Candy Does NOT make a Dandy Swami

OK, so I'm new at this.

Remember back this year, on January 3rd, a mere 363 days ago, I made some predictions for the year 2012 here?

Well, boy did I SUCK at it. Out of the five predictions, only one and a half of them were on the money. That's pretty bad and if I were a betting woman, I would not bet on me.

Lets go over them point by point, shall we?

I predicted:

1. Mitt Romney will defeat Barak Obama for the Presidency of the United States. Yup, I just see it, like you know how you visualize winning a race or scoring a goal? I just see Mitt as our next leader of the free world. This is by no means an endorsement of any candidate or political party by Candy's Daily Dandy. This is just a feeling, a hunch and I could totally be wrong.

Boy was I wrong...BUT, I'll take solace in knowing that I'm not the only one who may have thought this to be true at that time. I had a 50-50 shot at it and I was wrong. OK, so I better not quit the day job. I get it.

Next up, I perdicted:

2. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will get married. This one's kind of a no brainer. I'm not the smartest or most incredible swami for making this prediction, I'm just a mother and a woman and right around, kind of, the same, not exactly but sort of the same age as the Hollywood power couple. Since they have 6 kids together and family is their number one priority, the next logical and romantic step is to make it legal. Really, who are they going to move onto? Both are the top of their demographic when it comes to picking a partner of the opposite sex, so it only makes sense. Plus, there is nothing more romantic or fulfilling. Again, just my opinion.

So this is the one that I got HALF right. Brad and Angie didn't get married this year, but they did get engaged. Brad put a ring on it and maybe next year we will see the wedding. Maybe not. Maybe they are already secretly married. Hmmm. Maybe the wedding will make it to next year's Daily Dandy predictions. I'll take the half here.

Then I predicted:

3. Over sized glasses will be all the rage. Take my advice here, and buy a pair of over sized sun glasses, but the real fire will spread with over sized reading and eye glasses. The bigger the better. Geek is chic and big, geeky, nerdy glasses will make a huge fashion statement in 2012. You know how I know? They are hot all over Europe in 2011 and we follow suit.

This is the ONE that I got right, which isn't much of a stretch seeing I consider myself to be somewhat of a fashion guru. Maybe I should stick to that instead of predicting the future., just sayin.

4. Robert DeNiro will make a huge Hollywood comeback as Bernie Madoff. DeNiro's Production company, Tribeca Films, will produce the film as HBO bought the rights to the Madoff Family's Book, "Truth and Consequences: Life Inside The Madoff Family". Written by Ruth Madoff, Andrew Madoff and Andrew's fiancee, Catherine Hooper. I venture to guess that there isn't a person out there who isn't curious about this story, and this predictions about DeNiro. It should be released by year's end, so DeNiro will have at Oscar in 2013.

Where the HELL did this come from? Now I'm not saying that this one may never come to fruition, and If it does, you all will be the first one's to hear about my prediction coming true, but Oscar? Really? I want some more of what I may have been smoking at that time, because that's just not even close. Unless someone knows someone, who knows a guy,  who knows that this deal is going on in Hollywood behind closed doors as we speak, please let me know. Otherwise I'll just sweep this prediction under the carpet and move on with my life. 

And speaking of sweeping predictions under the carpet. I said:

 5. Ok, so I'm going out on a limb here, but it's no fun otherwise. AND you know that I truly believe this: The New England Patriots will defeat The New Orleans Saints to win Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. Yup, they just may be on their way to peaking right now, and just in the nick of time. I may be off about the Super Bowl opponent, so if it's not the Saints, it's going to be the Packers. Even though the Pats have serious, serious issues on defense, and they can't afford to fall behind more than two scores with either of these teams in the beginning of the game, we have Tommy. He's the best in the business and he knows how to get it done. And he will. Also, My Tommy is the MVP of Super Bowl XLVI.

I'm such a homer. I really DON'T want to revisit this heartbreak again.,but:

On the positive side for Candy: I did predict that that Pats would be in the Superbowl, so, I think I get half a point there and the rest is just not worth discussing without HURLING. 

So, I'm gonna take the extra half a point and call my overall prediction score 2 for 5 and be done with it. Even so, I've decided that I'm going to do it again and make my predictions for 2013. It can't get any worse, right? Stay tuned. 

Happy New Year Bloggers. I PREDICT a healthy and happy 2013 for all my blogger buddies. 

Taking Stock

So It's that time of the year. Time to take stock, so to speak.

Seriously, these next couple of days have got to be the most anticlimactic. The hustle and bustle of the holidays is over. The purpose of going out to run errands has taken on new meaning and the sight of a credit card receipt makes even the wealthiest person wince.

It's also a time to take inventory.

Inventory of the past year, inventory of your life and time to look ahead into the new year, 2013. I hate taking inventory...

But it's necessary.

I'm going to take stock of my store first.
Then I'm going to take stock of my kids next.
Then I'm taking stock of my finances and my life...

And then, ugh..I'm going to have to take inventory of me.

A Dandy Merry Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Dandy, every creature was stirring, most especially Candy. The stockings were hung and the mantle was complete and the tree was all glistening and the dogs, hustling treats.

The children weren't snuggled all cozy in bed, they were downstairs playing L-R-C with Jenna and Fred.
And Candy in Lanvin, Her Guy dressed in Versace, they had decided that this year they would dance and sing mariachi. So they invited the Trio, some family and friends and a party was held until the sun put it to an end.

When over at the table there arose such a clatter Candy sprang from her Louboutin's to see what was the matter. It was Frick and Frack, and a disagreement had sprung, between Left and Right no one knew who had won.  There was money to be had and they sat in despair, until they agreed that a donation to the Red Cross would only be fair.

The smiles on the faces of family and guest gave way for them both to know that they both had decided for the best. It wasn't about money or things or winning, this year was about love and about sacrifice and giving. Happiness and joy were both important and needed and Candy and her family were rich in both and could afford to concede it.

This year had been challenging, to say the least, what with Frick leaving the nest but staying in the East. Frick was in New York and was Frack learning to drive, and slowly they all learned that they would certainly survive. Then The Candy Bar came, the biggest challenge of all and for Candy she learned that she too, could stand tall. For her family chipped in and everybody had a job and when it was done and they opened, the entire group began to sob. They did it together! and Candy wouldn't have had it any other way, because it was a labor of love at the end of the day.

For Candy, she felt like her dreams had come true, and she whistled and shouted and called out her crew,
"To the top of the stairs, to the top of the hall, now dream and achieve and work hard for it all!"

She was so thankful and she knew that she was fortunate and blessed, but there were others this Christmas who were suffering and distressed. So she prayed to St. Nick, to God and to anyone else, "Please ease their suffering and bring peace to their hearts."

And I heard Candy exclaim as she climbed the stairs and out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a great night."

Have A Kick Ass Holiday Weekend

Hey Bloggers! 

Have a great holiday weekend and while you are out there shopping, try to find your Santa style! But you'd better behave.

Cuz you know he's watching and he's a checkin' that list more than twice.

Peace!

Trouble With The Curve

So I watched good old Clint last night and I gotta tell you it was troubling.

Dirty Harry is dead and gone and Eastwood has left us with a curmudgeonly old character who is a constant reminder that getting old sucks. Even A-lister Amy Adams, John Goodman and Justin Timberlake couldn't make this a sinker a go. I might have been seriously depressed after watching this one had it not been for the Hollywood hook; the happy ending.

The story line is predictable. Eastwood is Gus, an aging and angry baseball scout who is facing the end of a very long career. Amy Adams plays Mickey (named after Mickey Mantle), Gus's estranged daughter. Gus is loosing his sight and quite possibly his mind until long time friend and colleague, Pete (Goodman) asks Mickey to accompany her father on his possible last scouting trip to scout the number one prospect and make sure things go well.

Adams is convincing as Mickey, a career driven lawyer who has no time for anything, except climbing the corporate ladder at her prestigious firm. Enter Justin Timberlake, who I can't take seriously as an actor because I still see BOY BAND when I look at him, as a love interest for Mickey. Timberlake plays Johnny, a former standout who ruined his arm and is trying to reinvent himself in the game as a scout and broadcaster. The romance between them never really grows a set of legs and walks in this script despite the solid performances.

But it's Easwood who is the story here. Dang, he's old. And he keeps reminding us that Cowboys never really die, they just get put out to pasture. He's angry and he's loosing his sight and he's not happy. Its painful at times to watch Eastwood convincingly teach us about the aging process. Of course this is Hollywood and these scripts make sure that there is a brass ring to grab at the end of this ride. Gus proves that he's still got it and that his age and experience make him still a valuable member of the baseball organization he is employed by. Mickey proves that she's got her father's talent and finds a new career path in sports management. Father and daughter reconcile and even bond over a shared love, the game of baseball, and Mickey finally finds her place in her father's world.

Cute, but too freakin late for my liking. I needed to be cheered up by then.

Can't say that I would recommend it, even for the most ardent baseball fans. Unless you love seeing a chick spew forth baseball trivia question answers like an encyclopedia. I'd wait until it's the movie of the week on ABC and that there's nothing better on TV.

Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling-A-Ding-Dong-Ding

Just like the song says, "just hear those sleigh bells jingling ring ting tingling too", once you hear them it's hard not to sing right along. "Come on it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you."

Admit it. Your car radio has been on the local all Christmas music-all the time station for weeks and your heart beats a little merrier when you listen to the songs of the season. There are so many Christmas songs that put us in the mood for merriment, I wondered which ones would be in the Top 5 of all time.

According to Billboard Charts, these are the Top 5 Holiday Songs of all time:

#5. Burl Ives, "Holly Jolly Christmas". Not bad for a song that was recorded for a children's Christmas tale like "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer." Who could forget his snowman voice overs and rendition of this song.

#4. Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock".  First recorded in 1957, this song has been recorded and re-recorded by thousands of others, but Helms version is the one we want to hear. The distinctive guitar that belts out the melody in the opening seconds of the song are best known.

#3. Nat King Cole, "The Christmas Song". What would Christmas be like without this soft and soulful rendition from Nat King Cole. Roasting chestnuts has never sounded so good.

#2. Brenda Lee, "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree". Brenda Lee, a singer who sang rock pop and country hits, was best know for this Christmas song. She was 13 at the time she recorded this Christmas hit in 1958.

And the Number 1 most beloved Christmas song of all time, (according to Billboard)

#1. Mariah Carey, "All I want for Christmas is You". Yup, my very own doppelganger. Written by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff and recorded in 1994, this song remains one of the best selling singles OF ALL TIME. The thing about this song is, even though at this time of year, when they play it four thousand times a day, it still makes me smile and gets my feet tapping. And it's one of the most covered too. Michael Buble brought it down tempo with his smooth vocals and lots of other performers have tried to cover it, but in reality, there's only one Mariah, and nobody even comes close when it comes to this song.

So bloggers, did I forget anyone? Any song? Any favorites? 

I Was Just Going To Say...

I intended to talk about happy Christmas music today, but it just doesn't seem right in this forum.

The Pat's played one heck of a second half last night, but this morning it doesn't really matter. My beloved Boston Herald and I, together this morning have set the tone for the day.

As much as I try, and generally succeed in going on with my life, those little faces, the unspeakable horror creeps in and causes me to hold my children close. Frozen almost, in fear of what could happen, a constant reminder of the evil that lives among us.

I heard my daughter say, "I don't want to talk about it," and I was frozen again, unable to move the important conversation forward. I don't think I wanted to talk about it either. But I did talk to my son. I had to explain to him that his high school will be on lock down today. That visitors must make arrangements to gain entry and that he cannot enjoy the privilege of open campus any longer. He understood completely, once he realized how quickly copy cats can strike and how precious life is.

I know it won't always feel like this. I know I'll tell funny and inappropriate jokes and talk about the frivolousness of life again soon on The Daily Dandy. I just knew it couldn't be today. It doesn't feel right.

I also know I'll try to never forget. I can do that for them. It's just about the only thing I can do for them.