Soup and Sunday Stealing

Gramps turned eighty the other day,
and everybody was there.
He was dressed up in a brand new suit,
sittin’ in his big arm chair.

Then a beautiful, young, naked woman
stood up in front of the group.
She offered gramps some super sex,
So he said, “I’ll take the soup!”

–“Bad Jokes“, Prairie Home Companion

So I have a big pot of soup on: the first cauldron of Buffalo Chicken Soup of the 2024-2025 Soup Season! Now, I tend to limit my soup consumption to the colder months, so for me, Soup Season usually starts in October and winds up, oh, March or April, depending on how grim that particular spring happens to be. This annoys my family members, who believe that there’s no such thing as Soup Season and who would cheerfully eat delicious soup even when it’s 85 out in July. What do you all think? Is all year Soup Season?

(Oh, and I made a couple of small alterations to my recipe this time around, and if I like the way it turns out, I may update my Official Buffalo Chicken Soup recipe on this site! Exciting! Stay tuned!

Moving on, we have this week’s Sunday Stealing quiz. The numbering is again wonky, so we’re not numbering these. And these questions lend themselves to short, pithy answers, which is always fun!

What’s your guilty pleasure? 

I don’t really believe in “guilty pleasures”. If I like something, I like it. There’s more than enough opportunity for guilt in this world.

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Yes.

I mean, I like them all…and it’s also fun to have meals at each that is traditionally served at another meal! Waffles for dinner! Pizza for breakfast! Burgers for lunch–oh wait–

What do you do when you want to chill out after a long day?

Change into comfy clothes (almost always involving overalls), read a bit, watch something on the teevee later on. Maybe an adult beverage, but lately, we only indulge those if we don’t have to work the next day. This is probably best in terms of health and expense.

How would you spend your ideal weekend?

That depends! Maybe road-tripping, or relaxing at home, or going somewhere local and doing photography. Always a bit of time reading and writing, too.

Do you listen to podcasts, or mostly just music? What’s your favorite podcast?

I do listen to podcasts, though not many; I listen to music more than that. Some podcasts I like are: James Bonding (guess what that one’s about!), Functional Nerds (interviews with geeky writers), Noble Blood (somewhat gory tales from history), and The Open Ears Project (in which notable people discuss a particularly meaningful piece of music).

Do you prefer to go to the movies or watch movies at home?

Ooof, this can get contentious on social media. I love going to the movies and yes, the actual act of movie viewing is better in a theater than at home…but everything else about going to the movies has become sufficiently a hassle that we just stay at home. The expense and the time costs just aren’t worth it anymore, except in very special circumstances.

What was your favorite TV show growing up?

It probably depends on when “growing up” can be said to have happened…but through it all, there was Star Trek, so…Star Trek.

What’s your favorite TV show now?

The Repair Shop (which is going through a bit of thing because its host got into legal trouble). For non-“reality” shows, I’m thrilled that Ghosts has returned. It’s interesting to me that I have now had two beloved shows whose premise was “Couple ends up running an inn in a rural location where they have to contend with a very quirky population, and by the way, she really looks great in sweaters.” (The first was Newhart.)

How would you spend your birthday if money was no object? 

A week somewhere in the Finger Lakes, including the Ithaca Apple Festival, and I’d take a thousand photos.

What’s your favorite season? What do you love most about it?

Fall. I love the relief of breaking temperatures, I love the color, I love the food. All of it.

Do you prefer camping or going to the beach? 

I haven’t been camping since I was a kid and I’m not sure I really have a hankering to do it again at all (though I’m intrigued by “glamping”), so…the beach. Especially if it’s Waikiki.

Which phone app do you think you use the most?

Chrome or Gmail. Or my phone’s camera app. Also Snapseed and Lightroom.

Would you instead cook, order delivery, or go out to eat? 

Cook first, go out second. We never order delivery.

How do you drink your coffee?

From a mug. (OK, fine: mostly with cream. Sometimes black. Never sugar.)

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose? 

I dunno, let me ask our cats and dogs!