Flights of Fantasy discussion
Randomnessosity
>
Randomnessosity
^Yeah, imminent deadlines for reading can be annoying. I usually temper that by spacing out my requests and lending eBooks on my phone to fill in reading gaps. The lending period here is 21 days for paper unless it is 10 days for new and popular stuff. eBooks are 14 days. I am thankfully very far behind the times so I almost never have to wait on lists for books. I'm lucky and live within 3km of three branches and the terrain is very flat. The wind on the other hand.I only feel book stress when I'm trying to finish reading challenges. For general reading I've always got a list and just see what's available and request the occasional book. My library serves me really well.
There is a library near me - walking distance, actually - but its selection is pretty bad. I mainly use it to pick up my inter-library loans. Of which there are large quantities. That library is the best part, however.
When I go to work (about 45mins away and a different county) there are a decent amount of book stores, at least two comic stories (only visited 1 and it's normally empty) and tons of cool places that - like Goodwill - have books.
Mostly, I buy from Amazon and use inter-library loans. But I also borrow ebooks from friends who purchased via Amazon.
Oh how I miss having time to pursue some quality D&D gaming. We have been considering purchasing the Castle Ravenloft, or similar, board game for some light D&D action.We do however have a table top gaming night planned for this evening at our house. The toughest thing is deciding which game(s) to play. We've been digging some Castles of Burgundy and Small World lately, but then we've acquired some newer games that are quick and fun; Age of War, Dragonwood, and Machi Koro.
MrsJoseph wrote: "But I live in a cultural wasteland right now. There's only 1 bookstore within 20 miles of my house - meaning if it ain't at B&N, you have to leave the city. And it's NEVER at B&N...."If I want B&N, I have to leave the city. No, more than that I have to leave the state. The closest one is in Tallahassee, across the GA/FL line.
I could actually go to Albany in Georgia, but it's farther than Tally.
We have a B&N not too far away and 2 Books-A-Million stores. Sadly I don't buy as many books as I did when working. I do miss browsing book stores, but with bad knees and so on I don't do it so much.I think that spending a day browsing various book stores may be something that may be lost in (and to) the next generations. It's hard to explain how going out and spending time with friends beats online friending if people don't actually try it. I'm seeing things change like all older people do and wonder what will be lost along with what is being gained...
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "We have a B&N not too far away and 2 Books-A-Million stores. Sadly I don't buy as many books as I did when working. I do miss browsing book stores, but with bad knees and so on I don't do it so muc..."I love book browsing, too. I only do it online, in used bookstores and at the library when picking up a hold request.
My favorite used book store is still open but moved to a much smaller place. The smell is gone if you know what I mean. They still have their old wood shelves but the wood floor is gone and somehow it's more like "just a book store" now. I don't see the owner so much any more.I guess I'm just feeling my mortality. :)
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "My favorite used book store is still open but moved to a much smaller place. The smell is gone if you know what I mean. They still have their old wood shelves but the wood floor is gone and somehow..."Nope, you're feeling the end of a Golden Era.
My favorite bookstore (at home) was shut down some time ago. Man! I used to spend HOURS in that place. It was dark and cramped and stuffed to the rafters with books. No exaggeration - it was stuffed. Books were even piled on the stairs...and I felt at home there.
I was there so often that the owners knew me and mom - and they always asked after my mom (she'd moved out of state).
For $2 you could go in there and come out with obscene amounts of books. They sold lots of MMPBs for $0.10 and re-purchased them for $0.05. So I'd buy 20 books one week, sell them all back and then buy 20 more.
Now I'm feeling a little depressed.
Yeah, those stores are gone. The owner of that store know me. I remember in one small town where I used to live going to a little "hole in the wall" shop like you describe. You used to find them all over.
BS pregnant chick rant...I spent my lunch break at work googling dessert recipes to make for Easter. Because of this, I was left really
So like any sane person, I snuck out of work and drove to Panera to get a cranberry orange muffin. I ordered said muffin, was handed my bag, and drove back to the office. I got my plate and knife ready and say down ready to tear into my much desired and anticipated muffin. I was SO excited. I was even humming the "I'm so Excited" song out loud a little.
Bite. Chew chew chew. WTF. This is a muffin, and there is fruit in it, but it's blueberry! I like blueberry muffins, but let's face it. I'm pregnant and semi-nuts and when it comes to cravings I have a one track mind. No substitutions!
Needless to say I ate the muffin anyway. At least it was cake. But damn. That many calories committed and my craving is unsatisfied! I'm going to have to go back later this week to try again. 500 more empty cake filled calories down the drain.
Stupid Panera.
That is traumatic. I'm sorry that happened to you. :(
I would go back (after work of course) and demand the muffin you ordered! They obviously have no grounds in wanting the other back as once they passed it to you it can't be resold...Just can't get good help.
I don't want a new muffin today though, I already ate a muffin. I want a new muffin Friday perhaps. Maybe Thursday. For 500 calories, it's gotta be special timing or drastic need.I sent in an email complaint. They better give me a free muffin!
We feel your pain Dawn. Always check the order. I've been burned too many times with no ketchup for fries, or wrong items, or hamburgers for kids that have way too many condiments on them so their hands will get messy just touching them which ends up killing that lunch and potentially future lunches as well. Which means grumpy kids until I can find a food substitute.
The thing is, I did check my order. It was a muffin, and it had round little fruits in it. I thought they looked red, turned out they were blue. Cranberry orange and blueberry muffins look really similar :-(
Happy Persian New Year, everyone!
That sounds like a conspiracy...
To balance out the muffin fiasco yesterday... Good news today is that I discovered I can order Carrabba's online (I love their sausage and lentil soup) and then drive up and pick it up for lunch without even getting out of my car. I might have thrown some mini cannoli's on the order along with my soup and side salad. My life apparently revolves around food now... What do I want to eat? Where can I find what I want to eat? Am I eating too much? Am I eating too little? Will their cannoli's even be worth it? Probably not. Will I care?
I love food. They better not mess up my order!
Now you've gone and made me think that a walk to Italian Star here for a sandwich would be a good idea. :)If you count the amount of time most of us spend preparing/securing food and then consuming, we're probably talking a good three hours every day. So 12% of your life., Then factor in working to pay for the food and it's probably closer to 20% of our life just to get energy. So inefficient; so delicious. I say revel in that concept and enjoy the search and the digestion of food.
My son is enamored by Garfield these days. Eat, sleep, abuse things...I can see the attraction.
I love food. I want to talk about food all the time but I try not to.
When I'm not eating or planning what I'm going to eat, I'm thinking about when I can eat next and checking the clock to see if it's time yet. Or logging my calories to see if I can eat more. Or googling recipes because pretty.And now I have no outlet for talking about food. Which is probably why I'm coming here now? Used to be I'd talk to my husband.. "I really want a burger!" "I need a muffin!" "I ordered Carrabba's for lunch, can't wait!" But now, in order to avoid joining me in gaining 25-35 pounds while I'm pregnant, he's started a new diet. I don't want to flaunt my carbs and poor choices to him and make it harder... So I make the bad choices at lunch time, hide it, and make super healthy dinners.
Tis a hard life. And now I want a burger.
Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spammity spam wonderful spam...Hoping this puts people off food for a bit.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spammity spam wonderful spam...Hoping this puts people off food for a bit."
I actually like Spam (the food). I like it fried on a sandwich with a little mayo and cheese.
I don't eat it anymore but I remember enjoying it.
Dawn wrote: "When I'm not eating or planning what I'm going to eat, I'm thinking about when I can eat next and checking the clock to see if it's time yet. Or logging my calories to see if I can eat more. Or goo..."I do that a lot, too.
I have overrun Pepperplate with tons and tons of recipes. Some of them i even make.
I made this on Monday: Smoky Braised Chicken & Artichokes with Olives & Basil Purée
I liked it a lot. I'm also thinking I want to find a way to deepen the flavors a bit: the artichoke was so smokey but the chicken wasn't quite smokey enough.
Dawn wrote: "When I'm not eating or planning what I'm going to eat, I'm thinking about when I can eat next and checking the clock to see if it's time yet. Or logging my calories to see if I can eat more. Or goo..."I feel somewhat the same these days, but more accurately, my life revolves around calories these days. I've lost 39 lbs (with many more to go).
On the plus side, I've started doing Home Chef to save me some steps with shopping/planning. It has been working out well for me, but I am constantly talking/thinking about which recipe I will try next and can I shave off some extra calories.
I really liked Pepperplate for a while, and then got out of the habit of using it. I need to get back into it. That recipe looks yummy, I might try it out.
I made Summer Vegetables with Sausage and Potatoes earlier this week and really liked it. My husband approved as well, which surprised me since he's not a fan of zucchini or bell peppers (he's super picky). I substituted turkey smoked sausage for the chicken sausage because it sounded good. Recipe is definitely going in my favorites collection.
Valerie wrote: "On the plus side, I've started doing Home Chef to save me some steps with shopping/planning. It has been working out well for me, but I am constantly talking/thinking about which recipe I will try next and can I shave off some extra calories.."Is Home Chef meal delivery? I did HelloFresh for a while, but got sick of always eating something new. I'm adventurous and like to try new things, but I also like to make old favorites. After doing HelloFresh for a few months, I got really tired of three new recipes a week. I really loved the convenience though!
Also, congrats on the weight loss Valerie!
I have never heard of PepperPlate or Home Chef, but at one point I was signed up for 5 different services like that and I would just alternate them depending on what sounded good. Now I think I'm down to 4 (or 3? I can't remember). I did Plated, Marley Spoon, Hello Fresh, Peachdish, and Blue Apron.
I LOVE these services, and did them consistently for months... but then since The Boy came back from his trip and changed his diet drastically (no grain, no sugar, no dairy, no carbs, no gluten) getting the boxes wasn't practical since those kinds of restrictions are crazy.
He's now reintroducing stuff again, so I'm hoping that we can start getting the boxes again. It was great. I loved it.
And congrats on the weight loss, Valerie! :)
Valerie wrote: "I feel somewhat the same these days, but more accurately, my life revolves around calories these days. I've lost 39 lbs (with many more to go).On the plus side, I've started doing Home Chef to save me some steps with shopping/planning. It has been working out well for me, but I am constantly talking/thinking about which recipe I will try next and can I shave off some extra calories. "
Congrats!
I've thought about those home delivery things but decided against it. I really want to get into the habit of pre-prepping my meals for a week at a time. I can imagine that multiple new recipes a week plus the need to cook x times a week in the evenings would be overwhelming.
Dawn wrote: "I really liked Pepperplate for a while, and then got out of the habit of using it. I need to get back into it.That recipe looks yummy, I might try it out.
I made Summer Vegetables with Sausage and Potatoes earlier this week and really liked it. My husband approved as well, which surprised me since he's not a fan of zucchini or bell peppers (he's super picky). I substituted turkey smoked sausage for the chicken sausage because it sounded good. Recipe is definitely going in my favorites collection"
That looks good! I think I might try it. Looks like it would be a great prep meal, too.
I LOVE Pepperplate. I really do. It's just so easy so I use it all the time. Often in conjunction with MyFitnessPal when I really count calories.
Thanks all! It is a certainly a process.Home Chef is home meal delivery. I started with Blue Apron, which I enjoyed, but didn't have many options for my dietary needs.
The Home Chef plan has about 9 dinners from which to choose per week and I can get just 2 meals per week, if I don't want 3. If I want to remake something or if I'm travelling, I just skip the week.
I will probably skip more over the summer when my garden starts producing veggies.
I use SparkPeople to track my calories/recipes, as well as fitness.
MrsJoseph wrote: "I can imagine that multiple new recipes a week plus the need to cook x times a week in the evenings would be overwhelming. "I thought so too, but having it all ready for you, it actually isn't as daunting as you'd think.
I've been cooking at home 7 days a week (except when there are leftovers or I'm just like STARVE - I DON'T EVEN CARE.) and the amount of prep that goes into some of the stuff that I've been making for THE DIET is crazy.
So the boxes will be heavenly to go back to when that time finally rolls around. They pre-measure everything, and you just have to do the knifework of cutting veggies or whatever, and then cook it.
It also takes a ton of stress out of the meal PLANNING part, which is always where I'm just fed up. The boy doesn't care what he eats, (but thankfully isn't as picky as he once was - he'll eat meat and stuff now) but he's still no help at all with meal planning, and I get aggravated. I loved the boxes simply for making that easier.
Valerie wrote: "Thanks all! It is a certainly a process.Home Chef is home meal delivery. I started with Blue Apron, which I enjoyed, but didn't have many options for my dietary needs.
The Home Chef plan has ab..."
So the meals come pre-made for Home Chef? That's cool!
I've used SparkPeople in the past but it didn't me the tracking capabilities that I needed for my exercise tracking. And the dietary section didn't seem to have as much of what I needed in their database. I also find creating recipes to be a little daunting sometimes.
IDK why I ended up trying MFP but I loved the scanner and the database was pretty detailed (in comparison to SP but that was years ago).
I don't use MFP to track my fitness, however. Only the things that can be linked. So, I have MFP connected to my Fitbit and my Runkeeper.
I don't eat back calories (even when I'm on target) and MFP only gets details of cardio workouts. They don't do a good job of tracking weight training so I don't bother. When I'm in the mood I track all exercises via Fitocracy but right now I'm sticking to my handwritten notebook. Right now I need to keep to the basics.
Becky wrote: "I thought so too, but having it all ready for you, it actually isn't as daunting as you'd think.I've been cooking at home 7 days a week (except when there are leftovers or I'm just like STARVE - I DON'T EVEN CARE.) and the amount of prep that goes into some of the stuff that I've been making for THE DIET is crazy.
So the boxes will be heavenly to go back to when that time finally rolls around. They pre-measure everything, and you just have to do the knifework of cutting veggies or whatever, and then cook it.
It also takes a ton of stress out of the meal PLANNING part, which is always where I'm just fed up. The boy doesn't care what he eats, (but thankfully isn't as picky as he once was - he'll eat meat and stuff now) but he's still no help at all with meal planning, and I get aggravated. I loved the boxes simply for making that easier."
I am a slow cook even though I enjoy cooking. New recipes always take me almost double the time. But I guess that having everything (mostly) pre-prepped will cut me down to half of that...
But I truly need to cut back time spent in the kitchen during the work week.
I cook 6-7 days a week at home as well, but sometimes just want to have something simple.. Like grilled chicken and asparagus. Or I want to make a favorite, like spaghetti. Or I want to try a new recipe I saw on Skinnytaste (my favorite recipe website). Or maybe I just want to do leftovers or go out! With HelloFresh I just didn't feel like I had enough time to do those things as often as I wanted. I really loved shorter grocery shopping trips and the little pre-sorted boxes, but I've been happier finding my own recipes and planning out my weeks again.
No, the Home Chef meals come with a recipe and the stuff pre-measure and just enough ingredients. Prep/cook time is usually about 30 minutes total, which isn't too bad. I was to the point where we were dining out about 90% of the time. It is so much harder to make the "right" choice at a restaurant, and I can't control what they put into their dishes.
I totally agree that it is the planning part that helps the most. I even think having limited options has helped me reduce some brain clutter. Instead of having to sort through endless meal options and recipes, I choose from 9 or 10 each week. I don't have to consider options at the grocery store for ingredients - they choose for me.
This frees up more time and energy for exercise, which is the other half of what consumes my life right now.
Dawn, I love Skinnytaste! I used it a lot way back when I did Weight Watchers. I like that she has all of the nutritional values, including WW points. And, so many of her recipes are delicious version of much calorie richer recipes. This is probably where I'll get my inspiration when I am trying to use my veggies this summer.
MrsJoseph wrote: "I've thought about those home delivery things but decided against it. I really want to get into the habit of pre-prepping my meals for a week at a time. I can imagine that multiple new recipes a week plus the need to cook x times a week in the evenings would be overwhelming."We went through a phase of exploring our recipe books and it was overwhelming. We would pick at least three new recipes every week. Nothing sucks more than learning new recipes in the weekday time crunch. Don't do it.
Now we just make a menu plan from thirty or so favorites. Every now and then I'll try something new, but it will be on a Saturday or Sunday when there's time to prepare. Weeknights are definitely in the what is 30 minutes doable and there is lots in that category. Often on the Saturday or Sunday I will cook an extra meal for the week (chilis or spaghetti sauce to make one other night easier.)
We've also been through all the crazy restrictions as well. Including the 30-day induction period for paleo. That was rough. It's made our meals healthier overall, but I love tacos and red rice. That was harsh. No corn tortillas. I'm getting flashbacks already.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: I love tacos and red rice. That was harsh. No corn tortillas. I'm getting flashbacks already."OMG tell me about it. I miss tacos so much.
Now I'm going to go cry.
My husband is going low carb, a paleo type diet. I just eat the carbs for lunch. I love carbs... I'll diet when this baby is out of me! Seriously though. I'm careful not to overeat, but I've been on a diet for the last 6+ years to maintain my weight / lose weight when I gain, constantly restricting calories and making smart choices. Now I'm allowed to eat 1600-1900 calories a day (technically 1690 + 100-200 more, but 1900 seems like sooooo many [I was on a 800 calorie diet once!], I target 1700ish). It's amazing, I can have what I want and eat till I feel full. I'm not hungry... I'm going to enjoy this while I can before I need to start losing baby weight and getting back in shape!
Ekel wrote: "Happy Persian New Year, everyone!"Meant to respond to this earlier, but had a brainfart.
Happy Nowruz!
Becky wrote: "Homeinmyshoes wrote: I love tacos and red rice. That was harsh. No corn tortillas. I'm getting flashbacks already."OMG tell me about it. I miss tacos so much.
Now I'm going to go cry."
Are you doing paleo or any low carb/no starch diet? If no, I *think* I have a work around for taco flavor.
And I kvetch about not eating meat on Fridays. Am such a loser...
Paleo...that's where you only eat things you've killed with a club, right?
Becky wrote: "Homeinmyshoes wrote: I love tacos and red rice. That was harsh. No corn tortillas. I'm getting flashbacks already."OMG tell me about it. I miss tacos so much.
Now I'm going to go cry."
I am so very sorry to do this, but a force deep within my being requires it to fulfill an ancient prophecy:
"No. I call it: "Taco Island!"
lol
Haha.I was actually thinking Tacos Tuesday, the 's' is silent from The Lego Movie. That movie kills me every time I watch it. The names of the relics make me snort. Niy-eel. Ban-Da-Id.
Flights of Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love (other topics)The Obsidian Dagger: Being the Further Extraordinary Adventures of Horatio Lyle (other topics)
The Doomsday Machine: A Further Astonishing Adventure of Horatio Lyle (other topics)
The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle (other topics)
The Dream Thief (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
John Scalzi (other topics)Bertrice Small (other topics)
John W. Campbell Jr. (other topics)
John W. Campbell Jr. (other topics)
John W. Campbell Jr. (other topics)
More...
I don't really go there much though, walking or driving. I own more than enough books that I already know that I want to read, and the library rarely has anything I want that I don't already have in some format. When I go there, it's just to browse to see what else I might want to read, but I always get stressed out by the inherent time limit placed on it. These days I read slower than molasses so it's pointless to seek out library books.