What’s on your mind?

[boswald]

Paid a fleeting, flying visit to the farmers' market and purchased several types of olives, a bag of mixed varieties of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chives, French onions, plus several gorgeous heads of locally grown new season's garlic, along with apricots, nectarines, and peaches.

Peaches are my favorite and I could eat them all day, everyday. It's just a shame the selection at the local grocery is always terrible, regardless of the time of year. There's other places, but their markup is almost as bad as Apple's. I should research how to grow my own...

 

[boppin]

Do you have some kind of nicknames for foreign countries?

I need to explain this. Dr. Gregor Gysi (politician from German left party) once explained it beautifully. He said that when Berliners give a name to something or someone, it is considered accepted. Or to put it another way: we don't mean that in a derogatory sense, but rather appreciatively!

For example, we call sometimes the people from The Netherlands as "Käskôppe", which means in English some kind of Cheeseheads. That's because Gouda is every time associated with the Netherlands.

I personally call the Italian as "Spaghettis", not because they are stupid or something, because they invented it and I like them! 🛐

I remember Luca the astronaut. I hope you understand.

Well, we have a need for a book for intercultural competency. My former social worker I met did write about it 🇮🇹

 

[WriteNow]

Peaches are my favorite and I could eat them all day, everyday. It's just a shame the selection at the local grocery is always terrible, regardless of the time of year. There's other places, but their markup is almost as bad as Apple's.

I used like to buy peaches from an open air produce market. They were vastly superior to what the grocery store had. They were more expensive, but I felt the quality was worth it. I suspect the price could have been justified by the costs of what was involved in growing, transporting, and selling those better peaches.

Sadly, that market is now gone...and I'm stuck with what the grocery store has.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

On my mind are the almost comically blank expressions on the faces of the two individuals who manned the olive (and olive oil) stall, earlier this afternoon, when I visited the farmers' market.

I had asked about one of their products, a chorizo made from Iberico pigs, - they had several salamis laid out - to be met with a shrug (as they looked at one another), elaborated further with the less than helpful response, "I'm vegetarian".

Well, yes. As it happens, while I don't mind someone being vegetarian, nevertheless, I do think that they ought to be able to identify, and discuss, and answer questions about products that they themselves are selling.

I had been tasked by my beloved to get some dill on the way home. I duly stopped in at a greengrocer and asked the young lass if they had any dill.
The look of pure bewilderment on her face was unforgettable. I believe she thought I was asking if she was a dill...

 

[Richard8655]

We used to eat a lot of peaches until reading about the high level of pesticides they contain, unless buying organic. It's a shame because it's such a flavorful and tasty fruit. Organic versions are not always easy to find.

 

[boswald]

We used to eat a lot of peaches until reading about the high level of pesticides they contain, unless buying organic. It's a shame because it's such a flavorful and tasty fruit. Organic versions are not always easy to find.

The same could be said for all fruit, really, and yes, it's a shame. I wish the FDA would step in and actually do their job.

 

[Richard8655]

The same could be said for all fruit, really, and yes, it's a shame. I wish the FDA would step in and actually do their job.

Definitely the FDA should be more proactive. Apparantly it's a matter of degree. Some fruits much worse than others. Peaches are #6. The Dirty Dozen list comes from the WHO.

 

[WriteNow]

I have to admit that I'm concerned by pestitcides in produce... My ideal would be to go organic, but that doesn't work well for my current budget realities much of the time. 😭

Maybe it's playing Russian Produce Roulette, but I A) buy into the argument one is better off eating fruit than not, even if flawed, and B) peach season is a small chunk of the year. (I got my first peaches a week ago. I'll probably have my last peach of the year in less than four months. During that time, I'll be eating a variety of summer fruit, although much of it unfortunately brings concerns about pesticides. When possible and practical, I'll buy organic, too.)

 

[boppin]

This is all that’s left of my first Intel-based iMac. The machine was disposed of a long time ago. First the SuperDrive gave out, then the internal hard drive died, and finally the logic board. It did last a good long while, though.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The summer solstice is on my mind.

Long days, bright days, sunny days, bright early mornings and long, lingering, late nights......bliss.

Yes, an unseasonal warm (blistering and scorching hot) spell approaches....which will be brutally uncomfortable, and, while we can speculate about the causes....we can also draw some reasonably plausible and credible explanations for this.

 

[adrianlondon]

The summer solstice is on my mind.

Long days, bright days, sunny days, bright early mornings and long, lingering, late nights......bliss.

Yes, an unseasonal warm (blistering and scorching hot) spell approaches....which will be brutally uncomfortable, and, while we can speculate about the causes....we can also draw some reasonably plausible and credible explanations for this.

Just been for a short bike ride, to run* an errand.



* No running involved.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just been for a short bike ride, to run* an errand.

View attachment 2640141

* No running involved.

Granted, this is far, far, too uncomfortably warm for 1): this time of year, and 2): this far to the north in our corner of the European continent.

Still, I love the light, the bright light and long days (and the warmth, well, the warmth of memory rather than currently lived - or endured - experience) of what is understood by summer.

 

[adrianlondon]

True - I'm enjoying the long days; it's just irritating that this "above 35°C" weather is due to last another week or so.

I've watched a documentary about supermarkets opening in Sapporo in the middle of winter, to trick my brain into thinking it's cold 😁

 

[boppin]

Granted, this is far, far, too uncomfortably warm for 1): this time of year, and 2): this far to the north in our corner of the European continent.

Edinburgh. 18 degrees Celsius. Mostly cloudy. 🌥️

I think I should booking a flight ✈️

 

[boppin]

Just been for a short bike ride, to run* an errand.

I think that’s great! My neighbor Hermann is always out and about on his bike, too. Well, it’s easy to do here in our village since everything is close by. Unless you have a family to look after—then you need a car. But he doesn't need all that much.

 

[boswald]

I've been struggling with PT lately. Instead of those ridiculous "side planks" I had to do before, now I'm doing these weird "bird dog" poses, where I'm on my belly, arching my back, and extending opposite arms and legs. I hold them for 5 seconds, then repeat 15 times each side. Doesn't sound difficult to the average person, but when you have a spinal fusion and degenerative discs right around the area where the back bends, well... you get the idea. I told them they're difficult and they hurt, but all they said was "no pain no gain" (not verbatim). I guess I need more practice.

Other than that, been thinking about different parts of the country (i.e. west). I've been in Indiana most of my life, then I visited KY, TN, VA, SC, GA, and finally FL. You could say I've seen enough of the east coast. I'm also stuck in between two extremes are far as weather is concerned: summer and winter. Florida doesn't really have seasons. So I thought maybe if I ran into some extra money I could go out west. Not to live ("out of the frying pan and into the fire" weather), but visit iconic places like California, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Arizona, etc.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

In general, I am not someone who likes cold water, or - perish the thought - cold showers. Shuddering shiver.

Normally, I like my water - especially my showers - to be piping hot.

However, just now, while I will not willingly concede the pleasures of hot water in my life, I can see a place for........somewhat tepid showers.

 

[adrianlondon]

Agreed. Tepid is the right word for the best type of shower at the moment.

Hot is, obviously, uncomfortable in this heat. Plus, unless you have a nice big bathroom with fans and windows, adding humidity into a home environment is not pleasant.

Cold showers seem like a great idea (apparently it helps with "brown fat" or something, same as jumping into freezing water for 20-30 seconds) but, ironically, are better when the weather's cold.

Cold showers send the body into minor shock - it moves the blood away from extremities (evolution hasn't prepared us for jumping in cold showers in the summer!) to stop us freezing to death. So the body stays nice and warm. Then when the shower's over, all that lovely warm blood is pumped back from whence it came. So you get hot again pretty much immediately.

Tea, though - British tea only it seems 😁 - is magic, according to my Mum. Want to warm up when it's cold? Big mug of milky tea. Want to cool down when it's hot? Big mug of milky tea.

Sounds rubbish, but I'm still drinking big mugs of tea even in this weather. Alternating with iced americanos.

 

[Richard8655]

I've been struggling with PT lately. Instead of those ridiculous "side planks" I had to do before, now I'm doing these weird "bird dog" poses, where I'm on my belly, arching my back, and extending opposite arms and legs. I hold them for 5 seconds, then repeat 15 times each side. Doesn't sound difficult to the average person, but when you have a spinal fusion and degenerative discs right around the area where the back bends, well... you get the idea. I told them they're difficult and they hurt, but all they said was "no pain no gain" (not verbatim). I guess I need more practice.

Other than that, been thinking about different parts of the country (i.e. west). I've been in Indiana most of my life, then I visited KY, TN, VA, SC, GA, and finally FL. You could say I've seen enough of the east coast. I'm also stuck in between two extremes are far as weather is concerned: summer and winter. Florida doesn't really have seasons. So I thought maybe if I ran into some extra money I could go out west. Not to live ("out of the frying pan and into the fire" weather), but visit iconic places like California, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Arizona, etc.

I've considered the west coast as well. The southwestern states (Arizona, New Mexico) can get hot, but without the humidy that I really find uncomfortable. I understand that Prescott in the higher elevations of Arizon has particularly mild temperatures year-round.

But I'd probably make Oregon or Washington state my destination. Also cooler temperatures with lots of forests, mountains, national parks, and bike trails. Also urban areas with cultural activities.

 

[rm5]

I’m from NM originally and the heat is brutal. Sure it’s “dry heat,” but do you want your car to be 130 degrees when you step in after going shopping? That’s what I recently experienced. I have shades to go over the windshield and even then it still is too hot to get into at first—have to air it out for at least 2-3 minutes.

 

[boswald]

I've considered the west coast as well. The southwestern states (Arizona, New Mexico) can get hot, but without the humidy that I really find uncomfortable. I understand that Prescott in the higher elevations of Arizon has particularly mild temperatures year-round.

But I'd probably make Oregon or Washington state my destination. Also cooler temperatures with lots of forests, mountains, national parks, and bike trails. Also urban areas with cultural activities.

I thought about Oregon as well. Mostly because I know a girl from there, but also because I heard it's beautiful and scenic. I would love to go down some bike trails or hiking paths without catching on fire from Florida heat or my back giving up on me barely into the walk.

 

[Richard8655]

I’m from NM originally and the heat is brutal. Sure it’s “dry heat,” but do you want your car to be 130 degrees when you step in after going shopping? That’s what I recently experienced. I have shades to go over the windshield and even then it still is too hot to get into at first—have to air it out for at least 2-3 minutes.

Thanks for the update. Sounds brutal for sure. Since I never lived there, that's good information to know. A colleague from where I worked retired to Prescott. She reports weather there is very pleasant all year.

 

[Richard8655]

I thought about Oregon as well. Mostly because I know a girl from there, but also because I heard it's beautiful and scenic. I would love to go down some bike trails or hiking paths without catching on fire from Florida heat or my back giving up on me barely into the walk.

Yes, since I'm also an avid biker (cycling), I look for bike-friendly areas with lots of paths and trail systems. Where I live there are some pretty good trails which are converted from former railroads. "Rails to Trails" is still in progress here and the expectation is the whole urban and suburban area will be accessible by bike. But I agree, the extreme heat during biking isn't welcome.

 

[boppin]

I bought these Pepsi glasses back in the day. Never used them. They’re meant to be given away. But nobody wants them. Strange.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I’m from NM originally and the heat is brutal. Sure it’s “dry heat,” but do you want your car to be 130 degrees when you step in after going shopping? That’s what I recently experienced. I have shades to go over the windshield and even then it still is too hot to get into at first—have to air it out for at least 2-3 minutes.