News

Happy New year – 2023

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For real, I’m actually writing a new post. Yay, 2023!

I’m hoping everyone had a fab Christmas and an awesome jump into the new year. There certainly has been a lot going on since I’ve last done ANYTHING on this website. This is not a new year’s resolution–I don’t know if I’ll be doing regular posts–too much going on, but you never know. We have A LOT to catch up on: COVID, elections… the list is endless. But, that’s not what this post is about.

So here’s a start.

Kevin got me a reMarkable tablet in 2021 for our anniversary. I love it. I use it all the time. I’ve created custom page templates galore and all sorts of stuff to make the tablet useful to me.

I’ve purchased PDFs for calendars, but they just didn’t do what I wanted, or they did too much. I created my own with Excel and PDF software, but it was a lot of manual effort–I created the underlying pages in Excel, then created links back and forth with a PDF editor: Too. Much. Effort.

Last week I found a JAVA library to create PDFs with. I’ve been working with this library for the past several days and I can now generate a PDF for any year that has an annual calendar on one page, links to monthly calendar pages, each of these has a link to a weekly planner and a monthly todo list. Personally, it does EXACYLY what I want.

Sure, it may not fit everyone’s needs. But I’m sharing it anyhow. Feel free to download and share. Let me know what you think. NO WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.

There is one thing I’ll be adding over the next few days–a monthly bill section. If you have bills due each month (many of us do), this might be helpful. You can write in the due date for each bill, and as you pay them, check them off. I use such a template to keep track of my bills, but I want it to be part of my 2023 calendar, too. If you think that’ll be useful for you, wait for my next post.

So, here’s v1.0 of my annual calendar. I hope you find it useful!

Calendar-2023Download

This is the latest version–it includes a brief help page, yearly calendar, monthly calendar, weekly planners, monthly todo, and monthly bill reminder.

Calendar-2023-v1.2Download
Recipes

Hamburger buns

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We wanted hamburgers, but keeping hamburger buns on-hand is a pain. They don’t last, or you have to freeze them, and most buns don’t do well in the freezer. I also didn’t want to make a store-run, especially during these days of covid-19. Kevin found this recipe, and we tried it out after reading some of the comments. Modified to make 8 instead of 12, and added some time to let the dough rise. Don’t bake for the full 12 minutes–Kevin doesn’t like the bun’s bottom to be too crusty.

Print Recipe

Hamburger Buns

Homemade hamburger buns
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Resting time10 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Breads
Keyword: Bread, Bun, Hamburger
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water 110° to 115°
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil and sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft dough.
  • Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes. Let rise for 10-15 minutes. Divide into 8 pieces; shape each into a ball. Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Bake until golden brown, 8-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Notes

Bake for 10 minutes or less, so bun bottoms don’t get too crusty. Kevin doesn’t like that.
From https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/40-minute-hamburger-buns/
News

Mom. 1945-2019.

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My Mom, Gabriele L. Pringle, passed away this past Friday morning, October 4th, 2019. She was 74 years old.

She had been living with COPD since 2010. In 2017, an x-ray showed a mass in her lung. In her current state of health, a biopsy of the cancer was a significant risk. Any treatment via chemotherapy or radiation, while possibly extending her life by a short time, would have left her with a poorer quality of life.

She opted to remain untreated and to continue to live as independently as possible. A year later, in 2018, the tumor had doubled in size and her doctor placed her on hospice care.

Three months ago, we had to move her into a nursing home because she needed 24-hour a day care and supervision.

I visited her Thursday evening. She fell asleep during my visit and I stayed with her for a while before I kissed her good night and whispered to her that it was OK for her to go.

Photos

Dogwood Festival. Tucker Cruise-In

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Went to the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park today. We didn’t make it into the parking deck at the Atlanta Botanical Garden because it was “temporarily full”. We ended up parking at the W.

W Midtown

After checking out the festival, we decided to head back to our “neck of the woods” to have a drink at Growler Time. That’s where we stumbled upon the Tucker Cruise-In car show.

I just happened to have acquired a new 20mm lens for my camera for some other freelance work.

Click the image to view the album.

Tucker Cruise-In 2019-04
News

Yogurt. It’s Alive!

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This is a photo of my very own, homemade greek-style yogurt, topped with homemade maple syrup granola with almonds and dried cranberries.

If you like yogurt and you have an Instant Pot, I’d certainly recommend you make your own. Just buy a pint of plain yogurt with live cultures at the store, along with a 1/2 gallon of milk. You’ll use a 1/4 cup of yogurt for each 1/2 gallon of milk. You could be looking at eight batches of homemade yogurt!

I don’t like my yogurt runny, and the batches do end up with a lot of liquid. You can use cheesecloth to strain your yogurt, which I did the first time. After that, I used a strainer lined with coffee filters. Cheap, and easy.

Top your yogurt with homemade granola, and you have an excellent snack.

Here’s my yogurt making process:

  • In an Instant Pot, bring 1/2 gallon of milk to a boil using the yogurt program. This takes about 30 minutes in mine.
  • Heat the milk for another hour using the yogurt program at custom temperature. You can’t boil it for another hour, so I used the max custom temp…176 or so, and set it for an hour.
  • Cool the milk in an ice bath to 115 degrees. You need a candy thermometer for this.
  • Add 1/4 cup yogurt and blend it with the milk.
  • Keep the mixture warm at 115 degrees for 10 hours in the instant pot using the yogurt program.
  • When done, chill the yogurt in the fridge, or optionally strain it using the strainer/coffee filter method I mentioned for 7-10 hours in the fridge. Done!

Want to know how I made the granola? Wait for my next post. 🙂

News

That’s it for SCOTUS

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We’ve appointed an ill-fitting member to the supreme court. The ramifications of this political move to be determined. I can’t even understand the rationale that went into the votes for him. So, for future reference, below is the list of who voted for the privileged white man. After my opinion piece, of course. 🙂

Why do I say “that’s it”? Well, this has been such a divisive issue. You have an old grumpy republican man (McConnell) refusing to hold hearings on previous nominee (Merrick Garland) to the court. Why? I’m sure it has no bearing on the fact that the president at the time was a black democrat. Naw, because they all loved and respected the leader of the country at the time. #sarcasm

But here we have someone that appears to be of questionable character. No–he was not on trial and he has not been found guilty of anything, but he’s also not been declared innocent. There’s enough crap surrounding this nominee to spoil his nomination to the court. Is he really the right, white, privileged male for the job?

The republicans (and one democrat) have now made the court the bitch of the republican party. Ready to overturn any number of important issues. Women’s rights? Good luck. If you didn’t think old grumpy white men owned your (women’s) bodies already, I am of the opinion you’re going to be in debt to them even more as they exercise even more control over your private parts. Please, feel free to make comparisons to the laws governing men’s bodies. It’s all about equality. Right?

Anyhow, I’m thinking I’m safe enough for now. At this time, there is still a term limit for the president. So I only have to deal with him for another term at most. Who knows what will happen afterwards. And, to most appearances, I am myself a white, privileged male. No laws against my precious bits. There are other issues at stake. As a democrat, and an empathetic human being, it pains me that so many issues are ignored. Its even more astounding that so many people directly impacted by these are voting against themselves.

Or not voting at all.

Ok, enough rambling. Below are the results from the New York Times.

Remember which senators you voted for.

Remember how they voted.

Remember this list when things don’t go your way. See if there’s any link back to your voting record to explain how things got fucked up.

Good luck, ‘murica. You’re going to need it.

 

Majority of votes needed YES NO Pres. Not voting
Republicans 49 0 1 1
Democrats 1 48 0 0
Total 50 48 1 1

Votes by Party

51 Republicans Yes No
Total 49 0
Lamar Alexander Tenn.
Y
John Barrasso Wyo.
Y
Roy Blunt Mo.
Y
John Boozman Ark.
Y
Richard M. Burr N.C.
Y
Shelley Moore Capito W.Va.
Y
Bill Cassidy La.
Y
Susan Collins Me.
Y
Bob Corker Tenn.
Y
John Cornyn Tex.
Y
Tom Cotton Ark.
Y
Michael D. Crapo Idaho
Y
Ted Cruz Tex.
Y
Michael B. Enzi Wyo.
Y
Joni Ernst Iowa
Y
Deb Fischer Neb.
Y
Jeff Flake Ariz.
Y
Cory Gardner Colo.
Y
Lindsey Graham S.C.
Y
Charles E. Grassley Iowa
Y
Orrin G. Hatch Utah
Y
Dean Heller Nev.
Y
John Hoeven N.D.
Y
Cindy Hyde-Smith Miss.
Y
James M. Inhofe Okla.
Y
Johnny Isakson Ga.
Y
Ron Johnson Wis.
Y
John Kennedy La.
Y
Jon Kyl Ariz.
Y
James Lankford Okla.
Y
Mike Lee Utah
Y
Mitch McConnell Ky.
Y
Jerry Moran Kan.
Y
Rand Paul Ky.
Y
David Perdue Ga.
Y
Rob Portman Ohio
Y
Jim Risch Idaho
Y
Pat Roberts Kan.
Y
Michael Rounds S.D.
Y
Marco Rubio Fla.
Y
Ben Sasse Neb.
Y
Tim Scott S.C.
Y
Richard C. Shelby Ala.
Y
Dan Sullivan Alaska
Y
John Thune S.D.
Y
Thom Tillis N.C.
Y
Patrick J. Toomey Pa.
Y
Roger Wicker Miss.
Y
Todd Young Ind.
Y
Lisa Murkowski Alaska
Present
Steve Daines Mont.
49 Democrats* Yes No
Total 1 48
Joe Manchin III W.Va.
Y
Tammy Baldwin Wis.
N
Michael Bennet Colo.
N
Richard Blumenthal Conn.
N
Cory Booker N.J.
N
Sherrod Brown Ohio
N
Maria Cantwell Wash.
N
Benjamin L. Cardin Md.
N
Thomas R. Carper Del.
N
Bob Casey Pa.
N
Chris Coons Del.
N
Catherine Cortez Masto Nev.
N
Joe Donnelly Ind.
N
Tammy Duckworth Ill.
N
Richard J. Durbin Ill.
N
Dianne Feinstein Calif.
N
Kirsten Gillibrand N.Y.
N
Kamala Harris Calif.
N
Maggie Hassan N.H.
N
Martin Heinrich N.M.
N
Heidi Heitkamp N.D.
N
Mazie K. Hirono Hawaii
N
Doug Jones Ala.
N
Tim Kaine Va.
N
Angus King Me.
N
Amy Klobuchar Minn.
N
Patrick J. Leahy Vt.
N
Edward J. Markey Mass.
N
Claire McCaskill Mo.
N
Robert Menendez N.J.
N
Jeff Merkley Ore.
N
Christopher S. Murphy Conn.
N
Patty Murray Wash.
N
Bill Nelson Fla.
N
Gary Peters Mich.
N
Jack Reed R.I.
N
Bernie Sanders Vt.
N
Brian Schatz Hawaii
N
Chuck Schumer N.Y.
N
Jeanne Shaheen N.H.
N
Tina Smith Minn.
N
Debbie Stabenow Mich.
N
Jon Tester Mont.
N
Tom Udall N.M.
N
Chris Van Hollen Md.
N
Mark Warner Va.
N
Elizabeth Warren Mass.
N
Sheldon Whitehouse R.I.
N
Ron Wyden Ore.
N
News

It’s Been A While

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It’s been a while since you’ve seen a post.

Sold the Buckhead condo and moved into a house in Tucker. The house has literally been sucking up time…and money. Plus, I still want to have fun, so keeping the site updated has taken a back seat.

Photography has suffered a bit. The new house has a room that has been designated “The Studio.” Unfortunately, it’s still just a storage room until we can get everything put into place.

But I’m starting to get that camera gear warmed up again. So, a few new albums here and there are on their way.

Musings on photography, condo living, life in general, and advice column from Truffles, the chihuahua.