Small Talk: We'll Be Right Back

[Prevailing Wind]

"beardless face"  hahahaha.  Just wait 'til menopause.

[susannah]

1 hour ago, chessiegal said:

Respectfully disagree. Here is the definition of female from Dictionary.com.

 

Of course female is a noun. I believe that it is insulting to use as as a noun to describe women, while using it as an adjective is not.

[Bastet]

I feel the same way.  I'd wager a good 95% of references to women as "females" (rather than uses of "female [something]") I've ever encountered were in a dismissive, diminishing, and/or derogatory context.  So whether the other five percent meant it that way or not, I don't care; I bristle at any utterance of "female" as a noun because of how that is predominantly used these days.

[Bookish Jen]

20 hours ago, Bastet said:

I'm the same way - I like Parker largely because of the actor's line delivery on "You're the man, man".  And, no, I've never seen Leverage; if you asked me to name Parkers, I'd say Parker Posey, Parker Stevenson, and Parker who brings a gallon jug as a side of ranch.

I'm so jealous of Jake for getting a gallon of ranch. I love ranch dressing!

[Bruinsfan]

You're welcome to any I'm given, then.

[Tom Holmberg]

1 hour ago, Bruinsfan said:

You're welcome to any I'm given, then.

I guess you're not from the Midwest, land of ranch dressing.

[chessiegal]

Speaking of ranch dressing, I keep seeing an internet ad for dipping pizza into Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. Is this already a thing or something Hidden Valley is trying to make happen?

[Bastet]

That's already a thing (at least in some regions; it's common in Los Angeles, where I live, and I've read articles about it from people in the midwest).  If I have any bare crust, I dip it in ranch (have done for eons).  But I know some people dip their pizza slice itself (no thanks, but, hey, you do you).  Hell, there are pizzas with ranch dressing as the sauce.

Kathleen Madigan's current comedy tour is called "Do You Have Any Ranch?" because she has a bunch of teenage nieces and nephews, and when they and their friends are at her house, she's amazed that no matter what food she puts in front of them, she gets asked "Do you have any ranch?"

[Tom Holmberg]

11 minutes ago, Bastet said:

That's already a thing (at least in some regions; it's common in Los Angeles, where I live, and I've read articles about it from people in the midwest).

There's a book due out in a week or so, "The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat . . . Everything with Ranch" by Charlie Berens

[Crashcourse]

Reading these posts got me thinking about ranch dressing again.  I haven't done it in ages but I used to snack on Hidden Valley ranch and carrot sticks.  That's the only time I used ranch dressing.   I'll add it to my shopping list.  

[The Crazed Spruce]

On 10/25/2021 at 7:59 PM, Prevailing Wind said:

That's the reason I do NOT like State Farm Parker. She's infringing on my Leverage Parker!

It still IS the best show - imdb via Amazon has a sequel - all the original characters minus Nate. Aldis Hodge has another project going, so he's only in two or three of the 16 episodes, but we get to meet his sister, Breanna, who becomes The Hacker. Look for it... Leverage: Redemption.  It's as good as the original, except for the lack of Hutton.

The first episode, The Bucket Job, is a sweet salute to Robert Blanche, the late actor who played Detective Bonanno in the original series.  Plus - LeVar Burton as a Librarian.

I actually started watching Leverage not too long ago. I'm a few episodes into season 2 right now. You're right, it's a great show! And I just found out last weekend that one of the high-numbered channels on my cable system carries Leverage: Redemption. Caught most of the last episode, and I've already got a season recording set up. (And yeah, Parker's awesome.)

And I always use ranch dressing as a dip when I eat hot wings. It sooths the heat without distracting from the flavour.

[susannah]

16 hours ago, Bruinsfan said:

You're welcome to any I'm given, then.

Mine also, should I be unlucky enough to get given some! I didn't know the Midwest is the land of ranch dressing! I'm in the Northwest.

[Haleth]

I moved to the Midwest from New England many years ago, so when the family goes out to eat and we place our salad orders, it's ranch, ranch, ranch, balsamic vinaigrette.  

[Tom Holmberg]

1 hour ago, Haleth said:

I moved to the Midwest from New England many years ago, so when the family goes out to eat and we place our salad orders, it's ranch, ranch, ranch, balsamic vinaigrette.  

Sounds like a Monty Python routine, "Ranch, ranch. ranch, ranch..."  Are any of you Vikings?

[peacheslatour]

5 hours ago, susannah said:

Mine also, should I be unlucky enough to get given some! I didn't know the Midwest is the land of ranch dressing! I'm in the Northwest.

I'm also in the PNW and I've never had ranch dressing but I assume it's gross. I'm a vinaigrette girl all the way. I've never had a Big Mac for the same reason. Anything mayonnaise-y  and I'm out.

[chessiegal]

Pre-pandemic when I was going to my social club's functions that almost always involved food, I would usually take deviled eggs. I was experimenting with filler flavors based on a recipe for a dry seasoning by Knorr's that they no longer sold, and decided to try adding some dried Hidden Valley ranch. It added a nice tang.

[Bruinsfan]

The only thing I've found that makes ranch palatable to me is dipping fried pickles in it. I'd rather eat a salad with no dressing at all (and have done so).

[susannah]

4 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm also in the PNW and I've never had ranch dressing but I assume it's gross. I'm a vinaigrette girl all the way. I've never had a Big Mac for the same reason. Anything mayonnaise-y  and I'm out.

Hi neighbor! I don't do mayonnaise either, only catsup and mustard on burgers. I am a blue cheese dressing person.

[peacheslatour]

21 minutes ago, susannah said:

Hi neighbor! I don't do mayonnaise either, only catsup and mustard on burgers. I am a blue cheese dressing person.

Backatcha neighbor! Oh see there I draw the line. Too mayonnaise-like. Clear, vinaigrette only.

Edited October 27, 2021 by peacheslatour

[Prevailing Wind]

14 hours ago, chessiegal said:

Pre-pandemic when I was going to my social club's functions that almost always involved food, I would usually take deviled eggs. I was experimenting with filler flavors based on a recipe for a dry seasoning by Knorr's that they no longer sold, and decided to try adding some dried Hidden Valley ranch. It added a nice tang.

Try horseradish.

[chessiegal]

10 hours ago, Prevailing Wind said:

Try horseradish.

I was trying to duplicate a recipe in a cookbook our club published many years ago as a fund raiser that was called Caesar deviled eggs, that we wanted to serve at a meeting. It called for putting in some dried Caesar salad dressing mix, then topping the deviled eggs with caviar and a sprig of lemon thyme. I couldn't find the Caesar salad mix (this was a few years ago), even on the internet. A search yesterday showed that Hellman's is now making a dried Caesar salad mix. Anyway, dried ranch mix worked just fine.

[SnarkySheep]

On 10/24/2021 at 6:36 PM, peacheslatour said:

Parker is the only one I like but they play those commercials so often, I'm sick of them all.

I can take or leave Parker, but every time I see her I have to wonder...did she just steal that jug of ranch and the pizzas from work, or actually pay for them out of pocket? Because if it's the latter, it would seriously cut into the discount she got...but if it's the former, that's not too cool either.

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, chessiegal said:

Anyway, dried ranch mix worked just fine.

I've never used it as a seasoning, but I've heard a lot of positive feedback about it being used that way.

I've only ever used it to make dressing; I don't buy the bottled Hidden Valley ranch dressing (I don't particularly care for most bottled dressings), but I like to make it using their dry mix.  (I replace half the mayo with fat free sour cream as that reduces the fat content with very little difference in taste, and sometimes add fresh dill or jalapeño.)

Other than those with mustard or blue cheese, I like most salad dressings.  Which one I want depends on the salad; I have a side salad with every dinner, and sometimes have a Big Salad (TM Elaine Benes) for lunch, so I make a lot of them.  I mostly make a variety of vinaigrettes, but also make ranch, caesar, cilantro pepita, and green goddess dressing.  I have to ensure I don't have too many going at once lest I not be able to use them all up in time.

Ranch is the only one I also use for dipping - onion rings, fries, Buffalo wings, unadorned pizza crust.  If I'm arranging a vegetable platter with a mayo/sour cream dip, I usually make the dip with onion, parsley, dill, and Beau Monde seasoning, but when someone else serves it with regular ol' ranch, I'm perfectly content (unless it's a sweet ranch - the tang is the point! - and then I just eat the veggies plain).

[peacheslatour]

Has anybody seen IceMiser lately?

[CrazyInAlabama]

Medicare advantage plans coverage really do depend on your location.   Where I live, there are two major hospital systems, one has a contract with the two biggest advantage plans, so you get big discounts, and better coverage.    The other hospital system is no longer contracted with the advantage plans, so instead of paying 20% on everything, it's at least 30% for patients who use the second hospital system.    Also, they don't have rides to appointments, meal delivery, etc. the big benefits the commercials say they do.   

[Suzn]

4 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Has anybody seen IceMiser lately?

I think he said he was going to stop posting.  Too bad. 🙁

[susannah]

On 10/27/2021 at 12:29 PM, peacheslatour said:

Backatcha neighbor! Oh see there I draw the line. Too mayonnaise-like. Clear, vinaigrette only.

I definitely see your point, but for me it's okay because it's full of moldy cheese chunks! that just sounds too gross, but it's so good.

4 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Has anybody seen IceMiser lately?

Didn't IM have many severe health problems?

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, Suzn said:

I think he said he was going to stop posting.  Too bad. 🙁

He did but that was a while ago and he came back. This time, he didn't say anything. I'm worried a little.

[Colleenna]

On 10/24/2021 at 5:21 PM, peacheslatour said:

I like the cut of this kid's jib and would like to subscribe to his newsletter.

Back in the late 70s, I knew we were making progress when a quadriplegic friend of mine was talking about a recent visit to the VA hospital and referred to the physician who saw him as "a male doctor." 

[mmecorday]

Quote

Back in the late 70s, I knew we were making progress when a quadriplegic friend of mine was talking about a recent visit to the VA hospital and referred to the physician who saw him as "a male doctor." 

I was watching an episode of "Designing Women" last night and one of the characters referred to a female editor as a "lady editor." I think I'm going to ask my boss to confer upon me the job title Lady Editor so people will think I'm a member of the peerage or someone who lives in Mr. Rogers' Land of Make Believe.

Speaking of editing, I worked on an obituary this morning in which the deceased was said to have never met a scarf she didn't like. No, the deceased wasn't Isadora Duncan.

[Bookish Jen]

On 10/26/2021 at 3:21 PM, Tom Holmberg said:

There's a book due out in a week or so, "The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat . . . Everything with Ranch" by Charlie Berens

I'm from Wisconsin. I love Charlie Berens.

[Bruinsfan]

3 hours ago, mmecorday said:

I was watching an episode of "Designing Women" last night and one of the characters referred to a female editor as a "lady editor." I think I'm going to ask my boss to confer upon me the job title Lady Editor so people will think I'm a member of the peerage or someone who lives in Mr. Rogers' Land of Make Believe.

That's really weird to me, because the Publishing industry is one where women as editors (and execs) is the norm and has been since before the series was on the air. I think you'd have to go back to the first half of the 20th century to find much in the way of male dominance.

[Bastet]

I don't remember "lady editor" from Designing Women, but it might be from "Julia Drives Over the First Amendment", where the editor of a porn magazine is a woman.  So it wasn't surprise that woman would be editor of a magazine, but that a woman would choose to be in charge of that magazine.

But, come to think of it, I believe she was the publisher, not the editor.  So it's probably another episode I'm just not remembering.

[susannah]

46 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I don't remember "lady editor" from Designing Women, but it might be from "Julia Drives Over the First Amendment", where the editor of a porn magazine is a woman.  So it wasn't surprise that woman would be editor of a magazine, but that a woman would choose to be in charge of that magazine.

But, come to think of it, I believe she was the publisher, not the editor.  So it's probably another episode I'm just not remembering.

I thought it was great when Suzanne asked the publisher why, if she thought spreading nude women over the hoods of cars was so great, why SHE didn't do it.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

From the Annoying Commercials thread:

 

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

So, we should all be in it together, right?

In theory, sure. In practice, it's more like, "It's too bad all these old people won't listen to us, who in all our wisdom can solve everything." No one ever says, "Okay, millennial." And as someone who admires Greta Thunberg, I would say that a direct counterpart is a generation that's keeping the Kartrashians visible. They're not all deep thinkers.

[Popples]

6 hours ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

In theory, sure. In practice, it's more like, "It's too bad all these old people won't listen to us, who in all our wisdom can solve everything." No one ever says, "Okay, millennial." And as someone who admires Greta Thunberg, I would say that a direct counterpart is a generation that's keeping the Kartrashians visible. They're not all deep thinkers.

We millennials are are starting to hit 40, Greta Thunberg and her peers are "Gen-Z".

[Cobalt Stargazer]

25 minutes ago, Popples said:

We millennials are are starting to hit 40, Greta Thunberg and her peers are "Gen-Z".

I stand half-corrected. I was born close to the end of Gen X, the ignored generation, and even I notice that you'd think the Boomers invented pollution just for spite.

[Prevailing Wind]

8 hours ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

I stand half-corrected. I was born close to the end of Gen X, the ignored generation, and even I notice that you'd think the Boomers invented pollution just for spite.

It's penance for us having invented sex and smoking weed.  Y'know, before Woodstock, none of that existed.

[friendperidot]

Chessiegal, that's nice to know about the dried Caesar's dressing. Hidden Valley used to have one I loved. I grew up in the midwest and I guess I'm older than the ranch dressing thing because I'd never heard of ranch dressing until I was an adult. It's ok for some things, dipping veggies, but pizza? no way. I'm not a big fan, I grew up with Wishbone Italian, there used to be a restaurant in KC where it originated and they were a customer of my dad's, so that's what we grew up with. 

Medicare Advantage plans, thank goodness for them. I have one, as far as having to stay in their network, it wasn't a problem for me as I live in a smaller city and there's only one hospital I choose to go to, there were different plans so I picked the one with hospital I prefer, my doctor is connected with that hospital, so not a problem. As far as specialists go, I just go to their website and choose what I need.

A story that I was reminded of by a comment in another thread. Earlier this year, I tripped over my dog's leash and fell face down in the kitchen, I skinned my knee and couldn't get up by being on my hands and knees like I do because I'm old and don't have the flexibility I used to have. I yelled for my sister, but I knew she didn't have the strength to pull me up, so I asked her to get the young couple that live with us, they were outside. Everyone came running in the house in less than the time it took to write this, and I had gotten to a sitting position and I was laughing my a$$ off, I looked at them and said, "I've fallen and I can't get up!" All of us were laughing then as they pulled me onto my feet. I told one of the nurses that during one of my hospital stays this year and she had to tell a couple of other nurses. We all laughed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[smittykins]

Also from the “Annoying Commercials” thread:

Quote

I really hope they don't have anyone living below them!

That’s why I’m glad that my in my complex, the apartments are divided vertically, with the one-bedrooms on either side of a block of units, so no upstairs neighbors.  At my previous apartment, it sometimes sounded like a family of elephants lived above me.  

[susannah]

40 minutes ago, smittykins said:

Also from the “Annoying Commercials” thread:

That’s why I’m glad that my in my complex, the apartments are divided vertically, with the one-bedrooms on either side of a block of units, so no upstairs neighbors.  At my previous apartment, it sometimes sounded like a family of elephants lived above me.  

Mine is a complex of twenty apartments, 10 upstairs and 10 down.  I have as I said the occasional elephant up there! It could be worse I guess.

[friendperidot]

I used to live in an apartment with a young couple with 2 small children living above me. It wasn't too bad except their bedroom was above mine and the headboard of their bed was too close to a wall and during certain times, I could hear the headboard banging against the wall. Most of the time, I could ignore it. But on Valentine's Day, I signed divorce papers and then that night...I turned up my radio loud enough I could ignore what was going on over my head until things got quiet. Shortly after that they moved the bed away from the wall, I was grateful. Then a few months later they moved. I didn't miss them or really care one way or another until a pair of young roommates moved in. Male & female roommates, young 20s, maybe. I think they worked evenings because about the time I went to bed, they came home, stomped up the stairs (next to the bedroom wall) and usually with several friends. Then they turned up the music and stomped around the entire apartment with the entire gang. It never occurred to them that some people had to go to work at 7 AM and needed to go to bed before 3 or 4 AM. There was a noise ordnance that started at 11PM and I had to call the police to get them to stop, but I think they had a lookout because before the officers could go up the stairs, the music stopped. Irritating, inconsiderate brats.

[Bastet]

I used to live in a townhouse, so no one above or below me as I had both floors, but I had two units on one side of me (those were the two front units, perpendicular to the seven of us behind them) and one on the other.  The same people lived in the two front units the whole time I was there, but the one on the other side of me was a rental unit (as was mine, I'm not engaging in that bullshit stereotype that owners are better than renters), so there were quite a few different residents in the eight years I was there.

Most were good neighbors, and none were bad, but one family was annoying because movie nights on their tricked out entertainment center meant shaking our shared living room wall with the sound of various explosions; I swear they watched nothing but action movies.  If I could have interested them in a nice British drama, they'd have been great.

Three units down from me was another rental, and, again, usually good and none bad, but one young couple did not get the common courtesy memo that when everyone has their windows open at night - and we're in between two three-story buildings with not much space between us and them, so there's basically a noise tunnel on each side - you need to muffle the sex noises a bit.  Annoying to have to think during sex, absolutely, and occasionally getting carried away, more power to us all.  But on the regular?  At least shut your own damn window.

[susannah]

18 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I used to live in a townhouse, so no one above or below me as I had both floors, but I had two units on one side of me (those were the two front units, perpendicular to the seven of us behind them) and one on the other.  The same people lived in the two front units the whole time I was there, but the one on the other side of me was a rental unit (as was mine, I'm not engaging in that bullshit stereotype that owners are better than renters), so there were quite a few different residents in the eight years I was there.

Most were good neighbors, and none were bad, but one family was annoying because movie nights on their tricked out entertainment center meant shaking our shared living room wall with the sound of various explosions; I swear they watched nothing but action movies.  If I could have interested them in a nice British drama, they'd have been great.

Three units down from me was another rental, and, again, usually good and none bad, but one young couple did not get the common courtesy memo that when everyone has their windows open at night - and we're in between two three-story buildings with not much space between us and them, so there's basically a noise tunnel on each side - you need to muffle the sex noises a bit.  Annoying to have to think during sex, absolutely, and occasionally getting carried away, more power to us all.  But on the regular?  At least shut your own damn window.

I am so sorry to hear of yours and friendperidot's horrible experiences with your neighbors. Being held hostage to such gross indifference of basic decency to others sounds hellish, and not alot to do about it.

 

[Haleth]

We were discussing the Lexus Christmas commercials and giving cars as gifts in the Annoy thread.  One year we decided to get a new car and call it my anniversary present.  I picked it out, even walked away from the dealership when the salesguy wouldn't get our payments any lower.  (He called as soon as we got home.  Ha!)  I've been driving my li'l barebones Honda CRV for 7 years now.  A couple years later my husband needed a new car too.  Again it was our anniversary.  I didn't care what he got so didn't go shopping with him.  He came home with a Lexus.

(It was used.)

Edited November 5, 2021 by Haleth

[peacheslatour]

Does this whole site look shrunken to anyone else?

[Prevailing Wind]

Looks normal to me.

 

[mmecorday]

My girlfriend and I had to have our beloved Dottie kitty put down today. A couple weeks ago her eyes were watery and she had some nasal congestion. Her vet said she had an upper respiratory infection and put her on an antibiotic. There was no change and she stopped eating. The doctor put her on a stronger antibiotic. She kept getting worse. We took her back to the vet this morning and the doctor put a scope up her nose to see if there were any blockages. Cancer had pretty much destroyed the interior of her nose. I'm pretty sure that the cancer originated in her bowels because she had been losing weight for a while even though she had a voracious appetite. When we took her to the vet for the weight loss she diagnosed her with inflammatory bowel disorder and put her on a steroid. Our hearts are completely broken. We loved her so much. We have four other cats and they are definitely aware that a member of the glaring is gone. The holidays are going to be so sad without her. She loved it when we had big meals because she got lots of table scraps.

[Prevailing Wind]

{{{{HUGS}}}}  Heartfelt condolences to you, your girlfriend, & the remaining kitties.

[Haleth]

I'm so sorry.  That is very sad. 😥