moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on May 15, 2011 18:59:24 GMT -5
Today was a Spend day but I knew it would be -- groceries and gas. Picked up a few items not on my list so I can't count it as a CS. ses -- I think startsmart is planning to join us in the Black Hills as well. I seem to remember that she is planning to drive perhaps with her DOM. sapphire and others -- The opening of the Morganza spillway (north of Baton Rouge) is in the news so much because it is the first time since 73 that it has been opened. The Bonne Carre spillway (north of New Orleans) has been opened several times that I can remember. I think it was either 08 or 09 the last time. This spillway has 350 bays and I think the plan is to open about 300 of them. Morganza has only about 100-125 bays and the plan is to open 25% of them. The danger of river ship traffic dealing with the additional height levels of the river is also a major factor in the openings. I know that there is a major eddy at the Canal Street river ares even on good days. Barges to break loose and with the fast current can cause major damage. Opening the spillways lowers the levels in the ports and eases the current a little as well. ses(2) -- I should be arriving in Rapid City a little after noon. I will let you know closer to the arrival date since some of my times have changed as well.
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MittenKitten
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Post by MittenKitten on May 15, 2011 22:08:03 GMT -5
Had a good day getting the garage ready for the garage sale. Not sure what all I have to get rid of but I can find things! We have enough crap that is for certain. Now we will see what we make!
Start: Just stop with the excitement! Seriously woman! Take a vacation, heck take several!
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reeneejune
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Post by reeneejune on May 15, 2011 23:34:02 GMT -5
SES - I won't be purchasing my ticket until May 27th, but I'll be sure to let you know when my planned arrival is. I'll be sure to wear red when I fly in, in honor of our ladies in red and all the good work we do here. Black Hills Peeps - I'd very much prefer to bunk with someone and split room costs. Heck, I'll even sleep on the floor ;D Otherwise I'll be finding myself the nearest Motel 6.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on May 16, 2011 8:37:26 GMT -5
Update: 11/20 NSD, 14/31 NEO Had a decent but quiet weekend. Ran some errands on Saturday and worked around the house. Sunday we went out for a late breakfast and picked out some more supplies for our outdoor projects. Nice weather on Sunday so we were able to work in the yard. Did really well on our No TV before 7pm challenge. So far so good. reenee: Glad that you are settling into your apartment and enjoying yourself. I hope you are able to mend things with your aunt, but I agree with you on waiting a little while for her to settle in to her new place. Black Hills: Yes- me and the Boys are coming Getting really excited. Should be a ton of fun. It's for sure DS and myself going. DH has requested the time off from work but if they get super busy he might not be able to come with Even if DH can't come with, the Boy and I will still be there.
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on May 16, 2011 10:25:28 GMT -5
Muttley- Just ship him up here. Of course then I'll be shipping mini-D down there. He has developed selective hearing ("Time to clean up" can't be heard at all, but "Do you want to go to the park?" could be whispered and he'd hear it.) Unfortunately my stubborn streak seems to be rearing its head in him. If he doesn't want to do something he plops down and says he's in time out for not listening. He figures he'll just skip the do it or sit in time out spiel and go directly to time out. (Sometimes it is hard not to laugh when he does it.) I threw him a curve ball yesterday and took away a favorite toy because he wouldn't listen. He didn't get it back until this morning. That did seem to have an impact more than sitting in time out, so we will be trying that for a while. If he doesn't want to do something he just stands completely still and won't do anything
This weekend were spends and EO's all around. Actually I guess Saturday wasn't an EO mom ended up paying for us all. We went to a tea house to celebrate Grandma's 85th anniversary. It was all of her female descendants and her. For once she didn't complain about anything.
Reenee- Glad you are liking the new place. Hope things work out with your aunt. Were you cosigning on her new house?
BlackHills- Have fun ladies! I wish I could join you.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on May 16, 2011 10:32:55 GMT -5
sheila- I am so jealous of your quiet weekend... so jealous!
I don't think we're going to make an offer on the house I looked at yesterday. I went back online and found a half dozen other properties with better pricing and features and sent them over to my parents to consider. Still, the house hunt continues.
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azmom
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Post by azmom on May 16, 2011 10:41:16 GMT -5
SS: Wow! So glad the vehicle was recovered and in such an exciting (and thankfully safe) way. Glad your car managed to stay clear of damage during your other eventful night! Renee: Glad you are enjoying your apt. I have NEVER lived alone in my life. The closest I ever was to living alone was living with my grandpa for five years in a three bedroom house! Plenty of space to and freedom to do as I pleased to feel like it was mine but too much respect to every have people over. Angel: SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU. I am praying for a smooth transition back into a "normal" married life. I remember your struggles from before and I continue to pray for you and your DH. (HUGS) Black Hills: Sounds like you ladies are going to have a ton of fun. I so wish I could even think about going. I will be shelling out $300 for Summer Camp and Summer VBS and then another $200 for Football this Summer, not to mention the extra expense of having kiddos home ALL day long without having the park as an option because it is too stinking hot! Anyhow, sounds fun ;P Spruby: I would love scrap book materials! I need to check into getting P.O. Box because DH is not to keen about me giving out my address Shannen: How are you holding up? MRS.LYNCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
This weekend I finally painted a wall in dd room. I am really trying hard to get this house under control before 5/26~the last day of school. Which means I better get off this computer and cleaning!
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dianartemis
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God made me and started laughing
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Post by dianartemis on May 16, 2011 12:01:20 GMT -5
start: Great news about the car! Not so great news about the other car. reennee: Glad you're happy with the new place. It's nice to have your own space. Update: I don't remember, I forgot to look this morning, but I did make it to gym both days this weekend. My parent's get back tonight, so I won't be running back and forth to different houses for a while (yay!). I'm a little tired of let kitty out, leave for the gym, wait for kitty to come back in, give kitty attention, eventually make it home after having kitty make a break for it a few dozen times. After 3 or 4 days it's a little much. Sammycat decided to help me make the bed. The first time ever! Instead of running away, she attacked the sheets, got covered up by the comforter (which freaked her out a little bit, but she quickly calmed down), etc. It was adorable and very fun.
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sapphire12
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Post by sapphire12 on May 16, 2011 14:01:38 GMT -5
Happy Monday All ! I walked at lunch time today. I cooked a new dish for me last night. I sauteed boneless, skinless chicken breast in green peppers, onions, soy sauce, olive oil and mushrooms. Very good if I do say so myself.
moneysquirrel -- Thanks for the explanation. I think I am fascinated to see so much water flowing, more than the Niagara falls at its peak, and it's controlled. I've seen Niagara Falls in person and they fascinate me too. I have a thing for water, but I do not like rain. Go figure.
dakota -- I have a co-worker whose son put himself in time out after he did something he wasn't supposed to do. Good luck with the new form of discipline. We'll miss you two this summer. Mini D is adorable.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on May 16, 2011 15:34:33 GMT -5
Dakota - LOL. Yeah we can trade for a while. It turns out DS has a pretty good cough. DH talked to the nurses line at the Ped's office if it doesn't clear up in a couple days she recommends that we bring him in.
Our friend Jeri passed away after a 5 year battle with Overian Cancer. Her funeral is Saturday. I guess the good news with that is we don't have to get a babysitter since my parents are going to be here this weekend. She was only 49.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on May 16, 2011 19:27:23 GMT -5
Update: 10 NS and 8 CS daysFirst day of exams is finished.
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on May 16, 2011 23:08:20 GMT -5
14 NSD.
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reeneejune
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Post by reeneejune on May 17, 2011 1:52:43 GMT -5
SES - while I haven't purchased my ticket yet, in looking at the schedules it appears I'll arrive in Rapid City either around 11 am or 1 pm. If you have a preference for one of the two times to consolidate pick ups, let me know.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on May 17, 2011 8:16:13 GMT -5
Can I say, I am really losing my motivation on the No-Soda kick. The scale has not budged. I'm not replacing the calories with other things. I started working out again and DS finally weaned so I shouldn't be holding onto calories because I'm breastfeeding, but nope the scale hasn't budged. Add to it DS has a cough (yeah for mommy guilt, he gets a cough immediately after I encourage him to wean) and is not sleeping well and waking me up with his coughing. My resolve is waning. Oh yeah and DH and I both have gotten the cough too. Yeah!
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dianartemis
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God made me and started laughing
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Post by dianartemis on May 17, 2011 10:37:37 GMT -5
Update: 6/15 NSD, 7/15 NEO, 7/15 MOAN
Plugging away.
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MittenKitten
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Post by MittenKitten on May 17, 2011 11:04:30 GMT -5
DS#1 Home sick again. Seems okay now but did throw up earlier. If he is doing okay by baseball time I will have him go.
I have been taking the puppy for a walk most days. Puppy while young is now 56 pounds! Could get to around 100! Been working on heel and yesterday I cut the walk short since he wasn't listening or understanding well and I was losing patience. Today we had the best walk ever! He still needs work but since my voice seems to be background noise I bought a clicker. Now I need to purchase more treats LOL.
Oh and took puppy to the vet yesterday. He wouldn't let the vet near him. Took him in back and he did just fine. So apparently he is being protective of me!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 17, 2011 11:55:01 GMT -5
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 17, 2011 12:28:06 GMT -5
Update: 8 CS + 6 NS = 14 of 27, 3 of 12 MOAN
I'm counting the 2 days I flew (and therefore spent money on food/snacks) as controlled spend days. Besides my mother and brother helping with the plane ticket, my grandfather also insisted on giving all of us who flew in (me, dad, uncle) $200. At this point, even counting what I paid in food, I "made" money on this trip. Overall, the trip went as well as it could have in the circumstances. My brother and I are in this weird position of being a half generation - I'm 10 years older than the closest cousin, and 14 years older than the oldest cousin who was there. My main purpose in going was to help my dad, aunt and uncle, since I had not just lost my mother, but am a full fledged adult able to take on responsibilities you don't want to pass on to a 21 year old (though that 21 year old is too responsible for his own good some days). The funeral service was lovely and filled with people who loved my Nana. There was more family than you'd want to shake a stick at, and Papa held up remarkably well. He misses her, but after 65 years (I was born on their 30th wedding anniversary) that's never going to change. I took home a strand of her pearls and, as the only grandaughter with the same first initial as her, a pendant that has our first initial on it. I am certain that more stuff will be trickled down to me as Papa starts getting the house ready to sell (its just too big for him on his own), but mostly I told my dad that the things I want are pictures of him, or the paintings my brother did (if my brother isn't able to take them), and I think most of the stuff should go to him and his brother and sister and then find their way down the line. There are things that were promised to me forever ago (before there were any other grandchildren) but I don't really care if I get them or not. I was lucky enough to have my Nana for 35 years. I've already gotten more than most, and things won't make the memories any sweeter.
Other than that, the dogs apparently had some neurosis while I was away, but on the whole everyone did just fine. We did go to the cheese festival on Sunday, but didn't find our favorite cheese (a dutch triple cream), and bought one spreadable garlic and herb goat cheese. I did not get as much cleaning done as I wanted to, so I really need to work on getting the guest room fixed up this week, as we go down to bring my cousin up on Sunday.
In good news, the roomie was offered a job here in Seattle. About $10k less than he was making before, but still a good offer. It does start contract, so he's asked for a couple days to think about it to see if the Austin job (dream job) can make an offer. But no matter what, he'll have a job. We did tell him that he was welcome to continue staying with us at a cheap rent in order to save up a down payment to buy a place (since it really is cheaper to buy than rent right now). If he does stay, we'll use the rent money to replace our floors.
MK: Glad things are going well with the puppy. Clicker is a great idea if he's not responding to your voice. I would suggest talking with the trainer to see what to do about his being overly protective of you. You want him to be protective of the kids, and somewhat protective of you, but not so much that he'll disregard your commands.
I am certain there were other things I meant to say, but what they were, I don't know.
THANK YOU ALL for you support and kindness.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on May 17, 2011 13:04:26 GMT -5
shan- I know what you mean about age differences. In my father's family there were very few who were close to my brother and I in age and the one we were close to was something like 11 or 13 years older than me. On my mother's side it's just as bad, my mother's siblings had children but only one of them is close to me in age (18 months)- the rest are 7-14 years younger than I am. My 2nd cousins are either old enough to be my parents or right in my age group or yong enough to be my kids. Because my grandparents helped raise me, I often get a cold shoulder from my aunt and uncles, they believe I am "spoiled". No more than them. Electrician has to be brought in to fix breaker at my apartment.
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reeneejune
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Post by reeneejune on May 17, 2011 13:20:16 GMT -5
Shan - I'm with you on the wide age gap among the cousins too. My Grandma is the oldest of 8 kids and my Grandpa is the oldest of 7 kids. Grandma's youngest sister is only 2 years older than my mom. And there's around 10 years difference between my aunt's kids (not auntie that I lived with, the other one) and I.
I can't wait to show you all pictures of this morning's project. I have a lovely patio just outside my living room, and when I moved in it just looked very bare. So last Friday I picked up three planters (1 cu. ft. each so I can move them even when they're full), two bags of potting soil ($5 for both bags), a half-flat of pansies (which, BTW, has many more individual plants than I ever expected), a tomato plant, and seeds for lettuce and garden (bush type) green beans. I didn't want my planters with lettuce and beans to look empty while the seeds germinated, and I like something pretty to look at too, so the pansies are co-habitating with the veggies. Already the patio is much less depressing to look at. Next project, organize the sewing room. ;D
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on May 17, 2011 13:34:32 GMT -5
My family is spread out like that too. My brother at 40 (in August) is the oldest and at 35 I am the 2nd oldest on both sides. On my mom's side my youngest cousin is 22. Out of the 17 1/2 great grandkids (one cousin is pregnant) DS at 13 is the oldest and the youngest is less than a year. On my dad's side my youngest cousin is 13 (yup, same age as DS). The Boy only "really" knows his cousins on my mom's side. We were really close with them growing up and see them all the time now. On my dad's side- my dad is 18 years older than my youngest uncle. When my brother was born two of my uncles were 4 and 6 (8 and 10 when I was born). My dad's mom doesn't like my mom at all so we didn't see them as often growing up. Some of my cousins have kids but I honestly haven't met any of their kids yet (sad because some of them are like school aged by now).
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on May 17, 2011 15:30:52 GMT -5
It's apparently Tuesday Try Startsmart's Patience Day.
Warning: ranting ahead
First I had a horrible night and didn't sleep Then I find out my client who cancelled our standing 2pm call texted me at 9pm to talk. Uh... NO. I am not at your beck and call! I've got another request from an acquaintance to work for a new client, gotta field that. I set up a call with a potential new client on Thursday. The real estate company I worked with last weekend has given out my email twice to people I didn't approve and one guy called me 'robin' wth? not even close to my name! it's raining the wind is blowing I have a headache I have no motivation to work without blue eyes to chat with
* whine complete *
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kcgal
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Post by kcgal on May 17, 2011 21:33:38 GMT -5
MoneySquirrel-I am cold in Nebraska. It is cooler than Kansas...a bit. Cool in the evening.
Reenee-Yea flying in. Now I don't have to worry about you on that looong lonely drive.
Muttleyn-Hold strong on giving up soda drinks. 7 teaspoons of sugar per 12 oz. I read somewhere. You may not be losing like you want but add the pop back to your life and you probably will be gaining.
Sapphine 12-I'm around. I read the posts but like to spend more time in my garden. Which seems to mean less computer time. In fact, one of my BFF from HS called to check on me and see if I was OK. It seems I have dropped of the face of the earth. I hadn't realized I had.
In a week I hope to start biking again, after the 4 day rain. The Kansas winds have to be under control or it's not worth it. I'll be like that scene in Wizard of Oz where she is biking in the air. Those Kansas winds are strong.
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reeneejune
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Post by reeneejune on May 18, 2011 0:30:21 GMT -5
Black Hills Trip - So I've got some rewards points saved up through a couple of programs, and I've just realized that one is going to be about useless to me. So I thought I'd offer it up here. I can get a $25 off weekly rental from Avis or a free upgrade from Budget or Avis. Since I don't plan to rent a car, I thought I'd throw this out there for the ladies who are renting cars. If you'd like any of these coupons, email me and I'll get you the code.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 18, 2011 9:42:09 GMT -5
Yesterday was a CS as DH got gas.
I partook in some productive procrastination: I mowed the front lawn, did a load of dishes, and cleaned the tub (using baking soda thanks to mrsl's blog post from last Friday). What I did not do was work on getting the room ready for my cousin to move in to THIS Sunday. The room has been my closet for the last 6 months, and I'm resisting finding another spot for my clothes.
In good news, the roomie got the dream job. Bad part is he'll be moving to Texas, but its actually a step up from his previous job and a slight raise, too. The company is also offering a complete relocation package, which includes flying him out there one time just to find housing. He'll be leaving us sometime in the next 4 weeks. (Which means I only temporarily need to find space for my clothes. Then I'll turn his room in to my closet.) He's also offered to buy us new floors (the floors we WANT) or a fence before he starts saving to buy his own house. Either would cost ~$6k. We won't be taking him up on the offer, though we both appreciate that he made it.
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azmom
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Post by azmom on May 18, 2011 10:18:33 GMT -5
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dianartemis
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God made me and started laughing
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Post by dianartemis on May 18, 2011 10:48:08 GMT -5
Update: 8/15 NSD, 9/15 NEO, 9/15 MOAN Apparently I'm doing better than I thought. I finally counted last night.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on May 18, 2011 10:57:08 GMT -5
azmom- I prefer Lodge cast iron skillets myself- but I was raised on Lodge- we are actually stll using my great-great grandmother's Lodge cast iron at y grandmother's house.
shan- Great news for roomie!
waitin for maintenance and electrician...
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ses
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Post by ses on May 18, 2011 11:05:11 GMT -5
They are identical except the price. WOW!!! Shows what a store's name can cost. Good comparison shopping.
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reeneejune
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Post by reeneejune on May 18, 2011 11:16:57 GMT -5
azmom - they look like the same skillet to me, and near as I can tell from the listings, they seem to be the same right down to the brand... though the williams and sonoma has the requisite price tag. Warning - a ton of extra information you didn't ask for ahead You probably already know all of this, just couldn't help myself: While buying new cast iron is nice, it's actually better to find used cast iron pans. If you're a regular goodwill or thrift shop shopper, keep an eagle eye out on their pots and pans section. A good used cast iron pan will have a deep, almost-but-not-quite shiny black color to it. New pans, even pre-seasoned ones, are more of a dark gray color and require special handling the first few uses... one book I read recommended frying up a whole package of bacon in the first use ;D Why are used ones better? Because over time, the pan continues to absorb the fats and oils used in cooking in them and they build a nearly non-stick coating. A well loved, well cared for older pan will be more forgiving of a new-to-cast-iron cook's mistakes. Remember to never, ever use soap on your cast iron, and avoid submerging it in water when at all possible. I've already staked a claim on my Grandma's cast iron... and considering my sister doesn't cook, I've got a pretty fair chance of actually getting them.
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