Stuff I Like

Reading back over my posts of late it looks like I'm getting a tad grumpy. So here's a post that goes the other way. I tried to come up with a clever, semi-literate reference for the title, but I'm just not that good. This isn't the place for talking about family and love, and stuff. That's too easy and it's cheating! Some of these things will get their own blog posts down the road. Here we go with the first installment of Stuff I Like:

• Mountain Dew. Ever since I was a kid I have loved this stuff. There were times when I would drink at least a six-pack in one four-hour gaming session. Don't give me that Code Red, Baja Blast or Game Fuel nonsense; give me the yellow-green citrusy goodness!
• Baseball. I love the game, and I mean everything about it. I like the pace. Some complain that the game is too slow, but if you understand the intricacies and you know what to look for, it is anything but boring. I like the geometry of the field, the statistics, the equipment, the smell of the grass, the differences in stadiums, the rules, the way players don't talk smack, the uniforms, the way you can enjoy it on radio, the length of the season, the history, everything!
• Satellite Radio. I have been an XM subscriber since before the beginning of the 2005 baseball season and I have never regretted it. It makes long trips go quickly and you don't have to keep searching for a radio station as you drive. The programming is varied and they have every pitch of the major league baseball season.
• Old-Time Radio (OTR). "Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear..." Since I heard a recording of "War of the Worlds" on reel-to-reel at my uncle's house when I was eight or nine years old, I have loved this medium. From Superman to the Shadow to the Green Hornet to the Lone Ranger, there are heroes galore. With Fibber McGee and Molly, Abbot and Costello, Jack Benny, and more, comedy really sparkled back in those days. It really makes for excellent background when I am drawing. I think it stimulates the visual portion of your brain as you visualize the story. I'm surprised more artists don't try it. There's even an OTR channel on XM!
• Chicago-Style Hot Dogs. I accidentally ordered these late one Sunday night when I was on my home to Michigan City from South Bend. I ordered the hot dog special from King Gyros, thinking it was just a couple of hot dogs and fries. I opened the wrapper in the dark in my car and my mouth just exploded with flavor. I literally pulled over and turned on the interior light to see what I had just eaten. Amazing!
• Technology. I like computers, mp3 players, Bose noise-canceling headphones, scanners, cell phones, digital cameras, all of it!
• Horseradish Sauce. My grandma took me to Arby's for the first time when I was a teenager. The people at the counter asked me if I wanted Horsey Sauce and I really didn't know what to say. Grandma just laughed and said yes for me. I liked it so much, she bought a bottle of it for me to take home. I ate it on ham, turkey, hot dogs, everything!
• Sketch Art. Disney has a new Studio Collection, which is merchandise that shows characters in the development stages. I like to see how characters were constructed and thought out. I'm a big fan of animation and comic book model sheets, especially those with notes that were added by the designer during the process of creation, like the new Blue Beetle here, conceived by artist Cully Hamner.

• Broadway Musicals. Before the snarky comments start my way, let me just send you a nice package of Shut the Frak Up. I like Rent, Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, and even Mama Mia, featuring the music of Abba. I've liked every one that I've taken my wife to see. What people don't understand is that Disney movies are essentially Broadway musicals with animation. If you ever liked Disney movies, then it follows that Broadway shows are the adult form of them.
• Movie Soundtracks. While we're on the subject of music, there's nothing like a John Williams soundtrack. I used to ride my bike on my paper route, listening to the "Superman The Movie" soundtrack on my cassette recorder, which I kept in my newspaper sack. Sera goes to sleep every night to John Barry's "Somewhere in Time." In my collection I also have "The Rocketeer," "The Shadow," "The Incredibles," "Beauty and the Beast," "Star Trek-Where No Man has Gone Before, Next Generation, Generations," "Star Wars," "Batman Mask of the Phantasm" (which was really hard to find), and "Batman (Danny Elfman, not Prince)." I have others too, but these were the ones that came immediately to mind. My knowledge of obscure movie soundtracks got me mentioned here: https://www.newsfromme.com/2006/03/19/we-have-a-winner-2-2/.
• Vanilla Ice Cream with Hershey's Chocolate Syrup and Jif Creamy Peanut Butter. This dessert treat needs no further description. It is the be-all, end-all of ice cream dishes. I put this together when I was 12 and it remains my greatest contribution to the culinary arts. Not original, perhaps, but darned tasty!

And that's the end of the first installment of "Stuff I Like." Time for ice cream!