Tonight I have stumbled across quite a conundrum. I’ve tried commenting on various MuNu sites and everything I type is of “questionable” content. Then I tried commenting on this blog, nope! Questionable content! At first I thought it was just me, maybe somehow I was banned from posting. Searching the various site I discovered no recent comments.

I went to Munuviana to see if there was anything out there on this issue. There was a post on the English Language being banned. Being curious I tried to comment in Spanish and German. Nope, they didnÂ’t work either. I donÂ’t know whatÂ’s going on, but IÂ’m sure itÂ’ll be fixed. If itÂ’s just me, and you miss my comments, IÂ’m sorry! I tried!

Update: It appears to be working now. Thanksy Pixie Misa!

Posted by: Contagion at 09:03 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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All right, I didnÂ’t write anything about my eye yesterday, mainly because I was being lazy, and didnÂ’t feel like posting anything. That means you all get a two for one today!

The pain is still there, it is subsiding some. There is still the sensation that my eye is being gouged out, but at least itÂ’s not as strong today. Well either that or IÂ’m getting accustomed to the sensation. Today I am developing a minor headache on the right side of my head, yes, itÂ’s that generalized. It starts from behind my eye all the way to the side of my head, just about my right ear.

At this point, we have ruled out shingles. There is no noticeable rash, pox of discoloration of the face. If it were shingles, it definitely would have manifested by now. Since weÂ’ve ruled that out, it means itÂ’s one of the more mundane medical afflictions.

I have a follow up appointment with the ophthalmologist on Wednesday. I appreciate all of the advice and concerns about my eye. IÂ’m going to try to answer everyoneÂ’s questions.

IÂ’ve already seen an ophthalmologist on the first day. My GP works in a large office and the have one on site that examined me, that is how we know there is nothing wrong with the eye itself, itÂ’s the surrounding tissue. There are no scratches, foreign substances or chemicals in my eye. Well, other then what the doctors have put there. The actual eyeball itself is perfectly normal. There is a loss of sensation on my eyelids and face around the eye, which however may be due to the already existing pain.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:58 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Hope you feel better soon. But if not, just get Ktreva to punch you on the other side of the face, that way, the pain won't be so localized!

Posted by: oddybobo at February 13, 2006 11:46 AM (6Gm0j)

2 Have they ruled out Bells Palsy?

Also, I'm still thinking it's something to do with your sinuses. Have you tried an allergist or Ears, Nose, throat specialist.

I'm going with sinuses though because your symptoms sound like some of my major sinus infections.

Posted by: Machelle at February 13, 2006 12:10 PM (ZAyoW)

3 bell's palsy has a noticeable ptosis (drooping eyelid) and usually is without pain.

Heh, you blogged about pinkeye and zombies this week.

Posted by: caltechgirl at February 13, 2006 12:12 PM (/vgMZ)

4 I'm gone for a week and you are a wreck. Guess we'll have to work this out better next time. I like Oddybobo's suggestion... ;-)

Posted by: vw bug at February 13, 2006 12:28 PM (NyrfU)

5 .. ouch, man.. go to the doctor..

Posted by: Eric at February 13, 2006 02:24 PM (r5XsL)

6 Man.
I really hope you feel better soon!

Posted by: jimmyb at February 13, 2006 05:28 PM (BIK+Y)

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Ye olÂ’ dehydrator has been loaded with meat products and is drying. ItÂ’s been approximately three hours since I started. IÂ’ve wiped the excess grease off of the meat a couple of times now. The directions say to do so, since IÂ’ve never made my own jerky before, I thought I better just do it unquestioningly.

I’ve checked the dryness of the meat a couple of times now. It’s still pretty pliable and “moist”. Like moister then Slim Jim beef jerky. Which is way too moist for my liking. Looking at it, I figure I have another hour or two left before it’s done. I’m afraid if it goes too long I’ll make roofing shingles.

Now, a friend of mineÂ’s mother makes her own jerky. ItÂ’s some real good stuff. A couple of months ago she over dehydrated it and it was crispy. Yes, crispy. It was like biting into a thick meat potato chip. Now, the taste wasnÂ’t bad, actually it tasted pretty dang good. It was just interesting to eat meat that crunched.

After this batch, IÂ’ve got some pepperoni flavored curing right now. IÂ’ll keep you updated as things progress through out the day.

UPDATE 17:52: Okay, the meat has been drying for almost 6 hours now. It is still way too moist. I will continue drying.

UPDATE 20:08: About 20 minutes ago I pulled off the trays, it is done. It took about 8 hours to get the texture that I like. I'm trying again tomorrow with a second batch. Some things I've learned from this first experiment. When checking the dryness I need to check every tray. Apparently the trays to the bottom dry faster then the ones on top. Drying meat is greasy, I actually did wipe down the excess grease but dang! I have enough rendered fat here to make historically accurate soap! As for the taste, not bad. I think it needs more garlic, either that or diced jalepanos.

Posted by: Contagion at 03:14 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Okay, I have all this free time for the next four days and I thought what the hell am I going to do with it. Then I remembered; my loving wife gave me a food dehydrator and the stuff to make Jerky. Right about now some of you are probably thinking, or screaming: “Contagion, you have some kind of funky eye infection. Do you really think you should be playing with food?”

My answer to you is; grow up and get a pair! No, you do have a valid point. Since I’ve never made jerky before I have no clue what I’m doing. I figured I would start small. A one-pound batch and take it from there. After “cooking” down, that will only make about 1/3 pound of dried meat snacks. That’s just enough for me. There will be no sharing of the first batch.

I started off washing my face thoroughly. Never have I cooked using my face, but I thought “Hey! The crunchy bits my eye is producing might add flavoring.” Actually, I did that because it needed to be done, then after that I washed my hands. Then I used hand sanitizer, and then I washed my hands again. Sure I might not be sharing it, but lets not be dirty about it.

After a scrubbing that would make Adrian Monk proud, I started mixing the seasoning and curing mix. Okay this is easy enough. Again, this is my first time making jerky so IÂ’m going with the ultra cheap method of using ground beef. I know itÂ’s not the same, but if I screw up, at least IÂ’m only out a couple of bucks, even if it is the ultra-lean variety.

I spent 10 minutes in the kitchen kneading the meat, seasonings, and cure mix together. Of course right in the middle of it, who comes to my door? The damn Com-Ed (electric company) man wanting to read my meter, thatÂ’s who. Washing my hands, I show him to the meter. After he leaves I go back through the scrubbing ritual and start kneading the meat. After I finished, I went back to mixing the meat, seasoning and cure mix together. IÂ’m kiddingÂ… I washed my hands again before I started mixing.

Now I have to let the mix sit and cure for 4 to 24 hours. IÂ’m thinking IÂ’m going to let it cure until tomorrow. Since itÂ’s late in the day, and itÂ’s going to take about 6 hours to dry, I donÂ’t want to be up half the night waiting on it.

Posted by: Contagion at 10:49 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 If this comes out well, and you want to try something different I can send you some chaman, which is the Armenian meat drying spice.

Posted by: caltechgirl at February 09, 2006 02:34 PM (/vgMZ)

2 One small hint- You can really over-dehydrate this stuff, especially using ground beef. Not a tasty outcome.
If you want some awesome jerky marinade recipes, give me holler.

Posted by: Raging Mom at February 09, 2006 02:41 PM (e48LF)

3 Once you perfect the process and spend the big bucks on quality meat, I WANT SOME!

Posted by: Larry Morin at February 09, 2006 03:08 PM (7v56M)

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I have never had to do this before, but I guess it is time. I do not like deleting comments, unless they are spam. The only time I have altered a comment was when it was so full of vulgarities that it would have made a sailor blush. (I just changed some vowels so that work filters would not stop my site from being too vulgar).

However if you are going to leave an inflammatory or political comments on my blog, you WILL leave a valid e-mail address. You can put spaces in it or add something to it so that it will stop spam filters. IE Contagion_1@NOSPAMyahoo.com. That way I can respond to you both in my comments and by e-mail to let you know.

Why am I stating this now? I just had someone leave a very long, political comment on my Home Rule posts. However, this person made many accusations and asked questions. They did not however leave an e-mail address for which I can respond to them, nor others that may support or oppose our positions. Most of my readers that come for Home Rule information do not leave comments; they use E-mails.

I wish this commenter had left an e-mail address; I really wanted to ask him more questions

Posted by: Contagion at 03:52 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Sorry, I'll leave a valid e-mail address next time.

Posted by: phin at February 03, 2006 02:05 PM (Xvpen)

2 What a stupid ass rule... who the hell do you think you are making up idiotic guidelines for the rest of to follow?

And, yeah, I know you'll find out who this is, Mr. Sitemeter Watcher...

Posted by: Curious at February 03, 2006 04:10 PM (lfQya)

3 It's my site, my rules. If you don't like them hit the back button and don't come back.

Posted by: Contagion at February 03, 2006 06:12 PM (e8b4J)

4 What the hell fun is that?

Posted by: Curious at February 03, 2006 06:16 PM (lfQya)

5 I hate deleting comments, so when I get REALLY stupid ones, I move 'em to the Museum:

http://museumofstupidcomments.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Harvey at February 07, 2006 07:19 PM (ubhj8)

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This is not something I normally do, but IÂ’m going to do it anyway. As many of you may know from my blog Daughter VirtueÂ’s post, we have a pregnant friend that is with child. You may remember her as Chastity.

She was due on the 25th, and last night around 6:30 PM they induced her. I just received word that she still has not delivered the child, and there are complications. If you could find the time just to think some happy thoughts for her, IÂ’d appreciate it. SheÂ’s a good kid and just needs a little help right now.

UPDATE: I just received word from Virtue, Mom and baby are doing fine. Child was taken by C-section, its a girl. 20 inches long, 6 lbs 14 oz. Name: I forgot.

Posted by: Contagion at 01:33 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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