My Issue with Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

I used my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker for the 2nd time since I have purchased it a number of years ago! Why? Because it's a lengthy and expensive process. This time, I made Mango Gelato and  I was going to impress the lady at workplace but when the result didn't come out well, I didn't even bother offering her that! 

So what the problem is, and I just sent a message to Cuisinart Canada in that regard, is that either the ice cream or gelato is very icy and hard. The instruction says that keep it out of the freezer for 15 minutes before serving but even that didn't help much. The texture is simply not good. What I'm going to do, before receiving any response from their customer service is to go through this simple process:

1- Leave the gelato out of freezer for 15 minutes.

2- Mix it very well with a fork and soften it with the back of teaspoon!

3- Leave it for another 5 to 10 minutes to see how it responds

One issue might be that in the recipe it is asked for Mango Nectar and I simply added more Mango Puree but that diversion could not be the cause, I don't think. I also didn't add that much sugar that they have recommended because my intention was to use the natural sweetness of mangos. The result is not great but it's healthier, something that most of the people don't care about. I also didn't reach that temperature while I was mixing some ingredients, mainly because I poured some by accident on the stove and I realized I was losing the rest. So instead of reaching the desired temperature, I kept going and mixed all of the ingredients and finished the process.

I doubt that any of the above could be the cause but I will try another recipe, this time, step-by-step and ingredient by ingredient to see whether there will be any issue with the product until I receive a response from Cuisinart.

(Photo: A small bowl of Mango Gelato that I made last week. Most of them are still sitting in my freezer)

Testing in Fish Creek

After our not so successful hike in Jasper National Park, my Mexican buddy blamed the failure on lack of snow shoes(!), partially, and said that we should buy a pair and do another hike soon! I agreed although I believed that even with snow shoes we would not have been able to go so much further up! 

I looked around the website and a few stores and finally I found a nice pair in Winners! Yes! Winners stores have a small sports goods section  and the price was very attractive and less expensive in comparison with stores such as MEC and Camper Village. It's better than what my Mexican fella purchased from Costco! A cheaper, smaller and way less durable thing(!), which is made of aluminum tubes! it comes with a bag and a couple of poles, though! All for a total of $85(!) while I paid $75 + tax for mine, a reduced price from $99 but it's bigger, stronger, more durable and is made with better materials in Quebec!

We decided on a day and he suggested to go to the east side of Fish Creek Park. By the time we were there it was almost 17:10 and sun has already started going down and people was about to leave the park! We put our snow shoes on and started searching for snow! We first climbed down the stairs in front of the parking lot and after going through the trees, reached a frozen stream and followed that. My snow shoes responded well when we found enough snow but I still sank a bit here and there. The area was lit by moonlight so we didn't have any difficulty moving around. After nearly hour and a half I suggested to go back and took the lead but the guy was saying that I had taken the wrong path and added that he believed that we were going around a circle! I told him that I had been lost twice in the mountains and both times came out safely and asked me to follow! After a few minutes he realized that we were on our way back to the parking lot as some signs reminded him of the time he used to jog there! This proved that to him that, once again, that I'm an experienced hiker and I won't get lost in a city park!

(Photo: This is how a GV snowshoe looks like. They manufacture different model but I'm almost certain that this is what I got. Just a different colour)

Joker: The Worst Movie I've Ever Watched

When first Joker's trailers and clips were shown back in 2019, I knew it would be nothing but another crap! That's why I didn't even consider going to theaters to catch the movie. I got a chance to see the film last week, eventually! What a disaster! Sure the acting of the main character is good but there's no story, no other actors or actresses who have a role in the story! So if you haven't watched it, be happy that you haven't wasted any time or money or both!

Looters have filled their trunk and probably the cabin with everything that they could have their hand on during the 2005 hurricane Katrina. I'm not sure but looks like the vehicles plate is blacked out or has been taken off! This scene is seen a lot in this stupid movie of Joker! 

I, however, understand why Americans, some of them, loved it and still love it! Why? Because the movie has scenes of riot, looting, shooting the face, killing on subway, people with mental issues, and such which, by the way, harmonizes with many American's lifestyle and favorites! Yes! Many Americans constantly are looking forward for situations like that. The recent attack on The Senate is a good example. And if you're looking for non-political examples there're many. Louisiana's Hurricane Katrina is another example. 

It took me 3 freaking days to finish the damn movie and I haven't watched it since while I usually watch a good movie several time. I believe enough has been said. A total waste. 1 star out of 5.

(Photo: Since I'm so displeased by this stupid, over-exaggerated movie, I'm not even going to post a picture from the movie. I, instead, am putting a photo of Jack Nicholson as Joker in the 1989 version of Batman, directed by Tim Burton, which in my personal idea is the best and only real performance of Joker) 

Disappointed more than any Time!

I was excited that I'd get a good chuck of money at the end of the year as the year's end bonus was supposed to be deposited to our account. I was thinking of anything between $2500 and $3000, at least, considering that:
1- I worked year 2020 very hard
2- I never missed a day, never called in sick
3- I did hours of overtime, and
The supervisor was generally happy with my performance and he mentioned it in the annual performance review meeting with me.
When I saw the amount, it was a total disappointment, beyond belief: Only $1128! When I talked to a senior member of the team I realized that is considered a good amount due to the fact that we have at least 30 employees who are paid year-end bonus and the amount the company has put aside was divided to that number! What can I do rather working the same shit job and keep looking? Nothing!

(Photo: Even this picture cannot depict my disappointment and frustration!)

The Way to Start 2021

There's this guy that if he was not nice and friendly, I would eventually give him a good lesson. He started insisting about going for a hike before Christmas. We eventually decided on the New Year's Day and once while we were talking this Hispanic fella heard and showed his interest. After a week, we finally decided to go as a group of 3, I, him and his brother and no more. That was after one guy said he would join and the next day he excused himself! For me that is it. He would never be in any hike with me and the guy whom I'm calling The Woman(!) here, stopped talking about it after his brother also denied joining! So you see what type of assholes I'm dealing with here! 

At the end it was me and the Hispanic fella and he was the man of his word. We met at the predetermined spot at about 05:30 on New Year's Day and despite the fact that he was late, I hopped in his pick up truck and we headed west. I consider that as a demerit for him but he gets a positive mark(!) at the same time because without his car, we had to rent a vehicle because I would not under any circumstance drive my car on a primary highway in winter unless I have to, despite the fact that I have new Michelin Ice X winter tires! 

I used my telephoto lens to get a shot of these crazy guys who were ice climbing. We stopped to take a few photos from the frozen falls and my Hispanic buddy heard them and spotted them!

The road was not bad until Lake Louise that we stopped for a coffee but it was surprisingly busy. We went to this café, that I has been to before, called Laggan's. It's in Lake Louise Village where you turn to a big parking lot with all the businesses around. We were there at about 08:20 and that's why they were open. These guys have good bakery items, sandwiches and beverages. My original estimate was to be at trailhead, in Jasper National Park at about 09:00 and it was 08:30 and we were in Lake Louise! 

Peanut Butter Brownie, on the left, is good and the price is okay too, as long as you don't buy every day!

We then headed to Highway # 93 north and entered Jasper National Park of Canada and that was when we lost the signals on our phone(!), not that it was an issue, especially because I was following our trip on my GPX Viewer on my phone. We eventually reached our destination, Willcox Pass trailhead around 10:15, almost an hour and 15 minutes later than the scheduled time. We geared up and headed up but only after 1 hour we faced strong wind and deep snow. We wanted to continue despite that but a group, which we had seen their vehicle earlier, told us that we could probably go 100 m. more and that would be it. We only decided to go back when we actually tried and realized that the snow is really deep. It was a bit disappointing but we didn't have any other choice and we headed back. 

We stopped a few times for photography which were all good experiences and by the time I was home it was around 18:00. Highway # 1 on the way back was even busier than the morning but not in a way that had to stop and go.

(Photo, top: Icefield Parkway is considered one of the most scenic rides in the world and it is true)

The Surprise of 2020

Only few hours are left to the miserable year of 2020. For me it was not that bad. I kept my job, worked 6 freaking days a week, at times 9 hours a day, I moved in to this property that I'm comfortable in and I'm still alive! I lost a very good opportunity in the last weeks of the year though. But what can I do? I have to work much harder now.

With all that in mind Covid pandemic has not been the surprise of the year for me. It's been the misery of the year. The surprise of the day just happened yesterday, the 30th, my last day at work in year 2020. I entered the office like any other day to get prepared for work and said hello to the supervisor. Here, for the first time in more than 1 year that I have been working for this company, the supervisor, after saying hello, goes: How are you ... ? This has never happened!! I'm shocked! And I go: I'm fine ... . How are you? As much stupid as it might sound to many, our supervisor, and I have to say that I like him, as I have mentioned before, barely says hello or ask how people are. He has a number of favorite employees and he only talks to them, the so-called team leaders. If he wants to issue an order verbally, he barely talks to people. He issued his orders through his team leader. At time he talk to the others directly. It pretty much is a military fashion! You never talk to your Sergeant directly. You make sure you talk to someone in lower rank, first. 

I had my annual performance review just a few days before that and despite a few mistakes I have had, and he didn't even mention them, he said he was happy with my performance and I saw that he had given me good marks on my sheet. He also went: You never know. You might be going to a higher level of employment in the company. But who wants to stay in this company for ever!? I will get the hell out as soon as I find a good position but until then, I will work hard and keep the supervisor and the company happy.  

(Photo: Finishing 2020 with all the bad memories. I didn't mention that I lost my beloved Aunt. She was the only caring relative I've ever had. Used to call me from the old country to see how I was and I the idiot only sent her a letter after I saw him the last time in 2014. She was sick in her last months and I never called her and now I regret so much. She was next to me after my Mom and irreplaceable)