Auld Lang Syne

Leave the year behind you...

Since the ruse is up at Cathy's Place, I won't try to fool you all into thinking that I'm Michael. Besides, I am certain that he is both far better looking and much more witty, than I.

I am Wonder Woman, and I will be your hostess, while we usher out the event-filled year that was 2005. Due to technical difficulties, Michael cannot be with you for this celebration, so you're stuck with me - deal with it!

In honor of Michael, and his horticultural fixation, I officially declare 2006 as the "Year of the Tomato", which is not generally recognized by the Chinese calendar, but I believe may fall into an obscure category under the astrological charts of expat-Hungarians who drink a lot of Bourbon. Actually, in the time I have known Michael, (through the blog) a few things have become very clear to me...He loves tomatoes...loves to go site-seeing with his lovely wife...has a strange fixation with squirrels...and a real hate-on for celebrities. This last one, I love him for, the most! Although squirrels can be rather fascinating...

Am I rambling now? Sheesh...I should have done this at Cathy's blog! Can you tell that I am writing this after 6 Scotches and a rowdy game of Euchre? Am I sounding as lame as I think I am? It's gotta be time for sleep...

Anyway, on behalf of Michael, Cathy, the cats...and the squirrels...Have a splendid New Year! And if you pray hard enough, maybe Michael will be back soon, and you won't be subjected to any more of my drunken ramblings...

Before I go to bed, I would like to say...I'm glad I know you Michael and Cathy. I'm glad you introduced me to your friends Rob and JoAnna. My year has been more complete, since I've sort-of met you...you complete me...ya, I know. LAME! And now it's time for bed...

Sidney Claus

Merry Christmas from Sidney Claus!

Jungle Jim's

If you are ever in the Greater Cincinnati area, I highly recommend Jungle Jim's international market. It is the most fun you'll ever have shopping for food. Even if you don't need anything, just go and look around. I guarantee you've never seen anything like it. In a world of cookie cutter, generic grocery stores (Meyers, Krogers, Walmart and the like) it stands alone, a tribute to quality and creativity. Here's an example; the antique fire truck you see below is hoisted above what has to be the largest selection of hot sauces in the world!

Want some cheese?

Inside the box you see above, is provolone cheese aging in a climate controlled environment. When it has reached maturity it will be portioned and sold. I've been walking past that display for 2 years now. When this big guy is ready, I'll be at the front of the line.

What sold me more on Jungle Jim's more than anything else is what you see above,Gyulai sausage. They always have it. This particular brand of Hungarian sausage is the brand that my father (an actual Hungarian) loved. We would go to Otto's to buy this smoked delight and I remember my father talking to the proprietor in Hungarian and feeling like I was back in the old country. Even though I've never been to Hungary. You always feel at home at Jungle Jim's

Pedro serenades you while you shop for Mexican food.


An animated Robin Hood and his merry band of men are overhead as you shop for products from the U.K. All sorts of surprises await you a Jungle Jim's, too many to list here. It is truly a unique store and a worthwhile destination for foodies from anywhere in the world.

I have socks older than that

Jessica Simpson officially filed for divorce Friday citing irreconcilable differences. If they were only married for 3 years, how could they possibly know their differences were irreconcilable? This is the second time I've posted regarding these two and you may be wondering why I should care about another celebrity divorce. I'll tell you why, I've always been curious as to what causes a couple to divorce after such a short period of time. Not just celebrities, but anyone. I've endlessly grilled my wife about the causes of several divorces of couples who's weddings we've attended. Other than the instances of adultery, there were no satisfactory explanations for giving up so quickly. I heard such things as we don't get along, money issues, personality conflicts and so on. But all couples have these problems to some extent. What makes some people give up so quickly? Let's go back to Nick and Jessica. This couple was celebrated, not just because of their fame, but because of their relationship. Her virginity at marriage, the MTV reality show, the whole 9 yards. When a couple who makes such a big deal about taking marriage seriously divorces so quickly it sends yet another message that all things, marriage included, are disposable. A message that I believe is being heard and acted upon.

That's gratitude for ya'

Dennis Prager, one of my favorite radio talk show hosts, believes that one of the worst things you can be is ungrateful. Mary J. Blige is the poster child for ungrateful. In an article in the Guardian Unlimited Mary said the following: "The blacker you are, the worse it is for you. If you are mixed, you've got a shot. If you cater to what white America wants you to do and how they want you to look, you can survive. But if you want to be yourself and try to do things that fit you and your skin, nobody cares about that. At the end of the day, white America dominates and rules. And it's racist." Here is a woman who has at least 3 recordings that have gone double platinum or better. America has afforded her the opportunity to make her living as a singer. Her fans, black and white alike, have made her a very wealthy woman by purchasing her CDs and attending her concerts. What does Mary have to say? "white America dominates and rules. And it's racist" Mary, you are an ungrateful person. I don't care how tough your childhood was or what mean streets you came from. To insult your fans and America is a terrible thing to do. I think my favorite part of what Mary says in the interview is that she has to cater to "what white America wants" This from the woman who is credited with the "ghetto fabulous" fashion trend, according to the same article. How is this catering to white America? This woman is so riddled with self contradiction it's nauseating. If you can stand it, read the entire article. I think the writing is pretentious and fawning and at times downright silly, but you be the judge. In the meantime I will be keeping an eye out for these little gems of obnoxious celebrity behavior and reporting them to you.

P.S. Spell check wanted me to replace Blige with Bilge (the slang definition being, according to dictionary.com: Stupid talk or writing; nonsense....... perfect.

Now that Tookie is dead....

Now that Tookie is dead, I want to make something clear. Some people, and by some people I mean the Susan Sarandons of this world, think death penalty proponents are out for blood and revenge. I'm sure that there are some that are, but I am not one of them. Tookie died a rather easy death, other than the anxiety of knowing you are about to die, lethal injection is designed to be painless. That is significantly unlike how Tookies victims died. We resist the urge to take revenge upon an animal like Tookie and yet justice was still satisfied in his humane execution. I'm happy a murderer was killed, but I'm sad that a life was wasted. To be a liberal you must believe that the surgical killing of an innocent baby is OK, however the surgical killing of convicted murderer, thief and gang banger is not.

Is Tookie dead yet?

Celebrities have come out in support of Stanley "Tookie" Williams. They want his death sentence commuted to life in prison. Here is the list: Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dog, Ed Asner, Bianca Jagger, Jesse Jackson, Mike Farrell, Margaret Cho <--I hate that woman... Jason Alexander, Laurence Fishburn, Danny Glover (stick to Pilates infomercials Danny), Anjelica Houston, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Sarandon, Noah Wyle and Tim Robbins <-- I hate that man. Here are the folks that are not celebrities who will not have a chance at clemency. Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang, Yee Chen Lin and Albert Owens. All killed by "Tookie" with a 12 gauge shotgun. He bragged and joked about the way they suffered and died to fellow inmates. He should have been killed a long time ago. I don't care if the man wrote a million childrens books. I don't care if he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. They gave Yasser Arafat the Nobel Peace prize so that tells you how much that's worth. The people that give out that award must have gravel for brains. I have a proposal for all those "compassionate" celebrities who want Tookie to live. We commute his death sentence to house arrest. First, he lives with Jamie Foxx in his house for a year or so, then, with Ed Asner. Followed by Tim Robbins and Margaret Cho and down the list. If one celeb didn't want to do it, no deal. If that deal was his only hope for clemency, Tookie would be a dead man.

Shopping

Wish me luck, the wife and I are going shopping today, something she calls "power shopping". I used to dread Christmas shopping until we set up some rules that put the joy back into the experience. Rule #1: (this rule is for me) No impatient driving, that includes comments about the skills of the other drivers and maintaining a calm demeanor. I have to admit I should try and do this all the time, but people in Kentucky suffer from KMDD, Kentucky Merge Deficiency Disorder. They can't merge to save their life. Rule #2: No matter how sullen, rude, slow, vapid, silly or just plain incompetent the people we deal with today are, we will wish them a Merry Christmas or at least give them a smile. <--- not always an easy rule to follow. Rule #3: Under no circumstances are we to be anything less than completely pleasant and polite to each other at all times. With just a few simple ground rules a day that should be fun, is, once again. If you find that stress is taking the joy out of the holidays for you, just be nice and you will find that the joy will return.