It began as fresh shaved Pastrami then I diced it.

 

Norm , Looks delicious

It's dank ( wet/cold) down ere so I'm making chili

 

Jim - Awesome. A great meal when it's dank outdoors. It hasn't been dank around here - yet. But, when it gets here, you've sparked my taste buds. I enjoy a several large dollops of grated sharp cheddar cheese after its spooned into my bowl.

 

Jim - Your chili looks delicious! Like Norm, I like some shredded sharp cheddar on top of mine, and some oyster crackers. Looking forward tonight to some more of those New York Strips that we bought at Sam's Club a couple weeks ago. We bought enough for 6 meals and have only had one so far.

 

Yep, Me too cheese and Tabasco sauce

 

Chris - I’m on Episode 5 of ‘Ancient Apocalypse’ (Netflix). I’m thinking you’d like it.

 

I will definitely look it up! You're right, we like alot of the same type of shows!

 

Norm - Don't know if I ever mentioned this or not, but in undergrad (Albion College) I had a double major, both geology and anthropology. I was fortunate enough to have taken most of my anthroplogy courses from Dr. Elizabeth Brumfiel, a past President of the American Anthropological Society, and one of, if not the leading, expert on ancient (pre-Aztec) cultures of Mexico. She was one hell of a professor and one of the sweetest women I've ever met. Some of her work can be seen at The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

 

Slab O' Beef, green beans, and leftover 5 cheese blend mac & cheese!

 

Hi everyone.

Got home a little while ago after a nice weekend with my friends. He wants to lower his pickup two inches. He bought this complex kit to change all the spring hangers but first we had to take the bed off. We got some of the easy side done, and now he'll have to finish the job on the side with the gas tank. I don't know why he bothers.

Been raining here all weekend. Was overcast for us but no rain until this morning. Drove all day in the stuff. No idea what it's going to do this week.

Well I'm glad to be home. I'll catch up later but I can tell you I'm hitting the sack early. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

 

Chris, back in the tenth grade, I had anthropology for an elective for one half of a semester (six weeks), I loved it, but they did not offer any more classes in that field. I wished more would have been available, as I would have really enjoyed it. Not sure if it would have changed anything in my future at that time. I was naive, and was more interested in getting job, car and chasing the fair sex.

 

For some reason, women LOVE anthropology.

 

Dan - So many interesting sub-fields in anthropology. I never intended to have a dual Major in college, my intention was just to Major in geology, but the anthropology classes were so interesting that I just kept taking them. I was told by my anthropology professors that there weren't going to be many job opportunities in anthropology without a doctorate degree, so I stuck with my original thought of just getting my Masters degree in geology. Ironic that it turned out, I never ended up doing anything in the field of geology. The intelligence agency I ended up working for just recruited folks with science, math, or computer science degrees and then sent you off to their own school to teach you how to be a double naut spy!

 

I have a response to that, but it might be a bit crude!

 

Roger that.

Doing housework. I liberated, with my dad's reel to reels, some cassettes, since none of my family either has a deck, or cares about getting theirs fixed. My mother's old cassette of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album from the 80s is currently issuing forth from the Dragon cassette deck.

Once I get my digital capture setup going, I'll burn this and others to CD for her. I'm sure it's been released on CD, but she'll like a homemade one more I bet.

 

I am surprised as you are well known for posting excellent in focus images. Wait, that’s not you.

 

Are those beans?!?!?!?!? You’d get strung up in Tejas for that transgression.
I suppose we should give you a pass seeing as you’re so far north. I guess it’s a Yankee thing.

 

Jim - Which cornbread you making for your chili?

 

Actually, I made a pile of hot water the other days so just pull out a hunk a nuke it

 

👍👍👍

 

Norm, I wished you lived closer. I'm having a Monday morning debate about smacking whitey around . It looks like the big C is going to take my 20+ year partner home to glory. The group that plaid behind us are all 2/3/4 handicaps. They are nice guys but I don't much feel like playing 180 yard par 3s. I may just go hit a few *****

 

Jim - I'd enjoy playing in your group. It's a tad chilly this morning but I'll still play a round. Tee-time is 11:11am. I quickly developed my winter handicap (unfortunately) - now playing to a nine handicap from our white tee box. Oh well, so be it fairways are starting to turn, grass becoming matted, etc. Playing to 180 yd. par 3s is tough. Sorry to hear about your long time playing partner.

I REALLY need to slow-down my swing & let the club do the work. Today, I will strive to accomplish this goal.

 

Hi guys, Had a great early Christmas party Saturday and Sunday. Sat afternoon 1st son's family, and 2nd son and his 2 daughters came. Sun morn 2nd sons wife and boy came. Had the big feast of turkey and fixins Sat. Then opened presents when all were here on Sun. Then turkey sandwiches and left over fixins. Those kids sure can eat!! Great time. My wife was in her glory!!! Nice to be able to use this huge house for what it was intended....
Well truck is down at painter so I have no projects. I need to find a couple as I am falling into a rut of watching old TV shows, napping, eating, repeat....., and as I walk by all the candy etc. set out for Christmas, I eat a piece- gotta quit that!!

 

Greg - Sounds like a great time at your place - happy for you & your family. I'm looking forward to seeing your truck after the paint job. I'm sure you'll find a project.

 

Greg, My dear departed mother use to say Its not what you eat between Thanksgiving and New years day, Its what you eat between New years day and thanksgiving

 

Good morning everyone.

Ah back to the office. Things are slow this morning, one robot is down and the other has issues. Plant Maintenance is working on them now.

Didn't go to the store when I got home yesterday so I didn't have anything for breakfast this morning. As luck would have it, a guy was late coming in and he brought biscuits. He was late one day last week and brought donuts. I thought, this guy would get a raise if he'd just come in on time.

Greg if you need a few projects, come on over. I got bodywork, mechanical, electrical, you name it. And as an added bonus you can work outside on the driveway, on your back.

Got a couple more wheels to sign before break. Hope eveyone has a good day.

 

Jim - So sorry to hear about your golfing partner, that's rough! My prayers go out to all his family and friends.

 

It isn't warm; it isn't cold (by Northern standards). Not much ball compression this morning. Wind gusts ~20mph - 22 mph are challenging. Bang it (slow though...real slow).

 

Greg - Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas celebration! I'm really happy your family was able to get together and enjoy the season. Now lay off that candy!

Jim - Your Momma sounds like a very wise woman! Never heard it put that way before, but sooooo true!

 

The Good the Bad and the Ugly, then I'm only going to report on the good from now on, just too depressing.


The good.... We had Pop's birthday party. I call it the Hispanic Birthday party as this one is mostly friends (all friends really) workers and their families with a few neighbors thrown in. You make a lot of friends in 96 years. I'm sure I was the only blood relative there. They catered a real Mexican dinner off of a hot grill on the spot( front yard) that was delicious! Other than tacos (the only thing I could pronounce) there were wonderful things I've never had before, tried most all of them, left stuffed.

The Bad, doubtful Ruby will rehab and make it out of the hospital this time. If you don't eat, you don't get strong, you can't get out of bed, your time is limited. The short and long of it all.

The ugly... My right knee is torn up, swollen and tender in a strange way. Ever had a funny bone event? That is what it feels like, only X 10? Hard to find a place where it is comfortable, walk with a cane or if it is uneven ground with a walker. Believe it or not, I can get in and out of the Miata on the driver's side somewhat, and store the walker on the trunk rack.... But I'll take the Durango any way. Doctor today to see what needs to be done. That knee has been rebuilt twice, and hopefully there is something left that can be helped. I think torn ligaments, but I'm no doctor, but I play one on the Internet. Talk to you tonight when I know more from a real doctor...Tedd

 

Tedd - Glorious that your Dad had a wonderful b-day party! Sorry to hear that Ruby is not doing well, but glad you do not have to be the care giver right now, especially with your knee issue. I sure hope the doc can get you healed up without another invasive procedure, best wishes!

 

The forecast the remainder of the week speaks to approaching dank weather. Since Jim is on top of his game (speaking of which I shot 45/38), I bought a nice chuck roast and chilli fix'ns. The roast will simmer O.N. in the slow cooker. It might be ready tomorrow - it may not. I have no issues simmering chilli for long periods of time. I'm going to make a creamed corn jalapeno cornbread. I also bought fix'ns to make fresh tabouli. Chemistry lab is now open.

 

Norm - Sounds like you have several delicious meals planned out there! We're expecting some possibly severe weather come morning from that big storm heading across the plains. I hope it's not too bad, my wife has an endoscopy scheduled for 0600 in the morning. She's had stomach troubles for years. She had an endoscopy 5-years ago but could only find minor irritation of the stomach lining. She's had more trouble lately, and at her yearly physical her GP suggested she should have another one. So here we go.

 

So Norm Does you chili include beans? or is Judge Roy Bean {pun intended ] going to hang both of us

 

Jim - Can't answer for Norm, but mine includes Brooks Chili Hot Beans and Kidney Beans. I like my Chili extra spicy (hot), so it also includes chopped jalapeņos, Rotel, and plenty of Chili powder.

 

The chili I'm cooking is not going to be Texas Chili (which I do quite enjoy, BTW). I do enjoy a good Chili con Carne. Mine will contain kidney beans. Normally, when having much more patience than I currently have, I would soak dried kidney beans in salt water for three days prior to making chili. This batch I am using straight-up canned kidney beans - no flavors, nothing added. They're obviously pre-cooked (canned) kidney beans. I dice up lots of fresh tomatoes, but I also use one large can of tomato sauce.

 

Chris - I know you've taken chemistry. You recall zwitterions? Potatoes are excellent/exceptional for gut health in very many ways. Nearly ALL (99.9% - ?) foods are acidic & most are highly acidic. What's the pH of the lower gut - about pH1.5 as I recall. That's an extremely high pH molarity (as you know). The great thing about certain foods is understanding alkalinity. While almost all people routinely associate anything alkaline with being a base, zwitterions are alkaline salts which are slightly acidic but are dipolar. Potatoes render the gut (and it's pre- and pro-biotic bacteria) a very healthy environment which also provides the additional benefits of being alkaline upon digestion - instead of increasing pH they balance pH since the zwitterion is dipolar (both a positively charged end group and a negatively charged end group). Because they readily dissolve in water, they help to balance a healthy gut by rendering the gut alkaline - reducing IBS because they easily adhere to amino acids during digestion. Just a thought - anyways, tators are good for ya.

 

Norm - Thanks for the suggestion, I will let her read this most excellent tutorial! She has already significantly modified her diet, often bypassing the highly unhealthy stuff she makes for me, replacing it with more nutritious and naturally healthy fruits and vegetables, and reducing fatty stuff. Nothing really seems to help. When she gets these really bad stomach aches after eating (1 to 2 times a week) it all eventually comes back up. In addition to her previously having an endoscopy, she's also had her Gall Bladder function checked via the radioactive dye flow test and that showed nothing abnormal. At this point it's a mystery, but we both wish she could find some relief.

 

Chris/Norm What about onions? I load mine up with onions

 

Jim - I load mine up with onions too, they get browned with the ground beef. Besides the spicy components I already listed I put in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato juice.
Complete list of ingredients: Browned ground beef with onions, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, Rotel, diced jalapeņos, Brooks chili hot beans, kidney beans, chili powder, and a small splash of garlic.