Un baccione Big Ang a tutti i miei Thirdies! You know, to celebrate Valentine’s Day yesterday, or whatever.
How’re all the Thirdies doing? Thriving in February? (Unlikely, cause…February.)
If you’re curious about my silly little train game from last week, I have completed the German region and have moved on to the American region. Unsurprisingly, it’s based in the West, and Texas. Oil! Houston! Las Vegas! Ranches! “Filmwood!” I’ll let you figure out what that one is on your own.
If you’re curious about my birb (remember, not a typo) Howard, he is thriving. He has gone from a baby to a toddler. He discovered that he likes corn and bread. He hates cherries. He loves water and The Very Hungry Catepillar. And he can’t stand Baby Shark. He upgraded his look with a nice white cap, a black scarf, and a water bottle. Very Sporty Spice of him! Sporty Birb!
This past week was the Sanremo Music Festival. If you remember from last year, or if you have the privilege/misfortune of hearing me ramble about it constantly, the Sanremo Music Festival is Italy’s way of selecting their Eurovision entry. This year’s competition was just as good as expected, except! There were no women in the top five finalists? Hot garbáge. Here’s the playlist to this year’s entries. My official thoughts are as follows:
Seeing that it’s been unseasonably warm recently, I’ve also been out running. But between the new Sanremo songs, general New Music Friday releases, Rihanna’s entire catalogue (thank you, Super Bowl), and Yelle’s catalogue (concert coming up), I’m having a hard time choosing what to listen to. And also what to wear. How does one dress for 55ºF weather again?
Anyway, enough of this long-ass intro and onto today’s topiques. (Not correct French, fyi.) Have you heard of Alison Hammond? My TikTok algorithm thinks I’m her number one stan. And I’m starting to agree with it. Do you like spice and maple syrup? Put it on chicken. Have you ever traveled with Amtrak? I haven’t, but I will be soon! I wonder what it’s like.
Enjoy, babes,
Édouard
Alison Hammond is a TV personality from the UK. She’s from Birmingham and has done some acting work as well as reporting for ITV’s This Morning. I know her from a slew of TikTok accounts that repost British television, including game shows, chat shows, quiz shows, interviews, etc. Don’t judge me; everyone’s TikTok algorithms are insane! Anyway, I highly recommend watching this chaotic clip compilation. Highlights include: the Pisa bit, the interview with Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, and the weather report on the Thames. Another goodie is her on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. And lastly, Alison on Bake Off. You’re welcome in advance!
I’ve been hooked on this slow cooker chicken recipe recently. There’s nothing official about it. It’s basically just:
chicken breasts
salt & pepper
parsley
crushed red pepper flakes
paprika
a splash of stock/broth or water
cinnamon
and maple syrup
Cook for like 3-4 hours on low. Shred. Cook for another 30 minutes. Give or take, obviously. It’s so simple and takes no effort.
So, that Yelle concert I mentioned. It happens to be the reason I’m taking the Amtrak later this month. Well that, and to see some friends. (Hi friends! Very excited to see you.)
It’s baby’s first Amtrak trip! A glorious 7ish hours between Pittsburgh and DC. There’s only one train to DC in the early morning and one train to Pittsburgh in the early evening. That’s it, folks. I truly have no idea what to expect. I’ve never been on a train in the United States that wasn’t a subway/metro train. I’ve obviously been on trains before but like in Pennsylvania? The only trains I’ve ever seen here are full of coal and have a tendency to derail.
In my head, I’m already starting to glorify the experience. I tend to do this a lot when traveling by train. It’s just such a superior form of travel and I know I’m not alone in thinking that! I chose upper level seating so I can get some views. Will these views be mostly dormant deciduous trees? Probably. I’m getting the vibe that this will be a bit of a decrepit train but that’s just pure bias based on literally nothing. Believe it or not - taking the Amtrak was on my 2023 manifest/to-do/bucket/resolution list. Regardless of how it all goes down, I’m excited to at least check the box in my planner.
Music that is not related to Sanremo including this new Tove Lo song, this new Mae Stephens song, and this new Moss Kena song.
Oh, and this Polish banger, another Polish banger, and one last Polish banger.
I lied - one more Sanremo related song.
This POV vid of peppering.
The definitive take on Cursed Haircuts! (IYKYK!!)