I think the idea of farm raised seafood is wonderful. The oceans are fished out and must be allowed to rest awhile and regenerate, yet many of us love seafood. Farm raising seafood is a great idea.
But, fish, shrimp etc. are easily contaminated, especially some that are often farmed. For example, catfish and shrimp both are scavengers and will eat anything.
Now, American and European aquatic farms are fairly well regulated and their products safe, reasonably. The same cannot be said of other countries. I have seen films of fish farms from various parts of the world and they are nightmarish. They are raising their fish and shellfish in a nasty mess of near sewage, they are far too overcrowded and, really, the only way they stay productive is by adding enormous amounts of hormones, pesticides and antibiotics.
I once got sick by eating tainted shrimp, imported from Thailand. I felt like the character in Alien who had the monster bursting out of his stomach and was sick for a week.
Retailers are required to mark where farm raised seafood was grown. Please, do yourself a favor and buy American. It is far safer, and besides, it is a good way to support American businesses and workers.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Planning
We can all save a lot of time and energy with just a little planning. I do not mean writing out long, elaborate lists full of details. Just give your day a bit of thought.
Say you need to go shopping for groceries. Before you run off, stop and make a mental list of the basic things you need. Also, think about what other shops are in the area. Maybe you can make a stop at the bank or post office while you're in the area. If you need a new shirt, maybe there's a department store nearby. Anything in the area that you need? Stop in before you get those groceries. You will be surprised how much time you save. It beats getting home and realizing that you have to go right back out. You also save wear and tear on your vehicle and, if traffic is heavy, you save wear and tear on your nerves.
At work, stop a minute before you leap into a job. Do you have all of your materials and data on hand. Is there any thing related to the specific job that you can take care of at the same time. I have often started doing a repair and found that while doing that, I could do a bit of preventative maintenance at the same time.
Now, the thing about plans is you must be flexible. It is a good idea to do a bit of planning but, you have to accept the fact that situations change, sometimes in a matter of seconds. I have known folks who planned so thoroughly that when things changed, they were lost.
Still, I urge you to do a bit of planning before you start anything. You will save time, money and energy and who doesn't like that.
Say you need to go shopping for groceries. Before you run off, stop and make a mental list of the basic things you need. Also, think about what other shops are in the area. Maybe you can make a stop at the bank or post office while you're in the area. If you need a new shirt, maybe there's a department store nearby. Anything in the area that you need? Stop in before you get those groceries. You will be surprised how much time you save. It beats getting home and realizing that you have to go right back out. You also save wear and tear on your vehicle and, if traffic is heavy, you save wear and tear on your nerves.
At work, stop a minute before you leap into a job. Do you have all of your materials and data on hand. Is there any thing related to the specific job that you can take care of at the same time. I have often started doing a repair and found that while doing that, I could do a bit of preventative maintenance at the same time.
Now, the thing about plans is you must be flexible. It is a good idea to do a bit of planning but, you have to accept the fact that situations change, sometimes in a matter of seconds. I have known folks who planned so thoroughly that when things changed, they were lost.
Still, I urge you to do a bit of planning before you start anything. You will save time, money and energy and who doesn't like that.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
A Cheap Refreshing Drink for Hot Summer Days
I learned this trick when I was working in a school kitchen. Take a large container. 2 gallons is good, but it should be at least 1 gallon. You are going to add a small amount of finely cut fruit or chopped herbs (or berries or cucumber). Fill with water and refrigerate for a couple of hours. You will have a nicely flavored, healthy, almost calorie free drink.
For example: thinly slice one orange, peel and all, or 2 lemons and/or limes.
a thin sliced cucumber with peel aand a quarter cup or so of chopped mint or
10 thin sliced strawberries with a quarter cup chopped mint
You get the idea. Just a small amount of flavoring, you're not making juice, just adding some taste to your water. Of course, the better the water the better the flavor but, really, just tap water works fine.
This is called spa water and I think you may be surprised at how tasty and refreshing it is. We served it to kids used to soda and sweet drinks (ie lemonade and energy drinks) and they loved it. Refreshing, great taste, and not enough calories to count. You can't beat it.
For example: thinly slice one orange, peel and all, or 2 lemons and/or limes.
a thin sliced cucumber with peel aand a quarter cup or so of chopped mint or
10 thin sliced strawberries with a quarter cup chopped mint
You get the idea. Just a small amount of flavoring, you're not making juice, just adding some taste to your water. Of course, the better the water the better the flavor but, really, just tap water works fine.
This is called spa water and I think you may be surprised at how tasty and refreshing it is. We served it to kids used to soda and sweet drinks (ie lemonade and energy drinks) and they loved it. Refreshing, great taste, and not enough calories to count. You can't beat it.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Stop Wasting Time Complaining
We all complain. When there is a job to do, whether at home or your job, it is all too human to complain. We sit around and bemoan the fact that we have to do this and that and fuss over how much of our time is spent at our tasks. I did it and I am sure all of you do it. If you don't, then you are in the minority.
One day, I had an epiphany. I realized that I might be spending more time and energy fussing about what I had to do than I did actually doing it. Well, I thought, that can't be true but, as a test, I started keeping track of each job that day. O actually timed how long I spent complaining and how long it took to do the job and, guess what? I was wasting a lot of time and energy on uselessly complaining.
To further the test, I watched my co-workers and found that they too, were spending way too much time kvetching. Then, I applied the same test at home, with the same results.
Just do your work. You're going to have to so it anyway so why waste your time and energy. If your boss has a difficult job for you, just get to it. You'll have a happier boss, you can move onto easier work and you won't be as tired and grumpy.
If you're asked to do an unpleasant task at home, get to it. Everyone, including you, will be happier and home life will be smoother. You will have more time for fun.
So stop complaining. It is in your best interest.
One day, I had an epiphany. I realized that I might be spending more time and energy fussing about what I had to do than I did actually doing it. Well, I thought, that can't be true but, as a test, I started keeping track of each job that day. O actually timed how long I spent complaining and how long it took to do the job and, guess what? I was wasting a lot of time and energy on uselessly complaining.
To further the test, I watched my co-workers and found that they too, were spending way too much time kvetching. Then, I applied the same test at home, with the same results.
Just do your work. You're going to have to so it anyway so why waste your time and energy. If your boss has a difficult job for you, just get to it. You'll have a happier boss, you can move onto easier work and you won't be as tired and grumpy.
If you're asked to do an unpleasant task at home, get to it. Everyone, including you, will be happier and home life will be smoother. You will have more time for fun.
So stop complaining. It is in your best interest.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Food - Simple Can Be Great
We all love to eat. In fact, we generally eat too much. That aside, we often make a really big deal out of meals. Cooking shows and recipe books are filled with elaborate meals involving exotic ingredients and multiple steps. That is fine, on occasion, but it is just too much for everyday life.
Often, as an alternative, we turn to take out and frozen food. Again, that is fine, here and there, but a steady diet of that is boring and pricey.
As a third alternative, we often turn to, well, junk. Boxed mac and cheese, spaghetti, hot dogs, stuff like that. Now, such foods are cheap, and, as with any food, alright at times, but they lack nourishment.
There are alternatives, simple, tasty easy meals. The simplest are the ones you cook in one pot, stews, soups, etc. You can put darn near anything you want in them, add water or broth, bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer. In one pot, you cook your meat, veggies, and carbs and it always comes out tasty.
One example is a simple dish, the kind once known as peasant food. If that is an accurate description, then I proudly declare that I am a peasant. I am talking about beans and rice. Just cooks some beans in water, if you want to start with dry beans, but, I am lazy and use canned beans. Any kind, they are all good. Add some meat, bacon, sausage, ham hocks, or, if watching your fat intake, smoked turkey. Add onions, peppers (hot, sweet or both), garlic, rice and let it simmer. Or, use potatoes instead, For more flavor, add a can of dice tomatoes. You can also add celery, cabbage, whatever you want. Just let it simmer for a while and you have an excellent, health, tasty meal.
Really you can put just about anything you want in the pot and it will come out well. If you have a crock pot, life is even easier since you can put it on before you go to work and it will be perfect when you get home. There you have it, good, healthy, simple and very inexpensive.
Often, as an alternative, we turn to take out and frozen food. Again, that is fine, here and there, but a steady diet of that is boring and pricey.
As a third alternative, we often turn to, well, junk. Boxed mac and cheese, spaghetti, hot dogs, stuff like that. Now, such foods are cheap, and, as with any food, alright at times, but they lack nourishment.
There are alternatives, simple, tasty easy meals. The simplest are the ones you cook in one pot, stews, soups, etc. You can put darn near anything you want in them, add water or broth, bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer. In one pot, you cook your meat, veggies, and carbs and it always comes out tasty.
One example is a simple dish, the kind once known as peasant food. If that is an accurate description, then I proudly declare that I am a peasant. I am talking about beans and rice. Just cooks some beans in water, if you want to start with dry beans, but, I am lazy and use canned beans. Any kind, they are all good. Add some meat, bacon, sausage, ham hocks, or, if watching your fat intake, smoked turkey. Add onions, peppers (hot, sweet or both), garlic, rice and let it simmer. Or, use potatoes instead, For more flavor, add a can of dice tomatoes. You can also add celery, cabbage, whatever you want. Just let it simmer for a while and you have an excellent, health, tasty meal.
Really you can put just about anything you want in the pot and it will come out well. If you have a crock pot, life is even easier since you can put it on before you go to work and it will be perfect when you get home. There you have it, good, healthy, simple and very inexpensive.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
The Internet
Right now, as I am writing this, our cable and internet are out. They're
doing work in the area and I have no idea how long this will take. I can live
without TV, but I find myself a bit adrift without the internet. For example, I
cannot post what I am writing. I am apartment huntinng and it's darn hard to do
that these days without going on line. I am looking for book and magazine
publishers to send my work to and I cannot even check my bank account. Now, I
am not as dependent on my computer as some folks, but this little down spell is
making me aware of just what a disaster it would be if the internet went away
suddenly.
And, it might. There have been cyberattacks and there will be more. There
are environmental disasters and we have been darn lucky that nothing
catastrophic has hit.
So, I am beleiving more and more, that we should begin weaning ourselves
away from technological dependence. Keep some paper and pencils around in case
you can't access a calculator. Make sure you have phone numbers in order if, one
day, you can't email. Back up any important files and print out the
information; just store it away. You may never need it but, if you do, you'll
be very glad you have it.
Remember, if you lose your internet connections, that will include that
smart phone and you probably won't want to roam the neighborhoods looking for a
free signal to hitch to.
If you also lose your cable, and often they are bundled together, you
better have some ways to entertain yourself. For ideas, I invite you to look at
one of my other blogs, Entertainment and Pastimes. The link is near the bottom
of this page.
Actually, losing the internet may, ultimately be a kind of mixed blessing,
forcing us to get off our rears and do things. Now, if we lost our electricity,
that would not be fun, especially since the air conditioner would be off and it
is supposed to hit 100 today. Oh well, one day that may happen, but I sure hope
it's in the winter.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Brown Bag Linch and Save Money
I know that it's great to get away from work for a bit at lunch time, but is it really worth it. Stop and think. Most folks get a limited break, 30 minutes, an hour if you're lucky. You have to get to the place you want and back. It takes time to get the food and then you end up having to eat on the way back. What could have been a relaxing period is just hectic.
Then, there is the expense. It is hard to get a decent lunch for $5. For that same $5, you can buy bread, tuna or eggs, and eat for 2, maybe 3 days. There are further plusses. You automatically limit your calorie consumption and you get to rest. It is so nice to put up your feet, eat a relaxed lunch and have a few minutes left over to just rest.
Of course, you need not limit your lunch to sandwiches. If you job has a fridge in the break room, take a salad. If not, buy a little cooler with one of those blue ice packs. Many businesses provide a microwave, so you can warm up last night's leftovers or a small frozen dinner.
I have seen people get very inventive. I once knew a guy who had a roofing company. Everyday, as his crew started work, they would stop at a store and buy a couple of chickens, or a nice chuck roast. They would season the meat, wrap it tight in several layers of foil, then stick it down in the hot tar pot. The meat never absorbed any taste from the tar and by lunchtime, it was cooked to falling apart perfection. Add some bread and everyone had a fine lunch at little cost.
I wouldn't expect most people to go you that extreme, but you get my point. By packing your own lunch, you are likely to get a healthier meal, you'll have more free time during your break and you will definitely save a lot of money. All with very little work. You can't lose.
Then, there is the expense. It is hard to get a decent lunch for $5. For that same $5, you can buy bread, tuna or eggs, and eat for 2, maybe 3 days. There are further plusses. You automatically limit your calorie consumption and you get to rest. It is so nice to put up your feet, eat a relaxed lunch and have a few minutes left over to just rest.
Of course, you need not limit your lunch to sandwiches. If you job has a fridge in the break room, take a salad. If not, buy a little cooler with one of those blue ice packs. Many businesses provide a microwave, so you can warm up last night's leftovers or a small frozen dinner.
I have seen people get very inventive. I once knew a guy who had a roofing company. Everyday, as his crew started work, they would stop at a store and buy a couple of chickens, or a nice chuck roast. They would season the meat, wrap it tight in several layers of foil, then stick it down in the hot tar pot. The meat never absorbed any taste from the tar and by lunchtime, it was cooked to falling apart perfection. Add some bread and everyone had a fine lunch at little cost.
I wouldn't expect most people to go you that extreme, but you get my point. By packing your own lunch, you are likely to get a healthier meal, you'll have more free time during your break and you will definitely save a lot of money. All with very little work. You can't lose.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Dealing With Heat
Summer is here. I am sure this comes as no news to anyone and, mostly, we love the summer. Cold beer, iced tea, watermelon and ice cream. Ball games and long hours of golf. But, for those who have to work in it, summer is not fun and can be deadly.
If you must work around your house, do so early in the morning or right before dark. There is no point in making yourself sick, and, be assured, you can make yourself very sick in the heat.
If you have a job that requires you to work in the hot part of the day, use some sense. Drink a lot of water. Not tea, not soda, certainly not beer. If possible, drink it cool, not icy cold (you will get stomach cramps). As far as stuff like Gatorade, be careful. The electrolytes are great, but there is a lot of sugar. They make me hypoglycemic, but, if you can tolerate them, fine. One thing for sure; if you become dehydrated, you need those electrolytes. Older folks I know were brought up using salt tablets in the heat; they work, but be careful taking in all that salt, especially if you tend to high blood pressure.
Wear a hat, preferably one that does not fit tight to your head. The air gap is insulating. I have seen folks put wet newspaper in between their hat and head and that is actually a good idea, but I know a better trick. A guy I worked with used to keep cabbage leaves, the big outer ones, in a cooler and put one in his hat, It works great.
I recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants, loose fitting. You do not need sun burns. Have you ever noticed that in the Mid East, where it certainly gets hot, they wear loose, long robes. There is a reason. The loose fit traps air and that air acts as an insulation, keeping the body cooler.
Whenever possible, get out of the sun for a minute or two. This gives the body a chance to recover from heat stress.
In extreme heat, if at any point you start feeling headachy or dizzy, stop and cool off. It will not pass on its own and you are getting near heatstroke. If you find that you have stop sweating, get to a hospital. Over exposure to heat is not to be trifled with.
If you must work around your house, do so early in the morning or right before dark. There is no point in making yourself sick, and, be assured, you can make yourself very sick in the heat.
If you have a job that requires you to work in the hot part of the day, use some sense. Drink a lot of water. Not tea, not soda, certainly not beer. If possible, drink it cool, not icy cold (you will get stomach cramps). As far as stuff like Gatorade, be careful. The electrolytes are great, but there is a lot of sugar. They make me hypoglycemic, but, if you can tolerate them, fine. One thing for sure; if you become dehydrated, you need those electrolytes. Older folks I know were brought up using salt tablets in the heat; they work, but be careful taking in all that salt, especially if you tend to high blood pressure.
Wear a hat, preferably one that does not fit tight to your head. The air gap is insulating. I have seen folks put wet newspaper in between their hat and head and that is actually a good idea, but I know a better trick. A guy I worked with used to keep cabbage leaves, the big outer ones, in a cooler and put one in his hat, It works great.
I recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants, loose fitting. You do not need sun burns. Have you ever noticed that in the Mid East, where it certainly gets hot, they wear loose, long robes. There is a reason. The loose fit traps air and that air acts as an insulation, keeping the body cooler.
Whenever possible, get out of the sun for a minute or two. This gives the body a chance to recover from heat stress.
In extreme heat, if at any point you start feeling headachy or dizzy, stop and cool off. It will not pass on its own and you are getting near heatstroke. If you find that you have stop sweating, get to a hospital. Over exposure to heat is not to be trifled with.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Think, Plan, Read
It is so easy to see a problem, have an idea, or buy something new, and just leap in, thinking, "oh, how hard can this be; let me knock this job right out." I have done this, as have most everyone else I know, and, quite often, hours or even days later, you're still trying to straighten out the mess you made.
Thought is a big part of any job. Think of what you need. Think of the steps required to get it done. Make sure you have all of the materials you need and all of your tools at hand. Make sure your workplace is clean, neat and large enough.
Plan your steps. Consult pre-drawn plans, if you have any, and, if not, take the time to make a little sketch. Leave room to make notes and list dimensions. Carpenters say, 'measure twice, cut once." That advice works for any kind of project. Once you have your component parts in order and have cut your materials to size, lay them out, following your plans, and make sure everything is in order before you start the final assembly.
Read directions. I don't care how simple things seem, make sure you are doing things the right way. One mistake and you may have to scrap the whole project and start over. You can waste a lot of time and money this way. I am as guilty as anyone of looking at something and thinking, 'I got this figured,' and ignoring the instructions, only to look around and hour later and say, 'uh oh, where are those instructions.' I used to do that. No more. Read directions and follow them.
It easy very easy to turn a 10 minute repair job into a 2 day nightmare. I know; I've done it and so has everyone else I know. Take the time to think, plan and read and you will save time and money, a lot of both.
Thought is a big part of any job. Think of what you need. Think of the steps required to get it done. Make sure you have all of the materials you need and all of your tools at hand. Make sure your workplace is clean, neat and large enough.
Plan your steps. Consult pre-drawn plans, if you have any, and, if not, take the time to make a little sketch. Leave room to make notes and list dimensions. Carpenters say, 'measure twice, cut once." That advice works for any kind of project. Once you have your component parts in order and have cut your materials to size, lay them out, following your plans, and make sure everything is in order before you start the final assembly.
Read directions. I don't care how simple things seem, make sure you are doing things the right way. One mistake and you may have to scrap the whole project and start over. You can waste a lot of time and money this way. I am as guilty as anyone of looking at something and thinking, 'I got this figured,' and ignoring the instructions, only to look around and hour later and say, 'uh oh, where are those instructions.' I used to do that. No more. Read directions and follow them.
It easy very easy to turn a 10 minute repair job into a 2 day nightmare. I know; I've done it and so has everyone else I know. Take the time to think, plan and read and you will save time and money, a lot of both.
Monday, July 4, 2016
America - Celebrate the 4th
It's the 4th of July and I hope you have the day off. If not, you have my sympathy and I hope you apply all of my advice to your next day off.
If you're off, relax. Put your feet up, watch a game, stuff yourself with all that good food, have a drink or 2, and just take life easy. If you have a burst of energy, take a walk, go for a swim or play some games. If your community has some kind of event, go. I short, enjoy your day off. You earned it.
How is this practical? After all, there are cars to wash, laundry to do, house work and yard work to catch up on. True, but all of that can wait because, humans need rest. They need fun. It is good for the body, mind and soul to take a break. You cannot go at work 24/7 without something breaking down. You must recharge the batteries. Everything else can wait for just 1 day.
For those of you stuck working, again, you have my sympathy. Still, you can enjoy your day. Relax and coast a bit. Take a few minutes to chat with customers and fellow workers. Refuse to be pushed today. Let me let you in on a little secret, one I took too many years to learn.
To your employers, no matter how friendly they seem, you are but an entity, a cog in the company's machinery. Pushing yourself at work will not impress them. It will not get you any advances that are significant. It will just get you worn out. Guess what? When you have a day when you can't quite keep up, and trust me, such a day will come, they will say bye-bye and never miss you. You'll just be replaced and the only loser will be you. Things weren't always that way, but they are now. So take today and coast a little. Stretch that break an extra minute or so. Goof off when no ones; looking. I won't tell. Promise.
Enjoy this mid summer holiday, Americans. You work too hard and life is short so enjoy the day.
If you're off, relax. Put your feet up, watch a game, stuff yourself with all that good food, have a drink or 2, and just take life easy. If you have a burst of energy, take a walk, go for a swim or play some games. If your community has some kind of event, go. I short, enjoy your day off. You earned it.
How is this practical? After all, there are cars to wash, laundry to do, house work and yard work to catch up on. True, but all of that can wait because, humans need rest. They need fun. It is good for the body, mind and soul to take a break. You cannot go at work 24/7 without something breaking down. You must recharge the batteries. Everything else can wait for just 1 day.
For those of you stuck working, again, you have my sympathy. Still, you can enjoy your day. Relax and coast a bit. Take a few minutes to chat with customers and fellow workers. Refuse to be pushed today. Let me let you in on a little secret, one I took too many years to learn.
To your employers, no matter how friendly they seem, you are but an entity, a cog in the company's machinery. Pushing yourself at work will not impress them. It will not get you any advances that are significant. It will just get you worn out. Guess what? When you have a day when you can't quite keep up, and trust me, such a day will come, they will say bye-bye and never miss you. You'll just be replaced and the only loser will be you. Things weren't always that way, but they are now. So take today and coast a little. Stretch that break an extra minute or so. Goof off when no ones; looking. I won't tell. Promise.
Enjoy this mid summer holiday, Americans. You work too hard and life is short so enjoy the day.
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