The PUB light's ON! :D

[Bobby of Tulsa]

How bout if you hold the vinaigrette and salad dressing. Now make a big pan of corn bread. Get a pan of hot bacon grease and wilt those greens and have some pinto beans to go with that. Don't hit me.

[Mrleft8]

Sounds pretty good! Corn bread with bacon fat is wonderful stuff. Goes well with pot roast or beef stew, roast chicken, pork roast, chilli....
A steak salad rare for Terry...Hold the salad...
Wanna try a Turbo dog?

[Bobby of Tulsa]

Wanna try a Turbo dog?

Does that say bitter beer.

[Paul Pless]

Bacon in chowder?

Without the bacon, where do you get grease to sauté your garlic and onions in?

[TerryLL]

Oh yes, a Turbodog please. Never had one, as they ain't available in my neck of the woods, Looseianna bein' ever so far away.

Spent some time in Neworlinns years ago, and found it, well, peculiar. But they do know their booze in them parts, yeah.

Just a whole heap of displaced Quebecois down there, doing what good frenchies do.

[Mrleft8]

Yes Media storm Bobby... It's "Abita beer"....
And no Slim... You don't put garlic in clam chowder.
And yes Terry, Nawlins knows booze! I never saw so much alcohol in one place before... There was a line of distributor trucks miles long heading into the French quarter one morning... And we were only there 3 mornings.... I think.... Maybe 4.... They all kind of blurred together.

[Mrleft8]

Anyone want the last bit of the story, or are you all tired of it?

[Paul Pless]

And no Slim... You don't put garlic in clam chowder.

You may not like my cooking. . .

[Mrleft8]

[Mrleft8]

You may not like my cooking. . .

... Well... It's plain to see that you do!

[Mrleft8]

I waddled back to the Apt. Building after a mid afternoon burger and fries, and a beer or.....several.
Judy answered the door bell with a disgusted look and a slightly venomous back kick to the door, which bounced off the iron stair railing, and slammed shut behind me...
Okie dokie. I thought... All is not well in Muddville...
I was dragged up the stairs by the con-trail coming from Judy's ears. Lori looked at us as we walked through the apt. door. She didn't look happy. She looked mad... And a little sad... Probably because I'd reminded her of all she was missing now, I thought to myself smuggly.
We all went out to a Mexican place for dinner. I was paying, so it was an inexpensive hole in the wall across the street from some famous baseball player's famous bar. I don't remember what I had, but I do remember there was not much conversation.
After dinner, and a stony ride back up to the pan handle, Lori told me to wait by the car, as she followed Judy up the steps. I waited, smoked a couple of Luckys, and waited some more... I peed in the bushes by the corner of the building. I was just zipping up when Lori came bounding out the door and grabbed my arm... "We need to talk!" she hissed.
The last time she'd said that I'd gotten lucky. So my spirits were pretty high... Some how this talk was gonna be different though I sensed. I got the riot act. I got the "Men are such pigs" routine. I got the "How could you do that to me!?" thing... I acted contrite, and woebegone... I managed not to get kicked out... I was leaving the next day after all...
I left Lori as she went back up the steps, and I went around the corner to buy a peace offering... A couple of Chinese, cheap faux (I hope) Rhinoceros horn Cranes, and a bottle of Pouilly fuisse... I thought it sounded butch... When I got back the lights were low, the Bangles were singing about manic monday, and Judy and Lori were snuggled up on the sofa. I offered gifts, and sat on a pillow on the floor... A couple of bottles of wine (I'll never bring French Wine to a lesbian couple in SF again... The ration of... Um...Crap I took for buying French in Ca. was nearly enough to make me want to jump off a bridge!), some slightly stale rye crisps and cheddar cheese, and all was right in the world.... Except I slept on the sofa, and Lori and Judy closed the bedroom door before turning out the lights.

[Mrleft8]

I woke to the sound of Judy closing the front door on her way to work. Lori came shuffling out of the bedroom in her flannel jammies and fuzzy slippers. She sat on the edge of the couch and just looked at me. She shook her head slowly, and got up to get a cup of coffee. I waited. A few minutes later Lori came back with two mugs of dark roast coffee with cream and sugar. I despise sugar in coffee, but I kept my mouth shut.
"So..... When's your flight again?" Lori asked with her lips still on the rim of the mug.... 2PM I said.... I should be there by 1 or so to return the rental before I leave... How far is it? We figured if I left by noon I'd be good.... Ah the good old days before the TSA and two hour lead times....
That left us a few hours to kill.... I was my usual charming self, and managed to talk Lori into making absolutely positively sure that she was making the right decision, and not just joining a fad...
I don't know exactly what went wrong, but as she kissed me good bye through the car window at noon, she said: "Nope.... I'm pretty sure this is the right choice..."

[Mrleft8]

EPILOGUE:
A few months later I was sitting on the edge of a woman's bed. I'd met her through the bullet proof glass in the drive up teller lane at the local bank. I was outside, she was inside. Then we went on a date, then I was sitting on her bed and it was 6 in the morning. I smelled that smell again! It was in the air... It was in the fog coming out the open bathroom door... It was...... Hair conditioner with Eucalyptus!!!! Out in California, I'd been smelling the Eucalyptus trees, or leaves, or flowers on the trees that grow every where like giant gray elephant leg weeds..... Mystery solved, but memories come flooding back every time I catch that whiff of hair conditioner.
I moved out to Mendocino that August, and started school... The schedule was tough, but I got down to SF to visit Lori, and Judy a few times. Judy never forgave me, or trusted me, which is fine and understandable. Before I left California the following June I looked them up, for a last visit. They'd moved. No one in the building knew where (Most of the people didn't even know who I was talking about.). I called Lori's parents when I got back to Connecticut. Her father claimed that he had no daughter named Lori. Her mother cried on the phone, and said that Lori had left no forwarding address or phone number.
I've looked on line several times, but always came up blank.
But all I need is hair conditioner and fog to bring me back to 1986, and a visit to California.

[Chip-skiff]

Hey Lefty— meet my pal Franz. He wrote this thing about this guy, Gregory, who turns into a bug.



Give him a glass of Gigondas, on me. Not sure he'll make it as a writer, but he definitely has the right look. . .

[Mrleft8]

Sure Chipper...... Frank Kafka eh?....

It's Friday, and it's not raining... yet... It's been over 40 hours though, so this can't last.
The back porch is open, and the pool is full. Amber has the floating bar set up (In her white bikini), and the grills are hot.
There's marinated butterflied leg of lamb. Bonless ribeye steaks, Pork tenderloin, Halved chickens, Swordfish steaks, Tuna steaks, Langostino crustaceans (Spiny lobster), Lamb chops, Beef short ribs, St. Louis style pork ribs, Clams, and shrimp. There's a big bowl on marinated vegetables....Vidalia onions, zuchinni, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and potatoes.
There's fresh bread, and rolls. There's deli sliced roast beef, ham, turkey, prosciutto, capppicola, smoked beef brisket, and a variety of cheese.
There's a bunch of different salads. Crisp garden salad, 3 bean salad, pesto pasta salad, egg salad, potato salad, greek salad, and lobster salad.

And there's fudgsicles, orange creamsicles, dutch chocolate almond crunch bars, Dove bars, Hood icecream sandwiches, and chocolate mousse...
Special on tap: St. Pauli Girl Special Dark.

[Chip-skiff]

G'day, all! Here's another shot of the rainbow, for Spin:



We used to see grand rainbows over Lyttelton Harbour (NZ) in winter, but that was before digital cameras.

Here's a Mark Cross painting you might like. Rainbows are the sign of the sea god (Tangaloa in Niue, Tangaroa or Takaroa in NZ).

[Spin_Drift]

G'day, all! Here's another shot of the rainbow, for Spin:We used to see grand rainbows over Lyttelton Harbour (NZ) in winter, but that was before digital cameras. Here's a Mark Cross painting you might like. Rainbows are the sign of the sea god (Tangaloa in Niue, Tangaroa or Takaroa in NZ).

Beautiful.... Thanks. • Do you mind if I use them on WBF birthday greetings?

[Mrleft8]

Isn't Tangaroa the name of the CG ship in "The Perfect Storm" or something....?

[Mrleft8]

Gale force Bobby....You here? I can smell you, but I don't see you..... I have a nice Herradura here for you.... And a bottle of cold Tree Frog Beer....

[Paul Pless]

One of the most publicized events in the Tamaroa's history occurred in 1991 during the so called "No Name Storm of Halloween, 1991," immortalized in the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. The Tamaroa rescued three persons from the sailboat Satori 75-miles off Nantucket Island. Seas built to 40 feet in 80-knot winds. The ordeal over, taps sounded--with reveille only 10 minutes later. The Tamaroa was again fighting heavy seas to rescue the crew of a downed New York Air National Guard HH-60 helicopter from the 106th Air Rescue Group that had run out of fuel on a similar rescue mission. Tamaroa rescued four of the five Air National Guard crewmen, a rescue that earned the cutter and crew the Coast Guard Unit Commendation [click here to read the citation] and the prestigious Coast Guard Foundation Award.

[Chip-skiff]

Beautiful.... Thanks. • Do you mind if I use them on WBF birthday greetings?

Feel free. Mark Cross gave me permission to use one of his paintings as a book cover. He'd probably not mind you using one for birthday greetings, as long as his name is attached.

RE: Tamaroa— From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Tamaroa were a Native American tribe in the central Mississippi River valley of North America, and a member of the Illiniwek or Illinois Confederacy of twelve to thirteen tribes. An Algonquian-speaking group, like the rest of the Illiniwek, they lived on both sides of the Mississippi River in the area of the confluence with the Illinois and Missouri rivers. Two leaders of the Tamaroa were among those who signed the treaty of 1818, by which the various groups of the Illiniwek ceded about half of the present state of Illinois to the United States. Descendants of the Tamaroa later merged with other, larger tribes of the Illiniwek, such as the Peoria. As a consequence of the forced Indian removal in the 1830s, their descendants are to be found mostly in Oklahoma, as the Confederated Peoria Tribe.

In Mäori, tama = son, boy and roa = tall.

[Paul Pless]

Close. USCGC Tamaroa.

She has an interesting history, originally built as an ocean going tug. Worth reading about how she capsized while in dry dock.

[Mrleft8]

Ah.... I must be getting old....(er)....
Barbeque chicken wings anyone?

[TerryLL]

Barbeque chicken wings anyone?

No thanks. But if you might have those wings that grow on buffalo, I'll take a big plate.

[Mrleft8]

... There ya go Terry...

[TerryLL]

... There ya go Terry...

Sorry, but send these back to the kitchen. I specified buffalo wings, and these obviously were plucked from some bird.

[Spin_Drift]

One of the most publicized events in the Tamaroa's history occurred in 1991 during the so called "No Name Storm of Halloween, 1991," immortalized in the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. The Tamaroa rescued three persons from the sailboat Satori 75-miles off Nantucket Island. Seas built to 40 feet in 80-knot winds. The ordeal over, taps sounded--with reveille only 10 minutes later. The Tamaroa was again fighting heavy seas to rescue the crew of a downed New York Air National Guard HH-60 helicopter from the 106th Air Rescue Group that had run out of fuel on a similar rescue mission. Tamaroa rescued four of the five Air National Guard crewmen, a rescue that earned the cutter and crew the Coast Guard Unit Commendation [click here to read the citation] and the prestigious Coast Guard Foundation Award.

Very interesting link, thanks. I can't imagine 30' seas and 80 knot winds. I've experienced half of those....It was plenty....

[Mrleft8]

Sorry, but send these back to the kitchen. I specified buffalo wings, and these obviously were plucked from some bird.

Nah... We grow buffalo a little smaller around here than you guys out there.... More tenderer...

[Mrleft8]

[Mrleft8]

I think I'll call it a night....Bad day, and I'm beat.... Nytol

[Mrleft8]

Hmmm..... Fried eggs, bacon, buttered English muffin with Strawberry jam, and a short stack of blueberry pancakes with whipped butter, and pure grade B Vermont Maple syrup.... (Grade B because it's not quite as sweet, and has a stronger Maple flavor......Nothing to do with it costing a quarter of what grade AA fancy costs.... )

[Bobby of Tulsa]

Sorry I missed breakfast Mr.Left. Could I get a Herradura and Lonestar please, maybe one for my friends also.

[Glen Longino]

I sure am glad you showed up, Bobby.
Here you go, Sir, a jar of Herradura and 2 cold Lone Stars.
I'll have the same!
Hope you're having a good weekend, my friend.
If it's not too much trouble, Bobby, would you play Joe Ely for me, "Me And Billy The Kid"?
I'll trade you a story for a song!

[Mrleft8]

I see they opened up the Texahoma window...

[Glen Longino]

Thank you, Lefty!
Kris was born in Brownsville, Texas.
He wisely got the hell out of Texas when he was still a baby!

[Mrleft8]

Smart man... And Janis was from Lubbock wasn't she? (Pronounced LOO Buck...)

[skuthorp]

Six thirty AM, up early. Over 40 due for a BBQ today. SWMBO's birthday party, one of the big ones. Leroy (the lamb) will feature prominently though he will not be around to enjoy it. We however will enjoy him. I made the cake yesterday, a Blood Orange syrup cake. Time for a heart starter now. Should be a good day.
We are due for a week of fine sailing weather after that, a nice way to wind down.

[Chip-skiff]

There was fog on the river this morning— first of the season.



About 40°F at our house on the slope, probably 35°F on the river. The forecast was for clear skies, 80°F and light wind from the east (our prevailing winds are SW) so I rolled out the wee yacht.



A more accurate forecast would be: wind, east, light to nonexistent. The nice thing about a Gypsy is that she'll make some way even when there's seemingly no wind at all: I call it directional drifting. And she'll also tack. So I was able to ghost across, down the opposite shore, and beat back to the ramp in these conditions. Not fast, but very relaxing.

Took two beers. Finished the second, then headed home to walk the doggo.

Nice way to spend the morning.

[Glen Longino]

Smart man... And Janis was from Lubbock wasn't she? (Pronounced LOO Buck...)

She was born in Port Arthur, Lefty. pronounced Port Artoor!

[Bobby of Tulsa]

For you Glen ....

I sure am glad you showed up, Bobby.
Here you go, Sir, a jar of Herradura and 2 cold Lone Stars.
I'll have the same!
Hope you're having a good weekend, my friend.
If it's not too much trouble, Bobby, would you play Joe Ely for me, "Me And Billy The Kid"?
I'll trade you a story for a song!

[TerryLL]

Nice snap Chip, looks like a nice place.
Getting cooler here in the foothills of the Bitterroots. Mornings in the low 50s, but still clear and warm by midday.
Time to think about calling up my wood guy for a cord or two.

[Mrleft8]

See? Now this is why I don't live in Wyoming or I Da Ho......

How about Buddy Holly, Glen.... Was he from Lubbock? (I know I could look it up, but that's no fun!)

[Mrleft8]

Nice snap Chip, looks like a nice place.
Getting cooler here in the foothills of the Bitterroots. Mornings in the low 50s, but still clear and warm by midday.
Time to think about calling up my wood guy for a cord or two.

Nothing like planning ahead, eh Terry?

[TerryLL]

What the heck is all the shouting about?

Yes, I usually get my firewood in late summer.

[Mrleft8]

Barely gives the mice and spiders a chance to move in before you start disturbing them...

[Mrleft8]

[Glen Longino]

See? Now this is why I don't live in Wyoming or I Da Ho......

How about Buddy Holly, Glen.... Was he from Lubbock? (I know I could look it up, but that's no fun!)

Yep, Buddy Holly was from Lubbock, along with a couple dozen more you likely never heard of...Joe Ely, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Tommy Hancock, Jesse Guitar Taylor, John X Reed, Ponty Bone.
Google some of them for some cheap Texas music.
Thanks for the Joe Walsh!
I think I'll sit here and sip some Herradura and write Bobby a story.

[Mrleft8]

The chili is almost ready.... (Did I mention I made a vat of chili this morning between going down to photograph destroyed trees at my father's house, and stacking a cord of firewood up here?) Who wants some? I call this my 2 pound chili. 1 pound stew beef, 1/2 pound ground chuck, 1/2 pound ground pork... 2 large onions, diced, 2 green peppers, diced, 2 jalapeno peppers, minced, 2 cayenne peppers, minced, 5 large cloves garlic, minced, a fistfull of cumin, coriander, paprika, black pepper, salt, white pepper, oregano, parsley, and a handful of soaked black beans.... Cooked super slow for 5-6 hours... It's better if it sits on the wood stove over night, but it's not that cool here yet...

[Mrleft8]

Special guest bar tender Jim Ledger shows us how to make a Long Island Iced Tea...

[Bobby of Tulsa]

I am still waitin on ya Glen.