The wisdom of letting sleeping dogs lie
NEW SCOTLAND — On this 10th day of February, while we pondered weak and weary, oops, that regards a bird of a different feather. We ventured out to the eastern-most of our breakfast rendezvous, the Windowbox in Slingerlands, sort of across the road from what many locals may remember as the cow house, where cows lazed easily and contentedly on the porch of a house that may have been grand in its day, but was for years enjoyed only by cows.
Bob and his crew, most notably Mariah, who took our orders and served us with grace and charm, welcomed us past the window box, which does exist, true to its name right as you step in the door. The box does seem to be lacking flowers at the moment however.
Some reaction was received regarding comments last week about OWOTM as opposed to OMOTM. Comments ranged from “good idea” to “bad idea” depending on the interpretation. This is a spot from which you can only dig yourself in deeper, so probably best to let it lie. To mention sleeping dogs at this point may be highly inadvisable.
Connoisseurs
This next commentary is only to acknowledge the existence of the conversation, but we OMOTM are indeed connoisseurs of sorts of breakfast restaurants, though our main interest is in greeting the day with friends, seeing who survived the week and in what condition, etc.
Back to connoisseuring, some elements of judgement are heard to be, of course, prices, quality of various food items: for example, home fries, which are very good at the Windowbox. Also up for comparison are: pancakes, sausages, links or patties, fluffy eggs, seating arrangements, echo or not for less-than-high quality ears, and speed and efficiency of coffee delivery.
In the interest of preserving the welcome that we receive everywhere, no valuation attempt will be made here. I venture to say, in the interest of keeping the peace, that all of these quality points probably average out quite well over our venues; somebody has fluffier eggs, but somebody has crispier sausage, and back to letting the sleeping dogs lie.
Winter weary and winter wear
Unless the scribe missed it, there was no mention of Groundhog Day last week. Phil was said to have seen his shadow this year, indicating six more weeks of wintery weather are yet to be faced. Having endured as much as we have at this point in our journey, perhaps a little more or less winter is low on the issues that upset us, plus there was that winter of ’56, or some such year, which upstages all winters forever.
Two of our number are seen some days lately to be wearing amazing, room-dominating, coon-skin hats, totally appropriate to the season. These hats are huge and beautiful, and really should receive a fanfare when they enter the room!
Teaming with topics
The Super Bowl did not seem to cause much excitement for the group; however, there were mixed and more excited reviews of the half-time show. Even the alternate half-time show got some honorable mentions. The conclusion might be that we are more enamored by local attractions.
The subject of attention to dental requirements, appointments, expenses, and insurance was on the table, along with ice, and boy do we have a lot of it to contend with, and boy is it threatening. We do not slide so gracefully over and around it as we once might have.
Vintage 1860s local maps were brought to breakfast for inspection. Few of the homes we see today were on the maps, but it was most interesting to see which homes and buildings existed back that long ago. You could take a stand on either side of progress, but we do need to live and shop somewhere. The deer and the bears and the coyotes who once had so much openness to enjoy were not consulted for their opinions.
There was an interesting view put forward regarding the relative cost of heating with wood versus oil. Maybe somebody will or has done the math on that. They say wood warms you repeatedly when you consider all of the exercise involved in bringing it all the way to your stove. Cutting, hauling, cutting, splitting, chopping, hauling, stacking, loading, ash removal, etc.
A detailed study was undertaken by one of our number regarding the volume of requests for donations received from various not-for-profit organizations. On the as-advertised merits of these requests and the appealing bribes, stickers, cards, address labels, even pictures of worthy recipients, you may only be able to resist based on the sheer unaffordability of the appeals.
A popular recognition was made regarding the enormous value of keeping spouses happy. It was heartily concluded that this was very important and a priority, to be overlooked at your peril.
Enjoying the slightly warmer weather, but still enduring the lingering ice and snow, and finding the Windowbox a great place to meet, greet, eat, and share our many challenges, successes, and well, let’s leave it there, were Harold Guest, Wally Guest, Roland Tozer, Marty Herzog, Frank A. Fuss, Will Lickliter, Ed Goff, Rich Albertin, Chuck Batcher, Robert Schanz, Rev. Jay Francis, Al Schager, John Williams, Lou Schenck, Warren Willsey, Bob Donnelly, Dave Hodgetts, Jake Herzog, Jack Norray, John Jaz, Gerry Cross, Paul Guiton, John Dab, and me.