WELL, THANK YOU, EMMA WATSON AND HYATT PLACE

From The Right-Side...

Well, well, well...little (now grown) Emma Watson. You have done it now.

She went and wrote (with her hands) a thank you note to Steve Carrell for his support for the mega-important cause, #HeForShe.

The cause IS one of my causes, but the real point of this post is...HANDWRITTEN thank you note.

My handwriting, as done on Memo App.

Proud to say, our son does this, but it is virtually dead-as-manners these days.

As a right-handed person with a left-hand slant (see my scrawl on Memo app in photo), handwriting brings a special issue for me. Oh, it's not that I mind writing things in long-hand. The people trying to read it, there rests the prob.


I love 2015, because there is an app for everything. Even handwriting can be done for you (Downton Abbey times live on).

Enter the free handwriting APP pool. Well, the app is free, but you gonna pay ($.99) for the fonts.

Handwritten Email App.

There are many available, the prices and services vary widely. But, I sampled Handwritten Email and as you can see, they wrote out my message nicely. I picked the font, color and typed the message. My actual scrawl disappeared like homemade brownies.

One glitch to the process...when I sent it to the Left-Side via text message, um, fail.

Still, Emma has started a trend as old as the Victorians (I'm guessing on the timeframe). But, we don't have to do all the writing ourselves!

Thank you, Apps. Should I send them a 'handwritten' note?

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Outside was gloomy. Inside was bright. Hyatt Place.

A recent jaunt to Tampa, Florida, had us seeking a dog-friendly place.

Yes, we know of some, but we wanted, um, more (take that as you will).

So, thank you, Hyatt Place.

The weather was dicey, but the hotel was fabulous.

Great staff. Lovely room. Fabulous (honestly) complimentary breakfast.

Good job, Hyatt Place. You are needed and appreciated!

Gotta dash...

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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...

#

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.