Sunday, February 10, 2008

Materialistic Monday: Nissan Stainless Travel Mug

In the past 8 years, have you ever worked with me? Been at an IEP with me, met me for an observation at your child's school, or stopped to chat with me at my desk? Driven in the car with me? Have you met me at the park on a Saturday, seen me at a child's birthday party, or been in a music class with me and one of my kids? Have you ever seen me in church or been at a family gathering with me?

If you can answer "yes" to any one of the above, then you've already seen this coffee mug.

I don't think we've discussed my obsession with coffee, but that will have to wait.

Because today it's all about the travel mug.

I know, I know. It's not a sexy topic like cosmetics, or a cute way to please Al Gore, but Materialistic Monday is simply about Things I Love. And I love this travel mug.

You see, I don't drink my coffee at home and then stick the mug in the sink dishwasher and head out the door. Most days, I fill this baby with some really hot, freshly ground, dark roast coffee early in the morning, and drink it all day. And I do mean all day. Far too often I'm still working on my morning coffee on my drive home at 5:00 - although, to be fair, some days I do refill it from a thermos at work. But even when it's the same coffee I poured at 8 AM, it is still plenty warm at 5 PM. Yes, it's true! 9 hours later! I can even leave it in the car on a very cold day for an hour or so and it's warm when I return.

(And tangentially, I haven't even mentioned to you all how cold it's been here lately...most of yesterday it was below zero (and with a wind chill of -20 degrees, my friends). You will only find this interesting if you don't live in Minnesota or Alaska. Or Canada. Any readers out there in Canada? Because I spent 6 years living in Minnesota, I have a hard time thinking of -20 as that cold, but it actually is. I mean, we still go about our business and all, but it takes a lot of bundling up and the wind can be painful. That coffee needs to stay warm, people.)

It also has the perfect snap top and fits into any car's drink holders. I don't care how many bags I'm carrying to work, you will always - always! - see me balancing this coffee mug in my hand as I struggle to hold onto the less important stuff (you know, like my laptop).

Eight years old, it's missing a bit of its gleam. It recently lost its black gripper. The musical note sticker that Baxter affixed to it when he was 4 years old threatens to peel off, and I had to put a new name label on it this year (because MY GOD, what if I lost it?!).

But like a child's favorite stuffed animal that becomes shabbier with love and use, it only gets better.

11 comments:

Niksmom said...

I just might have to get one of those babies for Niksdad; he has a coffee cup permanently attached, I swear! And we've gone through soooo many cheap travel mugs only to have them break, fall apart, etc.

Christopher Tassava said...

Nice! I like my current travel mug a lot (it's a Caribou Coffee one, very straightforward), but the problem with it is that the little latch isn't tight enough that I can put the mug in my bike's water-bottle cage for the ride to work. Inevitably, the coffee sloshes out - and then freezes on the bike. Does this mug of yours have a good tight lid/spout?

Anonymous said...

I need to chime in hear and say that this mug is substantially older than 8 years. My sister gave us a matching pair back when we lived in Boston -- so we're talking 1996 or 1997. I've long since lost mine, but yours is going strong into its twelfth year! Now that's a gift that keeps on giving....

Jordan said...

How funny! In my mind, I just knew it was before Baxter came along so all I could think was that it had to be at least 8 years ago!

I'm going to say that it couldn't have been 1996 because there is no record of it in our wedding photos.

Jordan said...

Oh - and Christopher - while the lid snaps tightly enough to keep the drink hot for hours, I don't know that I'd trust it during a bike ride...I'd definitely switch to a thermos for that...

KAL said...

Wow, what an awesome mug! I'm sorry it was this post that brought out this lurker. I enjoy all of your posts.

Anonymous said...

This is what Christopher needs:

http://www.somafab.com/morningrush.html

In fact, that may be what I need. Mmmmmm.....coffeebike....

Lori at Spinning Yellow said...

I have one of those!! I can't believe you out that "bad face" photo up on your picture space! Laughed my a*s off when I saw it there!

Jordan said...

Thanks, Lori. I just did that to make you laugh like that! I'm not sure how long it'll be up there - just until it stops cracking me up, I suppose. ;-)

Drama Mama said...

I am related to you somehow.

I just got my own new stainless steel mug last week at (gasp) Starbuck's (I know, I know, but it's near my work)

Same thing, but fire-engine red.

I fill up at 6:30am and I'm still sipping strong at 3:00pm.

No lie.

You nailed this one, sister.

Jordan said...

For reals, Drama Mama? Did you say RED?! My favorite color? Hmmm. Too bad there's a Starbucks across the street (look, if I could walk to Metropolis with the boys, I would!). The kids and I might have to go get some hot cocoa there today so I can see this red mug.

Gee, isn't VALENTINE'S DAY COMING UP...?