A Compound Life. Gary Sr. McGee
monitors, computers, surveillance equipment, and other high-tech gadgetry - maybe even a typewriter and some yellow legal pads. Or do you see a room with a long console or control panel with lots of buttons and blinking lights?, or a room where secret orders and activities are carried out with stealth-like precision? Maybe a room with the always important, Red Phone, a direct line connected to you know who, a room that requires Level 5 Security to gain access, with lots of important and powerful people running around making decisions that will influence and affect all of mankind? Or does, "Houston, Come In Houston, We Have A Problem", ring any bells?, or what about the Oval Office itself, perhaps the most famous command center of all, wow - how would that be? Oh, one can only dream of a command center like these!
My Command Center is much smaller in scale and scope, but equally as important to me. It is my own little corner of the world. It’s a place where I can think about things. It’s a place where I can conduct family business affairs and issues of the day. It’s a place where I feel I am in command; ....and Jill even said I could be in command. .... Actually, my command center is a little spot in the kitchen. It’s a place that I have been able to carve out for myself over the years. It is a place far away from the hustle and bustle of food and prep things. It’s a place where I can stand... (Out of the way, of course), and survey all that is mine. However, I can’t see very much from there, but it sounds impressive. My command center, hereinafter referred to as the "C.C." is at the very end of the kitchen counter. I have about a 2’ section of counter space. I share my space with a clock and some nice looking leather bound photo albums. There is just enough room for my black leatherette satchel; ....that’s where I keep MY yellow legal pad. I also have a plug where I can recharge my cell phone. For security, a menacing looking rooster stands guard, 24-7. With my "C.C." located at the end of the kitchen counter, I have plenty of room to pace the floor when contemplating the important decisions that I must make. I also have my very own barstool at the end of the counter - a place to rest my weary bones, a place to sit when I become fatigued from the rigors of too much thinking and way too much decision making.
But the best thing about my "C.C" is.... I have my own drawer. Yes, my very own drawer. Nobody else gets to use it; ....as far as I know. As a master of organizational skills, I have neatly placed small boxes and tins inside the drawer. These small containers each hold their own assigned treasures. Pens, pencils, paper clips, even rubber bands have a spot. I have a very special place for the "pink pearl". Also, a tape measure, you know, for measuring things is even in there. I have a stapler, a calculator, a letter opener, too. I keep extra batteries, extra keys, I even have keys that don’t seem to fit any locks, but I don’t dare get rid of them. I have a flashlight, screw drivers and pliers, masking tape, rulers and scissors. I have extra yellow legal pads and white out for my typewriter, (wow, I hope it hasn’t dried out). I have a spot for nuts and bolts and screws and nails and other stuff I take out of my pockets at the end of the day. I ‘m not sure if I’ll ever need them; but what if I did? Certainly, they are too good to throw away.
I have just about anything for any situation or emergency that may present itself during the course of a very busy day; If I can find it!
Well, enough about my drawer. I need to get back to the "C.C." and take control of something, and start making some more decisions. As far as the secret and stealth-like stuff in my "C.C." is concerned - to the untrained eye, my drawer would appear as nothing more than an ordinary junk drawer; and if I’m not there, my "C.C." looks just like part of the kitchen!
How’s that for sneaky?
A couple of weeks ago, I was speaking with a friend and he told me that he was considering taking up drinking, and wondered if I could come up with a few suggestions on what he might need to set up his own bar at home, and help get him started in the right direction.
At the time, I was a little preoccupied with the events of the day, but I told him I’d see what I could do. A week or so had passed, and I got a call from him, "Hey, how are you coming on my list?" I said "I was working on it, (but I meant I hadn’t started it yet), I’ll try and get it to you as soon as I can". Wow, I thought to myself, how am I supposed to come up with a list? - Not just any list - A Bartender’s List. A daunting task to be sure, certainly not for the faint hearted - Then it hit me - Duh, why didn’t I think of this sooner? I’ll just go to MY bar and jot down a few of the things that I have on hand. This is what I sent to him:
The following is a list of items that every "Self-Respecting Bar" should have in its arsenal.
Bar Basics should include:
A Cuisinart heavy duty blender/mixer (for mixing & crushing ice)
A jigger measure
A shot glass
A heavy duty shaker
A bar spoon, long spoon and stirring rod for mixing and stirring
A corkscrew and wine bottle opener
A strainer for straining ice, fruit, etc.
A paring knife or two (2)
A Bunch of Really Nice Bar Towels
Basic Barware should include: A set of eight (8) each of the following:
Old-Fashioned or Rock Glasses
Shot Glasses
Cocktail or Up Glasses
Highball Glasses
Sour Glasses
Wine Glasses & Martini Glasses
Champagne Flutes
Pilsners for Beer
Beer Mugs (must be frosted of course)
and A Whole Bunch of Dixie Cups
Basic Mixers & other Good Flavors are also necessary:
Lemon Twists & Cherries
Lemons & Limes (cut into twelfths)
Cocktail onions, & Green olives
1 Bottle of Angostura Bitters
1 Bottle of Margarita Mix
1 Bottle of Grenadine
1 Bottle of Triple Sec
1 Bottle of Coconut Milk
1 Bottle of Sweet Vermouth
1 Bottle of Dry Vermouth
1 Bottle of Lime Juice
1 Quart of Grapefruit Juice
1 Bottle of Sweet & Sour Mix
2 Bottles of Bloody Mary Mix
2 Quarts of Orange Juice (pulp free)
1 Quart of Pineapple Juice
12 Bottles of Tonic Water
12 Bottles of Club Soda
6 Bottles of Ginger Ale
3 Bottles each of Coke, 7-UP
And Don’t Forget the Bar Must-Haves:
2 Bottles of Stolichnaya Vodka
1 Bottles of Absolut Vodka
2 Bottles of Lord Calvert
2 Bottles of Southern Comfort
2 Bottles of Bacardi 151 Rum
2 Bottles of Jose Quervo Tequila
2 Bottles of Canadian Club
1 Bottle of Grand Marnier
1 Bottle of Galliano
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