Good point on the property appraiser’s office. Our home values are driven by the sale price one pays. If you just paid $350,000 for a home, it’s hard to argue that it’s not worth that much for tax purposes. If a home has been owned for a long time, it’s the previous purchase (say $200,000) price plus some small incr…

It is disappointing to run into something this wonderful so late in life, but all I can say is I’ll make up for it by making many baked potatoes a la Claire.

It is not clear to me how they measure the slowing of progression. I’m in a community where many of us “elderly” have diminished memory, and there are a fe who require supervision. Do we need to have to forget what a key is for in order to begin a program, or is consistently losing one’s keys a trigger?  There seems…

No they steer at an angle and the kite pulls them along.

I was sure I’d seen it here waaay back when. The advantage of the flying sail is that it doesn’t require all the adjusting and trimming that regular sails require. 

Some of the trees that died here had termites.  They are very durable.

You can heat things (eggs) in the microwave and setting #2 for a longer period of time. It gives a chance for the energy to spread throughout the egg. Takes practice, but I have learned how to poach 1 egg at a time in the microwave.

I have started using lemon juice instead of vinegar, mayo, maybe lemon-pepper, and a couple of Splenda. I am on a perennial diet and I can have some slaw any time I get munchies.  It’s helping, but barely.

This shows up about every year and half.  It is of no value.

“I made a banana loaf with gingersnap crumbs and a center streusel layer.”

Sounds good.  I use something like this on my cole slaw, but I use lemon juice for the acid. Very refreshing.

Have you tried the recipe for the “gravy” that comes with egg foo young? I was amazed when it came out just like my local take-out place.

A long time ago one reader here suggested poaching an egg in 1/2 cup water in the microwave for ~65 seconds. I do it all the time, now. That should work with this. Don’t go too far over 65-70 seconds or you may have to clean the microwave.

If you’re on a trip overseas, travel insurance is a very good idea, especially for people over 60 because shit happens. Possibly you think you can negotiate ambulance rates from Pisa, Italy to Florence (~60 miles) where your luggage is, using your high school Italian, but most of us can’t.

Did you think we didn’t get the instructions the first time? 

That is a sensational idea! Something with crust and apples. Yeah.

Yeah, it’s a life-altering statement. It involves thought, emotions, fear, love, anxiety and enormous trust. Young people are aware that some young people have been thrown out of their parents’ home, and this isn’t the kind of thing where you test the waters. “Mom, if I came out what would you say?” doesn’t work…

“The fan can either be pointing up toward the ceiling or sideways, like a normal box fan would.”

Back when the world was young we used to use a few teaspoons of milk or half and half to soften cream cheese before we stirred in the obligatory onion soup mix or worcestershire sauce.

I have a convection over, and convection microwave, but you are starting to make me want an air fryer. I was gifted an instant-pot and it sits in the garage closet, but the air fryer looks more versatile and (maybe) less of a bother to clean. I could live happily on snack food.