Joyce over at “From This Side of the Pond” hosts this.

1. In the USA this coming Sunday millions will be watching the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49er’s in the Superbowl. What was the last event you attended that could be described as super?

Super, eh? Last night was super: Dinner with a friend, then home to watch “Girls”, then Dave came home from his band practice. Yeah. Last night was super!

2. Share something you’re a fan of these days?

I’m a fan of the HBO show Girls, of warm days, of losing weight, of Dave, the ocean (always), my shiba inu and picking up friendships where you left off.

3. How do you feel about wings? In case anyone is confused, I’m talking about the edible appetizer kind. What’s your preferred seasoning-hot, mild, teryiaki, sweet and sour, other? Do you make your own or is there a favorite place you like to go for wings?

Wings are awesome and my favorite type is buffalo! But be careful of those bones! I was eating wings with my dentist friend Kim once and a bone got lodged between my tooth and gum. We had to go to her office after dinner so she could remove it!

4. As long as we’re talking sports today, have you been following the Lance Armstrong story? Did you watch his interview with Oprah and if so what was your reaction to his confession and subsequent remarks?

It was a story that was hard NOT to hear about, everyone everywhere was talking about it. I didn’t watch the interview. I wonder what his ex-wife thought about it. I can’t begin to imagine the size of his ego, that he thought he could get away with this.

5. What’s a question you hate to be asked?

Hmmm…I don’t think there is any question I hate to be asked. I’m pretty much an open book. In fact, is there any question you’d like to ask?

6. The coaches in this Sunday’s big match up happen to be real life brothers. Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49er’s and his older brother John Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens. Were you and your sibling(s) competitive? In what way? Are you still? If you’re an only child how did you handle competition growing up?

I have one brother, 3 years younger than me, and we weren’t really close. So no, not competitive. And I’m not a fan of competition…way too laid back for that LOL!

7. What’s your favorite game involving a ball, and when did you last play?

I adore(d) racquetball! It was my favorite form of exercise for a LONG time. When I worked on the air force base, the courts were free to use, as was the gym. Boy, do I miss that!!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Beware the raised eyebrow!

Time Warp Tuesday!

Reading, reading, reading! These were all taken in the 1970s, and all down the cape (that’s Cape Cod to all you non-Massholes) at my aunt and uncle’s home.

What a weekend! My friend Maureen was in town with her sister to celebrate’s Mo’s birthday and they invited me along! I should’ve gone Friday night, but I wasn’t really sure they’d want me the whole weekend…what was I thinking!

That’s Mo on the right

The hotel had a very interesting mural along the walls:

Here’s a close up:

Mo had brought me Christmas gifts from her (toffee peanut butter, oatmeal mix and granola mix from Great Harvest Bread Company, and a gorgeous bracelet), and from Kim and Betsy (who I didn’t get to see on New Year’s Eve). Kim gave me a couple of LOTR lego sets, one of Frodo & Gandalf that I loved, and this one.

Yikes!!!

After that we headed to lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery

pulled pork, avocado, radish, cabbage and chipotle crema…so good! Oh, and a side of mac & cheese.

and then we saw a movie (Parker, a crime thriller, I hadn’t even HEARD of, but enjoyed)

Course I had to take a picture of this at the theater…my three favorite movie series!

back to the hotel to change and then walked to Newbury Street and beyond. yes it was chilly, but we stopped for a good long time at the Apple store so Mo’s sister could buy a new phone.

Then to the Prudential Center to walk in warmth at the mall to kill time before our dinner reservation at 730.

Dinner at Lucca Back Bay was wonderful! Salad course was “Insalata di Cesare”: Romaine lettuce, perfectly dressed with parmigiano dressing, white anchovy (lovely whole filet right on top), pickled shallots and deviled egg on the side (which was so good!). It also included diced toasted focaccia, but I’d had enough bread to start.

My delicous dinner was pappardelle tossed with bolognese sauce ground beef, veal and pork) with mascarpone and parmigiano reggiano. It was heavenly, but I could barely eat 1/3 of it.

For a drink, I had The Yarmouthport which is cranberry and sea salt infused Grey Goose vodkas, Campari and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. YUM!

We wandered over to the lounge afterward to join Mo’s sister’s friend and her boyfriend. I had quite an interesting conversation with him about the DAR, Rosicrucians, the Mayflower, etc. We had a shared history of sorts LOL!

Back to the hotel via cab, then basically straight to bed for me…I’m not used to staying up so late LOL! Mo went to work out in the hotel’s gym til 130! Crazy lady! The lobby of the hotel turns into a nightclub and boy, did we see some dressed up folks! They were like peacocks LOL! Men AND women!

The next morning, Mo’s sister went across the street to Panera to get us coffee and a few pastries, all of which were fantastic. We sat around chatting and relaxing before checking out.

Mo’s sister headed back to the Vineyard, where she lives (lucky gal!) and Mo and I headed to Wegmans to complete out weekend.

Dave encouraged me to spend the night with them and took great care of Wolf while I was gone. I’m a lucky gal to have him in my life, that’s for damn sure!

Wolf was happy to have me come home

Hope you all had a great weekend! Tell me about it!

I’ve been sick the last couple days (flu/cold, take your pick) and so my email has accumulated. I was tackling it today and saw one that said: “48 Nine West clearance styles”. I have NO idea if Nine West is cool or not anymore, but I clicked on it. Therein, I saw this:

I tilted my head this way and that, trying to figure out just what in the hell this was! At the price, I thought…shoes that torture your feet? A box of some sort, some weird vase? No…they are bangles…wooden bangles for just shy of $250.00.

W…T…H…??? Am I that out of it? Would YOU wear something like this? Are these just a joke on women? It looks like those torture blocks they used back in the pirate days, to close over your neck and hands and put you on display.

Strange days indeed…

Joyce over at “From This Side of the Pond” hosts this.

1. What is one thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close? Do you have a plan to make it happen?

EVERYTHING! Nothing of mine is organized, and I really don’t like it. However, organization is not my strong suite.

2. What’s the worst uniform you’ve ever had to wear for a job?

I never had to wear a uniform. The last job I had in Civil Service, I did have to dress up quite a bit (secretary to a 3 star general), but I kind of liked that.

3. What was your last kitchen ‘mishap’?

Hmmm…well, I put out some bleu cheese wrapped in pastry and filled with caramel sauce, apples & cranberries that was a spectacular taste failure LOL! However, I didn’t make it, bought it at Wegman’s.

I did cook something awhile back that Dave kindly ate, but was just so burnt LOL! Can’t remember what it was…they looked like hockey pucks.

Oh, and I pulled a kitchen towel off the counter awhile ago…unfortunately, there was a sharp knive on it! Fortunately, it ended up buried in the floor, and not my foot, or the dog! Course I had to take a picture of it LOL!

4. How do you protect yourself against other people’s negativity?

I’m leaving what Joyce said, because it is SO well said and very true for me:

“If you’re perpetually negative I will keep you at arms length. If something negative is said I’m the person who likes to point out ‘the bright side’. Because there always is one ya know!

If you’re perpetually negative and I have to interact with you on a regular basis I will try to get you to see circumstances from another angle. You should also know on the inside I’ll be sighing with impatience just a little.”

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)? Do you agree?

People in my family say I look like me dear ol’ Dad. People not in the family say I look like me Mum. I’d agree with people in the family LOL!

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day…will you be celebrating?

With my love of water, you’d think I love bubble baths. But no. The tub has to be spectacular, with a lots of jets on all sides, and the room warm (at least in winter). Otherwise, no go.

7. Some of the ‘world’s best winter festivals’ are…Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City Utah), Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy), and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China). Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why?

I’ve been to the one in Sapporo my last year in Japan, and it was spectacular. But the one I’d choose from that list would be Mardi Gras! ALWAYS wanted to go…haven’t yet. Hopefully one day!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I mentioned to Dave this morning that my friend Karen will be coming over this Saturday to hang out and watch the movie Brave. I told him I was going to make lunch (a pizza with a sweet potato/cheese crust). He said, and I quote: “Wait. How about lobster grilled cheese with some of those bi-colored corn chips and a glass of wine?” And it went on from there, concluding with “you ladies can sit and relax with wine and I’ll prepare it all.” For the love of all that’s holy, how did I get so lucky???