Sunday Stealing Archives - Page 9 of 22

Sunday Stealing: Je ne comprends pas

“common sense”

1) What is your favorite way to spend a lazy day?

Je ne comprends pas. Qu’est-ce qu’une journée paresseuse ? I’m not feeling “a lazy day” of late. If I did have one, I would watch the Tonys and the National Spelling Bee Finals, in that order, which I have recorded.

2) What do you look forward to every week?

I like seeing folks at church and attending the Tuesday noon book reviews.

3) Name three pet peeves you currently have

Certain people think their way is the only way.

Some people are “all hat, no cattle”; a recent example is Antonio Brown, the braggadocious owner of the Albany Empire Arena Football team, who got his team booted from the league for non-payment. He reminds me of a particular politician whom he said he admired.

Bad drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians.

4) Where would you choose to go if you were to win an all-expense paid vacation for two weeks to anywhere in the world? What are some of the things you would like to experience while you were there?

I need to go to either Asia, Africa, or South America. I suppose I’d go to Nigeria to be on the grounds of my ancestors. I’m 20% Nigerian, almost entirely on my father’s side. Maybe there are some resources there that would help with my genealogical search. And if not, it’d be worth it anyway.

One Man Army

5) What was one of your favorite toys as a kid? Did you save any special things from your childhood that you still have today?

The only toy I can remember is a Johnny Seven OMA (One Man Army), a multi-function toy weapon produced by Deluxe Reading under their Topper Toys toyline and released in 1964.” It was the best-selling boys’ toy that year. I’m fairly sure I used it in antiwar film my friends made five years later. Featured on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. “Detective Robert Goren finds one in a toy store and demonstrates all seven firing modes” (Episode: Collective) June 2006. Because I’ve dealt with collectibles, I remember seeing that scene and howling with laughter.

The things I have from my childhood tend to be books. One in my line of vision is Play the Game: the Book of Sport, edited by Mitchell V. Charnley (1931). This was an anthology of sports stories from American Boy magazine from 1923 to 1931, which I read repeatedly.

6) What is your favorite holiday? What is your least favorite holiday?

My favorite is Thanksgiving, though I’ve had some terrible ones. My least favorite is Memorial Day because too many people don’t know what it’s supposed to mean.

7) Have you ever met anyone famous? What concerts have you attended?

I’ve answered the famous question recently. Here are some concerts I’ve attended. It does NOT include several classical concerts, mostly the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The one that stands out featured Evelyn Glennie, the percussionist.

Not so common

8) Are there any expressions that people use that really annoy you? If so, what are they?

There are several, but I’ve blocked most of them out. “Common-sense” reforms or gun laws or whatever bugs me because it presupposes some agreed-upon definition of “common sense.”

9) Do you like your name? Are you named after anyone? Is there a story how you got your name? Would you change it if you could? If so, what name would you give yourself?

I’ve told this story before, but I can’t find it. My father named me. At some point after I was born, he was over at his cousin’s house furiously writing…something. He was coming up with a name for which the initials spelled out something but nothing offensive or complicated for me to live with. So Roger Owen Green spelled out ROG. It was brilliant. I love the name, and I wouldn’t change it.

I was not named for anyone. Curiously, my sister Leslie was named after my father. I can’t begin to understand that logic.

10) It is said that it’s the little things that make life worth living. Name five of those little things in your life

Music. And not listening to it but math: 4/4, 6/8, 3/2 et al. The inverted pedal point. Modulations.

Math. 0 squared + 0 +1= 1 squared. 1 squared+1+2=2 squared. 2 squared+2+3=3 squared. Figuring out if a number is divisible by 3 or by 9. License plate algebra.

History. Being a keeper of the history of FantaCo, the comic book store where I worked from May 1980 to November 1988. Doing genealogy and having some luck; see tomorrow’s post.

White noise. It helps me sleep.

Electricity.

Sunday Stealing: Swap Bot

unscheduled

This Sunday Stealing is from Swap Bot, which I misread as Swamp Bot.

Have you tried anything new this year?

I went to a corner grocery store that was six blocks away. I had not been there in decades, if at all, and I’m unsure why. It’s nicer than the store a block closer to me.

Oh, yeah, I also went to France last month. I’d never been anywhere except North America before. The picture is of the bride and the groom’s father at the wedding rehearsal in Erdevan.

What would you do if you didn’t have wifi for a week?

Read books and magazines a lot. Play board games. Talk on the telephone.

Do you like summer? Why or why not?

I don’t mind it unless the sun is scorching. That said, I tend towards the shade because of my vitiligo.

What’s one restaurant that you like in your city? What food do they sell?

Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen serves soul food.

Do you prefer a digital book or a real paper book?

I really can’t concentrate while reading digital books, and have tried. Also, I’m on the computer a lot, so I like paper books.

What’s one thing that you want to buy, but it’s a bit expensive, so you haven’t bought it yet?

A new office chair. It’s a bit shaky. It’s not terribly expensive, but I’m a bit low on funds after going to France.

What tea brands do you like?

I don’t know about brands. I tend to like most teas by most brands. When in doubt, get me English Breakfast.

What’s one food that you can binge eat a lot?

Ritz crackers and cheese together.

Small amounts of money

Write one random thing that happened to you this month.

On June 7, I received an email telling me: “Between June 14^th and June 19^th, 2023, you will be sent a settlement payment from the class action settlement in In re EpiPen Marketing, Sales Practices and Antitrust Litigation, Civil Case No. 2:17-md-02785-DDC-TJJ, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.”

On June 9, I received an email: “New York Attorney General Letitia James has reached an agreement with Family Energy, Inc. The Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York (“NYAG”) has determined that you are eligible to receive a payment of $57.13 as compensation for money you have lost due to this company’s deceptive business practices.”

Also, on June 9, “Yahoo Data Breach Settlement sent you USD 61.08. Your Yahoo Data Breach settlement payment is now available in PayPal.”

These minor payments to me are undoubtedly a massive pain for the payees.

How many long-term penpals do you have right now? (people who pen pal with you for more than 3 years)

Define penpal. If by that, you mean regular communication, then nobody, and there hasn’t been any since about five years after I got email. Before email, I probably had a couple of dozen folks regularly.

What food do you want to sell if you own a small food trailer?

Not really in my skill set or my interest. Still, I’ll pick eggs because I DO know how to make them scrambled, fried, poached, et al.—some real and faux sausage and toast.

Precious

What’s one handmade gift that you received and really liked?

Messages from my daughter. But I’ve kept several things my daughter has created.

What’s your ideal Saturday like?

Unscheduled, which has not happened nearly often enough. I’d catch up on reading newspapers, watching Finding Your Roots on TV, and finally clean my office.

What things do you like to buy on Etsy?

Not much. My daughter bought rolling pins from Ukraine for her mother, which I paid for. We have ordered delicious bundt cakes from Great Exbaketations Bakery in the past. I bought two obscure CDs in 2022.

What kind of Asian food do you like?

Indian, specifically lamb saag, chicken tikka masala, and others. I also like Chinese food. I’ve enjoyed Thai food the few times I had it.

Sunday Stealing: plans for June, et al

new ancestors

The current Sunday Stealing is again from Stolen from League of Extraordinary penpals. It addresses plans for June and other things.

1. What are your plans for June

It started busy. On June 2, I went to TWO art shows taking place simultaneously for First Friday. Art at APL is at the Pine Hills branch of the library, while my church had art, plus music by the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus. Fortunately, they were the #10 Western Avenue bus away from each other.

On June 3, I attended Pinkster at the Schuyler mansion. It is “a distinctly African celebration through which enslaved and free Africans maintained familial & community ties, traditions, and connections to African culture.

In the future: Help find book reviewers for the FFAPL Tuesday noon talks, working on the Underground Railroad Center’s July 4 event. Give blood this week. Visit another church congregation for a shared picnic. And probably participate in another choir funeral. I’m never bereft of tasks.

2. Your mid-year resolutions or goals

To get through the DVR before September. It’s currently 72% full. I record more than I watch and sometimes give up on programs. Still, I want to see those episodes of Finding Your Roots.

3. Are you good at taking care of plants

No. More than that, Stormy the cat eats plants and then gets sick, so that’s a non-starter.

4. What makes you feel nourished

Physically? Emotionally? I eat oatmeal with blueberries, strawberries, and bananas most days. I listen to music., currently the San Francisco Days CD by Chris Isaak. Listen to Solitary Man. BTW, I was listening to the Brazilian drummers at Pinkster, and I recognized a particular rhythm played on The Obvious Child by Paul Simon, about 3/4 of the way through.

5. Which animals do you see most in your area

Sometimes it’s ravens. The neighborhood cats like our backyard.

6. Books on your summer reading list

The same as are on last summer’s reading list. It’s longer because I keep buying books. The one I grabbed off the shelf was True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman. There are a bunch of baseball books I’ve inherited.

Having nothing to do with football

7. Projects you want to tackle this summer

Get reimbursements for my health expenditures. Get a replacement for a lost savings bond. Clean my office.

Work on genealogy. BTW, I just discovered another ancestor this week. I was looking for my mother’s father’s mother, which was a dead end. BUT I found my mother’s father’s father’s parents. Daniel Williams and Sarah Benson had six kids, the eldest three born in Canada.

8. Do you have weddings, graduations, summer celebrations

The UREC 4th of July. Olin family reunion.

9. Which summer snacks are you excited to enjoy again

Corn on the cob, which I’ve already had.

10. How much time do you like to take for vacations

Optimally two weeks, but it doesn’t always work out that way, especially since my wife is still working.

11. How much has changed since last summer?

It’s less COVIDy. For most of last year, Albany County had moderate COVID transmission. Since April 2023, it’s been low transmission. This is huge, especially for congregational singing.

12. Something that would be out of character for you

Brandishing a weapon

13. What do you miss about winter?

My hay fever doesn’t bother me, then.

14. Your favorite free/cost-effective ways to have fun

Listen to music and read.

15. Who do you trust most to house & pet sit

My daughter’s oldest friend, K. we have a demented cat, Midnight, so it’s tricky.

Sunday Stealing: Lucky Stubbs

Australia

The Sunday Stealing for this week is another Kwizgiver. I’ll write about Lucky Stubbs and other things.

1. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive-through?

While we’ve used the drive-through, we tend to be people who go inside. My wife doesn’t like us to eat in her car, and I get that.

However, I’ve witnessed how people in their cars are given more attention in terms of staffing at some locales than the people inside. This tends to make me irritable.

2. Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?

Undoubtedly, though, I have no specific recollection of what.

3. Do you have a dog?

In my life, I had only one dog. He was named Lucky Stubbs. I believe he was an Alaskan husky we had when I was a tween. He would nip at me, but my parents, specifically my father, seemed unconcerned. That is until he bit one or maybe both of the minister’s daughters. THEN they got rid of him, ostensibly to a farm in the area. (This is a random pic from a governmental website, BTW.)

4. Ever gone camping?

When I was a kid, we went camping a lot. I hated it. Setting up the tent, no matter how many times I had set it up, continued to be a mystery to me. I hated trying to sleep on an air mattress. There were often lots of bugs. On the other hand, I did think the Coleman stove and lamp were cool.

5. Have you met anyone famous?

I’m sure I’ve answered this before. Rod Serling, Earl Warren, Nelson Rockefeller, Anita Baker, And Randy Newman, sort of. Probably others.

6. Any plans today?

I will be singing in the church choir for the first time in three weeks and talking with my sisters for the first time in three weeks. These are related.

7. Are you happy?

Sure. I got to go to the wedding of an old friend this month. Now I can sing in the choir and talk with my sisters.

8. Where are you right now?

I am almost always in my office when I write these things.

More an irritation than a mere annoyance

9. What is the biggest annoyance in your life right now?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said this about Florida, but it’s hardly limited to the Sunshine State. “They started by finding marginalized groups to demonize to unite people around a common enemy: Jews, gays, Catholics, or whatever group they could rally the desperate mob to hate. Then they launched overwhelming campaigns of disinformation that ensured the people didn’t know what actually was happening in the world, only what they wanted them to know.

“At the same time, they would re-engineer education so children would be prompted to embrace feverish, unquestioning patriotism while censoring what kids learned in order to promote an idealized country that never made mistakes and only had the best interests of all people in their hearts. Facts, they declared, were for nerds and elitists.”

Last

10. Last song listened to?

P.S. I Love You from On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 by some obscure Liverpudlian band of the 1960s.

11. Last movie you saw?

We Are Marshall (2007) is a movie based on the real story of rebuilding a football team after most of the team was killed in a plane crash. My wife and daughter were watching the film on TV, which starred Matthew McConaughey, Thursday night when I came home from choir rehearsal.

12. Are you allergic to anything?

Some trees and grasses and this season is particularly virulent.

13. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?

Sneakers with support.

14. What do you think of when you think of Australia?

Aboriginal peoples; the Sydney Opera House; the Great Barrier Reef; the Australian Open, the first of the tennis Grand Slam events each year; and the fact that about two-thirds of its land mass is boringly named (Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory).

15. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?

I rather loathe them. That would be a hard NO.

Sunday Stealing: The Book of Questions

Eating alone

This week’s Sunday Stealing is The Book of Questions.

1. When you tell a story, do you often exaggerate?

No, unless it’s SO obvious, generally for comedic purposes.

2. If a friend were almost always late, would you resent it or simply allow for it?

Interesting that the issue came up this very week. Many events were late because of a loving, but overly ambitious agenda. When they were disappointed that I had to leave before the last event was over, but 45 minutes after the event was supposed to be over, I felt bad. But I needed to be elsewhere.

3. Can you be counted on to be on time?

I did a whole post on this.

4. When did you last yell at someone? Why?

It wasn’t exactly yelling, but I was on a committee to work on a different event. There is one item that always ends that entity’s events. Someone thought the closing should be dropped because of the time. I was adamant that it should not be dropped. I knew the event’s founders felt as I did, but I was willing to play the bad cop.

Services, gratis

5. If you could have free, unlimited service for five years from an extremely good cook, chauffeur, housekeeper, masseuse, or personal secretary, which would you choose?

Personal secretary if it meant they would type stuff. I hate typing, and I’m poor at it. If they didn’t type, then a housekeeper for sure. But the others are also appealing.

6. Would you be willing to go to a slaughterhouse and kill a cow? Do you eat meat?

Nope. Sometimes, yes.

7. Do you feel ill at ease going alone to either dinner or a movie? What about going on a vacation by yourself?

I’ve dined alone. While I prefer going to the movies with another, I’ve seen at least three movies in 2023 by myself. I went on a vacation alone in 1998. I’d do it again given the right circumstances, perhaps visiting some Major League Baseball parks,, which are uninteresting to my wife and daughter.

8. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

You mean I’m not? Well, I would rather not.. The sniping on social media alone makes it undesirable.

9. Would you rather play a game with someone more or less talented than you?

About even. But given the duality, someone who is more talented.

Dreams

10. Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

Go to Asia. Maybe I will in the next few years once I’ve saved up.

11. If you were at a friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner and found a dead cockroach in your salad, what would you do?

I’d discreetly get the friend out of the room and tell them.

12. Would you accept $10,000 to shave your head and continue your normal activities sans hat or wig without explaining the reason for your haircut?

With my (lack of) hair? That’d be like free money.

13. If you were able to wake up tomorrow in the body of someone else, would you do so? Whom would you pick?

I would not. I’m having enough trouble being me.

14. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I would not. It all shapes me, the good and the bad.

15. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

There’s a cliche about tragedy, plus time equals comedy. So it may be a matter of timing. I think of Hogan’s Heroes and The Producers making fun of the Nazis in the 1960s, e.g.