Mustachian People Problems (just for fun)

[GreenToTheCore]

I’ve reduced my car mileage from over 4000 miles a year to less than 1200 since finding this site. This provides two Mustachian People Problems. Firstly every time I do actually use the car now it’s covered in spider webs. I’m sure there must be dozens of spiders living in my wing mirrors. I now have to either spend time cleaning them every time I do make a journey or else accept I will resemble one of the Addams Family while driving along.

Secondly and rather more gruesomely, today I had a dead and decomposing fly caught in a web while quite a large spider (for the UK) was huddled in the corner of my wing mirror looking at it. As I stopped at a traffic light and looked at this sight before me it was like a scene from Alien or something. Absolutely terrifying.

This post hit my funny bone. Those are some great visuals!

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

I’ve reduced my car mileage from over 4000 miles a year to less than 1200 since finding this site. This provides two Mustachian People Problems. Firstly every time I do actually use the car now it’s covered in spider webs. I’m sure there must be dozens of spiders living in my wing mirrors. I now have to either spend time cleaning them every time I do make a journey or else accept I will resemble one of the Addams Family while driving along.

Secondly and rather more gruesomely, today I had a dead and decomposing fly caught in a web while quite a large spider (for the UK) was huddled in the corner of my wing mirror looking at it. As I stopped at a traffic light and looked at this sight before me it was like a scene from Alien or something. Absolutely terrifying.

I have car spiders, too! Wing mirrors must be the ultimate in travelling luxury pad for spiders.

[never give up]

Haha yes it is a funny sight. Wing mirrors provide the perfect angle for a good web, they are dark, and the spider can check out their work, hair and legs in the mirror. What more could a spider ask for in a home?

[TomTX]

I’ve reduced my car mileage from over 4000 miles a year to less than 1200 since finding this site. This provides two Mustachian People Problems. Firstly every time I do actually use the car now it’s covered in spider webs. I’m sure there must be dozens of spiders living in my wing mirrors. I now have to either spend time cleaning them every time I do make a journey or else accept I will resemble one of the Addams Family while driving along.

Secondly and rather more gruesomely, today I had a dead and decomposing fly caught in a web while quite a large spider (for the UK) was huddled in the corner of my wing mirror looking at it. As I stopped at a traffic light and looked at this sight before me it was like a scene from Alien or something. Absolutely terrifying.

At 1200 miles a year, could you just sell the car and rent one when needed?

[never give up]

Renting is fairly expensive in the UK and where I live does require a car unfortunately. I would love to go carless and if I ever moved I would want to ensure I could go carless. You are right though. Since I have cut back on the mileage the cost per mile has obviously shot up so it is something I am monitoring. Oh crumbs I've just detailed another Mustachian People Problem!

[Monerexia]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

[Dicey]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

Is freezing it an option?

[Linea_Norway]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

Is freezing it an option?

Isn't a coffee bean a dried product? Then I guess it's real experation date is years after the date on the pack. But the taste might become less good as time goes by. I wouldn't worry at all about 2 months.

[Imma]

I my experience as long as you store the beans cool and dry in the unopened bag they last for a pretty long time. I wouldn't even notice if they were expired by a few months. They'll smell weird if they have really gone bad.

[Sibley]

I have a bag of ground coffee in the freezer. I don't drink it, it's there for when I have family visiting.

[sui generis]

I have a bag of ground coffee in the freezer. I don't drink it, it's there for when I have family visiting.

Hey me too!  I bought it when my mom came to visit in 2015 and maybe used it when she stayed in 2018, but basically, it's over 4 years old and has moved with me twice so has lived in three different freezers now.

[Monerexia]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

Is freezing it an option?

Yes I used to do this..dont know why it didn't occur to me. This probably solves the house fire problem as well. I guess nobody has solved the untimely death problem. :)

[radram]

Just broke my scissors cutting open shampoo bottles to get the last bit out...... Now I'll have to go through the random screw/bolt/nut collection in the garage to find something with which to fix the scissors.

Why not just rinse the shampoo out?  When I get down where I can't get anymore out I just put a little water in it and then use that thinned out shampoo for the next week or so until it's completely empty.

They're the bottles that are actually basically tubes with a rigid cap to stand on. You can't get the lid off and the hole is small. They're not hard to cut.

Use suction to get water into the tube. Squeeze the air out, then stick the end of the tube into water and gently compress the sides of the tube. Boom, no cutting required.

You guys are smart! I am far too lazy for that. I just keep adding water to the bottles, shake them, and use the diluted contents on my hair until gone.

I totally do what you do. We were talking about shampoo that comes in a tube. Lazy, party of one here. Suctioning a little water into the tube is far easier than scavenging for the scissors.

What is this "shampoo" stuff everyone keeps talking about?

[Monerexia]

Got my REI dividend for just over $100. Went to REI to see what "free" stuff I should get. All still seemed too expensive. Dividend still in pocket. :(

[dragoncar]

Got my REI dividend for just over $100. Went to REI to see what "free" stuff I should get. All still seemed too expensive. Dividend still in pocket. :(

You can get cash (well a check) now.  Good for me, bad for REI

[TomTX]

Got my REI dividend for just over $100. Went to REI to see what "free" stuff I should get. All still seemed too expensive. Dividend still in pocket. :(

You can have them send you a check, though I think you have to wait a couple months.

[Monerexia]

Got my REI dividend for just over $100. Went to REI to see what "free" stuff I should get. All still seemed too expensive. Dividend still in pocket. :(

Scratch that--just searched and can ca$h it out! Mustachian People Problem solved.

[Monerexia]

Got my REI dividend for just over $100. Went to REI to see what "free" stuff I should get. All still seemed too expensive. Dividend still in pocket. :(

You can have them send you a check, though I think you have to wait a couple months.

Yes says you can cash in store as well. Catastrophe averted :)

[Monerexia]

Got my REI dividend for just over $100. Went to REI to see what "free" stuff I should get. All still seemed too expensive. Dividend still in pocket. :(

You can get cash (well a check) now.  Good for me, bad for REI

Yep! Well I guess good for them they did get 6K parked on their card at 0% interest last year from mom's care center. So commerce I guess.

[Bracken_Joy]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

Is freezing it an option?

Yes I used to do this..dont know why it didn't occur to me. This probably solves the house fire problem as well. I guess nobody has solved the untimely death problem. :)

Generally, freezing coffee is not recommended. They can absorb smells from the freezer, and it deteriorates the beans: https://thehomemadeexperiment.com/dont-freeze-your-coffee-beans/

[Dicey]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

Is freezing it an option?

Yes I used to do this..dont know why it didn't occur to me. This probably solves the house fire problem as well. I guess nobody has solved the untimely death problem. :)

Generally, freezing coffee is not recommended. They can absorb smells from the freezer, and it deteriorates the beans: https://thehomemadeexperiment.com/dont-freeze-your-coffee-beans/

BJ, I love your voice and I appreciate your input and the link, but my approach is slightly different. First, from the author of the article, "I haven’t done my own blind taste test, yet, but I may in the future." [Dicey raises eyebrow.]

I don't buy flavored coffees, I seal them in plastic before they go in the freezer, and I make it in urns for serving it to a large group. I am also not a coffee drinker. (Note: Careful who you put in charge of coffee.) I only make cold brew, so I can prep it the night before. It's super easy and the coffee gets raves, as long as it doesn't run out. I'm kinda not a participant in the special snowflake approach to teas and coffees. Good is not the opposite of perfect. I also don't place a ton of credence in "Best By" dates, but that's a discussion for another time ;-)

[Loren Ver]

I have a bag of ground coffee in the freezer. I don't drink it, it's there for when I have family visiting.

Hey me too!  I bought it when my mom came to visit in 2015 and maybe used it when she stayed in 2018, but basically, it's over 4 years old and has moved with me twice so has lived in three different freezers now.

We don't drink coffee either.  So when MIL comes to visit she bring her own stuff including a mini coffee maker.  She makes what she wants, then packs is all up.  Everyone one is happy.  I offer to loan her a mug, but she brings her own, just in case we don't have mugs either.  Smart lady.

[Sibley]

Found Starbucks 2.5lb beans on sale for $12.99 down from $17.99. Bought 12 bags in a Barney Fife spazz. Then I looked at the expiration date and realized I had no idea how long a bag would last. Made little hash marks each day and found out each bag lasts from 56-60 double shots. Coffee will be two months past expiration date when I draw the last double-shot. Except in the case of my untimely death or a house-fire, of course.

Is freezing it an option?

Yes I used to do this..dont know why it didn't occur to me. This probably solves the house fire problem as well. I guess nobody has solved the untimely death problem. :)

Generally, freezing coffee is not recommended. They can absorb smells from the freezer, and it deteriorates the beans: https://thehomemadeexperiment.com/dont-freeze-your-coffee-beans/

BJ, I love your voice and I appreciate your input and the link, but my approach is slightly different. First, from the author of the article, "I haven’t done my own blind taste test, yet, but I may in the future." [Dicey raises eyebrow.]

I don't buy flavored coffees, I seal them in plastic before they go in the freezer, and I make it in urns for serving it to a large group. I am also not a coffee drinker. (Note: Careful who you put in charge of coffee.) I only make cold brew, so I can prep it the night before. It's super easy and the coffee gets raves, as long as it doesn't run out. I'm kinda not a pafticipant in the special snowflake approach to teas and coffees. Good is not the opposite of perfect. I also don't place a ton of credence in "Best By" dates, but that's a discussion for another time ;-)

My dad prefers folgers, black. I don't think he'll notice if it absorbs any smell. He's mostly lucky to get coffee when staying with me.

[markbike528CBX]

MPP's

DW just noticed after 2 months, that she hadn't gotten paid. She doesn't have a lot coming in.
Fixed it. Cashed the check and in a spending frenzy, bought me a beer.

I noticed after 5 days that I did not have a credit card. Don't use it that often.

[LennStar]

MPP's

DW just noticed after 2 months, that she hadn't gotten paid. She doesn't have a lot coming in.
Fixed it. Cashed the check and in a spending frenzy, bought me a beer.

Now, that really is not a lot comig in! Or did you buy beer made out of antartica water? ;)

I noticed after 5 days that I did not have a credit card. Don't use it that often.

Sorry, can't understand that. Either you have one or not, but after 5 days??? Did it run out?

[markbike528CBX]

MPP's

DW just noticed after 2 months, that she hadn't gotten paid. She doesn't have a lot coming in.
Fixed it. Cashed the check and in a spending frenzy, bought me a beer.

Now, that really is not a lot comig in! Or did you buy beer made out of antartica water? ;)

Just referring to the spending frenzy, not the entire amount.

I noticed after 5 days that I did not have a credit card. Don't use it that often.

Sorry, can't understand that. Either you have one or not, but after 5 days??? Did it run out?

I had left it at a bar and did not use it or notice its absence until 5 days later.
Used cash for all transactions, apparently.

[Taran Wanderer]

One of my Mustachian people problems went away. My employer added a true-up option to the 401k plan, so I don’t have to get my contributions perfectly spread across the year to get my full employer match.  If I max out, the true-up change will ensure I get the full match.

[markbike528CBX]

One of my Mustachian people problems went away. My employer added a true-up option to the 401k plan, so I don’t have to get my contributions perfectly spread across the year to get my full employer match.  If I max out, the true-up change will ensure I get the full match.

I think this is a first for MPP-Solved . 

[Fomerly known as something]

Current MPP debate, my local grocery overrun chain has non dairy ice cream on sale for $1.49 a pint.  I bought two yesterday but am debating going back because it's such a "good deal."  But I don't really need it so I likely shouldn't buy any more.

[Imma]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

I've had food poisoning (salmonella) years ago due to cross contamination in a restaurant (source was found) but this time it's my own fault. It's either from the leftover lasagne from the fridge that I had for lunch that still smelled and tasted right or the soy milk that I tasted to check if it was expired - it was and I spat most of it out. Symptoms started two hours after the soy milk and 10 hours after lunch so it's probably the soy milk but I'm surprised you can get this sick from such a small sip.

My s/o is supportive now of course but I expect him to want a word about my 'trust your senses not the label' policy. He was raised not to eat leftovers or any expired food.

[Linea_Norway]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

I've had food poisoning (salmonella) years ago due to cross contamination in a restaurant (source was found) but this time it's my own fault. It's either from the leftover lasagne from the fridge that I had for lunch that still smelled and tasted right or the soy milk that I tasted to check if it was expired - it was and I spat most of it out. Symptoms started two hours after the soy milk and 10 hours after lunch so it's probably the soy milk but I'm surprised you can get this sick from such a small sip.

My s/o is supportive now of course but I expect him to want a word about my 'trust your senses not the label' policy. He was raised not to eat leftovers or any expired food.

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta. So your lasagna could also be a candidate. With normal milk, you can see or smell it when it is over the date, but this bacteria in rice/pasta is not detectable.

Did you do anything out of the ordinary with the lasagna, that you normally don't?

Beterschap toegewenst.

[dragoncar]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

I've had food poisoning (salmonella) years ago due to cross contamination in a restaurant (source was found) but this time it's my own fault. It's either from the leftover lasagne from the fridge that I had for lunch that still smelled and tasted right or the soy milk that I tasted to check if it was expired - it was and I spat most of it out. Symptoms started two hours after the soy milk and 10 hours after lunch so it's probably the soy milk but I'm surprised you can get this sick from such a small sip.

My s/o is supportive now of course but I expect him to want a word about my 'trust your senses not the label' policy. He was raised not to eat leftovers or any expired food.

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta. So your lasagna could also be a candidate. With normal milk, you can see or smell it when it is over the date, but this bacteria in rice/pasta is not detectable.

Did you do anything out of the ordinary with the lasagna, that you normally don't?

Beterschap toegewenst.

Now I'm curious what that's called in the US cause it's definitely not the same as Chinese restaurant syndrome here

[Imma]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

I've had food poisoning (salmonella) years ago due to cross contamination in a restaurant (source was found) but this time it's my own fault. It's either from the leftover lasagne from the fridge that I had for lunch that still smelled and tasted right or the soy milk that I tasted to check if it was expired - it was and I spat most of it out. Symptoms started two hours after the soy milk and 10 hours after lunch so it's probably the soy milk but I'm surprised you can get this sick from such a small sip.

My s/o is supportive now of course but I expect him to want a word about my 'trust your senses not the label' policy. He was raised not to eat leftovers or any expired food.

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta. So your lasagna could also be a candidate. With normal milk, you can see or smell it when it is over the date, but this bacteria in rice/pasta is not detectable.

Did you do anything out of the ordinary with the lasagna, that you normally don't?

Beterschap toegewenst.

Now I'm curious what that's called in the US cause it's definitely not the same as Chinese restaurant syndrome here

I think it's Bacillus Cereus. Apparantly it's common after eating Chinese food because they cook large batches of rice a few times a week and then reheat it. Definitely fits my symptoms and the good news is it's usually short. I already feel better 18 hours after lunch - at least the intervals between being sick are getting longer.

I made lasagne and didn't eat the leftovers the next day but the day after. We are also planning to replace our fridge because sometimes it doesn't cool very well so I assume it was cooled less quick than normally, giving bacteria time to grow.

[dragoncar]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

I've had food poisoning (salmonella) years ago due to cross contamination in a restaurant (source was found) but this time it's my own fault. It's either from the leftover lasagne from the fridge that I had for lunch that still smelled and tasted right or the soy milk that I tasted to check if it was expired - it was and I spat most of it out. Symptoms started two hours after the soy milk and 10 hours after lunch so it's probably the soy milk but I'm surprised you can get this sick from such a small sip.

My s/o is supportive now of course but I expect him to want a word about my 'trust your senses not the label' policy. He was raised not to eat leftovers or any expired food.

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta. So your lasagna could also be a candidate. With normal milk, you can see or smell it when it is over the date, but this bacteria in rice/pasta is not detectable.

Did you do anything out of the ordinary with the lasagna, that you normally don't?

Beterschap toegewenst.

Now I'm curious what that's called in the US cause it's definitely not the same as Chinese restaurant syndrome here

I think it's Bacillus Cereus. Apparantly it's common after eating Chinese food because they cook large batches of rice a few times a week and then reheat it. Definitely fits my symptoms and the good news is it's usually short. I already feel better 18 hours after lunch - at least the intervals between being sick are getting longer.

I made lasagne and didn't eat the leftovers the next day but the day after. We are also planning to replace our fridge because sometimes it doesn't cool very well so I assume it was cooled less quick than normally, giving bacteria time to grow.

Thanks, I found this info: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/

I regularly leave cooked rice out for the next meal before refrigerating overnight.  And my batches are usually large enough to last up to a week, which get reheated a few times (dat resistant starch).  Always figured that as long as I didn't contaminate the rice after cooking it would be unlikely to cause any issues.  I guess I'm just lucky I haven't been hit by this bug yet (although maybe my immune system is now impervious due to repeated exposure)

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

I've had food poisoning (salmonella) years ago due to cross contamination in a restaurant (source was found) but this time it's my own fault. It's either from the leftover lasagne from the fridge that I had for lunch that still smelled and tasted right or the soy milk that I tasted to check if it was expired - it was and I spat most of it out. Symptoms started two hours after the soy milk and 10 hours after lunch so it's probably the soy milk but I'm surprised you can get this sick from such a small sip.

My s/o is supportive now of course but I expect him to want a word about my 'trust your senses not the label' policy. He was raised not to eat leftovers or any expired food.

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta. So your lasagna could also be a candidate. With normal milk, you can see or smell it when it is over the date, but this bacteria in rice/pasta is not detectable.

Did you do anything out of the ordinary with the lasagna, that you normally don't?

Beterschap toegewenst.

Now I'm curious what that's called in the US cause it's definitely not the same as Chinese restaurant syndrome here

I think it's Bacillus Cereus. Apparantly it's common after eating Chinese food because they cook large batches of rice a few times a week and then reheat it. Definitely fits my symptoms and the good news is it's usually short. I already feel better 18 hours after lunch - at least the intervals between being sick are getting longer.

I made lasagne and didn't eat the leftovers the next day but the day after. We are also planning to replace our fridge because sometimes it doesn't cool very well so I assume it was cooled less quick than normally, giving bacteria time to grow.

Thanks, I found this info: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/can-reheating-rice-cause-food-poisoning/

I regularly leave cooked rice out for the next meal before refrigerating overnight.  And my batches are usually large enough to last up to a week, which get reheated a few times (dat resistant starch).  Always figured that as long as I didn't contaminate the rice after cooking it would be unlikely to cause any issues.  I guess I'm just lucky I haven't been hit by this bug yet (although maybe my immune system is now impervious due to repeated exposure)

Leftover rice is the biggest cause of food poisoning in the world. Sushi rice is actually preserved for the short term with vinegar, salt and sugar. Be very careful.

[Loren Ver]

I've got a truly mustachian people problem: food poisoning...

snip

snip

snip

snip

snip

Leftover rice is the biggest cause of food poisoning in the world. Sushi rice is actually preserved for the short term with vinegar, salt and sugar. Be very careful.

I have learned something new.  Thank you for the cautionary tale!

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

[chaskavitch]

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

It was recently pointed out to me that as long as you plant a deciduous tree and not an evergreen, there aren't any leaves in the winter to block the sun from warming your house, so maybe it won't be a problem! 

[Linea_Norway]

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

It was recently pointed out to me that as long as you plant a deciduous tree and not an evergreen, there aren't any leaves in the winter to block the sun from warming your house, so maybe it won't be a problem!

Or just install a sun blocking screen, maybe one that works automatically?

Good thing about trees is that you might attract more birds and squirrels.

[markbike528CBX]

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

It was recently pointed out to me that as long as you plant a deciduous tree and not an evergreen, there aren't any leaves in the winter to block the sun from warming your house, so maybe it won't be a problem!

Loren Ver,  You could plant the tree just North of due East of the window. The Sun rises in the Northeast in summer and Southeast in winter.  The farther north you live, the stronger the sunrise change is.

[Sugaree]

Today's problem is that I've bought my kid's (and my) clothes used for so long that I'm ridiculously out-of-touch about how much things cost new. 

[Imma]

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

It was recently pointed out to me that as long as you plant a deciduous tree and not an evergreen, there aren't any leaves in the winter to block the sun from warming your house, so maybe it won't be a problem!

Loren Ver,  You could plant the tree just North of due East of the window. The Sun rises in the Northeast in summer and Southeast in winter.  The farther north you live, the stronger the sunrise change is.

We have a large plant in front of one window and are growing one in front of a southern window. Less hassle, easier maintenance and quicker growth than a tree and you could even pick one that grows berries if you like. Ours has berries that are inedible but they attract a lot of birds.

[sherr]

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta.

You're probably talking about Bacillus cereus, which is a real thing that gives people food poisoning from rice.

In the US at least "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" is a completely different thing (that has never actually been demonstrated to exist in any of the several double-blind studies that have been done) that started the (completely evidence-less) panic over MSG.

[LennStar]

I am running out of waste bags.

I started at a firm that gives you free bananas and apples, so I now rarely buy those for home. I used to always take one of those small plastic bags to use them as waste bags. Now my reserve is nearly depleted. I may need to either buy plastic bags or "steal" them at the supermarket with packing every single item in one, which feels so damn wrong.

[Loren Ver]

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

It was recently pointed out to me that as long as you plant a deciduous tree and not an evergreen, there aren't any leaves in the winter to block the sun from warming your house, so maybe it won't be a problem!

Thanks all.  @chaskavitch The simplest of solutions, very deep :).  Maybe find me a nice maple.  More leaves but more animals too. 

[Imma]

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta.

You're probably talking about Bacillus cereus, which is a real thing that gives people food poisoning from rice.

In the US at least "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" is a completely different thing (that has never actually been demonstrated to exist in any of the several double-blind studies that have been done) that started the (completely evidence-less) panic over MSG.

I don't think that MSG ever was a big panic in the country Linea and I are from, so we refer to food poisoning from reheated rice as Chinese restaurant syndrome. We have lots of Chinese-Indonesian restaurants and they are notoriously unhygienic.

[DadJokes]

I once managed to poison myself with a leftover portion of rice. I had taken it out of the freezer, left left in it the fridge for 2 days before eating it. This is a known issue, also called Chinese restaurant syndrom. It is a bacteria that cannot be killed by heating it afterwards. When I read wikipedia about it, it said it could also happen with pasta.

You're probably talking about Bacillus cereus, which is a real thing that gives people food poisoning from rice.

In the US at least "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" is a completely different thing (that has never actually been demonstrated to exist in any of the several double-blind studies that have been done) that started the (completely evidence-less) panic over MSG.

I don't think that MSG ever was a big panic in the country Linea and I are from, so we refer to food poisoning from reheated rice as Chinese restaurant syndrome. We have lots of Chinese-Indonesian restaurants and they are notoriously unhygienic.

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/restaurant-caught-washing-grill-rags-and-pots-in-old-hickory-lake

A local story from only a couple weeks ago...

[TomTX]

My MMM problem.  Now that we are retired and staying in bed past dawn (hurray!!) we have noticed that the bedrooms get HOT in the morning due to eastern sun exposure.  We are slow to use the AC so this had a pretty big affect on us all summer.  Now we are considering putting a shade tree on that side of the house to help with cooling.  That is the side of the house where the power lines are, so we need to be careful on size and placement.  We also need to take into account losing the natural heating during the winter if we block the sun as we are also slow to use the furnace....  Maybe we can find the perfect placement so we get shade in the summer, less in the winter, and don't endanger our power lines. Hmmm.

LV

It was recently pointed out to me that as long as you plant a deciduous tree and not an evergreen, there aren't any leaves in the winter to block the sun from warming your house, so maybe it won't be a problem!

Thanks all.  @chaskavitch The simplest of solutions, very deep :).  Maybe find me a nice maple.  More leaves but more animals too.

Apples, pears, plums, cherries, figs, apricots, peaches - all deciduous. Just sayin'.

[okisok]

I am running out of waste bags.

I started at a firm that gives you free bananas and apples, so I now rarely buy those for home. I used to always take one of those small plastic bags to use them as waste bags. Now my reserve is nearly depleted. I may need to either buy plastic bags or "steal" them at the supermarket with packing every single item in one, which feels so damn wrong.

If you mean plastic carrier bags, just ask around. I only use reusable bags and regularly refuse all plastic bags. But I like having free bin liners and dog poop bags. I get the bags from friends and family who, for whatever reason, still bring home plastic bags. They are happy to get rid of them!

[Zikoris]

I started using random packaging instead of garbage bags. So far I've used rice sacks, flour sacks, toilet paper packaging, a potato sack, and one empty sugar bag. Maybe a few other things as well. It helps if you don't produce that much garbage, and buy things sold in sacks.

[Goldielocks]

I started using random packaging instead of garbage bags. So far I've used rice sacks, flour sacks, toilet paper packaging, a potato sack, and one empty sugar bag. Maybe a few other things as well. It helps if you don't produce that much garbage, and buy things sold in sacks.

I started to save cereal box liner bags -- they make excellent separators for frozen food portions / meats, etc.   (Yeah, I know, cereal is expensive, but the kids LOVE it and make their own breakfast this way).