Adventure 49: Manhattan, KS/Post F

Quite a bit like home.

The Oklahoma Sooner's were in town, so a little red splattered across Bill Snyder Family Stadium, but otherwise the town was dressed in purple. Football is king in the Big Twelve conference, except in Lawrence (KU) where basketball still reigns. Even Zag mania falls limply aside as these midwestern zealots support their teams. Despite the frigid weather, the stadium was full with the faithful freezing their toes off. We, however, watched the game on TV (actually two TVs). I suspect that every TV in Manhattan was tuned into the game. Alas, a few mishaps near the end of the game spelled doom for the home team, and ended a four game winning streak for the bowl eligible Wildcats. Oklahoma, a very good team, is still in the thick of things for a major bowl as football heads into its final stretch. Although I'm not really a football fan, while in Rome I do what Romans do. Go Wildcats! After the game, Judy and I braved the freezing temperatures to get in a stretch of the legs around campus. Free from any maddening crowds, we were able to enjoy the Limestone buildings as we journeyed through campus quite alone, except for the biting cold wind. K-State has a long and proud history, which shows both in its new building projects as well as its reverence for a storied past. Afterward, we ate. Of course we did, and we ate before hand, too. That's what we do when we're in Rome, and we all love to cook our favorite recipes.  We'll miss all of this in another week when we're back on the road.  I cooked omelets and fried potatoes for breakfast, we had Borscht and Lebanon Bologna Sandwiches for lunch, chili was cooking on the stove for later, and we walked over to Virginia's house to pick up fresh chocolate chip cookies for a snack. Don't give us too much credit. Virginia's house is just a one block jaunt (uphill against the wind). Rod the Rocket is up in Ames, Iowa running the play clock for a college football game as he does regularly during the season. (In winter, he runs the game clock for the K-State basketball team.) He left last night, so he had to suffer pitifully with road food.  The sisters continue to enjoy each other, and I continue to monitor the weather. Tonight is supposed to produce the coldest temperatures of this current front (single digits). We'll just crank up the heat in Frac, and hope for the best. One thing continues to be apparent. Family provides a warmth even winter's deepest chill can't hinder. My Hunny Bunny has a glow that warms me even from across the room. We still haven't played cribbage, but I suspect the "Opens" will resume next week when we resume our journey. I say journey because the adventure never ends, and that's what makes life good, especially today.

Omelets on the griddle; potatoes on the stove: the thin gruel started early.

 Fearlessly frigid Frac as viewed from the Franz solarium: Bring the heat!

 Karen and Coco (Not Toto, though the resemblance to Dorothy's dog is uncanny).

 Chili simmering on the stove (Just to have around).

Rhubarb meringue: sweet, tart, and puffy all at once.

 Memorial Football Stadium (soccer now), a historical structure never to be torn down.

 One corner of the stands. They played games here when the players didn't wear face guards on their helmets. The battles must have been epic, much like the bulwarks themselves appear to be now.

 This walkway is usually filled with students, though they wouldn't see us even if they were here because they'd be looking directly into their mobile devices. It's the same everywhere, but here on campus, the kids are especially oblivious. When we rode our bikes through campus, we learned that they don't even look up (let alone left or right) when they cross the street. Amazing to me: I find it hard to blindly trust my personal safety to the actions of others.

 My best photo today. Old Glory just happened to be reflecting inside this World War II sculpture (A set of dog tags set on a pedestal). The sculpture itself is very poignant; the plaques recognize K-State graduates; the pedestal sits in a circular space, which is ringed with a rod iron fence of oak leaves. I think the flag adds a nice touch.

 A couple of the oldest buildings on campus as seen across a field of been.

 One of the old buildings along Anderson Street, one of the main drags around campus. It's formidable rock edifice protects the interior, much like a fortress. Maybe that's where we get the term: bastion.

 K-State on the tube.

 The frigid fans.

 The unstoppable (today) Sooner's about to score.

 Left over Borscht, Lebanon Bologna, homemade bread, apple slices. Need I continue?

 The gals offering Virginia (Karen's best friend) advice on whether these rolls were good enough to serve on Thanksgiving. Virginia decided, "No!" (She didn't want to chance serving an untested recipe to her family).

  We'll just eat them (They are very good; Virginia just didn't like the texture).

 Look at this purple Roman. Go Cats! It is game day, after all.