JUNE

[Micanopy]

Man has it been hot. They say it was 100 degrees the other day, and it felt like 200. Monday we had some bad afternoon T storms roll through. On the way home I passed through the aftermath of a flat line wind. Tress down everywhere and leaves and branches thick all over the country road. The sheriff had deputies with chainsaws trying to clear the road, and they did not look happy. As I passed by slowly I yelled a thank you to them and they kind of looked too hot to smile.

A flat line wind is like a tornado only it never touches down. We get those round here fairly often, but not the Kansas types. Trees can withstand a steady breeze as they will flex some. However, a swirling wind imparts twist and that right there is death to a tree. They snap and down she comes. One day I saw first hand what it was like to experience one of these flat line wind storms.

It was just a drizzling rain when I pulled up to the line waiting to pass through the light. Suddenly limbs started striking the side of my car. Then large limbs starting flying by just above the ground. I was concerned that one was going to smash through the window. Then the car started hopping like one of those dancing cars they make in the ghettos of LA. Then nothing. It was over that quick. I went back the next day and saw lots of trees missing their tops. My landlord was only a few cars behind and said she didn’t see a thing.

As I got past this event, I was concerned for my trees, as I wasn’t far from home, but the damage was limited to just a small strip. One that ran down that road and got the trees on both sides.

I found a rat yesterday. He had found the bait and got hung up in one of those old fashioned rat traps. He died but nobody knew. The flies had their way with him and the maggots were rather large. Stinnnnkkkkkkk. Anyways I had to gather him up and chuck him in the dumpster. No way I was going to try to save that trap. No sir. My hand already smelled bad the rest of the day just from grabbing it up.

Just kidding I used a gripper thingie.

I prefer those poison packs you toss around and wait for the rat to chew through, consume, and then wander off looking for water. Yeah I hate rats. They have always given me the willies. I remember as a kid watching them through the sliding glass window trying to get in at me. Dad killed one and it came back to life. Only it was really just another rat dragging it off to eat it. Man I hate rats. I was at the pet shop one day with Mom. I was peering into the little aquariums and one had a mama rat and her new born. She had one of the pinkies in her front paws and had eaten it’s head clean off. Little legs still wiggling. Man I have issues with rats. I used to shoot them with an air rifle and did some serious damage to the population, or so I had thought. There is a reason we still have rat problems in this nation and it has to do with their adaptability and intelligence. They are also quite a predator if you didn’t realize and will pounce on birds and eat them. Universalist in their dietary needs, a generalist and patient creature. YUCK.

Ordered my griddle and it arrives today.





Walmart special deal arrangement with Pit Boss. It is a three burner model, however one of the burners is actually a large U shape, so it is really a four burner with three knobs. Two go straight across, one curves and covers half by itself. The left side would be controlled by one knob, and the right by two. It has a non stick ceramic coating on the flat top. $379 with free shipping. They say the top is very heavy, which is good I guess. They call it the Sierra, but I don’t know why.

Pit Boss sells a set of spatulas that are designed to work on their special non stick tops. However these are expensive and then they add a big shipping fee on top and priced them right out of contention. I noticed something. When a site shows shipping costs before you complete the stupid form, they will be reasonable. Those that make you complete the form in order to see it, will nail you with a ridiculous charge. Then just like Pit Boss does, send you emails mentioning that you made a mistake and failed to finish out the ordering process. Four emails in a day actually.

Their utensils are also plastic and prone to melting. So I researched non stick utensils and learned quite a bit. First of all, most all are made in China. Many are junk because they are nylon and the edges will melt. There are basically two grades of silicone, one resists melting up to 450 degrees, others to 600. Those are the best quality spatulas because they are food grade quality and do not have nasties in them. The griddle top is likely to reach temperatures almost that high so the lower grade stuff would melt most likely.

I discovered that Amazon has some really nice spatulas, but you have to search for a half hour before they show them to you. Way too many sponsored offerings now and the reviews are done by staff at the company doing the selling, or they send people their junk for free….. in exchange for good comments. I managed to find two spatulas that looked to be what I will need. I also got a bamboo scraper for getting after any Klingons that may stubbornly resist.

The cleaning process is very similar to other tops, you add water and scrape. They say the difference is in the, for how long, and how many paper towels you use in the process. The seasoning after the cook is unnecessary, but most owners seem to do so anyways. I would think that would attract debris and dust. Also, I can use soaps and such as there is no patina to protect. The only downside is that I can’t use those huge metal spatulas and clang them about to entertain myself and others by making sounds similar to a mountain monk with his gong.

Back to abusive marketing tactics again here. It is such a nightmare to pump gas these days. Insane that our ruling class is punishing lower income families. Anyways, you might have the pumps that make you listen to commercials while you pump gas. I hate those. They show news clips that are simply propaganda or sports clips or talk shows that you would never sit and watch. Well old big boy is here with a hot tip for you brother. As you see the screen, there will be a series of buttons around it. Four on the left, and four on the right. You want to push the button second one down on the right. It mutes the noise and you can escape the commercials. Beats my old trick of placing a strip of black duct tape over the speaker slots to get even. They always found the tape eventually, but it comes on large rolls that easily fit in the truck’s door.

I had plans to take the wife boating this weekend but her parents are going to be in town. I just love the way she can avoid mine but hers must be attended. Anyways I plan to fire that flat top up and go at it a little anyways. I bought some skinless chicken breasts to flip about. I got some sausage and some potato stuff to sling. Already had pancake mix and Aunt Jemima slurup. A big boy breakfast coming right up.

I hope. I also hope the assembly process will be kind to me and I will not end up with a mess. I watched a how to assemble Youtube and the guy kept screwing up. I learn from the mistakes of others pretty well. We shall see.

Haven’t been fishing in a while and as hot as it is do not really miss it. Definitely a go early leave early kind of scene. I rigged up an umbrella stand for the front seat pedestal thingie and have a beach umbrella ready to go. Most homemade versions lack the ability to secure the umbrella within the stand and fly away. Down down they go. I almost went with one of those heavy umbrella stands, to lay on the floor, but figure an umbrella probably isn’t going to work anyways. See the Sun gets hot long before it gets over head, and by the time it does get overhead, I am off the water. Sure they tilt but really. What is the odds it will tilt right for me ? I will try it but do not have high hopes. Last year’s attempt was futile.

I am really liking this office gig of mine. First job I ever had that had me showing up by 900am. That is like so late that I feel funny and show up at 830 instead. Nothing close by to get food so I have been packing sandwiches. I do not like deli ham and get the packages of thickly sliced ham in the section what sell ham steaks and such. Kentucky something or other. The cost is similar in the end, but the quality is completely different. I also like something odd with the ham like chicken or pastrami or salami. I really like pepper jack cheese as well. Tomato slices and some spinach leaves and away I go. Boring I know but cheap and easy.

I would say about half the time there is some food left over from one of the professional cooks and we gather in the kitchen and share a nice meal instead of eating our sandwiches. Had slaw dogs on Monday. Then Tuesday we had beef stew and mashed taters and green beans. I take a sandwich with me in case there isn’t anything I want to eat available. Picky about leftovers. They have to seem clean somehow or I shy away. Weird but hey everyone has their own issues with food.

I watched the men go out on a cook where they were going to be on hot asphalt, direct Sun, operating ovens and burners and such. Man that is tough. I see guys weed eating and working in this heat and I am so glad I am in an office. I used to be a carpenter and remember working in the heat. Kept me fit and trim but I am older now and just don’t have that juice to go anymore.

I had a desire recently to tie up some more jigs but I don’t know why. Something is definitely wrong with me. Maybe it is this heat. Does anyone really use rat hair ?