1327 – Winterfest Drive Through Memory Maps

Episode 1327 – Winterfest Drive Through Memory Maps

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Hey everybody, this is Scoots. This episode is inspired by some posts, interactions I had with the Instagram account, Syracuse History, and I’ll link to it for Syracuse, New York. But I’m sure there’s these cool, independent people on Instagram or other places that are trying to keep the history or research the history or talk about the history of the places you’ve lived or lived. So, don’t forget to check those out, and…yeah, I appreciate my interactions with people that are looking into history, but also like, hey…send me in the right direction. Thanks so much.

 

Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster…I guess I’ll be…I’m wearing a shirt…not a shirt made of waffles and not a…not a shirt…well, based…I have a waffle…they don’t really…they’re not as popular…and the shirt I’m wearing now, I don't know if it’ll ever be popular. It’s a lavender waffle shirt that I got for live shows. I don't know if I ever wore it at a live show, because it’s constructed in a very interesting way. But I’m gonna be waffling around. If you’re new, welcome to Sleep With Me. I’m really glad you’re here. This is a sleep podcast that’s here to keep you company, like a friend, and take your mind off of stuff, like a friend in the deep, dark night, almost like listening to a sitcom or a audiobook, but a little bit different.

 

There’s not gonna be any pressure to fall asleep here. I’m just gonna be here while you fall asleep, talking to you in a meandering way, kinda telling you a story or eventually telling you a story, that…listening to it is optional. So, I’m here to be your friend in the deep, dark night because I’ve been there, and a lot of other people that listen to the show have. This show is very different. It does take some getting used to. So, if you’re new, just give it a try and see how it goes. No pressure to like me or the show. Most people don’t. It’s a bit of an acquired taste, but it’s the kind of thing…if it helps you out, one, it’s great, because I’m just here to help you fall asleep. But two, it’s different than most other things. You say, oh, I didn’t know something like that could be even out there for me to find.

 

So, I really hope this is the kind of thing you’re looking for. If it’s not, I do have a website set up, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, that you could check out, and it has other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff on there. But I really hope we can help. Basically, what I’ll be doing is talking in this way and going off topic and stuff, with a lot of filler words. So, just see how it goes. Most regular listeners say, hey, it took two or three tries for me to get used to the show and realize, oh, he wasn’t kidding but he wasn’t serious, either, when he was talking about how the show works. He meant what he said, but it’s tough to describe. So, I’m glad you’re here.

 

What we got coming up; we’ve got support, and that’s…the ad-supported show is what most people like to listen to, then a long, meandering intro separate from the support. The intro is meant to ease you into bedtime and get you ready for bed, and then there will be a bedtime story later on. All told, we’ll be here about an hour, a little bit more. So, I’m really glad you're here. I’m able to do this twice a week because of the people that support the show directly or support the sponsors or support the show in other ways, like spreading the word, letting people know about Sleep With Me, or just being kind. Even if you’re not directly kind to me, when you listen to this show, you are a part of something.

 

So, even if you have nice thoughts about other listeners, it really does make a difference to me, and that’s why I keep coming back and I’m able to keep doing this. The true energy of the show is something shared, where the show helps you out, and then maybe you let somebody know about it or do something, or you say…you put that energy out there in the world; hey, I know there’s somebody else out there and I’m glad they’re here, too. I’ve heard from people. It does make a difference, your positive…I don't know how to explain it, though, 'cause when I start to explain it, it doesn't…my skeptic gets all…but I know it’s real even though I’m a skeptical person. So, yeah, I’m really glad you’re here, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do this for you.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. That could be thoughts on your mind, things you’re thinking about about the past, the present, the future, thoughts, thinking thoughts, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally that may be related to those thoughts, it could be feelings left over from the day, feelings that are just making an appearance at bedtime so conveniently.

 

Oh, thank you for those thoughts and feelings that decide, oh, now is the right time. I’ve been thinking about this all day, but I didn’t want to bring it up ‘til you were almost asleep, but did you ever notice…or do you remember this? Or, hey, you know this…this feeling…I was thinking we’d keep this as a underlying feeling, but I’m thinking maybe now’s the time for me to bring it to the surface. Oh, we’re so thankful…so, it could be feelings, if you relate to any of that, it could be physical sensations, it could be changes in time, temperature, routine, maybe you’re…you work a different schedule, maybe you're traveling, maybe you have guests, maybe you're just going through something. The only reason I take the time…this part of the show is so you know you're not alone. I know that can seem…I don't know.

 

I know you could have feelings about it, 'cause I do, but I think it’s important for me to point that out or to spend some time with it so you feel seen but in a indirect way, or you're…maybe this is a new way of talking about it on the show. Other…we’re aware of it, right? Maybe you say, whoa, I didn’t come to a sleep podcast to feel seen. I mean, a underlying feeling of being seen, but oh, no, no, I’m not here to be seen. I mean, that’s how I feel whenever I go anywhere. I say, I’m not here to…I’m not doing a live show to be seen here. That’s pretty funny, but it’s true. But I’d like you to be aware that I’m here to do a show to put you to sleep or whatever. But so, I don't know, maybe you could help me out down the road and send me a message or whatever. But it’s like, yeah…I guess, yeah, that I’m aware it’s not easy for you.

 

Whatever brought you here, I’m glad you’re here, because I’m aware of what it’s like when I can't sleep, and I think some of those feelings may be relateable, and I know…yeah, and I say, man, if I’m…I guess now I’m gonna overuse ‘aware’, but if I’m aware of that, I say, wow, that must be tough, whatever it is you’re going through, 'cause I know even if…even when it’s nothing specific that’s keeping me awake, I know what that feels like. The other thing is that you deserve a bedtime where you could get the rest you need so that you don’t have…where your bedtime doesn't…full of rigamarole, where you don’t have to dread bedtime. For me, particularly as a kid, I started dreading Sunday nights on Friday evenings, and then Saturday would hit me; I gotta go to bed tomorrow night.

 

So, I really know what that feels like at my core, and that’s not fair for anybody to feel, even if it’s a mild version of that. You deserve a bedtime where you could feel neutral or look forward to it and where you get the rest you need so your life is manageable tomorrow and, ideally, so you could be out there flourishing, because our world truly is a better place when you’re in it and when you’re out there flourishing. It’s a much better place. It has a positive impact on all of us when you’re more rested. It’s true, but it’s not easy…I don't know. It’s like, most people aren't aware of that thing. They say, man, it’s great, and the people that listen to the show are.

 

There’s really someone listening who’s been through something very similar to what you’ve been through who is rooting for right now…that this show helps you out and keeps you company, and maybe it takes two or three tries to realize, oh, he’s always talking about nothing. So, yeah, I hope you feel…that there’s a general awareness of you here in a positive way, general positive awareness. You say, when he’s talking like that, is it subtextual? No. I don't even know if he knows what that means. He would try to come up with some word like ‘subtextual’ that…it would be like a submarine-sandwich version of subtextual. Well, I don't understand…yeah, no, no, neither does he. So, what I’ll do here is I’m gonna send my voice across the deep, dark night.

 

I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, which means my voice is not traditionally soothing and I don't necessarily…I don't follow any kind of script. Even for shows that are written, I’m just meandering my way through a story or through a TV-show recap or through a personal essay and stopping to look at stuff on the way there or getting distracted by my thoughts. So, all to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep. So, this is a podcast that you don’t necessarily need to listen to, but you could listen to it, which is different. It’s like, okay, I could listen, but I don't have to listen. Yeah, there’s no pressure to listen.

 

It’s almost like an out-of-focus picture or a TV on in the other room or having something on…like a show on under your pillow. It’s like that, but it’s also in a friendly way where it’s like, hey, this person is talking for my benefit, just like if you called a friend. But you just can't do that every night. You say, just tell me about something for about a hour while I fall asleep. I’m not…I’m gonna kinda listen to you and I may humor you…uh-huh, uh-huh, but I’m really trying to fall asleep. I just want you to take my mind off of stuff 'cause I’ve been going through it. Or, I’m not sure why I can't sleep, but I can't fall asleep. So, can you help me out? Most friends would take you up on that a few times, but realistically, they can't do it all the time, so I fill in. I’m a fill in, a fill-in friend.

 

Not…if you ever watched the show…the one with the game show…I’m not a phone-a-friend. I mean, I’m a phone-a-friend to put you to sleep, but don’t phone me with any trivia, ‘cause either there’s a hundred-percent chance I’ll either know it right away or definitely not know it at all. So, yeah, I’m here to be barely listened to. Also, there’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show, which is different. I’ve been making this podcast for over eleven years. When I started the idea of bedtime stories for grown-ups, or particularly boring bedtime stories for grown-ups, it wasn’t really a thing, and it’s still not…I don't know, I still feel like I make it in a different way, because I’m not here to put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep. That’s why I’m here over an hour.

 

That’s why there’s tons of shows ready to go in the archives, and there’s other stuff that may be there to put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company and then you just wake up tomorrow. But if you can't sleep, I’m here to keep you company. If you need a break during the day, I’m here to keep you company. If you wake up in the middle of the night…I’m here to the very end whether you're awake or asleep, and I really think that’s what makes this show work. I’m gonna be here for you, but you don’t need to pay attention to me. Or, you know what I mean? I’m here for you whether you’re listening or not, and that role is like your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your neigh-bore, your your Borbie, your bores, your bore-bestie, your best bore-friend f’eva.

 

I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep. I guess that’s a little bit different, but it’s hard to explain until you’re a regular listener, and then you’re like, oh, okay. Now, most people when they get here are skeptical or doubtful — I talked about that earlier — and that’s normal. Why wouldn't you be skeptical or doubtful if someone told you about this show, or you couldn't sleep and then you're searching for a sleep podcast…? Then the show comes up, and then you're like, I thought this would be more soothing or more…I don't know, more meditative or…I thought you were gonna put me to sleep. Eh, kinda. In an indirect way, I am.

 

I’m here to take your mind off of stuff, to distract you, to…whatever’s keeping you awake…to be something different to focus on that’s outside of you. That’s what I learned from all my sleepness nights, is like, this is why I do it, 'cause you…I’ll talk about stuff that you really don’t have a stake in. You know what I’m saying? I don't know. So, it does take some getting used to, and some people never get used to the show. Most people…it takes two or three tries, and those people…those are regular listeners that are super-engaged with the show that tell me that; it took two or three tries. First I didn’t like you very much or I didn’t get it. But there are people, a large number of people, that have even strong…a strong…something stronger than a distaste for me right away or the show doesn't work for.

 

That’s why I have sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou set up, so you could still find something to put you to sleep. So, just give the show a few tries and see how it goes. The other thing that can throw people off is the structure of the show, and the show’s structured in a very specific way, so I just want to tell you about that. It starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. So, that’s where you feel seen or you say, oh, the show’s aware that it should be friendly to me and welcoming to anybody that wants to stop by and check it out. Then maybe there’s a little bit of our mild humor, our humor-like…whatever, humor-esque tone. You say, okay, it’s got a silly tone. It’s serious, friendly, and silly at the same time? Okay. Maybe I could check that out.

 

Then we have sponsors so paying for the show is optional. If you want something without ads, you could get that at Sleep With Me+, but most people like listening to this version linearly. A lot of people set a sleep timer for like, forty-five or sixty minutes. But as you become a regular listener, there’s a lot of different ways you could listen. That’s why I talk about the structure of the show, again, to meet you where you are if you have questions. So, then there’s the teaser, support, then there’s a long, meandering intro which is separate from the support. It’s a show within a show. We’re about fifteen minutes into it now, and it’s where I try to explain what the podcast is unsuccessfully. I can't do it concisely, but I do it in a familiar structure every time.

 

But every time I try to explain it, something different comes up to distract me on my way to explaining what the podcast is. That’s important to me because I feel like, one, most of us need a wind-down. So, the intro…that’s the primary purpose of the intro, is as a wind-down. So, whether you’re getting ready for bed, unwinding, chilling out, or in bed getting comfortable, the intro serves as a buffer between being awake and asleep. There is a small percentage of people that fall asleep during the intro, but there’s also people that only listen to stories. So, it kinda…as you become a regular listener, you could kinda figure out. That’s why we offer so many different versions of the show on Sleep With Me+. But most people, they just put on the show, wind down during the intro, fall asleep during the story.

 

So, that’s one part of the intro. The other is it’s a familiar structure every time, but it’s different every time, and I think that’s important just because…I don't know, we want…I want something familiar at bedtime that feels nice, but I…it can't be predictable, otherwise the parts of me that keep me awake will say, oh boy, there you go again. Whatever, they start to activate. I’m here to distract those parts of you but also put them at ease. They say, oh, there’s Scoots again. Particularly the parts of you that are more likely to point fingers, they can point them at me and be like, once again, he does not know where he’s going. So, it’s kind of fun. I get to keep them company, too. So, that’s the intro. It goes on and on and on, fifteen, twenty minutes, then there’s support, then there will be our bedtime story, and then…yeah, that’s it.

 

I really appreciate you coming by whether you’re new or this is your thousandth episode. I couldn't do it unless it helped you, right? Again, it doesn't help everybody. I wish it did. But if it ends up helping you out, that’s why I get to do this show, you know? It means something to me because I’ve been there and I’m aware of it, right? Now, it does take a lot of work and a team of people to make this show, so, it’s not just me. So, I don’t want to over-congratulate myself because I can't do it…that’s what I mean. We do it as a kind of community, 'cause people that support the show…then I can support the people that work on the show, and on and on and on. But I’m really glad you're here. Just give the show a few tries if you're new. See how it goes. No pressure at all. If you're a regular listener, so happy to see you.

 

Any pets that are listening, obviously, you're the most important people in the room. What up, fishes? I always like to pander to you, and other…of course…I mean, of course other pets…I’m only pandering to the fishes 'cause…fishes, stop listening, please, because…'cause you’re the most important pet, obviously. So, glad you're here, too. I mean, the most important person in the room. The cats are all…the cats are nodding knowingly, right? So, yeah, I’m glad you're all here. I work really hard. I yearn and I strive. I really appreciate your time, and I really hope I can help you fall asleep. So, one more time, thanks again for coming by, and here’s a couple ways I’m able to do this regularly for you. Thanks.

 

Hey everybody, this is Scoots here, and this is not a continuation episode, but I was inspired…this is another of these hybrid episodes that’ll be kind of…have a little bit of a personal essay, 'cause I know those are very popular, and a traveling-through-space…outer-space episode, and it’ll be on this…variation on a theme. ‘Cause I can't force personal-essay episodes. I know they're popular. I can only put out so many a year. I only have so many personal essays. This idea came organically, 'cause we recently…well, this week for me, when I’m recording it…I recorded a Winterfest medallion-search episode, and it was quite embarrassing.

 

Luckily I’m open to embarrassment, but…that I was positive where the medallion was located, and as I proceeded with…towards the end of the clues, I realized I was not in the right place at all. But I figured, well, what if…what if? What if I took the…? Even though I know it’s a futile quest…that’s what Sleep With Me is all about, anyway. So, to set the stage here, we’re gonna go back in time even though…into my imagination as well, and we won't load all the kids up. It’ll just be me and you heading from close to where I grew up in Syracuse out to Green Lakes State Park to search for this medallion. Then I located the fifteenth clue that I didn’t have in the other episode, which was very clear, but even though the sixteenth…the clue was also clear that my initial instinct was wrong.

 

But let’s just see what would happen if we were looking around on a map. Now we have access to these maps and stuff. We’ll drive out there, 'cause that’s always interesting when we go through space in my imagination and the past. We’ll see what we find, and then if we have time, then we’ll go…I couldn't find very many good vintage maps of the New York State Fairgrounds, but I did find a couple that weren't the right era, but…which I already…when I was…we were doing the clues, I said, is that open to the public at all times? But, I mean, I don't know, I guess apparently it is, the New York State Fairgrounds. Also, if you’re confused, you're in the right place.

 

You don’t have to listen to the previous episode 'cause we’re gonna take a drive, and we’re gonna start here at the Mundy Branch Library, which has very historical significance, one of the formative places of my youth…still exists on Geddes Ave in Syracuse, New York. We’re gonna drive from there out of the parking lot, which is actually on Rowland Street, as in Kelly Rowland, onto Geddes, and head out. So, we’ll head out to Green Lakes State Park, and we’ll see what we…I mean, I already have something to pass…so, we’re gonna come on Rowland, we’re gonna take a left on Geddes, and…oh boy, this has us in the wrong place, but that’s fine. So, I gotta get back to where we were. This has us at the entrance of…okay, so, there we go; we’re on Rowland.

 

Now we’re turning left on Geddes Street, and we’re gonna take Geddes. Now, I don't remember the name of the discount shoe store, but on our right…it’s no longer a shoe store, but it used to be a discount shoe store where if you have six kids and they need shoes, you would go to buy shoes. I don't know, I imagine it was called Central Shoes Discount. That’s on the right. Also near the Mundy Branch Library is a Byrne Dairy, where if my mom was taking us to the library and she needed…it’s kinda like a convenience store. You could get…if she needed milk or some other staples, we would go there. We did have one family adventure there once, but I’ll talk about that another time. Also, there’s a barber, and I can't remember the two barber’s names 'cause they didn’t cut my hair as often as they did my siblings’. Lou?

 

I can't remember, but they are also there on the left somewhere, or they were. We’re gonna continue on Geddes. We’re gonna pass by a lot of different stuff. Oh, we’re gonna take Geddes past Seymour Street…oh boy, we’re taking it a lot further than I would have taken it. We’re taking it all the way to 690. I probably wouldn't have…I don't even know where I’m going already. But yeah, so, we’re…pass a lot of stuff from…oh, one place that doesn't exist right off of Geddes Street was a place my dad loved getting pizza. Now, it started with a P. Maybe I’ll think of it. I shouldn't have brought it up, huh? It was one of my dad’s favorite pizza places. It was a pizza place that…it served different…not New York City-style pizza. Syracuse has kind of its own styles of pizza. Man, what was the name of the place?

 

I think there was two of them. But they would really cook their cheese on the top, like where it would almost be caramelized. I don't know if that’s what my dad liked about the pizza. It was good. We didn’t get it very often because I’m sure the rest of us said, dad, this cheese is overcooked. He’d say, yeah, that’s what I like about it. I’ll have to ask him. But, man, where is 690? Oh, okay, I guess I kinda know where it is. Alright, so, we’re getting on 690, 690 east. Where are we going from there? Okay, we’re gonna head east, we’re gonna head past…oh yeah, dinosaur…81…see, I would have got on it on a different section.

 

If I wasn’t following these directions that were given to me, what we probably would have done is taken a right on Erie Boulevard or Fayette Street and then headed down towards downtown Syracuse, and then we would have taken West Street, and I think we could have gotten on 690 there. But I mean, I’ve been wrong so many times in my life. But we’re gonna take 690. It’s gonna bend around. If you look to your right, you may see the Erie Canal Museum. Then a famous thing as a child in Syracuse coming up on our left out the window will be a…like a old train station that I have no idea anything about. But it was a elevated train station stop. Traditionally in Syracuse, there was always mannequins waiting for the train.

 

As someone that didn’t get to a lot…who always dreamed of going to places with animatronics, even seeing non-animated statues meant to look like people…I mean, they weren't…they were just…I don't know if they were plastic or stone, but they were just cream-colored, but they were waiting for a train. Always exciting, always a big…I mean, ask around. Ask Syracusans, and they’ll say, yeah, oh yeah, the people wait…they may know more facts. But yeah, we’re gonna take 690. We’re gonna be on this a while, and luckily by the power of magic and podcasting…the only other thing we’re gonna look out for — and as we get further out — is…trying to find where Le Moyne is. We passed Syracuse University.

 

Somewhere out here is Le Moyne College, where…oh, there it is, where a lot of people I know attended school. I know some people that work there. But what’s important…I mean, Le Moyne is great, and I met a lot of great people when my friends went there. But near Le Moyne, I guess on Thompson Road…let’s see if we zoom in here…is…yeah, there it is, Lost Horizon. I think it’s on Thompson Road. No, it’s not coming up here, but I think it is on Thompson Road. We’re not gonna get off and go there. The Lost Horizon was…I don't know what the term for it is. Like a music club that was sixteen and up, and I don't know if Syracuse had a ton…this was a small…you pay, whatever, five bucks, and you could see four bands. Most of the time it was some sort of rock. It could get into heavy metal, maybe a little bit of punk.

 

There were country music nights as well. My friends and I would go there 'cause you could go…and it was so fun, you didn’t actually have to…I mean, you couldn't imbibe there, but you could imbibe in the music, man. So…okay, but we’re gonna keep going on 680. Are we getting off here? Oh, wait, yeah, maybe I should use the directions, huh? You're right. Okay, sure. Okay, well, we…so, we took Geddes, we got on 690, then we got off at…in the second lane…oh, on Thompson…oh no, we’re merging on Thompson Road, each…East Bridge…Bridge Street, East Syracuse, second lane from the right. Yeah, we’re gonna take Exit 17 towards…for Bridge Street towards wherever. Huh, now I’m lost. Okay, so, we got off, and…this is like, DeWitt.

 

So, there may have been a mall out here at some time, but I’m not…my memory’s not the best right here. We’re gonna take a left on Bridge Street, and…I don't know, maybe there was one of the malls I grew up in right around here. I don't know. We’re gonna take…now it says Manlius 290. Manlius…Manlius Center Road. Okay, so, we’re on this road. Maybe there was a mall. Manlius Center Road…and we’re gonna take that. That’s also known as 290. We’re gonna pass over 481, and I think where this Walmart is was a mall, maybe. I don't know, though. No, no, I guess I’m wrong. Yeah, I’m having trouble imagining…reimagining what 290 is. So, maybe one day we’ll take this again, 'cause I know I’ve been there, but…I think this is where, once upon a time…shop…oh, there’s Shopping Town Barber Shop.

 

So, there is…so, this is where a mall…Shopping Town Mall was, somewhere out here. Yeah, I guess maybe right where I’m looking, but it looks like there’s houses there. If you were looking on personal facts, we used to go out here for Thanksgiving to my aunt and uncle’s house and spend time with Ed and Molly, Abby, Betsy, and John. Also, my Aunt Betsy lived out here at one point. She lived in a house…a two-story house with a elevator, briefly. I think it was less a thing of grandeur than the previous resident needed an elevator, right? But for kids from Syracuse, New York…'cause it wasn’t some…it was a nice house but it wasn’t some gigantic mansion. But the idea of being in a house with a elevator was probably…it was amazing.

 

But yeah, we’re on 290. I wonder…I wish I had more facts about this road, but I can't really…I can't imagine it. But now…wow, we got out here fast. Just take 690, then 290, and then we’re gonna…alls we gotta do is turn from 290 onto Green Lakes Road, and we’re already here. So, we’re gonna turn right onto Green Lakes Park Road, and then we’re gonna go into Green Lakes Park, and then what we’re gonna do is boot up the map just of Green Lakes Park. So, let’s just see. Mundy Branch Library right there, but we're gonna go back to Green Lakes State Park. I know there’s a golf course there. This is…so, let’s go…let’s review…oh, Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center. So, you could go cross-country skiing. We came into it on one side. Normally I would come into it…okay, that’s why I’m confused.

 

Normally I’d come through Route 5 to get there, and the last time I was there, two or three years ago, that’s the way we went. But we took the back way, you know. Oh boy, did we get there, 290 or whatever to 257. But yeah, let’s check our…all our hints, and we’ll get back to where where are we looking, even though we know, and we’ll start to narrow it down. We all got…you and I got in the car together to head out here. So, our first tip was that it’s in Onondaga County, which I forgot to double-check to make sure we’re still in Onondaga County. It’s a place where people in the summer fest. There’s green with birdies, woods, and trees, and there’s water nearby. Okay…and we want to do some tracking, which, I don't know, makes sense with the cross-country skiing. Let’s see, don’t be tee’d if you don’t get on track.

 

That’s another one where I was like, okay, tees…so, I’m thinking the golf course now. Lucky number 7…so, lake, birds, tracking, 7…barefoot; that’s one where I just…I still don’t know…understand that one. Barefoot…and several bridges, curves, and flowers. But golf carts go over bridges. But I guess they wouldn't want…well, in the win…this is the wintertime. I always forget that. A Disney character where you park…open…new open igloos…I mean, that could be ice-fishing or something. I don't know. Cut down on the size of the venue by a bit. There was something else about arrows…okay. I figure that was archery. Then looking up…okay, so, let’s just check Green Lakes. So, we pull in there, and beautiful…I mean, plenty of hiking to do here.

 

Holy cow, we are lucky, huh? We want to get…we want to get the right layer, though. I’d prefer a layer with satellite. So, here we are at Green Lakes State Park, and we’ve driven out here. Now, we’ll probably have to do some more driving, but luckily we’re mapping. So, there is the Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center, unrelated to…what do you call that? Green Lakes. But you could go tubing there and stuff like that. But we took Green Lakes State Park Drive…okay, they're not…right now they decided on not to label the holes for us, but oh boy, we could figure that out somewhere, huh? We’ll find a map of…to Hole 7. Because right across the street is Green Lake and the trail that goes around Green Lake. So, let’s just pretend we’re…it’d be a lot of walking. No one would be happy with me. But luckily we’re doing it as part of a podcast.

 

Okay, so, I wonder if we could find Hole 7. Well, let’s just pretend we’re golfing. Okay, so, usually when you golf, you walk out to your left. You clockwise it, right? Okay, so, Hole 1 goes there, then you got Hole 2. Go out further…Hole 3 looks like a par 3. Hole 4 is a longer…4 or 5…having trouble finding the…okay, oh, I guess you go there. Hole 6, Hole 7…did I say 7 or 17? I guess I gotta check my clues again. 7 or 17…aren't we glad…? Isn't this nice? We're so warm, though. For straight and narrow…and cut down on the venue size…we don’t know what that means. Definitely don’t know what it means. Park and lark…and curves and flowers. Maybe it was 7, but I guess it doesn't really help us. ‘Cause I was like, holy cow, that’s such a good clue that we’d be already set. Okay, so, we’ll pretend we’re walking around.

 

I say, okay, I don't see any bridges. I don't see any parking. Okay, let’s go back to Green Lakes. Is there any archery in Green Lakes? Let’s just check. How do you spell ‘archery’? A-R-C-H…ery. Arch…okay, there is one. Or, maybe not. Are there any near there? No. There’s a golf course, Green Lake Lanes, but that’s away…but let’s say…let’s just pretend that…if I’m in charge, I’m like, refined in this thing. Okay, Green Lake, Round Lake…now, I guess what I would do if…I’d say, okay, well, let’s just cross the street here. Luckily we got good boots on. It looks like there’s a way to cross into the woods here on…further out on…between the first hole and the second hole.

 

So, we’ll cross through the woods, and then probably…it wouldn't be…we’ll probably have to do some navigating to get to the hiking path that circles Green Lake. But we're gonna do that, and…say, there’s gotta be a archery range around here somewhere. Actually, there’s a big parking area coming up with a restroom. I’d say, maybe it’s around here somewhere. There’s plenty of open, green space where you could do archery. Maybe there’s archery in the summer. This will probably be when most people in my group would be losing hope and faith in me. But I’d say, don't worry, we…I brought hot cocoa, hot nog. So, what we’d do is sit down here. There’s probably a nice bench…because it’s beautiful, and I don't know if Green…I don't think Green Lakes…I don't know if it freezes over in the winter or not.

 

But we’d have a good view. Then we would keep going, 'cause if I’m doing it…maybe somebody would say, I’m gonna go back and get the car…and say, okay, come up…bring it to the next…two parking lots from now. They’d say, Scoots, man…I say, don't worry, we’re gonna be fine, because the next parking lot…I’d say, maybe it’s this one. It’s not that far along. That’s a asphalt parking lot. There’s also another restroom. So, I’d say, okay, maybe there’s…archery’s around here. Then we could follow that path back. I think there’s a big changing…like a house you can rent out for weddings, or a building…events-and-changing building…look around there. We could walk around there for a while. This is, again, on the edge of Green…or, yeah, Green Lake. So, we’d probably have a beautiful view of the lake.

 

I’m sure there’s beautiful winter wildlife out; bird…winter birds and…and it’s so…I mean, we're so warm and toasty. I say, you know, this is one of the Great…this is not…this is a Green Lake, not a Great Lake, but it’s pretty nice. Then we would walk down towards the swimming and beach picnic area, and we could reminisce about times as a little kid I came here with my parents. The beach house is where the snack bar is, and we’d say, oh boy, it’s not open. The restrooms are also closed. But we could walk…and I’d try to make the best of it. In a real way, I’d say, who gets to walk on the beach in the middle of winter looking for a medallion? Then we’d go over the clues again, and we’d…and then I’d try to point out…there’s another big parking area. That’s where whoever moved the car…I told them to park the car.

 

But we’d probably have to…they’d be…no, no, I’m on the other side. I’d say, okay, don't worry, we’ll come over there. Now is when I’d…I may be digging in a little bit, 'cause I’d say, okay, well, yeah, here’s where we used to park as kids. There’s also a playground, I think, so we could play on the playground briefly. There’s grills and stuff so people…like in the picnic areas. I say, I remember all this, man. Then there’s another set of restrooms and parking on the other side. That’s where our ride is. You get to see how big the swimming area is, and that it could be bustling. Other buildings…and then I would probably say, oh yeah, I don't know if this was the TVA or the CCC that built all this, or…but, oh boy, am I glad they built all these facilities.

 

Then there’s even the Green Lake Environmental Center all the way on the other side of the shore. Now, we’d probably split up, because I’d say, well, I might as well walk the rest of the lake, because there is the disc golf course. So, I should go to the seventh hole of the disc golf course. Now, meanwhile, those other clues haven't come out yet, so it’s like…I’m like, we could be the ones that find the medallion. We just can't…we gotta stick with it…and hopefully that the disc golf course would be…would have some sort of way…'cause it’s just basically a open field when I look at it from above. Say, okay, I gotta figure out where the seventh hole is. There’s even I think a baseball/softball field not that far off.

 

So, I say, well, maybe there’s…maybe there’s…the archery thing’s down there, 'cause there’s more covered picnic areas and stuff like that. I mean, there’s a lot of photos from the disc golf course, oh boy, and just seeing…I mean, think about the smells we're smelling together. There’s a little bit of loamy, autumnal…where the ground isn't frozen, and there’s still…we see the trees are empty, but…and there’s evergreen trees mixed in. We got the wind, but luckily we’re…this is great. Maybe at this point I’m even saying it to myself as I look around. I say, okay, well, I’m still not ready to call it, because I think there’s…is there a camping area, too? ‘Cause there may be a place to camp.

 

So, I say, well, let me just try to go to Campsite 7, if there is a campsite, because it does look like it’s RV camping or tent camping, and I would check that. I’d say, don't worry. Now, I would also…wouldn't realize that…oh wait, there’s another…yeah, there’s another camping loop out on the other side of Round Lake, too. Round Lake’s another one of the Green Lakes. It’s beautiful. Again, if you’re…it’s highly recommended to…it’s a national natural landmark, so it is definitely worth checking out. So, we could look at that. I would…so, I guess I would end up checking every campsite. I would still be like, man, we’re close. I know we’re close. Maybe I’d see another medallion hunter.

 

Then I guess I would head back to the golf course, but I would have taken the long way around, which is fine, which is fine, because…since I went around Green Lake to Round Lake to the other campgrounds…checked both sets of campgrounds. I said, well, is there a third set of campgrounds? Does anybody know? Is anybody still speaking to me that’s on this adventure? But everybody…luckily everybody knew, so they stayed in the car where it’s nice and warm and the heat is going. Now the sun is starting to wane, and so, we’re like, okay…and then someone says, you know what? All the clues came out because this is a form of time travel. So, we’re gonna go to the…we’re gonna drive to the New York State Fairgrounds. I say, okay, let’s do it.

 

I believe in you. So, let’s just type it in our directions to see which way we would go. Alright, so, we got a couple choices. We could do the way we came in or we could do it the way Scoots was talking about. Let’s do it that way, 481 instead of 690. Let’s do it that way. Scoots says, okay, let’s do it that way. Alright, so, let’s check it. Okay, we’re gonna do that. Let’s see, preview…okay, so, we’re gonna take…we’re gonna leave Green Lakes, we’re gonna take Green Lake State Park Terrace, passing…thanks for picking me up, by the way. Now we’re back on 290, and…where are we? Okay, so, then we’re gonna go back down Manlius Street. I say, wait a second, some of this looks familiar to me. So, maybe I’ll remember where…maybe something will ring a bell about something or other.

 

So, we take 257…North Manlius Street, and then maybe I start to say, wait a second, shouldn't we…? Let’s just stay on Manlius Road instead of following the directions. You say, okay, Scoots. ‘Cause I’m pretty sure this is, yeah, the crossover of Manlius and Fayetteville. One of the things I noticed the last time I was in Manlius was that they still have a movie theatre there, but I’m not sure where it is. There’s…right now we’re passing through…by Ace Hardware and by Beard Park. Out here somewhere is Industrial Color Labs, where you could get your film done. We’re still on Fayetteville, Manlius Road. Somewhere is the town of Manlius. Oh, here it is, I think, coming up here. We’re coming in High Bridge. Maybe I should have taken High Bridge, huh? No one knows.

 

But yeah, we’re here on…we’re High Bridge and…where 92 and Manlius become Fayette Street. This is where the Manlius Public Library is. Okay, now there’s a Tops here. I don't know if this is the Tops we would walk to from my cousin’s house, but we got a lot of hullabaloo here. Seneca Street…not sure even which way to go. I usually don’t travel by cloud, either. That’s part of the reason why. Let me zoom out and see how far off of our…oh, pretty far off of the directions. Oh, that’s why; I went in…I’m driving away from Syracuse, which is fine. So, we’ll have to…we’ll have to do…I was gonna keep going out on Washington Street. Where would we end up if we took that the wrong way? Pompey Center Road…and yeah, we’re…oh, we're almost out to Casnovia. So, we better turn around.

 

We almost went from a Green Lake to a Finger Lake. So, okay, we’ll go back to Manlius. We’re gonna take Seneca. So, since we’re returning, we’re gonna take a left on Seneca, then it’s gonna become Seneca Turnpike. Now I say, wait a second…okay, let’s just stay on Seneca Turnpike. At some point I’ll recognize something. Then you say, Scoots, you recognize anything? I say, well, there’s Manlius again. So, no, I think I got us…it’s okay, we’re on a Sunday drive. What if we take this Troop Road? That looks familiar. You say, okay, okay, take that then, Scoots. Okay, so…oh, 'cause there’s a golf course. I know…I remember seeing it out the window. But I don't…I wanted to see where the movie theatre was in Manlius. That’s why I got so distracted.

 

You say, you could find it anytime you want, Scoots, but probably not right now. Okay, well, we tried, I guess. So, okay, so, where were we? Last I checked, we were accident…I accidentally started driving us towards Casnovia, right? Then we took Seneca, and I say, okay, that went in the wrong way. But we…okay, now we’re on Seneca going the right way, and now we’re at Sweet Road. I say, okay, not exactly sure where we are. But then somebody says, keep with it. Stay on Seneca, Scoots. I say, okay, great. Stay on Seneca. So, we pass by Three Falls Woods. Never been there. We stay on Seneca…nothing’s looking familiar yet, but that’s…we’re on a Sunday drive. We get a place…we get a couple views…I think there’s a quarry nearby here. Off our right, maybe? Is that what that is? I don't know. It may be.

 

Okay, now we’re heading into Jamesville. Pompey Road, Solvay Road…I think we just stay on this. Jamesville Community Museum, Pastry Palace…I gotta believe Seneca Turnpike is gonna take us the right way, because I think I would go out here to…when I worked at…as a cleaner, I think this is where we’d have our yearly thing, at Clark’s here, state park. So, we just passed that. So, we may be in…I don't know, are we in Fayetteville or something? We’re staying on Seneca Turnpike. Oh boy, there we are, Brighton Ave, man. So, this is one of the big…this is another big place where Scoots worked for three or four summers, three summers and three school winters. So, in…on school break and sometimes even spring break. I think two spring breaks.

 

He would work at the two apartment buildings here on Brighton Ave and East Brighton Ave that tower over the thing. He would clean the floors, he moved…what do you call that? Ovens and refrigerators, and cleaned apartments when people moved out, helped mow the lawn or plow…shovel in the wintertime, clean the bathrooms. So, that’s cool. We're not that far from Syracuse University. Now we're gonna take I guess 80…what used to be Route 81, and we're gonna go through downtown Syracuse here and pass through some of Syracuse University’s property, which is cool. Yeah, we’re in downtown Syracuse now. You could see the Syracuse Carrier Dome, and upstate…and all the towering, beautiful buildings. There’s Syracuse University up on the hill there.

 

Also down here in…on the other side of 81 was where Scoots…up until he was probably eighteen, that’s where he would go for his check-ups, right down here. What…no, what street it would have been on…? I’ll take a look here. So, we have Burt, Taylor, Jackson, Madison Towers…so, Harrison…somewhere around here, Harrison and 81 and Almond Street was where Scoots…old Cassidy…DOC Cassidy was, who was a family person…person who kept everybody going good. So, yeah, we passed…there’s another thing. Now we passed through Syracuse. Hopefully by the time we’re doing this, 81 was taken down and there’s new vibrancy…or we took the side streets. We could go back to Mundy Branch Library, but no, we’re going out to the state fair.

 

So, we're gonna take 6…we're gonna get on 690 again in downtown, and we're gonna keep going. We're gonna take 690. Now it gets exciting, because then, as we head out towards Solvay on 690, Scoots starts to talk about his building anticipation for getting to the fair when he would go as a lad, even though it’s winter now. This is the approach they would take, and it would depend on if his father knew somebody that had…was running a parking lot farther away, or they were gonna pay full price for fair parking. We’ll slowly get to the New York State Fair parking. I guess we would look for whichever one…if it was the past, we're…actually look, and we’d say, okay, where’s the one that’s named for the famous, whatever, person?

 

But now what we need is historical maps, because…which we do have…not the right historical map, but close enough, because Clue 15 told us if the crowds in the grandstand were…if crowds were in the grandstand across the field, they’d see. So, we’re gonna go the grandstand. Okay, alright, and then we got a couple places we could start looking for this…across the field they’d see. So, we're trying to find a place that had…so, Syracuse used to have a grandstand, Syracuse New York State Fairgrounds, where you could have racing, or…I think that’s what they had out there, different races and stuff. But across from it…it depends on which part of the field. I guess they’re talking about the infield, and the grandstand faces where the midway used to be.

 

But beyond the midway…I’m trying to look for water, 'cause below the grandstand is One Lake. I’m trying to figure out…I thought we had two maps. Here’s another map. Now it’s just RV parking? Oh no, that was when the grandstand was still there. Okay, this is a pretty good map. It’s from 19…2014, so it’s not perfect, but…across the field, they’d see. Okay, the closest thing with water is 9 and 10. This is the New York State Park at the fair in the vet building memorial. But I don't see any bridges there. But it’s been changed and updated. But that doesn't necessarily mean there’s water. So, let’s go back to our clues. They’d see it, so, across the way, we’d see, which…we’re looking across the way, right? What’s 15? Oh, that was the one we just quoted. 17; it’s on the ground where the sheep lay. It’s your turn to play.

 

Keep in…keep the 15th clue in mind, and your treasure you will find. Okay, what was 16 again? Let’s check 16. We got a lot of copies of Clue 17 by accident. Somehow I duplicated that one just in case we needed it more than once. Oh, something else white as snow will lead you to the place. So, the sheep, so, maybe going back to see if there’s a sheep building…I don't know what they meant about bridges and water, though. Maybe the bridges to get to the state fair? Okay, let’s see, Grange Building…poultry, Toyota…dairy, science, butter sculptures in 17…potato booth…I can't wait ‘til one day we actually do a episode from the New York State Fair. Okay, I’m not seeing anything there. Let’s check this other map I have. It’s not as good of quality. I don't know what year it’s from. Looks like…I don't know. I can't tell.

 

Yeah, that one doesn't have any…let’s try this one. Oh, this one does have…okay, so I can at least read it. Heart and Home Center, State Park at the Fair, horticulture building, holiday tree building, log cabins, international, butter sculpture, colonades, science, Grange…21…I’m thinking the Grange. Oh, goat tent…31, goat, llamas…sheep barn; 33. Okay, folks, we're closer than we’ve ever been before, except I can't read the numbers. I think that’s 33. So, now I know where 33 is. Let me check those other maps that are better quality. 33…that one’s not better quality, but this one is. Okay, 33 on that…let’s check. What is 33 on this map, according to this? 34 on this one is the sheep barn. Okay. Alright, so, 34 is the sheep barn, which is directly across from the thing. So, I guess we’d just look on the ground now.

 

Then we start to realize that…how lucky did we get that…? We make a sleep podcast, and now we’re entering…well, it’s outdoors, and suddenly we’re seeing that there’s clouds in the sky that look like sheep. There’s Winterfest sculptures of sheep. Then indoors in the warmth is a place where you could feed sheep or even pet them if they want to be petted, or talk to them. Coming over the speakers is Scoots, and they don’t have…they have this other exhibit where it’s not real sheep, but they’re warmed. They’re animatronic, warmed, soft sheep that you could snuggle with and get comfortable. They hand out a medallion to everybody, whatever it was, a lucite medallion, that says ‘Thank you for taking the tour all the way out to the great’…because we’re…now we’re close to Onondaga Lake.

 

There’s some smaller lakes here. They say, oh boy, did…? You did go over some bridges; you just didn’t realize it. You saw Scoot…you went to Mundy Branch Library. So, then they even have a medallion for that. Discovering where Scoots bought his shoes as a kid, those suede shoes with Velcro that he thought was gonna change his life…they had…they were shoes, but they had sneaker bottoms and they were Velcro and they were brown suede, and he thought in whatever grade he was, fourth or fifth grade, that these shoes would change his life. Really, he did think that, for sure, and that they would make him romanceable and confident. Unfortunately, just like in the movies, on the first day…what happened in this version is everybody said, oh, those are the sleepiest shoes…they're so relaxing.

 

So, we went to that place, Mundy Branch, where so much positive things happened to Scoots there. The barber shop, the pizza place that he can't remember, or the barbers he can't really remember…then you get another medallion that talks about how you saw the…a lot of them have question marks on them. Or it says, oh yeah, you also saw that train station with the people…the pretend people. That’s historic, somewhat. You get one for looking at the parking lot of Lost Horizon Club, and we…if Scoots had actually known where he was going, we would have stopped at Pavone’s Pizza in Manlius. So, you would have got another one shaped like a slice of pizza that said Pavone’s Pizza.

 

Maybe even medallions of the historical malls, Shopping Town, Fayetteville Mall, maybe…Scoots says, yeah, it could…Scoots couldn't quite remember. But you say, wow, this is great. You realize that the pretend sheep are even purring, and you could feel them breathing, and they’re warm. You’re listening and you're hearing the joy of children and childlike adults like Scooter celebrating the discovery of the medallions. Then they tell us…you do hear them telling Scooter, you know there was medallions…did you look in the hole on the 7th green or the 7th green of the golf course or the disc golf course or the…under the picnic table of the…what do you…campsite 7? He says, no. Well, go…you could go back there and find your tokens there, Scoots, too. He says, thank you so much for listening. Goodnight, everybody. Sleep well. Thanks. Goodnight.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)

Personal Essay

 

Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? History

https://wwbm.com/history

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/steven-knight-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire

https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/02/who_wants_to_be_a_millionaire_i_lost_on_the_show_and_it_almost_destroyed.html

 

Syracuse Style Pizza

https://www.syracuse.com/cny/2011/03/shuffles_pizza_is_that_the_model_for_syracuse-style_pizza.html

https://pizzageek.wordpress.com/

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/food/2016/06/upstate_nys_best_pizzas_5_things_to_know_about_twin_tree_in_syracuse.html

 

Why are so many upstate New York towns named for Mediterranean towns?

https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2022/09/17/why-are-so-many-place-names-in-new-york-greek-or-roman/

https://newyorkmakers.com/blogs/magazine/enlightened-how-the-enlightenment-influenced-new-york-state-and-urban-names?srsltid=AfmBOoqF1I60duNoEZozMyreVbRyOjbE3egTx16UCMcwKYDi8wKuc0Sr

https://antigonejournal.com/2021/10/classical-place-names-america/

 

Butter Sculpture

https://daily.jstor.org/the-decadent-art-of-butter-sculpture/

https://food52.com/blog/27836-butter-sculpture-history

https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-history-of-butter-sculpture-is-strange-indeed/

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

A shirt not made of waffles

I don’t think I ever wore this lavender waffle shirt for a live show

Eventually telling you a story

 

PLUGS

Sleep With Me Plus; Syracuse History; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline

 

SPONSORS

Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Anker Soundcore; Dave’s Killer Bread; Acorns

 

INTRO

Feelings conveniently appearing right at bedtime

Oh So Convenient

Now is the right time, huh?

Maybe you didn’t come here to be seen

“I’m not doing this live show to be seen!”

I think those feelings are relatable, though

Dreading Sunday night on Friday night

Always Talking About Nothing

A General Positive Awareness

Some word like subtextual

Submarine Sandwich Version of Subtextual

Humoring a droning friend on the phone

I’ll take you up on that offer every time

A Fill-In Friend

Please don’t use me as your Phone a Friend option

I get that you expected this to be more meditative

No-Stakes Talking

Humoresque Tone

Serious, friendly, and silly at the same time

I’m here to distract those brainbots

Once again, I do not know where I’m going

I don’t want to overcongratulate myself

And all my pet listeners are my most important listeners

Pandering to fishes

Obviously, your pet is the most important person

Cats are nodding knowingly

 

STORY

Another hybrid episode

I only have so many personal essays

I recently recorded a Winterfest Medallion search episode

I realized I was quite wrong

Going back in time

Heading to Green Lakes State Park to find this medallion

I did locate the 15th clue, too

I couldn’t find any good vintage maps of the NY State Fairgrounds

I guess NY State Fairgrounds are open all the time?

Starting at the Monday Branch Library

Rowland Street, like Kelly Rowland

Take a left on Gettis

Oh wait, that was a wrong turn

Oh wait, yes it’s right

On the right is what used to be the discount shoe store

A cheap dairy place

Barbers who cut my siblings hair

Lou?

Down to Seymour Street, all the way to 690

I’m already lost

My dad loved a pizza place near here

I’m not sure why my dad liked this pizza

Maybe because the cheese was overcooked?

690 East

I would’ve gone down Erie Blvd

But that probably would’ve been wrong

You might see the Erie Canal Museum

An old elevated train station stop

Mannequins waiting for the train

Le Moyne College is out here

As is Syracuse University

Lost Horizon, a 16+ music club

Imbibe in the music

Merging on Thompson Road

We’re in DeWitt now

Manlius Center Road aka 290

I can’t remember what 290 was

Oh ok, Shopping Town Mall was here once upon a time

We’d do Thanksgiving dinner out here with my aunt and uncle

My Aunt Betsy lived in a 2 story house with an elevator!

I wish I had more road facts

Wow, we’re already here

Okay, let’s consult the map of Green Lakes State Park

4 Seasons Golf and Ski Center

Normally I’d get here via Route 5

Let’s check our hints now

Hint 1 – Onondaga County

Where people fest and it’s green with birdies and woods

Water nearby

A place you do tracking

A lot of golf course hints

I don’t understand this barefoot clue

Were the igloos mentioned used for ice fishing?

Something about arrows

Plenty of hiking to do here, oh boy

The golf/ski center isn’t connected to the park

We’ll find a map to Hole 7

No one would be happy doing this walk with me in real life

Ok, let’s pretend we’re golfing now

Wait, was it hole 7 or 17?

Is there any archery near Green Lake?

Ok, let’s just cross the street in our boots

There’s gotta be an archery range around here somewhere

Right about now, my companions would be losing faith in me

I think there’s an Events Changing Building around here

Walking down towards the swimming beach picnic area

And we are so warm and cozy right now

Oh boy we’re lucky, walking on the beach in the winter looking for a medallion

Our friend will bring the car closer for us

Let’s play on the playground briefly

I don’t remember all these grills, man

Oh there is a disc golf course – is it the 7th hole of that?

Let’s pretend we haven’t seen any more clues and try that

Oh, there’s even a baseball field near here

Think of all the smells we’re smelling together

This is great, huh?

Is there a camping area?

Campsite Seven

I’ll check that on my own, don’t worry

Oh, there’s another camping loop over by Round Lake

I know we’re close

Maybe I’d cross paths with another medallion hunter

Taking the long way round

Is there a third set of campgrounds?

All the other clues have come out now, miraculously

Now we have to go to the NY State Fairgrounds

Let’s do Scoots’s way via 481

Thanks for picking me up, by the way

Back down Manlius Street

There’s still a movie theatre in Manlius

Passing by ACE Hardware and Industrial Color Labs

Becoming Fayette Street

The Manlius Public Library

I think I went to this Topps before

I usually don’t travel by cloud, for what it’s worth

Stay on Seneca Turnpike?

Troop Road looks familiar

I’ll try not to get too distracted again

Sweet Road? I don’t know that one

I think that’s a quarry off to our right

Heading into Jamesville

Brighton Ave, there it is!

I worked off this Ave for 3 summers and 4 school winters

I cleaned these apartment buildings

We’re gonna go through downtown Syracuse now

The Carrier Dome

I’d go to my check-ups just over there, on the other side of 81

D-O-C Cassidy

Get on 690 again to get to the Fairgrounds

Building Fair Anticipation

Turning to our historical maps now

Ok, let’s go to the grandstand now

Across the field, they’d see

Would it be on the midway?

On the ground where the sheep lay

I got way too many copies of Clue 17 by accident

Ok, is there a sheep building?

I can’t wait to do a real episode from the fair one day

Sheep Barn! I finally found it

We’re just looking on the ground in Sheep Barn

There’s clouds in the sky that look like sheep

And sheep sculptures

And warm, pettable sheep inside

Animatronic, Warmed, Soft Sheep

And they hand out a medallion to everybody

Medallions for everything

The suede velcro shoes that Scoots thought would change his life

Medallions for Revisiting Memories

These pretend sheep are purring

The joy of celebrating and discovering medallions

And there were medallions in the hole of the 7th green after all

And in the campsite

Goodnight

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1327

Title: Winterfest Drive Through Memory Maps

Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; Syracuse History; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline

Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Anker Soundcore; Dave’s Killer Bread; Acorns

Notable Language:

• Oh So Convenient
• Always Talking About Nothing
• A General Positive Awareness
• Submarine Sandwich Version of Subtextual
• A Fill-In Friend
• Humoresque Tone
• Imbibe in the music
• Events Changing Building
• D-O-C Cassidy
• Animatronic, Warmed, Soft Sheep
• Lucite Medallion

 

Notable Culture:

• Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

• Winterfest Syracuse
• NY State Fair
• Kelly Rowland
• Central Shoe Discount
• Erie Canal Museum
• Le Moyne College
• Syracuse University
• ACE Hardware
• Industrial Color Labs
• Manlius Public Library
• Carrier Dome

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Feelings conveniently appearing right at bedtime
• Oh So Convenient
• Now is the right time, huh?
• Maybe you didn’t come here to be seen
• “I’m not doing this live show to be seen!”
• I think those feelings are relatable, though
• Dreading Sunday night on Friday night
• Always Talking About Nothing
• A General Positive Awareness
• Some word like subtextual
• Submarine Sandwich Version of Subtextual
• Humoring a droning friend on the phone
• I’ll take you up on that offer every time
• A Fill-In Friend
• Please don’t use me as your Phone a Friend option
• I get that you expected this to be more meditative
• No-Stakes Talking
• Humoresque Tone
• Serious, friendly, and silly at the same time
• I’m here to distract those brainbots
• Once again, I do not know where I’m going
• I don’t want to overcongratulate myself
• And all my pet listeners are my most important listeners
• Pandering to fishes
• Obviously, your pet is the most important person
• Cats are nodding knowingly
• Another hybrid episode
• I only have so many personal essays
• I recently recorded a Winterfest Medallion search episode
• I realized I was quite wrong
• Going back in time
• Heading to Green Lakes State Park to find this medallion
• I did locate the 15th clue, too
• I couldn’t find any good vintage maps of the NY State Fairgrounds
• I guess NY State Fairgrounds are open all the time?
• Starting at the Monday Branch Library
• Rowland Street, like Kelly Rowland
• Take a left on Gettis
• Oh wait, that was a wrong turn
• Oh wait, yes it’s right
• On the right is what used to be the discount shoe store
• A cheap dairy place
• Barbers who cut my siblings hair
• Lou?
• Down to Seymour Street, all the way to 690
• I’m already lost
• My dad loved a pizza place near here
• I’m not sure why my dad liked this pizza
• Maybe because the cheese was overcooked?
• 690 East
• I would’ve gone down Erie Blvd
• But that probably would’ve been wrong
• You might see the Erie Canal Museum
• An old elevated train station stop
• Mannequins waiting for the train
• Le Moyne College is out here
• As is Syracuse University
• Lost Horizon, a 16+ music club
• Imbibe in the music
• Merging on Thompson Road
• We’re in DeWitt now
• Manlius Center Road aka 290
• I can’t remember what 290 was
• Oh ok, Shopping Town Mall was here once upon a time
• We’d do Thanksgiving dinner out here with my aunt and uncle
• My Aunt Betsy lived in a 2 story house with an elevator!
• I wish I had more road facts
• Wow, we’re already here
• Okay, let’s consult the map of Green Lakes State Park
• 4 Seasons Golf and Ski Center
• Normally I’d get here via Route 5
• Let’s check our hints now
• Hint 1 – Onondaga County
• Where people fest and it’s green with birdies and woods
• Water nearby
• A place you do tracking
• A lot of golf course hints
• I don’t understand this barefoot clue
• Were the igloos mentioned used for ice fishing?
• Something about arrows
• Plenty of hiking to do here, oh boy
• The golf/ski center isn’t connected to the park
• We’ll find a map to Hole 7
• No one would be happy doing this walk with me in real life
• Ok, let’s pretend we’re golfing now
• Wait, was it hole 7 or 17?
• Is there any archery near Green Lake?
• Ok, let’s just cross the street in our boots
• There’s gotta be an archery range around here somewhere
• Right about now, my companions would be losing faith in me
• I think there’s an Events Changing Building around here
• Walking down towards the swimming beach picnic area
• And we are so warm and cozy right now
• Oh boy we’re lucky, walking on the beach in the winter looking for a medallion
• Our friend will bring the car closer for us
• Let’s play on the playground briefly
• I don’t remember all these grills, man
• Oh there is a disc golf course – is it the 7th hole of that?
• Let’s pretend we haven’t seen any more clues and try that
• Oh, there’s even a baseball field near here
• Think of all the smells we’re smelling together
• This is great, huh?
• Is there a camping area?
• Campsite Seven
• I’ll check that on my own, don’t worry
• Oh, there’s another camping loop over by Round Lake
• I know we’re close
• Maybe I’d cross paths with another medallion hunter
• Taking the long way round
• Is there a third set of campgrounds?
• All the other clues have come out now, miraculously
• Now we have to go to the NY State Fairgrounds
• Let’s do Scoots’s way via 481
• Thanks for picking me up, by the way
• Back down Manlius Street
• There’s still a movie theatre in Manlius
• Passing by ACE Hardware and Industrial Color Labs
• Becoming Fayette Street
• The Manlius Public Library
• I think I went to this Topps before
• I usually don’t travel by cloud, for what it’s worth
• Stay on Seneca Turnpike?
• Troop Road looks familiar
• I’ll try not to get too distracted again
• Sweet Road? I don’t know that one
• I think that’s a quarry off to our right
• Heading into Jamesville
• Brighton Ave, there it is!
• I worked off this Ave for 3 summers and 4 school winters
• I cleaned these apartment buildings
• We’re gonna go through downtown Syracuse now
• The Carrier Dome
• I’d go to my check-ups just over there, on the other side of 81
• D-O-C Cassidy
• Get on 690 again to get to the Fairgrounds
• Building Fair Anticipation
• Turning to our historical maps now
• Ok, let’s go to the grandstand now
• Across the field, they’d see
• Would it be on the midway?
• On the ground where the sheep lay
• I got way too many copies of Clue 17 by accident
• Ok, is there a sheep building?
• I can’t wait to do a real episode from the fair one day
• Sheep Barn! I finally found it
• We’re just looking on the ground in Sheep Barn
• There’s clouds in the sky that look like sheep
• And sheep sculptures
• And warm, pettable sheep inside
• Animatronic, Warmed, Soft Sheep
• And they hand out a medallion to everybody
• Medallions for everything
• The suede velcro shoes that Scoots thought would change his life
• Medallions for Revisiting Memories
• These pretend sheep are purring
• The joy of celebrating and discovering medallions
• And there were medallions in the hole of the 7th green after all
• And in the campsite
• Goodnight