Wagyu Steak

Well, I finally had me some Wagyu Steak. And I want some more. It is wonderful.

All thanks to our long-time Egghead friend, Gene Skillin (aka Crimson Gator), from Jacksonville, Florida when he and his friend, Tim, stopped here for the night on their way to a steak cook-off contest in Katy, Texas. He stopped at a place in Pensacola and bought the steaks from someone he knew had good steak.

I thought at the time, if his entry in the cook-off is anything like what he fed us, he'll win. Just a couple of weeks ago he won the state championship in Florida, so he would definitely be the one to defeat.

Alas, he came in 3rd. First place winner was a former World Steak Cooking Champion. Yes, I can only imagine....

They drove all the way back to Covington for the night, arriving here about midnight. We left the door unlocked for them.

I'll never be a competitor on the food-cooking circuit, but I enjoyed learning what it takes to be a good judge at cooking contests. Tim has been doing it for a long time and is well respected by competitors and other judges alike. He was kind enough to say my Magnum Loads had everything the judges look for in a contest for snacks and "would win hands-down." He definitely ate a mess of 'em.

New Coop is sure getting a great workout, and we're loving it. Here are a few photos of their visit.

























































































Here's the video of it:  https://youtu.be/TKqUL-S47fI

Sad Day

We received some sad but not unexpected news that our friend and neighbor, Harold T. (Tom) Morris, passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.  We were neighbors for over 20 years in Spring, Texas.

Here's one of my all-time favorite photos taken of Tom and Pam in July 2005 with their dog, Sassy.

Pam said he asked to be cremated and his ashes spread on the waters near Bolivar Peninsula near Houston.

Tom quickly became a good neighbor when he bought the house next door.  But he gradually became a great neighbor and close friend as he got settled into the neighborhood.

Then he married Pam, and he really opened up.  She also quickly became fast friends, and the four of us made it a fun relationship, usually built around food.

Tom won a Big Green Egg and bought another one so we could cook and share our culinary successes.  But we also visited restaurants together frequently.  Mexican food was a favorite, and every Wednesday at 4:44 Judy would arrive home from work and immediately get in their waiting car for the short drive a couple of blocks away.  The restaurant crew knew us well.  And we always had a good time there.

And now he's gone, except for a lot of good memories and photos.

RIP Tom...

Cataract Surgery Recovery Over

I'm happy to report that I've completed the three weeks of eye drops after my eye surgery.  I know it was necessary, but I'm glad that part is over. 

Thanks to My Sweetie, all drops were 'dropped' on a timely and expertly basis, including an extra bottle of drops to lower the pressure in my eye.  The pressure seems to be completely under control.

My next follow-up visit is in about a week.  I expect my eye chart test to be at least 20/25.  That's right, 'No Glasses' needed. 

Now I can go back to being myself:

I'm anxious to see (pun intended) how well I can drive at night.  A ride through the neighborhood after dark a week after the surgery was a bit of a challenge, even with the street lights helping light up the street.  If night driving is still a problem I will just continue with my 'daytime driving only' policy.  No use stretching my luck.