TALKING POLISH AGAIN, NIX THE PUPPETS

Happy Tuesday Guys and Dolls:

Let me start off today on a sarcastic note just because it’s “PUPPET DAY.” I hated puppets as a kid and I still do. I’d like to have a long pair of scissors and snip those strings as they are bouncing around in front of that curtain yelling with those high pitched voices. There I said it I hate puppets now give me a good ventriloquist act and I’m ready to go.

Now here is a holiday I can really relate to “PIGS IN A BLANKET DAY” or golabki as us Polish people like to call them. In the US the term “pigs in a blanket” refers to hot dogs or those Vienna sausages wrapped in biscuit dough or other dough and baked. There are a number of variations on pigs in a blanket from around the world but to me the one and only is the Polish golabki. My two grandmothers made complete opposite kinds of golabki, both I imagine used the same meat a combination of beef and pork. Granny O’s cabbage was a softer texture and covered with tomato sauce as a topping. Granny Z’s cabbage was firmer and no sauce on top more of a drier golabki but as good. Now my mother of course followed Granny O’s recipe and I have to admit made a good pig in the blanket. Our son Jeff tried making them a couple years ago as he dabbles in cooking and to our surprise created a great golabki dish. I’ve been told the secret is in the type of cabbage to use by my sweet Polish friend I work with. Roe and I located a Polish restaurant here in Florida and had lunch one day but were disappointed in the food very bland and lacked the right zip as I call it. Our search will continue as it is still going for the closest thing to a Trenton Tomato Pie.

I’m getting hungry now and it’s not even close to lunch think I’ll snack on some pretzels till then. Have a great day Guys and Dolls and as always be careful out there.

IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS

Good Monday Morning Speakies:


We are now entering which officially can be called the last week of April. I say that because there is only one day left after this week and that is Monday, April 30. We have some weekly holidays to mention today one of which is “MATTRESS TURNOVER WEEK.” It’s that job that makes us Guys shudder when we hear that sweet voice calling from the bedroom, “Oh Dear can you help me turn the mattress over?” Now here is a fun holiday for us Guys, “LINGERIE WEEK” and I’m sure for you Dolls too. We love the look and you love the surprise and the feel, it doesn’t get better than that. Now for some of today’s holidays:

SING OUT DAY – If you have a favorite song belt it out all day long and if you are like me that song stays in your head all day and night long and for the rest of the week.

PICNIC DAY – There’s an idea Guys if you and your Doll are off today, plan a nice picnic in the park. Bring the blanket, the basket, some cheese, some crackers, a little fruit and a bottle of wine. I remember as a teen the Beatty Street boys use to go to Washington Crossings Park for picnics in the summer; we had a loads of fun with the good eats and the ladies in our lives then.

Finally that great independence celebration called the Conch Republic. What is the Conch Republic you ask? It is a tongue-in-cheek secession of the city of Key West, Florida from the United States on April 23, 1982. The original protest was motivated by a US Border Patrol roadblock that inconvenienced the residents and tourism interest in the community. It is now a week-long celebration involving numerous businesses for a key tourism booster for Key West. If you are visiting Florida this week head down to Key West this week and celebrate.

Have a great day and evening and as usual be careful out there.

WEEKEND WISHES

WEEKEND WISHES GUYS AND DOLLS:


We have some holidays to celebrate but first more Dumb Laws today’s winner is Arizona let’s see what we can go to jail for.

Hunting camels is prohibited.

Any crime committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony.

Possible 25 years in jail for cutting down a cactus.

Donkeys are forbidden to sleep in bathtubs.

You cannot refuse a person a glass of water.

No more than two dildos in a house. Wonder who made that law up? I can’t stands no more.

Now for the holidays for today and the weekend, get ready to raise our mugs to:

FOOD DAY – I’m all for that holiday each day of the week.

CUCKOO DAY – This is a two way holiday we honor those grand old German made clocks and the crazies that are running around loose on this planet.

TUNA RIGHTS DAY – Taking care of those big fish that are constantly being sought for Japanese sushi. I’ve got an idea eat some fake stuff for a while and let the tuna be or I’ll report you to the “BIG TUNA HIMSELF.” You football fans know who I mean.

RED BARON DAY – That great World War I ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen or the frozen pizza. Put your money on the ACE.

Sunday is “EARTH DAY” do what you can to start preserving our great planet from destruction one of these days.

Well I’m finished for today, but have a great weekend Speakies and be careful out there.

UP, UP AND AWAY

HI SPEAKIES: 

A FRIEND OF MINE SENT ME THIS PICTURE OF THE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY HEADING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FROM KSC IN FLORIDA.  HIS FRIEND AT THE SPACE CENTER TOOK THE PICTURE.  SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE FLIGHT.

HAVE YOU HAD YOUR GARLIC TODAY

Welcome to Thursday Speakies:


If you are not a vampire you’ll love today because we celebrate “GARLIC DAY.” What is garlic? Officially it is Allium sativum a species in the onion genus. Its buddies include the onion, shallot, leek, chive and rakkyo. It is over 6,000 years old and is native of central Asia and has been used as a staple in the Mediterranean region. The Egyptians used it both for culinary and medicinal purposes. There you have it a little background on Mr. Garlic. Warning if you eat too much of it the smell will arise out of your body but the flavor is great in cooking. I always found a tomato pie from Papa’s with just garlic as a taste sensation.

To wash down that garlic taste how about a little Amaretto, that’s right we honor that great Italian liqueur today. It is a sweet almond-flavored liqueur made from apricots or almond pits. The creation of Amaretto involves an artist Bernardo Luini one of da Vinci’s students who was commissioned to paint a church sanctuary with frescoes in Saronno. The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and he needed a model and picked a young widowed innkeeper who became his model and more. Out of affection she made him a gift of steeped apricot kernels in brandy thus Amaretto was born. To me it’s a great liqueur just on the rocks for sipping. I especially like it over the Christmas holidays to warm the body and soul.

Did you know it is also “ADULT FILM WEEK?” Joey Z is not going deep on this one, if you are a fan of adult films enjoy your week. I guess you can also say its rated films for adults only and not the XXX films. I’ll leave it to you imagination Guys and Dolls and wish you a great day.

GET YOUR SEAFOOD HERE, SEAFOOD HERE

Happy Hump Day Guys and Dolls:

“FUKI, YAKI, SAKI, WANT SOME SEAFOOD?” That’s right Speakies it is officially Week of the Oceans and to Joey Z that means seafood for eating. I must confess as I have mentioned in several posts my favorite food is from bountiful pleasures of the sea, how about those words? No kidding I’m a big seafood fan I think it all started when I was a wee Joey Z whose mother served him Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks and fries. Then came Granny O. who made those delicious salmon cakes served with her enormous French fries. Of course there was that wonderful flounder, fries and slaw that came every Friday when my mother ordered it for dinner from Top Road Tavern. I can still see wee Joey Z crossing Brunswick Ave. to pick-up our order at 5:00 p.m. The memories of catching Fluke out of the Atlantic Highlands and Roe preparing her beer battered fish for the family to enjoy. Seafood, seafood I could go on for hours but I would start to get real hungry and right now I don’t have access to seafood unless I skip out to Mickey D’s for a fast fish sandwich. Shall I name the rest of my favorite seafood delights, yes and they are as follows:

Shrimp – Anyway you cook them.

Scallops – Broiled in butter or fried.

Flounder – Fried, broiled, stuffed with crab and old time Joey Z favorite.

Lobster – My rich man’s delight when we are cruising.

Clams Casino – Crecco’s in Trenton, NJ had the best.

Mussels Marinara - LaGondola served the very best.

Sardines - Always great as a quick snack.

Oysters on the Half Shell – Never had one but it’s on my list if I don’t look at them first. Bucket List item to eat.

Enough seafood already there are more holidays to speak about like Animal Cracker Day but to me they are only cookies of my childhood past but in honor I promise to eat some one day. Have a great day Speakies and think Seafood.

GIVE ME A BLAH, GIVE ME A CHEESE BALL

Happy Tuesday Speakies:

Hoping you all had a pleasant Monday evening and the sun is blasting in your face as you start a brand new day. Most of the kiddy Spring breakers are on their way home here in Central Florida and maybe the roadways will be less crowded and all we have to face is our own local idiot drivers. You know who they are the Speeders, Cut You Off Guys, Tailgaters, Mr. or Mrs. Pull Out in front of you and go 10mph and the rest of you who want to cause a wreck NIMYOS. Let’s see the holidays for today.

CHEESE BALL DAY – The most cheese balls you’ll ever see is around the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas. I like cheese balls but I wish most of them would leave off the nuts. Some great crackers and a sharp cheddar cheese ball could make a meal for me, along with a glass of wine.

BLAH, BLAH DAY – I personally take this several ways, boring day or somebody who will not shut up and keeps on yakking with their useless words of wisdom, blah, blah, blah.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WEEK – I belonged to the Boys Club when I stayed with my grandmother during the summer. Our Boys Club was an old school that closed down years ago. One has to remember this club was located in the city, we had no grassy fields to play sports, we did have a cement playground outside that was our baseball field. Inside there were rooms for crafts and other various activities, a library and a basketball court. It was a great place to enjoy while on summer vacation and I think the membership was only a few dollars to join.  It's a fine organization to support Guys and Dolls.

Well I’ll just quit BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, and BLAHING for now and say goodbye and wish you all a great day. Be careful out there.

BOZO OF THE DAY AWARD

NEWS FLASH FROM JOEY Z.

HEARD THIS ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING.  MY CHOICE FOR BOZO OF THE DAY OR MAYBE THE WHOLE WEEK AWARD.

Tarpon Springs Police say two people were injured by glass and debris from a shed destroyed by the explosion early Sunday. Several nearby businesses reported having broken glass, cracked windows or other structural damage.


Police evacuated the street while bomb technicians worked the scene. Capt. Barb Templeton says a bag found nearby contained "suspicious materials related to this incident" that will be processed for forensic evidence.

Meanwhile, as emergency workers treated the injured, a man stole an ambulance from the scene. Police tracked the ambulance to a nearby water treatment facility, where Templeton says the man struggled with officers and brandished a flashlight and a potato. The man faces charges of grand theft, burglary and resisting arrest

PJ'S AND EGGS

Where’s Your PJ’s Speakies:

What you are working and don’t have your pajamas on? Come on Guys and Dolls today is “WEAR YOUR PAJAMAS TO WORK DAY.” Can you really see that happening we’d be out the door in a minute however, fantasy wise it’s not a bad idea to imagine. Wake up Joey Z and start pounding those keys.

For our food holiday we honor Eggs Benedict, to me I always thought Eggs Benedict was only for the wealthy and polished off with a flute of champagne. Eggs Benedict is a dish consisting of two halves of an English muffin, with ham or bacon, poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce. There are a few claims on how the dish came to be. One was by Lemuel Benedict, a retired Wall Street stock broker who walked into the Waldorf Hotel looking for a cure for his hangover which was buttered toast, poached eggs, bacon and Hollandaise sauce. Finally in 1967 a Mabel C. Butler of Massachusetts related the story of Mrs. Le Grand Benedict who dined every Saturday at Delmonico’s in NYC. One evening she wanted something different than the usual fare suggesting eggs on an English muffin with ham, Hollandaise sauce and some truffles on top thus the Eggs Benedict came about. Who knows what story to believe but if you are a fan of Eggs Benedict order some today? I’ve eaten Eggs Benedict on several cruises Roe have taken. The first time was delicious the others were hit and miss. I guess I prefer my eggs over medium, home fries, bacon crisp or sausage and toast.

Well I guess I’d better face reality today, no eggs for me nor seeing PJ’s at work. Have a great day Speakies.

WEEKEND WISHES EARLY

Weekend Wishes on a Thursday:

What’s this weekend wishes on a Thursday, yes Speakies I’ve decided not to write this Friday but call it a 3-day weekend. Maybe it’s because tomorrow is Friday the 13th and I want to watch horror movies all day long, no I just don’t feel like writing tomorrow. We have some holidays to celebrate and as usual I may inject my personal views concerning them so here is what we celebrate today and over the weekend.

BIG WILD DAY – Stumped on this one Speakies, go out and do something big and wild today. However, don’t do something stupid I need readers like you around.

LICORICE DAY – Back in my younger day’s one had only 2 choices black or red. I prefer the black licorice and we had various shapes of licorice. I remember the regular strips of licorice, the round red coins, black pipes, the black wheel with the red ball inside, cut pieces and the strings of licorice. Later as I remember came the strawberry and green licorice strips. Have some over the weekend and bring back those childhood days.

SCRABBLE DAY – I love that game Roe and I played it every weekend for a while. I would have to say our matches came out even in wins. The set I have is marked 1948.

PECAN DAY – Not crazy for pecans I’m a cashew man myself. In fact Pecan Pie is just too chewy and sweet for an old grump like me. For you pecan lovers out there dig in this is your day.

THE DAY THE TITANIC WENT DOWN – A great tragedy at sea but someone did not heed the words received from other ships in the area about icebergs. Hollywood made more money on that sinking probably than the White Star Line made while in existence.

Here are a few more holidays and I’ll pass on my comments except for the last one. FLY A KITE DAY, RUBBER ERASER DAY, THE FIRST MICKEY D’S OPENED AND FINALLY MY FAVORITE – HUSBAND APPRECIATION DAY. Hear that one Dolls do something nice for your Guy on Sunday.

DON’T FORGET THE TAX MAN COMETH THE 15TH.