A Food Coma / Night Guitar

 

Song:  Evocacion

Original Composer:  Jose Luis Merlin

Performing Artist:  Tatyana Ryzhkova

Today...

after working on the IR sauna...

I decided to make a large meal of baked chicken and stuffing.

I had taken out a frozen 6 lbs of chicken package and put it in the fridge a couple of days ago.

So...

this afternoon...

I decided to bake them.

The chicken fresh from the oven...

with the stuffing to the right.

I had taken two of the chicken pieces and sliced them for my meal.

I then took the largest piece and sliced it for Bandi's meal

(along with half the stuffing).

I used this chicken rub...

and it was delicious.

My meal was all set out.

Bandi and I had about 1.5 lbs of chicken each...

along with one box of stuffing each (I had made two boxes of stuffing).

The chicken rub was so good that I hadn't used the sweet hot mustard at all.

We had stuffed ourselves...

it was like Thanksgiving.

After our meal...

we both just fell into a food coma and napped all day.

As the weather has been so nice lately...

I opened up one of my bedroom widows...

along with the kitchen window...

to allow a gentle cross breeze.

Once I cleaned up the kitchen...

I found Bandi lying on the floor...

as she liked the feel of the breeze upon her.

However...

as soon as I lay down in the bed...

she immediately hoped on top of me and just stretched out.

Bandi with a full belly...

and a sleepy disposition.

She rapidly began to snore...

and for most of the day...

she slept deeply.

I, too, was very drowsy after our large meal.

Only after the sun had set...

did I arouse from bed.

I went upstairs to practice more of the cover song I am working on with my 12 string guitar.

As the strings are still stretching...

I have to tune them frequently.

The song is coming along slowly.

I am still full from my afternoon meal...

and I have a few pounds of chicken left.

In a couple of days...

I will make them into chicken Yakisoba

(I will use 3 packs of noodles this time).

Tomorrow...

I will be going shopping at Walmart.

I need to stock up on various food items.

I will stock up on another 40 or so lbs of frozen chicken breasts and thighs...

among other items.

On the way back...

I am thinking of stopping in at AJ's for a pizza.

Yes...

even though I am full...

I am still thinking about devouring a delicious 

sausage and mushroom pizza tomorrow...

a large one all to myself  :)

Home Repair Day - Diagnostic Delay

 

BGM

YouTube Channel:  A Soul Lost In Time

I began my home repair this morning...

after my morning coffee.

The below screen door damper was what the easy initial repair was.

It took but a few minutes to fix...

but as it was caused by my carelessness...

it was a minor irritation...

as this is the fourth one I had to replace since moving here

(I will explain).

This damper automatically limits the range through which the front screen door may open...

as well as auto closing the door.

However...

if I don't ensure the screen door fully latches upon closing...

the wind will suddenly force the screen door open with enough force to bend the 

limiting rod...ruining the whole unit.

(It usually does automatically...but during periods of higher winds...

it won't fully latch automatically as the door is being held slightly 

ajar by the wind pressure...so as to not fully close and latch).

I sometimes forget that my hearing is not what it used to be...

and I sometimes cannot tell by ear if the latch had engaged.

Yes...

it is but a few minute fix...

and the unit is inexpensive...

but when it is the result of one's own carelessness...

it is a source of minor irritation.

However...

the main problem I am trying to diagnose and repair has to do with the 3rd floor (loft)...

Infrared Sauna.

I love this two seat infrared sauna

(sometimes I feel like using the IR sauna...

and sometimes I feel like using the 1st floor steam sauna...

both are different experiences).

Last week...

I took a book I was interested in reading 

so I could just enjoy sitting in the IR sauna as I read

(I can't read in the steam sauna...

for obvious reasons).

I had placed on the exterior and interior lights...

put on the built in CD player and selected my music...

and I then hit the switch to power up all of the infrared heaters inside...

and then...

all power went off just in the IR sauna

(which is strange because I had done the same thing many times before without incident).

My first thought was that I had tripped a circuit breaker in the downstairs house 

circuit breaker panel.

I checked...

but no circuit breakers were in need of reset.

I then checked the actual outlet for power behind the Sauna.

No...

it had power

(I had tested it with a wall light).

I had then gotten a ladder and removed the top panel of the sauna

so I could access all of the electrical wiring and circuit boards.

I located the fuse...

and attempted to reset it...

but this didn't work.

So...

I knew I would need a multimeter to test the circuits.

It had arrived a couple of days ago...

and I began the whole diagnostic process by lighting up the area so I could see everything 

in the electrical bay atop the sauna.

I opened up the blinds on the third deck door...

I turned on the overhead lights...

and I climbed up with the multimeter

(I first fully opened the ladder...

it wasn't fully opened in the below photo).

I had unplugged the unit when it first went out...

but I double checked anyway, before going up.

I realized that to easily access the fuse...

I would have to unscrew the whole electrical box.

While the right side of the box's screw came out easily...

the bottom screw simply would not come out

(I was stripping the screw head...

oh, I so hate cheap screws   :)

So...

I just lifted the box on the right top...

supported it underneath enough so I could take out the fuse and reset button component.

I first tested if the circuit was open by using the multimeter

to send a small electrical charge through the unit.

While it can determine if the circuit is open or closed...

it cannot determine how much current actually flows through the fuse

(in this particular mode of operation).

So...

I went live by plugging in the sauna...

and I had found current flowed through the fuse, as determined 

by a small indicator light being lit on the relay or transformer unit...

but again, it only told me that some current was flowing...

not the actual amount.

I then switched the multimeter to read the actual voltage flow through the fuse

(sometimes the fuse will internally melt just enough to not allow

it to carry the full load...but with just enough left to carry small amounts of current).

It was only allowing a very small amount of voltage through...

which indicates a failure of the fuse itself

(it should have tripped the circuit...

and so...

the reset should have worked).

As the fuse is but a $5.00 part...

I ordered two off of Amazon...

both of which should arrive early next week.

Hopefully...

the fix for the sauna will be easily done in a few days.

If not...

I will be in for a long and tedious search for the problem.

Now...

I am not highly trained...

in anything.

I just know the very basics of electrical components

from high school.

I had taken a class on electricity...

I forgot the actual name of the course...

but it combined the knowledge of the nature of electricity...

and the basic practical knowledge of how to manipulate it 

through resistors, capacitors, potentiometers...etc...

and how to combine them to achieve results by actually getting separate components...

and soldering them to a circuit board

(we used low voltage battery operated units for safety...

and that is where I first learned how to use a multimeter).

Anyway...

school in the very early 70s when I was in middle school...

and then in high school...

had certain mandatory classes for males.

I had taken wood shop...

as well as metal shop...

in both...

 middle...

and high school.

They started with tool safety...

and we eventually operated industrial sized equipment designed 

to make almost anything a household would need...

from furniture to outdoor wood or metal structures.

I also learned how to weld...

using acetylene/oxygen torches...

as well as arc welding.

Some guys were very talented...

and had made beautiful pieces of furniture...

or car engine hoists...etc.

I was not one of the talented ones though  :)

But...

I learned enough to stumble through basic house repairs  :)

My only hope is that the sauna problem is just this simple fix.

I am going to be very frustrated if it is something which will be very difficult to repair 

(I don't know if individual components beyond the very basics are easily available).

The IR sauna in the loft.

It is ideally located for simultaneous views outside the third deck door...

as well as through the front cathedral windows...

as well as from the bed.

So...

in a few days...

I will know whether the sauna fix will be a quick and easy one...

or if I am in store for a very frustrating time  :)

And if so...

I will be playing mellow music as I attempt to fix the sauna...

to keep me from getting too frustrated  :)

Southern Comfort In Cripple Creek - Creations Everlasting

 

BGM

YouTube Channel:  Regnum Umbrae

I have just found my go to breakfast / lunch place...

right in Cripple Creek...

less than 15 minutes from home.

On my way to Cripple Creek for a touch of the American South.

I wanted to try Creations Everlasting's biscuit and gravy...

as well as a BLT.

I had eaten there for the first time during the Ice Festival

(I had some of the Vietnamese chef's food...it was excellent).

So...

today...

I just had to try the other chef's food

(she specializes in Southern Comfort food).

I ordered a 24 oz Iced Chai Tea.

It was the first time I had ever had an Iced Chai Tea...

and it is what I will always have there from now on.

It had such a wonderful flavor and it just went with the meal so well.

I had ordered a BLT and a loaded biscuit and gravy with an over medium egg.

The BLT was large and the bread was toasted just right.

The egg was perfectly done.

Both of these were cooked by the Vietnamese chef.

The biscuit and gravy was done by the southern comfort cook.

It was so delicious.

These ladies know their business.

They put more than passion into their food...

they put love into it.

The sausage gravy is cooked from scratch...

and the spices in it were top notch...

just so perfectly made.

Underneath the gravy was this large and delicious biscuit.

This whole meal was just so addictive.

The ladies of Creations Everlasting.

The lady on the left is Edie.

She is the southern comfort chef.

She is what you would hope for in a lady who specializes in southern comfort.

She knows people...

and she knows how to treat them well.

Edie makes you feel right at home...

and she knows how to cook delicious and comforting food.

The lady on the right is Lei...

and she is the Vietnamese chef.

She has a bright, bubbly, and infectiously happy personality.

When she served me the BLT and egg...

she had the mannerisms of a pure hearted child (in the best way)...

filled with unrestrained eagerness and enthusiasm.

She smiled and laughed and twisted her hands in delight 

as I looked at her food and thanked her.

Edie...

served the biscuit and gravy dish.

She had the comforting aura of a wise and kind woman

who took pride in her shop (she is the owner)...

and who knew from experience that all who eat her food...

absolutely loves it.

She was so right.

This will be my go to Southern Comfort / Vietnamese food place...

for the rest of my life.

 

I love these ladies...

and I just love their food.

These ladies epitomize the food service industry.

They know it is a lot more than giving you good food...

it is also about making you feel a certain way...

comfortable and supremely satisfied with the whole experience.

There are just so many dishes I wish to try from both of these chefs...

but I also know that I have a lifetime to explore their menu...

as I shall be returning time and again.

On my way home from a very satisfying meal.

-----------

On the way home...

I picked up my mail.

I received two important packages...

both of which are to fix some issues at home.

It is frustrating to have things break...

especially when one of them was my fault...

while the other one I have yet to diagnose as to what the problem is.

I will detail them in a later article...

as I am just going to relax after such a soul satisfying meal.

Later today...

I will do the fairly easy fix first...

and afterwards...

I will then have to use a special electronic piece of equipment

to find an electrical fault in my loft IR sauna (A Multimeter)...

(It lost all power last week).

It is my hope that I will be able to determine the precise area of electrical failure...

order the specific electrical component...

and then cut and solder it into the circuit board...

or other faulty part.

And...

yes...

the socket is live (tested with a light)...

the fuse reset was also tried (upper right of the circuit box)...

and the relay box inside has power (indicator light is on).

And...

no...

there are no melted or singed components...

or any other obvious signs of arcing or overload.

So...

I will have a multitude of electrical leads to test.

It will be a tedious affair...

but...

it must be done.

However...

for now...

I am going to just relax and enjoy the aftermath of my lunch...

of having been treated to pure Southern Comfort.

Shrimp Yakisoba / Mountain Top Sunset

 

Song:  Another Park, Another Sunday

Group:  The Doobie Brothers

First of all...

these are superior scissors...

better than any other I have ever used.

I got them off of Amazon...

because I cannot stand scissors which simply do not cut well.

As you can see...

they are very thick and rock solid.

None of the stamped metal scissors are worth having...

none.

The metal runs down the length of the handle...

so cutting is done so without bending of the silicone handles.

They are perfect for the kitchen.

These will last a lifetime.

I was just so impressed by them that I had to spread the word.

---------------

I decided to eat a little early today as I planned to go on a mountain top trike ride with Bandi...

for sunset.

I made Shrimp Yakisoba today.

Once again...

buy the Yakisoba WITH the sauce packets included

(many are just the noodles...

check the packages carefully).

Each ingredient comes in a hermetically sealed package.

I usually add sesame oil to help with the searing of the meat...

as well as to add flavor.

I then added 1 lb of shrimp and seared them on high heat

(I use already cooked, deveined and de-shelled shrimp from Safeway...

so, I'm not cooking the shrimp...

but merely searing the outside).

This is the amount of searing I like.

I then make a center opening in the wok so I may add the noodles.

I lower the heat to medium high for the rest of the operation.

Just break apart the noodles...

...add the sauce...

...stir them together and sear to your liking.

Ummm...

So good!

While beef is still my favorite Yakisoba...

shrimp and chicken Yakisobas are still delicious in their own right.

--------------

Just half an hour before sunset...

Bandi and I triked up to the top of the mountain to view sunset.

While the weather was nice when I left...

by the time I got to the top of the mountain...

the wind had picked up considerably.

It was gusting 20 - 30 MPH...

and the temperature dropped suddenly...

anywhere from 20 to 30 degrees.

For a short while...

snow was blowing in on the wind from the Northwest...

just for a few moments...

and then it stopped.

But that is when the temperature really began to drop.

I was wearing my balaclava...

but I put it back in its bag below the bottom two lights...just before leaving.

I turned on my night running lights and prepared to go back home.

By the time the sun had set and I was going back...

it must have been near freezing.

However...

as soon as I got off the top of the mountain...

and on the other side of it...

the wind dropped considerably.

My hands were still almost numb though.

Bandi did so well running the whole way.

She was so excited to be back on the road

and running fast.

She sleeps so well after her runs up and down the mountain.

Bandi especially loves sleeping on my bed since I had gotten an extra thick mattress topper 

(which is 5 inches thick of ultra softness).

I put it on top of the other 3 inch pillowy mattress topper I had before...

so we now sleep on 8 inches of pillowy softness as if we were sleeping on a cloud.

Bandi just loves stretching out on it...

and I sleep much more comfortably now as well.

They are so worth having.

They make all the difference in the world in comfort...

and in sleep quality.