Masked Singer Going Downhill

 

    We've all got the news about Masked Singer shock. If not, I'll tell you. Now the show is starting to get political. Ok, maybe that' a little too far, but the show, which would start in early March, there was an article on it that read judges Robin Thicke and Ken Jeong were disgusted when Rudy Giuliani was revealed as the first person to go home.

 

 Let's just say we haven't had any strong people entering this show. One being an internet failure, that's right failure as well as a boxer. I guess, I don't know him that well, but a few people do. He has been known to do stupid things. He was unmasked early as well.

  One season, I think it was two years ago, before COVID hit, Mickey Rouke, who was a boxer and an action star, well let's just say...what he not used to be. What surprised everyone, including Nick and the judges, was after the song, the costume he was wearing was getting too hot for him. He said, "I'm going to take this off now." He does and....I think Mickey was Drunk. But he wanted to sing that song for his late friend.

  If you lived in the 90's, you would have heard of Bobby Brown. Even if he's known as an ok singer, he...also is known for being abusive to women. He has a mental illness of course, but his past still haunts him as well as everyone that knows him. He still can sing, but it's just...well it's like having OJ Simpson be in the masked singer

One year, another surprise. Although short lived, there was a character called bear, sang a pretty pathetic song. There were interesting clues about the singer behind the bear. Suddenly, Sara Palin was revealed. She was not considered an amazing person, but she was the start of what was yet to come. I don't care for her but I'd rather Tina Fay impersonating her over Rudy.

    There have been other interesting surprises of the Masked Singer that weren't always horrible. We had Pul Anka, the late Bob Saget as a monster of sorts, Drew Carey as a llama. But the most shocking of all.... KERMIT THE FROG as a snail. It was a shock. I mean OMG. The snail was the first eliminated and well...people thought it was Seth MacFarlane or another comedian but...that was a positive reaction for all of us.

   This year, besides finding out the first elimination, we don't know what to expect. But till then, I know Masked Signer is not what it used to be, but it's better than Dancing With the Stars that's for sure.

Frozen Cold Winters

     Ever had a winter that was so cold that you lost power for over a month? A cold that would never end. Well, back when I was young, we had winters like those. Winters so cold...you couldn't even go outside to play.

 The Blizzard of 96 was a very memorable one. Hitting every state from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware even Virginia as well as some parts of Eastern West Virginia. The heaviest hit was here in PA. And Virginia was the second.

   This happened 27 years ago, and it still feels as if I was there, because I was. It hit around January 6th to 10th. My grandfather, or Papa, as I called him, his birthday was on the 7th. We never got a chance to celebrate his birthday till after the storm ended. 

  In Baltimore, they had over thirteen to seventeen inches. For us in Philly, we got over 30.7 inches. How many deaths did we have? Well, I was only in elementary school, and we had over two weeks off of school. I think we spent most of the blizzard at my uncle's place since they still had electricity.

  How do you celebrate a birthday in 2009? In a blizzard. I don't remember it very well, but in the year 2009, from December 16th to December 20th, we had another Blizzard. Not as horrible as the one in 96, but we did lose power and I had to take work off for a few days.

   Mostly Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and a few parts of Maryland were hit the hardest. I vaguely remember what happened, but all I know was it felt as if it were Deja vu. Always with the heaviest winter weather hitting us as well as the Northeast

   They say winter weather is very unpredictable. Sometimes, you get a normal winter day. A few bits of chill and breeze, but then...WOOSH! A blizzard hits. Blanketing the city with winter snow. But it gives us loss of power, dealing with the cold as we try to get heat.

Losing power everywhere in town. People freezing and losing loved ones. Others who work with doctors or firefighters have special generators. Because, even if there are cold winters that cause blizzards to form, they can't stop working.

Some would even ski to work just to get there. Other times, when lives need to be saved, they would work longer shifts just in case others can't make it. Not everyone is close to their office after all.

   There was one more blizzard that hit almost 30 years ago. Blizzard of 93. I think this was the Hercules of storms. Giving us over 30 inches of snow. Losing power over a month...I think. I was only eight at the time.

 But don't worry. Your winter blues are almost gone. Worrying if we're going to be stuck in winter weather forever. As you know, March is just around the corner.

  They have an old saying that goes: 'in like a lion, out like a lamb' With that meaning, it means- coming in with a storm, coming out calm. Or something like that. Winter comes and goes, like every other season. But with this one, we deal with frozen cold winters.

2022 So far

 

Some good,

some bad,

some happy,

some sad

Losing is shocking,

but when one dies at a young age,

it's more shocking

A funny man through and through,

made us laugh,

was father,

from the 80's,

to today

A comedian,

who died,

doing what he loved,

We will miss you

Curling,

Skiing,

Snowboarding,

and more,

the cold winter,

doesn't stop,

the sports enthusiast

February gave us wins,

from a gold medal,

to a football trophy,

LA dominated football,

beating a tiger,

from Cincinatti,

the ram from La,

conquered,

and made it to victory

With March coming soon,

we wonder,

what 2022 will give us,

more COVID tests,

less things to be worried about,

March Madness soon approaches,

and like football,

basketball of the college rank,

will soon feel,

nervous,

anxious and

hoping to win

 

Spring will soon be here,

will it give us warmth,

too late,

or too early,

what will,

the seasons give us,

in 2022

Two months have come and gone this year,

another on the way,

2022 is slipping through our fingers,

and we don't even realize it,

not till,

the next New Years day

Best Known Cheese brands

 

 

    Aww Cheese, shredded, diced, cubed, sliced, stretched, we love it in any way. But what is the best brand of cheese? What cheese is the best of all? 

    Kraft Singles: Everyone knows this cheese. They've grown up with it. It was made for kids and grilled cheese sandwiches. But...is it the best? In my opinion, no. But for others, they would enjoy it.

   Created around the 1950's this Kraft cheese was made blending other cheeses, but it was still considered American cheese.

   There's a rumor saying that this paticular cheese does not melt. It just burns. I don't think I wanna eat a cheese that not only can't melt but smells like plastic. Hard pass with this one.

 Cabot Creamery: Created in Cabot Vermont, this cheese was known to be a Vermont classic. But...is it the best cheese? Cabot isn't just known for their cheese. They are also known for a creamery like butter and milk

 They have their sharp cheddars, shredded cheeses, sliced Swiss and many more. I don't really think I've ever had this cheese. If I did, might have slipped my mind. But Cabot is still considered a good company.

       Tillamook Cheese: A creamery that started in Tillamook, Oregon over 113 years ago, the West coast is known for this brand of cheese, especially if you live in Oregon. I recently saw this cheese brand in my grocery, but never bought it. Like Cabot, they too are a creamery based in Oregon.

 Tillamook has also made ice cream, butter, yogurt, sour cream and much more in the dairy department. In the western states, Tillamook is what Cabot is to Northeastern states, America's cheese and much more.

Velveeta: Like Kraft, Velveeta is processed cheese. Is it better or worse? Never once wanted to try it. Not a fanatic with cheese that melts too easy. Made for dips as well as sandwiches, Velveeta has been considered America's easy cheese. What is easy cheese? Cheese that you can grab and melt quick.

Velveeta has also branched out into mac and cheese as well as well as skillets and cheesy potatoes. There also is a dip that if you mix with a salsa would be an amazing salsa cheese dip for your chips. Then again, I don't eat this stuff.

Horizon Organic: If you see a cow on your cheese or milk, that would be the Horizon organic company stationed in Colorado. Starting out 31 years ago, they were unknown to the big boys like Kraft or Tillamook. Now, it's kind of being noticed.

  So, why is there a cow on this brand? Well, I guess it symbolizes that it is 100 percent organic cheese and milk with no hormones or biproducts you would see on other cheeses. Good call, Horizon.

 Organic Valley: You can tell Wisconsin really loves their cheese. This company was established 34 years ago in Wisconsin. Organic Valley is considered a creamery as well. Making not only cheese (which is what they're known for) but butter, milk and a lot more.

   Organic Valley knows their audience since they're not just known for their cheese. They're known for eggs as well. This company is similar to Horizon Organic. Being Organic is what they are known for. Have I ever had this brand? No, I have not.

Land-O-Lake: Even know their butter is more memorable than their cheese, Land-O-Lake is known for their dairy. Raising farmers in Minnesota, they were known for their butter, but branched out into other dairy products. 

They have also made animal feed as well as seeds. And remember when they removed their spokes Indian recently? Well, today Land-O-Lakes is more focused on farmers. I don't think I've ever had their cheese, but we have tried their butter

Cracker Barrel: This brand is a Kraft product, but it's better. This Cheese was sharper than any other brands. They make cuts, spreads, sharables and much more. I've had the cheese and it's actually very good. Knowing it's still Kraft, this is a lot better than their Velveeta.

Like Velveeta, Cracker Barrel is also known for making mac and cheese. They even have pairing boards as well as other cheese slices. I've had the sharables where you can make cheese and crackers happen. Good for a snack and it gives you calcium and protein which we all need.

Sargento: Another cheese company from Wisconsin. A state that knows their cheese. This cheese company is family owned and has been passed down through three generations. Starting out over 63 years ago, this cheese brand is known for one thing, cheese.

  They have ads that show the people that run the place saying that other cheeses are just processed while theirs is real cheese. They're considered the big dogs when it comes to their cheese. What do I think of it? It's tasty. I've had it before, and I still love it. Gret for grilled cheese sandwiches. But they can cut the other companies some slack.

We all have a favorite kind of cheese, even brands. Some like Kraft while others like Sargento. Any way you top it, cheese is still going to be cheese. Even if you try to melt the other competition. Till then, enjoy a slice, no matter who made it