Jamestown, NY
I may be traveling the country but I learned today I don’t want to do it Forrest Gump style. Today, I was running. Anthony is training for a marathon. I am not.
We left Rochester yesterday around noon. We headed to the Anchor Bar for the founding of the buffalo chicken wing. We arrived and sat down below newspaper articles and best of awards. We ordered a bucket (50) of medium and spicy BBQ. We also had 2 Labbatt Blue Light’s (my favorite beer) each. The wings took forever to come out. I’m not sure why, but maybe it was because I was asking so many questions. I really didn’t ask much about the wings, they had a write up on that. I was asking about Frank’s. I was hyped for the wings, and they did not disappoint, but I was surprised when I walked in and did not see the familiar pantry art of Frank’s Red Hot. I was introduced to Frank’s at a staple of Rochester, Nick Tahoe’s. At Nick’s, it is almost a requirement to be there after 2 AM and with a BAC higher than normal. A Garbage Plate is the thing to order. Hamburger patties, home fries, mac salad, and grease. Top it with ketchup, mustard, and Frank’s and you’re golden… until the next day. I will tell you the mix of a night at the bar and then a plate is not the easiest thing on your stomach. You may not remember eating it, but you will remember it in the bathroom.
Anyway, I expected the Frank’s bottles to be displayed prominently throughout. They were, but they were Frank and Teresa’s Anchor Bar… sauce. “What’s up with that?” I asked with a surprised look to Anthony. He didn’t know. Our waitress didn’t know. She didn’t know much. She said she’d been there for only a few weeks. She’d never seen my Frank’s in there. She asked a waitress who had been there a while, and said there was no relationship between them. Our waitress then asked if I still wanted to order. I did.
I finally went in to the bartender and asked the deal. He said they served Frank’s in there up until 5 years ago. I still say the Frank’s bottle says something on it about being started in Buffalo, NY or the Anchor Bar. We guessed someone was not making money on it or stole it or something. I was disappointed not to learn more. But, it’s only hot sauce.
We then went to the Galleria Mall in Buffalo. I remember going there in high school with some friends. It was the biggest mall ever. I was even foolish enough to love being there because I was there with a girl I was in to. Love being at the mall, I guess that changes as you get older. It wasn’t as big this time, but still nice. We were headed to a store that nothing was over $7.98. This is not a chincy trinket store, they had shorts, pants, jackets, shoes, shirts, and all of that. If you know me, you’ll know this kind of store is right up my alley. Names don’t mean much to me. If it looks cool and seems to be made OK, I’m in. I could get 10 shirts here or 1 at the ‘in’ stores. I guess I blew my cover, but Dad, you’re shirts are not from Versace.
We then took off for Donna’s hometown of Jamestown, NY. We were going there for dinner and to stay at the house she grew up in. It was a beautiful drive highlighted by green and the setting sun. Green is everywhere in western NY. The trees, grass, and hills took me back to my drives to my Nana and Papa’s. Anthony rode with me and Becky rode with Donna. He liked the Hyundai. Most people do once you get in and ride. When I got back from Vegas I learned that my Mom, Dad, and sister all took it for a spin and all approved.
We pulled into a log home on a slightly pitched yard with some old maple trees and a garden. It was like a pictured it, but much better in reality. I had met Donna’s parents at their wedding. It was good to see them and they quizzed me about the trip and said they had been on the site. That is always cool to hear. Donna gave me the tour and we relaxed for a while. It was then dinner time. Lasagna. It was a battle between Mrs. Mullen and Mrs. Harrison. I will call it a draw.
When I was in Vegas Courtney was way hung over. She ordered a glass of milk. She said that it was good with Italian food. I didn’t think much about it until last night, when I heard her voice and decided to have a glass of milk. I did it as a kid, but she was right, very good. We had salad with veggies from the garden, bread and rolls, and a fruit mix (blue and straw berries and kiwi). Donna used to make that in Phoenix.
We then went and rented Along Came Polly. Ben Stiller is someone I like to laugh with and he did a good job. It wasn’t the best, but still good. He has set himself a high bar. I think I will go see Dodgeball at some point.
We watched a little Leno and even littler of a poor Conan, and called it a night. Their place has one room downstairs (parents) and two upstairs (Donna and brother). Becky slept in Donna’s room and I slept on the floor of Donna and Anthony’s. The room’s windows are low and my head was right by an open window. The night and mix of the lake (less than ½ mile away) filled my lungs and brain up right. Vegas and the travel must have caught up with me as I slept until 10 AM. I don’t sleep that late.
We got up had some toast with homemade strawberry jelly and hit the track. There is a park a block away. Anthony said he is running 9 miles on Sunday. Today we went 9 times around the track. The track is .55 or .6 miles. I made it. He estimated close to 5.5 miles. We ran for 55 minutes. It didn’t hurt that it is a sunny 74 degreed. Upstate NY in the summer cannot be topped. Upstate NY in the winter can. He has a style that I found pretty smart, especially for a marathon. He runs 5 minutes and then walks 1. Repeat. It breaks up the run into shorter goals. I almost stopped at 7. And 8. And 9. But I made it the whole way. This is the longest I’ve ever run. It was fun, but there is now way I can see 26 miles.
I don’t feel too hot right now, but a shower and lunch will do it. As I said, I will support Anthony in his quest, but not join him on it. Sounds slightly familiar… I know him well. He will do it.
Shower time and then off to see the birth home of Lucille Ball.