Orzo Pasta

Made Orzo pasta tonight for the 1st time. It's like rice but in pasta form. I used the recipe / directions specified on the back as I had no plan at all for it.

Instead of olive oil, I used the last dregs of a nearly empty bottle of Canola. Recipe said to toast the orzo in a sauce pan for 2 mins & stir. I felt at least 5 minutes without burning would be sufficient for a decent color. Canola has a higher smoke point & won't add to the flavor, so for my 1st time that's okay. I do have olive oil so should I get another 98 cent box of orzo, I have the option.

32 ounces of chicken broth was asked for, but I used 3 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved in 4 cups of near boiling water to cut the sodium. 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper is the seasoning but I might use more next time. The recipe even asked for an additional 1/2 teaspoon of salt but I eschewed it.

Bring to a boil, set to low & simmer for 5 minutes. I let it simmer for 7 because pasta. Removed from heat, added 2 tablespoons margarine (unsalted), and let it sit for more than 5 minutes. Liquid absorbing time. Then stir in 3 tablespoons lemon juice.

It came out quite nice. I added the remainder of a open can of Diced Tomatoes & sprinkled a bit of grated Italian blend cheese over. 250 grams for a serving. Orzo this way is actually quite good. I think the diced tomato added some flavor.

I had no plan for supper & I bought this on a lark for no reason. And now I have the chance to taste this cold tomorrow.

BBQ Potato, Bacon, & Corn Salad

This is something my Mom had written down.

1/3 cup ranch dressing (or Duke's Mayo if you hate ranch)

1/3 cup BBQ sauce

2 tbsp Dijon mustard (or Stadium mustard)

3 pounds small red potatoes, cooked, quartered & cubed

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped red onion

6 slices bacon (any kind), crispy cooked & crumbled

Mix dressing, BBQ sauce, & mustard in a large bowl.

Add all remaining ingredients except bacon & mix lightly until coated.

Sprinkle bacon on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I would like to hear Vaughn Meader's JFK Christmas single

At around 3:26 a.m. my bed frame decided to break again, this time completely shearing off the welded U shaped clip of metal holding a bed frame rib in place. I found the poorly welded bit of metal on the floor. Without support for one end, the other simply refused to bear my entire weight. This meant getting off my bed if the mattress collapse didn't suck me in & prevent it, go across the room, & turn on the overhead light.

Adrenaline fueled my proceedings from that point forward. Pulling everything off the bed & tossing it on the floor or flipping stuff over the head, removing the mattress but somehow figuring out how much & where on the remaining frame I could still sit, I assessed the problem.

I didn't have a suitably strong bolt to install by drilling or a strong sheet of plywood to eventually wear out & splinter. With neither of these solutions at hand, what I did have was a 3 feet long flat piece of iron I had been using in the kitchen as a pointer of sorts, button presser at other times, & object fetcher. This was left over from a failed plan of bending it to fix my previous bed frame. Since that had long been tossed along with the mattress, it could now be used for this one.

So now this flat piece of iron sits on top of my frame & other ribs with the errant end of the loose rib on top of it & Gorilla taped in place to keep it in. The other end also got taped in place since its U shaped clip still remains welded. This taping waa not easy as I had to place my right leg into the frame & for me that's difficult. Extremely difficult but as I said, Adrenaline was fueling my actions. Acetaminophen had long since worn off. My cane helped.

My big problem was extricating my right foot from the frame as I turned around to retreat from the scene. Every time I lifted my foot a certain height, something snagged my sock or something. I was rapidly running out of Adrenaline & I simply was not going to put up with this nonsense any further, so I pulled up a neighboring rib & barged out in a sense, suitably scraping my toes on my right foot in the process. But I was out.

These toes began to bleed. So off came the sock (eventually) so I could inspect the problem. The pain wasn't so bad with the smaller toes so much as the big toe was doing all of the bleeding. Spraying with a sterilizing bit of 91% Rubbing Alcohol proved to be negatively painful, but hey, that's what it does. I cut a 3x4 stickie in half & wrapped it around my big toe.

Then my toe proceeded to remind me until now as I type it is damaged & send up stinging sensations every few minutes. In spite of the fact of being in bed, I got very little sleep. I intend to check the dressing & use some Triple Antibiotic ointment after giving the toes a good clean.

I have more cleaning to do after revealing more of my dusty floor where my storage tubs used to sit, previously approved by Beckton but not approved by Mdme Umbridge.

This was after enjoying Maika's stream last night where her singing reminded me of "Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard" by Paul Simon - John Madden appears at the end - which led to Caliendo on Letterman doing his John Madden impression.. Which lead to Vaughn Meader who had a brief stint of success spoofing JFK with his impression... a career immediately cut short when JFK was shot. Meader oddly enough released a Christmas single spoofing JFK days before - and as he saw his comedy career die along with the President, all his records were removed from stores. Trashed or destroyed - making his Christmas 45 an extremely rare record - but it does exist & Rob Martinez at NPR station WBOI in Indiana has 1 copy. He hosts a radio program (as a volunteer) called The Nights Before Christmas & in July & December produces a special program featuring his collection of Christmas music. Anywho.

It's not supposed to work like that...

Saturday was interesting.

After living in a hot apartment for almost a week, I had lost about 10 pounds. My pants were plenty baggy around the waist. It may not be comfortable but it did wonders for that.

Friday previous I got 2 parcels. 1 was the Paris Olympics Phryge mascot keychain. The other was the replacement wheels for my shopping tote. I don't know how that 1 wheel got broken but after adjustment with my rotary tool, the new wheels went on just fine.

Anywho, went out & picked up the Xarelto. Headed over for books. Then went to Walfart. I see one row of parking spaces on the other side of the Pickup spaces are free to park in. Decently close to the doors. I will have to remember that.

Finally have Sofrito for making Arroz con Gandules. Got a $13 personal fan for the cooling situation. Instead of $5.18 for Coke (there was no caffeine free diet Coke in bottles), I got a $3 gallon of Hawaiian Punch Piña Colada flavor. And some other foodstuffs I really didn't mean to buy & stuff I probably shouldn't.

Go to pay & this is where it went weird.

My United Health Program Card is supposed to be FOOD ONLY. I had $26.86 of Taxable Non Food items. Program Card pays for $25 of APPROVED Foods like cereal, salad mix, milk, bread, lunch meat. No snacks, chips, cookies, pop, desserts. You get the idea, right? Imagine my shock when I get told to pay $10.39 cash. What???? I see $65 was taken off my EBT card. That should have been only $46.78!!!

I need to call the toll free on that Program Card & find out what the hell happened. It's for FOOD Only. Whatever it paid for removed 19 cents off the sales tax. That should NOT happen if it's paying for food.

If anyone already knows the answer, by all means offer your thoughts.

I get back & collapse. I manage to get the cold stuff put away. Before settling in to enjoy Maika streaming, I find out there's been a massive Ranma Remake leak. AND IT'S THE WHOLE CENSORED BUNCH. yarrrrr... I'm in pain but adrenalin let me be excited about that.

I paid for it Sunday.  so... Much... Pain...

Today, I got the fridge wiped where it was needed & have started mopping the floor... again... Maybe I'll get the bathroom done??? I got projects I need to do.

Life is a Series of Side Quests

As big as Tuesday was one huge Do, today's Do was a lot of little side quests. Before I even left I managed to clean the cat pan (again!) because I was going to be outside. Someone left a mattress propped up next to the dumpster which was trying to be in my way as I tossed my trash in...

Oh and my dashboard fan still does not work. Need some ideas on that. I should check the rear row climate control & see if that works on its own...

Make it over for my manga & do my order - & that was done with confidence with my new tire!!

Then I get over to Walfart... And I do not like nor approve of the changes they're doing with parking spaces near the entrances. If they're not reserving them for handicapped or pregnant moms nor law enforcement vehicles, they're now designating them as Pickup Parking. This means the one spot I really like to park because it's so close to a door is now one of those Pickup Parks. They're going to get a terse survey answer about that. Maybe I need to get parking tag... Designate Pickup spots but let them still be used by Persons of Diminished Mobility... As handy as getting groceries delivered is, I still want to try to enjoy in-person shopping mainly to see what else the store has. Like that time when they had those replica arcade mini games & I got the Fix It Felix game.

I was mainly doing a fill-in shopping run being in the middle of the month. Stuff I didn't get earlier & stuff I ran out of.

Side quest (ongoing) : Gather ingredients for Puerto Rican Rice. Somehow I have the pigeon peas already. Today I got closer to completion with the olives (though I got regular sliced black olives as I hate green olives & almost bought Manzanillia olives because Kalamata was not in stock), & Adobo, ham seasoning, & Achiote. Now to figure out what Sofrito is.

Oh yeah - Route 62 Walfart had only Puffs and A SH¡T TON OF Kleenex in stock!! Like what the hell! I had to settle for a tiny store brand cube waaay on the bottom.

Friskies cat food prices are starting to calm down but man, for some reason there wasn't much on the shelf. 9 Lives really needs to step it up. How come there aren't more competing brands of canned cat food? Am I shopping in the wrong place??

I bought no cookies, snack chips, or frozen treats. I can make cookies anyway.

Side Quest (98% completed) : Obtain Sailor Moon Hand Sanitizer at Gamestop

   This one has been a long time coming. Previously available ONLY AT TARGET..  at $5 a pop no less... I couldn't get Anyone to pop in our nearby Target with money & get me a set (minus Cape Boy) at the time... 😔 during the pandemic...

   And I never let it go. They'd show up on Evilbay for scalping prices. Ripoff prices & POSTAGE. Like frick off, scammer...

   So like last week, I did ANOTHER search for them... Evilbay again. Almost paid $15 for a lot which had 1 Jupiter. Until Google & Gamestop's website said the Alliance store had _8_ of them in. For $1.83 each. And Oh yeah - delivery would be $13 because they're not mailing them.

   This was the side quest which I was hoping to complete on the 3rd had my tire not taken a shit. Today I managed to get in, note the lack of benches, wait patiently for the guy to help someone pay on a game, & then proceed to find what they reportedly have.

The website was slightly inaccurate. They had _9_ in stock - AND THEY WERE RUNNING A SALE!!! BUY 1, GET 1.

   I was willing to pay almost $20 for the 8 I planned to buy but ended up paying under $10 instead!!! Now to make a deal with someone to get Mercury & Moon because I did NOT get those.

   So something which started out as a $5 Tarjzhay item I ended up paying 1/4 of that in the end.

Right now I do Not want another human to bother me as I lay in bed.

3 Tires Down, 1 Left

Tuesday was a Huge Do Day. Zippity Do Dah Day. I couldn't have done it without Andy Myers' help!!

I'm glad this flat tire problem was resolved in a week. I've been known to let problems persist but somehow not this time. I'm surprised the elements needed came together so quickly.

As some know, I had my right front tire go flat while driving back to Alliance on the 3rd. Just as I got back into Alliance. I pulled over as soon as I could in a parking lot where Arby's used to be. Tried pumping up the tire with my battery backed pump which was not super effective. Had the good fortune of someone from the hospital security people ask if I needed help & told them if they have a pressure tank... Upon which things worked out & I got back.

Over the weekend I got a Wal-Mart order delivered & got Fix a Flat. Having so much physical stress from the 3rd, I was in no shape to do anything, so it sat. On Monday, Mr. Myers calls me up & basically this tire situation needed to be resolved on Tuesday, period. I surprisingly got an appointment at Mr. Tire for 3 p.m. & had a vague plan as to how we're getting there. Only Fix a Flat had its own plans & so did the tire & they didn't match up.

So Fix a Flat got administered. Moved the tire around & Myers can see the leak because FaF flowed out through it. Sidewall leak, dry rot. Hoh boy. Pressure was attempted - at least it's not 0 & we try getting out of the parking lot. I probably get 1/3rd of the way & tire is flat & I pull off the road at some place.

And oh yeah - Myers was able to get my darn hood open!!!! I tried that months ago last time I tried in February which is why I bought the power bank pump.

Anywho, get some pressure in that, get down the road, make the turn, & have to pull off again. Used the other pump (which Myers says started smoking last time when he shut it off!), & dial says ~20 psi... Time to go for it! And it almost makes it... Had to wait for the last turn & just made it to Mr. Tire!!

Got the tire done & oil change & check up (it was about time anyway). I was worried when one of the mechanics brought in an older guy - that means it got serious - but that wasn't for me.

Just before 3 p.m. I see my vehicle brought out & guy says mine's done. No problems with the rim, no damage or cracks... (Remember, this is the tire last time I was there kept going flat & they said was OK but when I got some Tire Slime in it the leaking stopped!).

Practically $300 poorer... & 1 more "originally purchased" tire left. I might get it done in August before it actually goes bad. I hope.

Was thinking of going to Gamestop but my physical battery was spent. My body was buzzing later in my room with pain relief having been taken which reminded me of Monday at WDW when I felt that after Sunday at Epcot.

Now I need some sort of spray adhesive for the headliner & crumbling padding vacuumed out...

Yup, Chorizo

Made another pot of the Lentils & Brown Rice soup last night but finally I made it with Chorizo!!!

I did not know Chorizo came uncooked or unsmoked. I had basically ground meat in tubular wrapping & that's how it cooked up. I had Chorizo from Aldi before & that was cooked. The other part was this was from Wal-Mart & I chose the cheaper higher sodium brand without realizing I did.

I had a green pepper about to spoil & rescued an onion with mold on the outer skin so this had to happen tonight. I have 1/2 cup of dried lentils left now so unsure what to do with them.

Put a couple tablespoons of canola oil on the bottom, browned the diced garlic in it, & then chorizo on that & let it cook. Just as it starts to brown & stick, bouillon goes in & I used Beef Bouillon because I can't find the chicken cubes. Called for 1/3 teaspoons of a couple spices but I used 1/2 anyway. And while the recipe said simmer for 45-55 minutes, it seemed like it needed under 40. But I let it sit on the burner for 15 minutes after shutting it off.

I had a hint of the flavor last night & I was looking forward to this morning's cold congealed result & yeah... It's sooo good!!

A Poem about Cats I liked

Catalogue

Cats sleep fat and walk thin.
Cats, when they sleep, slump;
When they wake, pull in -
And where the plump's been
There's skin.
Cats walk thin.

Cats wait in a lump,
Jump in a streak.
Cats, when they jump, are sleek
As a grape slipping its skin-
They have technique.
Oh, cats don't creak.
They sneak.

Cats sleep fat.
They spread comfort beneath them
Like a good mat,
As if they picked the place
And then sat.
You walk around one
As if he were City Hall
After that.

If male,
A cat is apt to sing upon a major scale:
This concert is for everybody, this
Is wholesale.
For a baton, he wields a tail.

(He is also found,
When happy, to resound
With an enclosed and private sound.)

A cat condenses.
He pulls in his tail to go under bridges,
And himself to go under fences.
Cats fit
In any size box or kit;
And if a large pumpkin grew under one,
He could arch over it.

When everyone else is just ready to go out,
The cat is just ready to come in,
He's not where he's been.
Cats sleep fat and walk thin.
~ Rosalie Moore ~

Let GeoSpy AI locate those old family photos!

A lot of you might have heard bad things about AI uses but one I've found useful is GeoSpy AI. It attempts to locate where a photo has been taken & it has been rather useful & correct most of the time. My experiences:

A photo of my Aunt Vinette from the 1970s I had thought was taken out front of her San Francisco apartment building where she lived but GeoSpy says it was taken on a sidewalk in front of an art museum in San Diego.

A slide scan of a battleship my grandparents had visited GeoSpy told me to "find a more interesting picture" but in the meantime said from 3 sources among the ones it had it could be the USS Alabama.

A grist mill slide scan is from Pennsylvania. The McConnells Mill / Ohiopyle State Park in fact. Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. An accompanying photo of a 1970s model car & creek it claimed was in North Carolina but I doubt that since it was with the grist mill photos.

An aerial view in Pennsylvania taken by my dad with my mom's 35mm camera from up on a radio station tower GeoSpy says overlooks Allentown, PA & surmised the coordinates of the "hill" it thinks the photo was from.

And last for now a mystery rock formation my grandparents photographed is from the Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah.

I plan to hunt up more mystery slide scans & have GeoSpy AI figure out where they were / are.

Crockpot Lasagna is sooo good.

Supper on Sunday was another round of Crockpot Lasagna after having found the simple recipe I had stashed away. And then finding I still had the No Pre-cooking Required Barilla lasagna I bought so long ago...

I used a frozen 1 pound roll of Ground Turkey. I made sure to season it while browning it & made sure to break it up. Seasonings included basil, oregano, thyme, maybe a little cumin, & a heaping teaspoon of diced garlic. I didn't measure the rest but got a nice dusting over the whole skillet.

The lasagna noodles were as I said... but what I didn't mention is they were at least 15 years old according to the date on the box. I think there was 3 packages obtained for a recipe Mom had in mind & I didn't know what it would use up. Probably bought at Marc's. I inherited 2 boxes which now finally got used up.

Next time I make this, I'm going to put the Ricotta in a storage bag & cut a corner off so I can pipe out a consistent cover over the meat mixture. Dropping spoonfuls just doesn't work with me.

For shredded cheese, I had Jalapeño & Habanero Monterey Jack because Walmart was out of Pepperjack. Maybe I'll use this & hot Italian Sausage next time for heat.

The Tomato Sauce worked like this: 8 ounce no salt can used in the bottom of the crock per recipe directions as the 1 cup sauce in the bottom. The 15 ounce can before adding to the browned ground turkey was taste tested & had a little sugar added to offset the sourness. If it was too sweet, I'd have added vinegar. I prefer a neutral tomato taste.

4 hours on low & it was done. Tastes better cold.