Beer Philosophy for Regular Folks

"Slow Down, You're Here."  Now that's a great tagline!

I don't know anything about the Grayton Beer Company but I bet they're pretty good folks. Judging by this poster I'd guess they also make pretty good beer. I may try getting my hands on one of their lagers, red ales or maybe an amber wheat. I'm no expert on beer but do know a fair amount about slogans and taglines. With that in mind I'd give the Grayton Beer Company one of my highest professional poster-ratings of "Now that's purdy good!"

If you haven't figured out how to slow down from time-to-time you should give it a shot. I'm continually intrigued by my fellow human beings who appear to take life more seriously than might actually be necessary. Based on years of experience, I've found it satisfying to stop, drop and look around from time-to-time at what's happening in the present vicinity. Many of us are so buried in the endless distractions life throws at us that we forget to enjoy what it is we already have. I'm occasionally guilty of that myself, but only occasionally.

The next time you find yourself in a public place, look around at how many folks appear to be preoccupied with stuff out there rather than stuff right here. Is it possible that the electronic device is as much a scourge on our new society as it is a blessing? I suppose it depends largely on how we choose to use it. If so, many things would fall into that same category

For the record, it's not lost on me that I'm sharing this thought on one of my many electronic devices. So as not to appear even more hypocritical than I am, I did walk "device free" for over a mile to get to this coffee shop and once here sat for about 15 minutes consuming coffee while observing the room's animate and inanimate contents.  Most of the animate ones were face-first in their device.

In fairness to the good patrons of Airship, as I look around now most are engaged in conversation and only a couple of the folks are buried in their iBox; one of them being me. Oh the ever present ironies of life in the slow lane:)

Anyway, hat's off to the fine people of the Grayton Beer Company for coming up with a pretty darn good beer poster. It would be difficult to go much better than that.

Cheers to my friend and new reader of "Regular", Matt Hawkins! And thanks to the curious folks who tuned in yesterday: I'll do my best to keep you posted...

Charlie's Barber Shop, Bentonville

It's not every day a place of business tells you, "That's alright; you can stop by and pay me later."

As I sat down in one of the two chairs at Charlie's Barber Shop I asked Jay, "Do you guys take debit cards?" to which he replied, "No, but if you don't have cash you can just stop by and pay me later."  No offense to big city Folks but I responded, "Well, you can sure tell this isn't New York City."  Jay just smiled and said, "No, it sure ain't!"

Scanning the room for a camera certain I was on the set of The Andy Griffith Show I was somewhat surprised when Jay confirmed we were not.  Had Floyd emerged from the back room I would have been only mildly surprised.

The owner of the establishment, Charlie, walked in from outside where he'd been engaged in sidewalk conversation with a presumed local "bidness" man.  Noticing I was a first-timer he introduced himself before relaxing into the well-worn seat-bottom of his #1 barber chair and resumed reading the daily newspaper.

I looked up and noticed the sign on the wall that clearly spelled out the rules of the place.  Differently worded, "We don't tolerate rude behavior".  I like that.

Jay asked, "Do you mind if I use a razor on your neck?" I replied, "I was hoping you would."  He said, "Charlie and I don't feel like we've given a fella a haircut unless we shave his neck".  Ernest T. Bass could not possibly have gone any better than that!

After my first barber cut in quite some time, I walked the short distance to the Bentonville square and removed some cash from Sue's checking account via their sidewalk ATM.  I then strolled inside in search of a few smaller bills.  Arriving at the teller counter with a crisp new $20 bill, I held it between both hands and snapped it like Barney Fife might have snapped a brand new C-Note in an effort to impress Thelma Lou after Friday night dinner at The Diner.  As I did so I asked the teller, "Do you folks have enough cash on hand to break a $20?" to which she quickly responded, "Let me check my drawer; I might be able to handle that."

With cash in hand I walked back down main street to Charlie's, paid off my hair-tab and told them I would see them again soon.  As I took an iPicture of their shoppe-rule's sign, Charlie shared with me that in all the years he'd had that sign up there he'd lost only 3 customers because of it.  He said he was OK with that as he really didn't need their business anyway.

If you're ever in Bentonville and need an Ol' fashioned hair cut by a real barber who's been cutting hair since Ron Howard was better known as Opie Taylor, stop by Charlie's.  And tell them "that one guy" sent you.  In the meantime, I'll try to keep you posted...

Walmart Museum/Culture Center

-Just around the corner from the Walmart Museum/Culture Center

Just a quick "hello there!" to the "Old and Ridiculous" faithful.

I've been focused recently on a new project and have failed to "keep you posted". I'll try to get back on some kind of schedule so you won't have to resort to scanning the internet, or worse, watching network news in an effort to keep up with the things that really matter. And consider this: how easy is it to fall into a rut or just go along with what's already there?  It's extremely easy. More on that later.

In the meantime, if you haven't walked around the Bentonville Square recently you should consider dropping by. If you do, stop by the Spark Cafe located inside the Walmart Museum/Culture Center. Tell the fine young folks who shovel out the ice-cream that I sent you. If you do, you might get a great deal on an ice-cream cone or cup of coffee.  (To be forthcoming, you'll get the same great deal whether or not you tell them I sent you:)

In the meantime thanks for checking back in and I'll try to keep you posted...