My Weekend Plans Always Go The Way Of The Dinosaurs

Posted on April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Well I have the first of two 3 day weekends in this month. These are ofcourse such gems to be treasured but I will tell you this – I can never plan them out. All my plans usually go out the window and I end up doing the same ole thing that I do every weekend or free day that I have. Plans are made, water is thrown on them.

This time it’s mainly because of the nasty head cold I developed yesterday at the office. I had to get some small devices from one of the lockers and unfortunately the clear plastic bag that it came in had lots of dust and I was using it to hand it over to about 24 people and some of whatever that was, was inhaled by me and I started sneezing and coughing and by evening I was nursing a cold. I struggled throughout the evening and night and had to do inhalation just before I went to bed.

However I couldn’t sleep until 4 am and then fell asleep till 5 am when I had to get up and pee. Then I slept till 6 am and got up. I feel a lot better today but I don’t think I will be in any shape to go and get some beers on Saturday like I had planned. If I do feel good enough I will. Otherwise I will just go and get a pizza or something. I would like to go out this weekend.

FOOD REVIEW #421

Posted on April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Five Facts About Deep Dish Pizza On Deep Dish Pizza Day

Posted on April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

1. Pans are periodically seasoned

The crust of Chicago deep-dish pizza has a different, more flavorful taste. This is because it is baked on cast-iron pans with no handles. Bakers do not wash the pans. They only wipe and periodically season them every time they are used. Due to that, the seasonings left in the oven pan add richer flavor and taste to the pizza.

2. Doughs are pressed to the sides of the pan

Unlike regular pizzas where the dough ends are rolled, the dough in a Chicago deep-dish pizza is pushed and pressed to the sides of the pan, creating a crispy crust afterward. Basically, bakers push the dough to the sides, similar to an apple pie crust, to create a thicker type of pizza.

3. Toppings are repeatedly layered

In regular pizzas, toppings are usually limited to a single layer on top of the crust. However, in a Chicago stuffed pizza, toppings are repeatedly layered as many times as the dough can handle, creating a gigantic pan of pizza full of cheese, meat, and spices. The filling usually goes three-quarters of the way up the pie. You can also customize its layering process to best suit your preference and taste buds.

4. Cooking it takes time

Chicago studded pizza is made to perfection, so you should expect it to cook for a little longer than regular pizzas. It is baked for about 40 minutes in the oven, depending on its size and ingredients. This time also allows all the excess oil to fall off, resulting in a pie that’s rich but not greasy. It also allows the crust to turn crispy to provide a nice contrast to the filling.

5. It is served with strings of Mozzarella pulling off

Chicago stuffed pizza is served in traditional triangular slices. That way, you can see the cross-section of the pizza containing multiple layers of meat and cheese. You will know that a pizza is perfectly cooked and served when the stings of Mozzarella are pulling off its sides.

Five Fruits You Should Be Eating In April

Posted on April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Lychee : It can be consumed in fresh, dried, and canned form. Reduces high blood pressure and has anti-cancer activities. It Prevent liver diseases. It contains antioxidants and prevents diabetes too. It is a summer fruit and if you are getting it in any other season it is probably the one of cold storage.

Pineapple : They take almost 18-24 months to harvest and are eaten best in summers. It contains enzymes which ease the digestion, also ease the symptom of arthritis, it also contain disease fighting antioxidants. Make sure you not consume then in any other season than summer.

Mango : Mango being the most popular and favorite throughout the world, is the one which is grown artificially the most. It provides many health benefits like lowers the risk of cancer, good for digestive and heart health. Avoid eating them on empty stomach. No doubt being a summer crop should only be eaten during April-July.

Watermelon : They are rich in amino acid named which promotes movement of blood through body. High in water content keeps body hydrated and soothes the skin also is easy to digest. It is a summer crop which comes from month April-July.

Apricot : They might be small in size but big in terms of flavor and nutrition. They promote healthy vision and provide protection to skin. It is a good source antioxidant that protect against inflammation along with reducing risk of obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. It can be consumed during April- September.

Scariest Places In The World : Nahanni Valley Aka The Valley Of The Headless Men

Posted on April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

The Nahanni Valley is a vast expanse of land in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The Nahanni Valley is a region in Nahanni National Park, in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories, about 500 kilometres west of Yellowknife. It’s a huge, remote and inhospitable area that you can only visit by plane or boat. It’s well known for the South Nahanni River and four 3,000+ foot canyons, called First, Second, Third and Fourth Canyons respectively, which line the river. It has some of the most diverse landforms in the country, with canyons, caves, tufa mounds and a waterfall twice the height of Niagara Falls all in the valley.

Animals thrive here too, given its remote location and general absence of humans. Bears, wolves, bison, caribou, owls and even the elusive wolverine all call the Nahanni home, within the mountains, plains, spruce and aspen forests of this massive area. It’s a land of jagged mountains, harsh forests and eerie fogs – a place steeped in supernatural lore and mystery, best reflected in its better-known moniker: ‘Valley of Headless Men’. The Dene people who lived in the Nahanni for at least 10,000 years prior to the arrival of European explorers in the late 18th century had long spoken of mythical creatures, hidden tropical gardens and rivers that should be avoided at all costs. There may be good reasons for that. At least four headless bodies have turned up in the Nahanni Valley since the early 1900s.

There are at least five mysteries tied to the Nahanni Valley, but the most famous and likely the one you’ve heard, is the mystery of the headless bodies. That’s where the Nahanni gets its rather creepy moniker ‘Valley of the Headless Bodies’. People have vanished here, be they explorers, miners, plane pilots and others who simply dared set foot in this foreboding region. More abstract, however, is the Nahanni’s reputation as being a place of evil, where men disappear after going downstream, tribes mysteriously vanish without a trace, giants that cook meals in the valley’s hot spring, and harbingers of doom when that spring is empty.

Grilled Bacon Cheese Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

Posted on April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

This unexpected grilled cheese and peanut butter & jelly mashup is undeniably delicious. If you love a good sweet and salty flavor combo, this one delivers. It’s richer than your everyday grilled cheese and well worth a try when you’re craving something a bit more indulgent. This recipe features brioche bread, strawberry jam which adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the savory and salty peanut butter and bacon.

You can use your preferred method for cooking the bacon, but this recipe has included instructions for baking it in the oven, which is usually the easiest for cleanup, and always results in perfectly crisp bacon.

Ingredients

8 slices of uncured bacon
8 slices brioche bread
Creamy peanut butter
Good quality strawberry jam
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
Unsalted butter

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with foil. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
To assemble the sandwiches, top one slice of bread with peanut butter and jam, followed by 2 slices of cooked bacon (broken in half) and an ounce of cheese. Top with another slice of bread.
Heat a griddle over medium-low heat. Grease with butter. Cook the sandwiches until they’re golden brown on both sides and the cheese melts. Use a serrated knife to cut in half and serve.

Airport (My Review & Thoughts)

Posted on April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Mr. Ballen

Posted on April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

One of the things that I truly enjoy is listening to Mr.Ballen. John B Allen or MrBallen as he is known online is an internet personality and a former United States Navy SEAL. Allen’s work is distributed through various platforms and media channels, including YouTube, Facebook reels, Amazon Music, and TikTok, among others. After being medically discharged back in 2017, he looked for other ventures to spend his time on. He is so popular that he has his own Funko Pop!

Starting off with Tiktok and then Youtube, he started uploading him filming true crime and mysteries in a narrative form. He focuses on the strange, dark and mysterious and we are addicted to it. A natural storyteller who got the nickname Shakespeare back in SEAL training, John started telling stories online just to get a break from his work fundraising for the veterans nonprofit he founded after leaving the service. On February 29th, 2020 John uploaded a one-minute video to TikTok. By the time John picked up his phone again that evening–he was shocked to find that the story he had posted that morning about the unexplained deaths of 9 hikers in the Dyatlov pass in Russia back in 1959–had gone viral. In just 4 hours, his TikTok account had blown up with more than 5 million views.

No his main Youtube channe has 7.4 million subscribers and it’s still growing. His other channels are also equally popular. He releases a video on it once a week and I wait with baited breath for Sunday evening (in India) when the new videos usually get released on YT.

A Quiet Weekend In Recovering From A Cold & Sore Throat

Posted on April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Well, plans are made and plans were failed. This weekend I was planning on going out for a couple of beers and some good food. But unfortunately I wasn’t feeling my best. See the previous weekend I was suffering from a bad head cold and a slight cough that kinda sneaked up on be by Thursday night and became worse on the Friday of that week. I went home and rested and this week I had to work a morning shift of 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. I was feeling good on Monday morning but by Tuesday I had a crack in my voice!

What was I reaching puberty at the age of 46? It felt funny but I also had to struggle as my voice was crackling. I tried to take it easy at work but Tuesday and Wednesday I had to stretch a couple of hours so I was adamant that I would leave within 30 minutes of my work on Thursday and Friday. I was feeling ok by the weekend but I had to cancel my plans for beers. I stayed in yesterday and caught up on some sleep. I watched a movie starring Hillary Swank, Mini Driver & Sam Rockwell called Conviction. I ate some roti & tandoori chicken for dinner and tried to watch another movie at night but I fell asleep quickly. As I said, I needed to catch up on some sleep and I needed that.

Today I woke up only by 8 am, washed and brushed my teeth and then got some coffee. Had a nice egg white omelet & bread breakfast and some fish roast with rice for lunch. Dinner was millet noodles which was pretty good. Throughout the day I have been relaxing with some tea and watching Youtube and oh yes Event Horizon. Now off to bed I go!

Arsenal 4 Leeds United 1

Posted on April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Gabriel Jesus scored his first Arsenal goals since October as the Gunners restored their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable win over Leeds. Second-placed Manchester City’s victory at home to Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime had cut the gap to five points, but Jesus’ first-half penalty – awarded for Luke Ayling’s mistimed challenge on the Brazilian – put Mikel Arteta’s side in front just after the half-hour mark. Leeds had created the better opportunities in the opening stages of the contest, with Rasmus Kristensen, Crysencio Summerville and Jack Harrison all testing home keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

But they fell further behind two minutes into the second half when Ben White converted Gabriel Martinelli’s low cross via the underside of the crossbar. Arsenal dominated from that moment and Jesus – recalled to the side in place of Bukayo Saka – made it 3-0 with a clinical first-time finish from Leandro Trossard’s drilled cross. Kristensen pulled a goal back for Leeds via a heavy deflection off Oleksandr Zinchenko, but Granit Xhaka’s late header from Martin Odegaard’s delivery completed the scoring with six minutes remaining. The defeat leaves Javi Gracia’s team hovering a point above the relegation zone with 10 games left to play. For large parts of the opening half hour, it looked like proving a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners as they toiled against the visitors’ disciplined and organised rearguard.

In a frantic opening minute to the contest, Kristensen’s fierce effort from the corner of the area was parried by Aaron Ramsdale before Martinelli had a goal-bound strike blocked at the other end. But the Premier League leaders lacked tempo and rhythm in the early stages and were indebted to Ramsdale yet again in the minutes leading up to Jesus’s opener. Crysencio Summerville sent a low shot into the arms of the Arsenal goalkeeper after a slaloming run, before Harrison’s powerful close-range effort was palmed away by the 24-year-old. However, Jesus’ confident penalty appeared to settle the nerves of the home side, who saw the game out with consummate ease to earn manager Arteta his 100th win as Arsenal boss in all competitions.

Before kick-off, both teams paid tribute to former Arsenal and Leeds player David Rocastle, who passed away just over 22 years ago. Mascots from both clubs carried shirts bearing the late midfielder’s name onto the pitch as the teams emerged from the Emirates Stadium tunnel.

Gibson Custom Shop Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom Bullseye

Posted on April 1, 2023April 5, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Write About Being Loved – The Affairs Of This Man’s Heart!

Posted on April 1, 2023April 1, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

I remember having my crushes but I guess the first time I had an inkling of someone having a crush on me was when I was in the 9th grade and almost at the end of the school year. This girl in the 7th who I thought was really cute was rumoured to have a crush on me and I kinda knew it to be true when she wrote in my year book but then said that she could write out what she actually wanted to say. And on the last day of the year, her friends were teasing her with me, much to my happiness. I never saw her again as her family moved cities.

The next year, with me resigned to not seeing her again, I finally had a girlfriend – but it only lasted 2 weeks or so. For some reason she suddenly decided that I, a non-Anglo Indian, as not good enough for her. It felt so good when she said she liked me but I have no idea what happened in the few days we had holidays during Onam that made her change her mind. Anyways, I had to let go even though it hurt. And then I met the one that hurts the most. The others pale in comparison.

When I was 16 I met, among all my new classmates for the 11th & 12th grade of my studies, a girl who would soon capture my heart. It would take me 1.5 years to make her mine and I was in cloud 9 when she finally say those amazing 3 words to me. We were a item for 5 years. I was devastated when after several arguments and other issues, we finally broke up. And it was a long time coming. It was something that was boiling for 3 years of that 5 but I desperately clung on, wanting to be with her and make it work. My world collapsed when I finally put the last nail in that coffin but hindsight being 20/20 it was all for the best.

There will be a part 2!

Prompt from 52 Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Next Blog Post at Medium.com

Something I Will Never Get Back

Posted on April 1, 2023April 1, 2023 by Roshan Leave a comment

Write about something you lost that you’ll never get back.

What like my virginity? Hey, it’s been so long since I’ve – you know – that I think it’s grown back.

On a serious level I won’t get back a lot of things. I am 46 and I haven’t had the experiences that I wanted to have. I haven’t been in a relationship after I turned 23. I have had my crushes, my attractions and even fallen in love a couple of times since then but never been in a relationship since then.

As the years pass by I know I will never know the feeling of getting married and living with a woman who loves me. I will never know what it is to share a home with her, planning grocery shopping, movie nights, date nights, fighting over the remote, waking up together, going out together, having sex and then falling asleep in each others arms. These are simple things but a long time bachelor like me hasn’t experienced them. The years I have lost without these things always makes me feel like I have missed out on a huge part of life.

Nothing much I can do about it. So I’ve resigned to my fate of being alone and dying alone and continue on with my life.

Prompt from 52 Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Next Blog Post at Medium.com