Half-Sized Pizza

If you put a large Marion's pizza in front of me, I'll eat and eat until I'm about to burst.  Since I have no pizza self-control, the only option is portion control, and I do that by ordering the 9-inch pie you see, half-eaten, below.  This size is around $10, which is the perfect size for lunch, and I don't waddle around the rest of the day.

https://marionspiazza.com

Cute Colander

We found this cute little colander at Kuhn's grocery store in Pittsburgh, and it was an immediate impulse buy.  It measures six inches in diameter and three inches tall, perfect for little jobs like rinsing the pint of blueberries you see below.  We own three other colanders, and now we have four.

Wabana Street

My brother-in-law sent me this picture on Wabana Street in Pittsburgh's Northside.  Sure looks like an accident waiting to happen.  All the other poles are right up against the curb, which is still a bit scary.  Don't bother to try to find this on Google Maps.  It's blurred out.  Imagine that.

Patio Umbrella Holder

We never imagined that we could put an umbrella on a deck railing until Gourmet Chef Elaine had one pop up on her Instagram feed.  I found it on Amazon for under $30 (see the link below) and did some research to make sure it fit the spacing on our railings.  It's made of thick steel and requires no tools to install.  You just spin the wingnuts on the bolts and hand-tighten.  We've wanted shade on our deck for a long time, and we now have it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G388ZTMB

Using AI For Remote Tech Support

A friend sent me a photo of her Windows desktop, asking for help.  I didn't recognize them, so instead of making a visit to figure out what was going on, I just uploaded it to Google Gemini and asked, "What are these and how do I stop them?"  As you can see below, they are Google Chrome desktop notifications related to her AOL email account.  I just pasted the response in a return message, and she was able to get them to stop bothering her.  Two minutes and one chatbot interaction replaced a half-hour, in-person visit.  Loved it!

https://gemini.google.com

Venezuelan Arepas with Chicken and Avocado

The Avocado Chicken Salad that is stuffed in the homemade arepas you see below is delicious.  Avocados are mashed with mayonnaise and lime juice, then combined with shredded chicken (I used leftover Costco rotisserie chicken), bell pepper, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and garlic, and seasoned with salt and pepper.  Cover with plastic wrap, pushing it down to prevent air from turning the avocados, then refrigerate until ready. 

More information, including a recipe for the arepas, can be found at the link below.

https://www.panningtheglobe.com/reina-pepiada-arepas-chicken-avocado

Kettering Mayor's Award

We couldn't be prouder than to have our local Tangles Hair Salon selected for Kettering's first-ever Group Volunteer Award!  You can read the full platitudes at the link below, but just know that the eight ladies of Tangles have a long history of giving to our community through food drives, Christmas-time raffles, and raising money for great causes.  There isn't a more deserving group than the ladies shown below.

https://www.ketteringoh.org/mayors-award

Rolling Hot Tub

When our hot tub recently sprang a leak, we decided not to get it fixed and called 1-800-GOT-JUNK to dispose of it.  As you can see below, they moved it by getting it on its side and then "rolling" it out to the yard.  It took a team of four guys to manhandle it, and there were a couple of times that the hot tub, weighing in excess of 1,200 pounds, looked like it might tip over, but they kept it upright.

The final loading on their truck can be seen in the short YouTube video link below.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TK0k_heeuio

YouTube TV Full Custom MultiView

I've blogged about the MultiView feature in YouTube TV a couple of times, and while useful, Google's recent update that lets you choose any combination of 2, 3, or 4 channels you want instead of their preset combinations is awesome.  I plan to use it to watch one sporting event and the Moments of Zen channel in a 2-window Multiview, because I do not like listening to commercials, particularly the same ones playing over and over.  Since this feature is powered by Google's servers, even lower-powered devices can support this.  More information can be found at the Yahoo article link below.

https://tech.yahoo.com/streaming/articles/youtube-tv-officially-launching-fully-221554422.html

Using AI To Find Fonts

I was looking for a new font to spice up an old presentation, and instead of searching myself, I asked Google Gemini for some recommendations for upscale fonts.  The two I liked best were Montserrat and Playfair Display, which you see below.  To make that more visual for you, I added both fonts to my Google Blogger and formatted the text below using those specific fonts.  Seeing is believing. 

https://gemini.google.com/app

1. Montserrat (Geometric Sans-Serif)

Montserrat is a modern classic that feels clean, high-end, and architectural. It is exceptionally legible even at smaller point sizes, making it perfect for return addresses.

• Why it works: It feels "boutique" and contemporary.

• Pro Tip: Use All Caps with slightly increased letter spacing (tracking) for a high-fashion, minimalist look.

2. Playfair Display (Sophisticated Serif)

If you want a more traditional "old money" or editorial aesthetic, Playfair Display is an excellent choice. It features high contrast between thick and thin lines, reminiscent of late 18th-century European styles.

• Why it works: It looks like it belongs on a luxury invitation or a premium real estate brochure.

• Pro Tip: Use the Italic version for the recipient's name to add a touch of grace.