Help Out Fella!

 

The day dawned brightly, with a slight mist and the sun picking up frost on the grass and fallen leaves. Yes, the climate had changed, but so uplifting. Better, to my mind, than living in the DFW metrosprawl where things seem less open and clean. That's the country for you, and more power to it.

Then, as I contemplated the pastoral idyll that is the Compound's backyard, the phone buzzed, "LSP, we need your help!" Huh, better get moving, and in a few minutes I was at the food bank, ready and waiting to do my bit to help suffering humanity.

It was chaos, of course, because a truck had come in with a massive amount of food and everyone was scrambling to store it away. In case you're interested, I ended up stacking pallets of canned corn onto an overflow trailer, which is a fine thing to do in the endeavor to fulfil the Gospel admonition, "I was hungry and you fed me." 

Speaking of which, the local foodbank's curiously undersubscribed. Shouldn't people be starving and desperate for their next meal in this horrendous plague year? You know, not able to get food because of the death that stalketh in the noon day? And lining up around the block for relief? Apparently not. Make of that what you will. Regardless, it was good to help out.

A trip to Walmart and a magazine gone to press later, it was time to drive to the lake and say Mass. Always a privilege, and a new family turned up with their five children, such a blessing. 

We celebrated afterwards with wine and cheese in the church hall, as the kids played in the nursery/playroom. Great result. And that, punters, is the story of that. 

I file this exciting story under God, Church and Country Life in Texas. And guns, obvs.

God bless,

LSP

Just Strolling About in The Plague Year

Blue picked up a Shadow Wolf on the way to the Pick 'n Steal this morning. A ferocious beast and I'm glad he's an ally.

And I wasn't complaining about the trees either, takes the edge right off the heat.

Not that it matters at First Methodist because they're shut, for fear the Bat Bug will kill them all. Which it hasn't, fortunately.

Blue enjoys his spot at the PNS, where he sits tethered to the always empty Star Telegram box. Why is it empty? Because no one wanted to buy the rubbish newspaper so the order wasn't kept up, but the box remains, a dusty, dystopic warning to the "press."

Behold the misbegotten debris of the modern age!

And needless to say, First Baptist decided to make war on their ancient enemy, the trees. And now a once leafy boulevard sits baking under a harsh Texan sun. Good work, guys. Get rid of all the shade.

We detoured around the Meth Shack to visit Genius Patrol. GP are two dogs who live in someone's back yard and bark insanely at anything which goes by. Sometimes I talk to them, they bark back.

Then it was back to the Compound, mission accomplished. And that, fellow boulevardiers, is the story of that.

God bless,

LSP

Grilling In The Plague Year - Cooking With LSP

Tell me, so-called "LSP," if that's your real name, which we doubt, what's it like to grill in the Chinese Plague Year? 

Well I'll tell you, it's much like grilling in any other year except we have the spectacle of the Russia Coup unraveling and Biden's campaign to boot; don't ask Tara Reade. This pushes things forward, into sundown and beyond.

No matter, behold the grill glowing red hot in the night, like a small blast furnace or UFO. At the appointed time, tip those coals out into the grill. For me it's a Weber, you probably have gigantic smoker/grill combos. Well done, cowboys.

Next step? Oil up the grid, put it in place, lid on, and heat 'er up! Stand back for a bit, maybe run a pull-through down the barrel of an SKS, up to you, no rule. Then take the lid off the Weber and... add burgers. They should sizzle when they hit the grill. Important.

So. 1 minute sear on each side, uncovered, and 3 minutes a side covered. That's my method and it changes per heat of the coals and size of the patties. But whatev. Look in wonder at your burgers and...

Fall on your scoff like a warrior,

LSP