Twenty years, it doesn't seem than long ago.

Twentieth anniversary of probably one of my top Auburn experiences. I bought season tickets from freshman year until I moved too far away to come back every game weekend.
On this trip to Auburn, the loveliest village on the Plains, my family arrived early Friday night to stay at my sister's house. We got up very early to set up our tailgate. The air was electric. I had invited some friends from Tuscaloosa to come on to Auburn they were afraid to come. But I convinced them to come. They had been to games all over the country, but never Auburn.

As my family approached Jordan-Hare the intensity grew as well as the emotions. I attended 17-16 my freshman year in college, the 49-26 game that Connie Frederick faked a punt and scampered around end past the entire Tide, Bo-over the top and even the Lawyer Tillman end around game, none of these had the significance as 1989.

Today thinking about the reasons that Alabama did not want to come still amaze me. Nebraska came, Virginia Tech came, TCU came and eventually Tennessee came in the 70's. I was at that TN game also, none compared to this. Them on our turf for the first time, goodness. I remember many trips to Auburn as a child and an adult, this one was one of the best.

My daughter was 7, she had been coming to Auburn since she was an arm-baby. She is still in awe of that day. The thing that seemed to trouble all of the bama faithful was that they "had to come." I was as happy as all of the other Tiger fans, even at Toomer's. That day was a great one, there will be many more.

I lived in Tuscaloosa for 3 years, we won all three. The only comments I heard were how pleasant the Auburn campus and fans were.

One last memory. When I got back to work on Monday, one of my friends, an Alabama fan (not a graduate), paced and paced around work. We had coffee in the morning, I said nothing. We ate lunch, I said nothing. We had coffee in the afternoon, I said nothing. By the end of that last coffee break, he came up to me and said "Aren't you going to say something about the game? Aren't you going to rub in in? Aren't you going to gloat?"
I leaned back in my chair and passed this along, "I know we won, you know we won, the whole world knows we won, so why rub it in?"

Oh and by the way, you know it took bama over a hundred years to beat us in Tuscaloosa. Yep, memories are a great thing. War Eagle!!!!

Old observations:

Henry Brooks Adams (1838-1918)

"A friend in power is a friend lost." and this pearl:

"Politics, as a practice . . . has always been the systematic organization of hatreds."

Cap and Trade?

Do you actually know what this is?
Most Americans only know what they have been told by pundits and phony experts. In brief Sightline Institure has an uncomplicated explanation of what it is. Wikipedia has another explanation of not only the policy but also some objections.
Funny thing is most conservatives want less dependence on oil, especially foreign oil, but are vocally against this policy engineered to do just that. They imply that this policy will adversely over tax the small guys, however the intention and scope of the policy is to get at the major polluters.
Truth and fiction don't seem to matter with those guys.

GOP OMG WTF?

Recently the GOP put a list of "famous republicans" on their website. The irony of the posting is imaginative at best and deluded at worst. The link to FDL's comments and summary is here: http://firedoglake.com/2009/10/14/how-many-of-gop-coms-republican-heroes-would-be-republicans-today/
The analysis contains the following as prominent members:
Susan B. Anthony: sure in their dreams. If someone believes this they obviously don't know who she is.
Frederick Douglass: At the time of his freedom, maybe. But today with the obvious discrimination within the base, it is very doubtful.
Perhaps the most surprising is their love of Ronald Regan, who liberalized abortion, raised taxes and even signed a treaty against torture. Does any of this sound familiar?
The posting they have on their site is very creative. It reminds me of how they have spokesmen that have things such as these liberal traits: multiple marriages, drug addiction, extra-marital affairs (Lord knows how many times they bring this up) and beauty queens that either have no knowledge or fake body parts. I guess the last two are just another pair of "boobs".

BOOK BURNING????

I was reading my normal RSS feeds this morning, when an article at Baptist Planet caught my eye. It is about a church, Amazing Grace Baptist (Independent-KJV1611) in North Carolina. This church not only burned secular material, they burned almost all other translations of Scripture. They actually bragged about this. I followed a couple of links to get to the bottom of this story. My investigation led me to their web site. I have never seen as much hatred and intolerance on a church site, save one of those "American Christian" (white supremacist) or on Fred Phelps' site. They despise every thing from "wrong translations", Billy Graham, Rick Warren, John Piper to all types of popular and contemporary Christian music.
From other reading his church consists of his family and a very few others.
Fox News picked up on this story, ran it as a news event. It is no wonder most of the world distrusts Christians. This radical approach to soul-winning is destined to fail.
Besides the anti-everything, they are also against immigration and other denominations.
Wow! I knew there were nutsos out there, but man................./font>

Just had a thought, yes I can have them.

By definition the GOP is for small government and the Federal Government staying out of a person's business, right?
So how does this justify the pandering to the Christian Conservatives?
Isn't the attempt to force anti-choice down the throats of Americans contrary to "hands off" my person? Now understand, I do not condone abortion, but it is not my choice. Many people would rather not raise children at a particular time in their life. I continually here conservatives rail against having another welfare baby to feed. If that was truly their concern they would be for choice.
Isn't the same attempt to deny the union of any individual to another individual against their ardent platform of "Don't tread on me"?
Again I'm only saying if someone wants to spend their life with someone, why should we care. We should pray.
We cannot legislate abstinence, we cannot legislate choice, we cannot legislate sexual preference and we cannot legislate whether or not to bring another "welfare baby" into this world. That type of legislation is "Communistic". Unlike patriotism, this view of "limited government" is just a cover up for control of our lives.

For God and Country (in that Order)

Logan Laituri, Army veteran with combatant service in Iraq and work with the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Israel and the West Bank, writes a compelling article for sojourners
As always we need to remember what order we serve. about the priorities we should have as Christians and Americans.

I keep receiving those emails.......

Today I received another email from two different friends that told a story about a great hero, Michael Monsoor.
Problem is part of the email was not true.
Claims made in the email said that his story was ignored by the Main Stream Media (MSM), however the opposite is true.  Not only was the story mentioned in the newspapers, it was also featured on NBC Nightly News before it was on Fox News.
I found evidence that refuted those claims.
Why do people pass on things they don't research?????

ScribeFire from Home

Let's see if this works this time.
Follow up later.

Lord knows it may be time!

Yesterday, my wife had an encounter with one of the partners at her job. He has had to sell off his investment business due to lack of income. He has been uninvolved with the other part of his business and now is struggling to regain control. His attacks are based on opinion and not facts.
Pray for my family.

Let's make a new deal.

I have been truly amazed by comments made by the younger generation of adults. My son-in-laws friends recently made this comment, "America has gone downhill since they elected Franklin Roosevelt."

I was not only stunned, but surprised at how uninformed this young man was about history. Sure there are always going to be a number of citizens that thought that the government should have let the economy self-destruct.

I can also sympathize with someone so ill informed.

The new conservatives of the South have bought in to this "big government is bad" philosophy without the advantages of an educational system that teaches contemporary history. Facts are difficult for them to get the heads around. Most of these new conservatives watch television, read by electric lights, drive automobiles, visit national parks and some even have jobs. Truly they do not grasp the impact the "New Deal" had on the nation, but specifically the South. Prior to FDR the South was in the dark, literally. There were no major highways, let alone paved roads. Jobs were created by the government through the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) . Other articles have been written about its successes and accomplishments. The obvious misinformed individuals either came from "old money", "prejudiced against the poor and others" and ignorant of history.

In both today's economic strife as was in Roosevelt's day, the current administration followed a disastrous one. And today the conservatives continue to blame the current office with the results of the previous one.

Fear not. (An excerpt from Associated Baptist Press)

I wandered up on this story from the Associated Baptist Press just after I received another one of those scathing emails about the unreliability of sites that debunk false emails. After researching the previously mentioned email all of the examples they gave as reliable sites all debunked the claims it made against that site.
When we pass on email information to our friends, we must insure that what we forward is the "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." When our political agenda lures us into passing on these false claims it weakens our witness. We are so sure that something is true, we don't check the facts.
There are enough problems in this world, why should we as Christians contribute to the mess?

The link to the article is: http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4496&ltemid==53

Affordable Care Act

Do not think that we are finished. Healthcare is almost a reality for most Americans. A few glitches and hiccups on the first day. But what did you expect? The problems and waiting are not unlike black Friday. If people will stand in line for a Holiday Barbie, then they can surely be patient on healthcare.

What's happenin' here?

What it is isn't exactly clear.
Some time during the week I receive another "well meaning" email from a friend. These emails are almost always funny, including the blatant political ones. Amazing as it may seem in a world full of skeptics, my friends have become sheep. If someone that knows someone that knows someone that knows someone that knows someone sends out an email claiming a certain "certain-ness" regarding a particular subject it has got to be true.
Last week a friend of mine had a friend of theirs, who had a friend of theirs, who had a friend of theirs; (well you get the picture) send out an email with claims that certain rumor debunking sites were prejudiced, especially against the conservative element. It gave a list of preferred sources that were "more truthful" that a specific one.
The only problem with this email was that the "preferred sources" debunked the email itself. Then claim involved a link to a website, let's say "snopes.com", but did not take you to http://www.snopes.com but instead it took you to http://snopes.com/>. These are not the same website. The first one is the correct link, however the other address takes you to a site that uses the snopes logo off of their listing page, but instead of giving a list of related stories, it gives you a flash message stating "I can't find the page you're looking for. It was probably a page about something really interesting,but the URL you entered doesn't point to anything on this site.
Might I recommend you try the search engine at http://www.snopes.com/search to help you locate the item you want?
You really should try it.
I have lots of great stories to tell you about vanishing hitchhikers,and bloody hooks,and exploding whales,and glurge,and gun-toting grannies,and hairy-armed hitchhikers,and murdered roommates."
Well, beyond all belief the Search Engine "link below" for snopes search engine was an actual link to the correct web address. Imagine that!
Also on this "Page Not Found" is a link to the BS watch, http://www.bswatch.com/. If you dig a little bit at this site you will find a link to Joey Skaggs site, http://joeyskaggs.com/, a well known hoaxer and comedian. Who goes on to say in this commentary http://joeyskaggs.com/html/comm/comm15.html That he has the perfect formula to pull a hoax on anyone. Use the information he gives and you can prank anyone.
Why do these things get passed on by honest, truthful people. Because it fits the agenda they want to push.
I believe, but I am still skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is; even if it fits the position you would like to find true. Check the facts, check the source and most of all, be informed.

School Days, School Days Dear Old Golden Rule Days

Thinking back to the time of my youth, I find myself remembering the oddest things. I remember walking home from school, taking shortcuts through the yards along the way. Some days with classmates, some insufferably alone.

I can still recall the machine in the cafeteria of my elementary school having a machine that dispensed milk just like the ones in a restaurant. You know, the ones with the weighted handles that would stop the flow, just in case an errant school child would try to leave it open. The large stainless machine had a whole white milk side and another that gave the “good” kids chocolate milk. Before I moved from the elementary school to the junior high the nostalgia of the machine was replaced by milk in a carton. Five cents for white milk and a whole Six cents for chocolate. Milk, not the 2% kind they serve in schools now, but honest to goodness whole milk. Lunches were 25 cents then. I even remember the food actually tasted good.

I can almost smell the stairwell leading down to the cafeteria from the ground level classrooms. Oiled covered stairs that retained the aroma of the oil used to treat the floors or for that matter any thing wooden in the building. Up and down each hall and each classroom the janitor moved with a deliberate stride. Taking time to push the floor mop along to gather any dust left behind by the traffic of children.

I can remember riding to school with my mom and dad. Taking the new Buick, with chrome holes on the fender, each morning to the land of learning and the planet of play.

Recess stands out in my mind most of all. During our planned excursions to the playground, socialization allowed us to meet others of our age. Recess was the ultimate networking time. Ball games were played after painfully choosing sides. Shouts of “Red Rover Come Over” filled the air. Hopefully your team could withstand the charge of the opposing side, capturing the assailant. Monkey bars (jungle gyms) climbed to the sky. If you were brave enough hanging upside down was a show of daring. Seesaws or teeter totters, what ever you called them, we knew that you tried not to step off while your companion was in the air. Lots of running, jumping and yelling burned off the pent up steam from classroom work.

How those teachers calmed us down I still can't comprehend. Those carefree days gave me a world of experience that I value today: Spend some time in play to remain sane in this fast paced world we live in.

We have forgotten how to play without it being a competition. Play refreshes the soul, as well as the body.

Take time to play today.

What is going on?

I can't log on, well maybe>

Emails!! and Unformation!

I am so tired of people forwarding me an email that they nave not bothered to check the validity. I receive many emails from friends regarding politics and the state of our nation.
They have received them from another friend, who got it from another friend, who got it from another friend, who got it from another friend........Well you get the picture.
Passing along viral messages without checking the truth is not only spreading rumors, it is furthering an agenda.
Today with us having a minority President, the claims range from the simple to the outlandish to the down right hateful. Every thing from phony photos to claims of socialism. Recently an American religious leader made a statement comparing our President to Hitler. Shame on him, not only shame on him, but shame on any one that passed along the mail. Our Christian fathers should not push a political agenda, despite whether or not they agree with their politics. Comparing an individual to a hate-monger is absolutely ludicrous. There is enough strife in our society without having a talking head weigh in with their two cents. It troubles me that my church friends and my pastor revel and laud the inflammatory remarks made by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
Christians, listen closely to these role models and notice not only the tone of their commentary, but the intent of it. They are entertainers, not experts.
How can anyone support the heated claims of someone paid to talk nonstop for hours a day. These speakers pontificate their expertise in all matters, but really have no knowledge of truth.
I visited with my daughter and son in law at a football game. During the tailgate, I overheard one of the "just out of college conservatives" spouting about how FDR ruined the country. This young man attended a land grant college, used TVA power, drove on roads that would not have existed if not for the recovery acts passed during FDR's administrations. He went on to brag about the great contributions of conservatives to improve education, not knowing that the conservatives routinely vote against all school funding. Yet these same individuals will gladly take Pell grants and other government sponsored academic assistance, they do however want someone else to pay for it, just not them. It was perfectly fine for them to get these "government handouts" but heaven forbid they might have to support someone else.
Our conservatives want a large military, but don't want to pay for it. They stymie veterans at every turn, but claim to support our veterans.
Wake up and smell the stink, be skeptical of "too food to be true" emails (especially those that are severely one sided). Discover the truth. Investigate history. Find out what you actually have because some one in our "big" government saw fit to provide it for the ungrateful souls that think security grows on trees.

So long Summer

Long time gone. School has started and the summer passed quickly. Almost impossible to get anything accomplished with the kids back.

KCBS CBJ School

Saturday, wife and I took a Certified Barbecue Judging course for the KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society).

Along with this new qualification, my wife and I are certified judges for KCBS, MBN and Memphis in May.

Will be judging a KCBS contest held by the Variety Club of Memphis this weekend.

School Days, School Days.................

Thinking back to a time of my youth, I find myself remembering the oddest things. I remember walking home from school, taking shortcuts through the yards along the way. Some days with classmates, some insufferably alone.

I can still recall the machine in the cafeteria of my elementary school having a machine that dispensed milk just like the ones in a restaurant. You know, the ones with the weighted handles that would stop the flow, just in case an errant school child would try to leave it open. The large stainless machine had a whole white milk side and another that gave the “good” kids chocolate milk. Before I moved from the elementary school to the junior high the nostalgia of the machine was replaced by milk in a carton. Five cents for white milk and a whole Six cents for chocolate. Milk, not the 2% kind they serve in schools now, but honest to goodness whole milk. Lunches were about 25 cents back then.

I can almost smell the stairwell leading down to the cafeteria from the ground level classrooms. Oiled covered stairs that retained the aroma of the oil used to treat the floors or for that matter any thing wooden in the building. Up and down each hall and each classroom the janitor moved with a deliberate stride. Taking time to push the floor mop along to gather any dust left behind by the traffic of children.

I can remember riding to school with my mom and dad. Taking the new Buick, with chrome holes on the fender, each morning to the land of learning and the planet of play.

Recess stands out in my mind most of all. During our planned excursions to the playground, socialization allowed us to meet others of our age. Recess was the ultimate networking time. Ball games were played after painfully choosing sides. Shouts of “Red Rover Come Over” filled the air. Hopefully your team could withstand the charge of the opposing side, capturing the assailant. Monkey bars climbed to the sky. If you were brave enough hanging upside down was a show of daring. They are called seesaws or teeter totters, but all we knew was that you tried not to step off while your companion was in the air. Lots of running, jumping and yelling burned off the pent up steam from classroom work.

How those teachers calmed us down I still can't comprehend. Those carefree days gave me a world of experience that I value today: Spend some time in play to remain sane in this fast paced world we live in.

We have forgotten how to play without it being a competition. Play refreshes the soul, as well as the body.

Take time to play today.

Memorial Day, it's "Q" time!

Smoking (not grilling) any of the following: Ribs, Shoulder (pulled pork) or Brisket; entails using proven methods of “low and slow” cooking. “Low and slow” means keeping the temperature around 200 to 250 degrees.

If you are going to grill ribs without the benefit of smoking, do so. However, if you want true Barbecue Ribs, you must use some type of hardwood to assist in getting the meat permeated with authentic flavor.

Pork Ribs (St. Louis cut, trimmed or baby back ribs)

Look for ribs with a slight fat content, but not too much. This small amount of fat will render out and tenderize the ribs.

Pork Shoulder (Includes the shank bone and the butt, the butt is the upper part of the shoulder; not the hind end) Also select a cut that has a portion of fat, not too much, but enough to add flavor as it renders.

Beef Brisket (choose a cut with good marbling, a mix of fat and meat, the fat enhances the flavor)

Beef Ribs (Select your favorite type and apply the same principles as Pork.

Ribs will take 5-8 hours, or until the bones will pull apart with a gentle tug. After the initial smoking process (the wood is consumed) wrap in foil to finish cooking.

Shoulder, Butt and Brisket require from 10 to 16 hours, seriously. This time is dependent on the size of the cut. With Shoulder, you should be able to pull the shank bone with little effort. Brisket should be cooked to medium to medium well for the maximum flavor and texture. Slice Brisket across the grain for more tender meat.

Anything that takes time, is a labor of love will pay huge benefits.

Start with a very hot fire! It needs to be hot as to not lose heat when the wood chunks or chips are added.

In order to maximize the flavor, yet not over power the meat itself: Soak the wood chunks or chips for at least 30 minutes before adding to the fire.

Only use one type of wood to begin with. Select any hardwood or fruit wood to try. Cook a couple of times with one type of wood to determine your favorite flavor.

Hickory is preferred, but it has what some call a bite. To me there is never enough Hickory. Hickory some times gives people indigestion, because of the heavy smoky taste.

Oak will burn hotter and give a more subtle smoke.

Apple, Peach and Cherry add a hint of the fruit.

After you determine the type of wood you prefer, stick with it until you are happy with your results.

Here it is, Memphis in May

The time is now, I can almost smell the smoke.  Contestants are preparing their cooking areas.
Let the smokin' begin.

Barbecue is defined by the Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) and Memphis in May (MIM) as pork meat (Fresh or frozen and uncured) prepared only on a wood and/or charcoal fire, basted or not as the cook sees fit, with any consumable substances and sauces the cook believes necessary.

Whole Hog Entry
Defined by the MBN and MIM as the entire hog, whose dressed weight is 85 lbs. or more prior to removal of the head, feet and skin, and which must be cooked as one complete unit on one grill surface.  No portion or portions of the whole hog may be separated or removed and subsequently returned to the grill, prior to or during the cooking process.

Pork Shoulder Entry
Defined by the MBN and MIM as the portion containing the armbone, shank bone and a portion of the blade bone.  The pork ham, considered a shoulder entry, contains the hind leg bone.  Boston butts or picnic shoulder alone are not valid entries.

Pork Rib Entry
Defined by the MBN and MIM as the portion containing the ribsand further classified as a spare rib or loin rib portion.  Country style ribs are not a valid entry.

Patio Porkers
This pork division encourages teams to participate without competing with the "Big Pigs."  Criteria for this division includes:
The team or its head cook must not have competed in a Memphis in May Sanctioned Barbecue Contest.  This does not include competing previously in a Patio Porker Division.
Total grill cooking area is no larger than 15 sq. ft.
Teams must cook with charcoal and/or wood only.  No gas cooking allowed. 
Spare or loin ribs only.  No country style ribs.  See "Pork Rib Entry."

Location:  Tom Lee Park, Memphis, TN on the Mighty Mississippi River

Come see and smell!
Rules courtesy of MBN, MIM and Smoke on the Mountain Galax, VA.

let's use scribefire

This is a test of scribefire.

Summer Time

If you have lived in the Deep South during the Summer months, you will understand this post.
Growing up in Alabama, I became almost immune to the constant heat and humidity of the South. As I grew older, however, the heat was more noticeable. As a youth you are either unaware or unaffected by the heat. When you join the world of employment, the heat becomes oppressive.

My Dad owned a salvage yard (junk yard) for automobiles. I began working for him at an early age. I believe that he just tolerated me to begin with. As the years passed, responsibilities grew as my experience and skill improved. I graduated from door handles and chrome trim to fenders, transmissions, engines and suspension parts.

One particular summer, while still below the lawful age to acquire my license, my Dad allowed me to drive the "cut down" to carry parts from one part of the yard to the office. Our ferry vehicle was a "cut down" Volkswagen Beetle. In other words the body was removed, the frame reinforced, and equipment to remove stubborn parts was attached. I learned how to use an acetylene torch to remove extremely stubborn bolts and remove rear quarter panels to repair other vehicles. Removing the gasoline tanks was a priority when using the torch, to avoid the ignition of fumes or leftover raw gas. Welding became a passion for a few short weeks one Summer.

That Summer was special for another reason. My closest friend at the time was my age, or a little older. He would ride his bicycle over to my house in time for us to ride with my Dad to work. My parents always found it funny and strange that he had to hide his bluejeans at our house, since his mom didn't want him to wear them in public. Each day he would arrive and change clothes. Each evening he would hastily take a shower in our basement before he rode home.

Later in the Summer we were afforded the opportunity to use our "expertise" to get a junker running to drive around the place in our spare time. Pickings were slim since we couldn't take a car that had valuable parts.

We scoured the entire place for a couple of days. Among the wrecks and overused hulks were many different kinds of vehicles. A Chevy, possibly a Dodge, maybe an Oldsmobile, perhaps a Ford, no not really each of them had parts that were valuable to one of the customers. Just when we thought it was hopeless, we stumbled upon an English Ford. There was not a straight piece of sheet metal on the body. Only the floorboard was straight, but the rust had eaten large holes in it. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that only the transmission was worthy of use. We were devastated.

Determined to find a project car we consulted the Holland Interchange Manual, the bible of Salvage dealers. This tome gave the possible interaction of parts not normally used on the same brand of car. We both knew that Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks and even Cadillacs used some of the same parts. Long before the scandal came out to the general public. Our investigation revealed to us the possible combinations that were available for interchange and our use. As we had explored our supply of wrecks, we noticed that both the English Ford and a Hillman Minx were actually built by the same company in England; the Rootes Body Corporation. Holding out hope we dug into the Holland to pray for the possibility of a fit. There on the same page it showed that both of these vehicles used the same power train. The Minx would no go, but the little engine sounded alright.

We spent the next several weeks swapping out the transmission from one to the other. Being very inexperienced, it took us about three weeks to perform a job that could have been done in a couple of hours. My Dad and Uncle Jack reveled in the thought that we were becoming mechanics. Eventually we made the change, hooked all the linkage up and cranked our ride. We decided to give it a short drive around the yard, only to discover that the Minx had not one sign of a brake. We tried to coast to a stop, but only collision with another wreck would slow the Minx down. Slowly we learned how to down shift quickly as to slow the car enough to stop.

The rest of that summer we tooled around the junkyard in our convertible Hillman Minx, stopping when we could. This past year my friend passed away after a bout with depression and ill health. A few years ago both he and his dad had strokes. We had become estranged by distance and changing pastimes. Upon his passing, I was unable to attend his funeral. I could not help but think of that hot Summer too long ago.

I wonder if he can wear his jeans in Heaven, if not it wouldn't be Heaven to him............

Donald Duck

My sister is taking creative writing during a continuing education course.
She has written a story about "Donald Duck's Last Vacation". When we traveled cross country to visit my uncle and pick up his sister, my aunt, who was returning from a stint with the Armed Forces Education program. She taught school to Army and Navy dependents in Germany and Japan after WWII. We still have the slides to prove it!.
I had a rubber Donald Duck figure that I dearly loved, I think it was one of the ones made in Italy for the Disney company. My attachment to Donald Duck waned over the years, until he basically fell apart in my hands, only to be relegated to a storage container. My other sister found a picture of Donald and I from the pictures she got from my parents' house.
Rummaging through some boxes I had brought home when we closed up my parents' house several years ago, I came across the crumbling remnants of Donald. He was actually unrecognizable. The smell was still the same. Along with the colors, faded by the years. Memories came gushing over me as I took one last look at Donald. I think he got put back into the same box, if not I will still remember him as my first real toy.
Linus had his blanket, I my Donald.

Opelika Porker Tour Update

As hard as it was for us to believe it, we were not as shocked as our family and friends: WE WON! The amateur divison of the Inagural Boda Getta BBQ contest in Auburn, AL.
Our prize is the soon to be coveted "Hogsman" trophy.
With Auburn having the only two Heisman trophy winners in the state, it seems plausible.
Great finish, guys.

Mule Barn Revisited

Leaving my Alabama home on a sweltering summer morning, the neighborhood kids and I headed toward our public pool to cool off. Back in then it was still safe for kids to walk a few miles unsupervised, especially in the Southern town I grew up in.

We walked along occasionally kicking an empty can left by an inconsiderate person at the side of the street, in the days before we knew what “litter” was. Striding along the hot pavement toward the pool and refreshment. We took the same path most days. Today, humid on top of the oppressive heat. Steam already rising from a quick morning shower just before daybreak, made it more unpleasant than normal.

Up hill and down, past the German style homes, so prevalent in my hometown, with big porches and vaulted roofs. They would have been much more at home in Bavaria than in North Alabama.

Past the truck stop and the newspaper office, then a right turn took me by the Mule Barn and neighboring warehouses. No time for exploring now, the pool awaits.

After a comforting, but long and tiring day of Marco-Polo, cannonballs, diving for quarters and submarine it was late in the afternoon. Jumping out of the pool drops fell from our bodies, standing on the concrete slab next to pool. I had done this ritual so many times before with my friends. Leaving the comfort of the cool water was not something we enjoyed. Teenage lifeguards had already called for the pool to empty more than once and closing was only a few moments away. Even at a few minutes before five, the heat was still intense, as it was always on June, July and August days in Alabama. Whether the drops were sweat or the cool water of the pool was hard to distinguish. Toweling off, the we went inside to the sauna of a bathhouse to change into our street clothes. I dressed in my uniform of lazy summer days, cut-off blue jeans or shorts and a t-shirt as did my partners. Pulling on our P.F. Flyers or Keds to begin the long walk home. A long one at least to eight or nine year old adventurers.

Struggling to climb the hill that led up to the old high school. Where generations before our brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, mothers and fathers had witnessed triumphs and disappointment. Past the dusty ball field where weeks before we had all tried out for summer baseball, ending up on opposing teams from your closest friends. Across the decaying street that led by the old high school, newly converted to the junior high we soon would attend. Wandering over the remains of the home bleachers of our old football stadium gave us a sense of belonging. Onto the field we raced, one of us rolling up a towel into a makeshift football. Tossing it as high into the air as we could, catching it and racing for another amazing touchdown. All the while imagining future glories and rewards that were easy for youngsters of our age. Boring quickly of running at break-neck speed in the tall grass, we resumed our journey across the field that held memories for others and would mean little to our troop.

Down the bank,onto the street, then rambling on. Looking both ways for cars, just as we had been taught. Glancing toward and facing the next challenge of our task. The great hill before us passed by Ol' Mrs. Tiffin's house. The wife of the owner of our town's larger furniture stores and a civics teacher at the high school. Their sons attended one of the private schools in town. Most of us did not know them. We climbed and climbed for what seemed like an eternity. Reaching the top of the hill, we passed the boarding house my grandmother, “Mama”, moved into after my grandfather passed away. Doing volunteer work at the Hospital across the street, it was more convenient for her to walk to her Pink Lady duties.

Further along the street was the most hated building in my hometown, in our school boy minds, the County Health Department. My companions were as fearful of that ominous building with the glass front and high steps leading to aching arms and other parts of our bodies. Memories of vaccines and cups of medicine that protected you from polio, required to get prior to starting school. Its sight still brings back unpleasant memories for someone who had the mumps, measles and chicken pox all within six weeks, my seventh year. It was most unpleasant.

Level ground for the next few blocks. One side of the street higher than the other though. In past days there must have been some small hill or terrace causing the slight rise in the land. If we left the pool early enough and had pocket change, we could stop by the bowling alley for a few games or a snack, specially the hotdogs. Further along we passed the Christian Church, none of us members there. Wondering if it looked different inside, you know, from our church. Doubling back we would cross the street to the treat of our long journey home.

Across the street, lay buildings that sparked our interest on our trip to the pool, the Mule Barn and its adjacent warehouses. Sometimes, accidentally, a door or window would be left open. There was a large cotton warehouse next door, at least to a child it seemed to be larger than any other building in our town. It was cavernous inside. Bales and bales of cotton stacked as high as you could see. Smells of burlap, fresh cotton and cigar smoke. Odors that still remind me of hours spent in clandestine exploration. We thought ourselves brave for getting in and out without being caught. Occasionally, a worker caught a glimpse of one of us while we joined in the fun. Running us out into the bright sunshine, our eyes forced to adjust quickly to the warming, afternoon rays of the sun.

Now as I remember, its was not so big or cavernous. The building looked much smaller than it did to an eight or nine year old traveler. The cotton bales don't look as grand as they once were, however, they are still as heavy as I remember. The cigar smoke has long since dispersed, along with the old men that sat in the shade of the warehouses.

Most intriguing was the Kinney Mule Barn. Strategically sitting on the corner of two main streets. Whitewashed walls, a black sign with white painted letters and the stalls within were inviting enough to budding, adventuresome explorers. In its years the mule barn provided a place for farmers to stable and rest their weary animals after their long trip from the remote country side. At sometimes they could leave them there to offer them up for sale. I always hoped that, even years after farmers stopped bringing teams of mules to town pulling their heavily laden wagons, there would still be one of those mules stabled there. Occasionally, I was right. Slowly as the years progressed and my walking gave way to riding a bike, the mules vanished and the Mule Barn fell into disrepair. Safety, an issue to the owners. After falling through the upstairs floor, I decided my visits to the Mule Barn would have to come to an end.

Little did I know that these afternoon adventures would grow into the full scale wanderings I experienced as I matured. Expanding my world beyond the small North Alabama town I called home. Life moved me all over this glorious place, the South. New Orleans, its humidity, the highlands of Virginia, Kentucky's bluegrass, Tennessee's rolling hills, and South Alabama's flat peanut country. I've rambled, through bayous and forests, over hills and down thorough valleys, across streams and rivers, hiking silent trails among her great mountains and fishing off the coast of swampy Louisiana.

I now find myself listening for the drawl of someone from Selma that is so soft you feel as if you might fall fast asleep. I also listen for a brash, near Brooklyn accent of the New Orleans native while “making groceries” at Schwegman's Grocery on Severn. Seeking the hill country twang of Middle Tennessee still brings a certain warmth to a cold winter night. I anticipate someone going to “warsh” their clothes as the tobacco planters in Kentucky did. Most of all I miss the ambling tongue of my native Sand Mountain, that comes out faster than any New Yorker could ever imagine, but with that melodious gentle lilt to each syllable. Every experience of my journey brought something new and valuable to me. I hope as I moved, I would leave something behind as well.

Things come to an end more slowly in the South. We tend to take things at a more relaxed pace. Our barbecue cooked low and slow and smoked to perfection, not just heated on a propane grill. We are resistant to change.

My old cotton warehouses and the Old Mule Barn are been demolished to build another convenience store and small office complex with a real estate agent and one of those payday loan locations. Yet, new experiences follow the old, but memories of walks home after a swim in the heat of summer and that old Mule Barn still make me smile, especially on warm summer days.

Now if I could only find an open window.....

Cappy,
There are "rib" championships all over the country. There are two major sanctioning groups: Kansas City Barbecue Society and the Memphis Barbecue Network. Going along with this are many other more "localized" Barbecue Associations. New England, Florida, California and even Europe. Kansas City sponsors "the Jack" (Jack Daniels, in Lynchburg, TN) and "the Royal" (in KC) along with many other contests in many states throughout the Mid-west, South, Texas, Arizona, along with many other locations. Memphis Barbecue Network sponsors many contests in Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, South Carolina and North Carolina; mainly.
Memphis in May has been known as the Super Bowl of Swine for many years. MBN provides most of the judges for this contest. You must take a course in both organizations to be a "qualified" judge.
About the only real difference between the two organizations is the following:
KCBS features only "blind box" (being only a numbered take out box the judges have no idea what team is represented) judging on several different categories.
MBN features two different types of judging in the main three categories": Ribs, Shoulder and Whole Hog. The two types of judging on the MBN circuit are "on site" and "blind box". Blind box is the same general judging as KCBS, but "on site" judging allows the judge to visit the cooking teams and sample the Barbecue at their booth or cooking location.
I am a "certified and qualified" MBN judge and pursuing a KCBS certification.
Yes, I am addicted to Barbecue. One note, if you are selecting a Barbecue Joint to dine, Pick the one that has a pig with the most clothes on, normally you can't go wrong.
Happy eating.

Opelika Porker Tour

It's coming the Botta Getta Barbecue.
Two weeks, my son-in-law and his friends have asked me to assist them cooking in this contest. I hope that I can be a help and not a hindrance. We will cook, no matter what.
We are looking forward to seeing the granddaughter. It has been three weeks and the wife is going crazy.
We will have a good time.
Also it is two months to Memphis in May and the World Championship of BBQ.
I can almost smell the smoke from here.

In December we discovered Central Barbecue, after having it recommended by many of the competition teams that we know. It lived up to expectations and then some.
Lots of choices, all good.

Barbecue

Barbecue season is upon us check out this link http://www.mbnbbq.com/ for the new Sanctioning Body for Memphis in May competitions. MIM is no longer sanctioning contests due to MIM being a month long festival. This year the featured country is Chile. Other contests are noted on the page.
Happy Spring and good cooking.

Spring Break and Daylight Savings Time

Spring Break is upon us! Along with Daylight Savings time are the most anticipated events of Spring.
The weather is warming and the grills and smokers are firing up. Springfest in Southaven is next month and I'm really looking forward to the Barbecue Contest.