Lady Linda,
Thanks for the chuckle! I knew you would know of all that jungle, just yards from wherever you built a house down there. And yes, I used to pull out about a dozen scorpions every time I had to stack hay in the feed rooms, Shaking one's boot out became habit and the one time you missed was the time you got stung. Ed Montana did and I don't think he ever forgot to shake his boots out again! Never saw a man jump that high before or ever since.
And her folks were staying at one of those other famous places along Collins Ave. and they were all there for the Orange Bowl, which Penn State won and earned the NCAA championship that year. Wasn't that 1969? Almost married her, but almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades and the former only when tossing, not nailing.
You know, it does seem odd that these two chess players have become so chummy coming from such opposite ends of the Greater Philadelphia "social" spectrum. But then it really is not surprising that you would find so many things to talk about as you would certainly see things from such different vantage points. And you are both knights of honor and integrity so perhaps that is a bond you share as well.
Seeing how much our Esteemed Elder has an affinity for fast horses, perhaps he will recall the winner of the Breeder's Cup Classic in 1993. A French horse named Arcangues sent off at 133-1 and lit up the tote board when he paid a whopping $359.00 for a $2.00 bet! I was working at the Turf Club Center City then, it was my pick of the day and I bet $20.00 to win and $20.00 to place. Biggest wager that I ever made. The sad part was that he paid more to show than he did to place and I didn't bet him to show at all, because I was so certain of him winning.
Perhaps some day when we are all sitting around and telling stories, I will tell you how I came to make that particular horse my pick. But now I have some arrangements to make for the talk show, so have a good night all, and I'll be checking back for Mr. MooT's reply.
Linda, I was "bad" back then, and I do not regret it!