Hi Michael,

 ML> > what she wanted, then pass the envelope around for others to take
 ML> > whatever coupons they wanted. It was a help to be able to use
 ML> otherwise > (stateside) expired coupons.

 ML> And a way for your friends and colleagues to help you
 ML> out at minimal cost to themselves.

Very much so! A lot of the other military wives shopped just the
commissary and PX. I went to stores on the economy as well, just
couldn't use American coupons there. (G)

 ML> >  ML> There must have been some kind of procurement office
 ML> >  ML> that had some discretion, mostly a good thing.
 ML> > Probably some sort of local advisory board.

 ML> I wonder who would constitute such a board -
 ML> perhaps spouses? Certainly there would be an officer
 ML> tasked to make the final decisions.

Spouses, active duty, civilian but military connected and probably
others. But, DeCA was independent of any specific branch of the
military. One of the families in our church in Berlin was there because
he worked for DeCA. I still maintain sporadic contact with his widow.


 ML> >  ML> I was suspicious about garlic macadamias, thinking the
 ML> >  ML> flavor would overwhelm the delicate sweetness of the
 ML> >  ML> nut, but the ones I found turned out to be addictive.
 ML> > Quite addicitive! (G)

 ML> So much so that on reading this I went off
 ML> and had a handful of cashews, the most
 ML> similar thing in the house.

Oh, nuts! Cashews are probably my favorite, especially honey roasted
ones, in moderation of course.

 ML> >  ML> The temptation would be for the diner to think, cool,
 ML> >  ML> there's a spoon, let's figure out some way to use it.
 ML> >  ML> Shove it in a newborn's mouth, perhaps.
 ML> > Or use it as a catapult to fling unwanted veggies at a sibling.

 ML> Somehow I didn't have the impression that you
 ML> were from that rowdy a family!

No, we weren't but the thought may have crossed a mind or two at times.

 ML> >  ML> means), and southwestern from about a to e.
 ML> > Depends somewhat on your definition of heat, I would think. I've a
 ML> > friend who thinks that anything above a bell pepper is too hot.

 ML> I'm figuring the definition is the same. Cf. those
 ML> hot sauce numbers that CBS carefully compiled. As far
 ML> as I'm concerned, the sauces at the bottom end are
 ML> about as spicy as a proper hot and sour soup (though
 ML> they are much more sour).

I'll take somewhat hotter than that but not as hot as some of the other
folks on the echo like their heat levels to be. Depending on what it is
and the maker's definition of the levels, a medium to medium hot is my
tolerance level.

 ML> > That's where the portable propane fire pit is nice. We pulled it out
 ML> one > night down in FL on our last trip, getting together with several
 ML> other > campers, and had a "campfire" sing along. It's what we've used
 ML> here for > our neighborhood gatherings where we've made s'mores and
 ML> "pies".

 ML> A pleasant gathering place. Safe and I hope not
 ML> too costly to operate.

Propane is relatively inexpensive, of course depending on where you get
it. The local gas company charges a flat $15. for a basic tank but we
can get it at Costco (a trip to Raleigh) for about $8. and change. We do
combine other shopping with tank fill ups, not going there just to fill
the tanks. We have multiple tanks for the camper and various grills.

 ML> > They are very much "by the book" in a lot of things in Germany.

 ML> It depends in my estimation on whether they're by
 ML> the book (tolerable, predictable) or fudge things
 ML> in the direction of the citizen (preferable to me)
 ML> or fudging in the direction of the government
 ML> (expensive for everyone and unpleasant to me or
 ML> at least my sense of justice).

We rarely had any encounters with law enforcement over there. Steve did
get a speeding ticket once (didn't slow down fast enough in a
construction area) but it was all handled electronically and thru the
mail. Other encounter with the law (pretty sure they investigated) was
when he was in a bike to bike accident with a German civilian. I was
nowhere nearby so can't give first hand proof or not.


 ML> > Swansboro (down on the NC coast, where we used to live) has an
 ML> annual > mullet festival, usually in early October. Don't know how
 ML> many pounds of > the fish gets battered, fried and served each year
 ML> but it's a lot!

 ML> Likely not too much misidentification there.

Undoubtedly! The mullet has been a staple fish in that area as long as
it has been settled. The festival itself started in (IIRC) 1956 or 57,
to celebrate the finishing of a bridge building project.

 ML> >  ML> Bansh - Small filled pockets, boiled
 ML> > Quite interesting; it would be fun to get together with an
 ML> experienced > maker of such and learn how to do it first hand.

 ML> I kind of thought so.

Even if we couldn't speak the same language it would still be fun.


 ML> Puffin with Quinoa
 ML> categories: Aleut, game, main
 ML> yield: 1 batch

But I doubt I'll try this. (G)

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


...  It works!  Now, if only I could remember what I did.

--- PPoint 3.01