I’m getting in the mood to cook some hearty cool-weather fare myself. Beef Burgundy sounds about right. I think this strip from 2011 tells a simple truth, at least when I’m in the kitchen. Despite washing bowls and utensils as I go, the culinary detritus eventually gets ahead of me, even with those classic “one-pot” dishes that I love so much. Boeuf Bourguignon, in the French, is beef simmered in wine, of course. The great Julia Child’s recipe is a go-to standard for this dish, and it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Julia: “I often cook with wine; sometimes, I even pour it in the food I’m cooking.”
Behind the Scenes
By Jimmy Johnson
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218 responses to “Behind the Scenes”
Galliglo:
Thanks!
I have no pride in what I am doing, though, because it is not pure.
I’m doing it only because the doctor told me.
If I had begun it on my own, I might have a little pride, then.
Still, I think that I might have surpassed my doctor’s expectations. We’ll see.
Haven’t recently spoken about my work…
Last week, I was discussing with a staff member the things that needed to be done and priorities. I told her that I could help with certain things if needed, but I wanted her to start with one specific task. She leaned back in her chair and said, “YOU do that. I don’t like to do it.” Needless to say, I was shocked. But I quietly said, “No, YOU do that” and walked away. Later I met with my boss and told him what happened and that we should not be surprised if she walked out. Sure enough – That is what she did last Thursday! She sent him an email saying I’m leaving my keys and I’m gone (or words to that effect).
So… this week has been VERY hectic with my trying to do her job plus mine. Thankfully, I have a replacement coming next Monday AM, but then, there is the training process. Oh well…
Old Bear:
Clothes sizes: My wife and I have also noticed that sizes no longer seem to follow past standards. I don’t know if it’s a deliberate ploy on the part of designers or lack of oversight on the part of foreign textile plants.
Feel best: Because each body is different, I’m still trying to find the weight that is best for me. So far, the more I lose, the better I feel, and the more energy I have. I also find that running is easier with each pound that I lose.
Galliglo:
At least she left on her own, and you didn’t have to go through the pain of firing her.
I hate recommending termination of anyone, even when it’s clearly deserved.
Yep, I’m softhearted. It must be a holdover from my teaching career.
Rick
Had a boss that said he weight 300+. He did not look it. It was not around his middle.
He was just BIG not fat. I suppose he could have lost some , but some (underline that) people don’t look good with too much weight loss.
Rick: Go for it, guy. Any healthy weight that makes you feel good (and feel good about yourself) is the one to shoot for. (I just couldn’t make myself write “is the one for which to shoot”.) But I thoroughly disagree with you about one thing…you *should* be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Your doc may have recommended it, but you are the one that made it happen.
Don’t underestimate what moderate, regular weight training will do for you. I’ve been surprised at my results since I started a day-on-day-off regimen of free weights and Nautilus-type machines. And I don’t let the looks of the younger folks at the gym intimidate me. I’m one of those people whose age others routinely underestimate by about 10 years, so I just remind myself how amazed they’d likely be if they knew my true age. (Watching some of them is a treat, too. 🙂 ) And when I see some guy who looks like a miniature version of The Hulk, I tell myself (borrowing a page from Huckleberry Fynn, “I could look like that if I wanted to, but I don’t want to.”
Regarding the 9/25 Wizard of Id Classic: A form for slapping a lien on a goofing off vassal would be a Vassal Lien form. Nice pun that we get to finish in our heads.
Hi, Gal. When the “help” is no help, you are better off without them. And yes, in the long term, she did you a favor by firing herself.
Debbe
Look out the window as you head for bed -totality runs from 9:11 to 10:23 CDT.
Wizard of Id Classics only means they started from day one. Circa 1964.
Most of those commenting had problems deciphering.
As one commenter said “people just don’t use Petroleum Jelly much anymore.”
It is a very bad pun. Vassal Lien.
A couple of years ago I came across an older guy talking to a much younger one in the locker room. The young guy was so “ripped” that his head looked too small! He was describing how he spent the day unloading trucks and all his free time in the gym toning his form, focusing on muscles not used during the workday.
The older guy asked about his social life, what sort of foods he liked, movies or shows he watched… and the kid was flummoxed that any of that could matter! I guess he was addicted to body building.
Debbe 😉 My best effort at translating “paucity of particulars provided by the putative potentate” yields “lack of details given by the so-called King”. Sounds as though someone had an “alliteration attack”. 🙂
Trucker Ron
You beat me to it while I was researching.
Rick
The doctor did not lose the weight – you did by your effort. Be proud.
On the Wizard of Id strip in question, look at the original copyright date on it. 1965. So yeah, in this case the 50-year-old humor didn’t translate because the cultural references have shifted, like the reference to Pismo Beach.
Clothes sizes: The numbers have definitely changed. I once read that, with women’s clothes anyway, the more expensive the brand, the smaller size one would wear. Now it seems they’ve all gone that route. Not long ago I came across a pair of shorts that I wore in my 20s. Comparing the size on that label to a current pair, you would think that I’ve only gone up one size in 40 years – hah! Can’t help wondering if keeping the old size system might have been a deterrent as we (as a society) have crept toward obesity.
I do not expect to ever wear those shorts again, nor would I want to; in those days my doctor suggested that I should gain weight. However, getting closer to where I was 20 years ago would be good. Another good thing about retirement – it’s much easier to get motivated to go for a walk when your feet don’t hurt from being on them all day.
Happy Birthday, RA.
I seem to recall reading some years ago that the sizes for women’s clothing were derived from physiological data obtained from women who were in the Women’s Army Corps in WWII. Which was probably not a very representative sample of the female population even then, and certainly not these many years later. So it wouldn’t seem surprising that some adjustments in sizing have occurred since then.
Happy belated Birthday, Ruth Ann! Glad that you are enjoying your retirement.
And thanks for the remarks about the employee firing themselves! I have to admit, that even though I am being drowned in paperwork right now, I am glad she is gone. She has always had a bit of an attitude problem.
The day after she left, I called a staff meeting of those in my department. Told them that I was sure that rumors would be going around and that I wanted them to know what REALLY happened, and that I would always be open for suggestions and/or concerns. I might not agree, but I would always listen. Got some good feedback about my meeting with the staff. Guess that has not happened too often in the past. My opinion… we are all a team and have to work together!
OF just winding down, crowd in full view [as usual?]. New prediction should be up soon. Peace, emb
http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/webcam/oldFaithfulStreaming.html
“Wizard of Id Classics” for yesterday (9/25/15) – anyone here get the humor?
Typed ‘Wizard of Id Classics’, went to today’s cartoon, hit the back arrow to get 9/25/15. Only point seems to be the 2 witches [green skin, warts, and all] are making their witch’s brew [there are two homonyms!] out of stuff that’s on sale / the change in seasons. Arlo and 9CL are better.
Peace, emb
So “vassal lien” is all there is to the cartoon? I had expected at least a 3- or 4-word scheme, probably rhyming. Was working with (serf turf) and (lax tax), but couldn’t get anything else to attach to either pair and the given situation.
…And thanks for those who chimed in! HB, RA!
You had the “regular”, not the “classic”, eMb.
I haven’t looked at that classic strip, but I don’t have to. I remember reading it when it first came out, and even then it took me a few seconds to make the connection.
Thought for the Day: “If a man neglects to enforce his rights, he cannot complain if, after a while, the law follows his example.”—Oliver Wendell Holmes
GR6 and OB:
You guys are great for my ego and motivation, not to mention just being great guys.
Thanks – I really appreciate it.
Two other reasons I’m trying to lose weight and to exercise:
I have spent many years in jobs trying to use what little brain I have, and it’s kind of fun seeing what I can do with what little physique I have.
When I’m running/walking, I usually don’t think at all about what horrible shape the world is in today. I consider it to be my 5K-a-Day Va-Kay.