Not much to say

My body has stopped aching, and I am not as tired today.  Yesterday, I slept about 16 hours.  I think that I am over whatever it was that wiped me out.  I actually got out of the house today and went to a meeting tonight.  I was cornered by a lady after the meeting who was telling me about some things that she thought that I "should" do.  I extricated myself as quickly as possible and decided that she could go "should" all over someone else.

I have nothing much to say, other than the entire state has gone crazy because of the primary coming up.  The candidates are all trying to out do each other on digging up dirt.  I know that there is another whole year of this stuff to listen to, but really, I am sick to death of it.  I wish that they would complete the feeding frenzy, devour each other, and be done with it.

The weather is freaky with gale force winds whipping the coast.  I haven't been to the boat in a couple of days.  She will probably be coated with salt spray.  I like one of my new neighbors at the marina.  He and his wife actually would like to cruise to some of the spots that I like.  It's nice to meet other couples who get away from the marina and like to anchor out. We are planning some upcoming cruising weekends.

My father-in-law has a birthday coming up on Jan. 15.  My birthday is on Jan. 17.  We are going to celebrate his 91st. birthday over here.  I'm going to fix his favorite meal of oyster stew and Lowcountry Boil (aka Frogmore Stew).  The oyster stew is my father's recipe from the Chesapeake Bay: Fry some bacon,  add celery and onions, some butter, and saute the oysters and their "liquor" with some milk.  Delicious!

The boil ingredients are local white shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage, and new potatoes with some Zatarain's seasoning added.  Frogmore is a small community on St. Helena Island--in the southern part of the Lowcountry.  The origin of the boil supposedly goes back to the Gullah who lived on the sea islands of coastal South Carolina.  They would throw together what was available in a large pot, add spices and feed a lot of people quickly.  It has become a party favorite in modern times as well.

This year, I don't feel like celebrating much.  I think that my wife and I will go to a movie and have an early dinner afterwards.  On this birthday, I am not going to be anywhere near age 91, but every year that goes by now, makes me wish the days would last longer and the years would slow down.

That's it for today.  A little history, a couple of food photos, and some social commentary is all I've got.  Maybe something more will come to mind tomorrow.