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Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Story of Almost

Today is Tuesday, September 17, 2024.  I expect to discover in just three days that I am at the 56th Annual Wild Game Feed in Oak Canon Park at Irvine Lake, Orange County, California.   And I hope to see you there, providing you were fortunate enough to obtain a ticket before they sold out last June. 

I don’t know about you, but I am both ready and completely unprepared for Friday to get here.  As you may know, I start my year the first Saturday after the end of the Feed each year.  In this way I end each year at the greatest event in the world (my opinion, but I know I share that opinion with many other guys).  And I can start my new year with great memories of the previous year. 

So just to let you know, today and tomorrow will be the last days I will be in contact with the world until after the Feed.  As a member of the organization, I will be leaving for Irvine Lake on Thursday morning to help with the setup, and, since the cell phone reception there is basically non-existent, I will not bother with carrying around my phone.

I am so ready for this.  Especially since, due to health issues and barring some miracle, this will most likely be my last Feed.  Many of you know I have Parkinson’s Disease, as well as a few other problems.  This last year it has taken a big chunk out of my abilities to function without a lot of help.  Therefore, the probabilities of my return to the Feed nest year are greatly diminished.  But I know the Feed ‘goes on come rain or shine.’ 

Enough of that.  My focus today is this coming Friday.  And we are Almost there.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, August 2, 2024

Just Seven Weeks To Go

That’s right.  There is just seven weeks until the 56th Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake,  September 20, 2024, at 12 noon, the gates will open at the Feed and Oak Canyon Park will fill up with an onrush of guys hungry to chow down on buffalo ribs, alligator, ostrich, wild boar tacos, reindeer hotdogs, quail, frog legs, turkey nuts, and a whole lot of other exotic appetizers.  Yes, I said appetizers.  As I’ve said many times over the years, just when you are too full to eat another bite without bursting at the seams, dinner will be served.  I hope you have your ticket.

The ticket sales this year were insane.  The Feed sold out in about 12 hours.  And I have received many requests for tickets from guys who, for many reasons, did not, or could not, purchase the tickets they wanted.  I am sorry.  You will be missed this year.  Many guys over the years, me included, have had to experience the sadness and pain attached to the two words “Sold Out.”   Unfortunately, 'Sold Out' means 'Sold Out.'

But for those for whom fortune smiled upon this year, get ready, the time is growing short, and very soon the Feed will be upon us. 

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, July 19, 2024

Funhouse Glasses (A.K.A. Bifocals)

Some years ago, I realized I needed glasses.  I had spent my youth with vision problems without realizing what was wrong.  Actually, I had constant headaches, but I had never associated it with my poor vision.  In my late teens I was given a position with a company where I had to read fine print on a checklist for products being shipped out.  I made a few mistakes, which ultimately led to a vision exam.  The eye doctor commented that I had enough astigmatism for an entire family, and when he corrected my vision through the machine thing I was looking through, I realized my problem.  The idea of ‘two eyes, two objects’ suddenly was no longer valid.  Thus came the first set of glasses.

This first pair of glasses was for me a learning curve.  Actually, it was more like a spiral.  Downward.  I had always known the object on the left was a false image allowing me to walk through it.  But there was no longer an image on the left.  I walked into people, walls, doors, and just about anything else in front of me, although as time went on, I learned and adjusted to this new vision.

Over the years I changed prescriptions several times, with my true vision degenerating steadily.  My eye doctor told me I was just keeping ahead of technology by only a small amount, meaning my eyesight was barely correctible each time I visited him, even though it was always a bit worse than the last time I was in.  And after each adjustment in the prescription, there was another learning curve.  At some point I decided to not get new glasses until I couldn’t read the citation I was issued for running the stop sign I didn't see. 

Then came the bifocals.  Such fun.  After my first fitting, I was afraid to walk, as someone had moved the floor somewhere else.  I took short slow steps, each time feeling with my feet to see if the floor was still there.  I made it out of the doctor's office only to be confronted with a curb.  Even though I could see the curb, the step down to the level of the parking lot appeared to be about 75 feet.  I was literally afraid to take the step.  I got down on my hands and knees and felt the distance with my hands before swinging my legs over the edge.  Well, I felt like an idiot, especially after I changed back to my old glasses and realized how many people were watching me.

It only took a couple of weeks to adjust to my new reality, and I was very happy about not having to struggle to read a book.  The only problem was that it was time to renew my driver’s license.  At the DMV I could not read the eye chart.  It was just too blurry.  Back to the eye doctor. 

“David, your eyes are corrected as much as technology can correct them.  With three points or axis of astigmatism in each eye and a near-sighted vision of 20/180, it’s almost a miracle just to keep you from being legally blind.  I went back to the DMV with a note from the doctor, and, reluctantly, they renewed my license.  Two years later I was fitted with trifocals.  And it began again.

It was always obvious to everyone when my prescription changed.  1) My lenses would be thicker, and 2) I would be covered in bruises.  Ultimately the progressive lenses arrived.   And I was in love.  I could almost see, even though my lenses were so heavy my glasses would cut into the top of my nose.  Lightweight lenses were not around back then. 

About 12 or so years ago I realized everything was turning a foggy brown.  I put up with it for a while, but eventually I had to have cataract surgery.  First up the right eye.  After it was over and I spent a couple of weeks recovering, my doctor did the left eye.  Wow! What a difference!  Colors were brighter, and my vision was significantly better.  Not perfect, but I no longer was at the edge of technology.

In the 10 or so years since my surgery, my vision has changed very little.  I still wear glasses for near sightedness (not completely correctable during the surgery), and for a bit of uncorrectable astigmatism.  However, now when I walk into a wall, it’s not because I can’t see.  I chalk it up to moving walls.

Sunday, June 2, 2024

A New Record

Well it is over, and a new record was set for selling out of the tickets for the Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake. Less than 12 hours from the first button push to the last ticket gone.  Instead of taking a few days through the mail, the new electronic ordering system cut it down to mere hours, and proved just how everyone is looking forward to this year’s Feed.  It also proved one cannot hesitate when it is time to order tickets.  Those who hesitated will be waiting for next year’s Feed.  Sorry, but it is a fact. 

I hope you were successful, and I will

See You at the Feed!

Meat and Beer

Monday, May 27, 2024

Ticket Time (Revised)

Just five days away is ticket time for the 56th Annual Wild Game Feed to be held at Irvine Lake’s Oak Canyon Park on Friday, September 20, 2024.  Yep, June 1st is almost upon us, and in just a few days (hours really) a magic button will appear on the Feed’s website (awgf.us)*, and it can be pressed to open up a ticket order form for the ‘Greatest Feed On Earth,' but that’s just my opinion.  Although, I believe many would agree with me.

At a recent members meeting, I overheard someone say they expect the tickets to sell out faster than ever before.  I agree.  So if you are planning to be there this year, Do Not Hesitate to place your ticket order. 

I expect a major rush to purchase tickets this year.  The tech team at the AWGF has worked hard to make certain the site does not crash from everyone purchasing tickets at the same time, but it is also the first time this site will be tested.  So have some patience with it if it fails during the process.  Also, please do not contact me about the site, as I have no input into it, nor do I have any ability to help anyone out if something goes wrong.  Sorry.  But hope springs eternal, and it just may work as it was designed to do.

Anyway, if you are not signed up, please do it now, since only those registered at awgf.us* will be able to make ticket purchases.  And with fingers crossed I hope to

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

*Some last minute changes have taken place, mainly because the .us site did not work well enough for everyone to be able to purchase tickets.  The tickets will be available on June 1st at a new site annualwildgamefeed.org .  Please check it out.  I believe everyone now has a real opportunity to get tickets (on June 1) without a big hassle.

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Ready and Waiting

The Annual Wild Game Feed #56 is just over 4 months away, and I am more than ready for it.  As far as I am concerned, if it happened tomorrow, it would be too long to wait.  But ‘waiting’ is the second half of ‘ready and waiting.’  I’ve got the first half covered, so I guess I’ll wait. 

This year the Feed is happening on September 20. 2024.  It seems to be so far off; however, before that day gets here, there are tickets to be purchased.  I hope you are signed up at awgf.us because on June 1, 2024, the ticket sales will go live online.  Just like the old method of mailing in your order form, the tickets are sold ‘first come, first served.’  And just like the old mail-in method, when the tickets are sold out, the tickets are sold out.  Just saying.

So get ready.  June 1st is arriving very soon, I hope to see everyone again at the Feed this year. 

 Meat and Beer!

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Biggie – Year Thirteen

Recently I came across some information that places Biggie’s birthdate in February, 2006.  That makes him EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD!!!  And, at least for the most part, he still acts like a puppy.  Yes, he is almost completely deaf, he is losing his eyesight, he still has a few teeth, and he can't jump.  He is white after all.  But his health is good, and he still likes to go for walks and spend time outdoors. 

I haven’t had much opportunity to spend time with him this past year, and I'm not certain how to correct that.  Biggie's mom does not have a car, and neither do I.  Also, even if I owned a car, I am no longer able to drive due to my own health problems.  Still, I am not entirely without getting my “Biggie fix" from time to time.  Occasionally someone is able to bring him over for a visit.

Recently I saw a video his mom took of him outdoors and off leash.  Biggie was having fun running and playing just like a young pup.  It made me very happy to see him like this.  I hope he remains this way for many more years.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Big AWGF Ticket Order Form Change

Hey Everyone, I received notice that for 2024, the tickets will be available for order online.  It is about time!  The order forms will go live on Saturday, June 1, 2024, but only to those who are registered with AWGF.us .  Easy to do, in fact many may already be registered and just need to add a password.  Please go to my page AWGF  FAQ’s where I have given a little more about the changes under the first three questions.  Also, there seems to be a deadline for registering of April, 7, 2024.  I don’t know why the deadline exists, but if history has ever taught me anything, it is 'Don't Miss Deadlines!’

 See You at the Feed!

 Meat and Beer!

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Wow! That was Fast!

It has now been six months since the Annual Wild Game Feed, and it time to slow things down--really.  I mean to a snail's pace.  I am not kidding.  Traditionally, the next six months (from the third Friday in March to the third Friday in September every year) takes about roughly FOREVER to pass by.  This year the Feed will happen on Friday, September 20, 2024.  And I am ready.  And I am waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and . . .

Anyone who knows me, or even has met me, instantly notices a couple of things about me.  1) I look like my alter ego, Santa Claus.  And because of the resemblance, I spent many years as an actor in private homes, corporate parties, malls, tree lightings, and on stage and television, as well as many other venues.  It was fun while it lasted.  And 2) I have Parkinson’s.  This is Not fun.  Oh, well. 

Each year my condition gets worse, and now I am wondering just how many Feeds are remaining for me. Not that I’m complaining, I’ve had a great life.  I am just wondering.  I’ve been to the Feed more than 25 times over the years, and each one has been enough fun to last a lifetime.  How time flies.  Still I am planning to be there again this year.  It will take something far worse than Parkinson's to keep me away.  Besides, I am overloaded with cigars, and this is about the only place I can get away with enjoying a few.  During my life I have rarely encountered a gathering of men where everyone is like a brother.  At the Feed every man is equal.  No one is better than anyone else.  Everyone attends for reasons known only to him, but no one leaves a bit unchanged. 

I hope to visit again with everyone this year.  But it can’t happen if you don’t purchase your tickets when the ticket order forms arrive in a couple of months.  So, get ready, and start putting aside some dollars (if you haven't done so already), because when the forms arrive, the tickets will sell out quickly.  If you do get a ticket, prepare to have more fun than you can stand.  Once again, the Feed is going to be bigger and better than ever and worth every penny you spend to get there.  And if you have a break, or need a break, from all the fun, stop by the entry gate and visit.  I will probably have a cigar for you, and I have been known to get anyone who stops for a visit a beer.

Anyway, if you are caught unprepared to purchase a ticket for the 56th Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake, you will be required to prepare to wait until number 57.  And I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, December 29, 2023

The Colonel

I served with the Colonel.  There.  I said it.  I don’t know if I’m proud of it or not, but it was a part of my life I can’t deny happened. 

In the mid-1960’s I took a job at a local drive-in fast food restaurant in Fort Worth.  My position was to run a subsidiary business within the store serving a pressure fried chicken.  I didn’t know anything about this chicken from Kentucky except it wasn’t like any fried chicken I’d ever tasted.  But it wasn’t bad.  One of the perks was I could eat all I wanted, and to a growing teenager, this was as good as money.

About six months into the job, my manager (a kid a year younger than me) quit, and someone from an office somewhere showed up to promote me.  Other than that, nothing changed.  I still did all the work, and I still worked both shifts.  About two months into being a manager I was asked why I hadn’t hired someone to help me.  For some reason I replied, “Why hire someone we don’t need?”

The powers that be liked that answer and told me I was just the person they were looking for to run the new free-standing store they were building.  It was located near where I was living, and it included a big raise.  (I was making $1.05 per hour and would be raised up to $1.25, which was minimum wage at the time.)  This was big money to me. 

The new store was a challenge for the company to open and it took longer than expected to get the new equipment to work properly; however, I was right there with the problems and helped to get them solved.  What I didn’t realize was the real challenges would come when hiring new staff to be trained to operate the restaurant.  Wow.  What a learning curve.  Since the store was located just a few blocks away from my high school (yeah, I was still in school at this time) most of the applicants were people I knew.  And I knew I didn’t want THEM working for me.  It took a while, but eventually we were staffed and trained.

Opening day saw a rush of hundreds of customers wanting to try this strange new chicken, and everyone was up for the task of sending them on their way with bags, boxes, and buckets filled with food.  It was hard work, but we were successful, and it didn’t go unnoticed by the area supervisors.

For many months I kept a tight reign on the operation.  Every day I inspected each person’s appearance to make certain the required “uniform” was worn, and all the men were wearing their ribbon bow tie.  I also made certain the building was cleaned every day in every corner and that everything not in use was in its proper place.  It was a lot of extra work to do this, but I figured if I kept it clean from day one, it would be easier to maintain than having to do it all at once every month or so.  This actually paid off.

The store had been open for about ten months and several of my employees were getting very tired of the cleaning routine.  I can’t really blame them.  I hate cleaning as much as the next person, but if they were cleaning, then I was cleaning.  I didn’t exempt myself, and this is what probably prevented a mutiny.  Then I received a phone call.

“The Colonel is on his way over!”  A store manager across town called to let me know he had received a surprise visit from The Colonel, and the results weren’t pretty.  Several employees were fired on the spot, and the manager was taking a pay cut.  I almost panicked.  I had less than thirty minutes to prepare, so I went to each employee, explained the situation, and hoped for the best.

I had never seen the Colonel before other than his likeness on the buckets of chicken, but I would have known him anywhere.  Few persons were ever as distinctive appearing as the Colonel.  White hair, white beard, white suit, black ribbon tie, and a gold handled cane.  His image is forever burned into my brain.

He walked in with an entourage of what I now call “Yes” men.  The Colonel stared a me for a minute until I finally got up the courage to introduce myself and offered to show him around.  He grumped out some words my direction and began his own inspection of the place.

The first thing he did was put on a pair of white gloves and reach above the door to wipe a finger across the sill.  Nothing.  He looked surprised.  He then set one of his men to counting the cash register and comparing it to receipts.  It was to the penny.  He grabbed a chicken drumstick and gave it a tug.  The bone slipped out properly.  He lifted up several of the floor mats in the kitchen and found a clean floor under them.  He examined the food storage facilities and came out of the rooms looking puzzled.  He even watched as one of the staff prepared the chicken for the cooker just to see if it was being done the official way.  Then he motioned me over to one of the booths and asked me to sit down.

“How much warning did you have there, boy?”

“About twenty minutes.”

“Tell me the truth, now.  I know it took longer than twenty minutes to get this place clean like this.”

“Yes, sir.  I started cleaning it the day we opened almost a year ago.  All I did today was tell the workers you would be stopping by.

I was dismissed to help with the customers (it wasn’t busy at that time, but there was still some traffic) while he interviewed each of the employees.  Later he had me join him again.

“Well, I believe you told me the truth.  I’ll see to it everyone here gets a 20-cent raise for doing things the right way.”  He then reached over and grabbed one of the ribbons of my bow tie and pinned a likeness of himself onto it.  “I don’t give many of these away.  Don’t lose it.”

That twenty-cent raise kept the employees happy about cleaning the place for about two weeks, but still with Twinkies costing a nickel a package, it was a lot of money.

I never saw the Colonel in person again, but I still remember his words to me, “Don’t lose it.”  I didn’t.




Monday, August 28, 2023

Ready or Not, Here It Comes

Less than three weeks to wait.  I hope you are ready for the 55th Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake.  As always the Feed is on the third Friday in September, and this year it falls on September 15, 2023.  Oh boy!  Even though I started preparing last September, somehow I know I’m not completely ready..  Okay, I am ready enough for it to happen right now, the problem seems to be my OCD.  I have reached the point where, no matter how many times I have checked my checklist, I just know I am forgetting something. 

 Regardless, Are You ready?  The Feed will be here very soon, and it’s gonna be great! 

 See you at the Feed!

 Meat and Beer!

Monday, August 14, 2023

Like Watching Paint Dry

I guess I don't understand time.  On one hand time moves so fast I can't get anything done before I need to move on to the next project.  On the other hand when I am waiting for something to be delivered, time almost moves in reverse.  Right now I am waiting for the Annual Wild Game Feed to arrive on September 15, 2023.  And, even though it is less than 5 weeks away, I am beginning to believe it will never get here.  Lately I’ve been doing upgrades around my home, and I find that watching paint dry helps move time along a little faster.

The reality is time keeps on ticking, and if I don’t get my act together early in the year, I will not have enough time to get ready for the Feed when it actually arrives.  The most important thing I do each year is update and actually use my checklist of what to bring to the Feed.  Even then I find I usually forget something.  So do not be lulled into complacency by the seemingly slow passage of time.  The Feed is almost upon us.  Get ready.  The time is nigh.

See You at the Feed!

 Meat and Beer!

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Catching Up

From time to time I get a little behind on my writings and postings, and, needless to say, right now I am Waaaayyyyyyy behind.  However, this time I do not apologize.  This past year has been a beast.  Those of you who know me personally know I have been battling a number of illnesses for many years, and for anyone who didn’t know this, well, now you do.  Today I feel as well as I have felt in the last fifteen years, which is rare anymore.  This is not offered as an apology for not posting, nor am I looking for any sympathy.  Simply put, I somehow got old, ill, and forgetful.  This post is to catch up on a few things some of my readers have asked me about. 

Biggie – Year Twelve and a Half

Biggie is now seventeen years old and his strength and stamina is still strong.  In my previous post about him, I wrote about how he had slowed down some and needed help with a couple of things, but he remains a very active doggie.

Stanley -- Year Three Quarters

Stanley is also a part time dog.  Does two part time dogs make one full time dog?  No, it adds up to a full time job, but I love it.  Stanley is part Great Pyrenees, part Bernese Mountain Dog, part labradoodle, and a sprinkling of fence jumper.  Although he is still a puppy, at ten months old, he has become a sixty pound lap dog.  More about Stanley in a few months.

Annual Wild Game Feed 2023

The Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake is just a little less than nine weeks away.  September 15, 2023 is coming up quickly, and I am hoping to see everyone again this year, along with some new faces.  I hope to continue attending this event many years into the future; however, as I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I am not well, so every year I am able to attend may well be my last one.  I realize that sounds as though I am about to be planted in the ground. Sorry. I have had Parkinson’s for about 18 years now, and I am finding my energy levels are not what they used to be.   I tire easily, and I may not have the ability to attend, but that will not stop me from promoting the best and biggest Wild Game Feed anywhere.  Unless something improves in my health condition, I must prepare for the year that will be my last Feed.  So for now…

(I hope to) See You At The Feed!!

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Six Months To 55

That’s Right!!  The 55th Annual Wild Game Feed is just a little less than six months away.  This year it will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023. at Oak Canyon Park at Irvine Lake.  Once again I expect it to be bigger and better than ever.  So start saving your dollars, because the ticket order forms are going to here before you know it (expected about the end of May or the first of June this year).  As usual, don’t hesitate to order you tickets as soon as you get your hands on the order form.  It will sell out quickly.

There are parties, shindigs, hullabaloos, hootenannies, bashes, jamborees, get-togethers, gatherings, revelries, celebrations, and festivities, but there are no words to describe this event we simply know as the Annual Wild Game Feed, or just the Feed.  I’ve been trying for years to describe it in writing, but to understand what it is I am trying to describe requires first hand knowledge.  And to get that first hand knowledge, one must attend; so start preparing for the best man gathering around.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Saturday, September 17, 2022

2022 Wild Game Feed

Once again we must begin preparations for next year’s Annual Wild Game Feed, because this year’s Feed is (sadly) over.  Already I am looking toward next year on the third Friday in September—September 15, 2023.  It is not too early to mark it on your calendar.

This year the Feed was exceptional as always.  The members did an outstanding job of putting together the best event in Orange County (or in the entire world as far as I am concerned) for the best group of guys anywhere.  Whether you were a member or an attendee, THANK YOU!!!  Your participation in this event provides much needed support to many organizations supporting our youth and veterans.  Again, Thank You!

See You at the Feed!

Friday, July 8, 2022

Irvine Lake 2022 Wild Game Feed

Time is getting away from us.  In just 10 weeks the 54th Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake will be getting started.  If you need to check your calendar, that works out to Friday, September 16, 2022.  I know this year it will be bigger and better than ever.  I simply cannot contain my excitement.

Well with time running so short, maybe you had better start getting things together for a day of fun.  Or if you are like me, you started getting ready the day after last year’s Feed.  Either way, it will be arriving quickly.

See You at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

54th Annual Wild Game Feed

O the Joy!  Today I received my ticket order form for the 54th Annual Wild Game Feed to be held at Irvine Lake, Friday, September 16, 2022.  I cannot wait!  I know, I know, I can’t jump ahead in time to the Feed, but if I could…  Oh well.  I’ve already put together everything I plan to bring with me, except for the ice, and I will most likely re-check it a dozen times or more before the event occurs. 

Once again I must warn everyone to waste no time ordering your tickets for the Feed.  It will sell out fast.  To hesitate is dangerous.  To procrastinate is to lose out on the biggest and best game feed I’ve ever been to.  Meat, beer, prizes, games, meat, beer.  How could it get any better?  If you have been there in the past, you know.  If you have never been there, you need to know.

This remains a stag event (men only) 21 years of age and older.  Please check out my list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) for additional info and thoughts.  Even though I put this list together a few years ago, it is still relevant today.  Even I reread it from time to time to remind myself of things.

So, guys, get those order forms in the mail, and prepare yourselves for the best party in Orange County.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Texas Barbeque Trail

 I’ve said it before, and I’ve said it many times, “Barbeque is where you find it,” but in Texas all trails lead to barbeque.  In central Texas, just crossing the street can lead to barbeque.  While I haven’t been able to get back to Texas for a few years, I’m certain the number of barbeque joints in the state is greater than ever.  Needless to say, I have many fond memories of Texas barbeque.

 In the mid-‘forties, my grandfather and his friend Sam put their heads together to start a barbeque restaurant.  My grandfather built the pits and a barn-like building for the restaurant and left the rest to Sam and his family.  Sammie’s Bar-b-q is still there near the corner of N. Beach and E. Belknap in Fort Worth, although the original pits were rebuilt long ago, and I doubt if it is still family owned.  This was one of two main places providing the store-bought barbeque I grew up eating.  It was good, but my memories of barbeque really began when I was a kid on a family vacation, and we made stops in Elgin and Lockhart.  ‘OMG!’ was not a phrase used back then, but I can apply it in retrospect.

 In the late ‘sixties, Hank and I traveled to Austin to visit a friend enrolled in the University of Texas.  Bobber decided to take us to a couple of barbeque restaurants he liked to frequent, and we couldn’t say ‘No.’ 

 We spent nearly three days just traveling from joint to joint sampling barbeque (Bobber told us it was just two places, but one thing leads to another).  While some were better than others, only one place we decided shouldn’t keep its doors open.  It was a Santa Maria California-style place specializing in tri-tip.  Now that I live in California I realize that place in Texas was far better than many of the ones in California.  Anyway, we quickly reached capacity, but that didn’t stop us from buying the barbeque and taking it with us.

 Hank and I drove back to Fort Worth with more than thirty pounds of barbeque.  Well, maybe I should say we left Austin with more than thirty pounds of barbeque.  By the time we reached Fort Worth, our smoky stash was considerably smaller.  And we were considerably bigger.

 Just before I moved to California in 1975, I decided to spend a couple of weeks or so driving around Texas.  I had been to almost every corner of the state many times, but business was involved for most of those journeys, and I just wanted to take time to enjoy this world I was leaving one last time.  The one criteria I had for the journey was to have barbeque and Tex-Mex every day—several times every day.

 I packed my car, and the next morning I left the old farmhouse about 8am.  My first stop was a small restaurant about 10 miles away where I had a very small breakfast of eggs, chicken fried steak, sausages, ham, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and French fries.  I needed to save room for my next stop—Angelo’s.

 I met my great-uncle George for an early lunch at Angelo’s and we worked our way through way too much brisket and beer.  From there I drove south to Hillsboro where I met a couple of old friends for “2nd Lunch.”   The small café near the old county courthouse was owned by a family from Harlingen, and they understood what Tex-Mex was all about.  Oh, my.  I was full.  Too full.  But I left there to visit some friends in Waco where we were going to have an early dinner.

 Waco is not known for the world’s greatest Tex-Mex or barbeque, but at it’s worst, it’s still very good.  However, early dinner was at my friend’s home where they were preparing brisket and sausage with several sides.  I couldn’t say ‘no,’ and I ended up taking a small container of food with me when I left later that evening to get to my reserved lodging in Killeen.

 Killeen is home to Fort Hood where my friend Zeke was stationed.  He had a week’s pass, and he was going to accompany me on some of my journeys through the state.  I picked Zeke up about 7am the next morning and we immediately drove east a few miles to Belton for a Tex-Mex breakfast.  This was the last Tex-Mex I would see for a week.  We were entering the heart of Barbeque Country—Central Texas.

 For a solid week we ate barbeque.  Every meal.  Snacks in between meals.  Desserts.  Because it was there.  There is no remembering just how many places we visited.  Usually we ate at the restaurant, but we often got it ‘to go’ so we could eat outside in a park or at a roadside picnic table (remember those?). 

 After returning Zeke to Fort Hood, I continued my travels through other parts of the state (El Paso, Alpine, Marfa, Marathon, Eagle Pass, McAllen, Corpus Christi, etc.), and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, but the barbeque was the highlight.

 Today, well over forty years later, many of those barbeque joints are still there.  Yes, some are gone, and new ones have taken their places.  I started hearing some twenty years ago about the ‘Texas Barbeque Trail,’ and as I did a little research as to what it was about, I realized that there is no actual ‘trail.’  It is simply a word used in relation to all the barbeque places in central Texas.  Some places are famous, and some are not.  All are worth stopping at, just like Zeke and I once did.

 One could make a case for a ‘barbeque trail’ by mapping out a series of stops at the more well known places in a roughly fifty mile circle around Austin, but one would be missing out on some great places only the locals know about.  Sometimes the place is located behind, or in, a grocery store, or bar, or gas station.  Sometimes it’s in front of a church or junkyard.  You never know—as I’ve said many times before, ‘Barbeque is where you find it.’

 To me the best barbeque trail begins where you live (even in California).  It’s local, and that’s a good start.  To expand the trail, just take the time on your travels to stop and eat barbeque at a new place.  And if your travels ever take you to central Texas, your trail will be complete.

Friday, February 18, 2022

Biggie—Year Eleven—The Nose Bump


Right now Biggie is asleep at my feet.  There is something wonderful far beyond words having a little doggie whose trust is so great as to sleep at (or on) your feet.  The only problem is this: if I so much as wiggle a toe, it will disturb him.  That is something I simply don't want to do.

Biggie’s favorite form of getting my attention is a nose bump.  He will just touch the end of his nose to my leg, step back, and look up at me.  He always starts with this, but if I don’t respond in a timely manner, he will resort to other methods.  I may receive two or even three nose bumps before foot scraping begins.  Foot scraping will turn into agitated twirling or bouncing, and as a last resort, woofing and barking.  Usually it doesn’t get that far before I figure out what he wants, although sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I just can’t figure out what he wants.  However, overall he is a good communicator. 

Even though he has been in my life for eleven years, Biggie is almost sixteen years old, yet he still acts like a puppy much of the time.  Yes he is slowing down some, and he can no longer jump onto the sofa without some assistance, but he still likes to go for long walks, runs in the park, and trips to the beach (unless it is too hot).  He also loves to ride in the car.  It starts with a nose bump, two steps back, tail wagging, and a hopeful stare.  If I don’t respond in about two seconds, the foot scraping begins and quickly escalates into agitated twirling, bouncing, woofing, and barking.

Biggie is still my part-time dog.  His mom is moving a few blocks from their current home into a better place, so he is visiting for a few days.  Each time he come over, it seem his routine has changed a bit.  Different wake-up time, different feeding schedule, different walking schedule.  But one thing has always remained the same.  The nose bump.

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Countdown to 54

Well, it’s been just over three months since the last Feed, and preparations are well underway for the 54th Annual Wild Game Feed.  Friday, September 16, 2022.  Mark it on your calendar.  Number 53 was a bit of a learning curve as the Feed changed locations in order to allow us to spread out some.  Admittedly the Feed outgrew the old location several years ago, and the new place was a welcomed change.  However, there are still some adjustments to be made.  I won’t detail the adjustments since they are complicated to make, but there will be adjustments.  And the Feed will be bigger and better than ever.

I don’t know if 2022 will be 2020 Part III, or if it will be a new start for us, but we must all do what we can to ensure the 54th Annual Wild Game Feed actually happens.  Number 52 drew a blank because of the Pandemic, Number 53 was touch and go until the last minute.  I don’t want Number 54 to be scratched at the last minute due to another upswing of this virus.

We still have about 9 months and 3 weeks to go.  That’s over 5 1/2 dog years away!  A lot can happen between now and September 16, but I am once again being an optimist and have started making my list of things to bring.  Let’s see, 1) me, 2) cigars, 3) ticket, 4) uh, more stuff, etc.  Over the years I’ve learned to scale down my list in order to spend more time eating, drinking, and talking with everyone I meet. 

So, let’s get this big shindig completely back on track for the biggest and best Feed ever. 

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Monday, October 18, 2021

Home Repairs—Garbage Disposal Edition

I had to replace my garbage disposal, and I wasn’t happy about it.  But who would be happy about replacing a garbage disposal other than a plumber?  At a visitation fee of $250 plus $450 per hour, I'd be happy; however, I am not a plumber, and I wouldn’t know how to invoice myself anyway.

The trouble first started when it suddenly stopped running.  I had been hand washing some dishes, and I thought I would run the disposal a few moments to clean out the stuff that had collected in it after draining the sink.  I turned on the water, and then I turned on the disposal.  The disposal started and suddenly stopped.  I turned the disposal off for a minute or so, and then turned it back on.  It ran perfectly.  Okay.  Problem solved.  Or so I thought. 

The next morning I went into the kitchen to make breakfast, and there was water everywhere.  A small search located the crack in the side of the disposal causing drainage every time the sink was utilized.  Oh, the joy!

Every hardware store in the area was out of the replacement for this disposal, and I didn’t want to re-plumb under the sink any more than I had to.  Fortunately I could order the replacement on line, and for just $72.50 additional, I could have it the next day.  Well, it was still cheaper than the quote from the plumber.

The instructions were simple.  The first line said, ‘Do not try this at home!’  The second line said, ‘Do not use in or near water!'  I never read the third line.

I gathered my tools and crawled under the sink to remove the old disposal.  A couple of screws, a bolt or two, and a smashed finger later, the old unit was out and headed for the trash bin.  Now to replace it with the identical new one.  Did I say ‘identical?’  Every thing was the same.  Every fitting, every wire, every bracket, every thing.  Why didn’t it fit?

Gravity was the reason the old disposal was easy to remove.  Now I had to work against gravity to install the new one.  I’m not really certain just how much the disposal weights, but my estimate is about 75 pounds.  Plus or minus.  Mostly plus.  I was on my left side holding the new disposal in place with my left arm, and attempting to replace screws and bolts with my right hand.  Four and one-half hours later it was in place.  One problem--I forgot to install the electrical cord.  Thirty minutes later the disposal was uninstalled.

After a day off to recover, I wired in the electrical cord to the unit, and just 5 hours later it was working.  No sparks, no leaks.  It really worked.  Now I understand the first instruction, ‘Do not try this at home!’

Saturday, September 18, 2021

2021 Wild Game Feed

After two long, long years of waiting, the brief flash of excitement we call the Annual Wild Game Feed is over for 2021.  Now we wait some more.  It’s sort of like waiting for a comet to appear once every two- or three-hundred years.  But at least it does come back.

This has been a difficult time for everyone; however, the extra year of preparation for the Feed really paid off.  The members were able to procure a larger park for the gathering, and that alone was a big achievement.  Simply speaking, the Feed outgrew the Lake View Park a few years ago.  And as usual, the members were able to find ways to improve perfection.  Wow!  I often think to myself, “It can’t get any better.”  Then it does.

Thank you.  Everyone, whether guest or member who participated in the 2021 Feed, has contributed to the aid of many worthy charities.  With all the fun and excitement surrounding us at the Feed, it is easy to forget that many organizations depend upon donations from groups, such as the Annual Wild Game Feed, for their survival.  Thank you for helping out.

Well, now we wait some more, and we know the next Feed will be even better. 

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, August 13, 2021

Wild Game Feed Irvine Lake 2021

Just five weeks to go.  The 53rd Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake is rapidly approaching.  Well, “rapidly” isn’t quite the correct word to use here; however, five weeks is barely enough time to gather everything together and pack my car seven or eight times. 

If you are anything like me, you find it difficult to wait for the Feed to arrive.  I start pouring over my checklist to make certain I have everything I need to bring.  Cigars, chair, beer mug, sunscreen, etc.  And then I start packing and unpacking my car to double-check how I am going to get it all there (and back again).  My wife just doesn’t get it, even though she has seen me perform this ritual for well over twenty years.  But if you have ever been there, I know you understand.

The Feed is unlike any party I’ve ever attended.  All the beer one desires, all the food you can consume, more friends that you know what to do with, games, prizes, and all the beer one desires.  The only down side is that it will be over before you are ready for it to be over.  Personally speaking, I have never been ready for it to be over.  I even wear the attendance band on my wrist a few extra days—just in case.

It has been an eternity since the last Feed.  Two years of waiting, waiting.  The cancellation of the 52nd Feed was almost more than I could bear.  But it appears the 53rd Feed is going to happen, and I plan on enjoying every possible second of it. 

See You at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, July 9, 2021

Irvine Lake 2021 Wild Game Feed

Okay Guys!  Just 10 weeks until the 53rd Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake.  September 17, 2021.  The 3rd Friday in September.  I hope you bought your ticket.

As of today it has been 94 weeks since the 51st Feed.  The 52nd Feed got eaten by the 2020 pandemic restrictions, and honestly, it could happen again, although I’m staying on the positive side of this.  I am more than ready.  It has been too long since the last gathering of men who enjoy eating (stuffing ourselves stupid), drinking (staying sober with all you can drink beer), and visiting old friends (some older than others).  I really miss this.

For well over 20 years I’ve been participating in this annual gathering, and I’ve watched it grow from roughly 500 guys to about 1,200 guys.  For a number of reasons the cap has been set at 1,200 for several years, and I don’t have a clue as to if or when this may change.  But realistically, I already find it a bit difficult to visit with everyone.  It may be I will need to go on a 2-year rotation in order to visit everyone.  We’ll see.

This annual (normally) gathering of men is quite unique.  It doesn't matter who or what you are, at the Feed everyone is equal and a friend.  No one is better than anyone else, with the one possible exception of the guy pouring the beer.  That guy is king.  The beer keeps on flowing.  And the food doesn't end either.  The appetizers are more than even I can consume.  Then there is dinner.  Wow.  I don't recall ever hearing of anyone who went home hungry. 

Once again there will be some unbelievable prize drawings (including a 1953 5-window Chevy Pickup Truck "restored as original," flat screen TV’s, a champion Labrador puppy, custom firearms, etc.), so bring along a few extra dollars to buy in.  Cigars will be available for purchase, as well as some souvenir items.  Other entertainments and events will be available, as well as an all new Sportsman’s Challenge.

This year the Feed will be held in a different location (Oak Canyon Park), although it is still at Irvine Lake.  It’s very easy to find since it is just down the road from the old location (Lake View Park).  If you have been before, just go to the old location and follow the signs to the new one.  If this is your first time, just south east of the fishing entrance to Irvine Lake on E. Santiago Canyon Rd. is a turn lane into Haul Road.  Signs will be posted.  Just follow the signs.  Real easy.

Meanwhile, I need to start packing the car and getting ready.  After all, it’s only 10 weeks away.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

53rd Annual Wild Game Feed

Well, it’s on.  It has been a long wait since the 51st Annual Wild Game Feed in September, 2019.  A looong wait.  But the wait is drawing to a close.  Finally.  It will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Irvine Lake.  There is one change this year in the location.  Instead of being at Lake View Park where it has been located for many years, the Feed will be held at Oak Canyon Park.  It’s just a little bit farther along the same road the old location is on.  Follow the signs and you will not have any problems.

 Ticket order forms have been sent out and are arriving right now.  Send it back as quickly as you can.  The tickets will sell out Fast!!

 See you at the Feed!

 Meat and Beer!

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Size Doesn’t Matter

This morning I saw a duck flying at about 30 feet above my front yard as it made its way to the southeast.  As it flew over the top of a neighbor’s house I thought it must be going to the regional park just a few miles away in the direction it was going.  There is a small lake there and duck regularly stop there on their travels, and many make it a permanent home.  Seeing this duck brought to mind one of my earliest duck hunts.

A friend of mine was a duck hunter.  He lived to hunt (and eat) duck.  His home was almost a shrine to the duck.  And his garage was filled front to back and top to bottom with stuff to make his duck hunting “easier.”  Plus he had a dedicated trailer just to haul it around, and when he arrived where he wanted to hunt, he had many choices he could make based on—well, actually, I don’t know what.

Donald (yes, his name really was Donald) had a number of duck blinds in every camo pattern and color he could buy or make.  There were two canoes, a jon boat, and something he called a punt.  He had decoys in abundance in at least half a dozen duck types.  Some decoys were made for floating in water, and some were for setting out in a field.  Some were small, some were large, and some were gigantic.

One evening I joined him on one of his hunts.  I arrived at his home about 9pm, transferred my meager hunting things to his truck, loaded up the two retrievers, and we set out for a lake about 120 miles away.  I was full of questions and he was empty of answers.  “What kind of duck are we hunting?”  “I don’t know."  “How do you know there will be any ducks there?"  "It's duck season."  “Are we hunting from a boat or on land?"  "Maybe." 

We eventually arrived at the lake and found the gate to the property one of his friends owned.  By the time we found the spot where Donald thought was the right place to park, it was almost 3am.  My first thought was, "Finally we can get some sleep.”  His first thought was, "We’re running late.  Let’s get set up.”

Donald (not Don) started opening up doors on his trailer and pulling bags out onto the ground. I stood there peering into the darkness wondering where the lake was hiding.  He had me drag several bags over to a place about eighty yards from the truck and empty them onto the ground.  They were filled with decoys.  Mostly mallards, but many different sizes and shapes.  Then he dragged over two very big bags.  He said they were our blinds.

While I scattered the decoys over the field, Donald set up the blinds.  I had never seen anything like them.  They were basically two large metal cloth covered frames with cutouts for openings.  The coverings were painted to look like two humongous ducks, Each one standing about 7 feet tall.

By now it was getting light enough to see my surroundings.  The lake was about 40 yards away to the southeast, the field appeared to be full of ducks (the decoys), and in the middle of the ducks were two massive ducks that appeared to belong on a carousel ride.  I questioned Donald about whether or not the real ducks would be fooled, but he just looked at me as though I was dumber than the ducks.

Well we climbed inside the two giant ducks along with our shotguns, stools for sitting, dogs for fetching, blankets for staying warm, and thermoses of coffee for staying awake.  As it was getting lighter, the birds were beginning to fly by.  Soon many had landed around us to feed among the decoys.  The two sumo-ducks did not warrant so much as a sideways glance. 

As the sun made its appearance Donald and I were able to pop out of the top of our blinds to bring down the incoming birds.  The noise from the shotguns caused some feeding disturbances, but the ducks on the ground stayed around feeding.  When the dogs exited to fetch the downed birds, the live ones just moved aside and kept on eating.  This repeated until we had our limits.  However, the moment we exited the duck-shaped blinds, the feeding birds left in a mass scramble to get into the air and as far away from us as they could get.

By 10am we had the trailer and truck loaded for the return trip.  As Donald picked the two bags of ducks he noticed my bag was heavier than his.  At first he thought I had harvested an extra bird, but upon emptying the bags and recounting for himself, he realized the difference was simply I had brought down a couple of very large birds. 

On the drive home Donald complained more than once about how much larger my ducks were.  Finally, in order to change the subject a bit, I asked why the two giant duck-shaped blinds worked so well.

The reply was simple.  “When it comes to ducks, size doesn't matter."

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Three-Fourths or One-Half?

Yesterday marked the mid-point in my calendar year.  The third Friday in September is the end of my year, therefore, the third Friday of March is the halfway point.  Each year the Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake occurs the third Friday in September; however, 2020 was an exception.  The Covid-19 pandemic destroyed many gatherings including the Annual Wild Game Feed.  Simple math puts us at the three-quarter mark of a two-year calendar.  I hope everyone is getting their vaccinations and wearing masks so the Feed can happen in 2021.  If not, then we are just now at the halfway point of a three-year calendar.

I’ve been hoping to hear something from the administration of the Feed’s membership.  Something.  Anything.  But with little to base a prediction on, I guess they are waiting until the last minute to make a decision whether or not to move forward with the plans for the 2021 Feed.  Still ‘better safe than sorry.’

Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated, wear a mask, avoid other people, etc., so we can get rid of this pandemic virus and have our Feed this year.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Monday, February 22, 2021

Biggie—Year Ten—FaceTime Dog

What a year, huh?  Biggie had just returned home to his mom after nearly a year of living with my wife and me when the quarantines arrived due to the pandemic.   His mom finally found a real job, so he went home to be with her.  Literally the next morning the announcements of quarantine hit us like a lightening bolt.  Since that time we have seen him only four or five times.  Once when I had to deliver something to his mom, and several times when his mom had to go out of town for a few days for her job. 

This social separation from my part-time dog is difficult for me, so the best thing I can do is call his mom for some FaceTime with Biggie.  (Biggie doesn't have his own phone yet.)  Somehow it’s just not the same as being with him, and honestly, I don’t think he really understands it.  When I talk to him, he seems more interested is sleeping, or some toy, or just sniffing of something.  Once I thought he barked for me, but then I realized the mail was being delivered to his home.  Oh, well.

Biggie is now fourteen years old, and in a few months he will add another year.  He has slowed down a little, and he is missing a few teeth, but he is in good health overall.  Last year, just before the virus reared its ugly head, Biggie developed a growth in his left ear.  At first I thought the growth was just a skin tag, but in just a few weeks it was larger than a marble.  The first vet he visited to said he would need to remove the entire ear in order to biopsy the growth.  NO!  The second vet took one look and said no problem.  This is an easy removal and Biggie should be perfectly fine in a few days.  Out patient surgery.  No hospital time.  And a couple of thousand dollars less than that first vet.  I really don’t think Biggie even realized the surgery took place.  He was a happy dog before the surgery, and he was a happy dog afterwards.  Then he went home to his mom.  Very happy dog.

As I was writing the above paragraphs I got a call from Biggie’s mom.  She is going out of town for a week.  Could I pick him up tonight?  Before we ended the phone call, I was in the car and on my way. 

Biggie is now home with me.  Yea!  I’m a happy dog, uh, guy right now.  Just as I walked in the door to my home, Biggie’s mom called to FaceTime with MY dog, and Biggie responded to her voice for a moment.  Only a moment.  He then ran into the kitchen and woofed at the cabinet where I store his treats.  Yes, he has his priorities.  Snacks are more important than anything else, and I agree.

Now FaceTime with Biggie has a new meaning, or at least for a few days.  This is the real thing.  His face and my face with no phone in between.  I’m a happy, uh, guy.

Friday, January 1, 2021

Optimisim

Last night I stayed up past midnight.  I don’t believe I’ve done that in fifteen years or more, but it was necessary.  I needed to know 2020 was Gone.  Done.  Over With.  History.  And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t mind the fireworks.  I figured the persons setting off the noise bombs were also celebrating the death of 2020.  I completely agree.

Now it’s time to look forward through foggy glasses due to the masks and envision a world where we can once again enjoy the Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake.  Last year a lot of charities missed out on donations from this organizations at a time when they needed it most.  They need the Feed as much as we do.  The Feed is still over nine months away, so there is time for vaccinations and ‘herd immunity’ to free us from the clutches of Covid-19 and the pandemic we are currently experiencing. 

To all the guys out there planning on joining me this year at the Feed wear those masks.  Stay isolated.  Get your vaccine shot.  Do your part to end this misery so we can return to our annual feast.  I know we can do this.  We can climb out of this hole and return to, at least to a degree, some freedom to gather for our annual meat eating, beer drinking party.  We already had to miss one year.  Let's not make it two in a row.

September 17, 2021

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, December 25, 2020

Santa’s Midnight Ride

Today is Christmas Day, and the sleigh has been parked, the reindeer put away, and the red suit is getting ready to go to the cleaners.  It has been great fun, and although I need a long rest, I’m ready to do it again.

Each year this becomes more entertaining.  The kids always come up with something new to wish for, and Santa is becoming a bit more deaf.  Long ago I began to repeat to the child on my lap what they had requested from Santa, but between the mumbled words and my inability to understand well-enunciated words, repeating the requests became very interesting.

I still don’t know what she asked for, but I’m quite certain she said she wanted Alaska.  When I repeated Alaska, it drew quite a few giggles and laughs.  One young boy wanted a parrot named Polly, but I thought he said a pair of tamales.  Hatchimals are popular, I thought at first the kids were asking for Hannibals or Cannibals.  I've had requests for a stuffed hair (bear), a log (dog), skunk (trunk), brain (train), and mblfeez (mblfeez). 

Sometimes I hear correctly the request, and I wish I had misunderstood.  One boy mentioned he wanted to get his sister a wiener for Christmas.  His nineteen-year-old sister was obviously becoming his brother, and I wished I could unhear his request.  Another request was for a new shovel.  It seems he had been told he would grow up to be a ditch digger, so he wanted to start practicing.  (It makes me wonder how his family treats him.)  And one young lady requested a pair of matching shotguns.  When I asked what she wanted them for, she said she wanted to go to Afghanistan to protect her Daddy.

At the least my job is interesting.  It is also fun, but the nights get long, and the restrooms are few and far between.  I’m glad for this break. But I’ll start preparing for next year tomorrow morning.

I wrote these words a year ago (2019) not knowing there would be a pandemic known as Covid-19 virus.  This year (2020) I was unable to put on the red suit even once.  There have been years when I thought of parking the sleigh permanently, but being forced into retirement was not what I had in mind.  I miss this too much.  Next year I'll be back in the sleigh, and I can hardly wait.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Bob Lost His Keys

 Last year my neighbor passed away 3 months shy of his 100th birthday.  Bob was a big loss to our neighborhood, and he will not soon be forgotten. 

Bob had lived in his house more than seventy years.  Back in the late 1940’s he moved to California, got married, built his house from scratch, and raised a family.  Bob would never consider, even in the smallest amount, ever moving out of his house.  And he was true to the end.  Bob passed away at home, in his bed, surrounded by family.  Who could ask for more?

I was privileged to know Bob for his final 3 ½ years.  He was funny, generous, and kind.  Even though he was struggling to walk, he would often find a way to step onto his porch to greet my wife and I if we were outside.  Every Thursday he would have someone drive him to the local Senior Center where he would play Bingo for a few hours.  And every Friday he would find it necessary to tell me how much he won playing the game.  It was usually 2 or 3 dollars, and he played only 12 games (at 1 dollar per game) to win it.  But he had fun being the only man at the venue. 

During his last year, I began taking his trashcans to the curb each week for the sanitation engineers to pick up.  I noticed very little in the cans beyond ice cream cartons, so I asked the obvious question: "Do you need help getting groceries, or preparing food?”  To this I received 3 minutes of laughter as a reply.  It seems Bob decided that healthy eating habits were only for those persons hoping for a long healthy life, and he had already accomplished that.  At his age (98 at the time) he decided to eat what he wanted, and what he wanted was an unlimited supply of ice cream.   The only variance in his ice cream diet was found in brand and flavor. 

About 2 months before Bob passed away, I spend an afternoon with him on his back porch listening to the many stories he had lived through in his lifetime.  Neither of us really wanted to be sitting on his porch, but Bob couldn’t find the keys to his door, and managed to lock himself out of his home.  Spare keys had been hidden is very specific spots around his property, and I knew where most of them were, so I started searching. 

The first place I looked, Bob immediate informed me he had loaned those keys to his grandson.  So I went to the second place only to be told his grandson’s wife had those keys.  Number 3 went to another grandson.  Number 4 went to his daughter’s partner’s brother.  And so forth.  No spare keys were remaining.  So we sat on his back porch trying to call everyone with a key.  Not answering.  Out of town.  Lost the key.  Oh, I have a key?  Etc. 

For several hours I listened to Bob’s stories.  He spent World War II in Africa as a supply clerk near Casablanca where he went swimming in the ocean every afternoon.  When it was time to return home, he flew back in the open door bomb bay of a B-24.  He said he watch the Atlantic Ocean beneath his feed for the many hours of the flight, all the time hoping not to fall out.  When I asked him if he was strapped in, he replied, “Where's the fun in that?"  ‘Quite a character’ does not begin to describe Bob.

Finally Bob ran out of stories, and we grew tired of waiting for some of those persons not answering their phones to return messages.  Bob’s neighbor to the east (I live on the west side) noticed us and came over to visit.  When we told him the circumstances, he retrieved some tools from his home to break into Bob’s house.  In just a few minutes Bob was inside eating ice cream.  The next day I repaired the damage to the doorframe, and was handed a spare set of keys--just in case. 

Bob left this world a little over a year ago, and every day when I step outside the first thing I do is check to see if Bob is out on his porch to greet me.  I know he is no longer there, but I still see him every time I look at the house that Bob built.  

Friday, September 18, 2020

2020 Wild Game Feed

Today is a sad day for those of us who attend the Annual Wild Game Feed each year at Irvine Lake.  The cancellation of this year’s event has left a very large hole in each of our schedules that is hard to fill due to all the restrictions during the pandemic.

 Each year I usually get together with some friends the day before the main event and have a mini-feed.  Since we see each other only once a year, this is really our only time together, because once we get to the Feed, we are busy making new friends.  There was no mini-feed this year.  It will be another entire year before we can see each other again--that is, if the restrictions are lifted by then.  Right now I can dream. 

 We all know canceling the Feed was the right thing to do.  This virus must be stopped, and sooner is better than later.  But still, it has already been a very long year of waiting for the return of the Feed, and now we must wait another long year.  On the plus side, that means those in charge of putting it together have another year to improve upon perfection.  I hate waiting, but it is always worth the wait. 

 My calendar is already marked for September 17, 2021. 

 Stay Safe!

 See you at the Feed!

 Meat and Beer!

Monday, June 22, 2020

We Knew It Was Going To Happen

I had a bad feeling when I first heard about the covid-19 virus.  Somehow I just knew it would bite into the Annual Wild Game Feed at Irvine Lake, and that’s just what happened.  The 2020 Annual Wild Game Feed Main Event for September 18, 2020 has been CANCELLED!   Bummer! And a few other choice words to go with it.  But it is for the best.  This virus must be stopped, and the Board of Directors felt the safety of everyone involved was the most important item on the Feed’s agenda.

Sooooo…  NEXT YEAR!!  September 17, 2021.  Mark your calendar for the third Friday in September, 2021.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Monday, May 18, 2020

Quarantined

I know it’s not a complete lockdown, but I'm treating it as such--sort of.  I still need to get groceries, water, and visit my doctors for routine maintenance, but for the most part, I’m staying home.  It’s not a lot of fun.  But I’m trying to do my part in stopping this virus.

Many adjustments have been made to accomplish this minimalization of lifestyle, and I know I’m not alone.  I was talking with my neighbors (over the phone) a few days ago, and the discussion of toilet paper came up.  Oh, boy!  Neither of us knows of anyone who has even seen a roll of the stuff in a month.  Well, sort of.  Almost everyone has seen it in abundance in someone else’s shopping cart.  Earlier this week I was at a Costco and saw a person with eleven shopping carts lined up each with a bundle of toilet paper in it, along with paper towels and hand sanitizer in most of them.  I watched as this person (along with her shopping cart guard) took one of the carts through checkout, then handed it off to a waiting friend to remove from the store.  This person then took another cart through checkout and did the same thing again.  It took a team of four or five people to work this out, but it was all purchased by one person.  And I didn’t get any.  The store was out.

The phone discussion with my neighbor turned into a “what did people do before toilet paper” discussion.  Well I was raised on a farm with an outhouse, and I know what to do, but I’m not real excited about doing it.  I remember when Papa brought home a wagon load of dried corncobs, and piled them by the outhouse.  Just grab a few on the way in and scrape away.  Fortunately dried corncobs are scarcer than toilet paper today.  Of course, corncobs were a last resort.  The usual choice was a few pages from a catalog, such as Sears or Montgomery Ward, that is until they started printing in color on the slick glossy paper.  Then it was back to corncobs or even a handful of hay from a bale lying next to the pile of corncobs.

This morning I called to make an appointment to see my doctor about some problems stemming from an accident some time in my past.  What a circus!  The doctors at the clinic I go to are now on a rotating schedule with no one working more than two random days per week.  To get an appointment one must be in an emergency situation and call on the day their doctor is available.  If the doctor is not available, one must wait until the following day to try again.  When I asked what days my doctor will be in, I was told the schedule is known only to the doctors, so I must try every day until I get it right.  What is this? 

I went to a local grocery a few days ago only to discover a line wrapping around the building.  The estimate was a seven to eight hour wait to enter the store.  The next morning I returned at five a.m. only to discover the line was already wrapped around the building.  I asked some people near the front of the line what time they arrived, and I was shocked to discover they were in line when the store closed at nine p.m the night before. 

On the plus side, I needed gasoline (for the first time in many weeks), and there was no one in line at Costco.  I drove straight to the pump and filled my gas tank.  Unbelievable.  It’s usually a twenty to thirty minute wait, and sometimes much longer. 

A sign on the front of a hardware store said “Face Masks Required.”  Underneath it was a sticker on the glass reading “Facial Coverings Not Allowed.” 

It’s a crazy world we are now living in, but the key word here is "living."  I'm seeing on the television reports of protesting crowds and crowded beaches.  I don’t understand why these people have such a death wish.  This pandemic will only grow longer if people don’t isolate.  More time inside will help to end this tragedy sooner.  To me that is obvious, but apparently not everyone agrees.  Oh, well.  I'll just stay as isolated as possible until this is over.  Hopefully you will also.

Stay safe everyone.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

My Fingers are Crossed

Well, the official word is that there is no official word as to whether or not the Annual Wild Game Feed will happen as scheduled on Friday, September 18, 2020.  Today I received a notice that everything is ready to move forward quickly when the quarantine is lifted, and we can have a safe and healthy environment for our gathering.  Hopefully we will know by mid-June, and if the "All Clear" button is pressed, the ticket order forms will then be mailed out.  If so, then be ready to place your order quickly.

This year has been a ride on the back of a buffalo in the middle of a stampede.  Of course, the buffalos are all wearing masks and staying six feet apart, but nonetheless, it's been a crazy ride.  However, no one I know is rushing to get this corona virus.  And let's keep it that way.  Speaking for myself, if the Feed has to be postponed for safety reasons, so be it.  I am an outdoors person, and quarantine does not fit my lifestyle, although it is infinitely better than catching covid-19. 

So, hang in there guys.  As soon as I know anything I’ll post it here. 

See You at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Friday, March 20, 2020

Half Full or Half Empty?

Today is the halfway point in the yearly journey to the Annual Wild Game Feed, and I don't know to be happy or sad.  I could be happy because half of the year is already behind us and the waiting time is shortened by 26 weeks, or I could be sad because half of the year is still ahead of us, and it's a long 26 week wait for the greatest feast in Orange County.  Once again, it is on the third Friday of September.  This year it happens on September 18, 2020.

For over twenty years I have been attending this annual gathering of men to chomp down on quail, buffalo, alligator, wild boar, ostrich, reindeer, calamari, frog legs, antelope, elk, sea bass, gumbo, crawfish, and quite a few other treats.  I simply cannot remember all the meats served.  Each year the list seems to grow a bit.  Also, the beer.  What can I say?  ALL THE BEER YOU WANT!!  Meat and Beer!  How can it get any better?  Maybe throw in some incredible raffle prizes?  Exhibitions, games, contests.  Back to the beer -- how about rotating handles of craft beers? Utopia!

The ticket order forms will be arriving somewhere around the end of May to the middle of June.  When you get your form, order your tickets immediately.  Every year this event is sold out in just a few days, and I always receive messages from guys who got left out.  Sorry, but sold out means sold out.  Order quickly for best results.

Well, I was just looking at my beer glass and realized it doesn’t really matter if it is half full or half empty.  There is still half a year to go regardless.  But I’ll be ready when it gets here.

See you at the Feed!

Meat and Beer!

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Biggie—Year Nine—The Granddog

Biggie has been in my life for nine years now, and for this entire time he has been my part-time dog.  His mom is a friend who currently lives in a different city from my wife and me, but Biggie gets to come for regular visits for a few days at a time.  However, his current visit has lasted for over nine months, and I am beginning to forget he belongs to someone else.

Biggie’s mom is having trouble finding quality work and an affordable place to live.  While this is something most of us have experienced in our lives (past and/or present), it is making it difficult for her to keep Biggie at home and care for him properly.  Therefore, “Grandpa" and “Grandma" stepped in. 

We love this little doggie.  A lot.  But we never expected to have him for nine months and counting.  It’s like having a 2-year old with bad habits (or maybe it’s Grandpa with the bad habits), but still we love this little doggie.  A lot. 

Biggie brings us a lot of joy, fun, and laughter.  Everyday he does something fun to watch.  Lately he is starting out each day with a back scratch by crawling under my feet and moving back and forth so my feet do the scratching.  Needless to say, it wakes me up.  So does crawling up on me and licking my ear.  This, along with a series of doggie dances, ultimately gets me up.  As soon as I am vertical, he starts nudging me toward the kitchen for his breakfast. 

As he begins eating I start making breakfast for me, but Biggie considers it his second breakfast and does not allow me to walk away from the stove for any reason.  If I try to step over to the refrigerator, for instance, he will begin barking non-stop until I return to the stove.  He will allow me to leave the stove only if I am about to plate my (his second) breakfast.  He will even allow me a few bites of it before becoming worried I will eat all of it.  Ultimately he wins, and my plate gets a Biggie licking.

About two hours before sunset every day Biggie begins announcing he wants to go out.  Not outside, but out, as in “out to a park."  A walk around the neighborhood will sometimes be acceptable, but a park is always preferable, if not demanded.  So about 5 to 6 times each week, Biggie visits a local park where he gets the same exercise as when he takes a walk around the block.  In our back yard he can run free if he wants to do so, but everywhere else a leash is required.  But Biggie still prefers a park.

We have made several dog beds for him to sleep in and placed them around the house.  There is one in my workroom/office.  One is located under the bed in the bedroom, and one is located in front of our living room television, and he knows these are for him.  Just try to move one, and he will let you know to whom it belongs.  But that doesn’t mean he is confined to sleeping there.  Biggie will sleep where Biggie will sleep.  Last night my wife was working on a craft item and a large square of paper fell to the floor.  Biggie immediately claimed it as a bed.  He stepped onto it, scratched it a few times, circled around for a bit, then laid himself down and took a nap.  Later he abandoned it for a drink of water, and my wife picked it up.  When Biggie returned, he looked around for it, let out a low growl, and went over to a space between a lounge chair and the wall to lie down and stare at me for a while as though I had something to do with removing his new bed.

Biggie also has a number of small soft toys to play with.  For the most part he just lets them clutter up the floor around his beds, and he will rarely play with any of them.  And for Biggie, play never lasts more than just a couple of minutes at best, but Biggie knows what is his, and what is not.  When we bring home a new toy, he seems to know instinctly it is his.  Biggie likes to inspect the contents of every bag we bring into the house.  Groceries, clothes, hair care products, etc., it doesn’t matter, he just wants to look at and/or sniff everything entering our home.  Sometimes we will buy a toy for our neighbor’s toddler or newborn, and Biggie gives these a pass.  But if it is for him, he always knows it.

Recently we purchased a small toy for Biggie, but we didn’t give it to him immediately.  Somehow we got it past his inspection and hid it away for another time.  My wife put together a small box of kid's toys for the neighbor’s children to play with when they come to visit and included this small (unused) toy we had purchased for Biggie.  A few days went by, and the toddler came over for a visit, so his new toy box was brought out for him to go through.  Of course Biggie wanted to inspect the contents of this box.  As usual, Biggie examined the toys as each one was taken out of the box, and as usual, Biggie gave each one a pass, that is until his own toy was brought out.  Even though he had never seen it before, Biggie grabbed it and carried it over to his bed and sat there guarding it the remainder of the day.  How did he know?

Oh, how we spoil our “granddog.”  The only problem right now is that we can spoil him, but can't send him home.  We have to live with the results, but I’ll keep on spoiling him as long as I can.  He is worth it.