Just a chime....or??

[Jerry Oz]

Do you incorporate raisins?

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, I have added some raisins, or sultanas, or currants in the past - but generally bake it plain, with a browned top, sometimes with just a little added spice.

The stewed fruit is prunes, apricots and apple, either in a little water or a nip of something added to give it a little richer taste.

It's one of my 'comfort' foods - also baked apple.

[Jerry Oz]

My Mom used to make raisin pudding when I was a boy. I did not care for it nor dislike it, but I can remember the taste as if I last are it yesterday

[westgrandboulevard]

My Mum did, too.

On its own, I don't much care for it, but it works well when accompanied with the different flavours of the fruit, both in taste and texture.

[Jerry Oz]

When it comes to "comfort food", nothing beats a rich, moist chocolate brownie and a glass of cold milk for me. It's always a case of "I'll just eat one little piece today" that results in half the pan being gone much sooner than anticipated.

[westgrandboulevard]

My mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are a blend of whole almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and some fruit mix, with the addition of some soft dates.

In the evening, it might be just the whole almonds, with a coffee.

"Comfort food" often means "pause for thought food"........

[Jerry Oz]

Since I stopped eating my animal friends, lunch for me normally consists of a piece of fruit - usually a banana or apple - and about four ounces of nuts including raw almonds, walnuts, and/or peanuts. Once in awhile, I will grab a sweet snack, but that's not the norm. Lately, I've taken a mid-morning meal of greek yogurt.

It's not the best tasting dietary regimen, but I find it satisfies me until I go home to eat dinner. I'm happy with the fact that I'm not drooling anymore as I look into the pantry and can't decide what to eat first. Food - and specifically food that is bad for me - is much less of a priority and concern than it used to be. I'm part of the eat to live crowd these days and less of a live to eat man.

[westgrandboulevard]

Being in control of our preferences is a good feeling.

After the winter, I feel I have just a few pounds to lose, to be my ideal weight.

Having accepted that feeling as genuine, I now just have to work out how I'm going to lose those few pounds, and without giving up too much.

[arr&bee]

WHAT IS THIS ???THE FOOD CHANEL????...[I spend a few days in detox and everybody's a chef]OPPS,ER,AHEM,HEH I MEANT A FEW DAYS ON HOLLIDAY.

[westgrandboulevard]

So, you could lose a few pounds too, arr&bee??

[arr&bee]

UMM NO,ACTUALLY I'M TRYING TO FIND MY MIND...[I know it's around here someplace].

[westgrandboulevard]

The rest of us will have to form a committee [[we all should have been committeed years ago) and help you find it.

[Jerry Oz]

I'm pretty sure he will find it in a bottle, cask, barrel, keg, or flask. If said bottle, cask, barrel, keg, or flask is empty, he will only lose it again...

[westgrandboulevard]

An assistance dog could be an asset.

[Jerry Oz]

Perhaps we can find him a divining rod for hooch? A "dewining" rod, as it were...

[westgrandboulevard]

It's such a complex matterwith arr&bee, it might be best to call Dyno-Rod.....

[Jerry Oz]

Well, that's better than a wino-rod every day of the week!

[westgrandboulevard]

Hmmm. I suppose a Hooch tank might look very much like a septic tank...

[Jerry Oz]

Except for the fact that your problem with a septic tank comes once it is full and the problems with the hooch tank start once it's been emptIed.

[westgrandboulevard]

It wouldn't be a problem to arr&bee, if production levels are good. It's an effective way of disguising the contents.

He would, of course, need to be careful not to confuse the designated use of each tank....

[Jerry Oz]

To my understanding, you will pretty much resemble the contents of the septic tank if you've had a good bottle of hooch.

[westgrandboulevard]

Yes, I'm sure I would feel like s**t after just one mouthful of that 'wonderful elixur'.

[Jerry Oz]

But that is what makes it so wonderful. If your innards aren't spontaneously embalmed, you didn't get the good stuff.

[westgrandboulevard]

I don't know how much arr&bee is paying you to promote it [[or has he hypnotised you?) , but it's not going to work on me - literally....

[Jerry Oz]

You're just a party pooper. Well actually, those who drink hooch to excess have been known to poop quite frequently at parties [[often ignoring it and letting the host clean it up), but you know what I mean...

[westgrandboulevard]

Welcome to PartyPoopersVille

[Jerry Oz]

I always wondered about the origins of that particular phrase... It just doesn't sound right to someone who is a bit literal-minded.

[westgrandboulevard]

Me, too!

'Killjoy', or 'Fun Sucker', for example, I can understand......

[Jerry Oz]

And then some of them are even worse than that, definitely NSFW. But of course, we have none of those around here...

[westgrandboulevard]

Definitely. Not in a high-class establishment such as this.

Knowing what is meant is important, but somethings are better off unsaid....

[Jerry Oz]

That is true. It's too bad you don't get a chance to unsay some of the more regrettable things that you managed to say...

[westgrandboulevard]

You mean, you didn't think before you said them - ?

[Jerry Oz]

I could write a book... I am the Absolute King of the Unintended Insult. My wife refuses to believe that it's accidental sometimes, but there is no circumstance that I can imagine wherein I would insult someone unless we're joking with each other.

[westgrandboulevard]

I have a tendency to be objective in conversation, in an effort to be fair and even-handed.

Those who may be looking for support can become quite annoyed if they feel I'm not 100% on their side.

It's all down to people hearing only what they want to hear - and when they don't hear it, it doesn't suit them...

[Jerry Oz]

One of many true stories:
Jerry [[to his co-worker Cheryl): "Good morning, Cheryl. How's it going?"
Cheryl: "Pretty good, Jerry. What's up with you?"
Jerry: "Not much...[[suddenly notices that Cheryl has gained approximately 30 pounds in a very short time) Oh, stupid me! I didn't know that you're pregnant. When's the baby due?"
Cheryl [[after turning snow white, with her jaw dropping): "This is a tumor, Jerry."

[westgrandboulevard]

Tell me that is not a true story......

[Jerry Oz]

Absolutely sad but very true. Exhibit #2:
Jerry and a co-worker, John, both were scheduled to work overtime by coming to work two hours before everyone else to complete some overdue filing. Jerry notices John seems to have a kink in his back as he files something into the top drawer.
Jerry [[chuckling): "Hey, John! Looks like your struggling there. What's wrong, scoliosis?"
John [[in a very cold and insulted manner, with an embarassed look): "Yes, Jerry. I've suffered from scoliosis since I was a boy."
Jerry would later notice that John indeed walked in a manner that would indicate to anyone who was alert, that he suffered from back alignment issues.

[westgrandboulevard]

Note to Jerry : it's not always essential to impart all your knowledge to others...

[Jerry Oz]

The lesson learned: It's okay to be cynical. It's okay to be naive. It's not okay to be both cynical and naive because nobody believes that you aren't the biggest jerk in the world when you make an honest observation error.

[westgrandboulevard]

You simply spoke the truth.

If there's a difficulty, it was 'only' that, while you observed the truth and then spoke, John actually has to live with the truth.

Whether anyone mentions it to him or not is somewhat irrelevant. I expect he appreciated it at least being noticed, and was not totally deterred by your candour.

[Jerry Oz]

If I'd asked John if he was okay or if his back was an issue, it would've been better. In all honesty, I would have been much more concerned than snarky if I knew that he had the problem. He was sort of a snide character who frequently made pointed comments to me and others, so the manner of my asking was kind of a dig at him.
"Dang, dude! What are you, handicapped?!" LOL.

My friends and I laugh at and chop each other down with borderline rude comments all the time [[playing the "dozens", if you were), but we wouldn't do it if it actually touched on an unfunny truth. Mouth opens; foot is inserted...

[westgrandboulevard]

Are Cheryl and John still work colleagues of yours?

[Jerry Oz]

Oh no! I worked with Cheryl in 1987 and I worked with John in 1989. I have had a few boneheaded conversations since then, but when I write my semi-autobiographical comedy screenplay, those are the first two that I will make sure to include. I'd be shocked if either of them remembers me as anything other than "that insensitive prick from 20 years ago".

[westgrandboulevard]

Maybe they both knew quite a few of those, besides you.....

[Jerry Oz]

Lord knows that we all do... Sometimes it's a surprise to consider how long ago memorable things occurred. That was nearly half of my life ago...

[westgrandboulevard]

When we consider the most memorable events in our lives, it makes us wonder just what the hell we were doing with the rest of our time.....

[Jerry Oz]

Time certainly slips away. How much I would pay for an eidetic memory that permitted me to erase all of the painful stuff...

[westgrandboulevard]

It sounds as if you already have an eidetic memory.

Photographic memories from the past are like old cameras; they generally involve negatives.....

[Jerry Oz]

I like that... My only regret is that I didn't focus more on the details of my life when I had the chance. I remember the events vaguely, more like a kid's drawing than a photograph. I remember that they happened but I wish I had something to remind me of everything that I experienced as they were happening. I missed a lot that I should have held on to.

[westgrandboulevard]

It sounds as if you are looking for something to recall which brings comfort and reassurance.

You were probably caught up in just living the days. The flight forward. We should enjoy the day, when we have it.

Trying to remember vague memories is fine, as long as they are not the negative ones. The time taken in so doing will mean there will be a tendency to dwell on them and become morose.

The reality of that particular time has gone, so keep a light touch only on the positive memories. Don't hold on too tight.

Once the negatives are pushed back 'in your mind mix', it will allow your subconscious to release more good memories. You might be surprised......