The Frying Pan

6:09 AM

@jolenealaska that sucks. Do you know what the problem with the car might be? Could it be a cheap fix?

Yeah, CN thinks he knows, and it seems right. The thingamerbobs are stripped at the connections to the battery. He's says he is going to take it to a shop to have that and an issue with the blower fixed on PFD day.

Oct 2

In the meantime, I have a partial solution.

The VA can get me to the appointments as they are currently scheduled, but not back. They're too late in the day.

On Wednesday, they're taking me. If I just accept that it's going to take a while, I can make it to the bus stop to get home.

I'll try on Wednesday to adjust the times of my appointments so the VA can take me both ways. I talked to them earlier after my little rant, and they said they will, at least most of the time.

Actual VA appointments have priority over non-VA but approved by the VA appts.

I am also applying for eligibility for a program run by the state to supplement bus service for people who have issues taking the normal bus. I may or may not be handicapped enough, I don't know.

7:11 AM

Well, that's a pita. But at least you can get to your pt.

Another reason to move here! You'd get a free taxi to your treatment. In fact, you'd get a free car with hand controls, or if you had a carer, they would get a car.

7:33 AM

Hello @Jolenealaska, how are you? Still feeling down?

@rumtscho Nope, not really, just tired. I think I'm going take a zonk-out pill tonight in just a bit, and hopefully wake up to a whole new day.

@ElendilTheTall It would be kind of cheesy to live my whole productive working life here, then move there and get health care! Besides, wouldn't I have to be a citizen?

@Jolenealaska ah yes, stress can be very tiring. But glad to hear it's getting better.

8:01 AM

@Jolenealaska pssh, technicalities

:)

@ElendilTheTall It's not certain it would be that much better

naturally, you should have moved over here years ago, gained citizenship, paid a little tax, then live the life of Reilly on benefits

Last spring I read an autobiographic book by someone with whom it happened this way

She was an American, then moved to London. Within a year, she got diagnosed with MS.

She has lots of bad things to say about it. Mainly that she had to wait for so long and there was no way to circumvent it.

she could have circumvented it by paying

there's still a private healthcare system

8:06 AM

Before she was diagnosed for certain, she had to exist in that ugly limbo of doubting but not knowing, but she would only get appointments 3 to 6 months apart.

Just this very minute, I may have made some progress. I have completed my application for the Anchorides program. I've got it all emailed, they'll have it in the morning. If they haven't officially approved or disapproved within 21 days, I can use it until they do. Completing this application has been on my to-do list for like a year.

@ElendilTheTall Is there? The way she described it, it didn't seem to exist

evidently she didn't do her research

not that it needs much

She wrote how she considered going back to the US, because there she would have to pay astronomic sums, but at least would get the new treatments right away and not after a year of waiting time

you can pay monthly for medical insurance just like anywhere else, and go to private hospital

most doctors work for both the NHS and private concerns

8:08 AM

That limbo is hellish. Even worse is the period just before, when since no-one can figure out the weirdness, you're probably just making it up.

@Jolenealaska What is the anchorides? A assistance-with-rides program?

bupa.co.uk

you can even pay as you go with these guys ^

Yep, it's the bus to the door program for people who can't take the regular bus.

Germany has this dual system too, you are allowed to pay privately. I remember hearing somewhere that this is rather unusual in Europe.

@Jolenealaska I'm bad at this, because I am giving the "you're probably making this up, this is nothing serious" treatment to myself.

It's weird, the VA is getting a lot of bad press these days, but I think I'm getting really top-notch care. It's one of the reasons I stay, I suspect that my VA is particularly good.

8:12 AM

I tend to make myself try to go on as if there's nothing when I'm getting sick.

And to not go to the doctor for a long time, because my symptoms seem too insignificant to bother anyone.

@rumtscho that is silly

@ElendilTheTall I know. I'm trying to change this. But as with all ingrained bad habits, it's hard.

<sprays rumtscho with water bottle> Aversion therapy time!

I tend to do that too. It's one thing to do that 'cause you've hurt your ankle. It's another thing entirely if you're potentially growing brain lesions.

Another benefit of the NHS - you don't have to worry about paying, and you also have the ability to say 'Fuck it! I pay my taxes, I'm getting my money's worth!'

8:15 AM

I actually had a MS scare once, going through the first step of the limbo

having said that, the doctor was not happy when I went in last week with a splinter

ha! :)

After a somewhat hard multi-day hike, my big toes went numb. At first I thought this is part of my tired feet.

But then it stayed this way for weeks.

I finally went to the doctor 8-9 weeks later. He sent me to a neurologist.

The neurologist did a standard exam plus 2 different MS specific tests.

I was almost a bit embarrassed that he is taking it so seriously.

@rumtscho yeah, it's only your health after all :/

doofus

Myself, I managed not to worry much, telling myself that this is way too unspecific.

8:17 AM

if there's anything you should take seriously and be double-sure of, it's your health

Luckily, it turned to be just one of these weird things nobody can explain.

I'm going to get bawled out because I'm dragging my feet to deal with my ping-ponging blood pressure. I think I know what the issue is. I don't want to hear what my doctor is likely to say, that I need to stop the med that is making my life better because it's also playing hell with my blood pressure. So, I'm going to research and experiment with timing, and splitting up my doses and stuff, before I actually go in.

ಠ_ಠ

I want to have come come a potential solution in compromise, before I present her with the problem.

The drug that I suspect is making my blood pressure skyrocket, is the same one that significantly improved my quality of life the day I started taking it.

But it does nothing to slow the progress of MS or to enhance expected longevity. I have had the same primary care doctor for a long time. To her, that would make the drug optional.

Ah yes, all these side effects :( It's a very good thing to do your research, doctors never take such things as seriously as the patient. They just prescribe stuff.

8:26 AM

surely there must be a drug that lowers your blood pressure?

that you could take alongside?

Well, high blood pressure will actually decrease your expected longevity a bit. Also decrease your quality of life in the long term.

And I'm not going into it completely blind. I do have some rudimentary medical knowledge and experience. I'll take care not to stroke out in the meantime.

I have the feeling that many people seem to not care about it much - my grandma even denied taking her bloodpressure lowering drugs, because she didn't have as much energy with them. She was actually preferring the side effects of her disease.

I do take lisinopril, for various reasons the best BP option currently widely available, IF it works. In the face of the other drug, it's not doing enough.

medication is a double edged sword

8:31 AM

I think it's going to be a matter of timing, if I can get the timing of taking the pills optimized, I bet I can get the best of both worlds. That requires taking my BP every hour or more over several days. Total PIA for the doc, not so much for me.

my dad had heart problems, so had to take diuretics to remove excess fluid from his lungs. Those buggered up his kidneys.

When he very luckily got a heart transplant, his kidneys couldn't take the strain, and that's pretty much what killed him

Yep...all drugs have side effects. It's a matter of priorities.

Damn. How long did he have with the new heart? Did he get any chance to enjoy it?

I wonder what is the mechanism of action of the primary drug that it has such a strong heart effect

@Jolenealaska no, he never woke up from the op

@ElendilTheTall that's a terrible story. Sorry for your father.

8:35 AM

he was grateful for the chance

i miss him very much

Damn...waste of the heart on top of losing your dad. How sad.

The drug that is playing with my blood pressure is almost a modified, less abuse potential amphetamine. Not a stretch that it would cause my blood pressure to go up.

what you need is a valve

:)

like a pressure cooker

in fact, do you have a pressure cooker lying around?

There ya go!

ten minutes with a knife, some duct tape and some alcohol rub and you're golden!

@ElendilTheTall no joke, I once watched a TED talk about an engineer who made his own heart orthetic

He has a genetic disorder where your connective tissue is way too weak, easily torn up

Most of the people with it can live normal lifes without noticing much symptoms beyond being able to bend their fingers back to their wrists

8:39 AM

There was that woman in Antarctica that did her own mastectomy.

But then, when they're middle aged, their aorta bursts, from their normal blood pressure

So the guy spent a few years learning anatomy and fooling with a CAD software and a 3-d printer

That seems like a thing that should be surgically dealt with way before the big boom.

and at some point, he had designed a kind of plastic sleeve which can be inserted around the aorta

Cool.

I think it's already being clinically used.

ted.com/talks/tal_golesworthy_how_i_repaired_my_own_heart

8:42 AM

I always liked this story about Roald Dahl: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade-Dahl-Till_valve

if it doesn't work, well damn, make something that does

I need to try to sleep. I'll see both of you later, goodnight, and thanks for letting me rant. I needed it.

no problem

we are your valve in that regard :D

:)

don't worry, be happy, and sleep well

dooo doo do do do, do dee do dee do dee doooo

9:06 AM

Wow, cool

My new phone just got delivered

and the delivery guy greeted me in Bulgarian. It totally surprised me. But what surprised me more was how happy it made me. I don't know why, it somehow lifted my mood. Strange how the little things can make you happy, when you expect it to be the things like getting a new phone.

and good night Jolene. (No ping in case you're already falling asleep).

Cerberus

11:16 AM

@rumtscho Yay!

So he recognised the Bulgarity in your name?

What phone did you buy?

12:19 PM

@Jolenealaska hello hon

just got here myself, evidently you sensed my presence

Hi, I couldn't sleep...

doh

I have been to and returned from the dentist

my face is just returning to its normal youthful springiness

I didn't take a knock out pill. I thought I was tired enough I wouldn't need it.

overtired

That has got to feel good to have that over!

Dentists are more fun in the rear view mirror.

Yep...too tired to sleep is a real thing.

12:22 PM

@Jolenealaska absolutely. there's tired, and there's sleepy

@Jolenealaska yes indeed. a previous filling had broken, hence the pain. Then when he drilled that out he discovered decay between that tooth and the next one

so two fillings

I must floss more

and cut out the sweets and sugar in general

Ugh.

i know a guy who had such bad toothache once that he told the dentist to just pull the lot, and give him dentures

it's tempting!

or perhaps have titanium crowns

A mouthful of crowns?? No way! Do you know how those are done??

yup!

if I could afford them I could afford general anaesthetic

It is extraordinarily unpleasant!

12:28 PM

knock me out until they're done

Ah, that would be the way to do it...and a medically induced coma for 2 days!

now you're talking

You're reminding me that I really need to get my teeth cleaned...Holy crap, dozens of sirens outside! I mean dozens!

they've finally caught up you

Cops, not firetrucks or ambulances...

12:32 PM

well, time to load the ol' .50 cal I expect

nice knowin' ya

hee!

'keep the change ya filthy animals!'

Shit! Someone's in trouble!

I think I'll just stay inside with the blinds shut and read about it tomorrow.

probably a cat stuck up a tree

I take it you heard about the Alaskan news woman who quit on air?

That was here? I saw a "breaking news" headline in my email, but I didn't know it was here!

Do you know who?

12:38 PM

Charlo Greene

HA!!

Channel 11!

OMG!!

:)

That actually will probably help the campaign, bless her heart.

I think it will pass, but it's right on the margin.

the tide is turning

we apologize for that?!?! Heehee, no need, it made my week!

12:44 PM

i've never smoked it (or indeed anything) but it doesn't seem any worse than alcohol

The land of the free has more people in jail per capita than any other country. Petty drug crime incarcerations cascade into ruined lives. To do that over pot is just obscene. Compared to alcohol, it's bubble gum.

quite

Of course it's not harmless, but it's a whole lot closer to harmless than the stupid laws.

2

when is the vote?

I have smoked it, not in a long time, but I have, and I'm sure I will again. Over that, doctors say, "meh, I'm more concerned about your sodium intake." Some doctors, of course, advocate pot for MS. So far, I haven't seen any real evidence. It could be that it helps symptoms that I don't experience. Nov 4.

12:54 PM

well, we shall see

i don't know what the law is here

i don't think they're too bad, if you're caught with an amount for personal use you might just get a slap on the wrist

I will be so glad that it's over. The lower 48 has pumped huge money into the ads for the senate campaign. I'm so sick of the damn smear commercials that I don't wanna vote for either one of them.

@TomW hello

Folks, I've got about half a kilo of gin-soaked blackberry pomace left over from making blackberry liqueur. It's been pressed hard enough to get the juice out but not hard enough to pulp the fruit so it's still quite wet. What, if anything, can I do with it? It'd be a shame to throw it away

@ElendilTheTall sup

hmmmm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

it would probably make good fertiliser

Grown-up smoothies.

12:57 PM

it's about 50% seeds

hmmm

stew it, sieve it, add sugar and make a boozy blackcurrant coulis?

nice with a slice of apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Could work. There's still enough mush to go through the sieve

I'll try that, tx

That was kind of where I was headed too.

@Jolenealaska yeah yeah

get your own ideas

:P

Now for some OT: What do I get my niece for her first birthday?

although fruit soaked in gin would keep her quiet ;)

1:01 PM

Tall would be the expert there.

Books!

Bubble bath

if she's anything like my daughter, as much cheap plastic jewellery as her spine will support

That remonds me!

brb

Pole dancing Barbie is real, and there's one for playing Stripper in real life too.

i find that hard to believe

I looked into it a bit because I didn't believe it either.

and....

1:11 PM

It's not something you find in the toy section.

But it's real. It's an adult novelty item.

well that's... weird

The IRL one is stranger, because the box does suggest that it's for young girls. That one I couldn't find any info on. But some of the toys on the video, I actually remember.

Lawn darts and Grow Up Skipper were known when I was that age. Twist Skipper's arms and she grew boobs! I wish I could do that! :)

jeez, really?

puberty barbie?

what is the world coming to?

Yep! She had ads on TV and everything. I'm less bothered by that than another Barbie I can actually remember. She talked. One of her lines was, "Math is hard!"

well, it is

sounds like Philosophy Barbie to me

1:21 PM

A Barbie that quotes musings on Cartesian Rationalism would be an instant hit, I'm sure

"I think, therefore I am! <girlish giggle>"

Associate Professor barbie with tweed jacket and binder of lecture notes

That makes me think of a funny memory.

Take that, patrilinear workplace!

"I got tenure!"

1:23 PM

HA! :)

For that matter, give her a chefs hat!

You know what, why shouldn't that be a thing?

Can we make her a brunette, with very fit, but realistic proportions?

@Jolenealaska Jolene Barbie?

can she have an M16?

and a skillet

heehee :)

brb

a bit of casual e-stalking tells me that you are a fellow Angle, @TomW

2:32 PM

I'm back...still here @ElendilTheTall?

here sweet cheeks

:)

That's funny, Sweet Cheeks is one of mine too :)

somehow we both know that we each possess them

I've got a pleasant thought. If my application for AnchorRides is approved (and the more I think about it, the more I think it will be - more on that in a sec) That means, even if the car is running, I can just choose to take the bus so I don't have to dig out my car in -20 weather.

that is pleasant

and think of the gas and insurance money you'll save

2:39 PM

I have to pay insurance anyway. If I EVER drive, I have to be insured. It's the law, but more importantly, it's a thing with me. Also, if you don't have insurance in your name for like 6 months, go to get it again, it's live 5X as expensive.

But the gas, that's real, especially here in winter. You just have to let the car warm up...for comfort and for vision. More important even than the gas...think of all that CO2 I won't need to spit out.

They'll just pick me up and drop me off where I'm going. I can let go of the libertarian heebie-jeebies about it. It is $3.50 a trip, so it's not like it's charity.

@ElendilTheTall I am

@TomW well done!

I suspect that your account of your own achievements is somewhat embellished.

On the application thing, I think the telephone people are trained to kind of discourage new applicants. Like making it seem harder than it is. I've seen that before, like people that really do need it will still apply, borderline cases might choose to just say screw it.

@TomW Say it isn't so!

What are they going to do?? Say, well of course you can't walk to the bus stop - Not With THAT Attitude!?

2:56 PM

@TomW what?!

that is slander, sir, slander!

@Jolenealaska the American hard sell

I smell a lawsuit.

@Jolenealaska we don't do that here

instead, I demand satisfaction

I will meet Tom on Hampstead Heath, and we will fight it out like gentlemen

I just got this in my email. Does this sound good to you at all?

epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/…

yes, purely because of the word 'freekeh'

@ElendilTheTall have at you, Sir!

3:01 PM

i have no idea what freekeh is, and walnuts can go and die, but otherwise, yes, sounds tasty

@TomW blackguard! knave!

Which I still haven't Googled, but I got the impression from the review that it's some kind of grain.

@Jolenealaska well duh

it is roasted green wheat, apparently

What I'm pondering is "garlic, lemon juice, oil, tahini, mint, maple syrup"

sounds really good actually

Those are flavors that I've never considered mixing

3:03 PM

it would be nice with some shawarma chicken and salad in a pita

Of course I'm not going to find freekeh in Anchorage, but the rest of it's doable. The word freekah is kind of funny to me, because before I was JoleneAlaska, I was Freeinak.

(AK = Alaska)

It looks like a typo.

Free Ina K.!

She didn't do nothin' wrong!

That feller had it comin'!

@Jolenealaska amazon.com/Freekeh-Foods-Original-8-Ounce/dp/B008OUJGV2/…

What really makes me laugh about that is that I've never told you about Ina. That's a book right there! I can't remember her last name, so maybe it started with a K!

Well, I need to order that card reader anyway...They've upped the minimum for free shipping to $35. Shoot. It was $25 last time I looked.

smh.com.au/entertainment/music/…

Ina was the bartender when I first stepped into the lodge that I ended up running.

You think I've got stories?? Ha...she makes my history look like a snooze fest.

That looks great! :)

Ina spent the 70s with the Hell's Angels.

I hope I can the series from Amazon, don't have cable.

I've only seen him do comedy once, and it was fabulous!

Have you seen him in Jeffrey?

3:21 PM

no, I don't think so

did you see his guest appearance in Extras?

Nope

O.o

I don't know of Extras.

Got it:

3:26 PM

Ricky Gervais' second series

he had some unbelievable guest stars

Samuel L Jackson

Ben Stiller

David Bowie

He is sooo brilliant :)

Kate Winslet (drool)

Have you seen Brent Spiner imitate Patrick? Yes, Kate is lovely.

yes, he does a great job

Pretty damn funny!

3:34 PM

my teenage crushes

I like seeing that shots like that. They're not 21.

hell, my 30 something crushes

I, ahem, have a thing for older women

That's a pretty amazing bra on Gillian. One more more millimeter, and those suckers would be pointing up!

heh

could be photoshop

It's gotta be, that thing would be borderline painful!

I'm pondering a cooking thing I want to do for main, maybe.

3:40 PM

@Jolenealaska there's only one way to find out! I volunteer. For science!

@Jolenealaska oooo. I shall inform the Nobel committee.

Do you ever salt tomatoes to release water before putting them on a pizza or in an omelet or something like that?

I rarely use fresh tomatoes

I hate them

Nebel Committee....pfft...they're worse than the damn Mezzetta people. I wait, I wait...

Then you may not be one to ask, but I'll try anyway.

i am somewhat familiar with salting other things

A number of times it's come up, people have been bugged by how much moisture tomatoes exude...just like eggplant or anything else.

I have advocated salting...I do it all the time because I like tomatoes on frilled cheese sandwiches. Pre-salted always.

3:45 PM

frilled cheese eh? la dee da!

(i know, typo)

out of interest, as someone from the Land of Grilled Cheese, how do you normally do it?

For some reason, a lot are of people are resistant to salting tomatoes. "You'll lose the gel, the gel is where the flavor is!"

hmmm

heh, frilled.

well if you're going to do an experiment regarding flavour, you're gonna have fun

Jeez...SAJ went round and round about this. Butter the bread. Always.

3:47 PM

do you do it in a pan?

ie skillet?

Yes generally, skillet.

Unless I'm doing 3 or more.

see, I've always used either an electric 'toastie' maker

or a panini press

i did it for the first time in a pan the other night - OMFG

I would if I had one handy.

don't bother, so much nicer in a pan!

First time? Really? wow

That's like the first thing I ever cooked.

3:49 PM

I did a Jamie Oliver version - buttered both sides of the bread, grated cheese, fried gently, removed, then sprinkled cheese on the pan and placed the sandwich back on top, then did the same the other side

we always had one of these

but it was better in the pan - more crisped cheese, and the middle cheese was meltier and nicer

Remember 2 nights ago? I said I had to go make my sandwich? It was basically that, with grated aged Gouda, tomato and ham.

oh christ, now i need a GCS

have you ever made a croque monsieur?

the creme de la creme of GCS's

generously slather bread with mayo (just inside)

The sandwich I like in the press (I've got a big George Foreman around here somewhere) is a patty melt.

add ham and grated cheese

dip in egg, then fry in butter

@Jolenealaska is that... tuna?

actually, the above is more of a monte cristo

Hamburger, grilled onions,traditionally rye bread, I use white or wheat.

The croque monsieur I do when I have leftover bechamel.

I did monte cristos at the lodge.

I offered them grilled or deep fried.

3:56 PM

you devil, you

That was fun 'cause no one around here has ever heard of them. :)

but back for a sec to the question-

yes, sorry, go on

The fact is that all that you lose by salting tomatoes is water. That's it. The tomato flavor is concentrated, and the tomatoes can be cooked in something else without causing sogginess.

sounds logical enough to me

it's akin to sun-drying

no 'gel' in a sun dried tomato, but a hell of a lot of flavour

For some bizarre reason, people that wouldn't hesitate to salt cucumbers, are freaked out bu the idea of salting tomatoes.

So how can I show it with measurements and pictures?

4:01 PM

hmmm

Ala the avocado thing.

you'd need analysis of the liquid to prove it was just water!

it's much more subjective than the avocado thing

Pretty much...how? It's clear...but even that doesn't convince. I think it was Joe that said as much in a comment.

I've tasted it...it's salt water.

Barely any hint of tomato flavor.

hmmm

Less flavor in the water than what comes out of cucumbers!

4:05 PM

it's tricky to make an experiment out of, really

right, I'm offski

i will maybe catch you later, but get some sleep if you can!

I can just show it with a sliced tomato on a rack over a pan. Measure the water. Fry up two grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches. I can show that the salted one looks better. I can say the water is tasteless...

hmmm

Well anyway. Cya sweetie.

And yes, just a few hours of sleep would be good.

cya hon