I’m lying in bed, watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, contemplating how tough it’s been being a San Diego sports fan this past year.

There have been many explanations, rationalizations, and excuses made over why the Padres and Chargers couldn’t and can’t win, and only find ways to lose.

I can’t offer any additional wisdom on this topic. Parts of these two games still confuse me, though I’ve lived with sports fans and game talk all of my life. Sometimes I get frustrated because I can’t always name pitches as they’re thrown, or describe a screen pass. 

I can, however, tell you in no uncertain terms that I am not a fair-weather fan.

In addition to being a Padres and Chargers fan, I am a Washington Husky. Back when I was two years old, and Dad was getting his MFA at UDub, each home football game I was wrapped in heavy coats and scarves then carted to Husky Stadium where sports fanaticism laid its roots in my developing psyche. After moving to San Diego at the age of 5, I still went to Huskies games, when they made it to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (it’s been a long time since them days).

The Huskies are 0-11 this season.

I’ve smiled through it all this year - when I got teased by USC, Notre Dame, or Dodgers fans - because I am an optimist. I think the happiest, most successful people/athletes possess - or are possessed by - a fiery combination of optimism and tenacity. (Blame, as a strategy, is stupid and it sucks.) Sometimes you realize, it can only get better…and find a way to believe in something you can’t see. Those who do this are the ones who take flight.

In other news, Greg Maddux has retired from MLB (another blog). He won’t be back next year. I hope he returns to the game as a pitching coach, and who knows, maybe it will be San Diego. I believe in good fortune moreso than I expect crappy circumstances. (That, for me, is a screaming victory.)

As a sports fan, I’ve had that belief pay off. Or maybe it’s the superstition. Either way, I won’t be changing much, including the teams to whom I am dedicated. Like all things, the good (luck) with the bad (calls).
 
There is always another season to which I’ll be looking forward. What else would my psyche have me do?

Oh, except maybe cook for my own team…

VEAL PICCATA
4-6 veal cutlets
1 pkg. cremini mushrooms, sliced
1-2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup capers in juice
juice of 2 lemons
white wine to deglaze skillet
fresh Italian parsley, diced
coarse grain salt and pepper to taste

8 oz. spaghetti

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Add some olive oil to keep spaghetti from sticking together if necessary.

Pound veal cutlets thin if they are not thin enough (1/4 inch thickness I think is good, though I never measure). Salt and pepper cutlets, both sides.
Warm a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil.
Add cutlets and cook over medium heat about 4-5 minutes on each side. Cutlets will “pull” up and away from skillet when done/ready to be turned.
Remove cutlets from pan, set aside.

Add white wine, enough to deglaze the skillet, and stir until browned bits loosen from the skillet.
Add mushrooms and cook until soft (you may want to crank the heat up a little bit here to get the shrooms done).
Over medium heat, when shrooms are done, add lemon juice, capers, 2 tbsp. butter, and cooked spaghetti to skillet.
Mix well.
Pour spaghetti and everything else from the skillet onto a big platter.
Add veal cutlets (and whatever juices have accumulated beneath them while resting) over spaghetti.  
Garnish with parsley over the top. Maybe some lemon slices too.
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