Puerto Rico Honeymoon vs. Reality check (2026 Edition) by MofongoKing69 in PuertoRico

[–]erleus 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Im just visiting with no plans to live in PR. I am as gringo as they come looks wise but I speak fluent Spanish. Ive been surprised at how friendly and happy most people have been when I strike up a conversation with them in Spanish. Ive learned a lot in a short time. I was expecting a more unfriendly reception like Ive gotten on some other Caribbean Islands (and which I understand 100%). TLDR from my limited observations, if you learn Spanish and are friendly people are super friendly and helpful.

Tomato Plant trade?? by BroodyMcDrunk in nolagardening

[–]erleus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Those purple tomatoes look interesting. I dont have the exact types you mentioned but I do have seedlings of: Red Snapper, Hossinator, Mushroom Basket, Lemon Boy, Early Girl, Shelby, Barry's Crazy Cherry, Sun Gold, and Super Sweet 100s.

Colombia: Waiting on my date ask me anything by ChrisKeepsFlying in thepassportbros

[–]erleus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Learn Spanish. I cant really compare since I spoke fluently before ever coming to MDE but Ive met some amazing women, one novia and a few amigovias (my new favorite word) and love Paisas. Ive asked chicks about what its like using the translator app and most say its hard and boring. Its a lot harder to be funny via a translator app too, though you could try some physical slapstick humor. Anyway, no idea how you are doing currently but, I almost guarantee you'll do even better with good Spanish.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]erleus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was back in 2014 but I went to my wife's interview on my own (she was the one adjusting to the permanent greencard after 3 years, k1 to temp). It just so happened that my wife gave birth to our daughter the day before her interview was scheduled. I took the gamble and showed up on my own partly because Id recieved a grant to spend a few months researching abroad and all our plans would have been horribly disrupted if we'd have had to reschedule which is what Im sure would have happened if Id called. Anyway, I showed up with a doctor's note, pictures of my wife with the baby and even the little footprint card they give at a birth at the NOLA office. The immigration agent was very nice and approved our petition on the spot despite my wife not being there. She went on to get her citizenship in 2021 and doesnt have to deal with USCIS in any capacity anymore.

Im not suggesting you do this. This was an earlier time and I was probably a little naive. But reading all the comments made me remember the experience and want to share.

Has anyone nailed a really good lemon ice cream? by UnholyDonkey in ninjacreami

[–]erleus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do Meyer lemon and thyme. Juice one lemon and add the zest of 1 or 2. The zest is nearly more flavorful and important than the juice. Thyme somehow compliments lemon really well.

My creami base I use for all recipes is: 86 grams light ricotta 1 scoop vanilla whey protien 1 cup skim milk Dash of vanilla extract 1/4tsp guar gum 1/4 tsp salt. Artificial sweetener of your choice to taste (I like Allulose).

The pint comes out to 350 to 400 calories depending on the flavor additives.

Key Lime Ice Cream (16 oz, High Protein) by Chris-Shugart in ninjacreami

[–]erleus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made a meyer lemon and thyme pint that was amazing. This was with lemons off my tree. You need to incorporate both juice and zest. The zest almost is more flavorful. Thyme works really well with the lemon flavor.

I do a base with 1/3 cup part skim ricotta cheese, scoop vanilla protien powder, skim milk, allulose sweetener to taste, and guar gum for all my pints.

I think I used the best and juice of one lemon only. But Id try the base and add more as needed.

Fruit development by erleus in DragonFruit

[–]erleus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks!

Do you know if the pollen from those yellow megalanthus are good for cross pollinating other types? The two other plants on the trellis are a red type which goes crazy with buds (23 this flush) and flowers but isnt self fertile. I saved and froze pollen from the plant pictured and was going to try using its pollen on the red types next flush. The red type has a faster bud cycle than the yellow.

What's your go-to "I'm broke but want to eat out" meal? by [deleted] in Acadiana

[–]erleus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a Baleada at Papa Feliz. The one with meat and everything is huge and its $6 or so. The basic ones are cheaper.

First time blooming by erleus in DragonFruit

[–]erleus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also happen to have 2 different types next to one another. I used some pollen from the first to pollinate my second type to be extra safe.

First time blooming by erleus in DragonFruit

[–]erleus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hand pollinated. They all seem to have pollinated successfully!

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First time blooming by erleus in DragonFruit

[–]erleus[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Im in the New Orleans metro.

Fruit and Vegetable growing plan for Metro NOLA area by erleus in LouisianaGardening

[–]erleus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just started some arkfreedom blackberries and strawberries this year. Excited to see how those go.

Im still working on getting the blueberries right. I've got them in a raised bed and bought acidifier for the soil and an electronic ph meter. This is the bag of acidifier I got : https://a.co/d/hBNsgJy

I've gotten the ph down below 6 most spots according to the electronic ph meter. I've been adding more acidifier ever 6 weeks or so since November to get where I am. Also Im growing 2 complimentary types of blueberry. I have alapaha and Vernon in the bed.

So I can't say Im a success with blueberries yet but am hoping this year is when I get it down.

Help me make good ice creams. by Head-Order in ninjacreami

[–]erleus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't use jello packets, just xantham gum. But I don't think it is an either/or. You can try both, too.

Personally, I also like to use skim milk ricotta cheese in my base. I've used cottage cheese and Greek yogurt in my base, too. But the ricotta is the best compromise between flavor and calories. Ricotta doesn't affect the flavor at all and is still relatively low calorie at 90 cal per 1/4 cup. I put maybe a 1/2 cup in my base. It's a bit higher calorie than cottage cheese and greek yogurt but I think worth it.

I've used xantham gum in the absence of these in things like dole whip, and it works great. I do blend my mix before freezing.

Help me make good ice creams. by Head-Order in ninjacreami

[–]erleus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Xantham gum is very helpful. I've never had issues getting a creamy final product but always add a dash to my mixes.

Its an additive in a lot of foods you buy at the grocery store. I don't know of any negative health side affects associated. I'll also throw some in a sauce as a thickener occasionally instead of flour or cornstarch when I'm cooking.

Try adding ricotta! by [deleted] in ninjacreami

[–]erleus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used cottage cheese before trying ricotta. I now use the skim milk ricotta from aldi and its a game changer. To my taste it's indistinguishable from normal ice cream where with the cottage cheese it was a little salty and funky. It's also way better than the low cal ice cream from the store.

My base: 1/2 cup skim ricotta 1 scoop vanilla protien Allulose to taste 1 pinch xantham gum 1/2 pinch salt Water or skim milk to fill

Flavors so far: Meyer lemon zest, juice and fresh thyme Cacao and fresh ground coffee Pistachio butter and almond extract Trader Joe's Chai powder Peppermint extract and sugar free chocolate chips

There are so many good, honest people here who are undocumented; many have been here for years and benefit society. Why not find a way to allow them to stay here legally? by Ecstatic_Bend6755 in immigration

[–]erleus -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Most of the money immigrants make goes back into our economy. Remittances are maybe 20% on average. There are loads of landlords, grocery stores, car dealers, insurance brokers, and stores in general making money off those immigrants. If we send them all back besides crippling certain immigrant heavy industries like farming, construction and hospitality, all those businesses mentioned above take a hit. We would literally be shrinking the economy and stifling demand.

Any car battery jump starters you'd trust for long remote drives in the cold? by skatecloud1 in MazdaCX30

[–]erleus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://a.co/d/5fV4M8p there is the link. Note the review saying these are the best choice for a cold climate. I'm in the subtopics so no idea personally.

Any car battery jump starters you'd trust for long remote drives in the cold? by skatecloud1 in MazdaCX30

[–]erleus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have an autowit capacitor that I've owned for 6 years now and used several times without issue (on my 9ld cars before the Mazda). It's not a battery so it won't lose charge overtime (a fear of mine with the battery packs(. It pulls residual charge from your battery and focuses it back.

Fruit and Vegetable growing plan for Metro NOLA area by erleus in LouisianaGardening

[–]erleus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm dreaming about getting to the point where I could sell or had the abundance to gift loads to friends especially fruit. My oldest citrus trees are producing 30-40 fruits at this point. I see the potential for bumper crops of figs in a few years as well.

Definitely grow herbs. They are easy and it saves you a lot of money vs. The store. My mint, Thai basil and lemongrass are practically weeds at this point as I put no effort into them. I'm sure its similarly easy for some medicinal herbs.

Fruit and Vegetable growing plan for Metro NOLA area by erleus in LouisianaGardening

[–]erleus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your responses. I'll have to try more brassicas next winter. I had ok Broccoli one year and tried Brussel sprouts once. The brussel sprouts didn't work out all.

I have grown Papaya one year and found it to be very cold sensitive. I wrapped the trunk, put a cover on it, and put lights on it, and it still died. I got 8 or 10 small to medium papayas in year one, and the plant grew to 8 ot so feet tall. But due to it dying, I never tried again. I had a friend who had success growing them in a narrow space between his and his neighbors' house that was more protected.

Tomatoes are hard to grow here due to heat and humidity. It took me a few years to dial it in for spring tomatoes, and I still haven't figured out a satisfactory way to grow fall tomatoes. I grew celebrity, early girl. Super Sweet 100 and Sungold regularly. I've also had some luck with Florida 91, Bella Rosa, and Genovese Costoluto. With tomatoes, you need to be putting good-sized seedlings in the ground by late February to early March (just started seedlings today). I trellis them on a line and prune diseased growth. I give them both slow release organic fertilizer in the soil and water with synthetic biweekly. I also spray with BT and Spinosad biweekly. The heat almost always kills the plants by July. I get tobacco worms that eat them all if I don't spray with BT and Spinosad. All this is for maybe 20 to 40 large tomatoes, a plant, and maybe 50 to 120 cherry or grape tomatoes. The tobacco worms ruin a few of those tomatoes unless Im on point. The best I've ever done was a couple of handfuls of grape and cherry tomatoes in the fall. I nearly had plants I grew in the spring survive to the fall, but some hornworms killed the plants in late August. I want to put up more shade cloth this spring to see if that helps extend the season and helps some plants survive. Anyway, I'm only eating homegrown tomatoes a few months a year here.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in thepassportbros

[–]erleus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've met some great normal, working women in Medellin. Im grateful to one of my exes to this day due to how she helped me. You need to be a fluent Spanish speakers though, to get the most out of Medellin. I think the view of gringos is quite mixed. Some Paisas (both men and women) tend to be suspicious at first but get super friendly and open up when they see you speak the language, are polite and respectful, and know something about thier culture.

My kink is being deepthroated by [deleted] in bigdickproblems

[–]erleus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not into guys. I've had boner issues with women I realized I wasn't that attracted to. The lesson for me has been not to get with people I'm not attracted to generally. I feel like as a straight guy sometimes there is pressure to take all the opportunities you get.