Pleasantries from North Carolina

I slow cooked this Boston Butt (pork shoulder) all night and then some. Hickory smoke and temps low around 235 F. By 9 AM I had about 8 pounds of pulled pork BBQ. Oh my.

This is how it is done my friends.



That Time of Year




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

I am Growing Sideburns

Wish me luck. I never had the time or inclination to grow facial hair.

Pent Up Demand

Imma gonna have to get the next generation iPad for sure.

I do not have retina display now and I need it.

My camera is weak and the new ones are mo better. This will enable me to scan checks and documents.

New iPads are mo better cause they are faster. Faster is better. I use an application now on my iPad that runs Windows software but it takes a ton of horse power to run.

There I said it. Now invent and release it Apple. Please.

Chicken Chronicles

Nightmares about chickens last night. I took one (chicken), and deep fried it whole until golden brown, and when I took it out....it was alive, and walking around with flesh falling off.

Steam was coming from its skin yet it continued to cluck. Freaky I tell you. We all agreed that we shouldn't eat a cooked live chicken so we let it go.

So I decide to sleep under the stars when I hear a commotion at the coop. It was a bobcat. When he saw me, he decided to come calling. I took a swing at him, all I had, and with one very powerful paw, he smacked my fist away.

I grabbed my rifle and he ran...thank goodness because I was out of bullets. I headed to the truck to reload and encountered a wild bore.

Monday



Things to Know - There Will be a Test

A. I hate the term preggars and baby bump.

B. Cheerios are actually doughnut seeds.

C. I got my hot dog seeds in the mail yesterday...a sure sign of spring. I am on auto order with the hot dog seed company.

D. Toe Jam would be a great name for a band.

Which of the following are the correct answer.

1. Both B and C are correct.

2. Both B and D are correct.

3. A only.

4. A and D are correct.

Supper at the Sea

Last night I found a little gem of a seafood place that is far different than the greasy fried traditional NC seafood restaurants. This place is on the water, and is positioned for a spectacular sunset. The prices are higher than greasy places and the portions are smaller. The food and wine and view is fantastic. Dinner for three with drinks was less than $100. The service was spectacular.



State of The Art

The old Direct TV outdoor hardware had been through two tropical storms and a Cat 1 Hurricane from it's service in Southport, NC.

The dish was bent and the tripod destroyed. So last year I bought the finest tripod money can buy. It should easily survive the storms the last tripod caved into.

I managed to bed the dish back and checked the connections as a new dish is expensive and must be purchased from Direct TV or a Dealer.

After spending hours this morning knowing that I had a dead bead on the satellite I decided to call a local installer for help.

My LNB was bad, my cable in the dish was bad, my dish was too bent to be effective. The internal wiring in the RV was fine for cable and over the air but not High Definition TV from space.

So I got a new dish on my tripod.

I got new wiring.

And I have a perfect picture. New wire from dish to TV.

By the way, I was right and had the dish aimed dead on the satellite.

Freedom

I am taking today off and headed to the coast in the camper for some R&R. The sequester has worn me down such that I need time away from the throttle back of govco services that sprinkled upon my undeserving soul.

Camping takes me back to the basics and grounds me. Here I sit in front of the electric fireplace typing on my Internet machine, and thinking about foraging...walking over to Hardees to get two of the gold standard country ham biscuits for me and the mrs.

Then it will be man vs the heavens above, as I attempt to aim and lock in on a tiny satellite 25,000 miles above, so that I can watch March Madness like my ancestors did.

Oh it will be a fun weekend.

The Sequester


I guess old Barry was right… the federal cuts are starting to trickle down.

The Sylvester
In light of the federal cuts, I have withdrawn an additional 15% of my labor, thereby lowering my taxes to the federal government. In addition we will no longer offer tours of the chicken coop as Ludwig’s hours on duty have been drastically cut.

Possibly there is mayhem about and likely havoc too, but I haven’t noticed. But it is coming because Barry told me so.

At 2PM I will begin gnashing of teeth as a reaction to the ever increase discomfort brought on by President Obama. Most likely just one or two protest gnashes…nothing more.

I will persevere in light of the federal punishment of me for not being a swell guy and drinking of the kool-aid like I was asked.

Oh it is gonna be baaaaad soon.      


© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

The Great Void *


The great void continues here. The weather is winter even though the calendar says spring.

Work is a grind. It consists of a giant paper shuffle initiated by the feds and state, in order to determine the amount of blood you must let. I am a part of that shuffle encouraged along by ultimate threat of violent force and imprisonment.   

College Basketball is no relief as I am a casual fan. Baseball gets me closer and so does golf. But it is hard to have your heart in warm weather sports when it is so cold.

On a bright not I ordered 12 spring chicks that will be delivered April 15th. The existing flocks are mostly yard birds and have stopped laying with any regularity. I loose about one bird a week from predators and I am down to 10 useless albeit entertaining hens.  

* The Great Void is term coined by Phfrankie Bondo. While his Great Void has ended....mine continues.

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Nerd Dive Stuff

Spent yesterday tweaking my gear. Got my tanks just right and installed D Rings on the back.





Dive 113



Here is a bit of video I shot yesterday down at the Cruiser in Lake Norman Quarry. It is about 80 to 90 feet down and the temperature was 48 degrees. It was a superior day of visibility. Apparently my frames per second were way too low making for a jerky rendering. I used the camera right out of the box. Live and learn. This was my first configuration of side mount and dry suit diving. I learned a lot here too, like proper weighting and rigging. But this is what quarry diving is all about for me…mastering skills. 



© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

I Was There


I was at this launch. The concussion about knocked me off of my feet. Good times. 




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Hero 3 By GoPro

Television production quality in the palm of my hand. I am headed to Best Buy today to pick up a few accessories so I can strap this bad boy to my head...then you can join me Saturday as I dive the icy waters of the quarry.

Hell, I just might strap this to my head for the rest of my life.

Things Surely Change

Man oh man do I feel a big burden lifted this morning. This is not a fun season for me. Taxes (and other peoples taxes) produce a lot of work for me with zero revenue.

Second, this is my personal audit season that I have come to dread. The audit was yesterday and it went well with the diligent help of my assistant.

Taxes are still around until April 15, but I feel some relief now.

I learned this morning that my beloved Google Reader will be discontinued July 1. This is huge for me and countless nerds around the world. Reader is how we view the Internet. My Google reader commands my first hour of each morning for many years now. It is my newspaper custom designed by me and for me and it is going away.

Happy times and changing times.

Oldie But Goodie

Me and my sister Judy circa 1957. I have the same body features now...funny. Judy was and is a great sibling.

Sons of Bitches

My left hand looks so old. Moon photo worthy....worst than my fathers at my age. What happened? Oh well.

Step it Up

Saturday I will make my first local dive of the year at The Quarry. The water is 50 degrees at the surface, and 49 degrees at depth.

This will be my most complex dive configuration ever, as I will dive in a dry suit and side mount.

I've done 14 side mount dives and still learn something new each dive.

On dry dives I have about 10 in the books, and none in over a year. Dry diving comes with different challenges vs wet diving that I have yet to master.

There is a lot of mental planning for these dives and I like that part of diving.

Oh and I forgot....Gadget Alert! I sold some old dive stuff (including my shitty camera) on eBay and got enough to buy a GoPro Hero 3 action sports camera. Hopefully it will be delivered in time for the dive.

This little camera is the state of the art high definition video camera that can go about anywhere...even to 190 feet under water. Most folks mount the camera on their head or chest...others use a extension pole. I saw a decent amount of divers with this same small camera down on St Croix.

Behold!

The finished remodel.



Making Progress





A Blank Canvas



In the United States, we are about to change over to Daylight Savings Time. It is just another way the Federal Government tries to improve our lives, because they know what is best for us. 

Mentally, I begin the local warm season with the change of time. Conditions will only improve from here on out until mid June, when the stifling hot season begins. The stifling hot season usually runs to the first week of September, when the crushing humidity breaks. 

And so, it is with great anticipation that I welcome wReggie season. 

May you have a good summer. 


© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Ludwig Von Hunnicutt

Yesterday.

Slab

Crappy.

A Bic Lighter to a Cave Man

Yesterday I had an appointment with a long time couple, and before we got down to business, she noticed my iPad on my desk.

Neither of them had seen an iPad in person and they were truly amazed. I gave them the full demo and let them hold and touch this amazing gadget.

They couldn't get over that this little thin slate could do so much.

Where have people been?





Being Slapped Awake 15 Mornings in a Row


Morning 11 through 15 are the best. She gets creative.




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

A Fun Sunday

We mainly napped and did little chores. It was a cold peaceful day.




I found my dive shot on the web site from my last visit. Happy times. I remember that dive.




I listed my underwater camera on eBay. I want a Gopro. The Gopro is so much smaller and more powerful.




I listed my Spare Air on eBay. This is just 3 cubic feet and I now carry a much larger backup air at 30 cubic feet. If I sell both of these items I think I will have enough money to buy the Gopro and a head mount.




I properly labeled my cylinders. That is the newer backup on the left. My big steel tank on the right. I dove Hatteras this past summer. It is a lot of air.




I picked up a load of grain and hay. Horses and hens are so much a part of my life. I don't ride, but I love their presence. I don't ride chickens either, but like the eggs and hero worship.




Its about time to pay the hay bill. He stores the hay after he cuts it. I just pick up 6 or 8 bales and mark it down on my tab. It is the honor system.

YouTube Video

I almost forgot. I finally put together this fancy add-on to my rotisserie. I see endless possibilities but mainly increased wing output.

Trailer Update

I got a few hours to work in the trailer until a freakish snow storm blew in.


The tongue boards are bolted down.


Then I began the complex wiring of the trailer lights.


Don't try this at home unless you have minutes of training like myself.


My over seer looks on.


The final wiring on each side and I should be good to go.

This trailer should be dandy for diving gear, tailgate gear, hauling the porta bote, or as a tag along for Gigi to take behind her 4Runner on extended camping trips.

Next the sides go to staining and a top out. I will have removable ends at the front and back to take advantage of the entire length.

Week

I found a decent Caribbean place for lunch. It was pretty authentic. I had the curry goat with black beans and rice with a side of collards.


I can only guess about the two clocks on the wall. The bottom was local time. The top must have been Jamaica time.

I met the little black lady in the back cooking. She was authentic for sure.



The Conservation Society