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Monday Afternoon Open Thread

College football just around the corner. Go Gators!

Open Thread.

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    Happy to report that the power is back on! (5.00 / 4) (#27)
    by Anne on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 08:38:10 AM EST
    About a half hour after my daughter's boyfriend and my husband had gotten a generator working (it belonged to daughter's boyfriend's father and hadn't been used in 10 years) and hooked up to both the inside and outside refrigerators, the main power came back on.

    We celebrated by eating the second - and more creative - Pioneer Dinner off the grill (it was already well underway when we got power back):  meat loaf placed on a rack inside a pyrex dish, baby Yukon Gold potatoes, onions and a little garlic, drizzled with a little olive oil, sea salt and parsley and tucked into a foil packet, and grilled asparagus.  I have to say, it was really tasty.

    The best part of the evening was the shower, lol.  And the TV (The Closer's on on Monday night, and this week was a really good one) and internet being back on.  

    Lots of people still waiting, and dealing with a whole lot more than we were, so I feel a little guilty being so glad to have things back to normal.  But I'm still glad.


    Wow, Anne - you do hurricanes ... (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:13:53 AM EST
    ... in style.

    That "pioneer dinner" sounds more like something I'd love to order at a nice restaurant ...

    Parent

    Well, shoot - I just wasn't in the (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by Anne on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:35:31 AM EST
    mood for a hamburger or hot dog (and generally speaking, since I do most of the cooking, what I'm in the mood for has a lot to do with what ends up on the plates!), we had grilled chicken the night before, so...this is just what sort of evolved.

    I've actually cooked a lot more stuff on the grill this year than I have in the past - both my husband and my daughter's boyfriend went on fishing trips this summer and brought home fresh striped bass, so that got the grill treatment (they sell these lightweight wire mesh grill things that are great for grilling veggies and small items that might otherwise fall through, but they aren't very non-stick, even when sprayed, so I covered them with some non-stick foil, and got the great grill flavor without the fish falling apart), I did crabcakes on the grill - they were really good, too.  We've done corn in the husk, and the other night I set a pan of water on the grill and cooked the corn that way - I figured I could re-use the hot water - it worked great!

    It's good to experiment, and good to know that one can cook most anything on the grill.  I am toying with trying eggs and bacon...but I think I will stick with the oven for things like cookies and cakes!


    Parent

    Love seafood on the grill (none / 0) (#36)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 10:47:45 AM EST
    ... although shellfish can be a little tricky.  Pizza can be a lot of fun - great topped with grilled veggies or BBQ'd meat.

    Parent
    Calling gyrfaclon..... (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:29:50 AM EST
    Hope the Vermont flooding did not hurt you...really sounds bad.

    Was wondering about her also. (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 11:18:44 AM EST
    Sounds nasty in Vt right now.

    Parent
    Anyone know of (none / 0) (#1)
    by Edger on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 05:34:10 PM EST
    any good free online will forms? I'm only 39 (too) but think maybe planning ahead before I turn 39 too many times to remember to do it is maybe a good idea?

    I hope you are only being (none / 0) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 05:52:20 PM EST
    overly responsible and all is well

    Parent
    What? Oh... (none / 0) (#4)
    by Edger on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:06:41 PM EST
    Me too... ;-)

    Parent
    In that case... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:13:51 PM EST
    cocktail napkin and a couple barfly witnesses should suffice my man.

    Parent
    I'll sign (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:17:41 PM EST
    I'm even mostly sober right now :)

    Parent
    You're not going to want to hear this (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:26:22 PM EST
    but it's probably not such a good idea to do a will on "the back of a napkin."

    (As always, I am not your lawyer and this is not legal advice.)

    Parent

    Rats! (none / 0) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:36:31 PM EST
    Serious people show up

    Parent
    Killjoys! (none / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 07:02:01 PM EST
    AG is right though...I'm leaning towards a handshake will myself, like my lease, save a tree:)  

    Parent
    That's probably a no go too (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 07:13:18 PM EST
    Typically, if you don't have a formal will, you die intestate.

    (Not legal advice!)

    Parent

    I kid... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by kdog on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 07:20:23 PM EST
    err, half kid?

    I ain't too scared of dying, but the thought of dying intestate is petrifying...I hear your non-legal advice pal, well sold! :)

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:19:09 PM EST
    prior joint access to my bank account might be too tempting, I suppose...

    Parent
    More importantly, 11 weeks to college hoops!! (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 05:37:34 PM EST
    Just bought my pair of season tix for the USF Dons.  February looks to be my hot month, with three killer closeout games at home: BYU, Gonzaga, then St. Mary's.  

    And I repeat: what the phuck is BYU doing in the West Coast Conference.  Glad to see them from ten feat away at War Memorial Gym (capacity 4500), but come on, they play at the Marriot Center, in front of twenty-thousand plus.  Just a joke.  They'll be gone after a season hopefully.  Then again, we get all that exposure on BYUtv.  Gimme a break.

    Me too (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Slado on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:10:53 PM EST
    This is the time of year I get excited for College Football and then I remember I'm a Vanderbilt graduate and then I remember that we're not bad at basketball and I get excited.

    2 months till practice starts.

    Go Dores!

    Parent

    BTD, what are your predictions (none / 0) (#5)
    by Slado on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:08:58 PM EST
    With closed practices Gator nation eagerly awaits the unveiling of the new Gator offense.

    Muschamp is a defensive genius so other then having to learn a new system I think the D will be fine.

    As a part time Gator fan I for one am glad that it will be a traditional offense.  Urban's offense without Tebow and/or Percy Harvin was awful and boring.

    I think Weis will do well but this also has the potential to go badly.  Weis will get a full sampling of SEC defenses when they play LSU, USC and Alabama.  I know he's a genius and all but he never faced defenses like that @ ND (except USC) and it's been a long time since he had Brady at QB.

    I'm reasonably optimistic but I see a 1st year under Meyer scenario this year (meaning 4 or 5 losses) as the schedule is murder.

    Go Dores!

    14-0 (none / 0) (#13)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:49:32 PM EST
    National champions.

    Seriously, I predict Florida's D-line will be awesome.

    Other than that, have no idea.

    Parent

    Florida will lose (none / 0) (#17)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 07:47:45 PM EST
    in Tuscaloosa (dammit). and may lose 2 others. But I think Florida has the depth and the coaching to win SEC East.

    I follow this stuff...

    Parent

    Drink recipe request (none / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 06:24:18 PM EST
    My daughter wants Appletinis available at her wedding.  When it comes to martinis I'm old school.  Anybody out there have a tried a true really good Appletini recipe that we can use?

    I am certainly (5.00 / 5) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 09:22:24 PM EST
    available to sample all the recipes that you receive so as to give you an honest rating for each one. I have all my sick days still available this year.

    Parent
    Doesn't everybody... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by sj on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 11:24:04 PM EST
    ... use a mix?  Rose's is my favorite.  I've made them with apple schnapps, but I didn't like them much.  I've never tried an apple liqueur.  But I make 'em equal parts vodka and sour apple, shaken, chilled glasses (okay chilled glasses might be hard at a reception).  Get a light vodka.  Skyy vodka works well.

    Parent
    I have no idea (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 11:45:40 PM EST
    Thank you for the heads up on the schnapps.  It didn't sound good to me, but I didn't know for certain.

    Parent
    I would guess your daughter (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by MO Blue on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 11:55:41 PM EST
    must have sampled Appletinis somewhere to decide that she wanted them at her wedding. If that is the case, get the recipe from the venue where she had the Appletinis. That way they will be made the way she likes them.

    Parent
    She hasn't had much nightlife yet (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 08:00:32 AM EST
    And there isn't much nightlife around here to be had.  I think she was probably introduced to them when she was living in New York.  I doubt she's had one around here.  We get excited about new Ruby Tuesday drinks around here :)  I'll have to see if they have an appletini

    Parent
    you guys (5.00 / 2) (#83)
    by CST on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:43:54 PM EST
    are making me thirsty.

    Oh, and yes - gin, okay - vodka, no - apple.  But on your wedding, you get to be as blasphemous as you want.  That's part of the deal.

    Also, I am very much off the Tequila bandwagon.  Like many here, I've spent some quality time with Tequila, but we parted on bad terms, and despite all the time that's passed since we broke up, I have no desire to rekindle that relationship.

    Parent

    Oh the joy of quality time (5.00 / 3) (#89)
    by CoralGables on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 05:59:29 PM EST
    I on the other hand had a one night stand with a shapely mezcal long ago. Took three days for me to fully recover, and be able to focus, and have sworn off that beast forever.

    Vodka appletinis however, I will do one armed curls into the night to do my scientific TL duty for MT

    Parent

    Apple (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 06:39:42 AM EST
    schnapps and vodka is what i use. Don't use the mix. They aren't very good and you also can do a caramel apple tini with butterscotch schnapps and apple schnapps.

    Parent
    I think we are going to have to have (none / 0) (#25)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 08:02:07 AM EST
    an appletini making Saturday, get all the various ingredients together used by everyone, and figure this thing out :)

    Parent
    Sounds like a plan (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:18:56 AM EST
    Everyone raves about the Bonefish Grill martinis around here - couldn't find the recipe online, but their website lists the ingredients ("Van Gogh Appel Vodka combined with DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker and a splash of Sprite. Topped with an apple cherry garnish.").  My sister-in-law is a big fan of this one, although it involves infusing your own vodka (sounds pretty easy).

    Good luck!

    Parent

    Thank you (none / 0) (#30)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:20:58 AM EST
    That Big Red Kitchen recipe (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:25:10 AM EST
    making the apple infused vodka looks REALLY cool and a more authentic yummy, not relying on artificial flavorings.

    Parent
    Got a coupon (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 10:50:19 AM EST
    just a couple of weeks ago for the Van Gogh apple vodka so I'll give that a try.  But all the flavored vodkas I've tried have always tasted harsh and like cheap vodkas.  (To me. Clearly YMMV).  Medicinal -- like pretty much all schnapps.

    Parent
    There's a Russian bar/night spot (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 11:17:30 AM EST
    in Manhattan that has all these infused vodka crocks lining the top of the bar. Gotta be careful with the infused vodkas, they go down smooth and kick yer behind! And yes, they are yummy!

    I have a bunch of granny smith apples from my mom's trees, they would work well for infusing . . . .

    Parent

    Sounds like a hangover (none / 0) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:30:12 PM EST
    I haven't had one in ages, but I think it could happen

    Parent
    Making some cucumber-infused ... (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 01:05:56 PM EST
    ... vodka for use in watermelon martinis.  Sounds a bit strange, but I tried the watermelon martinis at the restaurant, and they were really good.

    Parent
    If I don't stop reading these comments (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:29:23 PM EST
    I'm going to end up so drunk.  Between this and the Granny Smith's idea from Nycstray, it made my mouth water.

    Parent
    Oh, dear (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:40:26 PM EST
    Here I'm going to have to be a purist and say that appletinis or any other such flavored "martinis" are an abomination unto the lord (the lord of mixed drinks).  A martini involves a good gin and a little bit of dry vermouth ("shaken, not stirred," over ice).  You may serve it with either an olive or a twist of lemon- I don't care.  I will allow for the use of a good vodka instead of gin, for a vodka martini, but this is not the purist's ideal.  Any other flavorings- I'm sorry, that's just not a martini, or any "---tini."  ;-)  

    Parent
    Much as I love me an appletini (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:07:48 PM EST
    I can't rightly disagree with you.  (Especially since the "Chocolate martinis" that some bars now serve used to be called "White Russians").  

    But after giving careful consideration to the abomination status, I conclude that I might need to go to Dionysus for my pre-appletini blessing...
    ----
    And after this conversation I don't know if I should shop for olives or maraschino cherries on the way home tonight...

    Parent

    I like mine dirty (none / 0) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:46:46 PM EST
    with the olive jar left out and it gets that nasty cloudy oily look :)

    Parent
    "Dirty" (none / 0) (#54)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:56:39 PM EST
    is allowed.  Just no apple, chocolate, whatever.

    Parent
    yer pretty old school :) (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:55:00 PM EST
    I'm pretty old (none / 0) (#69)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:08:17 PM EST
    anyway, never mind "old school."   ;-)

    Parent
    I'm with you, Zorba. (none / 0) (#57)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:38:57 PM EST
    A good (chilled) gin, a tiny bit of vermouth and an olive. That's it. No vodka, no schnapps, no anything that in any way brings to mind apples.

    That's right, no vodka. I am a purist where martinis are concerned.

    Parent

    Strongly agree, caseyOR (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by christinep on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:47:03 PM EST
    Yet, being one predisposed to compromise, I recognize Zorba's allowance for vodka. One thing, tho: "up" beats over ice anyday. Far more elegant...a picture-perfect creation in a chilled glass to contemplate.

    Parent
    I like mine up as well (none / 0) (#64)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:58:32 PM EST
    but a three martini lunch is best I'm told with "seasoned" ice :)  Worshipping the seasoned ice is in my opinion the mark of true serious practiced martini drinker.

    Parent
    I haven't had a martini (none / 0) (#65)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:03:19 PM EST
    since college. Four doubles, then a night throwing up with the bed spinning...

    I don't EVEN want to talk about tequila, yet another beverage I left behind in college...
    uggggggg! <shudders involuntarily>

    Parent

    Tequila, ugh! (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:07:37 PM EST
    Tequila did me wrong back one night back in my 20s. Regained consciousness on the bathroom floor, of course.

    To this day I cannot stand the smell of tequila, and forget my ever tasting it again. I can feel the gag reflex starting to kick just thinking about that night.

    Parent

    Although I can appreciate (none / 0) (#72)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:16:46 PM EST
    the power of the "gag reflex," casey, you might want to try Herradura Añejo tequila.  It's aged for two years in white oak barrels, and it is really unlike any "regular" tequilas.  Very smooth, almost akin to a fine whiskey.  

    Parent
    Raises hand... (5.00 / 0) (#79)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:27:27 PM EST
    Can I try it, yoo?

    Side note:  Went to a tequila bar once in Austin.  I was young enough not know how different tequilas could from one another.  And I was wondering if tequila [mostly] alone could support a bar.  Turns out yes.  Just need a few customers like me who pretty much empty their pockets to ... get into the spirit of things.

    Parent

    Oy (5.00 / 0) (#86)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:52:24 PM EST
    Reading my comment one might think I have already stopped off at a happy hour.  

    But, no.  Those are anticipatory typos...

    Parent

    I don't think so, Zorba. (none / 0) (#75)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:21:42 PM EST
    I believe you that it is smooth and fine, but I just can't.

    And what with my fondness for both gin and bourbon, to say nothing of Oregon microbrews and wine, I certainly don't lack for palatable intoxicants,  :-)

    Parent

    Okay, casey (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:34:48 PM EST
    I have always believed that the gag reflex is an evolutionary adaptation to noxious substances- if early humans ingested something that was bad for them, and if it didn't outright kill them, the gag reflex was there to make sure they didn't try that substance again.  Mr. Z got food poisoning from egg salad when he was a child, to the extent that he wouldn't even eat potato salad with egg in it  (too similar).  He's in his 60's now and he'll finally eat potato salad, but he still won't touch egg salad.  A very powerful reflex, for sure.  (Maybe not the time to mention this because of the nausea talk, but the broccoli cheese soup is ready- come on over!)

    Parent
    I'll be right over. (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:37:49 PM EST
    It'll just take me 3 days to make the drive. What should I bring? Wine?

    Parent
    I think that (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:38:54 PM EST
    a nice, dry white wine would go well with the soup.  ;-)

    Parent
    Tequilla is loving and kind to me (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:09:08 PM EST
    Don't know why, it does horrible things to most everyone else I know.  Something about Tanqueray had the ability to make my clothes fall off though, and drive through the liquor store drive through naked with my friends and order a six pack....bad night....bad beverage

    Parent
    My mother always said that (5.00 / 3) (#71)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:12:50 PM EST
    gin made her "hornier than a hoot owl."  I would laugh, but my siblings would say something about too much information!

    Parent
    hoot owl? LOL -- Thanks, MT (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:22:30 PM EST
    Can I just say how much I'm enjoying this little interlude?

    Parent
    Couldn't even SMELL tequila ... (none / 0) (#78)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:24:42 PM EST
    ... for a few years after college.  Haven't seen Jagermeister or Yukon Jack since then, but I'm guessing my reaction would be the same.

    Parent
    The only time (none / 0) (#74)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:20:52 PM EST
    I go with "up" is if I stick the gin in the freezer for a good while first.  Shaken may not be the purest of the pure (although the martini doesn't get watery if you only shake it quickly and briefly, and also pour a little vermouth on the ice and them dump the vermouth out before shaking), but I like my martinis really, really cold.  A chilled martini glass helps, too.

    Parent
    My gin lives in the freezer. (5.00 / 0) (#77)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:24:07 PM EST
    That way it is always properly chilled, ready at a moment's notice. I, too, am a straight up in a chilled glass martini drinker.

    Parent
    I keep (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:45:31 PM EST
    a good bottle of vodka and a bottle of aquavit in the freezer.  Learned that many, many years ago when Mr. Z and I went to a party given by a Swedish couple that featured a whole lot of good Scandinavian food, and even more vodka and aquavit that had been kept in their freezer.  It was summer, they also had a pool, the weather was great, and very frankly, I don't remember much else.   ;-)

    Parent
    The fact that you remember (5.00 / 0) (#85)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:50:08 PM EST
    anything at all is commendable. Good food, good drink, good weather, good people, a pool, really what else do you need to remember?  

    Parent
    Very fortunately, (none / 0) (#88)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 05:13:04 PM EST
    we went with another couple who didn't drink.  They drove, otherwise we might have been in serious trouble.

    Parent
    Had to google aquvit (5.00 / 0) (#87)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 05:05:56 PM EST
    40% alcohol by volume? You and the Scandinavians are hardy souls.

    Think I'll stick to the vodka. ,o)

    Parent

    Special salutations, Zorba (5.00 / 0) (#90)
    by christinep on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 06:15:45 PM EST
    ...to anyone who has the *** to drink Aquavit. As 1/2 Slovenian, I say that with respect in that it is akin to dealing with Schlivovitz.

    Parent
    I have some (none / 0) (#91)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 06:39:36 PM EST
    very good friends of Serbian extraction- they drink it, too (they nickname it "slivo").  I've tried it.  Pretty powerful stuff.

    Parent
    "The West Wing" (none / 0) (#58)
    by jbindc on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:43:17 PM EST
    Even has a great quote about martinis:

    President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet: Can I tell you what's messed up about James Bond?

    Charlie Young: Nothing.

    President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet: Shaken, not stirred, will get you cold water with a dash of gin and dry vermouth. The reason you stir it with a special spoon is so not to chip the ice. James is ordering a weak martini and being snooty about it.



    Parent
    Ooooh! (none / 0) (#60)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:46:31 PM EST
    You're even more of a purist than I am!  But it's certainly true that gin is far preferable.

    Parent
    LOL (none / 0) (#35)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 10:47:01 AM EST
    And I hated the schnapps version. :)

    Enough that I tossed the schnapps completely.  Almost a full bottle.  Actually I don't like schnapps of any variety.  It is way to medicinal tasting for me.

    Parent

    I love (none / 0) (#38)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 10:52:33 AM EST
    schnapps so maybe that's why I like the Appletini or any version there of with things like cinnamon schnapps etc.

    Don't like the mix though. I think it's downright horrid.

    Parent

    Not all mixes are equal (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 12:38:17 PM EST
    Just sayin'


    Parent
    Very true in bartender world (none / 0) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:30:56 PM EST
    btw, re: downright horrid (none / 0) (#43)
    by sj on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 12:48:32 PM EST
    That's exactly what I think of schnapps!  Clearly, our palates are different.  I'm sure if we were to dine together could find something mutually agreeable.  But we probably shouldn't order appletinis ;)

    Parent
    I don't really like schnapps either (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:35:19 PM EST
    But they have so many new things out there now.  I bartended when I was in school and Rumplemintz ran this promo during the snowy winter season.  They sent us these dark chocolate shot cups that were to be kept in the freezer with the Rumplemintz.  You served the shots in the chocolate cups and after you downed the shot you ate the cup.  It became very difficult to tell the customers about the promo because we wanted it for ourselves after hours.

    Parent
    To each (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 01:25:49 PM EST
    his own for certain. I've only had one or two of the mixes, so there might be a good one out there but I've yet to find it.

    Parent
    They brought a baseball bat (none / 0) (#19)
    by Politalkix on Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 10:16:06 PM EST
    The debate isn't surprising (none / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 08:10:32 AM EST
    It crops up in every generation.  Unions put a floor on middle class wages and income, and it is sad to witness many people being very unaware how all that works.  If this country is not allowed to deflate somewhat, it will be impossible for many people to have any kind of meaningful life on the general wages being paid.

    As we go through this economic turmoil, there is going to be a lot of anger and rage expressed by a lot of people not understanding what happened to them and what needs to be done.  Unfortunately it makes many people quite susceptible to wanting to simply blame and hate some other faction of society not of the elite that isn't hurting as much as they are.

    Parent

    For you hardcore gardeners (none / 0) (#33)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 09:34:06 AM EST
    Ouch.

    Just "ouch".

    Oy. That's nasty. can't believe (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 11:20:35 AM EST
    they were able to save his eye.

    Parent
    Sounds like something ... (none / 0) (#44)
    by Yman on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 12:57:26 PM EST
    ... from a horror movie, right?  Looking at the photo of the X-ray, it took me a second to figure out what part of the shears were in his eye socket.  Amazing that he'll make a full recovery.

    Parent
    It lloks like (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 02:54:27 PM EST
    gardening is seriously dangerous- I need to be very, very careful, since I do a whole lot of gardening.  Maybe I should get combat pay?   ;-)

    Parent
    "lloks"? (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:15:39 PM EST
    Did I type "lloks"?  I meant "looks."  Maybe I've been doing too much gardening lately.

    Parent
    Or sampling too many martinis (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:35:32 PM EST
    for MT.

    Parent
    LOL! (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:44:38 PM EST
    Not yet, but that sounds pretty good for after I'm finished making the broccoli cheese soup for dinner!

    Parent
    Every time you tell us about the food you (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 03:49:49 PM EST
    are cooking or have cooked or plan to cook, well, it is all I can do to not dash to my car and zoom across the nation in the hopes of being on time for dinner at the Republic of Zorba.

    And when Anne chimes in with descriptions of the food being served at chez Anne, I start to think maybe I could live in Maryland.

    Between the two of you, there is some serious good eating going on in the land of the Terps.

    Parent

    Me too, Casey,me too!! (5.00 / 0) (#73)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:19:44 PM EST
    One of these days I am going to be knocking on their doors.
    Just giving you a heads up, Zorba and Anne... :-)

    Parent
    You are more than welcome to zoom over! (none / 0) (#66)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 04:05:40 PM EST
    The broccoli cheese soup is a quick dinner tonight- we are still getting broccoli from the garden (keep cutting the little side shoots, and it keeps coming), and I had to do something with it.  I spent most of the morning making baklava for our upcoming church food festival, so the soup is easy.  (Hint:  try a bit of freshly grated whole nutmeg in your broccoli soup- really good.)

    Parent
    Maryland (none / 0) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 06:18:06 AM EST
    is a foodie paradise--blue crab yum!

    Parent
    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#94)
    by Peter G on Thu Aug 16, 2018 at 09:15:47 AM EST