quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Just to clarify, there are multiple fires. The biggest, the Bastrop fire SE of Austin, is still out of control and literally can be seen from space per a NASA photo. Smaller fires west of town threatened my parents' home and could have threatened mine but those fortunately are now under control. The danger of new fires is ever present, of course.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

... Smaller fires west of town threatened my parents' home and could have threatened mine but those fortunately are now under control. The danger of new fires is ever present, of course.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alekks

I'm a bit north of Austin (~60 miles) but work in Round Rock which is just outside Austin. You can pretty much pick any 60-degree arc and see smoke from one fire or another.

Where I live (Belton) our official rainfall for the month of August was 0.00" not even a sprinkle that month. Average daily high was 106. We had our record summer in 1980 with 100 consecutive days of high temps being 100 or more. But that summer, those temps were generally 101-103, nothing like 106-110 like this summer. I'm sure my home's AC unit is ready to mutiny any day now.

Earlier in this thread it was mentioned about the stalled Tropical Storm (Hermine) that stalled out just NW of where I live. We got 11" of rain in less than 24 hours and that plus rains in towns west of here helped cause the 100 year flood mentioned earlier. As bad as the drought is here now, one Meteorologist made the comment that if we had a replay of that scenario, we would only see minor flooding from it. Whatever, we sure could have used Lee heading west instead of NE. Unless we can get some tropical relief soon, the October/Novembers rains seem years away.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bjmorgan

Sadly, once it starts to rain, we'll get two feet in an afternoon and everything will flood.

Hey, but at least we don't get much snow.

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ORIGINAL: mike scholl 1
I know it left my sphincter raw and inflamed for days.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

If my life ever depended on winning one contest there is no question I would pick a pepper eating contest. [:D]

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shark7

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

If my life ever depended on winning one contest there is no question I would pick a pepper eating contest. [:D]

Hehe, that is so true.

A word of warning to our east coast/northern friends. Just pass on the chili, you can't handle it. [;)]

Around here we like to put Serrano peppers in with our French fries. That's right folks, we fry up French fries with Serrano peppers as part of the mix. And I love to get the peppers out and eat them whole, seeds and all. [sm=sterb032.gif]

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ORIGINAL: CaptDave
Can't say I've tried eating Serrano peppers straight, but I have been known to pour enough pepper sauce into a bowl of gumbo that the soup was red instead of brown.

For the record, I've never lived farther south than San Mateo, CA, aside from my two years on Guam. Some of us Yankees can handle the hot stuff pretty well, too! (As long as it's food, not the climate, that is.)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

My wife is originally from New Mexico, so we spent some time there together whilest visiting her family. Mullk-since you claim some origin from NM, can you tell our esteemed colleagues what the official New Mexico state question is?

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ORIGINAL: mullk

were I was from it was Red or Green?

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ORIGINAL: mike scholl 1

quote:

ORIGINAL: CaptDave
Can't say I've tried eating Serrano peppers straight, but I have been known to pour enough pepper sauce into a bowl of gumbo that the soup was red instead of brown.

For the record, I've never lived farther south than San Mateo, CA, aside from my two years on Guam. Some of us Yankees can handle the hot stuff pretty well, too! (As long as it's food, not the climate, that is.)

My basic question remains. WHY? I've watched folks "showing off" with various spicy condiments..., faces getting red, tearing up, having to wash their hands after every bite. WHY? I like to finish a meal with a satisfied and satiated smile and a look of contentment..., not looking like candidate for the Burn Ward in the local hospital.

To each his own..., but I'll never understand it. It's like putting tatoos on a pretty girl. It just isn't right. [8|]