RAISING CANE OVER RAISING CANE'S

From the Right-Side...

Yes, Thanksgiving is almost here and I am planning a menu filled with potentially yummy delights. Time will tell.

Feasting at a Louisiana location.

To be perfectly honest, if I could, I would opt for some of that Louisiana based, Raising Cane's chicken and call it a day. Their dipping sauce makes me scoff at the concoctions served up at Chick-fil-A.

Cane's, rakes in almost $100 million per, they have 150 locations in 14 states, yet I would have to trek to South Carolina to nibble on Cane's delicious-deliciousness!

Listen, I think this is the best fast-food chicken to be created, but those two guys who kicked this thing into reality have stolen my heart for another reason. They named the place after a dog!

So, come on, South Florida, we can lure a gaggle of celebs, but not Cane's? For the love of roosters, there is a location in the land of the Buckeye (Columbus, Ohio).

Looks like I'd better stop food-dreaming, slide into my flip-flops and head to Costco. Those pre-roasted chickens are not going to hop into a basket and drive themselves on over to my place.

Gotta dash...

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Left-Side here. No doubt about it -- in the Great Chicken Wars, Canes is my clear winner. Too bad, as R-S said, there aren't any locations close by (the closest may be Athens, Ga., a mere 602 miles from our place). Wonder if they deliver?

ICE, ICE TRAY BABY

From the Right-Side...

Ice trays, baby!

Ice and a tray do not an ice tray make.

Apparently, without any notice, those old-fashioned ice trays have up and left the building. Just like that, they are extinct, never to be found in a regular retail outlet.

Employees at a nearby Target were in shock when we made an inquiry. We imagine they were envisioning something like our photo. Ice? Trays? They could not grasp the concept.

Why, you may ponder, would anyone need such a quaint device when we all know ice is made in our freezers, without trays (actually, there are trays in there if you really look).

Kids, you can't freeze leftover wine, in your ice maker. I thought about trying it, but Left-Side shot me a quick side-eye and I refrained.

Left-Side is not one to let something as mundane as trays for freezing Pinot Noir win, so he immersed himself into Amazon (shopping, not the jungle) and popped up with ice trays in hand. Well, they will be when they are delivered in a few days.

Gotta dash...

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R-S is right. When I asked the clerk at our local Target if they had ice trays, I might as well have said, "What aisle can I find the buggy whips on?" Even a passing shopper who heard me ask scoffed and said to no one in particular, "You might try the Dollar Store."

Thank goodness for Amazon. And it's delivered free in two days. Sure beats standing in a 12-deep line at the Dollar Tree or some-such.

Check back for an update on those Pinot Noir popsicles! -- Left-Side, over and out.

RACHEL'S OSCAR CAKE MAKES ANISTON GO NUDE

From The Right-Side...

Let the Oscar buzz begin (mostly from publicists, I hear). Ho-hum, but can be fun some years.

This year the buzzing is already a dull roar. Perhaps not a roar, but it is definitely dull for a movie entitled, Cake, starring  the wearer of that infamous haircut, the Rachel. SAG name, Jennifer Aniston. There is nudity involved, but wait.

Cake, heavily made up is a winner..

Being a member of a Classic Movie Lovers group, a long-time lover of Turner Classic Movies and all things classic movies...I tend to like classic.

I could be going overboard with classic, but I long for excellent character development and intriguing ensemble films. You know, the sort of movie where the camera lingers on the shot for more than ten seconds. Like reading a good book, a movie should draw us in and give us a feel for the storyline and characters by allowing time to really absorb the scene.

But, back to the almost approaching Oscar season and THE friend already being touted as a contender.

Is it a case of worthy acting or the fact that the Ex-Pitt goes SANS FARDS and wears fake scars? Nude face seems to spell OS-CAH (insert la-de-da tone here).

Brownies, Sans Fards is no prize.

Kids, I don't even need to see this flick, but if she is truly good, well good for her. My issue is brewing elsewhere.

Cake and SANS FARDS?

That is simply wrong on many levels.

Cake, even a movie  with that name, NEEDS to be heavily made-up. A cake showing up any other way is a fake cake. Sorry, Jennifer, a little mascara never hurt a girl.

But, wax on you LA publicists. Friend-Jenn must have excellent ones.

Gotta dash!

Left-Side here ...

Not much I can add to that, except it did make me Google "sans fards" just to find out what the heck Right-Side was talking about. I discovered it refers to a woman wearing no make-up. Not exactly my wheelhouse, but any day you learn something new is not wasted. But I do have one parting request:

RS, can you re-fill that brownie pan? They go fast around here! -- LS.

SELFIE IS A GROUPIE, AND THAT IS NO VAPE

From The Right-Side...

The word of 2014 is, Vape, according to Oxford Dictionary.

 Has to do with vapor and those electronic cigarettes, or something. Good for vape. But those fake ciggies are boring, and that is a dumb word.

The many colors of Vape.

More entertaining is the word of 2013, Selfie. Also, boring, but taking photos with my iPhone is a nice hobby for me. Living in South Florida I have much to photograph.

Selfies are the rage, have been for a while, but I would rather use a mirror to capture the all-important moment of me steam-mopping. You get all sorts of stuff in the image. A selfie? You get yourself, pretty much. Still, I do take them with my dog. She adores it!


A searing question about selfies that has bothered me since the invention of that pointless word. Why selfie when that is not always the case?
My dog is offended by the term, as she feels left out. So, I prefer to call these snaps, Groupies. Yeah, I get the connotation. I don't care.

So, I shall continue to huddle in with my Cavalier and snap for fun.

Plus, I dearly love all the photo editing apps I collect on my phone. It is sort of like being a "graphic-artist in a box" kind of thing. Well, you get my drift. No real training or skills required, and the results can be surprising. Shocking if I'm really inspired.

Look closely at the selfie in this post. Not at me. Dear me, no. Stare into the face of that King Charles and you will see the side-eye she is tossing into the camera.

Yeah, she loves being in a Groupie!

Gotta Dash!

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DAZZLING RALPH LAUREN, DASHED MY VISION

From The Right-Side...

My dirty little not-so-secret is my shopping addiction. It isn't rampant. No, I would call it more like, semi-rampant.

I do partake in a considerable amount of shopping, but I look for deals and I almost always use those 20 percent off coupons at, Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Now, I don't really expect the Left-Side of this blog (I hope he doesn't even read this, to be honest)  to clash with me on this topic and post. I can assure you, he does clash with me, but in the most considerate way you can imagine.

However, I do expect some major credit for my complete self-control while on an expedition today.

Elegant Ralph Lauren top.

Ralph Lauren vision in a top.

As a lover of clothing (jewels, furniture, etc.) from the 20's and 30's, I comb racks for those little gems I feel could be representative of that iconic fashion era. There is a particular brand by the name of Monteau

Affordable and stylish, Monteau.

that conjures up a few pieces that may be spun into a faux-vintage ensemble.

To my surprise, while pawing through racks at TJ Maxx today, I stumbled upon a piece from Ralph Lauren that made me audibly gasp. The shimmer and color of the beading caught my eye, and my hand slowly freed the garment from the clutter of nameless tank tops.

Flashing through my head, immediately, was the image of this gorgeous creation pulled over an evening tank top, paired with my one pair of Dolce and Gabbana  tuxedo pants. Perfection.

Giddy, I paused for air and my unmanicured fingers flipped the price tag into view. Boldly marked at $199.00,  my vision was dashed. No justification for paying that for a top to wear while writing a blog, walking a Cavi, or having cocktails at casual Palm Beach area dives.

There was a time this ethereal confection would have been tossed into that gimpy cart in a flash. But, today I took this picture while a curious woman stood, a little too closely, nearby. Returning it to the rack, I could not make my self turn to see if she snatched it up. I promised myself to keep checking the clearance aisles as time goes on. If Ralph's design finds its way into my collection, I promise to take a photo me in it while picking up Cavi poo!

Gotta dash,

Right-Side

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From the Left-Side ...

Well right off the bat I have to give props to your decision. Even though I am certainly not a seasoned shopper (in stores I'm the one sitting in one of those comfy chairs while Right-Side shops), that did seem a little pricey for poo-picking (kind has a ring to it, doesn't it?). But I have to admit, while my average shopping experience is usually under 5 minutes (sometimes less on Amazon), I do admire the couture of RS as we make the scene of our Palm Beach favs. In fact, in closing I really have only one thing to say about RS:

You look marvelous, darling!

RED, WHITE OR VODKA

Right-Side...

Once upon a time, some business types forget their reading  glasses, forget their common sense and trusted their restaurant server in selecting an appropriate wine to accompany their dinner. Big mistake. Huge (quote shamelessly stolen from, Pretty Woman).

You probably saw this story about that one bottle of wine that range in at, $3,750. After one of those he-said; she-said discussions, they ended up paying only $2,000, so I guess that is a happily-ever-after. A wine in that price range should look up from the glass and blow me...kisses.

We all know restaurants take simple wines and jack the prices to heavens. But, this scenario gave me pause. The entire wine and food experience is utterly subjective. Fine. I have my own opinions and I stick.

Food and Wine periodical chimed in and basically said, get your Shiraz together and know your wine. Plus, bring your glasses when  going to a la-de-da restaurant.

Wine snobbery bores the grapes out of me. It is a fun hobby for us, not to be taken seriously, at all.

Paying $50 or so dollars for a bottle of Veuve  Clicquot (my fave) is a big splurge around these parts. And when it comes to red or white wine, we are usually in the range of twenty or lower for Pinot Noir.

Fun is going to Total Wine in Palm Beach Gardens and perusing the aisles for staff picks or appealing descriptions. Sometimes it is great, sometimes it is average and sometimes it goes straight down the sink.

A real find? Little plastic bottles of wine in the Publix wine section. Don't laugh. One is enough for a glass each, to be sipped by the Intra-Coastal as boats float by. They are perfectly delicious and perfect for two when you don't want to open an entire bottle.

Champagne, red or white; it is all a fun hobby and we will never take it seriously. But, we would be seriously on a rampage if a server did not make it clear that we were purchasing a bottle of wine that is over $3,000. Reading glasses be damned!

Now, let's see if the Left-Side will clash on this.

Then again, we could gab on about the virtues and prices of vodka...maybe in another blog.

Gotta dash,
Right-Side

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Left-Side...

No argument here. Wine, like life, is to be enjoyed. Not based on price, or aging, or where the grapes grew. I refer the gentle reader to the great Virginia Madsen (Maya) scene in Sideways where she talks to Miles about wine, and life:


1
Of course, one great scene deserves another. How about the "Are you chewing gum" moment?


Come on, RS, let's head out to Total Wine and fine some new spirits to test drive. Nothing over $10.

Cheers, all!

-- The Left Side

MOVIE TRASH, AND NO LOVE FOR STEEL MAGNOLIAS

From the Right-Side...

As I mentioned in the first blog post, I do not approve of compiled lists of favorites. Movies are subjective. Don't tell me what to think, I've been doing that for quite some time.

The Left-Side can vouch for this fact.

I don't read movie reviews before checking out a new flick for myself. I'm quirky. I may even have questionable taste. Whatever I may be, I decide for myself what I like with little or no help from the Peanut Gallery (you may need to look that up, depending on the age factor).

Take that sappy, crappy movie, Steel Magnolias. It is so beloved, by so many persons out there (I suggest they also have questionable taste in film). Please note, the photo is from Amazon as I do not own this, um, jewel.

The very name  grates on my last nerve and watching it (I did, but only once) is intolerable. Those accents (now in So-Flo, I was born in Texas, so I get to say this) are mostly ear-splitting and cringe-worthy. Southern chicks, Julia and Dolly, sorry (not really).

My love of film is vast and varied, but I make up my own list of favorites and beloved. You don't have to agree with me, probably wouldn't if I compiled a list. My Netflix and Amazon streaming is a hot mess of everything.

Now, the blah I feel toward the magnolia ladies, is not personal. In fact, I absolutely adore Shirley MacLaine in, The Apartment and Gambit. No, I just find the movie vapid, sappy and it tries way too hard to make me emotional. It fails, on every level.

Will the Left-Side clash on this topic? Does he peruse Rotten Tomatoes with zeal prior to a cinema selection? Does he like trash as  I do (Troop Beverly Hills, I am looking at you), action or drama?

Gotta dash,
The Right-Side

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From The Left-Side...

Sorry R-S, but I put Magnolias in the "chick flick" bucket and so cannot actually comment on the merits, or lack thereof, for that particular movie. But, about movie selection in general:

I do consult on occasion with Rotten Tomatoes, check out reviews, read the comments and used to always check in with Leonard Maltin's movie bible religiously. But at the end of the day, I make up my own mind.

Talk about movie taste that runs amok ... I can be watching Citizen Kane one minute and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken the next. And you have to love anything by the King of the B-movies, Roger Corman (R-S, I didn't see that Corman classic, Attack of the Crab Monsters, mentioned on your list. What's up with that?).

Bottom line, movie greatness is in the eye of the beholder. One person's movie trash is another person's movie treasure. Come to think of it, the trashier the better, most of the time.

L-S signing off to get a bag of popcorn and curl up with I Was a Teenage Werewolf.

FINDING MONEY WITH LOTTERY APP

From the Right-Side...

Riches lurk in strange places, so start looking for them. I did, thanks to the story I just read about billions of dollars in unclaimed lottery winnings and the dream of a man, Brett Jacobson. His free app wants to help us grab our  loot by sending notifications to our phone.

Reading the words, billions of dollars just hanging out there like low-hanging fruit, got me jazzed and I pulled out several purses and started digging for lottery gold.

Well, guess what I found? Too many shopping receipts, ticket stubs, but not a single old lottery ticket.  However, to my delight among the crumpled papers lurked a card for an almost-free appetizer and that is pure gold.  I don't need an app to claim this beauty.

Now, this smart kid (no idea of his age) Jacobson, is probably on his way to lottery riches via this app, all because we are too lazy to pull out those numbers and check them. The details of this app are pretty mundane...provide your numbers and they contact you if you win; blah, blah, blah.

Will I get this app for the one lottery ticket I buy here and there? Maybe.

Yeah, just when you thought there could not possibly be any new apps to junk-up your phone, here is one we can not do without! Can we?

Let's see if the Left-Side of this blog will clash with this opinion!

Gotta dash,
Right-Side
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From the Left-Side...

Name anything these days and you'll hear, "There's an app for that!"

And that's probably right. At last check both the Itunes store and the Google Play store both had over one million apps . . and counting.

Despite that, research has shown most of us use less than 10 apps on a regular basis, regardless of how many we might have downloaded on our phones and tablets.

Do I want an app to tell me if I've won the lottery? 

According to Matt, writing on the University of Cambridge website, Naked Scientists:

"If you start playing when you're 16 and you cease playing when you're 86, is that reasonable?  It will give us 70 years of non-stop playing.  So that’s about one hundred games per year.  So, you'll end up doing about 7,000 games across your lifetime.  What you need to do is, if it’s originally 1 in 14 million, we’ll divide that by the 7,000 games you're going to play because you'll have 7,000 chances to win and you end up with 2,000.  So, you need to have 2,000 lifetimes to expect to win the lottery."

Sorry Right-Side, I'll have to take a pass on a lottery app. Now, if I could get my hands on that camera from that Twilight Zone episode that took pictures of the future ...

The Left-Side

CRUST AND TOAST, IT IS NATIONAL SANDWICH DAY

From the Right-Side (referring to my moniker for the purposes of this blog, nothing more)...

The Left-Side is doing what he does best, paying for delicious appetizers at a lovely place in New York City called, Rue. I love a table full of small food after a walk in Central Park.

The Left-Side (his moniker for the purposes of this blog).

But, today we shove aside platters of this-n-that because it is a day of celebration.

Okay, everyday is a National Day of some sort, and I have no problem with celebrating your favorite flower, pet or cocktail.

Today, we give a nod to ingredients shoved between slices of bread . National Sandwich Day, it is your day to shine.

Forget peanut butter and jelly (bleh), my favorites include: Tuna melt; grilled avocado, tomato and cheese and grilled chicken and cheese. Oh, I do not like crusts, so off they come, if I use bread. I admit, I like the inside ingredients much more than the actual glue (the bread). If I use bread, I like Hawaiian Rolls the most. Oh, I don't like toast.

Could tomorrow be National Appetizer Day so we can talk more about my true food obsession?

Will the Left-Side clash with me and say he loves all sandwiches? 

Gotta dash,
The Right-Side

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From The Left-Side... Before getting into the merits of crust vs. crustless, maybe it's a good idea to review just where the idea of forming food into a sandwich actually started. So, thanks to our good friend Wikipedia:

"It was named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an 18th-century English aristocrat. It is said that he ordered his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread, and others began to order "the same as Sandwich!" It is commonly said that Lord Sandwich was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue playing cards, particularly cribbage, while eating, without using a fork, and without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands."

Too bad he didn't file a patent. Think about all those royalties his royal ancestors could claim.

At any rate, when it comes to sandwiches, I'm pretty easy to please. Crust is OK, if it's soft, but just don't pile too much in between the bread. Make them too big and you can't get them in your mouth.

My favorite as a kid was always jelly and bread (still a good choice). But my taste now include tuna salad, chicken salad, turkey and swiss, smoked ham, honey ham, BBQ-anything and loving those sliders.

BTW, Business Insider published "The Best Sandwich From Every State" today. The state sandwich for Florida? The Cuban, of course!

But one thing the Right Side well knows -- make sure I have plenty of napkins. I can, on occasion, spill or drop something on my clothes. Right, Rightie?

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Right!

We Clash...then, Dash!

TOP TEN REASONS WE DO NOT NEED TOP TEN LISTS

The other day I was challenged on Facebook to  list my Top Ten All-Time Favorite Songs.

Of course, that is not possible, but I did as asked, and it was fun. 

Later, I began to think about my list. I left off only about two-thousand (not exaggerating) songs. I love a rather large variety of music.

I did the Facebook post for fun, and then challenged ten others to do it (as requested by the challenger). None did what I had done. They knew it was impossible and I knew they would not do the challenge. I won't tag those same people for future silly-fun-impossible challenges. I will tag ten different types (who will also ignore the request). Okay by me.

Top Ten (thank you, Dave L.) Lists serve no real purpose because you immediately think of ten you left off. Let's ban these things, and to kick things off, I will do a Top Ten List to support my opinion.

1. They serve no purpose.
2. Sometimes there are not ten good reasons to be had.
3. People do not care what I think about anything, and vise-versa (pretty much).
4. They make the originator feel insecure about their selections.
5. I always second-guess my choices.
6. I feel silently judged for my selections.
7. I feel un-cool and lame with my selections.
8. Even my dog knows I am inept with lists.
9. Limiting ourselves is a drag.
10. See number 1.

~Posted by, Right Side (the one shown in black and white on the right side of the blog title photo).

I wonder what the guy on the left-side of the photo thinks?

Will he chime in or let this sink to the bottom of the barrel like those Facebook friends I challenged?

Gotta dash,
Right-Side

THE LEFT SIDE VIEW ON TOP 10 LISTS

Actually, I kind of like Top 10 lists. Mostly when they are funny, or informative, or helpful.

But when it's a social media challenge, like "name your all-time favorite Top 10 Songs", I have to agree with the Right Side on that one, for all the 10 reasons she named. I had a hard time doing that back in the day when I was a rock music reviewer, when I was tasked by my editor to list my favorite albums.

It's a little like getting a chain letter with instructions to send it along to 10 other people or "bad things" will happen. Just a silly superstition. Right? But really, why take chances?

Excuse me ... I need to get busy on my 10 favorite songs.

-- The Left Side, signing off