Columbushere

I've got Little Debbie peanut butter crackers and Zone bars, if you are feeling brave.

Professional banquet servers and banquet captains, today's presidential luncheon would be a challenging, but memorable serve, don't you think?

Three courses: seafood stew, pheasant and duck with sour cherry chutney, apple cinnamon sponge cake with sweet cream.

Along with regular beverage service, three wines are coursed respectively: Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Goldeneye Pinot Noir, and Korbel sprakling wine.

VIP white jackets, white gloves are protocol, no tray jacks and a lot of hand service. Tight confines, dignitaries, security restraints, unexpected pauses in service were routine today.

Despite the hassles of the serve, wouldn't this had been an awesome serve?

http://www.sacbee.com/inauguration/story/1549262.h...

Man, I can't believe this! I got up from my chair to grab some chips and I stepped on the edge of one of the litter boxes. The litter flew all over the carpet, on to my shoe (and in my shoe). Dust flew everywhere, and the cats jumped up - all wide-eyed. Now I have a big mess.

Have you done this before too?

I miss my calico cat Mama. She was such a sweet and gentle cat. The treatments she was patiently and bravely receiving for congestive heart failure were no longer effective, so I put her to sleep last Saturday so she wouldn't suffer.

I kept a patch of her beautiful fur (they shaved a part of her chest for medical procedures) and curled whiskers as a visual reminder. I have 15 years of pictures, too.

I'd like to make some donations in her honor to some of our local pet shelters.

What are some things you have done to honor your companion animal?

Mario Batali? Rachel Ray? Big Daddy? Tyler's lookin' a little portly lately.

I'll need to renew my health club membership.

I enjoy all kinds of beer and wine, but I haven't explored draft ciders. My only experience was with Woodchuck Amber Draft Cider, which I thought was way too sweet, and set the precedence. Is this true of all ciders?

I was told that Strongbow was good, but I'm looking for your recommendations so I can give this libation a second chance.

My cat Paige (Mama) has had three thoracentesis procedures in the last three weeks, to relieve the pressure on her heart and lungs. She's due for another procedure, as she's breathing heavy again. I'm waiting on results to rule out a tumor.

I'm not sure how much more of this she can take (the bodily stress, and the vet trips). She's taking Enalapril (heart) and Salix (diuretic), but her body cavity keeps filling with fluid. I asked the vet about other treatments, and provided her with a web article about other meds that may work better, she hasn't gotten back with me about alternative treatments yet.

Has anyone had success with other meds or procedures for feline congestive heart failure?

I'm mentally preparing myself for the inevitable if she doesn't get better soon. I don't want her to suffer, but if I can get her proper treatment that will extend her life, I'll do it.

Suggestions for Mama?

If I were to make a dish to honor my Cambodian friend's birthday, what would I make? I'm somewhat familiar with Vietnamese cuisine, but not familiar with the subtle differences in Cambodian cuisine.

What's a good dish?

It's the end of the growing season in central Ohio, as we are heading towards freezing temperatures tonight. I just pulled off my remaining green tomatoes. What can I use them for, other than fried green tomatoes and green tomato pie? Any creative uses?

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/food/stories/...

When a feral cat that I've been keeping an eye on for the last 2 years allowed me to pet him, I was surprised. Now he's letting me pet him more, but still a little spooked. I started by touching his head while he was eating.

I've only had experience with lost or dumped off strays, but not with feral cats. He was born from a feral mother about 3 years ago. He's obviously need to be neutered and be given vaccinations, as I live with four other cats, but I feel bad for him. He won't let me pick him up yet.

I'm looking for answers from people with similar experiences. Thanks!

In mine, you'll find:

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Red Hook Late Harvest Autumn Ale

Shiner Munich Style Helles Lager

Anything you would recommend?

So what do you think if you've tasted it? Was it what you were expecting, or were you disappointed?

The new bottle and label were very attractive. The crisp hops and amber color were a welcomed change to the typical American lager. This is not a bland Budweiser. I would drink this again, guys. There were a lot of mixed reviews on beeradvocate.

http://www.anheuser-busch.com/mediakits/08/08-Amer...

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29/43118/?vie...

Hey foodies! I'm looking for the large, tulip-shaped mixing bowls that they use on the Food Network. I've checked several sites, including the FN, and I can't find sets that have anything bigger that 4 qts.

Anchor Hocking makes one such set. But I'm seeking a bigger base like they use on the FN.

http://www.anchorhocking.com/prodd_4756_cat_22_spl...

Can sunflower leaves be consumed by humans by cooking? Web searches aren't revealing any recipes, but I thought I saw some months ago.

I know the leaves and stalks are ground up as fodder. And the leaves can be used as a healing poultice, or as a tea.

But can the leaves be eaten?

What brands and types of beers are hanging out in your fridge tonight?

Any that would surprise me?

Mine contains:

Honey Moon Summer Ale

Straub Beer

Landshark Original Island Lager

Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout

Tommy Knocker Maple Nut Brown Ale

***Surprise*** Old Style Premium Lager

Someone has requested a recipe for bumblebee pie, a three berry pie. Shockingly, another user posted a recipe from an outside source with real bumblebees that her family has made for years. Considering the state of the honey bee worldwide with colony collapse disorder, I'm shocked anyone would recommend a recipe with any valuable pollinator.

The ouside source was from the Uncover Reality forum, and the user posted the recipe in April 2007. Aware of the declining honey bee situation, in June 2008 she said, "Bumblebees are getting more and more scarce, so the pie is quite a delicacy".

Do you think a posting or answer like this one is irresponsible, regardless of the intention, especially considering the declining honeybee population?

Here's the Y/A question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200807...

Here's the UR forum:

http://forum.uncoverreality.com/recreation-station...

I've been feeding a kitten (post-nursing) that was left by my place July 4th. She's been good at eating kitten chow, moist kitten chow and soft food. And she's been great with drinking Catsip, but she doesn't seem to want to drink water.

Is there anything I can do to encourage her? Should I put water in her mouth with an empty syringe or eye dropper? Or will she start drinking on her own?

FYI: I posted signs, posted on the internet, etc. I feel she was dumped. :( I'm waiting for a few days for an owner to surface, but some of my colleages will adopt her for sure. She's a Siamese mix, cute as can be.

Thanks for your input!

I mean, I love beans, but they don't love me. When I 'm going to Mexican or Middle Eastern restaurants, I grab my Beano before I walk out the door. And I keep some in my travel bag for vacations, too.

If you eat beans all the time, does your body digest the complex sugars better, or do you stll flatulate like crazy?

I avoid them like the plague if I'm on the road or at a convention.

Is there anything one can do?

Any recommendations for a national chain store to buy car tires from? (Sears, Mr. Tire, NTB?)

I'm looking for a good place in Columbus where they will install and service my tires. In addition, I'm looking for a place that offers lifetime balancing and alingnments (or something like that). I enjoy good customer service. Goodyear offered that on a set of tires on my last vehicle, but that store moved.

Anyone you would recommend?

Any chains with rebates?

P185/65R14 is my tire size.

The Jonas brothers and Brittany captivate most of the attention on Y!A. If the Jonas brothers or Brittany sang a song about colony collapse disorder affecting our bee population, would you listen? Would it draw attention to this worldwide crises?

What if they added their music to this video?

http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/434?gcli...