So the Jan 1 ritual actually starts on the NYE, and as there is not really much drinking, and we don’t have a what are you eating; the modest start goes here
Okinawan Soba
to be followed later today…
@klezman
But that’s a difference to the culture.
It’s not udon, it’s Okinawan soba.
We generally think of soba as thin noodles containing a percentage buckwheat flour. Okinawan soba are wheat based and more closely resemble ramen. And they are quite deeply yellow/amber pigmented, much washes out in the water and pic.
Once upon a time I was sharing a wine locker. And someone had a buying problem(*). So I moved out into my own locker.
And this walk-in locker is set up with racks on the right and space on the left (with two shelves) for storing cases. And of course a floor in between the left and the right.
As of today, the floor area in the middle does not have any cases of wine - just empty boxes! (It’s like a metaphor for the political climate in the US.)
In response to comment by @winecaseaholic in today’s offering thread
& then the pain pills wore off…
The pain has not been too bad. The nerve block before the surgery lasted for around 24 hours. I began taking tramadol every 4 hours and acetaminophen (650mg every every 6 hours) after getting home (the advice was to avoid having pain set in, as it is then harder to control). Today (day 2 after the surgery) I’ve been stretching the tramodol out to every 6 hours without issues and will continue trying to space it out further. Never was tempted to reach for the oxycodone. Will see Physical Therapy tomorrow.
I’ve probably needed to get this done for a few years but the concern about how bad the recovery might be scared me from pursuing it. We then heard about a surgeon nearby (Jefferson City, MO) through an acquaintance who told us his physical therapist commented that this doctor’s patients tend to have a history of quick recovery from knee replacement. The endorsement from a physical therapist especially convinced me to move ahead.
@klezman I’m almost looking forward to getting the other knee done – probably wait until the fall as things can get pretty busy around here in the summer.
Just a quick update. On 3rd day after surgery, I started spacing the tramedol to every 6 hours to see how I would do. The last time I took it was at 8am yesterday, and am doing fine without it. I look forward to relief from some of the negative effects of anesthesia/opioids (IYKYK) as well as being free to drive when I desire. One thing I think has been a big help has been heavy use of cold packs (and then an icewater circulating pad that someone loaned me).
In the past we heard some people, after getting joint replacement, saying they should have had it done years earlier. I’m probably joining in on that opinion. If you think you might benefit, don’t hold off.
@Mark_L
Sounds like you’re managing it well! My wife had a fall awhile back and ended up with a deep bone bruise in her knee and someone lent her one of those recirculating hydrotherapy pads as well. It helped a lot.
I came across some 2017 and 2018 Clayhouse wines - grenache, syrah and petite sirah - on ‘TSO the other day. I thought they were a good QPR wine on this and the old site and it got me thinking about what happened to them? It looks like there were sold to Vintage Wine Estates in 2016 which went bankrupt so I guess the winery is now shuttered? Anyway, I bought a few bottles of Grenache for old times sake ( not tried yet) and still have a 2013 3L Adobe Red waiting for a suitable occasion!
Happy New Year!
@karenhynes
Happy New Year!
@karenhynes @kawichris650 HNY!
So the Jan 1 ritual actually starts on the NYE, and as there is not really much drinking, and we don’t have a what are you eating; the modest start goes here
Okinawan Soba
to be followed later today…
@rjquillin what makes it Okinawan? Also those look like udon more than soba?
@klezman
But that’s a difference to the culture.
It’s not udon, it’s Okinawan soba.
We generally think of soba as thin noodles containing a percentage buckwheat flour. Okinawan soba are wheat based and more closely resemble ramen. And they are quite deeply yellow/amber pigmented, much washes out in the water and pic.
@rjquillin deep yellow? From egg or something else? Interesting…
Some soup and Osechi start it out
@rjquillin
Wow!!!
@rjquillin Beautiful!
Part two
@rjquillin looks wonderful!
@hscottk there are five of us now quite satiated.
The An was the better bottle, fwiw.
@hscottk @rjquillin it only took five of you to eat all that?!
Casemates sake ‘vertical’ ?
I had a milestone achievement today!
Once upon a time I was sharing a wine locker. And someone had a buying problem(*). So I moved out into my own locker.
And this walk-in locker is set up with racks on the right and space on the left (with two shelves) for storing cases. And of course a floor in between the left and the right.
As of today, the floor area in the middle does not have any cases of wine - just empty boxes! (It’s like a metaphor for the political climate in the US.)
(*) Or perhaps more than one someone.
@TimothyB congrats! I might achieve that in a decade or so
In response to comment by @winecaseaholic in today’s offering thread
The pain has not been too bad. The nerve block before the surgery lasted for around 24 hours. I began taking tramadol every 4 hours and acetaminophen (650mg every every 6 hours) after getting home (the advice was to avoid having pain set in, as it is then harder to control). Today (day 2 after the surgery) I’ve been stretching the tramodol out to every 6 hours without issues and will continue trying to space it out further. Never was tempted to reach for the oxycodone. Will see Physical Therapy tomorrow.
I’ve probably needed to get this done for a few years but the concern about how bad the recovery might be scared me from pursuing it. We then heard about a surgeon nearby (Jefferson City, MO) through an acquaintance who told us his physical therapist commented that this doctor’s patients tend to have a history of quick recovery from knee replacement. The endorsement from a physical therapist especially convinced me to move ahead.
@Mark_L Sounds like you’re on a good path…and hopefully a quick one!
@klezman I’m almost looking forward to getting the other knee done – probably wait until the fall as things can get pretty busy around here in the summer.
@Mark_L
Have to wonder what he does differently that speeds up the recovery process. Glad you got clued into him!
Just a quick update. On 3rd day after surgery, I started spacing the tramedol to every 6 hours to see how I would do. The last time I took it was at 8am yesterday, and am doing fine without it. I look forward to relief from some of the negative effects of anesthesia/opioids (IYKYK) as well as being free to drive when I desire. One thing I think has been a big help has been heavy use of cold packs (and then an icewater circulating pad that someone loaned me).
In the past we heard some people, after getting joint replacement, saying they should have had it done years earlier. I’m probably joining in on that opinion. If you think you might benefit, don’t hold off.
@Mark_L
Sounds like you’re managing it well! My wife had a fall awhile back and ended up with a deep bone bruise in her knee and someone lent her one of those recirculating hydrotherapy pads as well. It helped a lot.
Just an article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/dining/drinks/matt-taylor-wines.html
@user02516350
Paywall
@chipgreen @user02516350
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/dining/drinks/matt-taylor-wines.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fVA.rV10.adaEgVIyWozT&smid=url-share
Hm, sorry about that. The full article opened for me this morning, and I’m not a subscriber.
I came across some 2017 and 2018 Clayhouse wines - grenache, syrah and petite sirah - on ‘TSO the other day. I thought they were a good QPR wine on this and the old site and it got me thinking about what happened to them? It looks like there were sold to Vintage Wine Estates in 2016 which went bankrupt so I guess the winery is now shuttered? Anyway, I bought a few bottles of Grenache for old times sake ( not tried yet) and still have a 2013 3L Adobe Red waiting for a suitable occasion!
@ctmariner We just cracked a Clayhouse 2013 Red Cedar cab in 3L over the holidays and it was a real crowd pleaser.
@hscottk Good to hear on the 3L!