Shorts

[magid]

The across-the-street neighbors have a cherry tree on the side street that never gets harvested (other than by birds). Perhaps this year I will have the guts to ask them if I can pick some cherries.

Thursdays this summer at 5:30, Copley Square: free concerts.
July 14th- Ari Hest & The Shore
July 21st- Maia Sharp & Mike Doughty
July 28th- Aimee Mann & Tracy Bonham
August 4th- deSol
August 11th- Carbon Leaf
August 18th- John Butler Trio & Antigone Rising
More generally, there's a downloadable PDF schedule of park events in Boston this summer. (Next lantern festival is on Bastille Day.)

Free ice cream at Starbucks today.

I went fridge shopping, and found that most of the 'nicer' fridges seem to (a) have ice dispensers, and (b) be side-by-side. I'd never want (a) (another thing to go wrong, and ice cube trays work just fine, thanks), but it's (b) that's bothers me more. Side-by-sides don't have as much room in the fridge (certainly not for large items like turkeys and such), giving more freezer space. Which seems indicative of how many Americans live, popping frozen things into the microwave or oven to heat, rather than actual cooking.

I finally know what those little bumps I get on my hands most summers are: dyshidrotic eczema. Of course, yet another "we don't know why it happens" sorts of things, but I think one of my triggers is stress, as well as heat/humidity. I'll also note that so far this summer, no bumps. Yay. (OK, and as a total aside: it's slightly freaky that the doctor diagnosed this without seeing it, since many others haven't figured it out even with the symptoms presented.)

Last night there was a concert by Four Guys in Tuxes at the Vinal Street Growing Center. I tend to forget how nice a space it is there. Oh, and technically, it was Five Guys and One Woman, and due to the humidity they eschewed the jackets of their tuxes. It was still lots of fun as they took requests from the audience, ranging from show tunes to Brazilian music to classic rock. Added bonus: watching little kids dance.

Comments

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

Martin has a really nice fridge, where the freezer part is a big drawer underneath the fridge part. So much nicer than my side by side.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I grew up with the freezer on the bottom, and when I replace my current fridge, that's what I'd like. I use the fridge part much more, so I'd be bending less (and losing produce in the dark recesses until experiment status less, too).

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

I think this is the fridge (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04606143000&subcat=Bottom+Freezer+Refrigerators).

[magid.livejournal.com]

Pretty! I think I saw one like that yesterday, or a very similar one.

Side note: it seems like most of the fridges are putting space for beverage bottles on the doors, now. I never think of that with my current fridge, 'cause the shelves are so narrow. I like that these are have thought-about design.

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

It's sad that the only thing he keeps in his fridge is fruit, gatorade, and some fruit punch thing that the girls drink.

This is my fridge (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04644383000&tab=des#tablink). I really like being able to store things in the door. Plus, there are three drawers, so I have one for fruit, veggies and grains. And there is enough space that I can store a stock pot worth of chili or a dutch oven of chicken tangine and still have space for more things on the shelf. I have to juggle sometimes, especially now when I might half a watermelon and a large bowl of the cut watermelon, as well as the usual assortment of stock pot, yogurt containers, etc.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I've been known to juggle stuff in the fridge, too. A couple of times the only place to put a tray of stuff was balanced on top of the juice containers...

(And that is sad that his fridge is so empty.)

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

(Well, you know, bachelor father of girls that only eat pasta and whom only eats fruit and salmon at home.)

[magid.livejournal.com]

What, not even a happy bunch of arugula? It goes well with salmon and with pasta! *shakes head*

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

I think him and the kids only eat vegetables if they are fried. The eldest daughter is getting more image conscious and was raised on American food, so has lately been requesting salads. The youngest, though, was raised on West Indian food, like Martin. West Indian diets are heavy on fruit and fried food.... And also Martin hates pasta, so he is mainly living off of salmon and fruit.

[magid.livejournal.com]

It all sounds kinda limited to me, though I can see the appeal of fried foods, fruit, and salmon. I'd get bored after a while, though.

fridges

[cellio]

That's interesting. We replaced our fridge last year and the most common units then were definitely the conventional freezer-on-top varieties. Those were also the cheapest. Consumer Reports did fridges recently, and they seemed to think that side-by-sides are still more expensive (and sub-optimal).

I fear you may be right about frozen food.

When I was growing up we had a huge fridge/freezer -- half and half, top and bottom, bigger than usual. This wasn't to hold lots of frozen pizza, though; we bought our meat half a cow at a time. I haven't seen a unit like that in ages, but chest freezers have also become more common so that fills that niche.

Re: fridges

[magid.livejournal.com]

I think maybe we were looking in the more upscale section; there were definitely a number of cheaper fridges with the freezer on the top (which still doesn't make sense to me; then you have the vegetable drawer down at the bottom, and it's much more likely to have a science experiment that way...).

I saw a number of chest freezers and whole-unit freezers like my mom had. I'd love to have room for either one, but unless I put it in the basement, I can't think where it would go. (I'm not sure I'd have proper wiring in my storage unit, and having frozen goods two steep flights away is a recipe for forgetting, so that's just not a good solution.)

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

re: fridges. I'm not overly fond of side-by-side fridges, but what I DO like are fridges with the freezer on the bottom. The reason is two-fold:

1. in my kitchen anyway, the thing I access most often is the fridge, and I don't enjoy bending all the way down to get things out of the bottom. Plus, I lose track of what's in the fridge with a traditional freezer-on-the-bottom model because it's harder to see everything.

2. If I'm not mistaken, freezer-on-the-bottom models are more energy efficient. I could explain why, but if I'm wrong I'd be all embarrassed.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I totally agree; I grew up with a freezer-on-the-bottom model, and it made so much sense, even with the unimproved freezer that meant things could get lost for a while. But really, I'd rather have to deal with something lost in the freezer than lost in the fridge...

Of course, I'm not surprised that my friends skew towards the cooking end of the spectrum...

It looks like there's been more thought put into having fridge and freezer spaces that work with conventional packaging sizes. Of course, this doesn't help so much when the majority of the groceries are produce or imports that don't follow US packaging conventions.

[coorr.livejournal.com]

we are picking up a new fridge through craigslist to replace the unit I got from my parents (its 15 years old if it is a day!). $100 for a 2.5 year old kenmore. Its a borring unit with the freezer on top... basically we need to replace the old fridge but dont want to shell out for a really nice fridge just yet.

this will be the third apliance we have bought from craigslist for $100... the washer and dryer have been fantastic for us.

as for the dyshidrotic eczema... I believe I get the exact same thing... clear "bubbles" under the skin... common in summer? Ive always wondered what that was... its good to know for sure, even if it doesnt help :-)

[magid.livejournal.com]

My fridge is still ok, though not great, so I'm thinking of getting a new, more efficient one sometime in the next year or two. And I figure that I cook enough to make it worth getting one I really like.

I wish I had a washer/dryer in the apartment with me, but there are building ones in the basement (free), so I can't really whine that much. Still, if there weren't all the stairs...

Yeah, that sounds like what I've got. The dermatologist gave me a prescription for some kind of cream if I get an itchy flare-up. On the plus side, the article I linked to mentions that it happens less frequently as people get older (hey, a benefit to aging!).

[coorr.livejournal.com]

our motivation for a new fridge is that all of the shelves are breaking in ours... 2 door shelves are useless in the fridge as well as one in the freezer. its just not usable.

we want to re-do our entire kitchen in the next few years and at that point we will probably invest in the fridge we really want... for now, this one should get us by... later, it can serve as a kegerator for homebrew kegs!

Im glad to finally know what these wierd bubbles are... thanks again for the info! I guess at least I can look forward to it going away eventually.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I'm lucky in that I'm reasonably happy with my kitchen in its current form. Sure, I could use more storage and a deeper sink, but I don't see any way that could happen in this place, so I'll live with it. I bought a new stove when I moved in, and rather expected to have to get a fridge at some point (I'm a bit surprised it's lasted as long as it has). And if only I could fit a second fridge... Someday, in my next house, perhaps...

[curly-chick.livejournal.com]

Queries:

When are they showing movies on the common and do you know of a schedule?

I am so out of touch musically, any of those groups sound like something I or we would like?

[magid.livejournal.com]

D'you mean the movies at the Hatch Shell? They're on Fridays. All I saw for movies on the Common was The Wizard of Oz on August 1.

I have no idea about any of these groups, actually. It's close enough to work that I may stop by some Thursday, though. Usually the free summer concerts tend to be the kind that appeals to a wide (read: "family") audience (and not necessarily rock, unless sponsored by a rock radio station :-).

[queue.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Indiana Jones on August 5th. That would be fun.

[queue.livejournal.com]

Er, except that I'll be getting back from SIGGRAPH that morning, and might just want to sleep.

[magid.livejournal.com]

might? Heh. You're optimistic!

PS

[magid.livejournal.com]

That description had my favorite typo of the month: the "Arc of the Covenant".

[fairdice.livejournal.com]

In preparation for this fall/winter's kitchen remodel, we fridge shopped at Yale Appliances (http://www.yaleappliance.com/), where I first encountered the newest thing in door layout. Yes, bottom freezer drawer, sure, but above that: French doors (http://www.yaleelectric.com/index.php?s0=appliances&s1=Refrigeration&s2=bottom_freezer&prod_ref=3263) to get into the refrigerator part. There's a very clever mechanism so that the doors seal well with no center post. It's nice in that your doors are only 18" wide, not the 36" wide that keeps you from moving when the fridge is open.

But looks like we won't get one; they only come in the wider, counter-depth fridge shape...

[magid.livejournal.com]

I remember Yale Appliances! That's where I got my stove, lo these many years ago.

I saw the French door fridges at Sears, and the "ooh, neat!" factor was definitely there. Then I started thinking about my kitchen layout, and realized that it wouldn't be so useful for me, after all. Ah, well. Though there would be a kind of symmetry if I got a fridge with French doors facing the French doors to the porch :-).

[powerfrau.livejournal.com]

So, A fridge uses beaucoup de energie. You may want ot try and consider a lower energy model. Freezer on top, I have heard is more efficient. Quite often, but not always the bottles break the wider, but not sturdier thing on the door.

How do you find out about all the stuff to do in town?

[magid.livejournal.com]

There are Energystar models with the freezer on the bottom. And I suspect that any new fridge is going to be more efficient than my >10-year-old fridge. The shelves on the door seemed sturdier, when I looked, but maybe that's just the impression I got from them being molded plastic, rather than a rail in front (what I've got now).

I keep my eyes open? I'm on some mailing lists? And once there's a link for one thing, it frequently leads to more stuff.
(Plus, in the currently-unavailble memories, I think I've got something tagged as 'free', which has links to a lot of local free-to-cheap entertainment. Sometimes I meander by different ones to see what's new.)

[magid.livejournal.com]

Speaking of stuff to do, just got an email that July 8 and 9, on Boston Common, the Boston Landmarks Orchestra will be giving two astronomy-themed concerts: Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Holst's "The Planets," and a new work by Boston composer Thomas Oboe Lee, "Pluto."

Plus, there will be pre-concert talks by astronomer Adam Weiss (Museum of Science, July 8) and astrologer Sally Cragin (The Boston Phoenix, July 9). Each starts at 7:30 p.m., and will last about 15 minutes.

[(Anonymous)]

When I was younger we had a side-by-side, and I liked it. When we moved we had freezer-on-bottom, and so did everyone else. When I first saw freezer-on-top, as an adult, I thought it was the weirdest thing! But it seems to be the most common now. I don't get it. Doesn't make much sense.

I might be selling my fridge.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I've never lived with a side-by-side, and I know I'm prejudiced against it, but obviously it works for a lot of people. And some of the time I can't help but think that freezer-on-top models are designed to have slapstick head bonks.

I'm not sure when I'll be actually getting a fridge, due to previous unanticipated dental expenses (plus, I don't totally need one yet, and even though I know I'll save on electricity, I'm not so good at getting off my duff before it becomes an absolute necessity).

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Your little brother has the same eczema, and it only presents itself in hot weather.
I picked up some sugar scrub recently and have been using it on my hands. It does help some.

[magid.livejournal.com]

How did I never know this? Weird. Btw, in the last 5 years or so, I've also had it be incredibly intense when I've gotten other rashes (like poison ivy, and so on). No idea why that started happening.

Sugar scrub, huh? I'll keep it in mind if it starts coming out this year.