Mug chat! The mug I’m using right now to drink coffee from as I listened to this substack is one I picked, not because it’s a top tier mug, but because I had not used it in a long while and I felt sorry for it. I even bought it because I felt sorry for it as it sat on a table at a crafts fair alone, all other mugs having been purchased. Maybe I should name this mug “Pity”?
I will be very able to help you with this list. Remember the piece of fusilli pasta I had to take from my plate to throw in the bin as the piece of fusilli pasta which had fallen onto the floor was already in the bin and I didn't want it to feel alone!!!
As well as aesthetic considerations, I think there has to be a level of practicality also: some mugs keep drinks hot a lot better than others; some handles are so bad they should be taken outside and shot; some insides get stained by tea, aaarrrrghhh.
Another question: are there mugs you profoundly dislike? Have you ever dropped a mug accidentally-on-purpose? Do you give some people their drink in a mug that you would hate to have to use yourself?
Do you know what they call a mug in France? (un mug, of course! – because mugs are a recent import). Most French people still have their breakfast drink served in a bowl - how would you like that?! Or their coffee in a tiny, tiny cup. (I feel cheated just thinking about it)
I hate those tiny handles. You often get them on latte cups.
I’ve never smashed a mug on purpose but there is one in my house that I hate and would love to do that but I think I’d feel too guilty. But if I yes I’ve definitely given hated mugs to others.
I would be horrified at drinking out of a bowl. I forgot the French did that.
I remember wanting a Snoopy mug so much that I bought it for myself for my 22nd Birthday. I was too embarrassed to tell my housemates that I'd bought myself a mug for my birthday. So, I made up this convoluted story where my sister, who lived at the other end of the country, had sent me the exact amount of money to buy this specific Peanuts mug from a shop that she had never been in.
I'm sure everyone bought this masterful litre of mine.
I'm now 55. I still have the mug. It has a featherline crack in it, so I store it away at the back of the cupboard, to prevent it getting more damage. So, Imagine how horrified I was one day when I got home to find that the wife had made a builder, who was working in our house, a cup of tea in my fragile, favourite mug. Aaaaaaarrrrrrggghhhhhh!!
MUG CHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I checked the "any mug" box because nearly all my mugs are my favorite. I also bought all but 4 of them. My roommate has also contributed a few. The cupboard is out of control, we have to stack some on top of others. But, each of them has a memory attached and I can't get rid of them. Mugs are one of my favorite travel souvenirs, but I have to really, REALLY like the mug these days before buying it.
As I approach 50, I’m wondering whether my post-50 life should be my buying-mugs-for-myself years. Maybe one a year. But I fear the emotional attachment may be too extreme and I’ll end up making weird requests to be buried with them.
Hmm, I just turned 46, so does that mean I have to stop buying mugs soon? Hahahaha that won't happen. If emotional attachment to mugs is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Ok well now you know how people talk about reading things they wish they'd written? THIS IS THAT. The amount of time I spend thinking about mugs would be greatly reduced if I could be like you and stick to one constant pair of top tier mugs.
My top tier mugs change with the season though. I have top tier mugs for Halloween, Christmas, and then the rest of the year. My husband and I have also established which of the Halloween bowls are assigned to us, but the plates are chaos.
Recently, I was told I have too many mugs and needed to prune. I cobbled together a few that were gifted I could stand to rotate out (to live in the garage for the season), so I bagged them and left them on our porch bench to transport. It rained overnight. As I picked up the (paper) bag the next morning and started down the stairs, the bottom gave way and four mugs went crashing down the stairs, shattering pottery all over. It was in that moment that I realized none in that bag were really top tier, as I simply mourned for a minute while sweeping and then moved on. Loss teaches us quite a lot.
I actively hide my favourite mugs at the back of the cupboard, and underneath other mugs to try and stop my husband using them. Generally he’ll always just pick up the one that’s at the front. But I swear he deliberately uses my very favourite mug if it ever peeps out because he knows how much it infuriates me
This has brought me joy and filled a mug-chat shaped hole in my heart!
I’m so glad. It filled my mug chat shaped hole too!
Mug chat! The mug I’m using right now to drink coffee from as I listened to this substack is one I picked, not because it’s a top tier mug, but because I had not used it in a long while and I felt sorry for it. I even bought it because I felt sorry for it as it sat on a table at a crafts fair alone, all other mugs having been purchased. Maybe I should name this mug “Pity”?
Pity mugs! I need to do a whole newsletter on inanimate objects I’ve felt sorry for.
I will be very able to help you with this list. Remember the piece of fusilli pasta I had to take from my plate to throw in the bin as the piece of fusilli pasta which had fallen onto the floor was already in the bin and I didn't want it to feel alone!!!
Haha! Yes. How could I forget this beautiful bin moment?
And I’ll be happy to read it. I’ve felt sorry for many non-living things. 🙄
Me too! I’m going to start compiling a list. Thank you for the inspiration!
As well as aesthetic considerations, I think there has to be a level of practicality also: some mugs keep drinks hot a lot better than others; some handles are so bad they should be taken outside and shot; some insides get stained by tea, aaarrrrghhh.
Another question: are there mugs you profoundly dislike? Have you ever dropped a mug accidentally-on-purpose? Do you give some people their drink in a mug that you would hate to have to use yourself?
Do you know what they call a mug in France? (un mug, of course! – because mugs are a recent import). Most French people still have their breakfast drink served in a bowl - how would you like that?! Or their coffee in a tiny, tiny cup. (I feel cheated just thinking about it)
I hate those tiny handles. You often get them on latte cups.
I’ve never smashed a mug on purpose but there is one in my house that I hate and would love to do that but I think I’d feel too guilty. But if I yes I’ve definitely given hated mugs to others.
I would be horrified at drinking out of a bowl. I forgot the French did that.
I remember wanting a Snoopy mug so much that I bought it for myself for my 22nd Birthday. I was too embarrassed to tell my housemates that I'd bought myself a mug for my birthday. So, I made up this convoluted story where my sister, who lived at the other end of the country, had sent me the exact amount of money to buy this specific Peanuts mug from a shop that she had never been in.
I'm sure everyone bought this masterful litre of mine.
I'm now 55. I still have the mug. It has a featherline crack in it, so I store it away at the back of the cupboard, to prevent it getting more damage. So, Imagine how horrified I was one day when I got home to find that the wife had made a builder, who was working in our house, a cup of tea in my fragile, favourite mug. Aaaaaaarrrrrrggghhhhhh!!
And you are divorced now, right?!! I cannot even begin to imagine how you felt.
Long live the Snoopy mug. I love it that you've had it that long.
MUG CHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I checked the "any mug" box because nearly all my mugs are my favorite. I also bought all but 4 of them. My roommate has also contributed a few. The cupboard is out of control, we have to stack some on top of others. But, each of them has a memory attached and I can't get rid of them. Mugs are one of my favorite travel souvenirs, but I have to really, REALLY like the mug these days before buying it.
As I approach 50, I’m wondering whether my post-50 life should be my buying-mugs-for-myself years. Maybe one a year. But I fear the emotional attachment may be too extreme and I’ll end up making weird requests to be buried with them.
Hmm, I just turned 46, so does that mean I have to stop buying mugs soon? Hahahaha that won't happen. If emotional attachment to mugs is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Haha! No, I feel sure that you’re living your best mug life.
Ok well now you know how people talk about reading things they wish they'd written? THIS IS THAT. The amount of time I spend thinking about mugs would be greatly reduced if I could be like you and stick to one constant pair of top tier mugs.
My top tier mugs change with the season though. I have top tier mugs for Halloween, Christmas, and then the rest of the year. My husband and I have also established which of the Halloween bowls are assigned to us, but the plates are chaos.
Recently, I was told I have too many mugs and needed to prune. I cobbled together a few that were gifted I could stand to rotate out (to live in the garage for the season), so I bagged them and left them on our porch bench to transport. It rained overnight. As I picked up the (paper) bag the next morning and started down the stairs, the bottom gave way and four mugs went crashing down the stairs, shattering pottery all over. It was in that moment that I realized none in that bag were really top tier, as I simply mourned for a minute while sweeping and then moved on. Loss teaches us quite a lot.
Oh my goodness, I would happily watch a film of your pruning/doorstep incident. So much emotion!
I’m kind of impressed by your seasonal mugs but I understand how much headspace this must take up.
Mug chat! I’ve missed you.
I actively hide my favourite mugs at the back of the cupboard, and underneath other mugs to try and stop my husband using them. Generally he’ll always just pick up the one that’s at the front. But I swear he deliberately uses my very favourite mug if it ever peeps out because he knows how much it infuriates me
Same here! I caught him doing it today and said - Have you not read my Substack yet?! He hadn’t.