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
1