LONG BEACH, CA - LEFTOVERS

Nothing sadder than the remnants of a New Years Eve party.

Well. Actually, there's a LOT sadder, but this will do until I get my morning cup of coffee.

(And no, this hasn't been sitting around. I took this shot last Sunday.)

PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN - ALONG VOORSTRAAT

Today's image is from the shops along Voorstraat, the main tourism street in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of an island shared with France.  Despite the fact my wife has a devil of a time getting me to do any kind of shopping (other than grocery) while we're at home, I LOVE shopping districts, no matter how touristy they may get -- and some of them get frighteningly touristy. I have t-shirts and shot glasses to prove my point.

Both Sint Maarten and Saint Martin (the French side) thrive on the tourist dollars -- in about an hour Voorstraat will be teeming with tourists slipped from their cruise ships to head into town to make contributions to the local economy.

Because it is a divided island, featuring both Dutch and French cultures to their best, Saint Martin is one of our favorite destinations in the Caribbean. Whether you enjoy all-inclusive resorts or prefer small-town beach places, a quiet escape or the vibrance of a casino, a high-end dining experience or grabbing a snack at a local lolo, Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is a small island with a lot of options. 

Try the Ma Doudou flavored rhum, it's spectacular (and usually very cheap) almost everywhere on the island.

LONG BEACH, CA - STRONG COFFEE TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR

My introduction to coffee came at a relatively young age. A special treat for us was upon that rare occasion when Mom would allow us to have a cup in honor of something special or a special day (like Christmas). It was served up with a large percentage of milk and two teaspoons of sugar.

Then, as I grew older and coffee became more of an everyday affair my tastes changed away from the highly-diluted, very sweet childhood recipe. In college I continued to add sugar, but it was one teaspoon and less milk than before.

Just after college the sugar gave way to artificial sweetener with the advent of Equal. (I hated the taste of Sweet & Low. Just never worked for me.)

Then came the coffee revolution, fueled by Starbuck's and its kin. Lattes, mochas, etc. But I mainly stuck with the tried and true "single sugar, some milk" combination of my youth.

Then came Paris. And despite discovering the wonders of Cafe au Lait and Cafe Creme, one day I happened upon a dark roast cup of coffee sans cream in a coffee and pastry shop a couple of blocks from the Eiffel Tower. I was hooked, and overnight changed my coffee preference to black with sweetener. And stronger than before. I began to use a coffee press as well as the coffee maker in our home. 

Coffee serves an important role in my life. The basics of my cup have evolved, just as I have, and will continue to do so.

2017

Happy New Year.

May 2017 permit you a happier, more fulfilled, and pleasantly prosperous life.

NEW YEARS' EVE - PRESSING RESET

So. After what from nearly all accounts was a singularly bad year all around, we arrive at the start of a new one. It's an arbitrary reset, but a reset nonetheless. 

Wishing you all a firm and final end to 2016, and a resurgent 2017.