Stopping to Sip the Coffee

It sure has been a very eventful and life impacting time since my last post. I began weekly workshops at Talkshop in Sherman Oaks, went to a few VO seminars, just recently joined Voices.com and have been auditioning like crazy. My next blog will focus more on all that. But today, I want to share a story. You may find this inspirational, you may find it entertaining, or may just find it a good read. However you find it, I hope you enjoy.

Every morning I make myself a pot of coffee. I've been doing that since the first day I tasted it. And I've always enjoyed coffee mugs, who doesn't? About 10 years ago, I went to Vermont and we stayed at this beautiful little bed and breakfast called the Londonderry Inn. (If you ever get a chance to visit, please do, and if you do because of this blog, mention it. Also tell them how much you wish they still had these adorable mugs.) I remember having breakfast at that Inn the day before we left and was drinking coffee out of the most perfect mug I've ever held.

My first instinct, was to steal it. I was a different kind of kid back then. However I looked around, and noticed they were selling them. Now for me, back then, that usually wouldn't have made a difference. But I felt that this mug deserved to be purchased. It was too unique and special. So I got up at the end of the meal and decided to buy one. Brought it back to Boston and began drinking from that mug pretty much every day. It was my favorite mug. I brought it to college in New York, brought it back, I toured the country for 3 months out of the year for two years, and every time in between I would drink from that mug. In 2005 I moved to California and took this mug with me and used it almost every morning. What makes it so special? Is that what you were wondering? It's not too big and it's not too small, the round belly on it fits more coffee than you think, and actually keeps the coffee hotter, longer. Most mugs this shape are far too big, but this is normal coffee mug size in my opinion. Fits in your hands perfectly, and is microwave and oven safe! You know, for when you want that 'oven warmed' coffee. If anyone was around when I was having my morning coffee they would always comment on what a great mug. I always agreed, and never thought much on it. Until October. My girlfriend, also a coffee drinker, but more of a mug lover (meaning she collects coffee mugs) Wanted to get one, and I thought, well of course, and actually I should have TWO!! So I went online and searched for the Londonderry Inn, found their website and e-mailed them asking if they had anymore of those mugs. They said they no longer carry them, and haven't for some time. But they did sound a bit surprised I still had one. I then asked if they were the ones that made it, or if someone else did. They told me it was Deneen Pottery that created those mugs. I looked them up online found their website, which is fantastic and sent out an e-mail asking where I could get another mug similar to the one I love. I did this right before work and had to head out of the house, but I figured I'd go on Facebook and see if they had a page, that way I would remember to check back when I got home. They sure did have a page, and I "liked" it.  Then I went off to work. While at work, I got a facebook message from one of the Admin's of Deneen Pottery, Heath, saying that I was their 500th fan and they wanted to send me something special.  That pretty much blew my mind, because what are the flipping odds??

What are the odds, that I buy a mug about 10 years prior, before Facebook existed (or definitely before I was on it) in a lodge in Vermont, carry that mug with me for 10 years (and don't BREAK IT) like it SO much that I actively SEEK out another one, "like" a Facebook page, and boom, I'm the 500th fan and am getting "sent" something special. I'm no spiritual guru, but that's pretty fate-like...


So I'm at work, telling everyone the story, how crazy it is. Then I stop and think about it. I work at the Tam O'Shanter Inn. The first Lawry's restaurant and one of the oldest family owned and operated restaurants in LA. One of Walt Disney's favorite restaurants. Pretty much a landmark. And it looks like this.

In addition to that, it is celebrating it's 90th year anniversary this year. The Tam, needs a coffee mug like this. In fact (and most important) I want a coffee mug with the Tam O'Shanter Inn on it. I decide in that moment, that I'm going to make it happen. They would sell, people would love them, and they just...plain...FIT. So I message Heath back and forth about how one would go about ordering, designing etc. And on Oct 24th I schedule a meeting with the head of Marketing for Lawry's, On November 3rd I have said meeting. I bring the material, and of course. My Mug. They love the idea and begin to jump through the necessary hoops and pass it under the necessary eyes. I began seeing design idea's and asked for updates for the next 30 days. These mugs are each handmade and take a while to design, so I was getting a bit nervous, especially if we wanted them by the end of January. On Dec 13th I was told that the Tam ordered 300 mugs!!! Absolutely incredible.  Not only that, but they loved the idea so much, that they are ordering a 4 mug collector set to be dispersed throughout the year. One style mug with it's own unique artwork for each quarter this year in celebration of the 90th anniversary! Exactly one month later, I don't know how Deneen Pottery did it, but on Friday January 13th, the mugs showed up at the Tam O'Shanter. And here it is.

I know, you are wondering, about the trolls. I'm a collector of all sorts of things. And for some reason that was the best looking picture out of all the ones I took.. sooo... yeah. But how fantastic does that look? Now that's what the Tam looked like in 1922 when it opened, and as the mug collection for the Tam progresses I'm assuming we will 
get one that has the current look of the Tam on it and hopefully a special anniversary one. The next one will be a St. Patty's day Tankard.

I couldn't be more excited and pleased that this little idea I had worked out so well. It sure is a good feeling when you set your mind on something and make it happen. Even if it is as small as a coffee mug. Which pulls it right back around to Voice Over, I set my mind on it, and I'm making it happen. If I can do a coffee mug, I can do me. So here's to you, here's to us and here's to making the best out of the life we have. Make each and every day count! CHEERS!

From this in 2002

To this in 2012

 Deneen Pottery is a family business that was started in 1972 by Peter and Mary Deneen. Made today in St. Paul, MN (in the same place and by the same great people.)
Much like the history of the Tam O'Shanter.

Oh yeah, and be sure to check out Crittick.com
And my latest project! Advertisement reviews with the Mac