Mattie is Alive

So, Sunday night I crashed, and last night I crashed, and tonight I crashed, but I am in my second-wind phase, so here we are; bed soon, but let me at least let my readers know I am alive.

Yesterday was Candlemas -- it's a Polish Mass, where you light candles to ward off winter/celebrate the end of the Xmas season.  My Polish friend to whom I take Communion said I should go, and I went -- not a lot of people, sadly, but it was nice.  All in Polish (I read that but...) and of course I didn't know you had to go and get the candles and light them.  No one told me when I was to put the candle out, either; I am not sure if the Polish community got a kick out of this or not.  Also amusing: Fr. Michael -- our Polish priest -- had Mass and was worried about opening the tabernacle door, so he called me up (during Mass) to do it and help pass out Communion.  So I was glad I went!  Would I go again?  Maybe.  Language is an issue but it is a pretty Mass; not that ours are not anyways, but...

I have to admit, it was a bit sketch after Mass getting home -- it was snowing and the roads weren't treated.  I had a haircut in Lakewood and it was snowing there and those roads were....not bad but not good.  It was snowing less, I had to admit, and as I got closer to home, it was better -- both snow and roads.  But still... I think we are just sick of winter.

My weekend plans have been re-arranged and rather than a restaurant visit, I think I am going to cook something from my list of recipes; I have a bunch of those and I should be going through them as well.  Just the matter of which to choose...funny, as I did the dishes a couple of days ago and the prospect of a full sink...

So, the Internet is exploding as The Red Chimney Restaurant -- the go-to-place after Mass -- is moving to Parma after the fire there a few months ago.  My sister and I noted that I would go there less as the new locale (the former Pappou's) is far from my house but closer to hers.  I don't blame them for the move -- bigger site, no tenants above to set it afire, don't have to have an expensive rebuild -- but it will NOT be the same.  That is ok, though!  I wonder what/if will go in the old building.  Lots of empties around as it is, and while we should put in housing, I think we all know they will not...

Mattie is Productive

I slept in a bit today, and while I probably needed it, I have to admit I felt a little discombobulated; I like to get up early and get things done, as there is then more time the rest of the day to do Matt things.  Anyways, a good workout, Aldi, Marc's, the bank (gotta start paying the HELOC down again), my sister's, the library, and Bakery 57 (I got a gift card for Christmas, and I deserved a treat after my travel ordeal).  I was thinking of doing some culinary adventuring, but I think I will wait til I feel better and it is a little less cold.  

Also, I have been trying to go through the pantry and freezer.  Ate some turkey soup last weekend, and today I made the box of Rice-a-Roni (Lord knows how it got here) that was in the cupboard.  Never had much luck cooking rice, but this was...surprisingly easy?  Put the rice in the pot, add the spice and butter (I would use less if I did it again), then the water.  It did cook down, and it was...pretty good?  Bit salty.  I think I can get three meals out of it, which is nice -- I need to lose weight, and economy is good.  I have been going through my bag of potatoes in the fridge, and half a baked potato is a good lunch portion.  This will not last, for many reasons, but for now...it's fine.  

Watched film 858 today, the 83-second "Dog and the Tramp," a silent short just added to the NFR.  It was...fine?  Cute?  Tramp steals pie, dog attacks tramp, mess ensues.  Not exactly sure if it is NFR-worthy, but it is cute, and I suspect it is fairly difficult to look at all the old footage (that we somehow saved) and deciding what is really better than something else.  More to the point, I feel like watching films -- both on the NFR and from the various other places I have saved -- and striking while the iron is hot is the way to go.

I am about halfway through my next book, Keeping the Faith, which is about the Monkey Trial (should have read it last year).  The author is taking her time to get there -- biographical sketches about Bryan and Darrow (interesting), cultural history (largely interesting if a bit digressive), and theological debates (a smattering).  The author is clearly on one side of the debate, which is not surprising, but then you have to wonder how objective she will be.  I picked up three large tomes at the library today, so I should probably find a way to turn the pages a bit more rapidly...

The Sense of Progress

Funny; I am sick with this cold and wanted to try and find/watch some films, but here we are...  work was long this week, albeit productive.  In consequence, I had some stuff to catch up on, and I just finished most of it -- SVDP stuff, food pantry stuff, clearing out Tivo of J! episodes, etc.  I will note that I largely agree with the idea of an exhibition/warmup game between seeded J! champions, but I will also say that these games do take away from the regular season and cost people a chance to play.  And wit the contestant pool as full as it is...

I finished book 6 today, one about baseball stadiums -- their layouts, designs, etc.  It was interesting but sort of... vestigial?  I mean, we all know why, and in some ways, I had no idea what the book mentioned.  Even my history knowledge is slipping away, and that is... ok, I guess.

My suitcase finally arrived today, but I have been so busy that I have yet to crack it open.  Stuff just kept popping up, and in some ways I don't want to know what carnage is inside.  Of course, I need to get the library books out, charge the razor, recover my prayer cards, etc...  It will be done -- I have been trying to read a bit more and adding the books to the pile will do some encouragement.

Grapefruit was on sale at Meijer last week and this week at Aldi.  As we know, I rather love them, and I finished my first one today... and it was delicious.  Right mix of tart and sweet, good size... I will be eating these things for about two weeks, and I really cannot complain.  My sister marvels that my breakfast is just fruit and milk -- no protein! -- but to me it minimizes carbs and is a good way to add a serving of fruit to my diet, so...why not?

The Spanish Church’s fight against human trafficking and prostitution
Interesting and good -- quite the ministry we need.  Reading the article I couldn't help but think of Gladstone...hard to believe his wife worked with him on that ministry (bringing prostitutes home and trying to reform them).  Nowadays no one would believe that there were anything but impure motives there, but back then, publicly at least, no one (publicly) questioned his efforts, and in some ways, it was a better time...

Movies

Last night I was just tired and crashed.  I am not exactly surprised by this now, though yesterday I was.  But, considering my stressful Monday, two plane rides, and minimal sleep -- to say nothing of the cold trek -- I guess I should be pleased that I escaped with only a cold and a lack of sleep.  This morning I woke up (I am back to 3 blankets with the cold) and it just felt so good and warm under the blankets I was tempted to go back to bed, but... adulting is hard.  I have plenty to day Saturday and we all know how I like to get up and do it, but I am tempted to just sleep in a bit.  Of course, I have stuff to do, books to read, crap to go through, etc.

"Shane" was on TCM tonight and I had to watch; I mean, the movie has a few problems -- the annoying kid at the end (sad story), the near-adultery between Jean Arthur and Alan Ladd -- but as a Western, it is easily among my top 5.  Classic good vs. evil, excellent bar fight in the middle, awesome gunfight at the end.  Even the moral lesson at the end -- maybe a bit preachy -- rings true even today.  

GOP pitches student loan repayment as Americans struggle to keep up with bills - POLITICO
I don't know, I understand times are tough, but they borrowed the money, and they should pay it back?  I and millions of others somehow managed to pay down our student loans, and they cannot?  Yes, we need to make college more affordable, but I am sure that throwing more money at it and buying off loans is NOT the approach.  I don't know, it is sort of like all the school districts complaining about running out of calamity days.  I mean, either you use them and tack on days at the end of the year, or you tell the parents to bundle their kids up?  Neither option is exactly pleasant, but children should be in school (did we not learn the lesson of the pandemic?), and if we tack on a week in June... well, remember this then.

How $16B in earmarks evaded conservative ire — and helped clinch a funding deal - POLITICO
This could be me, but aren't we supposed to be Republicans?  Fiscal responsibility is what we stand for, sometimes, right?  And the fact that so many of us are ok with it... just makes my head spin.

Browns fan creates petition calling for ownership accountability - cleveland.com
This could be, but wouldn't the best way to demand accountability is to not show up and spend money?  A petition is nice but... not exactly pushing the envelope.

Library Names 25 Films to the National Film Registry for Preservation
Finally!  Interesting and odd choices (but prolly better than some of the DEI ones of recent vintage).  I have seen six of these -- I am going to re-watch "Glory" because why not -- and I have read Ten Nights in a Bar-room, but I have not seen "White Christmas" or "The Karate Kid."  I should watch the Linklater trilogy.  Funny, I have gotten away with trying to watch them -- the Interlibrary Loan shutdown has largely crimped this -- but there is no reason now not to re-start my efforts.  Save for my usual sloth.

The Odyssey of Mattie Agonistes

So, this week is my company's annual meeting -- held in San Diego this year -- and I should be there.  But, I am home.  Here is my story:

I was skeptical I would get out of the CLE Monday with the weather, but the snow seemed to clear Sunday night (mostly) and the flight (Cleveland, Charlotte, San Diego) was NOT cancelled.  So, mindful of the less-than-salted roads, I set off for the airport -- had to park long-term as my sister's driveway was not plowed.  First time I ever used it, but...whatever.  I also decided to pack my winter coat in the suitcase once I arrived at the airport (but I kept my gloves and lock deicer).  While driving, the flight was delayed a bit, then a bit more.  OK; I had some time, and I figured I would try to eat and dined at Bar Symon, supposedly good -- and it was.  I forgot how tasty the rosemary fries are!  Anyways, they kept pushing back the Charlotte flight, and eventually it was pushed back to make me late in Charlotte.  The helpful gate agent was able to get me to O'Hare on a 3PM flight and a similar connection to San Diego.  Fine!

Not a huge fan of the quick hop, but it was smooth.  When I arrived at O'Hare, my flight to SDN was delayed by like three more hours -- to an 11PM departure.  Oi!  And it kept getting delayed -- 11:30, 12, 12:30; 1 AM.  They told us that they couldn't find a flight crew for it; we pointed out this was beyond redeye time and we would need only one person to give us blankets and pillows.  Then the flight was cancelled -- at 1 AM! -- and then there was a mad rush to find a gate agent.  I then decided that going to San Diego tomorrow would be fooling -- I would miss half the meeting and then have to fly home, and I have real work to do.  So I decided to go home.  The gate staff gave a bunch of us some passes to call someone.  I did, and I soon discovered the only open flight was a 4:30 PM one.  But, I could fly standby at 8AM.  By this time, all gate agents were gone, so I broke down, went to the 24/7 Dunkin, got a late dinner, and tried to sleep/read/walk around.  

Morning came and I found a helpful gate agent (to be sure the staff was mostly helpful) and there were indeed seats on the 8AM flight, so I moved myself to that and there was a nice and smooth flight home.  But -- and I expected this -- my suitcase was NOT on the carousel.  No one at American seemed to know where it was, as it had yet to land.  I despair of seeing it again!  Anyways, thankful that I kept my gloves, I took a shivery walk to the long-term lot, where -- mercy of mercies -- the Behemoth started up.  The roads were mostly good; 480 a bit off, 77 beautiful, and you can tell the difference between Parma and other suburbs.  I stopped at Walgreen's to pick up prescriptions and then at Arby's to get the $7.49 box special (pretty good; been a while since I had an Arby's roast beef!).  Then home to eat, shower, change clothes, and brush my teeth.  I was feeling fine now but am quite sleepy though not so tired to plan on watching J!.

All I can say is that was....largely a waste?  I mean, I skipped the meeting, missed a day and a half of real work, spent cash (to be reimbursed but...), stressed myself out, and am out a suitcase full of stuff including my razor (I have a spare but still), some library books, my prayer cards, and some clothes.    I did eat at a place on the list and read all of Rick Atkinson's The British are Coming (quite good, as expected) and started the next, but...sigh.  I do not think I will do this again if there are weather-related travel issues; my ardor for being a good coworker offset by solid practicality.

‘Brain the size of a walnut’: Bessent goes off on Newsom - POLITICO
This is pretty good, and -- as I so often say -- we are blessed to have him on our team.  

Snow day

Not only did I not leave the house today, but the only time I even thought about going outside was when I threw my orange peels and apple cores outside, and that was quite enough -- not that windy, but very cold and there was plenty of snow.  My plow person arrived about 4, and it was most impressive, as there was a LOT of snow; I can easily see 8 or nine inches (I will measure tomorrow).  Supposedly it will end by midnight and hopefully they can plow clear.  I was fascinated by all the stores that announced they were closing at 4; I guess it is good to do it during the break, but...making people go in during the first/worst round...that's ok.

So, another person has been killed in Minneapolis.  On the one hand, we don't want people -- especially actual American citizens -- getting killed.  On the other hand... I am not sure that was is going on, protest-wise, is...legitimate?  Running up to someone with a gun is not exactly a wise choice, and I suspect that you really can't tell in real time whether it is a camera/phone or gun.  Certainly, a threat assessment is going to be...fragmented.  Both sides are correct in that they need to de-escalate, but will they?  How can you?  If the feds pull out it will be seen (rightfully) as a retreat, and if the protestors go home... the same.  Not that you can negotiate with these people.  I give the Administration credit for the aggressive defense of their actions, but...then again, with the press, it is a hostile reaction across the board.

The Elite College Suing Its Own Star Quarterback - WSJ
This story gets better and better!  To be sure, there is something to this; if you give a bunch of money to someone, you expect them to stick around, and if they want to leave, they should pay, right?  In some ways, this is a normal business deal...of course, it isn't, for now.  Again, the NCAA should be the one setting rules about this, but... in the meantime, the lawyers will rule.

Have We Become so Cynical, so Jaded, That $9 Billion in Fraud Against the Taxpayer Isn't a Huge Issue? – PJ Media

Many have said that I am jaded and cynical, so I saw this headline and had to dig into the article... and this is largely correct.  There is something to be said for the right-wing argument that all of the protests are ginned up to protect the money machine.  I realize we are well-past the Everett Dirksen comment about a billion here, a billion there, soon you are talking real money...but if there is not an accounting, and punishment, and reform... 

Change is in the air...

Interesting day today -- I was doing stuff I normally do not do.  First was OC duty -- we decided that we couldn't close and thus, despite the cold, we were open.  I woke up early and packed on the layers -- two long sleeve shirts, two hoodies (double hoods are warmer), a sweatshirt, and my winter coat.  And... we needed people in the back to pack bags and thus I spent the day in unheated but warmer garage.  We were not that busy at first, but ended with 94.  People didn't show up early -- and we barely had 10 walkers -- but after a while I think people realized it was ok enough to get out.  So that was a change!

Then I went to lunch; The Pierogi Lady had a popup in the Village and I decided to check it out.  She was running out of some pierogi but I picked up the Polish trio for lunch and some frozen pierogi for later.  The halushki was ok -- way top much pepper, a shame -- but the pierogi and the chicken paprikash (we all know how I love that) was very solid, and for $16... it was quite worth it.  The only downside it was all takeout, and I prefer to eat it there, pop-up or not.  

Home for a couple of hours, where I caught up on stuff and did some things, and then I decided -- for the first time in a decade -- to go to Saturday Mass.  One, the weather, and two, I have some work to do tomorrow, and I didn't want to stress driving to and from Church.  I ended up being the EM -- just like the usual -- and there were several of my fellow 8:30 Massgoers there (we teased ourselves about "skipping).  It was nice but a bit odd; normally I get to Mass early and see the sun come up through the stained glass windows.  Now, of course, it started light and got dark.  Odd.

Then it was home to catch up on stuff, read, do a spot of work, and wonder how much snow we are going to get.  I do not plan on going out tomorrow -- hence the whole Mass change -- but it is not going to be pleasant tomorrow with the wind, snow, and cold.  I was thinking about all of the people who do have to be out -- all the people at the grocery store, the gas station, the healthcare people, the road crews, the fast food and restaurant workers... on the one hand, a lot of these places don't need to be open, but on the hand, after a long day of snow-plowing and such, you might want to get out of the truck and have a meal.  Hard to close in such a scenario...hell, especially with the salt shortage.  I can see not salting until the snow stops, but...