Sunday Stealing: earthquake!

Before I get into Sunday Stealing, here are some headlines. The U.S. Geological Survey noted an earthquake at about 10:23 a.m. Friday, with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. Sitting at my desk at home in Albany, NY, I suddenly felt queasy. Then the window began to rattle, off and on, for about 30 seconds. My wife didn’t feel it at work, but her coworker did.

On August 23, 2011, I was at my work desk at Corporate (frickin’)  Woods. I also felt nauseous when the 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia. As a map on the page notes, “East Coast earthquakes travel much farther than West Coast earthquakes of similar magnitude.”

The Statue of Liberty was struck by lightning on Wednesday, and a photographer caught the image.

There will be a total eclipse over a big chunk of the United States tomorrow (Monday). Here are two reasons why this eclipse is so dangerous. Answering your eclipse questions.

Some folks believe the convergence of the earthquake and eclipse is an apocalyptic sign, even though the eclipse was forecast decades ago.

1.  Name a TV series show or shows in which you have seen every episode at least twice:

The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966), I Love Lucy (1951-1957), and The Twilight Zone (1959-1964), all of which I have on DVD. Two have connections to my hometown of Binghamton, NY.

2.  Name a show or shows you can’t or would not miss:

CBS Sunday Morning, a magazine of the air. I’ve been watching it regularly since 1979. This is why I had a VCR and now have a DVR.

TV actors

3.  Name an actor or actors that would make you more inclined to watch a show:

I don’t think that is a primary criterion. If the story is interesting, then I’ll try to see it.  That said, I saw Bob Newhart on three different series. I’ve also seen Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, Raymond Burr, June Lockhart, and William Shatner in at least two different series.

4.  Name an actor or actors who would make you less likely to watch a show:

There’s a whole crop of 21st-century actors I don’t know well enough to ascertain whether I like them. Television has become so diffused with streaming and other platforms.

5. You’re having a lovely dinner party for friends and family.  What will you serve for appetizers, main course, and dessert?

I’m having it catered because I don’t have “lovely dinner parties.” The rules are that I need to find foods for people who are vegans, vegetarians, have allergies to nuts, peanuts, dairy, gluten, and/or eat kosher or halal. My daughter falls into three of those categories.

6. Snowstorm! You’ve got house guests, and you’re all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner? Will you watch a movie? Which one?

All things being equal, it should involve eggs. If we have a movie, the choice will be by consensus. That said, I have a bunch of Mel Brooks movies. Maybe Young Frankenstein (1974). “Pardon me, boy, is this the Transylvania station?” “Ya ya.”

7. We are going to New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go?

I’d see a Broadway play. BTW, I highly recommend the Museum Of Broadway.

Night school

8. You are going to night school.  They offer courses in writing short stories, painting, piano or guitar lessons, simple home repairs, baking, and gardening. Which do you pick  (or make up one of your own)  and why?

Simple home repairs because I suck at simple home repairs.

9. Have you ever been to a Drive Theater? Would you like to see Drive-In Theaters make a comeback? 

I went to drive-ins a lot growing up. They ARE making a comeback.

10. Should towns provide community entertainment like bands in the park, fireworks on the 4th, and community picnics, or is the cost just too much?

Our city has plays in the park, concerts on the plaza, a Tulip Festival, and other events that give the place its identity.

11.  What would you change about your town if you had the power?

During the Women’s March Madness basketball tournament taking place at the arena downtown recently, “ESPN commentator Rebecca Lobo remarked about Albany… While discussing the family of Caitlin Clark and their plans while staying in the host city for the latest round of the women’s NCAA tournament at the MVP Arena, Lobo stated, ‘And by the way, good luck finding something to do in Albany.'”

This generated a great debate about what to do in downtown Albany in the winter. While the area has plenty of attractions throughout the year, and there are things to do in the metro area, the downtown, which was in trouble before the pandemic, is not necessarily… robust. It WAS Easter weekend.

Grocery shopping

12.   How often do you find yourself shopping for groceries?

My wife goes shopping once a week using the car. I pick up stuff we run out of twice a week, walking with my trusty cart.

13. Do you have a favorite nighttime snack?

Spoon-Sized Shredded Wheat.

14.  Do you buy in bulk, and what kinds of tips do you have to save money on grocery shopping?

I was a vigorous coupon clipper in college and for years after, going to two stores for the best price. But I don’t do that anymore. The only things we get in bulk are paper products (napkins, paper towels, toilet paper) and canned cat food.

15. Let’s have a picnic in the park.  What foods are we packing, and will we cook anything there, or is it all prepared ahead of time?

There must be deviled eggs. My preference is cold chicken and potato salad.  Beyond that, I don’t much care. But no anchovies.