THE WEISS CHRONICLES

Friday, April 30, 2010

Suppose the coffee is too hot for the container

Yesterday, I took Ann to a doctor for a routine check up. I waited at a nearby Starbucks. I purchased one drink and took it to the fixing bar and poured a little coffee out (other people did that too) and then put sweetener in it, etc.

After a while I was mostly done with my coffee and Ann wasn't yet done with her check up so I went for a refill. I asked the barrister to leave the old coffee in. He looked puzzled and hurt. I said that the reason was that the coffee is so hot it hurts. He said, well what if I use two cups.

So that's the way to be able to hold the coffee now that Starbucks abandoned Styrofoam.

posted by Martin Weiss # 8:50 AM

Can Lasagna Be Improved?

Last night I dreamed that Ann was about to start a Lasagna. I suggested that she add black olives and black beans (since we don't use meat with the lasagna).

She made a call to Lisa Muric (her friend who is a food expert) and Lisa approved.

posted by Martin Weiss # 8:39 AM

Thursday, April 29, 2010

It can be Funny When You Don't Have It

Beth evidently doesn't have a good gaydar sense. I think I have a better sense (I got 70% on an on line gaydar test which rank we in the top 40% of the population).

However, her lack of gaydar led to a delightful story where she attended a GLBT orthodox minyan without realizing it.

She she placed the story (there is more to it than this) on her blog.

Her blog is call Jtownponderings and is here

posted by Martin Weiss # 8:43 PM

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A Ganglion Cyst
and
a Bright Idea

Today I went to the doctor. I had a lump on my finger that was a ganglion cyst (it looked like the image except my ganglion was on my right index finger pretty near the fingernail. The doctor opened the cyst and squeezed out some of the fluid. Some was blood and some looked like clear waterproofing jell.

The odds are that the cyst will regrow and I will have to go to a hand surgeon but on the other hand, this procedure might catalyze a healing. Most such cysts can be left alone but mine was close enough to the finger nail that if it kept growing it might cause all kinds of fungus or bacteria trouble.

After the procedure was over I told the doctor I had an idea.

My idea was that since I was already in the office and since I had scheduled a regular annual physical in June I should have my blood taken that day and the results could be examined at the time of the physical. The doctor agreed that this was a good idea and I got blood drawn.

posted by Martin Weiss # 3:19 PM

Monday, April 19, 2010

Sixth Save for Matt Capps

I was at the Nationals Game this evening with Stanley. Matt Capps got his 6th save of the season which is quite a trick as the Nationals only have 7 wins so far (in 13 games). In these 6 saves, Capps has pitched 6 and 1/3th inning.

The Nats starter was Craig Stammen who pitched the first 8 innings. Stammen came in the game with an ERA of about 12.0 which wasn't even close to the worst ERA on the starting rotation (Jason Marquis has an ERA above 20.0). My favorite play of the game was when the Colorado center fielder, Carlos Gonzalez lost a fly ball in the lights (Adam Dunn got a cheap double on the play and later scored a run).

The win over the Rockies was the first win by the Nationals against the Rockies in Nationals Stadium (Colorado was 6-0 or 7-0 against Washington in 2009).

.

posted by Martin Weiss # 11:26 PM

Should You Crush the Beans
in the Stew

I like stews all year (but it is especially good in winter). I also like beans in my stew.

One of the interesting things I have discovered is that crushing the beans (or at least some of the beans) before heating the stew has some interesting effects:

1. it thickens the stew without adding wheat paste or corn starch

2. it thickens the stew color depending on the color of the bean

3. the flavor of the stew is more consistent

However, using crushed beans also requires that you not cook the stew too hot too long. Also crushing the beans is easier if you use canned beans rather than dry beans (if you use the latter, you have to soak them a long time).

Apparently, crushed bean soup is a dish served from Australia to Japan (using red beans). They also frequently sweeten this up and make it like a dessert.

posted by Martin Weiss # 4:23 PM

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Bumblebee on the 18 floor

I was at a 60th birthday party for Don R. today (a friend since the 1960s).

The party was on the rooftop pavilion and inside party room of the building Don and his wife Lisa live in. It was a very nice view (and the party was nice too.)

But what I remembered most was that when I was on the outside pavilion, there was a lone bumblebee flying around.

It reminded me of the 1934 article stating that bumblebees can't fly which then became an urban myth of sorts. I once saw a bird chasing a bumblebee in the air. Nice acrobatics but eventually the bird won.

Also, I went to another party later today (one of my friends threw a party to honor his son getting engaged).

Discussion of the 1934 article is here.

posted by Martin Weiss # 9:43 PM

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Twenty Degree Drop During a Performance

Beth and Ann went to the Roundhouse Theater in Bethesda this evening to see a live version of "My name is Asher Lev".

I dropped them off at a metrorail stop about 700 pm. The temperature (per the dashboard reading in the car) was 81F. When I picked them up about 1015 pm, the temperature was 59F

I stayed home to complete my Maryland State Income Tax filing.

posted by Martin Weiss # 11:25 PM

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Another Dream

I dreamt that I was selected as a consultant to Vice President Joe Biden's security detail to provide consulting services (and I acknowledge that I have essentially no expertise in this area).

In the dream, I watched a Biden public appearance (something at a store of some kind) and then sat for a meeting with Biden's chief of security.

He asked questions but I don't remember what they were or what I answered.

posted by Martin Weiss # 1:21 AM

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Passover Dream

I dreamt that our family was spending some of Passover in a cabin in a forest area.

We had discarded our bread into the woods behind the cabin.

In my dream, giant raccoons had grabbed the bread and were dragging it back toward our house.

Argg

posted by Martin Weiss # 1:17 AM