KARDASH TRASH, BEANS, BOYS NAMES FOR GIRLS

From The Right-Side...

My senses were all stabby this morning, and one click into newfeeds revealed the source.

E! please take note!

Kreepy Kardashian Kreeps will Kontinue to Kill our Kountry!

E! channel, it is official. You are possessed with insanity.

Just when we thought the torture was about to be over, we hear the words...four more years of human trash, bobble-heads. Kardashians Keeping Up With Themselves! I have never and will never keep up with them on E!, but you can not escape their idiocy, everywhere.

In keeping with the next tidbit...BLOODY HELL, make it STOP!

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As promised (threatened), we have begun our English food reviews.

Beans on toast, British style.

From the pot to the post, we begin with Beans-on-Toast.

You take beans (Heinz in a blue can we bought at the British store), heat and pour over lightly toasted bread.

That's it. Basic, and okay with us, but I did add just a bit of cheese to the toast.

Americans!


Left-Side here. Right-Side neglected to provide you with a formal recipe for this dish, so let me correct that:

Beans on Toast

1. Open a can of Heinz beans (or the beans of your choice)
2. Place bread in toaster.
3. Toast bread to desired setting.
4. Place bread on plate (careful - it may be hot)
5. Spoon beans on toast.
6. Enjoy!

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Trolls on the internet lost their minds when Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett, wait, Blake Lively, named their kid. James. She's a she.

Reggie, the girl CKCS.

I once knew a very nice lady name, Charlie. She worked with my grandmother and was larger than life. Very cool.

Besides, I happen to like the name James (see the Left-Side for details), so I am cool with the choice of that edgy couple. Well, he is a Canuck, so edgy is relative, huh?

Besides, who am I to judge?

We have a fluffy-girl, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named, Reggie. Officially, it is Regina, but only so we could call her Reggie.

Left-Side chiming in. Don't get me started on names! How do you pronounce "Gerry"? Wrong! It's "Gary." The bane of my existence. At least no prob with the middle name, which happens to be "James," apparently quite in vogue with the celebrity set. But best just call me "Gaz."

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All the snow and ice around the country is a dragola, but the weather types going off-the-rails borders on comedy. I mean seriously bad weather is seriously bad. Not lost on me. A few years ago, the Left-Side and I dropped anchor in Ohio. Guess what? It is better to drop your anchor in South Florida!

Gotta dash...

DWTS, KINGSMAN ARE NO SMASH HIT

From The Right-Side...

Collin Firth, I expected so much more.

We went to the movie to see, Kingsman, and the guy at the Concession Stand asked what we were seeing. That has never happened and I am fairly certain he wanted to get a buzz by thinking we were seeing, 50 Shades of Stupid. Sorry to disappoint the young lad, but we were royally disappointed with Collin Firth and his gang of so-called spies, so it equals out in the end.

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Ever wanted to just throw something through a glass window or smash anything made of glass?

Smash Hit, but you gonna need cash to go far.

Well, grab the app for Smash Hit, and get busy.

It's fun for a destructive minute, until you realize you are not going far in this game until you throw cash through the glass and into the greedy hands of game-maker, Mediocre.

I agree, it is rather mediocre.

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Dancing With The...Stars (their term, not anyone who knows anything about stars) will begin their 20th season in the near future.

My mother-in-law was a huge fan and because of her, I started watching. It was the year Emmitt Smith won, and it was fun to discuss the show, long-distance, with her.

I hung in for several seasons, but with each passing mirror-ball-trophy, I grumbled more and more.

WHO are these people, I railed at my sleeping dog? She didn't answer, and I knew it was time to stop.

Prediction: Derek Hough will win Season 20, but it will be touch-n-go and drama. There will be tears, emergency trips to the hospital, the obligatory...will they or won't they be able to perform...then a miracle happens and they hit it out of the ballroom.

All the while I will be watching infomercials on another channel, knowing it will be more entertaining.

Gotta dash...

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KRISPY KREME KOFFEE PODS AND DUNKING

From The Right-Side...

Yes, I know koffee is not spelled with a K. But, let's just go ahead and get krazy for this post. I know what you are thinking, and it's true. I am krazy with a K or C.

Today, I skipped (in my head) into the nearest Bed, Bath & Beyond where I was treated beyond rude by two employees.

But, that is for another blog or probably one I have already churned out. Customer Service is dead and buried.

No, my possible mission was a koffee (I'm sticking with the k's) filter for my Keurig brewing system.

That was it. One filter and I planned to bolt for the door and into the wilds of the Palm Beaches.

But, wait. Right there on a low-ish shelf, right beside The Puck (Wolfgang) Pods rested an intriguing white box of pods. In the glance I gave it, familiar markings struck a chord.

How have I missed this?

Krispy Kreme Koffee! Yes, still going with bad spelling.

Could that ever be a bad thing?

Well, it was a 50-50 sort of risk, but I was willing to take a leap of faith.

Brewed a cup this afternoon and it is...pretty good and that's not bad.

Now, if only The Left-Side were around to bring me a donut...to dunk (had to go there)!

Gotta dash...

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From the Left-Side. RS, your wish -- as always -- is my command.

Here you go, love. Enjoy!!

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REESE WITHERSPOON, I ASK YOU TO PUT A SOCK IN IT

From The Right-Side...

The 2015 Os-KAHS are OVAH, and it was fairly underwhelming.

I watched it to the bitter (take that how you will) end, and I am in the Eastern Time Zone, it was after midnight for me.

Ask Me More Is The New Thing For Red Carpet.

NPH was nothing special, but his undies were REALLY white.

Lady Gaga and Patricia Arquette stole the show, no question. Different ends of the spectrum, but memorable. Bowing to them!

The clothes and jewels were as we expected. Hair was worn up, down, but ScarJo's new 'do is buzzed.

But, here is what I really took away:

*A couple of causes were trotted out, but none more insufferable than the queen of pretentiousness, Elle Woods, er, Reese Witherspoon. You do realize that you didn't really graduate from Harvard Law School, right?

*You are entitled and boring. She wants people to #AskHerMore? More than about your last movie, your upcoming movie, your production company, your drunken rant to police officers trying to keep your drunken ass (and your hubby) off the highways?

Please.

I mean, I get that these celebs want to discuss more than their dress designer. I get tired of telling my dog what I'm wearing when we walk the grassy-knoll where she does her biz.

But, the Red Carpet is for that. If you don't want to walk-the-walk and talk-trivial-talk; walk your snobby ass down the shabby carpet by the dumpsters. The backdoor will also take you into the venue, and anyone hanging by that entrance won't ask you jack!

I do understand wanting to be asked meaningful questions. However, isn't it rather difficult to express deep philosophical issues in the 45-seconds Ryan Seacrest gushes to your face?

News flash for Reese (who works HARD, says RW), we ALL want to be asked more.

Try writing a fluffy blog or fictional novels. Man, I want folks to ask me more about those. They don't. That is life.

The millions of regulars (ordinary people) doing crap jobs, for crap pay also want to be asked more.

They won't be. Ever.

Reese, you Million Dollar Cry Baby, when you do something for the world, I will want to HEAR more. Until then, put a sequined sock in it!

Gotta dash...

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HOT PINK BOOTS ARE NOT FOR WORK

From The Right-Side...

Here I go, with more British and South Florida prattle.

But, when I spied a stylish lady rocking these hot pink work-type boots (the model is a sweet person, we will just refer to her as W), I immediately thought of the United Kingdom.

Taking the boots for a cocktail..

Why?

Well, Wellies, of course.

The UK has their way, and we in South Florida have our way. But, on either side of the pond, we know how to pull off wearing rubber boots.

Back in the day, the first Duke of Wellington wore this style and it became the rage for hunting (I do not approve), gardening and other outdoor what-have-you. Thus, the Wellington boot was born.

These Wellies are made for walking and hunting.

Wellies is only one nickname of many. But, my favorite is Topboots. It just sounds like some  farmer named Freddie Astaireington would tromp around or pirouette in the garden.

Most of the Wellies I have seen are in dark, earth tones. Guess they are easier to keep looking good, so that makes sense.

Work boots, So-Flo style.

But, if one wears hot pink boots of any sort, it should be for drinking gourmet coffee or exotic cocktails, not for hunting or any sort of work.

Actually, wearing hot pink work boots in the land of alligators and the flamingo means ditching them and heading your bare feet to one of the gorgeous Atlantic beaches.

Gotta dash...

RECOGNIZING WINTER IN SOUTH FLORIDA

From The Right-Side...

Winter is upon us, all over the United States.

How do I recognize this when the temps hover at 80 and the flora is green year-around?

A random winter day. Photo By: Brit

I've seen photos of snow and ice hitting those cold-weather states, and that is good enough for me.

Our trusted weather person issues snuggle-alerts when it hits 50. So, you see winter is relative, right?

February in South Florida is denoted by a few changes. The wearing of heavy coats, sweaters and boots is not, typically, one of them.

Our winter brings an influx of human flakes, not the snowy kind.

But, we are about to get some serious cold. The low will be 37 tomorrow.

Taking a winter stroll in So-Flo. Photo By: Britt

Again, it is relative. as we see what Boston and other cities are facing. So, we wish them well when they begin to thaw.

Personally, I will slide into my closed-in shoes, drink a hot cup of java and wait for our real Florida winter to return...81 on Sunday.

Gotta dash...

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Left-Side here. Yes, while it does get cold in the Sunshine State from time to time, the good news is, it doesn't last long. Digging into weather history, West Palm Beach got its first snowfall ever recorded on Jan. 18, 1977. And in 1989, Jacksonville actually had its first ever white Christmas. But those are what anyone would classify as rare events. Personally, I would rather make sand castles than snowmen.

MY CUDDLE LIST IS PROBABLY NOT FOR YOU

From The Right-Side...

First thing I saw this morning?

Yet another of those "best of" lists.

Number One Cuddle Dog. CKCS. I said so.

Even though I cringe when I see those, I still fall for it and click.

The sight of a smiling (yes, they do) canine will always sucker me in, especially if I think I will see an image of the breed I personally stare at every day.

A list of the most cuddly dogs, really reeled me in.

My dog had to be number one. 

Nope.

On the list?

Nope.

I get it. These lists are meant to get dog lovers all steamed up, so the comment section will explode. It works, just not for me.

Forget making a comment, time to make my own list, but it contains only one breed.

I present proof that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is THE most cuddly dog.

That is all.

Gotta dash...

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From the Left-Side: As they say, a picture is worth a thousand cuddles ... er, words. We don't need no stinkin' list to tell us what we already know.

BAD NYC FASHION WEEK, NORTH WEST, AND MARION BOYCE

From The Right-Side...

Did you see poor little North West sitting, and having a red-zone meltdown, front row at her Da-da's fashion show? Loud music and toddlers do not always mix. Instead of that goofy fur coat, they should have adorned her with something fashionable like, EAR protection.

Toddler ear protection fashion.

Better yet, leave her with the nanny.

Poor kid, on way too many levels to get into here. Not that we need to. You can't throw a worn-out shoe without seeing North's birth parents all over every post on every legit, semi-legit and bogus Web page.

The fashions I have seen thus far, Kanye's lame creations don't even qualify as fashion, make me want to suggest all the designers pause and pay tribute to  real style and one awarding winning costume designer, Marion Boyce.

Essie Davis. Costumes designed by, Marion Boyce.

Marion Boyce knows style and fashion and it shows in each episode of, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (my Australian obsession).  Everyone else, take a seat!

Uninspired, and plain horrendous, fashion aside, all the incessant blathering about those Kash-West idiots make me sort of nostalgic for Paris (no last names, please). Sort of.

Gotta dash...

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WHITE HOUSE SHOULD LOOK TOWARD RUSSIA

From The Right-Side...

As I try to avoid the morning talk show chatter, I still managed to catch a glimpse of Jenna Bush's little piece on the refurbish of the White House dining room.

Palace in St. Petersburg. Photo by: Brian Wilson.

Unlike gazing upon this photo of a palace in St. Petersburg (the one in Russia), sent to us by our friend in the UK. Brian Wilson, the piece was about as interesting as watching the new paint dry.

Lady Michelle bragged about having lots of assistance in the process, I imagine she was simply tossing out a preemptive strike against criticism about her design decisions.

It looked pretty mundane. It was something, in my opinion, you see in every Home Depot design book. Cookie-cutter, like every dining room across the country. Boring, with a splash on color here and there.

I mean if you are going to go to all the bother of sprucing up a room in the White House...go all out!

FLOTUS should have paid less attention the the hangers-on whispering DIY tips in her ear, and paid more attention to how decorating is done by those who know how to do it right.

Gotta dash... 

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From the Left-Side: And the First Lady has no excuses for not sprucing up to the max ... Home Depot is offering 24 months, no-interest financing. 

BECKS FACE, MADONNA'S ASS, YE AND BAFTA ME

From The Right-Side...

I opted for the BAFTA Awards last evening. The Grammy Awards...meh.

Becks at BAFTA.

It was on BBC America and it had already happened over there, across the pond. I avoided all the spoilers, so it was all fresh as a daisy to me.

This was my first time to view the British version of the Oscars, and it was...not bad.

Can it be bad when David Beckham pops up on the stage looking like...Becks?

My real impression?

Becks looked good and they just don't seem to take it all that seriously.

Thank the fashion gods, their Red Carpet was slap-dash (see what I did there?), and it was heaven. I heard not one question of fashion.

The host, Stephen Fry, made jokes that were half-way funny and when the camera panned to various celebs, they looked half-way amused.

Glad I passed on the Grammy shenanigans, but I did see Madonna's ass on a favorite blog site. I don't judge. Strut it, Madge!

I also saw that Kanye (or Ye, as he refers to himself) pulled another stunt with his stunt-queen wife. Major eye-rolling on that idiocy, but he accomplished his goal. Attention.

Gotta dash...

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PALM BEACH FRIDAY

From The Right-Side...

No hot topics on this Friday in South Florida.

Nope, even though we are having a cold-snap (73), the beach beckoned for a morning stroll.

Ocean Reef Beach in the morning.

 

Carmine's Crab Shack knows how to shake it.

The Atlantic was fierce, the breeze cool and refreshing.

This evening beckons for a cool and sassy cocktail. So, The Left-Side and I will sashay around the North Palm Beach area until we settle on the perfect setting.

Gotta dash...

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ZUCKERBERG AND MY GRANDMOTHER, SO MUCH IN COMMON

From The Right-Side...

Recently it dawned on me that we have returned to the days of the party-line. But, it's on Facebook instead of a telephone. Yeah, I'm rambling on about Zucky's little enterprise. Again.

Grandmother's version of trolling. Party-line.

My grandmother had a party-line back in the day and she hung on it, listening, until the cows came home.

She also had a fancy quilting rack, and in her spare time she would take months to whip up lovely coverlets. Of course, the eavesdropping came first. The quilts could wait.

The irritating way Facebook is designed is not that different than those days of party-lines, in many ways.

Grandmother (yes, I called her that, she was the formal sort of eaves-dropper), would slide into her comfy chair, quietly lift the receiver and hear all the good gossip from far-and-wide.

People, communicating in a group-some speaking their news and views, some silently lurking, hanging onto their receiver.

Sound familiar?

It is not that we request to be a new-age-party-liner. It is not like we log into FB and ask them to feed us a constant stream of information about the world in general, or the world of our friends. If we log in to the site, we are hit with it.

In general, unlike my paternal Grandmother, I am not an overly nosy type. I am curious about things of interest to me, but I truly don't care what my neighbors are up to in their spare time.

Likewise, the information popping and snapping on Facebook is something I scroll past, for the most part.

We have come so far in the world of communication and technology, but when I think of people hanging out, trolling and lurking on Facebook and other sites, I smile.

I smile because I think how like a party-line it all seems. Funny, Zucky and Grandmother are so similar.

Grandmother would never get anything done if Facebook and the like had been around in her day.

That quilting rack would just have to sit there, empty.

Gotta dash...

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NIGHTCRAWLER CRAWLED IN A MONOTONE

From The Right-Side...

With anticipation, I settled on the sofa with the Left-Side, our Cavalier King Charles and a plate of sweet potato fries to enjoy Jake Gyllenhaal be a night crawler. Oh, to be thrilled by a thriller!

Jake brought the monotone.

It had been awhile since I had seen Rene Russo, and she always adds a nice bit of interest to a film (see: Get Shorty).  For me, Bill Paxton will forever be the slime-ball used car salesman in, True Lies, but I kept an open mind.

The movie ranked high on Rotten Tomatoes and Jake had received some award nominations, so it had to be good. Really good.

Credits rolled and a dark mood settled over each scene. Jake, looking gaunt and weird, spoke in a creepy monotone. In every scene, he took the role of free-lance videographer behaving like a criminal to levels of...who CARES!

Yes, he did a good job of being strange. But, I have always felt he really is strange, so was it much of a stretch?

I hoped for some thrill and an exciting story or characters.  I kept hoping until the bitter end. It never happened for me.

Rene, Bill and the other cast members seemed to be in a daze...as though they did not want to upstage Jake and his glazed eyeballs.

The good news is that we watched this in the comfort of our own place with excellent snacks. The flip-side of that good news is that this film now rests in our cloud. Yeah, we bought it.

Sitting through this movie at the theater would have made ME want to night crawl my bored ass right down the aisle and out to the lobby to look for a way to sneak into a better movie.

If I may steal a quote uttered by Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore) in The Big Lebowski..."The plot was ludicrous."

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Right-Side hit the nail on the head (all of them) in this so-called "thriller" that was, more to the point, a one-man acting clinic. That one man being Jake, playing weird and creepy Louis Bloom. This movie is the latest incarnation of Hollywood tackling the "TV will do anything for ratings" storyline (if you really want to see the best version of that, rent Network -- it's brilliant).

I don't mind a little credibility-stretching, but seriously, are the LA police really this inept? -- The Left-Side

FINDING BRITAIN IN THE PALM BEACHES

British Depot -- Photos by Left-Side

Hey, hey, dear readers. Left-Side here to tell you about our latest "find" -- a little bit of Britain right here in the Palm Beaches. It's called British Depot, located at 2402 North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. RS and I dig on those fab sitcoms from the BBC ("The Good Life," "As Time Goes By" being the latest obsessions). Who knew we could score authentic British grocery goods just a few miles from home?

RS grabbed a shopping basket and started perusing the aisles. There they were -- Heinz beans in the blue can, perfect for beans on toast. Plus they had the bread for the toast as well in the frozen foods, along with some authentic British bangers. Our only disappointment was no custard tarts. We had to settle for a box of Custard Creams (a yummy cookie, BTW).

If any of you know a good bakery in the area that does custard tarts, please do-tell.

Heinz beans in the blue can

In the meantime, if you are an Anglophile, beat feet and dash to the British Depot. They have everything you need for a good "fry up."

Hey, hey what do you say, Right-Side?

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From The Right-Side...

Yes, we have more to come on this topic as we sample our finds.

But, even though the shop is small, I managed to buy more than food. A groovy tee just had to be mine.

Fashion for British cooking.

Funny, the lady on duty was not British, as she hailed from Ireland. Still, she  was friendly and knew her wares making some lovely suggestions.

I agree with the Left-Side, not finding those custard tarts was a crushing blow to our plan.

Beans on toast sounds easy enough, but those Brits are crafty when it comes to messing with Yanks!

Gotta dash...