begrudging respect for the battery-powered wristwatch

I liked the automatic watch I got from Poshmark because I didn't have to worry about the battery dying or my overwinding it. Then I bought another watch I thought was a wind-up but turned out to run on a battery. I must admit I am finding it rather convenient to reach for a watch and not have to set the time, as I usually needed to do with the automatic watch.

I also had a lost Swatch with a disintegrating strap. I found the Swatch but the battery is dead.

to make caramel: melt sugar, then quickly add salt + rum + cream.

Not butter. Not water.

After it melts, there isn't time to use a candy thermometer. 

I used a small All-Clad sauce pan. Make sure the sugar is under 1/4 the height of the pan, because there will be a dramatic bubbling up when you add rum and then cream to the melted sugar.

To make caramel sauce:

• Melt sugar (~ 1.5 cup) without stirring.* 
• Turn off heat
• Sprinkle in kosher salt (1 Tablespoon?)
• Stir in rum (3 Tablespoons? Really, as much as you might pour in cautious speed ready to stir it in immediately.)
• Stir in light cream (~ 1/2 cup?? I needed to use up the pint.)
• Once you can stir smooth, pour it into a jar.

*Today (5th of January) I learned from Milk Street Radio that stirring during the melting step leads to crystalization. But do have something like a long wooden fork that is good for quickly incorporating ingredients ready for the stirring steps, which are dramatically bubbly and best completed ASAP.

January 2025

• 2nd: Don't buy a crocheted hat for someone who crochets hats. Unless it's so amazing they'll want it to copy or use as an inspiration.
• 7th: Yesterday was the first day this whole year that I didn't play the lute.
• 7th: Got a new PC yesterday. For work. Why do work computers come pre-loaded with the Windows "Feed" of overwhelming stuff that isn't related to work?
• 8th: Diabetes exploded due to soda drinking, but: Are they drinking soda because they can't trust the tap water?