PA trip 2019 - Adventures

Chocolate World - Maggie wanted to take us there, so Kim and I took her and her neighbor Kevin on Sunday. Chocolate World is mostly a shopping center where you can buy lots and lots and lots of Hershey chocolate and all sorts of touristy things like pens, pins, shirts, and coffee cups. There is also a free ride through the "factory," where you learn all about how Hershey makes its chocolate. We did that first.

While we stood in line, I announced that there would be a test afterward. For the rest of our adventure, poor Kevin kept asking me about the test. Jeez, no wonder kids are stressed these days. I felt bad for saying it because the kid just kept eyeballing everything I did in hopes of getting an advantage for the test. Maggie, however, never blinked an eye.

Maggie: "Who cares?"

Me: "How many roasted almonds are in every Hershey bar?"

Maggie: "Eight. Duh. It's on the sign."

Hershey tour - We hopped the trolley and toured the town of Hershey, which was started by Milton Hershey. He not only started the company but built the city around his factory, not in the style of row houses but a comfy, cozy town with well-manicured lawns and brick homes. Then, after building a school for underprivileged children since he and his wife were unable to have children, Hershey left his entire fortune to the school's trustee board, which controls pretty much the whole town.

They are very adamant about keeping the community the way Milton Hershey envisioned it. I love it. It's so beautiful and clean and has that small-town feel that I miss about the midwest.

On the trolley ride, riders are given samples of chocolate, including Hershey kisses and Reese's peanut butter cups, because the man who began Reese's, now owned by Hershey's, also was from this area. At the end of the ride, we all received an entire Hershey bar. Lois devoured hers and then bought us all milkshakes from Chocolate World because...well, that's a must.

Hershey Parade - They have three neighborhood parades in Hershey. We got to see the Halloween parade, which was full of music, dancing, costumes, and, of course, Hershey chocolate. Although only for the kids who lined the sidewalks because Kim and I did not receive any candy. Maybe because we weren't dressed up, nor did we have buckets. Nor did we rush out into the street to bend over to pick up the chocolate. Instead, I ate Maggie's haul.

Maggie and Steph had to march in the parade with the Girl Scout Troup. Maggie was dressed up as a box of Thin Mints. She pinched children's cheeks and kissed babies as she marched, passing out candy and making tons of children happy. She'll be Mayor of Hershey one day, mark my words.

It was the first time on my trip where I felt cold and had to put on long pants. We lasted for most of the parade before we gave up during a lull and headed back to Stephanie's house.

Lehigh University - It was Fall break in PA when I was there, and so Steph's son Nate was home from college. We took him back on Wednesday before I flew home. The drive to Bethlehem, PA, took about an hour and a half from Hershey, and we were shown the way by Maggie's voice via Waze, an app I had to get as soon as I got home.

Maggie's voice: "In .02 miles turn right."

The university buildings and the surrounding area were beautiful. It was quite hilly and spread out, so walking is a chore. No freshman thirty for these kids. Fall was more prevalent here, but it began raining once we arrived, so the tour had to be done via car. No getting in my steps. Nate had to read seven chapters of a book he hadn't read...

Nate: "I didn't get the assignment until yesterday."

...so from the back seat on our drive, I read from a website I found with a tongue in cheek synopsis cliff-note version for the first seven chapters. I'm sure it helped him immensely. 

We unloaded Nate and then drove home in time to pick up Maggie from school. It rained the entire way, and so we made hot chocolate rum toddies at home before the sun came out in time for me to head back to Florida. 

PA trip 2019 - The project

In college, we took turns riding a greyhound bus to visit one another. When I went to Pennsylvania, Lois would always leave a list for us in the mornings. There would be some cleaning chores and usually a newspaper clipping of things we might be interested in doing, such as a museum opening or an activity that would get us out of the house. Even after Kim and I moved to Florida, she'd send us things she'd read about in our area. She was the queen of lists.

Lois: "Oh, I don't remember that. I think you're making that up."

But in the spirit of my memory, Lois told us that first on our list of chores was getting out the paint on her leather car seats. Apparently, Steph's daughter Maggie had gotten paint on the seats after a trip to Michaels where Grandmother purchased her some acrylic paints. 

Me: "Why wasn't Grandmother paying attention to the fact that Maggie was opening the paint in the car?"

Lois: "I was driving. I can't keep an eye on the road and an eye on her in the backseat."

Maggie denied any involvement, but since she was the only one who rides in Grandmother's backseat and the only one who paints, she didn't have much of a defense. When Kim and I took Maggie and her friend Kevin to Chocolate World, Kevin kept pointing out all of the places where there was paint. It really became evident the day we took on the project, and Kim backed the car out of the garage and into the sunshine.

How the kid got paint on both seats in the back is beyond all of us.

Maggie: "It wasn't me!"

I Googled some helpful suggestions and decided on a cleaning program that included softening the leather with olive oil before using non-acetone fingernail polish remover. With Q-tips, I oiled the paint smears and streaks and let them soften. Then I went in search of the nail polish. When it turned out to be acetone polish, I had to re-evaluate.

Lois: "Well, I can't sit on olive oil."

I decided to wash off the olive oil until I could get the nail polish remover. Apparently, Dawn dishwashing liquid, water, and a good scrubbing were all I needed.

Kim, since she had fingernails, scraped while I scrubbed. She then vacuumed the flakes, and Lois had a clean backseat once again.

A day later, we took Maggie to Claires, where she purchased some glittery, gooey, rubbery, putty that she immediately opened in the backseat where she was sitting with her Grandmother.

Me with Kim: "DO NOT OPEN THAT IN THE CAR!"

PA trip 2019

We lived in Pennsylvania in my early years. My brother was born there. The neighbors next door, Kim and Steph, were my first friends. Our families stayed in touch despite our moving away. We spent summers together, vacationed together., and traded spending Christmases with each other. Kim lived with us in Indiana for a year, and then she and I moved to Florida together.
We've been friends for over fifty years.

My high school teacher once told us that when we returned to the house, we grew up in, it would be much smaller than what we remembered. How right he was. While I didn't return to the house my parents built in Pennsylvania, the home next door (which I've spent more time in) where I did stay was way smaller than I remembered, especially the steps on the staircase.

After almost falling down them the next morning and having to bend over for a rest when climbing them, I took to crawling upstairs and using the wall and railing for stability in coming down.

Kim: "Everything is smaller because you're bigger."

So true. I felt like a giant in rooms I remember being larger. The Smith house is as much a part of my childhood as our house at 8200 in Indiana. It is also one of the only places still accessible. I'm so glad I had this stroll down memory lane.

I seemed to remember a story in every room. I told everyone I could remember. Luckily for me, Kim is as nostalgic as I am.

We told a lot of stories. We didn't all remember them, but someone always remembered something to conduct the story. Lois had picture albums too that sometimes backed our memories. We had a lot of laughs.

I haven't laughed as hard as I did in forever. I am very blessed to have these friends and so glad that I got to make this trip. Stay tuned for some of the adventures.

Monday morning NFL recap week 7

No Steelers this week as this was their bye. Which meant, for me, stress-free football viewing!

• It didn't take long before a player was ejected for poor sportsmanship conduct. The Dolphins Christian Wilkins and the Bills Cody Ford got into a jersey-holding match that Wilkins apparently couldn't handle. He threw a punch to the facemask of Ford, and the eagle-eyed ref tossed him out with less than a minute of play in the first quarter. Probably a good idea if Wilkins was that pissed off at the beginning of the game.
• Each week we've lost significant players to injuries. This week wasn't any different. There went the Chiefs Patrick Mahomes on Thursday and on Sunday, the Vikings Adam Thielen and the Falcons Matt Ryan. 
• Matt Stafford is the fastest player to reach 40,000 career passes. A feat he accomplished Sunday in the game against the Vikings in the first quarter. I love Stafford. Not because he is my new fantasy quarterback but because he plays like he's on the playground having tons of fun.
• Craziness in the Miami/Buffalo game. The Dolphins were lined up to kick the FG on fourth and one. Casually, I suggested aloud a trick play. Low and behold, they heard me. Punter and holder Matt Haack took the snap, and instead of lining up the ball for the kick, he ran with it for the first down. Unfortunately, the Bills stuffed Miami's Fitzgerald on the next play. He lost the ball, but the Bills were too busy with celebrating to notice, and the Dolphins got the ball back. Then, next play, Fitz threw an interception. Up, down, and gone.
• Scoreless at halftime were the undefeated 49ers playing the Redskins in a torrential downpour. It wasn't until late in the third quarter than points were put on the board with the 49ers kicking a FG. The rain was steady from the start of the game and had me wondering...do they change into dry uniforms at halftime, or do they sit in their wet uniforms in the locker rooms? The field was full of puddles and mud, and players were slip-sliding all over the ground like they were on a slip n' slide. Dangerous for sure, and the cameramen had to keep wiping the lens so we at home could see the game.
• Meanwhile, the Packers just kept getting wide open and kept scoring touchdowns. On a beautiful sunny day in Wisconsin.
• Men misbehaving went to the Falcons Devonte Freeman and Rams Aaron Donald. The Falcons Matt Ryan threw an interception, and somehow in the aftermath, Donald and Freeman engaged in a face mask war. Donald, a big guy who seemed to start the fight, actually lifted Freeman off his feet in the scuffle. That pissed off Freeman, who threw his arm toward Donald's facemask, and because that is considered a punch, he was ejected from the game. Bad enough, I lost another fantasy member, but I was not too fond of Donald's laughing attitude on the sideline. How old are we? 
• Okay, I hate the celebrations, but I gotta say, I laughed at the 49ers celebration of slip n' sliding across the field after sacking the Redskins quarterback with 11 seconds left in the game. Now that was funny.
• The inconsistent ref calls rose again. There was the whistle blown for a sack that wasn't a sack. There was a missed roughing the passer that resulted in an interception. But the call on Jacksonville's Chalais Campbell, who was tackling a Bengal, was the worst. Unfortunately, this happened near the Bengals Andy Dalton, and as the block finished, Campbell hit Dalton as he went down. Terrible call. Terrible. And it gave the Bengals life. Well, until they were intercepted, but that's beside the point.
• And the crowd at Soldier Field got some fun when Bears Cordarelle Patterson went one hundred and two yards to return a kick-off. He weaved and shuffled and ran down the field like it was nothing. Great blocks by his teammates. Easy peasy. 

NFL picks 2019-2020 week 7

Last Week - 8-6

Overall - 46-46

I enlisted my daughter's help this week (with a few picks that stymied me). Let's see how well Madison knows football. Then the hubby had to intersperse with his own picks and comments (in parenthesis), and since they were entertaining, I added them.

Kansas City over Denver - Lost my fantasy quarterback in the process... (I hope you picked the Chiefs since they won)

Rams over Atlanta - If the Rams can't win today, stick a fork in them. (Rams can't touch the winged creatures)

Buffalo over Miami - I was hoping the Dolphins would pull it out last week, and that fell through, so don't have much hope this week. (Miami can't win. Dolphins can't swim in Buffalo)

Jacksonville over Cincinnati - Toss up game. (I'm going with the tiger)

Minnesota over Detroit - This should be a good game. I had the Lions in my head, but when it came time to make my pick, I switched. Gut feeling. (I'll take Detroit)

Green Bay over Oakland - I've learned not to go against the Packers this season.

Indianapolis over Houston - Maddy's pick - I had the Colts, and she told me to stay with them. (Houston)

Arizona over Giants - Maddy's pick - For me, a toss-up game, but the Cardinals are the better team. (Arizona)

San Francisco over Washington - I mean, please. (Washington, I guess because the Nationals won and there is excitement in the air)

Chargers over Tennessee - I think the Chargers finally get a win this week. Surely. (Tennessee)

New Orleans over Chicago - I'm lost on who the Bears even have in at quarterback this week and if we have Brees back... (That's a tough one, but I'll go with New Orleans)

Seattle over Baltimore - Maddy's pick - For me, well, this is an even-steven game. Let's see how good the Seahawks really are this week. (I'll go with Baltimore to piss off some people)

Philadelphia over Dallas - Maddy's pick - I was undecided. (Philadelphia is the better team so Dallas)

New England over Jets - Do the Patriots play anyone that has a winning record? (I'll go with New England until they start losing)

No Monday recap

No football recap as I'm out of town and have no access to the Redzone Channel. I did, however, get to watch the Steelers game while in Pennsylvania with a house full of Steelers fans.

Oh, and Penn State. Penn State was a much bigger deal than the Steelers.

Maggie and I took it very seriously.

I'll resume next week after I'm home. Cheers!

NFL picks 2019-2020 week 6

Last Week - 8-7

Overall - 38-40

New England over Giants - Daniel Jones stands zero chance.

Tampa Bay over Carolina - Toss a coin. I don't know why my gut picked the local team.

Seattle over Cleveland - The Seahawks have become the team sneaking quietly through the league. Thus far, no accolades. They don't seem to care.

Kansas City over Houston - I'm hoping Patrick Mahomes pulls it together this week. If he can rein in his frustration and his offensive line can keep Watt from taking him out, I'm hoping he can get back to giving me large fantasy numbers.

Miami over Washington - Yep, I'm going out on a limb. 

Philadelphia over Minnesota - I'm in PA with my huge Eagles fan friend. How could I not?

New Orleans over Jacksonville - Credit Teddy Bridgewater for holding down the fort. 

Baltimore over Cincinnati - Yeah.

Rams over San Francisco - Oh, my. This is one of the tough picks this week. Will the 49ers stay undefeated? Is this the year they too get six championships? Can Goff do it alone? I might change this one before the deadline.

Arizona over Atlanta - I don't know what the hell has happened to Matt Ryan and the Falcons. I can't keep having faith in them when they play the way they did last week. And now, Julio might not be in this week? 

Denver over Tennessee - Credit Joe Flacco for what he's done with the Broncos thus far. I like that they're at home.

Dallas over Jets - Yeah.

Pittsburgh over Chargers - The Chargers let me down last week. Always hate playing a team coming off a loss. Most likely, we will be using our third-string quarterback, Dobbs. I like how relaxed the kid is. I think we put up some big numbers.

Green Bay over Detroit - The second game I think will be a tough one. I love how the Lions are playing, but it's hard to go against the Packers on MNF.

Gotta love Halloween time

We have two cars and three drivers currently. Madison needs a vehicle, but after my experience with my friend, the thought of car shopping makes me break out in hives. Now, Madison is working at a variety of jobs. Some days she takes her father to work and drives his car all day. Other days she takes mine. It's worked out well.

Until a light came on flashing in my van.

The same light that came on here. When Madison, who'd driven to the Tampa airport to meet her sister, called me to tell me the scoop, I told her exactly what my relatives told me.

Me: "It'll be fine."

Of course, then I proceed to freak out, at which point Madison told me to chill. She'd stay off the interstate and would take back roads, and everything would be fine. I didn't believe her, but it was football Sunday, and frankly, I didn't have time to worry about her when I had other things more important.

That's a joke.

Sort of.

She made it home and told us the car was very shaky. She and her father drove it to pick up dinner, and he came in and told me to take it to Goodyear the next day.

Me: "And then, I'll walk home from there?"

Him: "It's only 1.5 miles."

Me: "That can't be right. It's way farther than a mile and a half."

Him: "I've done it many times. 1.5 miles."

Me: "It's times like these, where I really miss my father."

The next morning, one minute before he had to leave for work, he hemmed and hawed about how he could've brought me home if I was ready to go right now. Even though Goodyear wasn't open yet. Having been married to this man for twenty-five years, I'd expected this very conversation, and I told him I'd walk the 1.5 miles. Having been married to me for twenty-five years, he knew I was full of shit, and he headed off to work.

I got dressed and took the car to Goodyear. Then I went into the waiting room to make some phone calls to my small entourage of friends for a ride. As I rounded the corner, I saw what my first SnapChat of the day would be:

Me: "Whoa. I hope this isn't an indication of how long one waits for one's car."

That earned me a chuckle from the man and the woman in the waiting room. Who didn't have to wait long before their cars where finished. I, however, sat for an hour before I found someone--my neighbor--to save me from a 1.5 5 mile hike.

Five hours and $900 later, my friend took me back to Goodyear to pick up my van. I think that was the deciding factor for him in buying his new car.

Me: "That's what you're going to look like if you keep procrastinating over a color. It's a sign."

Him: "Just get in your van and be glad you have a Yuber driver."

Maddy needs a car. Stat.