| Honey! |
[Aug. 20th, 2009|01:13 pm] |
Just so y'all know...
I've decided to sell my remaining honey at ECT. I've also combined some of my honey with some from my bee-mentor to supplement my supply. His hives are a few miles away therefore the honey is identical. The bees probably hung out together for a shot of nectar after work
The end result: plenty of honey for all at ECT!
I'll probably be selling mostly 5-pounders (for the brewers) and 1-pounders (with the inverted jar and no-drip valved dispenser).
If anyone wants to pre-order, message me or email me.
I'm not exactly sure about price yet, but I'll like use the National Honey Board's commodities pricing for wholesale honey as a guide. I can't charge retail and not feel guilty. Those prices are insane!
See you all at ECT!
(cross-posted to NE list)
EDIT: I have about 300 pounds of honey... |
|
|
| For all my green thumbed friends... |
[May. 27th, 2009|08:10 pm] |
I have a question:
Yesterday I went up to the bee yard with the weed-whacker and brush-cutter. The clearing was a bit overgrown with grass, brush and lots of poison ivy. I hate chemicals, but I may spray for the poison. It's too dangerous for any visitors to the hives. Some of my helpers got poison over the winter as well. Now I know why. The place is full of the stuff.
Does anyone know of any environmentally friendly poison ivy killers? The farmer's leaving the field right next to the apiary fallow this year, so if I have to spray there won't be accidental crop damage.
I'm tempted to just go ape-shit with the Round-up. Alternatives would be appreciated. |
|
|
| REPRIEVE!!!!! |
[Apr. 7th, 2009|11:06 am] |
I've been stressing horribly over my impending GRE examinations. Going through the practice test, the only thing I learned is how unprepared I am. I haven't looked at some of this math in about 20 years. I found out I have an extra year to prepare. Yay!!
It cost me $50 to reschedule. It's money well spent!
Anyone elver take the GREs before? Any advice other than taking many, many, many practice exams? |
|
|
| Another Vice Checked Off |
[Jan. 26th, 2009|07:38 pm] |
Today I purchased a sampler pack from a local outlet of a great cigar distributor (Cigar International). It contained:
4 - Graycliff 1666 Toro
4 - Padilla Obsidian Torpedo
4 - Cuba Libre Magnum
4 - 5 Vegas Gold Double Nickel
4 - El Mejor Emerald Robusto
Got a nice humidor too. The folks there were very friendly and knowledgeable. They answered a lot of questions from a cigar newbee like me. So many choices.
In case ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) man_of_thor or eytryggr aren't tempted yet... I live 5 minutes from the store and smokeroom. They have many varieties. Every Thursday they have samples, plus a local microbrew. Did I mention it's in the same building as Keystone Homebrew Supply Company, and Bethlehem Brew Works? Hmmm... Beer...
Sold yet? All they need on that block is a brothel, and it's a one-stop shopping trip for all our vices. :) |
|
|
| today is... |
[Jan. 2nd, 2009|09:14 am] |
The glorious anniversary of the birth of friggasgirl!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!
(and if I wasn't an HTML moron, I'd make it in great big letters...) |
|
|
| To all those who feel too sick to go to work... |
[Dec. 24th, 2008|09:32 am] |
You all know I started a new job recently. Many people think that working in a nursing home would be depressing. While this is sometimes true, there are still many residents and staff here that truly inspire me.
Here's an example:
One of our long-time nurses recently suffered some major medical problems which resulted recently in the loss of both legs and some of her fingers. It's really amazing she survived.
She went from working in a nursing home to living in one for the past year or so. Last week she has returned to reside in the facility she was working in for so long. The whole time she's been here, she talks constantly about returning to work someday, despite her amputations.
Today she approached us complaining of being bored. She asked to do anything she can, even answer phones. She just want to be useful. We've decided to put her back on the payroll for clerical work. She'll help with doctors' orders, answer phones, anything. She's amazing.
So, the next time you feel too sick to go to work, think of her. Your headache may not hurt as bad. Mine certainly feels a little better.
EDIT: For those legal eagles out there who questioned this entry... No, we're NOT allowed to put someone on the payroll who's on disability. Yes, we ARE allowed to have residents volunteer as long as it is incorporated into the plan of care (i.e. an intervention to improve psychosocial well-being). The real trick is going to be holding this resident back. :)
Once upon a time, nursing home residents were REQUIRED to work, such as cleaning their room and other "chores." Hence the "workhouses" that Mr. Scrooge spoke of. |
|
|
| Honey/Wax Orders? |
[Oct. 28th, 2008|06:49 pm] |
I have one more bucket of honey left. I picked up a few more buckets from my bee-mentor, and I got a bunch from the club hives as well. I'll portion out my last bucket for anyone that was interested.
Last call for honey! Any orders before I start brewing in earnest?
Also, I picked up a 13 pound block of wax. It's a little dark, so it's not really candle quality. It will burn fine, but it doesn't have that lemon color that's preferred. I'm going to use it to line drinking horns. Whatever's left, I'll pour into 1 oz ingots.
Anyone need wax, or need a horn lined?
Comment or email me if anyone needs bee-products. |
|
|
| Dare I Dream? |
[Oct. 16th, 2008|07:49 am] |
Baseball and I have a long relationship.
I played Little League as a kid. I loved the game. I remember playing stickball in the streets of Northeast Philly with some of the older kids, dodging the occasional car. There was a pathetic excuse of a park near my house where the grassy area was just big enough to get a game going. We used cheap tennis balls, since we'd often lose the balls in peoples' yards or in the poison ivy. Tennis balls also didn't tend to shatter windows of the cars.
Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of sitting in Veteran's Stadium with my father, feet sticking to the beer-soaked concrete, listening to thousands of disgruntled Philly Phanatics voice their frustration at their inept team.
The come the late 70's and 1980. We were close to reclaiming the glory of the "Whiz Kids." My father stopped calling the team a bunch of "overpaid bums." They were only overpaid. :) We had the amazing infield of the power hitter Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose ("Charlie Hustle"), Bob Boone, Manny Trillo and Larry Bowa. We had powerful hitters like Greg Luzinski and Garry Maddox. We had a mighty pitching staff with the likes of Steve Carton. We had colorful characters like Tug McGraw.
Good times.
Then came 1993. We had another amazing team with characters like John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra and Mitch "The Wild Thing" Williams. Oh yea... Mitch Williams... Game 6... Bottom of the ninth.
::shudder::
I was too traumatized to watch baseball since. Now we're on the brink of greatness once again. My heart can't take Philadelphia sports teams much more. For the sake of my health, please win the Series.
That is all. |
|
|
| It's official |
[Jul. 18th, 2008|09:47 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  anxious | ] |
Today I submitted my letter of intent to retire/resign to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No turning back now.
I'm a bit sad. The other times I left a job it was because I wasn't happy where I was at. I really love my job now, and it feels counter-intuitive to leave it for a job that I know will be more stressful and time-consuming. I've never been one for ambition or greed.
I can learn, though. :)
I have my appointments set up for pre-employment physical, TB testing, drug testing, etc. Reality is setting in.
I've also contacted two local colleges to inquire about their graduate programs. One school (the same school friggasgirl will be attending!) has a MSN (masters in science - nursing) program that focusses on nursing management and administration. The other school (the place where I did my undergrad work) has a combined MSN/MBA program which will give me two masters degrees at once, but it'll take me longer. If all goes well, I'll start my masters work in Spring '09. |
|
|
| A Memorial to a Good Friend |
[Mar. 3rd, 2008|01:08 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | chani | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  sad | ] |
Today at approximately 10:15 am, my friend and companion Chani was put to sleep.
She had always been ill (cardiomyopathy), and has been rapidly declining in health in recent months. This past week, she stopped eating and was only taking in sips of water. She was having more seizures, and also lost her hearing and vision. She had become incontinent, and wasn’t grooming. Her weight was a little over 3 pounds, and she was dehydrated.
Basically, she was in multi-system failure. I see this all the time with people at the end of their lives, and this morning we decided to end Chani’s suffering with dignity and respect.
Feel free to add your own fond memories of Chani in the comments. I’ve left this post public so anyone can add to it.
( A Eulogy For Chani )
Good bye Chani. I’m sure there are plenty of mice for you to catch in the halls of Gods. Ratatosk better watch his back! |
|
|
| Another Mead Class |
[Feb. 25th, 2008|02:45 pm] |
In case anyone is interested, I'll be doing another Mead Making/Mead Appreciation workshop at the Ostara Shop in Bethlehem, PA. Contact the proprietor, Mary. He email is at the store's website: www.awitchscauldron.com.
We'll be doing a tasting, making a batch of mead, and discussing the various types of mead as well as the different techniques in meadmaking. I think Mary's charging $25 per person, but you get a free bottle of mead. :)
See you there!
EDIT: I forgot to post the date.... It's Friday, March 7, 2008, at 7pm. |
|
|
| My Upcoming Mead Class |
[Jan. 11th, 2008|12:29 pm] |
Greetings all!
First of all, sorry for cross posting this shameless plug.
In case anyone’s interested: I’m going to be doing a mead making/appreciation workshop at a local pagan store (Ostara Shop in Bethlehem, PA). It’ll be on Friday, January 18, 2008, at 7pm. Contact the store for more info. The website is www.awitchscauldron.com.
Since Mary (the shop owner) does a lot of “women only” classes, she wanted to do something just for the men. Sorry ladies, this one is just for folks with the “Y” chromosome.
The class will be at the Sun Inn, a nearby historical site. It’s only a block or two from the store. Maybe I’ll see you there! Space is limited, but I think there’s still some room left. I’m not sure what Mary charges, but I think it’s $15. Double check with the store. |
|
|
| Yes, I've finally started a journal... |
[Jul. 14th, 2006|01:49 pm] |
Greetings! After much coaxing from friends and family alike, I've finally decided to get "in the loop" and start an LJ. Hopefully I'll keep up with this better than I do other websites... More to come!
EDIT (12/18/07): I've made my LJ friends only. If you're reading this and want to be added to my friends list, then just comment here and ask to be added. Thanks! |
|
|
