TOAST THE NEW YEAR, BUT GET IT RIGHT

From the Right-Side...

Here it is, that special time of year when sparkling wine is jumping off the shelves and into our carts. Well, hold on just one minute. Evidently, we know nothing about the art of wine that tickles.

Price is no object. We start cheap and go up.

Just read an article that popped its cork about how we peasants (meaning Left-Side and I) behave like peasants when it comes to the art of the bubbly.

Champagne (only from that region in France) and Sparkling Wine (from any dinky vineyard where they can grow white and dark grapes) is complex. Fun, but you gotta know stuff.

Stuff includes...

*Champagne/Sparkling Wine is just wine, fermented until it bubbles.

*Do not over-chill. It tastes better if not too cold.

*Twist the bottle, not the top, when opening.

*Drink from a white wine glass, not a flute for fuller flavors (never gonna happen with me).

*Pink Champagne is not inferior (I still won't buy it).

*If you hear a popping sound when opening, you did it wrong, so toss it out and start over (kidding).

Around here, we sample all price ranges and find some less expensive to be quite gratifying. Swill goes down the drain and we move on.

Most importantly, champagne is considered to be the perfect wine pairing for almost any food.

Cheers to that!

Gotta dash...

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FACEBOOK IS REVIEWING OUR YEAR FOR US

From the Right-Side...

Here we go, the inevitable looking back at the year.

Why?

Don't we already know what happened?

Perhaps we would prefer to forget some of it. Let us.

They review our year for us.

I loathe these recaps, but realize it is probably a way for media-types to get lazy and sort of rerun the year while staring at their laptop, wearing Santa hats, sipping martinis and eating cheese logs

However, Facebook, took it upon themselves and made this all quite personal for its users. The Washington Post told us what we already knew. It was inappropriate, basically.

They have  been slapped at for presuming every user was experiencing a great year. Then, without asking, they summarized each profile, along with photos, and streamed it into the Newsfeeds for us.

Given past FB tactics,  Zuckie's rich ass, and his army of  Zucker-Nerds (made that word up and I am good with it) probably care zero about how we feel about our year or them butting into it.

Yes, I realize THE Facebook (I am using the as a slam) is a f-r-e-e service (depending on how you look at it) and we are f-r-e-e to l-e-a-v-e at any given moment. Still, if I want to review this year, I will do so.

So, thank you, very much, Zuckie, your users have brains (mostly), so could you and your little minions please stop being so damned presumptuous?

Gotta dash...

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INTERNET POSTING INSANITY AND ARROGANT ASSHATS

From the Right-Side...

I freely admit I follow a number of news outlets on the internet. It is quick, fairly informative and I am a busy person, so it all works out nicely. I mean these blog posts are not going to write themselves, so time is money (not really on this blog).

The internet is as boring as my dog looks.

However, I may be getting on information overload. Either that or the world really is full of ignorant and arrogant asshats. The jury is semi-out on the asshat situation.

But, reading about the Florida chick who repeatedly slapped her Grandmother (without permission, according to The Palm Beach Post) for not accepting her friend request, gave me pause.  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/national/florida-woman-assaults-grandmother-facebook-friend/njWhX/?ecmp=pbp_social_facebook_2014_sfp

Then the trend-setting (in her own mind, probably) mommy's musings in The Washington Post (sub-title, The Pretentious Post, just my opinion) about how she  will NOT be posting photos of her spawn on the Internet gave me a case of major annoyance, eye-rolling and deep sighing. Hence, no link to her idiocy. Find it yourself if you are remotely interested.

All of us need to get the hell over ourselves. What we post on the 'net is about as important as what treat I will be giving my dog when I finish this rant. No one cares. At all.

So, here  are two examples of how I need to take a break from reading anything and just post photos of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel looking as bored as I feel reading the gibberish flying around asshats in cyberville!

Gotta dash...

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Gotta agree with you on this one, Right-Side. There is one thing the whole world could use right now: A big, fat SENSE OF HUMOR and another big, fat GET OVER YOURSELF. I think we should all join Reggie and BE OVER IT.

One more thing -- if you do like reading gibberish on the Internet, you'll find as good a gibberish as there is right here!

Sorry for the SHOUTING. Back to you, RS!

-- Left-Side

WATCHING AND READING MOVIES

From the Right-Side...

Watching movies around our place suddenly became much deeper and meaningful, thanks to Wiki.

The Left-Side has become a narrator of sorts, much like Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City series. Well, something like that, with a male voice, and more interesting.

Let me explain.

Before reality tv, we had this.

The other evening I decided to watch an older movie with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda called; Yours, Mine and Ours. I understand, from the Left-Side, that a new version came on the scene a few years ago, but forget that one.

The premise of this 'true story' was the blending of two families with a load of kiddies, eighteen to be precise. Keep in mind, this was before the hell that is reality television and that Duggar bunch with nineteen spawns.

Suddenly, as Lucy and Hank were getting more than chummy, the Left-Side began to read to me from Wiki (THE only source of info).

As the written story unfolded, we discovered some fun factoids. The Brady Bunch could have been inspired from this bunch, and the movie version was only partially accurate (shocker). All the holes in the story of the North and Beardsley merger were filled in. Things we desperately needed to know such as, the couple did not meet by accident in a grocery store, but corresponded to console each other in their time of grief. They had both lost spouses. I prefer the grocery story version, personally, is it not as sad.

Reality shows could learn a lesson here. They air their scripted reality drivel, and we read the true reality on TMZ or DListed while watching. Perfect.

I now want a narration with every semi-true movie (I don't watch reality very much) I view. The Left-Side has created a new source of entertainment, just like that.

Maybe we could start a cottage industry. The scrunchy was born under less impressive circumstances.

Gotta dash...

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Thanks for the shout-out, Right-Side. I am sure many would find it annoying to "fact check" the movies. Personally, a big red flag goes up for me when I see the words, "Inspired by true events." I head straight for the Wiki to get the straight scoop. You don't mind Hollywood has to embellish the story a little to sell tickets; just don't hype the "true" word so much. I think for me it stems from my days on the newspaper copy desk, when it was my job to challenge what reporters had written -- grammar, facts and otherwise. With all the media we have these days, it's almost impossible to separate the truth from the fiction. Still, who knew it could become its own form of entertainment? Stay tuned for more installments of "RS and LS at the Movies." Later! -- LS

SAG AWARDS, SINGING COUNTRY GIRLS AND MAD BOYS

From the Right-Side...

In case you failed to notice, due to supreme lack of interest or sheer boredom, the SAG nominations were announced today. This is the award show where they all wear free duds, drink champagne and pretentiously call themselves, ACTORS, as the camera pans around the room packed to the rafters with ego.

My dog was my mirror image on hearing the SAG nominations.

As a true lover of delicious movies, I admit I reviewed the list with disappointment and a major YAWN.

The movies of 2014 lack allure, to me.

Seems going without make-up is the ticket to a statue, not acting chops. Ho-Hum. Good luck, ladies and gents...actors, enjoy your turn in the limelight. It may be brief.

Of real interest is the shade being throw around the Nashville area, in the general direction of two young country music singing gals (you use gals when discussing the genre of music, I heard).

Yeah, seems the duo, Maddie and Tae, are twanging out spot-on lyrics that have some of the country boys crying in their beer. The guys are miffed at being called out about their  songs and videos portraying girls riding in trucks, wearing shorts with no shoes.

Whatever, I am not such a fan of country, but I am golf-clapping for Maddie and Tae as they sing, "Girl in a Country Song.'

If only I felt like clapping for the Screen Acting Awards. No, not yet, but my excitement could bubble to the surface tomorrow. Golden Globe nominations are coming our way!

Gotta dash...

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WHAT A CROCK

From the Right-Side...

So, here is how it went down.

Sassy new Crock Pot.

While on shopping trip to Target, I spied a fancy new Crock Pot I had been told was pretty awesome. It is rectangle in design and that detail was enough to sell me.

As a shopper of the highest degree, I pride myself on being cagey about my purchases when it comes to the Left-Side.

I shop, I lug treasures (yes, a sassy new Crock Pot qualifies) in stuffed bags into our place and make them blend in. You know, as if the items had been with us for quite some time. Hidden in plain sight, if you will.

Disguising the arrival of the new crock was an epic fail as I left it in the vehicle, only to be discovered by LS on the very evening of said purchase.

Much to my surprise (not at all), he was curious as to the need of another kitchen appliance.

Momentarily taken off guard, I rallied.

"You can make a lasagna in this because of the shape."

Left-Side, face unflinching, silently nodded.

I knew what he was thinking. We've been making lasagna in the oval one for years and years. Plus, this is a little game we have played for years and years. New things pop up all over the place and he pretends not to notice. It works. Mostly.

But, note to self: Never leave a treasure behind in the car to be found by LS. It is more fun the other way!

Gotta dash...

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SPLURGE AT BRAZILIAN COURT, PALM BEACH

From the Right-Side...

Well, what a relief.

The Brazilian Court on Palm Beach has rushed to the rescue. I no longer have to troll the 'net and the local Marshall's and TJ Maxx  in order to compose my Christmas list for the Left-Side.

Peasants at the Brazilian Court.

For the rock-bottom price of $18,000. (how many candy canes could you get for that?), a person can snag a gift package to the famous lounging place of the ridiculously rich.

I assume anyone reaching into their petty-cash for this deal, has to be ridiculous, and rich. Am I assuming too much?

Left-Side and I dropped our bargain luggage in the Fred Astaire room at this historic and iconic establishment a few months ago for less. A lot less. It was fabulous, I kid you not. Again, for a lot less.

That $18,000 package includes seven-course dinner for four, two-nights stay, six whole hours of a chauffeured vintage Rolls and $5,000 shopping on Worth Avenue. Probably more. Who knows.

If you want to spent your cash on other frivolous things like food and mortgage, they have less expensive packages, and I recommend it. Pretending to belong, is the best fun!

Whatever you choose for the holiday retreat, just remember if it is the Brazilian, you have parked yourself at a Top 100 Hotel In The World.

Merry Christmas!

From the Left-Side:

Only $18,000, R-S? A mere bag of shells, as Jackie Gleason (a famous Miami resident himself) used to say. Besides, been there, done that, right? Not that I wouldn't consider a return engagement. The tropical pool was heavenly, and the room -- pretty amazing I have to admit (we gave it our highest rating - four pineapples). It could even make my shopping list for R-S, except for one thing: You can't fit it in a little blue box.

Happy Holidays, and if you try that 7-course meal, send us a postcard, and a doggie bag. -- L-S

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