Observations, Part II

5 1/2 months now, I have worked here, and I still feel a daily push and pull - stay longer, leave now.

Animals make the loudest noises when in distress. Calling out for help, attention, seems innate to all species.

Schedules are hard to keep, especially when driven by no externalities.

Roosters don't crow until after the sun has risen.

Ham hocks take longer to cook than beans. Simple soup is better soup. Bacon fat keeps the cornbread from sticking to the skillet. Milk doesn't curdle if heated slowly and stirred constantly. Honey and nut butter is hard to beat. Take stale bread, quickly shower it with water, and toast it in high heat - it'll soften. Pigs will eat stale bread any which way.

I don't know anyone who enjoys snow shoveling. But seeing small, clear paths through vast expanses of snow sure is satisfying.

Don't leave your car window open if there's precipitation in the forecast.

Ice melts to mud.

Brining pork bellies, hanging them to dry, smoking them, and then cutting them up and packaging does NOTHING to diminish the constant desire to eat the 100 lbs of bacon in front of me. Damn it all, I don't care if it isn't cooked.

Bacon shrinks a lot when it's cooked.

Curing meat is actually considered a method of cooking.

Trussing meat looks really cool.

Wet wood doesn't burn. Wet wood smokes and slowly disappears.

Skating on ponds is WAY more everything than skating in a rink.

Snow muffles sounds and insulates heat. Igloos make so much sense.

I don't move very much when I sleep.

I don't sleep very much when I move.

People. Watch your poop. You never know when you might find a worm. TMI? Too Many Insects. But actually, here are some fun semi-facts that I'm half remembering right now, rather than look up again. Most of the world's populations deal with intestinal parasites with some frequency. The sterilization of the industrial west and the development of modern medicine have reduced the occurence of parasites to the point that they've become highly rare and stigmatizing. Most intestinal parasites have no symptoms, and can live in conjunction with the host for many years with no critical effects. Some people even believe that the presence of parasites is helpful. Eh. The doctor will also prescribe you with an antidote that'll kill 'em all.

You know that check engine light? Don't ignore it. You might end up spreading your engine oil over the entire state of Pennsylvania and have to dump oil into your engine in the middle of the street in Chinatown. But the automechanics of smalltown Pennsylvania and Queens will do you right.

How do you sharpen knives well?

Libraries everywhere are havens of comfort.

America needs to work on public restroom availability, just, you know, in general.

Ice crunching is much better than snow squeaking.

Try listening more.

To everything.