Adam Thomas, RPH

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup white self-rising cornmeal
• 1 egg
• Enough buttermilk to make batter very thin (about 1 cup)

PREPARATION  

First, I have never tried this recipe.  But it is from the be all, end all of cast iron skillet websites.  I’m thinking it’s probably pretty good.  Secondly, I still have yet to bake  in my skillet.  Though corn bread or some upside something or another would be my first choice.  That being said, I am very proud of my cast iron cookware.  Technically, this is my second skillet.  I had one decades ago.  I was young and stupid and, … long pause … I let it rust.  Gasp!  Martha Stewart would be appalled at my culinary negligence.  Believe it or not, I have matured.  Now, I treasure, if not pamper, my current cast iron skillet – a Father’s Day present to myself over five years ago.

M. Stewart seasons the skillet

advantages:

1. A well-seasoned cast iron skillet is naturally non-stick.  Cast iron pots and pans aren’t coated with synthetic materials
2. Cast iron cookware retains heat
3.  cook with cast iron pots and pans to boost your iron intake.
4. Because cast iron cookware is made from the same base material that builds engine blocks, they are guaranteed to last a very, very long time. In fact, the more you cook with it, the better (and more seasoned) it gets.
5. cheap – very cost effective

disadvantages:

1. heavy – only in 2017 would someone complain of such a thing.  Shut the fuck up, you culinary wannabe pansies. My grandmother weighed 92 pounds. She never complained about anything.  You go, grandma.
2. susceptible to rust  – isn’t everything.  (witty metaphor usage, eh?)
3. high maintenance – I have a wife,  two daughters, and work retail pharmacy.  Comparatively, nothing is high maintenance.

true story 

One night I came home from work and panicked.  I saw my cast iron skillet IN THE DRYING RACK  STILL WET.  My youngest daughter boasted that she had cooked some eggs and cleaned up the dishes USING SOAP.  Damn kids. How can you get mad at that?  I didn’t of course.  Instead, I remained calm, dried the skillet and immediately re-seasoned.  (dramatic sigh of relief).  By the way, she said nothing about it’s weight.  She’s thirteen.  You go, daughter.

A Tangled skillet

I figured this was an appropriate post.  It’s January.  Cooking and baking comfort food is pretty much all there is to do when it’s, like, below zero and snowing.  And, that Lodge website (under the recipe) is quite fun.  While you wait for it to load, a cartoon egg ‘cooks’ in a skillet.  Fun.

Order up!

stationarily at the gym.
healthily, healthily, healthily
you will always be … trim.

See, that’s why I leave the poetry to my mother.  Though, it’s much better than my original ending of  … you will always have flexible hips. That doesn’t  rhyme.  Furthermore, is  stationarily  even a word? Ugh! I think I’ll just stick with blog posting.

background:

I have bad hips, especially on my left side.  It’s a familial issue.  My younger sister had both hips done at age forty.  My younger brother has similar difficulties.  But, shit, I can barely tie my shoe some mornings.  And, it’s not a motor skills impairment, okay. Damn joint just won’t budge.  It really is bothersome.  So, I decided to take back my hips.  Actually, I’ve been working on it for the last few months, trying different exercises to see what route would be most beneficial.   And, the Black Concept 2 rowing machine seems to fit my lifestyle the best.

I have never been a stationary anything, especially the treadmill – so fucking boring as far as I’m concerned.  Physical Therapy can be quite expensive.   I have tried yoga – you know, that Bikram ‘hot’ yoga shit.  Well, that didn’t agree with my body either.  Besides, each session was a two hour commitment AND there were sweaty, half-naked people with open sores on their backs. Gross.  That’s a post in itself. Lastly, changing things up at the gym takes both time and creative energy.  I’m not that patient, considering I usually only have 39 to 43 minutes to workout.

One day, I overheard some dude bragging about the rowing machine. I tried it on my next visit and … .  I liked it.

Benefits:

• burns two to three times the amount of calories than Spinning,
• works 9 major muscle groups: quads, hamstrings, glutes, lats, core, shoulders, triceps, back and biceps.
• an amazing cardio workout.
•  great for injury prevention, rehab and runners
• low impact alternative to other activities.

sequence:

legs, hips, arms – arms, hips, legs     ( NOTE: if you reorganize this list, it DOESN’T work )

technique:

•  don’t grip too hard – the handle should travel in sync with your seat for the initial leg drive portion of the stroke.
• drive with your legs
• hinge at the  hips –  sit up tall, and wait
• focus on a consistent, steady movement – feel the flow as you row (that last part was all me – I should really abandon all attempts of rhyming. I think it’s best.)
• breathe properly – easier said than done.  Yet the key to, like, everything.

https://breakingmuscle.com/learn/17-tips-for-getting-better-at-rowing

afterthought:

Seems easy enough, eh? Umm, NO! This is hard work.  The next day I  just ache.  But, it’s a good ache.  Yes, I know I’m fifty-one. Believe me, even a twenty-five year old would ache.  Hopefully,  with patience, the end product will be achieved.  I will once again be able to tie my shoe.  Now if I could master that whole using a fork and spoon thing.  Hmm … .

Eminem rocks this video row

Let’s talk alcohol. Traverse City and the surrounding area ferment. distill, and hop at any chance to make drinks of the unmixed variety. (get it – hop – beer) Since I know very little about, well, anything, especially alcohol, I’ve decided to educate myself.  And, dedicate a post every so often to what I learn about spirited beverages and the intricacies that go into their production.  Chemistry and ‘recipes’ are involved.  I’m a pharmacist that cooks. I think I can handle this.  As for the blog, think Ode and MasterCard moment walk into the local tavern with  www.askadamthomasrph.com   as the bartender.  Really, it’s not that complicated. And, if it’s totally lame, I’ll do the whole Blogger’s Anonymous thing.  Okay?

So, … .  Let’s begin.

Here in Northern Michigan there are countless tap houses and tasting rooms that serve some of the best beer, hard cider, whiskey, wine and …

MEAD

noun: a fermented beverage made of water and honey, malt, and yeast.  Thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man.

The history of mead may go back more than 8,000 years. The oldest known meads were created on the Island of Crete. Wine had not yet been created. Mead was the drink of the Age of Gold, and the word for drunk in classical Greek remained “honey-intoxicated.

The tapestry of mead history is rich and wonderful. References are littered throughout history and literature. Chaucer speaks of making Claret sweeter with the addition of honey. In 1771 Smollett writes that knowledge of mead-making is considered one of the arts of a true country gentleman. Queen Elizabeth was known to have her own favorite recipe, including rosemary, bay leaves, sweet briar and thyme. But perhaps Howell, Clerk to the Privy Council, said it best in 1640 when he wrote, “The juice of bees, not Bacchus, here behold, Which British Bards were wont to quaff of old; The berries of the grape with Furies swell, But in the honey comb the Graces dwell.”

Internet sources: Merriam-Webster.com, beer100.com , skyriverbrewing.com

Mead: A Taste of Honey

Unlike life, this post has great timing.  New Years Eve is fast approaching.  To be perfectly honest, I’m not of fan of the holiday.  NYE is like a birthday – high expectation / low yield.   Even when there are no-expectation-whatsoever, that yield bar still takes a hit.  I blame women. Oh, and retail pharmacy customers, of course.  That’s when this whole mead thing will come in handy.  Alcohol makes everything better, right? I’ve never been a big drinker myself.  Though, I’ve recently been told I should think about drinking more.  Honey-intoxicated does sound interesting.    Hmmm … . Anyway, what better way to put this Random Nonsense to use than to drink mead, celebrating the New Year.

Because there is no better example of the expectation/yield concept, I will close with this ‘challenged’ couple in a ‘balanced’ movie clip.

Happy 2017

NYE with Harry and Sally

Oh, yeah, please drink responsibly.  I need all the followers I can get.

I’ve decided to continue with my postal imbalance.  What better way to do that than with the traditional list of ‘challenged’ Christmas Carols.  I’m  thinkin’ none  of these selections are suitable for ‘carpool karaoke’, though.  Oh well, be jolly!

1. Schizophrenia — Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder — We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia —I Think I’ll Be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic — Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic — Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and . . .
6. Paranoid — Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder — Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder — You Better Watch Out, I’m Gonna Cry, I’m Gonna Pout, Maybe I’ll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder — Silent Night, Holy OOOOOOOOh look at the Froggy, can I have chocolate, why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell …

Merry Christmas

time spent ‘talking’ to a Garmin representative regarding my Canada map ‘download’:     1 hour, 13 minutes AND 9 seconds

ONroute  service stops along Highway 401 and 402 Sarnia to Montreal:     23

number of stairs in hotel:     115 east stairwell and 142 west stairwell

‘comedic’ events that made this hockey weekend memorable:     countless 

Recently, the team headed to Toronto for a ‘TwoNations’ Hockey tournament.  It was quite the experience.  This was probably the truest of all MasterCard moments because I did, in fact, use my MasterCard for everything.  I didn’t want to be bothered with leftover Canadian money.  Besides, the exchange rate was ideal and there was no penalty.

I hate my new GPS. Of course, I purchased a model that did NOT come with Canadian maps.  Imagine that. When I attempted to return /exchange  the device, an employee convinced me otherwise.  He said that the maps could easily be uploaded for a ‘nominal’ charge from the website. It was neither easy nor nominal.  I hate that guy.  He was bald.  The last bald guy I listened to was a butcher who gave me ill advice about haircuts.  And, well, everyone knows how that ended.  This GPS fiasco wasn’t much better.  BUT, my MapQuest directions were printed.  I was able to keep on schedule.  I hate my new GPS.

Canada has this truck stop / rest area/ gas oasis thing goin’ down along Highway 401 and 402 – ONroute Canada.  Each stop has a variety of fast food establishments and gas stations in an easy off – easy on access to the expressway.  Works for me.

http://onroute.ca/

I utilize hotel fitness centers when travelling as much as possible. Especially when the surrounding area is questionable, the location undesirable, or the weather is frightful.  Fortunately, this hotel had a better than average facility AND nine floors.  Translation – buns of steel, baby.  Or should I say concrete? The reason for the discrepancy in stair count is because the west stairwell had roof and basement access.

Even though the girls didn’t fair too well in the tournament, they did enjoy themselves.  Hell, none of the Detroit teams advanced either.  I’m convinced  Canadian girls are born with skates already laced and hockey pucks for pacifiers.

About those countless comedic events – Yeah … .  Here are just a few.  In chronological order, of course –

• the garbage ‘basket’ in my car was annoying – we pitched it  in a neighbors trash can before we left the subdivision
• the Subway in Port Huron is totally sketch – the old man with the cane even sketchier
• there was a boarder crossing incident – why wouldn’t there be? I didn’t get searched, but … .
• Toronto drivers suck.  Canada has NO Rules for their Roads.  U-turns are acceptable – EVERYWHERE.  So, I fit in just fine.
• Toronto pedestrians suck, too.  They jay walk everywhere and anytime, frequenting the medians at night – DRESSED IN BLACK.  Even the joke – “How many points for that one?” got old.
• I unknowingly ‘crashed’ a corporate holiday party.  I was the only white male in the establishment.  Very awkward.
• Ironically, the girls had a great time.  The parents had the meltdowns.

And then I drove home.

Priceless

The last few years, I’ve posted about Christmas / Holiday seasonal entertainment.  I had two years in a row about music. Then, in December 2015, I delved into the movie scene.  To keep things balanced, I feel the need to talk movies one more year.  Well, movie – singular.  And, believe me, this movie deserves a post of it’s own –  RED.

Frank (Brude Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA/MI-6 top agents, but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

Yes, this is based on a DC Comic. Yes, there is a lot of things that get shot – including a snowman, reindeer, and … .  Yes, I still consider it a holiday movie as twisted as that may seem.  RED is the title. Even the name is festive. Unfortunately, it is also an acronym for Retired Extremely Dangerous.  But let’s focus on the positives here. Okay?

Christmas decorating tips from RED – the movie

Actually, it was my daughter’s idea.  She considers it a holiday movie AND we get to watch it together every December.  Any questions?

Now, just because balance is often saught, but rarely achieved, I thought I’d tip the scale with … a musical number from something  Red.

Wrapped in Red – Kelly Clarkson

As I’ve stated before, I am technologically compromised.  Though, I’ve decided it’s becoming a burden; especially this texting business and my kids.  It really does streamline communication, easing the ‘unknown’ about  a child’s whereabouts.

During the last few hockey seasons, I have traveled quite a bit and quite the distance.  Normally, I rely on MapQuest for all of my directional needs.  And, contrary to what my daughter thinks, I have always found my way and gotten her to the rink ON TIME.  Yes, I have neglected my share of  Rules of the Road.  But, who hasn’t?  Besides, “it’s not a road trip unless Mr. Thomas breaks the law.”*

Anyway, when driving at night, the need to constantly turn on and off the over head light to read the directions can be … .  “Obnoxious and embarrassing” are two ‘nice’ words  my daughter chose to describe the experience a few weeks back when we took a teammate to the game.

So, this past weekend, I borrowed  a GPS.  Don’t worry, I still had a printed copy of  MapQuest directions – just in case.  I must say, this GPS thing was really nice.  I guess I never entertained the idea of this navigational tool, thinking that GPS was an app for the phone I did NOT own.  I  truly plead ignorance here.  Furthermore, every time directions came up in a conversation, “the GPS app on my phone never fails,” was all I ever heard.  Little did I know, few use it because of the ‘data’ issue.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use trilateration to calculate the user’s exact location.  The receiver can determine the user’s position and display it on the unit’s electronic map.

http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

Slowly, but surely, I’m learning.  Don’t worry.  I am NOT  ‘growing as a person’, too.  Fuck that shit.  I just want to get from point A to point B without being an utter embarrassment to my daughter.  Even with all this technology at my fingertips, I still feel I am often on a …

Road to Nowhere

But, that’s a completely different post  I’m certain few would navigate.  There isn’t a GPS available to ‘recalculate’  that detour.

Happy and safe travels!

*direct quote from a seasoned passenger

She’s back.   I think this skit is funnier and even more appropriate than when it first aired last year.  Though I’m not thinking a song can fix everything, …  especially stupid pharmacy customers.

“Thanks, Adele!” SNL

There’s always hope.  Or a two week notice.

Happy Thanksgiving

In conversation a few weeks back, the topic of couples counseling was mentioned.  Don’t worry, this post is NOT about that.  Thankfully! Anyway, this dude’s friend was in a session with his wife.  By the way, there really was a dude who had a friend who had a wife. I’m fifty-one years old and I’m a guy.  I no longer talk third person hypothetically about my problems. Hell, I didn’t even do that at twenty-five.  If I have a problem with something, it’s usually pretty obvious.

The therapist asked the couple to think of a television show that best described their spouse.  The parameters of the request were vague – the details lost in translation.  Regardless, the integrity of the question remained – describe your spouse as a television show.

While the husband thought about his response, the wife immediately spoke up.  “That’s easy,” she answered, rather matter of factly.  “My husband is the static that used to appear on the screen when the reception failed.”

Ouch!

Needless to say, that couple did get divorced.  Though I’m not thinking ‘static’ IS a television show.  Be that as it  may, they had some issues.

I thought this was an interesting subject.  And, since this blog is all about me, I decided to ‘analyze’ myself .. as a television persona.  Back in May 2014 I posted about people as cartoon characters (you remind me of… .).  I was compared to Barney Rubble, Professor Doofenschmirtz, and Ivan the Ape.

 Unfortunately, I am not up on current t.v. shows.  Between working retail hours, hockey, and everything else family life entails, I have little time to watch anything scheduled.  Therefore my options of character choices are limited AND dated.  Also, I have a PRF – Professional Resting Face that can be rather salty and unapproachable that STAYS at the pharmacy. So, analyzing me as a complete package cam be … complicated.  Imagine that, eh?

According to …

… my sister, I remind her of Ross from  Friends.  I strongly disagree.  I am not that needy.  Or annoying – at least I hope not.  On the contrary, I am quite self-sufficient.  Luckily no one else shared her view. He was good for a laugh though.

… numerous others who will remain anonymous, I AM  House –the title character from the show with the same name.  I never watched, but heard he had an even worse PRF that carried over into his personal life.  Furthermore, I ain’t no genius. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMH4vN-tQx0

Television characters I thought were suitable versions of myself …

… Chris in the morning from Northern Exposure  – I loved this show.  Chris played a radio personality that often rambled on about … nonsense. And, it WAS quite random.  Granted his offerings where profound and a lot less … angry.  Remember, he was a fictitious character that didn’t work retail pharmacy. Okay?

… Murphy Brown from Murphy Brown – Candice Bergen totally owned this character.  She was quite outspoken.  I can be rather outspoken myself.  Unfortunately, I am not as eloquent or intelligent as this character was written.  She had secretaries – I have technicians.  Ugh!

So, Who AM I … 

… Monica from Friends.  I never had the weight issue and she was a bit more neurotic. However, the other personality traits … .

Unfortunately, couch time IS up.  Session over.  Besides, this post topic has closure.

I’m really NOT that competitive, but … .

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THANKS for reading.

Now for the actual post –