Varmint

For what it's worth, Ed Mitchell's style of pig cooking is exactly what I'll be doing in October for the pig pickin'. Although I plan on cooking with half hickory, a quarter apple and a quarter pecan. I won't be cooking with the head, either, so no ears will be served. However, serving it with the cracklin's cut in is essential.

C'mon, Tony. Fess up: which barbecue did you really prefer??

And I'm thinking of changing it to 1 post per screen so I get 379 -- oops, 380 -- pages.

Just as soon as I say I can't contribute, I'll offer my 2 cents. I will never, ever participate in a specific program that is tied to numbers, points, calories, etc. Do I look at calories? Of course I do; that's why I know that a large gumball has 39 calories. I just don't add them up. The only way I'm going to succeed in a long term weight reduction plan is to do what's comfortable for me. Would WW ever allow me to drink 17 drinks at a retreat, or eat a steak and cheese, or let me have a scoop of ultra-premium ice cream every night? I don't think so. I knew that I was eating too much and too often. I've fixed that somewhat, and I'm hoping it will be a long-term solution. I'll be challenged when I go to NYC in September, but I also know I'll probably walk 5 to 8 miles every day when I'm there. I started my thread simply because it was a way that I could be honest with myself. I haven't told everyone that I use heavy cream in my coffee. I generally 'fess up to my snacks. But the thread is merely a tool to get me started for the first several months. I'll probably only post once a week when I'm more comfortable with my will power. I'm not there, yet.

Folks, I'll be a supporter of this, but I don't know how much I'll contribute. Sorry to let you down, but I do have to spend time with Mrs. Varmint, the 4 L'il Varmints, plus bill my 2000 hours each year. Oh, plus exercise. Sleeping is optional. Anyone may feel free to contribute their own experiences on my silly thread, but I don't think that's what you're looking for here.

What song would be appropriate for the pickin' of the pig?

I have decided that there will be a contribution box, despite how tacky it is. Some people are bringing food, one of my law partners told me he'll bring a keg of beer (although it's Michelob Light -- ugh), and others can chip in a few bucks. The tent will be the biggest expense (about 4 times as much as the pig itself!), but some folks reminded me that this event has to occur, rain or shine, particularly when so many people are coming from distant and exotic lands. If I can recover half my cost, I'll be happy, as I'm not shelling out for air fare, gas money, or a few nights in the Brownstone. Plus, I'm really just throwing my own birthday bash, as I will have turned 40 two weeks prior!

Hey, isn't that what I'm doing? Except for the points, that is.

Just checked on a tent. We'll have a 30 by 30 set up, with tables. That'll seat about 90 to 100. If the rain is coming down sideways, we have bigger problems, such as keeping a fire going. I've checked on port-o-potties, too. There will be one of those. Maybe even a high-falutin' one with running water. That's better than most people's bathrooms here in the South! My doublewide's septic system just couldn't handle so many flushes!! Can you believe we're now on the 13th page of this thread, and the event is 4 months away?????????

I prefer kumquatcello.

Ah, young eGulletarians! What you don't know is that Jaymes will NOT be driving from the Lone Star State. She'll be coming from the lovely state of Missouri!!!!

You've done been added!

She's been on the list for quite awhile. Thanks, though!

As big as this has gotten, I'll be renting a big tent in case of rain as well as a port-o-potty. Now if I can just get that blue grass band!

Current head count: Hjshorter + 23 (actually, only +3) (DC area) ZebA + 1-1/2 (Raleigh) Marlene +1 (Toronto) Vengroff +1 (DC) Jaymes (Texas but Missouri by then) =Mark (NJ) =Mark's "bro" Rich maggiethecat (Chi-town) Holly Moore (Philly) KatieLoeb (Philly) Malawry +1 (DC area) edemuth (DC area) Dave the Cook (Hotlanta) Kpurvis (Charlotte) Dlc (Tennessee) Mummer (Philly) claire797 +2 (??) herbacidal (??) (Philly) Blondie +1 (NY) Ditsydine (Raleigh) NewYorkTexan (??) (Austin, TX) Jason & Rachel Perlow (Jersey – in their RV) Timothycdavis (Charlotte) Weka +2 (Cary) Hungry Chris +1 (Connecticut) Jmcgrath (Massachussets) Hscottk is very interested (NJ) Sam Iam is trying to cajole family members to come (Michigan) Ladybug +4 (a strong maybe) cat lancaster (Chicago) foodie52 +1 ???? (Texas -- "thinking" about it -- book those tickets now and make the commitment!!!) tommy +1 (NJ/NYC) Lady T ???? (Chicago?) quajolote (Chicago) NeroW (Chicago) Awbrig +3 (Chicago) Aurora ? (Chicago) Fresser (Chicago) helenas +1 (NJ) -- Yeah, Helena!!!! joler (Greensboro, North Cackalacky) Strong work from the Heartland crowd. I'm very, very impressed. If someone will give zilla369 a ride from Louisville, she'll come. bigbear isn't sure he can make it, but he's trying to find some George T. Stagg bourbon just in case. Nickn from Maine is may make a thousand mile drive if we can find appropriate tents space for him. Xanthippe. Oh, our favorite X-woman. Everyone, please push her into coming from California. Bourdain has yet to recognize this event. Everyone knows that it's the rainy season in St. Martin. Perhaps one of you Heartlanders should push him a bit, but again, he may not be on our "A" list!

First, the bad news. For the first time since I started this thing, I did not drop any weight from the preceding week. The good news is that I didn't gain any. Actually, if I really crossed my eyes funny, the scale may have read 215-1/2, but I'm calling it 216. I then proceded to spend 40 very agonizing minutes on the treadmill, and when I got off, I had sweated away 2 pounds. However, I'm still listing my weigh as 216. After all that I ate this week (including the ol' chicken burger with blue cheese last night + tomato, avocado & feta salad), that's not a bad result. This will be a very active weekend. I expect to be to 215 or 214 next Friday.

Nickn- Our house sits on a hill that is covered with English ivy. At the bottom of the hill is the tennis court. Beyond the tennis court is about 10 feet of incline up to the road. At the right end of the court is about 5 feet of steep incline up to the road. However, at the left end of the court is some flat area -- probably enough room for 3 tents. We'll need to clear some brush out of there. Realize, however, that the street we live on is somewhat busy, although it's pretty dead after midnight. I'm thinking port-o-potties may be in the works. Sun showers anyone. Should we start calling this "Pigstock"????

Excellent! Strong work, Heartlanders! Brig- What I might do for the kids is get a couple of our most trusted babysitters and have them stay at my in-law's house, which is about 2 miles from our house. If we keep them at our house into the wee hours of the night, they'll get no sleep, as it'll be a rowdy place to say the least. We'll probably want to figure out how many kids there will be.

This is not Korea, Rachel. We'll only feed them pig. Ugh, sorry for the insensitivity.

Great lunch today: Roast beef and bacon sandwich with jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, pepper jack. Plus some waffle fries. Hey, I got the 5 inch instead of the big 10 inch sammich! Dinner will be something light, as, WEIGH-IN IS TOMORROW!!

WTF, you can hang out in Moore Square with the winos. Hell, you've hung out with Bourdain, so you'll fit right in!! Brig- Can't you just bring everyone down in the Brigsterjet?

Umstead State Park is about a 10 minute drive from my house. I think a tent site is $12 a night. Here's a link to their fees page: Umstead Park Of course, we might be able to find you a yard or something of the sort where you can put up a tent! You wouldn't want to do that at my house, as we have the tennis court and not much more. Plus, it's pretty damn noisy. Get Awbrig to come down and spring for a big ass hotel suite for y'all. As far as the weather is concerned, it's generally in the 70s during the day, and the mid-50s during the evenings. Perfect camping weather. It's also hurricane season, so if there's a threat of that, you can crash with us!

Dude, for me, it's cheap ass or nothing. In fact, I drink Carlo Rossi. My roommate calls it "Ghetto Broth." Nero, that's just another reason why we all worship at your Neroness! Now bring some of that jug shit down to my pig pickin' on the Chi-train!

With so many veggies being produced hydroponically, is this truly a misused term? Is a hydroponic production greenhouse actually a garden?

I don't think that there's a general plan, but I know some folks are coming in early and others are staying late. However, Sunday will likely be clean up and recovery day for me. Mrs. Varmint would frown upon one more day of partying for me, and I do have to work on Monday!