Some food and some football - what a combo | Life in Ludlow

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A well-known consequence of the pandemic is that restaurants have become collateral damage. They have lost customers, changed business strategies, lost valued employees, lost money, struggled to get staff back, and suffered cost increases difficult to pass on to customers. 

Many folks have tried to support them over the past two years by adopting new and sometimes inconvenient ways to patronize them. 

We made a concerted effort to help last week. We got a take-out meal from Thysen and Debbie Scott’s GBF which used to be a very busy catering service in the area. Now they offer take-out, a coffee and sandwich trailer and the catering. 

In additionl, we did breakfast at the Dusty Green Café for the second week in a row with Steve and Fran Gross. 

It was Fran’s birthday yesterday. Dusty Green does take-out and dine in meals from their location at the Port Ludlow Golf Course. The Inn at Port Ludlow does in restaurant dining plus their take-out service. 

We have patronized each of these businesses over the past week. Hey, I told you last week it was my birthday and as old as I am I need to get out as often as I can. 

By the way, that little list did not even include a birthday dinner at Sharon and Vic Draper’s and a birthday lunch on my son at the Kingston Ale House.  

Football season is heading into the year’s climax. The college championship was on Monday evening, after my deadline to submit this column. 

However, the pros are just starting into the playoffs with the Seattle Seahawks outside looking in and the Kansas City Chiefs inside looking out.

Neighbors Paul Herrington and Kathleen Warnock came over for a beer shortly after the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos last weekend. Paul is a big Broncos fan and took lighthearted umbrage when I still had my Chiefs sweatshirt on. He was immediately mollified when I poured him a beer. 

And, did you see the incredible Raiders/Chargers game on Sunday night? Unreal.

There was a minor accident in central Port Ludlow the other day when a car clumsily missed the turn heading down Paradise Bay Road from Oak Bay Road and hit the first light pole squarely. As of this writing the pole is still somewhat suffering. 

A visible exhibition of overkill is a four-wheel-drive local Subaru with tire chains. But, if you need them, Les Schwab provides a great service. I believe you can buy a set of tire chains for your car and get your money back when you return them. I bought a set many years go and then got a new car with different size tires. Les Schwab happily swapped my old car’s chains in exchange for chains that would fit the new car’s tires. 

All that being said, the last time I used tire chains was about 40 years ago. Since then, the cars I use are either four-wheel-drive or have all season tires or both. 

Frankly, nowadays I just don’t get out that much in the inclement weather. Well, except in last week’s column when I confessed to doing “donuts” in a local parking lot that was covered in packed snow and ice. 

The COVID numbers are heading the wrong direction so many places are tightening up again. 

In spite of the socializing described earlier, I and others are being more and more careful in our adventures. It is my understanding that I need not use the home COVID test unless I am experiencing symptoms so I will hold it until they show up, if they do. Nonetheless, since I am vaxxed and boosted I am optimistic that even if I do get COVID, I will remain home whining to BJ in my own pity inducing way. 

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week! 

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident who taught Nick Bolton everything he knows about scoop and score. Email Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)