June 28th, 2017

A weird collection of tumblers, eh? I happen to think they are the most amazing things ever!  If you care to hear it, I will tell you the story about this

First, I must confess that I am an absolute maniac about coaster usage.  There are coasters all over the house and table drawers with extras.  I am forever tucking coasters under people's drinks.  Some times surreptitiously, sometimes rather pointedly. I absolutely cannot stand unnecessary damage to belongings.  Accidental is another story, I can be very forgiving, but when it can so easily be avoided?  That's an entirely different tale.  And those awful rings on a table top are among the worst offenders. A coaster, properly used, is an easy solution. Usually.

And it's not just the damage to a wood table that is the issue. Even on a surface that is impervious to water damage, say my granite kitchen counters for example.  The wet rings will not damage the counters, they were professionally sealed, but that wet left behind takes forever to dry and if you don't happen to see it and you lay something on top of it, well now it's wet too!  The newspaper, a book, a recipe, a letter, my arm,  yes, all now wet, ink running, damaged (or annoyed)  because of that wet ring left behind.  Once again, use your coasters people!  Usually.

I've noticed since we've been here that a coaster is not a sufficient solution.  A filled glass with a  cool drink in it here doesn't just sweat, it sweats profusely.  I mean like hyperhidrosis!  No coaster in the world can contain the rivers of moisture that roll off a glass here in Florida. It's not a ring of moisture, it's a pond.  I end up using a dishtowel instead of a coaster. Tim puts a napkin between the glass and the coaster and then replaces the napkin, frequently.  It's insane. And when you lift your glass for a sip, that moisture drips off the glass into your lap. How fun!

Then there is the spillage issue.  It's been well established that I tend toward clumsiness, as in an accident waiting to happen at all times.  We did have one brief, near disaster in Tim's office not long ago where one of us, who shall remain nameless but was probably me, accidentally knocked over a glass on the desk in his office. Or as my sister refers to is, Command Central.  Quick work on both our parts prevented a total shutdown with only a little bit of paperwork affected and thankfully none of the electronics.

So while grocery shopping not long ago, I spotted the pirate glass.  Hmmmm I considered.  These tumblers are made by a company called Tervis.  By some magic, the Tervis people  found a way, back in 1946,  to if not completely prevent condensation on a glass, it is, at the very least, greatly reduced.   What the heck I will give it a try.  It was a whim. Brought it home, loaded it up with ice cubes and water, handed it to my test group (that is Tim) and waited to see the results!  It was nothing short of Amazing!

Little to no glass sweat and as a bonus, there is a lid which can be opened or closed like a travel mug,  so no spillage.  Houston I think we have found our solution!  And the next grocery store trip brought home the cherry blossom tumbler for me.

I actually was aware of the existence of these glasses before. My parents once very kindly sent us a set of four short, fat, thick, clear plastic tumblers that I didn't care for.  We lived in Colorado then.  Tumbler sweat is a non-issue there. The size was wrong for our adult use, as in too small.  I didn't like the feel of drinking out of a plastic glass  and frankly thought they were kind of unattractive. Lord knows I cannot drink out of an ugly glass. (insert eye roll here) I used them only for visiting children reasoning that at least they are non-breakable.  Nobody bought them at our garage sale so they ultimately were donated to Salvation Army.  What a fool I was.

First of all, the non sweaty glass thing is awesome. No rings, no watery surprises on the kitchen counter, no dripping in my lap.  The lid? Well, no spilling is nice though I must say it feels like a giant adult sippy cup, but how is that different than any take-out or drive-through coffee cup? It's essentially the same.  And to be fair, I can take the lid off. I don't HAVE to use it.  The handle which is removable and can be moved from cup to cup is handy but kind of ugly I think.  So easily solved, I don't put a handle on mine if I don't want to.

Anyway, last weekend we went to the Tervis store to purchase two more.  The closest store to us is less than a half hour, somewhere between Venice and Sarasota.  They had Loads of options, different sizes, different colours, different designs, it was so hard to choose!  Even goblets, ice buckets, and thermos's.  It took us awhile, but we made our selections and over time we will, no doubt add to it.  I like that they have a lifetime guarantee, that even when, (not if) I drop one on the floor, it will not break, that it's made locally and I lovelovelove the non-sweatiness !!!!!

Eventually, I will get over the fact that I am now drinking out of a giant plastic sippycup.  So, if you ever bemoan non-coaster contained glass-sweat as an issue, even just seasonally, look to the nice people at Tervis for a solution.  They are on-line.  They are now officially Sam-recommended.