Pethouse Pet of the Week
Apollo examines Thanksgiving Parade crowd turnout, Beatles on TV, and fast-food deals
This week's Pethouse Pet of the Week offers his take on everything from Thanksgiving Day Parade crowd estimates, to fast-food bargains, the Beatles on PBS and school zone speeding tickets — even when school's not in session.
Pethouse Pet:
Name: Apollo, as in Argentina Apollo, Apollo Creed and the Greek god of music, poetry, art, the sun and knowledge.
Birthdate: January 31, 2017 — still a pup.
Ethnicity: I'm a terrier mix, I think, sort of. I'm your basic mixed breed fella, but let's focus on my strengths. I like running, playing with toys and other animals (including children). I'm housebroken, healthy and I know so many tricks that I qualify for the Magicians Union Local 203.
Come and get me: I'm available for adoption at 11 am Friday at Citizens for Animal Protection (17555 Katy Freeway; 281-497-0591). Tell them, "Ken sent me."
Apollo's attitudes on Thanksgiving Day Parade crowd estimates
Interesting how local media covered the 2017 parade. Channel 11, which aired the festivities, estimated that "tens of thousands" spectators lined the streets of downtown. The Houston Chronicle reported that "thousands" watched the floats and marching bands, while Channel 2 rained on the parade by saying "hundreds" of people attended.
There was no official crowd estimate from city officials. My estimate of the parade crowd? I'm out of that business. I just sit back and enjoy.
Fast food deals
Toyota Center and Houston Rockets announcer Matthew Q. Thomas reports that Burger King has an interesting deal. You can get three French Toast Sticks for $1 — or five for $2.49. You don't have to be Sheldon Cooper to crunch these numbers.
Denny's has a deal that makes good sense mathematically. If you order at least $20 online at "Denny's on Demand," the 24-hour diner will throw in a free pumpkin or pecan pie — a whole pie. The free pie offer starts Monday and runs through Christmas.
Jersey Mike's (I like the No. 6 roast beef and provolone sub) will begin offering Udi's gluten-free rolls on December 4. No excuses now.
TV talk and more
PBS (Channel 8 here) will show The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years, 7 pm Saturday night. Expect several irritating fundraising breaks.
I'm depressed, only two more episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO this season. As Frank Sinatra used to sing, it was a very good year.
And the winner of my First Christmas Card of 2017 - reader Marty Wysocki.
If I'm sound a little woozy, it's because I attended all four nights of WWE wrestling at Toyota Center, Saturday through Tuesday. That's 12 hours of live sports entertainment. That's dedication to journalism, my friends.
It's Thanksgiving week. One year ago, my friend got a ticket for speeding in a school zone on Bellaire Boulevard in Southside Place. There was just one problem, school wasn't in session and school zone speed limits aren't in effect when school is off. Of course the ticket was dismissed, but cost my friend some wasted time in court. My advice, avoid Bellaire Boulevard during school hours. And non-school hours. Cops got itchy ticket fingers.