Johnaberdeen's Blog

I remember back when I was in my late teens, there was a running joke in our house around Christmas time. One year, I believe when I was 16 or 17 years old, my mother told myself and my brother that she was getting us driving gloves for Christmas. Needless to say, my brother and I weren't to thrilled about it. Ever since then, she's always hinted that she would get me driving gloves for Christmas.

As I reached my early and mid twenties, the prospect of driving gloves seemed like a good idea. I spend a lot of time in cold weather, and nothing is worse that having your hands go numb for the first few minutes in the car because of freezing temperatures. On my 24th Christmas, my mother finally got me driving gloves!

These gloves were great...black, leather gloves that shielded my hands from the winter cold. Since I didn't have the money to afford one of those fancy cars with heated wheels, driving gloves were my next choice. I have since traded in those gloves for a pair of Under Armour gloves, but the Under Armour gloves will never replace the nostalgia of my first pair of driving gloves.

This past weekend, I engaged in quite possibly the manliest activity ever: gun cleaning. Gun cleaning, lawn mowing, drinking, watching football and fighting are up there on the short list of 100% man activities. I grew up helping my father clean his collection, so I was fascinated at an early age.  Gun cleaning serves several purposes for me.  Primarily, it gets my gun collection clean.  Secondly, it gives me a bit of nostalgia.

There are a few things you have to be very careful of. If you are cleaning any gun, make sure it's unloaded!  Before I do anything, I make sure to unload all the guns I am cleaning and re-check.  I've heard of and even known too many guys who accidentally shot themselves when cleaning a gun. 

Another point I should make is save the beer for after you've cleaned your gun, gentlemen.  Now, I'm as much of a fan as any of getting my Tapco stuff, a few guns and a 6 pack and spend a Sunday morning cleaning, but you have to be safe.  Once again, booze and guns never mix.

Lastly, make sure you are meticulous when cleaning.  There's no use cleaning your guns if you aren't going to clean them right.  Get everything you need right down to the Tapco swabs and make sure you cover ever square inch of your old double barrel or pistol.

Now that it's inauguration season, I've been hearing a lot about the second installment of the economic stimulus package. I haven't found a number, or even a range on how much it will be (I don't even know if one was released) but I've heard it is going to be comparable to last year's.

What I'm wondering is what the majority of people will do with theirs. It seems like the "economic stimulus package" is going to be more like the "pay off your debt" package if you look at our current economic situation. I don't see how many people are going to be able to take this $400-$600 and spend it on phones, clothes and electronics when they are falling on hard times.

I know that I'm going to save it. I'm the anti-economic stimulator, but it's where my priority is. If I couple my stimulus package with my tax return, I should have a decent chunk to put away in case the economy gets any worse. I don't think I'll put all of it in the bank, though. I imagine I'll stimulate the economy by giving money to the Subway franchise and coffee franchise of my choice during the work week!

I have a marketing background, and I have to give Under Armour some credit.  They look like they'll be the next Nike or Adidas.  I see the products everywhere...everything from Under Armour clothing to Under Armour gloves and even shoes.  Under Armour has infiltrated most major sports, especially football, basketball and baseball.  Their state of the art base layers, heat wear and cold wear make their apparel necessary in most sports.

I think the thing Under Armour has going for it is a bit of edginess.  Nike and Adidas have become so large they can no longer afford to have anything but squeaky clean ads.  Under Armour is gritty, tough, in your face.  The advertisements portray this image, as does the clothing itself.  Under armour is most often seen in blacks, reds and whites...very basic colors.  The styling of the clothes is a perfect reflection of the name, because it looks like armor.

I would like to see Under Armour get involved in up and coming sports like MMA and NASCAR a little bit more, and keep doing what they are doing.  I think my children's generation is going to grow up under the Under Armour banner, not the Nike or Adidas flag.

One of my goals for the New Year (I'm not much of a fan of the term "resolution") is to drink less coffee. The problem is I absolutely love coffee, and drink about 2 large cups per day. I'm a creature of habit, and I've started off every weekday morning with a coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts or McDonald's for the past few years. However, I'm not a fan of the sodium and other harmful additives in coffee.

I've been throwing the idea around of replacing my morning coffee with tea. I'm pretty new to tea, but I do like it. Unfortunately, it isn't the same as coffee in the flavor department. Up until now, I've only tried a few herbal cleanser and body detox teas and basic teas, so maybe a stronger flavored cup will be a bit of an easier transition.

When I was in the supermarket earlier this week, I saw some dessert flavored chai teas that might do the trick.  I think the reason I love coffee so much is because I'm drawn to dessert tastes like vanilla, caramel, chocolate and coffee itself.  2 tea flavors immediately struck me:  a Chocolate Chai tea and French Vanilla Chai tea.  I'm going to pick these two up and a small carton of coffee flavored Silk and see what happens.  If anyone out there has made the coffee to tea transition, be sure to leave a comment and let me know how it was.