America Ruined the Kinder Bueno

Weekly Roundup #29

When I studied abroad, my metro snack was a Kinder Bueno. I generally took the bus home from class, but sometimes I took the metro. And when I did, you can bet your bottom dollar I spent my spare Euro coins on Kinder Buenos. It was 2012 and they were exquisite. It was a simpler time.

Kinder Bueno’s have only recently hopped the pond and landed in America. Back in 2020, before the world fell apart, I was thrilled to see them in a Stop ‘n Shop in Newport. My favorite treats were now stateside!!! They’ve only been here for a few short years, but America has already ruined them.

Why, you ask? I had one the other day and the chocolate was…off. You know when you have bad chocolate and you can tell? Yup, instead of the richer, creamier stuff found in their European brethren, American Kinder Buenos are now using the cheap stuff the likes of Hershey and Mars.¹ It was only a matter of time before capitalism ruined them. I shall go back to restricting my Kinder Bueno intake to European shores, where they have the good chocolate.

Ahead, the weekly roundup and how I’ve been spending my time aside from grumbling about chocolate.

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What I’m reading:

A Court of Tea and Opinions is convening next week, and our read for this time is Harrow the Ninth. We’re back in the world of necromancy and lesbians, and things are even weirder than they were in Gideon the Ninth if that’s even possible. Stay tuned for Book Club updates.

• Great for: lesbians, necromancers

• Bad for: me, understanding wtf is going on

What I’m writing:

Nothing much, actually! I submitted some things a few weeks ago, and have been recovering since then. Probably should get back on the horse, though.

• Great for: my mental health, wrists, shoulders and eyes (computer strain and all)

• Bad for: me, as always

What I’m listening to:

Surprise, it’s a book! I had been plodding through Jerry F. Westinger’s A Bad Place to be a Hero, and then I listened to the last 5 hours of it on Wednesday. So, I’m now onto its sequel, A Bad Time to Meet the Family. There’s a lot of good worldbuilding, and there’s a cast of misfit characters and good humor. I’m not enjoying it as much as I would if I was reading because, again, poor audio processor, and I’m certain I’m spelling everyone’s names wrong in my head, but that isn’t stopping me. After all, I have a drive to Maine this weekend, and a bunch of books to catch up on.

• Great for: lovers of worldbuilding and fantasy that emulates real-world problems

• Bad for: people who don’t like fantasy, confusing names, and one person voice acting 26 different characters.

No New Books™️ Challenge:

There was a Pride book sale. I have tech money now. Books were acquired. I regret nothing. I promise pretty pictures when they arrive.

• Streak to Beat: 50 days (January 1st - February 19th)

• Last streak: 14 days (May 27th - June 9th)

• Current streak: 4 days (June 11th - Present)

Mug Moment of the Week:

Remember when my writing group went to tea? And I bought new mugs? Behold - the other of those acquired mugs. It is purple! And pink! And handmade! And so very pretty.

Noteworthy here is the giant stack of books I am trying to work my way through. I will eventually have to stop blaming the children for getting me so far behind on my reading goals, but today is not that day. Besides, the mug matches the color scheme of my TBR. Tea consumed was Twinings Lemon Ginger.

I’m off to Maine for the weekend - may you feel cool ocean breeze wherever you are.

1. I do not know this for certain but I am guessing because profits and capitalism.