NotCigs refugee thread

[El Dee]

The El Blockeroo !!! Gotta love that !!!

Rest is indeed in order....The heat index was over 100* today....Porch rails in the sun...Took all ding dang afternoon and the garage is still past a mess but the rails are up....Since they're handrails I still need to sand them before staining...So a little sanding and putting tools up tomorrow but not much past that....The heat and having to figure all that stuff out wore me down big time....They're looking good though....used pickets on 4 inch centers this go round....Pickets on the back deck as well but those are on 6 inch centers and I think they look way better on 4.....back to remain at 6....Bet that.....

Trying a new deal from Boost Mobile....My 2 month old plan had unlimited everything and 20 gigs of hotspot....I've been running on 10 gigs for a long time and usually got three weeks outta that...The phone and 20 was 60....Guessing since I had 10 more gigs I got a little free with the videos and barely made it through the first month and had to refire my hot spot the second month....Boost just hit with unlimited phone data and 40 gigs hotspot for 80....It starts at midnight....The phone has unlimited data so just maybe I should use that just a little more to cut down on my hotspot gigs....Now if I can get through a month on those 40 gigs I will be a happy camper.....Living in the sticks there's not many internet options......Hell 4G LTE is still fresh in these parts....

 

[Bovinia]

Being in town means I have several internet options. I ended up going with Spectrum, 30mb speed + wifi for $20 a month...price locked for a year, but no contract. We'll worry about next year when that time comes. I went with Republic wireless for my phone, also no contract. $20 a month gets me unlimited talk and text + 1gig data. If I depended on my phone for a hotspot this might not be the best price since it's $5 for each extra gig of data. I bought a new Moto E4 Plus phone and have been real happy with the choice so far. First 3 months with Republic is free If I get money crunched, I can always go back to my Lifeline/Safelink and still use my new phone since it's unlocked. I may do that anyway once I get this house deal done and won't be using talk as much. An extra $20 a month ain't much until you try living on only $750 a month! Safelink gives me 350 talk/unlimited texts/1gig data for free. My SSI qualifies me for it. My house payments are estimated to be just below $300 a month and that includes the escrow account. This is why it has been so important to me to buy instead of rent.

 

[El Dee]

Well I got the handrail sanded nice and smooth...A little cleaning out some joints and the deck will be ready for stain....Been raining cats and dogs since dark.....under the flash flood advisory....Gotta have a dry deck to stain and I'm not sure that's ever gonna happen....Went and got a couple of extra 2X6s and used the remaining lumber from the deck to build a nice heavy duty table for the yard....Mom can pot her flowers among many other uses....I'd been planning on building the table and did it today because all the tools were out and I didn't wanna store the lumber....Tacoma is still loaded down with scrap cuts from the table and rails....Got the garage mostly straightened up...most tools back where they belong....Gotta shop tomorrow...I need the stain and painting supplies....A few groceries would be a benefit...Been watching what I eat for a while and tipped the scales at 182 this morning.....It's hot....we've had record rainfall lately but I hope by this time next week that ding dang deck will be looking good....

 

[Bovinia]

Thunder boomers snuck up on me last night, Dee. It was around 11:30 when a line moved over, and I hadn't looked at the radar until that point. Not nearly as wet as you are tho.

FHA inspector just left, said not to worry about the appraisal since the house is in real good shape. Should have his full report for the lender first of next week. If I'm not mistaken, that's all we're waiting for to be able to close.

Lender threw a curve ball at me yesterday that ...... me off. Told me I have to have 2 months worth of payments in the bank for the underwriter (not a problem) but needed an extra grand for closing. Either the seller can pay on his end, or I can deposit the extra $1k in my bank and start the 60 days waiting period over again!! You can imagine how I wanted to react to that!! But I kept my mouth shut and went straight to my buyer's agent with my plan.This afternoon my seller will stop by and pick up the $1k in cash, and we amend the contract to say seller agrees to pay $1500 towards closing instead of the original $500. I'm very fortunate to have a seller who understands my "financial" accommodation needs, but this screw up is entirely my loan originator's fault, and could have cost me this whole deal if I had a less understanding seller!

 

[908Tracy]

ElDee, I’m glad that project is almost behind you now! I’ll bet it all looks great as well.

Bov, I’m so happy that you think fast!! Almost a done deal; hang in there!

Any of you heard of the Ketogenic way of eating? My last vacation had me scrambling to try to look better in my bathing suit and I was very uncomfortable with the extra weight I had put on in the last few years.
Google it. You keep your carbs (only good ones) under 20 per day, increase fats (hello BACON!) and proteins.
Started journey (half azzed at first) on 7/16 weighing 164.8. This mornings weight is 151.2!!! <3 It isn’t terribly difficult to do and I’m real happy with the results so far.
Just thought I’d share something that is working so well for me.

Taking Jocelyn (birthday this coming week) to the Apple store to look at some watches later.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[908Tracy]

P.S.- no bread, no pasta, no rice, no sugar.
I wish it were just about the BACON!

 

[El Dee]

Many years back I read Dr. Atkins book....A ketogenic diet is the Atkins Diet....Usually I fire the grill once a week...This week I fired it twice as I was just tired the first night...12 Bright Leaf Red Hots....Great with mustard and mustard is good for you....5 of the Beer-n-Brats....2 Del Monico end rib eyes the first night...2 packs of thin sliced pork chops as I just don't like the thick cut chops and 2 pork tenderloins swam in vinegar based BBQ sauce awaiting the second night....One rib eye un-spiced for Spike and he's already eaten his...The rest sealed in a zip lock box and I just set out what I want for the evening and allow it to hit room temp before eating...I won't go near a microwave and have a toaster oven but just prefer room temp....Rock bottom skin and bones is around 175lbs....I weigh 183.....got a few things to get out of the way and I'm gonna order that Rec-Tec pellet smoker...Then I can move into briskets and Boston butts cooked low and slow....I just cook a lot and eat until it's gone....then I cook again....Sometimes I hit the Waffle House or the Mexican joint and just avoid the carb junk....Thing that kills me is a lot of those carbs are man made processed bull sheet....I might even eat a salad from time too time....not lately though.....

That deck needed quiet a lot of carpentry....Staining is no fun for me and I'm not nearly done with the project...With all the rain lately the grass was on fire so I spent the day yesterday getting that taken care of...Planned on staining today but a tremendous thunder storm rolled through in the early morning hours and it's wet outside including the deck...It will get done but a little cooperation from Mother Nature would be nice...dang old August and it's muddy out.....the ding dang creek is even at full pool....Got a couple of friends who were climate change denying the other day....I'm like do you even go outside??????

 

[Bovinia]

Congrats on the weight loss, Tracy and Dee! Being diabetic, I had to minimize my carb intake, but I'm not disciplined enough to totally go Atkins/Keto diet. Instead, I pay more attention to good vs empty carbs and try to make sure I'm including protein when I have carbs. I'm back to cooking boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 5lbs at a time) in the crockpot for using as lunches, and dinners. Add to salads, soups, pastaless lasagna, etc. I have a spiralizer that I love, you can do a lot more than just zucchini noodles. Slow and steady for me, and when I backslide I can always get back up on that horse the next day. I've gained 4lbs during the last wicked hot months, but over all, still down 20lbs since I was dx'd T2D. Looking forward to cooler temps so I can get back to my 3 mile a day walking.

Speaking of my Diabetes, my A1c continues to trend in the right direction! It was 5.7 yesterday, 6.0 the visit before, 6.1 last fall...13.4 the day I was dx'd

 

[FranC]

Good job,Bov

 

[908Tracy]

Fantastic number Bov!!! Woot!

Yes I’ve been cooking ahead as well. I’ll make a dozen burgers at once now so I can just grab n go! On the go I just ditch the bread. Adding butter and coconut oil to my beloved coffee was a bit hard to swallow at first but now I take a sip of Bo’s and I really can’t believe how sickening sweet it tastes. I’ve adapted pretty well. It’s surprised me too as I thought it’d be on the struggle bus.
I also cannot believe that I’m not walking around famished and craving something sweet all the time. Who knew?!??

Going to do some mixing tomorrow morning. It’s been awhile! Trying to duplicate a strawberry juice that I have come to love...or get close enough to it at least. Wish me luck!

 

[FranC]

Good luck,Tracy

 

[Bovinia]

Curious what juice you're trying to replicate, Tracy. When I first started making my Strawberry Cheesecake, I used a combo of FA Juicy Strawberry, and TFA Ripe Strawberry. The last 6 months or so I've just used FA and like it better. It has less of a candy taste to me, and is not overly sweet.

Washing machine decided it didn't want to drain last night, but I didn't notice until it was in the spin cycle...spinning wash water all over my kitchen! I tried to be ...... for a few minutes, then decided that I'm lucky all the appliances conveyed with the house, and my kitchen floor needed a good cleaning anyway It was late (I do laundry at night to take advantage of the reduced night time rate) and wasn't gonna deal with it til today. I tried it again this morn and it still wouldn't drain so I drank my coffee while I did some research on this old Kenmore stacked combo that was made in 1999. Went back for my 2nd cup and kicked the chit out of the washer on my way to the coffee pot. Low and behold, the damn thing started draining like nothing was wrong...hahaha!

I did figure out what the problem is tho. The lid lock that is supposed to keep you from being able to open the lid while the washer is on is broken. That part I already knew...I didn't know it would stop the washer from draining. It still won't lock, but it you push on the cabinet just right, it makes it's connection and everything works. Of course the part is no longer made, and there is no substitute. Hopefully it'll limp along for awhile before I have to shuck out $1200 for a new stack set

 

[FranC]

Curious what juice you're trying to replicate, Tracy. When I first started making my Strawberry Cheesecake, I used a combo of FA Juicy Strawberry, and TFA Ripe Strawberry. The last 6 months or so I've just used FA and like it better. It has less of a candy taste to me, and is not overly sweet.

Washing machine decided it didn't want to drain last night, but I didn't notice until it was in the spin cycle...spinning wash water all over my kitchen! I tried to be ...... for a few minutes, then decided that I'm lucky all the appliances conveyed with the house, and my kitchen floor needed a good cleaning anyway It was late (I do laundry at night to take advantage of the reduced night time rate) and wasn't gonna deal with it til today. I tried it again this morn and it still wouldn't drain so I drank my coffee while I did some research on this old Kenmore stacked combo that was made in 1999. Went back for my 2nd cup and kicked the chit out of the washer on my way to the coffee pot. Low and behold, the damn thing started draining like nothing was wrong...hahaha!

I did figure out what the problem is tho. The lid lock that is supposed to keep you from being able to open the lid while the washer is on is broken. That part I already knew...I didn't know it would stop the washer from draining. It still won't lock, but it you push on the cabinet just right, it makes it's connection and everything works. Of course the part is no longer made, and there is no substitute. Hopefully it'll limp along for awhile before I have to shuck out $1200 for a new stack set

Hubs is of the opinion that a good hit or kick will fix most household electrical (plugged in) stuff. Strangely enough it does 98% of the time.

 

[908Tracy]

I’m trying two different mixes.
One is:
5% tfa Ripe strawberry
3% capella sweet strawberry
2% Inawera shisha strawberry ($$)

Second:
Same as first except dropping inawera shisha strawberry to only 1%

Only made 30 ml of each to try. I hate mixing that small amount (tedious little measurements need to be accurate and difficult to accomplish) but I’ve learned the hard way not to over mix until you’re sure you like it.
I love strawberry anything so it should be palatable!

It’s diy EVERYWHERE but I’ve not tried that combo before now

 

[El Dee]

My washer is the conventional type...Pin on the lid keeps it from operating if the lid is open...It got finicky...I slide a piece of tubing over the pin and that worked for months until.....finicky....I looked at the switch and there were two wires so I cut and wired them together....Now it will operate lid open or closed but it operates...I fixed some gear thing in the agitator by watching YouTube....That dang old washing machine has done a sheet load of clothes....guess I'm saving to as I always wash around midnight....

Deck still wet and it just rained like the dickens tonight....I washed the Tacoma and did the insides then decided to work on Mom's gutters...When I got out of the shower I heard the rain so I grabbed a flashlight and went up there to see if the gutters were operating....Area around the back door is packed hard from driving on it and gets slicker than snot when wet....Yeah it was raining and I was gonna git it git it to check those gutters...I was rewarded with a skint knee and elbow....feeling a little sore up the middle of my back as well....Good news is the gutters were working as intended instead of filling up and flooding out over the ends....Now I'm gonna have a scabbed elbow and knee....anybody asks I'll tell "em I was pilled up and drunk....

I mixed last night...4 480ML bottles that will not last as long as one would expect...Got a list for the Bull City wrote down....I used to mix a strawberry cheesecake and saw the strawberry flavor last night....What percentages are you girls using and what brand flavor in your mixes???? A good strawberry would be welcomed here.....

 

[Bovinia]

anybody asks I'll tell "em I was pilled up and drunk....

Bahahaha!! Sorry for the skint skin, but that was just too funny to pass up!

We had a couple of azz whooping storms yesterday early eve and then again from about 11pm-1am. Ths first one didn't have much wind, but lightening so close that the clap was instant, and LOUD! The 2nd storm was a little less lightening, but I watched the trees all around my house whipping like crazy. Had to keep reminding myself of all the hurricanes these trees have withstood, and by the light of day, I only had twigs to pick up. Nothing bigger around than my thumb, thank goodness!

Debi's Strawberry Cheesecake (200ml/1mg nic) I keep my VG/PG premixed at a 70/30 ratio in a gallon jug. Add my flavors and nic to my 200ml bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with VG/PG.

Nicotine juice 60 mg (100% PG)
3.33 ml (I just make it an even 3-3.5ml)
1.67 %

PG
36.67 ml
18.34 %

VG
140.00 ml
70.00 %

Total base
180 ml
90.01 %

Bavarian Cream (FW)
2.00 ml
1.00 %

Biscuit (INAWERA) sometimes I use this, sometimes not. gives a little buttery cracker taste to the graham cracker
1.00 ml
0.50 %

Graham Cracker v1 (CAP)
2.00 ml
1.00 %

Juicy Strawberry (FA)
6.00 ml
3.00 %

New York Cheesecake (CAP)
7.00 ml
3.50 %

Vanilla Custard v1 (CAP)
2.00 ml
1.00 %

Totals
200 ml
100 %

10% flavoring total

 

[Bovinia]

Copied/pasted my recipe so those links don't work, no idea why ECF made links out of them

 

[JerryRM]

I have never mixed juice. Maybe I should try it sometime.

 

[Bovinia]

Shoot, Jerry! If I can do it, anyone can!! It's way cheaper than buying pre made. What is you favorite vape right now? Do you jump around alot, or stick to the same juice?

 

[JerryRM]

I'm pretty much a tobacco flavor guy, Bov. A touch of cherry in with the tobacco flavor is just enough flavor for me. BTW, I stocked up on juice, because I don't trust the FDA.