Wasted Talent

I think we all knew it was going to be a death that was sooner rather than later but it still is surreal and sad knowing that Amy Winehouse is dead.

While we've had our share of poking fun of Ms. Winehouse here at the HOchieS blog and while her musical style was not to my taste, I acknowledged her talent and H1 and I still hoped that she would get it together to let that talent continue to shine.

MC and Frass, don't cry.

Trippin' to PA: Trains and The Great Pretzel Debate on Day 3

Our final morning in PA was spent going to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania right near the Choo Choo Barn.  The museum housed old trains and pieces of American history.  The space was dark, the air was still, and all I could think about was asbestos.

I do that a lot.

It was kind of beautiful in there and there were lots to marvel at, if I cared enough.

Bwahaha, no, no.

I marveled, I marveled.

And now, you will too.

I considered standing in the middle of the railroad track to take a picture.  But then I considered I should not tempt fate.

Summer Fun in Midtown 2011: The Tons of Buns Edition

Last year, The HOchieS ventured away from the desks at work to go the annual event for cheap sample lunches from the restaurant vendors in and around Rockefeller Center.

As with last year's event, the plaza was filled with green umbrellas, Midtown suits looking for eats, and a Super Scooper Ben & Jerry's man who scooped the good stuff out for $1.00.

In what may become a yearly tradition, we again went out to this fair to get our brains addled by the sun for a decent meal to fill our bellies.

This was not actually during lunch, but earlier in the morning.

Another Batch of Fortune Cookie Fookery

Just the other day I was thinking to myself - of all the fortunes I get, there must be some times when the fortune does not insult or belittle me.

But once again, as I opened my last cookie yesterday, I was proven stupid once again.

I can't even pretend to know what it's saying because then I'd be accused of not thinking.  Either way, the cookie is telling me I'm a dimwit.  Thanks, Cookie.

Sometimes I misplace some of them or forget to take pictures, so here are some "gems" I found floating around that I did not post before:

More to add to my life of Servitude.

Then there's this one which I can't believe I forgot to post before now.

Currently: Wondering why I even bother.

IN YO FACE

Not that I was following the Women's World Cup but I'd just like to say "In Yo Face" to Papa HOchie and others supporting the US team.

And for no other reason than I am a biatch.

Well, there are other reasons like my loving the Japanese and being okay with someone sticking it to the often arrogant US sometimes but yeah....

In.

Yo.

Face.

Jackasses better not "stay pressed" me for this one.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Moodou!

I don't understand how it is you're one year old and already driving all over the place like nobody's buisness.

What the heck can I expect by this time next year?

Chirren these days, eh.

Trippin' to PA: A Day 2 Full of Sugary Dare-Devilry

Ah, Breakfast.  What sort of breakfast should one have when one goes away to PA and is in the vicinity of Downtown Lancaster?

Me thinks "The Fractured Prune" is a fine option.

The name alone is a win

At least, the sort of breakfast we had was one of doughnuts.  That may not work for some and it does not always work for us.

Disgusting and Brilliant

Probably the most disgusting thing I saw today were the throngs of little girls in their short skirts camping out on the street, waiting to see Chris Brown at the Today Show tomorrow.

As H1 pointed out, the majority of them are young enough to have to get their parents' permission to be out there.  And their parents thought it was a good idea to let their kids run amok to camp out, overnight, to see Chris Brown.

But you know who else was right there with these misguided children?

TMZ.

And TMZ were interviewing a few of them while showing them a picture of a very battered Rihanna.

That my friends, was probably the most brilliant thing I have seen today.

Trippin' to PA: Day 1 and Then Some

This past week, the HOchieS' took a road trip to PA.  It was an opportunity to spend some time with BH on his Summer break, and get some of America's history in.  As H1 says, it's good to learn about your country.

Really though it was truly all about little BH and H1 and I did not get to do Dutch Country Amish-inspired activities as we had hoped.

Happy 4th

Happy 4th to all my peeps - even those not celebrating today, because well, since you Trinis barely work as is, why not add another 'holiday' to your calendar?

While I am at it, Happy Belated Birthday to Boobey-Face.  I forgot to wish you one on the blog on June 24th because I am a bad Suga'Face.

Awful.

Awful.  Awful.

Anyway, hope everyone eats a hot dog today or a burger.  The HOchieS will be having curry.  Yes, Frass.  Momma HOchie decided she wanted her duck afterall.  But fear not for there will be other ducks.

Especially since I've ducks wandering around in my yard all brazen like.

a duck between a house and a chair (click to enlarge)

Don't they know that if "you wander unto our property, you will be curried?"

Saturday Morning with a Farmers' Market and Tea for Four

What better way to spend a Saturday morning than going to the Farmers' Market and having tea at Kathleen's Tea Room?

I am certain there may be better ways but this Saturday's activities suited me just fine.

Okay, so it's not the most appealing picture.

Especially when we got wind that a new french pastry shop opened up.

Eating Contraband

We had childhoods filled with haw flakes.

Haw flakes are Chinese treats full on sugar and haw.  We happened upon some two weekends ago and we love them!

That was until last week, when H1 looked up the almighty haw flake on Wikipedia and discovered that haw flakes contain a food colouring that is not approved by US FDA standards.

H1 is now refusing to take part in childhood memories.

I ate two packets of fun since and I feel as though I am a better person because of them.

And perhaps slightly more red on the inside than others.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit. Hare, Hare, Hare.

It's not that I don't care about you guys.  I know it's the second day of the month and I am only now wishing everyone good luck, and I am not sure if this good luck chant is going to work but just because I do not write it here does not mean I do not care.

I was wishing in my head all day yesterday!

So good luck everyone.  I hope the month is full of good times for all.

Quick Nerdish Sort of Note

It's been a week and a half since H1, BH and I trekked to Midtown ON A SUNDAY (ugh) to participate in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS Launch Event.

And of course, there was a freakin' line.

We went on a scavenger hunt to find gold skulltulas, or uh, rather, H1 and BH went on a scavenger hunt while I waited in line for a keychain (yay?) along with my pre-ordered copy of the game.

That...does not look like the gold skulltulas in the game... I call shenanigans!

We did not stay for the drawing of the prize, making all of H1's hard work useless.  But you know, H1, you had fun looking, right?

I did not take a lot of pictures there and really, what did I do then?

Of course, all that was required of me was to take one picture and even that I mucked up.

Well...it was worth it because I got the game on launch day allowing me to register for the limited edition commemorative cd collection.  Right? Yes.  It was not a total loss.

Plus, I am enjoying my game a lot.  A lot.  The details of that I will wait to bore you with at the End of Year review.

Anyway... H1, BH and I will also take away our childhood memories from the trip.  Or at least, BH will have fond, childhood memories of it all.

Memories...and some Shake Shack burgers.

Fellow 3DS Cool Kids Met Via Streetpass at Nintendo World on 6/19/2011: About 40.  Ah yes, I walked away with a lot of those too.  Nintendo's the place to be at a launch event! Did you like my "Rocket Science" moment? Did you?

Not My Jam

This is it.

I tried to stagger for a week and live in denial but yes, Summer happened on Tuesday last.  All that humidity, the tourists, the crazies and the general happiness by all, was too in my face and I could deny no more.

But here we are again, another Summer.

Summer is not my jam.

The nightmares in the garden are still around but instead of fairies fluting a tune to welcome the spring, they will now be guarding some tomatoes in the garden.

To "celebrate" Summer, I present you with a less than enthusiastic frog.  I may go even so far as saying that he's quite the little bitch.  I asked him nicely to please not jump on my camera or my person for that matter, while taking the picture.  He obliged but as you can see, it took all his strength to not stick it to me and my camera.

Thank you, frog.

Or perhaps he was cranky because it was hot? What right does a frog have to complain in his cool little pond in the company of lily pads?

I understand, frog.

Summer is brutal.

Note: These opinions are solely those of Or 2.  H1 is a traitor and loves Summer.

Hanging Out with the Weople at Pepsico Sculpture Gardens

Let it not be said that the HOchieS are uncultured, or are unwilling to participate in our great state's free activities.

It was Saturday morning last when we made our way to the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at the Pepsico Headquarters in Purchase.  The grounds are beautiful - a sprawling lush green well-kept landscape with a lake, a pond, wonderful trees and stunning sculptures.

It's an ideal jaunt for a Saturday morning excursion and with free access to the public, it was strange to me that more people were not crawling all over the place.

I welcomed the lack of people though and it gave us time to stroll and to take a few pictures at our leisure.

That said, please enjoy the many photos I will post here (or not enjoy, that's okay too) and as always, click a photo to enlarge.

One of the first pieces I saw, and one of my favourites.

Observations of the (Past Two) Weeks

On Foodage:

We finally opened up our Heinz Treacle Pudding.  We opted to steam the can in a pot of boiling water and had one hell of a time trying to pry that sucker open.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our Dearest Bunji Bro.

I think he had a pretty decent day full of sugar cream pie, crispy skin pork and roast duck.

Well, maybe I had a pretty good day.

Excitement

And this one is even better...

http://kotaku.com/5809238/how-long-can-nathan-drake-hold-his-breath

I know I got scolded for wishing for November but I can't help it!

Also, a PS Vita for Christmas would be awesome, H1.

And thanks.

Yes.

You know that suppression of laughter sound that Bughie J. makes, H1? The one where he covers his mouth to keep the laugh from escaping. 

Bughie J., you know what I'm on aboot, right?

Well...

Pppphhhuuutttt

Disclaimer: I found someone using this today on the internet, and I also found it on this website http://fyeahdaleksinhats.tumblr.com/ 
This was not my clever image born out of my less than clever head.  Thank you, someone, for this mess of brilliance.

Hiding in the Tall Grass...

An epic battle is about to begin!

A battle that's not so epic because what does that Smug Leaf think he's doing? He knows he's grass type and will get his ass busted up by the fire-breathing type.  This is going to be a damned massacre.

Happy Birthday!

To Dearest Gen'Frien',

Happy Birthday!

I hope you got your Hello Kitty boots.  Take pictures if you did!

Lots of love,

H1 and Or 2.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit. Hare, Hare, Hare.

Happy June, peoples.

Summer's on the horizon along with some awful hot weather.  Yuck!

Let that not get to us and good luck to all.

And Happy Birthday Month to Sandy Cheeks!