I'm Always Mentally on Vacation

Morning Chicken Count

The Instutute

Egg production has plummeted at the hen house. It is a combination of the season and the aging population of the hens. It could be Obamas fault, but it has not been associated yet.

So, as planned, we are thinning the herd a bit. You see, chickens eat expensive grain no matter if they are laying, or just breathing.

The plan all along is when they get old, they get to roam free.

We started this week with 22 hens and last night the count was down to 19.

I went out well after dark to look for the others and saw quite a few eyes shining back at me from the forest. That might explain the absences.

Pizza for Supper

And it was good.

It Has Been Horrible

And it is Obamas fault.

My Internets has been down, and I am all flustered. I can't work from home.

Whoa is me, for I am undone.

Ashes and sackcloth.

Your Hangover

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Intermission

Local Chicken Arrested for Egg Pecking

Prison Security Cam

Former flock member, Emily Swicegood, was recently released from a correctional institute on Ocean Isle Island, after serving her term for egg pecking. Her parole hearing was two weeks ago.

As you may recall, Emily was separated from her flock over a year ago along side her accomplice, she was convicted, and served time in the state chicken correctional institute.

Her accomplice was murdered in prison, but Emily survived the attack.

This morning on a routine feeding she was caught pecking eggs. She was combative and put up a fight to peck every egg she could find. A riot ensued.

She has been separated from the flock, cast into outer darkness, with gnashing of beaks.

Emily was last seen scratching near the barn awaiting an nocturnal attack.

A Final Stroll on the Beach

Sunday was cold with flat seas.

I had the beach to myself.

Tanner did take a huge dump just because he could. Better on the beach than in my truck.

Upgrades

For years I have owned a Honda 2000 generator as a backup power supply for the guest house refrigerator. For as many years I have lusted over a conversion kit that would allow me to run two of the generators together to produce 4000 watts and run my RV.

The appeal is simple, the generators are very quiet and efficient, plus each can be carried and moved by one person. A 4000 watt generator is too heavy to lift.

My main objection was springing another $1000 for another Honda 2000.

As luck would have it I located another generator new for $400. I bought the pairing kit and now I have quiet and efficient electricity on the road.

Second, I had completely outgrown my old satellite setup with the advent of high definition TV. My old tripod worked well for the older lighter and smaller dishes.

On this trip I gave it one more try, but it is to frail to hold up and maintain the bigger dish.

I ordered today this spiffy new heavy duty model with all kinds of pointers and accessories. I also included the heavy duty tie down option for coastal winds we encounter.

I will get a new dish too because the old one has been slammed to the ground so many times in high winds that the dish is bent and warped beyond what is desirable for reception.

Private Hell

Sometimes, we suffer our own little private hells. Just today I realized that my black water tank was full, and we still have more than 24 hours in the RV.

My only alternative was to hook up to the truck to the travel trailer, and tow it to an empty site with sewer hook up.

This is a pain in the ass because it harshes my mellow, my dogs mellow, and cause me to have to semi pack up in order to push in the slides on the RV.

Well, it all went rather easy until I actually got to my destination.

This fellow walks up and offers help but I had already hooked up the sewer hose and was about to release the valve.

Within a minute he jumps right into politics confessing his life is ruined on account of Ronald Reagan and that Jimmie Carter was the best ever. By now the little man in my brain is screaming, but I just smile politely and agree. I just want him to go away.

Suddenly my sewer hose bursts about 5 tiny holes once the hose is under full pressure. Raw sewer is leaking out and I am getting a lecture on liberal politics.

New Watering Hole

I like bars. They are community for those who drink. On St Croix, I frequent many bars, because they are everywhere.

Some island bars come and go, and other stay the same.

There used to be a real shit hole bar on the boardwalk called Styxx. It was a real, honest to God, low life bar. Most of the clients there didn't have a full set of teeth.

I would stop by on occasion in broad daylight for a beer. Then they shut down and construction began.

A year later, and lots of construction and money, and welcome John Eddie's Low Life Bar and Refuse.

Last night was opening night during Thanksgiving Jump Up and it looks as if the entire town turned out.

Even Norma from the Domino Club made a showing.

Good luck JELLB & R. The boardwalk can use some good night life and entertainment.

Southport, North Carolina

Such a beautiful village. There is ocean, intracoastal waterway, and a big river called the Cape Fear. They all converge at Southport, North Carolina.

Tanner and Galaxy joined me for this morning walk among the historic homes along the river front.

The seafood here is fresh and the people are friendly. Southport always warms my soul.

This is Not a Food Blog

But....

The leftover turkey will have to wait a day. I was jonesing bad for a burger, and we had fresh ground chuck on board the travel trailer and of course, a weber grill.

Damn that was good!

Here Is How It Went Down

Thanksgiving USA 2012. After reading and watching may Youtube videos on how to rotisserie a turkey, I decided on the following series of events.

This was a fresh 10 pound turkey.

I put a few sprigs of rosemary and some garlic cloves in the cavity. Then I stuffed in a large hunk of butter. I salt and peppered the entire bird and wrapped it in foil.

All wrapped up and ready to spin for a few hours at 300 degrees.

Gigi found this freak of nature. It looked like three grapes had fused into a butt looking fruit.

A few hours later, I removed the foil and began browning and lightly smoking the turkey with apple wood.

I walked the dogs a lot.

In about 45 more minutes this emerged at an internal temp of 170. I let it rest 30 minutes before carving.

It was moist, lightly smokey, and damn good.

Haley

She is with out a doubt, my hardest working Border Collie of the 5.

She does however, take her time off seriously.

You'd never know she only has three legs.

Wretro Wreggie

I remember the day well….June 20, 1958. I sported comfortable shorts and walking shoes, a homemade Stetson, a loose fitting shirt reflecting the warm summer day.

I was about to lay into this cake followed by a round of badminton when I contemplated me at 56 and change.

Will I see color at 56 or will the world remain black and white?

Then? What the hell. I ate cake and took a nap.

Waiting to Be Herded

The dogs are on travel watch. They keep a close eye on us as we pack the RV.

Put a Fork in It

My football season is over…all hopes have faded that the Panthers will not be the laughing stock of the league. We are now in competition with the likes of Cleveland and Jacksonville for the sorriest team. Wish us luck so that we can get a high draft pick with a new general manager and head coach.

Perfectly Trimmed Out Rig - Jon Kieren

My thoughts turn now to St Croix in 82 days and scuba diving. Specifically, side mount diving.

I have been collecting the gear necessary for a side mount rig but I still don’t have it all together. Some parts are back ordered.

It is my hope that in a few weeks I can spend some pool time side mount diving, so that I will be all set when I hit STX. A pool is the perfect place to perfect fundimentals if one is an experienced diver.