Reading and ‘Riting and Really High Temperatures
Are there schools in the U.S. that don’t have air conditioning? There must be.
I ask this because Mother Nature gave us an M. Night Shyamalan-level plot twist this week and made it 85 degrees and humid once again, after a cooler-and-wetter-than-normal summer. I know that summer doesn’t really end until later this month (no matter what the TV weather people say about September 1 being the “end of meteorological summer”) and there’s always a chance that we’ll get a heat wave or two during the month. But I was all set for the fall! I bought hot tea and even drank it just last week! I was thinking of putting away my fan! And now I’m sitting here sweating and uncomfortable in my apartment! I promised myself I wasn’t going to eat anymore ice cream!
I know that’s a lot of exclamation points. I don’t need a study to tell me that heat can make you angry and aggressive. This has been the worst week of the summer.
I do feel sorry for the students who went back to school that don’t have air conditioning. How do the kids who go to private schools handle it in their shirts and ties (though I assume that if any schools have air conditioning, it’s the private ones)? Some school districts are even closing schools because of the heat and/or changing their reopening plans.
At least it’s snowing in Utah.
Rosés and Merlots and Cabs, Oh My!
One good thing about the kids going back to school is that moms get to drink more!
Apparently there’s a “mommy wine culture” I didn’t know about. With all the stress of getting kids to school in the morning, going to work, getting kids to sports, etc., moms just have to have a glass of wine at the end of the day to unwind. But some are worried that it becomes a problem when that glass of wine becomes two or three or five.
Hey, if fathers can have their daddy beer culture…
Peanut, the World’s Oldest Chicken
Apparently he’s 21 years old and lives in Waterloo, Michigan, though I don’t know how anyone can really prove that. (I mean that he’s the world’s oldest chicken. I’m sure it’s easy to prove where he lives.)
Something I Learned This Week
You know Google? It was originally called…Backrub.
RIP Jimmy Buffett, Bill Richardson, Steve Harwell, Gary Wright, Larry Chance, Gayle Hunnicutt, Robert Klane, Sarah Lawson, Franne Lee, and Nathan Louis Jackson
Jimmy Buffett was the laid-back singer/songwriter known for a ton of classic songs, including “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Volcano,” “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” and dozens of others. He was also a successful businessman, with many hotels, restaurants, a clothing line, and stage shows. He died last week at the age of 76.
Uploaded to YouTube by Jimmy Buffett Official
Bill Richardson was the former governor of New Mexico and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He died last week at the age of 75.
Steve Harwell was the lead singer of Smash Mouth, known for the song “All Star.” He died Monday at the age of 56.
Gary Wright was a singer too, known for the hit ’70s song “Dream Weaver.” He was also a member of Spooky Tooth and played with people like George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson. He died last week at the age of 80.
Larry Chance was the lead singer of The Earls, known for such songs as “Remember Then.” He died this week at the age of 82.
Gayle Hunnicutt appeared in such TV shows as Dallas, The Man Without a Face, and The Martian Chronicles, as well as such movies as Marlowe, The Legend of Hell House, and The Wild Angels. She died last week at the age of 80.
Robert Klane wrote such movies as Weekend at Bernie’s, The Man With One Red Shoe, and Where’s Poppa? He also wrote and directed the cult disco film Thank God It’s Friday and several episodes of M*A*S*H, and won an Emmy for Tracey Takes On… He died last week at the age of 81.
Sarah Lawson starred in the British series Within These Walls and The Odd Man and such movies as The Devil Rides Out and Night of the Big Heat. She died last month at the age of 95.
Franne Lee was the Saturday Night Live costume designer who created the looks for the Blues Brothers, the Coneheads, Roseanne Roseannadanna, and other characters. She also won a Tony for her work on Candide. She died last month at the age of 81.
Nathan Louis Jackson was an acclaimed playwright (Broke-ology) who also produced and wrote for such TV shows as Luke Cage, S.W.A.T., Shameless, Resurrection, and 13 Reasons Why. He died last month at the age of 44.
This Week in History
The Sun First Published (September 3, 1833)
The paper that published the famous “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” letter also hired the very first paperboy, Barney Flaherty.
The Chevy Chase Show Premieres (September 7, 1993)
30 years ago this week, the show that many people say is the worst late-night talk show in the history of television premiered on Fox.
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: “Flowers for Teacher” (September 7, 1946)
I never gave any of my teachers flowers. Never gave any an apple either. I did buy my 5th grade teacher a pair of earrings, at the end of the school year. I think she was getting married.
September is National Chicken Month
As you can imagine, there are approximately 57,000,000,000 chicken recipes online. Here are six of them.
Spend with Pennies has a recipe for a Classic Chicken Salad, while Delish has one for Chicken Riggies (“riggies” is rigatoni). Delish also has a recipe for the perfect One Pot Chicken Alfredo. The Kitchn tells you how to make a One Skillet French Onion Chicken, and Martha Stewart has this Creamy Chicken and Rice dish.
And while it’s not quite fall yet, try the Chicken Pot Pie and Fennel Salad from Curtis Stone.
By the way, I swear the fact that the very week I have a story about the world’s oldest chicken is the same week I have delicious chicken recipes is a coincidence.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
U.S. Open Finals (September 9 and 10)
The women’s final airs Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, and the men’s final airs Sunday, same time, same place.
Grandparents Day (September 10)
Hey, if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
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Comments
My favourite Buffett tunes are “Fins,” “Come Monday,” and “Livingston Saturday Night.” I understand that latter song was written about Livingston, AL, near where he was raised which is a college town home to West Alabama State University.
Jimmy Buffett was also a very good writer. He wrote my favorite short story about Tully Mars and his horse Mr. Twain (mentioned in Take Another Road) in Tales From Margaritaville. And he also wrote the follow up A Salty Piece of Land. Where’s Joe Merchant is another favorite. He, like you Bob, really did not get enough credit for his book writing. Jimmy Buffett will be missed.