Just a few more Experiments

Yesterday was a long day. Nate had asked me to help him again, he especially needed me to bring a load of almonds to the kitchen. We thought that it would be good to bring the makings for cookies and make a few batches in a commercial kitchen.
I picked up the almonds and then headed for Ventura, a 2 hour or so drive. Upon arriving at the kitchen I started mixing up the cookies that I wanted to try. I'd decided that I should do just a few more variations on my recipe.
This time I baked the cookies in the commercial oven but it was a convection oven. I knew that convection ovens bake more quickly but soon realized that I had to start over with baking times and heat settings. Better to find that now before we actually have any contracts.
I did bring back a commercial smoker that Nate bought. We will store it out our house and maybe we will try baking with it.

Scary time

Last night, while driving the granddaughter’s home, I saw a light flashing out of the corner of my right eye. I thought that Taylor was messing around in the back seat. But after I left the girls off the flashing (much like a falling star) increased and when I would turn my head the flashes would follow.

I drove home because I had Twinkle but thought that I’d drive to a Medi-center if necessary. I remembered that my mom had these same flashes when her retina was trying to tear. I called my mom and we determined that I could likely wait until morning.

This morning I called the eye doctor right away but they told me I had to have a referral from my primary care doc. That doctor has quit his practice isn’t here any longer. After lots of hassles, including getting the wrong referral, I finally did get into see the eye doctor.

After a complete exam he said that the retina is not torn or separating, rather the vitreous gel is separating. But it should heal itself and there should be no further problems. There is a slight chance that the gel will pull the retina away but it is unlikely.

Also good news is that I do not need to change my lifestyle; still can work out and can still travel.

That was so scary.

Equipment for China

After working in Nola I was able to pick up my new camera. For a couple of years I’d wanted to buy a Canon 40D for my travels but, when I started looking, I found that the 50D would be out in about 1 month. I waited for the month and then ordered the 50D. This is a 15 mp, digital SLR.

The 50D is heavy but a great camera. It has manual and auto settings, depending on what is applicable. I have one lens that I’ll take, a 28-105 zoom. I have a 8gb memory card and plan to buy one or two more as I hope to shoot in RAW and in jpeg since each card will only hold 250 photos.

I’d hope to pick up a storage drive in order to copy all of the photos but unfortunately, having had no work come in for the last few weeks more equipment won’t be forthcoming before my departure in 3 weeks.

I’d also hoped to purchase a backpack camera case. I have now decided that a new case wouldn’t be necessary as we have a sturdy padded backpack that I bought on my last trip to China. It will hold my camera and case, and all has enough room for personal belongings.

I have a very old but incredibly great tripod that I was planning to carry, but my mom gave me my dad’s tripod which is much lighter and just as sturdy. The nice thing about my dad’s is that it is smaller and will fit into my carry-on bag. I’d just purchased a new bag for my old tripod and was going to feel very smug carrying a fancy tripod check-in bag and the new camera. Now I’ll send it back.

Alas I won’t be able to fool people into thinking I’m a professional photographer.

Prepping for the trekking

In China I’ll be carrying a SLR Canon and a tripod. My plan is to carry Dale’s day pack with the camera inside and strap the tripod to the pack for trekking around China.

I was a little concerned about the weight of the camera and tripod, carrying these around so had the idea to start working out a couple extra days a week with some weights in my own pack for now.

Yesterday as I worked out at the gym I figured out what I should do, which machines etc. When we got home I weighed the camera- 3-1/2 lb and the tripod 4lb. That meant that I needed to carry about 10lb when working out.

Today I went to the gym early with 10lb in my pack. My trainer, Frank, came by and I told him my plan. Right away he said absolutely not. Carrying weight in my backpack would injure my back and I wouldn’t be able to hike. Instead I’m to workout wearing a weight vest.

Frank took me to his office and gave me the weight vest, 25lb and showed me how to wear it. It belongs to the trainers so I can use it whenever I want to use it.

So upstairs I went with 25# on. The stair step machines were taken the entire time I worked out so I just did the treadmill; 30 minutes at a good steep incline at 3mph. Hardly even worked up a sweat but felt like I could fly when I took it off.

I’ll work out with the weight vest when Dale can’t come along with me. And even when we work out together I can use it on the stair steppers. I’ll have him take a photo when he works out with me and I’ll post it then.

I’ll be running up the Wall!!

Nearly normal day

No cookie stuff today. Well almost. After all of the baking the other day I did keep a couple of cookies from of each variation in order to see what the shelf life is like. So this morning I broke a piece off of some of the cookies and did my own taste test. Most are lasting quite well. The one’s with less sugar make a nice little mid-morning snack.

Did need to clean the house so put on the ankle weights and got to work. House is cleaner but it isn’t perfect. But then I don’t claim to be a clean-freak!

A little Cookies, a little China

Yesterday got up early and baked two types of cookies to be taste tested at the AAUW meeting tonight. Then I still needed to make up some questionnaire sheets and business cards.

My very top of the line Epson photo printer started giving me trouble last spring and this time was no different. The printer printed one sheet of business cards, all misaligned then quit printing on heavy paper. It would only print on plain paper, so remaining business cards were printed on plain paper. Impressive I’m sure.

I also had to make up a questionnaire with some questions that I was interested in. I’m especially interested in whether people would buy these cookies.

I heard today that the cookies were a hit with the group and one woman took the remaining cookies to a management meeting this morning for more testing.

I’m anxious to read the remarks. Hope that they are not too severe.

In the meantime my passport has arrived and the Visa must be obtained. I’ve mailed a visa app to my brother and have mostly filled mine out. I’ll go to L.A. next week and get the visas.