With all due respect to MLK, but . . .

"...I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the Troutslayer dream.

I have a dream that one day this household will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self evident: that the one thing that would make this even better would be a good blow job and a well-cooked meal."

I have a dream that one day in the hills of Taney County the sons and daughters of Willow, Kiltboy, Bumperboy, Whitesox, Midgetlover and the sons of the Taney Virgin will sit together at the table of bruthahood, and scarf down mountains of great vittles with a kickass beer.

I have a dream that one day even in the midst of the Beavergeddon, a desert place sweltering with the heat of estrogen and progesterone, it will be transformed into an oasis of marital bliss and post-coital napping.

I have a dream that my own children will on day live in a nation where they will not be judged by their tackle, but by the content of their live wells.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day in the household of the high priestess of the Beavergeddon, whose lips are presently dripping with the juices of the red tide and the spoink of Summer's Eve, will be transformed into a situation where the Ozark Joe would give the high priestess a Donkey Punch.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every fishing rod will be bent, every trout chew consumed, every bottle of Beam be emptied, every Gloria Cubana be lit, every stringer filled and the glory of the Troutslayer will be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, standing naked in the sun.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to Taney County. With this faith we will be able to hew from the mountain of whininess and bitching, a cellar for pizza and pitchers of Grain Belt. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of the rugrats a beautitful symphony of a mongoloid with a cowbell. With this faith, we will be able to ride together, to laugh together, to tie lines together, to snore together, to get drunk together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "What d'ya want? I want Food and Pussy. How come? It's just the way God made me."

And if Taney County is to become a great destination for the true Taneytime, this must become true, so suck that mofugga from the Bass Pro in Counciltucky! So suck that mofugga from the driveway at Wickerland Ranch!

So suck that mofugga from the boat corral at the Bassmaster's Swap Meet!

So suck that mofugga from a glass of chunky milk at the Fox and Turtlehead!

So suck that mofugga from the thong wearing co-eds at the Pizza Cellar!

So suck that mofugga from the dock at Ozark Beach!

Suck that mofugga from every hill and molehill of Taney County. From every mountainside, just suck that mofugga.

When we suck that mofugga, when we suck it from every village and hamlet from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up to that day when all Troutslayers, midget lovers, kilt wearers, pig fuckers, big gay guys, skinny guys with slippyfists and those virgins yet to be initiated will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old Zappa spiritual, "Fuck me! you ugly son of a biiiiitch (you ugly son of a bitch.)"


There. I said it.

A Tale of 4 Titties

Now, y'all have heard of the daughters of mama Destiny (no not that singing group with Beyonce and them, although that Beyonce, she looks like she might be related to these girls if you look at her hard enough), but I'm talking about those two ladies, Fate and Karma.

Most people gets them confused with each other, but see, they usually work in cahoots. Karma is the tease. She will give you the come-on with that wonder of an ass of hers and you go along with her and it's all fun and that until you realize that she put your nuts in a vise. She knows that paybacks are a bitch. Fact is, I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't the one who invented that saying about what goes around, comes around.

Fate, she's different. She will seduce you until your balls turn blue, but it don't matter what you do, she will be calling the shots. Most of us men don't realize how Fate works until it's way too late and we're knee deep in baby shit and credit bills. So the word with her is you just as well be along for the ride.

Yep, most of us meet these gals somewhere along life's highway. It don't matter if you ain't picking up hitchhikers. They're gonna get in the car with ya and you just as well enjoy the ride. Better yet, see if you can make it a 3-way. I hope you live to tell about it.

Ranting

Damn fucking Phil Collins. I thought the 80's were over. The radio
station we have on in the background apparently thinks that the man
was the greatest recording artist of all time. I listen to podcasts
on my computer with an earbud in one ear, so most of it is drowned
out. I do not have the luxury of a confined area where I can listen
with speakers. I try to still look accessible to the people in my
department without making myself an open target for interruptions.
Reminds me of the old Far Side cartoon titled "How Nature Says 'Do
Not Touch'".

I don't like my job right now. I feel like the guy in Office Space
before he goes to the hypnotist. They are trying to eliminate our
overtime here. Unfortunately, not everyone is adhering the new rule
of getting it approved prior to working it. Some people are above the
law, or so they think. I try to adhere to the rules, but you always
just get fucked by it. I am not happy about that. Overtime has helped
keep my wife at home (mostly), and occasionally allows us to have
extra money. Taking away from my family makes it hard to swallow all
of the little things about your job that you would just brush off. So
now when there are hot jobs that need done, my attitude is more of a
"fuck you" than "okay".

As the wife reminds me constantly, this all will pass. It always has.
Sometimes you need that voice of reason. Sometimes you wish the voice
of reason would just let you be pissed for a while. Maybe it makes
you sharper. I don't know, but that is probably just an excuse. I
remember the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: "No one can make you feel
inferior without your consent". Good quote. Then again, she married
her cousin.

'bout time to call it a day

I really dislike the leftover, sloppy seconds kind of a day that comes after a holiday because I had to kiss a lot of ass and yell at people who should have known better. Plus, I have to write about every little thing in excruciating detail for the record.


For example, I wrote 16 pages of notes in the electronic charting systrem and I sat with patients and families for the better part of 2 hours today, explaining things like why granny can't have pizza every night or her automatic defibrillator is gonna shock her ass to kingdom come, or why my 600 pound dude can't be slugging down 4 liters of Mountain Dew every day because he gained 120# in the past 90 days from fluid overload (this one has been an ongoing "dialogue" for the past 6 years.) Yes, Virginia, some folks seem to have the IQ of a carrot.



On the other hand,



there is the scenery (the 2 legged kind.) and I get to talk to them, lots.

there is the "job well done" note for an article that I helped write for the Register.

there is the fact that for 5 hours today, I got to listen to Springsteen while I wrote my sordid little tales of woe.

there is the knowledge that some people do better because I was there.


So, I guess today was a mixed bag, and sort of a smelly wrinkled hairy one at that.


Hmm..Muse? Here Musey, Musey......


Coolest song of the day; "The Rising" by Springsteen. I want that played at my funeral (not that I'm gonna go anytime soon). Just way cool.

Mmmmmmm...Beeerrr.....

quoth that venerable pop icon, Mr. Homer J Simpson.

 

Yesterday, I did something that I haven't done in years, brewed myself a good batch of beer.  I think the last time that I did such a thing at home was better than 10 years ago.  I have lugged my kettle, bottles and carboys around for that length of time and it didn't occur to me to start brewing again, until....

 

I had a discussion with one of the Troutslayers about fishing, food and the spring fishing trip/retreat/solace from the Beavergeddon that we so look forward to each year.  Since we have a little more than 100 days to go, it seemed logical (in a Red Green, Y-chromosome sort of way) to drag the brewing crap out of the garage and do a batch for the trip.  After all,  I hauled these awkward, odd and nearly-useless-for-any-other-purpose items around for 10 plus years because I might need it someday. 

 

That someday finally arrived, when I could join the ranks of those who claim St Augustine, St Brigid, St Luke, St Wenceslaus, St Barbara  and St NIcholas of Myra as their patrons for tne brewers craft, (who would have known that Santa Claus was a patron saint of brewers and beer?  I'm all for it!)

 

I went to the brewstore and updated my gadgets (which was a the first pleasure of this venture)   I talked a little shop with the owner and he showed me some photos of the marinas at Table Rock after the snow and ice storms of a couple weeks ago.  Poor souls, some insurance guys were real busy after that storm. 

 

But I digress....

 

We set up the equipment and I went though the process of getting the brew boiled.  Of course, since it was a 55 degree day, we did it outdoors and therefore, I was able to have a couple beers and a good cigar during the boil (the second pleasure of this venture.)    I had to modify the cooking pot with some power tools, so we got the power tool requirement out of the way and then it started.  The recipe was as follows:

 

6 gallons water (2 gallons in brewpot and 4 gallons chilled in the fermenter)

 

Heat brewpot to 155 degrees and steeped  for 30 minutes:

1 pound 40 degree lovibond crystal malt

1/2 pound toasted barley

  

Took grains out and heated up the pot to boiling, adding

6.6 pounds of Munton unhopped amber malt extract

1 tablespoon Burton salts

2 ounces of Fuggles pelleted hops (4.0%)

 

Boiled for 40 minutes and added

1/2 ounce Cascade pelleted hops (6.6%)

1 teaspoon Irish moss

 

Boiled for another 15 minutes, turned off the heat and added

1/2 ounce Cascade pelleted hops  

 

We decanted the wort into a 25 liter carboy and then when it was cool, I pitched dry ale yeast into the brew and now it happily bubbles in the basement.  The plan now is to finish the first fermentation in about a week, the second fermentation on New Years, with the bottling at that time and the first sips on Saint Patrick's Day.   I should get about 16-18 quart bottles out of this batch. 

 

The smell of the wort boiling, the company of a fellow troutslayer and a video from the Wet Spots (Do You Take It...) sent on to us made for the third pleasure of this venture. 

 

Now, if I can only think of a name for this beer. 

 

We'll keep ya posted

Thankfulness

Normally, I don't get too much into making a litany of thank-yous and things to be thankful for. It comes off as self-serving and somewhat insincere. However, it is good to be thankful as an attitude, or more accurately to be grateful.
A grateful person is appreciative of the moment and what it has to offer, whether it is a sensory experience or an interaction with someone else that somehow makes your existence better because it happened. This season calls me back to take on that attitude more often and to enjoy the moment, rather than fretting about the future and dwelling on past mistakes.
So, in short, there's lots to be thankful for, but I'm not going to bore you with that. I am grateful for the gifts of the earth, my companions on this life's journey and the ability to savor the moment.

Hmm...better go fishin'

This Just In

It has been scientifically proven that if we drink one liter of water
each day, at the end of the year, we would have absorbed more than
one kilo of Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) bacteria. E. Coli comes from
human and animal wastes. In other words, we are consuming one kilo of
shit. There are hundreds of strains of E. Coli, and although most
strains are harmless, E. Coli 0157:H7 is not. This strain produces a
powerful toxin and can cause severe illness. In some people, the
infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic
syndrome, in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys
fail. With intensive care, the death rate for hemolytic uremic
syndrome is 3% - 5%. (*information from the EPA).

The good news is that you do not run this risk when drinking beer.
Alcohol has to go through a distillation process of boiling,
filtering and fermenting.

So, what have we learned today? Drink beer. It is better to drink
beer and talk shit than to drink water and be full of shit.

I don't feel bad

I went into today not wanting to work. I mean REALLY not wanting to
work. I've completed the tasks I knew had to be done today, but I'm
just "phoning in" the rest of my performance. Now, I'm doing
something I typically hate. I am making myself look busy so I don't
have to work. It is a good thing that I don't have a really important
job where someone's life is in my hands because today, well, they
wouldn't make it. The crisp fall air is calling my name and so is my
bed. God, I want to sleep. I'd love to just take a nap now, but it
would probably be one of those ones where you wake up and feel like
shit.

Meat

Meal time has always been a significant part of any social gathering. Sitting down to a meal puts everyone in close proximity, eye to eye. Good conversation is inevitable, after the meat has been devoured.

Meals with the troutslayers have always been amazing; have smoker will travel. I can't imagine a better group of people with which to share some meat.

Return to Reality

Well, the camping trip is over. Mother Nature showed us her ugly face
and tried to run us off. She had no idea that we just didn't care. We
brought plenty of wood (no pun intended) and a lot of ingenuity. She
was no match for us on that day. I've heard the expression "If life
gives you lemons, make lemonade". Well, we made a fucking lemon
meringue pie.

First Post

This is the first of (hopefully) many posts. As I write this, we are
getting ready to go on our annual fall camping trip. Crisp air, the
beauty of fall, good friends, good food and laughter await us. Life
is good.