July Jovialities (mini-rave thread)

[teela brown]

The tinnitus that I've had for a week or two seems like it has ended. I was having two varieties: "pulsatile" tinnitus, where I could hear the blood whooshing through the veins in my head/ear, and a general humming tinnitus and fullness in my left ear. I have no idea where it came from, except it might be connected with a weird localized headache I've had for awhile.

Even though the headache is still there, the tinnitus is gone! (Hopefully I haven't jinxed it by posting about it.)

[JackieLikesVariety]

well, that's good, tinnitus has to suck.

I just want to rave about AC - I have it, and I get to decide what it's set at. that wasn't true for last summer so I want to remember to appreciate it.

[picunurse]

Originally Posted by teela brown

The tinnitus that I've had for a week or two seems like it has ended. I was having two varieties: "pulsatile" tinnitus, where I could hear the blood whooshing through the veins in my head/ear, and a general humming tinnitus and fullness in my left ear. I have no idea where it came from, except it might be connected with a weird localized headache I've had for awhile.

Even though the headache is still there, the tinnitus is gone! (Hopefully I haven't jinxed it by posting about it.)

Have you seen your healthcare professional about it? What you describe could be serious.

[teela brown]

The tinnitus came back, and I'm seeing my PCP next week. I saw an urgent care doc this last Saturday, but I got a "huh - dunno" diagnosis. Dr. Google's diagnosis is the same.

Jackie, AC is a modern miracle and I'm thankful whenever I turn ours on.

[picunurse]

Originally Posted by teela brown

The tinnitus came back, and I'm seeing my PCP next week. I saw an urgent care doc this last Saturday, but I got a "huh - dunno" diagnosis. Dr. Google's diagnosis is the same.

Jackie, AC is a modern miracle and I'm thankful whenever I turn ours on.

A few years ago I had tinnitus in just one ear and localized headache. I was referred to neurosurgery. I had an brain MRI to rule out an auditory tumor.

[Senpai]

Cookies are being baked in the apartment for the first time!!! It smells delightful.

[Detroit Hoser]

We have what I believe to be an albino house sparrow living in our yard that is the lightest shade of tan I've ever seen on a bird. At first we wondered if some other sparrow species had gotten mixed up and flown north with the wrong group last spring. I took a pic and posted it to one of the bird subreddits which confirmed that it's a house sparrow, but not a color anyone had ever witnessed or read about. No one told me it was albino, I just made that part up. But if it's got a weird gene for feather color I think I can call it "para-albino" because it's my backyard and I can do whatever I want.

[Dazzling White Diamonds]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

No one told me it was albino, I just made that part up. But if it's got a weird gene for feather color I think I can call it "para-albino" because it's my backyard and I can do whatever I want.

I think the term you're looking for is 'leucistic'. I just looked up 'leucistic house sparrow' - they're quite pretty!

[Detroit Hoser]

Whoa, really! I gotta tell Edna, hold on.


EDIT: OH MY GOD that's it! I've always said you're my smartest and sexiest friend.

It's not as light as some of the ones I googled, but it sure stands out against the rest of them.

[Dazzling White Diamonds]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

EDIT: OH MY GOD that's it! I've always said you're my smartest and sexiest friend.

I'm sitting here grinning from ear to like like a big ol' goofus. I FEEL PRETTY AND NEEDED AND LUUUUURVED. 😊

My hubby has seen leucistic animals around these parts, but I have not. However, I have seen melanistic squirrels (they're black) and I think they're so handsome.

Of course, we see a melanistic animal every day - Calypso (our cat) is black. She is supercalifragilisticsexyalidocious.

Your bird is very pretty, Hoser. Very pretty indeed! 🥰

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Dazzling White Diamonds

... However, I have seen melanistic squirrels (they're black) and I think they're so handsome.
...

I love them, it is an adaptation that is succeeding greatly in NYC, I know I always see them in Central Park. I've seen theories that they get far more handouts than standard colored, gray squirrels and so as rodents are capable of rapidly selecting for successful gene mixes.

The melanistic is a recessive gene apparently. Many of the densest areas of the black squirrels are island populations like Roosevelt Island, City Zoo and Staten Island.

Black Squirrels were 1 in 10,000 in NY, but apparently in Central Park are up to about 1 in 25 (4%).

They do get a lot of handouts.

[picunurse]

I just wanted to give you all an update on my broken husband. He is mending well. He went to see the neurosurgery PA on Thursday. He is ahead of the curve, according to her. He can pop in and out of bed like he's been doing it his whole life. He still needs the walker, but he gets stronger every day. He pain is much reduced. He should be off the opioids by Wednesday. He's down to one a day.

She still says at least 4 weeks off work. So far we're okay, financially, with the Go Fund Me help. Thank everyone who thought of us, whether you donated or not. You kind thoughts and words do help.

[Detroit Hoser]

I'm so happy he's doing well and you've got a moment to catch your breath (even though in reality, you're exhausted.) Maybe he will start to actually feel well enough now to stop being an abusive man-child, because you sure as heck deserve to be treated with respect and love.

[kayaker]

My MIL spent the weekend at our house. We took her out last night to see a band (John Gresh's Gris Gris, a New Orleans band). I suggested she try a vodka and cranberry and she loved it. She got pretty wasted and had a fantastic time.

We see the band pretty often, so we knew many of the people in attendance. Eight friends joined us at our table and made MIL feel at home. At one point she was hungry. She gave me her credit card and asked me to order a bunch of appetizers for the table to share. She is now one of the gang.

[JackieLikesVariety]

about an hour ago was the third time I've seen a baby quail in the last 3 days.

I feel lucky, so I'm going to buy a lottery ticket.

[Dazzling White Diamonds]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

I love them, it is an adaptation that is succeeding greatly in NYC, I know I always see them in Central Park.

That is too cool!

Originally Posted by picunurse

I just wanted to give you all an update on my broken husband. He is mending well.

Very glad to hear it. I hope things continue to improve for you both.

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

about an hour ago was the third time I've seen a baby quail in the last 3 days.

I feel lucky, so I'm going to buy a lottery ticket.

Squeee baby quail! So adorable. ❤

[Solfy]

I picked up Eldest and her S.O. from the airport this morning. They took the red eye back from L.A. where SO is from. They had a nice trip.
I'm glad I've raised a kid who is capable of going out into the world and having adventures.

[Kat]

I am currently cooking my first corn of the season. In about 30 minutes, I will have nummy buttered corn on the cob.

[Detroit Hoser]

Thirty minutes? Seems long for corn.

[kayaker]

8-10 minutes in boiling water. Maybe 20 minutes on the grill unshucked and soaked.

[Solfy]

If it's like my stove, 20min to get the corn pot water boiling and 10 to cook it.
(the corn pot is big, the electric stove is slow)

[Dr. Winston O'Boogie]

Originally Posted by kayaker

8-10 minutes in boiling water. Maybe 20 minutes on the grill unshucked and soaked.

Unshucked? Gotta leave the husks on to keep the kernels from burning. Plus, if you soak them in water, it steams the corn. Yeah, you remove the outer ones that are dried out anyway.

ANOTHER WAY OF COOKING - shuck the corn, put butter and salt, wrap in cellophane and microwave. Steams in its own juices (well, and the butter). Tastes better than boiling.

[Rebo]

OR -

Leave the husk on. Put them in the microwave on high for 3 minutes per ear. When done, cut off the stem end then pull off the husks from the tassel end and all the corn silk comes right off! Like magic. Watch for steam, though.

[Kat]

I make it in the oven, cuz I ain't got no grill.

30 minutes at 350 because the internet told me so (if you can't trust a website called Southern Living about corn on the cob, who can you trust?).

With the husk on because I ain't no savage.

[Jaglavak]

You've got a Fiery Sword O' Death, you don't need a grill.

[C2H5OH]

Peel off most of the husks. Leave the last layer. If you can see the kernels thru 'em, you're on the last layer. Use scissors to cut off the ends of the tassels. Put 'em in the microwave, and use 'sensor cook', setting 9 (Fresh Vegetables). As soon as it beeps, peel off the rest of the husk, and almost all of the tassel comes off with it. It takes only seconds to pull off the rest of the tassels. Done. Add butter, and eat.

There are probably almost as many ways to cook it, as there are people who eat it. And all of them are good...

[Jaglavak]

With the possible exception of hominy grits.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

...hominy grits.

That ain't on the cob anymore. Doesn't count.

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by Kat

I ain't got no grill.

I fire up our grill almost every night, even if it's just to grill some peaches for dessert. I'd be so sad without a grill.

[Solfy]

Rave the first: Mom's toe-ectomy went well yesterday. She had to be in Town for prep at 7:30 a.m. and didn't get home until well after 9:00, so that was a long day for her and Dad. Now we wait for the results of the sentinel node biopsy, so prayers* continue. I baked her favorite pie (peach) last night because I had anxious energy and that seemed like a good use for it (plus bonus pie for us). Will drop it off tonight and return with zucchini (Dad's garden is prolific) and not visit so she can rest.

Rave the second: MD has an old (older than me, if we looked up the serial number correctly) flute that she uses for marching season. We sent it out to be overhauled last year and it was good, but when she picked it up this summer it gave her grief. Turns out the bottom two right hand keys were leaky. I suspect they were juuuuust thick enough after repadding and shrunk/dried out over the winter. I happened to have a flute repair kit lying around (from when the bugs ate a pad on her good flute) and was able to re-shim and reseat the offending pads and now it's back in action. Minor instrument repair capabilities are a handy thing to have.


*My relationship with prayer is complicated. My rational brain doesn't believe for a minute that God or anyone else will deliver good results because I asked. Or because I asked our parish priest for prayers for good measure. I also don't believe that bad things will happen if I fail to pray. Or failed to get a sufficient number of other people to pray. ("If this post gets 1000 likes, the cancer will be localized!")

What it does do is make me feel better. It temporarily stops my mind from spinning. Like baking pie. Or like when I kept getting all worked up about my own mortality because my brain decided it was something I needed to "fix" right then and there and I was able to shut my brain up by telling it I would live to 100 and that would be sufficient. And reaching out to others with prayer requests is a socially acceptable way of saying, "Here is a thing I am worried about. Please say something that shows that you have empathy."

TLDR: Prayer is a sugar pill, but sugar is tasty and good in moderation.

[Rebo]

Solfy, you put into words the way I also feel about prayer. It's calming. Sort of like "give it to God." If I can't actually DO anything about something besides pray, it helps a little.

I'm glad things are calm enough to make peach pie! Maybe I should make some...

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Solfy

TLDR: Prayer is a sugar pill, but sugar is tasty and good in moderation.

Sugar pills are AKA 'Placebo'. They get good results with placebo. They even tell patients that they're being given a 'very powerful placebo', and it works (if the patient doesn't know what 'placebo' means*). That's why medical scientists compare proposed medicines with placebo, to see if the proposed stuff actually works. Prayer is a placebo. It works for some people, and some situations. It's always better than nothing at all. It never gets worse than useless...

*ETA: When I was getting a biopsy done, prior to my cancer diagnosis, the pathologist looking in the microscope, while I was still on the table, said "All I see is necrotic tissue." Umm, Dude, some of us know what 'necrotic' means. Don't say the quiet part out loud, when you might be delivering a death sentence, Mmmkay?

[Solfy]

My point exactly, but it IS worse than useless when people use placebos exclusively (e.g. thoughts and prayers after mass shootings) where more potent medication (e.g. substantive change) is needed.

Husband's grandfather swore keeping a bar of soap tucked into the bed would ward off leg cramps. It hurt nothing, he believed it completely and swore by its efficacy, and there was nothing more effective we could do. Totally appropriate.

[wring]

Baby brother and his wife took me out to dinner last night (they stopped at 'the home' first to view in person Enzo's park bench and the ever growing gnome display). He was in Michigan for a 50th reunion of his little league team who 50 years ago went to the Little League World Series. very cool.

[Senpai]

Wring, that sounds like it was a good time! How cool is that, by the way, a 50th reunion of a little league team!!

I had a nice past couple of days! I have been having lots of pain flareups this past week, but I got myself out there and saw my best friend for the first time as a permanent resident in Michigan again!!! She also had been holding a package for me for months, so I finally got that and was excited about the contents in it (a card game I had backed on Kickstarter two years ago!)

Today I had two other friends over! A childhood friend, and his younger brother who is friends with my own brother. We hung out, had pizza, it was a great time! Despite my soreness, I was glad that it didn't get in the way too much, and I played my new game with my friend and he absolutely loved it! It seemed to be pretty intuitive to him, which made me smile. I always get nervous that teaching someone a game I like will go over their heads, but he was on it! It was so much fun. I'm so glad I'm back in Michigan.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Senpai

I played my new game with my friend and he absolutely loved it! It seemed to be pretty intuitive to him, which made me smile. I always get nervous that teaching someone a game I like will go over their heads, but he was on it! It was so much fun. I'm so glad I'm back in Michigan.

so glad you are happily home, Senpai!

what game was it?

[Detroit Hoser]

Usually "card game + Michigan = Euchre," but Euchre needs no kickstarter. Welcome back, Senpai. What part of the state, back to the metro area?

[Senpai]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

so glad you are happily home, Senpai!

what game was it?

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Usually "card game + Michigan = Euchre," but Euchre needs no kickstarter. Welcome back, Senpai. What part of the state, back to the metro area?

Hahaha, I need to learn how to play Euchre still! I asked millions of times to learn it when I was a little pre-teen, but the adults swore I wouldn't get it. I still stand by the fact that I would've gotten it. I pick up games very quickly, especially card games. I know quite a lot of them, and have never had much of a problem!

The game I actually got is a big massive expansion to one I'd owned and loved for a few years now. It's a card game based on a video game that I hold in highest regards! The Binding of Isaac: Four Souls is what it's called. None of you will likely have the faintest idea of what it is, or it's source material, but it's a load of fun. My dad loves playing the card game with me, too. I can't wait to show off the expansion I got to him next time I see him.

[Wolf Larsen]

So we have a kitchen trash can that we got at Costco that we really like a lot. But the rubber feet fall out if you move it. And yesterday as I moved it to clean around it, they fell out for the nth time and I got annoyed. And was wondering what to use to stick them in, since gluing rubber to plastic isn't that easy. And then as I rooted around for the box of glues, I found the Shoe Goo. And the heavens parted and an angelic choir did a four part harmony "aaaaaaahhhhh".

So I glued the feet on with a small dab on each. And today, they seem to be stuck on pretty good. Sometimes the smallest wins are the best.

[FairyChatMom]

My good deed for the day - I weeded the overgrown beds in front of my daughter's school. I offered to do any cleaning or sorting she needed done, but she asked me to weed, so I did. Once the weather is cooler, I'll plant some stuff in the beds - there's not much there now - some ratty azaleas and a few day lilies. I've got tons of hosta and liriope in my yard that I can transplant and not even miss, so maybe in late Sept??

Unrelated to good deed - FCD and I are booked on a cruise to Antarctica. Well, past Antarctica but not stepping foot on the continent. Which is fine. We'll fly to Santiago Chile, board the ship, make 2 stops at the southern tip of South America, cruise around the glaciers in Antarctica, then stop in Falklands and Montevideo before ending up in Buenos Aires and catching a plane home. Leaving here Jan 19, and I'll spend my 70th b-day at sea! WOOHOO!!!!

[Senpai]

I love weeding, there's something therapeutic to it. And you're outside!!

Dang, well happy birthday to YOU, FCM! That'll be a nice way to celebrate it!

[The Mighty Quinn]

Not sure this really belongs here, but it made me laugh, so I guess it's a rave.

Sports headline of the day;

"Soccer club apologizes for making Nazi references in dispute over offsides call".

Can't find the link now...basically, they (Mexican club Atlas FC) accused fans of the other team bitching about the call on social media of using Goebbel's "big lie" technique. I predict the next update will be that they are firing their PR guy and hiring some guy named Godwin to replace him...

[The Mighty Quinn]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

I love them, it is an adaptation that is succeeding greatly in NYC, I know I always see them in Central Park. I've seen theories that they get far more handouts than standard colored, gray squirrels and so as rodents are capable of rapidly selecting for successful gene mixes.

The melanistic is a recessive gene apparently. Many of the densest areas of the black squirrels are island populations like Roosevelt Island, City Zoo and Staten Island.

Black Squirrels were 1 in 10,000 in NY, but apparently in Central Park are up to about 1 in 25 (4%).

They do get a lot of handouts.

An odd thing...When I moved into my neighborhood about 15 years ago, black squirrels were a very common sight, enough that they were a point of neighborhood pride. But now it's probably been a few years since I've spotted one, the grays have reclaimed the territory.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by The Mighty Quinn

An odd thing...When I moved into my neighborhood about 15 years ago, black squirrels were a very common sight, enough that they were a point of neighborhood pride. But now it's probably been a few years since I've spotted one, the grays have reclaimed the territory.

It is a recessive gene and wild squirrels don't live long. A few years if I remember right. So gene selection and a clever predator that found it easier to hunt black squirrels is all it would take.

[Wolf Larsen]

So I just noticed something I like about the new neighborhood.

There's no dog poo on the lawn. I was out front weeding and realized I'd never seen any dog poo there. So I guess the local dog owners are good about not letting the dog just go on somebody's lawn and walking off. This is a nice change from the old neighborhood where multiple people let the dogs wander too much.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

So I just noticed something I like about the new neighborhood.

There's no dog poo on the lawn. I was out front weeding and realized I'd never seen any dog poo there. So I guess the local dog owners are good about not letting the dog just go on somebody's lawn and walking off. This is a nice change from the old neighborhood where multiple people let the dogs wander too much.

Wow, dog poo is very rare around here and this is a dog town. I thought people learned how to pick up after their canine friends. Sad there are still pockets of assholes that don't.

[Jaglavak]

There's a rat pack of gradeschool kids who play jungleball at a hoop across the street. The other day I mentioned that their moves weren't bad, but they needed to work on their trash talk.

Well, damn if the patter hasn't improved quite a bit since then. And they say kids these days don't listen.

[Detroit Hoser]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

Wow, dog poo is very rare around here and this is a dog town. I thought people learned how to pick up after their canine friends. Sad there are still pockets of assholes that don't.

You guys have never met Pam, I see...

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

You guys have never met Pam, I see...

Pam is really something else isn't she?

[Dragonlady]

The problem is that we aren't sure exactly WHAT.