I love television history. It probably began in utero. My parents named me after a '50s television character named Susan Camille McNamara, played by the fabulous Ann Sothern. Anyhow, whenever I happen upon a bit of TV trivia that dates back to the late 1940s or up into the early 1960s, it practically makes me shiver with delight. One of my proudest possessions is a 1948 Emerson console TV. It doesn't play - and might catch fire if it were ever plugged in - but it makes me feel good to see it in the corner of my den.
A couple of days ago, the CBS Eye had its 60th birthday. In honor of the occasion, I found a picture of the old Eye with clouds in the background and put it on my computer. I also found a picture of Ann Sothern, printed it out at home, and posted it in my cubicle for everyone to see. I figured the lady for whom I was named, whose show was on CBS after all, deserved equal time.
When I was three or four, the Eye and I had a rocky relationship.
As a little girl, I was afraid of a lot of things, and The Eye was one of them. One of the logos CBS used was an animated eye, whose iris opened and closed like a camera shutter:
To my chubby little four-year-old self, it looked leathery and malevolent, and invariably I would run screaming from the room. When you stop to consider that most of the shows I watched were on CBS, it made for a lot of exercise of both the physical and vocal varieties.
Thankfully, I grew out of it. Nowadays I have a lot of affection for the Eye. It's a reminder of pre-cable times, when we had four channels if we were lucky and the truly well-off had an antenna on the roof that could pick up stations 50 miles away. Yes, I sound like my grandparents talking about the good old days of radio, but who cares?
Just for the fun of it, NBC's earliest logo:
Sigh...think I'm heading over to YouTube.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Milanos vs. Wedding Cookies - There's No Contest!
Not too long ago, I experienced a bout of ennui and decided a scientific experiment was in order. My ingredients? A bag of Milano cookies and an icy cup of Coca-Cola. I was out to see how well a Milano cookie held up when dipped in cola. My results in just a moment.
Ever had a Milano? Oh, my goodness. Two buttery, airy wafers with a thin layer of chocolate - dark, milk, or mint, take your pick - sandwiched in between. Addictive doesn't describe it. And these perfect, lovely cookies are the antidote to depression, stress, or just plain boredom.
Last week I had a day in which everything seemed to go wrong. I had awakened to find my home phone out due to a storm early that morning, my work day consisted of one crisis after another, and on the way home my elderly but normally trusty Town & Country ran hot. (I pulled over right in front of the weigh station on Interstate 85 in full view of three state troopers, none of whom came over to see if I needed help or to offer to call IMAP. Note to the NC State Patrol - if I'd been thin and blonde they'd have raced over and fought to help. Diversity training is in order.)
I called Hubby, who came to the rescue and ensured I could get the car home. On the way - Hubby following to ensure I had no other problems - we stopped at the grocery store. By this time I'd decided that a bag of Milanos was in order, and screw the cost...but when I got to the cookie aisle a box of Danish Wedding cookies caught my eye. Hmm...tiny, tender chocolate chip cookies with a dusting of confectioners' sugar sounded like just the ticket. I couldn't wait to tear into them when I got home.
They just weren't the same. I didn't get that sense of satisfaction, that "ahhhh..." moment. They're gone in one bite, and almost too sweet. I closed the box, stuck out my lower lip, and wished for the white bag with the perfectly photographed Milano on the front.
The results of my experiment? Here's another advantage to the Milano...it holds up well when dipped. I mean it. It keeps its crunch and that beautiful semi-sweet taste. And it blends well with icy Co-Cola (another perfect food product). Wedding cookies just get mushy and the sugar floats on top of the drink. Don't waste your time.
I'm keeping emergency bags of Milanos at my desk and in the car. You gotta be prepared. As for the rest of the wedding cookies, they're in their box in plain sight on my desk at work. I'm hoping someone will steal them.
Ever had a Milano? Oh, my goodness. Two buttery, airy wafers with a thin layer of chocolate - dark, milk, or mint, take your pick - sandwiched in between. Addictive doesn't describe it. And these perfect, lovely cookies are the antidote to depression, stress, or just plain boredom.
Last week I had a day in which everything seemed to go wrong. I had awakened to find my home phone out due to a storm early that morning, my work day consisted of one crisis after another, and on the way home my elderly but normally trusty Town & Country ran hot. (I pulled over right in front of the weigh station on Interstate 85 in full view of three state troopers, none of whom came over to see if I needed help or to offer to call IMAP. Note to the NC State Patrol - if I'd been thin and blonde they'd have raced over and fought to help. Diversity training is in order.)
I called Hubby, who came to the rescue and ensured I could get the car home. On the way - Hubby following to ensure I had no other problems - we stopped at the grocery store. By this time I'd decided that a bag of Milanos was in order, and screw the cost...but when I got to the cookie aisle a box of Danish Wedding cookies caught my eye. Hmm...tiny, tender chocolate chip cookies with a dusting of confectioners' sugar sounded like just the ticket. I couldn't wait to tear into them when I got home.
They just weren't the same. I didn't get that sense of satisfaction, that "ahhhh..." moment. They're gone in one bite, and almost too sweet. I closed the box, stuck out my lower lip, and wished for the white bag with the perfectly photographed Milano on the front.
The results of my experiment? Here's another advantage to the Milano...it holds up well when dipped. I mean it. It keeps its crunch and that beautiful semi-sweet taste. And it blends well with icy Co-Cola (another perfect food product). Wedding cookies just get mushy and the sugar floats on top of the drink. Don't waste your time.
I'm keeping emergency bags of Milanos at my desk and in the car. You gotta be prepared. As for the rest of the wedding cookies, they're in their box in plain sight on my desk at work. I'm hoping someone will steal them.
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