OPINION | Chris McCarthy: Things to do Without Football

We have had football on TV since August and it is now gone until next summer, so what to do now?

1. Read a Book: Let me suggest a few books for you to pass the time.

Blacklisted by History written by M.Stanton Evans. We hear both Democrats and Republicans trading charges of McCarthyism today so you will be interested in learning what that means with this remarkable work of history published in 2007.

Coolidge by Amity Shlaes is a brilliant biography of the former Governor of Massachusetts and the 30th President of the United States.

Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk is about life on a fictitious tropical island and this is a nice time of year to think about life in tropics.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a book you may have read as a student but trust me it is worth another read as an adult. Before there was reality survival shows there was the story of Robinson Crusoe.

2. Learn to Cook Something!

I prefer making soups this time of year and there are plenty of recipes on the internet or in those old cookbooks you have never opened. I prefer chicken soup and beef stew with different variations. I enjoy looking up a recipe and then heading out to the store to pick up the fresh ingredients. It is also nice to have fresh homemade soup waiting in the refrigerator when you get home on a cold day.

3. Take a walk!

I like the woods when it is cold and windy because the trees cut down on the gusts of wind. We have plenty of walking trails in our area and it is nice to travel to a new location from time to time. If the wind isn't blowing then the new harbor walk in the city of New Bedford is a wonderful experience. We can all probably use a few nice walks to burn off the winter weight we gained watching football anyway.