Holiday weekends are a good thing. I’m shooting for “thorough but brief” this week, because it’s nice out, I have the day off, and I feel like I’m missing out.
Friday the Martins came down and we went to dinner and played some cards. Dinner was at Jalapenos, cards were on our back porch. The boys’ winning streak continued at the card table; I believe the count is now 4,659 victories.
Saturday was had a bit of a twist to it… A guy we met a few weeks back has to get rid of his little female Pitbull due to the recent onslaught of bans, so we agreed to keep her for the weekend and see how she and Gabe did together. The jury is definitely still out on this little experiment. Lets just say they aren’t best of buddies yet. When they are playing everything is good, but when somebody steps in the other’s space, or takes a toy away… not so good. We’ll see how it goes. Here is a picture of Belle, and one of her and Gabe during a “good” moment. Non-related but still of interest, I caught the Scotten family rolling through the ‘hood in their minivan. While they quickly threw out a cover-story about going to the zoo, it was apparent that they were on a house-hunting trip in an effort to “bring back the magic.” More to come on that hot story, I’m sure.
Sunday was a solid day, as days go. I definitely felt I maximized its potential. In order to make sure I didn’t miss one good minute of weekend, I rolled out of bed at the unholy hour of 2:30. I’m not sure why… I wasn’t sleeping anyway and it just seemed like the thing to do. Maybe it had something to do with the 140 pounds of canine quarrelling next to the bed every 15 minutes, I dunno. Anyway, I was planning to fire up the smoker anyway, so I went ahead and lit ‘er up and threw on a brisket. Then I watched a few horrible movies on HBO, drank a pot of coffee, and waited for Donette to wake up. When she finally got up, we headed up north to her parent’s house and had a fine breakfast of biscuits and gravy and more coffee. I felt a little better about the whole two-dog-household idea after a visit up there: They were kind of hard to count but I’m sure I tallied four dogs and at least two cats. A veritable menagerie to be sure. We didn’t stay too long because I was fretting about my smoker going out, so we rolled back home around 11:00. The rest of the day was spent poking the fire and watching brisket cook. Hard to go wrong there. Martins came over and threw some ribs on, and their neighbor Dave stopped by to check out his old ‘hood (seems like the thing to do this weekend) and eat a little grub. The brisket came out crappy by the way. Very dissappointing. My new recipe was a complete failure. Back to the drawing board on that one. After dinner the girls demo’d a few more dessert entries, and I called it the end to a very long day.
A) Nice looking dog, I say you keep her. B) Carl was probably taking the family on a tour of all the basketball goals he ever shot at in the hood. (I’m sure the conversation went something like this – ’and girls here is the goal I made an underhanded free throw to beat Mr. Belanger in Horse – I believe it ’Hor to Horse’ and then here is the goal I scored the winning basket in a three on three game with against Mr. Munkirs and Mr. James. I led the three on three pick-up game league in left handed steals that year – I believe that was 1998… C) Better get that Brisket receipe righted – we are running out of time. That is all.
Yeah she’s a good-looking pup… A little on the rowdy side. Definitely a candidate for some obedience training.
The brisket needs help, I’ll try again next weekend. (Already have the meat.) A few changes are already in order: A) Pecan doesn’t cut it. Not strong enough for beef. B) The Chipotle Tabasco marinade didn’t give it the flava I was hoping for, that idea is history. C) Perhaps the biggest blunder of the day: In the darkness and sleepiness of the morning I accidentally put the brisket on upside-down. Need a little more attention to detail.
Attention to detail – thats my area Phil. We need to hook up this week and power thru the detailed team Brisket plan.
So the cooking is still on for this weekend? Good to hear!
Oh it is ON.
She is a keeper Phil. Gabe will get use to it and it’s 4 dogs 3 cats at the inlaws house.
I thought so but I didn’t see the long-haired crazy gato. Probably off fighting a bear or something huh.
Just wanted to clarify the winning streak of mine and kenagy’s. The girls did take 2 out 3 very convincingly. (Had to set it straight – want to have a pleasant trip with the wife – plus she’s threatening to make this a shopping only weekend)
Thank you for clarifying who wears the pants in the Martin House!
Martin you embarrass me as a male. Lying about getting beat by girls is a privilege that should be nurtured, and cherished.
Do you think I would actually admit to the girls winning?? Heck no! I’ve been framed by the ‘other Martin’
Where is your weekend update? How are the dogs? Any new pictures?