Just call me Grumpy...

Seems like I haven't started this year in as good a mood as I thought I would. Let the ranting begin...

Shock, snow in winter?

As Hubby and I decided to take a quick dinner out, we ambled down to our local restaurant in freezing temperatures. As we rounded a corner, a tall almost lanky man came towards us. Shoulders were hunched over, face pinched in the typical 'wowzers, it's cold people!'. Then I cast an eye to his attire...a zipped up jacket rather on the thin side but perhaps he wore layers followed by peach shorts. Yes SHORTS. Now, these weren't the typical runners Lycra material, nope these were your, "it's a particularly hot and humid summers day, I need some breeze" type shorts and lets not even go there with the color. Seriously? It's minus 6 and you're wearing that? No wonder you're cold mate - did you not look out of the window before you left home? Call me crazy but perhaps a full length pair of pants/trousers would take that frigid look off your face?

Words with Friends

Can anyone say SCRABBLE? Ooh "triple letter, double word...play against a friend, it's a great crossword building game"...yeah it's scrabble and that particular game has been around for quite some time now.

Brock Lesnar

He's a bully and nothing else.

I blame Hubby for getting me into WWE. Every Monday he'd flick it on and whilst he claimed he was watching it, he'd spend the entire two hours (now three!) reading his Twitter feed, doing some research. Me, I'd sit and stare at the sometimes stupid actions of these wrestlers. Before I knew it, I cheered my favorites, booed the baddies...and, yes I'll admit it, join the audience with the actions (Cena's 'you can't see me' hand wave across the face for example).

Then Brock Lesnar made a reappearance and pummeled whoever came into the ring with him. Except, it wasn't 'entertainment'. It was plain old bullying and no matter what, children watch this. They get influenced and seeing this thug of a man being encouraged to act like a complete buffoon just annoyed me. My ranting to Hubby about Brock's behavior and the WWE universe showing it was met with a chuckle and 'I take it you're more into this than me?' plus a 'it's not real', I'd nonchalantly reply, 'pah I can take it or leave it.' But still, it's real to the kids out there and Brock (who doesn't have a good theme song) shouldn't be applauded for his thuggery - go back to the UFC mate where you belong.

Punxsutawney Phil

He should be fired. February 2nd and he didn't see his shadow which meant an early spring. We're now entering our SIXTH winter storm warning this weekend in the NE. Don't get me wrong, I love snow and can even abide the arctic winds, but c'mon, this is silly.

Phil, as cute as you are - you are so wrong and I'm losing faith in you...(shaking my head)

Ranting over...for now...

What a Year...

As the apocalyptic frenzy of 2012 ebbs and I sip my eggnog, sprinkled with freshly grated nutmeg writing my final post for the year, I'm not sure how to feel about what has happened over the last twelve months.

Filled with sad moments - a very much loved family member passing away, innocent children victims of gun crime and devastating storms leaving thousand of families homeless, I should be glad to see the back of it.  But then there's been some really great moments - silly conversations with my sister on Skype, my brother's fantastic work on Skyfall, my BFF's new addition to her family, meeting friends for lunch, chatting with the barista's at Starbucks and the countless hugs from Hubby. Shouldn't that be what I remember and take with me in to new year?

Lord only knows what the coming year will be like, but hopefully not such severe weather, less shootings, a kinder word said to our neighbors (both literal and not) and some genuine peace.

It seems every year I make the same promises - eat less, drink more..no hang on...eat more, drink less?...but in all seriousness I hope I do stick to a couple of resolutions - publish either my short stories or my novel, exercise more, refrain from making comments about the stupid things people do to annoy me...

....but whatever 2013 holds in store, I'm certainly hoping, not just for Hubby and I but you also, that it will be filled with all the good things in life - friends, family, an extra fiver in your back pocket, lots of giggles and if you have pain let it be champagne.

A Simple Hot Chocolate

Liquid Gold

That was all I was after.

Having sauntered around doing my errands in zero degree temps, I thought I'd stop off and indulge in a hot chocolate. Or a tea...as I debated which to get, the sign outside the store said 'Peppermint Hot Chocolate'. No more pondering, I was sold.

I walked in with a simple "I'd like a peppermint hot chocolate please", did I get a "course darlin', that will be threepenny piece  'ave a nice day" (okay I didn't transport myself back to 1800s London, but you get my drift...), no I got a deluge of questions back; "sure madam, large or small?",  was that peppermint?", "dark, milk or white chocolate?", "Is that for here or to go?"

Oh sweet Lord, I just want a hot chocolate to warm me cockles for cryin' out loud. But I said, large, yes, dark and to go please, the slightly theatrical sales staff waved me off to the side of the shop to wait while my drink was created. And I waited for almost five minutes.

As I left the store with drink in hand, muttering about waiting for so long I did wonder why has ordering a hot beverage become so time-consuming? And after all the small, skinny blah, blah was this particular drink worth it? After one sip...oh yes it was. That one slurp transported me back to a small cafe in Verona where their signature beverage was a cup of liquid chocolate, so thick a spoon could stand upright. The velvety, creamy warmth washed my mouth in a peppermint caress.

Definitely, worth the extra questions, the wait and warmed me up good and proper.

Well I never...

Nestling in the pages of the Daily Mail was a catalog. You know the kind, endless pages of products that seem pointless but if you're over 60  they're the best things since sliced bread. Items like 'scare cat' - a metal cat with sparkling eyes to ward off other cats, a revolutionary bird feeder, a soft-foam toilet seat...

Anyway, I picked it up to have a butchers and worried at how many things I looked at seemed to be not bad and actually quite useful. As I turned the page over having read about an indestructible waterproof wallet, a porcelain tea set and an almost invisible hearing aid, I was shocked at what was before me. 

Could these products really be in a magazine like this and be deemed okay? 

What were these products? DVD's...of porn and not just any porn, but S&M porn. All tastefully done mind you. "Meet Tanya. She's looking for romance and excitement..." my mouth actually fell open. Has the world gone that crazy over 'fifty shades' that even catalogs for the old dear next door has to sell it? 

Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude, whatever floats your boat, but I thought it's a bit much. Can you imagine some lady called Doris settling down with a nice cuppa and a slice of battenburg trying to find that miniature water feature her nephew Derek would love and came across that? Cheeks would grow rosy and the tea cup tremble with embarrassment. But whose to say she wouldn't order it?..

You Gotta Laugh

Hubby and I ventured out on a cloudy, chance of rain, autumnal Sunday. It was nice to amble into town (central Boston) for a quick saunter. I eyed the clouds regretting that I didn't search for the umbrella. I had put it away but it fell towards the back of the cupboard and well, I figured I'd hunt for it when I needed it...

As we left a shop, spots of rain started to fall. I apologized to Hubby, again, for not retrieving and bringing the brolly along. He forgave me, then offered me a stick of gum saying:

"Forgot I had these; I bought them when it was raining,"

to which I replied

"Really? Doesn't make for a very good umbrella?"

I laughed, he gave me a shake of his head and a muttered 'I'm laughing on the inside'.

Nothing like a good giggle on a rainy day!

Presidential Debates

The Presidential Elections are looming and tonight (Oct 3) is the first debate between the two candidates.

I can't vote and I'm glad because I haven't a clue what either party is standing for. I've kind of got my head around the whole what's a Republican/Democrat thanks to a history book I'm reading (on and off) but that makes little difference if their polices are not 100% clear. The ads aired have so far been one accusation after the other about not paying the correct taxes, failing on increasing the job market etc. Confusing for me a non-voter, can you imagine if you had to make a decision to bring one of these men into office?

As I watched the CNN election coverage, they reported that people, especially young people, need to come out and vote. And it reminded me of what someone said about elections - make it more like a contest as the American public respond in their millions to a competition then they do a campaign.

I said to Hubby that they so need to do that. The American Idol Presidential Campaign Debate. The judges (of course) Simon Cowell, Randy 'Dawg' Jackson...

SC: What's your name?
BO: Barack..Barack Obama
RJ: Okay Barack, what are you going to sing?
BO: Let's Stay Together by Al Green
SC: At least it's not Adele
MR: I'm singing 'If I were a rich man'...ha ha I already am! Seriously, I'm going to sing 'Chasing Pavements', - that's Adele isn't it?

And then the ultimate showdown  - a TLC Steel Cage match...WWE is the most watched program, so it's gotta be done. In the red corner, Mitt Moneyman Muscles Romney and in the blue corner we have Barack Fire Assassin Obama. Throw in the 'Money in the Bank' contract...and it could just work.

But in all seriousness, I don't envy the American public this November when they'll cast their votes. It ain't gonna be easy who to choose. However, one thing that should be made clear is if you don't vote, you can't complain.

When life gives you...

....bananas.

I blame myself for the vicious cycle that I've got us in to - buying them, they start to go off, I make cake.

I'm not a huge fan of the fruit. Admittedly I've partaken of a banoffee pie once or twice, even if it was more 'offee' than 'ban'. But Hubby likes the herbaceous plant - all that potassium loveliness. However, the problem is that his good intentions of eating them fly out the window once we get home. Or rather, remain in the polythene bag on top of the cookie jar.

As I mull around the fruit aisle, pondering whether to get a mango or a pineapple, I innocently ask Hubby if he'd like a banana. As well as clinging to the hope it will be consumed, I envision the effect of my question akin to that of when 'Eric eats a banana...'

Yet it never happens - either becoming Bananaman or the fruit being eaten. Instead they linger, their skin blackens, an intense aroma wafts in the air - so appealing. The upside is that these yellow fingers need not worry about being cast aside, no they become a key ingredient; one of the few foods that can be used in their deteriorating state as they are sweeter tasting and easier to mush.

As I looked at the latest offering this week, seems that banana muffins beckon. And I'm sure next time I wonder through the supermarket, I'll stop before the pile of musa acuminata and think, 'wonder if Hubby would like a banana? (sigh)