Jimi gathered a following among the rock royalty of the area, The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton all became fans of the up and coming talent.

 In 1967, The JHE released their first track, Hey Joe, which was an immediate hit. Jimi would continue to grow from there with hits such as Purple Haze, and The Wind Cried Mary. The band would follow up with two more equally successful albums, before splitting up in 1969. That same year Jimi would play the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock, which would go down in history as one of the best renditions ever. Jimi would not only mesmerize fans with his music, but he was one of the greatest showmen around, playing the guitar with his teeth, behind his back and at least once setting the guitar on fire. 

Jimi Hendrix, who is considered the greatest electric guitarist in music history, died of a drug overdose on September 18, 1970. At only 27 years old he had managed to change music forever.

Today we celebrate a rock legend who left us too soon...even castles made of sand, fall in the sea, eventually.

Purple Haze

Truly there is no drink more appropriate today!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Vodka

.5 oz. Blue Curacao

Cranberry

Directions:

This beauty can be done as a shot, martini or a high ball. It's dealer's choose. For the shot use a splash of cranberry, for the martini about .5 oz, and for the high ball top off the glass.

Mix all the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and strain into either a:

Shot Glass

Martini Glass

Highball filled with ice

I would kiss a lot more than the sky for one of these! Muah!

 

I'm the one that has to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to. 

- Jimi Hendrix

Are You Ready for Some Football!!!

September 17,

American Professional Football Association is Established!

On September 17, 1920, the AP FA was established in Canton, Oh. Two years later it would become the National Football League, or the NFL! The original teams, which came from the Ohio and New York Leagues, for the 1920 season were:

Akron Pros

Decatur Staleys

Buffalo All-Americans 

Chicago Cardinals 

Rock Island Independents

Dayton Triangles

Rochester Jeffersons

Canton Bulldogs

Detroit Heralds

Cleveland Tigers

Chicago Tigers

Hammond Pros

Columbus Panhandles

Muncie Flyers

In 1950, the NFL acquired the All-American Football Conference. The NFL now has 32 teams.

Playoffs didn't begin until the 1932 season, and the the first Super Bowl would happen on January 15, 1967. The rest is history!

Today lift your glasses for your favorite team, for your favorite player, for your fantasy football league, or perhaps quiet Sundays with a husband out of the house!

Cheers!

Gatorade

Ok, so this is not your high school football teams Gatorade! Proceed with caution, this one's tasty!

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. Vodka

1/2 oz. Southern Comfort

1/2 oz. Melon Liqueur

1/2 oz. Amaretto

1 oz. Sweet and Sour

1 oz. Lemon Lime Soda

Directions:

Build drink in a tall glass over ice. 

Give it a swirl

Top with soda

I always enjoy animal acts -

President Calvin Coolidge, when asked if he wanted to meet the Chicago Bears 

Feel her breath on my face, Her body close to me. Can't look in her eyes, She's out of my league. Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs. She's like the wind

September 14 - 

Remembering Patrick Swayze

August 18,1952 - September 14, 2009

Born in Houston, Texas, the son of a choreographer and a rodeo champ, Patrick Swayze was born with the "it" gene. Part cowboy, part romantic dream with the moves of Gene Kelly. In the early 80's he won many of us in the Outsiders, and didn't let us down after that. Though his acting may not have always been the best (he was nominated for quite a few razzies), he had a way of making us love him.

In his personal life he carried on all the endearing characteristic we fell in love with in his movies. He married his sweetheart, Lisa Niemi ( they met in 1970, when she was only 15 and he was 18) in 1975, and they were together until he day he died. He would make the world fall in love with his Dirty Dancing hit, "She's Like The Wind," which he wrote for his lovely bride.

Through personal tragedies, his father past away at the age of 57 of a heart attack in 1982 and his sister later committed suicide in 1994, Patrick would struggle with addiction and depression.It was actually the death of his sister that would root him again. He would seek spirituality through Baha'i, Buddhism, and Scientology. He retreated to his ranch where his love for animals would lead him to raising horses and cows. A known humanitarian, Patrick frequently worked with the Red Cross, American Oceans Campaign, Tuesday's Child, and any animal rescue charity that crossed his path. 

In January of 2008 Patrick was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. He met this challenge with the strength and respect we had all grown used to. In January, 2009, in an interview with Barbra Walters, Patrick would tell the world he was "kicking it""

"That's one thing I'm not gonna do, is chase, is chase staying alive. I'm not, you know, you'll spend so much time chasing staying alive you won't live, you know? I wanna live. If anybody had that cure out there like so many people swear to me they do, you'd be two things: you'd be very rich, and you'd be very famous. Otherwise, shut up."

Sadly on September 14, surrounded by family, Patrick Swayze would succumb to the disease, only 20 months after being diagnosed. His body was cremated and his ashes spread over his New Mexico ranch.

Today we celebrate the life of a gentleman who made the women swoon, and the men jealous. A man who had character and dignity through life and death, and man who as a little girl told me,

"Nobody puts baby in the corner." 

Ghost Cocktail

This just seemed nicely fitted for the day.

Ingredients:

1.25 oz. Vanilla Vodka

.25 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueuer

.25 oz. half and half

.25 oz. Simple Syrup

(A teaspoon of sugar will suffice)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in to a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Twirl it around while doing your best Dirty Dancing

Strain into a martini glass

It's Friday Night, go all out and rim the glass with white chocolate shavings

Enjoy while reminicing about some of these Patrick moments:

  

            

"When those you love die, the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that you're going to take whatever lesson that person or animal was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life...it's a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world, by keeping it alive in yourself."
Patrick Swayze - The Time of My Life

Your Candle Burned Out Long Before, Your Legend Ever Will - Elton John

August 31

On July 29, 1981, I sat as a young child watching the royal wedding, mesmerism by the dreams of every girl,  Diana Spencer a girl whose world seemed so similar to those we knew,her parents were divorced, she was a teacher, even a nanny for American families living in Britain at one point, was to marry the would be king. Just like that a twenty year old girl became the Princess of Wales. It was a magical moment in my childhood, I even had the paper doll.

They went on two have two children, Prince William on November 5, 1981 and Prince Harry on September 15, 1984. The princess would prove a devoted mother, a compassionate philanthropist, and the people's Princess, refered to as the Princess of Hearts, and even the Queen of Hearts. Through the 1990's as their marriage dissolved, and amongst much controversy, the Princess stood strong and the world's loyalties never wavered. A model of grace and dignity, and an uncompromising icon of fashion, Lady Di was admired by the world.
It was this very obsession that would end her life too soon. On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in Paris, along side her companion,Dodi Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul. In a tragic mixture of circumstances that involved a drunk driver and a relentless mob of paparazzi, the dream was gone, our princess had left. The images of the funeral, of the two young princes would brand my memories forever. Just like that the true love affair with the royalties ended.
Tonight I drink for Diana, for the dreams she held and gave, and for a childhood she touched, you are missed.

The Queen of Hearts

The name says it all

Ingredients:

1oz gin

1oz strawberry lemonade or juice

3/4oz Red wine infused simple syrup

(this can be made by taking a small amount of red wine and adding a sugar base, only a small amount is need)

champagne

Directions:

Mix the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

After shaking strain ingredients into a champagne flute

Top with champagne

Candle in the Wind ( Princess Diana Tribute)

Sir Elton John

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candles burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child
Even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you've brought us through the years

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candles burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed yourself
Where lives were torn apart

Goodbye England's rose
From the country lost
Without your soul who missed the wings of your compassion
More than you will ever know

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candles burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills

Your candle burned out long before your legend ever will

Happy Birthday to the King of Pop!

August 28, 1958

Today would have been Micheal Jackson's 54th birthday. Born in Gary, Indiana as the eighth of ten children, MJ would go on to become a global phenomenon. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World records as the most successful entertainer of all time, Micheal withstood personal crisis, controversy and conspiracy. Sadly, on June 25, 2009, the King left us.
Today we toast the birth of a legend!

Happy Birthday MJ!

Birthday Cake Martini

What other way would you celebrate a birthday?

Ingredients:

2oz Cake Vodka

(UV, Three Olives, and Cupcake all make one)

1oz Amaretto

1oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

Splash of half and half

Small amount of Honey

or 

Go all the way with vanilla frosting

Rainbow Jimmies (Sprinkles)

Directions:

Prep your martini glass:

rim the glass in honey or icing by putting either in a plate and then running the top of the glass in it.

In a separate plate filled with sprinkle dunk the top of the glass

After put a pinch of sprinkles in the bottom of the glass

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add all liquid ingredients

Shake, Shake, Shake

Gently pour mixture into the martini glass

You can even add a little whipped cream to the center if you like.

Best cake ever!

Birthday Cake Shot

What's a birthday without a shot!

Ingredients:

1oz Cake Vodka

1oz Whipped Cream or Vanilla Vodka

Splash of Half and Half

Honey or Icing

Sprinkles

Whipped Cream

Direction:

Rim the shot glasses in sprinkles in the same fashion as the martini glass.

Mix the vodkas and half & half in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shake it, don't break it!

Gently pour into your shot glasses

Top with whipped cream

Cheers!

Before you judge me, Try hard to love me -

Micheal Jackson, Childhood

Don't stop til ya get enough!

Micheal Jackson