Writing in the Corner

My BIL loaned us all three extended edition DVD’s from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Last week we watched Fellowship, Friday night we watched The Two Towers, and last night we watched disk one of Return of the King. My daughter said she enjoyed the first movie, but by the third she was dozing off in the theatre. I replied that I would be happy to watch Aragorn and Legolas pose for several hours on end, even if there was no attendant plot. I’m enjoying the movies, though the battle scenes are a little intense. D’you think Frodo and Sam will make it to the mountain and destroy the ring?

I’ve enjoyed the DVD extras, though we haven’t begun to watch them all. I learned that the hobbits spent two hours standing every morning while their prosthetic feet were attached. I can’t even stand for an hour without my feet hurting.

This morning, I got up at 6:45 and about 7:00 threw on some clothes so I could walk the little boy to the bus stop. When I got home, I read for a bit, and then decided I wasn’t comfortable with what I was wearing. Rather than shower, dress, and get going…I put my pajamas back on! It’s nice to have the house to myself again, and to enjoy the quiet, and relax in my flannel jammies.

I had a fourth (!) interview on the phone yesterday that went very well, so I could be back at work very quickly. Or, they could hire the other guy. But in case things go well, I wanted to make sure I had a “laze around in my pajamas” day before I head back to the salary mill.

Two internet friends, who shall remain nameless, took it upon themselves to send me Canadian candy. One would think that candy brands would be pretty much the same in North America, except for the necessary non-English translations on some packaging (Spanish to the South, French to the North, English Everywhere). Mais non!

The candy I received is of four varieties: Coffee Crisp, Aero, Smarties and Kit Kat. Coffee Crisp is not sold in the United States, except for a few places that import it. It’s wonderful. It’s like a Kit Kat, but with coffee-flavored cream between the crispy layers. My Mormon membership notwithstanding, I acquired quite a taste for coffee pre-conversion, and I have chosen to interpret that “hot drinks” does not include things merely flavored like coffee. Coffee Crisp is a lovely treat - it’s very, very tasty, though I do wish the coffee taste was a bit stronger. It tastes more like coffee with cream than espresso.

Aero is also not sold in the States, I think. It’s just a plain chocolate bar, but the chocolate has been aerated. Even though the candy melted some in shipment, the aeration is intact. It tastes like…chocolate air. Delicious, and possibly addicting.

Canadian Smarties are not like the Smarties here. Here, Smarties are like not-so-sour Sweet Tarts, in a roll. They are a popular Halloween handout, because they don’t melt, and they’re cheap. Plus, it’s pretty sure that the kids will actually get to eat them, rather than losing them to Mom and Dad. In Canada, though, Smarties are like M&Ms with a thicker shell and funny colors - like purple and fuschia. Good stuff.

Only the Kit Kats seem to be the same as the USAmerican candy of the same name; the only apparent difference is the bilingual packaging.

I’m still quite amazed and delighted at this gift of exotic chocolate from people I know only online. When they told me they were sending it (and how), I was expecting one or two candy bars. Instead, I got a box of seventy “fun size” bars. They had melted slightly in transit, but a couple of hours in the fridge fixed them up nicely. I am still trying to decide what I’m willing to share. Mrs. Anonymous Candy Sender suggests that the Aero’s are fine bribes to get little people to pick up their toys.

If you’re interested in trying some of these tasty candies yourself - well, I’m not sharing; but you can order them for exhorbitant prices (due to customs issues, I guess) at www.canadiansweets.com.