I ran across this picture in Flickr. It's a clue to where I've been the last few days. I've been Christmas shopping and one of those places on my list was the book store a couple times. While there I enjoyed their latte, mocha, coffee drinks. Sitting in a bookstore and sipping away on one of these treats is one of my favorite relaxations.

SPEAKING OF WHICH: TODAY BACK IN HISTORY IN 1942 TO BE PRECISE, COFFEE BECAME RATIONED.

1942: US rations coffee

US grocery stores were able to sell coffee today after a week-long sales freeze; although, the drink was now rationed by the US government in order to ensure a fair distribution of the limited supply during World War II.

"Stamp No. 27 in the 'Sugar Book' (lower left-hand corner) is good for one pound of coffee through Sunday, January 3, 1943, if the age shown at time of registration was 15 years or over. Any person not having a 'Sugar Book' may still obtain one by registering (prior to December 15, 1942) with his local War Price and Ration Board, and subject to age limit, the stamps will be good for coffee, too," an ad in The Modesto Bee and News-Herald explained on November 30, 1942.

While each person 15 years or older was entitled to one pound of coffee every five weeks (which equals about one cup a day), Americans were encouraged not to use all of their family's coupons at once. "Just buy what you need – don't be a drip and dry up your neighbor's dripolator," the The Delta Democrat-Times read on November 29, 1942.