Chaos Reigns

And I Paid For This

Lately I've been asked to go on a cruise, a fishing trip, and boating out on the lake. My polite refusals were met with quizzical looks. After all, who wouldn't like to spend time on a boat of some sort? Me, and here's why.

Two years ago, my brother, Mike, decided that we all needed to go fishing when he came to Florida. After all, the gulf was just sitting there doing nothing. So he made all the arrangements a month or so before his trip.

The excitement built as the day of the grand fishing expedition came closer. Finally the big day arrived complete with booming thunderstorms. We never let a little weather stop us besides the storms passed through. No big deal. So off we went at o'dark thirty. An hour later, we stood on the dock. The fishing boat was there - two of them - but no captain. The guy in the reservation booth informed us that the captain was checking the weather and conditions in the gulf to see if it was safe to go out. That should have given me a clue as to what laid ahead. But no, not me, I climb on this seafaring craft prepared to haul in a big one.

The water was quite calm - until we sailed past the last sandbar. Then the fishing tackle started swaying. And the boat started to rock back and forth and back and forth. The fishing tackle swayed faster and faster. The girl next to me turned green. I did too. She tossed her cookies. I helped her out by tossing mine.

I spent an eternity (I've been informed that it was ONLY 5 hours) curled up in a ball in the bow of this mightly vessel groaning and wishing the blasted thing would sink and put me out of my misery. I got up to look at the dolphins, took three photos - not of the dolphins-, and curled back up in my corner. For this wonderful experience I shelled out $40.

I understand that several photographs exist of me and my glorious green glow. I haven't seen them. I don't think I want to see them. Since I can't share those with you, here's one I took Mr. Terry Man teaching Eric how to fish with Sweet Sarah in the background. 

The World's Best Boiled Peanuts

tMy brother, Mike, doesn't live in the deep South so he doesn't have access to some of the southern delicacies we take for granted. Some like pecan pie (properly pronounced PEA' can) and sweet tea are easily made at home. Others, like moon pies and RC Cola, can occasionally be found in a grocery store. By the way, an RC must always accompany the moon pies. To do otherwise is sacrilege. But Mike and his family crave something that you probably won't find north of the Mason Dixon line or west of the Mississippi - boiled peanuts.

Boiled peanuts can be found almost everywhere in the Deep South. You can buy them at the vegetable market. You can buy them on the street corner. You can buy them at the ball field. You can even buy them at the hardware store. But, according to Mike, the best boiled peanuts can only be found at Bob's Famous Boiled Peanuts. Oh, could he wax poetical about Bob' Famous Boiled Peanuts.

Val, my sister-in-law, decided that she would boil some peanuts for my dear brother. After all, how hard could it be. Throw some peanuts in a pot with some water and a ton of salt and, presto chango, you have boiled peanuts. The only problem is that she couldn't find the main ingredient - raw peanuts. She has since decided that no raw peanuts are permitted to leave Plains, GA. It's probably just as well. No one can touch the quality of Bob's Famous Boiled Peanuts. They're the best in the world.

Once a year, Mike and family go to Mom and Dad's so we usually make a mini-family reunion out of his visit. I have to pass right by Bob's Famous Peanuts where the best boiled peanuts in the world are sold. I love my baby brother so I faithfully stopped each time at Bob's, home of the best boiled peanuts in the world, and bought $20 worth of the delectable legumes.

You might think the $20 worth of the best boiled peanuts in the world is a lot of peanuts and it is until those desert rats get hold of them. You would think that we are the Hoover family. They love Bob's Famous Boiled Peanuts.

Last March, I was making my way to Florida for the annual family get together. Being such a loving sister, I stopped again at Bob's Famous Boiled Peanuts for another $20 worth of the best boiled peanuts in the world. I began to fill the largest container Bob's had when the clerk advised me that they were heating up a new batch of the best boiled peanuts in the world. I thought this was strange because I didn't detect the distinct aroma of boiling peanuts. Once you've sniffed boiling peanuts you never forget it. About that time I noticed a #10 can of ... You guessed it ....boiled peanuts! The Best Boiled Peanuts in the World!

Blog Redesign

I've been a fixin' to, as my granny would say, thank Everyday Mommy for the beautiful new blog design. It's been up for a week and a half and unfortunately, life happened and I had to deal with it.

So, Jules, thank you for your beautiful work. I am absolutely, positively delighted.

Just a Little Bragging

Look at this scoreboard! Eric's team was the guest team. The home team was the Cubs. The Cubs had a 13 - 0 record until Saturday morning.

Everyone was playing great and hitting like crazy.

Our pitcher was smokin'! Threw exactly the number of pitches a kid can throw in Little League. He went into the sixth inning with 9 pitches left before the coaches would have to put in another pitcher. It took exactly 9 pitches to end the game.

Our first baseman hit one over the fence. His first home run! Way to go, 20!

Eric managed to catch three flies in right field. The last one was a terrific catch that had him horizontal to the ground as he dove to catch it. Beautiful play and the final one of the game.

Way to go, Beavers!

Eric was hot, tired, and very happy when the game was over.

Chapstick and Cats

I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read this. It sounds so much like my house.

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