I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. Henry David Thoreau

October 7,

Pumpkin Day

Today is the day when people traditionally begin to hunt for their perfect pumpkins! Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere. They have been around for over 5,000 years, the Native Americans call them "isquotersquash." The Europeans had never seen a pumpkin until Columbus.

Pumpkin carving dates back to the ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain in which Halloween is derived from. On this day the realm between our world and the spirit world is believed to be the thinnest. The Europeans used to carve turnips and gourds as a way to ward off any malevolent spirits. Once in America, the size of the pumpkin made for easier carving. Before candles where used inside Jack O' Lanterns  hot pieces of coal were used to light up the smiling pumpkins.

Lift your glass in celebration of all the things that go bump in the night, that haven't gotten into your house! Cheers to natures guard dog!

Pumpkin Pie 

Today is a perfect day for pumpkin pie! You can do pie your way, and I'll do it mine!

Ingredients:

1 oz. Malibu Rum

3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling

1/2 oz. Kahlua

2 oz. Cold milk

Cinnamon

Directions:

Mix ingredients in blender with ice and blend thoroughly;

Pour into graham cracker-rimmed highball glass

(Dab the top of glass in honey, then in smashed graham crackers)

 garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

I personally like to add a little dollop of whipped cream, as I would on a slice of pie!

"May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright Of soft and golden hue Pierce through the future’s veil and show What fate now holds for you.”

I Say Potato, You Say ... Potatoe? Really?

October 5,

Zinger Day!

Not the amazing little cakes. You know, a Zinger: a quick, witty, or pointed remark or retort.

After an afternoon spent recounting every person in the media's take on the debates Wednesday, this is a fun distraction. Do you remember the days of truly entertaining debates? These are the times when we miss our nations first clown Vice-President, Dan Quayle. What? He wasn't a clown, he was for real?! Ohhh, I see. Any ways we can thank him for our fun today.

On October 5, 1988, during the U.S. Vice Presidential debates, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen faced Republican Dan Quayle. Dan the Funny Man stated,  "I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."

Bentsen quickly shot back with the oft-parodied zinger: "I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Since that night, October 5^th has been known as Zinger Day. So let the sarcasm roll!

I'm gonna leave you with a little present today... The Best of Dan Quayle. They just don't make vice-presidents like they used to, thank God!

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."

I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future." 

"The future will be better tomorrow."

"We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world." 

"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe." 

"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican." 

"I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix." 

"It's wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago."

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." 

"When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame." 

"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it." 

"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur." 

"For NASA, space is still a high priority." 

"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children." 

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." 

"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system." 

"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make."

"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things." 

"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."

Wedding Cake Martini

A really great couple I know is getting hitched tonight! I invite everyone to share a toast for the happy couple and send them all your best! Congratulations Matt and KT!

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 oz. Amaretto

1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shake it up ooh yeah, Shake it up

Strain into martini glass

Toasts a long and happy life

Enjoy!

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

Eating Taco Bell Is Like Sleeping with Your Ex. Your Gonna Feel Horrible Afterwards, and You Will Only Do It Drunk - unknown

October 4,

National Taco Day

Holy Frijoles! It's a whole day dedicated to tacos! Soft shell, hard shell, corn flour, whatever! Fish, beef, carnitas, chicken, tongue, Taco Bell, doesn't matter! I love tacos!

Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a conquistador who was alive from 1492-1585,  wrote an eyewitness account of the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards for Hernán Cortés. He details a taco feast put together by Cortés for his captains in Coyoacán. The taco predates the arrival of Europeans, originating with the indigenous people in the Valley of Mexico, where they filled their tacos with small fish, yum.

I know what I'm having for dinner! Everyone head to your favorite Mexican restaurant, or whip up a batch of your own homemade tacos. Here's to the taco mis amigos! Delicioso!

Key West Margarita

Who can have a taco and not have a margarita? It's unnatural. The traditional margarita is delicious, but it's the twenty first century, let's step it up a notch. This beauty is not your grandma's margarita.

Ingredients:

 1 1/2 oz tequila

  1 oz melon liqueur

  1 oz Pina colada mix

  1/2 oz lime juice 

 1/2 oz orange juice

  1 dash grenadine

  1/2 cup crushed ice

 Directions:

  Mix all in blender with ice. 

Blend at slow speed until smooth 

 Pour into a glass.

Drink

Pour Another

"Any man who eats dessert is not drinking enough."    — Ernest Hemingway.

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! 

“I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time.” Charlie Brown

October 2,

Good Grief!

On October 2, 1950, the first ever Peanuts strip debuted. Written and illustrated by Charles M Schulz, the comic strip ran through Februaury 13, 2000.  With 17,897 strips published in all, it is considered to be the most popular and influential comic strip in history. At it's peak the strip ran in over 2,600 newspapers, with a readership of 355 million in 75 countries, and was translated into 21 languages. 

The television debute of the Peanuts gang came in  1959 with a series of color television commercials for Ford Motor Company. The first half-hour animated special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas", aired on December 9, 1965 on  CBS. Charlie Browns All-stars and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired in 1966. Thirty animated specials would run through out the years. 

It was the death of Charles Schulz on February 12, 2000 that brought the series to an end.

Cheers to Charlie Brown, the lovable loser who never quits...To holiday specials that continue to shape generations!

"Peanuts" Butter Cup Martini

This is a seriously delicious treat!

Ingredients:

Chocolate syrup

1.5 oz  Chocolate Vodka 

1 oz Castries Crème Peanut Rum (may subsitute Frangelico)

.75 oz Chocolate liqueur

.5 oz Cream

Directions:

Drizzle chocolate syrup along the inside of the Martini glass

 Add the remaining ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. 

Then there should be A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On!  

Strain into the prepared glass.

 Garnish with a peanut butter cup.

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 

― Charles M. Schulz

Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it. Hank Ketcham

September 30,

 Chewing Gum Day

This day would certainly make Violet Beauregarde happy! Did you know chewing gum has been around for over 5,000 years. In 1848, the first commercial gum was put on the market, The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. In 1860,  chicle was exported from Mexico for use as a rubber substitute. Chicle didn't go far as a rubber, but thanks to companies like Adams New York Chewing Gum (1871), Black Jack (1884) and “Chiclets” (1899), it dominated the market as a chewing gum.  Most chewing gum companies now use synthetic gum bases as they are cheaper and more readily available.

So here's to a whole day of bubble blowing, gum popping, all out obnoxious fun!

Blow Pop Martini

These yummy treats were orriginally creaated in 1966 at the Triple T Candy So in Atlanta Ga. They became Charms Blow Pops in 1973.

Ingredients:

1.25 oz. Buble Gum Vodka

.5 oz. Pucker Flavor of your choice

.5 oz. Sour mix

Splash of Sprite

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shakashakashake

Strain into a martini glass

Garnish with a mini Blow Pop *take the wrapper off first, Duh"!)

Oompa Looma Song

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Listen close, listen hard / The tale of Violet Beauregarde / This gentle girl she sees no wrong / Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / She goes on chewing till at last / Her chewing muscles grow so fast / From her face her giant chin / Sticks out just like a violin / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa/ For years and years she chews away / Her jaws get stronger every day / And with one great tremendous chew / They bite the poor girl's tongue in two / And that is why we try so hard / To save Miss Violet Beauregarde / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing all day long./ Chewing, chewing all day long./ Chewing, chewing all day long./
Blueberry Violet: Mr. Wonka!

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” Nelson Mandela

September 29,

Poison Blackberry Day (This sounds fun!)

Not that Poison...

This one!

Is today the day it's okay to poison that certain person?  Hold your horses! Put the arsenic back into the cabinet, and throw away that tainted pie! This day is unfortunately not that much fun. This day is thought to date back to the 18th century when people were dying by the dozens after eating poisoned berries. The first PSA! On September 29, people would hunt the poison berries to keep others from eating them. (Perhaps saving them for other people, an early soap opera! Love it!) 

In Scotland, legend has it that these toxic berries are the devils doing. This is perfect for a full moon night! The devil himself poisoned the berries with urine and saliva, those who ate these berries would immediate fall dead, or...gulp...worse!!

So cheers to not consuming peed on berries! Good thing my dogs diddles don't do this! I'd have a garden of poisoned vegetables...eww.

Didn't know it was a Draw Something topic, did you?!

Blackberry Crush 

I don't know about you, but I prefer my blackberries with a touch of poison ;)

Ingredients:

4 blackberries

1tbsp Lemon juice

1 tbsp Simple Syrup

1 1/4 oz Vodka

Seltzer

Mint sprig

Directions:

In a glass, combine blackberries, lemon juice, and simple syrup

Lightly crush berries to release their juice.

Add ice and vodka; top with seltzer.

 Stir to combine.

Garnish with a mint sprig.

So good, you won't want to share this poison!

Here's to those who love us well,

Those who don't may go to H-----

 —Anon.  [1903, Hello Bill's Toasts]

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

September 28,

Drink As Much Beer As Possible Day

So you probably just asked, "Why is there a day for that?" Answer: Good for you, it's also Ask a Stupid Question Day! (I didn't make that up, it really is!) Who cares why we have this fabulous day, just celebrate it! Don't want to? That's cool, "Every party has a  pooper, that's why we invited you! Party Pooper, that's you!"

So for those of you who need justification for indulgence... There are a couple different rumored origins to this fab lil holiday. Some say it originated in the old time celebration of St. Wenceslas' Day. A tenth century Bohemian Duke, St. Wenceslas is known as the patron saint of Bohemians and brewers. Others say it was started in Milwaukee, home to many other not so saintly brewers. While this later seems more realistic, I want to stick with the first idea, it seems more purposeful!

In the interest of promoting responsible drinking, the day is more often referred to as "Drink Beer Day" ( Not to be confused with National Beer Day, which is in  August)

Here's to drinking beer! Cheers!

Gridiron Punch

This wonderful beer cocktail is perfect for a tailgate party!

Ingredients:

18 oz. Pineapple juice, chilled

6 oz. Yellow Chartreuse, chilled

6 (12 oz.) Bottles Amber ale, chilled

Directions:

Place the pineapple juice and Chartreuse in a 3 qt container or punch bowl. 

 Stir to combine. 

Add the beer and gently stir to combine.

"Now beer, my friends is a wonderful thing

whether you be a prince, a pauper or even a king

and to spill one precious drop is really a shame

so waste not what you pour and we'll drink to your fame"

"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

Holy Smokes Batman! It's National Comic Book Day!

September 25,

National Comic Book Day!

Gee Whiz! A whole day devoted to comic books! Typically I would take this moment to make some sort of nerd comment, but while I am not a comic book fan per say, I do dig super heroes! (Who doesn't?) The actual comic book format debuted in 1933, though historians will argue that the actual prototype was the 1842 hardcover, The Adventures of Obediah Oldbuck. This time period is called the platinum age and it included the first usage of the term "comic book" (The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats (1897)),  the first known full-color comic (The Blackberries (1901)), and the first monthly comic book (Comics Monthly (1922)), The birth of the super hero, came in 1938, fittingly with Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster's Superman. This is considered the golden age of the comic book era, and is credited for making the industry what it is today.
Comic books have continued to shape the youth of America, from the early comic books, to Adam West, to the current Dark Knight trilogy, comic have continueg to rock it out! Cheers to all the greats! 

Superman

The grown up version of every one's favorite childhood ice cream!

Ingredients:

.5 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

.5 oz. Blue Curacao

.5 oz. Amaretto

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

You spin it right round, baby right round till it's nice and mixed

Strain into your favorite shot glass

For every wound, a balm.

For every sorrow, cheer.

For every storm, a calm.

For every thirst, a beer

Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick - Bruce Lee

September 20,

National Punch Day

What a strange holiday. Wonder if they are talking about Hawaiian Punch, perhaps Rum Punch...yum!

Maybe they are talking about a good old fashion flogging! You know like a punch to the stomach....that's the one I am going with. It is actually quite appropriate, considering what happened on September 20, 1973. 

Bobby Riggs was a pro tennis player in the 1930's & 40's, He was actually No. 1 on three different occasions. He was known as quite the hustler, even bragged about winning $105,000 in 1939 by betting on himself to win at Wimbledon (that's almost $2 million today!) In 1973, while he was 55 years old, he started itching for a little attention.In a move that would garner him and the sport he loved some need attention, he challenged the best of the best female tennis player to a game. He proclaimed that the female game was inferior, and that a top female player couldn't beat him at even the age of 55. 

He approached Billie Jean King, who by this time had already won 5 Wimbledon's grand slam singles, 9 grand slam doubles, and a combined 8 US Open titles. King snubbed the idea at first turning Riggs down. He then approached Margaret Court, the no. 1 ranked female tennis player in the world at this time, who took him up on his challenge. On May 13, 1973, Mothers Day, Riggs would claim victory over the 30 year old Court (she still wins best tennis player name, hands down, maybe rackets down) This landed Riggs back in the lime light, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Time magazines.

Puffed up with confidence Riggs began to taunt all female tennis players, that was enough to get King on board, that and a lucrative pay day. Dubbed the "Battle of the Sexes". the match was promoted quite heavily, with Briggs even being interviewed on 60 Minutes. On September 20, 1973, the nationally televised event would begin. King entered Cleopatra style, being lifted by well built shirtless men. Not to be out done, Riggs entered in a rickshaw pulled by scantily clad models. At the end of the day, King would be crowned Queen of the Battle, winning all three matches; 6-4, 6-3, 6-3! 

That's where the punch comes in....ugh, right where it hurts!

This ones for  any "in your face!' moment you have ever got to enjoy! It's for every person you have wanted to sucker punch in the nose, and didn't (pat on the back, yeah you!) And to drink fountains... they are pretty flipping cool!

Cheers!

Planter's Punch

So real party punches should be left at baby and wedding showers. I like a punch with...well, a kick!

The recipe comes from Jamaica mon, but it's name supposedly comes from were it originated in the states, Planter's hotel in Charleston, SC.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 oz Dark Rum (Meyers)

2 oz. OJ

2 oz. Pineapple Juice

1/2 oz. Lime juice

Dash of Grenadine

Orange slice and cherry to garnish

Diections:

Pour all your juices and the rum in a shaker filled with ice

Do that thing you do, when you do what you do

(that means ShAkE iT!)

Pour into a hurricane glass

top with grenadine and garnish!

Oh...this actually does make a nice party punch for your fountain!

Just evenly add to your amounts depending n the number of servings you want.

If I am to be a chauvinist pig, I want to be the number one pig. 
Bobby Riggs

A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning 

Billie Jean King 

Drink Up, Me Hearties, Yo Ho! Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!

September 19,

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Ahoy Mateys! In 1995, two addled gents, came up with the genius idea of Talk Like a Pirate Day.It was John Baur and Mark Summers or as their pirate mateys now cal them, Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy, who came up with this fun though incredibly foolish holiday. Like all the great holidays before it, it too has a great story. It was during a heroic battle of racket ball, when one of the two patron Saints of TLPD suffered a great injury (sprained thumb, bumped knee, who knows). As the agonizing pain from the slight injury hit the brave pirate he called out in despair, "ARRRRR!" (Really, who does that and why?) He would survive his injuries through the help of ben-gay and an ice pack, and the two knew they would have to honor this day with a holiday. Though it was June 6, the two decided on September 19, as it was Cap't Slappy's ex-wife's birthday (another painful memory, I take?).

Not pleased with the fake that they shared some cheesy laughs over the holiday, our duo new they had to get all hands on deck and set this holiday in motion. They sent a letter to syndicated humor columnist, David Barry, whom must share the humor of a ten year old boy, because he loved it. After pushing it in his columns the holiday went viral and is now celebrated internationally. 

So this is where it actually gets obnoxious, the two continued to gain fame after appearing in a 2006 episode of Wife Swap, (Meet ye new wench?) In 2008 Baur appeared in an episode of Jeopardy as well. Begads! What is this world coming to? It almost makes me want to walk the plank!? The two now run a website dedicated to the holiday where the sell shirts and other paraphernalia, raking in quite a Booty {sadly probably getting some as well thanks to this).

Me hearties, today we toast this great land of ours, where any ole' scurvey dog with a pen in his hand can create a holiday. So Yo-ho-ho, tis time to splice the membrane! (Pirate for have some drinks!)

Patchy the Pirate!

Rum Runner

From the moment the first tax was put on alcohol, someone began to smuggle it. The British Government had revenue cutters, a type of maritime police searching for smugglers, put in place to stop  this as early as the 16th century. Pirates were known to run rum to heavily taxed colonies for extra loot.

The Run Rummer drink was invented at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida during the late 1950's.Much like the Hurricane, the Rum Runner was created to get rid of the vast supply of rum the bar owners had to purchase in order to get whiskey. The name was fitting as the drink was filled with rums, and the Florida Keys were once home to many a rum runner.  With all that booze this one isn't for just any lily-livered scally wag! Did I mention it's delicious?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Light rum
1 1/2 oz Dark rum
1 oz 151 proof rum
3/4 oz Blackberry brandy
3/4 oz Banana liqueur
1/4 oz Grenadine
1 oz Orange juice
1 oz Pineapple juice

Directions:

Blend all ingredients into a tall glass,hurricane style preferably

Once its blended together, float the 151 on top

Garnish with your favorite tropical fruits, pineapple is my favorite!

Shiver Me Timbers! That thar is good rum!

Here’s to ourselves, the hold your luff, plenty of prizes and plenty of duff

Traditional Pirate Toast

Here's a couple great links  to perfect your pirate speak for the day!

Talk Like a Pirate Day - Original Site

Talk Like a Pirate Day - British HQ

Oh, better far to live and die

Under the brave black flag I fly,

Than play a sanctimonious part,

With a pirate head and a pirate heart.

Away to the cheating world go you,

Where pirates all are well-to-do;

But I'll be true to the song I sing,

And live and die a Pirate King.

"The Pirate King" - from The Pirates of Penzance 

 

We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot.

Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!

We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.

Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate's life for me.

We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack.

Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!

Maraud and embezzle and even hijack. 

Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!...

"Yo Ho A Pirate's Life For Me" 

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 

Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock and roll! - Shigeru Miyamoto

September 12,

National Video Games Day 

Okay, so I'm with you on this, "Really, there's a holiday for that?" The answer is yes! Some thirty-something who lives with his parents not only managed to make one holiday out or this, but it happens again on July 8 (Really?!) I have a six year old that would be devastated if I skipped this holiday, and besides Atari rocked (Pitfall anyone?)

On January 25, 1947, Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr and Estle Ray Mann filed a US patent request for an invention they described as a "cathode ray tube device." The patent, which was issued on December 14, 1948 was for a machine in which people used knobs and buttons to manipulate a cathode ray tube beam to simulate firing at "air-borne" targets. Space Invaders! In 1949-50, Charley Adama created a "bouncing Ball" game for MIT's Whirlwind computer, Hello Pong! Through out the fifties and sixties more and more games were popping up on college computer systems, most of these were games invented by individuals for hobby. Then came the glorious seventies!

In 1971 Galaxy Game was installed in the student union of Stanford University, this was the first ever coin operated gaming machine, and believe it or not only one was initially created. In 1972 Atari was founded, and they released the game Pong, this became the first widely successful arcade game ever, with Atari selling over 19,000 Pong machines. The blockbuster Space Invaders was released in 1978.

The first video game console was released in 1972 by Magnavox, called the Magnavox Odyssey.      

  *1977 - Atari 2600 game console was released      *1980 - Namco released Pac-Man / Mattel released Intellivision     *1981 -  Nintendo released Donkey Kong, the game that would introduce the world to a guy named Mario. Konami introduced Frogger.    *1983 - Nintendo releases the NES      *1985 - Mario Bros was released selling over 40 million copies and reigning as the top selling video game until 2008.     *1988 - Sega Genisis     *1989 - Game Boy     *1990 Super NES     *1994 - Playstation     *1996 - Nintendo 64 and the Resident Evil game franchise began     *2001 -Microsoft Xbox / Nintendo releases Game Cube and Gameboy Advance.     *2004 - Nintendo DS     *2005 - Xbox 360     *2009 - Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii are released within 8 days of each other.

Wow! No wonder kids are over weight! How many of these did you own? I'm guilty as well.

So here's to misspent youth, carpel tunnel, video gamer's thumb and forty year old virgins everywhere! If there is a world without Mario, I don't want to be apart of it!     

Both of these amazing concoctions are courtesy of http://thedrunkenmoogle.com - It's a great website!

For the gamer in my life I chose his favorite two games to represent, they also happen to be two of all time most popular games as well. So sit back enjoy these drinks and relive your youth playing a couple of your favorite games! Do they make Ms. Pac-Man for Wii or Xbox 360?

Warp Pipe (Super Mario Bros. Cocktail)

Ingredients:

1oz.  Blue Curacao

1/2 bottle Mike’s Hard Limeade

.75 oz.  Melon Liqueur

1/2 Lime (cut into wedges)

Directions:

 Cut lime into four wedges.  

Squeeze the lime juice into a highball glass and then drop them in the bottom. 

 Add some ice over top the limes, then pour in the Blue Curacao. 

 Add the Mike’s Hard Limeade until the glass is almost full, then top with your Melon Liqueur. 

 Stir a bit with a straw and enjoy.  

Don't over do the Melon, otherwise you lose the lime flavor

Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog shot)

Ingredients:

.25 oz. Grenadine

.5 oz. Menthomint Schnapps

(Can substitute Peppermint Schnapps)

1 oz. Blue Curacao  

Directions:

 Pour in the grenadine first.  

Then layer the Mentholmint schnapps and Blue Curacao on top, in that order.  

Take it down faster than the Blue Blur himself.  

Remember any of these games?

Thank You Mario! But Our Princess is in Another Castle!

You Have Died of Dysentery!

Finish Him!

I Feel Asleep!

It's in the Game!

Wakka Wakka Wakka...

It's Dangerous to Go Alone! Take this!

Here We Go!

It's Time to Kick Ass & Chew Bubble Gum, & I'm All Out of Gum.

“If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.” 
―Marcus Brigstocke