Rating: 💋 💋 💋
So, I do not do the sports. It is a very well-known fact about me, I would say. I am athletic, sure. I love working out when it means yoga and pilates and riding my bike. I swear by stretching. I danced for sixteen years. However, sports? No. I have tried a lot of sports through the years, but volleyballs seem to be attracted to a magnet in my head, I chopped my finger off once when I was supposed to be practicing for a basketball game, and my dad claims I was good at soccer, but I mostly remember chasing butterflies around the field.
Despite my lack of interest in playing sports, it turns out I am super emphatic about cheering for Philly's sports teams. Then again, that seems to go with the territory. We are ardent fans.
I have very fond memories of my dad taking me on 'dates' to Flyers games while I was growing up. One time, I dropped a whole fountain-sized coke as soon as we got back to our seats from the concessions. Oops. Come to think of it, that might be the last time he took me to a game. Sorry, Dad. The nice thing about teams like the Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers is that they do not stress me out inordinately. I want them to win of course, and I never like to see people get hurt (I am looking at you, hockey fights), but it is not as aggressive of a worry as it is when the Birds take the field.
Football, as a sport, very much concerns me because of its negative effect on the brain. I cannot reject the sport entirely though because the Eagles matter too much. I tune in to televised Eagles games more than any other sport. Once the game is on, every thought in my brain melts down to a very deep need for the Eagles to win. I am much more stressed when I watch an Eagles game than when I watch the Phillies or Flyers. The tension is out of control. You know Monsters Inc.? They need to figure out how to channel stress into electricity. If they could do that, put on one Eagles game and I could power a whole city.
It basically goes like this: if the Eagles are losing, I am in despair. If the Eagles are winning, I am ecstatic, and totally freaked out that it is going to get taken away.
That had been an exclusive Eagles phenomenon until last week's events mimicked the stress. Honestly, thank God it was our bye week. There was too much going on already.
On Sundays, we sometimes have special dinners planned around the football culture. This week's post features some awesome avocado toasts for a home tailgate.
The recipe: toasted French bread, pesto spread, mashed avocado, fresh arugula, one tomato slice per side, one fried egg per sandwich half, drizzle of ketchup, served open-faced. On the side, we had a re-sautéed autumn vegetable medley, with a lovely mélange of diced carrots, butternut squash, parsnips, and golden potatoes.
The review: It was essentially an elevated breakfast for dinner. I am allll about that! It was simply a beautiful meal. The sweet avocado and peppery arugula topped with the fresh avocado tasted divine. Egg and avo is a winning combination, and this proved that fact yet again. Make sure you do not cook the eggs too hard - unless that is your thing. The runny egg yolk really seals the deal, and mopping it up with your bread is a very satisfying conclusion to the meal. The veggies on the side were like a sophisticated hash brown and, once the egg got into the mix, it was awesome. I always put ketchup on my eggs. Pretty much every single time I try to forego it, I wind up reaching for the Heinz. That is just my preference, highly recommend, you do you. My only quibble was the bread. It was simply too dense. Next time, I am thinking the key lies in serving this on a nice, light toasted English muffin. Then you get to watch the yolk pool in all those nooks and crannies.
Over a recent dinner discussion, we were talking about how we are bummed about the Eagles' performance this season. The recent wins are helping, but still. I admit, I am pretty disappointed with the Eagles, so I have been reading throughout their games. It is just too painful to focus my undivided attention on whatever they are doing right now. Yet, I am still in the room. We are wearing our gear. Their success rate in no way diminishes our loyalty. You can go anywhere in the world, but no matter what city you live in, what team your partner prefers, you are an Eagles fan through and through. No compromising on that.
I love this city so much. Take it away, Elmo! (Honorable mention to those amazing Dancing Mailboxes - what artistry!)
XX,
MK
PS. Yes, I did survive the election via Twitter. I regret nothing.
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