Mattie's Summer of Fun

The downside of these last nites is that my sleep schedule and biorhythms get messed up.  I woke up slightly later than usual and sort of dragged (not sure why).  I got the workout and errands done, and then it was off to my double event.  There was an open house at Grays Armory today, and I figured I should see that.  On the way there I remembered that the CBT had a day night doubleheader, so my approach in (I came in off 22nd) and parking plan was altered.  Still, I parked by CSU for  $3.35, which was cool. 

I am sure I went there as a kid, but it has been 30 years or more... anyways, it is a cool space - basically it is large stone house in the middle of downtown (I think they make more from parking than anything else).  It has that older feel, but it has a couple of large gathering areas, and there are plenty of military displays around.  A Civil War re-enactor was there -- I noted he was an artillery sergeant -- and he, I, and a couple of other guests had a lengthy discussion of their cannon, which is basically a hybrid piece the CSA made, we captured, and were like "off to the rear."  It was interesting to hear how this group survived as an adjunct to the National Guard and what it does now.  

Then it was off to the PACC for their Polish Picnic (I stopped at Philomena for some gluten-free treats; they are good, but different.  Still, gotta support a Village business!), which I had never been too.  I forgot they do those stupid food tickets (oi), and it was a little chaotic up front, as they just assumed people would buy tickets... I literally gave people some menus so they could figure out what they wanted and order (I told one woman I knew the cooks and thus the grub was good).  Very Polish.  Anyways, the food was good -- potato pancakes, goulash, gowumpki, halushki.  Bit heavy (which also explains my lethargy) but good.  I ate inside but meandered around the picnic area; never been there.  They have a series of plaques with key moments in Polish history (good and bad) and we all know I am a reader, so...despite the sun, I read them all.  

I talked with a friend who was there, and he was telling me stories of life under marital law (born in 80, came here in 87, so remembered some things) -- lots of cops, empty stores, waiting in line for little food, the surprise of coming to the US and hitting a supermarket.  He noted that stuff was pricier here but it was also... there, and in spades.  I told him he was like a World Cup video poster, and he said that is exactly what it was like, fascinating, and I told him to get this written or recorded.  (I should do the same.)

The 25 most influential works of American culture - Washington Post
Interesting.  I think Uncle Tom's Cabin has to be the TOP one in the decade they chose, and I can see why they chose a decade, but most of these are solid; hell, I spent a bit of time checking some of them out, not that I am exactly a culture guy...

Call Me a Vampire

Here I am, up late.  My big plans to do a pile of SVDP work were negativity affected by my falling asleep on the living room floor, though I did get through a pile of emails and links, which is close enough.  I have a full day planned tomorrow, so I should be in bed, but... alas.  

In some ways today was worse than yesterday; the air smelled more, there was less wind, and it was darker and thicker -- I had to put the lights on before the sun went down, which is a rare event.  I assume the rain tomorrow (and the wind) will clear out some of the miasma, or at least I hope so.  I walked across the parking lot at a strip mall to go the bank and I was like "ugh."  I can only imagine people with respiratory issues.  That said, the Canadians should be pleased we are poking around in Iran, otherwise POTUS would be declaring war.

How the U.S. Lost the World Cup—and Won Over the World - WSJ
This is exactly right, and while I would have rather us won the thing...this might be as close as we get.  And, for all of the shitting on Trump and his voters, it certainly appeared that a lot of these Europeans were traveling through red states and seemed to be enjoying it.

We Went to a Yacht Party for the Most Pro-Deportation People in DC - POLITICO
I sort of want to join, just for the shits and giggles.

Inside the tense final hours of Graham Platner’s campaign - POLITICO
This is a different form of shits and giggles, in that everyone loves a trainwreck, especially me, and this was one.  I would hope Susan Collins has a string of ads with all of the people who endorsed the guy, with a chyron of "How Can You Trust Them" or something. She is smart enough to win, and she might be able to do it again...

Inside the tense final hours of Graham Platner’s campaign - POLITICO
He is pretty funny, and while he might be too old for POTUS, I agree he is quite the road warrior for GOP campaigns.  I think we can use this -- humor -- especially as most Dems now come off as annoying scolds.  Ok, they always were,  but just moreso now...

Blame Canada

 Paul Pelosi’s Errant Driving Record Preceded His Latest Napa Valley Crash - The New York Times
Who does this guy think he is, Ted Kennedy?  Hell, he killed his own brother... again, I realize we are Republicans, but at the end of the day, this is the sort of stuff we should be going after them for, as it is not just a personal tragedy; it is a miracle that someone else hasn't been killed.

In other news, the truck is back -- a piece rusted off and was hitting another piece (of the body); no damage, just sound, and for a nominal fee they pulled it off.  Rah.  I will eventually have to replace the truck, but not now (the underbody and engine are fine), and that is a phew.  I do need to figure out what to do next, house-wise; I am tempted to get the plumber in and handle the slow-emptying sink, even if they blow those pipes.  

Anyways, to "celebrate" I hit the St. Paul's Greek fest.  It was good -- I went with the moussaka to change it up -- and then I got a chicken soulvaki outside (I know some of the grillers and made sure I said hi).  But, it is also a little pricey, and they were a bit pokey on the checkout, which was meh, especially as I was ravenous and thus was ready to chow.  There are some other interesting events this weekend that I will try to hit...again, I always talk about having a fun summer, and damn it, I am going to do it, as best as I can.  I also hit Aldi's for some apples (my jury-rigged freezer bags are keeping it cool enough in the soon-to-be-replaced fridge) and granola bars.  As I told my one friend, starvation rations are fine, but once the new fridge arrives, culinary normalcy will return.

It was slightly less warm today but with the smoke and haze you wouldn't have noticed.  Really felt heavy out there, and I just went to get the mail and to walk to the mechanic... I cannot imagine the pleasure of being out there all day.

Heat

 I had to cut the grass today, and it was...quite hot.  It was fine when I was cruising on the mower, but after, when I went to remove the sky-high dandelions from the pachysandra... well, that was a less than inspired choice.  As with most things, I should never let them get that way in the first place, and while I put an impressive pile of bio-debris in the compost pile, I could have done without. Indeed, I had planned to go do the weed-whacking, but I was rather spent, so... no.  

I watched "Glen or Glenda" today; it was playing at 3AM on TCM a few days ago, so I recorded it and had to watch.  I have seen it before (maybe twice), but this time... well, for all of the talk of the movie being so bad it is good, it's really just bad.  And, for all my notions of going off and watching all of the truly awful movies out there, sitting through an hour-plus of this clunker shows us what a poor idea that is.  At least I was able to get the OC budget out in all its glory.  We have not spent that much on food due to grants, which is good, as we have put out a LOT on roof replacement projects.  We benefit from those, and Downtown cannot raise polite objections to us having too much cash on hand (which I agree with, but as much of the Board does not...), but, of course, there is the issue that we really have but one more emergency to handle.

Tim Walz defends Minnesota pardon of sex offender deported to Laos | Fox News
Now, Democrats thought this person was qualified to be Vice President.  I realize they are Democrats, and that is a low bar to begin with, but...

Thrills and chills

Day two of homeward bound continued and it was...fine?  We are a little busy at work, so I just put some extra time in.  I will definitely cut the grass tomorrow, and hopefully there will be some Behemoth news.  Rah.  I went through a pile of the paperwork, and went through some SVDP stuff, always a good thing.  I also treated myself to watching "In Which We Serve," the Noel Coward film from the 40s about the Royal Navy, or, as I say, "Mrs. Miniver On a Boat."  There is something about it I find cheery, even if it is quite the period piece, if you get my drift.  It is also the straightest role he ever played, but, a war was going on, and he even soldiered on, if you get my drift.

Explained: Argentina’s anti-England chants and why players sing about the Falklands War - The Athletic

This is the stuff about soccer that makes it watchable, for God's sake!  Fan-trolling is where it is, and if you think about it, this is just as good as "Two World Wars and One World Cup."  I realize of course I think differently about things compared to most people, but if I was in charge of FIFA, I would encourage this.  

Speaking of soccer, I am still reading all the articles about how we don't have the youth soccer programs other countries do.  I don't think that is it... I think we just have so many other sports kids play.  Football is king, hoops and baseball, and then soccer?  Hell, LAX is hugely popular now, too, and I suspect a lot of kids who could play soccer play LAX, if you get my drift.  Soccer is also not football -- no cheerleaders, if you will -- so soccer has to compete with everyone else.  This is not a bad thing, but for all of the hand-wringing, I think it is just economics and choice.

‘This Was a Black Eye’: Progressives Face Reckoning Over Graham Platner - NOTUS — News of the United States
If this is what they consider a reckoning, I wish I would have similar such reckonings!  To be sure, they are Democrats, so it's not like they have any morals about this (or anything), so...

Homeward Bound

 So, I called the mechanic about the truck, and they cannot take it until Thursday, so I will be car-less til then.  Alas.  I mean, it's not the worst; save for fruit, I have plenty of food, plenty of things to do, etc.  I just hope the thing can be fixed and at moderate cost.  There is some work to do and SVDP stuff... of course, it is the whole forced thing that is the issue.  But I will survive.  Hell, the grass needs to be cut, so that is on the agenda for tomorrow night...  in the meantime, my jury-rigged fridge -- I refresh the freezer bags every night -- continues on.  I realize there are worse fates to befall me, but...

In the meantime, Lindsay Graham passed away. I was fascinated by the scurrilous rumors about the guy; I suspect THAT is why they released the audio from the 911 calls.  That said, he will be missed.  Not only for being the one to say he could murder Ted Cruz and be found innocent 99-0, but... he was a deal maker, a solid conservative, and a funny guy.  We rarely hit the trifecta in life.  The choice of his sister seems odd, unless we didn't want to put the thumb on the scale for the successor...

Ditching the Seventeenth - by Glenn Harlan Reynolds
Dare I say I rather agree?  I realize it will probably never happen, but... well, I think the corruption would be the same, but local, and it is easier to get rid of state reps than 200 lobbyists in DC.  

Things Fall Apart

 Last nite was the class reunion.  As with most things in my life, I didn't want to go, but went and had a good tine.  Attendance was a bit sparse -- I figured more would have attended -- but the ones who were there were nice and friendly, and it was good to see the ones who were there.  It was at the Wild Eagle -- nice place, should go there more -- and it was close to home.  Rah.  Earlier in the day I went to a silent movie at the Cleveland Public Library; they were doing the Lillian Gish 1926 "The Scarlet Letter." Charming film; I had not read the book since high school, so I forgot some of the plot twists, but other than that... fine.  They had a nice reception after -- live music (like the silents of the day) and while I am not quite the aesthete, I liked it.  The Library is quite nice; I should hang out there more often.  Lots of cheery spaces, reading areas, etc.  If you can find cheap street parking... 

Today I watched "Inception," the Nolan film from 2010 that is on the NFR.  I don't know, didn't really like it.  I mean, the action scenes were awesome, and the cast was first-rate, but the plot... I guess I am not the sci-fi type.  Oh well.  Bit long, too.  860, though.

Samuel Alito, a MAGA-Friendly Justice With a New Conservative Legal Vision - WSJ
It is more than fair to say that he has amply filled the mantle of Justice Thomas!

Last Skyway drive-in restaurant closes after 74 years in Fairlawn - cleveland.com
What???  I mean, I didn't go as often as I should have -- need to get to Fairlawn more, I guess -- but when I did, I always stopped.  Was just as good as Swenson's... alas.  I guess things happen, and people have a right to retire, but one hates to see these things come to an end.

In less happy news, the Behemoth is making loud noises, so I will have to call the mechanic and see when they can take it (hopefully soon).  As my father would have said, it sounds expensive, and of course, the timing is not quite the best.  To say nothing of the fact that this could be a big one, or the big one.  Ugh.  But we will figure it out,

In other news, I bought a fridge Saturday.  I went to Home Appliance in Brunswick (my sister recommended it) and while they didn't have one in stock, they can have one next week, and it was about what I figured I would pay.  I am a little short of fruit, but other than that... I think I can survive for a few days.  I am sure I will be pleased to do my part to stimulate the economy...