The End Is Near...

Yes...it's that time of year when the end is near. A new year and a new journey awaits us. But first, let us reflect on the year past.

Pretty much in a nutshell...It sucked for me.

Rain
Heatwave after heatwave
12 hour shifts for 6 months
Got fed up with peoples constant bitching
Developed a very negative attitude myself
I didn't enjoy cooking anymore

Then...

...it was because of that, that it was time to take a breath and refocus.

I was not the happy laid back grouch I normally was. I couldn't make plans. I hated my job and people were idiots. I was drinking more to drowned out the people and the noise in my head. When I did cook, it was a chore, not a comfort. That right there...was the breaking point.

I have loved to cook or grill since I was 19 years old. It has never been a chore, always a pleasure for me. Work was running my life...not me. It was time to get the noise out of my brain and refocus my anger. Anger had built up inside of me once before years ago, I couldn't let that happen again. It all most destroyed me...

...I won't let that happen again.

As luck or fate would have it...we went back to 8 hour shifts.

Maybe because we were about fed up with being treated like a bunch of 4 year olds in a prison camp. They knew we were ready to lay down on them and shut an assembly plant down. Bless their little black hearted souls, they do care about us.

So...

With a new mind frame and thicker skin, I journey into the new year with a new attitude and new resolutions and a new tattoo.

Want ta see it?



Happy New Year!!!

B.D.

This & That...

How do things get started? Simple things...

A desire turns into a need? A need becomes a desire? A desire becomes an obsession? An obsession becomes a need?

Whoa...timeout B.D. what in the hell are you talking about?

Pigs...

Pigs?

Pigs...

Okay, I'm lost. A pig is a pig. Is a pig really a pig or not?

What? No, no, no...

It started a few years ago. We would see a stuffed piggy somewhere and would say: Ah, look at the cute piggy! And it would go home with us.

Now, we have piggy's everywhere. How did a desire become an obsession?

We can't stop...

Ah...look at the cute little piggy. Who's a cute little piggy?




You are...

And now, we're buying squeaky piggy toys...for the dog!

B.D.

Weekend Report...

It's over...almost...

What a whirlwind of a week. Let's see if I can remember everything.

Julie and myself, meeting with Vicky and Tracy Wednesday night for our annual Christmas foray at Darfons Restaurant & Lounge Good food, good friends, a good night out.

Seeing everybody Thursday night at Tusculum Lanes

Christmas Eve, my mother-in-law taking a misstep on some steps. Resulting in a hair line fracture in her foot. She still made it over to our house, with the rest of the family.

Snow Christmas Eve...

Not a heavy snow. Actually, it started out as sleet. Then changed to a light snow.

A White Christmas for much of Tennessee.



The roads were fine...

So, we all got together at the in-laws for Christmas Dinner. My mother-in-law usually does the honors but she had to sit most of this one out. So the sisters, Lynn, Julie, and Blondie stepped up and maned the kitchen.

The girls did a fine job and everybody was stuffed. But by then, the temperature had started to drop and the roads had begun to freeze over and it was time to head home...

Sunday, will be cold and windy all day. Today will be...just a lazy day.

Now, I'm sure I left things out, or missed a detail here or there, but all in all, it was a great White Christmas.

One thing I do want to tell you is although I've already thanked him on Facebook, I'll thank him here as well.

My good friend Robert of WhiteTrashBBQ sent me some cookbooks and other goodies for Christmas.

I like and respect Robert because he is a good old no holds barred tell it like it is writer, cook, father, and family man.

Now, you might ask yourself...how can a grouchy old Southern Hillbilly from Tennessee and a Northern Yankee from Brooklyn be friends?

That's easy...

For one...our hearts are in the right place.
We have the same love and passion for great barbecue
We both tell it like it is. If you didn't like the answer you should have asked someone else. We'll tell you the truth.

We both learn from our cooking triumphs and learn from our mistakes.

And the most important reason for why we are friends. We show and have respect for one another.

That's what old school barbecue cooks do. That's what human beings do. That's what friends do...

So...

Now you know why we are friends. Thanks Robert, it was and is, much appreciated.




B.D.

Merry Christmas...

From all of us here at MacDaddy's Grill...

Big Daddy
Julie
Robyn
Sweetie

...and Jethro

Merry Christmas!!!

'Twas the Night before Christmas...

It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?
Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."
The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,
Same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust," She'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, Watch The Young & the Restless." "Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!
"I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?! I scared... and I am wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."

The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,
as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.
"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal. "
That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear, "
Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right."

Is that you Santy Claus???

B.D.

Simply Monday...

As most of you know, I do a Wordless Wednesday. When I do this, I always put a quote under a picture of some kind.

Wordless Wednesday, was created to show pictures of food...thus, being wordless. As time went on, I started adding quotes with the pictures. Here of late, I have not been posting Wordless Wednesday for one reason or another.

This, by no means...means that Wordless Wednesday is history.

It will return...

I try to find quotes (when I have the time) that mean something, or makes the reader reflect upon something. A feeling, a moment in time, our daily life, our pain, our love, our heart break, or our courage.

Some quotes I find, some are my own and some make us think and wonder, was this meant for me? The famous line...Are you talkin' to me?

This quote I'm about to post is profound and far reaching. We've all been to the edge of the light and seen the darkness of our soul. Faith...must be pure and unquestioned by the heart. Our mind will always ask questions.

Our soul...will always find the answers.


When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.

B.D.

Happy B-Day...

Happy B-Day to my wife Julie. This is her day...

Now, Julie only has one B-Day wish. That wish is that it snows on her birthday. We got the snow earlier in the week. But I do remember back in 2006 it was 72 degrees on this day.

I was loving every minute of it...

Julie was hating every minute of it...

When it's your wife's birthday wish for snow and you're doing the 'happy dance' because it ain't...well...

It's a good thing she loves me.

But back in 2006, she could have killed me with that look. You know that look you get from women sometimes when you are really happy, but she is really pissed...

Yes, THAT look.



Hope you get your wish honey, but if not, don't blame me...

B.D.

Simply Thursday...

Somebody has a B-Day coming up Sat.

Could that somebody be my wife? Could be...

Will I have to put on my Sub Zero Thermal Underwear and venture outside to fire up a grill or a smoker? Could be...

Will it be cold outside? Could be...

Stay tuned...

B.D.

This & That...

It's coming...

...bad weather. Snow, freezing rain, bone chilling cold and wind chills below ZERO!

Great...

The winds are up now. Gust as high as 35 mph with nothing between it and us but cold air. Snow is in the forecast for today and Monday. Freezing rain and sleet on Wednesday.

Now, I can deal with snow. Snow is not that hard to drive on until it turns to hard packed slick snow. Then it might as well be ice down here. You see, we have hills and valleys all over Tennessee. Very few straight roads...

There is a hump, a dip, a drop, a hill, a slope, a curve, something...in almost every road in every direction you travel. Snow makes driving bad. But freezing rain, is the worst thing that can happen to hill country.

Now, I will admit that Southern drivers are not made well for this kind of weather. We can handle pouring rain, mud slides, and dodging skunks, possums and squirrels and sometimes deer, (although I think deer take out more cars than slick roads do) but we just ain't good at driving in cold bad weather.

It's like asking a dog to stop lickin'...it ain't going to happen.

We don't...(what's that word?) adapt well...to snow and ice or cold weather. Sure we loved it as kids, but having responsibility now, it's like night and day, hot and cold. I don't do cold well...

If you may remember in Jan. of this year, I slipped and fell flat on my back re fracturing two ribs I had fractured 30 years before in a car wreck. That fall on ice in the parking lot at work, took me 6 months to recover from. I still feel those ribs today...

I see why bears go into caves and groundhogs go into dens.

For the same reasons we Southerners have two simple words run through our minds every time winter comes through our part of the woods.

What are those two simple words...you might ask?


Screw this...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

This is the NOAA forecast for Nashville...yea...

Today: Rain, mainly after noon. High near 54. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tonight: Rain before midnight, then snow. Low around 27. South wind around 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday: Snow showers. High near 29. Windy, with a west wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 10. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 26. North northwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. East wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain, freezing rain, and sleet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain showers and sleet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42.

Weekend Report...

Well...I believe Old Man Winter has finally won the 'tug of war' with Sister South Breeze.

Dang if it ain't got cold down here.

Stop whining B.D. it's December! It's supposed to be cold.

I know that Jethro...I just don't like and never will like cold weather. If I did, I'd move to the Arctic Circle and dance the "Happy Dance" of the Madman.

The what?

Never mind...

The South has always been famous for a lot of things. Our food, our hospitality, our humid Summers, our storms and tornadoes, our Fall colors and our loathing of cold weather and our liquor. I think that's why corn liquor was invented. That slow burn kept a body warm and toasty during the cold winter weather.

But, when corn liquor was made illegal, we rose to the challenge and invented Long Johns or Thermal Underwear, as they are called today.

And if you had Long Johns and corn liquor...well...you didn't care if it stayed cold until next June.

Today, we have the modern marvels of Sub Zero coats and gloves and ear muffs and boots and socks and underwear.

It takes two hours to put this stuff on and you waddle like a Penguin, but you're nice and toasty and...MAW, I GOT TO GO POTTY!!!...warm.

"Happy Dance" of the Madman

B.D.

This & That...

Consensus Reality

From the moment we draw our first breath to the moment we release our last, we are conditioned to define and measure ourselves by one thing only: our relationship to all that is outside of us. We are systematically trained and conditioned by those who raise and nurture us to enter into a “consensus reality,” or “group agreement,” that many times has nothing to do with whom we are, and everything to do with the customs and belief systems that conditioned our parents and grandparents, who were in turn influenced by the society in which they were raised.

Consensus reality is a very powerful influence. It structures our relationship to and with all things outside of us. More importantly, it conditions and severely limits our understanding of the relationship we have with our self.
- Jim Self

Weekend Report...

Well, my week of R & R is over, sadly to say, it's back to work next week. It's not as bad now since we are back on a normal shift again, but work still sucks. Yes...at least I still have a job, unlike a lot of folks out there.

But having a job and enjoying a job are two different things entirely.

At my age now, I should have a job I enjoy going to everyday. As much stress as we have had to endure over the last several years, this is not that job I use to enjoy anymore.

It has always been said: Treat people the way you want to be treated.

How do I want to be treated? Provide the tools and materials that I need to preform the job, let me do the job, and leave me alone. Don't treat me like a four year old in a prison camp. Show me and my family some respect.

You're not God so quit acting like it...

We stayed with this company out of respect for what it stood for years ago. Sadly...that respect was never returned to us. Our willingness to help was stepped on. Our loyalty was cast aside like yesterdays trash. And now another chapter is about to unfold by years end.

The only answer we get is you'll do it and like it.

I'm getting too old for this Days Of Our Life drama...

Damn, that was a short week off.

B.D.

Black Friday...

Welcome to BLACK FRIDAY...BWAAAHAHAHAHAhahahaaa!!!

Just what the hell is Black Friday? Here's this old country boys' take on it...

It was a dark and stormy night...

Knock it off Jethro... Years ago as a kid, we got excited to see Christmas stuff coming out at the END OF November. We knew December meant Christmas was coming. There was no such thing as Black Friday back then. Each holiday got its time in the spot light and wasn't pushed aside for the next one.

One at a time...

Let us fast forward in time shall we?

Modern day shopping...A few years back, some genius came up with a plan.

People get excited about Christmas, so let's start putting things out just a tad early to build excitement and get some money in the cash register. Then on Christmas Eve we can run huge mark downs for that last minute gift. It'll be a hit...

And so it went...until corporate boards got involved and share holders demanded a bigger slice of the pie.

And the monster was born...

Yes Jethro, it was.


This monster, always hungry for more, started devouring other holidays. Their limelight darkened by this beast that no longer lurked in the shadows. Hunger and greed could no longer be content with its limelight.

It must feed...

Working backwards, this beast consumes the holidays of Thanksgiving and Halloween.

Hurry up and EAT your CANDY and your BIRD. Then come feed MMMEEEeee...

Soon...

The beast will devour Labor Day and the 4th of July and so on until...all is lost to the beast.


“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost holidays pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”


Black Friday...yes indeed. The sales are first this time and if you don't act now...

...the crowds are like the beast. We must have it, we must, we must have it...under the trance of illusion that you will lose out, if you don't feed the beast...the sales will be gone forever.

FEEEEED MMMEEEE!!! Cries the beast...


God help us all.

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Well sort of...

First and foremost, we here at MacDaddy's Grill want to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the food and parades and football games. Be thankful and don't forget to kiss the cook (or cooks) on this splendid day of giving thanks for all and everything we have.

This is one of the days I don't cook something.

My mother-in-law has that honor of being in the kitchen and working her magic to feed all of the family that invade the house on this day. Being about 14 hungry stomachs if everybody shows up.

And believe me, when Mom's in the kitchen, they will be there.

Her special days are:

Thanksgiving
Christmas
Easter

The rest of the year is left up to us brothers-in-law that master the grills and smokers. And sometimes the sisters will surprise the boys and fix up a mean meal as well.

So, I'm sure whomever wears the apron on this day in your house, the food will be great and the "Thanks" will be a blessing...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Storms came through about 3:30 this morning. Plenty of thunder and lightning...

Weekend Report...

Ever feel like you're lucky? Or feel like God, really is taking care of you?

Yes, I believe in God.

I believe God still looks out after drunks and fools.

And that he really looks out for us fool drunks that have our hearts in the right place.

Lucky? Well, yes...

Believe me...me and God have had our fair share of problems and knockdown drag outs. But, he's still there for me.

Now, I'm sure you're saying: Okay, where is this leading?

Well like I said, do you ever feel lucky? I backed our Tahoe out of the garage (which had been driven all week) and turned it off while I went about my biz. When it was time to ride...

...it was deader than a doornail. I'm like: What the...?

Anyway, long story short...the battery had crapped out. Now, it was a good thing it died in the driveway and not on the road or a parking lot because I would have been pissed and it would have been junked.

And if Julie had of been out some where like they were in Birmingham last week.

My motto: You make me walk, your muffler is toast.

The Tahoe is a 2008 so the battery was not that old. But that accounts for nada...

I've had OEM batteries last 10 years. And some only last 2 years. I've had OEM tires last 65,000 miles and some only 25,000. So, it doesn't matter if the car is new or old. Sometimes you get your moneys worth...

...and sometimes you don't. This battery cost $154.

Now, what has this got to do with God?

He knew I'd be pissed and use more than a few choice French words. And, I'd throw his and his sons name in there as well...

...so he just said: Don't let it start. He'll cuss a little, but he won't have to walk and he'll figure it out.

Thanks Big Guy...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

"The nicest thing for me is sleep, then at least I can dream."

Simply Tuesday...

Well...

Sister Rain has been at the party all day. Old Man Winter is trying to crash the party. But he ain't got his foot in the door yet.

But he's trying...

B.D.

Favorite Food Groups...

Favorite food groups...

That, can make you think for a moment. What are food groups? And what are my favorite?

Is beer in any food group B.D.?

Jethro my friend, beer fits into them all. So don't worry about that...

What are food groups? Well, it's pretty simple.

Meats
Veggies
Grains (that's how beer made it into the food group)
Cheeze Whiz
Crackers
Potato chips
Peanut butter
Mayo
Mustard
Hot sauce
BBQ sauce

That makes up your major food groups.

I don't see chocolate covered strawberries or bananas, is there not a food group for them B.D.?

Why yes there is Jethro. How could I have forgotten the most important food group of them all?

Chocolate...

Here's a recipe that incorporates some of these food groups.


Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Banana Upside-Down Cake
From Food & Wine

3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for the pan
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup milk
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
4 bananas, halved lengthwise

Preheat the oven to 350o F and lightly butter the sides of a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt.

In a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat 2 sticks of the butter with the granulated sugar at medium speed until very fluffy; 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the vanilla. In 3 alternating batches, beat in the flour mixture and the milk. Transfer one-fourth of the batter to the medium bowl and stir in the melted chocolate. Beat the peanut butter into the remaining batter.

In a small bowl, blend the remaining stick of butter with the brown sugar and spread it in the baking dish. Arrange the bananas, cut side down, in the dish.

Spoon dollops of the peanut butter batter into the dish and fill in the gaps with the chocolate batter. Gently swirl the batters together with a table knife.

Set a baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven and bake the cake on the center rack for 60-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert it onto a platter.

Let the cake cool slightly, then cut into squares and serve. The unmolded cake can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Wordless Wednesday...

I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth.

Weekend Report...part II

I believe we are OK now here at the Grill. There are still a few bugs to be worked out, but we are (as they use to say on the CB radio) Wall to Wall and Tree Top Tall.

That means: "I hear you loud and clear" in trucker lingo...

I do want to say "Thank you" to all of you that stick with us when we have trouble, or have not posted anything in a while. I'm no rocket scientist when it comes to computers. I'm a dinosaur in a world that has passed me by...

I can figure things out, and it takes time because I don't understand all the lingo. It's like Spanish, I know a few words but I will never know the full language. Same with computers. I know just enough to be dangerous...

To the computer...not to myself.

Now this blog, I did pretty much on my own. Blogger provided the template and I did the rest because I learned how to read and write some code for HTML. But things have progressed way beyond that these days...

iphones and ipads and ihops and iwill and iaint's...you get the picture.

I need help sometimes...

Now, I ain't one of those guys that is too proud to ask for help when need be. Nor am I one of those guys that points fingers at someone else when I screw something up.

I'll ask for help and take full blame. But this old dinosaur does know a few things.

I'm grateful for my readers...

That keep coming back everyday, to check up on me and leave comments and laugh along with me, or cry with me. Readers, that don't mind if this ole country boy makes spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes because you see...

This dinosaur ain't perfect...



Technology has passed this ole boy by. But it's you...that makes me come back everyday and tell a story, or get you to laugh for awhile, or think for a minute...What the?

That's me...not the computer.

So...

I believe we're OK now, after some setbacks and a few choice French words (that I do understand) from Julie, our new home computer is plugged and primed and ready to go.

Mr. Sulu take the helm...stand by Warp Engines Mr. Scott...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Yep, it's that time of year again...

Time for the chili pot to come out and fill the house with the aroma of smells from cooking on the stove top because the weather has grown cold outside. Does this mean cooking outdoors is over this season?

No...

It ain't that cold yet.

But still, it is just around the corner. You know, when you don't fix something after a period of time, your memory is not what it used to be. In my case, I forgot what went into my chili.

Yes...I brain farted.

I had to go back and look up my own recipe that I have made for years. I guess that's why we lowly creatures must write everything down or it will be forgotten forever.

We, the smartest of the food chain, can't rely on our own brains to remember things.

Is that why we write down history?
Is that why we keep records?
Is that why man invented pen, pencil and paper?

I tend to say yes to all three...

We trust many things, but we can't trust our own brains to remember anything. Like myself, I couldn't remember what my own recipe was that I have made a thousand times.

Too many beers and too many years.

Oh well, at least I was smart enough to write it down...

B.D.

Testing...

Weekend Report...

Let's do a play on words...

Two words. What and now.

Two simple words, but how they are said, means two different things.

What now?

Asks a question, what will happen now? What shall we do now? It asks for guidance, innocence comes to the forefront of being lost and unguided, what does the future hold now?

Now what?

Comes across as being irritated at an annoyance of some kind. Bad luck has crossed our path and it's like what else can happen. As if my day could get worse.

Two simple words...

It's all about the context of how they are placed that construe their meaning.

Simple words...


Do we pay attention to our words? A language we take for granted sometimes...

Words can be comforting...or words can be harsh, conveying our feeling and sometimes revealing our deepest dark secrets of how we really feel towards something or someone...

Words can heal, bring comfort, induce well being, confidence and trust. Or they can hurt, cause insecurity, bad feelings and promote hate and anger and revenge...

Words, are the band-aids in life we need sometimes, or they can be the sharpest of swords in a battle than can never be won by anyone.

Words, cause emotion, emotions cloud our judgement, clouded judgement only leads to more angry words...

Angry words lead to...

NOW WHAT?

When the question should be...What now?

B.D.

This & That...

We're still having trouble with our home computer, (or I am anyway) so a new one is ready to be installed and brought to life. Hopefully, this will solve the issues on my side of the problems that have plagued me here and elsewhere as well...

It seems the life of a computer is about 5 years. It either dies slowly or goes crash and burn in a glory of taking everything you have worked on (or saved) in those 5 years with it.

So, I guess in car years, 5 years on a computer is like 250,000 miles. She's about to let you down and make you start walking...

We've got our 249,000 miles out of her and she is now on life support.

We will lay her to rest and thank her for the service she has given us through the years.

Out with the old...and in with the new.

We'll see ya on the flip side...I hope...

B.D.


Oh, PS.

Thank you to my girl Vicky for the B-day card. I got a good laugh out of that one darlin'

Happy B-day...

Happy B-day...to me!



Yes, this lowly ole white boy turns 53 today.

Amazing...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Well I think Fall (or Autumn) has landed here in Tennessee. Temperatures have dropped to the cooler side of "Yup, that feels better." We never slide into anything. It's either hot or cold...

We only get a few days of pleasant weather here and there, so we must enjoy these while they last. It's seems years ago, we did kind of slide into the seasons. But now, it's either Polar bear cold or damp underwear steaming hot. Hardly any in between nice weather at all.

So, I've got a few more things to get done outside today before going back to work tomorrow.

As you saw from the post below, I was talking about recipes. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Well...here's one for ya that is a mouth full.


Center-Cut Pork Loin Chop Broiled a la Plancha with a Soubise of Toy Box Tomatoes, Hydroponic Watercress, Micro Arugula, accompanied by a Nougatine of Spring Onions, garnished with Daikon Escab`eche, topped with Prune Essence and Juniper Foam.


I am not making that up...I swear!

Do you want fries with that?

B.D.

This & That...

Recipes...

There are millions, perhaps billions, of recipes for everything know to man (or woman) that can be sliced, diced, chopped, baked, broiled, fried, grilled and so forth and so on.

Recipes, that are good or great.

Some that need to be tweaked and some that just don't work no matter how hard you try to fix them. And of course, a recipe must have a name...

The name, depicts just what the recipe is. A label...shall we say of what you are looking at.

Some are spot on and accurate, some are off the mark just a tad and some...ain't even in the ball park.

Most recipes will tell you the process of cooking and...what it is that's about to be cooked. In most cases, they are right...

As an example: Baked Potato

There is no doubt what so ever. It's baked...and it's a potato. Pretty simple right?

Now the word barbecue, takes on many meanings in recipes. But, barbecue, really means only one thing...low and slow and true old school cooking. Did you notice I didn't say grilling?

Most recipes will say barbecued, if they have a barbecue sauce involved.

Example: Oven baked barbecued chicken. It should read...

Oven baked chicken with barbecue sauce. You can't really barbecue in the oven. So some names can be deceptive.

Case in point...


I ran across a recipe called Baked Potato Dip.

Only, there was no potato, nor was it baked. The only thing close was potato chips used for eating the so called baked potato dip, that's not baked and has no potatoes in it.

Did I miss something?

Were ingredients left out? Was the recipe in error of instructions? Was Jack going to marry Jill?

My point is...key words in recipes catch our eyes. Hey look at me! Yo, dude!

So what was the recipe?

Sour cream
Mayo
Cheddar cheese
Green onions
Bacon
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours

And not a spud nor oven in sight...

Yo, dude!

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Optimists think the glass is half full. Pessimists think the glass is half empty. Realists know that someone will have to wash the glass...

Sorry folks, my side of the computer is still in limbo meaning my stuff is sitting on the sidelines right now.

But, I'm still here and as soon as this is resolved I will be able to post pictures again.

It's a pain in the butt for sure, but it will get fixed...sometime...between now and next year.

Happy B-day to Mish!!

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Whatever comes our way... whatever battle is raging inside us, we always have a choice. It’s the choices that make us what we are... and we can always choose to do what's right.

This & That...

Working 12 hours a day will really get you behind on your home chores. After Labor Day, I took the rest of the week off just to do that...get some things done!

I will say, I've got more done than I thought I would. I've put a nice little dent in the old "TO DO List" doing a lot of work outside and some work inside as well.

Today, Sister Rain is here...this is a good thing because we need the rain, but it has changed my game plan just a tad because I still need to do a few more things outside.

So, it will be the inside "TO DO List" for a day or two...

This list is small, but needed just the same. I don't want to get into full blown projects inside and then have to back paddle and hit the outdoors running once again before going back to my favorite 'hell hole' called work.

But the clock is ticking...and I'm only one man with two hands and a lot to get done.

So...

Break time is over...back to work.

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Our home computer has taken a major hit. I don't know when it will back up to snuff. Julie is working on it. So just bear with me. This has never happened before...

Now, we have had trouble before, but this time, it has pretty much shut us (or me) down. So just hang with me...and I'll be up and running as soon as I can.

And the Grill will be back to her full glory...

B.D.

This & That...

Sorry, the computer at home had a few too many and got loopy on us. Julie is trying to get it back on its feet without pulling out all of her hair.

Computers can be great, or they can be a major pain in the posterior region of butt crack valley.

Just like most things, a little love, and a lot of... "Son of a..." "Oh no you didn't just do that..." "What the ???" "Dammit, dammit, dammit..."

And so on...it's always something. So the Grill will be in dial down mode for a while. I can't post any pictures because I can't find them right now and everything is different. It's like starting over from scratch...

I've taken a few days off to try and get things done around here. The weather should be just right for work outside. No more 100+ days in sight. I hope...

As far as cooking, I'll get some cooking time in this week...

So, enjoy your holiday and be safe.

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

Weekend Report...

I believe I'm going to have to stop cooking with Pecan wood. Flies from surrounding counties drop in for a little taste of heaven.

Hell, I believe flies from other states hop on the upper level wind currents and hitch a ride into my backyard.

They stay camped out and stealth camouflage is used by the scouts on recon...


Uh, Charlie One Niner, do you have a visual of the perimeter?

10-4 Winger-3. Target is in sight, I repeat, target is in sight.

Uh, Charlie One Niner, does the target have a towel in his left back pocket?

Roger Winger-3, confirm towel in the back pocket, left side. He's going to cook sir!!

Roger that Charlie One Niner. Pull back and wait for orders.

Roger Winger-3. I'll take mine medium rare sir.

Copy that One Niner...copy that.


B.D.

This & That...

Yeah I know, I'm not posting regularly like I use to.

As most of you know, I'm working my butt off right now. Have been most of the summer. This will continue for all of the month of September and maybe into October as well.

At least it's not a 100 degrees everyday anymore. Thank God for that...

Then, maybe we get to go back to 8 hour shifts. Why are we working so much in an economy that sucks?

One word...Management Stupidity.

B.D. that's two words?!

No Jethro, that's one LONG word, trust me...


So on my days off, I've got a backlog of things to do. Like yesterday...get something fixed on the truck, stay at a bank for 2 hrs. to take care of something that should have only taken 20 minutes at the most. Come home, cut grass...

Things like that. I'm headed outside after this post to pull weeds out of the landscaping. The up lights on the outside have stopped working. I bought the stuff to fix it awhile back...it's on the list.

Then, wanting to cook something. There is a contest going on this weekend that I was in 3 years ago with another team. The team captain pissed me off enough that year, I started my own team.



I have yet to enter a contest under this flagship banner. But I do want to enter this contest and do some major butt kicking to this former team.

But work and time have not been on my side these last couple of years.

Sure, I could hire someone to do all my outside work and have plenty of time. But that's just one more bill I don't need. I have enough bills now...

So, I'll just trudge on in my misery. Get done what I can, when I can.

And maybe some day...

B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future.

You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success.

Weekend Report...

I fired up the gas Weber yesterday for some bone-in rib eyes, shrimp and mushrooms. Topped off with baked potatoes. Some fine eatin' in these here part of the woods.

I've got some pork steaks to grill (last ones were pan fried) with some green beans and maybe some pan fried yellow squash for this afternoon.

I'm ready to fire up the pit...but that will have to wait until I have time to spend all day with it. The WSM needs to be cleaned as well as the Weber charcoal grills. Both grills need new grates (that I have in the garage) and I'll change them when I clean them.

My grills are not nasty, but you need to give your grill a good washing now and then with a water hose and a grill brush. With me using pecan wood on every cook, it builds up a residue that must be washed off the grill and the grates.

Nobody wants to eat off a nasty grill...



B.D.

This & That...

What a week...

I'm dog tired, but I must trudge on and do things I need to do. We had to work five days this week and we are all dead tired. 30+ days of humid high 90's has about wiped us all out.

At 8 this morning, it was me and the motorized billy goat cutting what's left of the grass. We did get enough rain in two days to bring it back to life just a tad.

When it finally does cool down some, I have some major projects outside to get done.

Yea for me...

So, what's on the menu this weekend? Good question...I'll fire something up today. But that really depends on Mother Nature. Sister Rain may come to the party.

I'll keep an eye on the radar...

My friend in Brooklyn, WhiteTrashBBQ, is in a contest this weekend and will be using my barbecue rub and barbecue sauce that I shipped up there last week.

Good luck my friend and do us both proud. When I find out how he did, I'll let you know.

B.D.

Wordless Wesnesday...

It is a simple task to make things complex, but a complex task to make them simple. Meyer's Law

Weekend Report...

I hate to sound like a broken record...but damn it's hot.

This bites big time. Can't even sit out and grill chicken and enjoy a few cold libations without sweating like a horse. Julie said it was too hot for me to grill, and it was, but I did it anyway for my darling wife because she gets the grill grumps if I don't cook.

She even made the statement, I miss you being in the kitchen.

Now, if that ain't a hit you over the head put your apron on and cook something hint, I don't know what is.

So I did...



B.D.

This & That...

Come out, come out, where ever you are...

I'm still here, trying to stay cool.

Yes, it is still hotter than a steak on the grill with little relief in sight.

Oh there will be some relief, lower 90's in the weeks ahead, but day after day after day, it has been near or above 100 degrees with heat index (feels like) 106, 108, 110...

Hell, one county hit a heat index of 114 yesterday!

Dude, that is some serious feels like.

You're damn skippy it is...

And having to work 12 hour shifts on top of that, I'm just whipped. I have plenty of things to do outside...but until it cools off, it ain't happening.

I swear, I will never bitch about cold weather ever again...

(but I still reserve the right to complain about not being a Polar Bear)

B.D.

Weekend Report...

100 degree days again this coming week...

I swear I will not complain about cold weather ever again.

B.D.

This & That...

Finally got to grill something...

I cut the grass (or what's left of it) and decided to throw a few steaks on the barbie. It's way to hot to be fooling with charcoal so the Weber gas grill came to life.

Today, I will bring out the charcoal and fire up R2D2 to smoke some chicken wings. I can set it up and retreat back inside to the comfort of cool air while R2D2 does its thing.

I like this WSM...

It rained a little this morning, only enough to piss off the grass, so it should be nice and muggy by mid-day. Oh for joy...

Over twenty straight days of mid to upper 90's with heat indices (feels like) 105.

Pop up storms that last about a minute, or down pours that last about 5 minutes.

Last week, coming home from work, I hit a down pour on the interstate with some heavy duty lightning strikes on both sides of the road. I could barely see the front of the truck it was raining so hard. Of course, Mr. Sunshine was out at my house.

People started calling, "are you guys OK?" Well sure we are...why?

Tornado Warning:

Come to find out I had a small tornado about 10 miles behind me on the interstate. I was driving in the wall front of that storm. I had passed the cloud earlier and it was black as black can be...

I didn't think much about it. Only thinking, somebody is fixing to get one hell of a rain. It damaged 12 houses...

No one was hurt...and I was blessed to make it home in one piece.

Thank you Lord...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

It's just me and the dog...

Julie and my girls Vicky and Tracy and the rest of the crew, have gone out of town to a bowling tournament. Robyn is with the in-laws. So it's just me and the black bear.

It's too damn hot to do anything around here, so this is an indoor weekend. When it's this hot, I don't like doing things outside without someone being around to keep an eye on me. I'm not a spring chicken anymore...

So just a few words here:

Happy B-day to Leah and Dave!

Robert, I will get your BBQ sauce and rub up to Brooklyn as soon as I can. I haven't forgotten about you brother.

Good luck bowling ladies!

And to everyone...watch the heat.

The heat index yesterday down here was feels like 105! Actual temp was 98 with clear sky.

And not a drop of rain...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game finished, that the stage belongs to the rising generations. The true evil is not the weakening of the body, but the indifference of the soul.

André Maurois

Weekend Report...part 2

Threw a few steaks and portabella mushrooms and shrimp on the Weber E310 yesterday. Some fine eatin' to say the least.

It's a good thing I did cut the yard yesterday, because I went out to get the paper this morning and it was pouring down rain. Sure hope I don't have to work next Friday because it will need to be cut again by then.

One little blip on the radar and is was on top of us. Woo hoo! We need the rain...

Numerous weeks in the high 90's with little rain has just about scorched everything around here. I doubt there will be any fall colors because trees are shedding leaves already in the extreme heat and drought.

We'll see...

I've got a few things to do, so I'd better get at it.

Oh and now...

Sister Rain has come and gone and big brother Mr. Sunshine is here.

It'll be another muggy, cut the air with a knife kind of day...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

I am plum wore out...

It's been a long week at 12 hour shifts all week. I think an uprising at work is fixing to happen and it's going to get ugly. Anyway...

Finally got enough rain to piss the grass off, so I've got to fire up the motorized billy goat and give the dead lawn a hair cut. May try to cook something.

It's still hot and humid as hell and that has life around these parts miserable.

But that's Tennessee...

If you don't like the weather stick around, it'll change.



That's what we say around here in these parts of the woods.

B.D.

This & That...

It hasn't been the most productive week off, but, I have got a few things done.

The heat has just made it too hot for me to do much outside. And that's where I need to do the most work. But alas, I will get caught up...one of these days.

Yesterday was pretty much family day. The crew of MacDaddy's Grill went to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then went and bought a new fridge for the kitchen as that one will replace the one in the garage that is on its last leg.

Then we went bowling and saw the gang at Tusculum Lanes



It's always great to see my girls and all of the fine folks that work and bowl there.

As stated above, we bought a new fridge. These things now a days cost more than a car does...

I mean for that kind of money you would think it would bring your beer to you instead of you having to go get it.

I mean these things has got more gizmo's than I'll ever be able to figure out, but I still have to stock it with beer and then I have to go fetch the beer...

Years ago things were simple...beer, cooler, bag of ice. You were good to go...

But these days it's do this or do that and you still have to get your own. For that kind of money the fridge should have a built in bartender.

Dang if that ain't an idea...I'll get back to you on that.


B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

"The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose."

Simply Tuesday...

I fired up the pit Sunday and cooked ribs, leg quarters, chicken breast, beef short ribs and beans. The breast were a little over cooked at 170 so next time I'll pull them off at 160.

Everything else was great. Although, I haven't had much of a appetite here lately. I don't know if it's the ungodly heat we have had (and still have) or what...

As you know, we got buckets full of rain early in the year and then the well ran dry and somebody turned the oven on broil. I've done a few things outside but not near everything I want or need to get done.

So I moved inside to do a few things. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion and very real problems down here in the South. Especially for folks my age and for younger folks as well.

You can be overcome in a matter of minutes working outside if you don't watch out for the warning signs.

I've had heat exhaustion a few times in my life and now with having high blood pressure and heart problems I must really be careful.

I could have a stroke because of my high pulse rate or have a heart attack. And this heat...is not helping because I can become dizzy in a flash.

...Yes, I drink plenty of water and cut way back on the libations. But this heat is like being in Death Valley. And that's what the grass looks like right now.

Deader than a cracker left in the oven on broil...

...it's toast.

B.D.

This & That...

Did some errands yesterday, bought some things and found some things.

I bought two more ceiling fans, some more charcoal, and low and behold I found some Apple wood chunks. Woo Hoo!

Okay...let me explain.

Around here you can find Hickory wood chunks, Mesquite wood chunks, Pecan wood chunks but no Apple wood chunks, only chips. I've been looking on line and was about to order some.

Someone heard my wish. I wish I could find Apple wood chunks around here.

That's why I always say: Be careful what you wish for...

So...now I have Pecan and Apple wood chunks for the pit and grills and smoker.

I'm happier than a pig in a baloney sandwich.

So Big Momma will come to life this weekend with ribs and chicken. And maybe shoulders and brisket next week when I get caught up on some work.


Got to say hello to my girls Vicky & Tracy. Hi girls!

And also to every one of the men and women that serve in the armed forces:

We love you all and wish that you all return home safe and well.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

B.D.

Simply Friday...

A week off from work...

I'm so tired I can hardly move. A week off will do me good. Time for me to get caught up around the house and time for some much needed rest.

Cooking? You bet...

Big Momma will come to life and once again fill the air with her seductive aroma of barbecue. Cooking is therapy, but the hours I've been working makes it a chore.

This is not good...

But, it will be good to cook and relax and enjoy life.

Even if it is only for a week...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Working 12 hour shifts four days a week is rough on your mind and body.

I've had a tough year. Fell and re fractured a rib or two. I have had hip pains, knee pain, elbow pains, middle spine pain...and of course a pain in the butt.

And now in the heat of it all...I have to live at work yet once again.

I've got folks wanting to buy BBQ sauce by the gallon. Sorry folks...no can do.

I don't have the time...

I was invited to cook in a contest, had to turn that down too. No time...

I told management they needed to learn how to run that company. Sure, your customer comes first...but so should your employees and by that one little thing...you can make things work.

But I won't bore you with that. I would have to tell the whole story and I don't feel like bitchin' that much or typing that much right now.

In two weeks I'll be off for a week. Folks are asking already are you cooking for the 4th? I guess so they can make plans with me or around me or without me.

Just depends...if it is as hot as it's been for the past three weeks...


Houston...we may have a problem...

B.D.

Simply Friday...

What a week...

It's hot, it's muggy, it just sucks.

As far as work goes, that will never change.

6 million people out of work and wanting a job and management will not hire anybody. These dimwits are trying to kill the 400 that work there by working two crews 12 hour days, 6 days a week.



Then...after a revolt by the working class, a deal was worked out (as if they had a choice) where we work 4-12 hour shifts, then are off for 3 days.

So...

I ponder the question to myself...what will I do first?



I wonder...

B.D.

This & That...

Yes I know...it's been awhile.

To get caught up, or friend Dink and his girl friend came to see us after three years of trying to get him over here. My girl Vicky also came over to see us.

Blondie had a B-day this past week. It's been hotter than a Texas bar-b-que pit around here and this is only June. What will July & August bring?

Temps are already in the upper 90's with little relief in sight.

I have been working 12 hour shifts for three weeks, getting nothing done around the house and my hours are being changed yet once again, starting next week.

A friend at work said:

You know you're working too many hours when your wife is making potato salad and asks for the Miracle Whip and you hand her the Cool Whip...

I'm with ya brother...

So today, the heat index will be in the feels like 105 range. So the plan was to hit the grass early before it got unbearable. Pop up thunder storms are forecast for later in the day. But that plan has been 86'd.

Why?

A stray pop up shower...right over the top of my frigging house. Just long enough to get it too wet to mow right now. So I'll twiddle my thumbs for a while and wait for Mr. Sunshine and then the humidty will be so thick...you can cut it with a knife.

And I will look like I've taken a ride in the washing machine...



B.D.