I joined about a year ago and I haven’t written anything about it because it just doesn’t seem all that interesting. However, I was just reading some older posts and realized I like the journal/diary nature that this blog has taken on. Therefore, more journal/diary type entries are called for. Toastmasters is an international organizationContinue reading “Toastmasters”
Author Archives: Mark
I’m not the Music Guy
A lunch-time conversation: The Laird said, “we can’t do that tonight; we have dance class.” I reply, “oh, that reminds me, I sent Kay a text out of the blue. A waltz. By Stos… something. Stosanovich?” The Laird, “you mean Shostakovitch?” “Yeah, him. Waltz Number Two. The concert version by Haus, ‘haaws’ the German, notContinue reading “I’m not the Music Guy”
Too Wordy
A good, but very 18th-century style, post/treatise: The Sickness of Life: On the Problems with Anti-Natalism He spends a lot of words on the philosophy of it all. None of that matters. As I commented there: This is as obviously not-really-believed as the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. If any of these people actuallyContinue reading “Too Wordy”
Only Seven Years?
In seven years, I will be eligible for Social Security. I just stated that I’d bet my first check that I don’t get my first check. Except it won’t happen that way. It’s very rare for things to just collapse and go away. Social Security will not just vanish in the next seven years. TheContinue reading “Only Seven Years?”
Sunday Dinner
This was quite the cooking adventure. Bread bowl w/Spinach Artichoke dip. The dip was a bit acidic. I’m not sure why. The bread was delicious. I made the “big dog” version using a half recipe and a heavy sauce pan instead of a Dutch oven. I didn’t let it bake long enough to get aContinue reading “Sunday Dinner”
Shen Yun
For years, I’ve seen advertisements for them. We finally decided to go. I’m pretty sure they’re a cult. If so, it is a cult of very athletic dancers. There were two songs that were hymns. The rest of it was dancing – except the erhu solo, which sounded somewhat like a classical violin. Just asContinue reading “Shen Yun”
Learning 2 Bake from Scratch – LII
Biscuit Victory Finally. BiscuitsFrom: Experimentation 120 g AP flour1/2 Tbl baking powder1/8 tsp salt1 tsp baking soda4 Tbl butter, cold1/2 tsp lemon juice (or 1/4 tsp citric acid)80 g milk Preheat oven to 375. Shred the butter into a mixing bowl. Sift the dry ingredients over it. Pastry knife to pea-like, not cornmeal, texture. AddContinue reading “Learning 2 Bake from Scratch – LII”
Learning 2 Bake from Scratch
Crust vs Crust This one doesn’t get a number because it’s analysis, not baking. I posted my pie crust recipe in the Chess Pie post. The “new” recipe is from The Four & Twenty Blackbird’s Pie Book, which is a present from the crochet group. Considering that they are a well-known bakery, it seems unlikelyContinue reading “Learning 2 Bake from Scratch”
Learning 2 Bake from Scratch – LI
Coconut Cream Pie This pie served two purposes: Another test of the new crust recipe and getting rid of leftover coconut. Well, three purposes, I suppose: It also got eaten. The first crust attempt was for the Malted Chocolate Pecan Pie. It was not good. For this attempt, I used shredded rather than cubed butter,Continue reading “Learning 2 Bake from Scratch – LI”
Building a Castle Wall
The street in front of my house has been under construction since last summer. The street, itself, has been rebuilt. They’re now rebuilding the retaining walls on the far side. (On this side, the houses are the retaining walls; most of them are single-story fronts with walk-out basements in the back.) The old retaining wallsContinue reading “Building a Castle Wall”
Marked Up 