Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Beaverntx

Karen, bachelor's from University of Cincinnati, masters and doctorate from OSU, lived in Dayton area after UC graduation.

Cowgirl13

I voted today! It was so easy, I just drove up and they came to my car and I handed it over. Really nice Indian summer day but it's nippy tonight.

ChiSandy

Yesterday we didn't even hit 40F (and went down to 27 overnight). Tonight, after a high of 55, we're not dipping below 45. The big warmup starts tomorrow--60, and by Sat. into the low 70s. Some restaurants are considering keeping their patios open through Sunday.

Wren44

We're getting 3 fronts in this week; 2 with rain and one with much lower temperatures. Today was absolutely gorgeous. It's DH's birthday so I walked to the nearest grocery to get cake and something for dinner. The cake was called caramel apple spice. The icing tasted like caramel and there was a thin layer of apples between the two layers. Really good. It's 3 blocks there and 3 back. That's the farthest I've walked since June when I fell.

petite1

Good morning, Ladies. 44 degrees. BRRR

IllinoisLady

To bring forth and preserve, to produce without possessing, to act without hope of reward, and to expand without waste, this is the supreme virtue. -Lao-tzu

IllinoisLady

Cold here this a.m. but should climb to about 70. Nice thing -- it should stay in that territory for the next week or so if our extended forecast is close to being right. Wow !!! I can live with that real easy. Here's hoping. The sun is out and I'm up early getting things done. I hope the rest of the day goes as well and it should. I don't have much planned. Yesterday -- very busy, and most done with the thought in mind that all I would have to do was go vote. We are in a quiet, small precinct and likely ( never seen one anyway ) no line. So with mask, gloves, hand sanitizer and some enthusiasm we shall go to the polls.

I hope you all have a great day. Stay safe.

carolehalston

The coffee maker expired yesterday morning. We used the single-cup coffee machine. I went to Target and bought a new Mr. Coffee and a few other things. Grocery items are definitely pricey at Target.

Today I will play golf and vote.

It's cold here this morning. We have the heat on for the first time since last winter. The sun is out and it will warm up.

Sending comforting thoughts to those who need comfort.

Beaverntx

Carole, oh, no! The death of a coffeemaker is a tragic emergency at our house. Probably why we keep a small backup!

Sunny here with forecasts for the next several days in the 70s. Just where I like it!

May all voting today go well and may all who have not yet voted be able to do so.

ChiSandy

63F here already & not even noon! We may dine out on our deck tonight, searing the leftover steak on the grill.

Good luck (and safety) to all going out to vote today. We did a couple weeks ago.

Wren44

Rain and 50's here until Friday when the high temps drop to the 40's. Pretty normal for here. As the Norwegians say, there's no bad weather, only bad clothes.

CindyNY

I keyed in some long story last night but it never posted. Oh well!

I walked the mall yesterday, pretty empty. Felt like I had shin splints before the night was over.

Today I walked the park again, staying in the trees on dirt, not out on the paved path. It was 38, I wore a neck gator that covers your ears to keep my glands from swelling.

I voted easily, no real lines - just spread out 6 feet apart made the line go out to the entrance.

Our temps are going up into 60's Thursday thru Monday. Can't wait. I repaired another corner of the chain link fence gate today. All the winds blowing the gate open have taken it toll.

I'm going to shower early, get in jammies and grab a book. I can't watch multiple hours of results, too stressful. Once an hour or so will keep me in the loop.

Stay safe.

MCBaker

I just found the TV remote. Really didn't want to. We won't know for a few days, at the earliest. Why stress out, when we have already done what we could? Even if the results are not what we wanted, we will have to live with it, and accept it.

I wrote a nice post a few hours ago, and lost it. Such is life.

Onco wants me to get an ultrasound of my liver. A couple of numbers are borderline high. We think acetaminophen is the problem, but caution is warranted. I may have to switch to tramadol for the pains of life. They keep reminding me that pain kept in control is good for the heart. I tend to be a stoic, thinking that pain purifies.

My coffeemaker also bit the dust yesterday. I am so roundly disgusted with coffeemakers only lasting a year that I got a pour-over. Put the coffee in the steel filter over a small carafe, nuke a cup of water, and pour it in. If you want it strong, pour it through again. Works for tea as well. I got some good practice this morning, using the broken one-cup cofffee-maker as a pour-over. With a small kitchen the footprint is tiny.

ChiSandy

Mary, if you are into pour-over coffee now, may I suggest either the stainless steel Kalita Wave Dripper (which takes its own micromini "basket-type" filters; or the Hario V60, which looks like a Melitta cone but with a completely open bottom (it, too requires its own pointy-bottom proprietary filters--I tried Melitta filters in it but the bottom seam ripped apart and dumped a muck of water & grounds into my cup). The smaller Kalita 155 is about $15; but the cheapest plastic model of the Hario can be had for under ten bucks. Now, they recommend pouring boiled water from a kettle in a slow circular stream to extract the full flavor. And it does taste awesome. I got a small stovetop gooseneck kettle just for that. (I have an electric one for anything else requiring boiling water).

It depends, though, on the coffee you're using: I never use pre-ground; instead, I grind beans (no older than 2 months past roast) just before I brew each cup or pot, and use the full measuring scoop that came with the pour-over device. So the coffee is strong enough from the get-go, with no need to pour it through again (which is sort of what a percolator does--thus, why I hate percolator coffee). But I am a coffee geek (I used to be a member of the website of the same name).

Dental cleaning went well. No need for bonding or veneers--the brownish stains polished right off (followed by a lecture about brushing and rinsing immediately after drinking coffee, tea or wine).

I am up insanely late (I'd be biting my nails if they weren't no-chip gels). I have my penicillin allergy challenge at 11:30 am--but I may have to cancel it yet again! No, not quarantining or awaiting test results. Nope--Bob took a taxi home all the way from Oak Lawn because he lost his car keys somewhere in the hospital. I don't mind the expense of those long cab rides--no, it's the danger of possible COVID exposure. (He said all the car windows were open and he & the driver wore masks--but he didn't answer when I asked about sanitizer & disinfectant). Now this is the third appointment I've made. I offered to let him ride to Glenbrook Hospital with me, wait in the car during my test, and then we'd hop on the tollway, nearly a straight shot south to his hospital and drop him off at his car with his spare keys; but he insists he has to get to his hospital in the morning. I will make sure he takes a packet of Purell wipes with him if he insists on cabbing it down (I think it's safer to rent a car).

petite1

Good morning, ladies. I got chilled last night. I think it dropped in the 40's. Anyway it set off my Lupus rash and I was miserable last night. The cooler weather makes my hands hurt. I would like to just stay in the bed and read.

I have a coffee maker back up as well and a camping one in case the power is off. I can use it on the grill.

IllinoisLady

Sorry to hear about those keys. We have such a way to go yet with the covid issues and as said, likely a vaccine while really helpful won't offer full protection to all. Fingers crossed.

I have used the boiling water pour over glass beaker type coffee. I totally loved it, but it really all needed to be finished up and not left to sit over-long. We made less at the time and it was sure good. I think we just got tired of having to wait. Far different when you have a pot with a timer so you don't have to stand and "dream" about the coffee you will soon drinking though it be excellent.

Lots of votes still to count, but a bit on the depressing side this a.m. Whatever happens, we will have to be along for the ride.

carolehalston

Election results very disappointing for me no matter what the eventual outcome. I had hoped for a decisive victory for my candidate. Now I have to wait and hope for a slim victory. There were headlines in other countries questioning whether America's democracy would survive this election.

On a positive note, Americans did turn out to vote. I voted in the early afternoon and was in and out of the polling place in less than 15 minutes.

We're having another nice day with the high in the 70's. I have a golf lesson at 11 am. If I cannot improve my game, I may quit golf. DH just left to play golf. Happily for him, he plays well at age 81.

Wishing everyone as good a day as possible.

MCBaker

I am retired. I have the patience to pour the water slowly. The coffee is much better. I'll use the microwave for now, although the gooseneck kettle sounds nice.

Tippy and I took a long walk this morning.

I am eager to get those new poles so I can walk longer distanceds with minimal pain.

Wren44

Sandy, What kind of grinder do you use? We've been through so many that don't last very long and make a huge mess. They should make one where the coffee falls through a sieve of some kind. When you take the top off, coffee spills on the counter.

We're using a Mr. Coffee that puts the coffee into a thermos-type pot that keeps it hot for 3 hours or so. DH bought it because it was the only one that fit under our cabinets.

MCBaker

My grinder is the small Procter-Silex. https://theonlinedrugstore.com/coffee-grinder-small-appliance-1-pkg/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplpV071617&sc_intid=V071617&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImY7LrMnp7AIVUfDACh1NKgwXEAQYAyABEgIbgPD_BwE I turn it upside down and use the top to put the ground coffee into the filter.

ChiSandy

I use a burr, not a blade, grinder (I use the latter for spices). I used to have a lower-end Capresso and then Braun, but about 15 yrs ago managed to get a Rancilio Rocky from a CoffeeGeek.com buddy for dirt cheap (his wife bought him a new one). I use it for pour-over drip, French press or Aeropress (which looks disturbingly like the old-school manual breast pump I used when Gordy was a newborn). I had used it for espresso, too, but it's a PITA to adjust the grind (you're supposed to do it while it's running with beans in the hopper, but the rocker switch is spring-loaded and won't stay in the "on" position--takes practically 3 hands) so I just set and forget. A year after I got the Rocky, I bought a used Mazzer Mini pro grinder on eBay from a cafe that was going out of business. I've had to replace the burrs just once, and it's super-easy to "dial in" the grind for espresso depending on ambient humidity and how old the beans are. (Told you I'm a coffee geek).

Check out Cook's Illustrated for their burr grinder reviews. They highly recommend the Baratza Virtuoso--not cheap ($150, which was what I paid for the normally-$400 Rocky); but they do make a slightly simpler version that's nearly as good for $99. The Baratzas are very easy to adjust and are neat and sturdy. (The Virtuoso has a wider range of settings--40 in all, and the cheaper one nearly as many). A burr grinder, especially one that grinds into a slide-out container, is so much neater than a blade grinder--and you can grind much more at once, the grind is even, and doesn't overheat the beans the way a blade grinder does. Avoid the cheap Cuisinart and Capresso at all costs: they generate static and spew grounds all over the counter. (The pricy KitchenAid grinds well, but has a glass container which will break if dropped).

I rarely brew an entire pot any more: Bob prefers his Keurig; and on the rare occasion when I do make a pot, my Keurig can do that too. (I have a wonderful Technivorm auto-drip but haven't used it in years). I enjoy my morning ritual of grinding beans, heating the kettle on the stove, and doing a pour-over by the cup. And two years ago for Christmas & my birthday Gordy got me a couple of Ember mugs (one for travel, one for home) that I charge up and set my preferred temperature: my coffee stays hot till I finish it!

MCBaker

OH What I would give for a like button, Sandy!!

karen1956

I don't drink coffee, but my hubby does - he bought a commercial grinder many, many years ago. It's in the garage, too big for the kitchen. He bought it when he wanted to be able to grind coffee for espresso and other types of coffee makers. He grinds coffee every day or every other day. He loves percolated coffee and has a percolator that is 50 years old. On Shabbat he uses a cone filter with water from the urn. My mother used Melitta when I was a little girl. My son uses a hand grinder and I think DD#2 does as well. Hubby likes his coffee dark and strong (French roast only). Son not so much and DD#2 will drink her dad's coffee as she likes it strong too. DD#1 doesn't drink coffee and her husband uses a 1 cup Keurig.

ChiSandy

You can even store beans in a burr grinder. When you hit the "on" button and the burrs start turning against each other, gravity feeds the beans from the hopper down to the burrs, and the resulting ground coffee into the catchment container. Some burr grinders grind directly into an espresso machine's portafilter (i.e., the "handle" containing the metal basket that affixes to the espreso machine) resting on a little fork or holder attachment, some into a "doser" (a non-removable container that has a lever, which when you flap it, dispenses grounds into the portafilter).

Wanna know how much of a coffee geek I am? I used to roast my own beans! (The smoke wasn't very good for my asthma, and doing it outside in winter was rather ineffective). I am lucky enough to live four blocks from an excellent coffeehouse (Metropolis), which used to roast on-premises but expanded to a separate roastery. Of course, during the pandemic, I order from their website instead.

Wren44

We have a couple of Melita cups that we used for camping. They make good coffee.

Sandy, you really are a coffee geek!

CindyNY

Oh me, oh my, Sandy, you've got it bad! I love the smell of brewing coffee, hate the taste. Rob loves coffee, and in Puerto Rico we would always go into the mountains for coffee festivals.

55 was today's high, going into mid to high 60's over the next 7 days. Strange temps for upstate NY in November, but I'll take it! Extra time for yard clean up and walking outside.

Have a great evening. Petite - hope your feeling better.

Taco1946

Boy - lots to catch up on in two days. We're still making coffee in our old drip machine. We love our coffee but aren't aren't very particular about it. I just want the caffeine!

Still waiting for election results here. There was supposed to be a big "dump" in Maricopa County at 7:00 but it turned out to only be a little one. Doesn't look like our current Senator is going back though. John McCain is an idol here and he and the President certainly never hit it off. The ads Cindy McCain did were effective and it also looks like the young and Hispanic demographics voted.

Yes, the commute between San Antonio and Austin was a challenge. We were on the SW side; Ken was doing his residency at Lackland AFB. My MIL had given me a very nice comfortable car which was a gas hog and with the gas embargo of that time, I couldn't even buy gas enough to make a round trip. Needless to say, it was exchanged very quickly for a stick-shift Gremlin. I'd never driven one before and my kids (then 2 and 3) called it "Mom's bump-bump csr." Debbie still teases me about it although she never mastered a stick either.

What fascinating DNA research! Can they tell if the migration was east to west or west to east? Or both ways? Hard to imagine that kind of distance travel in what must have been very small craft.

This next surge of Covid is really scary. Stay safe.

Marge

Reader425

Oohlala I am loving the coffee conversation! Sandy you are really expert on this topic! I drink just a strong brew (drip) now. But I used to have an elderly friend from Holland who would make me her " Dutch coffee" - pour over mixed with hot milk. It was beyond delicious. I have a French press i sometimes use also. Yum. ☕☕

Petite I hope you are feeling better today. I also have a lupus-like syndrome so do understand.

ChiSandy

I really love the taste of good black coffee--the only time I put anything in it is to make a cappuccino, latte or cortado. Metropolis makes outstanding decaf that smells & tastes like the real thing, not like supermarket decaf!

petite1

Good morning, Ladies. Don't laugh, this is my coffee grinder. It works.