Football Hodgepodge

Hi friends,  

 Evenings are cool again and it has been so lovely

to open the windows letting the fresh air into the house.  

Here is this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge from   This Side of the Pond.

 1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I'm just here for the snacks). Who's your team?  

I really don't bother with football at all, so should I say zero?

 My mother was the big fan. She was a NY Giants fan.  The Famous Anonymous is a Philly Eagles fan.  Hearing a game in the background reminds me of my mother who was a sports nuts to be sure. Whether it was football, tennis, baseball, etc., she loved them all.

When my son was a toddler , winter football jackets were very popular and Sears sold them for all the teams.   At 2 years old he was attracted to the Minnesota Vikings jacket in purple with gold leather sleeves.     So, we got him that one.  It was warm and cozy and there was a knitted cap to go with it.

2. What's something you currently have a game plan for managing? 

My game plan is for the upcoming fall holydays.  I will be getting the house ready and the food planned for all the days upcoming.

3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What's a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn't as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside the US of A, but you can also answer the question this way-what's a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party? 

Chicken wings are good but I prefer other barbequed forms of chicken. Mildly hot is nice.

I've never done a tailgate or a game party but I know I would like the chicken, some spring rolls, chips, dip, hot dogs, French fries, pizza, Mexican things... all the messy finger foods are fine with me.

4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your 'life playbook' you think everyone should know?

Play fair and square in all you do and realize it is always how you play the game.

5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they'd like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like.

 I remember hearing the bombs in the basement of the building.  Many of my friends were there on site working in various places and going to school in the area and they heard the big explosions below ground too.   Later that morning we took a drive up the parkway and saw the area smoking like crazy.

I was in touch by phone and online with friends in the city from firt impact until late that night.  

My mother had passed away in 97 and I recall thinking how she'd have been so sad since she and her girlfriends used to lunch at the Windows on the World quite often and knew many of the people who worked there.  . She lived only 20 minutes outside Manhattan in the town in which I grew up.

A few people I knew died that day including one who was so proud to be a Port Authority cop.     

Insert your own random thought here:   Proverbs 24:6: "In a multitude of counselors there is safety"

About Labor Day.. Tuesday 4

Hello friends,

September weather is gorgeous here.  Yesterday was perfect and today is not far behind.  I heard on the weather guy today that El Nino might make weather down the east coast and the south very stormy and cold this year.    We shall wait and see. I think El Nino needs to just calm down and behave itself.

Tonight, it is down to 59°F. and it's so pleasant out late tonight.

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we ask 4 questions every week.

 Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 7.   The original Labor Day was September 5, 1882 when over 10,000 workers took to the streets to protest 12 hour work days for low wages and cruel practices of employers.

The first official Labor Day was on September 7th in Oregon.

President Grover Cleveland signed on for the first offical federal observance of Labor Day following the Pullman Strike in which government forces shot dead many unarmed workers strking over dramatic wages cuts and dramatic cost of living increases in a company town.  Workers pay was cut 30% and they could not afford basic food.  When a group of men tried to negotiate with Pullman, they were fired  and 34 of them were unalived by government forces

1. How do you observe Labor Day and were you aware of the background of it?   I was only vaguely aware until I researched the questions for this week's Tuesday 4.

I observe it now by remembering those who died because of the greed of the billionaire/millionaires  and by not working on that day.

2, Many holidays become just a day off rather than a real commemoration of an event.  

How do you propose we can remedy that?

I think a better history education is called for.  The history of most holidays is neglected for the most part.  You learn the vague over view but the work and sacrifice behind them are not really taught.

3. What is the most labor intensive job or activity you have done?

In my home in Utah, I put in the driveway and long walkway by myself.  I dug it out by hand, leveled it all and finished it nicely.  The second was painting the house I am in now.   It's due for another paint job but I think I might just get it cleaned with a soft wash first.

   

4. If your income was  cut by 30% could you still survive?  What would you do?

No.  It would be extremely hard especially with the way prices have gone through the roof in the past few years.  Promises of politicians are always fake and I truly believe you can't be in politics unless you are part of the 'big club' George Carlin spoke about.

What I would do about it is pray about the situations.  Those in power don't care about the people one bit it certainly seems.....

God cares though.