I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

lewing:  The easiest thing to do is purchase cardomom seed pods (usually available in the spice section of most grocery stores) and open them up (just two or three to get the seeds) and place them in the coffee to be brewed.  No need to make Turkish coffee!  Unless you want to......

Lindasa, thanks for the tip about the cardamom seed pods!

River:  There are a lot of vets who now think that dry food contributes to the prevalence of kidney disease in cats, as it dehydrates them.  I spent almost a year inserting needles in the late lamented Mozart to try to flush out his kidneys.  There also hyperthyroidism which has almost been on the uptick with cats and which may contribute to kidney disease in cats.  Some think the increase in hyperthyroidism is due to the prevalence of fish in the diet. Others think that the chemicals in clay kitty litter may play a role.

The lack of taurine results in heart disease.

Thanks Alexandria. Kidney disease has been the issue with my sister's cats and I believe, but wouldn't swear that she said what she has to do is like cat dialysis so I will mention the dry food tie-in to her for future cats.

Belinda, that's exactly the last brand of Turkish/Arabic coffee I bought!  But I would call it "thick" (thickness being relative, and dependent on how much water you use, I suppose).  The stuff in Saudi Arabia was very different -- I think it may have been made with barely roasted, maybe even unroasted, beans. 

So you got me all curious, and I went and found a link that does a much better job of describing it than my poor memory allows me to do:

http://arabiczeal.com/tag/arabic-coffee-with-cardamom/

It seems to imply that the Saudi coffee I remember would be even thinner/greener than what you enjoyed in the UAE.

Lindasa, I love Turkish coffee and love using the special stovetop contraption it's brewed in, especially the ritual that goes along with it (let it boil up to the top precisely 3 times) . . . putting cardamom pods in my regular brew wouldn't be the same!  (It might be delicious, but it wouldn't transport me the way the other stuff does.)

Linda

I actually am getting to the age that I find myself torn between the interest in travel and the appeal of my own house, my own bed, my beautiful cats, my own garden, my big leather chair, and cooking the food I like to eat. I sleep better at home.  I'm more comfortable at home.  And I miss my cats if I leave. Hmm.  If I were not 5 foot 9, I'd swear I was turning into a  hobbit.

I do like the idea of travel, though.  Maybe I just need really a really good bed - which does cost money.  But I would have to leave my kitties.

I've traveled so much over the last 21 years. I'm glad I had those experiences, but travel is getting much harder for me. First, since 9/11 it's just tougher in general, plus I am older and a little disabled since my bc dx. I have to worry about LE, and have a pinched spinal nerve that acts up under stress. This last trip to India nearly did me in. Although I wore a sleeve when flying, I was getting the sharp, shooting pains under my arm, which I haven't experienced since surgery. I told my DH we just can't keep up this kind of travel (he's got some physical issues too). And, like alexandria I also don't want to leave my little baby!

Alexandria - tee, hee...thanks for reminding me of Hobbits.  Never finished the books - but remember loving the little people, at 5' 3'' ( and still shrinking) I am thrilled to think I can be a Hobbitt.  Fabulous pics from NYTimes ages ago of a man who built a little Hobbitt House for himself on his property - gorgeous round door, of course, I wanted to live there...but all my books and toys, paints, art supplies wouldn't fit.  Hardly fit where I live now!

Gotta stop reading the Active Threads - damn, another brave woman, ElaineD in UK, is gone.  Still can't get it that Lowrider isn't here anymore.  So many, many women - who start out Stage1, or Stage II - just damn, thinking worse words, but everybody knows the anger, grief.  Hurts to think of all their friends and families...

I am devastated about both sisters, Sunny. So different and so impactful in their way.

I grew up as an army brat and we moved every couple of years living usually in Canada, often in Ontario and also in British Columbia and in Germany and in the US. That experience taught me to see the world much differently than those who always lived in the same place. We learned that there is no one right way to see things or do things - not even to prove an algebra problem. We learned that different is not wrong, it is just different.

Then I wasn't so interested in travelling as a young adult although we had some fun times when the children were young with an ancient VW camper van.

Something happened after chemo and I wanted to travel again, so I have, because I can. It would be a shame never to see the world from someone else's perspective.  I think a lot of the world's problems could be sorted out by people travelling with their eyes wide open either in real life or vicariously through books.

I too an a bit un-sure of what is going on with needing "words" from the mods again.  I guess it was just someone thinking those of different politics couldn't post where they would like.  I hope that is all. 

I'll be glad to hear if anything turns up about the spell checker.  It used to work so well and after a couple of rounds of amenesia etc. I'm not the 'crack' speller of my much earlier years.  Really hate knowing when the spell checker gives me the error message and not coming on.......that I am likely missing my mistakes...unless they are really in your face.  Usually my hitting a key right next to another one---like I just had to fix onw to one. 

Sun....I'm sorry that you are missing friends.  I haven't lost too many cyber-space friends so it is harder for me on that level, but the people in my life from computer or face to face are bright shining lights and when one is not there, the loss of their vibration makes my surroundings feel very empty. 

Hope you are all going to be enjoying the week-end.

Oh....forgot one thing.  I have had cats with the urinary tract issues and for the most part.....once I get them away from food  ( dry ) with too much dye and fillers.....I've had success.  There are also some ( saw it more in males ) that get stones and they injure the urinary tract so badly that they often don't make it.  Again, I think it is often the by-products and dyes.  I go with my vet though who also is happy with moist or wet food as long as it has no or extremely small amts. of sugar.  The preference is for none. 

Jackie

So very sorry to hear about ElaineD and of course, Lowrider.  Also wondering about Apple -- so clever, artistic, musical, and with such a lovely family.

Male cats are prone to UTIs and developing crystals.  It used to be primarily caused by high ash content in wet food, but I note that most wet food producers have really lowered the ash content.  My kitties eat a combo of wet and dry.  Abby (the Abyssinian) has had several tooth extractions due to genetic gum disease (can't think of the proper name at the moment...sheesh, I hate that!).

As for travel:  we've done a fair amount over the years, but DH isn't able to walk much now, so we've pretty well stuck to our beloved Bermuda.  Athena -- would you and your mom consider a river cruise down the Rhine or the Danube?  Lots of stops along the way, and full of history.  A good friend has booked a vacation in Egypt in the spring, and is keeping an close eye on events there.  She's braver than I.....

Kam~I'm 5' 3". With melting cartilage getting shorter everyday. Lol



Paula

Xiao also crawls under the covers, but he likes to partially lay on me, and if I have a restless night, he gets indignant.

Cats are wonderful!

Yorkie - I thought India was a business trip?

There are jumpy cats and those that let you have your way with them....I have one of each.  One I can throw over my shoulder and cuddle with in the morning, and the one that won't let me hold her, except for a nanosecond and will be on my lap or on top of the covers, on her terms only.  They both have their charm, but I think it's harder to find the easy going ones.  Maybe not, just my personal experience.

Wait a minute...HL, did you say you were 6'1 and you eat $25 worth of food a week?!!!