Shorter Steve- “Stop your damned whining. What do you mean I am in the way? Look at all the room I left there for you to use your mouse.”
Believe it or not, this is what I WANT in a cat. Tunch was by my side almost all day, too. It just completely changes the dynamic of a house to have a cat in it, and for the better.
Yatsuno
I am happy to see Papa Stevedore Hemingway is asserting his rightful rule over the lower creatures of his empire.
Ted & Hellen
John, why are you afraid of being alone?
Mustang Bobby
I love watching the bonding going on between you and Steve.
In automotive news…
Imagine John Lennon driving a station wagon. It’s easy if you try.
the Conster
It’s all just one big win win.
I can’t believe Breaking Bad is going to be on tonight. It’s like Christmas and my birthday!
Violet
@Yatsuno:
I thought he was Boss Stevenson Hemingway.
Marilyn Darst
Put a Steve-sized box on your desk…..I promise he will get in it!!
Yatsuno
@Violet: I think we’re both half-right: It’s Boss Stevedore Hemingway. The Stevedore for sure. Steve to his minions.
jeffreyw
Mmm… chicken enchiladas and Spanish rice
Mnemosyne
@Mustang Bobby:
I’m pretty sure that’s the same model of station wagon my parents had that I drove as a teenager in the late 1980s.
I once beat a Z28 at a stoplight drag race in that car — he didn’t realize I had a frickin’ V8 under the hood and was willing to use it.
Yatsuno
Please proceed, Newton Leroy.
@jeffreyw: NOMZ!!!
kc
Cats do make great buddies.
Violet
@Mnemosyne: Wanted to let you know that the antibiotics I’m on are for the SIBO I tested positive for. They are kicking my neurochemical situation, as I imagine they are affecting the serotonin in my gut, but my rosacea is noticeably improved. Thought you’d be interested.
I do not have gut symptoms (like IBS), but based on all my reading I thought I could have SIBO. Got tested and I was right.
shelly
What’s that in the background? Is Steve packing his own crack pipe?
Mnemosyne
@jeffreyw:
I’m making this beef machaca recipe in the crockpot for tonight’s dinner. I couldn’t find brisket and bought “stir fry beef” instead since it was pre-cut and I was running very late on getting this into the pot.
Mnemosyne
@Violet:
Interesting. My rosacea is well under control with topical cream (Noritate), daily sunscreen, and gentle cleansers, but I’ll keep that in mind if I have a weird flare-up. I’m always reluctant to take more antibiotics than absolutely necessary since there are quite a few I have bad reactions to, including anything in the penicillin or mycin families.
Tokyokie
I’ve got one cat curled up under my desk where I’d like to put my left foot, another sleeping on the windowsill two feet to my left, and a third dozing on the futon behind me. Marvin the Siamese is no doubt sleeping on the bed in the main bedroom.
aangus
OMG!!!11!!!1!!
Anne just stomped on your post.
You’d better put your foot down HARD!
(end snark)
Violet
@Mnemosyne: This is the rifaximin that is specifically targeted at the gut and stays there. The side effects are supposedly rather limited, but I’ve had significant mood changes and it’s been challenging and also kind of fascinating to live with it. I know that most of the body’s serotonin is in the gut, so messing with the gut can have an effect on that. But this is the first time I’ve experienced it so acutely.
I think I remember you said you suffered from depressing (sorry if I’m remembering incorrectly) so you might want to keep that in mind when/if you decide to take it. The idea is to eliminate the SIBO and then get the gut bacteria back to normal. I’m a little worried the second step is also going to be challenging, but I’m going to work at it. I’ll keep you updated if you want.
I just thought you’d find it interesting because we had that discussion about rosacea and talked about SIBO. I got myself tested after doing more reading and was not surprised to find myself testing positive for it.
diana
So what happened to the cat tower with the weapons-grade catnip? Did he ever climb the damn thing, or what?
raven
@shelly: Old Apple computer speaker.
Ruckus
@shelly:
I first thought it was a bong but a crack pipe would be more topical. Except that this is way to ornamental to be a crack pipe.
Then I looked closer and it looks like a weather station, temp, humidity, etc.
But great minds and all that.
Ruckus
@raven:
That’s even less cool than the weather station.
Mustang Bobby
@Mnemosyne: We had a 1967 Ford Country Squire with the 390 CID V-8 when I got my license in 1968. That car could smoke any other car from a standing start. Great in a straight line; on the curves it was like steering the Enterprise — the aircraft carrier, not the starship.
jeffreyw
@Mnemosyne: Mmm… that looks pretty good. Take pictures!
Josie
@Violet:
Did you mention earlier that you were eating low carb? I noticed in one of the comments after an article about SIBO that a person had switched to a low carb regimen along with probiotics after antibiotic treatment and was doing well. She seemed to think it would take as long as a year for her body to heal completely.
Wayners T
Cole, when I’m home at christmas (near u) I’m offering take some real pictures of your pigs. I still can’t tell what Steve looks like.
ruemara
Mine know to give me some spaaaaace. I like to foster their independent spirit. The fact that they independently spirit themselves to wedge up against my feet or in my lap as I try to raid, that’s immaterial.
Violet
@Josie: I’m eating a sort of modified paleo–with safe starches and minimal fruit. It’s not low carb. I can’t do that because I’ve got a thyroid issue and low carb is bad for thyroid patients. It’s fairly low carb in general, but not true low carb.
For me the issue is more with gluten and grains. I find I don’t tolerate gluten well and grains tend to negatively affect my joints and my gut. I can do potatoes and sweet potatoes and do eat some starches with most meals.
I’ll be using probiotics and other fermented foods–kefir, yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, etc.–when I finish the antibiotics to help repair my gut. I expect it’ll take awhile. I’ve been on this kind of diet since April, though, so hopefully I’m a bit cleaner starting out than I would be had I not switched my diet.
Since switching my diet I’ve lost over 20 pounds and I’m not even trying to lose weight and I’m rarely hungry. I’m enjoying that!
Culture of Truth
Tiger’s never been like that. But he was a feral little kitten, and has always been a little stand-off-ish, compared to Steve and Tunch, anyway.
Pogonip
Did he ever use the luxury cat tree?
Josie
@Violet:
I’m eating in a similar way – paleo plus potatoes and sweet potatoes and a little corn or corn products, such as tortillas. I agree that the main problem seems to be with grains, which is a shame, since I like to make and eat bread. I haven’t tried the fermented foods – may have to look into that. Do you ever eat sourdough bread? I used to make it now and then and wonder if it would be healthier than regular bread.
Violet
@Josie: I guess it depends who you believe. If you read Wheat Belly (you can check out the blog), you’ll be freaked out that the wheat plant has been modified since the late 1970’s and we’re not evolved to eat that wheat. Or any wheat, but especially the modified wheat. So sourdough bread wouldn’t make much difference.
If you read the Weston A. Price/Ancentral Health folks, they say grains are okay if you soak them to remove the toxins like traditional societies did. I haven’t tried that, so I’m not sure.
Corn is also quite modified and tons of toxic chemicals are used. If you use organic you might be okay. I have a weakness for chips and salsa, so I eat very tiny amounts of that occasionally, but that’s the limit of my corn consumption.
From everything I’ve read, if you are doing the other stuff but not having fermented foods, you are missing key ingredients for your gut health. Go slow when you start though–a tablespoon of raw, natural sauerkraut (go to Whole Foods or the equivalent or make your own) every other day. You also need bone broth. A bunch of minerals and collagen and other good stuff in bone broth that we don’t get in our modern diet. And seaweed. I do a bone broth soup with miso (it’s fermented) and seaweed to get all three.
NickT
@shelly:
That’s one of the speakers for Cole’s computer. Same brand as mine, oddly enough.
@raven:
It’s not Apple – it’s a set of Harmon-Kardon Soundsticks.
Josie
@Violet:
Thanks for all the good information. I’ve got some research to do now, and I will definitely check the Wheat Belly blog. My son and I made some seaweed soup a few months ago, and I was surprised to find that I liked it. We should do that again.
Patricia Kayden
It’s wonderful that Steve is working out so well. Gorgeous cat.
Violet
@Josie: Not sure how into all of it you might be or want to be, but in addition to Wheat Belly, check out the Perfect Health Diet blog (there’s also a book, as there is with Wheat Belly). Here’s Weston A Price: westonaprice.org/. There are a whole bunch of sites out there and everyone has a different viewpoint. I think the key is to absorb the info and then decide what works for you. Everyone is different and everyone’s needs are slightly different.
Edit: One other thing–I’ve noticed that for me, vegetable oils (canola, soy, corn, etc.) are like poison. I use butter, olive and coconut oils or render my own tallow or lard from fat. Now when I eat something with vegetable oil I’m almost immediately hungry. Veg oils are loaded with Omega 6s and they spike blood sugar. Not to mention they’re toxic.
NickT
@Josie:
Some people seem to like this blog:
marksdailyapple.com/#axzz2bhgwIYqD
gogol's wife
I go into total withdrawal when I’m away from my cats. They are serious blood-pressure lowerers.
burnspbesq
@Mustang Bobby:
Not a fucking Chrysler Town & Country. Dude, please don’t tell me you drive a Chrysler Town & Country. That is the uncoolest wagon of all time. Get a Chevy Brookwood, or a Volvo 122, or a VW Squareback, or even a Ford Country Squire.
NickT
@burnspbesq:
I have wonderful visions of your driveway and six garages filled with your collection of connoisseur approved automobiles.
TomG
We had up to 4 cats in our household at one point, including one I gave my wife as an engagement present. Unfortunately she learned that she’s very allergic to cat fur, and is somewhat restricted with dogs. So, no more cats… Just (right now) a Giant Schnauzer and a Lhasa Apso.
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
Are you having a George Allenesque machaca moment?
Josie
@Violet:
Yeah, we have made the switch to coconut and olive oil, and I have always believed in butter (lol).
@NickT:
It’s funny you would mention Mark’s blog. He is the one who got me started on this road. I have fallen off the wagon several times, but I get back on because it is the only way to keep my weight in check.
Violet
@Josie: Try rendering tallow. There’s a recipe for how to do it on the Perfect Health Diet blog. I followed that and it was easy and only took 30 minutes, as the recipe says. I got the beef fat for free from Whole Foods. Seriously–they just gave it to me. I got about two pounds, rendered it, and put it in a covered glass dish in the fridge. Lasted for about six week or two months until I’d used it all. I think it would last a lot longer than that if you didn’t use it very fast.
Fries at McDonald’s used to be fried in lard (rendered pig fat) until people complained. They were so good! I made my own “fries” by using the tallow and baking them in the oven. They were amazing.
Mnemosyne
@SiubhanDuinne:
I’m pretty sure not — machaca is a perfectly cromulent word. I think his was “macaca.”
BillinGlendaleCA
@Violet: How about Kimchee?
NickT
@Mnemosyne:
It was ‘macaca’ as opposed to Sanford’s “muchacha”.
Violet
@BillinGlendaleCA: Kimchee is an excellent fermented food. It does need to be “live” kimchee. A lot of processed saurkraut and other fermented foods sold in supermarkets are not live cultures. You can make kimchee at home. You might also be able to get live kimchee from a Korean restaurant, but I don’t know if they make it themselves or not. I love kimchee!
Josie
@Violet: That sounds like fun. I make my own soap and have always wanted to render the tallow. I use lard in my soap (among other things) because you can buy it in the store, but I have heard that tallow is even better. Guess what my next cooking experiment will be.
Violet
@Josie: Here’s the recipe for rendering tallow: perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/07/beef-tallow/. I followed it almost exactly. It’s not very hard. You do need a fine strainer. And make sure the things you are pouring the oil into (bowls, whatever) are something that can handle hot oil, i.e., not plastic.
Suzanne
@Mnemosyne: What is Noritate? I broke out in what my dermatologist thinks is perioral dermatitis a couple of months ago, but she said I should use some rosacea products to reduce the leftover redness. A round of Doryx killed the rash, and now I have Finacea and Atralin to rub all over my face. I am crossing my fingers that the rash doesn’t come back. That sucked.
Violet
@Suzanne: Have you tried improving your gut health? Give probiotics, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchee, kombucha, etc. a try. Start slow. Check into the gut-skin connection for more info on how skin problems are often a sign of gut problems.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
Since this is the open thread talking about food:
Just saw a report from my CSA. One of the biggest organic growers in the state is taking a vacation. For the first time in years, he has nothing to harvest in early August.
Violet
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Wow. Where do you live? Do you know the reason for the lack of harvest?
WereBear
The Wheat Belly book (and blog) are excellent to get started: this is how I’m treating my arthritis. Also, supplementing with HCL is an excellent adjunct to gut healing.
Violet
@WereBear: Ha! We must be a lot alike. I’m doing that as well.
Suzanne
@Violet: I’ve been doing probiotics while on the Doryx, and my skin has improved dramatically. Not sure if it’s because of the antibiotic or the probiotics. My dermatologist said that perineal dermatitis is linked to fluoride, so I’m using a fluoride-free toothpaste (which tastes like shit). The rash is gone for now, but is apparently notoriously difficult to kill.
I have no other gut problems, though. I digest like nobody’s business (if you know what I’m saying). I’m vegetarian and eat lots of whole wheat, brown rice, and other whole grains. I absolutely cannot eat fried food, though. Have lost seventeen pounds in the last three months by doing Wight Watchers, which has resulted in me just cutting back on the crap. I like healthy food. I just also like cannolis and cupcakes and lots of crackers.
Suzanne
@Suzanne: PERIORAL dermatitis, not PERINEAL.
DAMN YOU AUTOCORRECT.
LMMFAO.
Mnemosyne
@Suzanne:
If you must use fluoride-free toothpaste, track down one from Tom’s of Maine — it can be a bit of a shock the first few times because they don’t put as many sweeteners in it so it’s stronger than you may be used to, but it’s good once you get past how freakin’ minty it is.
The one I was using last week was a test-size tube of Tom’s of Maine fluoride-free antiplaque & whitening (peppermint) that I got at Whole Foods.
Suzanne
@Mnemosyne: I think that’s the one I’m using right now, and I think it’s really gross. I will survive, though. Makes me actually look forward to using Listerine.
Mnemosyne
@Suzanne:
DON’T USE LISTERINE!
Seriously, alcohol-based mouthwashes are awful for you, especially if you smoke, and are implicated in oral cancers.
You may want to change the “mint” flavor of the toothpaste — I really like their peppermint and don’t like their spearmint, so I search out the peppermint.
(Edited to fix.)
Violet
@Suzanne: Here’s just one link on the gut-skin connection. He’s got a series on Skin, if you look around the website.
Probiotics are great, although some are better than others. It’s always better to get your nutrients from food, which is why fermented foods are so good. Since you’re vegetarian, try saurkraut, kimchee and other fermented vegetables. If you do dairy, add in some kefir but make sure to go slow. My stomach went crazy when I first started it.
I know what you mean by “digest like crazy”. You might consider going gluten free for a period of time (maybe a month?) to see if that changes your digestion at all. It’s interesting to experiment with that sort of thing to see what might or might not be an unidentified problem.
Like I said above, vegetable oils (soy, canola, corn, sunflower/safflower) are absolutely toxic for me. I didn’t realize how bad they were until I gave them up and then would have an accidental exposure. They make me hungry almost instantly. It’s because they spike blood sugar (which is bad for the gut) but they’re also full of Omega 6’s and are made with toxins. They’re generally bad for you (imho), but the blood sugar spike is not something I expected.
Leadpipe
What I first saw in the photo was a dog’s face in his left ear.
I’m going to frame this and hang it next to my piece of toast with Jesus’s face.
Leadpipe
What I first saw in the photo was a dog’s face in his right ear.
I’m going to frame this and hang it next to my piece of toast with Jesus’s face.
danielx
it’s what they do…the daughter unit was called twice this evening while my poor spouse was doing some at-home overtime work to remove Zoey the Menace from the top of the desk because she was either parading back and forth in front of the monitor or lying on top of the mouse.
Mnemosyne
Tried to post a dinner link for jeffreyw, but it’s not visible. When I tried to post it again, I got the “duplicate comment” warning. And it’s still not showing.
Weird.
Mustang Bobby
@burnspbesq: The Chrysler Town and Country belonged to John Lennon. I have a certified antique 1988 Pontiac 6000 LE Safari, complete with fake wood grain and the wayback seat. In the past our family had four Ford Country Squires.
asiangrrlMN
Awww, look at your lil’ buddy just hanging out with you! He’s adorable and right where he belongs.
J R in WV
I think a large part of how furry companions behave is from how the two-legs behave and the expectations the two-legs have of their little four-legged companions. One of our cats was always solitary, silent and apprehensive – but now after several years she is talky and social, liking to sit on my right shoulder and purr in my ear.
Likewise we somehow encourage the dogs to be playful and puppyish – so the new adoptee (now named Alice) has over a month learned doggie tai chi with the older dog. Alice was quite subdued when coming home from the slammer, but now is learning to bark, not quite there yet, but will be soon.
So John expects his cat to be a close companion – which helps the cat to become the companion John needs. No researched facts were consumed in building this hypothesis.
“Toxic” is defined by EPA as “A toxic substance means any chemical or mixture that may be harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.” I think using it in discussions of dietary preferences is wildly inappropriate. Some people have reactions to gluten – that doesn’t make gluten toxic, it might make it an allergen.
Paul in KY
@Violet: I thought it was ‘Steve Furniss Tunchworth Cole’
Paul in KY
@Wayners T: He looks like a tabby Mainecoon cat. A big one.