Holy Cannoli

What does this cannoli have to do with anything?

Window Shopping

Movie Candy: Reese's Peanut Butter Whoppers

Whoppers, a must have movie candy. There are three (Original, Strawberry Milkshake, and Reese's Peanut Butter) flavors on the shelf for your movie going pleasure. Unless there are more hiding behind the Earth Dots.
Reese's Peanut Butter Whoppers have been out in large cartons for awhile, but according to my local grocer, the movie-size box is new.

Today's guest reviewers are Danie Ann (yes, another cousin) and Zander, her bear like chocolate lab. Mmm, chocolate. You might as well say "Gimme that!" to a Grizzly. Mega paws here showed great restraint after Danie wrestled the box (which I gave him) from his grip.

Seriously, look at those paws.

Danie, after carefully weighing the two newer flavors, seemed to prefer the Strawberry Milkshake Whoppers (which I'm not reviewing but got because I keep seeing them in the movie theater). Zander took quite a shine to that box of Reese's Peanut Butter Whoppers, showing less interest in the Strawberry.

The combination of the two, as you and the bagger at Cub's Foods can imagine, is not a good one. She actually shuddered as the two flavors rolled down the conveyor belt.
Eaten separately, however, they're both good. The Peanut Butter is more suckable (in a good way) and has that melt-in-your-mouth quality accentuated by a creamy smooth peanut butter flavor.
Reese's Peanut Butter Whoppers are not too sweet and the peanut butter compliments the crunch and cocoa of the malt. They're not too loud in a movie theater if you care about that sort of thing which you should, and can be thrown several rows with accuracy at people who don't.

Whopper Worthy
The Dark Knight
No one should have to tell you to see this movie because you should have already seen it at least once by now. Why are you still sitting here? GO, see it. I was almost hoping Heath Ledger wasn't as funny and clever and enticing as he was. Best. Joker. Ever. Love this director. (I've had just about enough of your Momento-bashing, young lady.)

WALL-E
Fun, fun, funny—oops—incoming message: Get off your plus size asses and go plant a pizza tree. But I'm watching your movie, WALL-E, and I would have noticed the swimming pool right off. Bonus points for the Hello Dolly video. I had such a crush on Cornelius Hackl, oye vey!

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Devil boy sent to destroy earth grows up to appreciate a good cigar and a sixer of mediocre beer (you couldn't use full cans for a big budget movie?). He also likes TV and cats, but don't hold that against him. Didn't see the first one, graphic novels usually look good, but can get tedious. Not so with Hellboy II, it has an interesting story with heart and imagination and it doesn't matter how many movies it reminds you of, it's still distinctive. Great opening backstory, above average art direction, well done action sequences.

Movie Candy: Dots Elements

DOTS Elements are gummi, yummy Dots aimed mostly at adult taste buds. I think Tootsie should have called them Earth, Wind, & Fire Dots with retro packaging and a disco ad campaign. And why hasn't someone, Great Britain, come up with a candy for heavy drinkers called Sots?

I only found three of the four elements, Air, Fire, and Water, but love the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Dirt Beans. *The three flavors are Wintergreen (Air), Cinnamon (Fire), and Green Tea (Water, pictured above). Vince and I loved the gentle bite of the Cinnamon Fire, but Bug craved the Water. Please remember to hydrate in this weather. The little Water Bug ate all the Green Tea before Vince got to them.

It was weird that Bug liked the flavor most aimed at adults—you'd think he'd prefer Air judging from this photo. Then again that's Bug's nature, as it is the nature of the Dot to live outside the box, at a Little League playoff game, or on a dog's head.

Roscoe also enjoyed the Cinnamon, showing a preference for flavors which fell into his mouth.
The Wintergreen were reminiscent of Hot Tamales Ice and the Cinnamon reminded me of the inside of an original Hot Tamale or a Red Hot Dollar.

Dot Worthy Movies
The Incredible Hulk

I lost my wallet right before before the movie started, then missed the beginning. I spent fifteen minutes wondering what the hell is wrong with me, and another 90 wondering if the loud mouthed tools in the back realized they had left the mall. I liked it better before Norton turned into the Hulk. Fun nod to Iron Man at the end. What's with casting talented actors as comic book heroes?

Roman de Gare
Three words: It was French. Just throwing green Jujys. It was the best movie I've seen this summer. Nitro N. and I saw it in one of those fancy schmancy Robert Redford theaters (located in either San Francisco or Madison, WI—can that be right?). Nanci thought the French actors needed better dental care, and the guy behind us farted. Other than that, maybe if the projectionists smoked a little less weed and people stayed in their damn seats instead of planting themselves directly behind me, it would have been a more enjoyable movie going experience. I'm thinking of taking an anger management class.

*Candy Post Script: Cybele dug up an DOTS Elements Earth flavor over at Candyblog. Check it out.

Connect the Dots

Man Ray, Schman Ray.

P.S. Click me and look into my eyes.

Dog Tired Sunday

"We hate the Cubs more than you do."

The slogan belongs to WIBA 1310 in Madison, WI. The sentiment is shared by sports fans everywhere.

Movie Candy, DOTS, and Tornadoes

I stumbled across these Earth, Wind, and Fire (Everybody sing...Our voices will ring togetherrr, until the twelfth of neverrrr...) DOTS while looking for an electric grill at Shopko—they didn't have one, so I got these instead.
Actually they're Water, Air, and Fire, with water replacing earth. A delicious candy or prognostication?
Vince wanted to tear right into them, but all good things must wait or come to an end or something. Look for a movie candy review this weekend.

Post Script: I was making the sound I imagine a meerkat makes, not knowing what a meerkat is, exactly, as I listened to Bob Uecker and a 4-8, 4.74 ERA Dave Bush pitch a filthy, filthy game against the Rockies. Miller Park was packed plumper than a Klement's sausage, admirable for a week day. (Better able to think about the 400 succinct, yet amusing words due tomorrow on Brain Drain, in case my editor should read this.)

All hot and sweaty from working so very, very hard, I went swimming; the point of all this being that when I came back outside, what had to have been a tornado—straight winds my Irish ass—had ripped through the parking lot.
The side of my car was covered in single leaves and branches which looked as if they were trying to pass through the car. Trees were down everywhere, split, ripped from their roots, and hanging on for dear life. There were trash can lids with chains still attached to them and no trash cans to match.
I asked some guy, half kidding, if a tornado had come through. Then I saw the dark gap where his side window used to be. (His answer was "yes.") More missing windows in the car next to his, and unidentifiable yellow crap everywhere. I noticed long pieces of metal that looked as if they'd been tenderized curled in and out of parking spots. Something metal was twisted around a car, and I kept looking up to see if an airplane had fallen out of the sky. Yes, I watch too many movies, and have seen too many episodes of Lost and the X-Files.

And no one said a thing about it while I was gliding along, listening to a cover of the Bee Gees I Started A Joke (still thinking about the story, writing it in my head). Either that lifeguard or WORT has excellent taste in music.
Anyway, there wasn't the usual we've narrowly escaped a natural disaster camaraderie. I think because no one really knew what the hell had happened. When I talked about it to a clerk at a nearby grocery store, she asked me if I wanted paper or plastic.
New item for To Do List: Find out if a tornado hit 15 feet from where I parked my car.
Oh yeah, the moral of the story, always bring your camera.

*A Trip To Belleville

A Happy Belated Birthday to America and cousin Mike.
(Remember the asterisk.)

Deb, Mike, and the Belleville Olsons put on quite a spread this Fourth. There was plentya (yes, I'm just making up words now, and who's going to stop me, Jodi?) food, fun, and fireworks.
Those farm boys really know how to put on a show.

I made this platter in a Martha moment. The bundt almond pound cake is from Clasen's. I filled it with blueberries and surrounded it with blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and more blueberries.

A farm boy will always man the grill. I think Nanci took this photo.

Not everyone works as hard as Alan.

"Chaaa, I ain't no Chihuahua, I was listening for rats."

It wasn't all Spotted Cow and rat terriers. Dairy products were purchased while waiting for Aunt Sara (like Waiting for Godot with cheese) to show us a shortcut.

I discovered they had ice cream next door as I was about to walk into the shortcut, I mean bar. Old age and priorities. Peach Melba would make a good stripper name.

"What the hell does that sign say? I am a little peckish."

The kitty and puppy are the most disturbing, no? Then again, they are butterfly fed.

"You going to the Beast Buffet, Camille?"
"Stupid Chihuahua."

"Take this leash off me or I'll show you a beast buffet. You said something about playing frisbee—what else you got to do."

I'm required to say that there is a permit for these fireworks and that only qualified individuals should attempt to handle and light them off. Or at least put down your beer. It's easier to hold your cigarette that way.

Somewhere Smokey the bear weeps.

We don't need no stinkin' telephoto lenses.

Did I mention Belleville, UFO Capital of the World, has it's own alien landing strip. I've yet to find it and have long since lost directions which I think I got from Dave Barry anyway.
Mike claims it's on his roof.

*What do you get when you give a UFO a tab of acid?

Boom Chicka Boom

Doncha just love it?
A big, boomin' thanks to Lisa and the gang for an explosive Fun Monday.
P.S. Patti over by Candy Yum Yum! made a great gummi find.
PPP.SSsss. A Rhythm & Boom's smiley face to Manager Mom for her Blue Q candy link on Patti's post.