We now have two fire extinguishers with agents that extinguish fires of classes A, B, and C. Honestly I didn't know (three days ago, an hour before finalizing my extinguisher order) that there are different extinguishing agents for different fire classes. I didn't even properly know that there are fire classes. I mean, I knew that there's a sciencey art to fires; I knew there are specialists who determine how arsonists light fires and whatnot. I also knew that one should check one's extinguishers periodically to see if they are still good. What I didn't know was that I could naively have bought a limited-use extinguisher that would put out a fire kindled by a napkin but not put on a fire fed by gas. But don't worry, I didn't buy any such thing. I bought two non-dinky fire extinguishers.
It seems odd that by law you have to have fire detectors in your house when you sell it, but not fire extinguishers.
07 November 2013
05 November 2013
New House: Utilities: Garbage
When I called the city to set up our utilities, I selected the smallest available garbage bin (and the largest organic-waste bin). The woman at the city seemed to think that we would be soon asking for a bigger garbage bin.
We have a 20 gallon garbage bin. Garbage is collected every other week. This means our cap on waste is 5 gallons / person / week.
Bin day is Friday. I love watching the truck pull up to the house, extend the claw-hug to the bin, lift it, and empty the contents. I loved it as a kid too.
Moving is a high-waste activity, and our bin is filling up. Will utili-lady be right? Will we want a bigger bin? I guess: not.
I intend to monitor how much garbage (i.e., municipal solid waste, MSW, that what goes to landfills) we produce on a regular basis. Can we produce less than 20 gallons a month? Less than 20 pounds? — I'll have to weigh myself with the garbage to know. I looked up how much MSW the average American produces. The measurements I found are of weight, against which bin volume does not provide a meaningful comparison.
We have a 20 gallon garbage bin. Garbage is collected every other week. This means our cap on waste is 5 gallons / person / week.
Bin day is Friday. I love watching the truck pull up to the house, extend the claw-hug to the bin, lift it, and empty the contents. I loved it as a kid too.
Moving is a high-waste activity, and our bin is filling up. Will utili-lady be right? Will we want a bigger bin? I guess: not.
I intend to monitor how much garbage (i.e., municipal solid waste, MSW, that what goes to landfills) we produce on a regular basis. Can we produce less than 20 gallons a month? Less than 20 pounds? — I'll have to weigh myself with the garbage to know. I looked up how much MSW the average American produces. The measurements I found are of weight, against which bin volume does not provide a meaningful comparison.
03 November 2013
Dx Day
Four years ago, a Tuesday, I got home from an early-morning (9am) doctor appointment. It was partly a pre-natal visit. Life was pregnant with possibility.
After I came home and reported on my visit, Roscivs said I need to go to the doctor, too. He called his doctor. I heard him tell her I've been coughing up blood.
We got nine months of cancer treatment and a death. It looked a lot like this. Our first cancer picture, though, was Roscivs holding a pee-stick pregnancy test positively indicating elevated hCG — only it was his pee, not mine.
Nine months of that, and no baby for us.
Today is a Sunday. I am excited to clean the two bathrooms in my new home. I am okay. I want to be alive.
After I came home and reported on my visit, Roscivs said I need to go to the doctor, too. He called his doctor. I heard him tell her I've been coughing up blood.
We got nine months of cancer treatment and a death. It looked a lot like this. Our first cancer picture, though, was Roscivs holding a pee-stick pregnancy test positively indicating elevated hCG — only it was his pee, not mine.
Nine months of that, and no baby for us.
Today is a Sunday. I am excited to clean the two bathrooms in my new home. I am okay. I want to be alive.
15 October 2013
merry married
I was going to make a simple wedding post, before the wedding, but during its composition I got sidetracked into a(nother) conversation with Bjorn about vowel merging.
Bjorn, being of the New states Jersey and York, finds marry, merry, and Mary to have all different internal vowels.
Here is a post now, post wedding.
For "something old", I had on my person the handkerchief I inherited from my great-grandma. For "something new", the top I wore (which I had not worn before, and which, against all my plans, was white) which had a neckline that allowed for my borrowed something, a choker sent from Luminous. (It was her grandmother's!) For "something blue" I bore the ring (with sapphires) that was my wedding band from Roscivs.
All four items were "old" (even my "new" which, though new to me, I bought second-hand). This is not unexpected. There is nothing new under the sun.
Bjorn, being of the New states Jersey and York, finds marry, merry, and Mary to have all different internal vowels.
Here is a post now, post wedding.
For "something old", I had on my person the handkerchief I inherited from my great-grandma. For "something new", the top I wore (which I had not worn before, and which, against all my plans, was white) which had a neckline that allowed for my borrowed something, a choker sent from Luminous. (It was her grandmother's!) For "something blue" I bore the ring (with sapphires) that was my wedding band from Roscivs.
All four items were "old" (even my "new" which, though new to me, I bought second-hand). This is not unexpected. There is nothing new under the sun.
13 October 2013
New Game New Name
Yesterday I participated in an afternoon of world building, story telling, and character gaming.
I'm not used to the particulars of RPG games, but I have plenty of experience role playing, making believe, and riffing off of others' contributions to the world.
I enjoyed myself.
The platform we're using is Fudge. The game manual available in PDF for free from Grey Ghost Press. Fudge, self-descriptively named, is highly customizable. Bjorn, who's the Game Master (GM), is using it for the first time. It lets him play up the parts he likes and avoid the fiddly bits of D&D that he doesn't like that have deterred him from being GM (or DM).
We mostly expressed preferences and formed world. We meet again in two weeks. Between now and then I shall finish my character sheet. I need to choose a name ...
I'm not used to the particulars of RPG games, but I have plenty of experience role playing, making believe, and riffing off of others' contributions to the world.
I enjoyed myself.
The platform we're using is Fudge. The game manual available in PDF for free from Grey Ghost Press. Fudge, self-descriptively named, is highly customizable. Bjorn, who's the Game Master (GM), is using it for the first time. It lets him play up the parts he likes and avoid the fiddly bits of D&D that he doesn't like that have deterred him from being GM (or DM).
We mostly expressed preferences and formed world. We meet again in two weeks. Between now and then I shall finish my character sheet. I need to choose a name ...
29 September 2013
House Haps
We don't close until mid-October but things are looking great! I thought about blogging more about the house, but then thought, nah, people are going to see it when they're here for the wedding. But not everyone can come to the wedding (like LF, who is due tomorrow with baby FH).
House-buying seems likely to be momentous to the people doing it and ho-hum to everyone else. So if this bores you, let me know what subject you request, and I will write a post on that!
Here are some details about the house, à la the daisy conceit of I Love It / I Love It Not.
paint | I do love the paint in the kitchen (red!). I don't love the paint in the second/back bedroom (pink).
front yard | I love the sour/pie cherry tree. I don't love the lawn.
master bedroom | I love that it has french doors opening out onto the deck in the back yard. I don't love how big it is (it's big).
bath | I love the jetted tub underneath the skylight. I don't love the standard, Western toilet.
kitchen | I love the gourmet Jenn-Air dual fuel range/oven. I don't love the sink situation. Let me explain. The kitchen, like most kitchens, has one sink. That sink is a double sink, one side deep and one side shallow, which is fine. I don't love that it doesn't have two separate sinks. I also don't love that the one sink it has doesn't have a foot pedal.
water feature | I like the sound of the back yard fountain, and I love that you can hear it from the master bedroom, but to LOOK at it is another story; I'll just say, Bjorn calls it "The Puking Cat".
If you are thinking some of this sounds like "what I don't like about a million dollars is that it's not two million dollars", well, that's about right.
House-buying seems likely to be momentous to the people doing it and ho-hum to everyone else. So if this bores you, let me know what subject you request, and I will write a post on that!
Here are some details about the house, à la the daisy conceit of I Love It / I Love It Not.
paint | I do love the paint in the kitchen (red!). I don't love the paint in the second/back bedroom (pink).
front yard | I love the sour/pie cherry tree. I don't love the lawn.
master bedroom | I love that it has french doors opening out onto the deck in the back yard. I don't love how big it is (it's big).
bath | I love the jetted tub underneath the skylight. I don't love the standard, Western toilet.
kitchen | I love the gourmet Jenn-Air dual fuel range/oven. I don't love the sink situation. Let me explain. The kitchen, like most kitchens, has one sink. That sink is a double sink, one side deep and one side shallow, which is fine. I don't love that it doesn't have two separate sinks. I also don't love that the one sink it has doesn't have a foot pedal.
water feature | I like the sound of the back yard fountain, and I love that you can hear it from the master bedroom, but to LOOK at it is another story; I'll just say, Bjorn calls it "The Puking Cat".
If you are thinking some of this sounds like "what I don't like about a million dollars is that it's not two million dollars", well, that's about right.
28 September 2013
last week's foodlight: mushroom+turnip+pickle dice
I made breakfast of bunashimeji in 3 Gs (ghee, garlic, and ginger) and cut-up salad turnips. I served the still-steaming bunashimeji in a bowl over the crisp turnips.
Bunashimeji is one of my three favorite kinds of mushrooms. Black Trumpet and Shiitake are the other two.
When I was a kid, sometimes for lunch we were set free to forage or one of my siblings (or I) was in charge of fixin's. Usually sammich fixin's. Sometimes, especially foraging times, we fought over food (especially if there were leftovers of "lipstick and worms", i.e., spaghetti). But sometimes, especially sammich times, we'd pretend we were at a restaurant, and those times were congenial dining times.
This breakfast was congenial dining too. And it was gourmet and I didn't have to wear pants. It had pickles, too! Cucumber pickles. I forgot that above: chilled lacto-fermented pickle condiment.
Bunashimeji is one of my three favorite kinds of mushrooms. Black Trumpet and Shiitake are the other two.
When I was a kid, sometimes for lunch we were set free to forage or one of my siblings (or I) was in charge of fixin's. Usually sammich fixin's. Sometimes, especially foraging times, we fought over food (especially if there were leftovers of "lipstick and worms", i.e., spaghetti). But sometimes, especially sammich times, we'd pretend we were at a restaurant, and those times were congenial dining times.
This breakfast was congenial dining too. And it was gourmet and I didn't have to wear pants. It had pickles, too! Cucumber pickles. I forgot that above: chilled lacto-fermented pickle condiment.
24 September 2013
house countdown
So, I don't want to be thought of as The Girl Who Cried "HOUSE!", but we put in an offer on a house.
4 is the number of varietals of espaliered apple trees in the back yard... 3 is the number of bedrooms... 2 is the number of skylights....
4 is the number of varietals of espaliered apple trees in the back yard... 3 is the number of bedrooms... 2 is the number of skylights....
08 September 2013
CARGH
I just spent a month's worth of teaching income repairing my car. This really rankles. I am committed to getting rid of it. I want to live without a car.
The only thing I use it for on a weekly basis is grocery shopping. I need to figure out how to do this without a car. My favorite plan for accomplishing this is ... moving.
The only thing I use it for on a weekly basis is grocery shopping. I need to figure out how to do this without a car. My favorite plan for accomplishing this is ... moving.
02 September 2013
Tasty Hasty Victuals
Supper was vegan. And not just any vegan. RAW VEGAN.
This is funny to me.
Extra virgin olive oil (harvested November 2012) and my homemade lacto-fermented salsa (delicious) on zucchini noodles and avocado.
My salsa is so good, I'm sure people would pay money for it. Also, I didn't use a starter, mwaha, haha, BWHAHAHA! I cut the mustard! I am fermentation goddess!
This is funny to me.
Extra virgin olive oil (harvested November 2012) and my homemade lacto-fermented salsa (delicious) on zucchini noodles and avocado.
My salsa is so good, I'm sure people would pay money for it. Also, I didn't use a starter, mwaha, haha, BWHAHAHA! I cut the mustard! I am fermentation goddess!
01 September 2013
abundance
Today I did August's finances, and I made my annual Labor-Day-Weekend–Kiva loan. I am grateful to have work, and even more grateful to have support in my life and work.
I am grateful to Roscivs for having taught me so much about how to deal with money. I am grateful to Peg (my sister) for helping me, after Roscivs died, customize a budget template she gave me, so I could do accounting on software that I can maintain without R. I am lucky.
Here's to the Kiva borrower growing organic cacao.
Here's to life.
I am grateful to Roscivs for having taught me so much about how to deal with money. I am grateful to Peg (my sister) for helping me, after Roscivs died, customize a budget template she gave me, so I could do accounting on software that I can maintain without R. I am lucky.
Here's to the Kiva borrower growing organic cacao.
Here's to life.
30 August 2013
Bloodwork Soundtrack
Results are in. Glucose (fasting) was 76. Cholestorol was 177. Triglycerides 44. HDL 53. LDL 115. Chol/HDL ratio 3.3. All OK.
My numbers are good, but my health is better. I'm alive.
I'm still alive.
The other day we were listening to "Perfect Space" while we cleaned the kitchen and I said "I hope I'm old before I die", and Bjorn said "I hope that I get old before I die", then stopped and said, "I hope that you get old before I die." It's a love song.
My numbers are good, but my health is better. I'm alive.
I'm still alive.
The other day we were listening to "Perfect Space" while we cleaned the kitchen and I said "I hope I'm old before I die", and Bjorn said "I hope that I get old before I die", then stopped and said, "I hope that you get old before I die." It's a love song.
28 August 2013
Apocalyptic Food, pt 3 o' 3
Behold the face in front of the well-oiled, so-far cogs of my no-grain food storage!
♣ canned salmon • canned sardines • canned coconut milk • coconut oil • ghee • tallow • seaweed • raisins • animal gelatin • honey
TA-DA!
Almost all of my process, hard work, and rumination is unenumerated; these three parts are bones; not included are soft, connective, fleshy bits.
I did tons of work to figure out how to have command of a simple process, and this is what I have to show for it, and it's not showy. I feel like this must be what happens to my grandpa. He and my grandma send out a newsletter every month. His part of it usually has such simplified structure that one might think it insulting, yet sometimes (as he states) it took him years to achieve it.
Well, Grandpa, if this is what happens to you, I feel ya.
So. There's no way that I have three months worth of only these foods. And even if I did, it would be a dreary three months. But I have made a very fine start for myself.
♣ canned salmon • canned sardines • canned coconut milk • coconut oil • ghee • tallow • seaweed • raisins • animal gelatin • honey
TA-DA!
Almost all of my process, hard work, and rumination is unenumerated; these three parts are bones; not included are soft, connective, fleshy bits.
I did tons of work to figure out how to have command of a simple process, and this is what I have to show for it, and it's not showy. I feel like this must be what happens to my grandpa. He and my grandma send out a newsletter every month. His part of it usually has such simplified structure that one might think it insulting, yet sometimes (as he states) it took him years to achieve it.
Well, Grandpa, if this is what happens to you, I feel ya.
So. There's no way that I have three months worth of only these foods. And even if I did, it would be a dreary three months. But I have made a very fine start for myself.
26 August 2013
al-Lazeez!
I often make something very yummy and then forget about it (thus not making it again). Well, this one I want to remember, so I am telling you what we had for breakfast today —
Chili powder and garam masala CARROTS coined and sauteed in ghee, with ginger. Then one egg over easy each.
25 August 2013
1 Balanced and Broad, 1 Cute
"Some of My Best Friends are Germs" — Micheal Pollan's essay is the best gut-bug piece yet!
To accompany it, my favorite from Bird and Moon comics.
To accompany it, my favorite from Bird and Moon comics.
18 August 2013
Food Storage part 2 of 3
Part 1
My future food storage system has two primary traits. It is low maintenance in each of three cost categories — energy, time, money. It nourishes my family for ≥ 3 months in The Event (e.g., of a Zombie Apocalypse).
The supporting traits I've identified are familiarity and stability. These each bear up both primaries — minimizing maintenance costs and maximizing nourishment. All food storage candidates satisfy these criteria.
Up to this point, the decisions on including a food are basic — binary. Now they become complex.
When I identify a food that is familiar and stable, next I'll consider its basic nutritional profile. What are the macros and micros? How does it compare with other foods I have identified? Next, is it a hassle to prepare OR consume? Zombies are chasing me, I've lost an arm, and I've run out of spoons. Do I need a can opener for this?
If I end up with dozens of winning foods — more than I have room to store — I can cull by considering other traits. (Comparative cost?) But for now I'll save that energy.
My future food storage system has two primary traits. It is low maintenance in each of three cost categories — energy, time, money. It nourishes my family for ≥ 3 months in The Event (e.g., of a Zombie Apocalypse).
The supporting traits I've identified are familiarity and stability. These each bear up both primaries — minimizing maintenance costs and maximizing nourishment. All food storage candidates satisfy these criteria.
Up to this point, the decisions on including a food are basic — binary. Now they become complex.
When I identify a food that is familiar and stable, next I'll consider its basic nutritional profile. What are the macros and micros? How does it compare with other foods I have identified? Next, is it a hassle to prepare OR consume? Zombies are chasing me, I've lost an arm, and I've run out of spoons. Do I need a can opener for this?
If I end up with dozens of winning foods — more than I have room to store — I can cull by considering other traits. (Comparative cost?) But for now I'll save that energy.
16 August 2013
Emergency Preparedness: Food Storage
It is a good time of year to consider catastrophe.
The other week my dad recommended a certain product to me for food storage. I began doing more thinking about what good food storage items are — for someone with my diet.
The other week my dad recommended a certain product to me for food storage. I began doing more thinking about what good food storage items are — for someone with my diet.
Consideration A: Grains are the staple for food storage as I know it. (Now "knew it".)
Consideration B: Rotation is a primary principle of preparedness; to rotate, store what you eat and eat what you store.
Consideration C: Mine is a diet of animals and vegetables, of no grains, of few pulses or legumes (lentils and limas allowed), of no sugars except fruit and honey.
==
Problem: I cannot realistically rotate something I don't eat, and I don't eat the common storage items, so I can't use the old methods, and I don't know any other way.
But who am I to not do something because I don't know what to do? Not I! Time to make up another way.
I am making two lists, one of traits (what do I want of my food storage items?), another of items so far (what do I already eat with those traits?). I shall post them.
Did you notice that I said "items so far"? SO FAR! I request ideas. Pretty please, with a dried cherry on top.
Consideration B: Rotation is a primary principle of preparedness; to rotate, store what you eat and eat what you store.
Consideration C: Mine is a diet of animals and vegetables, of no grains, of few pulses or legumes (lentils and limas allowed), of no sugars except fruit and honey.
==
Problem: I cannot realistically rotate something I don't eat, and I don't eat the common storage items, so I can't use the old methods, and I don't know any other way.
But who am I to not do something because I don't know what to do? Not I! Time to make up another way.
I am making two lists, one of traits (what do I want of my food storage items?), another of items so far (what do I already eat with those traits?). I shall post them.
Did you notice that I said "items so far"? SO FAR! I request ideas. Pretty please, with a dried cherry on top.
12 August 2013
Lover and Thinker
. . .
The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
. . .
And I am not resigned.
The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
. . .
And I am not resigned.
29 July 2013
Adventures in Investing
I first heard about Mr. Money Mustache from my friend Cherry. She was pointing out that my thoughts on the deplorable damages of car culture overlapped his.
The second time I heard about him was from Wayde, Roscivs' younger brother.
I infrequent his blog, and the other day I read about a p2p lending business venture that he is experimenting with.
I decided to do something similar with a little bit (less than 1%) of my money. What curiosity I have! What risk I take!
The second time I heard about him was from Wayde, Roscivs' younger brother.
I infrequent his blog, and the other day I read about a p2p lending business venture that he is experimenting with.
I decided to do something similar with a little bit (less than 1%) of my money. What curiosity I have! What risk I take!
27 July 2013
first year pickler
I make my own pickles. Amazing!
Since early spring I have successfully made lacto-fermented pickles* out of radishes and garlic scapes. My other attempts were lemons and carrots, but I lost 'em to mold.
The radishes were DIVINE. My visiting family ate the last of the scapes.
It had been weeks since I set anything up to pickle, but on Thursday, when I was at the Farmers' Market, I found the season's first pickling cukes. I bought some, added pickling dill (read: dill in bloom) and garlic. I hope I'm not sorry I didn't have any grape leaves!
--
* For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about:
• Yogurt is certainly the most commonly known (and the only commonly eaten) lacto-ferment in America. It's basically pickled dairy! However, "lacto" goes with "lactic acid", NOT "lactose". Lacto-fermentation has nothing necessarily to do with dairy.
• "fermented" evokes beer, wine and other things alcoholic but lacto-ferments are not alcoholic.
• "pickles" evokes foods soaked in vinegar, but lacto-ferments are not made with any vinegar.
Since early spring I have successfully made lacto-fermented pickles* out of radishes and garlic scapes. My other attempts were lemons and carrots, but I lost 'em to mold.
The radishes were DIVINE. My visiting family ate the last of the scapes.
It had been weeks since I set anything up to pickle, but on Thursday, when I was at the Farmers' Market, I found the season's first pickling cukes. I bought some, added pickling dill (read: dill in bloom) and garlic. I hope I'm not sorry I didn't have any grape leaves!
--
* For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about:
• Yogurt is certainly the most commonly known (and the only commonly eaten) lacto-ferment in America. It's basically pickled dairy! However, "lacto" goes with "lactic acid", NOT "lactose". Lacto-fermentation has nothing necessarily to do with dairy.
• "fermented" evokes beer, wine and other things alcoholic but lacto-ferments are not alcoholic.
• "pickles" evokes foods soaked in vinegar, but lacto-ferments are not made with any vinegar.
26 July 2013
For Supper
I made an omelette for the first time! 4 duck eggs. It was the purtiest omelette I ever did see!
25 July 2013
A Favorite Website and a Favorite YouTube Video and a Bonus Link
I have been interested in floor play and squatting for the last few months. I've built up to being able to squat for many (20) minutes at a time.
If you're interested, check out Todd Hargrove's Squat Fundamentals no. 1. There's a link at bottom to a 25 minute audio floor play guide. I liked the pretending to be a crab!
This post is brought to you by JoBob out sailing with his dad. I don'tsit on my computer post a lot when he's home, which is most of the time!
If you're interested, check out Todd Hargrove's Squat Fundamentals no. 1. There's a link at bottom to a 25 minute audio floor play guide. I liked the pretending to be a crab!
This post is brought to you by JoBob out sailing with his dad. I don't
24 July 2013
More Gut Reading
"Happy Microbes, Skinny Jeans" is the print article in the July/August print volume of Mother Jones. Here is the online version.
I recommend it.
Currently that ^ page is hosting links to MoJo other articles with the same probiotic / microbe / gut theme. This is Your Body on Microbes, Should You Take A Probiotic? (I'm going to go with yes), Can Antibiotics Make You Fat? (all signs point to yes), Poop Therapy (I would do it if I could find a suitable donor), and Here's Why You Shouldn't Take Antibiotics for a Sinus Infection.
I recommend it.
Currently that ^ page is hosting links to MoJo other articles with the same probiotic / microbe / gut theme. This is Your Body on Microbes, Should You Take A Probiotic? (I'm going to go with yes), Can Antibiotics Make You Fat? (all signs point to yes), Poop Therapy (I would do it if I could find a suitable donor), and Here's Why You Shouldn't Take Antibiotics for a Sinus Infection.
23 July 2013
ketchUpdates
22 July 2013
ATTN: Mona
At the beginning of the month, Jronatron and I took Animal Planet's "Dog Breed Selector" questionnaire. The results solidly indicate that we would be best matched with a Brittany or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
It is highly unlikely we'd get a purebred, but if we did these would suit us best. (I want a dog that is highly affectionate and highly trainable.)
It is highly unlikely we'd get a purebred, but if we did these would suit us best. (I want a dog that is highly affectionate and highly trainable.)
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