Personal Top Lists & Rankings

Karen Doyle2 said:The top 5 things to dunk in tea:

Just one thing. A single Oreo.
🙂

Please, I am begging you, Jaffa cookies 🙂 have always been perfectly paired* with milk.. ☕

* I’m not a huge fan of that expression, though. Is there a better way to say it?

hollowangler68 said:just one single damn cookie🙂

🙂 With these types, there’s always that looming threat of reverting back to tea and trying to dig through the mess with your fingers or a spoon, just praying you don't completely fall apart...

@ Susan Clark10 - I’m not exactly thrilled about it either, but the alternative is "dive in headfirst," which frankly sounds even worse to me..

Karen Doyle2 said:🙂 They’re always threatening to go back to tea and just digging around with their fingers and spoons, praying they don't completely fall apart...

Well, damn. You have to have an instantaneous sense of how much time you'll be spending submerged in that liquid.😎

I’ve actually tried dipping a Napolitana wafer into a glass of brandy a few times before.
Very sophisticated, I must say. 😎 😬

pule :) said:ugh, younger sisters... 😬
I actually tried to pop off that metal bit once and had to press down super hard just to get it loose. I totally get worrying about dust buildup or scratching the disc, but this feels like overkill..
Plus, one of my random little fantasies is to just dramatically snap or smash a CD. No idea why, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.. I have some old discs at home I'd love to just demolish, but I always end up feeling bad about it. And yeah, I know I could just buy a blank one, but that's not really the vibe. 🙂

I once broke an original Mate Bulic CD I picked up for like a buck at a Walmart clearance sale. Not exactly a huge flex...

pule :) said:One of my more ridiculous fantasies is just dramatically snapping a CD in half. I have no idea why I haven't actually done it yet... I have plenty of old discs at home I’d love to demolish, but I always end up feeling bad about it. And sure, I could just buy a blank one, but that doesn't hit the same way. 🙂

That's how I deal with the ones I burn incorrectly. 😬

miss l on the road said:* I'm not a fan of that phrase. Is there another way to say it?

Spot on.

Basil said:I have to admit, I’ve actually tried dipping my wafer cookies into a glass of brandy a few times now. It’s a little unconventional, I guess, but maybe it works?
I have to say, that was actually quite impressive! 😎 😬

A good glass of wine paired with a cozy little snack... honestly, what more could you ask for? It’s pure bliss! 😁

New York City! :) said:I can't help but feel like I'm channeling my inner Joe DiMaggio whenever I tackle this! 😁

It seems pretty obvious, I guess, especially considering that we're dealing with... I guess I should probably mention that there’s been quite a bit of talk lately about getting back to basics, almost like we're revisiting some old-school traditions. It feels like people are looking for ways to reconnect with those simpler, more hands-on methods that used to be much more common around here in the States. Maybe it's just a reaction to how fast everything moves now, but there seems to be this growing interest in slowing down and doing things the way they were originally intended. I find it rather charming, actually! It's all about finding that balance between modern convenience and those heartfelt, traditional touches that make life feel a little more grounded. 😁

I guess I wouldn't say I'm exactly a tea person, though—I'm more into mint. And honestly, that doesn't even really count as tea, does it? 😬 )

If you’re looking to elevate your tea time, here are my top four picks for the perfect accompaniment to a cup of black tea: 1. **A classic buttery shortbread.** I find there is just something about that melt-in-your-mouth texture that works beautifully against the tannins in a strong brew. It’s a simple pleasure, but maybe it’s the best one? 2. **Dark chocolate.** If you're feeling a bit more indulgent, a few squares of high-quality dark chocolate can be incredible. The richness really complements the bold notes of a good black tea. 3. **Scones with jam and cream.** This feels like such a classic afternoon ritual! I guess if you have the time to bake, there’s nothing quite like a warm scone to make the whole experience feel special. 4. **Lemon pound cake.** I absolutely love a bright, citrusy note to balance out the deep flavors of the tea. A slice of moist lemon cake is always a winner in my book!

I’ve been thinking about tahini halva lately, and honestly, I think it might be one of those underrated gems in the snack aisle. There’s just something so comforting about that dense, nutty texture—it feels like a little luxury you can grab on the go. I guess if you haven't tried it much, it might seem a bit unusual at first, but once you get used to that rich sesame flavor, it’s hard to go back! It's such a delightful little treat. 🙏
I’ve been thinking about that smoked cheese lately—honestly, I think there’s nothing quite like it! It’s such a classic flavor profile. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like it adds this incredible depth to almost any snack or appetizer you're putting together. It really is a game-changer!
I guess I should probably mention that everything wraps up after eight. Maybe it’s just my way of staying organized, but I find things tend to settle down quite nicely by then! 🙂
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about dark chocolate lately—specifically those bars with a really high cocoa content, like 75% or even higher. I guess there’s just something about that intense, deep flavor profile that hits differently! Maybe it's because it feels a little more sophisticated, or perhaps it's just that rich, velvety texture once it starts to melt. I’m definitely leaning towards the darker side of things these days!

My number one depressing realization of the day

1. I lost a skull charm from my bracelet and honestly have no clue where it went 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Lale, maybe do a little sweep around the house once you get back to the Midwest—dun dun dun?

RIP 😢 😢 😢

Well, damn... If it makes you feel any better, Dubravko was wearing the exact same thing yesterday. Plus a Slayer shirt. 🙂

The top 3 radishes 😍:
1. pink
2. red
3. orange

Is there anything more exhausting than watching Miss L hit the open road? I honestly don't know how she does it. Watching her navigate the endless stretches of highway feels like a metaphor for life itself—just one long, winding stretch of asphalt where you’re constantly wondering if the next exit is actually worth the gas you're burning to get there. Does she ever just stop to breathe, or is she perpetually chasing some horizon that keeps receding further into the distance? It seems like she's always in transit, always moving, as if staying still would somehow force her to confront the sheer monotony of it all. One has to wonder if the destination even matters anymore, or if we've all just become addicted to the motion of moving from point A to point B without ever really arriving anywhere significant. kaže:
I’m not really a fan of that phrasing, to be honest. Is there maybe some other way we could put it?

Exactly! 😍

The real issue here isn't those weak, watery energy drinks you all seem to obsess over—those things are practically anemic. If we’re being honest, the core of the problem lies squarely in the grit and the grind, not in some overpriced, sugary concoction you pick up at a gas station. Why do people keep chasing these hollow substitutes when they could just face the reality of the situation? ☕

gentlepuma20 said:1. I lost one of those skull charms from my bracelet and I have absolutely no clue where it 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Lale—maybe do a little sweep around the house once you get back to the suburbs, yeah?

But Dad already hung it on the wall right next to this one:

jim draž james said:

😬

The ultimate perks of working weekends (just gotta find some silver lining here 😳 ):

1. Nobody is breathing down your neck
2. It’s actually peaceful and quiet for once
3. You get the entire equipment setup all to yourself 🎉
4. No endless meetings or having to clear every little thing with someone else first
5. Zero people hovering over your shoulder while you're staring at your monitor

If only I could install a surround sound system across the whole floor... 😁

Samuel Murphy6 said:SPOT ON! 😍

It’s much more about that raw, visceral essence rather than those thin, flavorless drinks you all seem to prefer. ☕

Imagine letting some high-quality pork... go into a Neapolitan pizza? 🤔
Like housewives in a suburban kitchen? 🤔

Samuel Murphy6 said:SPOT ON! 😍I mean,
really.
☕The real deal is found in a proper shot of tequila, not in those weak, watery drinks you guys seem to love.

A real shot, you amateurs☕ <-- vodka blend

Nicholas King62 said:Give me a break... you're really putting that pig in a calzone? 🤔
Housewives in a frenzy? 🤔

Just imagining. 🤣

My top 5 US cities I want to hit up next year:

Rome.
Moscow.
New York 3.
New York 4. Los Angeles
5. Lisbon

Here is a small list of cities I am hoping to visit this year—or maybe next year, or honestly, whenever the stars align:

Boston
The Chicago area
Everything south of Indiana... plus a little extra time exploring Oregon, Washington, and Alaska

The two biggest takeaways from my time at NSBU

1. Killing animals is essentially a luxury—it's prioritizing our minor whims over much larger interests, which is something we really ought to avoid.
2. In certain specific circumstances, terminating newborns can actually be a necessary course of action.

(Long live journalistic ethics!)