Yes, I am totally fried. Tired and thinking I am glad to be done for the day.
We started, as usual, around 7:30 this morning. Have cleaned, power-washed, cleaned, waxed, cleaned, washed... well, you get the idea.
I have cayenne peppers in the dehydrator right now. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning while the dew is still on, plan on going out and cutting the top half from the sage plants by the watercourse. They will go into the dryer next. Then there is the Greek oregano that is ready to be taken care of, plus the spearmint. Then there will be the purple sage and tri-color sage, the parsley, chives and thyme.
I didn't grow any rosemary this year since the Herd seems to have decided, for no reason that is obvious to me, that they don't like it anymore. Have totally given up on growing basil, too. I just can't seem to get it to go. There seem to be hordes of people around who have Monster Basil Plants growing out of every spot that isn't already inhabited by something else but I just can't get it to live. This is kind of a pain as I use a lot of basil. Thyme is no problem, nor is spearmint. The only problem those 2 present is keeping them from taking over the world.
3 of my 4 roma plants are producing lovely, large fruit but that 4th one has the blight, or something similar. It has produced fruit that is about the size of a shooter marble but does taste good. Not much use for canning but tasty to munch on. The other hybrid plants down on the terrace are loaded with fruit and some of them are starting to show some color. That's a good thing and I hope we have enough summer left to allow them to ripen fully. If the weather turns, I will have to bring whole plants in and hang them upside down in the laundry room or somewhere to allow the fruit to ripen. That is a messy and cumbersome operation so would rather not have to fool with it.
Since I only have about 1/3 of the amount of tomatoes that I would have under normal circumstances, I am seriously considering slicing them and just putting them in the food dryer. Dried tomatoes are great for a lot of things and can be reconstituted for marinara, paste, and sauces.
The hot banana pepper plants have done a nice job of producing fruit, too. Since I don't use many of those, I only have 2 plants but they have some nice yields. Those will go into the freezer since they don't dry well. The jalapenos are doing well but not producing like I expected. The peppers are very nice but there aren't many of them, maybe a dozen and a half total, right now. I still have some in the freezer from last summer so this won't be a real problem. Unless someone decides they are going on a jalapena jag and then we're in trouble.
That gross of onions are doing nicely, too. There were actually more than 144 of them but some died and some haven't grown. Went out this morning and thinned the ones in the long container. Last weened I thinned the ones in the pots and the remaining onions are now growing a lot larger and may produce some nice winter tastiness.
We planted several dozen onions down on the terraces but the rabbits ate the whole blasted lot of them, dammit. The radishes down there didn't get eaten but Himself never went down and thinned them so he doesn't have any radishes. He kept saying that he would "do it pretty soon" but he ended up distracted by other issues and never got to it. They were too close together and, since they had no room to grow, went to seed rather than making radishes. I figured, since I don't eat radishes, I would leave the thinning to the Radish-Lover and it didn't turn out well. Not my loss and I don't suppose not having radishes will make much difference for him, either.
I broke down a couple of weeks ago and used a chemical spray to kill that blasted crabgrass around the front of the house and down along the driveway. I really hate using that stuff but, even with weeding like crazy, it came up so fast and thick that we couldn't keep up with it. Now there are big brown and dead patches around the place that have to be plowed up and reseeded.
Also having a weed problem down around the watercourse and ponds. This spring was so wet that the things that could grow the best seemed to be the weeds. Some of our ferns came back but most of the stuff down there just died. That's a p.i.t.a. because we spent a lot of cash and a lot of sweat on preparing the ground and planting stuff. DS1 came up one day last summer and spent the whole day, scooting around on his butt, planting ferns. I am hoping that his labors will pay off next spring but who knows?
The river is so low that the kayakers who came by last weekend had to paddle right under the cliffs at the bottom of the yard. I miss having boaters, canoeists, and kayakers come by in the afternoon. The fishermen aren't even bothering to go out on the river. The only fish up here are carp and they might migrate further upstream. Still have soft-shell turtles coming out to sun themselves but the Canada geese, herons, and egrets are gone. It is also starting to smell. It doesn't smell nice. Dead fish, river bottom, mold... ick. The city says it has a "study" ongoing to figure out how to fixthe levee with the least expenditure of money and the best results but it may be years before we see any results. I estimate that the river level is about 10 feet down and, now it's late August and dry, it will go lower. This pretty much puts paid to the water trail project for the foreseeable future, too. That's a shame as it would have brought money to this town and shown folks that it isn't a total shithole place to live.*
We had planned on going to visit some friends at their acreage this afternoon but ended up not doing that. I had to take some allergy medicine, which I abhor and avoid like the plague, which had made me shaky and short of breath. We will most likely go out to see them tomorrow afternoon, as long as they are available then. It's kind of a weird situation, too. He has been our friend for many years but she avoided any contact with us until a couple of years ago. Not sure what changed her mind but we now can sit and talk for hours about all kinds of subjects. Both of us are having problems with adolescents, she with a girl, me with a boy. Gives all kinds of room for discussion. And then there are the men... LOL!
DS3 has retreated downstairs, DS2 is going to a friend's for the night, SS is, well... who knows where and Himself is at the bar. This leaves me free to do absolutely nothing. YeeeHA! Of course, since it isn't 6 p.m. I can't in good conscience put on my jammies but sure would like to do just that. Rats.
OK, since Himself is at the bar I suppose I should get my butt in gear and go have a drink with him and make sure he doesn't get out of hand. He has been behaving strangely of late. It isn't just him, it is a number of males. I have heard from several women that their husbands, boyfriends, or SOs, have been acting weird. Since there isn't a full moon I don't know what's going on but I sure wish I did. Maybe I could help. Maybe not. Don't think most males have the self-awareness to figure out that something is bothering them, what it is, and how to deal with it. Ah, yes, men...
* Granted, I want to get the hell out of here but not because I hate my house or whatever, just because there is nothing to do unless you like hunting, fishing, golf, or sitting at the bar getting stupid. I don't care much for any of those things and would like a variety of food options, museums, libraries that have books other than fiction or romances, and people who have a few thoughts about how things are and why.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Our main course this evening is...
coq au vin.
I adore the stuff. It's so easy to make that the results are almost like cheating. The recipe is as follows:
2 broiler chickens, cut up or 8 thighs, bone-in with skin
1 750 ml bottle of a decent dry red wine, decant it carefully and let it breathe for an hour or so
1 large onion, sliced thin
1 large carrot, sliced thin
4 springs thyme
5 sprigs parsley
2 T butter, clarified if you have it. unsalted if not.
1 pound small white mushrooms
1 pound white pearl onions
3 garlic cloves, chopped fine
4 slices good bacon, cut into 1/4" pieces
1 bay leaf
In a bowl, place the wine, onion, carrot, thyme and parsley. Let it sit for at leasst 4 hours. Overnight is better.
Strain and reserve wine and vegetable/herbs separately.
In a large heavy pan (I use a 12" enameled cast braising pan) sweat/fry the bacon chunks until crispy and brown.
Remove and reserve.
Add 1 T butter to drippings. Brown chicken, in batches. Set aside in large bowl.
Add 1 T butter to pan, scrape well and brown the pearl onions until golden. Put in bowl with bacon.
Add the mushrooms, stirring well until they release some juice and start to brown. Add garlic and stir until garlic's aroma is released, about a minute. Remove all and put with onions and bacon. Set aside until later.
If needed add more dripping and/or butter to pan. Cook marinated vegetables and herbs until very limp. (The carrots won't cook through. Don't worry about it.)
Whisk in reserved wine and return combination to a slow boil.
Add chicken back in and cover. Simmer until chicken is tender. (Usually about 45 minutes.)
Return bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms and garlic to pan, placing them between and around the chicken pieces.
Recover and simmer until sauce is beginning to reduce. (try to keep this well below a boil. Depending on what kind of wine you use and it's quality, boiling with usually give a nasty "bitter" taste to the sauce. It's icky and you don't want to waste all that good stuff. Even using a heavy pan, I put a heat diffuser under it and turn the gas as low as possible while still maintaining a decent simmer.)
There's 2 ways this can be done. If you don't like the sliced onion and all that in your dish, remove the chicken from the pan and strain the wine. Do this before adding in the onions, bacon and so forth. Return chicken to pan and add that other stuff.
Otherwise, if you don't mind the slices (which I don't) just continue simmering. If you are concerned about cooking the chicken too long, remove it for the time being. If you do this, you can simmer the wine and stuff until it's a consistency you like without worrying about the fowl falling apart totally.
This is tasty is cooked one day, cooled and kept in the fridge until the next day. Then reheat.
Serve with baquettes and salad or whatever you want. Mashed taters, rice, noodles, it's your call.
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM as DD says.
I don't generally have a problem with stuff burning during the first few steps. If your pan is heavy enough and your heat is low enough and your patience is, well, patient? You will be fine. It would be a shame to burn something and lose the accumulated flavors and aromas from all the good stuff being sauteed or sweated or whatall.
Another thing... if you prefer to use olive oil in place of the dripping and butter, go ahead. It will change the final taste a bit but cut down on the saturated fat.
If, for some reason, you aren't happy with how the sauce is melding, a sneaky (and not authentic) way of bringing it together is to use about a tablespoon of tomato paste. Take everything out of the sauce, return to simmer. Stir in the paste and put everything back in. You won't taste the mater but it sure does tend to pull all the flavors together. Maters, the miracle fruit/veggie/dobob.
If you prefer to not use so much wine, a nice way to proceed that works just great is to use 1 1/2 to 2 cups wine and sub 1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup beef broth for the remaining volume.
Near the end of the cooking process, taste the sauce. You may need to add some salt, and various herbs to your personal taste. I do sometimes, depending on my mood at the time.
I adore the stuff. It's so easy to make that the results are almost like cheating. The recipe is as follows:
2 broiler chickens, cut up or 8 thighs, bone-in with skin
1 750 ml bottle of a decent dry red wine, decant it carefully and let it breathe for an hour or so
1 large onion, sliced thin
1 large carrot, sliced thin
4 springs thyme
5 sprigs parsley
2 T butter, clarified if you have it. unsalted if not.
1 pound small white mushrooms
1 pound white pearl onions
3 garlic cloves, chopped fine
4 slices good bacon, cut into 1/4" pieces
1 bay leaf
In a bowl, place the wine, onion, carrot, thyme and parsley. Let it sit for at leasst 4 hours. Overnight is better.
Strain and reserve wine and vegetable/herbs separately.
In a large heavy pan (I use a 12" enameled cast braising pan) sweat/fry the bacon chunks until crispy and brown.
Remove and reserve.
Add 1 T butter to drippings. Brown chicken, in batches. Set aside in large bowl.
Add 1 T butter to pan, scrape well and brown the pearl onions until golden. Put in bowl with bacon.
Add the mushrooms, stirring well until they release some juice and start to brown. Add garlic and stir until garlic's aroma is released, about a minute. Remove all and put with onions and bacon. Set aside until later.
If needed add more dripping and/or butter to pan. Cook marinated vegetables and herbs until very limp. (The carrots won't cook through. Don't worry about it.)
Whisk in reserved wine and return combination to a slow boil.
Add chicken back in and cover. Simmer until chicken is tender. (Usually about 45 minutes.)
Return bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms and garlic to pan, placing them between and around the chicken pieces.
Recover and simmer until sauce is beginning to reduce. (try to keep this well below a boil. Depending on what kind of wine you use and it's quality, boiling with usually give a nasty "bitter" taste to the sauce. It's icky and you don't want to waste all that good stuff. Even using a heavy pan, I put a heat diffuser under it and turn the gas as low as possible while still maintaining a decent simmer.)
There's 2 ways this can be done. If you don't like the sliced onion and all that in your dish, remove the chicken from the pan and strain the wine. Do this before adding in the onions, bacon and so forth. Return chicken to pan and add that other stuff.
Otherwise, if you don't mind the slices (which I don't) just continue simmering. If you are concerned about cooking the chicken too long, remove it for the time being. If you do this, you can simmer the wine and stuff until it's a consistency you like without worrying about the fowl falling apart totally.
This is tasty is cooked one day, cooled and kept in the fridge until the next day. Then reheat.
Serve with baquettes and salad or whatever you want. Mashed taters, rice, noodles, it's your call.
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM as DD says.
I don't generally have a problem with stuff burning during the first few steps. If your pan is heavy enough and your heat is low enough and your patience is, well, patient? You will be fine. It would be a shame to burn something and lose the accumulated flavors and aromas from all the good stuff being sauteed or sweated or whatall.
Another thing... if you prefer to use olive oil in place of the dripping and butter, go ahead. It will change the final taste a bit but cut down on the saturated fat.
If, for some reason, you aren't happy with how the sauce is melding, a sneaky (and not authentic) way of bringing it together is to use about a tablespoon of tomato paste. Take everything out of the sauce, return to simmer. Stir in the paste and put everything back in. You won't taste the mater but it sure does tend to pull all the flavors together. Maters, the miracle fruit/veggie/dobob.
If you prefer to not use so much wine, a nice way to proceed that works just great is to use 1 1/2 to 2 cups wine and sub 1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup beef broth for the remaining volume.
Near the end of the cooking process, taste the sauce. You may need to add some salt, and various herbs to your personal taste. I do sometimes, depending on my mood at the time.
Can anyone say "reprisal?"
As I noted yesterday, a TSA inspector was being an idiot and climbing on planes belonging to American Eagle airlines. The company complained but, golly gee whiz, now the TSA has opened an investigation into "possible violations" by American Eagle.
Re-prize-all. Say it together, dear readers, REPRISAL.
TSA having a tantrum
Somebody needs to reign in that rabid entity before it gets worse than it already is.
Re-prize-all. Say it together, dear readers, REPRISAL.
TSA having a tantrum
Somebody needs to reign in that rabid entity before it gets worse than it already is.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
TSA strikes again
and again and again...
This is so good that I have to post the whole article. It's from a general aviation website.
This is so good that I have to post the whole article. It's from a general aviation website.
Commuter Flights Grounded Thanks To Bumbling TSA Inspector
Wed, 20 Aug '08
Damaged TAT Probes On Nine Jets While Conducting 'Security Checks'
They're the government... and remember, they're here to help. A bumbling inspector with the Transportation Safety Administration apparently has some explaining to do, after nine American Eagle regional jets were grounded at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday.
Citing sources within the aviation industry, ABC News reports an overzealous TSA employee attempted to gain access to the parked aircraft by climbing up the fuselage... reportedly using the Total Air Temperature (TAT) probes mounted to the planes' noses as handholds.
"The brilliant employees used an instrument located just below the cockpit window that is critical to the operation of the onboard computers," one pilot wrote on an American Eagle internet forum. "They decided this instrument, the TAT probe, would be adequate to use as a ladder."
Officials with
American Eagle confirmed to ANN the problem was discovered by maintenance personnel, who inspected the planes Tuesday morning... and questioned why the TAT probes all gave similar error indications.
One Eagle pilot says had the pilots not been so attentive, the damaged probes could have caused problems inflight. TSA agents "are now doing things to our aircraft that may put our lives, and the lives of our passengers at risk," the pilot wrote on the forum.
Grounding the planes to replace the TAT probes affected about 40 flights, according to American Airlines spokeswoman Mary Frances. "We think it's an unfortunate situation," she told ABCNews.com.
TSA conducts routine spot inspections of aircraft parked at commercial airports, according to agency spokesman Elio Montenegro. "Our inspector was following routine procedure for securing the aircraft that were on the tarmac," Montenegro said, adding the inspector was attempting to determine whether someone could break into the parked planes.
Pilots respond that agents are only allowed to check for unlocked cabin doors... a clear security risk, that could indeed compromise security. Indeed, regional airline Mesa Air Group notes "48 percent of all TSA investigations involving Mesa Air Group involve a failure to maintain area/aircraft security."
It's unclear whether that duty also allows an inspector to paw around an aircraft, however.
E-I-C Note: This was an extraordinarily dangerous incident, folks. The TSA has neither the mandate nor the knowledge to inspect any aircraft for any reason. The stupidity of this matter is nearly unbelievable... until you hear that the TSA is involved... then it becomes understandable, though still tragic. And I can not tell you how frustrating it is, to see them continue to hurt an indsutry that they were created to protect.
The TSA has NO BUSINESS putting untrained personnel in a position to damage aircraft. Their bizarre games, in the name of security, do NOTHING to enhance security and do much to inhibit safety. Aviation personnel -- pilots, A&P's, ground personnel -- are all either licensed or supervised by licensed personnel and this kind of tampering, had it been accomplished by anyone else, would have subjected that person to criminal charges.
In this case, ANN strongly recommends and encourages the criminal prosecution of this so-called inspector and his immediate supervisors... it is a matter of time before one of these morons does something stupid and gets someone killed... and with the way these incidents are occurring, we believe it is a virtual certainty that a TSA "Inpector" will hurt or kill someone in such a manner. No kidding.
A few other notes.. ANN spoke directly to the TSA PAO in this story, Elio Montenegro... a man who desperately needs to get his stories straight. When ANN talked to him early Tuesday evening, Montenegro first stated that no aircraft were tampered with, and thereafter attempted to minimize the issue by stating that a TSA Inspector "may have touched" the aircraft... which American Eagle "sorta" objected to. He claimed that there was no attempt to enter the aircraft, and when he was asked if TSA was, in fact, authorized to attempt such an entry -- out of the sight/knowledge/supervision of American Eagle personnel -- he said that he thought that I had asked a good question, did not know the answer, and promised to get back to me... in direct conflict with other reported statements. TSA can not keep their stories straight... and lying to the media... especially that part of the media that actually knows a thing or two about airplanes, was just plain foolish... if not a deliberate attempt to mislead.
Mind you, this is the same agency that now wants to step up supervision and surveillance of the GA world. Would you trust these kind of folks around your airplane?
I sure do not, and will not -- and the first time that I see a TSA person attempt any interaction with any aircraft under my control, I will call the cops and do my utmost to see that person charged with a crime... TSA can not be trusted around Air Transport airplanes... hell, TSA can not be trusted around GA... and TSA has shown us little or no reason why they should be trusted, in any way, with the security of the traveling public.
We're fed up with the incompetence of this organization... and while it was simply 'annoying' when they were sniffing our shoes or trying to rip off our laptops, it gets downright threatening when they start tampering with our airplanes.
Yes... this is quite the rant and I admit to no end of frustration with this organization... but I have to tell you, it's time to scrap the TSA and failing that, it is WAY past time that they be SEVERELY curtailed in their ability to harm others. Simply put, it's time to reign in the TSA... before they kill someone... if they haven't already.
Rant over... for now. -- Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C.
And now we know
that "earworm*" has an actual definition in the psych dictionary.
It's called cognitive itch.
Knowing this won't make the annoyance any less, I don't suppose.
Furthermore, someone who hears something and can bear witness to it is called an...
"earwitness"
"Flightseeing" is sightseeing but from an aircraft.
ROFLMSAO
I love dictionaries.
* You know, earworm. When you get a song or tune stuck in your head and it won't go away.
It's called cognitive itch.
Knowing this won't make the annoyance any less, I don't suppose.
Furthermore, someone who hears something and can bear witness to it is called an...
"earwitness"
"Flightseeing" is sightseeing but from an aircraft.
ROFLMSAO
I love dictionaries.
* You know, earworm. When you get a song or tune stuck in your head and it won't go away.
Congitive dissonance from Washington*
First comes the news that the DIA is combining all military intelligence operations under one roof.
That's here.....
Now, consider that previous article in light of this one:
Watching who???
Ahem.
Yeah, and stupidity, intrusiveness, and dumbassery from guvmunt can go on for years.
* Just in case someone doesn't know what cognitive dissonance is, it's this:
That's here.....
Now, consider that previous article in light of this one:
Watching who???
Ahem.
"History has shown, whether you are talking about criminal or terrorist activity, that plotting, planning or even relationships among conspirators can go on for years,"
Yeah, and stupidity, intrusiveness, and dumbassery from guvmunt can go on for years.
* Just in case someone doesn't know what cognitive dissonance is, it's this:
"anxiety that results from simultaneously holding contradictory or otherwise incompatible attitudes, beliefs, or the like."
And in financial news...
Credit crunch may take out large US bank warns former IMF chief
Well, great. This all has been brewing for years, it isn't a new thing. That doesn't mean the end result will be any less disastrous for just plain old folks.
"speculators are not a cause of out-of-control prices..." Really?
How about this: (Washington Post)
A Few Speculators...
Well, great. This all has been brewing for years, it isn't a new thing. That doesn't mean the end result will be any less disastrous for just plain old folks.
"speculators are not a cause of out-of-control prices..." Really?
How about this: (Washington Post)
A Few Speculators...
Treasure hunt for books
Getting a copy of Balmer's new book, mentioned yesterday, has turned into a treasure hunt.
One vendor after another is sold out. So, on to the next vendor.
Also ordered these:
That should give me plenty of material to think about.
I'm not anti-religion, I am just not in favor of politics masquerading as religion, or vice versa. I don't personally think that a person's religious views or his adherence to a particular set of beliefs gives much insight into personal behavior.
Changing the subject, yet again, this is an enlightening article from Intellectual Conservative:
"Clear Thinking" Counterfeit Conservatives
The author, Sartre, gives probably one of the best dissections of the Neoconservative value and belief system I have seen. I'm not an intellectual conservative by any means and the website the article was posted on annoys me no end, but this is a good article just the same.
One vendor after another is sold out. So, on to the next vendor.
Also ordered these:
"Scandal of Evangelical Politics, The: Why Are Christians Missing the Chance to Really Change the World?" by Ronald Sider
"Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts Faith and Threatens America" by Balmer
"American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America" by Chris Hedges
That should give me plenty of material to think about.
I'm not anti-religion, I am just not in favor of politics masquerading as religion, or vice versa. I don't personally think that a person's religious views or his adherence to a particular set of beliefs gives much insight into personal behavior.
Changing the subject, yet again, this is an enlightening article from Intellectual Conservative:
"Clear Thinking" Counterfeit Conservatives
The author, Sartre, gives probably one of the best dissections of the Neoconservative value and belief system I have seen. I'm not an intellectual conservative by any means and the website the article was posted on annoys me no end, but this is a good article just the same.
Oldie but goodie
"an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.
He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President George Bush"
The Marine replied, "Sir, Mr. Bush is not President and doesn't reside here." The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.
The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President George Bush"
The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr.Bush is not President and doesn't reside here."
The man thanked him and again walked away . .
The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President George Bush"
The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush ,I've told you already several times that Mr. Bush is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"
The old man answered, "Oh, I understand you fine. I just love hearing your answer!"
The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."
He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President George Bush"
The Marine replied, "Sir, Mr. Bush is not President and doesn't reside here." The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.
The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President George Bush"
The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr.Bush is not President and doesn't reside here."
The man thanked him and again walked away . .
The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President George Bush"
The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush ,I've told you already several times that Mr. Bush is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"
The old man answered, "Oh, I understand you fine. I just love hearing your answer!"
The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Add another one to the Gotta Have list
This book by Randall Balmer, God in the White House.
Here is a NPR story about the book, along with an excerpt.
NPR
Here is a NPR story about the book, along with an excerpt.
NPR
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Neighbor,
You know, we sure have enjoyed having you across the street from us. You have been very good neighbors and swapping favors back and forth on chores is just one of those things that neighbors do. Thank you!
I do have one request, only one. Please, when you are dogsitting your DD's schanuzer and jack, would you not put them outside in the yard and leave them all day while you go to work? Between them and your schnauzer, they bark all day long. I mean all day, too. Then that blasted miniature poodle in back of you folks gets started and it is just cacophony all the time.
It's merely annoying when the 3 beasts get up in your front window and bark like idiots at the mailman. It's always the same mailman in the same car at the same time of day. The other neighbor's cocker doesn't bark at him, the spaniel down the way a bit doesn't bark at him, the white fluffball the other direction doesn't bark at him, our beagle doesn't bark at him... why do those 3 little yappy beasts always bark at him? The bark when DS2 pulls up in his car, when I pull up, when Himself comes home, they just bark at every last thing that passes by.
Then there is the issue of folks walking their dogs past here. IMO, it really isn't vital for those three to raise the roof when someone comes by with another dog on a leash. I have watched people have to haul their dogs up on a short leash when walking by and some people don't come by here anymore because of the yappers. Some have started coming clear over here in my yard just to get as far away from the pandemonium as possible.
Now, mind you, I know you just love those beasts to bits and your daughter thinks the world of hers, but geeze, folks, get them under control. There have been times when they started at 6 a.m. and barked well past 7, waking everyone in the neighborhood that wasn't up already, including me. I know folks who have schanuzers and jacks and they don't bark constantly like that. Maybe a little discipline might help?
I know it would help inter-neighborhood relationships.
I do have one request, only one. Please, when you are dogsitting your DD's schanuzer and jack, would you not put them outside in the yard and leave them all day while you go to work? Between them and your schnauzer, they bark all day long. I mean all day, too. Then that blasted miniature poodle in back of you folks gets started and it is just cacophony all the time.
It's merely annoying when the 3 beasts get up in your front window and bark like idiots at the mailman. It's always the same mailman in the same car at the same time of day. The other neighbor's cocker doesn't bark at him, the spaniel down the way a bit doesn't bark at him, the white fluffball the other direction doesn't bark at him, our beagle doesn't bark at him... why do those 3 little yappy beasts always bark at him? The bark when DS2 pulls up in his car, when I pull up, when Himself comes home, they just bark at every last thing that passes by.
Then there is the issue of folks walking their dogs past here. IMO, it really isn't vital for those three to raise the roof when someone comes by with another dog on a leash. I have watched people have to haul their dogs up on a short leash when walking by and some people don't come by here anymore because of the yappers. Some have started coming clear over here in my yard just to get as far away from the pandemonium as possible.
Now, mind you, I know you just love those beasts to bits and your daughter thinks the world of hers, but geeze, folks, get them under control. There have been times when they started at 6 a.m. and barked well past 7, waking everyone in the neighborhood that wasn't up already, including me. I know folks who have schanuzers and jacks and they don't bark constantly like that. Maybe a little discipline might help?
I know it would help inter-neighborhood relationships.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Just dandy, thank you.
Am back from my massage. Ahhhhhhhh. Between Kathy working me over and the new heel lift, I am a bit sore and achy, to be sure. That will fade as long as I remember the things I need to do to keep from staying that way.
The thing that hurts worst, but was expected, is my right heel. Have a mild case of tendonitis and it will take a couple of days for the tendon to settle in.
Because of the stress we have been living with, it took Kathy an hour and a half to get me all limbered up. Under normal conditions, it only takes a little under and hour. She did have to do some intensive work on my trapezius, latissumus dorsi, neck and shoulders. That's where I "store" stress, unlike some people who keep it in their lower back or somewhere. Not like we would want to keep it, if we thought about it.
She also chewed me out about not doing my stretches while at the pootur. Now, since I worked in IT for years, I KNOW this but get all involved and totally forget. Then things get all spased/spazzed (?) and I am a hurting unit. I will try to be a good girl and remember. *sigh*
This has put a dent in the budget but I spoke with Himself about it. He thought that I needed to go, not only to the chiro, but also to Kathy. I'm always a much more pleasant person to be around when I'm not in pain, according to him. I suppose he would be the one to know, too. (insert wink)
I am still so glad I switched chiros. This one listens and doesn't do anything that isn't necessary, rather than just running through the usual routine. When I explained my reasoning for the suggested increase in left height, he actually listened to what I was saying and my reasoning behind my conclusion. Wow.
It might be, just might be, that I will not need to wear a brace. That would be really good news, especially in the summer. Winter is another story but, I'll tell you, the one the chiro proposes looks like some sort of torture device but near as much as the traditional ones. Here is a picture:
I don't have a picture of the back, though. Never the less, this looks like a much better alternative than those old plastic shells. Ugh. I am told that it is possible to keep active in sports and what-all while wearing this.
The thing that hurts worst, but was expected, is my right heel. Have a mild case of tendonitis and it will take a couple of days for the tendon to settle in.
Because of the stress we have been living with, it took Kathy an hour and a half to get me all limbered up. Under normal conditions, it only takes a little under and hour. She did have to do some intensive work on my trapezius, latissumus dorsi, neck and shoulders. That's where I "store" stress, unlike some people who keep it in their lower back or somewhere. Not like we would want to keep it, if we thought about it.
She also chewed me out about not doing my stretches while at the pootur. Now, since I worked in IT for years, I KNOW this but get all involved and totally forget. Then things get all spased/spazzed (?) and I am a hurting unit. I will try to be a good girl and remember. *sigh*
This has put a dent in the budget but I spoke with Himself about it. He thought that I needed to go, not only to the chiro, but also to Kathy. I'm always a much more pleasant person to be around when I'm not in pain, according to him. I suppose he would be the one to know, too. (insert wink)
I am still so glad I switched chiros. This one listens and doesn't do anything that isn't necessary, rather than just running through the usual routine. When I explained my reasoning for the suggested increase in left height, he actually listened to what I was saying and my reasoning behind my conclusion. Wow.
It might be, just might be, that I will not need to wear a brace. That would be really good news, especially in the summer. Winter is another story but, I'll tell you, the one the chiro proposes looks like some sort of torture device but near as much as the traditional ones. Here is a picture:
I don't have a picture of the back, though. Never the less, this looks like a much better alternative than those old plastic shells. Ugh. I am told that it is possible to keep active in sports and what-all while wearing this.
Lift it up.
Am increasing the height of the heel lift under my right heel. Have reached a neutral point and have been noticing a decrease in mobility so... suggested to chiro this a.m. he look and see if the right leg seemed shorter than the left and, yup, sure did. Have a new heel doohickey that I am going to put in my sandal before I have to take off again.
Am expecting a couple days of discomfort as my hip and back adjust to the increase but, as long as I stay mobile, it will wear off and I can continue to track improvement in my back.
I haven't, even with the temporary pause in progress, been anything like I was before we started with this new chiro. Even at the worst, I have been able to move about, get in and out of the shower and continue my daily tasks. Driving has been possible, too, without grinding pain in my hip, back and neck.
May times, as so often the case may be, change is a good thing.
Am expecting a couple days of discomfort as my hip and back adjust to the increase but, as long as I stay mobile, it will wear off and I can continue to track improvement in my back.
I haven't, even with the temporary pause in progress, been anything like I was before we started with this new chiro. Even at the worst, I have been able to move about, get in and out of the shower and continue my daily tasks. Driving has been possible, too, without grinding pain in my hip, back and neck.
May times, as so often the case may be, change is a good thing.
For those of you
who have been following along with the SS saga here...
A consensus has been met. All parties in authority (Himself and I) have decided to step back, raise our hands and tell SS that he is now on his own. We will continue to feed him, provide a roof over his head and make sure he gets school-stuff taken care of and medical care. Other than that? It's his responsibility. We have come to this conclusion for the following reasons:
This may seem harsh but we have no other recourse. The stress of having him listen to you and knowing it is not getting through, or his mind is elsewhere, is too much. Knowing that he doesn't think anyone knows anything except he and his little friends doesn't lead to good interpersonal relations, either.
To top it off, the whole situation has caused tremendous stress between Himself and me. We're coming up on our 14th anniversary the 7th of September and, although we have come through some horribly hard times together, this last year has almost destroyed our relationship. We will not allow that to happen. Speaking earlier, we agreed that we both know, once the kids are grown and gone, it will be just us. We must protect that, even if one or more of the kids has to learn terribly hard lessons. Yes, it sounds selfish but think about it... these guys are not 5 years old. The 2 youngest will be 18 this year and we can't be coddling them. They will need to come up against the fact that the world will chew them up and spit them out and doesn't give a damn. That's all.
One of them is already coming to the conclusion that he has totally wasted the last 3 years of school and now is under the gun. He has been forced to carry a very heavy load of academics. This will require, not just study hall and free time in school, but he will need to bring home and concentrate on economics, ecology, psychology, sociology and so forth. It will be a struggle for him but he must remember that it is up to him. The only person that can bail him out will be himself. His teachers will help, we will help as we can, but it isn't primarily our responsibility. If he doesn't want to go to work at a packing house or work at a big box store and live under a bridge, he needs to get with the program and stay with the program.
This is one of the hardest things we have had to do. In actuality, it is the very hardest. To have to take action which is, to all intents and purposes, like dropping them off a bridge to fly or not...
Parenting sucks sometimes when the only, and best thing, to do is just step back.
Grant us strength, any powers that be, we will need them.
A consensus has been met. All parties in authority (Himself and I) have decided to step back, raise our hands and tell SS that he is now on his own. We will continue to feed him, provide a roof over his head and make sure he gets school-stuff taken care of and medical care. Other than that? It's his responsibility. We have come to this conclusion for the following reasons:
- It has become clear over the last week that SS is not paying any attention to anything. Hence, since he insists he is an adult and can mind his own business, he will.
- Since he has blown every cent of every paycheck this summer, we will not loan him money for That Car. We will not pay to fix it. We will not loan him funds for gas. Nobody here will give him funds for anything. We will not pay insurance. It's his vehicle, he insisted on having it and now it's all his problem.
- He blew off the tasks his teacher gave him to finish before school. Totally and completely blew them off. So, since he didn't think it important enough to check into the Regent's admission standards, testing that would be vital or a cumulative GPA or what classes he would need even if he goes to junior college and believes that the school (or we) should be taking care of all this for him... he's on his own.
- He wants everything both ways. Wants to be let loose to take care of himself but, at the same time, has no idea how to do that and has demonstrated time after time after time that he can't. OK. Since you insist that you are an adult, here's your life. You can't have it both ways so you will have it your way. You have left us no other choice. Live with it.
This may seem harsh but we have no other recourse. The stress of having him listen to you and knowing it is not getting through, or his mind is elsewhere, is too much. Knowing that he doesn't think anyone knows anything except he and his little friends doesn't lead to good interpersonal relations, either.
To top it off, the whole situation has caused tremendous stress between Himself and me. We're coming up on our 14th anniversary the 7th of September and, although we have come through some horribly hard times together, this last year has almost destroyed our relationship. We will not allow that to happen. Speaking earlier, we agreed that we both know, once the kids are grown and gone, it will be just us. We must protect that, even if one or more of the kids has to learn terribly hard lessons. Yes, it sounds selfish but think about it... these guys are not 5 years old. The 2 youngest will be 18 this year and we can't be coddling them. They will need to come up against the fact that the world will chew them up and spit them out and doesn't give a damn. That's all.
One of them is already coming to the conclusion that he has totally wasted the last 3 years of school and now is under the gun. He has been forced to carry a very heavy load of academics. This will require, not just study hall and free time in school, but he will need to bring home and concentrate on economics, ecology, psychology, sociology and so forth. It will be a struggle for him but he must remember that it is up to him. The only person that can bail him out will be himself. His teachers will help, we will help as we can, but it isn't primarily our responsibility. If he doesn't want to go to work at a packing house or work at a big box store and live under a bridge, he needs to get with the program and stay with the program.
This is one of the hardest things we have had to do. In actuality, it is the very hardest. To have to take action which is, to all intents and purposes, like dropping them off a bridge to fly or not...
Parenting sucks sometimes when the only, and best thing, to do is just step back.
Grant us strength, any powers that be, we will need them.
Monday, August 18, 2008
I'm still around...
Just didn't feel like writing this weekend. Took the whole weekend off and did absolutely nothing of any importance.
Finished one book and started another. That was so great, just flop out on my bed with a glass of water and Dr. Sagan... first time in about 2 years I have had a chance to do that.
When getting school supplies today, I got a pack of razor blades for himself. The darned things have doubled in price! They're now over $2 a blade! I think we may need to consider a different options for male hair removal... wow.
It's just beautiful here today. Starting to warm up but there is a little breeze.
Finally managed to get cards for Lil Sis, DD and DS1 that I actually liked. DD had her b'day the 5th of July and DS1's was the 17 of July. Sis's isn't until the 24th of this month so I'm ahead of the game on that. Hope they like them. The lady at the store who was helping me and I were reading them and laughing like idiots. hee hee hee
DS3's father is coming over after work tonight and taking him to get his hair cut. It's pretty long but he doesn't want a lot cut off. Hope his Dad lets him make his own choices about how he wants it done. That's one less thing I have to take care of and it is a great relief.
I cheated today and bought 2 racks of pork spare ribs at a deli in town. Then cheated more and smoked them using the stove-top smoker. Now taking the cheating further and just roasting them at 250F, wrapped in foil, in the oven. Cheating is sometimes good to do.
I find it interesting that there is so much difference in taste and color between Italian first cold pressed olive oil and Greek. The Italian is a golden color and has a very mild, neutral flavor. The Greek is green as an olive, has a stronger flavor and aroma and tastes just ever so slightly sweet. I decided to use Greek oil for Greek food after thinking that my spanakopita didn't taste like my Greek friend's spanakopita. Same with the yemista. It does now that I use the Greek oil. The Greek is also way too strong for dressing pasta, IMO. Does very nicely as a basic oil, though, in place of corn or canola.
I usually make my own BBQ sauce but, since I aimed on cheating, I bought some. Got my favorite, Rufus Teague's, and a new one, Ole Ray's Kentucky Re Bourbon. Man, is that stuff GOOD! The Teague's is KC style, thick and rather sweet. The KRB is thinner, not sweet at all but just wonderful. Hope Mak continues to carry the stuff as all there is in the markets around here is the usual frosting-cum-BBQ sauce that is just gross.
Himself specifically requested Doug's Potatoes for supper, too. I like the recipe because it's easy. Slice as many red taters as you need (I usually figure 2 per person), slice 2 medium onions thin, layer them with balck pepper on aluminum foil. Plop pats of butter around and fold the foil up to make a nice, tight package. Stick 'em on the grill for 30 to 45 minutes anywhere from 300 - 350 degrees, turning once. They are absolutely the best taters and the guy who came up with the recipe can't even boil water! Just goes to show, never can tell where you will find a flash of genius. (The only thing that is different is that Himself will absolutely NOT eat potato skins in any form. Peeling the taters just sort of takes some of the ease out of the recipe. Darn it.)
Did get quite a bit accomplished today. Took in cans, took lunch to Himself, got school supplies, gas, the ribs, onions. All, unfortunately, totally separate places so did a good bit of driving. Gas has gone down so it isn't too bad. Put $20 in and ended up with 3/4 tank. Glad I'm not driving the K5 anymore. Augh!
Need to get the mileage from the F150 and get the thing advertised for sale. It's a nice truckmobile but we don't need anything with that kind of power. Sold the Bayliner earlier and we can haul the Alumacraft on the Roo if need be. If push comes to shove, will borrow an F250 I sold to an older gentleman here in town to pull the car trailer. As the price of gas has gone up, so has the price of motorcycles, which is what Himself wants to get. I am leaning more toward a little S10 or something of the sort because, after all, this IS Iowa and winter is coming.
As you can tell, Gentle Reader, I'm not in a reflective mood today. No links to annoyances, dumbassery or any guvmunt foolishness. Although I have been working through some posts about all that stuff, just don't feel like messing with it today. My brain still thinks it's having a day off, I guess.
Have had some dumbassery around here but it's the same person, just a different day. Some things don't change, I guess, regardless of how much you would like them to.
My favorite Schwan's man was just here. He is always disappointed when I only get one or two things, at the most. Since school is starting, we don't need Popsicles and suchlike. I don't eat them and the Herd doesn't need them during school, so... I realize that he relies on his customers for his income but I can't sacrifice the group here to support him. Since Himself won't be paid until the beginning of September I am being very careful with funds, too.*
Will turn on the air in about 30 minutes. Got up to 90+ and Himself will be hot and tired when he gets off. Good thing the a.c. in the truckmobile works but still, it's nice to relax in a cool house.
* I have to confess, I have no idea why his employer holds new driver's first paychecks until the second pay period. Makes no sense to me and is a hardship for the drivers. It isn't like he is a brand new employee, either. He's worked there before. It's just weird.
Finished one book and started another. That was so great, just flop out on my bed with a glass of water and Dr. Sagan... first time in about 2 years I have had a chance to do that.
When getting school supplies today, I got a pack of razor blades for himself. The darned things have doubled in price! They're now over $2 a blade! I think we may need to consider a different options for male hair removal... wow.
It's just beautiful here today. Starting to warm up but there is a little breeze.
Finally managed to get cards for Lil Sis, DD and DS1 that I actually liked. DD had her b'day the 5th of July and DS1's was the 17 of July. Sis's isn't until the 24th of this month so I'm ahead of the game on that. Hope they like them. The lady at the store who was helping me and I were reading them and laughing like idiots. hee hee hee
DS3's father is coming over after work tonight and taking him to get his hair cut. It's pretty long but he doesn't want a lot cut off. Hope his Dad lets him make his own choices about how he wants it done. That's one less thing I have to take care of and it is a great relief.
I cheated today and bought 2 racks of pork spare ribs at a deli in town. Then cheated more and smoked them using the stove-top smoker. Now taking the cheating further and just roasting them at 250F, wrapped in foil, in the oven. Cheating is sometimes good to do.
I find it interesting that there is so much difference in taste and color between Italian first cold pressed olive oil and Greek. The Italian is a golden color and has a very mild, neutral flavor. The Greek is green as an olive, has a stronger flavor and aroma and tastes just ever so slightly sweet. I decided to use Greek oil for Greek food after thinking that my spanakopita didn't taste like my Greek friend's spanakopita. Same with the yemista. It does now that I use the Greek oil. The Greek is also way too strong for dressing pasta, IMO. Does very nicely as a basic oil, though, in place of corn or canola.
I usually make my own BBQ sauce but, since I aimed on cheating, I bought some. Got my favorite, Rufus Teague's, and a new one, Ole Ray's Kentucky Re Bourbon. Man, is that stuff GOOD! The Teague's is KC style, thick and rather sweet. The KRB is thinner, not sweet at all but just wonderful. Hope Mak continues to carry the stuff as all there is in the markets around here is the usual frosting-cum-BBQ sauce that is just gross.
Himself specifically requested Doug's Potatoes for supper, too. I like the recipe because it's easy. Slice as many red taters as you need (I usually figure 2 per person), slice 2 medium onions thin, layer them with balck pepper on aluminum foil. Plop pats of butter around and fold the foil up to make a nice, tight package. Stick 'em on the grill for 30 to 45 minutes anywhere from 300 - 350 degrees, turning once. They are absolutely the best taters and the guy who came up with the recipe can't even boil water! Just goes to show, never can tell where you will find a flash of genius. (The only thing that is different is that Himself will absolutely NOT eat potato skins in any form. Peeling the taters just sort of takes some of the ease out of the recipe. Darn it.)
Did get quite a bit accomplished today. Took in cans, took lunch to Himself, got school supplies, gas, the ribs, onions. All, unfortunately, totally separate places so did a good bit of driving. Gas has gone down so it isn't too bad. Put $20 in and ended up with 3/4 tank. Glad I'm not driving the K5 anymore. Augh!
Need to get the mileage from the F150 and get the thing advertised for sale. It's a nice truckmobile but we don't need anything with that kind of power. Sold the Bayliner earlier and we can haul the Alumacraft on the Roo if need be. If push comes to shove, will borrow an F250 I sold to an older gentleman here in town to pull the car trailer. As the price of gas has gone up, so has the price of motorcycles, which is what Himself wants to get. I am leaning more toward a little S10 or something of the sort because, after all, this IS Iowa and winter is coming.
As you can tell, Gentle Reader, I'm not in a reflective mood today. No links to annoyances, dumbassery or any guvmunt foolishness. Although I have been working through some posts about all that stuff, just don't feel like messing with it today. My brain still thinks it's having a day off, I guess.
Have had some dumbassery around here but it's the same person, just a different day. Some things don't change, I guess, regardless of how much you would like them to.
My favorite Schwan's man was just here. He is always disappointed when I only get one or two things, at the most. Since school is starting, we don't need Popsicles and suchlike. I don't eat them and the Herd doesn't need them during school, so... I realize that he relies on his customers for his income but I can't sacrifice the group here to support him. Since Himself won't be paid until the beginning of September I am being very careful with funds, too.*
Will turn on the air in about 30 minutes. Got up to 90+ and Himself will be hot and tired when he gets off. Good thing the a.c. in the truckmobile works but still, it's nice to relax in a cool house.
* I have to confess, I have no idea why his employer holds new driver's first paychecks until the second pay period. Makes no sense to me and is a hardship for the drivers. It isn't like he is a brand new employee, either. He's worked there before. It's just weird.
Countdown!
Seventeen hours....
YEEEEEHA!
Have, as a treat for myself, scheduled a massage for tomorrow at 1 p.m.
YEEEEEHA!
Have, as a treat for myself, scheduled a massage for tomorrow at 1 p.m.
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