Merry Christmas from the Breakfast Club!

Arrived at Bobby's: Sat, Dec 24, 2016 @7:35 AM.
#SecureThePorch: Accomplished

The holidays just don't get any better than this. The Breakfast Club occupied the entire back porch of the Corner Cafe & Grill on Saturday, Dec 24, 2016. I was the first to arrive as it is my job to secure the tables; shortly thereafter, the others started to show up with the exception of Mike H. Mike - we all agreed to let it slide this time on account that it's your birthday weekend but this can't become a habit. You seem to have a calming influence on the rest of us that is badly needed at times.

Not only did Mike B. show up with his son but also with his grandson. That's three generations of the BK club in attendance. The future of the BK club appears to be in good hands but hopefully the future will not be coming anytime soon. A special thanks to Mike & Laurie B. for the Christmas Egg Nog. It was possibly the best Egg Nog I have ever had. The flavor and aroma were old-school with a little 'holiday strength' to it. As I took my first sip, I closed my eyes and savored all the elements that were sliding across my taste buds. In that moment, I was taken back to my youth, sitting around with all my siblings and parents, enjoying the holidays in the house I grew up in.

For a change, Jim showed up earlier than usual along with Zach, Patrick & Brennan. We are in high season with the College Football pool and Jim & Patrick are in strong contention for a money prize. Hey Widdoss boys, don't get too comfortable. With roughly 15 more bowl games to go, it is way too early to declare 'Widdoss Dominance'. But it does appear that we are the only BK members in the conversation for the money prizes. I believe I already picked up 4 points since the last time the leaderboard was published with Hawaii winning the Hawaii Bowl with a score of 52-35 over Middle Tennessee State.

* * * * * * * * * *

During the holidays, it is not uncommon for the Breakfast Club to share obscure beers with each other and this season was no exception. Brennan M. brought a few beers from the Stable 12 Brewing Company out of Phoenixville, PA. With a motto of "From Barn to Bottle, Beer with a Kick", who wouldn't want to patronize this brewery. The beers from Stable 12:

Name: Bridge Street Kolsch
Style: Kolsch
ABV: 4.9%
Beer Advocate Rating: None
This beer is brewed in the tradition of a German Kolsch beer and is perfect when looking for something on the lighter side.

Name: One Trick Pony Series #3(Mosaic)
Style: Ale
ABV: 5.1%
Beer Advocate Rating: None
IBUs: 39 (IBUs - International Bitterness Units scale)
If you like a Session Beer heavy on the hops, this is the beer for you with a boat load of Mosaic hops.

Name: Wild West Coast IPA
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.8%
Beer Advocate Rating: None
IBUs: 108 (IBUs - International Bitterness Units scale)
If you like a West Coast IPA, then you'll love this beer.

While I was meandering through the local liquor store, I felt myself drawn to the back room where I spotted a 12 pack sitting by itself on the top shelf in the corner. After brushing the dust off the box, I discovered, the beer was called Paterno Legacy Series Lager and I had to share this beer with the Breakfast Club. I purchased this beer for the same reason someone buys a ticket at the carnival to see the half-man, half-reptile show. This is so weird!!! Who in their right mind would name a beer like this? For a moment I assumed this beer must have been created in the pre-Sandusky scandal era, but I later learned this beer was conceived in 2014 and first produced in 2015. I don't even have to go into detail on why this is an example of what tone deaf is. This is why so many people think Penn State fans are arrogant, delusional and stupid. There is no other way to put it. I know it's the Christmas season but that doesn't mean all logic and decency are suspended. This had to be said. Now it's time for PSU to go out to the Rose Bowl and get your butts kicked. Go Trojans!!!!!

Brewery: Duquesne Brewing Company, Pittsburgh, PA
Beer Name: Joe Paterno Legacy Series
Style: Lager
ABV: 4.8%
Beer Advocate Rating: 77
A Vienna style lager characterized by it's rich, red caramel color and subtle hop flavors.

* * * * * * * * * *

As I was waiting to pay for my breakfast, Chris from behind the counter called out to me and said he had a Christmas gift for me. Who would have thought the morning could get even better as he produced the following beers for me to take home. I do love the IPAs.

Brewery: Other Half Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
Beer Name: Fully Frothed
Style: American Double/Emperial IPA
ABV: 8.5%
Beer Advocate Rating: 91
This beer is a collaboration with Half Acre Beer Company & Other Half with a full hop assault.

Brewery: Other Half Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
Beer Name: Responsible Adult
Style: American IPA
ABV: 4.8%
Beer Advocate Rating: None
A Session IPA brewed with massive amount of hops and a low ABV.

Brewery: Kane Brewery, Ocean, NJ
Beer Name: Kane Head HIgh
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.5%
Beer Advocate Rating: 94
This beer is all about the hops with a variety of five different blends.

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No one will ever accuse the Breakfast Club of not knowing how to have a good time.

Christmas Card Update - The week before Christmas was very good to me as it delivered a good number of cards. The double doors are almost all filled up and my entranceway no longer looks pathetic. Stand in my doorway and your senses are immersed in the season of Christmas. My faith in Christmas Card giving has been restored.

Mike H. - Happy Birthday on Dec 25. I know I wished you a Happy Birthday on last week's blog but if your birthday falls on Christmas day, you deserve an extra birthday wish.

Are Christmas Cards a Fading Tradition?

Arrived at Bobby's: Sat, Dec 17, 2016 @7:35 AM.
#SecureThePorch: Accomplished

The temperature was in the 20's, snow was falling, the driving conditions were hazardous, and the plows were all out but there was no way I was going to miss breakfast at Bobby's today. I had a Pork Roll Egg and cheese sandwich with well-done breakfast potatoes waiting for me. In spite of the inclement weather, we had a full house with the exception of Mike B. Mike was absent due to an appointment he had to put in a vanity at his son's home. During the course of his plumbing work, he did manage to drop in on the Dog Fish Head brewery. The Dog Fish 60, rated 91 by Beer Advocate, is one of my favorite non-Vermont IPAs. Mike, we are all aware of your plumbing prowess but a couple of cans of Dog Fish Head 60 or 90 could turn any plumbing job into a leaky mess.

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At the front entrance to my home are exterior double doors. Every Christmas season, we tape the Christmas cards we receive from family, friends, and acquaintances to the inside of the doors. The cards are typically colored for the season in green, silver, red, etc., with a sprinkle of glitter covering some of the cards. Nearby would be a candle burning with the scent of Balsam Pine or some other holiday scent with fresh garland adorning the stairway railing. All this makes for a very festive atmosphere. Those cards that would not fit on the two doors would be placed in a decorative bowl on a small table nearby. Stand in my entrance way and your senses would be immersed in the season of Christmas.

The last couple of years, we have received a smaller and smaller number of Christmas cards. This year, we are close to single digits. My entrance way is pathetic. Maybe I have pissed off more people than I usually do. Am I the only one experiencing this? Is the tradition of giving Christmas cards rapidly fading? Is this another American Christmas tradition that is going by the wayside like the Yule Log or the Christmas Pickle? (Yes - the Christmas Pickle. Look it up.) I wonder if this is happening in other countries as well?

For my friends back in Germany.
Sind Weihnachtskarten eine verblassende Tradition?

For my friends back in France.
Les cartes de Noël sont-elles une tradition qui s'estompe?

Is it possible, the week before Christmas will deliver the lion's share of cards? Please, somebody, help me understand this!

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Some BK Banter

Obfuscation - To deliberately confuse or render something unclear or murky, much like the dirty water that makes it hard to see the bottom of the swamp. This is what is happening with the media harping on fake news and Russian hacking. Of course, these issues must be addressed and those responsible should be dealt with accordingly. But, the ultimate question is "has the outcome of the election been remotely affected?". The answer is a resounding "No!". To suggest otherwise is absurd. I wonder how the recount is going...that story quickly fell off the news radar.

College Football Playoffs - The committee got it right.

Wake Forest football scandal - Please, NCAA stay out of it. You would only make matters worse. Let the schools handle it. This doesn't exactly measure up to Watergate.

Steve - Thanks for the tee shirts(left). We can never have too much Breakfast Club apparel.

Al - Many thanks(to Bev) for the Buckeyes. They are a favorite treat every year. You have set the bar very high with Christmas treats. I had intended to include a picture of the Buckeyes but I eat them all.

Happy Birthday to my lovely wife Cindy on Mon, Dec 19.

Happy Birthday Coach Tom on Wed, Dec 21.

Mike H. - Happy Birthday on Sun, Dec 25.

Is Bobby open on Christmas Eve, this Saturday, Dec 24th?

One Tough Crowd!

Arrived: 7:40 AM
#SecureThePorch - Failed

One by one the Breakfast Club members started to arrive at Bobby's around 7:45 AM. First Rick, then Mike B., followed by Tom and Mike H. The other handful of members typically arrive around 8:30 AM. For the most part, this is the order of arrival that plays out every Saturday at the Corner Cafe & Grill. Only this time, it was a little different. Falling behind in my Saturday morning ritual by 10 minutes, I pulled into the parking lot at 7:40 AM. I appeared to be the second car in the parking lot and immediately breathed a sigh of relief thinking that the porch was all mine. After being greeted by Eric, Bobby and staff, I placed my order and walked to the back porch only to find one of my tables occupied. Yes, my tables! Now I am going to hear it from the BK boys...one tough crowd.

"Ed, what happened", followed by a long face.

"Isn't securing the table your job"?

Long face followed by "this isn't the first time Ed, come on now".

"We may have to get someone else to secure the table".

But the best was "Ed, you have a job to do and my job is to make sure you do your job. So, if you can't fulfill your job, we may have to have a different discussion. It's nothing personal but you might not be fit for this job".

These guys aren't fooling me though. Nobody is willing to arrive at Bobby's as early as I do. My job as Head of Security for the Breakfast Club is as secure as a Supreme Court Justice.

Eventually, the porch was all ours and we were able to align all the tables and chairs to our liking.

This happens about twice per year. Does anybody remember the other 40 or so times that the back porch is secure for the BK Club? No, it doesn't work like that. I now know how Bill Buckner of the Boston Red Sox feels. He accumulated over 2700 hits over a 22 year career, won a batting title in 1980 and played in the All Star game. But he is best remembered for his infamous error he committed in the 1986 World Series against the NY Mets. An error that is heavily entrenched in American baseball lore. For you non-baseball fans, maybe I could make the comparison to Pee Wee Herman. A great comic with an illustrious career.  He makes one mistake...wait...never mind...maybe Pee Wee Herman isn't the best example. But you get my point. Do countless things right and one thing wrong and what do people remember? The one thing you did wrong.

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A couple of the boys brought Christmas gifts to distribute today. Jim gave out calendars with a picture for each month featuring one or more of the BK members. I am sure this will be prominently featured on many desks this year.

Cindy, my lovely wife, called Bobby and picked up the tab for today's Breakfast Club tab. I am taking credit for that also.

Perry gave out very nice towels that are monogrammed with BK and recipients initials. My towel also has a monogrammed fish and a hook. I can't tell you how excited I am to use this on my next fishing trip. This towel also has a very convenient hook to affix to my belt while fishing. Call me crazy or even simple-minded, but I get so excited about anything to do with fishing. This could be the best gift I receive all year. You should see how I get when someone gives me a bag of plastic worms for Christmas. A child who still believes in Santa Clause has nothing on me in terms of excitement anf joy.

Mike H gave me a beer Koosie with an inscription of "I love Fishing(and vacuuming, and securing the porch, Ed Bauer - Head of BK Security, BK Blogger). Mike - I love it!!!

* * * * * * * * * *

There was a bit of chatter on how the BK Club Fantasy Football league is being run. I heard one complaint after another about the current commissioner. I kind of felt bad for the commissioner because I know how it feels to be unjustly attacked by your 'friends'. Allegedly, he has collected a lot of money, different members paying different entrance fees and the rules are somewhat fluid ...which is a polite way of saying the commissioner can be bought off. He doesn't make things any better for himself when he raises his wallet above his head and proclaims "cha-ching" every time somebody asks him to clarify a rule. The whole mood around the BK Fantasy League is very contentious. It is not a healthy situation. In the past, there never were any accusations of corruption. But, if I'm not mistaken, things changed around the same time Donald Trump won the election. The commissioner keeps saying "we're going to make the BK Club great again". Nobody knows what that means and is afraid to ask in fear of the commissioner tacking on another fantasy football fee. One person actually shouted out "now that Castro is dead there's only one dictator left". This whole fantasy football is really getting out of control. I am glad I am not involved.

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Lottery Update: Over the past year, the Breakfast Club has purchased $770 of lottery tickets with winnings of $51.  Each month we hand over $20 to the Breakfast Club Treasurer and he takes a portion of that money and purchases lottery tickets. The remaining money is kept in our kiddy for various expenditures and charitable donations. Many of the members are starting to wonder aloud "maybe we shouldn't be purchasing so many lottery tickets". The one person who seems most adamant about continuing with the current 'investment strategy' is the Breakfast Club Treasurer. He insists, "you have to be in it to win it" or "you only have to win the big one once". Oh - did I fail to mention, the Breakfast Club Treasurer is also the commissioner of the Breakfast Club Fantasy Football league.

The Breakfast Club Christmas Dinner

#SecureThePorch - Accomplished 7:40 AM 

It was good to be back at Bobby's after a brief hiatus. Everything about the place was just right. The back porch was empty and waiting for us, the pork roll and bacon were crispy, the waffles and pancakes were smothered in butter and syrup, and the potatoes and eggs were cooked to perfection, All that with a large cup of coffee to start the weekend and there is nothing to complain about. 

We had a big crowd this week. Rutgers football is over as well as the conference championships. Nothing is left in College Football but the playoffs and the bowls. I need a strong showing in the secret CFB bowl pool. There is a rumor flying around that I may be banished from the CFB season pool all because I don't always submit my picks in a timely manner. A first place showing may be the 'end-around' I need to convince these guys that I belong.

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Pat & Jim - You deserve a big thanks for putting together the annual Breakfast Club Christmas dinner held at The Old Bay restaurant in New Brunswick. I am sure it is not easy to satisfy everybody with the date, restaurant, the menu, etc. But one thing is certain, we are always in good hands when Pat and/or Jim are in charge of scheduling social activities. The food was delicious, the service excellent and the company and conversation were second to none.  Every time I turned around someone was handing me a plate of cajun food as big as my head. Typically I never bring food home because I always finish what is on my plate but that would have been impossible at The Old Bay. The portions were enormous.

Jim - there aren't many guys who can pull off wearing a Christmas tree with blinking lights that doubles as a sweater but you did it well.

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Mike B. - You saved the day. Last week my sump pump failed to work resulting in a few inches of water in my basement following a few days of heavy rain. Of course, Cindy, my wife, urged me to check on the basement and I assured her I would but failed to see the urgency. The next day, I had two inches of water in the basement and a foot and a half of an angry wife. Mike, the son of a plumber, answered my plea and showed up with all sorts of wrenches, valves, converters, pipes, saws, tools, etc. Within 30 minutes, all water was removed from the floor and the pipes were bone dry. Mike, if your IT job doesn't work out, you'd make a great plumber.

Following our plumbing work, we figured we were entitled to a few choice beers. When I offer Mike a beer I know have to be on my 'A' game. In addition to being the son of a plumber, he is also a connoisseur of craft beer. I had been sitting on a beer from my Vermont selection, called Double Dose IPA. It is a collaboration effort between Lawson's Finest Liquids and Otter Creek Brewing Company, two very fine breweries in Vermont where craft beer is on fire. This beer is an American Double/Imperial IPA rated 95 by Beer Advocate and has an ABV(Alcohol by Volume) of 8.5%. Drinks well, hazy and copper in color with an off-white head and a healthy amount of sediment by design. Personally, I favor the IPA's that are heavy on aroma which is absent in this beer but I would definitely consider this beer very good.

Mike offered up a beer called Citra Ass Down by Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse. Citra Ass Down is also an American Double/Imperial IPA with an ABV of 8.2% and rated 88 by Beer Advocate. This is a very hop forward American style IPA. Brewed with Pale, Vienna, Munich, and wheat malt for a solid base for all American hops, focusing mainly on the variety “Citra.” These hops have a very distinct citrusy and tropical fruit flavor and aroma. Poured from the can, delivering a healthy head with an amber color, this beer was very drinkable and worthy of it's rating.

Both beers were very good and very strong. I am starting to figure out why I wasn't in the mood too much for beer at the Breakfast Club Christmas party. The Double Dose by Lawsons is only available in Vermont and ot overly produced. Citra Ass Down is available on rotation...I.E. It is hard to get and is not widely distributed.

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My son Mark brought a bit of 'Bern' to the spirited discussion we had about the announcement that Carrier will be keeping roughly 1000 jobs in Indiana that were scheduled to be moved to Mexico. Some 'Berners' fear all U.S. companies will now have the government hostage. This logic seems to be a bit of a stretch to me and born in the belief that all corporations are evil. For one, Governors are always making deals to keep and attract companies. In addition, if anyone is going to be held hostage, I would rather the private sector hold the government hostage rather than the reverse. The government is supposed to work for it's citizens, not the other way around. After digesting all that has been said, I believe the bottom line is the Trump administration is expected to be kinder to business than the Obama administration has been. If taxes come down and regulations get cut, businesses may have an incentive to stay. Only time will tell but I just don't see a down-side at the moment.

But, Mark and all offspring of the BK Club, don't be a stranger. Although the BK Club is a think-tank of sorts, it's always refreshing to hear what the next generation is thinking.

Thanksgiving - Please Don't Leave Me

The bird has been purchased, thawed, dressed, stuffed, basted, cooked, carved, and consumed and discarded. Whew! It just doesn't get any better than the Thanksgiving weekend. Everything about it is wonderful. Four days of turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes. gravy, pumpkin pie, apple pie, blueberry pie, surrounded by great family and friends. Sprinkle in some world-class Vermont beer, engaging conversation, and nail-biting college football...hit rewind, then hit repeat...for 4 straight days. Have I left anything out? Probably. But it's all good. I love it all. What am I thankful for? Where do I start? The list could go on forever but what I am most thankful for is having gone through an entire Thanksgiving dinner without any political discussions. The two don't mix. They never did and they never will. I don't want this weekend to end and as long as there are leftovers in the fridge, it's still Thanksgiving as far as I am concerned.

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We had a nice crowd at the Breakfast Club this weekend. This was one of the few times during the year that Bobby closed his deli for the weekend. We ended up going to a bagel store across town which was very good. I purposely did not order a Pork Roll, Egg, and Cheese sandwich out of respect for Bobby. Nobody makes a better Jersey breakfast sandwich. For a temporary fill in, we can go cross-town to the bagel place, but there is only one Corner Cafe & Grill. That is our home field.

It was nice to see Patrick, Zach, Katie & Brennan show up. I always have stimulating conversations with them. Somehow we ended up talking about the Malcolm Gladwell podcast called Revisionist History. The episode I listened to is Episode 07 titled Hallelujah, named after the famous Leonard Cohen song. This podcast is about two unsuspecting songs that when first released, were met with nothing more than a yawn. The first song, The Deportees Club, was written by Elvis Costello and was, by all accounts, forgettable. Years later, it was recorded with a different tempo and tone. Today it is considered one of his best works. The second song, Hallelujah, was written by Leonard Cohen. Cohen took many years to complete this song and it took even longer for anyone to notice what a great song it is. After a series of events and recordings by a few musicians, in particular, a little-known musician named Jeff Buckley, the song started to gain favor in the music world and has gone on to be covered by over 100 artists and has been used in countless TV shows and movies. Here are two songs that seemed to be destined for the discount bin in the discount record store and ended up being heartfelt classics. Could the Breakfast Club be destined for the same? The Leonard Cohen song, Hallelujah, hit me like a bolt of lighting. I had actually heard this song before but certainly not this version, which is considered the de facto standard. If you care to, take a listen...Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley

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Rutgers Football -
Rutgers 13 Maryland 31
The season record stands at 2 - 10 with a record of 0 - 8 in the Big Ten.
College football was not kind to Rutgers this year. The Big Ten punched us in the gut, hit us over the head, and threw us down a flight of stairs. Maybe one day Rutgers Football can climb out of the discount bin of college football the same way Elvis Costello's Deportee and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah climbed out of the discount bin of music wasteland and ascended to greatness.

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Tonight I will grab the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers from the fridge and enjoy every last morsel. I will miss you Thanksgiving, I will miss you.

Hamilton takes on Vice President-elect Mike Pence

A big discussion took place today regarding a lecture directed towards Vice President-elect Mike Pence following a performance of the Broadway musical Hamilton that he attended. During the curtain call, Brandon Victor Dixon, who played Aaron Burr, read a prepared speech calling Mike Pence out by name and expressed concern with his willingness to uphold and defend all of the inalienable rights that the diverse cast of Hamilton and America have. Dixon urged all audience members to capture and share the moment on their phones so it could be spread far and wide. Later that evening, the Twitter war began:

Trump tweeted "@realDonaldTrump The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mile Pence. Apologize!"

Dixon tweeted "@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen."

As a side note, I do find it quite humorous that the character who played Aaron Burr, a sitting Vice President who removed his opponent Alexander Hamilton in a duel, is now calling out the current Vice President-elect Pence...who appears to be viewed as an opponent by Brandon Victor Dixon. Maybe Brandon Victor Dixon was still 'in character'. I also wonder how many of the cast members of Hamilton actually voted.

Honestly, is this really how a meaningful conversation takes place? For starters, this was a lecture , not a conversation. But, be that as it may, I didn't think it was a big deal. Well, I found my opinion to be much softer than others present at the Breakfast Club. The overwhelming opinion was the height of disrespect was shown to Vice President-elect Mike Pence. I certainly can see how someone might take the lecture as somewhat condescending and disrespectful but I also saw it as a gift of an opportunity to correct many long-standing views held by the left. According to the left/liberals and it's propaganda machine(mainstream media), the right/conservatives are anti black, woman, Muslim, immigrant, gay, poor and anybody else that is not white, male and of European decent. They also believe the only way to prosperity is through a massive centralized government.

The right, on the other hand, believes a massive centralized government is the enemy of freedom and prosperity, and that the conservative, free market system has lifted more people(of every variety) out of poverty than any economic system known to man and history proves this. This is indisputable!

I am a conservative and every day I work alongside and shoulder to shoulder with people who are black, white, female, Spanish, Muslim, Pakistani, Egyptian, Indian, immigrant(legal), gay and many people who were once poor. This is true of most people I know and it plays out all across America. We all get along, respect each other and work in a very productive and rewarding atmosphere. As a matter of fact, my work environment is more diverse than the cast of Hamilton. I don't go through life with all the hate that the left is constantly telling people I have. The ill-informed of America must be educated to understand what conservativism is.

So, I hope Vice President-elect Pence takes this opportunity to educate people. There is a cultural war going on in America and you don't always get to choose the environment where challenges come from. Conservatives should not be afraid of defending their position...even if the challenge is disrespectful. History is on their side.

Should I be more outraged by the disrespect showed to Vice President-elect Mike Pence?

Should conservatives do a better job with their message?

Somebody tell me!!!

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Under the guidance of Jim W., our resident food expert, the Breakfast Club is planning on a Christmas dinner at The Old Bay restaurant, NJ’s premier New Orleans-style restaurant featuring gourmet Fresh Creole and Cajun cuisine and an award-winning draft beer list with 22 taps. Jim has never made a bad choice when it comes to food and no doubt, this will be another excellent choice. It's not easy satisfying all BK members much less all of our wives but if anybody can pull it off, Jim can.

Lache Pas!

* * * * * * * * * *

#SecureThePorch - Accomplished 7:40 AM

After losing to that team just west of us, Rutgers has a record of 2 - 9/0 - 7 with 1 final game against Maryland remaining. It really is time to #FenceTheGarden.

The Breakfast Club tailgate record stands at 7 - 0.

We had close to a full house today with passions and opinions running as strong possible.

 Mike B. - Thank you for the book. You are keeping all members of the Breakfast Club well read.

The Republican Party is Dead

Well - Not really. But that is what many in the main-stream media proclaimed no less than a few months ago.

"The Death of the Republican Party"
-- David Brooks, New York Times July 2016

"The Republican Party is Dead"
-- Max Boot, Los Angelas Times Op-Ed piece May 2016

"GOP Convention: The Party is Dead, Long Love the King"
-- John Zogby,  Forbes Magazine July 2016

How can I become an expert in the media, get many things of importance wrong and still keep my job? What a gig!

It is fitting is that we hold elections in the month of November. The month’s original name in Old English was Blōtmōnað, which literally means "blood-month" I.E. The month when animal sacrifices were made to stock up on meats for the coming winter months. There certainly was plenty of bloodshed during this election year. "You're a liar...you're dishonest... you're corrupt... you're all a bunch of deplorables... you're sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic" and on and on and on. Whew!!! Somebody help me I am out of breath. But, it's over. The election is history. It's done. It's in the past, nothing but a fading memory. The insults, the offensive comments, the lies, half truths, the patronizing, the false promises, the deception, it's all over...well, not exactly but at least it is for the moment. We have a winner and we have a loser and we still have our democracy intact.

As for the precious little snowflakes who need therapy dogs to get through the crisis of democracy working, you all have time-out...permanently. This is what happens to little children who misbehave. You will be sitting alongside eight-year-olds who refused to share the M&M's.

I once heard someone say, "if you accept the outcome when your guy wins but not when the other guy wins than you really don't believe in democracy".

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Last fall, on the recommendation of my daughter Carly, I purchased tickets to see Hamilton. This was months before the Tony awards when Hamilton cleaned up and tickets were near impossible to get but at a reasonable price; unlike today where tickets are still near impossible to get but for a small fortune.

Hamilton, created by Lin-Manual Miranda, is a Broadway musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton; an orphan, immigrant, lawyer, soldier, statesman, and born in the West Indies. The original cast had all left the play following the Tony awards but the true star of the play is history itself. The play was nothing short of brilliant, giving me such a better understanding and appreciation of our Founding Fathers. I left the play wanting to know more about how America came to be. No other Broadway play has ever moved me to discover history more. People have mentioned, with consternation , the Rap/Hip-Hop elements of the play but, fear not, it all works perfectly. Lin-Manual Miranda has suggested, Rap is perfect for this story because Hamilton was always bursting with ideas and with Rap, you get more words per measure than any other musical form. This guy Miranda really knows what he is doing.

Go see Hamilton!!! You will thank me.

Some of Alexander Hamilton's accomplishments:

• Served as the first Treasury Secretary of the United States Created the financial system of the United States.
• Was the major author of the Federalist Papers that led to the ratification of the Constitution.
• Founded the U.S. Coast Guard
• Introduced a bill to establish West Point Military Academy
• Created the Bank of America, the 1st bank in America
• Created the New York Stock Exchange

Certainly, not a day goes by without Alexander Hamilton touching the lives of every American.
Hamilton is a must see!

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#SecureThePorch - Accomplished 7:45 AM

We had a smaller showing today. There is a rumor of a BK Club forming down in Bonita Springs, Florida. Just don't meet on Saturdays and we're all good.

Brother Rick, Happy Birthday!

Thanks Jim for your philanthropic work with the Wreaths Across America. You set the bar very high for the rest of us.

This Too Shall Pass

On Nov 8, 2016, the 56th Presidential Election of the United States of America is taking place. We Americans will be deciding who will be named the 45th President of this unique and special land. This country, the greatest country since the beginning of time, 'from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam', is left with choosing between these two dreadful candidates. I am deliberately refraining from using their names because neither of them deserves to be mentioned along with the names of Washington, Lincoln, Adams, Jefferson, Truman, Reagan, etc. To choose between these two candidates is like choosing between death by firing squad and death by poison. One candidate is under an active investigation by the FBI, has a strained relationship with the truth, and has left a trail of carnage down every path her professional career has taken her and the other candidate has the temperament of a child, speaks before thinking, is offensive beyond description, and has no filter what so ever. This election cycle reminds me of the car wreck alongside the road with all it's mangled metal and broken body parts that we can't seem to take our eyes off of. We stare in utter horror and disbelief that such a tragedy is lying before us. Please! Somebody call the salvage yard and have them haul the wreck away. Get this heap of garbage out of our site and let us just forget about it and go on with our lives.

I will cast my ballot on Tuesday to honor all those who have fought to preserve the democracy and freedom that we enjoy and I will go home and take a shower to wash away all the grime and the filth that I have been subjected to during this election process of 2016.

* * * * * * * * * *

The last time I authored the Breakfast Club blog was on Saturday, Oct 8. At that time, the air temperature was warm, the leaves on the trees were just starting to turn color and Rutgers Football lost to Michigan by a score of 78-0 for an 0-3 record in the Big Ten. Fast forward to today, Nov 5, most of the leaves are showing the fading colors of autumn and are rapidly falling to the ground,  the air temperature is gradually dropping and Rutgers has gone down in defeat two more times for a record of 0-5 in Big Ten conference play. The certainty of the weather and the changing of the seasons in New Jersey are both absolute, undeniable, and predictable. There is a certain degree of comfort that comes with the anticipated changing seasons. As of late, Rutgers Football has demonstrated the same degree of predictability as the changing of the seasons. The outcome of their games has been both anticipated and inevitable. However, the predictability of the Rutgers Football team has provided anything but comfort. Rutgers is our home team. The Breakfast Club loves Rutgers. We need a victory, if for no other reason than to offset next week's presidential election. Give us something to feel good about. Hopefully, the Scarlet Knights can bring their conference losing streak to an end today, Saturday, November 5 when  Rutgers hosts Big Ten foe Indiana in Piscataway. Go RU!

* * * * * * * * * *

#SecureThePorch = #Commitment
Unfortunately, the best of plans don't always work out. I had commitment but it wasn't enough.
My early morning schedule:
5:50 - wake up
6:00 - 6:30 walk the dog
6:30 - 7:00 stretch
7:00 - 7:30 shower and dress
7:30 - leave house for deli
7:38 - arrive at Bobby's

Upon arriving at the deli at 7:38 AM, I notice there is only one car in the parking lot. Securing the porch should be a cinch. Except, the occupants of that lone car were sitting at a BK table on the porch.  Panic started to set in until I realized they were about to finish eating and give up the table. Whew! This is not the way the plan is supposed to unfold. The porch was ours to have as the other members of the BK club arrived.

The old ball coach shared one of his many secrets with the rest of us today. He ordered an egg omelet with bacon and a buttered roll on the side. When asked, "why don't you let Bobby assemble the sandwich", he explained,  "you get more bacon if you order it on the side". The old ball coach is a genius!!

A lot of conversation took place regarding this Tuesday's election. The political parties listed on the presidential line are Democratic, Republican, Socialist Workers, American Delta, Socialist and Liberation, Green, Workers World, Libertarian, and the Constitution Party. I scratch my head at the political parties that support systems that have failed miserably throughout history.

In addition to the obvious positions that are up for grabs, there are 2 public questions in New Jersey.

Question #1 is to permit casino gambling in two counties other than Atlantic City. This is easy for me to understand.

Question #2 is something regarding the dedication of additional revenues to state transportation system. Everyone at the BK club is educated and well read. However, no one was able to give a clear answer on what Question #2 is actually about. When faced with many dilemmas such as this, I turn to Patricia Widdoss for clarity and direction. We have a lot of smart people in the BK club but so far, I don't think anybody is close to Pat when it comes to intelligence.

Our BK Presidential poll taken today elected Donald Trump as our next President with a tally of:
Trump 8, Clinton 1

The demographics of the BK club are male, white, married, with children, Christian, college-educated, professional, and ages from 56 to 62.

We normally handle religious discussions pretty well but today we kind of got off the rails early on. Redemption, mercy, the Assumption, the Ascension, the book of Revelations, the Nicene Creed, and the current state of the Catholic Church were all covered. Tempers flared, nasty looks were exchanged but we are all good. I hope to continue the discussion tomorrow with a few cold beers. That is Progress!

* * * * * * * * * *

Happy Anniversary to my lovely wife Cindy.

Happy Birthday to my son Mark Bauer, Pat Widdoss, Brendan McDevitt, Sue Bernocchi

God Bless America!

#SecureThePorch – Mission Accomplished

(Submitted by the Breakfast Club Treasury Secretary)

Last week I failed miserably at #SecureThe Porch. I wasn’t going to let it happen this week. After several sleepless nights I came up with my game plan. Have you heard of WWJD? I would follow WDED. What Does Eddie Do?  I tried to think of and imitate his Saturday morning routine. I got up early. I made my wife breakfast and served her in bed. I vacuumed the house. I walked the dog, and I don’t even have a dog. I drove to the store and bought the morning paper. I backed into the parking spot at the Deli. Took me three tries but it was close enough. I was all pumped up. Then who drove up but the IT guy. The guy who gave himself the nickname BB, Belgium Balls. Together we stormed the porch. Took no prisoners, (because no one was back there).  Mission Accomplished.

As I sat down with the IT guy in came the old ball coach. This week he was wearing a sweatshirt so it was difficult to see if he had his name on the back of his shirt. He claims no but sometimes old guys forget. Next came the soon to be one of the old guys. The December I’m turning 60 guy. Sometimes called Jesus because they share the same birthday. The rest of the members arrived shortly after, the Logistics guy, the Big Dawg and the CEO. And of course, our special guest arrived last. So he had the privilege to sit next to the Big Dawg.

Sports was briefly discussed. But with our college football expert still on his sabbatical it left us with only the local teams and since the Yankee season is over, Jets and Giants are not playing well and RU struggling there wasn’t much to discuss. Even Don Bosco lost. It might be time to call it a rebuilding year.

We talked some politics. Some members think the election might be over already. You can see the Logistics guy eyes just light up with joy, or something else, when we talk about the next four years.

We talked about the soon to be old guys birthday party in December. There is still a question if all the members are invited. It seems one member was left off the spreadsheet created to find an available date. Most of us thought it was a wonderful spreadsheet even before the IT guy enhanced it. We did find out the Big Dawgs phone seems to send out texts on its own. This does explain a lot about his texts. He even tried to blame the phone on the missing member from the spreadsheet.

We talked about the weekends windy weather. Since we were playing golf the next day a sarcastic remark was made about my tee shots finally going over 150 yards. The golf bully denied using the word “finally” and tried to spin it as a compliment. But the old ball coach claims he heard it and I believe him. Even if he is the same guy that I wrote earlier can’t remember. Now after playing golf I can truthfully say the golf bully was wrong. I still didn’t hit it over 150 yards.

At one time during our breakfast, Franklins Finest secured the last table on the porch. It was a tense moment as they looked for another table. The old ball coach thinks they were looking to start trouble. That their hands were hanging loosely at their sides. But who believes anything the old ball coach says anyway. Fortunately the towns prosecutor arrived and came to our table. Even though he talked about SMS coaching we all knew he was trying to negotiate a table.  We held firm and he left empty handed.

And finally I must add another special visitor came and had breakfast with us, Patrick. It’s always great to see him. He must be thinking, is this what I have to look forward to. Whereas I say the future is in good hands with young men like Patrick.

Hopefully the BLOG Master is back next week.

Not So Easy to #SecureThe Porch

(Submitted by the Breakfast Club Treasury Secretary)

This past Saturday I was given a very large responsibility from the BLOG Master. Due to his absence, I was asked to #SecureThePorch and document the conversations of the BK members and guest. I must admit I kind of failed. 

I reached the Deli at 8:10 AM. An impossible time for someone to #SecureThe Porch. I was surprised to see no other member had arrived yet. And a family of three were sitting at one of our tables. Because of my arthritic knees I didn’t think I had a chance to forcibly take the table from them. Maybe if there were two, but not three. And I sensed that the 10 and 12 year old girls were tougher than they looked.

After a few minutes our weekly guest arrived. This brought me some hope we could take the table. Unfortunately our guest is recovering from hip surgery and was not up for a fight. Next came our IT member who was an ex wrestler, ex volunteer firefighter, ex soccer coach. All manly positions. But being a god fearing person I found out he is a lover and not a fighter. Next came our CEO member. I think either because of the negative vibes I was sending or the concern of being out numbered, the three invaders got up and left. 

But now since there was only four of us we didn’t even need the other table. But I still consider it a victory.

With only four people not much was discussed. But it was a lot quieter and everyone did get to contribute to the conversation. I don’t think I heard the F word once. We didn’t even need to do any fact checking. We were given a brief history of Guantanamo Bay. A summary of the Verizon IPhone 7 plan. A few book reviews from our IT Literary member. We talked about our weekly football picks and how our CEO member didn’t get any love when he picked 10 right. Unlike the BK Treasurer who received a lot of hate when he only picked five winners in week three. This is especially discouraging because everyone knows week three in the NFL is the toughest. Our IT member couldn’t understand why we haven’t won. He came close to guaranteeing a win next week when it is his turn. This coming from a guy who wanted to know what a spread is and how does he vote on the winning teams.

Our current member coach did stop by to pay a debt he owed. He had a baseball uniform with his name on the back. I don’t want to name him but what 63 year old guy wears a uniform with his name on the back! I wonder if the BLOG Master has his name on the back of his hiker’s shirt. Or fishing shirt?

Hopefully next week things get back to normal. Those of you who missed might want to stay away from Bobby for a while.

He was very disappointed with the showing. He wanted to know what happened to the weekly text. I might have incorrectly gave him the impression that the text went out and it said to meet at Kettleman's.

See you Saturday. At the Deli not Kettleman's.

(Submitted by the Breakfast Club Treasury Secretary)

Clown Lives Matter

For the most part, I don't have to worry about the back porch of the Corner Cafe and Grill being occupied at 7:30 AM on a Saturday morning. On occasion, a table or two are taken by members of the local police force but there seems to be an unspoken agreement between the BK club and Franklin's Finest. We always leave two tables for the policeman unless we know they are done or not showing up and they do the same for us.

This Saturday, I was met with a situation I wasn't prepared for. Sitting at our usual table was someone dressed as a clown. Not knowing if it was a joke or not, I proceeded to push an empty table along side the clown's table so the whole BK club could sit together. After settling into a chair next to the clown, I opened up my paper and began sipping my coffee. Not a word was spoken but I could feel a certain calmness fall over the both of us. We were happy sharing a quiet and peaceful moment together. After ten minutes or so and before anyone else had showed up, the clown got up from his chair and walked towards the door. Just before leaving the room, he turned back towards me and gave a tip of the hat, as if to say "it was nice spending some time with you".


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#ClownLivesMatter

Coulrophobia (kool-ruh-foh-bee-uh)
1. an abnormal fear of clowns.

What is going on with these clown sightings?  All across America, there are reports of clowns engaging in criminal activities. There have been reports over social media of violent threats in Philadelphia, a report of an attack on a woman by a knife wielding clown in Cincinnati, a report of a clown trying to lure children into a wooded area in South Carolina, and on and on. Schools are sending out emails to parents letting them know the security measures that are in place should a clown attack occur. Even the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has made a reference to clown sightings during his press briefing. Have we all collectively gone mad? Is it possible all or most of these reports are a hoax? Please note, the majority of recent accusations against clowns are unsubstantiated and completely without merit.

The clowns of my youth were far from perfect. Yes, a few of them drank too much but that was part of their charm. They were sad, lovable creatures. The floppy shoes, the makeup, the wigs; these were all tools of the craft of making people laugh. You wouldn't call their humor sharp or witty. It's more clumsy, lacking in grace, and calamitous. It's not the highest form of art and it does seem a bit outdated but it certainly is a bit premature for retirement.

How did clowns transform from sad and pathetic comics to slashers, molesters, and perverts? Has the roster of America villains run so dry we have to turn to clowns? Do we really want the year 2016 entered into  the pantheon of great American hoaxes alongside the Salem witch trials of 1692? As a side note, I do believe this presidential election cycle will go down as one of the great American hoaxes. We have enough villains today. It's time to extend an olive branch to clowns.

If you see a clown, reach out to him. He is probably hurting right now. Offer your hand in friendship, a smile, something to show you care. Sure clowns look funny, dress like a hobo and smell like a day-old sardine sandwich. But guess what? Clowns are human beings, they deserve our respect, and clown lives matter.

#ClownLivesMatter, #ClownsArePeopleToo, #GiveAClownASardineSandwich

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Lots of talk today about the recent discoveries of off- the-record comments made by The Donald and Hillary. Is this suppose to be a 'gotcha' moment? How clueless can the media be? This doesn't even register with the hard core base of these two candidates and the independents still don't have a clear choice.

It was great seeing Rob, Al D's brother in-law. You have to drop by more often. You provide some badly needed balance to Al. He always gets us bogged down with silly facts. Very Frustrating!

We also had a guest appearance by my wife Cindy, our granddaughter Brooklyn, and my son Mark. Brooklyn can make a mush out of any conservative like myself.

Mike H. Thanks for you input.

James B. - Happy Birthday! I owe you a Vermont craft beer. With a little luck, a shipment of Heady Topper, Sip of Sunshine et al. will be arriving soon.

Count down to Hamilton: 4 days. I am taking my kids on Wed, Oct 12. Cannot wait!!!

"Give all the power to the many,  they will oppose the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppose the many"
-- Alexander Hamilton

What is Scrapple?

A chilly and moist morning greeted me today as I headed out to join my BK brothers at Bobby's for breakfast. At 7:30 AM, the area was clear, the tables were in place and I was able to #SecureThePorch. We are in the first week of October, the leaves are changing and Rutgers is facing Ohio State today on the gridiron. But not even the Buckeyes could dampen the mood at the BK club. We had close to a full house today with only Rick absent due to his road trip to Ohio to attend the Rutgers game. We had the usual chatter of sports, family and work with only a smattering of talk about the debate between Hillary & Trump. This political season will not go down as America's finest moment. I thought brother Hank captured the climate perfectly when after being asked "Are you watching the debate?", he responded, "I can't watch the debate, I have to clean the litter box."

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We are all Rutgers football fans in the BK club to varying degrees but certainly Rick B. sets himself apart. He knows the Rutgers fight song, RU Rah Rah, and has their schedule memorized a year in advance. Rutgers Football trivia questions are answered with the same ease and confidence of a Jeopardy game show champion.

"College football history for $500 Alex."

"Who played in the 1st College Football game?"

"Rutgers defeated Princeton by a score of 6-4 on Nov 6, 1869. Who is Rutgers and Princeton."

He hasn’t missed a home game in years and is a host to the best tailgate in Piscataway. We don’t always have a great deal to cheer about but that has never dampened the mood at the tailgate. As Rick likes to say, “We may not have a winning record on the field but we’re undefeated at the tailgate.” However, not all food items at the tailgate are touchdowns.

One food item worth mentioning from last week’s tailgate is Scrapple. What is scrapple you may ask? Here is a conversation that was overheard at the grill.

“What is that on the grill?”

“There are a lot of things on the grill. We have hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, ribs, grilled vegetables. What can I get you?”

“There is something on the grill that I have never seen before.  It’s gray. What is it?”

“Huh!’       

                                                 

“What is the gray matter on the grill? It looks like something Cousin Eddie from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation was pouring(emptying the shitter – as Cousin Eddie says) out of his RV into the storm drain outside the Griswold’s house.”

“Oh! That’s Scrapple. Don’t tell me you have never had Scrapple before."

“What is Scrapple?”

“Scrapple is pork based and is very popular in Eastern Pennsylvania.”

“Pork! I love pork. Serve me up some.”

A quick search will reveal that Pork is used in the making of many foods and non-food based products. For instance, pork is used in the production of pork ribs, pork butt, pork chops, pork loin, sausages, chemical weapons testing, ice cream, fertilizer, paint brushes, shampoo, tambourines, soup, corks, et all.

Scrapple is made of hog offal, such as the head, heart, liver, and other trimmings, which are boiled with any bones attached (often the entire head) to make a broth.   Once cooked, bones and fat are removed, the meat is reserved, and dry cornmeal is boiled in the broth to make a mush.  Scrapple is typically pan fried or grilled and served hot with or without maple syrup.

So, if I have this right, after all the meat is cut up, and all the elements used in the making of said food and non-food products like paint brushes and tambourines are extracted, whatever is left over is boiled down and molded into a loaf called Scrapple.

“That Scrapple was pretty good. If there is any left, I'll have another slice.”

The BK/Rutgers tailgate remains undefeated!

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Rutgers went down in a hard fought battle to TOSO(THE Ohio State University) by a score of  58-0. 

Rick, you will not bring a victory home this week but I am sure you represented Jersey well. 

Jersey Strong!!! Just not this week. 

Happy Birthday Katie!

Happy Anniversary to Pat & Jim, and Beverly and Al.

#SecureThePorch

The BK club returned to its rightful place on the back porch of Bobby's today with close to a full house. I arrived at 7:30 AM, set up the usual tables and waited for the rest of the BK boys to arrive. Order and consistency have returned. As Coach Rooney likes to say, I was able to #SecureThePorch. Don't let him fool you, he's not as tech savvy as it sounds. Up until a month ago, he was still using a flip phone. Jim was not present in the photo because he arrived too late. Jim - I know you're cranky without that extra hour of sleep you get on Saturdays but the rest of us are cranky because you're always an hour late. Your charm has always been your crankiness. We need you at the BK club at least by 8:30 AM. My end of the table needs you Jim. It was a treat for me to have my son, Mark B,  join us for the BK breakfast this week. It's always interesting to hear the opinions of the next generation because they'are always out-of-line with us BK members.

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Happy Birthday to Laurie B. Mike told us how he was going to spoil you silly on your special day. Mike, I know you love your wife but you are making it very difficult for the rest of us. Grilled steak and fresh string beans? She is going to think you did something wrong and you're only trying to make up for it. You know how this stuff works. Come on now. 

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One of the topics covered on Saturday was the 'R' word. Retirement. All of us BK members work in the private sector and do not have the luxury of a pension. Some of us have planned better than others but like it or not, the time is approaching. Mark B, was quick to remind us that it's his generation that will be funding a good part of our retirement(SSN); which reminds me of the saying "be good to your kids, because they will selecting your nursing home". I tend to view retirement preparation the way Gatsby viewed the green light across the bay. 

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

For so long retirement has been such a vague concept to me. It's still a good 6-10 years away but it is starting to take shape and form right before my eyes. I'm not sure if I could ever be fully prepared financially and emotionally. Am I alone on this one? Give me your thoughts. Submit some comments!!!

Out of Harmony

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony."
--Thomas Merton, an American Catholic writer, mystic, and Trappist Monk.

Every Saturday, I leave my house at 7:30 AM so I can be the first to arrive at the BK Club. At this time of the day, the air is still fresh and crisp from it's night time slumber, barely a car is on the road and the sounds of birds can easily be heard. Often times I will see a family of deer getting their early feeding along with some exercise. My car pulls into the Corner Deli around 7:40 AM and as usual, I am one of the first cars in the parking lot. The staff greets me as I walk in the door, pleasantries are exchanged with genuine excitement and enthusiasm, I pour my own coffee and walk back to the porch to set-up 2 or 3 tables. For 15 minutes or so, I sit by myself in total harmony as I sip my coffee, read the day's news and wait for the arrival of the rest of the BK Club. This is a schedule that I have been following now for close to a decade. It brings me great comfort. The routine of my Saturday morning is the balance, order, rhythm, and harmony that Thomas Merton was speaking of. This past Saturday, my rhythm, and harmony; the rhythm and harmony of the entire BK club was disrupted.

Everybody in the BK Club has their own unique skill set or role. For example, Rick is considered a Subject Matter Expert in College Football and wagering. If anyone has a question on spreads, giving points, getting points, over, under, we go to Rick. Jim is a food connoisseur. If we are all out to dinner, Jim orders all the appetizers. Why, you may ask? The answer is because Jim is a Subject Matter Expert when it comes to food and Jim has never left anyone disappointed. I will get into the skill sets of the others in a later posting.

Well, I am not an expert on anything but I do have an important role to play that all members rely on me for. My role as Head of Security is to secure the tables early Saturday morning so we all have a place to sit. We sit at the same tables in the same chairs week after week. It is order and harmony. Order is good! This is my only job and I take pride in my job and this past weekend, I failed. A couple had sat down at our tables shortly before I had arrived. I was nervously waiting for these interlopers to leave with the hope that I could right the ship before my BK brothers arrived and it never happened. One by one the BK members arrived expecting to sit in the same chair they had sat in the week before and the week before that; expecting the same person to be seated on either side as had sat on either side the countless times before. They had all turned to me with a puzzled look seeking an explanation and I had none. The conversations didn't flow freely, the food didn't taste as good as it normally does and the mood was not where it belonged for a Saturday morning at the BK Club. We were all lacking  balance, order, rhythm, and harmony. This will not happen again.

"Order is good"
-- BK Club of NJ Security Team

There Was a Time

There Was a Time

There was a time when men of great character, men of integrity, from various walks of life would convene on Saturday mornings to discuss the day's affairs; a time to relax, celebrate the end of the week, and rejoice at the arrival of the weekend. But it was more than that. It was fellowship. It was men of shared values exchanging ideas in search of the truth with the hope of making the world around us a little bit better. There was a time.

A lone coffee cup occupies a single place setting at the far table in a room that was once filled with the sounds of laughter and joy. So very sad!

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Seeking out debauchery? Look no further than Bachelorette The Play produced by none other than Carly J Bauer Productions. I attended this play over the weekend down in SOHO. Having been a twenty-something during the 80's, I thought I knew what tragedy and self -destruction were all about. A few girls get together for a Bachelorette Party and all hell breaks loose. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll...and did I mention sex and drugs? Each character trying to elevate themselves by destroying the other while at the same time coping with their own failures the only way they know how...drugs.

As mentioned in Theater Mania.

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I had the good fortune of visiting the famed Dominique Ansel Bakery in Manhattan on Sunday, Sep 11, 2016. This is where famed baker Dominique Ansel invented the Cronut® pastry.  If you haven't heard of the Cronut®, you have been living under a rock. 

The place was extraordinary. I walked in the door and immediately recognized that I am in the presence of Pastry/Bakery greatness. But the Cronut® is not the only game in town here. One-of-a-kind food items at every turn. The attention to detail is masterful. Flavours, textures, and shapes colliding with reckless abandon. Rarely are hip, hot, and hyped places as good as advertised; this place surely is.

Dominique Ansel has been called the most celebrated and innovative pastry chef in the Western Hemisphere and for good reason. I could not get there until 5 PM precluding me from purchasing a Cronut®. Cronuts typically sell out by 8 AM every morning. The lines start outside as early as 1 hour prior to opening. As a rule of thumb, if you arrive prior to 7:30am on a week day, you have a great chance of getting the Cronut® pastry. Please note there is a 2 Cronut® pastry per person limit for in-store purchases. Customers are discouraged from using any scalpers to purchase these delights. Yes, scalpers. People are actually paid a hefty sum to wait on line to purchase a Cronut®.

Here is a good article from Forbes about baker Dominique Ansel:

How The Wildly (Deservedly) Successful Dominique Ansel Innovates

A BK trip is warranted.

189 Spring Street (between Sullivan and Thompson)

New York, NY 10012

Tel:(212)219 2773

Fax:(917) 591 2330

Email: info@dominiqueansel.comOpening hours:

8am to 7pm (Monday to Saturday)

9am to 7pm (Sunday)

Closest subway stops:

C-E train on Spring Street stop

N-R-W train on Prince Street stop

The Moth

If The Moth is unfamiliar to you, you are missing out on some very good entertainment. People from all walks of life share their experiences covering every conceivable aspect of the human condition.
Here are two stories that are worth a listen.

The Moth

Mission to India
A young doctor is whisked halfway across the globe to care for an ailing international religious icon.

The All-Star Game
Michaela Murphy takes her little brother on a cross-country adventure to see an All-Star Game.

Please leave your comments. I would love to hear your reaction to these stories

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It has been reported that Penn State will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Joe Paterno's first game as the Lions' head coach when Temple comes to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 17, 2016.

My reaction...huh? Too soon maybe? But certainly not all BK members felt as I did.

If you want to read the announcement as well as some very strong opinions, click Penn live.

Penn live
Penn State to honor 50-year anniversary of Joe Paterno's first game Sept. 17; other game themes, promotions announced

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Don Bosco Prep, ranked 24th in the nation, lost their home opener to American Heritage. It always hurts me to report a Bosco loss. Thankfully, it does not happen often. For a tiny Catholic all boys suburban school with a great academic reputation, they do pretty good. Go Mighty Bosco!!!

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It has been revealed that we have a few Grammar geeks in the breakfast club. Yes, it's really not all about beer, football, and politics. Please take note of the 'Oxford Comma' following 'football' in the previous sentence..

The Oxford comma is arguably the most important punctuation mark of all time. Yet, many people are unaware of it.

The Oxford Comma: "...an optional comma before the word 'and' at the end of a list."

With the Oxford comma:
The Breakfast Club has invited political leaders, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump to attend breakfast.

Without the Oxford comma:
The Breakfast Club has invited political leaders, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to attend breakfast.

Without the Oxford comma, it is suggested Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump are political leaders and we all know that to be false. This is why we need the Oxford comma.

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Coach Al - How do you do it? Even in retirement people are begging you to return to work as a special consultant. You are really raising the bar for the breakfast club in terms of life after retirement. Most retirees are lucky enough to handle a game of Dominoes. You're still making major contributions in the financial world. What is your secret?

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