Andy Lowry @AndyLowry@qoto.org

@alstonvicar
That sounds really great! Does it usually mature with a little floweriness? That was what really struck me about what I'd had; the subtle floral undertone. And its non-sourness. 😉

I'm a rhubarb nut, I think-- there's a boutique soda company here that makes a really crisp not-too-sweet rhubarb and strawberry soda that I like in the summer. I grew up on rhubarb cobbler and pie because my mother's side of the family always made sure to have it growing in the yard.

@jayarava
Thanks for the notice! That sounds like a good 'un, will pop over immediately.

@alstonvicar
How marvelous! There used to be, and maybe still is, a tiny winery in Ohio, USA that specialized in wines like that. The rhubarb was ethereal and delicate. Floral, in a nicely balanced way.

I ran a small wine shop in Columbus for a while and chose the rhubarb as the main offering in a wine-of-the-month kind of thing. People were a bit surprised by that, as those were the Chardonnay Is King of All days in the late 80s. Then they tried it, and the winery sold out of that product in a week.

@yookoala
Oh yes oh yes, been a fan for years despite being a mere American. The "Moments of Wonder" series was my introduction to her work. She interviews experts in various fields with ludicrous though sly questions. It's Ali G. done right, to my way of thinking.

The "Moments of Wonder" collection can be found here, if anyone would like a taste. They're fairly short, so should you not like her, not much time will have been wasted.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHuYkmCmARf_GCrQb2IScaD3C4dpuSRm

(Though if you don't like her, I'm going to need your address so that I can report you to the authorities as a danger to society. I was really hoping y'all could somehow skip Charles and just go straight to Morgan.)

@jeffmartins@masto.ai
I was his third surgery of the day, though I 🤪 don't know what the other two were. I guess he must have been fully warmed up and in hyperdrive.

I'm astonished by a medical treatment I had a few days ago.

On the 12th, I went to the local hospital's ER because I was having a lot of trouble getting enough oxygen into my blood. Prior to this breathing crisis, I could get by just fine with about 3 liters from my concentrator, but even maxing it out to 5 wouldn't get me much above 80 on the oximeter.

A quick Xray followed by a CT scan showed that I had pneumonia, which isn't a great thing to have when you also have cancer. The right lung was almost totally blocked by a tumor and thus couldn't drain fluids normally. The only solution for the problem was surgery, but my local medical system didn't have anyone who could do that sort of procedure, so my oncologist started working on finding someone who could do it. It turned out that there was such a surgeon in Phoenix, which is about two hours from where I live.

The local hospital kept me going with various respiratory treatments and a pretty serious IV antibiotic. Finally, on the 22nd, they put me in an ambulance for the ride down to the Phoenix hospital. The surgery was done in the afternoon of the next day.

Using microcameras and lasers, the surgeon was able to cut away the tumor, burn out the pneumonia, and create the needed fluid drainage channels. He'd originally intended to install a shunt but discovered he could avoid that by reshaping the tissues as they were. THE PROCEDURE TOOK 40 MINUTES. I mean, really? Less than an hour? I'm still in amazement over that. He must also work as a magician as a side job.

And the result? As long as I was in Phoenix, I needed zero supplemental oxygen. None at all. There was no pain anywhere, not even a sore throat. And I came home the next day.

Since I live at about 5400 feet in altitude, I do need some supplemental oxygen, but only about two thirds what I originally started out with.

Sure, cancer is kind of a bummer when viewed in a certain light, but I am in amazement at how lucky I am, over and over. It's brought me into contact with a lot of very interesting people with whom I enjoy discussing this and that. And every new day is another gift to unwrap and enjoy. Speaking of which, I had an eclair for breakfast. It was really, really good. See what I mean? 😎

#cancer

@anathematrix
I sure wish I could find their website so I could sign up. Must be one of those inscrutable Tor addresses. 😎

@SrRochardBunson
I learned just recently that those apples were for making hard cider with, not so much for eating. I think it was in a Michael Pollan book. I grew up in Ohio and heard a lot about the fellow as he was something of a local hero. Also a Swedenborgian mystic of some sort.

@mylovelyhorsie@mastodon.online
I've seen electronic ignition kits for those-- sure beats fiddling with points, if that might interest you. Nice that it just came to you with so little expense!

@atheistbot
Other brothers might deny...

@mylovelyhorsie@mastodon.online
I remember those well. A classy old machine! I buzzed around on a '72 350 for a while; wish I'd kept it. Your 400 is really pretty.

@AlgoCompSynth @composeroftheday @jazz
Plus, he was doing all that with two fingers.

@sublingual
Word UP.

@jeffmartins@masto.ai
RIGHTEOUS

@dougdimick @ProPublica
Thanks for the kind words, and my best to you as well! 🙏