Sweetheart Candies are the older of the two. I think they get around more than their younger sibling, too. These are the little heart-shaped candies with stuff on them - "Be My Valentine" and when I was a kid, we used to plow through them for the candy and not the sentiment on Valentine's Day.
Today, they are not only available for VALENTINES, BUT the messages have been updated - from "Call Me!" to "E-mail Me." They are also seen with a custom-phrase at weddings but what we may think of as Oh so cool at a reception is actually not new at all. Back in the 1900s ... here are two: Married in pink, he'll take a drink. Married in White, you've chosen right.
The product itself has been changed. In 2010, softer hearts with louder colors were introduced. Originally they were a kind of chalky sweet - remember? Today's flavors include strawberry and sour apple.
Sweetheart candy manufacture starts in September and the factory pumps out 100,000 lbs. per day. Which is sold out in six weeks. These are the standards; of course, custom wedding numbers would be smaller.
The Kid - Necco wafers were issued to Union soldiers in the Civil War and to Army soldiers in WW2. When Johnny came marching home again, he had a pocketful of Neccos and boom, they were da bomb back home. In 2009, the formula was changed to include glycerine and make them softer. Lime was removed in 2011 from the original eight flavors because the color couldn't be matched to a real lime.
Both candies had two Daddies - Oliver Chase who invented a machine that cut lozenge shapes in the candy in 1847. Brother Daniel Chase turned the candies in to a vaguely heart shape (can't have sharp edges for shipping reasons - they'd crumble) and put on the sayings.
Now I want some Neccos! Seven flavors! Bonus pints: they have enough flavoring in them that you can easily mutter to yourself, like a mad professor, "Ah-hah. Cinnamon!" You can have the Sweethearts and a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU!
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
God's Choir Gets New Member
RIP Vic Damone, 89
6/12/1928 - 2/11/18
He has joined Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra in ? The Celestial Singers?
He was forced to drop out of high school when his father, an electrician, suffered a work-related injury. He got a job as an usher and elevator operator and when Perry Como boarded his elevator, he stopped it between floors and sang to Como who encouraged me. Years later he would name his only son "Perry" as a thank you.
He changed his own name from Vito Rocco Farinola (birth name) to Vic Damone, Damone being his mother's maiden name.
Apparently he was as bold at marriage as he was at buttonholing Perry Como in an elevator, he married five times.
1. Pier Angeli who was having a notable affair with James Dean - until she left him for Damone. 1954 to 1958
2. Judith Rawlins 1963 - 1971 They had three daughters and a son who died age 59 of lymphoma
3. Becky Ann Jones 1974-1982
4. Diahann Carroll 1987-1996
5. Rena Rowan 1998, died in 2016.
He and Rowan lived in Florida; she died there. Damone was said not to be in the best of healthy in 2002 when he had a stroke, followed by another dip in health in 2008.
Damone as a singer was admired by his heroes Perry Como and Frank Sinatra. I hope they're all putting together a play list in Heaven.
6/12/1928 - 2/11/18
He has joined Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra in ? The Celestial Singers?
He was forced to drop out of high school when his father, an electrician, suffered a work-related injury. He got a job as an usher and elevator operator and when Perry Como boarded his elevator, he stopped it between floors and sang to Como who encouraged me. Years later he would name his only son "Perry" as a thank you.
He changed his own name from Vito Rocco Farinola (birth name) to Vic Damone, Damone being his mother's maiden name.
Apparently he was as bold at marriage as he was at buttonholing Perry Como in an elevator, he married five times.
1. Pier Angeli who was having a notable affair with James Dean - until she left him for Damone. 1954 to 1958
2. Judith Rawlins 1963 - 1971 They had three daughters and a son who died age 59 of lymphoma
3. Becky Ann Jones 1974-1982
4. Diahann Carroll 1987-1996
5. Rena Rowan 1998, died in 2016.
He and Rowan lived in Florida; she died there. Damone was said not to be in the best of healthy in 2002 when he had a stroke, followed by another dip in health in 2008.
Damone as a singer was admired by his heroes Perry Como and Frank Sinatra. I hope they're all putting together a play list in Heaven.
Monday, February 12, 2018
Diametrically Opposed Holidays - Now What?
Doubtless you have already heard that this Wednesday is Valentine's Day! We, of course, have learned of this momentous day via the tsunami of ads for chocolates and flower bouquets. If I were a rose I would be under the (flower) bed. There is a bounty on them. It is a day that promotes excess: lavish boxes of chocolates, lashings of champagne, masses of flowers... all desirable things unless you have floral allergies.
But, hark! What is this? Wednesday is also Ash Wednesday, a day of regrets, penance and getting your faced dirtied up to point out to passers-by that you are a good Catholic. It is the exact opposite of Valentine's indulgences. In fact, Ash Wednesday heralds six weeks of fasting on Fridays. Meat, other than seafood, is not allowed on those Fridays. This is not a hardship in some circles because who doesn't like shrimp, crab and (pause to wipe salivating mouth) lobster with lemon juice and drawn butter? Few no doubt and certainly not me.
But: how can a good Catholic and a good sensualist share a holiday? One Bishop Richard Malone, of Suffolk, NY, has proposed moving Valentine's Day festivities backwards to Mardi Gras and giving the ashes that Wednesday.
Well, the good bishop does make a point in that the best we could do to celebrate is to get off work early to go ash-ing and then just go home and run a load of laundry or do something you don't have time to do on the weekend. A mid-week blowout quite frequently results in a sick call in to work the next morning. That is if you celebrate with the proper gusto.
Valentine's has been covered handily for years. We learned the hard way not to go out to dinner on Valentine's. The servers were so stacked up with customers they very nearly cut our food and shoved it down our throats. Not restful and certainly not celebratory.
Instead we will go out to dinner Thursday as we usually do. It's never as busy in a restaurant then as it is on a Friday or Saturday. And certainly not Valentine's!
But, hark! What is this? Wednesday is also Ash Wednesday, a day of regrets, penance and getting your faced dirtied up to point out to passers-by that you are a good Catholic. It is the exact opposite of Valentine's indulgences. In fact, Ash Wednesday heralds six weeks of fasting on Fridays. Meat, other than seafood, is not allowed on those Fridays. This is not a hardship in some circles because who doesn't like shrimp, crab and (pause to wipe salivating mouth) lobster with lemon juice and drawn butter? Few no doubt and certainly not me.
But: how can a good Catholic and a good sensualist share a holiday? One Bishop Richard Malone, of Suffolk, NY, has proposed moving Valentine's Day festivities backwards to Mardi Gras and giving the ashes that Wednesday.
Well, the good bishop does make a point in that the best we could do to celebrate is to get off work early to go ash-ing and then just go home and run a load of laundry or do something you don't have time to do on the weekend. A mid-week blowout quite frequently results in a sick call in to work the next morning. That is if you celebrate with the proper gusto.
Valentine's has been covered handily for years. We learned the hard way not to go out to dinner on Valentine's. The servers were so stacked up with customers they very nearly cut our food and shoved it down our throats. Not restful and certainly not celebratory.
Instead we will go out to dinner Thursday as we usually do. It's never as busy in a restaurant then as it is on a Friday or Saturday. And certainly not Valentine's!
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Curly Hair Easter Soup
When you were a little kid were you encouraged to "Eat your nice carrots, dear, they'll make your hair curly"? I was. It isn't true. Your mother lied. I know (waving hands defensively) bad idea to diss mothers. However not true is not true.
The recipe that follows might also be appropriately festive for the big Easter dinner (assuming these are practiced in your home.) My reasoning - carrots - bunnies - Easter. Festive color on the table. Good for you. And the curly hair thing...
Richie found this recipe and he made it for dinner last night. Tasty, but I think I'd have doubled the spices. Use your own judgement.
MOROCCAN CARROT SOUP
2 T (1/4 stick) butter
1 cup chopped white onion
1 lb. large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 in. dice or coins Should come out to about 2 2/3 cups prepared carrots.
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 teas. cumin
1 T honey
1 teas. lemon juice
pinch ground allspice
1/2 cup plain yogurt, stirred to loosen in container. This would be optional for me, perhaps used for decoration - a creamy swirl in the top of the bowl.
Melt the butter, add the onion then mix in the carrots and add the chicken broth.
Simmer until the carrots are very tender - about 20 minutes. Add the cumin. Let the soup cool in it's pot and puree it then whisk in the honey, lemon juice and allspice.
Put the soup in bowls, add a dollop of yogurt and swirl with the blade of a knife. Serve and grab a hand mirror to watch your hair curl - or not.
The recipe that follows might also be appropriately festive for the big Easter dinner (assuming these are practiced in your home.) My reasoning - carrots - bunnies - Easter. Festive color on the table. Good for you. And the curly hair thing...
Richie found this recipe and he made it for dinner last night. Tasty, but I think I'd have doubled the spices. Use your own judgement.
MOROCCAN CARROT SOUP
2 T (1/4 stick) butter
1 cup chopped white onion
1 lb. large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 in. dice or coins Should come out to about 2 2/3 cups prepared carrots.
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 teas. cumin
1 T honey
1 teas. lemon juice
pinch ground allspice
1/2 cup plain yogurt, stirred to loosen in container. This would be optional for me, perhaps used for decoration - a creamy swirl in the top of the bowl.
Melt the butter, add the onion then mix in the carrots and add the chicken broth.
Simmer until the carrots are very tender - about 20 minutes. Add the cumin. Let the soup cool in it's pot and puree it then whisk in the honey, lemon juice and allspice.
Put the soup in bowls, add a dollop of yogurt and swirl with the blade of a knife. Serve and grab a hand mirror to watch your hair curl - or not.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
When Your Mouth Writes the Check ...
As I age (don't sneer - you're aging, too, so hah!) I notice that there is a great deal more general sass issuing from my brain, right straight into a somersault off of my tongue. Things I might have been nervous about saying in the past (any time under age 50) are now just popping out with some regularity. And I don't care! There is something about getting older (no fear any longer? The worst thing that can now happen to you now is to die?) that encourages thought-to-mouth since the Manners app clearly has shut down.
I will give you examples from only the last three days. The mandatory word of warning is that you must have a sincere smile on your face on delivery. Project that you're kidding.
Thursday: Richie and I went to Charlie's, a New York Joint for dinner. We eat there about every month and a half and have since Charlie opened. We are well-known there (in a positive way!)
We pushed open the door, walked up to the desk where stood a young woman and a young man. In a ragged chorus, they asked "Two for dinner?" and I said, "We're here to rob and pillage and (mouthed) really fuck you up." Hoots of laughter! They were howling like hyenas! "You're funny" they squealed like shoats.
When we left, once again, they said, "You're funnneee!" So I handed them my business card that touts "And the Best Blog Is: Word of Mouth" and said, "If you think I'm funny live ..." and handed each of them one. Two sales. I know it.
Update: We had dinner at Charlie's last night and it was the same young man but a different woman. He couldn't wait to tell her what I'd done last time around. They laughed.
We ate our dinners - note: the new on the menu shrimp scampi appetizer is very good. Reminded Richie of escargot where the sauce begs to be wiped up with the bread. And, yeah, shrimp scampi can hold you hostage till you reach for the bread ...
As I walked out, the two looked expectantly at me - "What would she do this time?" I smiled sweetlyly and said, "You see how well-behaved I can be when I take my meds?" and sashayed out the door to their peals of laughter.
Friday: I had a 4 p.m. for an MRI brain scan. (If I have one, will notify in future column) The tech was setting it up and I asked her if there would be a view of the brain's exterior because I had read that the more wrinkled your brain cover (dura mater, I think) the smarter you are. Naturally I want one.
She seemed puzzled, but said she'd keep an eye out. When it was over, she came bustling out of the control tower and before I could ask, said, "What a lovely shiny brain you have!" and I yelled, "You bitch!" and we cracked up.
Saturday: We and Dee were wriggling into the bench seating at Eat At Joe's. In my traipse, my purse accidentally bonked a guy sitting at the table behind us on the back. A glancing blow, to be sure, but I apologized profusely and he said, "That'll be $20" so I hefted my purse up and said, "In that case, I want my money's worth" and his party fell about laughing. "Great come back!" one of them yelled.
I look back at these three events and quietly think to myself, "Bad idea to encourage me - I'm old and we don't care what we say ..."
COMMENT: I agree with your blog. I find myself saying exactly what I think. Texas Bluebonnet
I will give you examples from only the last three days. The mandatory word of warning is that you must have a sincere smile on your face on delivery. Project that you're kidding.
Thursday: Richie and I went to Charlie's, a New York Joint for dinner. We eat there about every month and a half and have since Charlie opened. We are well-known there (in a positive way!)
We pushed open the door, walked up to the desk where stood a young woman and a young man. In a ragged chorus, they asked "Two for dinner?" and I said, "We're here to rob and pillage and (mouthed) really fuck you up." Hoots of laughter! They were howling like hyenas! "You're funny" they squealed like shoats.
When we left, once again, they said, "You're funnneee!" So I handed them my business card that touts "And the Best Blog Is: Word of Mouth" and said, "If you think I'm funny live ..." and handed each of them one. Two sales. I know it.
Update: We had dinner at Charlie's last night and it was the same young man but a different woman. He couldn't wait to tell her what I'd done last time around. They laughed.
We ate our dinners - note: the new on the menu shrimp scampi appetizer is very good. Reminded Richie of escargot where the sauce begs to be wiped up with the bread. And, yeah, shrimp scampi can hold you hostage till you reach for the bread ...
As I walked out, the two looked expectantly at me - "What would she do this time?" I smiled sweetlyly and said, "You see how well-behaved I can be when I take my meds?" and sashayed out the door to their peals of laughter.
Friday: I had a 4 p.m. for an MRI brain scan. (If I have one, will notify in future column) The tech was setting it up and I asked her if there would be a view of the brain's exterior because I had read that the more wrinkled your brain cover (dura mater, I think) the smarter you are. Naturally I want one.
She seemed puzzled, but said she'd keep an eye out. When it was over, she came bustling out of the control tower and before I could ask, said, "What a lovely shiny brain you have!" and I yelled, "You bitch!" and we cracked up.
Saturday: We and Dee were wriggling into the bench seating at Eat At Joe's. In my traipse, my purse accidentally bonked a guy sitting at the table behind us on the back. A glancing blow, to be sure, but I apologized profusely and he said, "That'll be $20" so I hefted my purse up and said, "In that case, I want my money's worth" and his party fell about laughing. "Great come back!" one of them yelled.
I look back at these three events and quietly think to myself, "Bad idea to encourage me - I'm old and we don't care what we say ..."
COMMENT: I agree with your blog. I find myself saying exactly what I think. Texas Bluebonnet
Friday, February 9, 2018
Pizza Popularized in Wichita, Kansas
Few of us would associate Kansas with pizza was my thought when a friend sent urgent notification that today - February 9, 2018 - is National Pizza Day. I recognize subliminal suggestion just as well as anyone else and I don't doubt that Valentino's will be having a Murphy sighting around noon today.
The beginning of pizza sales in America started in New York far from Kansas when émigré Gennaro Lombardi applied to the City of New York for a license to make and sell it in 1905. Granted it, he began a booming business among his friends, neighbors and family and by 1912 Joe's Tomato Pies were being sold as far away (joke) as Trenton, New Jersey. I've always wondered why Richie will tell Valentino's "a large cheese pie." Pizza is not pie. Pie is dessert. Now we all know why he does.
Then on June 15, 1958, brothers and students at Wichita State University Dan and Frank Carney opened the first Pizza Hut in Wichita. In 2015, the oldest continuously operating Pizza Hut in the U S located in Aggieville, Kansas State University, closed after 57 years.
Today Pizza Hut has 13,728 locations all around the world. Kudos include opening the first pizza place in Iraq. Pizza Hut is ranked #24 of 200 Most Influential Brands in the world.
Richie wants to know what time I want to leave for Valentino's. Right about now would be good ...I likes me some pizza pie.
The beginning of pizza sales in America started in New York far from Kansas when émigré Gennaro Lombardi applied to the City of New York for a license to make and sell it in 1905. Granted it, he began a booming business among his friends, neighbors and family and by 1912 Joe's Tomato Pies were being sold as far away (joke) as Trenton, New Jersey. I've always wondered why Richie will tell Valentino's "a large cheese pie." Pizza is not pie. Pie is dessert. Now we all know why he does.
Then on June 15, 1958, brothers and students at Wichita State University Dan and Frank Carney opened the first Pizza Hut in Wichita. In 2015, the oldest continuously operating Pizza Hut in the U S located in Aggieville, Kansas State University, closed after 57 years.
Today Pizza Hut has 13,728 locations all around the world. Kudos include opening the first pizza place in Iraq. Pizza Hut is ranked #24 of 200 Most Influential Brands in the world.
Richie wants to know what time I want to leave for Valentino's. Right about now would be good ...I likes me some pizza pie.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Movin' On Up
"And the Best Blog Is: Word of Mouth" listed under Humor on amazon.com has moved up!
The other day it was ranked #7614
This morning it is ranked #7609
UP FIVE POINTS!
This is needed good news as the computer is not speaking to the printer who is sulking about it and refusing to print without a direct order from the computer. There are days where I nearly worship electronic devices and yet, others ... where the trash barrel looms large in my thinking and I cast a speculative eye on which ever one it is that is refusing to function.
This, too, shall pass. Especially as I have a secret weapon - a computer pro. Go, David!
The other day it was ranked #7614
This morning it is ranked #7609
UP FIVE POINTS!
This is needed good news as the computer is not speaking to the printer who is sulking about it and refusing to print without a direct order from the computer. There are days where I nearly worship electronic devices and yet, others ... where the trash barrel looms large in my thinking and I cast a speculative eye on which ever one it is that is refusing to function.
This, too, shall pass. Especially as I have a secret weapon - a computer pro. Go, David!
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