how about drinking?
Comments
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Im doing well jazzy, thanks for asking. Chemo was easier than I expected, the surgical drains sucked but that’s in the past now and radiation was doable. I still feel like I’m carrying some rocks in my bra on the left but I know it will take some time to settle after rads, not a big deal for now. I had some night sweats from tamoxifen but that SE has gone away and my stiff finger joints are doing fine with glucosamine/condroiten in the mix. No impairment from the brain mets and feeling pretty darn good overall, now I just need to get off the holiday chocolate and back on the veggies!
Looking forward to a good 2018 with a possible trip to Hawaii, my medical retirement in June and a permanent move from the hustle and bustle to a quite mountain top.
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! Maine has dropped back into the deep freeze. Currently 6 below with a wind chill of 29 below. I was going to do some shoveling today, but I think I'll wait and see if tomorrow is a bit less dangerous for outside activity. Today is supposed to be the most brutal, with some moderating over the next few days. I don't mind the snow, this would be great for snowshoeing, but the bitter cold is just too much for me to be out in, no matter how bundled up I get! That's ok, plenty to do inside the house that will entertain Silly Sadie and keep us both warm.
Goldie--Glad to hear things are good, at least for the next 6 weeks! Glad to share the milk info. It always amazes me how much different a recipe can turn out just by changing one ingredient like milk. Yes, I do have winter survival stuff in the car in case of a break down or getting stuck. As to Sadie swimming off the island, I'm sure she would go swimming, but I don't think she'd go too far away from her prime source of belly rubs and doggy chow. But that would be something to think about if I ever find myself in the position of shopping for an island of my very own!
Illi-I am so glad you are already feeling better after the surgery/chemo/rads portion of treatment.A trip to Hawaii sounds like a grand time! Have you picked out your retirement mountain top yet?
Joy McSparkles DOTD:
Arctic Mule -
Ingredients
- 1 ounce pineapple vodka
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1/2 ounce sugar free peppermint syrup , optional... I used Torani
- 1/4 teaspoon Blue water enhancer I used Mio Berry Blast Electrolytes
- 1/4 ounce lime juice
- 6 ounces sugar free ginger beer
- Ice
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients except ginger beer together until well chilled.
- Strain into glass then fill with ginger beer.
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New Year (((hugs))) for One-and-All. ;o)
The outdoor generator has helped to keep our home warm during this frigid weather.
-17*F Brrr!
I am packing away X-mas and New Year's crap this weekend.
BBL
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NativeMainer, our mountain top is already bought and DH built a cabin, we just need to complete the interior, have the electrical done and hire out the stairs and deck. It’s in west Texas near the observatory pictured below and has the most amazing night sky I’ve ever seen.
I can’t imagine the cold many of you are dealing with, sure hope it warms up soon
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Jeez I've been trying to ketchup here for over n hour. effin phones, they don't stop.
But our weather is horribly cold too, just letting Sox out is no one wants to open the door, but he doesn't walk round sniffing like usual either, he's right back in.
Lori I'm glad ur Dr. is OK wit ur counts makes it sound better for u.
Sandy that really worked out well for Gordy, it was great they had other new boyfriends there, they had each other to help. He sounds like he's really getting committed to Leslie <her name right> U know u make some foods that I don;t even like sound good LOL
Karen so happy the Taxol is going better for you and u sound busy. Ur DD is just so cute, she has to make u happy every day.
Ill u too, glad ur doing well and feel like u do, it's just so nice to hear.
Jazzy I always like the way u have things planned and the swimming wow u must be strong and I too didn't know that turn around would be that difficult but knowing how u are I know u'll learn when u want too.
Wow Kim lots of snow for u---we're just getting the cold, maybe tomorrow tho. Jeez milk, who knew???
Cyn oh I feel bad that u don't get to be with Donese like u should be. But I am jelly <per Lori> about ur weather. U always remind me of the free spirit from years ago and enjoy ur pics on FB---I might have missed some things but how are u and Donese planning on staying in one place...
All the decorations are coming down today, I hate that, love all the lites. Joey keeps his up in his room all the time, he's like me.
These people calling, some r so mean <women, mostly> Oh I don't blame them for being mad about things, but I don't like being yelled at--I'm not Mother Nature---not my fault. I was almost not nice to someone yesterday but I held my Italian at bay-chit I wish I did have an Italian on a bay---oh well. I'm so tired I fall asleep working on the puter with my head either on the keys or just sitting in the same position, it's non stop here with worry and busy---U all know I'm not a worker, I love to be lazy, I mean I really do.
Leslie has decided to have the recon with the dble mast. now---they'll take it from the back, IDK I really wish she'd wait but for whatever reason she's back to that. I know she'll do what she wants so there's no point on going on and on so I'll just now keep my mouth shut. I'm still basically walking around the house without my walker, but all crooked, LOL I am thankful for MORPHINE big time tho. I can feel when it's time to take it about 15 mins. before the actual time, but I hold off so I'm right on time and continue with my codeine-right on time---can't let pills wait or they get sour, wait that's milk , ok we're back to milk see we got milk.
OK I've been on and off for 2 hrs now back and forth.
LUBS U ALL
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Gordy & Leslie flew home a day apart, on different airlines, but he was there to meet her at O'Hare Wed. afternoon. They're spending every night (and except for 2 hrs. yesterday, day) together because school starts back up again Monday and it's back to lesson plans, grading homework & tests, etc. until the weekend.
Was very cold here too. Haven't worn the shearling hooded coat since NYE, because it's so thick & stiff I actually got sore muscles from reaching around the back of my head to tie my scarf! But layers & leather seem to be doing the trick. Got down to 5 above today but the temp. is rising--10 at midnight, and they're expecting 30 as a high for tomorrow. But that comes with a price: at least an inch & a half of snow. (Nothing like you Easterners are suffering--yikes)!
On the way home from my mani yesterday I saw fresh ski tracks in the snow in the park along Lake Shore Drive--and just as we reached the end of the Drive, a guy trudging from his condo, carrying XC skis & poles. Had a pang of wistful nostalgia: I haven't skied in nearly 30 years, even though I bought new boots for my ever-growing feet the last year we had decent snow (I think Dec. 2014). Natch, as soon as I had the time the snow melted. Then the last two years, bc & arthritis got in the way. Now, with osteopenia, I'm terrified of falling, despite having bionic knees.
Spent the last couple of days setting up the new Cuisinart, and figuring out where to keep it. (Housekeeper & I have different ideas). It's the 14-cup model, but it comes with just one blade (they're not including the plastic one because the steel knife blade does everything the plastic one can do and more--and I guess they trust consumers with sharp stuff). Took awhile to drag out the old one (the 10-cup DLC-7, two years older than Gordy!) and all its accoutrements (extra work bowl, 7 discs--3 slicing, 2 shredding, julienne and french fry, plus the plastic rack & blade storage box)). Haven't used it in more than a couple of years, not since we hosted Thanksgiving and I made cranberry relish, and the last time I made latkes from scratch for Hanukkah instead of from a mix or frozen ones. It hasn't seen action during my low-carb days because there wasn't much to whip up in it--I was mostly grilling, sauteeing and steaming, or dining out/ordering in. I have vowed to go back and watch my backlog of America's Test Kitchen episodes that use the food processor--I'd mostly "zoned out" on those because it was too much of a PITA to haul the thing out and clean it up.
And boy, did it have to be cleaned up! There was a thick film of grime on the discs that had been sitting out unused on the open rack, from years of dust & grease in the air. (Used=washed, unused+sitting out=yuck). And the plastic storage box that held the detachable disc stem and plastic & knife blades was so gunked-up I had to soak it in very hot water to loosen the prongs that held the lid closed so tight it was unopenable. I stored the knife blade on the machine, so the box held only the plastic blade and stem. Finally got it open, and washed it out (needed some scrubbing). But scrubbing wouldn't have done squat for the rack & discs--so into the dishwasher they went, and I used the "pots & pans" cycle. This morning, I found them sparkling. So I have done the same with the work bowls & lid. Meanwhile, before bed I'll clean off the machine housing (will cover the bottom with foil & plastic wrap so no water will get in). That's gotta be done by hand.
DOTD last night & tonight--couple oz. of Signorello 2010 Cab. Sauv., to go with steak that Bob brought home last night.
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Illona, so glad to hear you are feeling well. That's a big plus for us stage IV gals. I thought you said you wanted an island in Hawaii. So you do own an island, but it's in TX? That cabin is adorable and I bet you can't wait to get in it.
NM, I think I remember in past you mentioning having survival stuff in your car, so I wanted to make sure you still did.
Teka, glad you are staying warm. Had a chuckle over you calling the decorations crap.
Cami, I imagine you are swamped with the phones and this cold weather. Can't blame Sox for not wanting to go out. So funny these dogs hurrying up to do their bidness. Nice to hear that Leslie has made her decision, re MX and recon at the same time. You know it might hard for us that are older, but she is younger, so maybe she will get through it with no complications and minimal pain. How is she with pain? Will she stop smoking for surgery? I hate when people call to complain about some like it's our fault.
Went to town yesterday, needed to pic up a few things and to the movies. Saw Jumangi, with "The Rock". It was actually pretty good, I was pleasantly surprised. Also funny. Hoping to get outside today and plant a few more things that I started in the house. Beets, mustard greens and lettuce. I keep traps set in the garden for those peskly little 4 legged rodants. Well I was missing a trap! I believe I caught something and a raven seen it and came in to get that meal and took my trap with him/her!
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Good Morning
Another chilly AM here in SWFlorida but things are looking up. It will get up to almost 70 today and 75 tomorrow. I'll take it..Im over this crap. I don't know how you do it NM and its only January. Glad you have an emergency kit in your car.
Illi....beautiful cabin...what a view.
Cami....what is it that you are doing on the phone? I love being lazy too and have fallen asleep while waiting for a call at work. Permanently, it will be about 6 years before we are able to live together. We constantly are looking at homes for sale and some day we will buy one but we have time to hold out for the "perfect" fit.
Goldie...I envy your green thumb. Wish I had a yard that I could garden in...some day.
Today is my last shift before .......yes, vacation again. Jodi will be coming in tomorrow...excited to see her.
Everyone stay warm..stay safe.
huggles
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Goldie, lol! I wish I owned an island, sadly no. Hopefully, I’ll get to visit one this year though
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! Today Mom and I are resurrecting an old Christmas tradition we had for years. We're going to watch White Christmas and eat popcorn and drink hot chocolate. We used to do that every year up until she moved in with Dick, then it kind of stopped. She found a DVD of the movie earlier this year, so we're going to start the tradition again. I am surprisingly excited to have this on the calendar for the day! Sadie will get lots of loving from Dick while we watch.
Teka--generators are good things!
Illi--Wow, what a nighttime view! And what a daytime view, too!And not much left to be done, really. Temps will warm up eventually, the big problem right now is the windiness, and that is calming down. The gusts will still make for dangerous wind chill, but at least it's not all the time.
Cammy--The furbabies know better than to take any more time outside than necessary in this cold. They aren't foolish! It's too bad people are so mean on the phone. Being angry and upset is one thing, but being mean to someone who has no control over it isn't called for. Good for you for keeping to your medication schedule. That will go a long way toward keeping the pain at bay.
Chi--I don't blame Gordy and Leslie for spending as much time together as they can until school starts up again. Work always seems to be getting in the way of life! This bitter cold/warm up and snow seesaw can break down anytime now. We've had our share of both for the season! Holy Moly, that is a lot of cleaning up work on an appliance you aren't even really using! Isn't it amazing how much gunk can collect on unused stuff? I've got some appliances I rarely use and have learned to store them wrapped in plastic wrap or inside a gallon sized zip lock bag to prevent the gunkies. Washing machines are wonderful helps for projects like this.
Goldie--Born and raised in Maine, I've been stuck in the car a few times. Not fun, and I know of a couple of people who have died in storms when stuck in cars. Not going to let that happen to me.I'll bet there's a raven, or maybe even an owl or hawk, that is thanking you for an easy meal! You probably don't care if a bird got a meal, but they could have left the trap! Maybe it will be returned? That would take one smart birdy!
Joy McSparkles DOTD:
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The Raven Cocktail
What You'll Need
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce rum
- 1 ounce blue curacao
- 1/2 ounce Chambord
How to Make It
- Pour the vodka, rum, and blue curacao into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.
- Slowly pour the Chambord over the back of a bar spoon so it floats on top.
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Kim, if I don't get any takers among friends or family (the Cuisinart is a Pro Custom 11, DLC-8--it was so long since I bought it that I forgot the model #), it's going on my neighborhood blog for best offer; I'm not going to sell or give it away filthy. Turns out one of the work bowls was chipped at the bottom flange and won't lock onto the base, so into the recycling it went. But I wish all those discs fit my new one. They don't even make the julienne disc any more, so for that it's back to the ol' chef's knife. (Seriously considering getting an Asian veggie cleaver--the tall blade is stabler and makes it easier to bend my fingers under, and less likely I'd nick them. Anyway, the dishwasher did a terrific job on everything but the base, which shouldn't be immersed in water. (Simple Green on a green scrubby-cloth to the rescue).
Lori, when the raven flew off with the rodent & trap, did it caw "nevermore?"
Cami, this is awful weather for pooches. As I was going through the alley on the way to my garage late at night, I saw a neighbor walking his chihuahua. Poor thing--I couldn't tell from its trembling whether it was chilled to the bone, or just being a chihuahua. There's also a flame war going on at my neighborhood blog between the dog owners and the salt-spreaders. The dog-owners think people shouldn't use salt on icy sidewalks and even the city shouldn't salt the streets, because salt irritates paws. When someone pointed out he uses the expensive pet-safe ice-melt sold in pet stores (as do I), one dog owner said that's not good enough, because it (or cat litter) gets stuck between the dogs' toes. It got really ugly when another neighbor suggested it's more important to keep people from falling and cars from crashing, so why not use dog booties? The responses ranged from "it's too inconvenient when you have a dog desperate to do its business" (how about establishing a routine in that regard?) to "how dare you say your car or even your life is more important than my dog's comfort! You should shovel down to bare pavement without having to spread anything!" (Ever try to do that when it snows >an inch per hour and you're a senior &/or disabled)?
This is why I own cats (or they own me) instead, and never let them outdoors (except in carriers to visit the vet or groomer). And why I have a shovel-guy on retainer,
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Quick question for any of you ladies who did external rads, did you use any creams to help with external burning? My BFF is starting external rads and not a computer saavy person (so she won't ever use this site), so I thought I would ask those of you who had that type of radiation therapy what you used that helped?
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Just answering Jazzy for now. I had burns, tried several things from wound care, the last one worked the best and I might not be spelling it right, but it's sulfasalazine, or something like that.
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Hi girls! How is everyone doing? I wanted to poop in and do some dwinking with mese goils. ~hiccupp, howz everyone doing I said?
So I visited the PS on Friedey and he is okay with how things look with my healing. I still have one area that is oozing but he had put a sulfur stick in the hole he made when he debrided and said something about the sulfur makes healing take longer but it is supposed to fight infection. I am now at a wait and see, call the PS if things get worse and not better.
Jazzie, I suspect that Cyndie Lou Who aka Lucy can give your friend some suggestions, she really had a hard time with the ext rads. I will say a prayer that your friend;s burns improve and she heals quickly. Congrats on all the weight loss for the year, you have done so well with all that swimming and it sure has paid off.
NM, sweet tradition. and a win win for Miss Sadie with getting pets from Dick. HOpe the popcorn/movie was all you wanted it to be and more! Hope you are staying warm, it has been cold here too. I was dying while shoveling the snow from that blizzard, the winds were hitting my face and it went numb in jest a few minutes. My hands were also freezing, I did not have the right gloves.
CYn, envy you there in Florida, time to make a visit, oh how I wish I could. I feel bad that it got so cool there but uh, not toooo tooo bad lol. The low here last night was 2 below the donut hole as NM would say! That is very cold for this area. And its been cold for so long, not typical here.
Lori, I cringe when I tink about the pics of your hands and feet that you posted, you poor poor dear. Saying some prayers for healing for you girl friend, breaks my heart!
Cam, glad that Leslie has made her decision and hope that her treatments are going well for her. Sorry you are so darn biddy at work.
Karen, glad the new chemo is being more kind than the red devil. Your little girl sure is cute!
Sandy, sounds like your son had a great time with his girlfriend. FUnny about meet the boyfriends weekend. Good luck in selling, hope you find a buyer for your cuisinart!
Goldie, lol on thinking that Ill owns an island, you silly blond you hehe. Love you.
Ill, you sure to travel quite a bit, getting closer and closer to retirement you are. I can't wait, have at least 8 more years to go. Hope you are feeling well today.
Hello to any bwest fwends whom I have missed, love all mese goils so much. Stay warm everyone and stay cool to anyone where it's warm. Hi Mema Sue, tinking about you as you approach the big day, will be in yer pocket fir shoah!
cheeRs!
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bumped ya in the pewel Lori, glad you have a suggestion for Jazzy's fwend. cheerS!
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Goldie- it looks like it is silver sulfadiazine creme. I found more info on it and going to send it over to them so she can ask for some. Always good to have an endorsement from those who actually used something. Thank you friend!
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Jazzy,
RO at 1st gave me Aquaphor then prescription Silvadene cream for severe radiation burn.
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They're not "external burns: " even though the damage appears on the outside of the skin and resembles a sunburn, unlike a sunburn it first occurs deep within and manifests from the inside out. The point of the radiation is to reach deep into the tumor cavity and destroy any remaining tumor cells that might have been missed by surgery. By the time the evidence appears on the outside, it's possible that healing may have begun on the inside.
Why? Because under normal circumstances, the basal cells of the dermis and epidermis continually die and new ones are generated. It happens imperceptibly. But radiation scattered from the surface of the tumor cavity ricochets and damages the basal cells' ability to produce enough new skin cells to replace the dead ones, and so irritation, blistering, peeling and even broken skin appear. It's dose-and-duration-dependent. Unlike a sunburn--which is caused by UV rays damaging the outer layer of the epidermis--the degree and extent of radiation damage is totally unrelated to the amount of pigment in the skin (I'm very pale and saw very little skin effects--just some pinkness, not even irritation or itching).
So nothing you put on the skin can prevent "radiation burns." But it can relieve the discomfort and speed healing by helping pH balance and keeping too much moisture from escaping. My RO's office handed out sample tubes of Aquaphor, which I applied immediately after each treatment (even before getting dressed again). At bedtime, I applied 100% aloe vera gel (Fruit of the Earth, alcohol/dye/fragrance-free), followed by calendula cream (I preferred Boiron). Before I left for each session, I showered thoroughly because you need clean skin without any substances on it to prevent any interference with direct penetration of the rays to exactly where they're targeted. After I was done, my derm prescribed a steroid ointment (triamcinolone) to heal what she believed was too much reddening. It worked. Sulfadiazene can help with more severe damage.
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Thanks Goldie, thanks Teka!
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Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Monkey Day! It is an amazing 11 degrees outside this ayem! Going to get a little more snow today. At least we're out of the deep freeze for a little bit. Had a lively visit with Mom and Dick yesterday, got to see White Christmas for the first time inyears. Still a wonderful movie. Sadie just went from me to Mom to Dick for petting all through the movie.
Chi--Simple Green to the rescue, indeed! That stuff is marvelous. Have you ever used it to wash clothes? Talk about getting greasy stains out. It's odd how the newer appliances aren't being made with some of the detail items they used to come with routinely. Maybe no one ever juliennes veggies at home anymore? Maybe everyone buys veggies pre-sliced now? Sounds to me like some of the dog owners in the neighborhood are being unreasonable. Sidewalks and streets need to be salted. Dog's paws need to be wiped off when you get home from a walk. Heck, I even have to wipe Sadie's paws when she comes in to get the snow balls out from between her pads and check the paw leather for cold damage, and that has nothing to do with salt! I'm sorry, but preventing crashing and human falls trumps salty doggy paw wiping after a walk.
Jazzy--I used sulfasalazine, also known as Silvadene cream for radiation burns. No one ever said anything about using something to prevent burning.
Dara--it was great watching the moving with Mom again. We passed on the popcorn since we watched it right after lunch, but made plans to do it earlier in the season this year. Sadie and I are managing to stay warm, and it's finally warming up a bit. January thaw coming end of the week, temps expected to be in the 40's!We're not going to know what to do with outselves!
Chi--good explanation of radiation burning.
Joy McSparkles' DOTD:
Radiation Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Aftershock® (blue)
- 2 parts Sambuca
- top up Red Bull®
Shake the blue Aftershock and Sambuca with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Top up with the Red Bull.
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Cyndie, you could grow things in pots, or look for a community garden in your area. Look up container gardening.
NM, how nice that you can pick up that tradition with your mom. I have a hard time watching something over and over again. Raven returning the trap would be nice. Funny thing, they KNOW they can find a meal in my garden. So they are always lurking around. If they get fed too much, they hang around all the time. I used to take them out with me on the quad and dump them down the road the a ways. It got to the point they would hear/see me, and circle, waiting for me to toss the meal! Raven Cocktail looks yummmmmmm.
Well Sandy, since I didn't witness the theft, I'm not sure if it "cawed" out! How funny about the dog war.
Dara, my hands and feet don't compare to what you went through, and still going through, that bit with your tummy!
Jazzy, they tried me on many creams, and the sulfa one was the last one they tried and it helped. I had 3rd degree burns. And omg did my back itch, as the radiation was going in that direction as well.
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Good afternoon friends- just a quick message as it is a busy week and going away this weekend.
Good news for today is that I talked to my insurance company about my lost stone from the family ring and the repair to restore things will be covered at 100% (no deductible) via my homeowners policy. I have a separate rider on this ring in the case of complete loss or theft, but glad to find out the policy will pay to repair too (never quite sure with these things and where those special amendments can surprise you?) Got the claim going this afternoon and now to find a good jeweler to do the appraisal for repair, restore it and reappraise it in what I expect will be a new setting. My jeweler closed (retired) a year or so ago when I had the ring checked last. Anyways, I gave myself a full week plus to see if the stone might show up here at home, but no luck. Onward to getting things repaired. This is my favorite piece of jewelry and thing given to me by my mom from our family.
Sounds like the east coast is digging out from it's storm this past weekend. The west is starting to get moisture, I hear there is rain out in CA and it is coming this way. Hoping my other western friends here get some nice rainfall too.
More soon, hoping you all have a good start to the new week!
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Lori, found out the reason Cuisinart doesn't make a julienne disc for 14-cup models: users of that disc for other models complained of uneven results that seemed more like coarse shreds. I quickly figured out there were two steps missing in the printed instructions for the "double-slice" method: after removing the long slices from the bowl, stacking them and cutting off one long edge to make an even, flat edge. "Place them into the feed tube cut-side-down" makes sense now.
Jazzy, my mom's engagement ring was a white gold pave diamond cocktail ring. She'd lost a stone, so she stuffed the hole with tinfoil. About a year after I inherited it, the foil fell out (at first unnoticed by me). Still can't decide whether to replace the stone...or the tinfoil.
The appliance gods giveth and the appliance gods taketh away. My "prosumer" Mazzer Mini espresso grinder seized up when I tried to adjust the burrs to coarsen the grind--which was too fine for the degree of humidity in the air and essentially "choked" the espresso machine, causing the coffee to come out in single drips after nearly 30 seconds. The motor hums but the burrs don't turn, and the grind-adjusting ring won't budge. Dumped out the beans, cleaned out whatever pieces I could find still in the "throat" above the burrs--still won't turn. After last year's kitchen-ceiling disaster (which clogged my espresso machine with plaster dust), I decided to have the coffeehouse-service shop replace the burrs on the grinder, which were already used when I bought the grinder on eBay. It worked flawlessly after the new burrs were installed...until an hour ago. So back to the shop it goes. I have my older consumer-level "Rocky" grinder I've been using for regular coffee--it's a royal pain to adjust the grind on it, takes practically three hands, but I'll cope. Either that or use the Nespresso capsule machine.
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In the course of looking for YouTube videos for the above-mentioned julienne "hack," I came across a long one from a "vlog" called "Amy Learns to Cook," subtitled "Cooking for Beginners." "Amy" reviewed three machines head-to-head: the Cuisinart 14-cup, and the much pricier KitchenAid and Breville SousChef models. She began with the Cuisinart--first complaining that the styling wasn't "modern" enough. (I should have expected as much: the KitchenAid stand mixer behind her was metallic hot pink). She did mention its $200 price point as an advantage, but went on to complain that it comes with only two discs--medium shredding and non-adjustable medium slicing. She criticized Cuisinart for not including more discs (or making the slicing one adjustable like that of the Breville), accusing them of making us spend more money to get more functionality. (Never mind that the price of a set of specialty discs + machine is still less than the base price of the other two processors). I had a feeling that would color her opinion of the machine to an extent that she wasn't going to give it a fair shake in testing. My suspicions were confirmed when she mentioned America's Test Kitchen's top-rating of the Cuisinart and said (or words to that effect) "let's see if they're right." (Oh, great--an admitted beginner out to prove she knows better than the pros).
I was correct. Her resentment was evident. Her first task was mincing parsley. She held up the bunch and said, "First, take off the longest woodiest stems. Not all the stems--I don't have that kind of time." (First sign she isn't much of a cook). She threw a bunch of parsley into the machine (literally, a bundle of it), and haphazardly and lightly flicked the Pulse lever two or three times with her index fingernail, without stopping to scrape down the sides to put all the leaves into the path of the blades, then dumped the contents into a dish. She sneered, "Look at all the big uneven pieces," holding up a sprig still attached to its stem, "I give it a B." Then she attempted to chop an onion--as soon as I saw her dump a couple of onion halves (I kid you not) into the machine, I knew she'd do the same lackadaisical couple of flicks of the Pulse lever as she did with the parsley, with the same result and comments, especially "any more processing and I'd get onion soup or parsley soup--for onions I give it a C." She grudgingly admitted the tomato slices were perfect, rating them "A." Next came slicing potatoes. First she said she loves potatoes and nearly every day likes to make hash browns for breakfast, as well as her own potato chips. Then she complained the feed tube was too small to fit an entire potato on its side (!) so she had to use a smaller potato to fit--and then complained that if she wanted to make round slices the potato would flop over in the tube. (Note to beginner cooks: you can't expect to throw away your knife once you've bought a food processor--did it ever occur to her to cut the potato in half and stand the halves vertically in the feed tube)? Because there was one irregular slice of potato, she downgraded the Cuisinart.
I didn't get any further, not wanting to see her attempt to shred a block of cheddar. I'd seen enough. Sure enough, I scrolled down to the comments, and she had chosen the Breville, crowing that ATK doesn't always know what it's talking about. What's that old saying: "A poor workman blames his tools?" It's as if I were to try a Gibson Les Paul or Fender Telecaster and then declare it to be a P.O.S. because it didn't make me sound like Springsteen or Eddie Van Halen.
I'm certainly not made of money, but it always fries me when people claim that every business is venal and out to upsell them for no reason other than to lighten their wallets.
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Chi- that is a great story about your mother's ring and the tin foil. I would go for the stone replacement
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday! I had an exciting drive home from work last night. Just as I was coming up on a small town fire station one of their trucks comes out lights and sirens and heads up the road the same way I'm headed.A few minutes later a Sherriff's SUV goes flying past me, also lights and siren. It's snowing a bit, so I'm going slower than usual.I see the sky light up a couple of times and I'm thinking there isn't anywhere near enough snow and wind for thundersnow to be happening. A bit down the roadI find out where everyone is headed.Seems a car took out a telephone pole, traffic is stopped both ways, and there I sat for about an hour while they dig the car out of the 5 foot snow banks and disentangle it from the pole. Apparently no one was hurt. While I'm sitting there I get a text from the electric company telling me there is a power outage in the area where I live and I realize the flashes I saw was probably a transformer blowing. Sure enough, when I get home there's no power. Fortunately it's a lot warmer now than a few days ago. Power came back on about 1:30 ayem. By then Sadie and I were all curled up in bed sleeping anyway. I am so glad this didn't happen last week!
Goldie--I know a lot of people don't care for watching a movie more than once, or reading a book more than once, but I really enjoy re-watching favorite movies and re-reading favorite books. I always seem to find a new detail that I never noticed before. I can just picture those ravens circling around waiting for you to toss out their meal. Not foolish, those birds.
Jazzy--Really good news about the coverage on the ring!
Chi--oh my goodness, what a family story about the tinfoil in place of the stone! Missing steps in the directions do make for challenges, really sharp of you to figure those steps out. Sorry to hear about the trouble with the grinder, hope the shop can fix it without too big a bill. And at least you have back up! That "Amy" really had made up her mind before the eval, hadn't she?
Joy McSparkles DOTD:
Power Outage Punch
Ingredients:
- 2 Cans of BACARDI® Mixers Margarita
- 2 Cups Angel's Envy Bourbon
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Lemon Juice (about 4 Lemons Squeezed)
- Ice to Cool
- 1 Handful of Mint
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a pitcher.
- Add ice and stir until the frozen BACARDI® Mixers Margarita fully melts.
- Serve in a double old fashioned glass over ice.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint.
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Jazzy, that is great that you will get the ring fixed and it's covered!
Sandy, how creative of your mom with the tin foil.
NM, glad there wasn't a big pile up and also that it wasn't as cold and power was back relatively in a timely manner.
Quiet in the lounge! We are heading out Thursday, first to get DH's stitches out and then to Phoenix for the Home and Garden Show and then to look at campers.
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Good morning friends- hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I am focused on broken things this week along with worky stuff. They say things come in threes, but sometimes they come in six packs too. Anyways, I am making some progress on the ring stuff but today it is about the furnace and also there is the car. Wading through the repairs and maintenance to be done on lots of stuff.
Goldie- I hope you have a good trip and be safe during your travels. I hope the Home and Garden show goes well and that you either get some new business or maybe find a buyer? I think you are still trying to sell your biz?
NM- we have so much old infrastructure in this country, especially with our electrical grids. I worked for several utility companies in the past through my work (yes, a woman of many experiences and industries). No doubt the load on that transformer with the cold weather. I hear the cold weather could be easing for a bit or do you have another storm?
Keeping an eye on the HVAC stuff, more soon!
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Karen- I know you are working to get your furnace replaced. I learned today from the company that fixed the problems with mine that there are new emission regs that are going in to place in 2020. That may require more for me to do to upgrade more (or even replace) in the next few years, but since you are replacing yours now, thought you would want this information to be sure you have a 2020 compliant unit.
https://www.epa.gov/compliance/list-epa-certified-...
Same thing happened last year when I replaced the water heater. A lot of this has to do with emissions from gas/forced air systems. More reasons to do solar!
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Kim, I also realized what a questionably-skilled cook "Amy" was when she said she puts whole tomatoes into the fridge to firm them up for slicing. NEVER refrigerate uncut tomatoes--makes them mealy & tasteless! (Who didn't learn that in HomeEc)? I checked another one of her reviews, "Unboxing the Cuisinart 14-cup;" and again, she b*+ched about there being only 2 non-adjustable discs and no storage receptacles included, while "her" Breville & KitchenAid have an adjustable slicing disc and "all the attachments." Of course, she also boasted about paying only $149 for the Cuisinart at Costco. I began wondering--if "Amy" is really "Learn(ing) to Cook," how come she has three food processors--one of them costing $300 and another $399?
I got my answer scrolling through the comments. Someone asked if she actually pays for the appliances she tests. She replied that manufacturers send her their "cheaper" stuff free to review in return for mentioning the brand; and as to those for which she pays, she will mention the brand and review them if she recommends them. I then looked at the YouTube "handle" of the person actually answering the comment: "Eric Learns to Cook." Hmmm--so she and her DH (or DB or DS) aren't as wide-eyed and media-naive as it may appear. She may be an unskilled cook, but I doubt she's actually a "beginner."
My DOTD will be determined by what I cook or eat tonight.
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