Another first for me today

Well, I sure am enjoying that automatic DISH satellite locator.  For almost eight years I’ve been dragging my portable and its heavy holder out every time I’m some place for more than a day or two.  It’s hard on my back and can be more than a little frustrating at times to find the signals; especially if I’m in an area with a lot of sounds that interfere with my hearing the different pitched hums from the receiver.  Just punch a button, wait about five minutes, and everything is ready to go.  Today I love advances in technology.

After lunch, the knock on the door let me know that I had to pack things up for Thibodeaux’s to move the rig back into the building to have my routine maintenance done.  I unhooked the water and electric, and brought in the slides.  That’s when it dawned on me that I hadn’t had the DISH automatically turn off and fold up for travel.  You need electricity to do that.  Rats!  So, I turned on the generator and got it done.  I have to figure out a way to remind myself to put the dish down before I unplug from electrical power. 

I thought of tying  a bright piece of fabric to the steering wheel, but by the time I get to the steering wheel I’ve generally already disconnected from power.  A reader suggested that I hang my keys on the handle of the cabinet where the disconnect button is located, but that just won’t work for me for several reasons.  I’m now thinking I’ll tie something on the electrical cable to remind myself not to pull the plug until I fold up the DISH.  That might work best for me.

Anyway, I had several hours to kill before the rig would be out of the shop, and I just didn’t want to sit around in the heat.  So, I drove around the area instead. 

I put off stopping at Don’s Specialty Meats for as long as I could, but I knew I wanted to stop here and pick up a few things.  Don’s has lots of Cajun meat type things as well as a limited butcher counter.  They are most known for their Boudin and Cracklins. 

I really like their pork chops from the butcher’s case, and usually pick up a small tray of Cajun chicken patties.  Remember that I’m from the Midwest, and my pallet prefers meat, potatoes, gravy, and a vegetable.  I’m not into spicy foods, and the last thing on earth I’d eat is something with jalapeños in it!   But the coarsely ground chicken patties have no jalapeños…  Only salt, red pepper, black pepper, and green onions in them.  They’re a spicy enough burger type thing for me.

As I went to check out, I asked the cashier what those things were in a container under a heating lamp.  She said they were ‘Cracklins’.  It seems like every time I visit Louisiana I have some kind of minor stomach ailment, so I’ve never tried Cracklins before.  My stomach was fine today, so I told her I’d never tasted them, and she gave me a sample.  Then she asked me, with an incredulous look on her face, “Where are you from?”  To make things simple, I just said South Dakota.  She just shook her head. 

As I left the store, I had my first bite of a Cracklin.   Oh my goodness!  It was hot!  I crunched down on one bite and it was also a little spicy, but…what a delicious artery clogging taste!  I think I could get addicted to Cracklins.  I wonder if you can buy a little bag and then reheat them in the microwave for that hot and spicy taste?  Would they get soggy?  I’m going to find out.  Don’s has a big gravel pullout for trucks and big rigs, so I’m going to get a small bag to snack on when I leave here on Friday.  I’ll be ‘cracklin’ down the highway! 

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy