u/Vibingcarefully

My elder father just got referred to get reevaluated for Apnea after a decade. Friends said the clinics at Chicopee/Holyoke are not great. Remember there used to be clinics in Amherst/Noho that were more comfortable--quiet. Sleep eval is never really a good night of sleep but a professional clean quiet environ without wrestling with insurance to go out of Holyoke Medical Center are head aches he doesn't need. So anyone have good experiences with the Holyoke Medical / Baystate sleep clinics?

Been riding a 2001 Bonneville for years (age says it all) but as the bike has aged 25 years, so has the driver. It was always a bit big for me, never minded, could kind of lean it to one side or the other. Over 65 now--that's not cozy to say the least.

Got a Texavina seat, lowered the boots on the ground height by 3 inches. Perfect.

I had the OG Triumph Seat on for years (never a complaint-long rides etc.) Is the Texavina firmer (yes), a bit less comfortable (yes). Is it working well in terms of being able to flat foot--so much better. Is it working well in terms of backing it out of parking spaces and the driveway--so much better.

I've purchased Bell and Evans Chicken (prepacked raw) from Whole Foods and Other Supermarkets. It always smells rank---strong Sulphur smell. I stopped buying it after about 4 consecutive bouts (once a year). My partner just bought two packs--not knowing my "ban" on buying it----6 years later---phew--whole first floor smells like bad meat/farts.

To the companies credit--when I reached out to them , they mailed me coupons (for discounts on their chicken). It's one thing to open meat and know , vacuum packing it might give off a "little something". It's another thing for it to fume a kitchen, dining room etc. Not sure what they do but compared to the store brands it's a 10 in smells, store brand is a 1-2.

Find the show "entertaining" --treasure questing, lots of ocean and warm days, boat---willing suspension of disbelief--like most things--required. It's not "deep" but it's done well enough. Ensemble/Friendship/Loyalty themes. PG rating.

I enjoy the sub--my version of doom scrolling, idle time killing but I've actually grabbed some simple practices from here (and elsewhere) that I was resistant to.

• Step One--learn how to properly fill your portafilter basket-the right amount.
• Buy locally roasted beans if you can find a place where you like their beans.
• Store beans in a good airtight container versus the bag they came in.
• Learn how to pull a 2:1 shot , it's a good guide and it gets one understanding the whole dialing it in process on your grinder. If your scale or machine doesn't have a timer, get a timer and use it.
• Use a scale for measuring out your coffee (to grind, output from your grinder) and for weighing your shot output from your machine.
• The right height dosing funnel (for my machine at least) catches just all the coffee into the portafilter without a mess around the machine.
• Shake your ground coffee (can use many dosing cups that are out there--they have a rim around them that fits over many 58mm portafilters) or WDT your coffee with toothpick, straightened paper clip or acupuncture needles (doesn't matter)and yes if you get this basic simple step down you can eliminate channeling by simply quickly breaking up clumps..
• Shot mirror is really helpful (and they're cheap to buy) to watch your shot for channeling just because it's nice to watch
• Bottomless portafilter is a good thing for tamping on a counter, being able to watch your shot (in the above scenario--to determine if you have channeling)
• drop your temperature on your machine (with dark roasts) if it tastes bitter or sour
• Pull crema off if you feel it's too bitter or sour, don't have to pull it all off if you don't want but it certainly helps taste for a "sweeter shot"
• Knock boxes are cheap and work fine. I pour my coffee grounds in the garden and it's great for the soil, good where grass is not growing well too.
• Trouble getting your puck out--run a shot through the portafilter for 15 seconds--puck knocks out later in the morning or day.
• Espresso beans if they are getting stubborn (old) or you have an odd amount--dump into an airtight container--it makes a decent pot of drip or pourover. I keep old beans in a container--mixed up. Franken-beans. nothing goes to waste.
• Dump a "bad shot" (too long too short) into a glass of lemonade -delicious. It even has a fancy name and is a known drink --Mazagran. Dump a good shot into lemonade--tastes good too!
• Use your steam wand to heat water for Americano
• Dump shot into right amount of hot water, steam that--Aericano
• My own suggesting for folks having difficulty mastering steaming--get a large and small milk jug (stainless steel) get a gallon of milk, follow a good Barrista site's instructions and practice for a half hour to an hour with no distractions--you'll be "one and done"--by the end of that time you'll know how to steam milk. Sure whole milk is a bit easier but with proper technique 2% will just take a few seconds longer, Lactaid milk 2% or their whole milk works fine too.
• Dump shot into ice water in your milk jug (with cubes)--steam it to froth, dump that in a glass of icewater (Iced Aericano)
• Ristrettos (1:1) shot--using the same dialed in 2:1 setting are great.
• Keep some rags around for wiping up your machine, cups, grinder area.
• Mini vacuum is great in my kitchen for catching up on ground coffee, crumb , etc......mini stick vacuum
• Mastering technique is much more important than chasing everyone's purchases (puck screens, varied portafilter baskets, WD tools, brand names etc).
• Read manuals that came with your espresso machine, grinder and scale. Read manuals for any appliance or tool first before using. Make your own notes to simplify.
• Filtered water / good tasting water makes better Espresso. This is easy to determine by simply tasting your tap water. Cheap but effective taste improvement can be had by using a Brita or Pur tap filter or a filter pitcher. A gallon of spring water or water can be had cheaply at Walmart / Target as well.

Grandkids clogged up the toilet---too much paper and a deuce. Decided to try using laundry detergent (never really believed it could work). Poured about 1/2 to 3/4 cup in the bowl. Waited about 5-10 minutes and right before my eyes, the water level had gone way down. Flushed and it worked. Flush one there was still a bit (small bit of up flow) and blue detergent. Waited and the toilet made a gurgle and all clear.

Before plunging (which can get messy)--I'm sold on this as step one.....

Some folks say dish detergent will do the same. We only had some organic stuff--if I went that route my guess is you want dense Dawn or something bold and industrial.