BOOOOO !!!!!!! (DID I SCARE YOU ???)

                        Halloween is right around the corner !!! It's probably my favorite holiday, although I like most of them and Tess and I like to celebrate pretty much anything. But Halloween is the one that she gladly turns over to me every year. 

                        I do the decorations, pick the costumes, buy the candy, make dinner and pick the playlist of movies and shows that we'll watch after the kids are stuffed with treats and are all tucked in and snoring (or is that me ?😏)

    I'm giving out the good stuff !!!

                           A few weeks ago, I brought up the subject of costumes. Even though I pick who we're going to be, I still like to get Tess' input. Especially after what happened the first year we were a couple.
I chose Han Solo and Princess Leia from Return of the Jedi. She loved the idea until I said that I had picked Leia's costume from Jaba's palace. She was silent, which is never a good thing.
Me: What's wrong ? 
Tess: It's a little bit...revealing. 
Me: You'll be beautiful.
Tess: Are we going somewhere or staying home ?
Me: Staying home.
Tess: Then why do I need a costume ?
Me: To give out candy to trick or treaters.
Tess : The parents will complain.
Me: The dads won't !
Tess : You are terrible.
Me: I know. 

So this year, I knew exactly who we should be.
Me: Two people from Westeros !
Tess: Which two people ?
Me: No one in particular.
Tess: You want me to be Cersei, don't you?
Me: Ugh, no.
Tess: Then who?
Me: It doesn't matter. When we went to the Renaissance Faire we weren't anybody in particular. Isn't that what makes it fun ?
Tess: You made the picture of Daenerys and Jorah.
Me: I did that for you.
Tess: I love it.
Me: We can be them if you want to.
Tess: Whatever you want. I want you to be happy.
Me: I want to be Tyrion.
Tess: (giggling) You are too tall and you do not have a beard !
Me: I could grow a beard.
Tess: In two weeks ?
Me: Probably. Alright, Maester Aemon.
Tess: You are too young.
Me: The Mountain?

Tess: You will scare the kids.
Me: You should be Sansa.
Tess: Because I have red hair ?
Me: Well...You could be Ygritte.
Tess: No ! She was mean and untidy and she killed that little boy's father and shot Jon Snow full of arrows !
Me: Yup. Lady Melisandre ?
Tess : No. She killed that poor little guyirl !

If
Me: Sweetie, pretty much everybody on there has killed somebody. It's just a tv show.
Tess: I know, but.....Alright, Sansa.
Me: She killed Baelish. Tess: Arya did that. Besides, he deserved it.
Me: Yeah. Sansa has pretty clothes. You liked that one with the fur, and it's going to be cold that night.

Tess: It is cold now. Are we going out or staying in ?
Me: Staying in ! I'll put another log on the fire. Call Miss Belle and tell her that you're going to be Sansa, but who am I going to be ?
Tess: That is up to you, but no one bad. Sansa has had enough bad men in her life.
Me: True.
Tess: I had better take your measurements.

Me: Why ?
Tess : So that everything fits.She has not made anything for you in a year and your clothes are too tight.
Me: They are not !
Tess: Look what you are wearing right this minute.
Me: What ? It's comfortable !

Tess : It does not look comfortable. Your jeans are not leaving anything to the imagination, and your shirt is too short.
Me: (laughing) Do you like my socks ? Hey, why don't you throw out all of my clothes and buy me new ones ?
She looked delighted.
Tess : May I ?!!!!!!!
Me :NOOOOOOOOOOO !!!
Tess : Oh my ears ! 
(a few minutes passed, but my Tess doesn't give up easily.) 
Tess :Your suits fit you fine. It is your casual clothes that do not.
Me : Leave them alone and don't pout !!! Now, go and get my belt.
Tess : Don't type that ! They will not know that you are kidding.
Me: Maybe I'm not. Where are you going ?
Tess : To get your belt. I deserve it. Lizzy says that I have made you obese.

Me: When did she say that ?
Tess : The day that we met.
Me: And you still made friends with her ???
Tess: Yes. Her English was not very good then. That was three years ago. She would never say that now.
Me: Do YOU think I'm obese ?
Tess : Goodness, no !......But your clothes are too tight.
Me: Are you putting me on another one of your crazy diets?
Tess : No, but let me give your clothes to charity and go shopping for new ones.....My treat !
Me: No. I hate to shop.
Tess: Now, who is pouting ? Let me take your measurements and then I will go shopping online and you can approve everything before I check out. You are so handsome, but you would be better off going out in your birthday suit than some of the things you wear.
Me : Hey ! There's an idea !
Tess : NOOOOOO !
Me: Why not ?
Tess: Because you would cause a riot ! You have enough women throwing themselves at you now !
😏😕😝😨😬😎
Me : Jealous ???
Tess : Should I be ?
Me: Nope.

Tess : Then I can go shopping for you ?
Me : No. It reminds me of school shopping.
Tess : I never had to do that.
Me: I know ! Lucky.

Tess : I like shopping online. I can take my time and my feet do not hurt.
Me : Call Miss Belle and get her started on the costumes.
Tess : Have you decided who you want to be ?
Me : The Hound.
Tess : Not with your face.
Me :What's wrong with my face ?
Tess :Absolutely nothing. That is the point. Still, it is not his fault and he was kind to Sansa.

(Tess is standing on a chair in this picture !😁)

Me : O.k. No make up. Yay ! I don't have to shave or get a haircut and he wears bitchin' boots !
Tess : I wish you would not say that.
Me : What ? Bitchin' ?
Tess : Yes. It does not become you.
Me : ( I made a face at her) Make the call ! 
Tess : I still need your measurements.
Me : After lunch.

Tess : I could make a nice salad.
Me : You're fired!😡 Pack your bags.
Tess : Soba ?
Me : You can stay.



Lunch was delicious and I let her take my measurements after we ate.
Then, I looked at the tablet where she was writing the numbers down.
Me : I AM obese !!!
Tess :Oh, you are not.
Me : We better go on a diet.
Tess: Why me ?
Me : It's all your fault !

I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE.

         I, AM A COFFEEHOLIC !!! There. I finally said it.
                 (What did you think I was going to say ???😕)

I drink coffee in my sleep. I mostly favor a deep, rich brew made from freshly ground                    beans, but I love diner coffee too. The aroma, the taste, the feel of the cup in my hands. Love it.
Almost as much or possibly more than a GUINNESS, but it's a close race.

In honor of  INTERNATIONAL COFFEE DAY(which was yesterday. I forgot, even though my sweetie served me coffee and coffee-infused deliciousness ALL DAY LONG !!!) I passed out happy as a clam not long after dessert and forgot to post this. Does it matter that I'm a day late ? I don't think so. Maybe you passed out too and didn't visit us yesterday (although the huge spike in views around noon says differently. What were you looking for ???). In that case, we compiled a little list of coffee oohs and ahhs for you. ENJOY !!!
CAFE AU LAIT (FRANCE): Equal parts of fresh brewed coffee and steamed milk.

 IRISH COFFEE : Hot coffee,
Irish Whiskey, Sugar and whipped cream.

 MOROCCAN COFFEE : Dark coffee fragrant with cloves, cardamom, black pepper,cinnamon and nutmeg.Served with dates and sugar cubes.





TURKISH COFFEE: Made in a special brass or copper pot known as a cezve, finely ground roasted coffee beans are brewed with the grounds.Strong and rich.

GREEK COFFEE: VERY strong but also sweet.Made in a briki and served in a demitasse cup.

MEXICAN COFFEE:(Courtesy of our friend Lizzy from Durango.
Hi Lizzy !!!😉) Simmered with a cinnamon stick and piloncillo sugar. Lizzy recommends using ORO GOLD brand coffee and serving it in a clay mug.

Serve any of these with your favorite coffee cake !😋

 and then there is COFFEE ICE CREAM !

                                                          COFFEE FLAVORED STOUT

COFFEE CANDY

                                                                               

 

AND

  Coffee Cigars ???

I'm not a smoker, but whatever floats your boat.

Have a great day !!! 😉

DAME OF GROANS.

So, the Emmy nominations were announced on Thursday and despite some predictions (My Tess would say they were "jinxers"), 

TRUST did not receive a single nomination. Disappointed ? Absolutely. Surprised ? Not really. In this business you learn to roll with the punches. A good friend was philosophical. 

"You aren't going to be nominated for an Emmy for a Drama, when you were the ONE bright spot in an otherwise dreary show !"

Nice.😊

Despite that disappointment, My Tess had others. A devoted GAME OF THRONES fan (thanks to yours truly)😟she is flabbergasted that her favorites Emilia Clarke (Daenerys), Iain Glen (Jorah)

were not nominated for Best actress and Best Supporting Actor.  As well as John Bradley (Sam)

for Best supporting Actor. She was happy about Diana Rigg (Lady Tyrell-or as she affectionately refers to her....Grandma Tyrell) was nominated. She has been a fan of hers since The Avengers.

We were both happy that Peter Dinklage (Tyrion)

received his 7th Best Supporting Actor nomination, but we agree that he should be in the Best Actor category.

We were big fans of Westworld in the first season, but season two was so convoluted and at least one character went from likeable to extremely unlikeable (Delores) and another from extremely unlikeable to boring (The Man in Black) , that we doubt we will watch season three.
Still, we thought Thandie Newton (Maeve)

deserved her nomination, although we would like to see her in the Best Actress category. 

Oh well, there's always next year.😉

Watch the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 17th.

AND ON THIS DAY, MY ANGEL WAS BORN.

Happy Birthday to My Tess. We've been through a lot together over the past eight years and seven months, some good and some bad. I hope the future is brighter for both of us and that we'll spend it together, making each other's dreams come true. I truly believe that if you stay by my side, we CAN rule the world (our own little world anyway).
I love and cherish you, My Angel. 😇

Now, where's the cake🎂 and ice cream 🍨??? 😙💕😘💗😊

While looking for a picture of an anime character with long red hair for my birthday last year, Tess found Asuna (and Kirito) and Sword Art Online and fell in love with them (I'm a little bit jealous😩).
She watches both seasons and the movie over and over (and blares the songs in Japanese and English while she's online and tries to sing along with the Japanese ones which is really adorable😆) 

so while trying to decide what kind of birthday video to make for her this year, there was really only one choice (I think the marionettes have been done). Of course I used the one Michael Buble song that neither of us had used yet. P.S. She loved it !!!😉

And a very special thank you to LILY for getting everything there the night before.😁😅😉

Uh Oh ! It looks like somebody else is jealous !😆

Update:

I also gave her this new bathing suit, but it only arrived yesterday.

She wore it when we went swimming yesterday,but she wouldn't let me post any of the pictures that I took.😖Dagnabbit !!!

A SOMEWHAT FISHY TALE.

Tess and I were walking by the lake last week (she likes to feed the ducks because it fills her desire for having baby geese, or baby anything, which we've agreed not to do for now) when she threw a handful of bread and her engagement slipped off and landed in the lake. You should have heard her scream !!!😬And then of course, she cried.😭

I love to swim but the thought of spending the rest of the day trying to find a ring in a big lake was....  Okay, I admit it ! I'm lazy by nature. I bought it in an antique shop in London, a replacement for her previous ring that I was never satisfied with although she loved it,  and it was one of her Christmas presents but what were the odds of finding it anyway ???

Tess was distraught, so some helpful kids and I looked for it for an hour but it was impossible. I thanked the kids and gave them ice cream money and we went home.

Me: I'll buy you a new one.
Tess: I do not want a new one. I want that one.
Me: Do you want me to call city hall and ask them to drain the lake ?
She thought about it.
Tess: No.
Me: Don't we have a picture of it somewhere ? I'll take it to a jeweler and have them make one just like it.
Tess: I think you should beat me instead.
Me: That's not funny ! It wasn't your fault.
Tess: Yes, it is. I knew it was loose. I should have moved it to another finger or something.
(She's lost a little weight lately, getting ready for pool weather, I guess.)
Me: Don't worry about it. It's only a ring.
Tess: My finger is naked and cold.
She looked sadly at her cold,naked finger so I went upstairs and got the first ring I gave her and put it on her finger and kissed it.
Me: There.
She burst into tears.

So,the next day, I drove to the lake with my scuba diving gear and found some kids to help me. We spent the better part of  the day looking for the ring, but again, no luck. I gave the kids pizza money, and drove home. I didn't know what else to do.

So the next day I drove back to the lake and went fishing. I told the story to some of the other fishermen but they all agreed that it was doubtful that I would find the ring.

Fisherman 1; Can't you buy her another one ?
Me: Sure, but she wants that one.
Fisherman 3: And you're in the doghouse.
Me: Actually, she put herself there and I want to get her out. She's flooding the place with her tears and the dog wants it's house back.
They laughed.
I caught a couple of fish but my heart wasn't in it and a few hours later I was packing up my gear when I heard an uproar. I went to see what was going on.
Fisherman #1: Hey, could you describe that ring ?
Me: Yeah, it's a heart shaped garnet on a gold band with diamonds on each side.
His little boy, (named TIMMY) held out his hand to me and there it was inside of a fish.
Timmy: My mom always makes us clean the fish before we come home. It was in this one's belly !
YIPPEE !!!😀
Needless to say, I was ecstatic and don't worry, TIMMY and his dad were well-rewarded. I drove home
trying to think of the best way to surprise my Tess and this is what I came up with.

We have a deal too. I fish, I clean the fish, she cooks the fish. So after I cleaned the fish, I posed it with the ring and took this picture. When she came downstairs to cook dinner, I hid and waited for her reaction.
Me: Surprise !!!
Tess: (Lets out a scream to wake the dead. She really could have had a career in horror movies, but I'm glad that she didn't want one.)
Tess: You scared the living daylights out of me !
Me: I scared You ???
Tess: How did you find it ?
I told her.
Tess: Is it really mine ?
Me: Yes. I think it takes longer than three days to make a ring.

And then she smiled and hugged me and kissed me and it was all worth it.
Tess: Poor fishy.
Me: Should we give it a proper burial ?
Tess: Wouldn't you rather eat it ?
Me: Yes.

So she cooked it and it's two friends in lemon, butter and parsley and we gave thanks and ate them.
Me: You aren't wearing your ring.
Tess: I am not taking any chances. I am going to tie it on with a ribbon. Miss Belle always did that when I was little.
Me: You're still little. What's for dessert ?

Me: Ooh ! What's this ?
Tess: We are out of your Chunky Monkey at present, so I improvised.
Me: Yum !
Tess: When you are finished, I have another thank you for you.
Me: Cake ?
Tess: No.
Me: Cookies ?
Tess: No.
Me: Tell me !
Tess: Come upstairs.
Me: Why can't I have it down here ?
She gave me a look.
Me: Oh !☺️

We'll see you next week. 😉

And Now It Is My Turn In The Doghouse.

                         Je t'en prie, pardonne-moi!


                                                (I lost my engagement ring in the lake.)

"Find a penny, put it in your shoe, have good luck the whole day through."

I grew up in a superstitious household. Some of the beliefs came from my father's Creole upbringing, some from my Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother, others from the Irish side of the family. I knocked wood, threw spilled salt over both shoulders because I could never remember which was the right one, did not open umbrellas in the house, never walked under a ladder, if I left the house and had to come back for something I had to sit down and count to ten before leaving again, and I had to pick the kitten with the most white markings on his black fur because an all black cat was considered bad luck. A bird inside the house meant that someone would die soon. Did that not include my pet parakeet, I asked? I never received a straight answer, but I was allowed to keep my parakeet. But the biggest one of all was bragging about something that had not happened yet,because that would jinx the outcome. That is still the one that I observe to this day.

Yesterday, an article was published in The Hollywood Reporter about the supporting actor/actress Emmy Award contenders. The nominations will not be announced until July 12th.

The awards broadcast will not be until September 17th, but I have been annoyed by this since April because to me, this is a jinx on what had been something to look forward to, something to hope for, to dream about, something that would have crowned the year for someone very dear to my heart and I cannot help but feel that it has now been tarnished, as well as having possibly provided more fodder for the naysayers should this "prediction" not come to pass. 

I cannot remember a year when this has happened before, and I blame the internet (I see the irony there) for continuing to jump the gun on everything and anything. The collective world has lost the ability to wait and I think that is a shame. The joy and excitement of anticipation is gone, and I for one, will miss it.

                                                                                               Tess🌷


Update : Today is July 12th, the nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama series have been announced and I was right. It gives me no pleasure to say that. 😿No pleasure at all.