Watch Those Hot Peppers!

they can make your hands sting...science lesson later in the day.

So, here's the science lesson that we got about hot peppers and the chemistry of spiciness...

The spiciness of hot peppers is caused by capsaicin, a capsaicinoid type of vanilloid (apparently similar in chemical structure as vannilin (vanilla), and zingerone (puts the zing in ginger).

Capsaicin looks like this:

Its melting point is about 62-65 C (key point for later). It's insoluble in water, but it is lipophilic and also soluble in alcohol. Suprisingly, they only discovered the pathway for its action in 1997.

So, as I read this on wikipedia when I looked it up as Karen's hands were on fire, I yelled downstairs "put vegetable oil on them!"

That worked a little when I poured olive oil on her hands in the sink, but not for long. We didn't have any shortening (what was actually recommended) so that was the best we could do for the time being. Problem was, after washing with soap and water, the burn came back...on to plan B. In the morning (it was already 11 or thereabouts).

Next morning, I pulled out a bottle of one alcohol that neither of us really drink - Bacardi rum. 80 proof, it was the strongest alcohol on the house! And why I didn't think of it earlier, i won't know) So I took out a big salad bowl, and poured 1/2 the bottle in...and in went KAren's hands - INSTANT RELIEF.

Here's the rub - and here's where the melting point comes in - once she poured water over her hands to get rid of the rum, the capsaicon dropped out of solution again (duh - it's a solid at room temperature!) BANG! Burn is back. It took the rest of the bottle and another 24 hours, but finally the burn went away.

Moral of the story is: keep some rubbing alcohol in the house, it's cheaper than a bottle of rum!

Updated 3-Season Room Coming Along...

...it might be 3 1/2 seasons and not 4, but hopefully we'll be able to get it warmer in there (and add a portable heater of some sort!)...some pics are forthcoming once I dig them out of the digi camera...

- got the old panelling ripped down and now all the drywall is up (thanks Dad and Jeff)
- got a new light installed (thanks Mel!)
- spackled away twice this past weekend, and have one more sand and spackle event to do

Then we can start priming! And we need to pick out a good color for the final wall color, too...blue? green? We just dont know yet.

AND - we need to get the wainscoting and some tile.

The Top Secret Baby Shower was a Success!

Thanks to all who helped this past Sunday...once I dig out the e-pics, I'll post some...

And, Meet The Rest Of The Family...

That would be Junior on the left and Smokey on the right...

A Month Late, But...

Meet Crash, fetus, aged 18 weeks 4 days...