Les temps... They roll.
It's ice-storming outside. It started as snow on Sunday and Monday, melted some Tuesday, melted more yesterday-DAY, then last night brought freezing rain.
I like the humidity, hate the freeze, does that make sense?
Richard went down on the bike Sunday. Laid it down proper, ended up bending the clutch handle almost artistically into a question mark shape. Bruised his left side and the bike's fine except for the clutch handle.
He has vowed to not ride in ice again. We'll see what the weather/winter holds.
In other news, I have (un)successfully fought off a virus on my computer and ended up reformatting.
This computer was purchased in 2004. It has never been reformatted. I had 6 years of images and music that I always thought "Back it up later. There's no hurry, no worry, you're fine. Back it up later."
Later became last to this week when the drivers for my cd/dvd writer disappeared. Well, wrong to say disappeared. How about were corrupted beyond use by the nasty little spike that was driven into my computer by some little script-kiddie in Mama's basement? I like that.
I ended up having to hand carry my files from my computer to Richard's (his writer worked) on a 128 mb flash drive and a 256 mb camera. It was Teh Suck. Relatively large music library, and my images... The tattoo flash library was (thankfully) saved about 3 weeks ago when it was becoming clear there was a problem with virus.
Now I'm zipping through all those files putting my music (at least!) back on.
And contemplating a hot beef stew for dinner.
Still other gossipy bits... Richard is eating pork chops! WOO HOO! Opens up a new menu option for me. He actually asked me to make them this past week, so I did. Brined them for about 6 hours (salt, mustard, honey, garlic and water), then braised them (vegetable broth and onion). They were falling apart, they were so tender. He just had never had tender, moist pork chops. It really does open up new menu options...I'm getting a bit tired of beef, but don't necessarily want chicken. And as far as fish goes... I'm not real fond. So pork works, and chops work better than tenderloins due to cost. Food costs are horrendous, you know? I won't go into an 'I remember when...', but at my local grocery, everything has gone up by about 10 cents. Eggs? 10 cents more, now 1.19 a dozen. Milk? No longer 2.58 a gallon, that's up 20 cents to 2.78, some cases 2.88. Even canned tomatoes, that long-standing stalwart against inflation, remaining at .39 for 1 can of paste FOREVER? Now .58. We just had chili the other day, too. So costs are up. But our cable bill is down! Richard called and wrangled and we're now at about 1/2 of what we were paying. Same services .
Is it wrong that I feel like a camel trader's assistant sometimes? Richard has some fierce bargaining skills that he rarely uses, but when he does.... It's a joy to behold.
Richard's son, Patrick, appears to be moving in instead of just visitation every other weekend. His mother, apparently, has gotten over all his schtick. What do I mean by that? Means he's a typical 17 year old boy chomping at the bit to be adult but still not showing the good judgment of an adult in his choices. Or even bad judgment. He's still pulling the 'lie to get out of it and you'll fix everything' bit. Part of it, I think, is because I do see his mother consistently treating him like he's 4 or 5, expecting him to be the shining example of mama's precious little boy that he once was. Ain't gonna happen. So, since he graduates in May and is going into the Marine Corps (HOO-rah!) shortly thereafter, she decided that he would become Richard's deal. As soon as one of their myriad cars with issues gets fixed so he can drive back and forth to school without having to change schools.
I'm thinking he may move in sometime in March, but that's me.
I have yet to start christmas shopping. That will come tomorrow night, Saturday, too. I'll need to hit the grocery-flour, sugar, flavorings, chips, baking stuff- and the $1 store-baking pans and cooking utensils- for gifts too. YES! I'm making 'kits' for people I care about. Like beer bread kids: Take flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar, whatever dried seasonings you're using for it and put it in a zip-lock bag. Put the bag into a loaf pan, print out the recipe and the 'You'll need" instructions. You just gave them a loaf of beer bread! I'm going to see about throwing together some of those. A cookie scoop and my choco chip cookie recipe. Everything but wet ingredients. And those can even be included if you can find small enough bottles for things like vanilla. Eggs, oil and liquids are left out, easily obtained...
Is this how Swiss Colony got started?
So there you go. That's what's happening. Have a GREAT day and if we don't talk until after, have a good Christmas!
I like the humidity, hate the freeze, does that make sense?
Richard went down on the bike Sunday. Laid it down proper, ended up bending the clutch handle almost artistically into a question mark shape. Bruised his left side and the bike's fine except for the clutch handle.
He has vowed to not ride in ice again. We'll see what the weather/winter holds.
In other news, I have (un)successfully fought off a virus on my computer and ended up reformatting.
This computer was purchased in 2004. It has never been reformatted. I had 6 years of images and music that I always thought "Back it up later. There's no hurry, no worry, you're fine. Back it up later."
Later became last to this week when the drivers for my cd/dvd writer disappeared. Well, wrong to say disappeared. How about were corrupted beyond use by the nasty little spike that was driven into my computer by some little script-kiddie in Mama's basement? I like that.
I ended up having to hand carry my files from my computer to Richard's (his writer worked) on a 128 mb flash drive and a 256 mb camera. It was Teh Suck. Relatively large music library, and my images... The tattoo flash library was (thankfully) saved about 3 weeks ago when it was becoming clear there was a problem with virus.
Now I'm zipping through all those files putting my music (at least!) back on.
And contemplating a hot beef stew for dinner.
Still other gossipy bits... Richard is eating pork chops! WOO HOO! Opens up a new menu option for me. He actually asked me to make them this past week, so I did. Brined them for about 6 hours (salt, mustard, honey, garlic and water), then braised them (vegetable broth and onion). They were falling apart, they were so tender. He just had never had tender, moist pork chops. It really does open up new menu options...I'm getting a bit tired of beef, but don't necessarily want chicken. And as far as fish goes... I'm not real fond. So pork works, and chops work better than tenderloins due to cost. Food costs are horrendous, you know? I won't go into an 'I remember when...', but at my local grocery, everything has gone up by about 10 cents. Eggs? 10 cents more, now 1.19 a dozen. Milk? No longer 2.58 a gallon, that's up 20 cents to 2.78, some cases 2.88. Even canned tomatoes, that long-standing stalwart against inflation, remaining at .39 for 1 can of paste FOREVER? Now .58. We just had chili the other day, too. So costs are up. But our cable bill is down! Richard called and wrangled and we're now at about 1/2 of what we were paying. Same services .
Is it wrong that I feel like a camel trader's assistant sometimes? Richard has some fierce bargaining skills that he rarely uses, but when he does.... It's a joy to behold.
Richard's son, Patrick, appears to be moving in instead of just visitation every other weekend. His mother, apparently, has gotten over all his schtick. What do I mean by that? Means he's a typical 17 year old boy chomping at the bit to be adult but still not showing the good judgment of an adult in his choices. Or even bad judgment. He's still pulling the 'lie to get out of it and you'll fix everything' bit. Part of it, I think, is because I do see his mother consistently treating him like he's 4 or 5, expecting him to be the shining example of mama's precious little boy that he once was. Ain't gonna happen. So, since he graduates in May and is going into the Marine Corps (HOO-rah!) shortly thereafter, she decided that he would become Richard's deal. As soon as one of their myriad cars with issues gets fixed so he can drive back and forth to school without having to change schools.
I'm thinking he may move in sometime in March, but that's me.
I have yet to start christmas shopping. That will come tomorrow night, Saturday, too. I'll need to hit the grocery-flour, sugar, flavorings, chips, baking stuff- and the $1 store-baking pans and cooking utensils- for gifts too. YES! I'm making 'kits' for people I care about. Like beer bread kids: Take flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar, whatever dried seasonings you're using for it and put it in a zip-lock bag. Put the bag into a loaf pan, print out the recipe and the 'You'll need" instructions. You just gave them a loaf of beer bread! I'm going to see about throwing together some of those. A cookie scoop and my choco chip cookie recipe. Everything but wet ingredients. And those can even be included if you can find small enough bottles for things like vanilla. Eggs, oil and liquids are left out, easily obtained...
Is this how Swiss Colony got started?
So there you go. That's what's happening. Have a GREAT day and if we don't talk until after, have a good Christmas!