horn4life

I started playing around with "grinding" my own meat in the food processor. Started off with a trimmed down leg of lamb, did a couple different grinds, and seasonings to compare as the initial experiment. The more course grinds were too chewy, and we experimented on those as well. The key was cutting up the meat into smaller cubes and par freezing those before tossing into the food processor to grind. Just like trying to run fat through a sausage grinder, warm fat just clogs the thing near instantly. I kept the 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 chunks in the freezer and then just covered up the blades by a level of meat (do not over stuff) and it worked beautifully. Basically any good burger needs some sort of fat component. That's why blue cheese goes so well with bison, or tzatziki with lamb. Or adding pork to lean beef. Anyhow not to hijack the thread. But we buy the leg of lamb at Costco, and I have been butterflying it down into a thinner brisket look profile and searing on the grill. We started also using the leftover of that and making Shepard's pie with the leftovers, and that was the bomb. There's just a lot of meat in a leg of lamb and cooking all one way burns out the wife on it for a while. But making burgers I just froze a few for later, and we ate the seared lamb portions in a leftover or two. The lamb burgers were a fun way to use some of the lamb. The lamb was pretty lean as I tossed most of the deckle-like fat, but made a slurry of feta and tzatziki instead of mayo to add that fat. Highly recommend adding potentialy grinding up some of you oversize meat portions at costco to create your own burgers. We had a lot of fun with it.

I was telling my wife that losing the bison, means I will just experiment more with making my own ground meats. I did it for the first time making some lamb burgers out some leg of lamb. I understand the issue with very lean meats, but for me the bison just had a different more rustic flavor for my meatballs. We did a lot of bison burgers, with blue cheese, and Crystal hot sauce, which were delicious. I was telling the wife last night, who knows what interesting combos we might come up with. Might even fold in some chorizo into my ground beef as an experiment. RIP Costco ground Bison....

Well fuck nuts! I am bummed... Costco discontinued carrying ground Buffalo.... that was one of our go to purchases the last year or so. I will say it again and again, but for some reason the italian meatballs we made out of buffalo were simply the best we ever made. Hell I thought it was a fluke, and did identical recipies 1 with organic beef, one with organic buffalo, and the results were confirmed. Not sure why they were better, but they were. Now I guess I will be heading to sprouts for my fix. Luckily I have been filling that gap by going to H Mart and buying Poke. Then my daughter discovered that the prepared foods like poke are half off after 7 (maybe 6 pm). But still very bummed by the dropping of the ground buffalo.

I don't know if the wife would appreciate that though?

Yahoo! Great get for the good guys! Welcome aboard young man! Work hard, make those around you work hard, and amazing things will happen both on and off the field. Hook'em!

When you need the money, you need the money...

Well after glancing at the design, it is missing one thing I expected to see.

Should have cut at the latest last month. The bury inflation goal is fantastic. But the Feds job is to ANTICIPATE, not respond. They were late to the rate increase party, and they are late to the cut party. IMHO of course. I think they should go a half. But then somebody might argue that's political, so likely the quarter they should have dropped two weeks ago. But a half spurs R.E market during a traditionally lower activity time frame like the fall. Then the cuts could cascade from there. Oh well, I'm sure Jackson Hole is a lot more refreshing than Austin today.

Ok for some odd reason I thought Texas stepped up the entire value with the death of one spouse, that would have been nice. So we can depreciate, for however many years on the $400K (in my example) to offset my fathers income from required minimum distributions. I am going to charge him 20% to manage, repair and furnish the property as a 30 day rental. If it doesn't rent well, as a 30 day, we will likely just sell it. I am going to go ahead and do a complete remodel myself, over the next couple months, and pull out about $15K to give me a cash starting point for the furnishings bringing the unit up. If it works my sis and I will just keep the same arrangement and rent the house forever as far as I am concerned. The bonus is if a can get the 30 day furnished rental cash flowing, we would also have access to the lake house when not rented for family events, or to let friends and family use.

Mom is dying, Dad is surviving. House is NOT yet a rental, but that is the plan going forward. My interest in the stepped up basis is to determine what the depreciable valua of the home is when it begins renting. I am not concetrned about the capital gains, but what would be the highest value to start the depreciation expense of his propery at? His taxes are going to go up, because he has moved to assisted living near me. So like in original example House built for $200K - current actual value is $600K. If they started renting the house before either spouse died the depreciable cost basis would be the $200K build cost (plus improvements). However, if one souse dies, the depreciable cost basis would become $400K? The $200K build cost, plus the $200K step up in value from the deceased spouse. So then the remaining $200K in value that is not included in the cost bases is the $200K of appreciation that is not stepped up of the surviving spouse? Correct? So let's assume I make the property a successful rental for arguments sake. For the years when my father is alive and the owner the depreciation cost basis will be the $400K. Once my father passes the property will flow through to my sister and I as we are already on the deed. At THAT POINT in time after my Father passes we would would get an appraisal to determine the value of the property fully stepped up. Then my sister and I would restart the depreciation anew with the new higher value, say $600K if I used my mathematical example above. Hope this is clear what I am trying to say. I am just trying to make sure the math I am using to forecast the future accurately includes the all important depreciation correctly.

So my mom is about to pass away, and I thought I read somewhere that in Texas the homestead value steps up to the current market value. To basically eliminate any potential capital gain up to the point of the spouses death. IS this correct? I think Texas is unique in this aspect. The reason i ask is that if that is the case and we rent my father's remodeled home, then I can use the stepped up cost value at my mother's death to depreciate from? Example: built home for $200K, today house is worth $600K and mom passes. That $600K value rather than the $200K build price is the basis from which I calculate the depreciation. If so then he could show paper losses with the depreciation, that could offset some of his forced withdrawal income. Anyhow too tired to research this so I ask you fine folks instead. Thanks in advance

I remember explaining how "pass the bucket works" to Glenn the father of The Peterson Brother's. He was they guy going around with the bucket, and I explained that you either need some cute young woman to shame the men into giving money. Or someone aggressive like me who will stand there and shame the money out of them. I proved the veracity of my statement and helped them get that bucket a lot fuller. My other advice to the boys was to ask them "Do you know the secret to choices in your future?" They looked at me dumbfounded... I then pounded the stage as I yelled, "Condoms! Condoms! Condoms!" They will never forget me because of that. Good kids who can rip. I just need them to add, "Bang a Gong" by T. Rex. It would be a great vehicle to do the solos in. But the bucket, along with a little sob story, never hurt any starving band on tour.

A couple more things. 1). Totally agree with ROFL BOX regarding the suggestion of learning some ways to lift old people. My mom's decline and follow up on a fall, had me needed to make multiple in and outs from car to wheel chair. Her arm was hurting from the fall and she basically just wanted to sit where she was and closer her eyes. Getting into the car initially she had some leg strength, but not the next two in and outs. So like lifting basically dead weight. 2) Get Hospice involved as early as possible. After trying to get emergency then fast followup care for her this week, and the logistics of trying to find available appointments, locations, and testing times outside of the facility was basically a very huge pain in the ass. So what I am finding out is that you don't really need an order from the primary doctor, you just have to (as the guardian) agree to have the hospice Dr. become her primary, then it's all medicare from there on. Mainly they get the blood work, bring in an X-ray machine rather than you hauling then hither and yonder. So that is HUGE from my time perspective. Anyhow prayers for all of you trying to do your best by your parents!

Yeah - I am just lucky I got them both down closer to me, it's tough but I would be surprised if my mom makes Christmas at this point. I just hope she goes in her sleep. About to get Hospice involved because then they take on a great deal of the care burden. As an FYI data point for those of you unfamiliar with care costs. I think the base price of my Mom's memory care room is $4200 and then her "level of care" was a 1 @$600. Each level is another $600 a month, and with my mom's decline we were looking at a level 3 so $4200 + $1800. If you have the doc write an order for hospice they come in a couple times a week, bathe her, and that will save my dad a level and $600. Sometime patients improve enough with the extra care and contact of hospice to go off hospice, but that's the exception. Anyhow that's today...

I guess the one thing I can (LUCKILY) hold in my heart. My parents truly did put my sister and I first. My sisters lack of participation bothers me to a degree, but she's not tryly at fault as my willingness to jump in and not ask for help. And I was in the emergency until 4 am last night. Mom is in decline, and it's killing my dad to watch, but it is what it is. I am so lucky as to have some time freedom. But the time suck and the pushing back of my priorities and life is brutal in that, click, click, click... and it will be gone. But there is a an upside, in that I know I have done what I can and well as I can for them. My mom is declining, and my Dad is actually doing well overall. the emotional weight of her decline may be tougher on him than I hope he can mourn and move on. But hell 3 of his 7 poker buddies have died, in the last month. But on the bright side he is getting the larger room of his first friend to die, and we have been waiting a while for that.

I knew somebody was gonna give me shit for that.

I was farting around with my buddy last fall on that small pier, next to my buddies place at Cline's Landing. We were getting good action, but I wasn't targeting big gaff tops and ladyfish. So I decided to tie on a larger Circle hook to my pulley, and cut off about an 8 inch long piece of fat ladyfish. (the pulley rig allows a longer cast with non-aerodynamic shapes.) Whatever was going to head that big chunkc of ladyfish was going to be something big! I had purchased a a 5000 with a dual drag system, and set the drag very lightly with the second drag, and made myself a beverage. Not even ten minutes later I hear a few clicks, then the drag slowly starts to sing, as that light drag is not noticeable on the light drag, then I just start reeling and that circle hook sets perfectly. A couple minutes later, a 39 inch red was a quick pic and then a toss back in. i then did the exact same thing again, huge chuck of ladyfish, 15 minutes, and a 38" red. I had honestly thought the only thing that was gonna eat a chunk of bait that big was gonna be a shark. So yes FRESH ladyfish are great baits. Plus hald the bigger ladyfish you bring in are half way to death anyhow unless you get them on and off the hook super fast. If you are trying to get distance with any check of cut bait, consider learning how to make a pully rig. I do a lot of sure fishing and the casting distance where you have the weight of the bait and your surf weight compactly together, is a game changer from a distance perspective. lady fish chunks and circle hooks. If you get a bite, it will be a fun fight! The rig also acts as a shock leader if you don't have a cool dual drag reel like I do to let the fish run. I cannot say how much I like my dual drag reels. Fantastic for live suspended live baits boat or bigger baits from stationary positions. Penn, Shimano and Bass pro brand have their own versions, but I am sold on using them on poles I don't want to have in my hand, but want to let the fish eat the bait rather than feel the drag and spit the bait like trout and reds my primary focus. Anyhow the best way I have found to toss bait and weights the farthest. compact small bait clips replace impact shield in pic. Hook goes in the curve and paddle releases hook on impact I prefer these to a swivel as line feeds easier. Secondary drag on back, primary engages when reeled

I was and am in the thick of this thread. My mom is worse, but in a good memory care place. My Dad is there too, but in an independent living apartment and the burn rate is $10K between them both. The good/bad news is that things are both good and bad! Dad is in a great place physically. He was nearly immobile and in writhing agony in January, and I got him into an assisted with my Mon on May 27th before memorial day weekend. Which allowed us to be able to feel comfortable to got to my Sister's Son's wedding in Philly on July 6th. So after 6 relentless months some relief. All relatives known to man would be in NYC and Philly that July 4th week. So some degree of just relaxing, not thinging and enjoying, BUT sorry to sidetrack, This is when you know! Off our rockers, actin' crazy With the right medication we won't be lazy Doin' the old folks boogie Down on the farm Wheelchairs, they was locked arm in arm Paired off pacemakers with matchin' alarms Gives us jus' one more chance To spin one more yarn And you know that you're over the hill When your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill Doin' the old folks boogie And boogie we will 'Cause to us the thought's as good as a thrill Back at the home, No time is your own, Facillities there, they're all out on loan The bank forclose, and your bankruptcy shows And your credit creeps to an all-time low So you know, that you're over the hill When your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill Try and get a rise from an atrophied muscle, And the nerves in your thigh just quivers and fizzles So you know, that you're over the hill When your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill I guess my only hope now is to live long enough to be a burden to my children, and a concern with my antics at the independent living community...

Well... First off let me say that Aerosmith was one of my earliest original find bands, I had one of the original Album pressing, the one you cannot find, and I loved that band. I assume all of you are fans of "Dazed and Confused!" Well I actually attended the very same concert Wooderson was trying to woo the young red head to. The Sam Houston Coliseum show On June 24th, 1976. I walked out, Tyler's voice sucked and I was bummed out. https://www.chron.com/culture/celebrities/article/Aerosmith-13260271.php But as much as I liked "Dream On" I sort of understand Steven Tyler got a tattoo of "Mama Kin" on his arm, thinking that was going to be the song that made them. As I still love that fucking song. And Tyler was fried for sure, as was I and everyone else there, but I could have sung better

I was putting my wife through Pharmacy school when Shady grove was getting going and our friend Rosie was the bar manager I think? But she was my "surrogate wife" as I would eat and drink there a couple nights a week while my wife was slaving away at UT. I remember when they first started having bands, that eventually ended up being "unplugged at the Grove." My wife would kill for a Hippie Chick. We moved up NW in 1999 and only went 8-10 times a year after that. It was good food for adults as well as kid friendly. RIP

Chuy's used to be... well... great! Now that was a long time ago! I started going to Chuy's sometime not too long after they opened, long before they added on the second half of the restaurant on Barton Springs. Somebody got them to sponsor our soccer team Austin United(if only we could score). We would make a point after games at Zilker to go and get a large table in the hub cap room, to make sure the place would make it so there was something decent on Barton Springs. They had a killer margarita and I used to particularly like their Bandidos. A mixture of cheese and diced gree chiles rolled in a whole wheat eggroll, served with the new stuff.. jalapeño ranch. It was a go to place in the 80's and early 90's. It's fallen so far I haven't eaten there but maybe twice in the last decade accomodating somebody else's request. Just shows how hard it is to scale restaurant quality over time, especially as you expand. Darden might actually be able to improve them, as the bar is pretty low. Shocked they payed like $10 over the closing stock price of $27. could have used that cash to implement some employee retention and training programs. What I do miss terribly is Shady Grove. What I miss even more is that big floppy disk with all the recipes on it that I discarded long ago... Their Veggie Chili was the bomb, with also solid offerings and desserts. Drove by yesterday. Abandoned and overgrown. And Shady Grove would have never happened without a rent dispute for the Chuy's Barton location. I looked back and realized the founder Mike Young passed away a year ago. Hope Darden can bring it back to at least close to what it once was. I likely will never know, as I will be at Eldorado, or slumming at Y Mas.

This year.... The main thing I want to start off with is an SEC Champions shirt in Burnt Orange! Then you can guess what I want next! 😉

So your theory is Aggie hope springs eternal? Most of those $625 tickets will be trading hands prior to the season or as long as cruel reality hasn't smacked the Aggies. Texas ticket sellers need to root hard for A&M in their opener vs Notre Dame on August 31st, a bead down by the domers will make those sky high prices disappear. I will gladly say I was completely and totally wrong. And the first matchup after the Ags fleeing will be a hot ticker for sure. But if Texas(pray, pray, pray) and Georgia are undefeated, that ticket will go through the roof, IMHO.

I am not the most religious fellow. But the times I feel closest to God, are often in greys and pinks of dawn. But against that background and i thank the Lord for my blessings of family and friends, I realize God also has a sense of humor. If not skippys/ladyfish would be delicious! Or as I am typing... Maybe there is a Satan... that would explain the excitement of the pull of a lady, and the disappointment with the taste... 😉

I have a feeling that Georgia ticket is gonna be a lot hotter by the time it rolls around. And I will also predict, like the summer dreams wilting in October of the Aggie fan base, that preseason price for A&M's visit will fall considerably by game day. A&M will again resume their rightful place as spoiler and never contender vs we enter the SEC. I remember selling 4 of my 8 season tickets back in the Day when tOSU was coming to town. Sold 4 season tix for $5k. I would Ask $8 or $10 K for season tix this year. When I look at that TX/OU $445 ticket price it reminds me that back when my rug rats were little I would sell my 4 OU tickets, and it would pay for a 4 day weekend in Port A at Seagull Condos. I was doing that in the Early 2000's. Glad that ticket is hot ehought to get that 4 day weekend at Seagull again!