theOfficial Hijacking Threads Hijack Thread

[raebates]

The Furry Guy and I had so much fun at Katies! Good food. Good talk. The Furry Guy was worn out after playing with the kids. He slept well that night. It's amazing how quickly the three of us Cheffers fell into talking like we were old friends. Well, I guess we are, in a way.

The Furry Guy and I spent over four hours on Sunday at Jungle Jim's. It's a huge world market--over six acres! (We spent over an hour and a half there on Saturday morning just shopping around the perimeter.) They have regular grocery items, but they also have foods from all over the world, a large kitchen gadget section, hundreds of cheeses, hundreds of wines, and exotic meats. Anyone need whole pig heads, sheep heads (complete with eyeballs), duck heads, duck feet, chicken feet, or sheep testicles? I know where you can find them. It's a fun place with a singing Elvis lion, a flying pig, and a giant talking, singing Campbell's Soup can.

I know some of you are curious as to what we bought, so here's the basic list:

• Ground kangaroo meat (2 pounds)
• Aligator steaks (2 pounds)
• Five different kinds of olives (they have an olive bar with dozens to choose from)
• Three different cheeses
• Sheep's milk cheese​
• Stilton with blueberries​
• White cheddar with porter​
• Six different fruits
• Lychee​
• Rambutan​
• Quince​
• Kiwano Melon​
• Mamey Supote​
• Longan​
• Mead infused with black raspberries
• Plum wine
• Lingonberries in syrup
• New Zealand honey

When we got home, we tried the fruits. We liked most, but the mamey supote tasted like paw paw mixed with melon--not good. And, while the kiwano melon tasted okay, it has a really odd texture--seeds in jelly. Again, not good.The quince was good, but really dry.

After that, we had a cheese, olive, and wine tasting. A couple of the olives we could have done without, but the cheeses and the mead were fabulous! The plum wine was okay. The little bottle we bought held about an ounce--just enough for a taste. I wouldn't refuse a glass, but it's not something I would order.

All in all, it was a great adventure. If you have a few hours (and $$) to spare the next time you're in the Cincinnati area, I encourage you to go. It's a foodie's dream.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

While I've never gone Waltzing Matilda, I don't think I could eat Joey.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

And, yes, the Kat Lady really does exist. She's not just made up by KG! She'd fit right in around here.

Yup, photographic proof.

Left to right - ChefAnn, Flash, TKG and The Kat Lady. The Flash is just above the logo of The Kat Lady's alma mater.

 

[chefann]

We hijacked a passing student to get that shot (Greetings from the Lake Forest oasis! Hooray for free wi-fi!)

 

[chefann]

So who wants to know what happens on a long-distance trip in a car with a failed alternator? We drove home in "stealth" mode - no lights, radio, turn signals, wipers, or anything else that would use any power at all. And we had a mile-by-mile countdown for the last 30 miles.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Apollo 14 - Dearborn, we've had a problem.

 

[chefann]

Last night was a real adventure. We drove from Madison to Fox Point, mostly in the dark, so the lights were on. We drained the battery enough that we had no turn signals at all coming up I43, and the headlights were practically off going through the subdivision - and there are no street lights in my sister's neighborhood. Luckily, we made it into her driveway. Right as we pulled in, BIL called us to see where we were (they left Madison at the same time, but stopped for coffee and potty break, and we hadn't been staying together anyway). He gave us the code to get to the spare house key, so we didn't have to wait 30 minutes in a dead car.DH got up early and went to Lowe's to get a charger (the same Lowe's we passed twice Saturday!), and plugged the car in for 3 hours this morning. We were fine until we stopped for gas at Pipestone Road (MI exit 29 on I94), and couldn't start the car again. Had to get a jump start from a tow truck.DH realized that he hadn't noticed the problem with the alternator because we haven't driven that car much at all the last couple of years, and when we have, it's been mostly short trips. And he keeps it on a trickle charger in the garage, so it's always fully charged. Tomorrow's project is to change the alternator.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I would never be able to travel long distances in a modern car like that, because I'd never know what to carry. I used to carry a generator with me in the Model A on long distance trips but gave it up when I put an alternator on the car. (I've never had headlights as bright as I do with an alternator!) I did have a generator along with me on the Lincoln Highway cross country trip, in case the alternator failed and it didn't.One of my Model A buddies used to have a DeSoto that didn't charge. He simply put a trickle charger in the car with the plug hanging out through the grill and he only stopped in places where he could plug in for awhile.Sort of what some people are doing with their Honda electric cars. Henry Ford (quoting Ecclesiastes) was right - there really is nothing new under the sun.I'm glad you got home alright.

 

[dianevill]

Last night was a real adventure. We drove from Madison to Fox Point, mostly in the dark, so the lights were on. We drained the battery enough that we had no turn signals at all coming up I43, and the headlights were practically off going through the subdivision - and there are no street lights in my sister's neighborhood. Luckily, we made it into her driveway. Right as we pulled in, BIL called us to see where we were (they left Madison at the same time, but stopped for coffee and potty break, and we hadn't been staying together anyway). He gave us the code to get to the spare house key, so we didn't have to wait 30 minutes in a dead car.

DH got up early and went to Lowe's to get a charger (the same Lowe's we passed twice Saturday!), and plugged the car in for 3 hours this morning. We were fine until we stopped for gas at Pipestone Road (MI exit 29 on I94), and couldn't start the car again. Had to get a jump start from a tow truck.

DH realized that he hadn't noticed the problem with the alternator because we haven't driven that car much at all the last couple of years, and when we have, it's been mostly short trips. And he keeps it on a trickle charger in the garage, so it's always fully charged. Tomorrow's project is to change the alternator.

Ann, so sorry to hear about your car troubles - that stinks! Hope aside from that, you had a nice time in WI!

 

[chefann]

Had a blast in WI! Loved meeting up with you, KG and the Kat Lady. Gotta brag on my relatives for a minute. My BIL finished the Ironman in 12:06 (that's 12 hours, 6 minutes). Sis had a goal to beat her personal best and break 14 hours. She finished in 13:45. She was 15 minutes behind BIL finishing the swim (2.4 miles), lost a lot of time on the bike (112 miles), because while she's accustomed to climbs, she's not used to the small up-and-down of the course in Madison, and that did her in a little. But she completed her run (26.2 miles) 15 minutes faster than BIL.And look what I found on the Ironman site:

That's Sis zipping up BIL's wet suit for the swim.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

There are two major reasons that I'd never participate in that event.One, look at the form fitting wetsuit - some people shouldn't wear Spandex - or wet suits - and I'm one of them.Of course, the real reason is that I'd drop dead of a heart attack 15 minutes into it and I'd not be a very good looking corpse in that suit.

 

[katie0128]

There are two major reasons that I'd never participate in that event.

One, look at the form fitting wetsuit - some people shouldn't wear Spandex - or wet suits - and I'm one of them.

Of course, the real reason is that I'd drop dead of a heart attack 15 minutes into it and I'd not be a very good looking corpse in that suit.

Amen! And unfortunately, some people that shouldn't wear these fabrics are completely oblivious to the fact that they are "some people"!

 

[dianevill]

Awesome pic, Ann! Congrats to your sister and BIL. I can't even imagine. I used to work with a guy who competed in an Iron Man in Hawaii. We were all begging him to take us with him. Oddly enough, he chose his wife...

KG - at least you'd last 15 minutes. Don't think I could make it that long!

 

[dianevill]

Amen! And unfortunately, some people that shouldn't wear these fabrics are completely oblivious to the fact that they are "some people"!

No doubt!!

 

[dianevill]

Meant to tell you, Ann, I was flying back from lunch to meet the bus. I arrived at 3:48; bus arrived at 3:49. Talk about cutting it close. My stomach was in knots when I got stopped by a train:yuck:.

The cheesecake never did make it past Friday night .

 

[chefann]

I'm glad you made it back in time, Diane. Good thing the train wasn't a couple cars longer. My sister finished my cheesecake on Saturday night. She kept commenting on how good it was. They've never been to Cheesecake Factory, but it's hard with 3 kids and a tight budget.Took DH to the mall on our way out of town. He wanted to go to the Apple Store to play with the new iPod Touch models. He didn't see online that they wouldn't be available until later this month.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Not to mention, that mall isn't exactly on your way home.You should have taken him to the Alternator Store.

 

[chefann]

It was on the way home. There's an Apple Store at Bayshore. I had walked past it with Sis on Friday morning. It's right across from "Everything but Water," which appears to be a bathing suit shop. Dan considered changing the alternator in IL, but he didn't have the right tools with him. He carries a small tool kit on long trips, but there are no specialty tools in it - just standard wrenches, screwdrivers, nut drivers, etc.This is a photo from Sunday of my nieces and nephew.

Left to right: BIL, Owen (O-man, WI, 1), Stephanie (CO, 4), Katherine (Kit, CO, 8 - on top of couch), Olivia (Livi, WI, 4), Victoria (Toria, CO, 10), Sophia (Gertie, WI, 2).

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

They look amazingly like the Farkle Family!

 

[raebates]

Forgot to mention in my list that we also bought some insects at Jungle Jim's. We both ate farm ants in white chocolate. The ants don't really have any taste, just a bit of crunch.The Furry Guy also ate meal worms and crickets in milk chocolate and white chocolate. He said they had a really strong grain-like taste.

 

[chefann]

mmm... in case you weren't getting your RDI of insect parts from other processed foods, right?

Sounds like your trip was a blast.

 

[raebates]

mmm... in case you weren't getting your RDI of insect parts from other processed foods, right?

Sounds like your trip was a blast.

Yep! I ate the ants mostly for the opportunity to gross out a few of my friends.

It was a great mini-vacation!

 

[katie0128]

I had a great time on Rae's mini-vacation, too!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Yep! I ate the ants mostly for the opportunity to gross out a few of my friends.

<Really great joke about uncles and aunts withheld for reasons of good taste.>

 

[chefann]

KG- I remembered to find the website for that beer I mentioned this weekend: http://www.shmaltz.com/

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Oy, vay! That's a great website! We've looked at that before.

 

[raebates]

<Really great joke about uncles and aunts withheld for reasons of good taste.>

I stand in awe of your restraint. (I'm also pretty sure I know the joke to which you refer. :blushing: )

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

A guy knows he needs new material when you know the punchline without the joke.

 

[chefann]

Hey, KG-- #27!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Judging from the response, I'd have to say that some people just don't know how to tell a joke.

 

[chefann]

Guess not. I'll have to work on that.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Try #62. It flows a little more easily.

 

[chefann]

Hijack!

Sad, sad news...

BOSTON -- A gifted African Grey parrot that was said to have the brain of a typical 5-year-old child died unexpectedly inside his Brandeis University science lab cage last week, leaving researchers mourning the bird's death.

Scientists said the bird, named Alex, had advanced language and speech recognition skills, and had helped reshape their understanding of the avian brain during the course of 30 years of research.

"It's devastating to lose an individual you've worked with pretty much every day for 30 years," scientist Irene Pepperberg told the Boston Globe.

The parrot, purchased in 1973, eventually learned to identify 50 different objects, seven colors and five shapes, the newspaper reported. He also learned to count quantities up to six, including zero, and was able to articulate certain desires.

Scientists said they used what they learned to help disabled children try to communicate.

It's not clear what caused the bird's death last Thursday night. A veterinarian could not find anything obviously wrong with him. Pepperberg said the average African Grey parrot lives about 50 years.

To learn more about the bird, visit AlexFoundation.org.​

Alex was an amazing bird. I've seen video of him doing things that were astonishing - counting the "green circles" on a tray of wooden shapes, identifying the differences between a brass house key and a plastic toy key, and even sounding out words using phonics. Dr. Pepperberg, his primary trainer, must be devastated at the loss both of her research subject and a friend.

 

[raebates]

That's so sad, Ann.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I can only parrot Rae's response.

 

[chefann]

groan!

I'm so sad about this. I'd seen some video a few years ago of Alex in which he didn't look too good, like he had been feather plucking. Captive birds often do that when they're bored or malnourished. But in more recent video, he looked better. And Dr. Pepperberg had signed an endorsement deal with one of the specialty bird pellet manufacturers, so Alex should have been eating better. Of course, he could have been older than 50 - he was of indeterminate age when he was purchased.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Can't you just hear Rex Harrison singing,"I've groan accustomed to your puns..."

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Hijack!Sad, sad news...

BOSTON -- A gifted African Grey parrot that was said to have the brain of a typical 5-year-old child died unexpectedly inside his Brandeis University science lab cage last week, leaving researchers mourning the bird's death.

Scientists said the bird, named Alex, had advanced language and speech recognition skills, and had helped reshape their understanding of the avian brain during the course of 30 years of research.

"It's devastating to lose an individual you've worked with pretty much every day for 30 years," scientist Irene Pepperberg told the Boston Globe. The parrot, purchased in 1973, eventually learned to identify 50 different objects, seven colors and five shapes, the newspaper reported. He also learned to count quantities up to six, including zero, and was able to articulate certain desires.Scientists said they used what they learned to help disabled children try to communicate.It's not clear what caused the bird's death last Thursday night. A veterinarian could not find anything obviously wrong with him. Pepperberg said the average African Grey parrot lives about 50 years.To learn more about the bird, visit AlexFoundation.org.​

Alex was an amazing bird. I've seen video of him doing things that were astonishing - counting the "green circles" on a tray of wooden shapes, identifying the differences between a brass house key and a plastic toy key, and even sounding out words using phonics. Dr. Pepperberg, his primary trainer, must be devastated at the loss both of her research subject and a friend.

That is very sad. I read a news report that said they actually waited to release the news that he had died so that his trainer and the other Drs that worked with him could mourn their loss - I guess they were all pretty devestated

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I saw Alex on several television specials, mostly PBS, of course. His intelligence was stunning.

 

[raebates]

Just FYI, kangaroo is very good. It tastes like really good beef--flavorful and tender.

 

[chefann]

Found a hilarious blog this weekend, linked from another one that I read occasionally: Dad Gone Mad. Warning: it's a little "blue" - lots of scatological humor. But the man can spin a good yarn.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

But it takes someone like you to knit it into a thread.

 

[chefann]

I just wasted 2 full days at work reading his archives.

 

[raebates]

That's not wasted time. It's time well-spent. After all, laughter is jogging for your insides.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Hijack! This topic was relocated from another thread.

No, I actually saw it in a THEATRE with, well, with who doesn't really matter anymore. There were pickets in front of the theatre, carrying signs that said "PORNOGRAPHY CAUSES VIOLENCE" which probably referred to the sign carriers bopping customers over the head with their signs.

 

[chefann]

Um... I think that was a little TMI.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Oh, those were the days. There were a handful of theatres that were catering to that crowd but the do-gooders were trying to get them all closed down.One theater owner, in the suburbs, said showing adult films was the only way he could keep the place viable. He said that if he ran all G films, like the do-gooders wanted, he'd go broke in less than a month. So, the locals all said they'd support him if he ran nothing but G rated films.He did.They didn't.The place closed in less than 6 weeks and was bulldozed to build condominiums.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Um... I think that was a little TMI.

Is that better now?

 

[chefann]

I think it's the whole mental image of you in one of those theaters at all. You know - you're fun-loving and full of jokes and tidbits. But your personal image is completely dichotomous with the typical porno theater patron (at least according to the stereotypes).Hey! This was post 9600!
Whoot! I'm such a post slut.And now we're back full-circle to the topic at hand. er... in hand.... um... I'll shut up now.

 

[chefann]

So you wouldn't believe what DH got in the mail today. A letter from a Lincoln Club member who has been trying to join DH's forum and can't get it to work. Rather than sending him an email, he sent a SNAIL MAIL letter! Good grief!