Golfers: What are your favorite holes in the area? See if our Timesland Dream 18 is up to par and nominate your favorite.
Shot by Dan
“I have no way of knowing how people really feel, but the vast majority of those I meet couldn’t be nicer. Every once in a while someone barks at me. My New Year’s resolution is not to bark back.”
Tucker Carlson
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Goals for 2013:
1. Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given you besides.
2. Glorify God in everything you do. If it doesn’t glorify God, don’t do it.
3. Strive to become a saint. None of us here has that many years left. What happens to you after you die? Make sure it is a good result.
Our esteemed Senate just passed a bill, again without reading it, with a 41 to 1 ratio of spending increases to cuts. Say NO, House!!
PS. Happy New Year from the Federal Government.
Happy New Year to you, as well…
…but it’s Tuesday, sir.
Allow me to clarify. They are not spending increases yet, just tax increases. I know how picky the liberals on this blog can be on semantics…just want to get out in front on this one.
Indeed it is, J.M. White.
[headslap]
Fixed now. Thanks.
House Republicans should simply say: “We will extend the Bush tax cuts with no strings attached. The Democrats refuse to do that.” They should go over the head of the CPUSA/MSM and repeat it loud and often.
According to the White House Office of Management and Budget, federal spending was not cut by $1 trillion in 2011. In fact, in fiscal 2010, federal spending was $3,456,213,000,000. In fiscal 2011, federal spending was $3,603,213,000,000. That was an increase of $147 billion.
Real numbers, folks. So when Obama spouts of his ridiculous lies about about cutting $1 trillion in spending, please refer to the actual numbers. His party had control of the 3 branchs of government for 2 years, so please refrain from the Bush blaming.
“2. Glorify God in everything you do. If it doesn’t glorify God, don’t do it.”
Comment by Suzie — January 1, 2013 @ 9:23 am
and then…
House Republicans should simply say: “We will extend the Bush tax cuts with no strings attached. The Democrats refuse to do that.” They should go over the head of the CPUSA/MSM and repeat it loud and often.
Comment by Suzie — January 1, 2013 @ 12:01 pm
I’m calling it:
Birth: 9:23AM
Death: 12:01PM
It was a good run while it lasted. I hope your convictions to your God are stronger than your convictions to your own words. You do realize that intellectual dishonesty is as sinful as physical dishonesty, right?
Happy New Year America!
Goals for 2013:
1. Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given you besides.
2. Glorify God in everything you do. If it doesn’t glorify God, don’t do it.
3. Strive to become a saint. None of us here has that many years left. What happens to you after you die? Make sure it is a good result.
Comment by Suzie — January 1, 2013 @ 9:23 am
Coming from many sources here this would be accepted as a sincere statement of belief and good will. Coming from this source it elicits one response. Barf!
His party had control of the 3 branchs of government for 2 years, so please refrain from the Bush blaming.
Comment by Another Chuck — January 1, 2013 @ 12:18 pm
Another one, like Henry, who obviously doeswn’t understqand what “control” is in the Senate.
I don’t know how accurate this is but if someone wants to hunt down the back-story it could be worth a laugh or two.
Apparently the Cowboy Church believes communing with the horses can cure ‘the gay’.
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pastor-cures-gay-teens-getting-them-stroke-horses201212
An American church is promising gay men they will be cured of their homosexuality if they stroke horses.
The Cowboy Church of Virginia, led by chief pastor Raymond Bell, believes homosexuality and other ‘addictions’ can be cured by Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.…….
The actual Cowboy Church people can be found here:
http://www.cowboychurchofva.com/
OH…..you’re back….
Happy New Year anyway.
I guess the creators of Brokeback Mountain never heard that, Scott M.
It ranks as one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard.
Is stroking horses even legal?
I don’t see how moving from homosexuality to bestiality really solves anything.
Oh, wait…
For anyone who thinks Obama and the Dems had a blank check in both houses of Congress for two years beginning in 2009:
Having a majority in both houses does not guarantee that a particular party’s legislation is automatically passed. A simple majority in the house will do, but not in the senate. Ever heard of a ‘filibuster’? It’s a cool term for just plain old feet dragging. Both parties use it when the other party has a majority. The only way to stop a filibuster is to have a super majority, or 60 votes. Technically Obama had a super majority in July 2009 when Al Franken was finally sworn in. He really only had 59 votes because Senator Byrd from WV was hospitalized at the time and unable to vote. Then Ted Kennedy died in August and that put it back to 59 again.
So, a super majority for maybe a month if Senator Byrd had been present.
Scott M.:
“An American church is promising gay men they will be cured of their homosexuality if they stroke horses.”
LMAO! That’s Steve C funny!
Happy New Year all! Glad I could make it.
As my friend Rock Dance reminded me and other on a list-serve, in the long distant hiking community, “it’s long been a traditional outing to ascend Mt. Washington on the first day of the year. I’ve done the trip on 2 occasions. [As have I.] The usual winter route is from Pinkham Notch up into Tuckerman’s Ravine but ascending the peak via Lion’s Head Trail (winter route). Today’s not a day I’d be on Washington, and I sincerely hope no one is on the mountain. This level of danger will prevent rescuers from heading above treeline, the risk is too great.”
http://tinyurl.com/ybzgnr
**
Today:
Mostly in the clouds w/ a chance of snow showers early, and periods of clearing possible later. Wind chills 40-50 below.
Highs: Falling to around 10 below°F
Wind: NW 70-90 mph decreasing to 60-80 mph w/ higher gusts.
**
http://tinyurl.com/ly3qc
http://tinyurl.com/5ozye3
http://tinyurl.com/qxfew
Oh well, I stick here, nursing my health (what health I have left) and remembering the good old days.
FYI, I have some followup appointments over the next couple of weeks and we’ll see how it goes.
FYIIW, I’ve not spent much time on the computer pence the ER trip and am way behind on this blog.
You folk come to a shared consensus on the solution to all the challenges of this nation? The World?
.
.
Dave Hicks: Get better, good sir.
Mt. Washington is no joke at any time of year, but even less so in winter. The February 2009 issue of Nat Geo has an excellent article on the mountain and the dangers it holds, along with some (as usual) really amazing photos.
Glad to see you back Dave Hicks…I was wondering just this morning if you were doing better since you last posted about your trip to the ER. Not posting on the blog probably increased your recovery time at least twofold!
Happy New Year Dave Hicks! Here’s hoping you grow stronger with each passing day.
As for your last question, miracles can happen but that’s one that I don’t have much hope for.
I wonder if that pastor believe people choose their parents and the country they’re born in, too?
@12…
Aye caramba, working with horses can cure being gay. New year, same stupid.
This one is even better. Turns out the viral video from South Korea, Gangnam Style actually contains messages the confirm the apocalypse is nigh. (I know, not again right?) And, it turns out the antichrist is going to have a gay relationship with the false prophet, or something like that.
Maybe when can avoid the whole scenario if the Antichrist works with horses.
Take a few minutes to swim in the crazy pool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U0bk3gsv1gA
Happy New Year everyone!
Anyone know what happened to Michael Howdyshell? I haven’t seen him post since the election?
Thanks for the well wishes, all.
Think I’ll be OK and ya’ll will be stuck with me for a while.
To that end, I think that I’m up to prepare our New Years’ day tradition:
Fresh pork
Black-eyed peas
Stewed tomatoes (w/ lots of onion, green-pepper, butter, & toasted bread crumbs)
Greens (overcooked for you Yanks on the blog)
Sweet-potatoes
Cornbread
Lemon-cress Pie
——-
What y’all have/having / what’s your traditional New Years’ Day good-luck meal?
“But the strong, bipartisan 89-to-8 vote in the Senate about 2 a.m. on Tuesday will put strong pressure on the House to approve the legislation since a defeat would essentially leave the House responsible for a steep series of tax increases and spending cuts that some economists warn could send the nation back into a recession.”
“Yet it was clear Tuesday morning that many House Republicans were disenchanted with the plan, which, while containing many concessions that angered Democrats, still favors the latter party’s priorities and imposes a tax increase on the wealthiest Americans.”
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/c/credit_crisis/index.html
Some Democrats are angry about concessions Obama made.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/some-liberals-say-obama-squandered-his-tax-leverage.html
Good to hear, Dave H.
I’ve got black eyed peas cooklng now. I’m getting ready to put a pork tenderloin in the oven, and will be getting kale, and cornbread going. You’re stewed tomatoes sound good!
I’m also making a banana bundt cake to take to work tomorrow. I’d bought some bananas for my grandkids last week, and when the flu kept them home the bananas ripened and I need to do something with them. I only like to eat them when they’re still a little green.
Newman; please do not confuse the wingnuts with facts.
Dave Hicks; get well soon.
Take care Dave Hicks and focus on getting well. Your fellow bloggers will do our best to solve the world’s problems. Hopefully we will do a better job in 2013.
Sounds like the New Year’s dinner should set you well on the way to recovery! Look forward to your posts on a regular basis.
Dave Hicks, I’m keeping you in my thoughts, brother. I hope you are feeling better.
I’m calling it:
What is it you’re calling? You don’t think it glorifies God to tell the truth?
Oysters!
Found a couple of cans of selects that reveal fat and plump shellfish, and took’m for a 390 degree ride in the new deep fryer.. It went very, very well and as a bonus, found a small but nicely shaped pearl without ruining a tooth. It was a keeper.
Usually go for black eyed peas and something green, but broke tradition to test the new kitchen toy.
Get well Dave Hicks.
From Debbie@ 5:06
“But the strong, bipartisan 89-to-8 vote in the Senate about 2 a.m. on Tuesday will put strong pressure on the House to approve the legislation since a defeat would essentially leave the House responsible for a steep series of tax increases and spending cuts that some economists warn could send the nation back into a recession
And unfortunately Debbie, Eric Cantor is a flaming a****** and an idiot,
In his quest for power and control of the Republican Party he is willing to risk torpedoeing the economy, just as he was in the debt crisis sbafu in 2011. If he kills this bill, there is a group ready and waiting to begin raising money this month for the sole purpose of defedating him in 2014.
Yum, Mike Scott This summer I had some sweet oysters and breaded them in hush puppy batter before frying them. The batter puffed up around them and they were like corn dogs only with oysters. Yum.
Take care, DaveHicks.
Dave Hicks. Good luck and good health and better days ahead. Our New Year;s tradition was the black eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, and Ham Hock.
But this year I have been intrtoduced to hoppin’ john which is a tsaty variatiion with the black eyed peas.
Dave Hicks,
You’re a valued contributor here, by me and many others. That doesn’t mean we always agree; frequently we don’t. Same deal goes with my wife — we’ve been married since 1986.
As you recover, please don’t strain yourself if that means commenting here. It’s more important that you get well and come back firing with both barrels (pun intended kind of) AND that you make the next Gonzo Gathering, full of the vim, vigor and fellowship that you displayed when we met last summer. Because lots of others on this board would like to meet you, too.
Wayne Goodman, Firefly Fare in he market bldg makes a quinoa hoppin’ john that is delicious.
Gee Mike Scott & Kristen,
If I’d known the two of you like oysters I could have arranged for my son the Eastern Shore Oyster farmer to send you some.
Maybe I can have him ship some to Dan for the next gonzo gathering.
Ron,
I consider myself an expert oyster shucker/inspector (you can’t be too careful these days). So when and if they arrive, in shell (of course) I will examine each one from the outside and inside to ensure none of Gonzos imbibes a bad one.
The ONLY way to eat’em is raw (in my book) with fresh lemon and horseradish, and they can never be from a jar.
Ron when I looked at your family picture I wondered which son was the oyster farmer. Solid occupation for sure.
I’m calling it:
What is it you’re calling? You don’t think it glorifies God to tell the truth?
Comment by Suzie — January 1, 2013 @ 6:12 pm
I believe you have your definitions mixed, Suzie. It’s your duty as a Christian to always be honest. Telling the truth is merely following His word; it in no way praises Him. Nothing in your comment was a revelation of His glory, either. Your comment was all about you and what you choose to believe. Your priorities seem to lie in chasing and exorcising the ghosts of McCarthy rather than glorify your God. Have you no shame?
“I believe you have your definitions mixed, Suzie. It’s your duty as a Christian to always be honest. Telling the truth is merely following His word; it in no way praises Him. Nothing in your comment was a revelation of His glory, either. Your comment was all about you and what you choose to believe.”
–Comment by J.M. White
He/she proved her fealty to Ego-Christ, which is an abomination of what Jesus was all about. For the minority in that fix, a whopping dose of acid is the only cure.
Re: fealty to Ego-Christ,
There’s worshipping Jesus, and there’s worshipping Supply-Side Jesus.
http://www.beliefnet.com/News/2003/09/The-Gospel-Of-Supply-Side-Jesus.aspx
Dan,
I worried about that, given your love of oysters. Nonetheless, I am sure you would make sure that our gonzo blogger friends got at least some of them.
Kristen,
My oyster farmer son is standing between his mother on the left and his girlfriend with the dynamite smile in the family picture. He’s really worried that since he looks like me when I was in my early 30s he is condemned to look like me when he gets to my age. He’s making a living and enjoying what he does. He’s not among the top 1%, but he’s not too worried about that.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/01/pope-slams-capitalism-ine_n_2392653.html
So the Pope equates capitalism with terrorism and criminal behavior.
I might have to like this Pope.
J.M. White, anyone who compares Rush Limbaugh to Christ as Suzie has done, has no shame at all.
“I will examine each one from the outside and inside to ensure none of Gonzos imbibes a bad one.”
I’ll make myself available to assist in this arduous yet essential task, Dan.
Ron, the 1% wishes they could eat oysters every day.
This summer a restaurant on the island had $.20 raw oysters every day from 4-6. We went 4 times a week and ate dozens. Almost – almost- got tired of them but not quite.
Dan,
Thank you for not writing this fantastic piece:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/comments/article/20121230/OPINION01/312300033/Kaul-Nation-needs-new-agenda-guns
Some highlights from this Pulitzer Prize nominee at the Des Moines Register:
He suggests…
1) Repeal the 2nd Amendment.
2) Make gun ownership (even for those pesky hunters the politicians are always catering to) a heavily regulated privilege.
3) Declare the NRA a terrorist organization.
4) Make NRA membership a crime (thereby violating the 1st Amendment as well).
5) Make ownership of ‘scary’ rifles a felony and kill all of those who don’t hand them in.
6) Drag Mitch McConnell and John Boehner behind a truck in a parking lot until they agree to pass the above legislation.
Goals for 2013:
1. Seek first to be selfless without the threat of torment in this life or a nonexistent afterlife, and all the things the things you and your fellow human will have to work for because nothing is given to you by anyone or any supernatural force.
2. Celebrate your life, because after all, you were the quickest “tadpole”.
3. Strive to improve the quality of all life, and learn true tolerance and respect for your fellow human regardless of their beliefs and life’s path. We are the lucky ones who have evolved a brain big enough to become self-aware, and to seek out love and compassion for fellow animals and plants here on this planet. When I leave this planet I hope to live eternally in the hearts and minds of those that loved me as I loved them. I hope to work with and inspire my generation and those that come after the generation that we so carelessly at times share together, to always leave our species and planet better than the way we found it.
4.Trust nothing, and question everything.
TO A SPLENDID 2013!
“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the ‘transcendent’ and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”
-C. Hitchens
A chef named Michael Symon posted on Facebook a month or two ago about oysters. He said he loved them, but he always wondered who the first person was who said, oh look, a rock with snotty stuff in it. I’m going to have to try that.
Comment by Debbie — January 1, 2013 @ 8:37 pm
Probably someone who was very hungry Debbie!!
He/she proved her fealty to Ego-Christ, which is an abomination of what Jesus was all about. For the minority in that fix, a whopping dose of acid is the only cure.
Comment by Dan Casey — January 1, 2013 @ 8:03 pm
LMAO! I would set that up in a heartbeat.
I met God on microdot once. Well, God wasn’t on microdot; I was. Now that I think about it, He may have been on it, too. Pardon me, I digress. He’s a great Guy – a little flashy, what with the blinding, glorious light and all that, but still relatively humble for a Guy who created the universe. He showed my cousin and I around Disney World.
I don’t know what happened to Him, though. We were lying on our backs on a grass island watching the flags waving gently, the cerulean sky with its cotton-ball cumulus clouds framing the scene. I swear I could actually see the breeze pushing each curl of the fabric through the air. My cousin and I came back to Earth with a couple of security guys yelling at us and I guess God had jetted on us. On the ground in between us was a sign that stated “KEEP OFF GRASS”. After one look at our pupils, we were asked very nicely and very professionally to leave.
[mostly] true story
“I’ll make myself available to assist in this arduous yet essential task, Dan.”
–Comment by gdad
As you will note, oysters are gluten-free!
“This summer a restaurant on the island had $.20 raw oysters every day from 4-6.”
–Comment by Kristen
Oysters in the summer are like sunbathing on the beach in Ocean City (Md) in January. Highly suspicious. . .
I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice gdad.
Probably, Ron!!
Aren’t oysters only supposed to be good during months with R in them? I read that somewhere one time.
I’m not doubting your word on the oysters, Kristen. I just remembered reading about them being their best during r months.
My son raises what are called “cultivated oysters.” He doesn’t harvest them off oyster reefs in the Chesapeake. He ships year round, but he currently is in the busiest time of the year for him because other oyster markets are weathered out. He does about 40% of his annual business between Thanksgiving & Super Bowl Sunday.
I know Dan will probably puke when he reads this, but there isn’t enough beer in a bar to get me to eat a raw oyster. I have to have them cooked in some way. I am a midwesterner after all.
Jack @ 8:24 pm a pro gun friend about that on Facebook this afternoon.
Justin, regarding this comment “Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others.” With all due respect, I see nothing undignified about compassion. People who lack compassion for others are people that I don’t care to know.
I love fried oysters, but I’ve never tried a raw one simply due to the texture. I had to cut raw ones up for oyster dressing one time and it was not a pleasant experience.
Thanks, all.
Nothing too serious or rather I suspect/hope nothing too serious.
I think it was just my meds and diet got out of whack.
For multiple reasons (that I won’t go into) I take 15 Rx and have to watch what I eat. Even w/o any alcohol in the mix Christmas events and rehab canceled bit me. I knew better, but….
INR was above limits and BP was way above limits and ….
I’m nearly back to my normals. Doctor follow-ups tomorrow. Rehab workouts restart Thruway. More tests next week.
Great to get back in the routine….
.
.
I’m still resting a lot but am back to real cooking.
—–
Thanks for the update of New-year food traditions. Hint for Dan — thread next year.
—–
Re: Comment by Dan Casey — January 1, 2013 @ 7:56 pm
“The ONLY way to eat’em is raw (in my book) with fresh lemon and horseradish, and they can never be from a jar.”
—————-
Well we can sort of agree on somethings. The ONLY way to eat’em is raw (in my book), with a drop of Tobacco (if anything). I’ll save my horseradish for my navy-bean soup, thank you.
Dave Hicks, happy New Year and welcome back!
Contemplating Mt. Washington must be even better since you’ve subdued it twice.
And your other question about if we solved all the world’s problems?
Apparently each one of us has, but no one seems to be listening!
Oysters, with a drop of Tobacco?
Skoal? Copenhagen? Or are we talking about the powered snuff you sniff like cocaine, or crystal meth?
Oyster, horseradish and tabasco on a saltine.
Dan,
I think he was referring to a touch of Lucky Strike or Camel unfiltered, but I’m just guessing.
I’ve never really understood the draw of oysters. They’re like a cross between a sinus infection snot rocket and saltwater bubblegum. So, I guess tobacco can’t hurt them.
.
Debbie, I put on some lemon juice and some Texas Pete and quick down the hatch. There’s no chewing, just a second to savor the salt/hot/lemon moment. It’s more a ritual than meal.
Maybe a sprinkle of Prince Albert.
When I was a kid, I would marvel at my step grandfather rolling a cigarette with one hand. Prince Albert tobacco and OCB rolling papers. I’m not sure about the name of the paper, though.
“Aren’t oysters only supposed to be good during months with R in them?”
That had more to do with modern refrigeration than goodness. Back in the day, they couldn’t ship oysters in the hotter months of May, June, July, and August without spoilage. Those little snot-balls are delicious any time of year, raw with lemon and a dash of Cajun Sunshine.
Ron@36
If his business ships retail, I’d be glad to purchase some. Always try to support farmers of any stripe. Oyster farming sounds like a fine if not challenging enterprise. I hope I live long enough to see the Chesapeake bay once again become full of oysters.
OCB’s had no glue, but they were the only game in town before Zig-Zags. I’ve said too much…
“I hope I live long enough to see the Chesapeake bay once again become full of oysters.”
–Comment by Mike Scott
The Koch Bros. are lined up against you on that one, Mike. Better get your guns and prepare for battle!
Damn it, Dan! We’d made it this whole thread without mention of guns. Go back to talking about your bivalve snot shots, please.
Hmm. I just realized that I’ll eat deep-fried cicadas and not even flinch but I find oysters revolting.
Oysters!
Here’s my favorite Oyster record, and a pretty good laughing record too.
It’s a bachelor’s party toast of the gilded age, sung tongue in cheek by the great Old South Quartette from Richmond, Va., with good fidelity for a cylinder recording (they first cut it in 1909). Listen through the verses to hear the choruses with the laughing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkkDgwFxW3o
Lyrics:
OH A JOURNEY TO LONG BRANCH IS PLEASANT
AND IT’S ALWAYS DELIGHTFUL TO ME
WHILE STROLLING THE BEACH AT MOONLIGHT
WHILE WILD WINDS ARE ROLLING THE SEAS
THEN GIVE ME A LADY FOR WALTZIN’
THOSE PLEASURES TO ME THEY ARE GRAND
AND QUICKLY PASSED BY IT IS FINISHED
WE’LL HAVE OYSTERS AND WINE AT TWO
Chorus:
We have Oysters and wine at 2 a.m., 2 a.m, 2 a.m
We Have Oysters and Wine at 2 a.m.
We Have Oysters and Wine at 2
We have Oysters and wine at 2 a.m., 2 a.m, 2 a.m
We Have Oysters and Wine at 2 a.m.
We Have Oysters and Wine at 2
MUSIC IS PLEASANT, MUSIC HAS CHARMS
MUSIC IS SOMETHING TO KEEP US ALONG
MUSIC IS PLEASANT, MOST FORTUNATE AND GRAND
NOW WATCH MY MUSIC AND SEE HOW I LAUGH
Chorus (ad-libbed laughing)
I’M A FELLOW THAT NEVER REFUSES
A PLEASURE THAT COMES IN MY WAY
BUT NOW IT IS TIME TO GET MARRIED
WE’LL (DANCE ALL MY BULLY PLAYS ?)
WE FOUGHT WHILE STARS WERE SHINING
WE FOUGHT WITH FRIENDS THAT WERE TRUE
AND QUICKLY PASSED BY IT IS FINISHED
WE HAVE OYSTERS AND WINE AT 2 AM
Chorus
MUSIC IS PLEASANT, MUSIC HAS CHARMS
MUSIC IS SOMETHING TO KEEP US ALONG
THE MUSIC IS PLEASANT, MOST FORTUNATE AND GRAND
NOW WATCH MY MUSIC AND SEE HOW I LAUGH
Chorus (ad-libbed laughing)
Mike Scott,
Don’t know how old you are, but the Chesapeake is getting better. However, most oysters harvested from the Chesapeake today &, in my view, well into the future will be cultivated oysters. Pollution has killed most of the old oyster reefs from which most oysters came. UVA & William & Mary both have Marine Science Research Centers working to rebuild the traditional oyster business in the Chesapeake. However, the Bay watershed starts in New York and follows the Susqehenna(sp) River through Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia. It’s a complex challenge with no easy answers. By the way, Manhattan used to be protected from coastal flooding by oyster reefs which have been destroyed or removed over the last 50 years. They, the folks in New York, learned some tough lessons when Sandy hit them this fall.
However, my son typically ships via wholesalers up and down the east coast. I can get him to ship to me because I am willing to pay not just for the oysters but also the expensive overnight FedEX or UPS shipping charges. He would ship them to Dan because I paid him to do it. No family discount.
For me oysters are their very best grilled in their shells about five to eight minutes on the grill, which assists in easy shucking as they,ll pop open ever so slightly. Shucked, a quick bath in drawn butter, a splash of cocktail sauce and a touch of horseradish on a saltine…..yum! As for the R months, the ones myself and my hunting buddies enjoy at deer camp in November seem to be a lot bigger and tastier than any we might enjoy during spring or summer months at the beach, so there may be something to that.
I’ve heard during a tour of Jamestown that at the time it was settled that Chesapeake bay oysters were big enough to feed three people on one oyster. They must of had some really big saltine crackers back then!
House passes Senate version “fiscal cliff” bill. 257-167. Just in time for Hang Seng.
Debbie, I don’t believe you are interpreting the quote the same as I, or others. Its not saying to NOT have compassion. It merely suggests that you should question others motives when THEY are showing various levels of compassion, or why does one show compassion. I am sure that you have been skeptical of someone’s compassion at one point or another. Am I right?
Dave Hicks, how about sharing your stewed tomatoes recipe?
Justin True @12:04, yes you are right, although I can honestly say it’s on very rare occasions.
House passes Senate version “fiscal cliff” bill. 257-167. Just in time for Hang Seng.
Comment by Art Hill — January 1, 2013 @ 11:01 pm
There’s still hope in the world. In the end 85 Republicans were found not to be insane after all. And there is clear indication that if Boehner, Cantor, Pelosi, McConnell, and Reid would get out of the way, there are enough sane members of both parties to actually forge a coalition and get things done. Simply blocking legislation from being voted upon to support an ideology instead of allowing votes and working the weill of the people
is not serving our country well.
Years ago there was a Cajun restaurant downtown, I can’t remember the name of it, but I went there one day for lunch and got an oyster po’ boy to go. I went back to work and sat in the lunchroom with some friends and when I unwrapped the sandwich, a friend remarked on how good it looked. When I told her it was fried oysters she started gagging, seriously gagging. I was a little stunned by her reaction.
Dan, oysters are indeed gluten free, unless you start destroying them by dredging them in flour. Even before I had to go gluten free, I always preferred them raw or sometimes grilled. Never could tolerate them fried.
Ron@79
Old enough to have lived through the near collapse of the bay oyster industry from pollution and disease, but also old enough to have had slurped some old school bay oysters. We have number of restaurants here in the Noke that have a relationship with a producer from the Rappahanock river.
For all you oyster connoisseurs, if you are ever in Williamston NC, check out the Sunnyside oyster bar. Been in business since the 1920′s and is exempt from most restaurant regulations. It’s just a bar and that servers only oysters(steamed or raw), shrimp and crab legs. It’s a throwback to an old school oyster bar complete with saltines, horseradish and/or tobasco. They schuck’m right in front of you. It’s a community tradition and the schuckers have been working there for years. A unique experience for sure.
http://sunnysideoysterbarnc.com/
Debbie @4:52 am,
I think that maybe you are a little more skeptical than you are willing to admit, but the point is this, some people put on a compassionate face for their supervisors and nothing else. If you live your life as if there are no supervisors, and you show compassion out of your own personal moral compass, isn’t that more commendable? Should compassion be forced? Whether forced by society, or by a faith, you should distrust that form of compassion in my opinion. If you should even call it compassion…
After the last Gonzo get together, I said that I would glady host an oyster roast at my house for the next get together. Let’s set a date and do it!
Mike Scott, we bought a couple of cans of select oysters for New Years and when Jan went to prepare them, our crappie frig had frozen them….AGH! Jan ended up making an oyster casserole which was very good but I had my heart set on fried oysters. Yeaterday, we went shopping for a new frig. I mean freezing those beautiful oysters was the last straw.
Dan, my first job as a teenager was the oyster shucker at Archie’s Lobster House which used to be on Williamson Road in Hollins. That place was a classic…you could pick your lobster, get an awesome steak and of course, oysters on the half shell (shucked by yours truly). Archie was a character and seemed to be a 100 years old when I was 17 years old and if the kitchen got to busy, he would put his cane over his arm and out cook the younger chiefs.
What is a Gonzo get together?
Dan’s bloggers are affectionately called “Gonzos”. Don’t where that started…Dan??
“Don’t where that started…Dan??”
Hunter Thompson and gonzo journalism. I once had a cat I named Gonzo.
Justin @ 7:45 I am as cynical as one can be when it comes to compassion from politicians, and some company executives, and occasionally from private individuals. But for the most part, I think the majority of people are genuinely compassionate and caring individuals. There are extremely pious hypocrites out there of course, always have been, always will be. I guess it just comes down to, choose those you trust wisely.
Years ago some Kroger stores had fresh lobster tanks. A neighbors 4 year old daughter was over visiting one day and started talking about them. She said, “You know what? Krogers has these things called lobbbsters!And you know what, there’s some people that eat lobbbsters!”
I agree, Debbie.
Re: Debbie — January 2, 2013 @ 4:52 am
I don’t use a written recipe. Just cook by the way it looks & memory.
Don’t even think about cholesterol. Think Paula Deen comfort food.
My grandmothers would have been made & canned (mason jar) the stewed tomatoes in large batches during the summer. I just fake it.
For the three of us (that were here New Years) I used:
- about 1/2 stick of real butter
- 1/2 sweet onion (Valida), coarsely chopped
- a large green pepper, peeled, seeded & coarsely chopped
- 6 fresh tomatoes, peeled & sliced about 1/4 inch thick (use whole slices)
- sugar, salt & pepper to taste
- very coarse bread crumbs
Melt butter at a very low heat in a heavy iron skillet.
Add and sweat onions & green peppers until onions are translucent — don’t brown onions or butter.
Add tomato slices and cook over a very low heat (you might want to consider a crock pot) for an hour, or so. Everything should be soft but maintain its shape — i.e., not turn into an indistinguishably mush.
While that is cooking, toast some sliced bread (I usually use some of my homemade sour-dough bread.) Chop into small cubes / very coarse crumbs.
Add salt & pepper to taste (and this time of year, add sugar — if the tomatoes are not homegrown summer sweet, as is usually the case with winter store bought).
Add just enough of the bread crumbs to soak up most but not quite all the juice/butter.
Serve over black-eyed peas that were cooked from dried beans with some cured fat-back (or sow-belly or bacon), partially mashed, and slightly fried in bacon grease.
Re: Dan Casey — January 1, 2013 @ 9:36 pm
LOL — Spell checker road-kill, yet again.
The ONLY way to eat’em is raw (in my book), with a drop of Tabasco (that pungent sauce made from capsicum frutescens).
Thanks, Dave Hicks @ 7:00. I’ll give it a try.
Have you had tomato dumplings? The first letter my daughter ever wrote to anyone, was when she was 5 years old and sent one to her great grandmother, asking her how to make tomato dumplings. She had gone with my parents to visit my Grandma and her tomato dumplings made a big impression on my daughter.