My Kind of Town

"Your kind of town."

What a great day! Wait until you see all of the stuff there is to see in Lubbock County!

Guess what Mr. Big Food found in Slaton, Texas? A crappy old cookbook!

And... guess what I found? ;-)

Day 1 in Lubbock, TX

Lubbock is not set up for pedestrians, which really doesn't bother me all that much except for the fact that we were pedestrians this morning. So the day begins with contextual griping. But we walked our way to our destination without incident.

On campus, we met up with Mike, a dear old friend from Cincinnati. We talked about guns and gun control and what underlies the seemingly intractable debate about these issues. Mr. Big Food had some things to say about reward vs. fear circuits in the brain. I showed a picture of our neighbor, Walker. (I'll add links when I'm home.)

"Emotions and the Marketing of Gun Control"

Mike's talk had some reprints of crappy old NRA ads from back in the crappy old days, as well as some more recent. He made some exceptional points about the emotional appeals of the ad, and how they'd changed over time.

Then Mr. Big Food did some decision theory about Libertarian cooperation, and we suffered through a really not good talk about something, and a not so bad but I was getting bored already talk about feminists perspectives on female social networks.

And then, thank God, we high tailed it outta there. Seriously. I've never been in Lubbock. At this stage of the game, all college campuses look alike to me.

You can change the vegetation,

you can rotate the message of the week,

but they all look the same.

Add a little rain and a bull dog or two and it's like I'm in Starkvegas.

So Mr. Big Food and I hit the road. And by hit, I mean we were in a tiny little rental car. Yesterday, when we picked up you little rent-a-tiny-car, the fellow asked what we'd prefer. I said, "a truck."

I didn't get a truck. And I'm trying to drive this tiny thing like a truck in Lubbock, TX.

Anyway... .

We got a map of Lubbock County and we proceeded to explore Lubbock County.

Now. I wish I had more pics for you but here's the problem. The speed limit on two lane roads is 75. It's hard to take pictures and drive 75mps. I did my best.

We were racing our way to Shallowwater, TX.

A representative abode in Old Shallowwater, Tx.

We drove around,

came across the Shallowwater Elementary School,

and found then the Middle School, and High School-- which was expanding-- while looking for down town.

Meanwhile-- and I wish I'd taken pics but there was a cop and I didn't want to be conspicuous, not driving a truck and all-- I saw little kids playing in the streets in of low-income mixed raced diverse neighborhoods. 

We couldn't find the downtown. Keep in mind that every time we exited and then re-entered the town, there was a sign telling us we were entering a town whose population was 2471 (or close to it).

And then we figured it out. Why is the high school expanding? Because

Fences

And then we picked up some BBQ, brought it back to our sweet suite, turned on the tv to watch Texas high school football, and commenced to wonder what this (above) would mean to high school Texas football.

Like, do you let your little boys out after dark with their helmets secured to scrimmage with the Big Boys over the fence?

A Funny Exchange In Lubbock

I'm in the middle of writing up events of the day. 36 hours ago I bought a pack of cigs. I still have some. I know from past experiences on the road, if I don't record my impressions while I'm on the road, I'll over-think them by the time I get back to the farm.

But a need a break. So I, in my regulation flannel jammies and a big long coat sweater go to smoke a cig. But I have no matches. I go to the desk. I apologize for my attire. She says, "Hon, don't worry. You're at home here."

And I say, "Please don't take this wrong, Hon. But if I were at home, the dogs would be up there in our room."

She laughed. She must have dogs.

I Dared You!

You didn't take the dare because when it comes to Mr. Bog Food's grilled steaks, you know better!

A fine birthday steak for A. Leland.

The red velvet birthday cake turned out very well.

There was just one small problem.

Daughter C corrected it at once!

Really? I've never posted the recipe for Red Velvet Cake I? I find that hard to believe but 'tis true. I'll make that a priority as soon as we've finished things up in Lubbock.

Where In The World?

That's correct! Lubbock, Texas.

Tragedy in a Small Town

I'm no fan of Eudora Welty. I read her book, The Optimist's Daughter, and was not impressed-- although I was engaged until the very end. But elsewhere, she does have this to say:

Southerners tend to live in one place, where they can see whole lives unfolding around them. It gives them a natural sense of the narrative, of the dramatic content of life.

Today, the dramatic content of life unfolded in a most tragic way. 

Details are sketchy but what is certain is that a 52 year old man, a 13 year veteran of the local police force, with six kids and five grand-kids, was killed by some bad guys. He was off duty at the time.

A. Leland commented that things like this happen every day in Chicago. 

They do not happen every day here.

We did not know the officer, but I did recognize him from the football game the other week.

To be honest, I'm not much of a prayin' person, except when I have no other recourse. But to those of you who are, please pray for Keith Crenshaw's family. And please pray that those who are still alive (some died) who contributed to Keith's death burn in eternal hell. 

A Word

lam·bent

[lam-buhnt] 

adjective

1. running or moving lightly over a surface: lambent tongues of flame.

2. dealing lightly and gracefully with a subject; brilliantly playful: lambent wit.

3. softly bright or radiant: a lambent light.

 

The snows of Mississippi are lambent.

--Marica

 

The lambent rays of the sunset cast a deceptive light on the politician's speech.

--A. Leland

 

I peered out my window hoping to catch a glimpse of the lambent light from the TARDIS.

--Daughter C

 

The lambent nature of the Scarlet "A' upon her bosom made it impossible for anyone to ignore.

--Miss M

 

Lambent analysis has never been my philosophical modus operandi.

--Mr. Big Food.  

Tell Me This Isn't Going to Be Good!

I dare you!

This evening we begin A. Leland's Birthday Celebration! His birthday isn't for a couple of days, but hey, there's no reason not to start sooner rather than later.

These are some steaks that have been marinading in a bunch of stuff since mid-morning. Mr. Big Food will grill them to perfection. See that little tenderloin right there? That's mine.

The three layers for the cake are cooling. It's a red velvet cake. Yummy.

Recipe: Tossed Salad

We had friends over last Saturday. For supper Mr. Big Food made Oven Cooked Rice, Shrimp Creole Belle, and Eggplant Parmigiana II. I tossed us up a little salad. Here's how to do that.

1. About 45 minutes before you serve supper, go to your garden and pick some lettuce, small leaves of spinach, baby giant red mustard greens and a few cherry tomatoes.

2. Bring them inside, rinse and spin, put in a pretty bowl.

3. Open the fridge and gather some radishes and grapes and whathaveyou. Slice them. Add to top of greens.

4. Wet a paper towel and cover the salad.

5. Put bowl in fridge to chill.

6. Serve with the homemade dressing you made earlier in the day.

See how easy that is?

Recipe: Shrimp Creole Belle

Serve over Oven Cooked Rice

SHRIMP CREOLE BELLE

Serves 8

1 medium white onion, chopped fine

1 clove garlic, minced

1 green pepper, chopped fine

¼ C celery, chopped fine

4 Tbsp bacon drippings (or other fat)

2 Tbsp flour

2 C tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 bay leaf

¼ C parsley, chopped fine

Salt, pepper to taste

Dash Cayenne pepper

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 lbs shrimp, peeled, cleaned, and deveined

1 Tbsp green onions, white parts only, sliced fine

Cooked rice

Saute onion, garlic, green pepper, and celery in bacon drippings (or other fat) until tender. Add flour and brown, stirring constantly to keep flour from sticking to bottom of pan. Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, parsley, salt, pepper, Cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf and add shrimp. Cook 7-10 minutes or until shrimp are done. Sprinkle top with sliced green onions. Serve over rice.

Recipe: Eggplant Parmigiana II

Delicious!

“This famous Italian dish takes full advantage of the wonderful flavor combination of garlic, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.”

“You will find this dish excellent for Lent.”—The Garlic Lovers’ Cookbook

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA II

Makes 5 to 6 servings

2 medium eggplant, peeled, cut into ½ inch slices

Oil (for frying eggplant slices)

2 C tomatoes, chopped or stewed (preferably homemade if the latter—see recipes in Basics And Canning … sections) (can use canned)

6 oz can tomato paste

¾ tsp garlic powder

1 ½ tsp seasoned salt

Dash black pepper

1 Tbsp parsley flakes

1 bay leaf

½ C shredded Parmesan cheese

2 C soft bread crumbs

½ lb sliced mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350^o. Sauté eggplant slices in oil for 5 minutes, or until tender and browned slightly. Remove slices and keep warm. Drain off oil from skillet, add tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic powder, seasoned salt, pepper, parsley flakes, and bay leaf, cover skillet, and simmer 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf, add Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs, and mix well. Place a layer of half the eggplant slices in a buttered 2-quart baking dish, cover with a layer of half the tomato sauce mixture, then with half the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients. Bake 20 minutes, or until cheese melts and is browned lightly. Serve at once.

Recipe: Oven Cooked Rice

“If you are a “rice failure”—try this!”

OVEN COOKED RICE

Serves 4 (“This recipe can be cut in half for small servings or enlarged.”)

1 C raw rice (not instant)

2 C boiling water

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350^o. Stir all ingredients together in baking dish, cover, and cook about 45 minutes. Fluff before serving.

Recipe: Cajun Country Creole Rice Casserole

Another from those weird Cajuns.

“If there’s anything King Culinary enjoys doing, it’s making a roux and cooking with wine. He likes to make a roux because it afford him the opportunity to sip a few cool ones while he stirs and stirs and stirs to get the roux a golden brown. And he enjoys cooking with wine because then he has the bottle handy for a few sips from it, too, and the Queen can’t raise a Royal Ruckus because he has a perfectly legitimate excuse for having the bottle there. And when it comes to wimmen, even Kings need an excuse now and then.” —John and Glenna Uhler, Royal Recipes from the Cajun Country (1969)

Recipe below.

Recipe: Cajun Country Bayou Franks

So, Mr. Big Food has a crappy old cookbook titled Royal Recipes from the Cajun Country written by John & Glenna Uhler who are, apparently, weirder than Mr. Big Food an I. Here's what they have to say as introduction to the recipe:

“Every time St. Valentine’s Day came rolling around, everybody down the bayou got nice Valentine cards except the King. So the next time February 14 approached, he donned the Royal disguise and paddled down the bayou to the post office (incognito, of course)and bought a big bunch of Valentines and mailed them to himself. Well, when St. Valentine’s Day came, everybody congratulated him on having the most cards, and His Majesty was so pleased that he invited everybody (even those who live back of the levee) to come over for a party. They did, too, and just when everyone sat down to eat Bayou Franks, here came the Royal Postmaster General (better known thereafter as Old Loudmouth) and presented the King with a bill for a buck-forty-nine for postage due on all the Valentines he had sent to himself. So everybody got mad and him, and one lady even hit him over the head with a fish trap, and His Majesty was so humiliated that he ran upstairs and hid under the bed, and he wouldn’t come out even when the Queen offered to pay the bill herself.”—John and Glenna Uhler, Royal Recipes from the Cajun Country (1969)

Recipe below

Good Lord: Give 'Em a Vocabulary & There's No Tellin' What They'll Say

Margaret didn't bother to hide her frustration with an ostensible smile.

--Miss M

Ostensible "little stories" such as told by Aesop are really quite allegorical.

--Marica

Budding you philosophers learn quickly that the seemingly ostensible leads to paradox.

--Mr. Big Food.

Hunger was the ostensible reason for the shark's theft of my record-breaking fish.
--A. Leland

And now, tonight's winner

It is anathema to me that Rocy's ostensible P1 consanguinity is Sweethearheart's bastard's pup; I however am chary of this fact, and think the pup a charlatan.

Hummmm. 

The Ladies' Gun

"Fancy women invited to English gentleman's room in sedate Windsor Hotel, in Denver, shoot at insulators in Larimer Street telegraph poles. (Drawing from American West by Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg.)"

in The Fireside Book of Guns, Harold L. Peterson, Simon Schuster, New York, 1959.

How many rules are being violated in this drawing? Sheeze. 

The gun knew no limits. It even had its place in the world of brawling entertainment and profane love. No fancy woman of the middle 1800s would ply her trade in the dance halls, saloons, and bordellos unarmed. For her a very small weapon was desirable even if it lacked real punch. No man, in the code of the day, would shoot at a woman even though she might pot at him with her little .22. Thus the tiny single shot guns became popular "stocking" and "bosom" weapons-- the smaller the better. 

Between 1865 and 1888 over 25,000 Remington Vest Pocket .22s were made. And get this. It weighed just three and seven-eighths ounces. 

Mate Choice

"When I think of some of the men I might be married to now if it hadn't been for you and that damn ukulele!"

from George Price's Characters: More Than 200 of His Best Cartoons (Simon and Schuster, New York. 1955.) 

I stumbled upon this while doing "research."

I'm working on something on which I should have had the good sense to decline working (on). Months ago the idea of giving a talk which made the connection between responsible gun ownership and some of the notions involved in parental investment seemed so easy. And so obvious. Today? Not so much.

Fortunately, I work well under pressure, so long as I am well-fed. 

Salad & baked potato bar for supper tonight. Good start. 

Auspicious

What an auspicious occasion to have dinner with just the girls.

--Miss M

On our walk we found 7 four-leaf clovers; that seemed rather auspicious to me I suppose.

--Daughter C

The fishing trip is not off to an auspicious start; I prognosticate better luck tomorrow.

--Marica

Consanguinity

A few photos of the young Rocky:

~5 months old

about 8 months old

A few photos of Rocky the Younger the neighbor's dog's pup

~ 1 month?

I am no biologist, although I've been playing one for a few years. And I am certainly no philosopher. 

But I think what we have here is a real life moral dilemma.

Let us first state the uncontested circumstances. Rocky is a male mammal. Sweetheart, the pup's mom, a female. Neither has been neutered. 

If memory serves, when the neighbor kids first introduced me to their new dog last year, her appearance indicated that she'd recently had pups.

At their initial meeting-- separated by a fence-- Rocky was certainly a virgin. We cannot say the same for Sweetheart. (I place this in the uncontested category not because of biology, but of life experience.)

Let us now consider the circumstantial circumstances. Rocky is off-leash in the fenced-in pastures, and around the house. He is closely supervised around the house, less so in the pastures. He did go walk-about to visit Sweetheart once, but that was early spring. (So unless Sweetheart stores sperm... .)

Thanks to little neighbor Caroline, the fence separating sweetheart from Rocky is not perfectly perfect. Are the small gaps big enough for Rocky to slip though? No. Sweetheart? Questionable. In any case, we are in the pasture. 

Now to the errant data.

The neighbors have a gaggle of cats and kittens. They breed cyclically. I assume most die accordingly. Point is, when I turn the dogs out, they run to get a good whiff of the cats &  kittens across the fence line. 

While they aren't always side-by-side, Rocky & Missy stay pretty close to one another in the pasture. There have been a few times recently when I've moved along, called, called, Missy came and Rocky delayed. I have no idea what Rocky was up to during the delay.

So is it possible that pup that looks remarkably like Rocky is Rocky's pup? Sure. I do not think a fence really stands in the way of Mother Nature's Call. 

You may be thinking that this is the Moral Dilemma. Should we take responsibility for Rocky's apparent offspring? Of Course. I'll be emailing the Bartman shortly.

But that's not the real moral problem we have right now. 

We are separated from our neighbor by several football fields. And tonight, Sweetheart was on the patio, licking up crumbs. Her ribs were showing. She's underfed, to say the least. And she's still nursing three pups. 

As soon as we opened the door, she skedatled. We put a bowl of food out, in the event she comes round again.

And here is where I confront the real dilemma.  

"Sorry, Missy, I wasn't paying attention. What's that you said?"

"What's to be done about poor little Sweetheart? She's not a member of our family and you always say, 'Live and let live'."

"Ruff!"

"I don't know. Missy. I just don't know what's to be done about Sweetheart's state of affairs. But one thing I do know-- and pay attention to this you two-- 'Live and let live' does not mean there's no such thing as right and wrong. Got it?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Ruff."

Who's Your Daddy?

Poor quality photos take with my little camera and then cropped like crazy. Sorry.

Sweetheart, the neighbor dog, had three puppies. Two look a lot like their mother. The other little fellow definitely does not.

What we can't figure out is how this could possibly have happened. Sweetheart and our dogs are separated by a fence, and our dogs are never out without us. So I guess it couldn't have happened.

Therefore, I conclude there's a dog in the neighborhood who looks just like Rocky. Who knew?