I have the same question as Sandy Denny, Where Does The Time Go? I know the answer, sports. For years I was a huge sports fan, Mets, and Knicks. When my life fell apart I kept my love for the games but could no longer watch them and went to far fewer games. There was a time I was going to close to about 60 games a year. This year I rediscovered the joys of listening to games on radio and the Knicks are in the playoffs so I can watch them on TV. That got me watching other playoff games on TV. So where did yesterday go? Watching the Nets-Celtics game and listening to the Met game. Today I can watch the Mets on YouTube TV in the afternoon and the Knicks have a playoff game on TV tonight. I can’t miss the Knicks; Marv Albert is announcing it; it might be his last Knick game ever. He’s the greatest sports announcer I’ve heard and was once a Knicks ballboy.
I have a ton of new music to listen to; there’s been a bumper crop this week and I still haven’t programmed next week’s Gord’s Gold. Then there are real life things I have to do; so, what am I doing? I’m blogging. That’s important too and I missed writing yesterday. Writing is an important part of my sense of self.
As I missed walking for three days yesterday I went on an expedition. I decided to forego the donut and instead get free pub fries from Wendy’s. What’s pub fries? “Our natural-cut, skin-on, sea-salted fries topped with warm beer cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, and crispy Applewood smoked bacon.” It’s in the poutine family. The offer on the app said free pub fries with any purchase. My plan was to order a frosty and get the free fries. It’s a long walk to Wendy’s, it’s near the Stop & Shop I frequent. That was the plan a pub fries and frosty walk instead of the Donut Walk™. I can’t do that every day as pub fries and a frosty have a lot more calories than an original glazed donut. I’m afraid to look at the numbers. As I approached I made my order. I went to the app and clicked on apply the special pub fries offer. Then I ordered a frosty. I got a message that the offer only applies if I order something. I did order something, the frosty. I thought maybe a drink doesn’t count so I ordered a cheeseburger junior too. It still wouldn’t process my order, even though it showed both the burger and frosty it said my cart was empty other than the pub fries. Arrgghh! I gave up and went to get a few things from Stop & Shop that I needed, not enough to be worth the trip there. I walked home a new way that avoided the steps. That was much better. I was happy to add the slight extra distance. I didn’t get my pub fries, but I got eggs, Italian bread, and walked 4.89 miles.
As I walked I listened to a great podcast. The Ezra Klein Show: Obama Explains How America Went From ‘Yes We Can’ to ‘MAGA’. I’ll link to it several ways, The New York Times, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. I was not one of the Obama acolytes when he started his campaign. I did support him wholeheartedly and volunteered in the general election. I was angry with his reaction to the 2010 midterms when he was far too willing to give away the store to the Republicans if they would just agree to a small raise in taxes. We were saved by the GOP purists who wouldn’t go along with any raising of taxes. But I was never one of the Obama bashers on the left. I still had tremendous respect for the man and even his judgment. Nobody gets it right every time. The podcasts reminded me of what I love about Obama, he is so thoughtful, self-aware, and self-questioning. He works hard at seeing the world from perspectives other than his own. He’s never so sure that he’s right that he won’t consider the possibility of being wrong. It’s the opposite of a post I just saw by a friend complaining that racists call him racist. He IS a racist and isn’t moved to examine his beliefs or at least admit the possibility that he’s wrong and everybody else right. Obama looks with a critical eye at all his beliefs.
The other thing I love about Obama is something that others hate; he doesn’t blindly follow his passion. He talked even discussed the Keegan Michael-Key Anger Translator bit. He prioritized getting things done over feeling good by expressing his feelings. Give the podcast a listen and remind yourself of Obama’s virtues, one of which is admitting his vices.
Now I have to get to work. I’ll make breakfast then prepare Gord’s Gold, make the set list, not record it. Then there’s a walk, a Met game, and a Knick game. I need to make time for listening to new music. Can you believe I just got two albums with fretless banjo? Is this a thing now? Don’t tell me that it’s always been a thing, I have seen and heard them but it’s rare. Getting two in one week is a big coincidence if it’s not becoming more popular.
I almost forgot; I have a genius story; see it isn’t only idiot stories. Before I went out for my walk I decided to look one more time for my small phone charger. The big one is big to comfortably carry when I don’t have my bag or jacket pockets. It then hit me where it was. In the wheeled thermal food carrier. I put it there when I went shopping last week. I did not bring it yesterday as I was only buying a few things. I had a new idiot story too, but I forgot what it is. Forgetting my idiot story will have to do for today’s idiot story.
Wise Madness 