We pulled off another fun St. Patrick's Day by wearing our 'green' to the H.E.B. Super Market where we got lots of smiles and comments, then to our favorite Mexican restaurant where we probably looked a little out of place, but who cares... Then to Lowe's where one of the checkout ladies insisted on having her picture taken with us.
Meanwhile, I had been cooking a corned beef brisket flat in the sous vide for 48 hours to sear and cut up with some cabbage for a traditional Irish Dinner. I also baked some Irish Soda Bread to go with it, and naturally, I had to make me some Irish Coffee.
It was a fun day, and I made videos to prove it.
Here's the dinner video: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
And here's the Irish Soda Bread video: Irish Soda Bread
It's fun being Irish.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Sunday, March 05, 2017
Sushi
Sushi has always been one of those foods that just never appealed to me. And it was really my fault that it didn't appeal to me. I never tried it, nor did I even care to see what it was other than some rice and raw fish wrapped in seaweed.
Well, my ignorance and unwillingness to to even try it or learn more about it was totally unfair to what I now know to be a delightfully delicious food that can be a welcome change of pace to the foods I have eaten all of my life.
Granted, I haven't tried all the many variations of sushi and probably never will. There are many recipes that take culinary genius to a new level. I'm probably going to remain a novice at it so I'll likely stick with the sushi that has ingredients I'm somewhat familiar with, albeit prepared very close to a stove of some kind.
Our favorite grocery stores H.E.B. and Kroger have sushi counters where you can purchase a wide range of sushi that is freshly prepared before your eyes. The sushi chefs even encourage you to taste some of their products, freely offering samples to try. So for no investment in time or money, you can experience the flavor of sushi right there in the store. I urge you to do just that the next time you are in a grocery with a sushi bar.
That being said, I'm one who likes to take a food idea and run in a different direction with it. So I decided to see how I could combine the Magic of the Big Green Egg with sushi. Yes, I know it's a stretch but the old adage, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained" kept urging me to try. So we did....
And, I made some video's of what we (Judy got involved as well) decided to try. Although it is not exactly 'Sushi,' or even close to being sushi, our creations were sushi inspired. Here's some of what we came up with:
BLT Sushi Roll
Sushi Breakfast - Chicken Ranch Style
Meanwhile, I'm learning how to make the sushi rice (it's not regular rice at all), probably the main ingredient in sushi, and how to add other ingredients including smoked salmon, fruits and vegetables that enhance the overall flavors of the sushi roll.
I'll probably practice using my chop sticks too, and maybe learn a few Japanese words along the way.
It's all fun anyway, so why not make it tasty by learning something new?
Well, my ignorance and unwillingness to to even try it or learn more about it was totally unfair to what I now know to be a delightfully delicious food that can be a welcome change of pace to the foods I have eaten all of my life.
Granted, I haven't tried all the many variations of sushi and probably never will. There are many recipes that take culinary genius to a new level. I'm probably going to remain a novice at it so I'll likely stick with the sushi that has ingredients I'm somewhat familiar with, albeit prepared very close to a stove of some kind.
Our favorite grocery stores H.E.B. and Kroger have sushi counters where you can purchase a wide range of sushi that is freshly prepared before your eyes. The sushi chefs even encourage you to taste some of their products, freely offering samples to try. So for no investment in time or money, you can experience the flavor of sushi right there in the store. I urge you to do just that the next time you are in a grocery with a sushi bar.
That being said, I'm one who likes to take a food idea and run in a different direction with it. So I decided to see how I could combine the Magic of the Big Green Egg with sushi. Yes, I know it's a stretch but the old adage, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained" kept urging me to try. So we did....
And, I made some video's of what we (Judy got involved as well) decided to try. Although it is not exactly 'Sushi,' or even close to being sushi, our creations were sushi inspired. Here's some of what we came up with:
BLT Sushi Roll
Sushi Breakfast - Chicken Ranch Style
Meanwhile, I'm learning how to make the sushi rice (it's not regular rice at all), probably the main ingredient in sushi, and how to add other ingredients including smoked salmon, fruits and vegetables that enhance the overall flavors of the sushi roll.
I'll probably practice using my chop sticks too, and maybe learn a few Japanese words along the way.
It's all fun anyway, so why not make it tasty by learning something new?
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
My First Acupuncture Experience
I try hard to keep an open mind about everything. I figure most things have a reason for being what it is or doing what it does, including humans. Some of those things may not set well with me, but quite often they are popular with others. And I certainly don't have to accept them if I don't want to.
For example, just a couple of weeks ago I had never tried chiropractic treatments. Frankly, I didn't even know how to spell it, much less know anything about what it involves. And for years I paid no attention to it at all as a possible treatment for my ailments. I was likely indoctrinated by traditional medical practitioners who convinced me that it wasn't 'real medicine' no matter that millions of people relied on chiropractic treatments for ailments that regular doctors could not successfully treat.
Because of my Sweetie, who was being successfully treated by a chiropractor for an ongoing and painful leg injury, I too became a believer. I wrote about it below in an earlier post.
Well, eventually, even the chiropractor could not completely rid me of some back pain that appears to have resulted from a worn out mattress. So we ended up purchasing a new, hi-tech, mattress that offers considerably more support for my large body than the old mattress. Even so, I still have some residual pain that I would like to see gone so that I can return to my exercise program.
So today she presented me with a visit to a local acupuncturist. And once again, my life changed as I learned first hand that acupuncture is not just sticking needles in people's bodies. It is a traditional form of treatment that has been successfully used for thousands of years. And today I became another acupuncture patient.
My wife made the appointment because of the pains in my hips, lower back and front, and legs, and feet. The visit included a hot-oil/hot and hot stones treatment to my back.
First, the young lady acupuncturist asked a number of questions regarding my current and former health. She even asked to see my tongue and check my pulse, saying my tongue color suggested I had a fatty liver, but my pulse suggested a strong heart. I suppose that's necessary information before being stuck with pins.
For example, just a couple of weeks ago I had never tried chiropractic treatments. Frankly, I didn't even know how to spell it, much less know anything about what it involves. And for years I paid no attention to it at all as a possible treatment for my ailments. I was likely indoctrinated by traditional medical practitioners who convinced me that it wasn't 'real medicine' no matter that millions of people relied on chiropractic treatments for ailments that regular doctors could not successfully treat.
Because of my Sweetie, who was being successfully treated by a chiropractor for an ongoing and painful leg injury, I too became a believer. I wrote about it below in an earlier post.
Well, eventually, even the chiropractor could not completely rid me of some back pain that appears to have resulted from a worn out mattress. So we ended up purchasing a new, hi-tech, mattress that offers considerably more support for my large body than the old mattress. Even so, I still have some residual pain that I would like to see gone so that I can return to my exercise program.
So today she presented me with a visit to a local acupuncturist. And once again, my life changed as I learned first hand that acupuncture is not just sticking needles in people's bodies. It is a traditional form of treatment that has been successfully used for thousands of years. And today I became another acupuncture patient.
My wife made the appointment because of the pains in my hips, lower back and front, and legs, and feet. The visit included a hot-oil/hot and hot stones treatment to my back.
First, the young lady acupuncturist asked a number of questions regarding my current and former health. She even asked to see my tongue and check my pulse, saying my tongue color suggested I had a fatty liver, but my pulse suggested a strong heart. I suppose that's necessary information before being stuck with pins.
Before you ask, yes, I opted for naked because part of my pain was on my
hip/buttock area. But I had a towel over my tail feather area until she
needed to get to the points where she was sticking me with the pins.
The entire process, including the questions she asked before
going into the treatment room, was really not so different than visiting a
regular doctor. She just wanted to know where I was hurting, and
questions about my health in general.
She even discussed the problem of drinking cold water
and cooling down too quickly after exercise is a no-no, because the cold water or cold air closes up my skin's pores and does not allow the
toxins to leave my body through my skin. As a result, the toxins have to
remain in the body until absorbed by the kidney and liver, or something like
that. So I’m to just ‘air dry’ after exercise from now on.
But the acupuncture itself was painless, well except for one
place on my ankle that hurt a little. She explained that the pain there was because it
was an area that really needed treatment. Once the needles were in, there was no
pain associated with them at all. I suppose they were working like little
antennas, broadcasting my pain from my body.
I actually believe the acupuncture helped relieve the pain
in my hip and back. Not all the way, but it could be gone by the end of
the day. It is noticeably less than this morning. Even if it takes
another treatment, I think I’ll go for it. After reading about
acupuncture, I’m pretty much convinced that it’s not all quack doctoring.
She suggested some hot tea (which she made hot for us and we ended
up buying some). It wasn't sweet like our tea with it's two packets of Splenda. Oddly, this tea tasted healthy.
I’m kinda anxious to see how this one trip there does for my
back and leg pain. Now that I know what acupuncture is and feels like, I
won’t hesitate to go back when needed. I think the total bill was
$80. Well worth that.
2-16-17 Update: Well, it appears that the acupuncture did not work. So I have an appointment with my regular doctor tomorrow. I'm sure he will want to run some tests. I hope he does.
2-17-17 Update: I saw my primary care doctor yesterday just to make sure I'm covering all the bases. He checked me over and concluded that I probably have a pinched nerve that can repair itself with some rest and staying away from strenuous activity. He also gave me a hip shot to help with the pain and inflammation. I feel better already. But if it doesn't go away soon, I probably should see my back surgeon again. So for now, I'll just relax and see what happens. Actually, I'm sorta relieved that he didn't find something wrong with my internal organs. But he did have me do a urine test just to make sure. I should know the results next week. Aced the urine test.
2-17-17 Update: I saw my primary care doctor yesterday just to make sure I'm covering all the bases. He checked me over and concluded that I probably have a pinched nerve that can repair itself with some rest and staying away from strenuous activity. He also gave me a hip shot to help with the pain and inflammation. I feel better already. But if it doesn't go away soon, I probably should see my back surgeon again. So for now, I'll just relax and see what happens. Actually, I'm sorta relieved that he didn't find something wrong with my internal organs. But he did have me do a urine test just to make sure. I should know the results next week. Aced the urine test.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Our New Bed
We finally, after a year of trying to make a decision, purchased a new California King Select Comfort Numbers Bed to replace the one we bought many years ago.
The warranty on Select Comfort beds is 25 years, and we had ours for probably 16 years before we started to notice that it was just not providing the support as well as in earlier years. So we replaced some of the internal foam pieces (each has a different density and serves a specific purpose). That helped, but only for a while.
The fact that we (mostly me) weigh more than we did years ago is probably a major factor in the foam not performing well. I'm working on the weight problem but we needed to make a decision on getting a new bed. And as of Friday, February 10, 2017 we're sleeping on a new Select Comfort bed.
It feels great, much better than our old bed. So we're pleased and are looking forward to many more years of joyous sleep comfort.
The old bed still had plenty of life left in it so we offered it for sale on our neighborhood internet chat room to the first person who wanted to buy it. Within five minutes of posting, a nearby neighbor/friend rung our doorbell and said he wanted to buy it. He paid the asking price, but because it requires special California King sheets and comforter, we threw in for free a complete set that I didn't particularly care for because it was too light weight.
He said he had three possible places where it may end up being used: to replace his and his wife's bed, replace his athletic son's bed, or replace the bed he hates in their beach house. No matter where it ends up, I think it will be welcomed and appreciated.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that our new bed is loaded with technology that actually measures our time in the bed, the amount of 'restful sleep,' 'restless sleep,' and even periods when we may be out of bed during bathroom breaks or can't sleep moments.
Once our Age, Height and Weight is programmed, the app will help to determine our best setting for a good night's sleep.
It even measures and records our heart and breathing rates (don't ask me how), and precisely how long if takes for us to actually fall asleep once we climb into bed.
The results of all this data is calculated to be our nightly 'SleepIQ.' That number can accumulated and then be used to help determine which number setting (air mattress is best for each of us). My number is 40 now but will likely be lowered to 35 in a few nights because 35 provides the softer bed that I prefer.
But the real number to look at is my SleepIQ. 97 for last night. I got some great sleep.
Judy's SleepIQ will probably suggest a higher number because of her age, height and weight and personal preferences suggest a firmer bed.
But if either of us decides for whatever reason, that we want to sleep at a higher number for the night, we can just instruct the wireless controller to take us that number. In a few seconds the mattress will be providing additional support on just our side. And by simply pressing the Favorites button, it will take us back to our preferred support.
This is so cool. Instead of just thinking, "I feel like I slept well last night" we can actually see a graph of exactly how well it was. It's one of the first things we check on our computer and smart phone every morning.
We're going to love this new bed.
The warranty on Select Comfort beds is 25 years, and we had ours for probably 16 years before we started to notice that it was just not providing the support as well as in earlier years. So we replaced some of the internal foam pieces (each has a different density and serves a specific purpose). That helped, but only for a while.
The fact that we (mostly me) weigh more than we did years ago is probably a major factor in the foam not performing well. I'm working on the weight problem but we needed to make a decision on getting a new bed. And as of Friday, February 10, 2017 we're sleeping on a new Select Comfort bed.
It feels great, much better than our old bed. So we're pleased and are looking forward to many more years of joyous sleep comfort.
The old bed still had plenty of life left in it so we offered it for sale on our neighborhood internet chat room to the first person who wanted to buy it. Within five minutes of posting, a nearby neighbor/friend rung our doorbell and said he wanted to buy it. He paid the asking price, but because it requires special California King sheets and comforter, we threw in for free a complete set that I didn't particularly care for because it was too light weight.
He said he had three possible places where it may end up being used: to replace his and his wife's bed, replace his athletic son's bed, or replace the bed he hates in their beach house. No matter where it ends up, I think it will be welcomed and appreciated.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that our new bed is loaded with technology that actually measures our time in the bed, the amount of 'restful sleep,' 'restless sleep,' and even periods when we may be out of bed during bathroom breaks or can't sleep moments.
Once our Age, Height and Weight is programmed, the app will help to determine our best setting for a good night's sleep.
It even measures and records our heart and breathing rates (don't ask me how), and precisely how long if takes for us to actually fall asleep once we climb into bed.
The results of all this data is calculated to be our nightly 'SleepIQ.' That number can accumulated and then be used to help determine which number setting (air mattress is best for each of us). My number is 40 now but will likely be lowered to 35 in a few nights because 35 provides the softer bed that I prefer.
But the real number to look at is my SleepIQ. 97 for last night. I got some great sleep.
Judy's SleepIQ will probably suggest a higher number because of her age, height and weight and personal preferences suggest a firmer bed.
But if either of us decides for whatever reason, that we want to sleep at a higher number for the night, we can just instruct the wireless controller to take us that number. In a few seconds the mattress will be providing additional support on just our side. And by simply pressing the Favorites button, it will take us back to our preferred support.
This is so cool. Instead of just thinking, "I feel like I slept well last night" we can actually see a graph of exactly how well it was. It's one of the first things we check on our computer and smart phone every morning.
We're going to love this new bed.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
My Chiropractor Visit
I'm almost 76 years old and I've never visited a chiropractor. That is until Friday, January 13th, 2017. Dr. Shane Hancock at Hancock Family Chiropractic. And a genuinely nice guy.
I didn't set out to become a patient but my Sweetie has been having some serious and unrelenting pain due to a fall a few months ago. She visited an orthopedic doctor we know and he diagnosed it as an inflammation in L-4 of her back. He recommended some exercises and ice packs which she religiously does. At least he didn't suggest back surgery or even epidurals to get the pain relief she needs.
Weeks later, the pain continued, and on some days she was in agony. So in desperation, she called for an appointment with a chiropractor our neighbor recommended. His office was nearby and he takes Medicare, so she went there by herself. And she came home feeling better, both physically and emotionally.
Needless to say, I decided to go meet this guy who made her life better. So on her follow-up visit a few days later, I watched and listened closely to what he was doing and saying. It all seemed to make perfect sense, that something in her was not exactly where it should be in order to align perfectly with the rest of her body. A few snaps, or as he referred to them "alignments" or "adjustments." It was all very fast and she was smiling even more than before. The pain was clearly gone or going away. She was comfortable and definitely more relaxed than just a few days before she visited him.
She asked me if I might want to schedule an appointment to see if he could help me with some of the pains I've been suffering for years. I said yes and after some paperwork and discussion, he had me on the table. He performed a few (three or four) alignments. There were some clearly noticeable 'snaps' or 'pops' sounds. But no pain. And he was through.
I didn't immediately notice any difference in anything but I felt like something good had happened. He wanted to see me again the following Tuesday and I was eager to be there.
Meanwhile, I spent much of the weekend reading about chiropractic, including watching a number of videos of patients actually being treated. It was an eye-opening experience. I could easily see that many of my lifetime collection of painful events could probably have been successfully and more quickly treated than whatever method I decided to use.
On Tuesday, (yesterday) I was back for my follow-up visit with our newly discovered chiropractor. Judy was also there for her follow-up visit.
We actually spent more time talking than being ‘popped’ back into alignment. The reason for all the talk, mostly questions, was because I had been spending a lot of time watching YouTube videos of chiropractors treating patients for a wide range of conditions, including some I would never thought to be ‘body-alignment’ related. Like acid reflux problems (which I don’t have), and cramps/tingling/burning/stabbing-pain problems with my feet, along with restless-legs, mostly when I lie down in bed (which I do have).
After actually seeing Judy’s instant return to mobility-without-pain, I’m thinking chiropractors can fix a lot of problems that conventional medicine cannot.
I didn't set out to become a patient but my Sweetie has been having some serious and unrelenting pain due to a fall a few months ago. She visited an orthopedic doctor we know and he diagnosed it as an inflammation in L-4 of her back. He recommended some exercises and ice packs which she religiously does. At least he didn't suggest back surgery or even epidurals to get the pain relief she needs.
Weeks later, the pain continued, and on some days she was in agony. So in desperation, she called for an appointment with a chiropractor our neighbor recommended. His office was nearby and he takes Medicare, so she went there by herself. And she came home feeling better, both physically and emotionally.
Needless to say, I decided to go meet this guy who made her life better. So on her follow-up visit a few days later, I watched and listened closely to what he was doing and saying. It all seemed to make perfect sense, that something in her was not exactly where it should be in order to align perfectly with the rest of her body. A few snaps, or as he referred to them "alignments" or "adjustments." It was all very fast and she was smiling even more than before. The pain was clearly gone or going away. She was comfortable and definitely more relaxed than just a few days before she visited him.
She asked me if I might want to schedule an appointment to see if he could help me with some of the pains I've been suffering for years. I said yes and after some paperwork and discussion, he had me on the table. He performed a few (three or four) alignments. There were some clearly noticeable 'snaps' or 'pops' sounds. But no pain. And he was through.
I didn't immediately notice any difference in anything but I felt like something good had happened. He wanted to see me again the following Tuesday and I was eager to be there.
Meanwhile, I spent much of the weekend reading about chiropractic, including watching a number of videos of patients actually being treated. It was an eye-opening experience. I could easily see that many of my lifetime collection of painful events could probably have been successfully and more quickly treated than whatever method I decided to use.
On Tuesday, (yesterday) I was back for my follow-up visit with our newly discovered chiropractor. Judy was also there for her follow-up visit.
We actually spent more time talking than being ‘popped’ back into alignment. The reason for all the talk, mostly questions, was because I had been spending a lot of time watching YouTube videos of chiropractors treating patients for a wide range of conditions, including some I would never thought to be ‘body-alignment’ related. Like acid reflux problems (which I don’t have), and cramps/tingling/burning/stabbing-pain problems with my feet, along with restless-legs, mostly when I lie down in bed (which I do have).
After actually seeing Judy’s instant return to mobility-without-pain, I’m thinking chiropractors can fix a lot of problems that conventional medicine cannot.
Oddly, when I mentioned the problem I have with cramps/tingling/burning/stabbing-pain problems with my feet, and restless-legs, he didn’t jump with joy that he just hit the “Magic Money Button” for expensive treatment to correct my problem. Instead, he just said, “Take magnesium supplement pills.” Yes, that's it, and he went on to explain why. And that led into a discussion about the Centrum supplement vitamins we’ve been taking for years, to which he explained that we were throwing our money away. He said told us to take a Centrum pill and put it in a cup of vinegar and see what happens. He had our curiosity up, so he went on to explain that even a couple of days later you can still read the name Centrum on the side of the pill. And that’s in spite of the vinegar’s acidity being stronger than our stomach’s acidity. That means the pill can easily go through our body without even being dissolved and absorbed. He said the pills can actually be so clear in X-rays that they can sometimes read the name on the pill. Thus, no value whatsoever to us.
So needless to say, we stopped at a health-pill store on the way home and had yet another interesting conversation with the store manager about the products they sell. She agreed about the Centrum pills, and said they call them ‘bedpan bullets’. Realizing that much of it is hype and some may or may not work with certain people for all problems, we still came home with $30 worth of pills.
But not one to intake anything without first reading up on it, I looked up possible side effects and conflicts with me taking Magnesium, and sure enough I should not take it because it will diminish the effects of the thyroid pills that I take daily. So no Magnesium supplements for me.
But Judy being Judy, she emailed my regular doctor to ask him if I could take the Magnesium. She soon received an email reply that I could take them for up to ten days. Great! It takes about that long for them to start taking affect. I just can’t take them at the same time as the thyroid pills. We’ll see if they work or not. If they do work there still may be a way I can take them without reducing the effects of the thyroid pills. Or maybe a ‘buffered’ version may work. Or maybe something else altogether. Worth a try.
Sometimes ‘Medical Ignorance’ is a good thing, but in the last few years I’m starting to realize that many of my ‘self-diagnosis’s’ and ‘over-the-counter’ treatments were totally wrong. I was just wasting time and money, and quite possibly making things worse.
Thanks to the Internet, I can not only look up symptoms, I can respond accordingly, including knowing what to say or ask when describing my condition to a doctor. “I hurt!” is no longer a definitive statement when my doctor asks why I’m there. I want to be able to tell him where and how it hurts. I want to tell him I’ve taken Tylenol for it and it works or not, or that I’ve experienced something recently, seemingly unrelated, that could or could not be a factor.
But what really ticks me off is that I’m just now learning all this stuff when I’m on the down-side of the mountain of life. At least I’m becoming a bit more proactive in it.
This morning Judy is up and feeling great. So the chiropractor definitely did good for her. I’m still undecided on me. I don't want to say it's working for me until I absolutely know that it's working for me. But it was worth the try and the learning experience is and will be invaluable.
We go back in a couple of days. By then I should know if it's good for me.
Update: It is now 2-5-17 and I haven't been back. After three treatments, he and I both agreed that he can't fix my tingling/cramping/burning sensations in my feet, but he suggested I take Magnesium supplements. I purchased some but I know to check with my doctor first about taking any kind of supplements or medicines, prescription or over-the-counter. He said I could take the Magnesium pills for up to 10 days but that's it. Magnesium reduces and counters the affects of my thyroid medication.
So I tried the Magnesium for 10 days and I really couldn't tell if it helped or not. Although I didn't have any serious spasms or cramping/burning events, the tingling was still there. So I opted to remain off the Magnesium rather than risk causing more thyroid problems. The thyroid can be a serious problem if its not functioning right, with or without pills.
As for Judy, she also finished her last treatment with him. She is very happy with the treatments he gave her. Although she isn't all the way back to normal, her leg/hip is no longer a serious and painful problem like she was before seeing him.
Another update: 2-13-17 During Judy's visit last week she mentioned to the chiropractor that my back really hurts. She told him that I keep saying it started after my last visit when he did something to my back. I initially said I didn't want to have any more adjustments but he explained that the symptoms suggest that my hip is out of alignment. He convinced me to have another adjustment to see if it would help. He used the drop table and pushed hard in the middle of my back. Although I didn't hear or feel any shift in my bones, he said that treatment should take care of it. And to return on Monday (today) to see if it helped. I'll be there later this morning, but in the meantime we purchased another Select Comfort Number's Bed to replace our old Select Comfort Numbers Bed which we thought may be a contributing factor to my back pain. I feel somewhat better but I'm not sure whether it is due to the 'adjustment' or our new bed. I'll know more in about three hours.
Update: It is now 2-5-17 and I haven't been back. After three treatments, he and I both agreed that he can't fix my tingling/cramping/burning sensations in my feet, but he suggested I take Magnesium supplements. I purchased some but I know to check with my doctor first about taking any kind of supplements or medicines, prescription or over-the-counter. He said I could take the Magnesium pills for up to 10 days but that's it. Magnesium reduces and counters the affects of my thyroid medication.
So I tried the Magnesium for 10 days and I really couldn't tell if it helped or not. Although I didn't have any serious spasms or cramping/burning events, the tingling was still there. So I opted to remain off the Magnesium rather than risk causing more thyroid problems. The thyroid can be a serious problem if its not functioning right, with or without pills.
As for Judy, she also finished her last treatment with him. She is very happy with the treatments he gave her. Although she isn't all the way back to normal, her leg/hip is no longer a serious and painful problem like she was before seeing him.
Another update: 2-13-17 During Judy's visit last week she mentioned to the chiropractor that my back really hurts. She told him that I keep saying it started after my last visit when he did something to my back. I initially said I didn't want to have any more adjustments but he explained that the symptoms suggest that my hip is out of alignment. He convinced me to have another adjustment to see if it would help. He used the drop table and pushed hard in the middle of my back. Although I didn't hear or feel any shift in my bones, he said that treatment should take care of it. And to return on Monday (today) to see if it helped. I'll be there later this morning, but in the meantime we purchased another Select Comfort Number's Bed to replace our old Select Comfort Numbers Bed which we thought may be a contributing factor to my back pain. I feel somewhat better but I'm not sure whether it is due to the 'adjustment' or our new bed. I'll know more in about three hours.
Saturday, January 07, 2017
Cold
One of the nice things about living in the South is that extremely cold weather is a rarity. Here in Spring Texas, we didn't even get below freezing last Winter.
But last night, it got cold. really cold.
I haven't been outside to check the pipes yet, but I took the precaution of letting them trickle all night hoping that would keep them from freezing in the predicted "27°" weather.
The problem is, their prediction missed by a mile because this morning we woke to what is probably record-breaking low temperatures:
But last night, it got cold. really cold.
I haven't been outside to check the pipes yet, but I took the precaution of letting them trickle all night hoping that would keep them from freezing in the predicted "27°" weather.
The problem is, their prediction missed by a mile because this morning we woke to what is probably record-breaking low temperatures:
I'll update this later but right now I'm just thankful to have a warm house and toilets that flush.
Monday, January 02, 2017
The 2017 Diet/Exercise Program/Effort
Two words in the English language are absolutely hated by some of us. That would include me.
The first word, and most hated of all, 'Diet' actually starts out as 'Die' and someone long ago forgot to add the hyphen before the 't,' which I believe was an abbreviation for 'tomorrow.' The tomorrow was put in there as sort of a grace period just in case you came to your senses.
The second word, 'Exercise' is just another word for 'voluntary punishment' for something that humans are programmed to do by those who compete in sporting events or sell exercise equipment, or by doctors and pain-pill companies who probably make more money off you by treating your aches and pains from, guess what - Exercise...
I think the funeral industry is in on it too. As near as I can tell, everyone, whether they exercise or not, will die (see paragraph above about the Diet/Die connection). The funeral home will eventually get you, but may get you sooner if you exercise yourself to death.
Think about it - how many other Planet Earth animals voluntarily exercise? Take your time, and you still won't be able to name a single one that ordered a gym set from Amazon, or built a wing in their hole-in-the-ground for exercise equipment.
No, we humans are the only ones who eat so much, drink so much, sit on our ass so much, smoke so much, and generally do too much of nothing to stop ourselves from becoming overly fat and underly fit. I know, I'm one of 'em!
So on December 31st 2016 I decided to employ those two words, Diet and Exercise, in my life, but with a bit of caution. Too much could kill me and not enough may also kill me. So 'how much' of each had to be just right.
Come Sunday morning, January 1st, 2017, I climbed aboard my treadmill and took a little stroll. I set no goals and no limits. In route to nowhere, I decided at the 3/4 mile point that I should stop. I had set a pace of 96 steps per minute and it took 27 minutes to reach 3/4 mile, which meant that I had racked up 2,592 steps under controlled conditions. The recommended number of steps per day is 10,000 but that's if you really give a rat's ass about being in 'perfect' condition. I just want to feel a little better. So I'm fine with the 2,592 steps, plus any additional steps I accumulate going between the refrigerator and my recliner. Well, it's a start...
But wait, I also dusted off my Total Gym and set it up in the garage and did 100 reps each of 6 different sets of exercises to make my legs, arms and gut better.
And I did the same thing again today just for good measure. And I plan to do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next day.......
Is it working? Well, I'm down 4.8 pounds from when I started yesterday. And I ache all over. And I feel good about it. So yeah, I think it's working. We'll know for sure in a few weeks.
1-9-17 It's still working. As of today I'm down 7.8 pounds. Feel better too.
Here's a breakdown of my daily exercise/BP/Blood Glucose/Weight (I'm not diabetic) steps:
The first word, and most hated of all, 'Diet' actually starts out as 'Die' and someone long ago forgot to add the hyphen before the 't,' which I believe was an abbreviation for 'tomorrow.' The tomorrow was put in there as sort of a grace period just in case you came to your senses.
The second word, 'Exercise' is just another word for 'voluntary punishment' for something that humans are programmed to do by those who compete in sporting events or sell exercise equipment, or by doctors and pain-pill companies who probably make more money off you by treating your aches and pains from, guess what - Exercise...
I think the funeral industry is in on it too. As near as I can tell, everyone, whether they exercise or not, will die (see paragraph above about the Diet/Die connection). The funeral home will eventually get you, but may get you sooner if you exercise yourself to death.
Think about it - how many other Planet Earth animals voluntarily exercise? Take your time, and you still won't be able to name a single one that ordered a gym set from Amazon, or built a wing in their hole-in-the-ground for exercise equipment.
No, we humans are the only ones who eat so much, drink so much, sit on our ass so much, smoke so much, and generally do too much of nothing to stop ourselves from becoming overly fat and underly fit. I know, I'm one of 'em!
So on December 31st 2016 I decided to employ those two words, Diet and Exercise, in my life, but with a bit of caution. Too much could kill me and not enough may also kill me. So 'how much' of each had to be just right.
Come Sunday morning, January 1st, 2017, I climbed aboard my treadmill and took a little stroll. I set no goals and no limits. In route to nowhere, I decided at the 3/4 mile point that I should stop. I had set a pace of 96 steps per minute and it took 27 minutes to reach 3/4 mile, which meant that I had racked up 2,592 steps under controlled conditions. The recommended number of steps per day is 10,000 but that's if you really give a rat's ass about being in 'perfect' condition. I just want to feel a little better. So I'm fine with the 2,592 steps, plus any additional steps I accumulate going between the refrigerator and my recliner. Well, it's a start...
But wait, I also dusted off my Total Gym and set it up in the garage and did 100 reps each of 6 different sets of exercises to make my legs, arms and gut better.
And I did the same thing again today just for good measure. And I plan to do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next day.......
Is it working? Well, I'm down 4.8 pounds from when I started yesterday. And I ache all over. And I feel good about it. So yeah, I think it's working. We'll know for sure in a few weeks.
1-9-17 It's still working. As of today I'm down 7.8 pounds. Feel better too.
Here's a breakdown of my daily exercise/BP/Blood Glucose/Weight (I'm not diabetic) steps:
115/57 68 291.6∞°°®
Blood Glucose
Before Breakfast 99
Treadmill .75 miles @ 2.3 mph
2.5° incline 101 Steps Per Min
100
Reps of 10 lb arm curls
100 Reps of 6 Sets on Total Gym (legs and arms)Saturday, December 31, 2016
Happy New Year 2017
It's still 2016 as I start to write this, but 2017 is less than 9 hours away. I can always come back and edit this post if something happens during those 9 hours.
2016 went fast. Too fast. And I'm just guessing, but 2017 will probably go even faster. And will probably full of surprises, good and bad, too.
There is a new President and a world gone crazy. But the economy is better than during the past 8 to 10 years. At least that's a good start.
I won't dwell on the problems we Earthlings face. They are too many and the only way most will be solved is for there to be a total annihilation of the human race. Well, we certainly don't want that so it behooves us to get along better. I'll try if everyone else will.
Once again 'diet' raises its ugly head. Yes, I've got to re-start mine. I've already recorded all my vitals including blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI, Body Fat, Visceral fat, Body age, and even visited with my doctor two days ago to make sure I'm okay. He gave me a thumbs up. So there should be no reason for me to go softly into my diet. But first, there's a ribeye to be cooked and eaten tonight. After that I'm thinking there will be lots of chicken and bushes on the plate after that.
So like everyone else on Earth, I'm waiting to see what 2017 brings.
2016 went fast. Too fast. And I'm just guessing, but 2017 will probably go even faster. And will probably full of surprises, good and bad, too.
There is a new President and a world gone crazy. But the economy is better than during the past 8 to 10 years. At least that's a good start.
I won't dwell on the problems we Earthlings face. They are too many and the only way most will be solved is for there to be a total annihilation of the human race. Well, we certainly don't want that so it behooves us to get along better. I'll try if everyone else will.
Once again 'diet' raises its ugly head. Yes, I've got to re-start mine. I've already recorded all my vitals including blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI, Body Fat, Visceral fat, Body age, and even visited with my doctor two days ago to make sure I'm okay. He gave me a thumbs up. So there should be no reason for me to go softly into my diet. But first, there's a ribeye to be cooked and eaten tonight. After that I'm thinking there will be lots of chicken and bushes on the plate after that.
So like everyone else on Earth, I'm waiting to see what 2017 brings.
Christmas 2016
Once again, Judy and I drove to New Orleans for Christmas. Seems a lot easier than all of them coming here.
And once again, we ate a lot of good food and gave/got some nice gifts.
But this year we also got to see Joyce and Allen's new home being built in Terra Bella, in Covington, Louisiana. It looks to be about 1/3 along but the construction people move fast and I'm sure it will be ready to move into in March.
The trip was also the longest yet in our new Honda Pilot (almost 800 miles) and we were very happy with the comfort and performance. We averaged 28.1 mpg if you believe the on-board computer, but 25.1 mpg if you actually calculate the fuel purchased. Still not bad considering it's a much larger car than the Toyota Hybrid. It may well be our last car to buy.
It was a fun trip with some time leftover for packing china and cleaning out closets.
Now to lose the eight pounds I put on.
And once again, we ate a lot of good food and gave/got some nice gifts.
But this year we also got to see Joyce and Allen's new home being built in Terra Bella, in Covington, Louisiana. It looks to be about 1/3 along but the construction people move fast and I'm sure it will be ready to move into in March.
The trip was also the longest yet in our new Honda Pilot (almost 800 miles) and we were very happy with the comfort and performance. We averaged 28.1 mpg if you believe the on-board computer, but 25.1 mpg if you actually calculate the fuel purchased. Still not bad considering it's a much larger car than the Toyota Hybrid. It may well be our last car to buy.
It was a fun trip with some time leftover for packing china and cleaning out closets.
Now to lose the eight pounds I put on.
Friday, December 02, 2016
Thanksgiving 2016
Thanksgiving is usually associated with family, food and football, but this year it included making stained glass. Yes, the stained glass workshop (our garage) was busy with glass being cut, ground to shape and fitted into a pattern where it was eventually soldered into place and ending up as a work of art to be fitted into a custom door for Joyce and Allen's new home being built in Covington, Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Sandra was learning how to make mosaic art, this time a garden stone with a dragon fly. It turned out really nice and she is excitedly planning her next mosaic art project.
We had the usual food items for Thanksgiving dinner but we decided to cook the turkey 'spatchcocked' style instead of the usual way. Spatchcocked is a galic word for butterflied, if you were wondering. We also wanted to try some new seasoning created by our friends at Dizzy Pig BBQ Company in Virginia. And naturally, the turkey was cooked on the Big Green Egg.
It turned out really well. As is typical of spatchcocked chicken and turkey, it was easy to cut up and was very moist throughout. It went well with all of the other food we had laid out for the six of us.
Anyway, it was a wonderful holiday. And I took some photos which I included in this video. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed living it.
Thanksgiving 2016
Leroy
Meanwhile, Sandra was learning how to make mosaic art, this time a garden stone with a dragon fly. It turned out really nice and she is excitedly planning her next mosaic art project.
We had the usual food items for Thanksgiving dinner but we decided to cook the turkey 'spatchcocked' style instead of the usual way. Spatchcocked is a galic word for butterflied, if you were wondering. We also wanted to try some new seasoning created by our friends at Dizzy Pig BBQ Company in Virginia. And naturally, the turkey was cooked on the Big Green Egg.
It turned out really well. As is typical of spatchcocked chicken and turkey, it was easy to cut up and was very moist throughout. It went well with all of the other food we had laid out for the six of us.
Anyway, it was a wonderful holiday. And I took some photos which I included in this video. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed living it.
Thanksgiving 2016
Leroy
43rd Wedding Anniversary
December 1, 1973... I remember it well. It was the day my Sweetie and I were married.
And we just celebrated that day for the 43rd time.
I was feeling poorly and we had to postpone until today our little celebration in style. But we did go for a special lunch yesterday at a popular new restaurant called Cape Code Cafe. Our neighbors joined us.
Reviews all gave it high marks and advised people to be prepared to stand in a long line for the evening meal. So we though it best to get there when they opened at 11:00. It pretty much filled up by the time we left.
We may have been a bit over hyped by the reviews but we didn't like it. We even ordered their signature dish, a lobster roll, which we didn't like at all. We also ordered cups of lobster bisque and New England Clam Chowder. The bisque was weak in flavor and the lobster bits in it were tough and stringy. The Clam Chowder was only pretty good. We make better at home.
We even ordered the Sampler Platter that included some crab cakes, fried clams and French Fries. Really bad. We can't wait to NOT go back.
Even so, it was a nice outing with our neighbors. It also let us know that our tastes are definitely not for New England style seafood.
I slept most of the rest of the day.
But today I felt better and we both went for pedicures. And I have to say, an occasional pedicure is worth it, even for the manliest of men and the most frugal of women.
Then we had a delicious lunch at a favorite Chinese restaurant just across the street from the spa.
No sooner than we arrived back home I was ready for a full nap. Apparently, I needed it.
After 43 years, celebrating it doesn't actaully have to be on the same day. Today was much nicer.
Happy Anniversary Love of my Life
And we just celebrated that day for the 43rd time.
I was feeling poorly and we had to postpone until today our little celebration in style. But we did go for a special lunch yesterday at a popular new restaurant called Cape Code Cafe. Our neighbors joined us.
Reviews all gave it high marks and advised people to be prepared to stand in a long line for the evening meal. So we though it best to get there when they opened at 11:00. It pretty much filled up by the time we left.
We may have been a bit over hyped by the reviews but we didn't like it. We even ordered their signature dish, a lobster roll, which we didn't like at all. We also ordered cups of lobster bisque and New England Clam Chowder. The bisque was weak in flavor and the lobster bits in it were tough and stringy. The Clam Chowder was only pretty good. We make better at home.
We even ordered the Sampler Platter that included some crab cakes, fried clams and French Fries. Really bad. We can't wait to NOT go back.
Even so, it was a nice outing with our neighbors. It also let us know that our tastes are definitely not for New England style seafood.
I slept most of the rest of the day.
But today I felt better and we both went for pedicures. And I have to say, an occasional pedicure is worth it, even for the manliest of men and the most frugal of women.
No sooner than we arrived back home I was ready for a full nap. Apparently, I needed it.
After 43 years, celebrating it doesn't actaully have to be on the same day. Today was much nicer.
Happy Anniversary Love of my Life
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The Big Vote
I'm 75 years old, and I can't recall a Presidential Election as
challenging to the voters as this one. But not so challenging for me
because I knew early on who I wanted in office. And no, I'm not going to
tell you who. No matter who I voted for, I would lose friends if I told
who.
But, trust me; my
vote did not come without considerable thought and research regarding the
issues. I knew I had to go beyond the endless name-calling and daily 'Gotcha's'
as the news media pounced on Wikileaks' documents and endless Congressional
Hearings as if they were inconvertible truths, or on charges of personal
misconduct, or hundreds of other 'colorizations' of each candidate's
qualifications.
Sadly, more news
was given to the 'unimportant' than to the 'important.' The issues were
not worthy news. Issues didn't gain viewers for the 'talking heads' that
seemed to be everywhere fanning the flames of mistruth, doubt and fiction.
But to me, the issues are many, and they are the most important thing at
stake, not only for the three generations of us who will vote, but for at least
three generations who will have to live with our decision.
I knew going in
that the 'Politics' of this election would get nasty. It seems to be the norm these days. As much as I don't
care for it, I could not do anything about it. But I could ignore the nastiness and focus on what
was really important.
Yet in spite of the nastiness, one thing is for
sure, it brought to the surface the frustrations of a lot of concerned American
voters. Both parties were fighting each other at the public's expense
over issues that could have been easily resolved if only those in power would
just work together to resolve them.
As Citizens, we've
known for years what is wrong with our elected leadership, and finally we stood up and said we've had
enough. Now in the final hours of this administration, we are determined to do what we can to
get our government back on course. And we have the most powerful tool in the world to do it - our vote.
Judy and I
couldn't wait until Election Day. We wanted to express ourselves as soon
as possible, although our vote would not actually count until Election Day. So
we took advantage of Early Voting and happily stood in a long line of people
who obviously were also in a hurry to get the election underway.
It felt
really good to move a step closer to exercising our Right and Privilege in the
voting booth. It felt even better as we walked out of the voting booth
knowing we did what was necessary to keep our Country on track for at least the
next four years.
Now it's a long
wait to see if our vote counted.
Update:
The election is over, the world is now facing a new leader who promises to fix everything. I guess we'll see...
Follow-up. Here's a link to the lies and perfidious statements the new President made in order to get elected. This does not include all the promises he made to his supporters.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-whoppers-of-2016/ar-AAlJJoq?li=BBnb7Kz
Update:
The election is over, the world is now facing a new leader who promises to fix everything. I guess we'll see...
Follow-up. Here's a link to the lies and perfidious statements the new President made in order to get elected. This does not include all the promises he made to his supporters.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-whoppers-of-2016/ar-AAlJJoq?li=BBnb7Kz
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Jefferson Eggfest 2016
"Third time is the charm..." We've all heard that ancient phrase, and maybe even wondered if its true, but it is most certainly true for the Jefferson Eggfest this year.
This was the third, and possibly last Jefferson Eggfest for some of us if it didn't pick up with larger crowds and better weather. After all, each of us Cooks have to underwrite all of our own expenses to go help a far off town library survive. The first two years, attendance was so low that we Cooks could have just donated a portion of what we spent out of pocket and stayed home, and the library would still come out ahead.
But not this year. The weather was perfect, the mood was right and the word got out. The official estimate is 'something over 400' paying attendees. That's because they ran out of attendance bracelets at 400 and had to revert to temporary bracelets. I'm thinking 500 easy.
Even better, those 500 were very pleased that they came. There were lots of comments about how good the food was and about their first experience eating food cooked on a Big Green Egg smoker/grill. Lots of questions, and some actually decided on the spot to buy a Big Green Egg to take home.
Of course, everyone was encouraged and all of us are looking forward to next year. And, most important, the Library ended up with a sizable chunk of new funding to help them with their many community projects.
I took a number of photos and borrowed some from others who share their photos on social networks, and assembled them into a video which I promptly uploaded to YouTube. If you would like to take a look at the video, just click here: Jefferson Eggfest 2016 - The Movie
By the way, next year's event is already scheduled for October 14, 2017. Hope to see you there.
http://jeffersoneggfest.com/
This was the third, and possibly last Jefferson Eggfest for some of us if it didn't pick up with larger crowds and better weather. After all, each of us Cooks have to underwrite all of our own expenses to go help a far off town library survive. The first two years, attendance was so low that we Cooks could have just donated a portion of what we spent out of pocket and stayed home, and the library would still come out ahead.
But not this year. The weather was perfect, the mood was right and the word got out. The official estimate is 'something over 400' paying attendees. That's because they ran out of attendance bracelets at 400 and had to revert to temporary bracelets. I'm thinking 500 easy.
Even better, those 500 were very pleased that they came. There were lots of comments about how good the food was and about their first experience eating food cooked on a Big Green Egg smoker/grill. Lots of questions, and some actually decided on the spot to buy a Big Green Egg to take home.
Of course, everyone was encouraged and all of us are looking forward to next year. And, most important, the Library ended up with a sizable chunk of new funding to help them with their many community projects.
I took a number of photos and borrowed some from others who share their photos on social networks, and assembled them into a video which I promptly uploaded to YouTube. If you would like to take a look at the video, just click here: Jefferson Eggfest 2016 - The Movie
By the way, next year's event is already scheduled for October 14, 2017. Hope to see you there.
http://jeffersoneggfest.com/
Tuesday, October 04, 2016
Our Chicken Coop
We're known in Big Green Egg circles as Spring Chicken and Spring Hen. And the way we tell the story is that we became Spring Chicken and Spring Hen soon after we purchased our first Big Green Egg in November 1999.
We had no clue as to how to cook on it so we just set it up on the deck until we could figure it out.
We had no clue as to how to cook on it so we just set it up on the deck until we could figure it out.
It was a couple of months before we discovered the Big Green Egg Forum, where "Eggheads" hung out and shared information about the Big Green Egg, recipes, and happily, how to cook on the darn thing.
Well, the first thing the Big Green Egg Forum asked was for me to register. I did, and then they threw another curve at me: What is my Big Green Egg Handle? Handle!!! I don't have one. So I figured since we live in Spring Texas and the first thing I cooked (not very well) on the Egg was chicken, then I would become Spring Chicken. And soon afterward, my Sweetie would become Spring Hen.
My first question for my newly found Egghead friends was, "How long does it take knuckle hair to grow back?" Yes, I learned one of the first lessons of cooking on an Egg - 'burp it first...' meaning, don't suddenly open the dome when the fire is starved for oxygen. To do so will surely offer up a surprise that can leave a lasting impression, not to mention losing some arm hair and eyebrows. To the member Eggheads, I had just been baptized by fire and they readily accepted me into the best group of people on the planet - Eggheads...
I wanted to establish myself quickly by showing photos of my cooks. My first attempt at posting a photo failed miserably, but a fellow Egghead posted it for me and that photo and others clearly established me as a novice at this new way of cooking. I also learned that I wasn't a 'novice' as much as I was a Newbie. It's a step up because Newbie means I'm actually asking for help, whereas, novice thinks they already know, or can figure out, how to cook on an Egg.
Anyway, when I did post a photo of me cooking on the Egg, it was suggested that I return to my dealer and get an adjustable damper (aka Daisy Wheel) for the top vent on the Egg. I had been cooking better and better without one, but I desperately wanted to do it right. So I bought one. What a difference that made. The steps taken when cooking on the Egg all started to make perfect sense.
More important, it was becoming fun. In fact, a lot of fun. And it has remained fun all these years as we both continue to grow our cooking skills.
And, of course, it didn't take long before we knew we had found a hobby that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Here we are almost seventeen years later with six Big Green Eggs, an outdoor kitchen known around the world, and friends by the thousands whom we would never have met had it not been for the Big Green Egg.
Our outdoor kitchen is now ten years old and continues to be a focal point in our lives. It has many stories to tell and, rest assured, those stories get told to everyone who will listen. Even better when they hear the stories while visiting here.
For those who have no idea what our Chicken Coop looks like, I keep updating YouTube videos so they can 'take the tour' so they can see what makes it so special to us. The Coop is a collection of memories brought to life in a whimsical setting designed to have fun. We enjoy it every day.
Take the tour and see what I mean... Coop Tour
Saturday, August 27, 2016
I Don't Want To Brag, But .....
Sometime in my early life, probably while still in high
school, maybe even grade school, someone told me that I had an IQ of 127.
I didn’t know what it meant nor was I
particularly interested in it. But the
numbers stuck. I never followed up to
see what it meant, but when I joined the Army in February of 1960, I was told
by an Army processing person in Dallas that my Army aptitude scores were quite
high. He asked me if I had taken an IQ test.
I told him that I remember taking lots of strange tests, none of which
seemed to be related to classes I was taking in school, but the only time I
ever heard of IQ when someone told me I had an IQ of 127. He said, well that explains why you scored
high on the Army’s tests.
He went on to say that I qualified to go into the Army
Security Agency. And by that evening I
was on a bus headed to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It was February 29th, a Leap Year,
and there was snow on the ground from Dallas to Missouri. And it was cold. I was dressed for Central Louisiana weather.
Somewhere about the third week of basic training, I was told
to report to a building on base. No
reason was given other than just be there, people are waiting to see me.
I arrived promptly at the time I was told to be there and
found three men in civilian suits hovering around a coal-burning pot-bellied
stove. They showed me their FBI badges
and told me to sit down, that they had some questions to ask and that I would
undergo a polygraph test. I didn’t know
what a polygraph test was, but I figured it was just another of the Army’s
endless battery of tests to find out what I was suited for in the Army.
Although these tests were similar to some I had taken in
High School and during the early processing of my joining the Army, they were a
lot more complex. Some of the questions
didn’t make sense at all, nor did the choices of answers to select from. Plus, it was a timed test and they made me
stop immediately when the timer bell went off.
They didn’t grade the test or even look at it, just stuffed
it into an envelope. Then they explained
the polygraph to me and that it would be used to see if I was lying about any
of the questions they asked me. In fact,
they made it sound like they would not only know if I was lying in my answers
to their questions, they would know if I had ever lied about anything ‘ever’ in
my life. I just knew they were going to
ask me some highly personal questions that I preferred they not ask. But I told them I was ready because I was
also a bit curious.
A strap was placed around my chest, a cuff around my upper
arm and a small device was clamped to my finger. I also seem to recall there was a small flat
coin-like device to hold in the palm of my hand which would detect
moisture. (Apparently your palm sweats
when you lie) Each was explained to me
as to what happens when I answer a question.
Simple questions, such as “are you sitting down?” would probably not
excite any of the devices and therefore would not excite the polygraph machine’s
chart needles. But more complicated “think
type” questions might and probably would generate more excitement and therefore
cause the needles to record on the graph that excitement.
But if I was lying, or deliberately being deceptive, the
excitement would be detected in my increased breathing, blood pressure or pulse
rate, and recorded on the graph. Simple
enough to understand now but to an 18 year old small town boy in the 1960’s, it
was ‘Rocket Science.’
As with the earlier written test, they just looked over the
chart and stuck it into an envelope without saying anything. Then they told me to report back to my
unit.
After I returned to my unit, I really didn’t give much
thought to the whole process I had just gone through.
About six weeks later I was in Fort Devens, Massachusetts,
assigned to the Army Security Agency's Morse Code 058 MOS classes. It took our class six months to get up
to the expected proficiency the Army needed.
Meanwhile, some of us were ahead of schedule and added Voice Intercept
055 MOS training, before the entire class graduated and was transferred to Fort
Bragg, North Carolina.
I can’t recall ever once being asked for my IQ after
that. Until yesterday when I suddenly
remembered it and decided to look it up using Google.
The very first thing that came up said, “127 IQ sd 15 means your IQ is at the 96.4 percentile. That means
your IQ is higher than 96.4% of the general
population. Pretty darn good.”
Well, that made me feel good about myself, at least until I
read the next one that said, “It means that you have been tested and that the
result of that test is that you have an IQ of 127. Other than that it means nothing at all in real
life.”
Well Pooh! I thought I
could brag about my IQ, but it’s nothing but a ‘so what!’ number.
Now I know…
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Another Theft in the Neighborhood
When you hear of someone reporting their home or car was
broken into, or a bike stolen off the front lawn, or a million other such
incidents of theft, you think, “Those poor people must have forgotten to lock
the door or take necessary precautions to protect their property.” Then you just dismiss the information as ‘just
another criminal act in the neighborhood.’
That is unless you are the victim.
We just became the victim.
This time some low-life stole two cordless drills from our garage:
An old but very powerful Porter-Cable drill
And a Makita 18v Drill and Impact combo with case and accessories:
It probably happened during the night because we rarely leave the garage door open for long during the day unless we are in the garage. Our garage is detached and set back 90’ from the street in a very small cul-de-sac, so it’s not likely they did their thievery during the day. But if we were home, we may have not locked the side door because we go in and out of the garage many times a day. No, it had to be at night.
An old but very powerful Porter-Cable drill
It probably happened during the night because we rarely leave the garage door open for long during the day unless we are in the garage. Our garage is detached and set back 90’ from the street in a very small cul-de-sac, so it’s not likely they did their thievery during the day. But if we were home, we may have not locked the side door because we go in and out of the garage many times a day. No, it had to be at night.
Nothing else was stolen or damaged that we can see. And one of the drills was so old that it has
no useful value unless someone purchases very expensive replacement batteries
for it. But the other 2-drill set will
require at least $200 to replace. And even
that’s peanuts compared to what all could have been stolen or damaged.
The greatest loss we incurred was the security we felt in
our home and neighborhood. That is now
gone forever. We will always feel venerable
to the infection and many faces of crime.
What have we done about it?
Well, we reported it to the Constable’s office, and shortly thereafter a
nice Deputy Constable came by so we could file a Police Report, the first step
in any criminal investigation.
Surprisingly, providing the necessary information about the
loss isn’t as easy as you would think even though it is something you own and
use on a fairly frequent basis. For
example, I use one of the drills at least five times a week, yet I could not instantly
recall if it was a Ryobi or Hitachi or Makita, and I certainly could not recall
the serial number, something ultimately needed to confirm that I am the true
owner of the drill.
Nor could I produce the exact model number or even an exact
description because the Operator’s Manual was inside the handy carry case along
with the drills, which I also failed to clearly mark with my name, driver’s
license number or some other ownership information which the Police could
legally use to retrieve from a pawn shop.
To me it was just a cordless drill, but it was ‘my’ cordless drill, not
some lowlife’s opportunity to lower his status as a human by yet another notch.
Anyway, I learned a lot about the legal process after the
fact, but a lot more about what I can do to protect my property, and for that
matter, myself and my family. Most of
what I learned is actually just good old common sense which sometimes needs a reminder,
such as becoming a victim.
I’m also reminded that criminals do not operate by the same
rules the rest of us do, nor or they treated any differently as citizens until
they are actually arrested and convicted of a crime.
No matter the crime, they continue to benefit from a system of justice
that can be harsh or lenient, often with the weight of forgiveness to those who truly deserve it. I can’t say I will ever forgive
the criminal, but I’m not going to let him or his actions affect my belief that
most people are inherently good.
Our home security company will be here tomorrow to install
additional security features that may or may not prevent a re-occurrence of a criminal
act with us being the victim. But it’s a
start.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Sewing Machines
My Sweetie learned from her Mother at an early age how to sew on a sewing machine. She even inherited her Mother's sewing machine but never could get it to work. So we bought a new one, a Singer Inspiration. It's portable and has pretty much all the features necessary for most day-to-day sewing.
But after a while, she couldn't get it to work either. Something to do with the bobbin. So it sat unused for a long time.
Then, her hairdresser asked if she wanted to buy an older Singer Touch & Sew machine that even had the original sewing table. $50. And it worked. So we suddenly had two sewing machines. But then a problem developed in the older machine. It was obviously some stripped gears. %&$#
Sweetie took the machine apart herself and figured out which gears were stripped and ordered them. But when it got time to put it all back together, she asked for help. I jumped at the chance to fix something I've never worked on before.
I figured that since I'm mechanically inclined, have probably all the tools necessary to fix most mechanical things, I'm personally challenged by things that don't work, and I'm bored to tears, I should be able to figure it out with the help of YouTube videos and downloaded manuals.
Well, after about 40 hours of trying, I finally threw in the towel. I fixed about 98% of it, but 2% was still not working right. So it was finally decided that we should take it to a sewing machine repair person.
We took both of them thinking they are worthless if they don't work but valuable tools if they do work.
Surprisingly, the guy called later in the day saying they were both ready. We went back and got them, paying something over $200 for getting them restored to excellent working condition, cleaned and oiled, along with a couple of replacement parts and answers to a lot of questions. We think it was a good investment, so much so that I'm thinking I might learn how to sew.
I seriously doubt that I will attempt to repair any more sewing machines, but I've gained a whole new respect for those who can do it well.
But after a while, she couldn't get it to work either. Something to do with the bobbin. So it sat unused for a long time.
Then, her hairdresser asked if she wanted to buy an older Singer Touch & Sew machine that even had the original sewing table. $50. And it worked. So we suddenly had two sewing machines. But then a problem developed in the older machine. It was obviously some stripped gears. %&$#
Sweetie took the machine apart herself and figured out which gears were stripped and ordered them. But when it got time to put it all back together, she asked for help. I jumped at the chance to fix something I've never worked on before.
I figured that since I'm mechanically inclined, have probably all the tools necessary to fix most mechanical things, I'm personally challenged by things that don't work, and I'm bored to tears, I should be able to figure it out with the help of YouTube videos and downloaded manuals.
Well, after about 40 hours of trying, I finally threw in the towel. I fixed about 98% of it, but 2% was still not working right. So it was finally decided that we should take it to a sewing machine repair person.
We took both of them thinking they are worthless if they don't work but valuable tools if they do work.
Surprisingly, the guy called later in the day saying they were both ready. We went back and got them, paying something over $200 for getting them restored to excellent working condition, cleaned and oiled, along with a couple of replacement parts and answers to a lot of questions. We think it was a good investment, so much so that I'm thinking I might learn how to sew.
I seriously doubt that I will attempt to repair any more sewing machines, but I've gained a whole new respect for those who can do it well.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
On Yet Another Cooking Adventure
Back in 1999 when I finally decided I wanted my food to be an adventure instead of just being the necessary intake of nourishment, no matter how bad it tasted, I set about looking for the ways and means of cooking great food. I settled on purchasing a Big Green Egg, and life has never been the same since.
For the first time ever, I was off the path of familiar home-cooked meals by my parents and friends, and the occasional visit to a restaurant. And although those foods were delicious, they really didn't satisfy my need to explore what else was out there. The Big Green Egg was the first step in a continuing education about food and how we cook it, particularly food we cook for our own needs.
Since 1999, I've grown my Big Green Egg collection from one to six. Three are the same size, Large Eggs, and the other three are different sizes ranging from the Small Egg, down to the Mini-Max Egg, and to the cute but very capable Mini Egg.
The Mini-Max is relatively new on the market and has been getting high praise from just about everyone. And I have one. So it made sense for me to dress it up with some useful accessories. I particularly wanted to try the new GrillGrates that were showing up everywhere along with excellent comments, many with photos and videos showing the GrillMates in action. Needless to say, I just had to buy some GrillGrates.
They arrived the very next day after I ordered them from the Ceramic Grill Store in Denton, Texas. The owner is a long-time Egghead friend.
I immediately set about seasoning the GrillGrates, anxious to do my first cook on them. I even made a video of the seasoning steps so others might find it helpful should they suddenly find themselves owning some GrillGrates.
GrillGrates Seasoning
And the first cook on them just had to be a sous vide Tri-Tip roast that we have learned to cook well and enjoy a lot. I also made a video of that cook.
Sous Vide and Grilled Tri-Tip
It was delicious, tender and perfect in every way, so much so that I can truthfully say I just moved my level of grilling up yet another notch. And to prove it, here's a prime ribeye steak that I first sous vide and followed with a sear on the GrillGrates:
Sous Vide and Seared Prime Ribeye
I can only imagine what lies ahead on my culinary journey. But so far, it has been an adventure of a lifetime.
For the first time ever, I was off the path of familiar home-cooked meals by my parents and friends, and the occasional visit to a restaurant. And although those foods were delicious, they really didn't satisfy my need to explore what else was out there. The Big Green Egg was the first step in a continuing education about food and how we cook it, particularly food we cook for our own needs.
Since 1999, I've grown my Big Green Egg collection from one to six. Three are the same size, Large Eggs, and the other three are different sizes ranging from the Small Egg, down to the Mini-Max Egg, and to the cute but very capable Mini Egg.
The Mini-Max is relatively new on the market and has been getting high praise from just about everyone. And I have one. So it made sense for me to dress it up with some useful accessories. I particularly wanted to try the new GrillGrates that were showing up everywhere along with excellent comments, many with photos and videos showing the GrillMates in action. Needless to say, I just had to buy some GrillGrates.
They arrived the very next day after I ordered them from the Ceramic Grill Store in Denton, Texas. The owner is a long-time Egghead friend.
I immediately set about seasoning the GrillGrates, anxious to do my first cook on them. I even made a video of the seasoning steps so others might find it helpful should they suddenly find themselves owning some GrillGrates.
GrillGrates Seasoning
And the first cook on them just had to be a sous vide Tri-Tip roast that we have learned to cook well and enjoy a lot. I also made a video of that cook.
Sous Vide and Grilled Tri-Tip
It was delicious, tender and perfect in every way, so much so that I can truthfully say I just moved my level of grilling up yet another notch. And to prove it, here's a prime ribeye steak that I first sous vide and followed with a sear on the GrillGrates:
Sous Vide and Seared Prime Ribeye
I can only imagine what lies ahead on my culinary journey. But so far, it has been an adventure of a lifetime.
Saturday, July 16, 2016
We Bought A New Car
We tend to keep our cars for a long time. Five to seven years is not unusual. My 2002 Chevy Avalanche was new when we bought it and still looks new today, 14 years later. I love that truck.
Our 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid was only three years old and we enjoyed it for typical trips where fuel economy was important and space wasn't so important. But most of our long trips were to Eggfests where we cooked a lot of food. And that requires a lot of cooking gear and ice chests and chairs and tables etc, not to mention considerable luggage, camera gear and computers. Add to that the sometimes boxes of gifts and decorations for special events.
Yes, the Toyota was way too small for our needs. Plus, as everyone knows, the price of fuel was no longer $4 a gallon and going up, it's now $2 a gallon and going down. So fuel economy is no longer the main issue, it is space.
There are a lot of very nice vehicles on the market today. Probably most of them would fit our needs but we liked what Brother-in-Law, Allen said about his Honda Pilot. He's had it for a couple of years and loves it. And the few times we rode in it, the ride was comfortable. So we went to our nearby Honda dealer, Honda of Spring, to see one from a buyer's point of view. Before the day ended, we no longer owned a Toyota and were the proud owners of a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring model with more gadgets that we've ever seen.
Needless to say, we drove straight home (3 miles) and searched YouTube to watch videos that explained all of those gadgets so we could understand them. Of course, the salesman explained them to us before we left, but we were missing some of the finer points he was making.
The car is loaded with safety features. Traffic is so heavy and moving so fast at times that any safety feature is welcome, but the ones on the Honda make safety the number one priority while the car is being driven. As a former Safety trainer, I very much appreciate those well designed features.
I'll watch the videos again from time to time to make sure I don't forget all the gadgets and how they work. Eventually, I hope they all become second nature to us as we use them to their fullest in order to keep us safe. And the one thing we felt right away is that the size and weight of the new Honda gave us more of a feeling that the car itself offered better protection than the smaller Toyota.
Here's what ours looks like.
Finally, I have to say this was the first time in over forty years of buying cars that I actually enjoyed the experience. From the young salesman to the finance director to finalize the sale, and everything in between, it was a very easy purchase for us. If you are in the market for a new car, check out Honda of Spring.
Our 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid was only three years old and we enjoyed it for typical trips where fuel economy was important and space wasn't so important. But most of our long trips were to Eggfests where we cooked a lot of food. And that requires a lot of cooking gear and ice chests and chairs and tables etc, not to mention considerable luggage, camera gear and computers. Add to that the sometimes boxes of gifts and decorations for special events.
Yes, the Toyota was way too small for our needs. Plus, as everyone knows, the price of fuel was no longer $4 a gallon and going up, it's now $2 a gallon and going down. So fuel economy is no longer the main issue, it is space.
There are a lot of very nice vehicles on the market today. Probably most of them would fit our needs but we liked what Brother-in-Law, Allen said about his Honda Pilot. He's had it for a couple of years and loves it. And the few times we rode in it, the ride was comfortable. So we went to our nearby Honda dealer, Honda of Spring, to see one from a buyer's point of view. Before the day ended, we no longer owned a Toyota and were the proud owners of a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring model with more gadgets that we've ever seen.
Needless to say, we drove straight home (3 miles) and searched YouTube to watch videos that explained all of those gadgets so we could understand them. Of course, the salesman explained them to us before we left, but we were missing some of the finer points he was making.
The car is loaded with safety features. Traffic is so heavy and moving so fast at times that any safety feature is welcome, but the ones on the Honda make safety the number one priority while the car is being driven. As a former Safety trainer, I very much appreciate those well designed features.
I'll watch the videos again from time to time to make sure I don't forget all the gadgets and how they work. Eventually, I hope they all become second nature to us as we use them to their fullest in order to keep us safe. And the one thing we felt right away is that the size and weight of the new Honda gave us more of a feeling that the car itself offered better protection than the smaller Toyota.
Here's what ours looks like.
Finally, I have to say this was the first time in over forty years of buying cars that I actually enjoyed the experience. From the young salesman to the finance director to finalize the sale, and everything in between, it was a very easy purchase for us. If you are in the market for a new car, check out Honda of Spring.
South Mississippi RiverFest - Biloxi
Once again, we took advantage of an invitation to attend an event held by a fellow Egghead. This time it was in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was well worth the trip.
We had never met Scott and Andria Allen (aka TheGrimGuy among us Eggheads) but we instantly became friends. They live in a beautiful home on the Tchoutacabouffa River, a comfortable river that swimmers and small boaters alike can enjoy. And as you will see, their home is perfect for entertaining.
No amount of 'telling' the fun we had but hopefully, you can see from this video that we all enjoyed the day.
South Mississippi RiverFest
Since we had never met Scott and Andria, I thought it appropriate to make some tokens for the occasion.
They liked it. I'm sure it will become part of their Christmas decorations for many years to come.
There's already talk of making the event an annual affair. For sure, we will be there for the next one.
Thanks Scott and Andria. We really enjoyed the party.
We had never met Scott and Andria Allen (aka TheGrimGuy among us Eggheads) but we instantly became friends. They live in a beautiful home on the Tchoutacabouffa River, a comfortable river that swimmers and small boaters alike can enjoy. And as you will see, their home is perfect for entertaining.
No amount of 'telling' the fun we had but hopefully, you can see from this video that we all enjoyed the day.
South Mississippi RiverFest
Since we had never met Scott and Andria, I thought it appropriate to make some tokens for the occasion.
But after seeing photos of their home, I also thought it may an appropriate place for one of my handmade Christmas Cathedral Birdhouses. Sort of a Christmas in July gift.
There's already talk of making the event an annual affair. For sure, we will be there for the next one.
Thanks Scott and Andria. We really enjoyed the party.
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Whateverthehellitisitis Is Hard To Get Rid Of
Four and a half weeks ago today, I took sick with something that had me coughing like crazy 24 hours a day. It was a Saturday and I suspected it would end up with bronchitis so I prepared myself to go see my regular doctor first thing Monday. Sure enough, I had a touch of "onset bronchitis" and enough other symptoms for him to give me a hip shot with antibiotics, a prescription for some pill antibiotics and some codeine laced cough syrup.
None of it worked and I went into 'full misery stage' with what I dubbed, "Whateverthehellitisitis." And for day after day, night after night I coughed, hacked, spit and cussed enough 'stuff' from my innards to fill an oil drum.
No way I could sleep, especially in my own bed, because my coughing is best described as being "Violent." That's what it took to get that 'stuff' from my lungs up high enough for me to hack it out. Many times these coughing/hacking fits went on for twenty minutes or more, leaving me exhausted from the effort. I couldn't sleep lying down for sure because it would start immediately once my head hit the pillow. So I ended up sleeping in the guest bedroom or a chair sitting up where I might squeeze in twenty minutes of sleep before it started again. I was miserable around the clock.
I had another appointment with my doctor in the third week of my "Whateverthehellitisitis," and much to my surprise, he said my lungs were clear. "CLEAR!" I can't sleep because of the wheezing, whistling and gurgling. And my wife thought cats were fighting outside our bedroom window because of the noise coming from my nose and mouth. And he says my lungs are CLEAR! And he qualified that by saying I was "Fit!" So, in spite of my continuing discomfort, lack of energy, lack of sleep, hardly able to take a deep breath, coughing, hacking, spitting and cussing every five minutes, my prognosis is I'm "Fit."
So I only had two choices, be fit or die. I'm still here and haven't coughed a single time today. And I've even done some work around here in spite of the heat. I must be well, or fit, or Whateverthehell I'm supposed to be at this stage because I feel pretty good.
I'll probably go to my grave not knowing what "Whateverthehellitisitis" is, but I damn sure know that it can knock a fully grown man for a loop.
None of it worked and I went into 'full misery stage' with what I dubbed, "Whateverthehellitisitis." And for day after day, night after night I coughed, hacked, spit and cussed enough 'stuff' from my innards to fill an oil drum.
No way I could sleep, especially in my own bed, because my coughing is best described as being "Violent." That's what it took to get that 'stuff' from my lungs up high enough for me to hack it out. Many times these coughing/hacking fits went on for twenty minutes or more, leaving me exhausted from the effort. I couldn't sleep lying down for sure because it would start immediately once my head hit the pillow. So I ended up sleeping in the guest bedroom or a chair sitting up where I might squeeze in twenty minutes of sleep before it started again. I was miserable around the clock.
I had another appointment with my doctor in the third week of my "Whateverthehellitisitis," and much to my surprise, he said my lungs were clear. "CLEAR!" I can't sleep because of the wheezing, whistling and gurgling. And my wife thought cats were fighting outside our bedroom window because of the noise coming from my nose and mouth. And he says my lungs are CLEAR! And he qualified that by saying I was "Fit!" So, in spite of my continuing discomfort, lack of energy, lack of sleep, hardly able to take a deep breath, coughing, hacking, spitting and cussing every five minutes, my prognosis is I'm "Fit."
So I only had two choices, be fit or die. I'm still here and haven't coughed a single time today. And I've even done some work around here in spite of the heat. I must be well, or fit, or Whateverthehell I'm supposed to be at this stage because I feel pretty good.
I'll probably go to my grave not knowing what "Whateverthehellitisitis" is, but I damn sure know that it can knock a fully grown man for a loop.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Surprising Miss Charlotte
A good friend of ours from Arkansas just celebrated her 70th birthday. But since she was still recovering from shoulder surgery, she was restricted to doing almost nothing. So her birthday could have come and gone unnoticed except by a few family members and faraway friends. So some of those faraway friends put together a surprise party for her. And although she was curious as to why husband Richard was busy primping and fixing inside and outside, she didn't question why he was doing it.
It went off without a hitch. And we ended up having a really great time.
I took the liberty of making a video of it using my own and some borrowed photos taken during the two days of partying. Here's the link to it on YouTube:
Surprising Miss Charlotte
It went off without a hitch. And we ended up having a really great time.
I took the liberty of making a video of it using my own and some borrowed photos taken during the two days of partying. Here's the link to it on YouTube:
Surprising Miss Charlotte
Thursday, June 02, 2016
Rain Rain Go Away
Three years ago pretty much everyone in Texas was praying hard for
rain. They were praying because entire forests and many thousands of
acres of farm land dried up, burned or were just left untended. Lakes and
rivers were at their lowest point in decades and some had never been so dry.
Wildfires were everywhere, burning everything in their path, including hundreds
of homes and businesses. Lives were lost and others changed forever.
Eventually, relief came but not nearly
enough to fill the reservoirs and rivers and lakes. But it was
enough to start the healing process.
As I understand Prayer, those who pray
aren't always specific about when or how much to ask for. So most who prayed
for help probably just said something like, "Please God, let it rain."
Well, it took a while, but those prayers
are all being answered here and now, apparently all at the same time.
As a result, more Texas land than
ever is flooded, along with lakes and rivers that are well over their highest mark in
decades, and some areas had never been so wet. Flooding is everywhere,
soaking everything in its path, including hundreds of homes and businesses. Farm land is unusable and farm animals are drowning by the thousands.
People are dying and survivor’s lives are changed forever.
Record Keepers say that every day a new
record is set. And there's no end in sight.
So, those of you who rely on the Power of
Prayer, please be more specific as to when and how much you pray for next time. Better
yet, just let someone who knows how to pray do it. Or we will likely face
the same problems in the future.
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