APRIL 2024
Sunday 2024.4.28
Dentists
I have a new dentist — Dr. Kim — and I like him. When I saw the hygienist on Thursday she told me the former dentist was no longer there. "Good," I said, "she makes a living selling crowns." I also told her I didn't want to spend any more money on my teeth because at nearly 73 years of age I maybe only need to get another five years out of the teeth I have. She might have told Dr. Kim what I said because when he did the examination he never said anything about crowns.
The dentist appointment was a really good one because I hadn't been to the dentist in about 18 months. The hygienist I was seeing left. I had to make another appointment six months later. I had to cancel that one because of a back injury and make yet another appointment. For a year and a half without a cleaning and exam, my teeth are in good shape.
One thing I always do is ask to see the x-rays. I know how to read them because another dentist more than ten years ago taught me. A dark gray area in a tooth usually indicates a cavity. A dark area in a root means an abscess. I think if they know I can read an x-ray they might be less likely to recommend something I don't really need. Dentistry is now more of a business than a service. Profit matters.
Golf
Thursday was a good day for another reason. A new course was released for the Walkabout Mini Golf game — Venice. The course has 18 holes in the city and there is a gondola that we can ride around the canals. The ride takes about 10 minutes. As planned, I joined with my friends in Kentucky to play the course.
For those who might be unfamiliar, somewhere hidden around each hold is a lost ball. You can gather them to add to your collection. You can also select any of the balls to play in any of the courses. When a minimum number of balls are found, the difficult version of the course is unlocked.
In the difficult course you can follow a string of clues, called a fox hunt, that eventually lead to your getting a new putter to add to your collection. Again, you can choose any of the putters to use on any of the courses.
Experiment Revisited
I have been experimenting with making my own charcoal starters for my barbecue. To repeat, I know I can buy them at the local Home Depot store. It is within walking distance and easy to get to by bicycle. However, I like making my own.
I mentioned on Wednesday learning a new idea about using cardboard tubes, filling them with shredded paper and paraffin wax. I don't have any tubes. I looked around my home. What to do?
I looked on Amazon Vine. Jackpot! I was able to order 70 tubes.
They are commonly used for craft projects, mostly with children, but they should make good charcoal starters. The first task might be to determine how best to cut them in half before filling them. Cut them in half crosswise or lengthwise? The length cut seems more practical. I can cut them with scissors and they'll fit better under a small pile of briquettes. Sealing the ends shouldn't be difficult with a little white glue and some paper.
Meanwhile, I still have plenty of the original starters I made with the silicone ice cube trays. What if the tubes work better? Those trays will probably go into the recycling bin. Can silicone be recycled? Yes, it is very recyclable.
How About Another Idea?
I've been using solid blocks of paraffin that I've been cutting up with a knife. What if I were to use shredded wax with the shredded paper? I could start the tube burning with a torch. The heat would melt the wax, fueling the flame, which would start my charcoal. However, I have four blocks of wax. Can it be shredded? Yes, very easily, with a cheese shredder.
I shredded one block of paraffin and placed the pieces in a ziplock bag to use later. First, however, I need to wait for my cardboard tubes to arrive. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, but the Postal System typically delivers parcels a day earlier than planned. I'll probably have them this afternoon.
As for the shredder: It was easy to clean with hot water, dish detergent and a scrubber sponge.
And Speaking of Vine…
On Wednesday I wrote about a grab bar I put in my shower. I feel safer when holding onto something while I shampoo my hair. On Friday I saw a pair of them offered on Vine. The exact same thing, but two. I requested them. One I'll place at the end of the shower to hold onto when I enter. I'm not sure where the other one will go, but I'll find a useful place for it. I might stick it to the vanity surface to hold onto when I step out of the shower.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner
I watched the event on CSPAN yesterday evening. I was not disappointed. Biden did well using his time at the podium to not only crack a few jokes, but also to campaign against his opponent. Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update was funny — not laugh-out-loud funny, but amusing nonetheless.
The contrast between the audience at the dinner and the audience on SNL was striking. The SNL crowd come to the studio seeking comedy. The dinner attendees are there because they were invited and to shmooze with other journalists. I am curious to see how the evening will be discussed on the next live episode of SNL Weekend Update.
Wednesday 2024.4.24
A Successful Experiment
In Sunday's blog I wrote about a plan to make my own charcoal starter chips from shredded paper and paraffin. The ice cube trays arrived on Monday afternoon.
As planned, I placed some shredded paper in each of the cups of the trays. Then I place a small block of paraffin in each cup. I heated my oven to 225°F, which is well above the melting point of the wax but well below the ignition temperature (400°F). I placed the trays on a baking sheet and baked them for about 20 minutes. When all the wax was melted I moved the trays to my kitchen counter to cool a little.
When the baking sheet was cool enough to handle, I placed it in the freezer to really harden the wax. That took only about 10 minutes. They turned out well enough for a first attempt. There is always something to be learned. Next time I'll put more shredded paper in the cups and more paraffin. These first chips came out a little thin.
I figured it might take two or three of these small ones to get my charcoal started. I was able to test them yesterday afternoon when the sun came out. Drizzle was falling during the morning. Two chips were enough to start a dozen briquettes.
I grilled two chicken drumsticks, bone removed but skin on, and they were delicious.
Another Idea
There is so much to learn from the internet. Someone bought paraffin for the same reason — to make charcoal starters with shredded paper. However, he has a better idea. Save the cardboard tubes from toilet paper or from rolls of aluminum foil, wax paper, etc. Cut them to desired lengths. Fill them with shredded paper and pour in some melted wax. Let cool and use as briquette starters.
And rather than buying blocks of paraffin at the grocery store, I saw that I can order wax pellets from Amazon. Those would be easier to work with; so I added some to my wish list.
Simple Things
Maybe not so simple in design, but a simple idea. I'm 72 years old. I still feel steady on my feet, but sometimes I worry a little when I'm in the shower — particularly when I'm shampooing and rinsing my hair. My head is back. My eyes are closed. I feel a little at risk of falling. I usually press an elbow against the side of the shower to steady myself. Then I saw on Vine a shower grab bar.
It sticks to the wall of the shower with a large suction cup. It's simple to use. Just grip it when I'm washing my hair.
Cravings
I've been doing fairly well with a low-carbohydrate diet. However, Monday evening I was really craving carbs. I ignored it for a while, but I eventually caved in to temptation. I made a big bowl of macaroni and cheese. It was delicious. I don't think I ever enjoyed mac & cheese so much.
And, oddly, it didn't affect my A1C. It was 6.2 yesterday morning. This morning it was 6.0.
Sunday 2024.4.21
How About an Experiment?
A few years ago I experimented with making barbecue fire starters with ground paper and paraffin wax. I got the idea from some YouTube videos that showed how people in third world countries where firewood is scarce used paper to make cooking logs.
I used to barbecue over burning oak, but that was too smoky. However, the wood was easy to ignite using small disks of paper pulp and wax. Those disks were fine for igniting a BBQ chimney of charcoal or kindling for wood; however, they are too large for my new little grill. I have a few remaining and I've been cutting those into quarters to use one at a time.
How might I make little starters? I know I can buy them at the local Home Depot store, but what if I wanted to make my own?
I have paraffin wax in the shed and I have a paper shredder in my home office. The shredder cuts paper into small bits, not long strings. How could I combine the two? I ordered a pair of silicone ice cube trays on Amazon Vine.
The plan is to put a little shredded paper in the molds, maybe filling each pocket by about half. Add a small piece of paraffin and then place the trays on a baking sheet and heat in a 225°F oven for several minutes. (Paraffin supposedly melts at 165°F.) I'm hoping the wax will melt into the paper. After they cool, maybe I can pop out the little squares and store them in a ziplock bag. One should be enough to start a dozen briquettes, which is how many I typically need to cook one or two small pieces of chicken for myself. Speaking of which…
Bait and Switch?
I used to really like the local Smart & Final grocery store. Their prices are a little better than the Albertson's store. Costco has the best prices of the three, but when items are on sale at S&F the price is usually the lowest, if I can find them. Twice in recent days I've driven to the store to buy a sale item — this time it was Foster Farms chicken drumsticks and thighs for 99¢ per pound. They were nowhere to be found. They had drumsticks and thighs at $1.69 per pound, but not the "picnic pack" sale item.
I know how to shop at S&F. I might have a list with me, but I always look for the sale item first. If I don't find it, I don't buy anything. I go elsewhere.
I went to Albertson's. Their drumsticks and thighs are $1.99 per found; however, they were on sale at ½ off. So, I got the chicken I wanted at the price I wanted, and I found the other items on my shopping list too. Happy day.
Wednesday 2024.4.17
Another Golf Club
I ordered another golf club handle from Vine this past week. It seemed a little better than the one I already have.
I like that I can adjust the length. The other one isn't too short, really. You kind of get used to it in the game because it looks full length in the VR headset. This new one, however, might have a more natural feel to it. Thankfully I didn't need to rig up another fabric band to squeeze the trigger on the controller. There was enough extra fabric on the end to compensate for the longer club handle.
I must admit I felt a bit piggy ordering another one. I already have one and I didn't want to be selfish about it. However, I looked at the Amazon reviews on the other one and there were 37, nearly all of which were Vine freebies. So, they give these things away like key chains at trade shows. My little grab doesn't upset the cosmos.
And Speaking of Vine…
As I get older I feel a little less steady on my feet. I don't need a cane or a walker, but with my eyes closed my balance seems a little less confident. I've been working on it by using my VR headset while standing.
I did feel like I need a little more stability in the shower. When my eyes are closed as I'm shampooing or rinsing my hair I usually place one elbow against the wall of the shower. It steadies me a little — enough to feel like I'm not going to fall. This week I ordered something new on Vine.
It's a grab bar that sticks to the wall with a large suction cup. I think it would work better than an elbow against the wall. I'll know more when it arrives, probably at the end of next week.
And Speaking of Taking a Shower
I cut my hair on Monday. If I do say so myself, it came out looking fairly good this time. No chops and no missed long strands of hair. Immediately after giving myself a haircut I step into the shower to remove any excess clippings. If they get into my clothes they cause my skin to itch.
I like that I know how to cut my own hair. My father was a barber and I have his tools. I use an extra mirror when I'm cutting the back.
Low-Carb Finger Lickin' Chicken
I have a recipe for Finger Lickin' Chicken that I've used for many years. Supposedly it is based on the original Kentucky Fried Chicken formula. I emphasize "original" because in one of my cookbooks there is a story about someone sending a sample of the coating mix to a laboratory to be tested. The only ingredients found were flour, salt, pepper and MSG (monosodium glutamate). When the company was sold and sold again the formula was supposedly reduced to those four ingredients to save money and improve profits.
I love Finger Lickin' Chicken, but the formula contains flour and I'm supposed to reduce my intake of carbohydrates, which is very high in wheat flour. And so I wondered: Can I substitute almond flour for all-purpose flour? There was only one way to find out.
Well, the answer is "yes," but the results were not satisfactory. The chicken was edible, but it did not taste good. It certainly wasn't "finger lickin'" good. I won't make it again.
The bottom line is that I'm a good cook. I know it. But I have only recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and that requires a new way of cooking. I'm trying to learn, but it isn't easy. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it takes longer and requires more patience.
The Tomato Chronicles
The tomato plants are blooming again. I don't like pruning the flowers off, but at this early stage the plant's energy should go toward growth, not fruit.
As it is, I think the plants are growing too slowly. I looked at a picture of the Early Girl plants I had last year. The photo was taken on April 20th. The leaves were bigger and there were more of them.
I'm not sure what I might be doing wrong this year, but the fact they are blooming is a good sign the plants are healthy. Maybe the issue is water. So I gave them a good watering this morning even though my meter says the soil is moist.
And, Finally, Maybe Worth Mentioning
My A1C was good this morning. 6.6. It was 6.5 yesterday morning. I feel good about that.
Sunday 2024.4.14
More Grilling
I used my new portable grill again (before the rain arrived), to cook some shrimp. I skewered the shrimp and dusted them lightly with a Chinese Five Spice blend I bought in a store a long time ago. The shrimp cooked quickly over a single layer of about a dozen charcoal briquettes. And they were delicious with a salad on the side.
And, once again, I appreciated having lined the fire pan with foil. When the coals were cool I simply folded up the ashes in the foil and discarded them. The fire pan was perfectly clean.
Taxes Are Done
Doing my taxes each year is a bigger deal that it needs to be. The government already knows my earnings. They were reported on 1099 forms. So, filling in all the numbers is just a tedious exercise in possible errors that could cost me a penalty later, i.e. more money for the government.
Case in point: The state tax system is much easier (although there are three times the number of pages). The state asks if I would like them to fill in the data from their files. Sure! Why not? I confirm a few things from boxes on my 1040 and the rest is done for me.
Is it perfect? Not exactly. One of my 1099s was supposed to prevent me from filing on line. But who cares? The income amounts are the same. And so I took the road more traveled — the easy path — (nod to Robert Frost) and plunged ahead anyway.
The bottom lines are: I paid the feds $316 and the state $18. No refund this year, mostly because of the taxes I owed for the free items I received on Amazon Vine. I thought about doing the forms two ways, one with and the other without the added taxable "income" from Vine, just to see how much those freebies really cost me, but then I decided not to. Some things are better off unknown.
However, there was another bit of savings. I did not need to pay sales tax on the items I received from Vine because they were not purchases; they are taxable income. We don't pay sales tax on earnings, thank goodness. (But I'm sure the government will find a way to include them eventually, maybe as taxable purchasing power based on income. It's a thought.)
And so I'm good for another year.
How are the tomato plants doing?
The Tomato Chronicles
The Early Girl is winning the race up the tomato cage. The Big Beef is lagging behind, like the race between the hare and the tortoise.
I sometimes worry they are not getting enough water because the leaves look too small. However, it's early. These plants went into the soil only a month ago. My meters tell me the soil is moist under the surface. It's fresh potting mix; so I know the nutrients are there. And they are now getting plenty of sunlight.
The plan is to add the final top layer of new soil at the end of this month, filling the planter to its full capacity. That should give the plants what they need to thrive. And with two plants in the planter, rather than the three I planted last year, there should be less competition for available resources.
It rained yesterday; so they got a fresh watering. This might be the last storm of the season. I'll monitor the meter and add water regularly as needed. And I'm also watching for insects again. I still have plenty of neem oil.
A1C
I'm not sure what I did wrong yesterday. I ate a cheeseburger on a deli roll for lunch. Maybe I ate too much protein because I also had an Italian sausage with my dinner. Proteins can be converted into carbohydrates. Maybe I should have had a big salad instead. My A1C was 7.8 this morning. It's still well below the danger zone of 9.0 or higher, but I was hoping for a lower number.
Wednesday 2024.4.10
Better Late Than Never
The portable grill I wrote about in Sunday's blog was supposed to be delivered on Monday. I waited. I checked the tracking several times throughout the day. The only detail since April 5th was, "Carrier picked up the package."
Monday evening I received another notice from Amazon:
"Now expected by April 11. We're sorry for the delay. If you have not received your package by April 11, you can come back here the next day for a refund."
What refund? The item was free on Amazon Vine.
Yesterday morning the tracking reported the item had arrived at the local UPS branch early enough to make it onto a truck for delivery the same day. And so I received my portable grill yesterday.
I really like it. It folds up into a compact size for storage on a shelf, 15 x 20 x 3 inches, kind of like a large book. My Signet Complete Shakespeare is thicker. Try to get a Weber grill onto a shelf!
Cleanup was really easy. I lined the fire pan with foil. I folded that up and discarded it when the coals were cool. The grill grate was soaked in warm soapy water for a while, then scrubbed clean with a non-abrasive scouring sponge.
As for cooking, the one disadvantage is the compact size. There is only two inches of clearances between the fire pan and the grill. I can arrange one layer of briquettes in the bottom. That provides enough heat for cooking small, thin foods. Really, this grill is only appropriate when cooking for one or two people.
Does it work? You bet it does!
I cooked some chicken legs on it. The food is very close to the coals; so there was some charring, but that tastes good on barbecued foods. I'd like to find a wok lid I can place over the food to contain some heat and improve cooking. Overall, I really like this grill and it was worth the wait getting it.
Eclipse
Where I live in SoCal the eclipse was expected to reach only 55% totality. I have never lived in the path of a truly 100% total eclipse, but I'd seen some that were so nearly total we were able to experience the darkening outside.
I don't have safe glasses for viewing the sun. I was, however, able to view the eclipse because of the tree outside my home. Tiny pin pricks of light shone through onto my deck. I brought a piece of white cardboard outside and could see an image of the sun partially blocked by the moon projected onto the paper. It works the same as a pinhole camera and is perfectly safe.
At only 55% totality, there was no noticeable darkening of my surroundings. However, I was able to witness this latest eclipse. It will probably be my last one. The next eclipse visible in the United States won't be for another 20 years. By then I'd be 92 years old.
Sunday 2024.4.7
Grilling Again
If you're old enough, you probably remember the hibachi grill. Maybe you owned one. I did. That was back in the 1970s. They were popular back then. Better models are still available today.
Several years ago I bought a Weber grill with plans to video outdoor cooking for my YouTube channel. I cooked a few things — chicken, duck, lamb, seafood, even venison and goat. I stopped using the grill because it was too large for one person. A little hibachi is more practical for me. And then I saw a small portable grill available on Amazon Vine.
It folds into a compact size for easy storage in the shed. It uses charcoal briquettes, which are easy to buy. And it's small enough to use on my deck. I would like to return to grilling this summer. The grill is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I hope it is properly packed to protect it form UPS rough handling.
With that grill in mind I added an extra step to my shopping errands on Friday. I stopped at Home Depot and bought a bag of charcoal briquettes.
Meanwhile, I looked for a grilling table on Vine. There was a picture of one that looked ideal for my needs. However, when I tried to order it, the website wouldn't respond. I've seen that before. It's one of the issues I really dislike about Vine. Don't tempt us with items that are not available.
A Pleasant Surprise
I thought I had used the last of my chicken stock last month. I was digging around in the freezer on Thursday and there in the back of the bottom shelf were two ziplock bags, each holding 8 frozen cups of stock. That's good. I want to make more of my Spontaneous Stew. It's good for my A1C, which has been at a healthy level lately.
Eclipse
I have no plans for the solar eclipse tomorrow. Where I live in SoCal we are not in the path of totality. The most we can expect is 55% of totality at 11:11 in the morning. I won't go outside to look. Instead, I'll watch it on TV.
Wednesday 2024.4.3
Milestone
Monday was a milestone for me. Twenty years ago on April 1st I bought and moved into my current home. It might only be a mobile home in a trailer park, but I enjoy living here. The neighbors live close enough for me to feel safe, but far enough away to be quiet.
Modification
I've been practicing with my new golf club handle for my Quest 3 VR headset. But here's the thing:
In the options there is a setting to activate the VR putter when squeezing the trigger on the side of the controller. The idea is to prevent an accidental hit of the ball, which would cost the golfer a stroke. The putter is visible, but it doesn't do anything. When I'm ready to putt the ball, I squeeze the trigger, the putter is activated and I make my putt.
That option works well when I'm holding the controller in my hand. With the controller now at the end of the golf club handle, the trigger is out of reach. I can go into the settings and opt for the putter to be always active; however, then I risk accidental hits of the ball (which has happened several times in the past).
I came up with a better idea. Using a fabric band and some Velcro, I rigged my putter with a way to press the trigger from the other end of the handle.
A slight tug on the ribbon presses the trigger. Release the fabric band and the putter returns to a deactivated state. I've been practicing with it and this new setup works well.
Taxes
April being tax month, I started working on my taxes. Even though the IRS is supposedly trying to simplify filing, it seems the forms get more complicated each year. Besides the usual 1040, I needed to file a Schedule 1 and a Schedule E. I realize my tax forms are not as complicated as Trump's (and I probably pay more taxes than he does — or maybe not), but for so simple an income as I have, I feel it shouldn't be so complicated to file my taxes. Besides, the government already knows all my income. It's all reported on 1099s before I even begin doing my forms. Really, it could be simplified to three steps:
- IRS shows that you received $XXX.xx amount of income last year.
- $XXX.xx was withheld from your income for taxes.
- You owe $XXX.xx.
Pay online through my bank and taxes are done. But no. Forms and complications.
My biggest concern is errors. I did my first pencil attempts on the forms and already I see I made mistakes. I usually do the forms two or three times to make certain I didn't do anything wrong. A miscalculation can cause a costly penalty. This time, it took four attempts to get everything right, I hope.
Blood Glucose
This morning was my best A1C yet: 5.5.