I was thinking all day what I was going to write about, and I could not think about anything very specific. Except one thing that kept creeping in to my thoughts all day. I know not why. So, I will write about this.
Do not argue in front of your children.
So, as a rule, I do not hide (most) anything from the boy. I do not lie to the boy either. Sure, when he was young, yarns would be spun, but I have never lied to him. He knows I am an ass in general. He knows I am often a difficult person. He knows I smoke cigars and pipe tobacco. I he knows I drink alcoholic beverages; although I do not get hammered in front of him, not that I generally get hammered anymore - hey, I am no longer a twenty year old bonehead. He pretty much knows all my foibles and shortcomings. He knows I bitch and moan. He knows I am argumentative.
However, I do not get in to all out barneys, with anyone, in front of him. Sure the wife and I bicker. We often disagree on much subject matter. Do we go all out. No, not really. If we did, we certainly would not expose the boy to it. A good thing the wife also knows I am an argumentative, difficult ass.
Something the wife and I have observed over the years, is how many parents do not really care about hashing it out in a most negative and destructive manner in front of their kids, or even other peoples kids. Why?
No matter what issues, problems, difficulties a couple may have, you do not expose your kids to the nasty side of it. First of all, I already know (most) kids are smart enough to figure out if something is wrong. Providing absolute confirmation through a mutual freak out with your significant other is no way to make it official.
Talk to your kids. First, they will probably confirm they already know. Second, if they are really smart, they will probably point out how much the two of you are being morons. Third, they may very well help provide a solution or at least give their opinion which you should value no matter what. Hey, the boy, not to mention the wife, has told me more than once that I am an ass - and he was right.
You owe it to them to be honest with them. That is why I do not hide my habits from him. He is also aware that some of those habits are stupid and/or unhealthy. If you are having problems then be honest with them.
However, under no circumstances should you ever, as their primary reference for life, have an all out battle, verbal or physical, in front of them or even with any chance of them being within earshot. You want to screech and yell with your mate? Go somewhere far away. You want to duke it out? Well, then you are a complete asshole. First, do not do that. Second, if you cannot help yourself, leave and cool off.
No child should ever be exposed to any of that toxicity. Love and respect your kids, we do. blbbl
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
détente in the grass
So, the wife called a place that was recommended to take a look at the lawn mower. They do housecalls, which is great. It took a few days to tee-up, but today he came over and checked it out.
He was super laidback, his name was Dave, and definitely knew his stuff. He had a cube truck that was a rolling shop. He fixed the throttle, so it now turns off when it is supposed to. He fixed the idle, it was too low. I did not know. He fixed the drive assist. Wow, I always thought it was just crappy. He changed the air filter. I never could find it. He changed the oil. I always found it a pain in the ass and just topped it up as needed. He did a bunch of little futzes and fixes.
Finally, he sharpened the blade. I never did, it is only two seasons old. Or is it three? Anyway, to me it should not have needed to be sharpened, but he said it was as dull as a bucket. Actually, I do not think he said that, but it was just as appropriate. Besides, buckets are not sharp, so it works, unless of course you have an old metal one and sharpened the edge. But then you would just be weird if you did that.
Watching him work, I was pretty sure I was going to be happy he came to do the work. You could see, even feel, his confidence in what he was doing. I was not going to be able to cut the grass until later today as I was out of fuel and would have to get when I picked up the boy.
By the time he was done, I decided I would give the mower another chance, even though I said I wanted to dump it regardless. I now figure it was not so much trying to kill, but lashing out as a way to seek help for what ailed it.
Anyway, while Dave was cutting the bill, I remembered something. I took off to the garage and rifled through a bunch of crap that made its way there from the basement because of the flood. Ah, there it was. My prized Husqvarna chainsaw. Not such a prize anymore. The chain tensioner will not tension the chain. The safety brake once seized up for no apparent reason. I figured Dave has some mystical powers and would be able to bring the saw back from the brink as I was certain he had with the mower. I explained my woes to him. He knew exactly what I was talking about and told me to throw it in the back. He will take a look-see and let me know what needs to be done.
Off he went to be a hero somewhere else. I went back in the house to deal with some online sale matters and to keep making my soup stock and my pot of beef barley soup, which is fantastic by the way.
Well, after all that and the soup was finally done, not a short process by any means, plus having got the boy and the gas, I put fuel in the mower and took it out. It revved well, the drive assist assisted the drive, it idled properly, it cut like gangbusters. Let me tell you, not once did it sputter out and stop, not once did I have to pull huge amounts of grass out from the cutting deck. It got a great workout too, it had been almost a week-and-a-half since I cut the grass, plus all the clumps of grass from the last time I cut the grass that were laying in wait like land mines. And for the finale, it stopped when the throttle was shutdown. Awesome!
I am very impressed with Dave and Hunter Power Equipment. He was worth every penny. I am still going to either find a used lawnmower like my old one, or go with "second-cheapest-is-best", but I will work with the one I have until it does give up the ghost. I will definitely be taking it to see Dave at the beginning of next year's grass cutting season. Huzzah! blbbl
He was super laidback, his name was Dave, and definitely knew his stuff. He had a cube truck that was a rolling shop. He fixed the throttle, so it now turns off when it is supposed to. He fixed the idle, it was too low. I did not know. He fixed the drive assist. Wow, I always thought it was just crappy. He changed the air filter. I never could find it. He changed the oil. I always found it a pain in the ass and just topped it up as needed. He did a bunch of little futzes and fixes.
Finally, he sharpened the blade. I never did, it is only two seasons old. Or is it three? Anyway, to me it should not have needed to be sharpened, but he said it was as dull as a bucket. Actually, I do not think he said that, but it was just as appropriate. Besides, buckets are not sharp, so it works, unless of course you have an old metal one and sharpened the edge. But then you would just be weird if you did that.
Watching him work, I was pretty sure I was going to be happy he came to do the work. You could see, even feel, his confidence in what he was doing. I was not going to be able to cut the grass until later today as I was out of fuel and would have to get when I picked up the boy.
By the time he was done, I decided I would give the mower another chance, even though I said I wanted to dump it regardless. I now figure it was not so much trying to kill, but lashing out as a way to seek help for what ailed it.
Anyway, while Dave was cutting the bill, I remembered something. I took off to the garage and rifled through a bunch of crap that made its way there from the basement because of the flood. Ah, there it was. My prized Husqvarna chainsaw. Not such a prize anymore. The chain tensioner will not tension the chain. The safety brake once seized up for no apparent reason. I figured Dave has some mystical powers and would be able to bring the saw back from the brink as I was certain he had with the mower. I explained my woes to him. He knew exactly what I was talking about and told me to throw it in the back. He will take a look-see and let me know what needs to be done.
Off he went to be a hero somewhere else. I went back in the house to deal with some online sale matters and to keep making my soup stock and my pot of beef barley soup, which is fantastic by the way.
Well, after all that and the soup was finally done, not a short process by any means, plus having got the boy and the gas, I put fuel in the mower and took it out. It revved well, the drive assist assisted the drive, it idled properly, it cut like gangbusters. Let me tell you, not once did it sputter out and stop, not once did I have to pull huge amounts of grass out from the cutting deck. It got a great workout too, it had been almost a week-and-a-half since I cut the grass, plus all the clumps of grass from the last time I cut the grass that were laying in wait like land mines. And for the finale, it stopped when the throttle was shutdown. Awesome!
I am very impressed with Dave and Hunter Power Equipment. He was worth every penny. I am still going to either find a used lawnmower like my old one, or go with "second-cheapest-is-best", but I will work with the one I have until it does give up the ghost. I will definitely be taking it to see Dave at the beginning of next year's grass cutting season. Huzzah! blbbl
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
i still got it
So, some time ago, I was a carpenter's helper. One of my many vocations over the years. I did not start out as a CH, I started out as a cleaner/gopher. I would clean out houses under construction as each trade went through and laid waste to the structure. Most did not clean up for themselves. The electricians would pick up their wire cutoffs; they would collect it up in bins and sell it to scrappers. The carpentry crews generally cleaned up after themselves, except when they got called away at the last second. They were the firefighters of the trades. They would make changes for them so they could do their installations, or last minute trim work, or one of hundreds of different tasks. The heating guys generally kept to themselves and would only leave behind tiny bits of tin everywhere that are a massive pain to cleanup. The plumbers? They were the worst. I think it was just this company really. I have worked with or come across many plumbers who were not total slobs like these guys.
Anyway, back to me.The gopher part of the job was picking up materials for the various trades or getting whatever. I had my own service van and it was often much easier for me to get materials for the guys as I was always driving from site to site anyway cleaning. This way those guys could keep working as opposed to driving all the time to pick up a few sticks of lumber or a box of screws.
Then one day, maybe about three months in to the job, give or take, I was asked if I wanted to do more. Sure! There was an opening in the carpentry group. They needed a new CH. Did I have any experience? Not really. Oh. Hey, I listen, do what I am told, and learn quick. One of the carpenters said he would take me on. He figured he could determine in a day or two if I would be useless or not. If I was useless, I would go back to my cleaner/gopher job. Well, apparently I was not useless. He kept me on and we became pretty good friends. Even though we do not work together any more nor are we in carpentry, we still talk and get together. He is my buddy Pete from Osgoode.
Anyway, back to me again. Crews change over time and I worked with pretty much every carpenter that was there while I was. Eventually, I was running a crew. I was still a CH, but the carpenter I was working with at the time just was not great at figuring out the workload. He was a good carpenter, but I was a great CH and I understood how to organise the jobs we got and such.
We specialised in interior trim work and outside work consisting mainly of decks and stairs. No framing, which was fine by me. So, I worked as a CH for about three-and-a-half years there and then about another six months elsewhere. Normally, when I am laid-off from the same job in a short period, I move on to other things. I still worked with my hands for some time after that, but I have not done any serious carpentry for years.
Wait for it, I am getting to the point of my rambling. So, we are getting a dog sooner or later, looks like towards the end of the year. We need to fence in the yard for this dog. So one side of the property is fenced and another corner with a neighbour, but not most of one side and the back. The front is not fenced either. Part of it was, but the gate was in a bad spot and I moved the posts, but never finished it.
Well, today, I started in on it. I have a bunch of pickets from when the one side of the property was fenced in to keep the boy from getting out to the main road when he was young and always on the move. I had some other bits and such and a bunch of pressure treated lumber (PT). So, I closed in part of the front, got one of the gates up and I will close off another part tomorrow. I am short some PT to do the other half of the gate (it will be a double gate on the one side). I have a couple items to still hopefully dig up to finish things off before the two big runs are done by someone else.
When I finished for the day, I took a look and it was pretty darned good looking. I am not a fence builder, a different set of carpentry skills. I did not work fast, and I had some funny angles to sort, but man-o-man, it sure looks better than the fence that the wife and I had put in years ago by professionals to corral the boy.
It is good to know that some skills just do not fade away. And that they can be transposed in to related, but different, skills. I will apply them when I assist and guide the boy in repairs to the hikers' shack for his Chief Scout Award project. I also look forward to building my little tea hut, once I can get enough scrap material to do it. I know it will be great fun, albeit slow fun. I can almost hear the kettle boiling in the little hut now, maybe I will invite Pete for a cup. blbbl
Anyway, back to me.The gopher part of the job was picking up materials for the various trades or getting whatever. I had my own service van and it was often much easier for me to get materials for the guys as I was always driving from site to site anyway cleaning. This way those guys could keep working as opposed to driving all the time to pick up a few sticks of lumber or a box of screws.
Then one day, maybe about three months in to the job, give or take, I was asked if I wanted to do more. Sure! There was an opening in the carpentry group. They needed a new CH. Did I have any experience? Not really. Oh. Hey, I listen, do what I am told, and learn quick. One of the carpenters said he would take me on. He figured he could determine in a day or two if I would be useless or not. If I was useless, I would go back to my cleaner/gopher job. Well, apparently I was not useless. He kept me on and we became pretty good friends. Even though we do not work together any more nor are we in carpentry, we still talk and get together. He is my buddy Pete from Osgoode.
Anyway, back to me again. Crews change over time and I worked with pretty much every carpenter that was there while I was. Eventually, I was running a crew. I was still a CH, but the carpenter I was working with at the time just was not great at figuring out the workload. He was a good carpenter, but I was a great CH and I understood how to organise the jobs we got and such.
We specialised in interior trim work and outside work consisting mainly of decks and stairs. No framing, which was fine by me. So, I worked as a CH for about three-and-a-half years there and then about another six months elsewhere. Normally, when I am laid-off from the same job in a short period, I move on to other things. I still worked with my hands for some time after that, but I have not done any serious carpentry for years.
Wait for it, I am getting to the point of my rambling. So, we are getting a dog sooner or later, looks like towards the end of the year. We need to fence in the yard for this dog. So one side of the property is fenced and another corner with a neighbour, but not most of one side and the back. The front is not fenced either. Part of it was, but the gate was in a bad spot and I moved the posts, but never finished it.
Well, today, I started in on it. I have a bunch of pickets from when the one side of the property was fenced in to keep the boy from getting out to the main road when he was young and always on the move. I had some other bits and such and a bunch of pressure treated lumber (PT). So, I closed in part of the front, got one of the gates up and I will close off another part tomorrow. I am short some PT to do the other half of the gate (it will be a double gate on the one side). I have a couple items to still hopefully dig up to finish things off before the two big runs are done by someone else.
When I finished for the day, I took a look and it was pretty darned good looking. I am not a fence builder, a different set of carpentry skills. I did not work fast, and I had some funny angles to sort, but man-o-man, it sure looks better than the fence that the wife and I had put in years ago by professionals to corral the boy.
It is good to know that some skills just do not fade away. And that they can be transposed in to related, but different, skills. I will apply them when I assist and guide the boy in repairs to the hikers' shack for his Chief Scout Award project. I also look forward to building my little tea hut, once I can get enough scrap material to do it. I know it will be great fun, albeit slow fun. I can almost hear the kettle boiling in the little hut now, maybe I will invite Pete for a cup. blbbl
Monday, August 28, 2017
the perils of selling online
I do not run any kind of online store or business, but I do sell things online. I have sold many various items on the interweb. Too many to be listed here. I have had people ask me to break laws, which I never have in my online sales. I just really sell items that I no longer have any use for, but still potentially have a long life ahead of them.
I do my best to operate with truthfulness and honesty. I have never deliberately misled anyone. Mistakes happen and normally they are fixed quite easily as long as all parties involved keep calm and have an open dialogue.
I have also bought many items online. From full-fledged companies, individuals running small businesses, and people like me who are just selling items they no longer want, but still have use left in them.
I have also been given the run around. It is rare, but it happens. There was one individual running a business through eBay in the United States. He misrepresented himself and his sales items. I actually involved both Canada Post and the United States Postal Service. I even contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's national police force and spoke with fraud investigators from two different U.S. state police departments (the USPS put them in touch with me). The guy was selling from one address and collecting payment in another.
U.S. authorities were having trouble nailing this guy as people were reluctant to pursue the issue. The American police and postal service were very happy to take my information to pursue action against this criminal. Yes, he was a criminal. And because his actions involved multiple States (and countries), it was potentially a U.S. federal issue.
I had cautioned this fellow long before I did contact authorities officially. In the end he was giving me the run around. The items will be sent, the items have been sent, a refund will be issued, a refund has been issued. All kinds of untruths. This was also when the interweb was smaller and I was pretty good at getting information online. I found multiple addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for this dude. I contacted them all. He still jerked me around. I even found out his real name; that spooked him a bit.
Yet, he still did not make good. That was when I contacted and/or spoke with whatever authorities would listen to me. I made statements, provided information, and the like. The U.S. cops and postal investigators did not have nearly as much information about this guy that I did. They had several complaints and those details, but I provided locations and other aliases they did not have.
Oddly enough, as the noose was tightening on this chap, I received a combination of the items I purchased from him, the actual stuff and not fakes and such, and a refund for what he could not provide. He knew I handed off what information I had to the authorities at this point as well. Now, I do not know how it all works down South, but all those American investigators pretty much stopped communicating with me after I informed them of my situation. However, I did tell them that I was still willing to do what I could. I personally knew several people who were burned by this guy. There were some follow-ups, but then it just seemed to go away. Now, I did provide an active address for the bloke, the first hot lead the Yanks had in some time. He had already given them the slip a few times or the leads were cold. So, I do not know? Maybe they busted him and did not need me to make the charges stick. Who knows?
Why did I keep helping after my purchase was satisfied. Well, the guy was a scumbag and a thief. He still had ripped off a lot of people, including friends and acquaintances. Plus, right up until the end, he was still trying to dodge me. I was just more persistent than he was. I also operated some of my little private sales in the same circles he did. If things continued to get out of hand, it could have seriously affect people like me as well as people operating similar businesses, most of whom were small time operators and it would have devastated them and harmed the little private independents like me.
Why do I bring this up now? So many years later? Well, let me tell you. I am currently engaged with items for sale on kijunkjunk and elsewhere. I recently sold something privately and online. Just like I had done in the past. Just moving items along that I no longer have a use for, but others certainly may. I operated the transaction as transparently as possible. The party that purchased the item and received it was unhappy. Statements were made. Money was wanted back. I was a little upset, but remained calm in my communications back. I addressed the purchaser's comments and statements in turn. The purchaser has since contacted me back and was more amicable. I am not saying that they were not in the initial contact since receiving the item, but it perturbed me.
Now, I am waiting for further communication from this person after they consult someone else about the item and I am sure it will work out well for all parties involved. I am not calling this person down. And, yes, I know there is an open dispute about this transaction. However, no telling details have been mentioned at all.
So, why do I bring this up? While it is still ongoing? Well, let me tell you. I consider myself an honest person. I would never misrepresent myself or anything I am selling. Sometimes details go unnoticed or things happen. It does not mean anything sinister or deceitful has occurred. I just want it out in the open and in public: I do not try to rip anyone off. I have been through it myself and not just with the above interstate/international knave.
If you sell online or want to, just be honest, calm, and forthright. Also, do not let yourself get ripped off. You can usually tell when it has gone south. Just stay calm, regardless what side of the transaction you are on. Otherwise, things can get crazy. Well, I wait on pins and needles. Sometimes, I just cannot catch a break. Hopefully, I am due. blbbl
I do my best to operate with truthfulness and honesty. I have never deliberately misled anyone. Mistakes happen and normally they are fixed quite easily as long as all parties involved keep calm and have an open dialogue.
I have also bought many items online. From full-fledged companies, individuals running small businesses, and people like me who are just selling items they no longer want, but still have use left in them.
I have also been given the run around. It is rare, but it happens. There was one individual running a business through eBay in the United States. He misrepresented himself and his sales items. I actually involved both Canada Post and the United States Postal Service. I even contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's national police force and spoke with fraud investigators from two different U.S. state police departments (the USPS put them in touch with me). The guy was selling from one address and collecting payment in another.
U.S. authorities were having trouble nailing this guy as people were reluctant to pursue the issue. The American police and postal service were very happy to take my information to pursue action against this criminal. Yes, he was a criminal. And because his actions involved multiple States (and countries), it was potentially a U.S. federal issue.
I had cautioned this fellow long before I did contact authorities officially. In the end he was giving me the run around. The items will be sent, the items have been sent, a refund will be issued, a refund has been issued. All kinds of untruths. This was also when the interweb was smaller and I was pretty good at getting information online. I found multiple addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for this dude. I contacted them all. He still jerked me around. I even found out his real name; that spooked him a bit.
Yet, he still did not make good. That was when I contacted and/or spoke with whatever authorities would listen to me. I made statements, provided information, and the like. The U.S. cops and postal investigators did not have nearly as much information about this guy that I did. They had several complaints and those details, but I provided locations and other aliases they did not have.
Oddly enough, as the noose was tightening on this chap, I received a combination of the items I purchased from him, the actual stuff and not fakes and such, and a refund for what he could not provide. He knew I handed off what information I had to the authorities at this point as well. Now, I do not know how it all works down South, but all those American investigators pretty much stopped communicating with me after I informed them of my situation. However, I did tell them that I was still willing to do what I could. I personally knew several people who were burned by this guy. There were some follow-ups, but then it just seemed to go away. Now, I did provide an active address for the bloke, the first hot lead the Yanks had in some time. He had already given them the slip a few times or the leads were cold. So, I do not know? Maybe they busted him and did not need me to make the charges stick. Who knows?
Why did I keep helping after my purchase was satisfied. Well, the guy was a scumbag and a thief. He still had ripped off a lot of people, including friends and acquaintances. Plus, right up until the end, he was still trying to dodge me. I was just more persistent than he was. I also operated some of my little private sales in the same circles he did. If things continued to get out of hand, it could have seriously affect people like me as well as people operating similar businesses, most of whom were small time operators and it would have devastated them and harmed the little private independents like me.
Why do I bring this up now? So many years later? Well, let me tell you. I am currently engaged with items for sale on kijunkjunk and elsewhere. I recently sold something privately and online. Just like I had done in the past. Just moving items along that I no longer have a use for, but others certainly may. I operated the transaction as transparently as possible. The party that purchased the item and received it was unhappy. Statements were made. Money was wanted back. I was a little upset, but remained calm in my communications back. I addressed the purchaser's comments and statements in turn. The purchaser has since contacted me back and was more amicable. I am not saying that they were not in the initial contact since receiving the item, but it perturbed me.
Now, I am waiting for further communication from this person after they consult someone else about the item and I am sure it will work out well for all parties involved. I am not calling this person down. And, yes, I know there is an open dispute about this transaction. However, no telling details have been mentioned at all.
So, why do I bring this up? While it is still ongoing? Well, let me tell you. I consider myself an honest person. I would never misrepresent myself or anything I am selling. Sometimes details go unnoticed or things happen. It does not mean anything sinister or deceitful has occurred. I just want it out in the open and in public: I do not try to rip anyone off. I have been through it myself and not just with the above interstate/international knave.
If you sell online or want to, just be honest, calm, and forthright. Also, do not let yourself get ripped off. You can usually tell when it has gone south. Just stay calm, regardless what side of the transaction you are on. Otherwise, things can get crazy. Well, I wait on pins and needles. Sometimes, I just cannot catch a break. Hopefully, I am due. blbbl
Sunday, August 27, 2017
the boy is a working stiff
Well, sort of. Tomorrow, he starts one week of full-time at Ray's Reptiles for their last summer camp before school.
He will be assisting the councillors with the kids attending the camp while they learn about reptiles, amphibians, other animals, and nature.
Up until this year, he has always been a participant. Now, he helps run the program for a week.
Of course it is volunteer, but it does not take away the importance of the boy's first real step in to the workforce. He has to be there at set times, complete required tasks, be responsible and not just for himself but others as well, just like anyone with a regular paying job. He is not yet thirteen years old.
He is looking forward to it. He has been involved in Ray's as a camp participant, birthday party reveller, and visitor since he was four years old. He has been volunteering now for about three years.
With this and his other commitments, volunteer and otherwise, he can already build a pretty darned good resume for an almost newly minted teenager.
I just thought I would brag a bit. I am very proud of him and that he actually commits to his commitments and wants to do more yet. blbbl
He will be assisting the councillors with the kids attending the camp while they learn about reptiles, amphibians, other animals, and nature.
Up until this year, he has always been a participant. Now, he helps run the program for a week.
Of course it is volunteer, but it does not take away the importance of the boy's first real step in to the workforce. He has to be there at set times, complete required tasks, be responsible and not just for himself but others as well, just like anyone with a regular paying job. He is not yet thirteen years old.
He is looking forward to it. He has been involved in Ray's as a camp participant, birthday party reveller, and visitor since he was four years old. He has been volunteering now for about three years.
With this and his other commitments, volunteer and otherwise, he can already build a pretty darned good resume for an almost newly minted teenager.
I just thought I would brag a bit. I am very proud of him and that he actually commits to his commitments and wants to do more yet. blbbl
Saturday, August 26, 2017
new tablet and lost games
Well breaking my tablet the other day was a mixed blessing. I realised I did lose some documents. Nothing truly important or that cannot be recovered from another source. I just need to remember what I did actually lose. So, that is a pain in the butt.
Setting it up was far more time consuming than when I got the original one.There were several major system updates that in the end took me several hours, as I did not sit on top of the process. It had to be done because several apps would not work until it was updated. So, that is a relief that they now work. No, they were not games. They were "productivity" apps.
Speaking of games. I did lose all of my gains in them, as I do not sync them to anything, like Facebook, Google Play, or the like. I lost a bunch of solitaire games, no big whoop. I can load those up anytime and I only lost my FreeCell stats. I lost all my Flow Free games and the progress. Again no big deal, I like those games because they are problem solving somewhat and I have no issue with starting over.
The four games that I lost the most on were: Dots, Two Dots, Dots & Co., and Charm King. I was actually all but done playing them. As, with the exception of the original Dots, those games became very jerky. Very hard to play and win without having to use way too many bonus items. Plus, losing bonus items to glitches. Losing Dots kind of blows because it was simple, but it took forever to build up bonus items as it is done with trading in points. The other three, I had had enough of them and was only playing them to kill time and build up bonus items, so who cares.
I did reload the suite of Flow Free games, including their latest one, so I now have all four. I may install Dots because it is fun to play sometimes. To be honest though, it took me five days, after the tablet went bupkis two days prior, before I set up the tablet and that was only to get back in touch with the Guardian Newspaper and the BBC. I have not played any games since the original tablet died. I only really want them there now for when I am stuck somewhere and have nothing to do or just do not want to read or do research or the like.
As a result of the old tablet crapping out and delaying setting up the new one, I have thrown myself in to reading even more and researching titbits online. We have even laid out the boy's costume for Halloween this year, thanks to some research on the interweb. Only short one item which I hope my buddy, John from Kars, as mentioned in the Rooster's inaugural post, may just well have. If not, I may have something that will do the trick if he does not though. Usually, we are scrambling until October 30th.
So, as you see, due my accident with the old tablet, it appears I may finally be liberated from my gaming addiction and moved on to my old passion of devouring books and other reading material. Seriously, no jonesing at all. Now where is my book?* blbbl
*[Note from author: As can be seen from the Rooster's author's last statement of this post, many who have addictions to nefarious and potentially nefarious items, such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and yes, even gaming, often replace that addiction with one intended to be less harmful. In the case of the Rooster's author, it appears to be reading. There are far worse choices that could have been made. Please provide him your best wishes and prayers so he can keep off the horse. The horse of gaming of course. Thank-you, the author. lbblb]
Setting it up was far more time consuming than when I got the original one.There were several major system updates that in the end took me several hours, as I did not sit on top of the process. It had to be done because several apps would not work until it was updated. So, that is a relief that they now work. No, they were not games. They were "productivity" apps.
Speaking of games. I did lose all of my gains in them, as I do not sync them to anything, like Facebook, Google Play, or the like. I lost a bunch of solitaire games, no big whoop. I can load those up anytime and I only lost my FreeCell stats. I lost all my Flow Free games and the progress. Again no big deal, I like those games because they are problem solving somewhat and I have no issue with starting over.
The four games that I lost the most on were: Dots, Two Dots, Dots & Co., and Charm King. I was actually all but done playing them. As, with the exception of the original Dots, those games became very jerky. Very hard to play and win without having to use way too many bonus items. Plus, losing bonus items to glitches. Losing Dots kind of blows because it was simple, but it took forever to build up bonus items as it is done with trading in points. The other three, I had had enough of them and was only playing them to kill time and build up bonus items, so who cares.
I did reload the suite of Flow Free games, including their latest one, so I now have all four. I may install Dots because it is fun to play sometimes. To be honest though, it took me five days, after the tablet went bupkis two days prior, before I set up the tablet and that was only to get back in touch with the Guardian Newspaper and the BBC. I have not played any games since the original tablet died. I only really want them there now for when I am stuck somewhere and have nothing to do or just do not want to read or do research or the like.
As a result of the old tablet crapping out and delaying setting up the new one, I have thrown myself in to reading even more and researching titbits online. We have even laid out the boy's costume for Halloween this year, thanks to some research on the interweb. Only short one item which I hope my buddy, John from Kars, as mentioned in the Rooster's inaugural post, may just well have. If not, I may have something that will do the trick if he does not though. Usually, we are scrambling until October 30th.
So, as you see, due my accident with the old tablet, it appears I may finally be liberated from my gaming addiction and moved on to my old passion of devouring books and other reading material. Seriously, no jonesing at all. Now where is my book?* blbbl
*[Note from author: As can be seen from the Rooster's author's last statement of this post, many who have addictions to nefarious and potentially nefarious items, such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and yes, even gaming, often replace that addiction with one intended to be less harmful. In the case of the Rooster's author, it appears to be reading. There are far worse choices that could have been made. Please provide him your best wishes and prayers so he can keep off the horse. The horse of gaming of course. Thank-you, the author. lbblb]
Friday, August 25, 2017
a futile day
Not much to report or reflect upon today.
I ran around town like a chicken sans head. I had passed a place the other day that had a bunch of old lawnmowers and a rototiller. I did not stop when I first saw it as it was late in the day. For the life of me, I could not remember where I saw them. I went out for some errands and drove a circuitous route thinking I would find them again. No dice.
Well, our little town has a small engine repair joint. Or, I should say, had a small engine repair joint. The wife and I loaded up the lawnmower in the back of the truck and I went over to see what it would take to fix the mower, or trade it for an old one I like. Now it is some artsy-fartsy dance/craft/paint thing.
This town has no less than three licensed auto mechanics and a bevy of home garage ones. Three pizza joints (well maybe two now, one has not been open for a week). But no small engine guys. We do not even have a "Chinese" restaurant. That is like a Canadian birthright. Every town has at least one. I have been in some very remote places in this country and you can generally find a "Chinese" restaurant, except in some places in the Arctic.
So, home I come, we unload the mower and the wife hits Facebook to ask if there are any small engine guys in town. Nope. There is a guy in the town over that will come to your house. She left a message. There is a guy two towns over that is a buddy of one of my friends, but he is somewhat dour and lowballs equipment if you want to sell or trade to him.
Now I wait upon this travelling wizard to contact me. It is late Friday afternoon. Unlikely I will hear from him before Monday. After all this, I still managed to whip some stuff up for supper out of the freezer; it is cooking right now. I have also been given dispensation by the wife/sheriff to be on the interweb for the Rooster and to monitor my online sales items and answer questions about them.
Alas, the grass still grows to jungle-like proportions and the Expanding Legion of Evil is .... Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!!! I kid you not, as I was typing this sentence about the satanic squirrel squad, I looked over at a feeder and there was a new recruit on the feeder like nobody's business. if I did not chase it away, it would have been making the feeder breakfast tomorrow morning. This one has an orange back and tail, but he rest is black. I will call him Two-tone for now until I come up with a better moniker. Well back on patrol to stop those vile vermin from denying the beautiful birds their vittles. blbbl
I ran around town like a chicken sans head. I had passed a place the other day that had a bunch of old lawnmowers and a rototiller. I did not stop when I first saw it as it was late in the day. For the life of me, I could not remember where I saw them. I went out for some errands and drove a circuitous route thinking I would find them again. No dice.
Well, our little town has a small engine repair joint. Or, I should say, had a small engine repair joint. The wife and I loaded up the lawnmower in the back of the truck and I went over to see what it would take to fix the mower, or trade it for an old one I like. Now it is some artsy-fartsy dance/craft/paint thing.
This town has no less than three licensed auto mechanics and a bevy of home garage ones. Three pizza joints (well maybe two now, one has not been open for a week). But no small engine guys. We do not even have a "Chinese" restaurant. That is like a Canadian birthright. Every town has at least one. I have been in some very remote places in this country and you can generally find a "Chinese" restaurant, except in some places in the Arctic.
So, home I come, we unload the mower and the wife hits Facebook to ask if there are any small engine guys in town. Nope. There is a guy in the town over that will come to your house. She left a message. There is a guy two towns over that is a buddy of one of my friends, but he is somewhat dour and lowballs equipment if you want to sell or trade to him.
Now I wait upon this travelling wizard to contact me. It is late Friday afternoon. Unlikely I will hear from him before Monday. After all this, I still managed to whip some stuff up for supper out of the freezer; it is cooking right now. I have also been given dispensation by the wife/sheriff to be on the interweb for the Rooster and to monitor my online sales items and answer questions about them.
Alas, the grass still grows to jungle-like proportions and the Expanding Legion of Evil is .... Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!!! I kid you not, as I was typing this sentence about the satanic squirrel squad, I looked over at a feeder and there was a new recruit on the feeder like nobody's business. if I did not chase it away, it would have been making the feeder breakfast tomorrow morning. This one has an orange back and tail, but he rest is black. I will call him Two-tone for now until I come up with a better moniker. Well back on patrol to stop those vile vermin from denying the beautiful birds their vittles. blbbl
Thursday, August 24, 2017
cooking - egyptian salad
This is the name it was given by the wife's cousin and his the wife when we visited them in Amsterdam, Holland many years ago. So, perhaps it should be called Dutch-Egyptian Salad.
(DUTCH) EGYPTIAN SALAD
½ cucumber, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
6 radishes, diced
2-3 green onions, diced
¼-½ head of lettuce, chopped
½-1 lime or lemon, juiced
2 small handfuls sunflower seeds
2 small handfuls walnuts, chopped
sea salt & pepper to taste
That is the basic recipe. It is easily scalable and substitutions are possible. As to substitutions: I often replace walnuts with pecans, or mix in both. I have used pistachio nuts and almonds (slivers and slices) as well. Pretty much any nut or seed could be substituted or added in concert with several others. Pine nuts would probably be pretty good; I think I did try that many moons ago, but cannot remember for sure.
You can use pretty much any lettuce if you like or other greens; I have used romaine in the past. Green onion, or scallion, can be replaced or supplemented with other onions; vidalia is a good choice. I have added sweet and hot peppers at times. I have substituted vinegar when I did not have any citrus fruit; but add it slowly and a little bit at a time to not make it too sour or bitey. I would like to try it with orange or grapefruit sometime.
English or Lebanese cucumber is the preferred choice (no peeling required), but I have made it with pickling cucumbers. If you use what we call around here garden cucumbers, you need to peel them, as the waxy skin is tough to chew and not very appealing, at least to me.
Sometimes, I add a bit of granulated garlic, paprika, and/or cayenne. If you have white pepper in a grinder, it is far superior to fresh ground black pepper, but I would use both. Bear in mind, in my experience, commercially available pre-ground white pepper has a different taste that many do not like raw (i.e. sans being involved in a heated cooking process; something akin to fresh and dried oregano). Dried green peppercorns freshly ground add yet another delightful dimension, but are hard to find, at least at a reasonable cost, as they are mainly pickled, which is not suitable for this recipe.
As to scalability, you can scale, up or down, any individual ingredient, or the whole recipe. As an example, a couple of days ago we had it as part of our supper. This is how I made it this last time: I used a whole English cucumber, three tomatoes, a dozen radishes (we love radishes), three green onions, about a third of a head of lettuce (maybe less), a whole juiced lemon, two big handfuls of sunflower seed, two pretty small handfuls of walnut pieces, sea salt and pepper, I also added some granulated garlic (just a bit), and also about a third of a vidalia onion.
We had it with chicken noodle soup, to which I added extra soup noodles and chicken for a heartier meal. It is eminently suitable to be served with sandwiches, part of a buffet, a multi-dish table dinner, or even as a meal in and of itself. It can be quite filling.
To serve, you can layer it to be mixed up on serving. If done well in a glass bowl it can look quite entertaining for your dinner service. I usually just mix it so the flavours blend and meld. I do sometimes place extra sunflower seeds and/or nuts on top in a pattern to be fancy. The easiest is to lay out extra walnut or pecan halves on top in a spoked wheel design. You could even lay out some radishes carved in to "roses"; me, I am too lazy for that.
Someday I may add chickpeas as well to see how that works. That would probably be a meal all by itself. Anyway, that is pretty much it. Thanks Jeremy and Madelon. blbbl
Sometimes, I add a bit of granulated garlic, paprika, and/or cayenne. If you have white pepper in a grinder, it is far superior to fresh ground black pepper, but I would use both. Bear in mind, in my experience, commercially available pre-ground white pepper has a different taste that many do not like raw (i.e. sans being involved in a heated cooking process; something akin to fresh and dried oregano). Dried green peppercorns freshly ground add yet another delightful dimension, but are hard to find, at least at a reasonable cost, as they are mainly pickled, which is not suitable for this recipe.
As to scalability, you can scale, up or down, any individual ingredient, or the whole recipe. As an example, a couple of days ago we had it as part of our supper. This is how I made it this last time: I used a whole English cucumber, three tomatoes, a dozen radishes (we love radishes), three green onions, about a third of a head of lettuce (maybe less), a whole juiced lemon, two big handfuls of sunflower seed, two pretty small handfuls of walnut pieces, sea salt and pepper, I also added some granulated garlic (just a bit), and also about a third of a vidalia onion.
We had it with chicken noodle soup, to which I added extra soup noodles and chicken for a heartier meal. It is eminently suitable to be served with sandwiches, part of a buffet, a multi-dish table dinner, or even as a meal in and of itself. It can be quite filling.
To serve, you can layer it to be mixed up on serving. If done well in a glass bowl it can look quite entertaining for your dinner service. I usually just mix it so the flavours blend and meld. I do sometimes place extra sunflower seeds and/or nuts on top in a pattern to be fancy. The easiest is to lay out extra walnut or pecan halves on top in a spoked wheel design. You could even lay out some radishes carved in to "roses"; me, I am too lazy for that.
Someday I may add chickpeas as well to see how that works. That would probably be a meal all by itself. Anyway, that is pretty much it. Thanks Jeremy and Madelon. blbbl
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
there's a new sheriff in town
You heard that right.
The wife and I were on the back deck Monday night, chit-chatting. I was doing my usual perusing online on my phone. (Sometimes I use my tablet, but I dropped it and it died. I had one of those "replace it if you break it" warranties, and the new one has been sitting in the box for three days.) Then she got all mad at me and tore a strip off me for surfing while talking to her.
She also gave me crap for when the blog is not posted before she gets home from work. She demanded explanations as to why it is not always posted before she gets home and why I seem to need to surf while talking. Also, why I feel the need to sign up on free wifi networks when out and about town.
Well, me being me - an ass, I would not start to defend myself for such an issue. (Nor will I do so here.) The lecture went on for a bit. Then I pledged to stay offline while she was home and to have the rooster posted before she comes home. Failing that, I would take care of my interweb activities while she was sleeping.
I am pretty sure she will be mad about this post, but I cannot help that. I caught hell and I am just mentioning it for when my presence online may be mysteriously absent. I am not sure what I will do on weekends and holidays yet. It will be tough when I put a bunch of stuff up for sale on kijunkjunk.
I think I hear a car door. It might be her. Time to go. Post. blbbl
The wife and I were on the back deck Monday night, chit-chatting. I was doing my usual perusing online on my phone. (Sometimes I use my tablet, but I dropped it and it died. I had one of those "replace it if you break it" warranties, and the new one has been sitting in the box for three days.) Then she got all mad at me and tore a strip off me for surfing while talking to her.
She also gave me crap for when the blog is not posted before she gets home from work. She demanded explanations as to why it is not always posted before she gets home and why I seem to need to surf while talking. Also, why I feel the need to sign up on free wifi networks when out and about town.
Well, me being me - an ass, I would not start to defend myself for such an issue. (Nor will I do so here.) The lecture went on for a bit. Then I pledged to stay offline while she was home and to have the rooster posted before she comes home. Failing that, I would take care of my interweb activities while she was sleeping.
I am pretty sure she will be mad about this post, but I cannot help that. I caught hell and I am just mentioning it for when my presence online may be mysteriously absent. I am not sure what I will do on weekends and holidays yet. It will be tough when I put a bunch of stuff up for sale on kijunkjunk.
I think I hear a car door. It might be her. Time to go. Post. blbbl
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
my lawn mower is trying to kill me - really
I am not kidding. Powered yard equipment generally does not like me very much, rototillers being the odd exception so far. But seriously, my lawnmower really wants me dead.
I went out to cut the grass today, I walked about 4.5 km (2.8 mi), cutting all the grass front and back. However, it was not ejecting the grass out the side chute, it kept jamming it in the back where the optional bag attachment can go. So, I had to constantly stop. While all this is going on a thunder storm is rolling in. I can hear the thunder getting closer and more frequent. This lawnmower is trying to get me to stay out long enough so it can act as a lightning rod to zap me.
Then, it runs out of gas. It never runs out of gas. The tank is just a bit bigger than what I need to cut all the grass. And I have less than before. More delaying tactics from the infernal contraption. So, I pour in the last dregs from my jerry can and finish. No storm yet. However, I need to move two blueberry bushes and cut around the area after. So, I attempt to shut the engine off.
How do I do this? The throttle cable never shuts the engine off. I would have to push on the lever it is attached to to shut it down. I do that. It will not shut down. Okay. If I tip it, it will flood. Nope. So, while I am trying to tip it, it flips over. And it is still running. I am dumbfounded and pissed off. Very pissed. Then, it starts to smoke. Lots and lots of white smoke. A new pope amount of smoke. And it still will not shut off.
I grab it and I am yelling at it, like Basil Fawlty. Except where he is trying to start a machine I am trying to stop one. And this time I did not have a stick. As an aside, I did beat up my old lawn tractor in virtually the same way as Basil did in the video. Finally, it stops. Out of fear I think. Then, it catches fire. Super. It is trying to set me on fire now. I put it out. Twice. I move on to the blueberries. I remove all the rocks around the bushes and dig them up, fill in the holes and mow over the area. After some time trying to restart the evil machine.
I bring the mower back to its spot when not in use and go to shut it off. Of course it will not. I turn it on its side and push the throttle lever to off. I even disconnect the cable so there is no resistance. It still will not shutdown. I am freaking out. I am trying my damnedest to shut it down, but it keeps sputtering and then revving up.
By this time, it is full on rain and rolling thunder. My shirt is soaked and I am close to beating the mower with a sledgehammer. Seriously, I am not kidding. Then, as before, it suddenly stops. I am betting it is completely terrified of me now. I plant the bushes in their new spot. Clean everything up, and look at the lawn. It looks like absolute horse fritters. One would think I was drunk and blindfolded. I will need to cut it again in a few days, but I really do not want to use this piece of crap.
It needs to be repaired first, or replaced. I will go see the local fixit guy. Maybe I can trade it for a simpler mower. I miss my old one. No adjustments at all. Fixed height wheels, no bagger, just a side chute. It never clogged, I never sharpened the blade, it ran on the crappiest gas. It just would not idle properly after several years of hard use and I got rid of it. Big mistake.
As I have learnt with many things these days, cheapest, or second cheapest, is best. When my Coleman barbecue dies, I will replace it with the cheapest one I can get. If I spend more than $150, taxes in, it is too much. Same with the lawn mower. I will replace this so-called Craftsman (it should be called Crapsman) product with something simpler and more forgiving. If you want to cut more than a postage stamp-sized lawn, a rear bagger is an albatross. The bag fills too quickly, if you remove the bag, it clogs. Really?
From now on, for me, with any type of non-major item, like lawnmowers, barbecues, and the like, spending four or five-hundred dollars, when I can easily spend under two-hundred, is foolish. From now on, if I want all the bells and whistles, I will buy a 1969 Buick Riviera. blbbl
P.S. Happy birthday buddy. You know who you are. Of course you do, it is your birthday today. Duh!
I went out to cut the grass today, I walked about 4.5 km (2.8 mi), cutting all the grass front and back. However, it was not ejecting the grass out the side chute, it kept jamming it in the back where the optional bag attachment can go. So, I had to constantly stop. While all this is going on a thunder storm is rolling in. I can hear the thunder getting closer and more frequent. This lawnmower is trying to get me to stay out long enough so it can act as a lightning rod to zap me.
Then, it runs out of gas. It never runs out of gas. The tank is just a bit bigger than what I need to cut all the grass. And I have less than before. More delaying tactics from the infernal contraption. So, I pour in the last dregs from my jerry can and finish. No storm yet. However, I need to move two blueberry bushes and cut around the area after. So, I attempt to shut the engine off.
How do I do this? The throttle cable never shuts the engine off. I would have to push on the lever it is attached to to shut it down. I do that. It will not shut down. Okay. If I tip it, it will flood. Nope. So, while I am trying to tip it, it flips over. And it is still running. I am dumbfounded and pissed off. Very pissed. Then, it starts to smoke. Lots and lots of white smoke. A new pope amount of smoke. And it still will not shut off.
I grab it and I am yelling at it, like Basil Fawlty. Except where he is trying to start a machine I am trying to stop one. And this time I did not have a stick. As an aside, I did beat up my old lawn tractor in virtually the same way as Basil did in the video. Finally, it stops. Out of fear I think. Then, it catches fire. Super. It is trying to set me on fire now. I put it out. Twice. I move on to the blueberries. I remove all the rocks around the bushes and dig them up, fill in the holes and mow over the area. After some time trying to restart the evil machine.
I bring the mower back to its spot when not in use and go to shut it off. Of course it will not. I turn it on its side and push the throttle lever to off. I even disconnect the cable so there is no resistance. It still will not shutdown. I am freaking out. I am trying my damnedest to shut it down, but it keeps sputtering and then revving up.
By this time, it is full on rain and rolling thunder. My shirt is soaked and I am close to beating the mower with a sledgehammer. Seriously, I am not kidding. Then, as before, it suddenly stops. I am betting it is completely terrified of me now. I plant the bushes in their new spot. Clean everything up, and look at the lawn. It looks like absolute horse fritters. One would think I was drunk and blindfolded. I will need to cut it again in a few days, but I really do not want to use this piece of crap.
It needs to be repaired first, or replaced. I will go see the local fixit guy. Maybe I can trade it for a simpler mower. I miss my old one. No adjustments at all. Fixed height wheels, no bagger, just a side chute. It never clogged, I never sharpened the blade, it ran on the crappiest gas. It just would not idle properly after several years of hard use and I got rid of it. Big mistake.
As I have learnt with many things these days, cheapest, or second cheapest, is best. When my Coleman barbecue dies, I will replace it with the cheapest one I can get. If I spend more than $150, taxes in, it is too much. Same with the lawn mower. I will replace this so-called Craftsman (it should be called Crapsman) product with something simpler and more forgiving. If you want to cut more than a postage stamp-sized lawn, a rear bagger is an albatross. The bag fills too quickly, if you remove the bag, it clogs. Really?
From now on, for me, with any type of non-major item, like lawnmowers, barbecues, and the like, spending four or five-hundred dollars, when I can easily spend under two-hundred, is foolish. From now on, if I want all the bells and whistles, I will buy a 1969 Buick Riviera. blbbl
P.S. Happy birthday buddy. You know who you are. Of course you do, it is your birthday today. Duh!
Monday, August 21, 2017
cooking - commando curry
So, as I mentioned yesterday, while out looking for lamb for a curry, we found a 4￠chicken. We never did find any decent lamb. We still had curry, but changes needed to be made. Lamb Pasanda would have to wait.
This is where the commando moniker comes in. Improvising and adapting. We found chicken, and we got some pork. I know. Pork is unheard of in curry. Well, I have no religious, cultural, nor culinary restrictions or hangups. I often combine the "unheard of" together. It often leads to fantastic meals.
So, the dinner that was decided on was pork with Goan Pineapple sauce (a Patak's sauce). Hey, pork and pineapple, kind of unavoidable, like a Hawaiian curry. An all vegetable Aloo Gobi (using Delhi Dum Aloo Sauce from Kitchens of India), and a chicken and chili curry with a butter chicken sauce as the base (from KFI, pretty bland, but I fixed that).
So, I seasoned the pork and chicken with a Mr. Goudas curry powder and let it sit for a while. It was actually the Jamaican curry powder. I have three other Goudas curry powders: Madras curry, Trinidad curry, and just plain curry. I also have a Sharwood's curry powder I quite like. I took a sniff of each in turn until the aroma that seemed appropriate hit me. You can only sniff through the powders twice, maybe three times, before they all smell alike. Just sensory overload.
Everything cut up and the meat doused in seasoning. Time to put the rice on. Once the rice was going (to which I added some canola oil and sea salt to the water; it really makes for better rice, regardless of type), I heated up three pans with some canola oil in the bottom. Once hot enough a bunch of coarsely chopped onion thrown in each pan. Simmer that for ten or so minutes.
Then the chicken and pork went in to their respective pans. In the Aloo, in went potatoes with the water they were soaking in. Unlike a traditional Aloo Gobi, I cut the potatoes in to smallish chunks as opposed to quarters or eighths.
I let those simmer for fifteen-twenty minutes. Knowing the butter chicken sauce was bland I added some Patak's curry paste (Madras in this case, because it was what I had) and mixed it in. Then the respective sauces went in to each pan and was mixed up. A little tip here: you never get all the sauce out of the jar. I put in a little bit of water, close the jar, swish it and pour it in. I usually do this two or three times to get all the goodness out, and more sauce.
Another ten minutes or so and tasting. I found the KFI butter chicken was still bland so a healthy dose of crushed chilies and some more curry powder. I added some curry powder to the Goan Pineapple as well, I found it not very curry-like, but it had very good flavour otherwise. To all three I also added some cayenne and granulated garlic (sometimes I chop up fresh garlic in to slivers and add it, but not today).
Then time for vegetables. Cauliflower in to the Aloo, broccoli in to the KFI, and broccoli and cauliflower stems in to the Goan. I found there was not enough in the Goan, so I added a can of pineapple tidbits, sans the juice (will save that for something else). Simmer, more curry powder and garlic in the two meat ones and some garlic in the veggie dish.
I decided to simmer for a while longer. I then added a combination of Skotidakis yogurt tzatziki and and regular everyday sour cream to all the dishes. It helps add body to the sauce, and it gives you more sauce. We like very saucy curry. Simmer and tweak, simmer and tweak.
Final stretch, I added cherry bomb peppers to the KFI and regular bell pepper to the Aloo Gobi. Simmer for about another fifteen minutes, and tweaking. By this time, the rice was done and off. It usually is off for twenty to thirty minutes before cooking in done, it is okay for it to sit for a bit. It was longer this time as I simmered for the flavours to meld and get in to everything. Oh yeah, about ten minutes before the peppers were added, I added a couple of small handfuls of golden raisins to the KFI chicken dish (I prefer green raisins, but could not find them; I stay away from sultanas - too sweet and gooey) and a couple of small handfuls of slivered, blanched almonds to the Goan pork.
All done. We decided to have it with small rolls that we got on discount at Farm Boy instead of naan bread this time. It worked out okay. It was so good that I savoured it long enough to not jam seconds in to me and regret it. I wonder what the next commando cooking mission will be like? blbbl
This is where the commando moniker comes in. Improvising and adapting. We found chicken, and we got some pork. I know. Pork is unheard of in curry. Well, I have no religious, cultural, nor culinary restrictions or hangups. I often combine the "unheard of" together. It often leads to fantastic meals.
So, the dinner that was decided on was pork with Goan Pineapple sauce (a Patak's sauce). Hey, pork and pineapple, kind of unavoidable, like a Hawaiian curry. An all vegetable Aloo Gobi (using Delhi Dum Aloo Sauce from Kitchens of India), and a chicken and chili curry with a butter chicken sauce as the base (from KFI, pretty bland, but I fixed that).
So, I seasoned the pork and chicken with a Mr. Goudas curry powder and let it sit for a while. It was actually the Jamaican curry powder. I have three other Goudas curry powders: Madras curry, Trinidad curry, and just plain curry. I also have a Sharwood's curry powder I quite like. I took a sniff of each in turn until the aroma that seemed appropriate hit me. You can only sniff through the powders twice, maybe three times, before they all smell alike. Just sensory overload.
Everything cut up and the meat doused in seasoning. Time to put the rice on. Once the rice was going (to which I added some canola oil and sea salt to the water; it really makes for better rice, regardless of type), I heated up three pans with some canola oil in the bottom. Once hot enough a bunch of coarsely chopped onion thrown in each pan. Simmer that for ten or so minutes.
Then the chicken and pork went in to their respective pans. In the Aloo, in went potatoes with the water they were soaking in. Unlike a traditional Aloo Gobi, I cut the potatoes in to smallish chunks as opposed to quarters or eighths.
I let those simmer for fifteen-twenty minutes. Knowing the butter chicken sauce was bland I added some Patak's curry paste (Madras in this case, because it was what I had) and mixed it in. Then the respective sauces went in to each pan and was mixed up. A little tip here: you never get all the sauce out of the jar. I put in a little bit of water, close the jar, swish it and pour it in. I usually do this two or three times to get all the goodness out, and more sauce.
Another ten minutes or so and tasting. I found the KFI butter chicken was still bland so a healthy dose of crushed chilies and some more curry powder. I added some curry powder to the Goan Pineapple as well, I found it not very curry-like, but it had very good flavour otherwise. To all three I also added some cayenne and granulated garlic (sometimes I chop up fresh garlic in to slivers and add it, but not today).
Then time for vegetables. Cauliflower in to the Aloo, broccoli in to the KFI, and broccoli and cauliflower stems in to the Goan. I found there was not enough in the Goan, so I added a can of pineapple tidbits, sans the juice (will save that for something else). Simmer, more curry powder and garlic in the two meat ones and some garlic in the veggie dish.
I decided to simmer for a while longer. I then added a combination of Skotidakis yogurt tzatziki and and regular everyday sour cream to all the dishes. It helps add body to the sauce, and it gives you more sauce. We like very saucy curry. Simmer and tweak, simmer and tweak.
Final stretch, I added cherry bomb peppers to the KFI and regular bell pepper to the Aloo Gobi. Simmer for about another fifteen minutes, and tweaking. By this time, the rice was done and off. It usually is off for twenty to thirty minutes before cooking in done, it is okay for it to sit for a bit. It was longer this time as I simmered for the flavours to meld and get in to everything. Oh yeah, about ten minutes before the peppers were added, I added a couple of small handfuls of golden raisins to the KFI chicken dish (I prefer green raisins, but could not find them; I stay away from sultanas - too sweet and gooey) and a couple of small handfuls of slivered, blanched almonds to the Goan pork.
All done. We decided to have it with small rolls that we got on discount at Farm Boy instead of naan bread this time. It worked out okay. It was so good that I savoured it long enough to not jam seconds in to me and regret it. I wonder what the next commando cooking mission will be like? blbbl
Sunday, August 20, 2017
a chicken for 4¢? - hot damn!
That is correct. We were shopping today while the boy was volunteering. We were finding some deals. Cheap cauliflower and broccoli. Okay priced pork. Could not find any decent lamb though.
Then we went to the FreshCo. near Ray's Reptiles. We were hoping to find lamb for a curry or at least some reasonably priced boneless chicken. Not much. Chicken thighs were priced okay. Then...
There it was. A Blue Goose brand chicken. It was twelve dollars and four cents. That is why I normally do not buy them. I got one a couple of weeks ago with a total of six dollars off stickers on it. Well, this one had a $5.00 off and a $1.00 off sticker on top of it. I thought, well we really don't need another chicken. Then...
I turned it over. It had another 5 and 1 buck off pair of stickers on it. The wife and I both figure it is a mistake or fake. Mistake: a clerk accidentally tagged both sides. Fake: someone put tags on from another discounted product with the intention to pass it off, but put it back.
I figure I will take it to the cash anyway and see if they will apply all the discounts. First thing the wife says, You're not going to argue with them if they say no? Not today. Okay, give it a shot.
Off we go and pick up a few other items and we hit the cashout. We point out all the stickers on the bird. The cashier says she needs to call the meat department because it just looks wrong. I concur and advise her, regardless of the answer she gets, I will not argue with her if it is not in my favour. She smiles at that. Then...
The meat guy shows up, looks at it, has an I don't care look, and says, Yeah sure, go ahead, apply all the discounts. The cashier asks him to confirm. Yup. She chuckles and is dumbfounded by our 4¢ poultry. I myself am pleased. I advise her that she will get good karma for this. She chuckles.
When we get home, in the freezer it goes for either roasting or a soup at some unspecified time in the future, maybe something else. Time will tell. You cannot beat a whole clucker for under a nickel. Just because an insanely great deal looks unlikely to happen, does not mean it will not. You just need to give it a shot. Works for me. blbbl
Saturday, August 19, 2017
lone star texas grill - review
A friend of ours took us all out to the "Lone Star Texas Grill", the one at the end of Carling Avenue in Kanata.
So, I ordered a beer. They were out of that one. I ordered a different beer. They were out of that one too. The waiter recommended a beer I consider pretty week and flavourless. I picked a very hoppy ale. They had that.
Okay, three's the charm.
The wife ordered fajitas. I was not in the mood to assemble my food tonight. I looked at the menu, the boy and our friend wanted steak. I asked if they did chicken fried steak anymore. They used to do it really well when they only had one location. Alas, they no longer serve it. T-bone it is.
We also had calamari and chicken wings for a starter. Acceptable, beyond most chain restaurants. The mains arrived. Pretty big servings. My steak was extremely tender. The boy was having trouble with his. It was basically a baseball steak, it was so tall. The knives they gave us for the steaks were crap actually. The boy, for some reason, did not bring his folding knife. I gave him mine and then he had no trouble cutting.
We dined for about one-and-a-half hours. It was leisurely. The waiter was really good as well.
Two beefs about the place. First: their wifi is awful. The signup process is convoluted, invasive, and a bit slimy. Why? You need to enter your mobile number and email and agree to solicitations by email. Okay? So, why do you need my mobile number? Anyway, I did not sign up. I usually grab free wifi when I can, but not to whore myself out though.
Beef number two: their steak knives suck. Bring a reliable pocket knife. If you want to serve steak, then get decent knives. Period.
All in all, an okay place. 3½ stars. Nothing too special, probably good with a bigger group, especially fajitas. blbbl
So, I ordered a beer. They were out of that one. I ordered a different beer. They were out of that one too. The waiter recommended a beer I consider pretty week and flavourless. I picked a very hoppy ale. They had that.
Okay, three's the charm.
The wife ordered fajitas. I was not in the mood to assemble my food tonight. I looked at the menu, the boy and our friend wanted steak. I asked if they did chicken fried steak anymore. They used to do it really well when they only had one location. Alas, they no longer serve it. T-bone it is.
We also had calamari and chicken wings for a starter. Acceptable, beyond most chain restaurants. The mains arrived. Pretty big servings. My steak was extremely tender. The boy was having trouble with his. It was basically a baseball steak, it was so tall. The knives they gave us for the steaks were crap actually. The boy, for some reason, did not bring his folding knife. I gave him mine and then he had no trouble cutting.
We dined for about one-and-a-half hours. It was leisurely. The waiter was really good as well.
Two beefs about the place. First: their wifi is awful. The signup process is convoluted, invasive, and a bit slimy. Why? You need to enter your mobile number and email and agree to solicitations by email. Okay? So, why do you need my mobile number? Anyway, I did not sign up. I usually grab free wifi when I can, but not to whore myself out though.
Beef number two: their steak knives suck. Bring a reliable pocket knife. If you want to serve steak, then get decent knives. Period.
All in all, an okay place. 3½ stars. Nothing too special, probably good with a bigger group, especially fajitas. blbbl
a shot of the interior
Friday, August 18, 2017
adsense update
So, I am typing away, posting items for sale on the interweb and I get an email.
I presume initially it is an enquiry to one of my for sale postings. Nope. Google AdSense has welcomed me aboard.
Wow?!
Very quick. And very surprising. So, I guess my weekend will be spend learning this new component.
Well, back to my other, hopefully, revenue generating attempts.
I am dumbfounded and still processing Google's logic.
See ya'all later. blbbl
Thursday, August 17, 2017
well, only because they asked
So, I was going to take a break from posting today, but I will update you briefly about my attempt to help Google make money.
On 17 July 2017, I applied to Google AdSense to put advertisements on my blog site. This would have allowed me to generate a very modest income and much more for Google.
At first, the messages I received were positive. I thought great. It will be active in a day or two.
The next day they sent me an email and told me I did not have enough content. I have not made any big changes since then as I have been really rather busy with many volunteer and support roles. That, and the universe trying to kill me.
So, today, in the wee hours of the morning, I get an email from Google AdSense asking if I am ready to start running ads. So, for shallots and gherkins, I clicked the link to apply again. Hey, they came to me.
I confirm my account, the one they will not let me actually use for AdSense, and this is what pops up:
Up close:
So, I say to myself: Self, last time it took less than twenty-four hours to tell me to pound salt and that I could not help Google make money. Now, it may take more than three days for them to make up their minds? Which will most likely end in another rejection. It is like dating in high school again.
Sure, whatever. I do have some topics that are longish and may provide the verbosity they are seeking, but I have several other ducks to get in a row so my house does not fall down around my ears while I am taking a dump. Or worse. Or at least hilarious.
If Google is nothing else, they are entertaining in their bizarre business practices.
Now, I need to return Henry Kissinger's glasses.
"The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side."
blbbl
On 17 July 2017, I applied to Google AdSense to put advertisements on my blog site. This would have allowed me to generate a very modest income and much more for Google.
At first, the messages I received were positive. I thought great. It will be active in a day or two.
The next day they sent me an email and told me I did not have enough content. I have not made any big changes since then as I have been really rather busy with many volunteer and support roles. That, and the universe trying to kill me.
So, today, in the wee hours of the morning, I get an email from Google AdSense asking if I am ready to start running ads. So, for shallots and gherkins, I clicked the link to apply again. Hey, they came to me.
I confirm my account, the one they will not let me actually use for AdSense, and this is what pops up:
Up close:
So, I say to myself: Self, last time it took less than twenty-four hours to tell me to pound salt and that I could not help Google make money. Now, it may take more than three days for them to make up their minds? Which will most likely end in another rejection. It is like dating in high school again.
Sure, whatever. I do have some topics that are longish and may provide the verbosity they are seeking, but I have several other ducks to get in a row so my house does not fall down around my ears while I am taking a dump. Or worse. Or at least hilarious.
If Google is nothing else, they are entertaining in their bizarre business practices.
Now, I need to return Henry Kissinger's glasses.
"The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side."
blbbl
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
mosaïcanada
Yesterday we went to a display that is part of the Canada 150 celebrations here in the Ottawa area. Or, as people call it: the mosaic gardens. Officially, it is mosaïcanada and it is in Gatineau, Quebec, across the river from Ottawa. Basically, it is shaped shrubbery in various images representing different regions of Canada, including distinctive fauna. There are also some displays sponsored by the Chinese government. It truly is worth going and checking it out. It is free and very well done. Its location, via google maps is here.
Some caveats, if you like to take pictures without people standing in the way or wandering through your shot like me, bring patience. Also, bring some water and snacks. There is plenty of parking to be found. It runs until the 15th of October this year. So, if you are in or around the Ottawa-Gatineau area or are going to be in the area sometime before it ends, then go see it, you will be glad you did.
Some shots of the gardens that the wife and I took:
Some caveats, if you like to take pictures without people standing in the way or wandering through your shot like me, bring patience. Also, bring some water and snacks. There is plenty of parking to be found. It runs until the 15th of October this year. So, if you are in or around the Ottawa-Gatineau area or are going to be in the area sometime before it ends, then go see it, you will be glad you did.
Some shots of the gardens that the wife and I took:
Anne of Green Gables of p.e.i. at the train station from the novel by the same name by Lucy Maud Montgomery
the train
a mountie (saskatchewan)
red foxes (p.e.i.)
lobster fisherman (nova scotia)
wild rose (alberta) [courtesy the wife]
ships from france (quebec)
the canadian horse (new brunswick)
chief under the sea (british colombia)
puffins (newfoundland and labrador)
polar bear (manitoba, yes manitoba; look it up, they have lots)
inukshuk (canadian arctic)
prospector (yukon)
muskox (n.w.t.)
drum dancer (nunavut)
"blessing of the good omen dragons" (beijing, china); very cool
"joyful celebration of the nine lions" (shanghai, china); also very cool
giant from gatineau
voyageur
the voyageur from the other side, the purple flowers mimic a river; very, very cool
'72 summit series winning goal - canada vs soviet union
The following are a series representing the First Nations of Canada:
love this turtle
close up of the beaver on the turtle's back; really well done, super cool
Not sure what the deal was with these horses, but they were really awesome. I think they were made of driftwood. Nonetheless, excellent craftsmanship:
The next ones are of a little vegetable and herb garden plot. I liked it:
not sure what the plant in the middle is, interesting though
My pictures really do not do this exhibit justice, plus there are more than what I have shown, but I will close with my favourite one of all:
it is of me - a horse's ass (ha!)
blbbl
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