Blow That Dough! -2021

[jfn111]

Wow, nice car!

 

[Ronstar]

Wow, nice car!

+1.

 

[srpuywa]

retirement car

We decided not to get a travel trailer so I traded my truck for a sporty SUV - Audi Q7

 

[DrRoy]

I am not a sophisticated vinophile. If I have some alcohol, I tend toward red wine because there are occasionally some suggested health benefits, taken in moderation. I do not like heavy tannin wines like cabernet. I have found that I prefer pinot noir, and I found that $5 Naked Grape was just fine.

On the road when we get dinner, DW likes to split a beer sometimes. One time we tried Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It was really good. I found it at home, but it's $12 for 4 bottles, kind of a lot for beer. I wondered if the same treatment would work for wine. A lot of the bourbon barrel aged wined that I saw in stores were based on heavy reds, so I passed. Eventually I tried Cooper and Thief Red Blend, aged 3 months in bourbon barrels. Wow was it awesome! Thing is, it was $28. Plus tax.

That really rankled my sense of value. How could I pay ~6X as much for wine? But it was really good. I decided that I would splurge this once and I ordered a case for $315. (plus tax). Supposed to arrive today.

 

[Finance Dave]

We decided not to get a travel trailer so I traded my truck for a sporty SUV - Audi Q7

Love those wheels...nice color too

 

[JP.mpls]

I've been blowing that dough at my new/old Florida townhome.

Here is the buy list after 4 months:
- New manufactured oak flooring in the upstairs two bedrooms. Paid to have this installed. It looks great.
- All new wood trim, door hardware and paint in the upstairs rooms, and lower half bath. Including ceilings and woodwork. (My labor).
- A bunch of furniture. Most used, but some nice new rugs, chairs, beds and lighting.
- I'm paying to have the sun deck and flat roof replaced. This one was tough, because I think I could have done this myself, but it is being hired out.
- New AC/Heating system.
- New impact windows and upper slider with the reflective glass are on order. I have 3 lower level sliders that I'm not replacing for now. Those babies cost about $3k each, and I am cheap. They are also protected by a 3 season porch, and the tile covered concrete floors on the lower level should be fine if some water manages to get in.
- New landscaping in the garden, with a fancy wall trellis on order for the bougainvillea plants.
- New kitchen cabinets, sink, faucet and countertops were ordered today. I'm going to assemble and install them, replace the back wall sheetrock, and do the backsplash tile.

I have plans to update the two bathrooms next year. They were both repainted with new baseboard trim for now.

I also have a damaged 3 season porch ceiling that needs repairs, or to be covered with some type of material. I'm thinking about a metal or wood ceiling in there.

Wow, we been busy, and we have been blowing that dough.

Take care, JP

 

[audreyh1]

Our HEB has been carrying this beautiful Ahi tuna from Hawaii. I got them to custom slice me some 1.5 inch steaks.

This is what I like to do with it.

(pan-seared on cast iron. Recently I got wise and started using Everything Bagel seasoning instead of just sesame seeds on the tuna before searing. We also drizzle a little toasted sesame oil on it before serving.)

 

[CardsFan]

Our HEB has been carrying this beautiful Ahi tuna from Hawaii. I got them to custom slice me some 1.5 inch steaks.

This is what I like to do with it.

(pan-seared on cast iron. Recently I got wise and started using Everything Bagel seasoning instead of just sesame seeds on the tuna before searing. We also drizzle alittle toasted sesame oil on it before serving.)

I gotta try that one. The sesame is good, but the seasoning sounds better (and we have some, so now I have to get some tuna).

Thanks for the tip.

 

[audreyh1]

Everything bagel seasoning is also very good sprinkled on avocado or boiled eggs.

 

[Winemaker]

Our HEB has been carrying this beautiful Ahi tuna from Hawaii. I got them to custom slice me some 1.5 inch steaks.

This is what I like to do with it.

(pan-seared on cast iron. Recently I got wise and started using Everything Bagel seasoning instead of just sesame seeds on the tuna before searing. We also drizzle a little toasted sesame oil on it before serving.)

We had some last night, I usually do it on the grill with a cast iron giddle. Last night DW decided to use the oven, after black and white sesame seeds, garlic salt and some fresh cracked pepper. She stuck the griddle in the 500 degree oven for about 15 minutes, turned the oven off, and I put the ahi on. One minute each side, it cooked better this way than the grill! A little dab of wasabi and pickled ginger on the plate, washed down with some very chilled Gewurztraminer wine.

 

[Winemaker]

I am not a sophisticated vinophile. If I have some alcohol, I tend toward red wine because there are occasionally some suggested health benefits, taken in moderation. I do not like heavy tannin wines like cabernet. I have found that I prefer pinot noir, and I found that $5 Naked Grape was just fine.

On the road when we get dinner, DW likes to split a beer sometimes. One time we tried Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It was really good. I found it at home, but it's $12 for 4 bottles, kind of a lot for beer. I wondered if the same treatment would work for wine. A lot of the bourbon barrel aged wined that I saw in stores were based on heavy reds, so I passed. Eventually I tried Cooper and Thief Red Blend, aged 3 months in bourbon barrels. Wow was it awesome! Thing is, it was $28. Plus tax.

That really rankled my sense of value. How could I pay ~6X as much for wine? But it was really good. I decided that I would splurge this once and I ordered a case for $315. (plus tax). Supposed to arrive today.

DrRoy, always drink what you like! It's great to step outside the box and try something new, and then get rewarded. The $28/bottle of wine is always going to be balanced in acid and tannins a lot more than a $5 Naked Grape wine.

 

[euro]

Finally, you made me break down and place a $300 order myself

Sadly, they were all out of uni - I guess it's not urchin season...

BTD

Finally, my Sashimi samples came in (2 week delay because of the ice vortex in the middle of the country....)! DW and I just had our first meal - fabulous!!!!

 

[RobbieB]

Glad to hear. I have no problem promoting Catalina. Their fish is all top of the heap and better than the sushi bars serve up.

 

[euro]

Blow more dough:

Glenfiddich single malt, 21y reserva rum cask finish Just under $300 after shipping and taxes....

I shall be curious as to whether I can really tell a big difference vs my old $25 stand-bys......

either way, it will last me about a year, so its less than a dollar a day....

 

[RunningBum]

Blow more dough:

Glenfiddich single malt, 21y reserva rum cask finish Just under $300 after shipping and taxes....

I shall be curious as to whether I can really tell a big difference vs my old $25 stand-bys......

either way, it will last me about a year, so its less than a dollar a day....

I'll bet you can. I can tell the difference between a high end bourbon and a lower end one, when sipping. Maybe not between $30 and $50, or $50 and $70, but I can tell $20 bourbons from $80. If I'm mixing, it's a lot less, but I don't use my better bourbons for mixing.

If your $25 standby scotch is a blend, you probably pick up the harsher grain alcohol in the blend that's not in the $300 single malt.

I've got a few bottles of cheap rum, bourbon, vodka, amaretto, and schnapps in my bar but I won't buy more unless it's something I actually really like, like Whaler's coconut rum (with pineapple juice). I don't think I've paid over $100 for anything yet though. I'm not big on scotch.

Enjoy!

 

[Souschef]

The most I ever spent on single malt scotch was $300 for a 21 year old Glenmorangie in a Caithness decanter shaped like a still.
It was delicious. I saved the presentation box it came in and sold the empty on eBay

 

[skyking1]

I've been blowing that dough at my new/old Florida townhome.

Here is the buy list after 4 months:
- New manufactured oak flooring in the upstairs two bedrooms. Paid to have this installed. It looks great.
- All new wood trim, door hardware and paint in the upstairs rooms, and lower half bath. Including ceilings and woodwork. (My labor).
- A bunch of furniture. Most used, but some nice new rugs, chairs, beds and lighting.
- I'm paying to have the sun deck and flat roof replaced. This one was tough, because I think I could have done this myself, but it is being hired out.
- New AC/Heating system.
- New impact windows and upper slider with the reflective glass are on order. I have 3 lower level sliders that I'm not replacing for now. Those babies cost about $3k each, and I am cheap. They are also protected by a 3 season porch, and the tile covered concrete floors on the lower level should be fine if some water manages to get in.
- New landscaping in the garden, with a fancy wall trellis on order for the bougainvillea plants.
- New kitchen cabinets, sink, faucet and countertops were ordered today. I'm going to assemble and install them, replace the back wall sheetrock, and do the backsplash tile.

I have plans to update the two bathrooms next year. They were both repainted with new baseboard trim for now.

I also have a damaged 3 season porch ceiling that needs repairs, or to be covered with some type of material. I'm thinking about a metal or wood ceiling in there.

Wow, we been busy, and we have been blowing that dough.

Take care, JP

You are wise to pick your battles, JP. You doing your own trim and cabinets means you are the only one to do the QC on it and make it right, but most importantly it is largely STAND UP work
As I get older I realize that time on my knees is not so fun, getting up to run to the saw takes longer and makes more interesting sounds in the joints.
That stuff you subbed out is for younger guys who need the money.
I have made similar choices for the future work I have planned.

 

[Sunset]

I bought 2 dozen new pair of socks yesterday. One white and one black. Hanes, double tough over the calf extra tall.

....

I've done the same for the past 5 yrs, but recently decided I'd specialize: From now on I'm only buying white socks.

My black socks look silly when I'm wearing shorts.

 

[skyking1]

We picked up a 2019 Tiguan premium for DW on Jan 31st. It is a 12,000 mile CPO car that now has 72,000 miles and 65 months of warranty.

The next day they delivered and installed the RV carport. I had the diesel fleet tucked in there as the crew was leaving.

 

[Koolau]

Our HEB has been carrying this beautiful Ahi tuna from Hawaii. I got them to custom slice me some 1.5 inch steaks.

This is what I like to do with it.

(pan-seared on cast iron. Recently I got wise and started using Everything Bagel seasoning instead of just sesame seeds on the tuna before searing. We also drizzle a little toasted sesame oil on it before serving.)

Back before the pandemic, we used to cruise the local Farmer's markets from time to time. It wasn't unusual to see the WHOLE ahi fish on ice in a trough. Never priced one and not sure if they were sold by the steak or only by the whole fish. They are a beautiful fish.

I'm more of a cooked fish kind of guy, but I've certainly eaten poke and other raw ahi dishes. Funny, when you come from the midwest, you think tuna is what comes in a can and that all fish taste like catfish (or maybe frozen perch or cod or fish sticks). Then you move to Paradise and find you actually LIKE fish. Who knew? YMMV

 

[skyking1]

Costco in Hawaii has great local fish and we get it to cook at the timeshare shared BBQ grilles.

 

[Koolau]

Costco in Hawaii has great local fish and we get it to cook at the timeshare shared BBQ grilles.

Yes, Costco is our go-to store for local fish. Have eaten more fish since moving here than all the years on the mainland. YMMV

 

[audreyh1]

Back before the pandemic, we used to cruise the local Farmer's markets from time to time. It wasn't unusual to see the WHOLE ahi fish on ice in a trough. Never priced one and not sure if they were sold by the steak or only by the whole fish. They are a beautiful fish.

One of our best memories from Kauai - Hanalei Bay, specifically - is visiting a fish shop on the bay front and talking to the fish monger. He invited us back to see the fish locker, and he had a whole ahi tuna, a whole mahi-mahi and a whole opah suspended from the ceiling by their tails. They were all huge. And colorful. It was quite an experience. DH has photos somewhere - pre digital cameras.

 

[JP.mpls]

Skyking,
I agree, but I have trouble letting go. I've always been DIY type, and I'm fussy on top of that. It helped that the young kid who installed the wood flooring did a great job.

Replacing the baseboard trim in two rooms and a bath was actually fun, and way less physical.

The deck/roof replacement is straightforward, but much easier as a two man job, and I have no plans to have my partner help me lug heavy decking material up a story to the deck area.

Thanks for the encouragement.
JP

You are wise to pick your battles, JP. You doing your own trim and cabinets means you are the only one to do the QC on it and make it right, but most importantly it is largely STAND UP work
As I get older I realize that time on my knees is not so fun, getting up to run to the saw takes longer and makes more interesting sounds in the joints.
That stuff you subbed out is for younger guys who need the money.
I have made similar choices for the future work I have planned.

 

[Koolau]

One of our best memories from Kauai - Hanalei Bay, specifically - is visiting a fish shop on the bay front and talking to the fish monger. He invited us back to see the fish locker, and he had a whole ahi tuna, a whole mahi-mahi and a whole opah suspended from the ceiling by their tails. They were all huge. And colorful. It was quite an experience. DH has photos somewhere - pre digital cameras.

You're right that they are beautiful fish. Almost a shame to take them out of the sea. BUT, I'd rather eat them than let a great white have them. I can picture a 7 year old tourist being aghast at the size of these creatures in the locker or on ice. I can hear him whispering, Mommy, do they have cans THAT big for the tuna.