Getting to Know You - September Edition

[Corsair]

2 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

Yup, was actually a certified Life Guard when younger. I have swum in everything from Olympic sized pools to streams and oceans. Love it.

[ejala]

3 hours ago, TGP said:

Care to post the recipe?

 

Cheddar is almost the only cheese widely available around my timezone. I’m curious what cheeses you use as substitutes. 
 

What makes it hard to scale down? I’m genuinely curious. Changing from 10 lbs to 5 lbs of potatoes sounds like cutting the recipe in half to me. 

5 lbs is the basic recipe.  That amount also takes a full 2lb brick of Velveeta, 1 stick of butter, and standard 8oz bag of decent shredded cheddar. Fills the 3qt mixing bowl with maybe a bit left over. So it is divisible, but the ingredients come in those sized packages, so it makes sense to make that much if you're going to buy everything. The sticking point has been the third cheddar source.  Originally it was a tub of one brand of sharp cheese spread, then they went out of business.  Tried others, weren't sharp enough. Turned to hand shredding a 8oz brick of sharpest cracker barrel brand.  Time consuming, and doesn't blend as fast. Then there was a cracker barrel brand sharp cheddar spread. It was almost perfect.  But now it's hard to find.  Not  yet home from reapercon for accurate recipe, but enough milk to make it soup, onion powder and pepper to taste, and a dash or two of Worcester sauce are about it.  I think it's salty enough from all the cheese.  Smoked paprika is a nice add for serving.  Cold it turns almost into a solid. Freezes beautifully. Peel and cut up potatoes, then mash roughly after draining.  You want lumps. 

[TGP]

1 hour ago, Sacrillax said:

Yes and I prefer amusement park style…

There’s another one for my Never Have I Ever list.  
 

No lazy Rivers, or surf pools, or giant water slides typically found in Commercial Water Parks for me. Never been to one of those places. 

[Glitterwolf]

3 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

 

Yes I can swim.

I prefer a pool although I have swam in the Sea and in the Ocean.

Snorkling and spotting tropical fish is a very nice thing to do, except when you encounter something very large in darker water ( happened once and I made sure to leave the water in time).

[WhiteWulfe]

4 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

I hope I can swim, given that I used to compete in 200m front and back stroke... 😛 unfortunately I don't swim anywhere near as much as I used to partially because there's no pools that are reasonably close, and more importantly while I can swim the injuries to my chest and left shoulder have made swimming something where I'm just starting to get into the vibe aaaaaand then I need to take a break. 

 

I probably could get back into it and after a while be able to go for some time again, who knows.  Might be soon, might be never. 

 

As for preference, I have been in lakes, rivers, and oceans, but truth be told I prefer swimming pools, mainly because I don't have to worry about others usually (lane swimming has its perks) and I especially don't need to worry about random shallows, tides, or currents.  Oh yeah, and random twigs sticking out of the ground. 

[ttuckerman]

4 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

I had to learn to swim to Graduate College.  You had to demonstrate by swimming the length and back without touching the bottom of an Olympic sized pool.  I prefer the Ocean.  Snorkeling around a Tropical reef.

[GoldenPiggy]

2 hours ago, Inarah said:

Thanksgiving dinner, contrary to popular belief, is very easy to cook. 

 

I agree with this.  Getting a turkey just right can be a bit tricky since the actual cooking time needed seems to be affected by the particular turkey, the oven (I don't use a fryer), the amount of water, the humidity, the ambient air temperature, the mood of the people in the house, the phase of the moon, and probably every other conceivable factor, but an adequate turkey is not overly difficult.  The hard part is getting everything ready to serve at the same time; that requires good planning and good luck as well.

 

 

4 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

 

I'm not a great swimmer, but I can handle a basic crawl stroke.  I don't really like swimming, though, regardless of body of water.  I guess I prefer swimming pools to natural bodies of water.

 

[aku-chan]

5 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

 

Nope, can't swim, I just don't have any buoyancy.

[Count Urlik]

9 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

I grew up in coastal Oregon.  We considered swimming an indoor sport!

[Chaoswolf]

11 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

Yes, I do.

I have been swimming in all of the listed choices.  I used to prefer natural bodies of water, but I'm slowly gaining a preference for pools.

[Pezler the Polychromatic]

11 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

I don't swim, and I'm only relatively proficient at drowning.

[strawhat]

12 hours ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

 

I wouldn't exactly call what I do "swimming," so much as "not drowning."  But I can keep my head above water (mostly) and control where I go.  At least I could the last time I was in the water...which was a couple decades ago.

 

I liked being the in ocean, but I'm really more of a "pool" person.

 

 

[Thoramel]

Question September 8: Other than brushes, what's a tool you use for mini painting that you can't go without?

[Glitterwolf]

21 minutes ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 8: Other than brushes, what's a tool you use for mini painting that you can't go without?

 

A toothpick ( Go for the eyes Boo!!! Go for the eyes!!!)

[Rahz]

On 9/7/2023 at 8:04 AM, Thoramel said:

Question September 7: Do you know how to swim? If so do you prefer to go swimming in a pool or in a natural body of water like a lake, stream or ocean?

Yes.  My parents have been throwing me into pools since I was barely 1 (yes literally throwing and there's a fun story where both floaties go shooting off and I go straight to the bottom of the pool....).  I view swimming as an essential basic life skill, along with basics of cooking, driving stick and understanding/adhering to Wheaton's Law.  😉

 

I have swam in oceans, seas, lakes, hot springs and pools and I would say it depends on the mood and the reason for swimming.  For basic exercise, I prefer a pool.  With kids, nothing beats a beach, and a tropical beach if you're lucky for the marine life (and the warmer water...).  If I'm out hiking or camping, any stream/lake/large puddle will do.  

1 hour ago, Thoramel said:

Question September 8: Other than brushes, what's a tool you use for mini painting that you can't go without?

I have started using pieces of sponge more and more and am really digging it, but I think my vortex mixer as I tend to paint with a lot of paints so having something to mix them properly and quickly without wrecking my already messed arms.