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...
December 12, 2011
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...
October 10, 2011
Mr. and Ms. Sova
Well, the most recent weekend here in eastern North Carolina was a wedding wipeout. Weddings at virtually every place that would take a reservation were conducted. The Center itself, played host to one, too. However Chris Sova and his new bride were married Saturday in Belvidere, North Carolina at the Onley Place...and it was great. Everything from the buffet to the bride were beautiful, and even the groom looked better than normal! As a member of the wedding party, my time was spent posing for pictures, getting in line first for the food, and offering a toast to the new couple. I even had the responsibility of not losing the ring, which I held up admirably. Sara Biggs is now Sara Sova, and Chris Sova is now a pretty lucky dude.
What makes their union so special is that the two of them met while working as Camp counselors atthe Eastern 4-H Center. I was in the remarkable position of knowing each of them before they ever knew of each other, and well before Chris could properly pronounce Tyrrell County. Apparently, the wedding was coming almost too late for Chris who said that he could have married Sara many months ago. Even a Court House wedding would have suited him, but I'm glad he waited. Otherwise I would not have enjoyed what might have been the greatest rehearsal and reception meals of my illustrious groomsman career. Friday night Montero's of Elizabeth City pulled out the good chicken and beef loins and cooked them like I never could have. I ate the share of myself and my date. Saturday night's collards, eastern style barbecue, and fried chicken were phenomenal but fell well short of the most immaculate pie I have ever ate too many pieces of...Magnolia Pie. Lips were sealed on the recipe, but I'm certain I can track it down.
Nevertheless, the two of them were great counselors while here. They have an incredible gift with not only children, but all people. Too kind to care, Chris has always been a wonderful friend of mine, despite the silliness I can conjure on a waterfowl hunt. I wish them both the very best...
The upcoming week at the Center will be busy, especially next weekend with the Emmaus Walk. Our Community Fun Day is scheduled for October 29, and rumor has it that it will be the bggest and boldest yet. As more details emerge, I'll post them here...
Enjoy the day...
What makes their union so special is that the two of them met while working as Camp counselors atthe Eastern 4-H Center. I was in the remarkable position of knowing each of them before they ever knew of each other, and well before Chris could properly pronounce Tyrrell County. Apparently, the wedding was coming almost too late for Chris who said that he could have married Sara many months ago. Even a Court House wedding would have suited him, but I'm glad he waited. Otherwise I would not have enjoyed what might have been the greatest rehearsal and reception meals of my illustrious groomsman career. Friday night Montero's of Elizabeth City pulled out the good chicken and beef loins and cooked them like I never could have. I ate the share of myself and my date. Saturday night's collards, eastern style barbecue, and fried chicken were phenomenal but fell well short of the most immaculate pie I have ever ate too many pieces of...Magnolia Pie. Lips were sealed on the recipe, but I'm certain I can track it down.
Nevertheless, the two of them were great counselors while here. They have an incredible gift with not only children, but all people. Too kind to care, Chris has always been a wonderful friend of mine, despite the silliness I can conjure on a waterfowl hunt. I wish them both the very best...
The upcoming week at the Center will be busy, especially next weekend with the Emmaus Walk. Our Community Fun Day is scheduled for October 29, and rumor has it that it will be the bggest and boldest yet. As more details emerge, I'll post them here...
Enjoy the day...
October 3, 2011
The Cool Snap
Welcome to Fall. We, and it, have arrived. It's my favorite time of year - the mornings are nice and crisp and the days are comfortable. Even the wildlife enjoy this time of year. Torch-hot days mean that animals can actually walk around in the daylight hours, should they choose to do so. Reptiles and amphibians burrow into the warm, awful smelling mud, only to erupt around noon in search of drowsy insects. Birds, too, fly around looking for food, friends, and reclusive resting spots. People, however, create festivals.
If the fall foliage fails to suit you, if the phenomenal fishing falls behind yard-work, then you, my reader, are lost. Still, even you, the morbidly refuter, would enjoy the festivals that befall Fall. I'm not sure where the tradition started, but I like it. The North Carolina Seafood Festival, The Chowan County Fair, the North Carolina State Fair, the Collard Green Festival, and many, many more transpire virtually every weekend from late August right up to Christmas. The Scuppernong River Festival, Columbia's very own version of a festival, will have us all searching for parking, paddles, and popcorn come Saturday. The Eastern 4-H Center will be represented with canoe and kayak clinic in front of the Walter B. Jones Visitor Center. I think there's also a firework show, too. Still, the parade, complete with four-wheelers and motorcycles will strafe the downtown thoroughfare, passing out pre-packaged candy to the kids and to the adults who need to quit acting like kids. The weather should be impeccable for the entire occasion.
A small town parade though is something to behold. Absent are the cartoon character uber-floats. What you will find , though, is a linear display of Columbia's varsity athletic teams (cheer squads included), several tractors, a couple of fire trucks, a giant pirate ship on wheels, ATV's (which become street legal for parades, apparently), and a convertible or two bearing the local politicians and their smiles. And of course, 4-H will have a presence, too. Either way, I also grew up in the cradle of small town parades in Alabama's Rough Country. Our Rockford parade was slightly bigger, only because Rockford's Main Street was four lanes. But the participants were all identical. Blaring sirens, costumed walkers, high school bands, and tractors serenaded our locals in the same fashion. It sure beat the heck out of the New York City parade that appears on television every Thanksgiving Thursday...it was OUR parade.
Still, the cool weather creates a lot of mental confusion...since April, we have all dreamed of cool bed sheets. Last night, cool-turned-cold linens were not so great anymore. There's nothing more comforting than snuggling into the fetal position to warm the bed and body...but toes are an unwarmable object. Sleeping with socks does no better. I could have let the windows up, but that would have been heresy. Perfect weather like this only happens about 10 days a year...so I'll keep trying to enjoy it as warmly as I can...
Enjoy the day...
If the fall foliage fails to suit you, if the phenomenal fishing falls behind yard-work, then you, my reader, are lost. Still, even you, the morbidly refuter, would enjoy the festivals that befall Fall. I'm not sure where the tradition started, but I like it. The North Carolina Seafood Festival, The Chowan County Fair, the North Carolina State Fair, the Collard Green Festival, and many, many more transpire virtually every weekend from late August right up to Christmas. The Scuppernong River Festival, Columbia's very own version of a festival, will have us all searching for parking, paddles, and popcorn come Saturday. The Eastern 4-H Center will be represented with canoe and kayak clinic in front of the Walter B. Jones Visitor Center. I think there's also a firework show, too. Still, the parade, complete with four-wheelers and motorcycles will strafe the downtown thoroughfare, passing out pre-packaged candy to the kids and to the adults who need to quit acting like kids. The weather should be impeccable for the entire occasion.
A small town parade though is something to behold. Absent are the cartoon character uber-floats. What you will find , though, is a linear display of Columbia's varsity athletic teams (cheer squads included), several tractors, a couple of fire trucks, a giant pirate ship on wheels, ATV's (which become street legal for parades, apparently), and a convertible or two bearing the local politicians and their smiles. And of course, 4-H will have a presence, too. Either way, I also grew up in the cradle of small town parades in Alabama's Rough Country. Our Rockford parade was slightly bigger, only because Rockford's Main Street was four lanes. But the participants were all identical. Blaring sirens, costumed walkers, high school bands, and tractors serenaded our locals in the same fashion. It sure beat the heck out of the New York City parade that appears on television every Thanksgiving Thursday...it was OUR parade.
Still, the cool weather creates a lot of mental confusion...since April, we have all dreamed of cool bed sheets. Last night, cool-turned-cold linens were not so great anymore. There's nothing more comforting than snuggling into the fetal position to warm the bed and body...but toes are an unwarmable object. Sleeping with socks does no better. I could have let the windows up, but that would have been heresy. Perfect weather like this only happens about 10 days a year...so I'll keep trying to enjoy it as warmly as I can...
Enjoy the day...
September 26, 2011
Reigning Outside
The rain we have received in recent days is probably equal to what Hurricane Irene brought, but it just hasn't come in two days...instead it's been 7 days of hazy, lazy drizzle, which as many of you know is terrible for the hairdo. Not that it matters to me, but the ladies in the office have doubled the hairspray.
The past couple of weeks have been busy, with NC L.I.N.C., Haw Branch Soul Sister Retreat, Ongoing Tyrrell Middle School, and Wilson Chamber of Commerce Dynamic Leadership. None of which were spared by the rain.
The Wilson Retreat, which features about 12 hours of teambuilding was mostly done indoors, until we ventured out in the inch deep standing water to do some elements on the Challenge Course...the brave souls enjoyed All Aboard and the Whale Watch, despite the thick drizzle and even thicker mosquitoes. Do mosquitoes ever disappear? Mosquitoes generally make their first appearance in April and subside the following March. There is no respite. Either way, High Ropes with Wilson was pretty spectacular, and the mosquitoes don't fly 35 feet into the air where the participants spent the morning. Mosquitoes also can't follow anyone down the zipline, where participants can reach 40 miles per hour...
The Haw Branch Soul Sisters visited over the weekend...we led them through teambuilding, archery, and rock climbing while it rained non-stop. We had to make some programmatic adjustments to accommodate on account of the weather, but it was still fun. We even got to use the "indoor" climbing wall, which is under the roof of the climbing wall, on the interior grotto. I can't explain it much better than that, but it's worth a look if you're interested.
In general life and football news, Auburn pulled out a victory this weekend, while East Carolina defeated UAB. Alabama also beat Arkansas, while the LSU Tigers became the # 1 team in the Associated Press Poll. I'm headed to Columbia, South Carolina this weekend to see Auburn and the University of South Carolina play. It should be fun!
Early Teal and Resident Goose hunting seasons expire this week. I haven't pursued much fowl, but did get into the geese and saw only a few teal. North Carolina's early duck season comes in on October 5, and the Gun Deer comes in on October 15. With the opening of these seasons, Tyrrell County will begin to fill with non-resident hunters who come to experience the remoteness and abundance of this county's wild game.
Enjoy the day...
The past couple of weeks have been busy, with NC L.I.N.C., Haw Branch Soul Sister Retreat, Ongoing Tyrrell Middle School, and Wilson Chamber of Commerce Dynamic Leadership. None of which were spared by the rain.
The Wilson Retreat, which features about 12 hours of teambuilding was mostly done indoors, until we ventured out in the inch deep standing water to do some elements on the Challenge Course...the brave souls enjoyed All Aboard and the Whale Watch, despite the thick drizzle and even thicker mosquitoes. Do mosquitoes ever disappear? Mosquitoes generally make their first appearance in April and subside the following March. There is no respite. Either way, High Ropes with Wilson was pretty spectacular, and the mosquitoes don't fly 35 feet into the air where the participants spent the morning. Mosquitoes also can't follow anyone down the zipline, where participants can reach 40 miles per hour...
The Haw Branch Soul Sisters visited over the weekend...we led them through teambuilding, archery, and rock climbing while it rained non-stop. We had to make some programmatic adjustments to accommodate on account of the weather, but it was still fun. We even got to use the "indoor" climbing wall, which is under the roof of the climbing wall, on the interior grotto. I can't explain it much better than that, but it's worth a look if you're interested.
In general life and football news, Auburn pulled out a victory this weekend, while East Carolina defeated UAB. Alabama also beat Arkansas, while the LSU Tigers became the # 1 team in the Associated Press Poll. I'm headed to Columbia, South Carolina this weekend to see Auburn and the University of South Carolina play. It should be fun!
Early Teal and Resident Goose hunting seasons expire this week. I haven't pursued much fowl, but did get into the geese and saw only a few teal. North Carolina's early duck season comes in on October 5, and the Gun Deer comes in on October 15. With the opening of these seasons, Tyrrell County will begin to fill with non-resident hunters who come to experience the remoteness and abundance of this county's wild game.
Enjoy the day...
September 15, 2011
Teal Season
According to the weathermen and weatherwomen of Eastern North Carolina's newscasts, today should be out last day of 90 degree weather...and we all know, that those folks only report the most accurate facts. Either way, the month of September ushers in early hunting seasons for North Carolina's sportsmen. The weather is perfect for doves and teal, both of which are migratory game birds that pass right through our coastal communities and sounds.
Teal are a type of duck...they are also America's smallest dabbling ducks....dabbling ducks, unlike diving ducks, feed in foot deep water on plants and seeds. Teal are divided into three differens species...there's the Green-winged teal (a hardy little puddle duck that can withstand the late winter temperatures and is a late migrator), the Cinnamon teal (probably the most beautiful duck in all the world, but an early migrant), and the Blue-winged teal (America's second most abundant duck, behind the mallard, and the earliest of all migrators).
Scientists and researchers eventually discovered that not all species of ducks migrate at the same time. Some, like the Blue-winged teal (BWT hereafter) migrate from their nesting grounds in Canada and the Dakotas as soon as August. For hunters to have a chance at these speedy, tasty, and very abundant ducks, state game commissions created the early teal season, which generally falls in early-September. No other ducks may be harvested, either. It's a great chance to practice shooting and identification skills. But, it's not always that easy. BWT's are tiny for ducks...about the size of a fat cardinal. They also fly at about 40 miles per hour and in the most zig-zaggery of fashions. They commit easily to meager decoy spreads of 10-20 fakes. But they also leave them as quick as they arrive. What complicates teal hunting even more, is that they are "first flight" birds. They fly right at legal shooting light, then no more. Additionally, they are literally here one day, and gone the next. yo uhave to get lucky just to spy them in flight anywhere.
With a continental population of approximately 6 million BWT, many northern hunters will still never see them. I have never bagged one, but I've seen a friend bag one. I've seen less than a thousand in my illustrious career as a waterfowler. Either way, I still try to go and catch teal several times each September...I have harvested early green-winged teal, but not many. Still, I'll have lots of fun swatting the copious amounts of mosquitoes. The pint of blood I'll need after the mosquitoes have fed on me will be tucked gently into the corner of my ammunition bag. Ditto for the spf 50. I don't have alligator repellent, so I'll have the space. Still, it's worth every waterfowler and birder's effort to go out in September, along the coastal marshes to see these tiny, beautiful ducks, that most will never see...for those wanting to pursue these ducks...scout shallow marshes with lots of food. The daily bag limit is 4...
Here are some pictures of the 3 different types of teal...
Green-Winged Teal
Blue-Winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Enjoy the day...
Teal are a type of duck...they are also America's smallest dabbling ducks....dabbling ducks, unlike diving ducks, feed in foot deep water on plants and seeds. Teal are divided into three differens species...there's the Green-winged teal (a hardy little puddle duck that can withstand the late winter temperatures and is a late migrator), the Cinnamon teal (probably the most beautiful duck in all the world, but an early migrant), and the Blue-winged teal (America's second most abundant duck, behind the mallard, and the earliest of all migrators).
Scientists and researchers eventually discovered that not all species of ducks migrate at the same time. Some, like the Blue-winged teal (BWT hereafter) migrate from their nesting grounds in Canada and the Dakotas as soon as August. For hunters to have a chance at these speedy, tasty, and very abundant ducks, state game commissions created the early teal season, which generally falls in early-September. No other ducks may be harvested, either. It's a great chance to practice shooting and identification skills. But, it's not always that easy. BWT's are tiny for ducks...about the size of a fat cardinal. They also fly at about 40 miles per hour and in the most zig-zaggery of fashions. They commit easily to meager decoy spreads of 10-20 fakes. But they also leave them as quick as they arrive. What complicates teal hunting even more, is that they are "first flight" birds. They fly right at legal shooting light, then no more. Additionally, they are literally here one day, and gone the next. yo uhave to get lucky just to spy them in flight anywhere.
With a continental population of approximately 6 million BWT, many northern hunters will still never see them. I have never bagged one, but I've seen a friend bag one. I've seen less than a thousand in my illustrious career as a waterfowler. Either way, I still try to go and catch teal several times each September...I have harvested early green-winged teal, but not many. Still, I'll have lots of fun swatting the copious amounts of mosquitoes. The pint of blood I'll need after the mosquitoes have fed on me will be tucked gently into the corner of my ammunition bag. Ditto for the spf 50. I don't have alligator repellent, so I'll have the space. Still, it's worth every waterfowler and birder's effort to go out in September, along the coastal marshes to see these tiny, beautiful ducks, that most will never see...for those wanting to pursue these ducks...scout shallow marshes with lots of food. The daily bag limit is 4...
Here are some pictures of the 3 different types of teal...
Green-Winged Teal
Blue-Winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Enjoy the day...
September 14, 2011
A Columbia Icon
Let's face it, Columbia, North Carolina is about as famous as, well, Creswell, North Carolina. Famous, to many of us has a positive connotation that means likable, good, and happy. Columbia is all of the above, but it's still not famous. Within Columbia, there are likable landmarks, people, and places...all things that make the town so favored by it's residents and so intriguing to the literal millions that strafe through on the major highway. Columbia and it's waterways have long been known as a fisherman's paradise. Some people believe it's a great place to come and see sunsets. And some people like the downtown galleries that are only discovered with a little vacationing gumption. But to me, there is one true symbol that epitomizes the town and it's people.
Mr. Bobby, as he is commonly called, is one of a couple of town barbers. Mr. Bobby is older than most of us will ever live to enjoy. Either way, he's still hard at it, in his shop downtown. It's where I get my hair cuts. For the longest time, I avoided getting my hair cut at a traditional barber shop. I guess I thought the treatment of a salon was what I merited most. Either way, becoming a Columbian rubbed of on me. Sensible, practical, and comfortable is how most people would describe me, and it's how I often describe the good people of this area. They do what it takes to get it done, and they do it at their pace, which is somewhere around a speed of "just right"...not too fast or too slow. And that's why Mr. Bobby is as much a part of this community as he is a representative of it.
Main Street in downtown Columbia is marked by tiny concrete buildings. There's an art gallery, a couple of restaurants, a drug store, a non-profit, and a few skeletons of commerce's past. It's an easy place to navigate. There's always someone walking in downtown, and they are headed somewhere. Mr. Bobby's shop is on the west end of Main Street, just outside of casting distance to the Scuppernong River...the same river that only weeks ago shoved two feet of water through his door and up his wall. So what...he cut my hair two days later. His shop is incredibly non-descript, but everyone knows where it is...parking near the barber shop is tough, though. Still, the other slots up and down Main Street can serve you, if you can serve yourself to walk. Rarely have I gone in for a cut, when Idid not have to wait a bit. But part of that is due to Mr. Bobby's deliberate nature. It's also a place for other men to congregate and carry on, whether or not they will be getting a haircut. More times than not, it's only familiar faces within the walls of the shop. I've been here 5 years, and that's only a minute to a lot of these people. Still, I listen contently to the stories and gossip. Or Rush Limbaugh. While I'm sitting on the red wooden bench that holds the graying customers, I usually occupy myself with a day-old copy of the Raleigh paper. I'm glad that some people still keep quarters and know how to use them!
Nevertheless, while I read the paper, I'll find myself surrounded by relics of yesteryear. Mind you, this place has no decorum. It's a building whose purpose is one. Either way, I'll admire the bottles of hair tonic, which are for sale. There's also a strop hanging on the wall and it hordes dust. Nobody ever asks for a straight blade shave, anymore. I'd like to have just one in my life. There a pictures on the wall of Mr. Bobby's friends and family. Most of which live nearby. There's even a poster which showcases the bust of all of our American Presidents, the newest being Ronald Reagan. It's not a timeless place, but it is a place to pass the time. It's a building built for utility.
After waiting for a bit, I usually just step up, then plop down into the barber's chair. Oddly enough, hair cut recipients don't face the wall-sized mirror. In fact, you face the patient waiters. You can enjoy the conversation without having to stare at yourself. When he asks how I'd like my haircut, I tell him simply. The first time, I tried to raise my voice, because I thought he might not hear me. He whispered back and said "I can do that." My first few cuts were the traditional crew cuts that he doled out while in the military. Each one was perfect and precise. Since then, he has offered to me that women like hair on the "full" side. Now he just trims it.
There's a tremendous gap between Bobby and I. Obviously, our age difference is grand. He's a member of America's Greatest Generation. I know hard work, but all he knows is hard work. He's polite and sincere as if it is the only option, and sometimes, I can be either or neither. Either way, after I pay the grand total sum of $5 for my haircut, I feel a little closer to him and Columbia. And as Bobby would say, I feel "a little lighter", too.
Enjoy the day...
Mr. Bobby, as he is commonly called, is one of a couple of town barbers. Mr. Bobby is older than most of us will ever live to enjoy. Either way, he's still hard at it, in his shop downtown. It's where I get my hair cuts. For the longest time, I avoided getting my hair cut at a traditional barber shop. I guess I thought the treatment of a salon was what I merited most. Either way, becoming a Columbian rubbed of on me. Sensible, practical, and comfortable is how most people would describe me, and it's how I often describe the good people of this area. They do what it takes to get it done, and they do it at their pace, which is somewhere around a speed of "just right"...not too fast or too slow. And that's why Mr. Bobby is as much a part of this community as he is a representative of it.
Main Street in downtown Columbia is marked by tiny concrete buildings. There's an art gallery, a couple of restaurants, a drug store, a non-profit, and a few skeletons of commerce's past. It's an easy place to navigate. There's always someone walking in downtown, and they are headed somewhere. Mr. Bobby's shop is on the west end of Main Street, just outside of casting distance to the Scuppernong River...the same river that only weeks ago shoved two feet of water through his door and up his wall. So what...he cut my hair two days later. His shop is incredibly non-descript, but everyone knows where it is...parking near the barber shop is tough, though. Still, the other slots up and down Main Street can serve you, if you can serve yourself to walk. Rarely have I gone in for a cut, when Idid not have to wait a bit. But part of that is due to Mr. Bobby's deliberate nature. It's also a place for other men to congregate and carry on, whether or not they will be getting a haircut. More times than not, it's only familiar faces within the walls of the shop. I've been here 5 years, and that's only a minute to a lot of these people. Still, I listen contently to the stories and gossip. Or Rush Limbaugh. While I'm sitting on the red wooden bench that holds the graying customers, I usually occupy myself with a day-old copy of the Raleigh paper. I'm glad that some people still keep quarters and know how to use them!
Nevertheless, while I read the paper, I'll find myself surrounded by relics of yesteryear. Mind you, this place has no decorum. It's a building whose purpose is one. Either way, I'll admire the bottles of hair tonic, which are for sale. There's also a strop hanging on the wall and it hordes dust. Nobody ever asks for a straight blade shave, anymore. I'd like to have just one in my life. There a pictures on the wall of Mr. Bobby's friends and family. Most of which live nearby. There's even a poster which showcases the bust of all of our American Presidents, the newest being Ronald Reagan. It's not a timeless place, but it is a place to pass the time. It's a building built for utility.
After waiting for a bit, I usually just step up, then plop down into the barber's chair. Oddly enough, hair cut recipients don't face the wall-sized mirror. In fact, you face the patient waiters. You can enjoy the conversation without having to stare at yourself. When he asks how I'd like my haircut, I tell him simply. The first time, I tried to raise my voice, because I thought he might not hear me. He whispered back and said "I can do that." My first few cuts were the traditional crew cuts that he doled out while in the military. Each one was perfect and precise. Since then, he has offered to me that women like hair on the "full" side. Now he just trims it.
There's a tremendous gap between Bobby and I. Obviously, our age difference is grand. He's a member of America's Greatest Generation. I know hard work, but all he knows is hard work. He's polite and sincere as if it is the only option, and sometimes, I can be either or neither. Either way, after I pay the grand total sum of $5 for my haircut, I feel a little closer to him and Columbia. And as Bobby would say, I feel "a little lighter", too.
Enjoy the day...
September 13, 2011
Pocosin Grapes
This blog is well overdue. Rarely do I write about anything that I don't value. I'm not the great writer that can pick a social topic, hash it out, and walk away. Life's to long to do that, even once. Still, when I go to that Giant Rock Wall in the sky, I hope to find many of the things I love in this galaxy. One of my favorite things is the humble scuppernong grape. It's the perfect snack for those of us who prefer mosquitoes to malls.
Growing up in Alabama, my parents had a few muscadine vines. They were not cultivated by them, and for all I know, they might have just been wild and matured. A muscadine is similar to a scuppernong...it's a wild grape that has a leathery shell. They're purple, though, unlike the greenish-bronze scuppernong. Sometimes, though, Deep Southerner's called muscadines "scuplins" or "scuflins"...I was always confused and cravenous. I even had friends whose parents made muscadine wine. Personally, though, there is no better way to enjoy a wild grape, than to plop the fruit into your mouth, straight up.
Upon my arrival in pocosin country, I quickly got my bearings by cruising the front and back roads of the area. I got lots of tips from new friends on great places to go. Upon crossing the Scuppernong River, I recognized the name from childhood. And so began my quest for the wild grape vine. They were literally everywhere, but finding one that produces sweet fruit was the challenge. I found lots that offered smaller, tarter grapes. I had to learn to like them, and did. On occasion, someone would bring a carton of them by the office - the good kind. I ate more than my fair share, but I had to make up for years lost.
Eventually, I hit the motherload. And apparently, this motherload was from the mothervine, which added additional mystique to this abundant, but almost unknown grape.
Quick Interjection Here: My computer mysteriously shut-off without saving the last 25 lines of this blog, so I'll attempt to finish...again.
Anyway, the grapevines, yeah...so now I don't pick any grapes...I buy them from a local grower, Scuppernong Produce. Gosh Almighty are they perfect. Giant grapes, with minimal seeds. If you want some from Scuppernong Produce, you'll have to let me know, or you can find Scuppernong Produce on Facebook. They'll let you know how you can get them, but I have a connection. They are worth every 250 pennies per quart. But remember the law of supply and demand when purchasing!
Once you pick or buy your grapes, you need to enjoy them the purist's way...that means (1)putting the entire grape in your mouth, (2)squeezing with your teeth until the pulp erupts, (3)sorting (by tooth) the seeds from the pulp, (4)spitting the seeds back to the earth (or into a cup if enjoying indoors), (5) swallowing the pulp, (6) chewing the skin, (7) swallowing, and finally, (8)smiling. If you are going to spit out the skin, just don't bother with the grapes. The skin is where the protein and fiber are...either way, scuppernongs are healthier, tastier, and even less expensive than an equal amount of chocolate.
Most of my favorite snacks are broken up by seasons....here's a calendar year rundown:
January through mid-February: Conversation Hearts
Mid-February through mid-April: Cadburry and Robin Eggs
Mid-April through August: Granola
August through mid-October: Scuppernong Grapes
Mid-October through mid-November: Candy Corn
Mid-November through late December: Haystacks and fudge
Remember, eat all sweets in moderation! Your waistline and teeth will thank you. And it's all just to good to over-do, except for scuppernongs!
Enjoy the day...
Growing up in Alabama, my parents had a few muscadine vines. They were not cultivated by them, and for all I know, they might have just been wild and matured. A muscadine is similar to a scuppernong...it's a wild grape that has a leathery shell. They're purple, though, unlike the greenish-bronze scuppernong. Sometimes, though, Deep Southerner's called muscadines "scuplins" or "scuflins"...I was always confused and cravenous. I even had friends whose parents made muscadine wine. Personally, though, there is no better way to enjoy a wild grape, than to plop the fruit into your mouth, straight up.
Upon my arrival in pocosin country, I quickly got my bearings by cruising the front and back roads of the area. I got lots of tips from new friends on great places to go. Upon crossing the Scuppernong River, I recognized the name from childhood. And so began my quest for the wild grape vine. They were literally everywhere, but finding one that produces sweet fruit was the challenge. I found lots that offered smaller, tarter grapes. I had to learn to like them, and did. On occasion, someone would bring a carton of them by the office - the good kind. I ate more than my fair share, but I had to make up for years lost.
Eventually, I hit the motherload. And apparently, this motherload was from the mothervine, which added additional mystique to this abundant, but almost unknown grape.
Quick Interjection Here: My computer mysteriously shut-off without saving the last 25 lines of this blog, so I'll attempt to finish...again.
Anyway, the grapevines, yeah...so now I don't pick any grapes...I buy them from a local grower, Scuppernong Produce. Gosh Almighty are they perfect. Giant grapes, with minimal seeds. If you want some from Scuppernong Produce, you'll have to let me know, or you can find Scuppernong Produce on Facebook. They'll let you know how you can get them, but I have a connection. They are worth every 250 pennies per quart. But remember the law of supply and demand when purchasing!
Once you pick or buy your grapes, you need to enjoy them the purist's way...that means (1)putting the entire grape in your mouth, (2)squeezing with your teeth until the pulp erupts, (3)sorting (by tooth) the seeds from the pulp, (4)spitting the seeds back to the earth (or into a cup if enjoying indoors), (5) swallowing the pulp, (6) chewing the skin, (7) swallowing, and finally, (8)smiling. If you are going to spit out the skin, just don't bother with the grapes. The skin is where the protein and fiber are...either way, scuppernongs are healthier, tastier, and even less expensive than an equal amount of chocolate.
Most of my favorite snacks are broken up by seasons....here's a calendar year rundown:
January through mid-February: Conversation Hearts
Mid-February through mid-April: Cadburry and Robin Eggs
Mid-April through August: Granola
August through mid-October: Scuppernong Grapes
Mid-October through mid-November: Candy Corn
Mid-November through late December: Haystacks and fudge
Remember, eat all sweets in moderation! Your waistline and teeth will thank you. And it's all just to good to over-do, except for scuppernongs!
Enjoy the day...
September 12, 2011
The Day the World Changed
Over the weekend, the somber celebration of 9/11 transpired across America and it's foreign bases. Virtually everyone on Facebook took the opportunity to use the words "we will never forget" in their statuses. Not me. September 11, 2001 was not the day that the world changed. It was the day that changed the world. And there's a difference.
Where were you on 9/11/01? Odds are you know exactly where you were, and research has proven that dramatic events generally mark our minds in a way other than how the trivial things may be memorized. I don't have the slightest idea of what I did on September 10, 2011. I imagine I was preparing for my college-girlfriend-at-the-time's impending birthday, which was on September 13. I think we went to a restaurant. I 'm sure I did as I was asked. Nevertheless, I know exactly what I did on September 11, 2001.
I woke up around 7:30 am Central Time in the morning...I ate a Toaster Strudel, blueberry I'm sure. I cut on the TV, hoping to see good weather for the day. I was planning to go to the marina I worked at after class and wash some boats. The day would be easy, I was sure. Except for Dr. Pulliam's philosophy class. As soon as I cut on the television, I walked to the bathroom for a shower. This shower was just like all the others. I walked out, dressed, and met my dad in the den, where he wasn't supposed to be. He told me that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought "what a terrible accident." Then, I watched live at about 8:05 am Central Time as another plane smashed into a skyscraper I had only seen in pictures. I was captivated and confused. Terrorism was something that I never could digest, but my dad mentioned the possibility immediately, and as non-nonchalantly as anyone who would have lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis. Other planes fell that day. Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and neighbors died that day. I didn't know anyone in that building that day. I doubt I know anyone that works near that place, either. I was naive enough to think that it didn't matter to me. It was just one terrible incident that I was not affected by...at 18 years old, most young men are fairly dumb. And I had bleach blonde hair at the time.
The rest of the day was a blurry catastrophe. Planes were grounded. Enemies were named. Threats were realized. In the days since then, flags were hoisted on anything with a high point. Even the remnants of the brave skyscrapers held a flag. I had a flag, too. All of a sudden, I was American and very proud of it.
Since that day, it seems as if every day brings a mention to 9/11/01. Our current financial crisis is linked. The long lines at airports, football games, and military recruitment centers are all linked to 9/11/01, too. Everyone became patriotic, and some still are, thankfully.
Unfortunately, the patriotism eroded and was replaced with stoic, ridiculous cautiousness. Many of us have become frustrated with security at large public gatherings, the never-ending forms that must be completed to bear arms, and the continuing war in Asia. But why be mad at American's for doing what American's do best? We are cautious, much more cautious than we used to be. Americans are no longer the braggart-over-the-top-rebellions that forged this country's eastern border. For the past 10 years, we have become nostalgic and careful. I hope that American's can be brave enough to stop looking inside the purses and pockets of it's own country folk, and begin to look inside the countries who harbor and hide terrorists.
9/12/2001 was the day the world changed. It woke up and had to change. On 9/11/2001, we leaned on shoulders. The next day we looked over our shoulders...and haven't stopped since.
Enjoy the day...
Where were you on 9/11/01? Odds are you know exactly where you were, and research has proven that dramatic events generally mark our minds in a way other than how the trivial things may be memorized. I don't have the slightest idea of what I did on September 10, 2011. I imagine I was preparing for my college-girlfriend-at-the-time's impending birthday, which was on September 13. I think we went to a restaurant. I 'm sure I did as I was asked. Nevertheless, I know exactly what I did on September 11, 2001.
I woke up around 7:30 am Central Time in the morning...I ate a Toaster Strudel, blueberry I'm sure. I cut on the TV, hoping to see good weather for the day. I was planning to go to the marina I worked at after class and wash some boats. The day would be easy, I was sure. Except for Dr. Pulliam's philosophy class. As soon as I cut on the television, I walked to the bathroom for a shower. This shower was just like all the others. I walked out, dressed, and met my dad in the den, where he wasn't supposed to be. He told me that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought "what a terrible accident." Then, I watched live at about 8:05 am Central Time as another plane smashed into a skyscraper I had only seen in pictures. I was captivated and confused. Terrorism was something that I never could digest, but my dad mentioned the possibility immediately, and as non-nonchalantly as anyone who would have lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis. Other planes fell that day. Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and neighbors died that day. I didn't know anyone in that building that day. I doubt I know anyone that works near that place, either. I was naive enough to think that it didn't matter to me. It was just one terrible incident that I was not affected by...at 18 years old, most young men are fairly dumb. And I had bleach blonde hair at the time.
The rest of the day was a blurry catastrophe. Planes were grounded. Enemies were named. Threats were realized. In the days since then, flags were hoisted on anything with a high point. Even the remnants of the brave skyscrapers held a flag. I had a flag, too. All of a sudden, I was American and very proud of it.
Since that day, it seems as if every day brings a mention to 9/11/01. Our current financial crisis is linked. The long lines at airports, football games, and military recruitment centers are all linked to 9/11/01, too. Everyone became patriotic, and some still are, thankfully.
Unfortunately, the patriotism eroded and was replaced with stoic, ridiculous cautiousness. Many of us have become frustrated with security at large public gatherings, the never-ending forms that must be completed to bear arms, and the continuing war in Asia. But why be mad at American's for doing what American's do best? We are cautious, much more cautious than we used to be. Americans are no longer the braggart-over-the-top-rebellions that forged this country's eastern border. For the past 10 years, we have become nostalgic and careful. I hope that American's can be brave enough to stop looking inside the purses and pockets of it's own country folk, and begin to look inside the countries who harbor and hide terrorists.
9/12/2001 was the day the world changed. It woke up and had to change. On 9/11/2001, we leaned on shoulders. The next day we looked over our shoulders...and haven't stopped since.
Enjoy the day...
September 7, 2011
Columbia Middle School
The Eastern 4-H Center is now the temporary home of Columbia Middle School. As much of an inconvenience it is for the students, teachers, and parents to have their school flooded, we hope to provide an easy transition for all of them. I'm glad we can do it...not many places in the county can offer such relief! Extension agents and facilities have really come through for the people of Tyrrell County in the aftermath of Irene...some of them while their own personal lives were turned bottom up. But that happened to lots of folks. They're not feeling sorry for themselves around here. They're feeling helpful.
Either way, the middle school will be here for an undetermined amount of time...but they hope to be out by the 23rd of September.
East Carolina has a big game against Virginia Tech this weekend...here's hoping they can pull of the upset...Auburn is a touchdown dog to Mississippi State AT HOME! But I don't gamble, so I don't care...but never bet against Auburn. Never bet on them, either...
Enjoy the day...
Either way, the middle school will be here for an undetermined amount of time...but they hope to be out by the 23rd of September.
East Carolina has a big game against Virginia Tech this weekend...here's hoping they can pull of the upset...Auburn is a touchdown dog to Mississippi State AT HOME! But I don't gamble, so I don't care...but never bet against Auburn. Never bet on them, either...
Enjoy the day...
September 6, 2011
Labor Day Weakened
The hurricane clean-up at the Center is virtually complete. I imagine we picked up a couple of tons of former flotsam from our beach and yard...the timber that was felled is to numerous to weigh, though. Either way, lots of people in Tyrrell and surrounding counties are putting the left-behind pieces back together...and Katia appears to be steaming away from our coast...thank goodness.
Other notes of interest since my last blog:
The September Resident Canada Goose season came in on September 1st. This is a great way to control the burgeoning population or resident geese. I have blogged several times on the destruction these geese can cause to neighborhoods, fish communities in local ponds, and even destroy themselves through overpopulation and overgrazing. Either way, I was lucky enough to bag some geese with a good friend. My first ever goose was in that mix...additionally, may I please add how delicious a grilled goose is...especially one that has fattened itself on the struggling farmers corn crops. Wild Game is a great way for picky eaters to know where there food came from and to know how it was handled. Yet, grilled a perfect medium rare on Saturday, these geese tasted BETTER than the steaks prepared alongside them...simple preparation is easiest and delivers, to me, the very best results.
The college football weekend has also come and gone, with some surprises. East Carolina was thrashed by South Carolina...very disappointing, but the Pirates still hold lots of promise. UNC-CH won with ease, as did NC State. My beloved Auburn struggled quite a bit with a team that shall remain nameless...Auburn needed two touchdowns with 2:00 minutes remaining...it pulled of the impossible, while making a below .500 season very possible. Auburn will turn many fans into insomniacs this year, and the road only gets tougher with Mississippi State this upcoming weekend.
The 4-H Center is expecting guests now...we even have a big wedding this weekend on our newly-restored waterfront. Speaking of weddings, Charles Midgette, our Maintenance Supervisor was wed this weekend. Congrats to him and his bride!
Ms. Mittie, our glowing receptionist had another birthday...this morning, in fact. Somehow, though, it was she who gifted me with the Krispy Kreme doughnut. Anyway, Ms. Mittie is timeless and ageless, but she does have an age, and she's not telling. I surmise that despite her age, she looks at least 15 years younger...
But with all of this news, work, and play, I was a bit drained for the Labor Day Weekend...I guess I'll have to wait another year for Labor Day.
Enjoy the day...
Other notes of interest since my last blog:
The September Resident Canada Goose season came in on September 1st. This is a great way to control the burgeoning population or resident geese. I have blogged several times on the destruction these geese can cause to neighborhoods, fish communities in local ponds, and even destroy themselves through overpopulation and overgrazing. Either way, I was lucky enough to bag some geese with a good friend. My first ever goose was in that mix...additionally, may I please add how delicious a grilled goose is...especially one that has fattened itself on the struggling farmers corn crops. Wild Game is a great way for picky eaters to know where there food came from and to know how it was handled. Yet, grilled a perfect medium rare on Saturday, these geese tasted BETTER than the steaks prepared alongside them...simple preparation is easiest and delivers, to me, the very best results.
The college football weekend has also come and gone, with some surprises. East Carolina was thrashed by South Carolina...very disappointing, but the Pirates still hold lots of promise. UNC-CH won with ease, as did NC State. My beloved Auburn struggled quite a bit with a team that shall remain nameless...Auburn needed two touchdowns with 2:00 minutes remaining...it pulled of the impossible, while making a below .500 season very possible. Auburn will turn many fans into insomniacs this year, and the road only gets tougher with Mississippi State this upcoming weekend.
The 4-H Center is expecting guests now...we even have a big wedding this weekend on our newly-restored waterfront. Speaking of weddings, Charles Midgette, our Maintenance Supervisor was wed this weekend. Congrats to him and his bride!
Ms. Mittie, our glowing receptionist had another birthday...this morning, in fact. Somehow, though, it was she who gifted me with the Krispy Kreme doughnut. Anyway, Ms. Mittie is timeless and ageless, but she does have an age, and she's not telling. I surmise that despite her age, she looks at least 15 years younger...
But with all of this news, work, and play, I was a bit drained for the Labor Day Weekend...I guess I'll have to wait another year for Labor Day.
Enjoy the day...
August 29, 2011
Vocabulary Lesson
Before I go any further with this blog - The 4-H Center is fine. It's battered, but not broken. Others in the county, however, did not fare as well as the Center.
As easy at it has generally been for me to put pen to paper and elaborate on stories I have seen, this one leaves me a little puzzled, humbled, and curious. Hurricanes and other natural disasters look different on TV, than in person. They sound, smell, and feel different, too. And if I wanted to stretch this a bit, they even taste different, than they do in front of a television screen. The easiest way to relate the story of Irene is to help you understand the "sounds" of the storm. I'm not sure what CNN or NBC have said. My connection to the newsworthy world has been local public and simulcast radio...
This ordeal has been curious to me because it's very strange how neighbors fared better than the one's next door. Counties fared better than the ones next door. States fared better than the ones above and below. There will be lots of news cameras and helicopters come and go, but not in Tyrrell County. Or Hyde County. Sorry, you just can't get in Mr. Media. But hey, if you can't help, you can't visit. We don't need cameras, we need compassion, thank you very much. If you want a story, I can tell you about the local farm-to-plate farmer who watched his family pumpkin crop float away with the storm surge. I can tell you about the rural family who could not be reached when the storm became unpredictable. I can also tell you about the families who threw out furniture, carpet, and family pictures.
Anyway, as I grew up in Alabama, we too, were the recipient of frequent tropical weather...usually tropical storms, depressions, or disturbances...and a couple of hurricanes, like Opal. There was and is something very special about the home I grew up in. Mainly, I think, was that it was run by my father and mother...both special in their own ways. The house was a home. We never evacuated. Ever. Tyrrell County is now home to me and it all makes sense, even if it doesn't to anyone else. Me and 3500 other people love this place as much as we do our own families. It's a big home for all of us. There are three seasons for me and most of my friends in Tyrrell County: Summer Camp, Waterfowl Season, and Hurricane Season. I love two and hate the other one because of this. I remember only Tropical Storms Erin, Hanna, and Nor' Ida.
Still, after all of that, I never imagined that it could get much worse. As the insurance companies would have you believe, this is certainly an act of God. No person, or group of 'em could alter the landscape of life so quickly. Cleaning up, too, is an act of God. And us.
So how bad was it? Here's your vocabulary lesson for Hurricane Season 2011...
Outer Bands - Nope, not the opening act at a concert. The first squall lines of rain actually. With these bands came the first of 30 hours of non-stop 39 mile per hour winds or better. I imagine that we had several gusts of 85 miles per hour.
Storm Surge - This is the "wall" of water that comes with a tropical weather maker. Straight from the Cape Verdes off of Africa came 7 feet of extra water. Most of it has stayed behind in low grounds of Columbia.
Welfare Check - Naw, not that "welfare". This term was used to often by rescue teams looking for storm victims. A welfare check is simply checking to determine whether or not someone is well and living.
Curfew - A curfew is serious for teenagers, but for storm-stricken towns, it could keep you out of the jail or hospital. Columbia had and has a curfew. Who wants to walk around in waist deep wastewater in the dark anyway?
EOC - Emergency Operation Center. This place was manned by emergency management and volunteer rescue services. The Tyrrell County EOC ran like a sewing machine, and I am very proud to know the people who run an efficient and empathetic EOC.
CUFN - Closed Until Further Notice, that is. Few things close under this auspice...usually after a fire or other disaster. Tyrrell County Schools are closed until further notice. That means that they have absolutely no idea when families and children can move out of the school and bathe, cook, clean, and live normally. Oh yeah, did I mention the school is the shelter. Yes, I did.
Power Outage - Think two or three hours without power are ridiculous? Yes, you do. I'm going on 56 hours. That means no AC, TV, dishwashing, hot water, internet. But still,I unconsciously turn off light switches when I walk into a room. And unconsciously flip them off when I depart. In the daylight, however, I have been able to help some great friends...and when possible share terrific cups of instant coffee over a barbecue grill and read some terrific books by writers named MacQuarrie, Hochbaum, and Rutledge. Lucky me.
Can Opener - buy yourself one and learn to use it. If it has a plug, you got the wrong thing. Tuna, ravioli, black beans, and more. These are the things that make up the hurricaner's buffet. Oh, and Swedish Fish and granola. And one snickers!
Ice - Yes, it melts after a while.
Red Cross - How surreal is it when you see them in your town? Very. I thought they only went were CNN went.
Salvation Army - Yep, they are here, too - and not to peddle gently used goods. They are giving hot meals away to people who CANNOT find and prepare their own food. It's serious.
Access - This is what you must obtain to reach certain locations in the region. You don't "have" access...you "get" it from someone else. Tourists, locals, and even National Guarders have been denied access from time to time for a variety of reasons. The only thing that stops the Guard, though, is geography. The new inlets on Hatteras Island make road travel tricky...
Flotsam - flotsam is basically floating trash. Bottles, driftwood, plastic parts...this storm has turned jetski's, cars, vinyl siding, cypress trees, pound nets, pumpkins, and piers into flotsam.
In the past 48 hours, I have heard that people lost their: Trees, pets, power, internet, crops, hats, telephone, boats.
Too many people are solving these problems in the next 48 hours: Where will our family sleep tonight? What time is the Salvation Army serving meals? When is the tide going to wash out? Do I have flood insurance? Where do I put my old carpet and furniture?
In the next 48 days, folks in Columbia all be cleaning out, hunkering down, and looking up...come help.
Enjoy the day...
As easy at it has generally been for me to put pen to paper and elaborate on stories I have seen, this one leaves me a little puzzled, humbled, and curious. Hurricanes and other natural disasters look different on TV, than in person. They sound, smell, and feel different, too. And if I wanted to stretch this a bit, they even taste different, than they do in front of a television screen. The easiest way to relate the story of Irene is to help you understand the "sounds" of the storm. I'm not sure what CNN or NBC have said. My connection to the newsworthy world has been local public and simulcast radio...
This ordeal has been curious to me because it's very strange how neighbors fared better than the one's next door. Counties fared better than the ones next door. States fared better than the ones above and below. There will be lots of news cameras and helicopters come and go, but not in Tyrrell County. Or Hyde County. Sorry, you just can't get in Mr. Media. But hey, if you can't help, you can't visit. We don't need cameras, we need compassion, thank you very much. If you want a story, I can tell you about the local farm-to-plate farmer who watched his family pumpkin crop float away with the storm surge. I can tell you about the rural family who could not be reached when the storm became unpredictable. I can also tell you about the families who threw out furniture, carpet, and family pictures.
Anyway, as I grew up in Alabama, we too, were the recipient of frequent tropical weather...usually tropical storms, depressions, or disturbances...and a couple of hurricanes, like Opal. There was and is something very special about the home I grew up in. Mainly, I think, was that it was run by my father and mother...both special in their own ways. The house was a home. We never evacuated. Ever. Tyrrell County is now home to me and it all makes sense, even if it doesn't to anyone else. Me and 3500 other people love this place as much as we do our own families. It's a big home for all of us. There are three seasons for me and most of my friends in Tyrrell County: Summer Camp, Waterfowl Season, and Hurricane Season. I love two and hate the other one because of this. I remember only Tropical Storms Erin, Hanna, and Nor' Ida.
Still, after all of that, I never imagined that it could get much worse. As the insurance companies would have you believe, this is certainly an act of God. No person, or group of 'em could alter the landscape of life so quickly. Cleaning up, too, is an act of God. And us.
So how bad was it? Here's your vocabulary lesson for Hurricane Season 2011...
Outer Bands - Nope, not the opening act at a concert. The first squall lines of rain actually. With these bands came the first of 30 hours of non-stop 39 mile per hour winds or better. I imagine that we had several gusts of 85 miles per hour.
Storm Surge - This is the "wall" of water that comes with a tropical weather maker. Straight from the Cape Verdes off of Africa came 7 feet of extra water. Most of it has stayed behind in low grounds of Columbia.
Welfare Check - Naw, not that "welfare". This term was used to often by rescue teams looking for storm victims. A welfare check is simply checking to determine whether or not someone is well and living.
Curfew - A curfew is serious for teenagers, but for storm-stricken towns, it could keep you out of the jail or hospital. Columbia had and has a curfew. Who wants to walk around in waist deep wastewater in the dark anyway?
EOC - Emergency Operation Center. This place was manned by emergency management and volunteer rescue services. The Tyrrell County EOC ran like a sewing machine, and I am very proud to know the people who run an efficient and empathetic EOC.
CUFN - Closed Until Further Notice, that is. Few things close under this auspice...usually after a fire or other disaster. Tyrrell County Schools are closed until further notice. That means that they have absolutely no idea when families and children can move out of the school and bathe, cook, clean, and live normally. Oh yeah, did I mention the school is the shelter. Yes, I did.
Power Outage - Think two or three hours without power are ridiculous? Yes, you do. I'm going on 56 hours. That means no AC, TV, dishwashing, hot water, internet. But still,I unconsciously turn off light switches when I walk into a room. And unconsciously flip them off when I depart. In the daylight, however, I have been able to help some great friends...and when possible share terrific cups of instant coffee over a barbecue grill and read some terrific books by writers named MacQuarrie, Hochbaum, and Rutledge. Lucky me.
Can Opener - buy yourself one and learn to use it. If it has a plug, you got the wrong thing. Tuna, ravioli, black beans, and more. These are the things that make up the hurricaner's buffet. Oh, and Swedish Fish and granola. And one snickers!
Ice - Yes, it melts after a while.
Red Cross - How surreal is it when you see them in your town? Very. I thought they only went were CNN went.
Salvation Army - Yep, they are here, too - and not to peddle gently used goods. They are giving hot meals away to people who CANNOT find and prepare their own food. It's serious.
Access - This is what you must obtain to reach certain locations in the region. You don't "have" access...you "get" it from someone else. Tourists, locals, and even National Guarders have been denied access from time to time for a variety of reasons. The only thing that stops the Guard, though, is geography. The new inlets on Hatteras Island make road travel tricky...
Flotsam - flotsam is basically floating trash. Bottles, driftwood, plastic parts...this storm has turned jetski's, cars, vinyl siding, cypress trees, pound nets, pumpkins, and piers into flotsam.
In the past 48 hours, I have heard that people lost their: Trees, pets, power, internet, crops, hats, telephone, boats.
Too many people are solving these problems in the next 48 hours: Where will our family sleep tonight? What time is the Salvation Army serving meals? When is the tide going to wash out? Do I have flood insurance? Where do I put my old carpet and furniture?
In the next 48 days, folks in Columbia all be cleaning out, hunkering down, and looking up...come help.
Enjoy the day...
August 26, 2011
Here she comes....
Irene is on her way...I captured the outer bands of the storm this morning...but excuse the condensation, because the tropical humidity is already THICK.
The beach evacuation traffic has been tremendous, which is a good sign. The beach is expecting a 10-11 foot storm surge with waves...it's going to wash away some things. Let's hope it doesn't, though. There will be some incredible dune erosion, too. Crab boats and duck blinds need to be self-righting.
Everything will pass through tomorrow. This thing is serious for people in flood prone and open spaces. Do yourself a favor and evacuate is possible...
Do it today...
August 25, 2011
College Football Preview Part 2
As promised, I will now attempt to offer my prognostications on two of the most enigmatic college football teams in America...also, the Eastern 4-H Center will be closed at noon tomorrow and will remain closed until Monday at the earliest, in lieu of Hurricane Irene.
Last year, Coach Tom seemed to capitalize on a down ACC and pull together a winning season and a bowl win over West Virginia. This year, Former QB Russell Wilson is now playing for the Wisconsin Badgers...so the loss at quarterback is tremendous. The absence of some defensive stars, especially Nate Irving, will be felt early and often, too. However, there is some promise on the offensive side of the football with Mike Glennon, a monster of a man, taking the snaps. He'll be handing the ball off to Mustafa Greene, who was one of the highest rated tailbacks to ever agree to a scholarship at NC State. Also, NFL prospect George Bryan is a phenomenal Tight End that could provide another point of attack for defenses to fret over. Defensively, though, this team has some holes. The defense is built on speed and will require lots of pressure from the linebackers to hurry an opposing team's quarterback into making errors against NC State's very average secondary. JR Sweezy is the defensive line anchor, and he'll help to bulldoze the way for blitzing linebackers. NC State could start of at 6-0, but I expect 5-1 as a loss to Georgia Tech seems predictable. And nope, NC State will not be the Tar Heels. I look for a 7-5 season from the pack.
Auburn, on the other hand is replacing roughly 80% of it's starters, including punters and kickers. The spring and early fall camps focused on naming a starting quarterback to replace Cam Newton, who is now taking his licks in the NFL. Barrett Trotter has been named the starter, but is backed up by a very capable Clint Moseley, and a highly touted freshman named Kiehl Frazier who looks the part of Cam Newton. Auburn also replaces several NFL'ers on the Offensive Line and must replace several great receivers, namely Darvin Adams. Still, the backfield will host Mike Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb as it's tailbacks...a tremendous combination of Thunder and Lightning, respectively. Despite Cam Newton's All-World numbers, Dyer quietly racked up 1000 yards rushing...as a freshman...in the SEC. McCalebb, the speedster also racked up nearly 800 yards while touching the ball as few as 10 times per game. Both can change the score and the game very quickly. Auburn's receiving corp will be led by Phillip Lutzenkirchen at tight end and Emory Blake in the slot. Lutzenkirchen is reported to have the best hands on the team, and approximately 1/3 of his receptions terminate in the end zone. Blake is a possession type receiver, but can stretch the field fast. Quin Carr and Deangelo Benton are upper classmen that need to catch lots of balls this year, too.
Defensively, the Tigers lost lots of leadership after winning the BCS National Championship last year. But there is still a tremendous amount of talent, speed, and size on the defensive side of the football. Nosa Eguae is a star-in-waiting and is considered the leader on defense. The linebacking crew is almost a total over-haul, but the middle 3 will need Eltoro Freeman to be a leader on defense. The Secondary looks to be fast and talented, yet inexperienced. I look for Erique Florence to have a solid freshman campaign in the defensive back 4.
I look for Auburn to go 9-3 with losses to South Carolina, LSU, and Arkansas...they're all road games in tough stadiums. Auburn gets Bama in Jordan-Hare this year, and thus, a second consecutive Iron Bowl championship. Auburn will go to the Cotton Bowl, where they'll most likely beat Nebraska 42-31.
There you have it...an unbiased and very realistic approach to collegiate football predictions...now I go have another glass of Navy and Orange Kool-Aid...
For those living here on the coast...if you can evacuate, do so. Living without power and running water is called "surviving." After three days it gets tougher. If you are a visitor to this area, GET OUT NOW. For those staying, hide good in sturdy rooms. Use ground anchors on boats and cars. Do not use them on children...
Enjoy the day.
Last year, Coach Tom seemed to capitalize on a down ACC and pull together a winning season and a bowl win over West Virginia. This year, Former QB Russell Wilson is now playing for the Wisconsin Badgers...so the loss at quarterback is tremendous. The absence of some defensive stars, especially Nate Irving, will be felt early and often, too. However, there is some promise on the offensive side of the football with Mike Glennon, a monster of a man, taking the snaps. He'll be handing the ball off to Mustafa Greene, who was one of the highest rated tailbacks to ever agree to a scholarship at NC State. Also, NFL prospect George Bryan is a phenomenal Tight End that could provide another point of attack for defenses to fret over. Defensively, though, this team has some holes. The defense is built on speed and will require lots of pressure from the linebackers to hurry an opposing team's quarterback into making errors against NC State's very average secondary. JR Sweezy is the defensive line anchor, and he'll help to bulldoze the way for blitzing linebackers. NC State could start of at 6-0, but I expect 5-1 as a loss to Georgia Tech seems predictable. And nope, NC State will not be the Tar Heels. I look for a 7-5 season from the pack.
Auburn, on the other hand is replacing roughly 80% of it's starters, including punters and kickers. The spring and early fall camps focused on naming a starting quarterback to replace Cam Newton, who is now taking his licks in the NFL. Barrett Trotter has been named the starter, but is backed up by a very capable Clint Moseley, and a highly touted freshman named Kiehl Frazier who looks the part of Cam Newton. Auburn also replaces several NFL'ers on the Offensive Line and must replace several great receivers, namely Darvin Adams. Still, the backfield will host Mike Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb as it's tailbacks...a tremendous combination of Thunder and Lightning, respectively. Despite Cam Newton's All-World numbers, Dyer quietly racked up 1000 yards rushing...as a freshman...in the SEC. McCalebb, the speedster also racked up nearly 800 yards while touching the ball as few as 10 times per game. Both can change the score and the game very quickly. Auburn's receiving corp will be led by Phillip Lutzenkirchen at tight end and Emory Blake in the slot. Lutzenkirchen is reported to have the best hands on the team, and approximately 1/3 of his receptions terminate in the end zone. Blake is a possession type receiver, but can stretch the field fast. Quin Carr and Deangelo Benton are upper classmen that need to catch lots of balls this year, too.
Defensively, the Tigers lost lots of leadership after winning the BCS National Championship last year. But there is still a tremendous amount of talent, speed, and size on the defensive side of the football. Nosa Eguae is a star-in-waiting and is considered the leader on defense. The linebacking crew is almost a total over-haul, but the middle 3 will need Eltoro Freeman to be a leader on defense. The Secondary looks to be fast and talented, yet inexperienced. I look for Erique Florence to have a solid freshman campaign in the defensive back 4.
I look for Auburn to go 9-3 with losses to South Carolina, LSU, and Arkansas...they're all road games in tough stadiums. Auburn gets Bama in Jordan-Hare this year, and thus, a second consecutive Iron Bowl championship. Auburn will go to the Cotton Bowl, where they'll most likely beat Nebraska 42-31.
There you have it...an unbiased and very realistic approach to collegiate football predictions...now I go have another glass of Navy and Orange Kool-Aid...
For those living here on the coast...if you can evacuate, do so. Living without power and running water is called "surviving." After three days it gets tougher. If you are a visitor to this area, GET OUT NOW. For those staying, hide good in sturdy rooms. Use ground anchors on boats and cars. Do not use them on children...
Enjoy the day.
August 24, 2011
College Football Preview
For the past several years, I have published my very own College Football outlook - I was 100% successful in picking the BCS National Champions - my very own Auburn Tigers! So I have to pick someone else, as Auburn would never, ever dare winning to in a row for me! I'll give the major three in this state a preview, attempt to crown an ACC Champion, preview Auburn, then the BCS National Championship team...
First - East Carolina...Everyone's favorite proverbial little brother has scrapped it's "traditional" offensive attack in favor of a spread attack that is fairly common in high schools and gaining favor in colleges. Dayon Arrington, one of the most underrated receivers in America can change a game at anytime, but is also great as a possession receiver. He runs good routes and has capable hands...and they'll be needed when QB Dominique Davis takes the field. The offense should be able to score with any of it's C-USA opponents, BUT...the defense was putrid last year. Navy could have made it to three digits on the scoreboard last year...the once gritty, physical defense has been replaced by, well I'm not sure. Coach McNeill was the Defensive Coordinator at a school where a good offense was the best defense. The Pirate defense can muster up big plays, but can also give up lots of big plays. For this team to be successful on defense, they'll have to force a lot of turnovers...Still, I imagine that with a good schedule and some lucky breaks, this team could win the East Division of C-USA...a 7-5 record is my prediction, but Game 1 against South Carolina in Charlotte will helped to paint a better picture of what this team is capable and incapable of...
UNC - After firing Butch Davis only weeks ago, the popular opinion is that this season will be in the tank. I tend to agree, but there have been many teams throughout history who were able to capitalize on the "underdog" role...and last year's team did much better than expected after it's tumultuous beginnineg. This year, Bryn Renner steps in to replace the consistent, yet oft-time maligned TJ Yates at quarterback...he could bring two dimensions to the position and lighten the load on the hulking 250 pound running back Ryan Houston. Houston is a marvel in short yardage, but is he durable enough to go the distance. The defense has a lot of speed in the backfield, but the true star might be Quinton Coples at end. There is a lot of speed on this side of the ball, and it's very similar to an SEC style defense...however the offense will have it's growing pains. I look for an 8-4 record...the ACC is just not very strong and home field advantages in most stadiums make road games less-daunting.
Tomorrow, expect t hear about NC State and Auburn!
Enjoy the day...
First - East Carolina...Everyone's favorite proverbial little brother has scrapped it's "traditional" offensive attack in favor of a spread attack that is fairly common in high schools and gaining favor in colleges. Dayon Arrington, one of the most underrated receivers in America can change a game at anytime, but is also great as a possession receiver. He runs good routes and has capable hands...and they'll be needed when QB Dominique Davis takes the field. The offense should be able to score with any of it's C-USA opponents, BUT...the defense was putrid last year. Navy could have made it to three digits on the scoreboard last year...the once gritty, physical defense has been replaced by, well I'm not sure. Coach McNeill was the Defensive Coordinator at a school where a good offense was the best defense. The Pirate defense can muster up big plays, but can also give up lots of big plays. For this team to be successful on defense, they'll have to force a lot of turnovers...Still, I imagine that with a good schedule and some lucky breaks, this team could win the East Division of C-USA...a 7-5 record is my prediction, but Game 1 against South Carolina in Charlotte will helped to paint a better picture of what this team is capable and incapable of...
UNC - After firing Butch Davis only weeks ago, the popular opinion is that this season will be in the tank. I tend to agree, but there have been many teams throughout history who were able to capitalize on the "underdog" role...and last year's team did much better than expected after it's tumultuous beginnineg. This year, Bryn Renner steps in to replace the consistent, yet oft-time maligned TJ Yates at quarterback...he could bring two dimensions to the position and lighten the load on the hulking 250 pound running back Ryan Houston. Houston is a marvel in short yardage, but is he durable enough to go the distance. The defense has a lot of speed in the backfield, but the true star might be Quinton Coples at end. There is a lot of speed on this side of the ball, and it's very similar to an SEC style defense...however the offense will have it's growing pains. I look for an 8-4 record...the ACC is just not very strong and home field advantages in most stadiums make road games less-daunting.
Tomorrow, expect t hear about NC State and Auburn!
Enjoy the day...
August 23, 2011
Hurricane Irene
Like it or now, it looks like Hurricane Irene is on her way to the North Carolina Coast. Meteorologists, TV Anchors, Neighbors, and Strangers all have their own predictions of what the the storm will hit and just how hard the hitting will be. Meanwhile, I'll take steps to protect my place and stuff. I'm pretty sure that today might be the best day to go ahead and gas the tanks, bake the bread, desalinize the water, and, well...yeah.
Unfortunately, some North Carolinians could stand to have their homes inundated twice in the past 300 days, dating back to last October when Tropical Storm Nicole bilged it's clouds into the low streets of Creswell and Columbia. Driving around in it's aftermath, it was comforting to see levels below doorways, but sump-pumping had to be enacted to empty out the crawl spaces. Hopefully, there's enough time and dire warning for folks to clean out the gutters, the crawl space, and even some lower level living spaces. Right here on Bulls Bay, the high ground as many call it, things should get a good soaking than a good lashing, should the storm follow it's anticipated path. Since the Sound is connected to the Atlantic, the storm is expected to push lots of water inland. I'm sure the rivers and streams and sound will rise a day or so before the storm, yet the wetlands, swamps, and marshes should act as sponges to save lots of low-lying coastal burgs...finally, a good use for wetlands. HA!
Also, I am well on my way to knocking out some items on my bucket list...for those that don't understand the term "Bucket List", it's basically a list of things you hope to accomplish in a certain amount of time, which is generally your life span. Nevertheless, a passport is on mine, and should be checked off very soon. I'm not sure why I haven't had this done already. Sure Alabama might as well be a foreign country, but it's not so there was no need to have a passport to visit neighboring states! Either way, I should be able to travel abroad as soon as I provide a horrible, poorly-lit picture, the details of my parent's birth sites, and my physical description. I look forward to stamping the passport with: Canada(!), England, Scotland, Argentina, South Africa, and Switzerland in the coming twenty years. Other bucket list items include strange foods, tough challenges, and famous handshakes. Should they occur throughout the tenure of this blog, they'll be posted.
So, for those of you in the Carolina coast country - heed the warnings, hope for the best, and help your neighbors...
Enjoy the day...
Unfortunately, some North Carolinians could stand to have their homes inundated twice in the past 300 days, dating back to last October when Tropical Storm Nicole bilged it's clouds into the low streets of Creswell and Columbia. Driving around in it's aftermath, it was comforting to see levels below doorways, but sump-pumping had to be enacted to empty out the crawl spaces. Hopefully, there's enough time and dire warning for folks to clean out the gutters, the crawl space, and even some lower level living spaces. Right here on Bulls Bay, the high ground as many call it, things should get a good soaking than a good lashing, should the storm follow it's anticipated path. Since the Sound is connected to the Atlantic, the storm is expected to push lots of water inland. I'm sure the rivers and streams and sound will rise a day or so before the storm, yet the wetlands, swamps, and marshes should act as sponges to save lots of low-lying coastal burgs...finally, a good use for wetlands. HA!
Also, I am well on my way to knocking out some items on my bucket list...for those that don't understand the term "Bucket List", it's basically a list of things you hope to accomplish in a certain amount of time, which is generally your life span. Nevertheless, a passport is on mine, and should be checked off very soon. I'm not sure why I haven't had this done already. Sure Alabama might as well be a foreign country, but it's not so there was no need to have a passport to visit neighboring states! Either way, I should be able to travel abroad as soon as I provide a horrible, poorly-lit picture, the details of my parent's birth sites, and my physical description. I look forward to stamping the passport with: Canada(!), England, Scotland, Argentina, South Africa, and Switzerland in the coming twenty years. Other bucket list items include strange foods, tough challenges, and famous handshakes. Should they occur throughout the tenure of this blog, they'll be posted.
So, for those of you in the Carolina coast country - heed the warnings, hope for the best, and help your neighbors...
Enjoy the day...
August 22, 2011
Back at it...
Summer Camp has now come and gone...and it was fairly fantastic. This year's staff was one for the record books, to put it lightly. Considered a re-loading year after a mass exodus in 2010 (on account of graduations), the 2011 staff put on a clinic! I hope that many of them return for even greater success next season. Next season will be important - we will go through our ACA accreditation next summer, which is no sweat for us, as last time we passed all applicable standards. Woo Hoo. We had nine weeks of camp this year, down a week from last year, but we hosted lots of full to nearly-full weeks of camp.Other highlights included Ohio State University's Cuyahoga County Youth Ambassadors retreat and the return of the Tyrrell County 4-H Day Camp. Takeoff 4-Health Camp, our healthy weight camp, saw great camper success, too. Canvasback was a hit with guests such as the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild, Allen Bliven of Allen Bliven Calls, Rig'em Right Waterfowl, and Noah's Ark Waterfowl. I have seen lots of those birds that were carved at some of the neighbors homes! A couple of campers have even started carving in wood and cork! Sailing camp was another tremendous hit with Captain Roger Morgan leading the way once again! And last, but certainly not least, 4-H Camp was as strong as ever...and looking to grow to another additional week next year. Our recipe for success? Safe programs, strong programs, and organized programs...it is easy for us to understand and implement - and our tradition is slowly building!
In unrelated, but relevant news, Hurricane Irene appears to be making a run at the coast. Of Florida. Or anywhere between there and New Jersey. Either way, the fickle nature of these storms makes me, and lots of others very nervous...one just cannot plan enough to get the right supplies and equipment. Still, the time to plan is now. You can revisit my older posts to learn about storm preparedness and how to make Survival Paste out of Bottles Water, Milk, Bread, and Eggs.
The Migratory Bird season is also inching closer...Eastern sportsmen and women should begin to gather duck stamps, licenses, and HIP permits, so that everyone is a legal eagle. Also, consider moving to steel shot for Mourning Doves - as it is much more eco-friendly!
Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to get back in to regular blogging. This upcoming weekend will have upwards of 300 people on site...so we'll be slammed with families and friends!
Enjoy the day!
In unrelated, but relevant news, Hurricane Irene appears to be making a run at the coast. Of Florida. Or anywhere between there and New Jersey. Either way, the fickle nature of these storms makes me, and lots of others very nervous...one just cannot plan enough to get the right supplies and equipment. Still, the time to plan is now. You can revisit my older posts to learn about storm preparedness and how to make Survival Paste out of Bottles Water, Milk, Bread, and Eggs.
The Migratory Bird season is also inching closer...Eastern sportsmen and women should begin to gather duck stamps, licenses, and HIP permits, so that everyone is a legal eagle. Also, consider moving to steel shot for Mourning Doves - as it is much more eco-friendly!
Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to get back in to regular blogging. This upcoming weekend will have upwards of 300 people on site...so we'll be slammed with families and friends!
Enjoy the day!
July 27, 2011
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Unfortnately, summer is beginning to wind down at the Eastern 4-H Center. Summer is a time that brings excitement and happiness to hundreds of thousands of people...especially those who had the opportunity to attend summer camp - and more specifically, Summer Camp at the Eastern 4-H Center.
Last week, we hosted our Specialty Week - Sailing Camp for aspiring sailors, Canvasback for future waterfowl conservationists/scientists/hunters, and Cloverbud for aspiring 9 year olds (it's for 5-8 year olds!). Specialty Week could probably be marked as one of the most dynamic weeks of camp in America, in part because of the sheer volume of variety or programming, but mainly because of the diversity of interests represented in our camper population.
Sailing Camp is always highlighted by the Sailing Trip - a Thursday "ride with the wind" that leads campers east into the Scuppernong River, to a picnic on the sandy banks. Often times, wind conditions are less than favorable in mid-July, and that case held true, at least on the embarkation. Nevertheless, a friendly and slow tow by Captain Roger Morgan had the kids their in no time. Yet, on the way back, the easterly wind made for a quiet, brisk, and wind powered returned to the docks at the Eastern 4-H Center. Campers also spent lots of time with ecology - learning about Atlantic Blue Crabs, Flounders, and Rockfish. Campers landed some giant crabs, smallish flounders, and no rockfish - but the campers learned why they wouldn't catch rockfish...it's because they are anadramous. Google it, and learn for yourself.
This year, new life was breathed into Camp Canvasback, thanks to our many new supporters and donors. Still, our sturdy standby, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission provided great education on hunter ethics, safety, and responsibility. Sgt. Mark Cagle was here everyday, along with officers Bryan White and Jim Shreckingost to offer Hunter Education Certification and Boat Safety. Kevin Briggs of Noah's Ark Waterfowl brought some of his ducks to show the campers...always a highlight are the non-native species. With these, campers quickly learn that waterfowl span the globe, and that not all have a greenhead...for which I am thankful. Allen Bliven, of Allen Bliven Calls, came out one night to meet and greet, display his calling prowess, describe the call making process, and to share great hunting stories. His family is very active in promoting safe youth waterfowl hunting. The Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild was also very active this year - they (Mr. Kent Hood and Jerry Talton) came up and helped the campers create their very own duck decoys. They also showcased some of their work, which further cemented their stature as two of the preeminent carvers in the world. Rig'em Right Waterfowl also provided campers with some gear - a great cap, decal, and waterfowl flag, for luring in wary ducks and geese. Rig'em Right is a North Carolina based company - so it's extra special that they are so willing to support our efforts and share our vision.
Cloverbud Camp is should be on every parent's wish list for their child's first overnight camp experience...heightened supervision ratios, along with our phenomenal safe and educational program offerings can comfort parents and satisfy young childrens "adventurous" attention spans. Cloverbud campers get to canoe, kayak, crab, rock climb, create crafts, teambuild, swim, and hone their archery skills. The Cloverbud Talent show is a perennial event that is probably made for TV, but fortunately, we have avoided the media circus that would ensue...30 six year old's cartwheelin' and singin' is definitely fun and heartwarming!
Nevertheless, our final camp is Takepff 4-Health...a camp that illstrates and teaches healthy lifestyle change through sustainable exercise and eating habits. It's a three week residential/immersion therapy program that is quickly becoming a national model for tackling childhood obesity and diabetes. We'll also have a special "Camp Gone Wild" Day Camp for Tyrrell County 4-H'ers, Ohio State University 4-H leadership retreat, and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Camp, in the coming weeks. As soon as summer ends, the jubilant shrieks of joy will not cease, only deepen, as adults from several different University, Corporate, and Religious retreats descend upon our waterfront. This fall looks to be very busy...and as much as I miss the excitement of summer, I do look forward to the re-focus due in the fall. Oh, and football season starts at the same time, too...along with a couple of other great seasons!
Enjoy the day...
Last week, we hosted our Specialty Week - Sailing Camp for aspiring sailors, Canvasback for future waterfowl conservationists/scientists/hunters, and Cloverbud for aspiring 9 year olds (it's for 5-8 year olds!). Specialty Week could probably be marked as one of the most dynamic weeks of camp in America, in part because of the sheer volume of variety or programming, but mainly because of the diversity of interests represented in our camper population.
Sailing Camp is always highlighted by the Sailing Trip - a Thursday "ride with the wind" that leads campers east into the Scuppernong River, to a picnic on the sandy banks. Often times, wind conditions are less than favorable in mid-July, and that case held true, at least on the embarkation. Nevertheless, a friendly and slow tow by Captain Roger Morgan had the kids their in no time. Yet, on the way back, the easterly wind made for a quiet, brisk, and wind powered returned to the docks at the Eastern 4-H Center. Campers also spent lots of time with ecology - learning about Atlantic Blue Crabs, Flounders, and Rockfish. Campers landed some giant crabs, smallish flounders, and no rockfish - but the campers learned why they wouldn't catch rockfish...it's because they are anadramous. Google it, and learn for yourself.
This year, new life was breathed into Camp Canvasback, thanks to our many new supporters and donors. Still, our sturdy standby, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission provided great education on hunter ethics, safety, and responsibility. Sgt. Mark Cagle was here everyday, along with officers Bryan White and Jim Shreckingost to offer Hunter Education Certification and Boat Safety. Kevin Briggs of Noah's Ark Waterfowl brought some of his ducks to show the campers...always a highlight are the non-native species. With these, campers quickly learn that waterfowl span the globe, and that not all have a greenhead...for which I am thankful. Allen Bliven, of Allen Bliven Calls, came out one night to meet and greet, display his calling prowess, describe the call making process, and to share great hunting stories. His family is very active in promoting safe youth waterfowl hunting. The Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild was also very active this year - they (Mr. Kent Hood and Jerry Talton) came up and helped the campers create their very own duck decoys. They also showcased some of their work, which further cemented their stature as two of the preeminent carvers in the world. Rig'em Right Waterfowl also provided campers with some gear - a great cap, decal, and waterfowl flag, for luring in wary ducks and geese. Rig'em Right is a North Carolina based company - so it's extra special that they are so willing to support our efforts and share our vision.
Cloverbud Camp is should be on every parent's wish list for their child's first overnight camp experience...heightened supervision ratios, along with our phenomenal safe and educational program offerings can comfort parents and satisfy young childrens "adventurous" attention spans. Cloverbud campers get to canoe, kayak, crab, rock climb, create crafts, teambuild, swim, and hone their archery skills. The Cloverbud Talent show is a perennial event that is probably made for TV, but fortunately, we have avoided the media circus that would ensue...30 six year old's cartwheelin' and singin' is definitely fun and heartwarming!
Nevertheless, our final camp is Takepff 4-Health...a camp that illstrates and teaches healthy lifestyle change through sustainable exercise and eating habits. It's a three week residential/immersion therapy program that is quickly becoming a national model for tackling childhood obesity and diabetes. We'll also have a special "Camp Gone Wild" Day Camp for Tyrrell County 4-H'ers, Ohio State University 4-H leadership retreat, and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Camp, in the coming weeks. As soon as summer ends, the jubilant shrieks of joy will not cease, only deepen, as adults from several different University, Corporate, and Religious retreats descend upon our waterfront. This fall looks to be very busy...and as much as I miss the excitement of summer, I do look forward to the re-focus due in the fall. Oh, and football season starts at the same time, too...along with a couple of other great seasons!
Enjoy the day...
July 11, 2011
Grange Camp
Whew....Blogging has definitely taken a backseat to running what many are proclaiming the best camp on America's East Coast. Last week, summer camp was closed, on account of the holiday. Most children are fortunate enough to spend America's birthday with their family, and our staff did the same.
Nevertheless, week 2 of 4-H Camp, which began 2 weeks ago, and ended approximately 9 days ago could have been our best week ever. Ever. The summer staff is very cerebral, and cautious, which makes our camp as safe as any place you could send your child. Our programmatic upgrades enure that children get a genuine taste for the coast. Running camp programs on the coast is simple...find out what the local youth do for fun, and then offer it. Many of our campers come from over 2 hours away, so experiencing the salty breezes, waves, wind, blue crabs, kayaking, and our phenomenal teambuilding is very important to the staff.
This week is Grange Camp...Grange Camp is different than 4-H Camps, and different means fun. Grange campers are very familiar with their leadership staff, and this is more of a reunion that summer camp. But don't be fooled. Grange Camp has featured a rise in youth enrollment, so lots of new youth are being inducted into the Grange. I suppose that if I didn't love 4-H, and it's values, then Grange might be Number 1. But for now, 4-H is where my heart is...but I am looking forward to a fun week of Grange Camp.
The fun will begin with the Great Grange Challenge, tonight! Basically, the GGC is a "no-frills" water park, where campers, counselors, and unsuspecting bystanders get saturated with water through a series of games. Only the rattiest, yet camp appropriate attire is expected...everyone gets doused, whether wanted or warranted. I'll wear my hip waders, but someone will undoubtedly pour water down the leg stockings. Should the attempt such a bold maneuver, I have outlets for recourse.
Grange also has several songs that they sing during meals. For instance, if one person fails to put a napkin in their lap, another Grange Camper or Staff will begin by saying "Camper, Camper, you're a slouch, put a napkin in your lap. Round the table you must go, you must go, you must go"...until the camper circles the table in front of the entertained dining crowd. I, however, enjoy hiding the napkin in my lap, so that after I am called out, I can reveal the hidden napkin...much to the chagrin of the ambitious, yet misguided campers and/or staff.
So it's a week filled with good, clean fun!
Enjoy the day!
Nevertheless, week 2 of 4-H Camp, which began 2 weeks ago, and ended approximately 9 days ago could have been our best week ever. Ever. The summer staff is very cerebral, and cautious, which makes our camp as safe as any place you could send your child. Our programmatic upgrades enure that children get a genuine taste for the coast. Running camp programs on the coast is simple...find out what the local youth do for fun, and then offer it. Many of our campers come from over 2 hours away, so experiencing the salty breezes, waves, wind, blue crabs, kayaking, and our phenomenal teambuilding is very important to the staff.
This week is Grange Camp...Grange Camp is different than 4-H Camps, and different means fun. Grange campers are very familiar with their leadership staff, and this is more of a reunion that summer camp. But don't be fooled. Grange Camp has featured a rise in youth enrollment, so lots of new youth are being inducted into the Grange. I suppose that if I didn't love 4-H, and it's values, then Grange might be Number 1. But for now, 4-H is where my heart is...but I am looking forward to a fun week of Grange Camp.
The fun will begin with the Great Grange Challenge, tonight! Basically, the GGC is a "no-frills" water park, where campers, counselors, and unsuspecting bystanders get saturated with water through a series of games. Only the rattiest, yet camp appropriate attire is expected...everyone gets doused, whether wanted or warranted. I'll wear my hip waders, but someone will undoubtedly pour water down the leg stockings. Should the attempt such a bold maneuver, I have outlets for recourse.
Grange also has several songs that they sing during meals. For instance, if one person fails to put a napkin in their lap, another Grange Camper or Staff will begin by saying "Camper, Camper, you're a slouch, put a napkin in your lap. Round the table you must go, you must go, you must go"...until the camper circles the table in front of the entertained dining crowd. I, however, enjoy hiding the napkin in my lap, so that after I am called out, I can reveal the hidden napkin...much to the chagrin of the ambitious, yet misguided campers and/or staff.
So it's a week filled with good, clean fun!
Enjoy the day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)