How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,076
Total Cats: 6,628
It's just that I've always prided myself on being somewhat... minimalist, I suppose. I can't explain it. I've always owned old cars, I ride a cheap bike every day, I use an old* desktop PC at home, I haven't cable or satellite service for 6 or 7 years, I wear inexpensive clothing and only own one wristwatch...
* = built in 2010, from components that were precisely one generation behind at the time.
I just prefer to live a simple existence. I say this, somewhat counterintuitively on the face, as someone who lives in a hi-rise in Manhattan, but even that has a sort of logic behind it. I needn't have a car, or even ride the train each day... I even use the stairs to get to and from my 6th floor apartment, rather than taking the elevator. For the past decade and a half, I've prided myself on the fact that all of my earthly belongings fit comfortably into a 16' Penske truck, a fact which I seem to insist on proving every 2-3 years on average.I find it difficult to justify the acquisition of material objects which are not, well... essential.
And yet my last 3 cars have been Miatas, two of which were heavily modified with nonessential components. And I enjoy fine food.
**** it all. I just don't know who I am.
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Beaverton, USA
Posts: 18,642
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While I envy your simplistic life style every time I even consider moving again, every time I consider it I walk down the stairs from my 500sq/ft living space down to my 750sq/ft garage I stop envying it there. I need the space and the things. If I'm left alone with my brain I go crazy, I need to be doing things, right now I'm simultaneously rebuilding the rear end 3rd member in my 72 F100, tearing apart the Miata every week, trying to make a stupid go cart, keeping my gfs jeep on the road, fixing up a dirt bike for her. The hecticness keeps me sane. I used to drink. A lot, I started working on my truck, I stopped almost completely.
I hate owning so much junk. But I love having this much junk.
It's a constant battle in my head. I really wish my gf would stop mentioning moving. I can't imagine downsizing after being this spoiled.
I actually went out and bought a rolling cart, because I have room to roll it around my garage, it blows my mind. I wish I owned the place though. Moving is going to suck.
Random rant over.
I hate owning so much junk. But I love having this much junk.
It's a constant battle in my head. I really wish my gf would stop mentioning moving. I can't imagine downsizing after being this spoiled.
I actually went out and bought a rolling cart, because I have room to roll it around my garage, it blows my mind. I wish I owned the place though. Moving is going to suck.
Random rant over.
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,468
Total Cats: 365
My most-missed kitchen stuff here in NZ is all my cast iron cookware. You can do so much with it. Single purpose? That's a vision limitation of the chef, not an inherent liability of the cookware.
A properly seasoned 12 inch skillet will do a lot for you. Eggs, steaks, pizza crusts.
Get the griddle for easy excellent fish and other things.
Season with flax seed oil. Google as to why, but it works better than vegetable oil.
A properly seasoned 12 inch skillet will do a lot for you. Eggs, steaks, pizza crusts.
Get the griddle for easy excellent fish and other things.
Season with flax seed oil. Google as to why, but it works better than vegetable oil.
My most-missed kitchen stuff here in NZ is all my cast iron cookware. You can do so much with it. Single purpose? That's a vision limitation of the chef, not an inherent liability of the cookware.
A properly seasoned 12 inch skillet will do a lot for you. Eggs, steaks, pizza crusts.
A properly seasoned 12 inch skillet will do a lot for you. Eggs, steaks, pizza crusts.
--Ian
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Posts: 5,677
Total Cats: 800
It's not that. Not at all. The vast majority of my at-home meals are home-cooked as well. And I enjoy cooking. It's a creative outlet of sorts.
It's just that I've always prided myself on being somewhat... minimalist, I suppose. I can't explain it. I've always owned old cars, I ride a cheap bike every day, I use an old* desktop PC at home, I haven't cable or satellite service for 6 or 7 years, I wear inexpensive clothing and only own one wristwatch...
I find it difficult to justify the acquisition of material objects which are not, well... essential.
And yet my last 3 cars have been Miatas, two of which were heavily modified with nonessential components. And I enjoy fine food.
**** it all. I just don't know who I am.
It's just that I've always prided myself on being somewhat... minimalist, I suppose. I can't explain it. I've always owned old cars, I ride a cheap bike every day, I use an old* desktop PC at home, I haven't cable or satellite service for 6 or 7 years, I wear inexpensive clothing and only own one wristwatch...
* = built in 2010, from components that were precisely one generation behind at the time.
I just prefer to live a simple existence. I say this, somewhat counterintuitively on the face, as someone who lives in a hi-rise in Manhattan, but even that has a sort of logic behind it. I needn't have a car, or even ride the train each day... I even use the stairs to get to and from my 6th floor apartment, rather than taking the elevator. For the past decade and a half, I've prided myself on the fact that all of my earthly belongings fit comfortably into a 16' Penske truck, a fact which I seem to insist on proving every 2-3 years on average.I find it difficult to justify the acquisition of material objects which are not, well... essential.
And yet my last 3 cars have been Miatas, two of which were heavily modified with nonessential components. And I enjoy fine food.
**** it all. I just don't know who I am.
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,076
Total Cats: 6,628
Honestly, I can't think of a single thing I'd want to cook (aside from the underside of a pizza) which is better done in a cast iron skillet as opposed to something else.
Stir-fry? Large pan with lid.
Pizza sauce? Large pan with lid.
Fried rice? 6 qt pot.
Chili? 6 qt pot.
Roasted vegetables / chicken / tofu? Roasting pan.
Pizza? Still working on that one.
I don't fry eggs-over-easy, I don't cook steak or griddle-cakes...
Gimme a few years to mull it over.
2 Props,3 Dildos,& 1 Cat
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Fake Virginia
Posts: 19,338
Total Cats: 573
to be fair, you can't really do acidic stuff in cast iron.
But the stir fry and roasting can be done in it. cast iron does great on top or inside the range. I have two cast iron pans. one lives on the stove top permanently (9") and the other (12") hangs on the wall but is often used in concert with the first. Sometimes you have to make fajita veggies while you're searing the meat and not in the same pan.
Seriously Joe, you can do awesome things with cast iron. Go get a 12 inch pan, a side of cheap flap or skirt, an onion, and a bell pepper, a stack of tortillas, and whatever else you want and get to work. Then the pizza will work itself out.
BTW parchment paper prebakes on pizza dough mean never having to say "cornmeal".
But the stir fry and roasting can be done in it. cast iron does great on top or inside the range. I have two cast iron pans. one lives on the stove top permanently (9") and the other (12") hangs on the wall but is often used in concert with the first. Sometimes you have to make fajita veggies while you're searing the meat and not in the same pan.
Seriously Joe, you can do awesome things with cast iron. Go get a 12 inch pan, a side of cheap flap or skirt, an onion, and a bell pepper, a stack of tortillas, and whatever else you want and get to work. Then the pizza will work itself out.
BTW parchment paper prebakes on pizza dough mean never having to say "cornmeal".
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,076
Total Cats: 6,628
a side of cheap flap or skirt, an onion, and a bell pepper, a stack of tortillas, and whatever else you want and get to work.
BTW Joe, your knife will hold a sharp edge longer if you wash it right after use and immediately dry it. Apparently oxidation occurs during air drying that dulls the blade.
I'm told that it also works with razor blades - if you dry them right away(blow dryer?) they last for months.
I'm told that it also works with razor blades - if you dry them right away(blow dryer?) they last for months.
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,076
Total Cats: 6,628
BTW Joe, your knife will hold a sharp edge longer if you wash it right after use and immediately dry it. Apparently oxidation occurs during air drying that dulls the blade.
I'm told that it also works with razor blades - if you dry them right away(blow dryer?) they last for months.
I'm told that it also works with razor blades - if you dry them right away(blow dryer?) they last for months.
Never thought to try it with a razor blade. Not really sure how I'd do it, actually.
I'm not especially worried. After Gillette discontinued the first-gen "Sensor" series, I purchased several handles and about two decades' worth of cartridges from an Asian-domestic-market supplier. I tend to change them about once a month anyway (save me the drama about how I'm ******* up my face. I have rugged, swarthy Mediterranean skin.)
Not really concerned about running out any time soon. And I ******* hate change.
I probably make it 2-3 months on a sam's club mach 3 blade shaving daily. Always make sure it's clean and turn it blade-up to dry when I'm finished.
Skillet is a wonderful tool for searing steaks, scallops, fish, and butterflied backstrap.
Skillet is a wonderful tool for searing steaks, scallops, fish, and butterflied backstrap.
Speaking of shaving, I switched to old school safety razors and brush/creme and I couldn't be happier. I can change blades whenever I want and it costs me very little. My face is as smooth as any gilette shave and I enjoy the shave experience.
I really, really hate winter daylight hours. I leave work at 4:30. Home by 4:45. Change clothes, take a walk with my wife and child and by the time we get back to the house around 5:30, it's almost completely dark.
I've been halfway through a stereo (re)install on the Sentra for nearly a week now because I have missed the tiny windows of daylight available to me to work on it. I guess I could get up at 4:30 AM tomorrow morning.
I've been halfway through a stereo (re)install on the Sentra for nearly a week now because I have missed the tiny windows of daylight available to me to work on it. I guess I could get up at 4:30 AM tomorrow morning.