annzeepark914

Ooohhh...Santa Marguerite Liguria, and Portofino! We stayed at the Continental Hotel in SM, overlooking the misty, dreamy Mediterranean. I used to say it was as tho' I'd stepped into a picture book, but recently heard someone say these towns make you feel as if you'd walked onto a movie set. So true! One night we ate at a little restaurant on an alley. I had fritto misto & my husband had pesto spaghetti with potatoes & green beans (so much better than my prior attempts at home). Now I'm going to have to make these dishes!!

I *loved* I/K's Black Swan program. The music came alive thanks to their drama on ice. Agree about the overusage of the same few classical pieces. I wish there were a committee or group of retired skaters who really know good classical and other types of instrumentals, & could recommend them to young skaters.

I'll easily take the old warhorses if it means no more sad sack, esoteric "ballads". Then maybe more skaters can learn how to skate *with* their music instead of over it. Music has always been an important part of figure skating and the selection of it has, IMO, gone downhill since the advent of lyrics. And yet, the Shib Sibs' brilliant skating to Cold Play shows that it's the selection that's so important. The matching of their twizzles with a certain section of the song deserved all those standing ovations. I know a lot of skaters can't afford the kind of top choreographers who can produce something like this so selecting a warhorse would be safer and give them something to skate with.

That was one of *the* best segments, if not the best of all so far, IMO. I was so into learning from the chef, as was Tucci & his wife. Then, the storm...getting closer & closer. Food & weather drama, Italians,...good stuff!

Each Nationals, when we know who's on the podium, I always feel *so bad* for the skaters who are only one or two placements away. And I imagine them going back to their rinks, doing whatever--practicing their programs "in case" and/or creating new programs...or deciding that this may be the to time to hang up their (at least competitive) skates. I wonder what's going on with C/J.

Great news!!

Several years ago I was backing out of a spot & starting to turn when a woman also backing out hit the rear side of my car. Bless her heart she was honest with her insurance company so they paid for the damage. This was when I learned from my ins agent that parking lot minor accidents are not given much attention by ins companies. My agent was astonished that her company was paying up. So, another reason why I dislike backing out.

I still pull through cause backing out of parking spots hurts my back. If a person has pulled too close to the back of my car, I pop the trunk and stand at the side to load the trunk. Not fun but I love not having to back out.

I just had it again tonight... found some mangoes (the small yellow ones) so I had an excuse.

I once worked in HR at what was called Bell Atlantic (just as the name was changing to Verizon). I recall fellow managers saying, whenever we'd see a car backed into a parking spot, "Oh, there's an old time employee". They said back in their early days, they were taught, and expected, to park company cars that way. And so they still parked that way. But this was in garages or parking lots, not street parking (that's crazy!)

For too many years people would say to me, "Smile!'" Drove me nuts cause one can't walk around with a perpetual smile (well, aside from the Pioneer Woman). Then, people began thinking I was angry about something. Several years ago I decided to have some plastic surgery to get rid of those folds of skin between neck & chin (my mom had them). They cleaned up other areas of my face a little and waa-laa!! No one has told me to smile or asked "What's wrong?" since then. I didn't have a face lift like celebs get, but whatever they did got rid of something that made me look angry even though I wasn't even scowling (& I think I had whatever it was even when I was a kid).

I also found the Roma story very interesting. Usually they're treated horribly in whichever country in Europe they end up. So it was nice to see people flocking to their food kitchen.

Spicy Mango (Papaya) Salad ¼ cup fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp light soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes 1 Tbsp sugar (I cut back a bit & add the syrup) I like to add a bit of pure maple syrup ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 mangos, peeled & julienned 1” long (I prefer papaya) 1 large red bell pepper julienned ½ cup onion finely chopped ½ cup cilantro, chopped ½ cup fresh mint chopped Chopped peanuts Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Taste; if needed, add a bit of pure maple syrup. Only add remaining ingredients less than 1 hour before serving. Keep chilled. Top with peanuts. Source: adapted from a Sue Branch blog recipe This dressing is so delicious I end up drinking what remains in my salad bowl 😊

I did that *once*. It was leftover grilled halibut and I had no idea it would cause the entire office to smell. Had my lunch and went out to run errands. You can imagine the greetings I got on my return. Payback was years later when Mr P914 reheated fish in our microwave. Yikes!

Sauted salmon with peanut sesame noodles, and spicy mango salad.

Throughout tonight's episode, I wanted a plate of pasta so badly. The scenery of the countryside was so serene. The protest by the Sardines (?) was very interesting. I love this show!

There's just something about this news and adorable photo that is so wonderful & uplifting. This baby is going to be so darn cute!!!

I get them from the little pots of mint and basil that I buy in supermarkets. I need to find something to maybe spray the soil as soon as I get the plants home.

I wonder if her dad created the name by blending girl/midget (back in those days, midget probably wasn't a *known* slur...except by Little People). Or did the male surfers make up that name? I never read the book.

LL Bean and Lands End have a lot of V-neck T-shirts. Gee...I'd love to find cap sleeve T-shirts. I don't think anyone sells them now.

I guess I'm odd cause I *love* turtlenecks. Esp the ones that are really snug and high around my neck. Amost all are black, with a few gray, just to be different 🤓

I use All--Free & Clear for most of my personal laundry. I don't use it for sheets and pillow cases. But yesterday, while out & about, wearing a mask, my nose kept itching. So I did my masks last night using the All Free & Clear. Today I wore one of the masks and voila! No itch. If I worked & had to wear a mask all day, I'd wear disposable masks. But I love wearing my snazzy plaid cloth masks in diff colors (I need to have some fun during these weird times🤓).

But I thought I saw him earlier this past week subbing for her, so last night I was surprised to see him again. Oh well...after all these talk show hosts have been through, they probably need more nights off.

"...a gasbag in ugly glasses". I love this very apt description of Donny. The frames get weirder & weirder. Ali got a teaching position at some college in PA. He was filling in for Rachel again last night--hope everything's ok in her life.

Whenever I read "between you and I" etc., it makes me want to grind my teeth. When I answer the phone and the caller asks for Ann, I always say, "This is she speaking". I bet these callers roll their eyes. Just had to add: I'm sick of hearing about Markle & her prince. Hope the OTT publicity dies down after the big interview.