A Very Good Day...

[DDT (12)]

                                                                                        A Very Good Day… 
 
Doug and I did meet for breakfast… eventually. I got up early and took care of business just fine. Even had coffee! I loaded our girl and got ready to depart… only she wouldn’t start! Dennis had told me several times I should go ahead and buy another battery… but I didn’t. I was able to jump her off with that power pack, though, so not too much time lost. I then proceeded to ride back into town and circle the block downtown… twice… I didn’t see the restaurant where we were to meet.
 
Following the second lap around the square, and after determining that cop ahead of us wasn’t coming back to write me up for a U-turn I performed… It was a rather elegant maneuver, but it was also illegal… He must not have been looking in his rearview mirror! I got back to the main drag, and I spotted a sign down the street a couple of blocks partially obscured by another sign… but the letters ‘INER’ were visible… That could be it… it was!
 
I turned down the side street to enter the parking lot, and there Doug was! I made some good excuses, I thought, and I told him of the reasons for my delay… He was polite, but he had been waiting half an hour, having arrived early with me being a little late. You know how excuses are, right? When we offer them, that cancels the boo-boo, and everything is like it never happened. When others make excuses to us, it changes nothing at all!!! Poor Doug, but what else can I say? He was gracious about it, though!
 
What a great reunion! We had only seen each other once in over twelve years! We picked right up where things had been back then, as if the interval had been more like only a few months. We both are sporting a little more gray hair and a few additional wrinkles, but other than that…
 
We did what old friends do… talked about the good old days, folks we’d known and ridden with… what’s been going on since our last meeting… Lots of smiles, some hardy laughter, and some very good feelings absorbed… Dang! I’m so glad he noticed my post and contacted me to do this…
 
It wasn’t a perfect reunion, however… this place did not offer grits after all… We did both order biscuits & gravy and a side of bacon, though… and I got the sweet tea, since they did have that… The food was good, but the meeting itself was the ‘main course’… Time very well spent, but eventually he needed to return home, and I had miles to go before I slept… He rode with me for a mile or two to his turn-off… We waved and that was that. I sure hope it isn’t another decade before we can do that again…
 
Later, as we were zooming down I-75, I saw a sign announcing at the next exit… a Waffle House! Yep, I was about to get my first helping of grits in over two months! I began drooling uncontrollably as I found my way to a parking space, mercifully right in front of the entrance… I quickly made my way inside and placed my order! It started coming soon… in stages… The grits arrived just after the sweet tea, and I began to ‘doctor’ them… By the time the bacon arrived, the grits were suitably 'doctored'… and the long anticipated joyous event could proceed.
 
Another boo-boo on my part came to light an hour or two later. We were out on I-75 making miles toward Dayton, OH, having ridden back roads most of the morning, but needing to now ‘make some time’… The ‘temp’ light came on! Dang, I’d never seen that on before! I backed off the throttle and the light immediately went off… I took the next exit anyway, topped off, and waited for a few minutes then checked the oil…
 
Big BF had told me I’d lost about ‘a quarter of a quart’ with the leaking from the alternator ‘O’ ring issue, and that I should add some… Naturally, I hadn’t done that either, so… now those chickens were coming home to roost, too…
 
I bought a quart of Pennzoil fully synthetic and added enough to get the level back to ‘Full’.  No more problems or scares the rest of the day! ALI cranked each time we stopped, and no warning lights of any sort ever reappeared… If she won’t crank in the morning, I’ll jump her off again, then go find a Walmart someplace!!!
 
We rode down to Charleston, WV, and by the time we arrived there, the sun had sunk low approaching the tops of trees, so… I got a room and called it a day… A very good day!
 
DDT

[The emperor has no clothes]

Meeting old friends, grits, sweet tea. Sounds like a pretty good life indeed. 

[robin]

Sounds like a good day was had by all (go get the battery) Bruce listen to the masters that helped ya

[Strider]

Sweet Tea and Grits - life is indeed good!   

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Bruce if you see a NAPA get this battery ... NAPA Power Sport - Legend Premium AGM 12 Volts 180 CCA...
IMO so much better than a Wally World ( I've had both ) and its hot and ready to go .

[six2go #152]

Yes Bruce, it was a good day. As short as our reunion time was, I thoroughly enjoyed catching up.And the fact that I was there before you arrived? No big deal at all. If I don't arrive at an appointment 20 min early, I consider myself to be late. And being married for 52 yrs to a lady who still thinks that our reservation or appointment time is when we should leave the house.LOL! So ya see, a little time spent watching traffic go by is no big deal.
Glad you finally found your grits. I was really surprised that Four Seasons didn't offer them.

Until we meet again, safe travels my friend.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

                                                                                        A Very Good Day… 
 

 
It wasn’t a perfect reunion, however… this place did not offer grits after all…
 

God Bless Dixie

[MarkT]

Alright Bruce.  Now enlighten this Yankee on how a born and bred Rebel 'doctors' his grits.  Biscuits and gravy is an adopted favorite on my plate and how I judge a cafe in the morning (evenings it's chicken fried steak - gotta be hand breaded, juicy and the gravy better be well seasoned pork bits gravy). Both entrees with habanero Tabasco to awaken the tasters. (Carried in my pocket or sauce holster; ya just can't trust anybody to have proper hot sauce.)  I rarely get the chance to sample grits; mostly not available where I go. But I might guess 'doctoring' would include butter, brown sugar or molasses, salt & pepper.

[DDT (12)]

Alright Bruce.  Now enlighten this Yankee on how a born and bred Rebel 'doctors' his grits.

Mark,

First, you must understand that grits are so much more than a mere food to us of the southern persuasion... They are at once a staple, a tradition, an icon, and a badge of honor. I wouldn't go so far as to claim they have anywhere near the stature of something on the order of a religious symbol, like, say, a turbine to a Sikh, or a Crucifix to a Catholic, but they do have deep meaning and represent something mighty significant to us.

That said, it then follows that certain rituals are included in the proper preparation and ingestion of said delicacy... First, they must be properly prepared... Not difficult at all, but still... no monkey business or hap-hazard effort will do... And, contrary to common belief, instant grits can be used when the real thing isn't available... Not recommended, however, and one usually has to be in dire straits to resort to that. I admit I have done this myself...

Once upon a time, long, long ago, and much earlier in my riding career in a time before I had built up my stamina sufficiently, I carried several packages of instant grits in my travel bag for emergencies like when withdrawal symptoms became overpowering. If one is desperate, one does what one has to...

To put this thing with instant grits into perspective, I have a friend down in Arp, Texas. He told me that the best way to get rid of house guests who've over-stayed their welcome is to start feeding them instant grits without any butter... He said it works every time! It's analogous to serving a banana-split without a banana...

OK, grits are nothing more than ground-up corn, that is, in a purely physical sense. As such, they are best enjoyed with salt, pepper, and butter... and lots of all three! They can also be enjoyed with red-eye gravy, or cheese... However, anything else should be proceeded by a warning to any true southerners present...

It isn't sacrilege or blasphemy, per se, to use other things like catsup, hot sauce, milk and sugar, or one of those exotic cheeses (I prefer American or cheddar myself), but it is 'coloring outside the lines' and any of us not prepared for that may get a serious start from observing such without a chance to brace ourselves or anything in advance...

OK, now to specifically answer your question... I wasn't able to download pictures where I was last night, so I didn't include them in the above story post... I'll include them here, however, in hopes that will aid you in following what the point I'm attempting make is...

First step... Grits arrive in a bowl or on a plate, and butter should be available, if not already plopped on them (we refer to a serving of that delicacy as a 'mess of grits'). If butter isn't provided, immediately threaten to throw a hissy-fit!



Next, add salt and pepper liberally and generously, then stir the whole 'mess' thoroughly to maximize the savory extravaganza you're preparing for yourself. I think of this phase as 'dietary foreplay'... and, your salivary glands will automatically and unavoidably shift into hyper-warp drive! Once the texture and consistency of the 'mess' are to your liking, and when you are only barely able to restrain yourself from grabbing a couple of handfuls and stuffing them into the intake end of your guts... They will look something like this...



If you've done a really good job with all phases of this, then the end result will be like this... and audible feedback will spontaneously erupt in the form of a big ol' BURP!!!



I am what you might call a 'purest'. I prefer them just as described above, but I do like them occasionally, as also mentioned before, with red-eye gravy or with American or cheddar cheese. Anything else, at least for one such as I, would be like seasoning food for a Muslim with pork... It just shouldn't be done.

Now, let me hasten to say, that I don't hold it against anyone who does get a bit carried away. I had a riding bud once upon a time, who was born and raised in New York City. He ordered grits the first time we had breakfast together, and I as really impressed... he then proceeded to add catsup! Looked like a zit to me, but hey, that's his business. My dear friend and ALI's savior Terry, t-man403, gave the distinct honor and great personal privilege of allowing me to introduce him to this fine fare... He then added a bunch of Tabasco Sauce. WOW!

There really is no right way or wrong way to enjoy them... for the mass population of our planet, that is... For me and most like me, however, we do like to keep it simple... and honor tradition...

The term 'doctoring' is just a euphemism for altering, enhancing, supplementing, making better... nothing medicinal implied or intended, although many believe, as I do, that there are certain inherent health benefits to a regular diet of this fine cuisine.

Speaking of a regular diet of these wonders of savory nutritional triumph over bland stuff, I had some more this morning! Yep, and I 'doctored' them in the same time-honored, old-fashion way, too...



DDT

[Thunderbolt]

Bruce you're giving 'ol Strider a run for his money at posting food pictures.  I think his pictures of the food that he and J.P. ate on one of their trips was the first time I had seen that done.  And I certainly couldn't have done a better job of explaining the doctoring of grits.  When I was in boot camp some of the folks from North of the Mason Dixon line thought the grits that we had in Millington Tn. at the mess hall on the Southside were cream of wheat and commenced to doctoring with milk and sugar.

[The emperor has no clothes]

"Dietary foreplay" 

[MarkT]

DAYUM THAT LOOKS GOOOOOOD!

Now I don't have any grits fixins in the house.  I DO have some Olathe salt n pepa corn on the cob however.  Gonna cook that up n close my eyes and pretend it's GRITS! With lotsa salt and pepper and butter, of course!

[klb]

  Now that is a good looking bowl of grits. Butter, Salt and
Pepper. Oh yea. My wife of 28 years puts Sugar on her's. Bless her
heart. She tries to get me to taste them but being born and raised in
Georgia I just can't do it.

[DDT (12)]

DAYUM THAT LOOKS GOOOOOOD!

Now I don't have any grits fixins in the house.  I DO have some Olathe salt n pepa corn on the cob however.  Gonna cook that up n close my eyes and pretend it's GRITS! With lotsa salt and pepper and butter, of course!

Good on ya, brother! I always knew you had great potential!!!

DDT

"Dietary foreplay"  

You like that, huh...  lol

DDT

Bruce you're giving 'ol Strider a run for his money at posting food pictures.  I think his pictures of the food that he and J.P. ate on one of their trips was the first time I had seen that done.  And I certainly couldn't have done a better job of explaining the doctoring of grits.  When I was in boot camp some of the folks from North of the Mason Dixon line thought the grits that we had in Millington Tn. at the mess hall on the Southside were cream of wheat and commenced to doctoring with milk and sugar.

Yeah, I know what you mean... saw the same sort of thing in the Army... Just goes to show how sad things can be for those poor, underprivileged folks born into a life without all the advantages we down here had...

DDT

[DDT (12)]

Now that is a good looking bowl of grits. Butter, Salt and
Pepper. Oh yea. My wife of 28 years puts Sugar on her's. Bless her
heart. She tries to get me to taste them but being born and raised in
Georgia I just can't do it.

I hear ya, brother! What other folks do is their business, and I got no comment... As for me, though, I gotta be true to my raising... at least where some things are concerned and where I can... Looks like you understand my point precisely! Thanks for your comments...

DDT

P.S. "Bless her heart."  lol   Another southernism virtually completely unappreciated outside dear ol' Dixie! Ranks right up there with other quotable sayings like, "Now ain't that nice...?"

[John Schmidt]

Wow Bruce, does that ever bring back some memories of 5 yrs. ago when I had my major heart attack. One night this little cutie asked if there was anything special I'd like to have. I asked "anything?" "Yes." So I asked for a bowl of grits, I got "that look" followed by a shake of her head as she walked out of my room. I didn't want anything else at that time, besides....it was 2:30am.    About 20 minutes later, in she walks and I could smell them before she got to my bedside. Along with it was.....yep....three pads of real butter and 2-3 packets of salt and pepper. Little cutie is still shaking her head! The next morning the next shift nurse came in and had to wake me, she was laughing the whole time. Told me they hadn't seen me sleep that sound since I was moved to their floor, could hear me snoring down by the nurse's station. I told them it was the grits....."yeah, sure John, whatever you say."  From that day until I was discharged I had them at least once a day, when I was being wheeled out I told the head nurse I was giving credit to all those grits. It gave me energy and finally got things moving through the old body in a proper way. I was born a Yank but have lived in the South for over 50 years so I've picked up some pretty good habits. Just wondering.....is it possible to be dubbed an "honorary" Reb?

PS: Has to be sweet tea for me, my wife thinks that's nuts but I still love her.  

[DDT (12)]

Great story, John! Yeah, to those who aren't born to it, or life hasn't exposed them to certain realities, I can see where it might be hard for them to accept what you're saying about the health benefits of eating grits. I, on the other hand, totally get it!!! As far as becoming an 'honorary Reb'.... I personally don't see any reason why not... So, I hereby nominate you! If it turns our you need a sponsor or co-signor or something, I'll stand good for ya, too!!!

DDT

[..]

I like olive oil on my grits.

It makes it easier to scrape them into the trash bin..

Now as for stone ground oatmeal.

[DDT (12)]

I like olive oil on my grits.

It makes it easier to scrape them into the trash bin..

Now as for stone ground oatmeal.

Actually, once dried, grits take on the consistency of something between wallpaper paste and exterior wall stucco... and they can be the dickens to clean off pots, bowls, plates, flatware, etc.! I let everything soak for a good while once through with the meal, that way I don't have to rush to clean up... Of course, if one doesn't intend to eat them in the first place, your point is well taken, Paul! I didn't expect that observation from a guy who used to peddle 'Grits Chips'... 

DDT

[Crackerborn]

Having been a guest of the Republic of Wisconsin for the last 20 years, I don't get grits unless I am visiting family and friends in the southern lands. I prefer yellow grits over the hominy (white) style but will take either.

You want to expel an unwanted house guest? Don't salt the water that you are cooking the grits in. A five pound bag of salt and a pound of butter won't fix that taste.  

I grew up adding 2 eggs over medium, sausage patties crumbled, butter, salt and pepper to a "mess" of grits for the morning meal break after the farm animals were fed and any other chores (usually mucking stalls) assigned to one of the city cousins staying on the farm for the summer.  I sure don't miss throwing 70 lb bales of hay on the wagon but I am the only cousin that still puts in a garden every year.

[..]

I like olive oil on my grits.

It makes it easier to scrape them into the trash bin..

Now as for stone ground oatmeal.

Actually, once dried, grits take on the consistency of something between wallpaper paste and exterior wall stucco... and they can be the dickens to clean off pots, bowls, plates, flatware, etc.! I let everything soak for a good while once through with the meal, that way I don't have to rush to clean up... Of course, if one doesn't intend to eat them in the first place, your point is well taken, Paul! I didn't expect that observation from a guy who used to peddle 'Grits Chips'... 

DDT

I was just following orders.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I like olive oil on my grits.

It makes it easier to scrape them into the trash bin..

Now as for stone ground oatmeal.

Actually, once dried, grits take on the consistency of something between wallpaper paste and exterior wall stucco... and they can be the dickens to clean off pots, bowls, plates, flatware, etc.! I let everything soak for a good while once through with the meal, that way I don't have to rush to clean up... Of course, if one doesn't intend to eat them in the first place, your point is well taken, Paul! I didn't expect that observation from a guy who used to peddle 'Grits Chips'... 

DDT

It's been a long time ago. But, I remember my Mom taking left over grits the next morning and forming them into patties and frying them in bacon grease. Us kids put butter and syrup on them.

[Serk]

Being a multi-generational native Texan, I still maintain that grits are an ongoing practical joke someone started playing on yankees and just got carried away with it and had to run with it...

[Crackerborn]

It's been a long time ago. But, I remember my Mom taking left over grits the next morning and forming them into patties and frying them in bacon grease. Us kids put butter and syrup on them.
[/quote]

I seem to remember mashed potatoes being used the same way.

Being a multi-generational native Texan, I still maintain that grits are an ongoing practical joke someone started playing on yankees and just got carried away with it and had to run with it...

As a 4th generation Floridian I remember several generations sitting down to grits. But hush puppys may have been that joke on yankees that went too far since the name is really self explanatory as to what the original use was.

[DDT (12)]

Thanks for all the additional examples and anecdotes! You've made a point I failed to even mention... While many of us 'traditionalists' do tend to eat grits the same way most of the time, there are acceptable alternatives... like mixing other food items with them, and I definitely do that myself sometimes. Heck, I have a former BIL who I don't remember ever seeing not mix his eggs and breakfast meat with his grits... I do seem to recall that he'd eat his biscuits separately, though... As for use of left over grits for other variations of offerings... those mentioned here do sound good to me, and I'd love to try them... Around our house growing up, though, there was only rarely anything left over after a meal! And, that usually tended to be things like cauliflower, broccoli, and asparagus... The good stuff never stayed around long!

DDT

[grandpaweaver]

Yes Bruce, it was a good day. As short as our reunion time was, I thoroughly enjoyed catching up.And the fact that I was there before you arrived? No big deal at all. If I don't arrive at an appointment 20 min early, I consider myself to be late. And being married for 52 yrs to a lady who still thinks that our reservation or appointment time is when we should leave the house.LOL! So ya see, a little time spent watching traffic go by is no big deal.
Glad you finally found your grits. I was really surprised that Four Seasons didn't offer them.

Until we meet again, safe travels my friend.

I think I married the same Lady! Or is they all do that

[DDT (12)]

I think I married the same Lady! Or is they all do that


Near as I can tell, it seems to be a common trait amongst them all... could be a genetic thing, even... Nearly impossible to train them to do otherwise too... like trying to get them to put the commode seat back up! Sheeesh, can't live with them, can't live without them...

DDT