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Morning Update: 10/04/24
October 4, 2024

Being Beautiful [2009]

Welcome to a Friday with no rain in the forecast! Well, not for most of us. Sure, there are a couple of showers coming in Northern Illinois and scattered wetness along the Gulf states, but nothing remotely close to what we saw last week. Overall, this should be a good weekend to grab the kids and go apple picking, select a pumpkin or four, take a hike, enjoy some art or live music, and take advantage of everything the first weekend of October has to offer.

The biggest question around the house yesterday was, “Is Tipper here or there?” She desperately wanted to go to her friend’s house. Her friend desperately wanted to see her. The problem was transportation. Kat was working, the friend’s mom was working, traffic was heavy, and in the end, she sat here and moped. They’ll try making a connection again today, perhaps with better luck. With the Eight-Hour Road Race at IMS this weekend, Tipper desperately wants to be somewhere other than around the track.

There is good news this morning: the Longshoremen have ended their strike against East Coast docks. This isn’t the big sigh of relief one might think, though. What they’ve done is postpone the thing until January 15. The official reason is to allow time for negotiations, but that’s bullshit. It didn’t take them long to see how the strike was going to be politicized and they didn’t want any part of that. Everything will keep moving for now, get us through the holidays, and then it will be a problem.

Everything else I’m reading this morning is a bit blah. There’s speculation about this and that, accusations about him and her, but the facts are missing so there’s no point in getting all angsty about any of it. Everyone has enough challenges in their own life. No one needs to be concerned with the affairs of people who will not affect their lives in any way. Just let it pass.

There is one frustrating note: Using the Uber Eats app can negate any action you might want to take against the ride-sharing company. A New Jersey couple is finding this out the hard way. This is the second time in the past two months that we’ve seen people getting stung by the fine print in user agreements. Such agreements might be legal, but they’re immoral as hell and need to be stopped. Congress could end them fairly easily, but they won’t. Why? Because cheating people out of what they rightly deserve is how the GOP defines capitalism.

Under food no one asked for, McDonald’s is introducing a Chicken Big Mac on the 10th. Why? Because chicken sounds healthier than beef. But it still has the special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickle, and onion on a sugar-intensive bun. Pair that with the fries you know you’re not turning down and you have a day’s worth of caloric intake in about three bites. Don’t be surprised to see other menu additions from fast food vendors this fall. People have been eating at home more and they’re all desperate to get you back. Just wait, someone will come up with a pumpkin spice sandwich of some kind. Just in time for Thanksgiving, I’m betting.

Oh, in case you weren’t feeling old fast enough, Eminem announced that he’s about to become a grandfather. Tipper responded with, “All these music people are suddenly getting old.” I said, “It happens to the best of us.” She shot back, “Nah, we’ve known you were old a long time.” Damn, girl! Someone hand me my cane.

I’m going to stop here because I need to finish getting ready for my oncology appointment this morning. Whee! I get to give them more blood! I’m not expecting anything to have dramatically changed. We have six more months of this mess. I’m ready for it all to be over.

Meanwhile, does coffee count as a meal? I’m thinking anything after the fourth cup…

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Morning Update: 09/22/24
September 22, 2024

The Last of Summer [2013]

Saturdays should always be chill. I firmly believe this and do my best to put it into practice. After a long week of everyone being sick, I think we all just needed a chance to decompress from that stress. Tipper played online games with her friends. G hand-sewed a zippered pouch. That would have been stressful to me, but it was relaxing for him. I did a lot of sleeping, still. Sure, there was some football and I’ll get to that shortly, but my body just wouldn’t let me sit up too long at a time. I’m okay with that.

What I’m not okay with is 4 Killed in a Shooting Near the University of Alabama’s Birmingham Campus. Multiple shooters fired into a crowd. None of the shooters have been caught. This is just stupid. I’m not okay with the seeming fact that The presidential race has exposed a fault line over the deeply personal decision to become a mother. Candace Bergen, speaking at the Emmy Awards last week, reminded us of when former VP (and Indiana loser) Dan Quayle criticized her Murphy Brown character for choosing to raise a child as a single mother. We laughed at the ridiculousness of attacking a fictional character then. Republicans still think they have some right over women’s bodies, though, and we’re not laughing now. This needs to stop.

And how did this whole Diddy mess go unreported for so long? I do not support kink-shaming and I’m concerned that is what this trial is going to dissolve into. If it was coercive and nonconsensual, though, he deserves to have the book thrown at him. We need to stop giving celebrities a pass.

I don’t understand this stupid endurance race taking place at IMS today. Whyyyyyyyy? When I took the dogs out earlier, there was the smallest trickle of cars coming into the North 40. I’m fairly sure the East gate will not be open. And what happens if it’s still raining at the 11:30 start time? The way I’m looking at radar, rainfall could be a bit heavy at times. Are they actually going to run in that mess? For six hours?

Now, about those football games …

Even in week four of this NCAA season, there were still a number of blowouts. Texas crushed UL Monroe, 51-3, despite Arch Manning tossing a whale of an interception. Ohio State trounced Marshal 49-14. Penn State beat up Kent State, 56-0. And even Notre Dame crushed Miami (OH), 28-3. Conferences are too large now for any of the schools to still be playing meaningless non-conference games in week four. The NCAA needs to do a better job with the scheduling.

Speaking of non-conference games, who would have imagined that we’d be this far into the season and IU is still undefeated? The unranked Hoosiers downed Charlotte, 52-14. Either they’re playing some really bad teams and will get crushed in conference play, or they’re better than anyone realizes and need to be ranked. There are definitely some places open in the top 25 after this week’s games.

Some of this week’s losses hurt. Utah topped Oklahoma State in a tough one, 22-19. I didn’t get to watch that one because it wasn’t made available in our area, damnit. And I was asleep. The highlights are gut-wrenching, though. I did manage to watch the first half of Tennessee dominating OU, 25-15. There was a lot being made of this being Tennessee head coach Josh Hoeple’s return to his alma mater. He said it didn’t matter. His team said otherwise. OU never mounted a threatening offense and this may be the end of their top 25 run.

Purdue didn’t fare any better, losing to Oregon State, 21-38. Again, I could only watch the highlight reel, but Purdue seems to have lost its soul after that Notre Dame loss. I think the Boilermakers could be better than this, but they need to convince themselves that they can win.

The embarrassment of the week has to go to the student body at North Carolina. Little James Madison came in and just had their way with UNC in the first half. They scored 25 points in the first quarter and 28 in the second. What did the UNC student body do? They left the fucking game like the bunch of losers they are. When the second half started, the stadium was less than 30% full. The Tarheels came back and made a reasonable showing in the second half, though still losing, 50-70, but no one was there to see it. The UNC study body needs to be ashamed of itself. Talk about unsportsmanlike conduct! No one should accept any excuses for that type of behavior.

Today, we’ll attempt to watch as much of the Bears/Colts game as we can. Personally, as much as I’d like to see the Colts make a decent showing, I think this one goes to the Bears. Indy just doesn’t have their act together this year. Sure, they’re close, but they’re not going over .500 this season. Again. KC takes on Atlanta in a night game and so help me if KC doesn’t dominate this one from beginning to end, they need to be taken to the woodshed. We don’t need another last-minute win on a questionable call by the refs. There won’t be any three-peat if the Chiefs can’t beat the hapless Falcons.

The pets are telling me it’s time to go back to bed and they’re probably not wrong, especially if I’m going to be awake for the Colts game. The sun is shining for now, but the clouds to the West and North look pretty dark. I think I may go ahead and take a couple of Ibuprofen now, and try to get ahead of the arthritis pain.

Sigh. Why is Solaris on top of the fridge? Everyone else is asleep, but not this kitty. Is it going to be a zoomies day? We’ll find out.

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Morning Update: 09/20/24
September 20, 2024

Waiting For This To End

Surprise [2010]

Somehow, I managed to have the best night’s sleep in quite a while. The rest was solid. Dreams were happy and idyllic. The pets snuggled nicely. I’m almost in a good mood. If only I could breathe. I’m still feeling like my head is full of cotton and a couple of cinder blocks are sitting on my chest. This is day six of this stupid disease. I want to be young and bouncing back like everyone else. I’m not. I’m old and my body had no immunity going into the situation. So, bonus points for, so far, managing to stay out of the hospital.

I’ve sat here long enough, reading through the news, and I’m already feeling exhausted. I’m going to toss some headlines at you with maybe a comment, maybe not. You’ll need to read the articles for yourself, please (yes, I know whether you do or not).

The Orange Felon vows to be ‘best friend’ to Jewish Americans, as allegations of ally’s antisemitism surface, which is kind of odd when he also said Jews will be partly to blame if he loses election. Why is he talking in circles yet again? The Republican Governor Candidate in North Carolina called himself ‘Black Nazi’ on Porn Site, according to CNN. This is a mess and it’s hitting at just the wrong time. The Jewish population doesn’t exactly need these idiots taking their side. They have enough trouble as it is.

Why? Thousands of exploding devices in Lebanon trigger a nation that has been on edge for years. Even device makers are a little stumped as to how Israel pulled this off, and it’s frightening a lot of people on both sides of the war. Overnight, Israel and Hezbollah traded fire after heaviest airstrikes yet, which pretty much brings Lebanon kicking and screaming into a war they didn’t want. After two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, Beirut was a city on edge, with people worried there were bombs in their bags or pockets. What is concerning security officials everywhere is talk of retaliation. Hezbollah is a significantly large, better-financed organization than Hamas. Be scared.

Civil rights groups call on major corporations to stick with DEI programs. This is totally political and corporate bosses need to evaluate which side of the coin they’re going to embrace. Getting it wrong will prove costly.

Police fatally shot a blasphemy suspect in Pakistan in 2nd such killing in a week. This is what happens when religion is allowed to have governmental control. Be aware.

Hmmm … this is interesting. Huge Australian king penguin chick Pesto grows into social media star. He’s 22 kilograms at only nine moths old, which may be some kind of record. What makes it interesting was that the new DC Comics short series, Penguin, debuted on MAX last night. Go ahead. Look at the pictures. Tell me you don’t see a resemblance.

We could be in for a noisy weekend around the house as today begins practice sessions and a couple of short races in preparation for Sunday’s “Battle On The Bricks” road course race. This is a six-hour race to see who can go the longest without having to pee, or something like that. Races like this are especially attractive to those Dads who think it shouldn’t be a problem to drive 18 hours from Indy to Orlando without a pit stop.

What could spoil all the “fun” at IMS is the weather, though. We’ve got a couple of cold fronts moving across the state this weekend. The stronger of the two should hit us Sunday morning and with that could come as much as half-an-inch of rain along with cooler temperatures. While road course races don’t use the same tires as those on the oval, the rain would still impact the race and could even cause some delays. Maybe it’s just better to stay home and watch football. Near a bathroom. Pee when you want.

Me, I’ll just be here trying to survive. The pets and I have settled into a new routine where we rotate who’s sleeping on which side of the bed. The only problem is that Queen Bit insists on sleeping dead in the center and she’s kinda ferocious when bothered.

You have a good weekend and we’ll tread carefully.

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Morning Update: 06/16/24
June 16, 2024

Beauty Among The Gods [2010 original with AI background]

My children (the four-legged ones) woke me shortly after 6:00 this morning. Did I sleep at all last night? It certainly doesn’t feel like I did. Toss, turn, flip, repeat. If I was a piece of meat simmering over a low flame, I’d be burned by now. This isn’t how I like to start the morning. I walked into the living room and noticed that the cats had broken yet another glass-covered frame.

While I was out with the dogs, three jets passed overhead, leaving IND just as fast as air traffic control could get them off the ground. They seemed to be taunting me, “We’re escaping and you’re not, loser.” I’ve not been outside Indianapolis since my last trip to Chicago, four years ago. Being around so many people whose minds are warped from generations of belief in mythology, who are mistakenly convinced that the 1950s morality was better, and who think they have a right to force their morality and opinions on others, is crippling. I’d leave, but where am I going to go, and, more importantly, who is going to take me there?

A perfect example of why this is a horrible state is found in yesterday’s state GOP convention. We already knew that, following the primary, Mike Braun is the unfortunate choice for governor. Braun has been useless as a US Senator, so I doubt he’ll be any better as a governor. He had chosen state Rep. Julie McGuire as his running mate. But noooooo, Indiana is so fucking stupid that they chose ultra-right-wing pastor Micah Beckwith. This classless idiot “is known for his far-right stances on gender, sexuality, and abortion. He cast himself as a political outsider who would keep the governor’s office in check, limit property taxes, and oppose school efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community,” according to the Associated Press. Braun says he’ll hold Beckwith in check, but can we rely on that? No, we can’t. Beckwith lobbied for over a year to get this position. We’ll painfully feel his influence if he’s elected. Can Democrats win? No. They’re underfunded and continue to nominate people who are unelectable from the outset. Indiana is going to be one of the worst places to live on the planet.

But then, I’m not exactly happy with the rest of the planet, either. These are some of the headlines greeting me this morning:

Do you see the repeating pattern in all those headlines? How fucking stupid are we to stick to a faulty constitutional amendment just because of who wrote it? We’ve said it again and again and again, the US is the ONLY industrialized country with this problem! We need to get the fuck over this stupid worship of a single statement by people who lived in a very different society.

Maybe I should move to Denmark or Finland. I wonder if they let old people in.

A forecasted high of 96 this afternoon most likely nixes our weekly walk in the park. The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational is making noise over at the track. One would have to be a real fan of old race cars to endure all the short little races that are on the schedule. Apparently, there aren’t many of these fans left. They can fit all the parking in the infield. Still, we have to put up with the noise.

My sugar was stupid high again last night. I’m not sure if it was the hamburger bun, the cheese, or the mashed potatoes that is at fault. On their own, I wouldn’t have expected any of them to send my glucose skyrocketing, but together they generated a frightening number. Maybe that’s why I’m so cranky.

There WILL be a new video posted, probably a little later this morning. I managed to finish everything except the rendering last night. We’ll see what kind of hoops I have to jump through to get it posted. The last one had to be FTP’d onto the server. This one’s larger. Yikes!

And yeah, we still need help with that new machine. Venmo: @C_I_Letbetter or CashApp: $ciletbetter. We don’t need all that much. I just have nothing left to give to it myself.

Maybe I should go back to bed and stay there the rest of the day.

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Morning Update: 05/27/24
May 27, 2024

The morning after [2014 original with AI background]

Looking out the window this morning, the neighborhood looks so quiet and serene as to almost feel lonely. It’s difficult to believe that less than ten hours ago there were over 100,000 people in our neighborhood alone. Many things made this year’s race unique, from the midday evacuation to massive crowds, early departures because of storm #1, people camping in neighborhood yards, and those already drunk coming into the race. This was definitely one for the books and I’m not sure we want to repeat all of it.

As of midnight last night, when the second round of rain started, there were still hundreds of cars waiting to get out of the North 40 and the neighborhood. I’m not sure who was in charge of traffic on 30th Street, but they blew it. With both of the North 40 gates open, one should have had cars turning left (West) and the other turning right (East). That didn’t happen. Cars coming out of the main West gate were allowed to turn right. That immediately gridlocked with those trying to exit the East gate, which, in turn, backed up traffic coming out of the neighborhoods. How much of a factor darkness was in the mess, I don’t know. The rain showing up certainly didn’t help matters any. I’m sure officials will take a look at what went wrong. I’m also sure they will come up with the worst solution possible.

I’m glad I hadn’t planned on taking pictures at the end of the race for a number of factors. First, it was too dark. The skies were already gray as the second storm system approached and the sun was lower in the sky. I would have needed to use a flash and it still wouldn’t have yielded great pictures. Second, there wasn’t the sense of happiness and fun that we usually see after the race. Instead, there was a sense of urgency for everyone to get to their cars and get on the road before the rain started again. There were fewer smiles, more arguments between couples, and no one seemed to be in a celebratory mood. If anything, the feeling was closer to, “I’m glad that mess is over,” despite the fact that everyone I talked to said they enjoyed the race. The looks on their faces didn’t match their words.

I will say we noticed fewer drunk young people this year and more completely wasted over 40 adults. More grown-ass people were falling down in the middle of the intersection yesterday than any of the past 12 races I can remember. Be aware that when you pull a stunt like that, everyone sees you, everyone judges you, and most of us are happy not to know you. You’re embarrassing.

We saw more little ones going to their first race, including a number of babies under six months old. I get the desire for creating family traditions from birth to the grave. That’s one of the things I like about the race. Every year, I talk with someone who has been to every race since … whenever. And while the race really isn’t designed to accommodate those who are very young, they’re your kids and if you want to put up with the tired whining and needing a nap right about the time the race normally starts, that’s on you. However, if you’re going to take any child under 16 or so, please make sure you have ear protection for them! Of all the little ones we saw, only half were carrying any ear protection. I’m hoping I just didn’t see it for the others. The noise of the race is far too loud for little ears.

Talking with Lionel at Fat Cat BBQ around 11:00 yesterday, he was in a panic. It wasn’t noon yet and he was almost out of food! Yesterday’s crowd came hungry and ready to eat! This was ultimately a good thing. Lionel’s wife of 20+ years is battling stage four breast cancer and treatments aren’t offering much help. There are options, but they’re expensive. Giving Lionel one of the financially best days he’s had all year really helps. Thank you to everyone who patronized some of the local food vendors yesterday, and thank you, Lionel, for some absolutely wonderful rib tips!

We parked our first car around 5:30 yesterday morning, a man from Ontario traveling alone. I enjoy our conversations with the people who park in our yard. A retired couple from Colorado Springs, attending their first race, were especially delightful and kept Tipper busy with conversation for the bulk of the morning. One of the things I heard multiple times, though, was people from all over the country who are worried about how angry everyone seems to be right now. Understand that these are not partisan views. Politics was never the subject. There are a lot of people who feel that the general population is more angry than ever and these people are concerned that no one is addressing the why, or even asking the right questions. This is definitely a topic worth exploring later.

The day went better than I had expected. When I first woke up at 3:30 yesterday morning, I did not want to get out of bed. Everything hurt. My bones, my muscles, my head, and even my fingers were in pain. Going outside and being friendly with complete strangers did not seem like a good idea. A couple of cups of coffee later, though, we were ready to go. I’m glad our spaces filled early. By 8:30, I didn’t need to bother with trying to flag people down before one of our neighbors snagged them. That gave us more time to visit and talk with all the people who came to the race, and they’re always talkative. They love telling about previous trips to the race, their traditions, and who they’re rooting for. The looks of excitement on their faces, despite the early hours, are enjoyable.

We did get a couple of naps in, one during the first storm and another short one during the race. That helped us be able to stay up and keep impatient people from driving across our lawn as they searched for a faster way out. Checking my sugar level around 9:30 last night, I was pleased that it was all the way down to 105. That might be because the only thing I had to eat yesterday was a healthy serving of Fat Cat’s rib tips. I certainly don’t expect my fasting level to be that low this morning.

I’m not sure my body could handle a day like yesterday more than once a year. The experience is exhausting. I enjoyed yesterday more than many previous races, though. The weather uncertainty put a different twist on the experience. I wouldn’t want to have that delay very often. We certainly don’t need to repeat last night’s traffic debacle. But keeping this different adds to the excitement of the day. I hope everyone had a good time.

I just wonder why our friends never park with us? Hmmmm …

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Morning Update: 05/26/24
May 26, 2024

Whatever It Takes [2016]

IT’S RACE DAY IN INDY!

The long-awaited (seemingly) 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 is here. I’ve been up since a little before 4:00 AM and even at that early hour cars were already streaming into the North 40. If you were looking for curbside parking in the neighborhood, forget it. People decided to camp out in their cars this year. In fact, we have more camping in the neighborhood this year than anyone can remember. That means there was plenty of partying well into the night. Sadly, there was also plenty of gunfire, which is always a bit disturbing.

I’ve not gotten a weather update since 4:00 yesterday afternoon. Looking at the radar, though, that first set of storms is just West of St. Louis currently (ya’ll hang tight over there). That should put the system here most likely around noon. The race is scheduled to begin at 12:45 PM, but at the moment that seems unlikely. Honestly, at this point, everything is kind of a wait-and-see situation. It’s still early and the system is still likely gathering moisture from the gulf. There could still be changes, which is why I don’t expect to hear any adjustments to the forecast from NWS until after 6:00. This system is going to carry severe winds, possibly in excess of 70 mph, rambunctious lightning, and the possibility of hail.

Anticipating rain, IMS brought in extra heaters from NASCAR to help dry the track as quickly as possible. The first system is moving quickly, so the race could, potentially, still be on as early as 2:00. We’re anticipating a clear break of 3.5 hours which should be plenty of time to get an “official” race completed. That doesn’t mean they’ll run a full 200 laps, mind you, and that’s also assuming that they run a clean race with no severe wrecks and few yellow flags. If drivers get sloppy, that could impact whether they finish the race before the second round of storms show up.

When the second round does arrive, anywhere between 5-8 depending on a number of factors, it is going to be a doozy. Chances for tornados on the outskirts of the city, such as around Kokomo and Lafayette to the North, and Spencer and Bloomington to the South, are severe enough that our friends in those areas really need to stay alert. This system is going to pack a wallop and deliver a lot of water. If it arrives before the race is over, we’re encouraging people who do not live locally to hang tight and stay sheltered until the worst of the storm passes.

Is all this over-hype? Possibly. There’s always the chance that we warn of the worst and nothing severe happens. But, I’d rather my friends be prepared than caught by surprise. If you don’t have emergency alerts turned on, grab your phone and do so right now. They’re under Settings>Notifications, or something similar.

As for me, the chemo is kicking my ass this morning, the arthritis is flaring like a mofo, and my glucose level after dinner last night was 165, only a four-point difference from the morning. There’s no hiding in bed this morning. We have to be out taking care of parking and such or it doesn’t get done. Tipper has volunteered to be outside with me a bit. She’s wanting to wear her furry head, so we’ll see how that goes. G is going to take care of things inside, keeping the dogs from going nuts. We have a plan. That doesn’t mean everything will go smoothly, but we’ll do our best.

I wish Kat was here.

No, we’re not talking about last night’s Pacers game. Ugh.

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Morning Update with race info: 05/25/24
May 25, 2024

Ready For The Party [2015 original with AI background]

Strap in, there is a lot of information to share here. I might have been more prudent to put all this into two separate posts, but I’ve too much to do this morning before I wear out. Let’s start with the most critical issue: tomorrow’s weather. The question is not whether it will rain, the question is whether you’ll get struck by lightning if you’re muddy in the Snake Pit. As of 0600 EDT this morning, the National Weather Service in Indianapolis is saying to expect multiple rounds of severe weather on Sunday. They’re not even bothering to talk about timing because that’s too imprecise a factor. The front generating these storms is unstable and the timing and severity is going to depend on how quickly the surface temperature changes. This is not likely to be a quiet day.

Here’s the map that was issued this morning:

Wind and lightning are the biggest risks with any of these storm cells moving through. IMS has different safety plans depending on a number of weather factors. IF YOU HAVE TICKETS FOR THE GRANDSTANDS, know that you may not get to sit in them a lot. The grandstands will be evacuated in the event of lightning and/or severe winds. If your tickets are for the infield, there’s really not a lot you can do. The Snake Pit stage will be shut down and everyone will be advised to “seek the nearest covered shelter.” However, there simply is not enough “covered shelter” to protect 350,000+ fans.

Race officials are bound and determined to get as much of the race in tomorrow as possible, but that could mean large breaks with severe delays. It is almost certain that this will not be a contiguous 500-mile race. In fact, I don’t recall a race forecast for weather this severe anytime in recent memory. Should the weather get really funky, we may see IMS management making decisions on the fly. Be ready for anything.

What does all this mean for spectators? Bring an umbrella. And sunscreen. Also, make sure you have transportation! I was a little disturbed yesterday afternoon by the number of people who came out of the concert (which was called on account of lightning) and didn’t have a ride home. These were almost exclusively younger adults who didn’t think far enough ahead. PLEASE do not rely on rideshare options! The nearest rideshare pickup is over a mile away from the track, over on Lafayette Rd. Rideshare drivers cannot get into our neighborhood or anywhere else on 30th, 25th, or 16th streets. Having your own transportation is going to be the safest and most reliable option, even if parking costs a little more. You’ll also want to limit the alcohol so that you can respond quickly and safely if the weather gets particularly nasty.

I realize that for some people, this is really harshing your buzz. I’m sorry. Maybe we’ll get lucky and all we’ll get is a little rain. Don’t bet on that, though. NWS rarely raises our storm forecast to level 3. We have to take this seriously.

Okay, on to more personal things. I started my new diabetes meds yesterday and the impact was almost immediate. I’m now taking Glipizide. I took the first dose at about 2:00 yesterday afternoon. The result? My sugar went from 224 to 137! Sounds good, right? But then, my fasting measurement at 7:15 this morning was back up to 161. So, I’m not sure exactly what to think. I’m going to try taking the pill after breakfast this morning and see what difference that makes in the numbers.

I’m still feeling quite anxious about the whole sugar thing and will be extremely careful about what I eat/drink during the day. We’ve got plenty to do around the house today to keep my mind somewhat occupied, and I’m not opposed to taking multiple naps. There’s a Gang of Six napping on the bed now, but I can make room for myself whenever I wish. There’s also a lot of laundry to be done. Today needs to be chill so that we’re rested and ready for whatever gets thrown at us tomorrow.

If you’re planning on parking in the neighborhoods surrounding the track tomorrow, please take a moment to read this and perhaps share it with anyone else who is likely to be looking for parking. I estimate that, depending on the size of the vehicles, I have about seven spots available for $20 a piece. Some of the yards near me are already full with reservations. I’m not interested in being out a long time, so the sooner we can fill up and I can go back inside, the better.

It was good to see some friends we’d not seen in a long time yesterday. The people watching is one of the few things that makes the race tolerable. Traffic, of course, drives me up a wall every year. We had a number of speed demons blow past the stop sign yesterday. Our neighbors and I have already concluded that the first time we see it happen on Sunday, we’re taking license numbers and calling the police. There are too many people out here for idiots to drive like they’re going to challenge one of the drivers for their seat. We want everyone to be safe and have a good time. That can’t happen if some knucklehead is showing off in their truck.

This year feels different than previous years. I won’t be taking pictures. I will be more concerned about keeping everyone safe. I’ll be outside, ready to go, at 6:00 AM. We hope to see you!

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CARB DAY/RACE DAY PARKING ETIQUETTE
May 23, 2024

PLEASE READ IF YOU’RE USING ALTERNATIVE LAWN PARKING OUTSIDE THE SPEEDWAY.

After The Race [2023]

Race day must be just around the corner. How can we tell? Sanitation trucks have been going through the neighborhood setting up portable toilets throughout the neighborhood. There are more of them than last year, but it still won’t be enough. It never is. People utilizing parking outside the speedway is something of its own tradition and the track secretly relies on in, though they don’t want to actually acknowledge it. The speedway accommodates parking for roughly 100,000 people. That sounds like a lot, and it is. I’m sure back in the 1940s when the Hulmans were building the thing they never dreamed of filling it all up. Race attendance for this Sunday, however, is estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 250,000. They all need somewhere to park.

Homeowners around the track have made their lawns available for both Carb Day (Friday before the race) and Race Day for decades. Prices have varied over the years, depending on the anticipated demand. The 100th running brought significantly higher prices than we’ll see this Sunday. People living in the neighborhoods around the track consider this small compensation for all the traffic and noise we have to put up with. You are not necessarily welcome, but for many, it is a way to help the rent for June. We see a lot of bad behavior, so if you’re going to park on anyone’s lawn, please take these items into consideration.

  1. Arrive early and just plan on chilling for a few hours. Available spots fill quickly. A lot of people accept reservations (we don’t) and some smaller lawns are technically “full” already. I’m outside ready to welcome you and your money at 6:00 AM. Others are out there earlier. Last year, our available spaces were all full by 10:00 AM and I was back inside taking a nap.
  2. Not everyone charges the same. Those of us closest to the East gate of the North 40 tend to charge the most because this is prime space. The further from the gate, the price begins to drop. However, rarely does it go below $10.
  3. Bring cash, 20s and 10s, please. I know that the track itself is cashless, but you’re making a deal here with a person, not a corporation. We don’t make enough to pay the 5% bank card fees. Personally, I also accept Venmo (@C_I_Letbetter) and I know of at least one neighbor who does the same, but I can’t make any promises for the bulk of the neighborhood.
  4. Cash also applies to many off-track vendors. I know Fat Cat’s BBQ will be here early Sunday morning setting up their smoker across the street. If you’re going to get here early, and you should, they can take care of both your breakfast and lunch needs. They’re good people, but they don’t take cards.
  5. DO NOT ask to use the bathroom inside someone’s home. That’s an invasion of privacy none of us like. There are multiple outdoor facilities scattered all over the neighborhood. Be prepared, though, some of them charge as much as $3 per use.
  6. Don’t think you’re going to get out of the neighborhood quickly once the race is over. See that picture up top? That’s what the entire street looks like for nearly two hours once the race is over. You can come and sit in your car or you can tailgate some more. Some people get in their cars and try to leave, but then end up going nowhere and wasting gas. Plan on taking your time. You probably need to drink water and sober up a bit anyway.
  7. Bring an umbrella. The forecast for Sunday says there’s pretty much a 100% chance of rain. The big question is: WHEN? We don’t know. Even Sunday morning, no one’s going to be 100% sure. Expect at least one set of showers Sunday morning, well before race time. As long as they’re done by noon, they should be able to get the track dry by 2:00. Any prolonged rain (more than 30 minutes) after 2:00 could cause for the race to be postponed until Monday.
  8. In case of a rain delay, your race tickets are still good on Monday. Your parking is not. You’ll need to negotiate with your host how much to pay for Monday’s parking.
  9. Bring sunscreen. Even if the skies are overcast, you can still get a sunburn from prolonged exposure. You won’t look any sillier wearing sunscreen than you do with that straw hit bearing the IMS logo.
  10. Consider bringing a change of clothes, especially if you have tickets for the Snake Pit, which promises to be a muddy mess. Even if you’re not in the mud, changing out of your hot, possibly wet, almost definitely smelly clothes will make your ride home more comfortable.

SPECIFIC TO PARKING WITH US

  1. We have limited space. If you want to tailgate to either side of your vehicle, that takes up a spot we might otherwise “lease” for the day. Therefore, we will ask for additional compensation.
  2. No, I don’t share my coffee.
  3. I may park a couple of cars inside the fence. If I do, you’ll have to be extra patient getting out after the race.
  4. PLEASE don’t stick your hand over the fence to pet the dogs. You can’t trust them.
  5. Yes, you may feed the humans, but not the animals (even though they’ll ask with big brown eyes). The dogs are too old and fat for human food. The humans are just hungry. That especially applies to the teenagers.
  6. No, Kat is not here. She has the good sense to leave and not take any of us with her. Which is another reason you may want to feed the humans. We’re probably hungry.
  7. I’m not pulling out the camera this year. I don’t have the stamina for that. I’ll use my phone to take a photo if you want, or use your phone if you don’t want to wait on me to process it. Flashing me your boobs is totally allowable if the kids are not in the yard.

As much as I fuss about the race, I do hope you enjoy the day. Know that every year is a little different, though. Take your time. Plan well ahead. Be flexible, especially with the weather. And don’t come running to me if you get struck by lightning. That’s not part of the track’s evacuation plan.

How To Win The Race [2011]
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Just For Fun  /  Photography
Outside the Indianapolis 500
May 29, 2016
Outside the Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500 is a party that starts long before anyone gets to the actual race.

 

charles i. letbetter - outside the Indianapolis 500

Veteran race-goers know: reserve your parking space in advance, come early, and bring plenty of food.

Today is the 100th running of the greatest spectacle in motorsports: the Indianapolis 500 and we’re right smack in the middle of it. Actually, we’re not in the middle of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we’re just outside. If you’re familiar with IMS, you know there’s a 40-acre parking lot on the North side of the track: the North 40. Half-way up that lot, on the East side, is a gate. We are across the street from that gate.

Parking cars on the lawns in our neighborhood is a long-standing tradition. People who have been attending the Indianapolis 500 for years have strong relationships with homeowners around here and like to park in the same places each year. They have our phone numbers and call sometimes several weeks in advance to make sure that they can secure their favorite spot on our lawn. This year, demand has been especially high. It is just after 9:00 AM as I’m typing this and already every available space on our lawn is either full or reserved. The same holds true for most our neighbors.

Of course, when people get here this far ahead of the race, which isn’t scheduled to start this year until 12:19 PM, one looks for ways to pass the time. Many tailgate. Some reserve extra space so they can sit and chat with friends and family. Some play games. There is always plenty of activity outside the gates right up until roughly 30 minutes before the Indianapolis 500 gets underway.

All that activity makes for great people watching any year, but this year it is especially entertaining. So, we’re taking a few pictures during the day and posting them a few at a time. Understand, we don’t actually know any of these people. If you see someone you recognize and they were supposed to be somewhere else today, that’s not our fault.

The Indianapolis 500 is a unique race simply because of its size and spectacle. We can’t go in but we can show you all the fun happening outside.

Before The Race:

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AFTER THE RACE

Once the race is over, the rush is on to get to the car and get out as quickly as possible. Of course, “quickly” is a subjective term. Some do best to take their time and let the alcohol burn off a bit. Some have difficulty finding their party while others are pretty sure they are the party. Any way you look at it, though, the effects of being out in the sun are evident on everyone who passed. As you’re looking through the photos, be sure to check the faces in the background as well. Sometimes those we didn’t focus on were more entertaining. We avoided the worst, though. There were a few who, while they would have been easy prey for the camera, were so drunk and/or dehydrated that taking their picture would have been a bit cruel. I’m sure they’re suffering enough this morning without waking up and finding their drunken selves on the Internet. We also tossed in a few pictures of some of the mess people leave behind. The Coke lot always gets trashed the worse, but I didn’t want to walk all the way down there.

Again, if you see someone you know, tag them and let them know you found them being silly, or angry, or shoving a whole water bottle in their mouth (not kidding, it’s in there). It was an exciting race with a lot of interesting people.

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Current Issues  /  PotD
One Giant Party
May 26, 2016

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade… And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party. —Ron White

 

charles i. letbetter - one giant party

The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 is cause to party, but there are some rules

This is no ordinary race week. This is no ordinary race. The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 brings more people to Indianapolis than any other event, ever, and in many places across town, the party has already started! Whether you’re at the Coke Lot or one of the events at Pan Am Plaza downtown, or right here in our backyard at the North 40, everyone has one primary goal: To have a good time.

Unfortunately, there are always some people who go a bit too far. I woke this morning to a headline reading, “Man Shot Several Times At Speedway Strip Club.” That’s not the kind of partying anyone needs. Last year, some brilliant jackass thought it would be cool to burn down a whole line of portable toilets in the Coke Lot. That’s exactly the kind of nonsense that ruins the event for everyone. If you’re going to party, ya’ gotta follow the rules.

The party starts well before the race, of course. We’re expecting a larger-than-ever turnout for Carb Day tomorrow. The big draw is the Journey concert at 3:30 PM and I’m expecting to be able to take the dog out, sit in the yard, and hear the whole thing just fine. Fellow-Okie Blake Shelton is here Saturday afternoon, and we’ll probably have a decent turnout for that as well. Then, for better or worse, there’s Saturday night at the Coke Lot. One the party starts, it doesn’t stop until well after Sunday’s race is over.

Before you head our direction, though, there are some things you should know, even if you’ve been here every year for your entire life. The  Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) has updated their policies as to what will and will not be allowed through the gate.  IMS also announced yesterday that there will be more security at this race than ever before.  Those of us who live in the neighborhood are very happy to know that federal agencies are lending a hand in keeping everyone safe. With some 300,000-plus people on hand, the race is a prime target for those desperate for attention.

Some of the things you can expect to be different this year are:

  • An increase in security checkpoints, especially the day of the race.
  • An increase in the use of special K-9 units. You’re not sneaking anything past these dogs. We suggest you not try.
  • More  vehicle searches as you’re entering the grounds. Anything suspicious will be considered reasonable cause.
  • ESG Security is searching bags and coolers, not IMS Yellow Shirts. Yellow Shirts are being utilized  to help people get where they’re going more efficiently.
  • IMPD is scanning vehicle license plates as they enter the grounds. They say they’re looking for stolen vehicles, but we suspect there’s more to it than that.

If you’re just coming in for one of the concerts, there are some special rules you should probably know as well:

  • No selfie sticks
  • No drones
  • No stickers (not kidding!)
  • No professional cameras (another reason for me to stay home)
  • No lasers

This size of the crowd this year likely means that the party is going to be larger than ever in the neighborhoods surrounding IMS as well. As Kat was coming home yesterday she noticed that prices for lawn parking are higher this year for those North of 30th street. I’m sure she’ll be talking with our neighbors about raising our pricing as well. I know we’re limiting the amount of lawn we give to parking this year.

Thousands of party people park in our neighborhood for these events and enter through the East gate of the North 40, directly across the street from our house. We don’t mind too terribly much, partly because you’re paying for the privilege. Still, if you’re going to park off-site and walk into IMS, there are some additional things you should know:

  • Traffic is going to suck worse than ever. Everything is sold out for Sunday, which means somewhere around 150,000 more people trying to get in than last year. Georgetown, Lafayette, and 30th street are going to be a nightmare starting around 3:00 AM. Plan accordingly.
  • No one in the neighborhood really likes being awakened at 3 AM, even if you’re giving us money. Please, keep the noise down at least until the sun is up.
  • SLOW THE FUCK DOWN! Every year, we see too many redneck sons of bitches who apparently think they can secure a last-minute driving spot by showing how fast they can maneuver residential streets. Don’t be that jackass. Someone’s likely to get hurt.
  • Watch out for children. One of the great things about our neighborhood is that we’ve seen an influx of families with children over the past 12 months. There are little ones running all over the place, which is very different from previous years. Many of them are small enough to not be seen easily and when things get hectic, as race day always does, keeping an eye on everyone is challenging. Keep an eye out, please.
  • Speaking of children, please be careful about what you feed them. The guests we have parking in our yard are always generous about sharing their food with our children who are always hungry. I’m sure others are the same. However, as their parents, we would be most appreciative if you didn’t give them whole bags of Hostess donuts and other such sugar-filled treats. Our children aren’t accustomed to that much processed sugar and it makes them rather crazy. Get them hopped up and we may well send them with you.
  • Don’t ask to use our restroom. You’re welcome to our lawn, not inside our houses. Some of our neighbors have rented portable toilets for the event for your use, including some right outside the East gate. Bring ones, though. Those potties aren’t free.
  • Watch where you park. Certain sides of the street are off limits (there are signs). The right-of-way between the sidewalk and the street is also off limits. Park there and you WILL be towed. We have a neighborhood busybody (not me this time) who is quick to call police when she sees a parking infraction. You don’t want to have to walk home.
  • Exit quickly. We’re pretty much trapped here all weekend. We know that and have prepared accordingly. However, by Sunday evening, we have cabin fever and need to get out, if for no other reason than to buy more toilet paper. We can’t do that until everyone’s gone. Please, don’t lag or dilly-daddle. IMPD does their best to get everyone on their way and out of the neighborhood within two hours after the race. Don’t be that straggler whose vehicle is still on our lawn at 9PM Sunday night.

I know that’s a lot to take in, but if we’re all going to party together there have to be some ground rules. We don’t want anyone getting hurt or running afoul of the law. Have a good time, enjoy the concerts and the race, and if you’re going through the East gate of the North 40, drop by and say hi!

Party on, Garth!

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Current Issues  /  Fashion  /  Music  /  PotD
Shoveling Through Another Monday
May 23, 2016
charles i. letbetter - shoveling through another monday

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. —Phyllis Diller

 

charles i. letbetter - shoveling through another Monday

When you’ve had such a good weekend, why does the universe feel the need to ruin that with a Monday?

Shoveling through digital tons of information seems to be the modern equivalent of going into work on a Monday morning and finding your inbox stacked five feet high. I have a feeling only government offices still use actual inboxes, given their penchant for wasting paper, but most everyone going to work today is going to find one of their first tasks to be shoveling their way through the detritus whether that be actual bottles left from consumed beverages or mountains of information that were blissfully ignored. Perhaps, like me, you have plenty of both.

I think one of the first things needing to be removed from the pile and set to the side is the fact that Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe won the pole position for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. I know most of the people reading this couldn’t care less about the 500, but what makes this story worth shoveling out of the pile is that one year ago today, the day after qualifying, Hinchcliff crashed into Turn 3, right here in my backyard, and nearly bled to death. With head and spinal cord injuries, it is amazing that he is even driving a golf cart, let alone rounding the 2.5-mile oval at speeds averaging 230.760 miles per hour. The strength and determination required to pull off this kind of comeback should be inspiring for a Monday morning.

Apparently the Billboard Music Awards were last night. I didn’t watch them, but if we’re shoveling we probably want to include this in the save pile somewhere. I can’t say anything authoritative, since I was sound asleep through most of it, but Billboard has posted their choices for 10 best performances of the night. Apparently Madonna did a tribute to Prince, Celine Dion sang in tribute to her late husband, René Angélil, and Britney Spears performed a tribute to herself. Or something like that. I do know that you should probably avoid the comments section of any performance you might see. The trolls were out in force last night and spread their hate and nonsense across the whole show.

Did you know that the used sneaker market nets over $1 billion annually? WTF? I thought it was strange when a “vintage” sneaker store popped up in a local mall a couple of years ago, but the number of people collecting limited release shoes has grown into a full-fledged part of the fashion industry. Does it make a lick of sense? Not really, but it does make for great conversation. Oh, and before you go shoveling your old sneakers out of your closet, one of the conditions to keeping the prices on these shoes stupidly high is that they’ve not actually been worn. Business Insider has a great piece on the industry. People who spend this much on shoes they can’t wear have no room to be making fun of geeks who buy toys they’ll never play with.

For those of you who enjoy shoveling politics, especially if you are my age or older, you’re going to either love or hate or love to hate this next one: The US is getting cozy again with Vietnam. Let that sink in a minute. During his visit there yesterday, President Obama announced the lifting of a decades-old arms embargo to the island nation where so many thousands of troops died in the one war the United States unquestionably lost. There’s a good, or at least understandable, reason for the move, though: China’s getting feisty in the region. While the President denies such reasoning on an official basis, Vietnam has been rather public in its concern regarding how China has been throwing its weight around in the South China Sea. Specifically, with island bases encroaching ever closer, China could send planes from one of those islands and bomb Hanoi in less than an hour. Vietnam is scared and we’ve seen this before. Be concerned.

Finally, today is #WorldTurtleDay. In the never-ending stream of special days and tributes, this is one that doesn’t annoy us quite as much. I mean, who can get angry about a turtle. In fact, I’m guessing a lot of us resemble turtles with the pace we’re moving today. These are some of the longest-living creatures on the planet, though. If moving a little (or a lot) slower is the key to a happy and longer life, then maybe we should start paying attention to the lessons they have to teach. Turtles are incredibly cool, even if they aren’t mutant teenagers chomping down on pizza.

Most of what I’m seeing this morning deserves to be shoveled right into the dumpster. There is an incredible amount of meaningless noise that serves no other purpose than to be a distraction. Shoveling to bulk out of the way is our best hope of sorting out what’s really important. I won’t say that it will make your Monday any better. Some of what I’m seeing rather sucks if one is deep in the stock market or heavily involved in retail. Still, just getting rid of the piles of stuff at least creates the illusion that you’re doing work or something like that.

With all that comes at you today, just keep shoveling and try to not throw out your back in the process.

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