Thread Drift

Okay - I'll actively drift away from the healthcare debate. drifting...drifting...drifting...

Last night I was sooooo bad. A bunch of us went out for dinner and I chose a big tray of crawfish (about 3-4 lbs) and gravy fries for dinner :D Everyone looked at me like I was crazy! Geez it was good! I inhaled all of it! I had gone for a ride in the afternoon (clif bar for lunch) and didn't eat anything when I came back. So - I was starving. They watched in amazement as I at it all and was still hungry! I haven't had gravy fried since I was pregnant with my daughter. Oh man was that good! Yummmmm

What are gravy fries? Just fries with gravy on 'em?

I don't know gravy fries, either. But I had TWO servings of chicken-fried steak for lunch, with white gravy. And peach cobbler. And fried squash. (just a little bit) And like one bite of "greens." I figured anything with bacon in it must be good, but I was WRONG. And two slices of beets. And a spoon of pea salad. And a spoon of cole slaw. And a spoon of pasta salad. And a spoon of cottage cheese. And unsweet tea with Equal. But I rode 3.25 hours in a nice strong wind before. Saw many gopher tortoises out on their stoops.

What is pea salad??? And Nanci - where did you get all of that food and who ate the rest? It sounded really good! Greens can be good if cooked the right way. Mr. Fish (cajun) cooks them with tasso and/or andouille and they are awesome. Not bitter like most I've tried.

Gravy fries - big fat fries with brown gravy on them - usually spiced well with black pepper. It's a total comfort food thing! It's definitely not something a person normally eats with boiled crawfish - but hey, it hit a happy spot. We're making chicken and blackbean enchiladas tonight. Yummm!

How big was the spoon? ;) Sounds like you earned it! Still raining and VERY windy here :(

One of the women at work gave me some of her edemame and corn salad last week. Man, was it GOOD! It was just the green soybeans (shelled) and plain corn niblets tossed together with a pinch of salt.

Gotta go get some frozen shelled soybeans and frozen corn. I could just throw it together with some salt and it'd be thawed and ready to eat by lunchtime!

I like low-complexity food. Unless someone else is cooking. THEN I like creme brulee, and salmon, and steamed mussels and clams, and salad...

It was in Trenton, FL at a place called The Old Boarding House or something, which is a cute little house, with a bunch of rooms, and a central room where the buffet is set out. I'd heard of it, but the people I rode with knew it and had eaten there before. The food is "Southern." I was there with four people from my Strays group. Other people had finished earlier because they only went 32 miles. One girl had started early and odne her first metric Century! She was very excited, and very tired. Everyone was quite worn out from the wind.

The pea salad was green peas and small bits of other stuff in a creamy sauce. There was something like it at one of the stops on the TOSRV ride last weekend. The spoon was a serving spoon, but I didn't get big scoops- so my spoonfuls were about two tablespoons each.

I just had a three hour nap. Can't find out any eagle news. Don't know what to make for dinner.

I have a creme brulee cookbook. You can make your own- it's easy!

The group leader is talking about our group going to Cocoa for a Century in the fall so we can go to a place and eat "rock shrimp" afterwards. I don't know what those are, either.

Ooh - rock shrimp are good! They have a fairly mild flavor and a wonderful texture. Eat up - you'll love them!

I hope you found something good to make for dinner. I'm still working on the enchiladas - waiting for the chicken to cool off.

We found a really good black bean and corn salsa in the grocery store. It's not too hot (I'm not too big on super spicy food) and has a nice full flavor. There are a couple of brands that are good. We bought the generic today and tastes exactly the same!

I'm back from the CA TE ride. I dropped my bike off at the LBS on the way back. Headed for a shower, think I'll scarf up some trader joes jojo's first.

All this talk of rock shrimp creme brulee is making me hungry. Jobob's choice of coffee shop was great, great ride, decent weather, wonderful company. Thanks TE.

Trader Joe's is great. Just had rice noodles with Trader Joe's Tuna in Red Panang Curry Sauce. I was very hungry after my Team Survivor ride and 2 hours shopping at the LBS.

Have you tried TJ's dried mango with chili powder? Those critters are good good good. I usually carry around dried fruit from TJ's for rides and work and gotta-eat-right-NOW snacks.

Oh, and TJ's "pound plus" 72% cacao chocolate bars!

I buy about 1/3-1/2 of my groceries at TJ's.

I like TJ's decaf chai latte mix. Yummy stuff! I stock up when I go visit my mom in MD. I'm heading there for Mom's Day in 2 weeks.

2 hours shopping at the LBS? If I did that I would not be able to afford food, especially TJ's.

But I like TJ's, pretty much can wander around there without a list and everything is good.

Three stops at the LBS today after one last night.

Yesterday afternoon, met maillotpois over at Peet's Coffee and had a wonderful chat with her before we went off to the LBS when I picked up my newly arrived compooter.

This morning's #1 trip, took bike with new computer because the magnet wouldn't work on the bladed spokes so I couldn't even tell if the computer was working. Given't my recent lack of kharma with computers I wasn't about to try McGivering the magnet until I knew whether the computer was working.

Trip #2, went back down with the forgotten wind trainer that puppysitter/racer boy needs to borrow.

Trip #3, went back for brake calipers to re-build the Trek Bubba will be selling now that the elegant Tuxedo Seven is home. Fortunately, remembered that Bubba was going to look for new road shoes today and managed to get this done before needing a 4th trip.

Don't even want to think about how much time was spent there today. It would probably be less if we weren't so heavily infected with the CRS Syndrome.

Jiminy Cricket!

I just picked up the mail on my way back from the grocery store. On top of everything else, I got called up for jury duty!!!!!

Maybe my doc can write me a note saying I'm too dingy to be on a jury.

Or my boss can write something about how they can't make it without me and won't pay me while I'm on jury duty so I'll end up on public assistance and be a drain on the taxpayers so please please don't make me do jury duty.

It never rains but it pours!

In happier news, I got a Terry catalog in the mail, too. And as soon as i got home I practiced clipping in and out. It works best if I don't think about it and just do it. Maybe I'll get to ride tomorrow.

I love jury duty but never get picked! My job pays me if I'm on jury duty, of course they deduct the .50 a day or whatever it is one gets. Wouldn't want me to make $0.50 more for doing my civic duty. But it's like a paid time off from the daily grind but....I never get picked.

Many are called but few are chosen.

As a government employee I don't get paid, but I collect my regular salary. Last time I was picked, I ended up on a three week murder trial :eek:

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Originally Posted by Trek420

I love jury duty but never get picked! My job pays me if I'm on jury duty, of course they deduct the .50 a day or whatever it is one gets. Wouldn't want me to make $0.50 more for doing my civic duty. But it's like a paid time off from the daily grind but....I never get picked.

Many are called but few are chosen.

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All the years I worked for a big corporation (who reimbursed for jury duty), I never got picked - I've been called 3 times since being self-employed - in each case a trial of more than a week would probably have put me out of business - but then they didn't actually end up assigning me. Oh well - not only do I feel it an important civic duty, but I think I'd find it very interesting... but why could they have asked me when it was less inconvenient??

I've never been called up. Quite relieved about that - no way I could sit still all day without going bonkers, no way I could listen all day full stop. I remember my mum getting called up when I was about 12. I was home sick for a couple of days, so she managed to talk her way out of it once she got there. I think that's the only time she hasn't hated me for bringing a cold home from school. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tlkiwi

I've never been called up. Quite relieved about that - no way I could sit still all day without going bonkers, no way I could listen all day full stop.

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The presiding judge in the trial I was at called recesses about every hour and a half. He realized if we sat for any longer, we lose interest. Smart man..

change of subject - Today I am dying my hair chestnut brown.

I have not been called, but I am not hoping to,either. We have no family nearby, and finding a place for the kiddos would be hard. Of course, I could always bring them all with me to court... DH says that I would be excused just so the judge wouldn't have to put up with our two boys ( ages five and six)

Be careful with that hair color... I made the mistake of foiling my hair right before beginning training. The chlorine in the pool has just ruined it, and now I have to go get it touched up every three weeks or so.I would rather spend that on gear.Plus, a high- mainaintence coif is NOT my style. Crazy things I do to my hair..... it could be long list.

No worries - I've been changing hair color since I was in my twenties..."What is your natural color snap?" Beats the heck outta me!:D I've been using Naturtint - has no ammonia in it. A bit more expensive than the others, but worth it, as the others can really irritate my scalp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoyfullySo

Be careful with that hair color... I made the mistake of foiling my hair right before beginning training. The chlorine in the pool has just ruined it, and now I have to go get it touched up every three weeks or so.I would rather spend that on gear.Plus, a high- mainaintence coif is NOT my style. Crazy things I do to my hair..... it could be long list.

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I use mahogany henna. It's pretty amusing, spending 2 hours with green goop on my hair and stinking to high heaven like moldy hay. But i end up with very "natural" looking color that slowly fades as my hair grows out so I don't end up with blatant roots.

What I end up with is a slightly darker red/brown than the strawberry blond I was as a kid.

I save up for about four months before paying a small fortune for streaks that look like the goldy-blonde of my youth. If it's done well, the mousy re-growth isn't too bad, except for right in the front where there are some grey ones (:eek: - I've still got a few years to go before I hit 30 too...) that suddenly become actually noticeable once they get more than a couple of cm long.

welllllll, scattered grey, letting it just be there, not doing anything about it and always say I would never use dye. When there gets to be more? Who knows. In my wild and misspent youth, bleached it, henna....sucha wild thing.

back to sipping coffee, gettin ready for Monday.

Well, off to the MRI! I have a friend taking me there (so I can have valiumumumum after all) and either she or her husband will take me home. I've got my CD of loud music for them to play to me (if I can choose my own). All the darn paperwork I was s'posed to fill out didn't get mailed to me in time. Gotta do that once I get there.

I am wearing my Ibex boxers and Ibex L/S t-shirt. For good luck, and cuz they're warm and have no metal in them. I get cold when I'm nervous. I'll try to meditate on bike riding and ignore the fact that I'm in some noisy dang tube. Ommmmmmm. Shimmmmmmmmanooooo. Ommmmmmmm.

The big struggle was getting my nose-ring out! OUCH! Dunno how I'm gonna get it back in.

(s.o. isn't answering her phone or returning calls. she just can't cope with difficulty and never has be able to.)

Good luck with the MRI - good you have a friend there (and the valium!)

And I say, if the s.o. can't be there for you when the going get tough, she doesn't deserve the "s" in that label!

K-Good luck with the MRI. I'm glad to hear you'll have a friend there (and - of course, the valiummm), but sad to hear your s.o. hasn't come around.



Hair color - mine is reddish brown with way too many gray hairs in there. The color of my hair hides a lot of the gray, if you don't look too closely. :rolleyes: I used to have it dyed - redder than it is, until they made it cranberry. Yes - cranberry - the same day I was leaving to present a talk at a national meeting. I washed literally about 25-30 times in the next two days - it ended up a really vivid copper. I was done after that. I also had it permed in the early 90's. I have really thick hair - so it was quite large. Not the best look for me.

I'd probably just never call SO again, no matter what the results.

Back from the MRI! Boy, that was fun! Those machines make a huge variety of freaky noises, whodathunkit?

The valium really helped, but I still had to fight down panic a couple times. The music was a great help. I had U2, Cher, Basement Jaxx, Globetrekker, Jimmy Eat World, Pink, SheDaisy, Wynnona, and Brian Eno batting for me in there. It only took 45 minutes so I didn't even use up the whole CD.

I did not enjoy the 2nd set of MRI's with contrast, just because I have thin rolly veins and the tech had to fish around to get the injection going. And the gatalinium-dye was COLD. I got all shakey. So much for being a mature adult...:rolleyes:

My head was locked into a frame, but whoever designed the frame was very smart. The main "lock" hooked onto the headphones so it felt like tight headphones rather than an Iron Maiden. I didn't even have to take off my jeans, because only my head went into the machine. (they did make me empty my pockets) I even got to keep my shoes on.

AND best of all, I got my nose-ring back in with a minimum of swearing!:p

so, here I am, can't drive until 3:00, enjoying the woozy valium effect, and I'm gonna play on the 'puter! Post to every thread! Start new ones in each catagory! (it wasn't me, it was the valium!):D

When do you get the results?

Nanci

bikerz "And I say, if the s.o. can't be there for you when the going get tough, she doesn't deserve the "s" in that label!"

she does, just is an abreviation for sumthin' different, something other than significant? :cool:

glad the MRI went as well as could be and that the nose ring is back in. We'll hope for the best on the results, keep us posted, there's such a lot of support here.

Bikerz, there was an article in todays Hayweird Daily Review about a biker making his way back after a stroke. You'd told me about your neighbor who rides down (and up) your hill on his recumbent? I think it's the same guy, bay area living section.

so we're on hair color at the moment? Mine is naturally red'ish, sort of a rusty brown I think except exposure to sunlight makes it redder. I have dyed it on occasion. The best one was when I had it died with really bright totally non-natural dyes: blood red with streaks of hot lava and yellow :eek: . Got great looks and surprised comments :D , and the color washed out after a couple of weeks so no permanent damage (except to some of my towels and a few pillow cases).

I have to dye my hair, cuz the gray (which I've had for years) just makes me look like I'm bald on each temple and at my forehead.

I've tried to grow it out a few times, and it really does look crappy. My hair is so baby fine and thin, it won't look good gray until it's ALL gray.

MRI results next week when I see the neurologist.

just bleach it all white and then do the Mrs. Sloacham (sp?) look, different color each day or so. :) :D

Well, I'm not thrilled with my color du jour. Loreal Natural somethingsomething - #4N. It's a dark brown. I may have to play with a highlighting kit later today, since I'm playing hooky from work. :eek:

Trek: did you see the "Are you Being Served" reunion thingy on PBS? They interviewed the actress who played Mrs. Sloacom (?) and she talked about the whole hair business. Guess it really fried her hair. She said everyone always asks about the hair.:D

I would have thought she'd wear a wig :eek:

I should be blonde, therefore I am blonde. The fact that I now pay someone to make that true shouldn't make a difference! My dad's side of the family went from black hair to gorgeous white hair in their late 20s. My mom's side went from gorgeous red hair to lovely soft blonde in their 40s. I went from nice blonde to steel grey. NOT FAIR. I colored it myself awhile, but it sort of ran away with me. When I had it done professionally, to get it back under control, my friends commented so much on how great it looked that I took the hint, and now pay someone every 4-5 weeks. It does look good. A lot better than grey, or what I did myself.

Knotted--glad to hear the MRI was not too horrible. That gal is pretty "insignificant" if she can't be there for you when the times are tough. Right now it's a diagnostic test. How bad will it be when something harder happens? I remember when another ex of mine just "couldn't cope" with me crying when my grandma died. I wondered, how will it be when I really need you? Hence...the "ex". Good luck with all that.

We need a "hug" smiley on this board. ((((knottedyet)))) L.

KnottedYet - Glad to hear you made it through the MRI with not too much stres.. Even better on the nose ring - maybe the valium made you not worry about getting it back in so much.

I think I'd ditch the SO. Why do you need more stress in a time of stress. That just doesn't make sense. However - we cannot tell you what to do. But since SO is not answering the phone or returning calls, perhaps the issue is moot. Good luck!

You don't grow your hair out because it's thin - I don't grow mine out because it gets way too big! The last time I had it long, I tried to grow out my bangs. Having children changed my hair from straight to wierdly wavy - in an unflattering way. Mr. fish would make chewbaca sounds at me (in a loving way - really :)) It was actually quite hilarious. Now - it's short and I plan to keep it that way!

I've passed a very important milestone in growing out my once pixie-short hair:

I can get it into a pony-tail/pigtails!! :D

Since temps here got to 100 last month, it's a necessity. I've decided to cover the grey for now. At pixie length, I had it reddish. I wanted some drama before all my true drama :rolleyes: started, so started going with a chestnut. I rather like it, and it matches my eyebrows for a change :p .

Covering the grey must be working, I had an aesthetician guess I was 22 the other day :eek: ! (Let's just say you can add a double-digit number to that to get my true age).

****WARNING!!! WHINE ALERT!!!!!****

s.o. sent me a text message saying she would talk to me later. Tried calling her again this morning (I KNOW she's home) but she didn't answer the phone. I left an angry message on her voice mail.

We've been together for 7 years. Right now we're not living together. This is the way she's always been, she says she can't handle it when other people are hurt or scared or needy because she cares too much.

I'm at my wits end.

Does anyone else know someone like this? How do you handle it?

***END OF WHINE. WE NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED THREAD DRIFT.***