February 9, 2012
January 4, 2012
50 Year Anniversary
Today, the members of our staff are honoring the 50 Year Anniversary of one of our associates withing the office. The Anniversay commemmorates 50 years of living life. Some people think that 50 means that you're old. I do. In fact, everyone younger than 50 thinks it's old. However, those older than 50 yearn to feel that young again I suppose. I have over twenty years to grow before I become that old.
While the person who is becoming so old shall remain nameless, that person can rest assured that life will only get easier. For others that old or older, they wax poetic about the discounts available to them, retirement, and great-great grandchildren. The 50 year old generation is important, too. They survived the 80's! They, too, have seen multiple great wars involving many in the world. One day, they'll tell their great grandchildren about the Great Recession. They'll speak of a time when the internet was actually the middle pound net. They'll remember times when talking over a telephone were the quickest and most convenient way to speak with distant friends. Many of those around the mid-century mark will also discuss with their brethren how rapidly the world is changing. We've all either accepted or ignored the general consensus that while change is constant, it is also rapid in this day and age.
So, Congratulations You Know Who You Are In Our Office on turning 50. But I'd never know it unless someone told me...
In unrelated news, I broke one of my New Year's Resolutions by accidentally writing the date as 1/2/11 instead of 1/2/12...lasted less than 36 hours...
Enjoy the day...
While the person who is becoming so old shall remain nameless, that person can rest assured that life will only get easier. For others that old or older, they wax poetic about the discounts available to them, retirement, and great-great grandchildren. The 50 year old generation is important, too. They survived the 80's! They, too, have seen multiple great wars involving many in the world. One day, they'll tell their great grandchildren about the Great Recession. They'll speak of a time when the internet was actually the middle pound net. They'll remember times when talking over a telephone were the quickest and most convenient way to speak with distant friends. Many of those around the mid-century mark will also discuss with their brethren how rapidly the world is changing. We've all either accepted or ignored the general consensus that while change is constant, it is also rapid in this day and age.
So, Congratulations You Know Who You Are In Our Office on turning 50. But I'd never know it unless someone told me...
In unrelated news, I broke one of my New Year's Resolutions by accidentally writing the date as 1/2/11 instead of 1/2/12...lasted less than 36 hours...
Enjoy the day...
December 12, 2011
Youth Waterfowl Hunt
December 10th was North Carolina Youth Waterfowl Day...meaning that children under age 16 could hunt waterfowl. The season for adults is right in the middle of it's final split of the year...it'll open back up on December 17th for the adults.
Nevertheless, we had some former Camp Canvasbackers down for the weekend. They went out with volunteer guides on a hunt Saturday morning, along with their dads or granddads. The location they chose to hunt had been holding lots of ducks...until the Saturday morning hunt. Nevertheless, with the urge to migrate so strong in waterfowl, as soon as the front blew through on Friday night, most of the ducks picked up and headed south. Still, the young hunters bagged a few ducks and one redeemed his swan tag! It was a fun hunt that certainly initiated the youngsters into the ways of waterfowling. Cold, wet, long walks in the dark, with gear in tow, is only fun if you're waterfowling!
The holiday season is here, and so are the Christmas parties...we've hosted several right away, with more to come. In fact, I laid the smack down on some of my infamous steaks on Saturday night. I certainly enjoy helping out other departments at the Center, but I really do prefer to help the kitchen - especially when it comes to manning the grill. I can operate a grill much better than a lawnmower, wrench, mop, and telephone.
Enjoy the day...
Nevertheless, we had some former Camp Canvasbackers down for the weekend. They went out with volunteer guides on a hunt Saturday morning, along with their dads or granddads. The location they chose to hunt had been holding lots of ducks...until the Saturday morning hunt. Nevertheless, with the urge to migrate so strong in waterfowl, as soon as the front blew through on Friday night, most of the ducks picked up and headed south. Still, the young hunters bagged a few ducks and one redeemed his swan tag! It was a fun hunt that certainly initiated the youngsters into the ways of waterfowling. Cold, wet, long walks in the dark, with gear in tow, is only fun if you're waterfowling!
The holiday season is here, and so are the Christmas parties...we've hosted several right away, with more to come. In fact, I laid the smack down on some of my infamous steaks on Saturday night. I certainly enjoy helping out other departments at the Center, but I really do prefer to help the kitchen - especially when it comes to manning the grill. I can operate a grill much better than a lawnmower, wrench, mop, and telephone.
Enjoy the day...
November 28, 2011
Post Thanksgiving
Well the turkey has been roasted, eaten, and leftover...and eaten again. I'm sure I would normally pack on a few pounds, but my recent bout with a food borne illness of less than conspicuous origins put me on the sideline for the better half of a week that generally brings tremendous eating...
Nevertheless, the 4-H Center is gearing up for holiday party season. It's a favorite time of mine...I'm lucky to work in a place where we must peddle the holiday spirit. There's lots of holiday lights, and yes, food to be taken in. However, should the cold weather not arrive, I will refute the season. Cold weather is very important for the holiday season. Otherwise, the big guy in the red suit will certainly overheat as he strikes out for the 3 billion global believers. Milk and cookies? Naw. Leave that joker some Gatorade. Fruit Punch, or course. Also - the holiday sweaters that many of us fawn over will lay folded in their boxes, crammed to the collar with moth balls. The Farmer's Almanac predicted a wet and cold winter...show's what they know. It's been more tropical and tepid. And all that firewood that was either cut or purchased to sentimentally and nostalgically warm your humble abode? Well, if you stack it high enough, it makes a great shady corner to relax in when the mercury tops out.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. Sure, I just told you something you already know. It's when America's retailers go from red to black on their ledgers...and it's when more trees are cut than any other day of the year. Sad times. However, roughly 30 million families will hoist a tree inside their homes. North Carolina is responsible for many of these trees...some, in fact, have even graced Rockefeller Center and the White House. I'm all for tree cutting. Especially if it is done sustainably. Tree farming, from Christmas trees to pine logging, is generally very responsible. Rotational plans, pest control, and prescribed burnings are used in many tree farms...and they're all goof for the environment, and the animals that live within it. Still, it's strange that people will haul a dying tree into their home, set it in water, then hook it to electricity....just before they put hundred of dollars of gifts underneath it. I call those gifts "fuel". Always sit with trees that are lit and unplug them when not basking in their luminescence. Moreover, when the tree is done doing it's duty around New Year's, check with local officials and find a suitable pond of lake to lower your tree in to...it makes excellent fish habitat! Some people have closely guarded the secret whereabouts of their sunken trees. I wish it would give me an advantage in duck hunting. Speaking of which...
The waterfowling has been terrible. For those looking to come down and pursue fowl with either camera or gun - best of luck. The weather has been abysmal and the only thing to see are the swans. But they are great. In other unrelated news, my Auburn Tigers were handily beaten by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the annual Iron Bowl. But hey, every squirrel eventually finds a nut. And Alabama has it's share of nuts.
Enjoy the day...
Nevertheless, the 4-H Center is gearing up for holiday party season. It's a favorite time of mine...I'm lucky to work in a place where we must peddle the holiday spirit. There's lots of holiday lights, and yes, food to be taken in. However, should the cold weather not arrive, I will refute the season. Cold weather is very important for the holiday season. Otherwise, the big guy in the red suit will certainly overheat as he strikes out for the 3 billion global believers. Milk and cookies? Naw. Leave that joker some Gatorade. Fruit Punch, or course. Also - the holiday sweaters that many of us fawn over will lay folded in their boxes, crammed to the collar with moth balls. The Farmer's Almanac predicted a wet and cold winter...show's what they know. It's been more tropical and tepid. And all that firewood that was either cut or purchased to sentimentally and nostalgically warm your humble abode? Well, if you stack it high enough, it makes a great shady corner to relax in when the mercury tops out.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. Sure, I just told you something you already know. It's when America's retailers go from red to black on their ledgers...and it's when more trees are cut than any other day of the year. Sad times. However, roughly 30 million families will hoist a tree inside their homes. North Carolina is responsible for many of these trees...some, in fact, have even graced Rockefeller Center and the White House. I'm all for tree cutting. Especially if it is done sustainably. Tree farming, from Christmas trees to pine logging, is generally very responsible. Rotational plans, pest control, and prescribed burnings are used in many tree farms...and they're all goof for the environment, and the animals that live within it. Still, it's strange that people will haul a dying tree into their home, set it in water, then hook it to electricity....just before they put hundred of dollars of gifts underneath it. I call those gifts "fuel". Always sit with trees that are lit and unplug them when not basking in their luminescence. Moreover, when the tree is done doing it's duty around New Year's, check with local officials and find a suitable pond of lake to lower your tree in to...it makes excellent fish habitat! Some people have closely guarded the secret whereabouts of their sunken trees. I wish it would give me an advantage in duck hunting. Speaking of which...
The waterfowling has been terrible. For those looking to come down and pursue fowl with either camera or gun - best of luck. The weather has been abysmal and the only thing to see are the swans. But they are great. In other unrelated news, my Auburn Tigers were handily beaten by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the annual Iron Bowl. But hey, every squirrel eventually finds a nut. And Alabama has it's share of nuts.
Enjoy the day...
November 11, 2011
111111
It's Vets Day. I'm thankful for the brave men who are much braver than I am, their families who sacrifice more than I could ever imagine, and for those vets who paid the ultimate price so that I have the freedom to worship, think, play, and even blog on my own accord. With that said...
Today is 11/11/11. You can reverse it, and it's the same thing. With the right font, you can turn it upside down and still have the correct date. 11 is a fun number, and here's why...
11 is the number of the jersey worn by my favorite Auburn quarterback of all-time...Stan White. He was the first quarterback I can remember when my dad luckily took me to so many football games. We literally remember each one, but not for the games, but rather the time it rained, the time we saw a guy wet his pants, how many hotdogs I ate, and the time the barn burned. Great memories of #11 and poppa...
11:11 was the alleged favorite time on the watch of my high school, puppy-love girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Why do I remember this? We talked, well she talked, on the phone all night long and it came up every night back in 1999. Her favorite time was 12:34. I need to get a life...
11 push-ups was my max when I committed to changing my life and habits back in 2005. Now I can do, I swear, 11 times the push-ups of anybody you know. That day I though I was weak.
11-0 was Auburn's record in 1993. the only undefeated and untied team in College Football. We weren't crowned the National Championship because of the 1111 year conspiracy against Auburn.
Eleventeen is my favorite number.
I was eleven years old when my sister told me she would beat me up for tearing of the heads of her Barbie, Skipper, and Ken dolls. I was also 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 26 when she said she would do this.
I buy decoys in dozens, but I always pull one aside...I try to always hunt in multiples of eleven decoys. Not really.
Nevertheless, 11/11/11 will be a day for babies to be born and couples to be wed. It should be an easy anniversary to remember. I will get married on 14/14/14...
Enjoy the day...
Today is 11/11/11. You can reverse it, and it's the same thing. With the right font, you can turn it upside down and still have the correct date. 11 is a fun number, and here's why...
11 is the number of the jersey worn by my favorite Auburn quarterback of all-time...Stan White. He was the first quarterback I can remember when my dad luckily took me to so many football games. We literally remember each one, but not for the games, but rather the time it rained, the time we saw a guy wet his pants, how many hotdogs I ate, and the time the barn burned. Great memories of #11 and poppa...
11:11 was the alleged favorite time on the watch of my high school, puppy-love girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Why do I remember this? We talked, well she talked, on the phone all night long and it came up every night back in 1999. Her favorite time was 12:34. I need to get a life...
11 push-ups was my max when I committed to changing my life and habits back in 2005. Now I can do, I swear, 11 times the push-ups of anybody you know. That day I though I was weak.
11-0 was Auburn's record in 1993. the only undefeated and untied team in College Football. We weren't crowned the National Championship because of the 1111 year conspiracy against Auburn.
Eleventeen is my favorite number.
I was eleven years old when my sister told me she would beat me up for tearing of the heads of her Barbie, Skipper, and Ken dolls. I was also 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 26 when she said she would do this.
I buy decoys in dozens, but I always pull one aside...I try to always hunt in multiples of eleven decoys. Not really.
Nevertheless, 11/11/11 will be a day for babies to be born and couples to be wed. It should be an easy anniversary to remember. I will get married on 14/14/14...
Enjoy the day...
November 10, 2011
No Smarter, Waterfowl Season
Well folks, the reduction in my blg totals in the past week are a direct result of the pain created by my wisdom tooth, which apparently was struck with an infection at the root. I knew it when it hit. And it hit like a ton of bricks. For hours on end I could sit, stand, play, talk...then the sharp pain would sting and remind me that I do in fact have a dentist. In keeping with tradition, my oral health seems to always take a nosedive as the waterfowl season comes in. Either way, removal of the wisdom tooth is imminent, and I actually look forward to it, despite my loathe for the whir of the dentist's drill and the tap-tap of his metallic mouth explorer. But my dentist is great, and he has helped me when friends refused to pull my teeth.
Waterfowl season is around the corner, the corner being Saturday. I look forward to it almost as much as the first day of summer camp. Both can bring surprises, but they both bring lots of fun. I spend nine months of the year thinking about both, and three months of the year living through both. Both leave any true devotee extraordinarily exhausted in it's respective aftermath. As late as the nights are in operating a summer camp, the waterfowl season can bring just as early mornings. But, being able to meet the sun on it's way out of it's wintry bed over the Atlantic is a genuine blessing, just as seeing it set over the Albemarle in the summer. Without getting to mushy, all waterfowlers are required to mention the following things to those who are considered novices to the sport. I am lucky and see lots of waterfowl. But still, I am no expert, however, consider the following tips as published by "experts":
Scouting is important to find ducks. You absolutely must go to where the ducks want to be. I scout as a safety precaution. Finding stumps in the daylight with your eyeballs is a lot better than finding them with your prop in the predawn darkness.
Get an early start. the public boat ramps in eastern NC are a total circus, complete with clowns and donkeys. If you want to beat the crowds and have an enjoyable experience at the boat ramp, try to be there early. You'll also have the best chance of getting to "your" spot. Always drive cautiously and ensure your boat's running lights are operable and that lifejackets are donned. Fire extinguishers, air horns, whistles, and flares are also great in the event of an emergency. I even take a change of clothes for the inevitable spill I'll take.
Make sure your decoys are nice and clean and well-rigged. Many a duck has flared or spooked by the dirt dobber nest that is firmly entrenched on the neck of it's plastic Judas. Decoy lines that are too short will leave you a decoy short in the end. Watching your decoys float away is tough...especially when the birds are decoying to the ill-anchored decoy that is adrift well outside of shooting range.
Duck calling is something that everyone believes they can do and do well. For those that know me and know where I like to set-up, my news to you is: Your calling is terrible. You need to practice in the privacy of your own yard, and not while in your blind. It hurts the ears of your dog, for crying out loud. Call calm on calm days, and call with authority on powerful, churlish days.
Cooking ducks is just as good as hunting them. I like to pick my ducks...that's where the good, flavorful fat is. I like to smoke or grill mine, but some people prefer to deep fry them to a golden boot leather texture. Game is safest when cooked to well-doneness, but I generally like mine medium rare and chewable.
Licenses and stamps are required by law. Make sure you have them all. Mr. Green Jeans will be out to check on you. There is no excuse for pursuing any wild game without purchasing a license. License fees go to management and protection of game species, so you'd actually be doing yourself a favor in the long run. And federal waterfowl stamps are true works of art and are highly valued to collectors.
Take a child hunting. Make sure they have had their hunter safety class before you allow them to carry a firearm. Even if they can't carry a gun, the fellowship in the marsh is second to few others. Give them a whistle and let them toot away. Lots of duck species merely whistle, and it is hard to mess up a whistling routine. Let them have a "part" in the hunt. Also, take a long plenty of snacks for kids...they always get hungry. And when they are cold, it's time to leave. Don't make it miserable for them!
Enjoy the day...
Waterfowl season is around the corner, the corner being Saturday. I look forward to it almost as much as the first day of summer camp. Both can bring surprises, but they both bring lots of fun. I spend nine months of the year thinking about both, and three months of the year living through both. Both leave any true devotee extraordinarily exhausted in it's respective aftermath. As late as the nights are in operating a summer camp, the waterfowl season can bring just as early mornings. But, being able to meet the sun on it's way out of it's wintry bed over the Atlantic is a genuine blessing, just as seeing it set over the Albemarle in the summer. Without getting to mushy, all waterfowlers are required to mention the following things to those who are considered novices to the sport. I am lucky and see lots of waterfowl. But still, I am no expert, however, consider the following tips as published by "experts":
Scouting is important to find ducks. You absolutely must go to where the ducks want to be. I scout as a safety precaution. Finding stumps in the daylight with your eyeballs is a lot better than finding them with your prop in the predawn darkness.
Get an early start. the public boat ramps in eastern NC are a total circus, complete with clowns and donkeys. If you want to beat the crowds and have an enjoyable experience at the boat ramp, try to be there early. You'll also have the best chance of getting to "your" spot. Always drive cautiously and ensure your boat's running lights are operable and that lifejackets are donned. Fire extinguishers, air horns, whistles, and flares are also great in the event of an emergency. I even take a change of clothes for the inevitable spill I'll take.
Make sure your decoys are nice and clean and well-rigged. Many a duck has flared or spooked by the dirt dobber nest that is firmly entrenched on the neck of it's plastic Judas. Decoy lines that are too short will leave you a decoy short in the end. Watching your decoys float away is tough...especially when the birds are decoying to the ill-anchored decoy that is adrift well outside of shooting range.
Duck calling is something that everyone believes they can do and do well. For those that know me and know where I like to set-up, my news to you is: Your calling is terrible. You need to practice in the privacy of your own yard, and not while in your blind. It hurts the ears of your dog, for crying out loud. Call calm on calm days, and call with authority on powerful, churlish days.
Cooking ducks is just as good as hunting them. I like to pick my ducks...that's where the good, flavorful fat is. I like to smoke or grill mine, but some people prefer to deep fry them to a golden boot leather texture. Game is safest when cooked to well-doneness, but I generally like mine medium rare and chewable.
Licenses and stamps are required by law. Make sure you have them all. Mr. Green Jeans will be out to check on you. There is no excuse for pursuing any wild game without purchasing a license. License fees go to management and protection of game species, so you'd actually be doing yourself a favor in the long run. And federal waterfowl stamps are true works of art and are highly valued to collectors.
Take a child hunting. Make sure they have had their hunter safety class before you allow them to carry a firearm. Even if they can't carry a gun, the fellowship in the marsh is second to few others. Give them a whistle and let them toot away. Lots of duck species merely whistle, and it is hard to mess up a whistling routine. Let them have a "part" in the hunt. Also, take a long plenty of snacks for kids...they always get hungry. And when they are cold, it's time to leave. Don't make it miserable for them!
Enjoy the day...
November 3, 2011
Talkin' Guide
I have had enough. Enough of the piedmonters and hilltoppers and mountain toppers comin' east and pronoucing everything how they please. It's hard to get rougher than it does in the summer when so many out-of-staters come through on their way to the Banks. But the machismo of those fro Jersey is outmatched by the manly-men of the mid-state and their macho fishing and hunting schemes. Sure the bounty of the fish and game here is impressive...but it we pronounced Raleigh with the recklessness that they all pronounced Tyrrell, there'd be a referendum for sure. If you are from west of I-95, you should practice. One of the most daunting questions ever asked of me in my early days as an immigrant to the Outer Banks was "You ain't from 'round here, are ye?" My response was always "Nawsuh, I'm from Alabammer"...which, it turns out, gets a little more respect than if I had been from Raleigh - or worse Charlotte. I have no idea why...
Nevertheless, I have included a list of words and common places, along with a pronunciation guide that should help all of those living 100 feet above sea level to fit in when ordering at a restaurant, seeking directions, or asking about the nearest Wal-Mart. It's all in the brogue...
Common Places that are generally mis-pronounced:
Perquimans: Say "Purr-kwe-minz"
Tyrrell: Say "Turl"
Pasquotank: Say "PASS-kwo-tank"
Washington: Say "Little Washington"
Beaufort: Say "Bo-fert"
Chowan: Say "CHO-won"
Edenton: Say "EE-din-ten"
Martin: Say "MAH-ten"
Plymouth: Say "Pluh-muff"
County: Say "Cayn-tee"
Common words to practice:
Fish should be pronounced "Feesh"
Water should be pronounced "Wuh-der"
Dinner should be pronounced "Din-nuh"
Tide is pronounced "Toid"...and all long "I" sounds have a deep "oi" sound...
The following names are actual places or towns, not jokes, so don't seem uncertain when asking directions to:
Gull Rock, Nebraska, Frying Pan, Mashoes, Gum Neck, Swan Quarter, Chocowinity, Rocky Hock, Barco, Last Chance, Lowland, Germantown, Hobucken, Old Trap, and of course, Mattamuskeet.
On your way east, it might be helpful to get some mosquito repellant. Tick repellent is a good idea, too, as most of the mosquitoes are so big that when they land on you, a tick crawls off of the mosquito and on to your skin. Consider stopping by a Wal-Mart on your way, too. Once you're in the heart of the Inner Banks, starting at Plymouth, you're at least 30 minutes from a Wal-Mart, unless you live in Elizabeth City, Williamston, Washington, or Kitty Hawk. But the local gas stations generally carry the essentials such as bread, milk, batteries, and mosquito and tick repellent.
Wildlife to watch for when commuting - Red Wolves are easily identifiable by their beautiful satellite neck collar. Black bears are tough to spot at night, mainly because they are as dark as the night. Many a bear and compact auto have met it's maker by being in the road simultaneously. Also, alligators don't normally cross the roads, unless a good blow out of the north empties the creeks into the roads. October is the opossum mating season, so expect to see them cruising the center line looking for other opossums cruising the center line. And youll certainly see deer. Otters, nutria, skunkapes, and the occasional black cougar will also jaywalk in any remote corner of this state. Oh, and hunting dogs are also prevalent through December.
Be prepared for the wind, too. Once it starts blowing in October, it won't blow for long. Starting at sun-up, you can expect the wind to die down around mid-June. If you're driving on HWY 12 along the Outer Banks, the saltspray and sand can punish your face and car. The highway can even have mini-dunes, so be careful. If you decide to go for a swamp hike, leave the breadcrumbs at home...it's like ringing a dinner bell. Instead, tie a rope around your waist and connect it to your car, before hiking into the wilderness. And watch for snakes...they generally begin hibernating around Christmas before majestically re-emerging on New Year's Day.
A few more things: A boat ramp is called a "boat slide", crab trap is called a "crab pot", and the ocean, is always on the right...
Enjoy the day...
Nevertheless, I have included a list of words and common places, along with a pronunciation guide that should help all of those living 100 feet above sea level to fit in when ordering at a restaurant, seeking directions, or asking about the nearest Wal-Mart. It's all in the brogue...
Common Places that are generally mis-pronounced:
Perquimans: Say "Purr-kwe-minz"
Tyrrell: Say "Turl"
Pasquotank: Say "PASS-kwo-tank"
Washington: Say "Little Washington"
Beaufort: Say "Bo-fert"
Chowan: Say "CHO-won"
Edenton: Say "EE-din-ten"
Martin: Say "MAH-ten"
Plymouth: Say "Pluh-muff"
County: Say "Cayn-tee"
Common words to practice:
Fish should be pronounced "Feesh"
Water should be pronounced "Wuh-der"
Dinner should be pronounced "Din-nuh"
Tide is pronounced "Toid"...and all long "I" sounds have a deep "oi" sound...
The following names are actual places or towns, not jokes, so don't seem uncertain when asking directions to:
Gull Rock, Nebraska, Frying Pan, Mashoes, Gum Neck, Swan Quarter, Chocowinity, Rocky Hock, Barco, Last Chance, Lowland, Germantown, Hobucken, Old Trap, and of course, Mattamuskeet.
On your way east, it might be helpful to get some mosquito repellant. Tick repellent is a good idea, too, as most of the mosquitoes are so big that when they land on you, a tick crawls off of the mosquito and on to your skin. Consider stopping by a Wal-Mart on your way, too. Once you're in the heart of the Inner Banks, starting at Plymouth, you're at least 30 minutes from a Wal-Mart, unless you live in Elizabeth City, Williamston, Washington, or Kitty Hawk. But the local gas stations generally carry the essentials such as bread, milk, batteries, and mosquito and tick repellent.
Wildlife to watch for when commuting - Red Wolves are easily identifiable by their beautiful satellite neck collar. Black bears are tough to spot at night, mainly because they are as dark as the night. Many a bear and compact auto have met it's maker by being in the road simultaneously. Also, alligators don't normally cross the roads, unless a good blow out of the north empties the creeks into the roads. October is the opossum mating season, so expect to see them cruising the center line looking for other opossums cruising the center line. And youll certainly see deer. Otters, nutria, skunkapes, and the occasional black cougar will also jaywalk in any remote corner of this state. Oh, and hunting dogs are also prevalent through December.
Be prepared for the wind, too. Once it starts blowing in October, it won't blow for long. Starting at sun-up, you can expect the wind to die down around mid-June. If you're driving on HWY 12 along the Outer Banks, the saltspray and sand can punish your face and car. The highway can even have mini-dunes, so be careful. If you decide to go for a swamp hike, leave the breadcrumbs at home...it's like ringing a dinner bell. Instead, tie a rope around your waist and connect it to your car, before hiking into the wilderness. And watch for snakes...they generally begin hibernating around Christmas before majestically re-emerging on New Year's Day.
A few more things: A boat ramp is called a "boat slide", crab trap is called a "crab pot", and the ocean, is always on the right...
Enjoy the day...
November 2, 2011
A Special Day
November 2 is a very special day. Other than it being the second day of my favorite month, it is also National Deviled Egg Day. Oh my goodness what shall I do to commemorate this spectacular day...if only I knew how to make deviled eggs! Soon enough, it'll be Thanksgiving, and I surmise that I'll be able to pop as many into my mouth as I please, or at least until the platter goes empty.
First of all, November is a great month for several reasons...the weather finally begins to turn cool and become predictable. Also, as I mentioned earlier, Thanksgiving occurs near the end of the month, and I can eat like I do only twice per year. College football actually becomes relevant for all fans, too. College football, the only sport without a playoff to determine it's national champion, sorts itself out with rivalry games, conference championship games, and visits from bowl representatives...and that matters because all of the good bowl games happen on New Year's Eve or later. Oh, yeah, and waterfowl migration peaks at this time in North Carolina - the Tundra Swans make their first appearances, along with thousands of diving ducks such as bluebills, redheads, canvasback, and buffleheads. And then, of course, there's deviled egg day.
About the cool weather...I have always argued that you can control body temperature much better than in the hot summer months. When you're hot, you cna only take off so many layers before you get to spend a night in the local lockup. However, if it's cool or cold outside, just keep piling on the outerwear...and the only thing I do not like about the cold weather is the annoying frost on car windows...or an ice storm that puts travel on ice. What a clever sentence that was...
Thanksgiving is great because, well, you get to eat Turkey and Ham and Turducken, all in the same meal. Green beans, sweet potato casserole, and deviled eggs round out the savory portion of my plate(s) on Thanksgiving. There's also the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, this overrated and over-the-top performance is worth a look on television, if only for the nostalgia it brings me. Also, desserts can be tackled with as much reckless abandon as the other foods, too. Oh yeah, there's leftovers, too. The Iron Bowl - Auburn and Alabama's rivalry game, which is one of ESPN's Top 10 rivalries in all of sports, commences on the following Saturday. I haven't missed an in-person appearance since 1994, and only one total miss since 1990...all thanks to my dad. I've been able to witness the transition of an Alabama-dominated rivalry, to one owned for the most part by my beloved Auburn Tigers. Oh, did I mention leftovers...
And the waterfowl migration is completely noteworthy because I'll spend the first two hours of daylight for nearly 45 days, watching and aiming at the elusive birds from the north. Each day's sunrise is a minor miracle and I can easily tell my friends that "yes, the sun will rise again." It always does.
Anyway, back to deviled eggs...for the longest time, I had relegated the DE to a dish prepared by only the oldest of women for the oldest of men at the weekly covered dish luncheon at church. There was nary a time, though, when I bypassed the platter of DE's without at least lifting one for my very own. I always assumed that "deviled" was in reference to a possibly spicy filling applied to the eggs. Either way, deviled eggs - or picnic eggs - are hard boiled eggs, which are subsequently peeled, sliced in half lengthwise, after which the yolk is removed and then mixed with a variety of items including, but not limited to or necessarily including all of the following: Mayonnaise, mustard, cayenne pepper, relish, parsley. After the mixture is made, it's scooped up and returned into the egg "cups", which were created by slicing the eggs lengthwise and removing the original yolk. Still, with all the work that is put into them, I can down one wholly. They are a truly southern hors d'oeuvre...
Enjoy the day...
First of all, November is a great month for several reasons...the weather finally begins to turn cool and become predictable. Also, as I mentioned earlier, Thanksgiving occurs near the end of the month, and I can eat like I do only twice per year. College football actually becomes relevant for all fans, too. College football, the only sport without a playoff to determine it's national champion, sorts itself out with rivalry games, conference championship games, and visits from bowl representatives...and that matters because all of the good bowl games happen on New Year's Eve or later. Oh, yeah, and waterfowl migration peaks at this time in North Carolina - the Tundra Swans make their first appearances, along with thousands of diving ducks such as bluebills, redheads, canvasback, and buffleheads. And then, of course, there's deviled egg day.
About the cool weather...I have always argued that you can control body temperature much better than in the hot summer months. When you're hot, you cna only take off so many layers before you get to spend a night in the local lockup. However, if it's cool or cold outside, just keep piling on the outerwear...and the only thing I do not like about the cold weather is the annoying frost on car windows...or an ice storm that puts travel on ice. What a clever sentence that was...
Thanksgiving is great because, well, you get to eat Turkey and Ham and Turducken, all in the same meal. Green beans, sweet potato casserole, and deviled eggs round out the savory portion of my plate(s) on Thanksgiving. There's also the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, this overrated and over-the-top performance is worth a look on television, if only for the nostalgia it brings me. Also, desserts can be tackled with as much reckless abandon as the other foods, too. Oh yeah, there's leftovers, too. The Iron Bowl - Auburn and Alabama's rivalry game, which is one of ESPN's Top 10 rivalries in all of sports, commences on the following Saturday. I haven't missed an in-person appearance since 1994, and only one total miss since 1990...all thanks to my dad. I've been able to witness the transition of an Alabama-dominated rivalry, to one owned for the most part by my beloved Auburn Tigers. Oh, did I mention leftovers...
And the waterfowl migration is completely noteworthy because I'll spend the first two hours of daylight for nearly 45 days, watching and aiming at the elusive birds from the north. Each day's sunrise is a minor miracle and I can easily tell my friends that "yes, the sun will rise again." It always does.
Anyway, back to deviled eggs...for the longest time, I had relegated the DE to a dish prepared by only the oldest of women for the oldest of men at the weekly covered dish luncheon at church. There was nary a time, though, when I bypassed the platter of DE's without at least lifting one for my very own. I always assumed that "deviled" was in reference to a possibly spicy filling applied to the eggs. Either way, deviled eggs - or picnic eggs - are hard boiled eggs, which are subsequently peeled, sliced in half lengthwise, after which the yolk is removed and then mixed with a variety of items including, but not limited to or necessarily including all of the following: Mayonnaise, mustard, cayenne pepper, relish, parsley. After the mixture is made, it's scooped up and returned into the egg "cups", which were created by slicing the eggs lengthwise and removing the original yolk. Still, with all the work that is put into them, I can down one wholly. They are a truly southern hors d'oeuvre...
Enjoy the day...
November 1, 2011
Tricked
Well, it happened. I got tricked by someone. On Halloween. The second ldest trick in the book directly below the "ol' toilet paper in the treetops" trick. This trick was the venerable, yet silly "ol' Vaseline on the Jeep driver's side door handle" trick. I nearly fell backwards this morning when the momentum I usually apply to open my vehicle's door produced no results. I hope nobody saw me or heard me. Wiping my hands, I used words such as "Dern" and "Heck" several times. And at no time, did producing these words at beyond acceptable decibel levels produce a clean pair of hands.
While Vaselining the door handle has some obvious benefits, it continues to rank low on the scales of greatness. TP in the trees is a trick that all in the neighborhood get to enjoy. The White Halloween, though can be dangerous. Some people have lit the TP on fire to rid the trees of the beautiful drapery. What happens next often ends up setting the tree itself on fire. My mom, embarrassingly enough, welcomed the rolling, as she saw it as a great way to avoid purchasing toilet paper, despite the coupons she had clipped. Instead of driving to the grocer, she could walk to the bottom of our driveway. I imagine that toilet paper was filled with dirt, leaf giblets, and insects, but she never mentioned it...
Vaselining a door handle is a discrete way of embarrassing your victim, all in his or her own privacy. No one, unless lurking in the bushes, will see the ensuing embarrassment though.
Still I got no candy on Halloween. What a disappointment. I never even saw the Purple Man. I did see a black cat in my pursuit of a festive Halloween. But no black bear...
I know who tricked me, though. Revenge is a dish best served cold. In the cold. The trickster will remain anonymous, but one hint should be revealed...it's name rhymes with Bee Cripture.
Enjoy the day...
While Vaselining the door handle has some obvious benefits, it continues to rank low on the scales of greatness. TP in the trees is a trick that all in the neighborhood get to enjoy. The White Halloween, though can be dangerous. Some people have lit the TP on fire to rid the trees of the beautiful drapery. What happens next often ends up setting the tree itself on fire. My mom, embarrassingly enough, welcomed the rolling, as she saw it as a great way to avoid purchasing toilet paper, despite the coupons she had clipped. Instead of driving to the grocer, she could walk to the bottom of our driveway. I imagine that toilet paper was filled with dirt, leaf giblets, and insects, but she never mentioned it...
Vaselining a door handle is a discrete way of embarrassing your victim, all in his or her own privacy. No one, unless lurking in the bushes, will see the ensuing embarrassment though.
Still I got no candy on Halloween. What a disappointment. I never even saw the Purple Man. I did see a black cat in my pursuit of a festive Halloween. But no black bear...
I know who tricked me, though. Revenge is a dish best served cold. In the cold. The trickster will remain anonymous, but one hint should be revealed...it's name rhymes with Bee Cripture.
Enjoy the day...
October 31, 2011
Halloween and Community Fun Day
We just had a big weekend...here's the highlights:
Community Fun Day was Saturday and it featured:
A high temperature of 50 degrees with 25 mph winds....BRRRRR!
Despite that, a record crowd of over 300 people...
Approximately 100 of those were costumed...
The Climbing Wall was the most popular activity...
Followed by Bingo...
Then Archery...
And then, the hotdog lunch...
Which featured an attempt at Bill's Hotdog's white bean chili...
There was ice cream and cookies...
Other news from Saturday included:
First migrant waterfowl and shorebirds appear in the Albemarle...
Auburn whipped Ole Miss in football...
East Carolina beat Tulane at Homecoming...
UNC won their game...
And NC State got trounced by Florida State University.
Sunday highlights included:
High Ropes with Edenton Baptist...
Lee Scripture painted his pintail decoy...
Today is Halloween, if you dress as a normal person you can tell people you are dressed as:
An alien from Earth...
A bourgeoisie member...
A Lands' End model...
An onlooker...
Halloween Tips:
Go with your children when they Trick or Treat!
Only accept factory wrapped candy...
Inspect your child's candy, and save some for yourself...
Make all family members brush their teeth two times...
Take a flashlight with you when you Trick or Treat...
Do not look for Tricks...treats only...
Wear plenty of clothes, and layer if possible...it will be cool tonight...
Only visit houses of those you know...
Avoid dressing children in costumes made of plastic that could cause breathing problems...
Ensure that face paints are non-allergenic...
Drive slowly in neighborhoods and watch carefully for other Trick or Treaters...
Ration your child's candy over the coming weeks...
Enjoy the day!
Community Fun Day was Saturday and it featured:
A high temperature of 50 degrees with 25 mph winds....BRRRRR!
Despite that, a record crowd of over 300 people...
Approximately 100 of those were costumed...
The Climbing Wall was the most popular activity...
Followed by Bingo...
Then Archery...
And then, the hotdog lunch...
Which featured an attempt at Bill's Hotdog's white bean chili...
There was ice cream and cookies...
Other news from Saturday included:
First migrant waterfowl and shorebirds appear in the Albemarle...
Auburn whipped Ole Miss in football...
East Carolina beat Tulane at Homecoming...
UNC won their game...
And NC State got trounced by Florida State University.
Sunday highlights included:
High Ropes with Edenton Baptist...
Lee Scripture painted his pintail decoy...
Today is Halloween, if you dress as a normal person you can tell people you are dressed as:
An alien from Earth...
A bourgeoisie member...
A Lands' End model...
An onlooker...
Halloween Tips:
Go with your children when they Trick or Treat!
Only accept factory wrapped candy...
Inspect your child's candy, and save some for yourself...
Make all family members brush their teeth two times...
Take a flashlight with you when you Trick or Treat...
Do not look for Tricks...treats only...
Wear plenty of clothes, and layer if possible...it will be cool tonight...
Only visit houses of those you know...
Avoid dressing children in costumes made of plastic that could cause breathing problems...
Ensure that face paints are non-allergenic...
Drive slowly in neighborhoods and watch carefully for other Trick or Treaters...
Ration your child's candy over the coming weeks...
Enjoy the day!
October 26, 2011
Unconventional Cookery
Listen up people. Now. Since it gets dark earlier, I find myself at a loss for afternoon activities. Other than constantly painting and rigging decoys, there's not much fun to be had outside in the dark. Tossing the football with a flashlight is about as easy as quantum physics. Still, there are things to do indoors...like cooking. I love to cook. My mom taught me the ways of the kitchen when I was young. I remember making lots of things from scratch. Still, as great of a baker as my mother was, I was often troubled by the rigidity of the recipes and her unwillingness to try something a tad bit different. But I do understand that baking is more science. Cooking, though, is definitely an art. I have prepared some strange dishes for friends, family, and even foes. Bending conventional wisdom has allowed me to impress a lot of folks. Most would agree that I am a decent warmer or produce and meat.
If there are two things I do well, it's grill a hamburger or roast a chicken a la Joel Robuchon. I have all the eastern North Carolina basics mastered, including the sweet potato, collard greens, and peach cobbler. I can even prepare pork parts over flame or through conventional heating. What I have worked on the past several years were ways to "improve" these dishes. I have even created a few more... Either way, here are some I missed or mastered, and some I have recently tried and enjoyed...
Traditional Food: Pork Shoulder
Upgrades: I like to reduce a can of Cheerwine by 75 % and drizzle the pulled meat afterward, along with the traditional vinegar sauce. By the way, I never chop the meat...always PULL the meat!
Traditional Food: Sweet Potatoes
Upgrades: Other than the traditional add-ins such as brown sugar and marshmallows, I find it nice to add applesauce, a bit of molasses, and dried cranberries to the mixture.
Traditional Food: French Fries
Upgrades: I always pull the fries out of the fryer, drain them, then fry them again. They come out crisper. After retracting them from the fryer, they all get a little fresh sage and a bit of salt. Old Bay is awesome on fries, too, but I can't take credit for that.
Traditional Food: Store-bought Pancake Mix
Upgrades: Instead of water, I like to add Orange Juice to the mixture, especially if I'll be adding bananas or blueberries to the pancakes.
Traditional Food: Spaghetti
Upgrades: Most folks, I assume, boil their noodles in salted or plain water. Some do it up right with chicken broth. I like to boil green tea, and then add the noodles. I also do the same with rice. It adds flavor, without the extra sodium from chicken broth.
Traditional Food: Store Bought Dry Cake Mixture
Upgrades: Boxed cake mix is the most versatile dessert in the world. I don't make cake from scratch, because each new cake is an opportunity and adventure. If I'm making Orange Supreme, the cake gets mixed with OJ, and then, upon completion of baking, it gets Orange Jello poured over it and then allowed to set. Chocolate cakes mixes are always infused with coffee. I'll put anything into a cake. I have even put bacon and maple syrup icing on cupcakes, which is 1,000,000 times better than you can imagine.
There's a whole lot more...especially in the sweets portion of my repertoire. English Toffee with mint is great. Just last night I was alerted to the combination of popcorn and candy corn. It was incredible. I imagine that a little homemade caramel stirred into popcorn and candy corn would be supreme. I have to be right on that. I'm also working on a project that will see that ordinary bread pudding parts, such as stale bread, are replaced with Krispy Kreme donuts, bran muffins, and biscuits. That, too, would be stupendous. Or stupid.
Either way, the kitchen is a great way to be creative, as long as you have an unexpired fire extinguisher and a friend or two with an adventurous palette.
Enjoy the day...
If there are two things I do well, it's grill a hamburger or roast a chicken a la Joel Robuchon. I have all the eastern North Carolina basics mastered, including the sweet potato, collard greens, and peach cobbler. I can even prepare pork parts over flame or through conventional heating. What I have worked on the past several years were ways to "improve" these dishes. I have even created a few more... Either way, here are some I missed or mastered, and some I have recently tried and enjoyed...
Traditional Food: Pork Shoulder
Upgrades: I like to reduce a can of Cheerwine by 75 % and drizzle the pulled meat afterward, along with the traditional vinegar sauce. By the way, I never chop the meat...always PULL the meat!
Traditional Food: Sweet Potatoes
Upgrades: Other than the traditional add-ins such as brown sugar and marshmallows, I find it nice to add applesauce, a bit of molasses, and dried cranberries to the mixture.
Traditional Food: French Fries
Upgrades: I always pull the fries out of the fryer, drain them, then fry them again. They come out crisper. After retracting them from the fryer, they all get a little fresh sage and a bit of salt. Old Bay is awesome on fries, too, but I can't take credit for that.
Traditional Food: Store-bought Pancake Mix
Upgrades: Instead of water, I like to add Orange Juice to the mixture, especially if I'll be adding bananas or blueberries to the pancakes.
Traditional Food: Spaghetti
Upgrades: Most folks, I assume, boil their noodles in salted or plain water. Some do it up right with chicken broth. I like to boil green tea, and then add the noodles. I also do the same with rice. It adds flavor, without the extra sodium from chicken broth.
Traditional Food: Store Bought Dry Cake Mixture
Upgrades: Boxed cake mix is the most versatile dessert in the world. I don't make cake from scratch, because each new cake is an opportunity and adventure. If I'm making Orange Supreme, the cake gets mixed with OJ, and then, upon completion of baking, it gets Orange Jello poured over it and then allowed to set. Chocolate cakes mixes are always infused with coffee. I'll put anything into a cake. I have even put bacon and maple syrup icing on cupcakes, which is 1,000,000 times better than you can imagine.
There's a whole lot more...especially in the sweets portion of my repertoire. English Toffee with mint is great. Just last night I was alerted to the combination of popcorn and candy corn. It was incredible. I imagine that a little homemade caramel stirred into popcorn and candy corn would be supreme. I have to be right on that. I'm also working on a project that will see that ordinary bread pudding parts, such as stale bread, are replaced with Krispy Kreme donuts, bran muffins, and biscuits. That, too, would be stupendous. Or stupid.
Either way, the kitchen is a great way to be creative, as long as you have an unexpired fire extinguisher and a friend or two with an adventurous palette.
Enjoy the day...
October 24, 2011
The Ultimate Babysitter
Good Morning World. I hope your weekend was as fair as mine. Apart from my Auburn Tigers getting absolutely throttled by Louisiana State University and spending 4 hours staring at a boat ramp (not tom mention a long story about a sailboat), my weekend turned out OK. We had some great groups over the weekend, including NC-MSEN from Durham, who took part in our Team Challenge Course program and Rock Climbing program. The weather was better than perfect, too. Either way, I heard some interesting conversations this weekend while eavesdropping...apparently, many families are foregoing the use of the television.
Why in the world someone would decide not to employ the use of a television is beyond me. Studies and research prove that the tube can occupy up to 4 consecutive hours of a child's time. Sure, this time could be spent doing homework, but TV is educational on a couple of the 300 channels. The odds alone say there is a 1 chance in 150 that a child will find some great programming. Parents, too, can reap the benefits of the small screen. Tired of family dinners and conversation with your spouse or children? Watch TV and eat dinner, simultaneously. Table setting and clean-up will be another nuisance wiped away by the marvelous television. Experts recommend eating off of paper plates, to eliminate wasted water through dishwashing. All can sit in peace and quiet while Brian Williams or Two Broke Girls remind us of all that is good in the world.
Still, there are those who attempt to villaify the television. Apparently, it can hamper and hinder a child and it's family from participating in a little exercise. That fix is easy....tie a cinder block to the remote. That makes changing the channel a challenge, but only if the remote control is actually lifted with the block. Some say programming is not educational. Are you telling me "The Real World 354" is not good? It's about the REAL WORLD! No, "Dancing With the Stars" is not a show about astronomy, but one could learn the tango and foxtrot!
The Television is the ultimate babysitter. It can entertain children, adults, and even pets, for hours and hours!
Nevertheless, I do watch a lot of television - but only after 9:00 pm and before 7:00 am. I love to catch the news...college football is another great way to relax on Saturdays. I also tivo a lot of items to watch later in the night as I wind down. And yes, many families are reaping the benefits from a reduction or restriction on television viewing. Families are re-introducing themselves to each other at the dinner table. Growing up, supper was the highlight of the day. Sometimes, we'd spend an hour at the table laughing and talking. Or figuring out a way to hide the squash on my dinner plate. Still, the supper table is where I learned about life. I probably didn't learn much, but it's more than I learned from the "Real World".
Anyway, to make a compelling argument for both sides, I have included my Top 10 Television shows of all time:
1) Saved by the Bell - Seems like just a few years ago when this scrubbed-clean teen show told me not to do drugs, drink and drive, or sell my parents home. They don't make 'em like this any more.
2) MacGuyver - There is no cooler show and you know it. Richard Dean Anderson could get out of any house, hole, or hideout with a spoon, breadtie, and saliva.
3) The Real World - Yep, I realize I criticized it above, but it is a classic. It's pure trash, but it has helped to shape what is acceptable. It's probably the Number 1 reason that folks my age are as tolerant as they are. It's had over 600 shows, and it's filmed from houses all over the world - something's working. I just wish it was like the early days, when the "house" had a real job and real problems.
4) One Tree Hill - My newest favorite. Set in North Carolina, it's basically a fantasy land where bad things happen to good people all the time. It's set for it's final season this spring.
5) Full House - Michelle Tanner did for child actors what Hoover did for the vacuum. 'Nuff said.
6) Scooby Doo, Where Are You - I'm very serious about this one. Originally airing on CBS in the early 70's, this gem is found on the cartoon network. Otherworldy ghosts were always discovered to be a character who was introduced earlier in the episode, and nobody - NOBODY - could ever guess who it was. The later stuff with Scooby Dum and Scrappy Doo just didn't hit the mark for me...
7) The original Iron Chef - It gets no better than translation that runs a full 3 seconds behind the actual conversation. Nevertheless, Iron Chefs, like Mosaharu Morimoto turned secret ingredients like Squid Ink in to ice cream in under an hour. Perfection.
8) Road Rules - Almost as good as The Real World, the traveling in this show was probably what lured me into a love for geography. And the dynamics of strangers living in an RV was always interesting. After Road Rules "Semester at Sea", the show became boring. I never, ever saw an episode from Real World "Northwest"...
9) Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears - Most memorable for it's theme-song, these guys bounced here and there from Gummi Glen to Drekmore where the awful Ogres could be found. I always wanted Gummiberri Juice, but to no avail. Cartoon classic here...
10) Marty Stouffer's Wild America - Sure, it lost some of it's intrigue when Marty was accused of illegally pursuing many of the animals he filmed. It's also alleged that he staged many of the animal scenes - mostly just by possessing the animals and releasing them on unsuspecting prey. Nevertheless, the chase scenes were incredible to watch. And, frankly, I'd rather learn about America's animals than those in Africa.
Enjoy the day...
Why in the world someone would decide not to employ the use of a television is beyond me. Studies and research prove that the tube can occupy up to 4 consecutive hours of a child's time. Sure, this time could be spent doing homework, but TV is educational on a couple of the 300 channels. The odds alone say there is a 1 chance in 150 that a child will find some great programming. Parents, too, can reap the benefits of the small screen. Tired of family dinners and conversation with your spouse or children? Watch TV and eat dinner, simultaneously. Table setting and clean-up will be another nuisance wiped away by the marvelous television. Experts recommend eating off of paper plates, to eliminate wasted water through dishwashing. All can sit in peace and quiet while Brian Williams or Two Broke Girls remind us of all that is good in the world.
Still, there are those who attempt to villaify the television. Apparently, it can hamper and hinder a child and it's family from participating in a little exercise. That fix is easy....tie a cinder block to the remote. That makes changing the channel a challenge, but only if the remote control is actually lifted with the block. Some say programming is not educational. Are you telling me "The Real World 354" is not good? It's about the REAL WORLD! No, "Dancing With the Stars" is not a show about astronomy, but one could learn the tango and foxtrot!
The Television is the ultimate babysitter. It can entertain children, adults, and even pets, for hours and hours!
Nevertheless, I do watch a lot of television - but only after 9:00 pm and before 7:00 am. I love to catch the news...college football is another great way to relax on Saturdays. I also tivo a lot of items to watch later in the night as I wind down. And yes, many families are reaping the benefits from a reduction or restriction on television viewing. Families are re-introducing themselves to each other at the dinner table. Growing up, supper was the highlight of the day. Sometimes, we'd spend an hour at the table laughing and talking. Or figuring out a way to hide the squash on my dinner plate. Still, the supper table is where I learned about life. I probably didn't learn much, but it's more than I learned from the "Real World".
Anyway, to make a compelling argument for both sides, I have included my Top 10 Television shows of all time:
1) Saved by the Bell - Seems like just a few years ago when this scrubbed-clean teen show told me not to do drugs, drink and drive, or sell my parents home. They don't make 'em like this any more.
2) MacGuyver - There is no cooler show and you know it. Richard Dean Anderson could get out of any house, hole, or hideout with a spoon, breadtie, and saliva.
3) The Real World - Yep, I realize I criticized it above, but it is a classic. It's pure trash, but it has helped to shape what is acceptable. It's probably the Number 1 reason that folks my age are as tolerant as they are. It's had over 600 shows, and it's filmed from houses all over the world - something's working. I just wish it was like the early days, when the "house" had a real job and real problems.
4) One Tree Hill - My newest favorite. Set in North Carolina, it's basically a fantasy land where bad things happen to good people all the time. It's set for it's final season this spring.
5) Full House - Michelle Tanner did for child actors what Hoover did for the vacuum. 'Nuff said.
6) Scooby Doo, Where Are You - I'm very serious about this one. Originally airing on CBS in the early 70's, this gem is found on the cartoon network. Otherworldy ghosts were always discovered to be a character who was introduced earlier in the episode, and nobody - NOBODY - could ever guess who it was. The later stuff with Scooby Dum and Scrappy Doo just didn't hit the mark for me...
7) The original Iron Chef - It gets no better than translation that runs a full 3 seconds behind the actual conversation. Nevertheless, Iron Chefs, like Mosaharu Morimoto turned secret ingredients like Squid Ink in to ice cream in under an hour. Perfection.
8) Road Rules - Almost as good as The Real World, the traveling in this show was probably what lured me into a love for geography. And the dynamics of strangers living in an RV was always interesting. After Road Rules "Semester at Sea", the show became boring. I never, ever saw an episode from Real World "Northwest"...
9) Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears - Most memorable for it's theme-song, these guys bounced here and there from Gummi Glen to Drekmore where the awful Ogres could be found. I always wanted Gummiberri Juice, but to no avail. Cartoon classic here...
10) Marty Stouffer's Wild America - Sure, it lost some of it's intrigue when Marty was accused of illegally pursuing many of the animals he filmed. It's also alleged that he staged many of the animal scenes - mostly just by possessing the animals and releasing them on unsuspecting prey. Nevertheless, the chase scenes were incredible to watch. And, frankly, I'd rather learn about America's animals than those in Africa.
Enjoy the day...
October 17, 2011
Car vs. Deer
This past weekend saw the Emmaus Women's Walk #94 come and go, UNC get beat by Miami, the North Carolina Eastern Zone Gun Deer season opener, and Auburn, of course, winning in high style over Florida. Any win over the Gators, is a big deal! Nevertheless, the weather was an absolute dream over the weekend, which meant I got to pull out the smoker and heat some good ol' yard bird. The chickens were shared with my new neighbor, Lee, and his scallops were also practically perfect.
The Gun Deer Opener in the eastern part of the state familiarizes the ears with two sounds...baying and barking hounds and gun shots. Deer season in North Carolina generally runs from mid-September through January 1. The first month (mid-September through mid-October) is allotted for bowhunters, while the gun opener opens, as mentioned earlier, in mid-October. I grew up deer hunting in Alabama - there's little else to pursue down there - but have since relegated the sport to "things you do when you have nothing else to do and you want to fill your freezer with real-deal local food". However, I have plenty of friends to fill that void for me, so I can spend my weekends in early fall painting and rigging decoys, ironing my camouflage, and replacing spark plugs.
Back to deer hunting...dog hunting is very traditional in these "here-parts". Most places in America frown upon the dog-boxed truck...still it survives, if not thrives here. The primary argument against dog hunting falls on the inability of the pooches' abilities to read and understand property boundaries. Here in eastern North Carolina, where farms easily occupy a couple of thousand acres, the worries of a wayward pack are slim. In more populated areas around the sea breeze, though, hunting deer with dogs has taken on a negative connotation. I watched this same scenario transpire in Alabama. Not having a preference either way, it might be wise for hunters using dogs to wisely manage their pack. Keep them close and well-fed and all should be good. Don't clog up our rural by-ways in a creep or crawl pace tracking your dogs, either. Us eastern travelers need to get to the Food Lion, before she shuts down at sundown. Lots of misconceptions abound about owners and their dogs. First of all, these dogs are extremely well-cared for...most get great high protein diets and plenty of exercise. They also sport their own septic tanks within their kennels, too! Almost all hunting dogs make good family pets, too!
Nevertheless, as human and deer populations both grow larger, wise management of our deer heard is needed to prevent animal illness, population explosion and starvation, and the very worst - wildlife and vehicle collisions. This time of year, motorists should be especially weary...deer are in the middle of their "rut", or breeding season. Only this morning did I spot a nice buck standing in the middle of the road with his snout to the ground in hot pursuit of a doe. After slowing to a halt, the normally cautious buck appeared reckless and careless. I rolled down the window to converse with him through snorts...apparently I made him mad,as he turned toward my Jeep and acted as if he would attempt to back me down. Needless to say, I quit snorting and honked my horn. That's when his girlfriend appeared and he sauntered off. Bucks can be dangerous animals when attempting to find a receptive doe. Annually, it's estimated that over 100 vehicles are charged - not collided with - by angry bucks. Just as many hikers and gardeners are charged, too. Nevertheless, deer are crepuscular animals - which means they move most and sunrise and sunset. And the larger bucks are almost completely nocturnal...so if your headlights are on, use extreme caution in rural areas. Still, throughout the rut, bucks are so reckless, that they will move throughout the daylight hours...doing whatever it takes to find a receptive doe! The fall months are obviously when deer encounters rise. Always be careful when in a car...I, too, have struck a deer. I have come close several times, too. The complication of police reports, insurance claims, and body shop debacles are only minor compared to the reckless destruction of one North Carolina's greatest game animals and conservation success stories. And black bears...don't even get me started...
Enjoy the day...
The Gun Deer Opener in the eastern part of the state familiarizes the ears with two sounds...baying and barking hounds and gun shots. Deer season in North Carolina generally runs from mid-September through January 1. The first month (mid-September through mid-October) is allotted for bowhunters, while the gun opener opens, as mentioned earlier, in mid-October. I grew up deer hunting in Alabama - there's little else to pursue down there - but have since relegated the sport to "things you do when you have nothing else to do and you want to fill your freezer with real-deal local food". However, I have plenty of friends to fill that void for me, so I can spend my weekends in early fall painting and rigging decoys, ironing my camouflage, and replacing spark plugs.
Back to deer hunting...dog hunting is very traditional in these "here-parts". Most places in America frown upon the dog-boxed truck...still it survives, if not thrives here. The primary argument against dog hunting falls on the inability of the pooches' abilities to read and understand property boundaries. Here in eastern North Carolina, where farms easily occupy a couple of thousand acres, the worries of a wayward pack are slim. In more populated areas around the sea breeze, though, hunting deer with dogs has taken on a negative connotation. I watched this same scenario transpire in Alabama. Not having a preference either way, it might be wise for hunters using dogs to wisely manage their pack. Keep them close and well-fed and all should be good. Don't clog up our rural by-ways in a creep or crawl pace tracking your dogs, either. Us eastern travelers need to get to the Food Lion, before she shuts down at sundown. Lots of misconceptions abound about owners and their dogs. First of all, these dogs are extremely well-cared for...most get great high protein diets and plenty of exercise. They also sport their own septic tanks within their kennels, too! Almost all hunting dogs make good family pets, too!
Nevertheless, as human and deer populations both grow larger, wise management of our deer heard is needed to prevent animal illness, population explosion and starvation, and the very worst - wildlife and vehicle collisions. This time of year, motorists should be especially weary...deer are in the middle of their "rut", or breeding season. Only this morning did I spot a nice buck standing in the middle of the road with his snout to the ground in hot pursuit of a doe. After slowing to a halt, the normally cautious buck appeared reckless and careless. I rolled down the window to converse with him through snorts...apparently I made him mad,as he turned toward my Jeep and acted as if he would attempt to back me down. Needless to say, I quit snorting and honked my horn. That's when his girlfriend appeared and he sauntered off. Bucks can be dangerous animals when attempting to find a receptive doe. Annually, it's estimated that over 100 vehicles are charged - not collided with - by angry bucks. Just as many hikers and gardeners are charged, too. Nevertheless, deer are crepuscular animals - which means they move most and sunrise and sunset. And the larger bucks are almost completely nocturnal...so if your headlights are on, use extreme caution in rural areas. Still, throughout the rut, bucks are so reckless, that they will move throughout the daylight hours...doing whatever it takes to find a receptive doe! The fall months are obviously when deer encounters rise. Always be careful when in a car...I, too, have struck a deer. I have come close several times, too. The complication of police reports, insurance claims, and body shop debacles are only minor compared to the reckless destruction of one North Carolina's greatest game animals and conservation success stories. And black bears...don't even get me started...
Enjoy the day...
October 13, 2011
The Common Cold
I enjoy being sick about as much as you do. The common cold is the absolute worst. There is nothing common about the common cold, either. Every cold is different from one person to the next, and from each cold within one person. The common cold generally affects me for about 4 days. Day one is a sore throat, Day 2 is a day where symptoms seemingly disappear, Day 3 is when I am shushed out of the office from sniffling, snorting, & sneezing, Day 4 is the drying out day, and Day 5 - generally - is the day that all is well again. So, how do I handle my cold? As if you'd like to know...
Step 1 (months and weeks leading up to the cold): People say that the only thing in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes...I would argue that the common cold should be added to the application for those accepting to live on Earth. We all know that the cold is coming, so how do we get ready for it? I like to always keep the cold in the back of my mind...expecting it. Exercising often really works, especially if it's cardio type stuff. I like to keep my energy balanced (think input {food and calories} + output {exercise and calories burned}). that way I don't have enough energy to fuel a cold, but my body isn't weak enough to welcome one right it. Also, I like to eat lots of fiber and protein. Beans and fruits have vitamin C, which many suggest combat the cold.
Step 2 (The sore throat begins): Sometimes, an oral analgesic can help to soothe or flat out eliminate the cold. Always read the directions on medication, though! I like to get the grape flavored and spray down my neck as directed. Generally, it is useless at anything other than eliminating the annoying scratchy throat for about 30 seconds. For my body, I get the best results by eating whatever I want beginning with the onset of the sore throat. I'll continue this trend until the cold passes. Also - hot coffee early in the morning and nice hot showers are also conventional fixes for MY cold.
Step 3 (The calm before the storm): I know it's coming. I continue to eat and drink hot "dranks". Also, I'll try and steer clear of salty items, since they tend to dehydrate me.
Step 4 (Disgusting symptoms): It's here and there's nothing I can do. I try to get plenty of sleep without taking any medication. Medication is for when it gets really bad. A runny nose and a 2 hourly cough are not bad. I try to eat foods that taste bad, since I really can't taste anything at all. Canned tuna is something I eat daily. I hate it sooo much. Nevertheless, I get to "enjoy" it with a cold. I'll also drink about 2 gallons of water throughout the day, along with lots of yogurt and fruit. At the end of the day, I go to sleep early and try to sleep later the next day. I still try to get plenty of exercise throughout the day, too. And chewing lots of gum also keeps the nose clear, too!
Step 5 (Getting Better): After a good night's rest, generally I can wake up fairly symptom free. I might sneeze a bit or have a light cough, but I'm relatively unstuffed. Traditionally, I'll pull a muscle in my neck when I reach around to pat myself on the back for getting over the cold so rapidly. Other than that, I can return to hating tuna.
Step 6 (Getting ready for the next cold): See Step 1.
Tomorrow should be a clearing up day. A lot of it depends on the weather, though. Dry days allow you to get well quicker. It's supposed to dry out around here on Saturday. Still, the tropical conditions that were supposed to persist have for the most part, stayed away from our soundfront locale. We have had less than a .10 of an inch of rain, while neighbors as close as 30 miles away might have received 1.5 inches. But that's Momma Nature for you...
Enjoy the day...
Step 1 (months and weeks leading up to the cold): People say that the only thing in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes...I would argue that the common cold should be added to the application for those accepting to live on Earth. We all know that the cold is coming, so how do we get ready for it? I like to always keep the cold in the back of my mind...expecting it. Exercising often really works, especially if it's cardio type stuff. I like to keep my energy balanced (think input {food and calories} + output {exercise and calories burned}). that way I don't have enough energy to fuel a cold, but my body isn't weak enough to welcome one right it. Also, I like to eat lots of fiber and protein. Beans and fruits have vitamin C, which many suggest combat the cold.
Step 2 (The sore throat begins): Sometimes, an oral analgesic can help to soothe or flat out eliminate the cold. Always read the directions on medication, though! I like to get the grape flavored and spray down my neck as directed. Generally, it is useless at anything other than eliminating the annoying scratchy throat for about 30 seconds. For my body, I get the best results by eating whatever I want beginning with the onset of the sore throat. I'll continue this trend until the cold passes. Also - hot coffee early in the morning and nice hot showers are also conventional fixes for MY cold.
Step 3 (The calm before the storm): I know it's coming. I continue to eat and drink hot "dranks". Also, I'll try and steer clear of salty items, since they tend to dehydrate me.
Step 4 (Disgusting symptoms): It's here and there's nothing I can do. I try to get plenty of sleep without taking any medication. Medication is for when it gets really bad. A runny nose and a 2 hourly cough are not bad. I try to eat foods that taste bad, since I really can't taste anything at all. Canned tuna is something I eat daily. I hate it sooo much. Nevertheless, I get to "enjoy" it with a cold. I'll also drink about 2 gallons of water throughout the day, along with lots of yogurt and fruit. At the end of the day, I go to sleep early and try to sleep later the next day. I still try to get plenty of exercise throughout the day, too. And chewing lots of gum also keeps the nose clear, too!
Step 5 (Getting Better): After a good night's rest, generally I can wake up fairly symptom free. I might sneeze a bit or have a light cough, but I'm relatively unstuffed. Traditionally, I'll pull a muscle in my neck when I reach around to pat myself on the back for getting over the cold so rapidly. Other than that, I can return to hating tuna.
Step 6 (Getting ready for the next cold): See Step 1.
Tomorrow should be a clearing up day. A lot of it depends on the weather, though. Dry days allow you to get well quicker. It's supposed to dry out around here on Saturday. Still, the tropical conditions that were supposed to persist have for the most part, stayed away from our soundfront locale. We have had less than a .10 of an inch of rain, while neighbors as close as 30 miles away might have received 1.5 inches. But that's Momma Nature for you...
Enjoy the day...
October 11, 2011
Golf Strategies
Good day all. Today, the Carolina's will be splattered with additional rain, which we don't need. Why couldn't it rain this summer when all the row croppers needed it? Instead, it rains now, when they need to get the implements in the field. Mother Nature - Thanks but no thanks.
Nevertheless, Lee and I will take place in a charity golf event today. Lee is easily the luckiest golfer in the world. And he continues to get better. I, on the other hand, am totally average. Today, the rain will probably even out the field, which would be to our advantage. As I depart today, I fully expect to win the tournament, but our team has a "ringer" which should amplify our chances. Personally, I am a fair golfer, compared to the rest of the world, but only 1% of the worlds population have ever picked up a 9 iron. Still, that places me in the top 1% of the globe's golfers...a position of which I am proud to hold. The keys to my success are trying to keep my head down, and making sure I'm not too close to golf ball after I have hit it. If I had a strength, I would say it would be my short iron game, but playing within 100 yards was something I did at my parent's house while growing up...I only hit one car, of which I apologized for, and only struck the house 7-8 times, which had gone undetected until the moment my parents read this blog.
Despite playing from the yard, I also spent a lot of time golfing with my dad. For years and years he watched me hit a few good shots, then come completely unglued after a bad shot. Tossing clubs was tacky, and he told me that each time I went to pick one up. Crying, also, was not good. In the past 7 or 8 years I have played so sparingly, that I have learned to enjoy the game, and it has also allowed me to shoot lower scores, regularly breaking 90 on public courses...and never breaking down.
So how do you know when you see a good golfer? I have seen some really good ones and some really bad ones, so here's how I know...and you can spot them, too.
If a golfer has a 1 iron in their bag, you can assume that it has never been used. There's a saying in golf that even "God can't hit a 1 iron." I wouldn't know about any deity's golf game, but if I did encounter them, I'd let them play through. Nevertheless, a good golfer would not have a club in the bag that they could not hit.
How many golf balls does your compadre store in his or her bag? If the answer is more than 10, odds are that after each round, they'll be down to one before the 18th green is putted out. To me, a successful round of golf is measured by a score below 90, and by using only 1 golf ball. That means the golfer stayed in bounds and out of the water...and it's tough to do.
Does your golfing friend have a dirty golf bag? If they are good golfer's then they do...golf bags get dirty from walking courses and laying the bag down...often.
Are there two putter's in your partner's bag? Bad golfer's keep two putters available. Good golfer's keep all of their extra putters at home in an effort to hide their insecurities about putting. All golfers hate putting.
And finally, does your playing pal have one of those gimmicky bristle-top tees? If they do and you don't, you should be playing against them for high stakes sandwiches and pennies. The same goes for those exceptionally long wooden tees, too. They neither traditional, nor serious.
There you go...use those identifiers to differentiate between the gospel golfers and the goofy golfers.
Enjoy the day...
Nevertheless, Lee and I will take place in a charity golf event today. Lee is easily the luckiest golfer in the world. And he continues to get better. I, on the other hand, am totally average. Today, the rain will probably even out the field, which would be to our advantage. As I depart today, I fully expect to win the tournament, but our team has a "ringer" which should amplify our chances. Personally, I am a fair golfer, compared to the rest of the world, but only 1% of the worlds population have ever picked up a 9 iron. Still, that places me in the top 1% of the globe's golfers...a position of which I am proud to hold. The keys to my success are trying to keep my head down, and making sure I'm not too close to golf ball after I have hit it. If I had a strength, I would say it would be my short iron game, but playing within 100 yards was something I did at my parent's house while growing up...I only hit one car, of which I apologized for, and only struck the house 7-8 times, which had gone undetected until the moment my parents read this blog.
Despite playing from the yard, I also spent a lot of time golfing with my dad. For years and years he watched me hit a few good shots, then come completely unglued after a bad shot. Tossing clubs was tacky, and he told me that each time I went to pick one up. Crying, also, was not good. In the past 7 or 8 years I have played so sparingly, that I have learned to enjoy the game, and it has also allowed me to shoot lower scores, regularly breaking 90 on public courses...and never breaking down.
So how do you know when you see a good golfer? I have seen some really good ones and some really bad ones, so here's how I know...and you can spot them, too.
If a golfer has a 1 iron in their bag, you can assume that it has never been used. There's a saying in golf that even "God can't hit a 1 iron." I wouldn't know about any deity's golf game, but if I did encounter them, I'd let them play through. Nevertheless, a good golfer would not have a club in the bag that they could not hit.
How many golf balls does your compadre store in his or her bag? If the answer is more than 10, odds are that after each round, they'll be down to one before the 18th green is putted out. To me, a successful round of golf is measured by a score below 90, and by using only 1 golf ball. That means the golfer stayed in bounds and out of the water...and it's tough to do.
Does your golfing friend have a dirty golf bag? If they are good golfer's then they do...golf bags get dirty from walking courses and laying the bag down...often.
Are there two putter's in your partner's bag? Bad golfer's keep two putters available. Good golfer's keep all of their extra putters at home in an effort to hide their insecurities about putting. All golfers hate putting.
And finally, does your playing pal have one of those gimmicky bristle-top tees? If they do and you don't, you should be playing against them for high stakes sandwiches and pennies. The same goes for those exceptionally long wooden tees, too. They neither traditional, nor serious.
There you go...use those identifiers to differentiate between the gospel golfers and the goofy golfers.
Enjoy the day...
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