The Not Happy Thread

Yeah, I'd shy away from any overtly political bar even if it agreed with me these days. Back in 08 the Democrats Abroad did reserve a place for an election-watch party, but that was a special event outside of normal business hours. And Japan, where the locals DGAF and the gaijin demographic skews heavily left.

 

You did the right thing- voting for the candidate of your choice. If this is worst thing your mother can find to be disappointed by, either you need to act out more or she needs to lighten the hell up.

 

My dad also maintained an air of political mystery, as he felt voting was a private personal matter. My mum by contrast didn't say anything outright, but when I asked her she told me who she voted for.
Looking back, I'm pretty confident which party my dad voted for. It would be the polar opposite of my mums choice. Sums them up well as a couple, honestly. They were on different pages about everything.

 

I'm the sole conservative in a family of screaming Lefties. We're having a family reunion this summer the weekend before the Democratic convention. Should be interesting.

 

Could I join? If only to attempt to be the mediator there as I am a Lefty myself xD

 

I survived the opposite dinner just a few weeks ago. Amazing how much discussion one can have about the weather.

 

Sure, but I suspect that TDS will eliminate any possibility of mediation this time around.

 

My parents and I just canceled each other out, one vote each for Biden, Bernie and Bloomberg. I'm sure my brother skipped it. Everybody's pretty okay with all four choices. Just remind your parents what some of the candidate seem to have forgotten: you're all still on the same side.

 

The photography side of things kinda just fell flat lately though my writings been going well. A project I had lined up got mixed up and fell apart, judging by no return email from the gallery I submitted to they passed, and the canvas print I had made while it was discounted greatly is breathtaking....and staying in a book in the guest room. A piece of art not being shown...wasteful. Gotta find a place to hang it proudly. Even the B and H photography conference I normally live stream missed with work. Which is fine I just feel like that`s the ball that`s dropping. Though maybe that`s ok, let it rest for now come back to it later. Skipping this years exhibit with the local camera club, haven`t even renewed my dues. I don`t know.

 

Three pitta bread I got in the same packet. What happened to quality control?

 

In my eagerness to be clever, I seasoned my skillets with too much oil. Now, instead of being non-stick-enchanted bastions of cast-iron cookery, they are the metal equivalent of fly paper. You have no idea how bad that feels. Not to mention my house is now full of smoke. Have to do it all over again.

-SIN

 

Been there, done that. Better luck next time.

 

I don't even use my cast iron pans for exactly this reason. The art of seasoning them properly is beyond me. I admire my pans as they hang on the kitchen wall, but I don't touch them because every time I do, I ruin them.

 

(I don't use or have any cast iron pans).

 

Not me, like I said I don't have or use cast iron.
It was for the sake of the others who have been
ruining their pans.

 

In my defense, my skillets are not that abused. That is a horror show. That said they need a good hour and half of work, each. I'm going to try again tonight, after I scrub that gunk off of them. I am determined. I will have properly seasoned skillets.

-SIN

 

Quit washing them, they hate water. Cook, deglaze, and wipe. That’s it.

 

Uh, can you give more details? What do you mean by "deglaze"?

 

Well this seems to be what it means.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/deglaze

 

I just get some of those wire scratch pads, not the steel wool ones with soap in them, but the nasty flat stainless steel wire that'll slice your finger if you catch a loop of it.



No soap at all, just hot water and the steel pad. Once any junk is scraped off I put it on the burner to evaporate any water that's on it. Soap will remove the oils you need to keep the iron in good condition, and if it air dries it may rust. I don't have any serious cast iron in Japan, but I've got a couple of steak pans and a wok that get the same treatment.

 

I'm not sure what he meant, but I know I use cast iron fry pans a lot. I've got one with ridges in the bottom and one that's smooth. When I'm finished using one, I simply put hot water into it, put it on the stove to 'boil' and scrape any excess stuff off with a plastic spatula designed for use with teflon-coated pans. (Deglazing?) Stuff usually comes away quite easily.

Then I wash the pan by hand (yep, in water), and put it back on the stove at a high enough heat to evaporate the water. Once the water is evaporated and the pan is still hot, I put some olive oil into it, rub it around with a paper towel, then wait for the pan to cool completely before putting it away. This method really works to keep the pans non-stick and the interiors smooth. Pre-seasoning really isn't crucial with this method.

Cast iron pans are fantastic for certain things, like searing meat, etc. They hold their heat for a long time, and tend to heat evenly all over the pan—unlike lots of non-stick pans, that seem to heat up mainly where the heat is concentrated underneath.

 

I haven't written a thing.... all year. I have no idea why, but my motivation for most things has gone completely.
I used to read avidly, nowadays a book is taking me a few months to finish. I used to go out walking a lot with my camera, that hasn't happened since the summer.

I have no ideas for writing, no inspiration and no desire to actually write, and I'm unsure why. I'm not sure if its the effort required, or something else.

On the plus side I am working more in my garden, or starting to, and I'm looking forward to growing vegetables again this year. I do love it when I walk into my greenhouse and see the first signs of life sprouting up. That gives me a buzz.

I wish I knew what was going on with the writing, or lack of.

 

I can totally relate to that.