Reach Out

May 2, 2016August 10, 2016 VeryVocalVikingLeave a comment

We lost a very good friend this past weekend, quite suddenly.

Losing a dear friend suddenly is never easy, but losing a distant friend is hard.

So many well-intentioned promises to visit more often. So many opportunities wasted.

Your condolences, your thoughts and prayers are nice. Thank you. But this time, do me a favor — no, do yourself a favor — and reach out to an old friend you haven’t seen in awhile. Talk. Laugh. Relive some glory days. It will be good for you both.

We don’t have our friends forever, folks.

Use the little time you have.

Don’t wait.

Be that guy.

Take the initiative.

Reach out.

(long sigh)

We don’t have them forever.

A Viking Cooks: Porkapalooza

April 30, 2016August 10, 2016 VeryVocalVikingLeave a comment

Today I’m making my favorite pork recipe, which I call Porkapalooza:

1) Boil up a delicious brine (see below)

2) Add a platter of yummy pork chops to brine.

3) Ignore for four hours

4) Grill pork chops, brushing with olive oil as they finish.

5) Boil brats in the leftover brine, then grill just to brown and crisp.

6) Try to avoid developing Gout.

Brine:

1 bottle dark beer of your choice (Honey Brown is delightful)
6-8 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbs molasses
Red Pepper Flakes to taste
3/4 cup kosher salt

Heat all the above, stirring, until just begins to boil.
Take off heat.
Stir in ice until liquid is room-temperature-ish.

Be Prepared

April 29, 2016August 10, 2016 VeryVocalVikingLeave a comment

(The boy climbs into the car)

Me: “We’re just going into town to pick up some things. Why did you run back into the house?”

Danger Monkey, age 9: “I almost forgot my dice. I have a special pocket in my fleece just for my dice bag and some pencils in case anyone ever wants to play D&D.”

Me: … (sniff)

DM: “Daddy, are you crying?”