Couch 226--CCXXVI Couch

Well, they rose a little bit more than the first try. They're still delicious tasting, just didn't puff up again like my mom said they should. Maybe it's the altitude here compared to there... next time, I'm just going to make a loaf of bread with the dough.

Fresh yeast? Measure by weight? Did the yeast get hot?

It takes a lot of elevation to make a difference in baking, I think.

Anyway, dig in.

Fresh yeast, check. Measured, check. Water not too hot, check. I dunno. I did - they taste delicious, and are slightly less heavy/biscuity in texture than the first ones I made. One of the steps in the recipe is you mix the yeast with warm milk, warm water, and sugar and let it sit for 5 minutes to get all foamy. And it certainly got foamy!

As far as elevation, I wonder how much difference is a lot? Where my mom lives, the elevation is around 700 feet, where I live, it's closer to 2,400 feet. Which seems like a lot to me. But you're right, that would have the opposite effect, make it rise better. Hmm. I'm stumped! Oh well. We'll see how making it as a bread loaf works next time.

Well, H's side effects are starting from his 2nd covid shot yesterday. He could barely stay awake to watch the baseball game that just ended and his temp is almost 102 f. I just made sure he drank some water and put him to bed.

Hope your H feels better soon...

My H just got his first shot today.

You two! Its like writing everything in haiku!

I am reading a story in my college alum magazine about a recently rediscovered unpublished story by famous alum author (died young). It has a picture of a rejection letter she got for it in 1953.

“It didn’t seem to be right for us.” Editors have not changed their rejection formula in 70 years.

High altitude baking (over 3500 ft) requires adjustment
Yeast Bread Recipes | Altitude Adjusters | Nutrition, Health, and Food Safety | UW Extension | College of Agriculture and Natural Resources | University of Wyoming

It should not. Do you think he is being paid by the word? I have never read a King novel nor watched any movies made from his books.

I am more of a Jean Ahnouilh's Becket fan

I read King when I want something not intellectually challenging and/or that will also last a while when I won’t have time to find another book, like during travel. My mother would always keep one in her work locker for her slow on-call shifts.

Every time I read one I have to wait another couple years before trying again. His characters seem mostly cardboard and his endings feel tacked on. Also it takes a long time for things to happen. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is probably his best book (of the ones I’ve read) if you ever try one. Short, psychological horror, one main character that has some depth. And baseball references.

I am more of a cozy mystery reader (the sarah caudwell/dorothy sayers etc mentions of a day or so ago for example) or funny for my light reading. Psych horror not my thing so much. Adding in baseball makes it even less likely for me.
I have friends who have read all his stuff - I just don't like horror or scary genre.

Well I'm calling it a night. I have to be at the physical therapy place at 7:40am tomorrow so I won't be sleeping in too much later than usual. Night couchies!

Floof toofs

Okay so probably not moving to Albuquerque - they have the plague there. In new mexico.

Despite being fully vaccinated, I woke up at 5:30 to get a COVID test--my school is introducing a virtual reality program to assist learning and faculty leaders get tours Monday--requiring a negative COVID test.

I've never had anything to do with virtual reality before and am looking forward to it.

Heading out to first physical therapy appt. Not sure what to expect. L at 1pm. Happy Friday, couchies!

So my COVID spit test taking skills have seriously declined. And my school’s drive thru testing site, which used to be packed, was almost empty.

They are gearing up for post holiday testing at my school. I never thought of easter as a raucous gathering sort of holiday -but my school is hyper-nuts

Home from physical therapy appt. He said that from my xrays and after working with me a little bit that his opinion is that it's not arthritis, but that it is my rotator cuff. Not a tear that would need surgery or anything like that, but normal wear/inflammation. He showed me some exercises/stretches that I can do at home, and I did some stuff there with stretch bands and stuff. They tried to set me up with appointments twice a week but I was like um no I can't be off work that much (they're only open limited hours cuz of covid) and that my dr had said they could have me come in a couple times and teach me the stretches/exercises so i can do them at home at least for now. There's also the fact that going twice a week would cost $150 a week since I haven't met my insurance deductible

Hugs, Artie. Sounds like maybe it's better that it's the rotator cuff (instead of arthritis) because then some exercises would help? They did with my H. I hope the home exercises help.

I have shoulder issues. The ortho gave me some stretch bands and instructions for home exercises. They definitely help (and PT probably wouldn't do much more than that anyway). Hope it starts improving for you.

Eight weeks out of therapy now and I wish that I had actually left therapy much sooner.Though I did technically also have a 6 week gap before., during and after Christmas .

I'm also watching a movie that's supposed to be set in France, but the King has a strong American accent and doesn't even try.

Glad it's not something that needs surgery.I think one session a week would be a good place to start.

Plague can be treated nowadays though.

Anyway meet me in New York?

Something is wrong with me. I was just craving cake, then I remembered, oh some of the chocolate cupcakes I made two weeks ago are still in the fridge.

How are they still around?