Caliche Blues

I am tired of the caliche dust that puffs up fine as smoke at the slightest breath of breeze or tire roll. I am worn  by the drone of the diesels and the clatter of empty tankers.  13 Sundays have passed since our last time off.

Out before daylight this morning, the Carharrt Vest felt good at 48 degrees and a wind out of the northwest at 12.  The weatherman can’t make up his mind today whether or not we have a chance of rain. It is damp outside with a heavy dew and that adds to the chill.  Miss Kathy and I are prepping for an escape outta this never changing view ‘long about Tuesday.  I love this oil field gate guard life here in the Barnett Shale -there is nothing else that even comes close- but it is like eating too much homemade ice cream; just makes your head hurt at times.  So it is a road trip off east of that Baytown, TX for some Thanksgiving goodness with my folks and my Sis.

Fixin' to put the fire to the pork

But first we got some doin’s to take care of.  Today’s task is to transform 15lbs of pig into a pile of Memphis style pulled pork shoulder  barbecue.  That in itself is a daunting task here in Texas, the land of Beef Brisket.  I take that back- if you go down south of the Burrito Border you will run across some cabrito barbacoa.  About the only place you might find some pulled pork here in Tejas is down in that hard core barbecue country around Lockhart.   Good thing I know what Memphis pulled pork is s’posed to taste like–growing up on a steady diet of it and all.  Plus,  Miss K and I have been working diligently on perfecting the perfect pulled pork recipe.  Sometimes I think she is some kinda food witch ( that’s a W baby–not a B) for the unbelievable food that comes out of the meagerest of kitchens.  Another thing while I am at it – that Masterbuilt Electric Smoker is the cat’s ass when it comes to good barbecue.  Think about it– it is chilly outside and I am sitting here inside the warm confines of the Old Girl monitoring the smoker with a remote control!  Damn right!  Look out the window and add some wood chips when it quits puffing smoke, every 45 minutes or so, and keep a check on the temps with my remote control. Some good ole boy did good when he thought this one up.

Cait and Hank- They dress a leetle different over in that Arizona.

I am saving the best news for last.  I am about having to set on both hands to keep from waving at everybody I am so happy.  Both of the kiddos are going to make it in to visit with the Grands as well.  I haven’t seen that boy Mike  in almost 2 years. Cait and Hank the Tank are flying in from Tucson for a few days to make it complete.  Ain’t that grand?   Now you can sorta figure out why we are doing all the barbecue.  It is going to make the trip south to feed starving children.  We figure it will be a nice switch from turkey and fixin’s.

End Note: Too Long in the Wasteland by James McMurtry from the cd Too Long in the Wasteland.