Maria
Random tidbits:
Would you teach us the basics of making yogurt? Get the best milk you can. Ideally whole milk, because you want all that fat to give it really nice texture and flavor. Heat it to close to a hundred degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't own a thermometer, you can just put your finger in. If you can't wait until 10, it's too hot. Then you add your culture. You can use any yogurt that you buy from the supermarket, or you can get cultures, which is what we do. We have our own blend of cultures. It's a secret. It's my blend. Not all cultures stay the same. Some have more flavors and give you thicker yogurt. If you using a quart of milk, you can add one or two tablespoons of yogurt after it's warm. Then, keep it warm for 12 hours. The next day, you'll see, it's a miracle. Milk transforms into yogurt. If you want it thicker, you can either put it in a cheese cloth bag and make sure you have a bowl underneath to catch all the liquid. That liquid is called whey. The longer you leave it, the thicker it gets.
Wally
Random tidbits:
There's this guy who fixes a guitars and amps over by the Falls. It's called Six String Theory and he's amazing. He just rebuilt my amp and the sound is night and day. He’s such a knowledgeable guy.
Prashant
Random tidbits:
There's different conditions that would warrant retinal surgery. Some of the more common things are membranes that form on the back of the eye that can distort vision. Sometimes those membranes come after a patient experiences an event that causes floaters or things that move around in their vision. A common surgery that we do is called a vitrectomy, which is where we we go into the patient's eye, under anesthesia, and remove the gel inside the eye that causes the floaters. If there's a scar tissue in the back part of the eye, we can remove that scar tissue. It's very small. It's about 15 microns in thickness. It's really one of the more delicate surgeries in all of medicine. Another is retinal detachment, where you have an acute worsening or loss of vision. Typically it starts peripherally and then it works its way over to the center part of the vision. We can often fill the eye up with a gas bubble that puts the retina back into place and apply laser treatment. Over time, hopefully the patient can regain some or all of their vision.
Toma
Random tidbits:
I was particularly moved after reading about Brad in your newsletter. He was so inspiring. For me, as someone, like him, who suffers from these types of disorders – life long, non-curable, it was really inspiring. It has motivated me to be even more consistent with taking my turmeric tonic.
Jay
Random tidbits:
There are so many, but I'll tell you one brief story. It was 2017 and the Miami Hurricanes qualified for the ACC championship game in Charlotte. The first weekend of December, the band flew up to Charlotte and we we're going to perform at the big pro football stadium there against Clemson. Their band was there too of course. We wanted to bring the two college bands together and have them join to play the national anthem. We set up a rehearsal at a high school. We decided to perform for each other. The Clemson band performed their halftime show for us, and then we performed our halftime show for them. That performance was truly one of the most special, energetic, spectacular performances our band has ever given. I think it goes to show that that making music and elevating your experience is not necessarily about a packed stadium. It's just about really committing to the moment and believing in yourself and believing in the moment.
Donna
Random tidbits:
Inside one of the gyms I go to, Body and Soul, is a little shop called Tina B. I like to buy things there. I also love Marshall's and TJ Maxx. I saw the Florida dress on a lady in Palm beach walking down the street. As she passed me, I thought in my mind that is the most adorable dress I have ever seen with alligators, Seminoles, avocados, grapefruits, oranges, and flamingos. I just loved it. I went to another shop and lo and behold, the lady is in there and I could not help myself. She said it was from a museum on Los Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The designer had copied a tablecloth and made this dress to promote the museum and Fort Lauderdale. I told my husband that is the most fabulous dress I think I will ever have in my life.
Kadie
Random tidbits:
Yes! Thank you for that opportunity. I have dyslexia. My children have dyslexia and so does my husband. Our whole household is neurodivergent. I believe we are not doing enough to provide the right educational support for kids who learn differently. I've become an educational advocate, helping to get structured literacy into the schools. It is kind of a best practice, not just kids with dyslexia. About 20% of the population has some sort of neurodivergence in terms of a learning disability, and there are not enough specialized programs.
Denise
Random tidbits:
I made a black sapote pudding. Take a coconut and make a cream with the water and meat. Mix with dates, vanilla, Himalayan sea salt, some raw cacao and the black sapote. It's insanely delicious! I've also planted your turmeric and ginger and now have a mini turmeric farm in my backyard.
Kevens (round 2)
Random tidbits:
Years ago, I was signed to a label. It did not work out and usually when that happens to an artist, it breaks your morale, it breaks you down. It took me longer than I thought to get back on my feet. Last year I began working on my new show and getting ready to go back to Ultra. I had played at Ultra from 1999 to 2009. The event has blown up all over the world and I felt it was a great platform to make a comeback. I took the opportunity this year to reinvent myself and I’m not stopping. So far, this year I’ve played Ultra in Miami and Korea. We are in negotiations for more festivals this year.
Kēvens and Amber
Random tidbits:
So...our engagement ring was designed by Walt (Adena’s husband) - who we met at the Pinecrest Farmer's Market about 4 years ago. We were buying fruit from Adena at the LNB stand and started chatting (like we love to do with vendors at the market). I noticed her wedding band; she mentioned it was designed by her husband and called him over for introductions. He confirmed that he is indeed a jewelry designer and gave us a website to see his work. As we were walking away, I casually mentioned to my then boyfriend of only 1 year, "Hey, maybe we'll get him to design our wedding rings someday". Almost 4 years later, Kēvens proposed with the most stunning, unique, and magical ring...designed by Walt. How's that for a Farmer's Market testimonial?!