Archive for category Success
I would walk five-hundred miles…
Posted by Paul in Personal Failures, Success on May 3, 2010
But I’d only ride 12 miles on my bike.
I don’t remember what caused my sudden need to fix up my bike and ride like the wind from the Art Museum to Valley Forge National Park. I guess it may have been so that I’d have a reason to sweat like I’d been working out in this stifling heap of heat.
A few mandatory supplies later (water-bag by Coleman – the Camelbak kind), lights for the bike (front and back), an emergency patch kit (useless without a pump, I later realized with an audible “D’oh!”), and some Trail Mix bars, I arrived home to attach my mud guards to my bike, a purchase made well over 2 years ago now.
The weather forecast couldn’t have been more wrong, as it predicted thunderstorms and isolated thunderstorms from 3pm until 4:30 pm. Nary a rumble was heard.
Getting to the Art Museum was no issue. Boathouse Row, specifically, the east bank of the Schuylkill River, was the opposite of fun. The wind was blowing in my face, with a force strong enough to offer me resistance. That *may* mean sporadic gusts of 5mph, but I FELT those gusts, man. You weren’t there, man.
I made it to the Falls Bridge, and that’s where Joe’s words first came back into my brain: “You’ll find something to make you turn around.” So, I didn’t. I rode on until Manayunk greeted me with the sign for its Main Street. It was at that point that my head registered a little dizziness. A trail-mix bar and some more water (the trick is to REALLY bite down on that sucker) later, I decided I’d reached my limit for today.
All in all, I made it back home in one piece. No drop of rain from the skies. It’s probably an instance of “everybody does this”, but I find myself promising … myself that I’ll get back on that narrow-seated horse on wednesday. Maybe ride a bit longer. Maybe reach another bridge to cross. Maybe I’ll bring a camera that time, and if the goslings haven’t grown up by the next time I’m riding, they’ll be front and center.
Tomorrow? Pushups and situps. Unless the 80% humidity kills me tonight.
Epic Cleansing.
From the depths of the Draft folder (26 February, 2010) — //OLD ENTRY FOLLOWS//
For close to six months, a curved backwall to a dresser has made my bedroom an unpleasant place to be in.
Leaning up against the wall, behind a very full dresser, there it’d be, that project I should have completed at the same time as when I build the dresser to begin with. Why didn’t I just hammer 24 nails into the back of the dresser? It was actually for reasons of consideration – I am extremely cautious about creating too much noise in my apartment, as a courtesy. I’ve lived under loud neighbors, and the “fine line” I promise myself they’re toeing ends up being an apartment-sized grey area named “that’s life, and they’re only walking.” The fact that I’d be hammering into a piece of wood ON a wood floor – well, that permeates a building!
On tuesday I’d had enough. Clothes and trinkets everywhere, I decided to get a headstart on spring cleaning. Fueled in part by discussions with Nies about “Lots of Material Possessions -> Magic -> Minimalism,” I realized that the only way to get there is with Elbow grease. I recruited Christina, with what I’d now consider to be “desperate enthusiasm”, got home from work, and got busy cleaning. Dresser drawers were pulled out, dumped on the bed, and placed in the living room. The top of the dresser was cleared. The space in front of the dresser was cleared. As Christina sorted clothes (categories being “Keep”, “Donate” and “Toss”), I finally attached the back of the dresser.
Something bothering me for so long is finally done and over with – but the thing is, I’ve gotten so used to being annoyed by its presence, its constant reminder that I left a job incomplete, that my mind STILL gravitates to that one thing, each time reminding myself that that slight issue/major nuisance is non-existent outside of my mind.
I asked Christina to really think about whether she “just wants it” or actually needs it, and she complied. When it came time for me to chuck or keep my 1980′s era Summer Battle Dress Uniform, she claimed it was emotional attachment before the hanger touched the rack. She doesn’t believe it’s of historical significance. Except for laundry (how? HOW!? can there be so much laundry to do!), and shelves now cluttered with small trinkets and whatnots, the bedroom is clear.
That first day made me (as I tend to) think of xkcd.com. Wanting something to be true doesn’t mean it is. Getting rid of things, truly scouring the place, putting “need” above “want”, is exhausting. On a semi-dramatic note, it gives me one more chance to look at every single item I possess, and seal its fate, one way or the other.
UPDATE – Today (3rd of May, 2010) – The bedroom is a mess again.
Hot Sauce in the houce!
Posted by Paul in Experiment, Food, Success on February 12, 2010
Yes, that was a portmanteau.
Today, on a whim, which hit me quite frequently, it occurred to me that I’d never before created hot sauce.
A quick Google search later, I found a delicious reading recipe, hurried to the grocery store, and purchased around $34 worth of goods.
So fresh and so clean.
First, the recipe called for preparing the Habañero peppers, and I obliged. Didn’t touch anything other than my hands – I was good.
A couple of pointers here: I chose the most difficult recipe regarding fruit. Mango?
Never before seen one whole, let alone touched one, let alone attempt to dissect this slippery, seriously-shelled fruit. Google to the rescue, a couple quick tic-tac-toe slices later, four mangoes found a new home in my giant pot.
Then, the pineapple. xkcd.com had it exactly right. Pineapple is kinda tasty, but is a real pain in the ass to dissect. This hurdle took about 6 minutes to overcome.
I didn’t actually use all five heads of garlic – I have jar’d, minced garlic, and used that by the spoonful. Saved me a bunch of time.
Looooooong story short, everything ended up in the pot, thusly.
Everything ready to rock.
Oh, my mistake? Wanting a reminder as to what exactly Pineapple tastes like. The habanero oils said hi to my mouth for about 20 minutes. Was alright though. Kept me alert.
The Zoomy, on the other hand, wasn’t very helpful. In fact, he was mostly a distraction. A distraction in a paper bag.
Paper bags are his favourite forts.
I think he would have taken apart my ankles first.
I brought the mixture to a boil for a bit, and then pureéd it twice. I bet the professionals have sieves, as the hot sauce ended up being a bit like a slushy.
I canned two batches successfully – would have been more cans, but I forgot to purchase more Mason Jars.
The color is just about what it should be, given that most of its color comes from Pineapple and Mango.
In conclusion, it was a great experiment. I’m sure I lack a bit of patience, and perhaps the proper tools, such as glass-EVERYTHING (non-reactive, whatever that means). Next time, I believe I’ll wear some latex gloves, as I did manage to develop some first-degree habanero burns, which made my thumb and middle fingers heat-sensitive.
After processing.
On the bright side, up until JUST now, I hadn’t touched my eyes. I am very happy to truthfully report that only minor irritation is commencing.
I’ll have to do this again sometime. The real test will be tomorrow, as I’ll be presenting this at work to colleagues, and post-work to friends.
~Paul
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