Seventy Days and Counting Down to the 47th Annual
Wild Game Feed. Friday, September 18,
2015 is still too far away for me, but it will arrive when it arrives, and
there is nothing I can do to speed up the process. (Still—10 whole weeks?
That’s like watching the clock on the last day of the school year when I
was a kid.)
Today I was counting the jars of pickled quail eggs on my
shelf, and it looks as though it’s going to be a thin year. Thirty-one jars and no time to make
more. Last year I brought forty-seven
and ran out, so for those persons wanting to give’em a try, stop by my shelter
early. Since this is not a part of the
AWGF, but just something I do on my own, each year’s supply can vary according
to the availability of the eggs and just how much energy I have left to pickle
them.
It’s easy to locate me.
My shelter is always just a few feet away from the main ticket entry,
and I’m usually there, at the ticket entry, or finding something to eat. Just look for the old fat man with long
white hair and beard. Most likely that
will be me, although there may be another one or two who match that
description. If I’m not at my shelter
or the ticket entry, just help yourself to some eggs. Should the flavor you want to try not be opened, just open
it. You’ll save someone else the
trouble of doing it.
Also, I usually have some cigars to swap around. Most years I have several different brands
and styles, and this year will be no exception. Some are better than others, but none are bad or cheap. Last year I even swapped a Gurka Centurian
for a Swisher Sweet. I don’t care. I just want everyone I meet to enjoy the
AWGF as much as I do.
If you’re an old-timer at this shindig, then you know the
drill. Eat, drink, eat, drink—not
necessarily in that order. If this is
your first time, well, it will take you about two minutes to figure it
out. Just start with eat, then go to
drink. Try this a few times, and then
switch up the order. You’ll get the
hang of it in a hurry.
Every year I’m asked the same questions by first
timers—“What should I bring?” The
simple answer is “Yourself” and of course your ticket. After that it’s just a matter of how much
you want to haul in and keep track of.
There are certain “basics” I always bring. A chair, a mug (big), a shelter, a table,
and a metal knife, fork, and spoon (I hate plastic utensils). Sometimes I bring an ice chest with a few of
my favorites in it, and I always bring cigars, although you can buy them there
at a reasonable price. The quail eggs
usually happen, but aren’t guaranteed.
Oh, and I tend to bring along a few plastic bags in case I want to take
home some of the good eats the AWGF provides.
The main thing is just to be there, and you are always
welcome at my shelter whether or not I’m there. And before I forget it, the Feed opens at Noon, but the line
forms a few hours early. I used to show
up about 10am and be first in line.
That was years ago. Last year I
arrived at 7:30am and about fifty or sixty men were already in line. Just sayin’. If you do come very early, make certain you have a chair or it
will be a long morning.
If you have any questions, just email me at
fineleatherart@yahoo.com . I may not
have the answers for you, but I can usually find out.