Yank's Free Range Turkey Trot Warming House and Bondage Barn

[midwestyankee]

Agreed. As much fun reading the answers as it is some of the questions.

Absolutely. I think the questions are sometimes pretty revealing.

 

[midwestyankee]

I only feel comfortable doing it in this forum, though.

I get that.

 

[midwestyankee]

So...who's interested in seeing the new Borat movie?

 

[twister947]

Not I......

 

[wicked woman]

Yank, hope you don't mind the hijack but I feel comfortable posting here.

**********************************​

I posted this 16 years ago and ran across it today. It is a reminder that I needed. A bit of a kick in the ass if you will. On the oft chance that someone else could use the reminder, I thought I'd repost it here.

**********************************​

A Story to Live By ~ by Ann Wells
(orig. published in the L.A.Times)


My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie."

He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician.

His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion.
Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savour, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event - such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends'.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing - I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with - someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write-one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.

Every day,
every minute,
every breath
truly is...
A GIFT.

So, remember to
Dance like nobody's watching, and
Love like it's never going to hurt.

 

[gracie920101]

^^^^^^

 

[phil1955]

Great advice and although I am 65 already, I certainly will try to make good use of it.

 

[midwestyankee]

I’m not even interested in the old Borat movies.

I had not seen anything Borat so when the news came out about Rudy's appearance in the new one I decided to give the first one a try for some context. It was pretty puerile but I think that Cohen has a real knack for getting people to reveal things about themselves that they might think should stay hidden. For that I was impressed but it’s certainly true that the surface of Borat is kind of gross.

 

[midwestyankee]

Yank, hope you don't mind the hijack but I feel comfortable posting here.

**********************************​

I posted this 16 years ago and ran across it today. It is a reminder that I needed. A bit of a kick in the ass if you will. On the oft chance that someone else could use the reminder, I thought I'd repost it here.

**********************************​

What hijack? This is good stuff, my friend.

 

[twister947]

My other just left; she's a good cook, but after watching her at work in my kitchen, I have a better understanding why she never has sharp knives in her kitchen. Just an idle observation...

 

[gracie920101]

My other just left; she's a good cook, but after watching her at work in my kitchen, I have a better understanding why she never has sharp knives in her kitchen. Just an idle observation...

How many bandaids did you have to use?

 

[midwestyankee]

How many bandaids did you have to use?

I had the same reaction. I bet nobody is getting 36 slices out of a tomato in that kitchen.

 

[twister947]

How many bandaids did you have to use?

I was actually referring to her misuse of knives...cutting things on plates, skillets, etc. Gotta respect your tools...

 

[twister947]

I had the same reaction. I bet nobody is getting 36 slices out of a tomato in that kitchen.

Knife porn.

 

[midwestyankee]

I’m intrigued.

Try this short demonstration.

 

[midwestyankee]

God. Damn.

A truly sharp tool is a wondrous thing.

 

[gracie920101]

Try this short demonstration.

Damn down another rabbit hole! I ended up watching two guys take a blue fin tuna apart and I don't even like fish!

 

[ultramarineblue]

A truly sharp tool is a wondrous thing.

How do you recommend sharpening knives and then maintaining the sharpness?

 

[midwestyankee]

How do you recommend sharpening knives and then maintaining the sharpness?

I see two reliable options here.

1. Buy a Tormek sharpening system with their proprietary knife-holding jig. Learn how to use it on a cheap knife from a yard sale. Cost: about $700 US
   
2. Take your knives to a good kitchen supplies store and ask if they sharpen knives. If not, can they recommend someone who sharpens for local restaurants. Follow their recommendations. Cost: $5 to $10 US per blade. Get this done two to three times per year.

Either way, buy a good honing rod and use it regularly.

 

[midwestyankee]

When I was a kid we used to have a knife sharpener drive through the neighborhood once a month. We always confused him for the ice cream man, because he had a bell.

There was a roving knife sharpener in my community until only a few years ago. I have seen a knife sharpening service at a farmers market recently, which might be another option for part of the year.

 

[gracie920101]

There was a roving knife sharpener in my community until only a few years ago. I have seen a knife sharpening service at a farmers market recently, which might be another option for part of the year.

I can say that I've never had any knives professionally sharpen and J would most likely have a little heart failure if I suggested it. Besides, after he does them, I usually cut myself a couple of times at least so it would probably be a bloodbath if i had them all sharpened at once.

But I do appreciate not working so hard and not being frustrated when my knives are sharp.

 

[cookiecat]

One of the best gifts Mr. cookie gave me was a set of super sharp knives. Wusthof.

 

[midwestyankee]

One of the best gifts Mr. cookie gave me was a set of super sharp knives. Wusthof.

I have some Wusthof knives and I love them. Take care of them and they will serve you well for decades.

 

[midwestyankee]

I can say that I've never had any knives professionally sharpen and J would most likely have a little heart failure if I suggested it. Besides, after he does them, I usually cut myself a couple of times at least so it would probably be a bloodbath if i had them all sharpened at once.

But I do appreciate not working so hard and not being frustrated when my knives are sharp.

What does he use for sharpening?

 

[twister947]

I don't try for razor sharp...I'm not shaving with kitchen knives. I settle for sharp enough to do what needs doing, and then take care of the edge. No plates, bones, etc. Tomatoes and onions won't dull a knife.