Sunday Stealing: My Favorite…

King Derwin of Didd summons his royal magicians

This week’s Sunday Stealing is My Favorite…whatever.

1. Favorite food

I always say spinach lasagna because I like lasagna, and I like spinach. I actually like making lasagna once a year, usually three or four of them, because it does not that much more effort. (It’s messy, or I’d do it more often.) But it has to be cold outside, so turning on the oven is worth my while.

But in truth, my fave is probably chicken. Baked, fried, Cajun, whatever.

2. Favorite color

There’s this existential war between green, which is, after all, my last name, and blue. It’s somewhere in that “cool” color range.

3. Favorite Animal

In that aren’t they interesting category, sloths. There was a piece about them on 60 Minutes recently. Their slow motions allow them to survive. That sounds like good advice for many humans.

Most of my pets have been cats, though.

4. Favorite thing to do on a cold day

If not making lasagna, then reading a book while listening to music.

5. Favorite vacation spot

The two places are both in upstate New York: Lake Placid and Niagara Falls.

6. Favorite TV show

CBS Sunday Morning. It’s a magazine of the air I’ve watched regularly since 1979. I’m really happy that the video recorder and then the DVR player exist because they’re on while I’m at church.

7. Favorite Mythical creature

Lenny, named for Leonard Bernstein: see above 

Theodor Geisel

8. Favorite fairy tale

Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss. It’s a kid speaking truth to power. And Oobleck is green.

9. Favorite thing to draw

Somewhere in this blog, though I can’t find it immediately, I wrote that I can’t draw. I almost failed 4th grade art.  You do NOT want me to be the person who draws for your Pictionary team. And when I wrote about this, a few people said anyone can draw. This may be true, but I have been shamed for decades out of even wanting to try.

10. Favorite scent

Lilacs. Growing up in Binghamton, NY, we had a tree right next to our house.

11. Favorite mode of transportation

The train, such as Amtrak. I don’t like flying, though I did it twice in 2023 for reasons of time.

12. Favorite vegetable

Corn on the cob

13. Favorite candy

York Peppermint Patty or a Mounds bar, which I find in my Christmas stocking every year. Santa remembered!

14. Favorite sport

To play, when I was able to, racquetball, which I loved not just because I didn’t suck at it, but for the relationships. I used to play with, among others, two of my best friends, Norm and Mike, both of whom died too early. I also liked volleyball.

To watch: the National Football League, but not in real time. I record it, avoid the email/phone, and watch a 60-minute game in about an hour and a quarter instead of three hours.

15. Favorite weather

Temperate. My tolerance for extreme weather – hot and muggy or frosty – has definitely declined. Albany is getting snow right now, but it hasn’t been that frequent, so I don’t mind.

Vegas destiny

10 seconds of Rebecca Jade

I’m not big on “destiny.” Still, I called this Vegas destiny because it felt like my friend MAK and I were destined to go to that place on Sunday, September 24.

We had talked about a few dates. It had to be after the 16th when my wife and I had tickets for a play. And it had to be before the 29th when I had my annual physical. Meanwhile, he had to see an Electric Hot Tuna’s Last Waltz show on the 21st in Kingston, NY.

Early start

We stayed at a hotel near the airport on Saturday night because we had a 6:21 a.m. flight. The current conventional wisdom of people who travel far more than I was that we are at the airport 1.5 hours before the 5:58 boarding.

BTW, there are two Hilton hotels on the same short road. The first is Hilton Garden, which my wife and I visited the Friday before to double-check that the shuttle would work. And the second is Tru by Hilton, which we booked. We’re glad my wife stayed until we checked in.

It was a nice room. The most difficult things were two: the big-screen TV in the room had a remote control that we couldn’t control. I called the desk, and a guy came up very quickly. He tried the remote and got the same result, took the remote, and then brought back a remote that worked a few minutes later.

He also solved our second problem: we couldn’t find how to turn on the lights. There are these little black buttons about halfway down the metal trim. We might have seen it in the daylight, but since we checked in well after dark, there was no way we could have discerned them.

The logical strategy would have been to go to bed immediately before our 3:45 a.m. alarm went off. But no! We stayed up until well past midnight talking.

Early morning flight

I slept perhaps three hours, and MAK not all when we had to get up and ready; the shuttle did work. We got to the American Airlines check-in. There are a lot of people there at 4:30.

My friend didn’t mention that we weren’t checking our bags. Our economy status was such that everything, including checked baggage, was charged extra. Fortunately, the total outside dimensions of the piece, length + width + height, were less than 62 in / 158 cm.

We go through TSA without a hitch. You can bring water BOTTLE through, just not water.

We went to Burger King partly because the Starbucks line was longer. A tip: ordering a Croissan’wich without the egg confuses the staff.

On our way to our gate. I saw Steve Hartman. He’s the guy on CBS News who does the On The Road segments started by the late Charles Kuralt. They tend to appear on the CBS Evening News on Friday nights and CBS Sunday Morning.

He’s also on the CBS Mornings on Mondays with his son and daughter on a segment called Kindness 101, which I don’t see often. I wait for him to finish talking to someone; I say to him, “I really like your work,” and then I move on because I don’t like bothering public figures too much, especially at 5:30 a.m. at an airport.

Because American Airlines offered to check a bag to our final destination – for free – I liberated myself from my larger bag. We were each in the middle seats on both legs of our flight, about a row apart. 

Seatmates (1)

I could see the woman on the aisle seat would be flying to XNA from her boarding pass. Where the heck is THAT? Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, serving Fayetteville/Springdale, Arkansas. She goes to Walmart to instruct them in baking their cakes. It was great initially, she indicated, but her workload continues to increase.

She was watching something on her phone: The Chosen, “the first-ever multi-season TV show about the life of Jesus.” I heard of it, and maybe I’d watch it someday, but not on a cellphone.

We only had 45 minutes from landing in CLT at a B gate to taking off from a C gate at least 10 minutes away, and that’s just to the beginning of the C area. As we’re walking, I see coming toward me my niece Rebecca. She had performed in Charlotte on Friday night, then in Montgomery, AL, on Saturday night. She was flying back to San Diego via CLT (east to go west), and she was running from The C gates to wherever her flight was. Seeing her just long enough to hug her was a bit of kismet.

Seatmates (2)

On our CLT to LAS flight were several – at least two dozen – Pittsburgh Steelers fans. We knew this because they wore black and gold paraphernalia, primarily uniform tops and some T-shirts. Most were attending the NFL nationally-televised game that afternoon between the Steelers and the Las Vegas Raiders. Another bit of destiny, being in the presence of a temporary hejira from Steel City to Sin City.

The guy in the window seat beside me slept most of the trip, wearing a hoodie, so I could barely see his face. About 20 minutes before landing, however, Pat woke up. He, too, was going to the game, having nosebleed seats at a severe premium.

We then talked intensely about his interests in football and other sports, COVID-19, his work as a freelance cameraman, and other things. He was delightful.

We all picked up our luggage at the farthest carousel from the gate we deplaned – one must take a light rail to get there.

MAK and I took a cab to our timeshare, passing by Allegiant Stadium. We waited for our room to be ready by watching pieces of football games (Miami 70-20 over Denver, Swifties learn who Travis Kelce is.)

Then we checked in, went out, and did a whole bunch of stuff – more info anon – and ended up at a bar/restaurant, eating and watching the end of the football game less than two miles away.

Sunday Stealing – Autumn Questions

horse chestnuts

The Sunday Stealing from WTIT: The Blog involves autumn questions.

1. Are there any fall-specific hobbies or crafts you enjoy pursuing?

Do I have ANY hobbies at all, aside from doing genealogy? I think not. I used to collect comic books but essentially quit in 1994. And I’m not at all crafty in any season.

2. Do you have any favorite fall-inspired recipes you like to cook or bake?

Nope.

3. Are you a fan of Halloween? If so, what’s been your favorite costume?

My interest in Halloween has waxed and waned my whole life. I’m sure I went trick-or-treating as a kid, but I do not recall a particular costume. Then I stopped, but I know I dressed up at least once in college.

I’m oddly fond of the one above from 1980. The mask came from FantaCo, where I worked. That’s my college graduation robe, but I don’t recall the source of the hat. There’s actually a better photo of me in this costume, which I cannot find. I’m leaning on my girlfriend’s car reading the New York Daily News’ Sunday funnies, and I look really cool, and I do say so myself.

I liked Halloween when my daughter was a kid, but now? Meh. I used to come up with holiday-themes in this blog, but that’s fallen off.

NOT on an open fire

4.  Do you have any childhood memories related to the autumn season?

For reasons I didn’t understand, I used to collect the horse chestnuts that fell from a tree on Spruce Street, halfway between Cypress Street and Spring Forest Avenue in Binghamton, NY. I liked how smooth and pretty they were. But then, come spring, I’d just throw them out, then collect more the following season. I must have done this for about a half dozen years.

5.  What kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy during the autumn months?

Nothing in particular.

6. Do you look forward to ‘sweata weatha’? What is your favorite go-to outfit for Fall?

I used to wear sweaters. I’m more of a hoodie guy now; one is from UNC Charlotte, near where one of my sisters lives.

7. Are you a fan of pumpkin or apple-flavored treats or beverages?

Apple pie, or the like. I can take or leave pumpkin, which I understand is really squash.

8. Which fall scents do you find most appealing?

Wood-burning stoves.

9. Do you like to visit apple orchards or pumpkin patches or corn mazes?

I have picked apples, but it’s been decades. I don’t do mazes; they make me anxious.

10. Have you ever participated in or attended a fall festival or harvest fair?

There was a Madison Street fair a block from here last weekend; I was there for about five minutes. In previous years, I’ve spent a couple of hours.

11. What’s your favorite thing about autumn?

The changing colors of the leaves.

Beverage

12. Are you more of a cider or hot chocolate person when it comes to fall beverages?

When I was living in my college town of New Paltz, NY, c. 1975, I lived in a house that was a coffee house on Saturday nights during the school year. One of the obligations of the housemates was to make mulled cider. My two housemates, both named Mike, hated each other’s guts, making the process unnecessarily onerous and soured me on cider.

13. What’s your ideal way to spend a crisp autumn evening?

Sitting on the front porch and people-watching.

14. Do you like to dress up for Halloween? What’s your favorite costume, or what costume do you plan for this year? Do you like to make your own costume?

In 1978, I had a girlfriend who suggested an outfit. She and her best friend took me dress shopping at a secondhand store in Schenectady, NY. I shaved, which I rarely did, and put on a cheap wig. Then we went to a party, and I spoke in a falsetto. I was surprised that even people who knew me did not recognize me until my five o’clock shadow started coming in.

Pigskin

15. Are you a football fan? What’s your favorite team?

I don’t know that much about soccer.

If we’re talking about American football, I start paying attention on Thanksgiving Day. I’ve learned that sometimes your team will suck, so you need alternate rooting interests.

In order: New York Giants – when I first learned about the game, I’d watch them on our CBS affiliate, WNBF, Channel 12 in Binghamton. I remember players from the 1960s: Y.A. Tittle, Frank Gifford, Sam Huff, Dick Lynch, Andy Robustelli, et al. My father and I saw a preseason game at Cornell University in Ithaca three years in a row. Later, the NYG trained at the uptown campus of the University at Albany.

Buffalo Bills – the only team that actually plays their home games in New York State

New York Jets – the first regular-season NFL game I ever saw was at Shea Stadium when they played the Houston Oilers, probably on October 20, 1969, when they won 26-17

Pittsburgh Steelers – I loved the 1970s Steelers, two of whom shared my birthday, Lynn Swann and the late Franco Harris.

Green Bay Packers – a small market team with Green in the title

Philadelphia Eagles – geography plus green uniforms plus NFC East

Conversely, I root against Dallas “Who named THEM America’s team?” Cowboys and the New England Patriots. Also, in the college ranks, against the Alabama Crimson Tide, on general principle.

Jan. rambling: things that don’t work

toaster hoax

January
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2355346-tom-gauld-explores-crushing-darkness-and-inhospitable-cold/

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Gas stoves can harm your health — and scientists have known that for decades

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Passenger automobile depreciation tables

Culcha

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David Crosby, a co-founder of the Byrds and CSN, dies at 81. Essential tracks

Coverville 1430: The David Crosby Tribute and  1429: The Donald Fagen/Steely Dan Cover Story

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Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, died at 81. He was often partnered with the late Norman Whitfield. Here’s his early Motown hit, Money.

I’m A Man and Outro (1967) – The Yardbirds (feat. Jimmy Page)

The Last Stand – Sabaton. “Sometimes you need a Swedish metal song about the soldiers who protected the Pope during the sack of Rome in 1527.”

St. John of Damascus – Sergei Taneyev

If You Raise Your Head – MonaLisa Twins

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet overture.

Not A Day Goes By– Bernadette Peters

The theme song from the sitcom, My Favorite Martian — but with lyrics… – The Satellite Singers

The watching sports report

Week 18?

watching sportsI grew up loving watching sports on television. Not just baseball and football, either. I grew up with the Wide World of Sports. Not so much in 2021.

Oh, I caught some innings of a few baseball games, but almost nothing from beginning to end. Yet I would READ the box scores and stories about the previous night’s games. I was particularly fascinated with Shohei Ohtani, who GQ profiled. “Not since the days of Babe Ruth has one of baseball’s greatest hitters also been one of its finest pitchers.”

Maybe it was the fate of the New York Mets, who looked as though they might get to the World Series but ended up not even getting to the playoffs. Or the New York Yankees who were streakily great, followed by being terrible and were eliminated after one playoff game.

Perhaps it’s my antipathy for some of the teams. Both the 2017 Houston Astros and the 2018 Boston Red Sox were nicked by a cheating scandal. The Astros also yanked their team affiliation from our local Tri-City Valley Cats. More parochially, the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the 1963 World Series; I hold a long grudge.

Gridiron

As usual, I didn’t watch the NFL before Thanksgiving. I saw bits of one of those Turkey Day games, then nothing else in 2021 unless the CBS game ran late, delaying 60 Minutes.

But then there was week 18. Week 18? There used to be 17 weeks in which the teams each played 16 games, with one week off. Now there is a 17th game. And, perhaps related to the expansion of the eligible playoff teams to 14, it seemed that almost every team that didn’t play their home games in New Jersey still had a chance.

Such as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chuck Miller described what happened. But that Raiders-Chargers game that ended in the final minute of overtime was edge-of-my-seat exciting. The following week there were a couple of close games which I saw. However, I will acknowledge that I watched almost the entire Buffalo Bills beating of the New England Patriots, 47-17. Seven touchdowns in seven possessions!

Soured

Only one of the annoying things about COVID is that sports figures who you felt neutral or mildly positive about managed to act in a disappointing manner. Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers spread some malarkey about his vaccine status.

More irritating, though, was Novak Djokovic, the tennis star who got booted out of the Australian Open because that country actually wants to take the disease seriously. Then the Serbian president blasted Australia. Now, Djokovic may not be able to play in the French Open in May if he isn’t vaccinated. I had no strong opinion about Novak, beyond admiring his considerable talent, but now he’s rather ticked me off.

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