I'm Fine, The Board is (temporarily) Broken, What's in your Cup/BBQ Plate?
Mates,
I've been away, but I have gotten a number of texts and emails so I thought I'd check in tonight. I did check headlines from time to time and read the 'mental health' thread the other day. Worried about some of you. Hang in there, 11/4 will get here sooner than you know.
1. I'm fine, the family is fine, farm is fine, my other work is fine, I'm told that a number of you have inquired and I'm flattered that you all would even notice I haven't posted since last month, much less ask or say anything about it. Lots of football stuff has gone on with the kids, but of course their respective seasons got stomped out 2 weeks ago.
2. Too Toxic. I applaud Brian's wisdom in generally prohibiting politics on the board. That said, some politics made sense in March and April, was probably actually healthy. It long ago turned into a cess pool though, and I think when I saw Nittany get neg-banged for a post where he bared his soul about a buddy of his that lost his job due to Covid, had money trouble, fell into despair and ultimately took his own life, well that tore it for me. That was disgraceful.
There are many folks here who pretty reasonably can converse with different view points. I bet I could have a very worthwhile conversation with, say, Sopwith for instance. Probably with Hatter, too, though there'd be a bunch more 4 letter words said. It's when folks go over the top with the name calling and false condescension that gets my goat. You know those same folks would never, ever, have the guts to say those things to anyone's face. And you know with 100% certainty the folks with the most poison political takes are directly proportional to the train wrecks their lives are, and inversely related to the size of their privates.
3. Worthwhile People On This List. There are so many people on this list that I would love to meet in person, see at a game, have them visit the farm, shake their hand. Very worthwhile people. I have had the pleasure of meeting or knowing a number of you, and would say this: If we had political discourse in our threads like we knew that the person we're responding to was or would be sitting in our living room then 99% of the rancor would go out of the discussion and solutions would exponentially be promoted. That ought to be the rule here.
4. What's in Your Cup/On Your BBQ There is about a 90% that at some later point there will be a splash of red pop in a coffee cup in front of me. We will be BBQ'ing ribs tonight. What about you, and how are you doing?
I'll leave you with this video, I guarantee you will like it or I will refund your money. It might start with an ad you can skip in 5 seconds. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEc1m-r_0gM
Blessings to you all,
XM
August 28th, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^
I have definitely eased up on my time spent on MGoBlog for various reasons, but I still like to come on every once in a while and be a smart ass. Glad you and yours are healthy and ok. You are probably my favorite poster and have the best attitude of everyone on here. Bucket List item is to come and check out the farm one day!
August 28th, 2020 at 8:59 PM ^
remember, we escaped from cal to get back home to the farm. you can, too. and in the meantime schedule a visit.
August 28th, 2020 at 8:23 PM ^
The internet in general is a toxic environment. People say all sorts of things they would never dare to say in person.
Not me though, I talk almost as much shit in real life, and I have the scars to prove it. Or at least I did when I left the house.
Glad to hear you're doing well Melanin. Hopefully things calm down after the election (or civil war).
I'm drinking ice water and trying to remember how we survived without AC when I was a kid.
August 28th, 2020 at 8:58 PM ^
have you considered buying a fan? though we have A/C, i basically forbid it's use unless it really is scorching which is pretty rare up here. a fan can go a long way to making you comfortable.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:28 PM ^
We have fans, thank goodness, but heat just really doesn't agree with me. Cold on the other hand is just fine, I love the fall and winter.
I think there must be a genetic component. My wife and daughter hate the cold, while little Hatter and I are sitting around in our underwear in January.
Hopefully I can find the part I need to fix the AC without having to order it online, or pay 10x the price for an HVAC guy to fix it.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^
with few exceptions, we are a 'cold' family, too.
and i won't run the A/C in the truck, either, unless its so hot that you're sweating just sitting there. put the windows down and let's drive.
August 28th, 2020 at 8:28 PM ^
Good to hear everything is ok down on the farm, XM. Internet personality + toxic and biased subject == stuffing your anus with M-80s and squatting over a hibachi.
I’ve become a sous vide meat cooker and mostly use the grill for searing or crusting cooked meats.
August 28th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
grampy is very fancy on the grill. nice.
August 29th, 2020 at 8:51 AM ^
I realize it may have been completely intentional on your part, but regardless I’m cracking up at the juxtaposition of an ‘M-80 stuffed anus over a hibachi’ and “searing or crusting cooked meats.”
August 28th, 2020 at 8:39 PM ^
Welcome back.
As a fellow BBQ enthusiast, I am defrosting a whole pork belly. Half will be cured in preparation for smoking next week into bacon. The other half will become pork belly "burnt ends" Sunday.
I also ordered a high end offset smoker from Alabama this week (Shirley Fabrications). One positive about CoVid, have been playing with curing/smoking things, and how much better it tastes than store bought stuff.
August 28th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
I understand they have some models now that are "prefab" so to speak. Did you order one of those or are you gearing up for a very long wait?
My wait was about 13 months if I recall correctly. I've had it for almost 2 1/2 years. Paul and Tyler make a great smoker.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
Getting the 24 x 36 patio (the prefab). 4 to 8 week turn around. All the reviews, plus pics showing the welding lines show it's a really solid product. I don't cook for enough people to justify anything bigger than the patio model anyways (looked at a Jambo Patio and an Outlaw as well, but those are even bigger). Mrs. Gopoohgo also stipulated no trailers: there are a couple sweet ones on Facebook/Craigslist around me (a 3 year-old Victory and a Jambo J3).
Really wanted a 24 x 36 with an insulated firebox, but that would put me in the "customization" line aka a 28 or so month wait now.
The firebox is big enough that I am going to tinker with firebrick/cordeirite as ghetto insulation.
Can't wait! Am annoying my wife already with all my ancillary stick burning purchases! (Kindling cracker, piles of oak and cherry, etc).
August 28th, 2020 at 11:32 PM ^
Sweet. Congrats. I had to wait anyway so mine kept getting bigger. 60 inch trailer with warmer, insulated firebox (which I don't really need in north carolina) and a stainless shelf.
One of my best purchases ever.
Enjoy.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:26 PM ^
Nice! Last week my brother in law bought an 8 pound pork belly and asked me to smoke it for him. His offer was that he keeps a third, I keep a third, and we share the other third. It was a magical day.
Good luck on your cook gopoohgo! #??
August 28th, 2020 at 10:07 PM ^
Thanks! I loved your recipes on the blog.
My dad (if they come visit for Thanksgiving with Covid and all that) already requested pork belly burnt ends for Black Friday. He was drooling when I sent him pics of my last batch. He also wants a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving, but my wife has put the kibosh on that and said traditional oven roasted only.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:24 PM ^
Do both turkeys. My wife was against the smoked turkey as well “because her mom would only eat oven roasted.”
So, I made both smoked and an oven roasted turkeys.
Her mom preferred the smoked.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:36 PM ^
Thanks, but I think you’re thinking of Joe Pichey over there at Go Blue BBQ. He’s a Texas BBQ guy and I’m a GA BBQ guy, but that dude definitely knows his way around a pit.
I faced the same dilemma with my wife’s family on the smoked turkey, but now that’s all they want. If you want to do one, just cook one up soon as a test drive and let the wife give it a try. She’ll change her mind. Just give it a good soak in a brine (I inject with some Cajun butter too) and cook to temp, not time and you’re golden my man.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:19 PM ^
1. Actually trying to smoke a couple turkeys this weekend to practice.
2. Just had fantastic Meyer Lemon margaritas. Holy moly they’re deceitfully good.
3. Political discourse is gone. Everything seems like theatre so it turns to subjective view points rather than policy. I’m so very Republican that I find myself standing with the Lincoln Project - it’s a crazy landscape at this point.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:24 PM ^
Hey XM! Welcome back. Finishing off a bottle of High West Bourye.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:56 PM ^
you had mentioned a remodel. what is the latest on that? any light at the end of the tunnel?
August 29th, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
Probably two more weeks. We're well over the time estimate but still within budget, so if I had to choose, it's that instead of the other way around.
Figured you were maximizing time with the family which is great. Unfortunate that your son has to deal with the uncertainty in the football world right now, but it's a great life lesson in maximizing opportunities and not taking things for granted. I'm sure your kids will all be fine with a well adjusted dad see the helm.
August 29th, 2020 at 10:23 AM ^
i'm hoping my kids will be fine in spite of me, not because of me.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:05 PM ^
You’re a good man, Xtra.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:18 PM ^
If there's no football this fall, would guys like me to break down kpop girl group formation survival TV show episodes? I need something with excitement and crying in my life.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:25 AM ^
Hey XM. Good to see a post from you Amigo!!!
Cosamigo Tequila and soda two limes and blackened catfish with succotash.
Your post made me giggle a bit.
August 29th, 2020 at 8:04 AM ^
Best thread on this board in many many months.
August 29th, 2020 at 8:22 AM ^
Except for my wife, pediatric NP who encounters significant Covid risk, life out here in Nowheresville, Kansas plods along with little change for us. Actually, as grandparents we have benefitted by having our household restricted to ourselves, our daughter and the two grandsons. The 11 year old and I are golfing a lot, the 13 year old has taken up farming with me and both of them are showing promise in the kitchen. Yesterday we canned pears and made from-scratch cherry cheesecake. This evening we will grill steak, pork chops, brats and some well-marinated pork loin...and finish off the cheese cakes and butter pecan ice cream we made several days ago. Our drink will include the pear juice we cooked down and strained off from the pear peelings from canning. We froze the juice in quart blocks and will make a pear punch out of it...we will see-haven't done this before. And here has been a benefit of this virus deal-it has catalyzed our imagination and creativity...our resourcefulness. And we are valuing each other at a newer and higher level.
August 29th, 2020 at 8:57 AM ^
Good to know you and yours are doing well, XM.
For the most part I’ve avoided immersing myself in the long COVID threads, so I missed the one about Nittany’s unfortunate friend. Glad I did.
August 29th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
thanks don. and yeah, you are glad you missed that part of the nonsense.
i must say, you don't look like you've gained any covid weight. what is your secret...?
August 29th, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^
I’m about 143 buck nekkid and I bet I could lose the irritating extra stuff around my middle if I cut out booze entirely, but only a crazy person would do that.
August 29th, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
possibly lifted from don's FB page...
August 29th, 2020 at 2:53 PM ^
No need to worry about BAC if you don't have any blood.
August 29th, 2020 at 1:18 PM ^
I just now noticed I got a shout-out! (of sorts)
XM and I have gone like cats and dogs on occasion about this political thing or that, but I think our pattern, one I wish others on here would emulate a little more, is that we can go from a thread where things turn political to the next thread about something totally unrelated and it's like the political head-butting never even happened. Today's politics are too toxic to let it run completely uncompartmentalized.
Politics will happen, but let it happen and then shake it Etch-a-Sketch style or you'll never enjoy a community like this.
August 29th, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
it's more than that. anytime i see you discuss politics you don't bash anybody, you don't condescend, and your humor and humility almost always come out. and i have little doubt that you were the smart kid in school/law school.
August 30th, 2020 at 7:21 PM ^
Thanks for posting. I don't have to worry anymore (about you friend). Going to my place on Arbutus this coming weekend labor day. One of these days we will meet. I graduated in 81, should have been 80. Probably ran into each other, your comments lead me to believe our circles intersected. Certainly the CA period intersects. Thanks for the update. I'm pretty much done here with what used to be a fun place. Will check in from time to time. As for the other point in your post...Grilled marinated Red Snapper with Shrimp skewers and perfect fillet mignon tonight. Surf and Turf. Not much better to offer.
Thank You for the update. Best wishes Friend.
Lee
August 31st, 2020 at 4:10 PM ^
I’ve been “away” as well, so I didn’t notice so much. Last week marked 1 year in the great north for us, and it’s probably been a good place to be for a few reasons. We’ve found good meat, at last, although it is a half hour away. I hope things are well in your part of the north.