My first car

1952 Morris Minor convertible.
I got it in 1960 for about $300.

4 on the floor, man!
Semaphore turn signals.
A heater (sorta) but no radio.
Max speed of close to 60 MPH...downhill.
It made the trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl (New Years Day) a couple of times.

Had a starter crank that I actually used when I had a dead battery once.
It worked!
We had a rare hard freeze in Tuscaloosa (college, Roll Tide!) and the auto stores and filling stations ran out of antifreeze. I poured a half a fifth of Scotch into the radiator and got through it just fine.
Smelled good too.


What was you first car?

Trying a new 'cornbread' approach.

1/2 C. flour, 1/2 C. masa, 1 pkt. instant yeast, 1 egg, pinch of salt, enough buttermilk (warm) to make a stiff batter.

It's rising and smells yeasty.
Just mixed in some shredded parmesan.
Maybe it will rise again?
I'll let you know how it comes out.

Ever had a near death experience?

Not where you saw the 'bright white light' and went out of body.
Just where you got into a situation where you nearly got your ass killed but didn't.

I have a few, but I want to hear yours.
I'll chime in later.

Met a trump voter at the library today.

I belong to the Friends of the Library and we run a small used book store in the library.
It's volunteer work and I had the 10:00 to 1:00 shift this morning.

There was a note on the desk that a guy was looking for a particular book and it had come in. I called hem and let him know. He was very appreciative.

He came in a half hour later. He was my only customer so far and we chatted for a while.
Seemed like a nice guy. He was a snowbird who had retired here (Alabama gulf coast) from New Jersey.

Eventually the conversation got around to Alabama politics which we agreed sucks.
And then he said "I don't even like to watch the news channels any more because all I see is Trump's ugly mug." (Right on, brother.)

And THEN "I voted for him. I thought he would bring change. But he's just a narcissistic asshole. I won't vote for him again."

I said "Thank you."
I hope there are lots out there just like him.

If there were were two pairs of duelers...

Holding duels at the same time and place, it would be dual duels.

Read "Who Killed CBS?" and you'll never view network news the same way again.

"Who Killed CBS?"
The Undoing of America's Number One News Network"
- Peter J. Boyer

It not only chronicles the changeover from Cronkite to Rather, but also the changeover from presenting 'news' to putting on a ratings driven 'television show'.


Published in 1988. May be hard to find. I found this copy at my library.

Washington D.C. weather forecast for July 4:

Periods of sun, a heavy t-storm in the afternoon; storms will be slow moving and bring heavy rain

Please, PLEASE, PUH-LEEEEEZE!!!

Want to drop a line to the Blue Angels?

They are reportedly doing a flyby for Trump's Fourth of July Republican Rally Extravaganza.

Send them an email to tell them what you think.

bapao@navy.mil

Thank you.

I want congress to pass a law outlawing cilantro.

Foil packet 'Low Country Boil'. (recipe)

We're trying this tonight.

1 1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 smoked andouille sausages, thinly sliced
2 ears corn, each cut crosswise into 4 pieces
1 lb. red bliss potatoes, chopped into 1-in pieces
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. Old Bay seasoning
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
1 lemon, sliced into thin wedges
4 tbsp. butter

1. Preheat grill over high heat, or preheat oven to 425°. Cut 4 sheets of foil about 12 inches long. Divide shrimp, garlic, sausage, corn, and potatoes evenly over the foil sheets. Drizzle with oil, then add Old Bay seasoning and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine. Top each mixture with parsley, lemon and a tablespoon of butter each.

2. Fold foil packets crosswise over the shrimp boil mixture to completely cover the food. Roll top and bottom edges to seal them closed.

3. Place foil packets on grill and cook until just cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes (or transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes).