Happiness is my Carhartt jacket No. 2, vintage 2014 . . . the 125th Anniversary

die Hand in der linken Tasche, rückwärts

No. 1 from the 1990s now looks like a shotgun got it.

Happiness is Lou Mitchell's Restaurant of Chicago

Go for the breakfast, stay for the coffee.

Science proves that diner coffee is weak and terrible:

But my favorite diner coffee is served at one of Chicago's oldest restaurants. The sign outside Lou Mitchell's (565 W. Jackson Blvd.), opened in 1923, reads, "Serving the world's finest coffee." I wouldn't go quite that far, but compared with most diners, Lou Mitchell's is in another league. Each sip is smooth and well-rounded, without any underlying bitterness. It's exactly the kind of coffee you want with eggs and honey-cured ham.

Why is the coffee good? According to the shop, the coffee beans are ground every morning. Instead of using regular tap water, filtered water is used. The machines are cleaned regularly. These steps sound really boring, but when it comes to making a solid cup of coffee, it's really as simple as that.

Happiness is Ivars Fish Bar of Seattle

Summer of '77 . . . twenty-one and hungry.

Happiness is Ol' Dan Tucker by the 2nd South Carolina String Band

Ol' Dan Tucker: 2nd South Carolina String Band

 

Happiness is milk that tastes good

Happiness is The Impalas singing 1959's "(Sorry) I Ran All The Way Home"

Happiness is the wisdom of Ma in Little House on the Prairie

Happiness is The New England Patriots for the win in Super Bowl LIII

A battle of the defenses until the Rams just wore out in the 4th quarter against a relentless Patriots offense which the Rams stymied again and again but ultimately could not stop.

Happiness is The Michigan Upper Peninsula Creation Story

In da beginning dere was nuttin'.

Den on da first day God created da U.P.

On da second day He created da partridge, da deer, da bear, da fish and da ducks.

On da third day He said, "Let dere be YOOPERS to roam da U.P."

On da fourth day He created da udder world down below.

And on da fifth day He said, "Let dere be TROLLS to live in da world down below."

On da sixth day He created "DA BRIDGE" so da TROLLS would have a way to get to Heaven.

God saw it was good, and on da seventh day He went huntin'.

Happiness is my hometown

Happiness is the New England Patriots' AFC OT win over the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31

Happiness is sleeping under a big, warm mothercomforter

Happiness is Joan Bennett singing Sentimental Moments in 1955's We're No Angels

Here.

The song was composed by Friedrich Hollaender and Ralph Freed and introduced to the public through the film. Hollaender is the legendary composer of "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)" from The Blue Angel, 1930.

Happiness is Junior Samples singin' "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More"

Riiiiiiiight here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happiness is making fun of politicians

 

Coffee, which makes the politician wise,

And see through all things with his half-shut eyes,

Sent up in vapours to the baron's brain

New stratagems, the radiant lock to gain.

-- Alexander Pope

Happiness is a gas burner trivet, to keep your little moka pot from tipping over on the stove

A simple but thoughtful gift and a daily reminder of the giver because a day without coffee this way is just, well, unthinkable!

Happiness is a do it yourself brick rocket stove build with the KGB Survivalist

Here.

Perfect for the old man in winter who can collect twigs but can no longer chop wood.

The best gift of all was always Tommy coming home for Christmas

Happiness is Tucker's Toofers, 2 hamburgers for 29 cents in Fondulac, Wisconsin

Originally it was 2 for 25 cents, but by the time I knew the joint in the early 1970s the "special" had gone up, like the price of the regular hamburger, to 2 for 29 cents. Food inflation was horrible in those days, as my mother often reminded me, and no one was immune.

And they're still in business:

In 1963, Rudy, Steve, and Barbara opened Tucker's Toofers at the corner of South Main Street and Pioneer Road.  The slogan then was "they're toofer 25," meaning two hamburgers for a quarter. The name Tuckers was chosen because it was the nickname of daughter Barbara, who, as a child, had a hard time staying tucked in and always kicked her blankets off. 

I've never had a bucket list, but I'm putting this place on it, for old times' sake.  

Happiness is the misty morning

When first the sun too pow'rful beams displays,

It draws up vapours which obscure its rays:

But ev'n those clouds at last adorn its way,

Reflect new glories, and augment the day.

-- Alexander Pope