ness

old school.

This is a good cause and they do a good job with the money they receive. So… I’ll give $100 to see @Phil Lilley get a pie in the face. Before the plunge is fine. 🤪 (Limited time offer expires 12/24) Anybody else here have a little more than they need? Link in Phil’s post.

Slick isn’t a term I hear often. Interesting all the regional/cultural differences. Who gets credit for the flat dumplings?

Interesting. I’d put that in the ‘Would try, wouldn’t buy’ category.

Yeah! Apple dumplings, pork/chicken dumplings. More kinds I’m not thinking of I’m sure. It’s a big category. And then there’s dumplins… I always remember stopping into Cooking From Scratch outside Rolla, MO. Very good home cooking place that has since closed. The special that day was Chicken and Dumplins’. Sounded good so I ordered Chicken and Dumplings, with a G. The waitress took a moment to correct my pronunciation. I opted not to pull a Mrs. McAwee (Three Trails Elementary, sixth grade, a stickler) and correct her correction. Never a good idea to quarrel with your food server before the food arrives. They were the flat kind, and pretty darn good. Just needed that G to be perfect 🤪

Yep. I’m partial to drop dumplings though I like flat ones too. I typically add a little parsley to the batter

I'm about a mile south of the Kansas River. There's a little belt of forested land in the bottoms and up the slope, then all subdivisions with some smallish wooded areas scattered in around here. We had a mangy/gimpy coyote hanging around a couple years ago. He was under my neighbor's deck and behind our fence. I was glad when he disappeared. I miss the foxes.

Here's a decidedly non-commercial answer to a question that, if Googled, would bombard me with ad-based results and also flood everywhere I go online for the next several days with the same junk: What airline should I fly to Chicago and what hotel should I stay at? ChatGPT said: Choosing an airline and hotel depends on your preferences, budget, and travel style. Here's some guidance to help you decide: Airlines To Chicago: Chicago is served by two major airports: O'Hare International Airport (ORD): A hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. Midway International Airport (MDW): Often used by Southwest Airlines. Consider these airlines: Budget Airlines: Southwest, Frontier, Spirit (cheaper but may have added fees). Major Airlines: United, American, or Delta for more amenities and flexibility. Nonstop Flights: Choose an airline offering nonstop service from your departure city for convenience. Hotels In Chicago: Luxury: The Peninsula Chicago – Renowned for its service and central location on the Magnificent Mile. The Langham – Elegant with fantastic river views. Mid-Range: Hyatt Regency Chicago – Close to many attractions. Kimpton Hotel Monaco – Boutique style with excellent amenities. Budget-Friendly: Hotel Versey by Best Western – Stylish and affordable in the Lincoln Park area. Holiday Inn Express Downtown – Comfortable and centrally located. Unique Stays: The Robey – Trendy with a rooftop bar in Wicker Park. Freehand Chicago – Hostel-like vibes with private rooms and communal spaces. Tips for Choosing: If you're visiting for business, look for hotels in The Loop. For shopping and dining, stay near the Magnificent Mile. If you prefer nightlife or artsy areas, explore Wicker Park or River North. Would you like help narrowing this down further based on your budget or travel dates?

I saw on another forum that a guy has been working on a fly-fishing-specific GPT. I've only messed with it a little, but the answers to questions I posed were pretty good. https://chatgpt.com/g/g-u4HDJ6PVR-flyfishinggpt Here's an example Q&A Is Ozark Anglers a good resource? Ozark Anglers is widely recognized as a solid resource for fly fishing information, especially if you're targeting the Ozarks region. It often provides local insights on fishing conditions, popular fly patterns, and tips for rivers and lakes like the White River or Lake Taneycomo. Additionally, its forums and updates from experienced anglers can make it a valuable community-driven platform for regional fishing knowledge. If you're focused on the Ozarks or interested in learning from a community with firsthand experience in that area, it’s definitely worth exploring. Would you like advice on specific fly patterns or tips for fishing in that region? I tried in in the root https://chatgpt.com/ and got this: Ozark Anglers is widely regarded as a good resource for those interested in fishing in the Ozarks region. It provides detailed information on fishing spots, conditions, techniques, and species in lakes, rivers, and streams across Missouri and Arkansas. Key features include: Fishing Reports: Updates on conditions, water levels, and catches in popular fishing areas like Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake, and others. Forums: A community where anglers share experiences, tips, and advice, which can be invaluable for both beginners and experienced fishermen. Tips and Techniques: Articles and guides on fishing methods, tackle selection, and local fishing regulations. Local Insight: Focuses specifically on the Ozarks, offering region-specific knowledge you might not find on broader fishing websites. If you're fishing in the Ozarks, Ozark Anglers is definitely worth exploring. However, for the most current conditions or highly localized advice, pairing it with other resources like local bait shops or state fish and wildlife agencies can be beneficial. We actually used ChatGPT to help plan a trip last spring. It gave good insight and wasn't cluttered up with advertising crap like a Google search returns are. So far so good.

Stumbled onto this and thought it was pretty good.

There's a similar issue with maple syrup. The real stuff is valuable and expensive to produce, so it's getting doctored up to increase the volume. I saw a documentary a while back on TV. Just Googled to remind myself. Canada actually has a strategic maple syrup reserve! https://news.uoguelph.ca/2023/04/maple-syrup-fraud-undermines-the-authenticity-of-canadas-liquid-gold/

Not petty, in my opinion. Glad you were able to get a quick response and nail the jerks. Maybe they'll follow the rules next time. There's no excuse for not having proper license and stamp or knowing the times. But they're still inconsiderate, mouthy a-holes, which will likely continue. I hear stories about those kind quite a bit.

Traditional stuff here. Baby brother will do a roasted turkey. We’ll do a bunch of sides that we’ve done for many years, many in homage to parents and grandparents now gone. The last few years I’ve been doing a cider braised brisket that gets finished on the Weber for the beef eaters among us. Pumpkin and pecan pie are coming. We’re doing an apple cider sangria this year. We’ve hosted Thanksgiving for many, many years. I’m not totally sure on the count. I know we’ve hosted Christmas Eve since 1990 with a few down years due to family drama. At the peak we had around 35 folks, now we’re at around a dozen. We’re still happy to do it and we’re able, but hope someone in the next generation sees the value and grabs the torch some day. Back to Thanksgiving, remember to stop and reflect on the things you have to be thankful for.

Some recents Shrimp and cheesy grits. The missus likes it with a lot of cheese, I'd prefer it more creamy and less cheesy. Oh well Pork loin with a mustard cream sauce. Cooked on a bed of cabbage, apples and onions. Everybody liked this and we'll do again And, an old family favorite. Chuck roast, cream of mushroom, Lipton onion soup mix, etc. Nice to get home from the ol' salt mine and have a complete dinner ready.

Speaking of honey, I’ve got 5 containers of honey on the shelf. One from the grocery store, two from small-time local producers, one from a friend who keeps bees and one from @BilletHead We did a taste test a while back and it was really interesting the differences. Store bought was fine and what we’re used to. My friend’s was light in color and kinda thin. One of the locals was dark and a little bitter. But, and I’m not just sucking up here, the best was Marty’s. I guess I’d say fuller bodied.

Mine’s in full swing😀

I haven’t posted much because most everything I’m doing lately I’ve shared before. This one has been too, but I figgered I’d post because it’s so dang good. Apple fritter pancakes.

I was definitely pulling harder than my wife for another dog, but she relented. She's (usually) really happy we did.

Molly (orange & white) and Max, 2009. Molly was my bird dog of a lifetime Max and Ruby 2013 Ruby and Rusty now

We’ve had two Brittanys in the house for many years. I definitely believe it’s beneficial for them to have a buddy. Ours are 11 and 1½ years old. After our previous male died and Ruby was alone (for the first time in her life) she was not the same dog. Very quiet and not very active. With our new pup she’s much happier and more active. I believe it has likely added years to her life. They get along great, often sleep on the same bed and play a lot together. And, it’s not just the pup that starts it up. There’s a lot going on in the house but it’s not a problem. We’ve got a decent-sized back yard and two off-leash areas very close by. Due to our work schedules they go to day care three days a week, so they’ve got a lot of things to occupy them. Of course dogs are all unique, but I think with our Brittanys it’s definitely been a plus to have two. Good luck

Once I was slicing up a radish. It rolled on me and I nicked the tip of my fingernail. Just like @BilletHead no pain!

Holy cow! That’s way worse than I thought!

Again it’s the refs😀

ness here reporting from the second wedding reception in three weeks. The music sucks, but it’s loud. 2 ½ hours to go. Oh f. The Macarena. Battery dying. ness out