House On The Bridge

There Were Houses There

From the Mantoloking Bridge, facing East.  You could always just see
the horizon from this vantage point; forever, there had been three layers
of houses between the beach and the bayside.  This is an image I find
very hard to come to terms with.  It's like a vision of my childhood
has been erased.   Unimaginable.

We kept ourselves busy today by cleaning up all the leaves tracked in

the house by our wet shoes and bare feet from going back and forth 

to the garage and generator, and we spent a good deal of the 

afternoon picking up twigs, branches, and roof shingles that had 

been blown about our yard last night.  We also agreed that it was 

time for all of the patio furniture to be put away, and the snow-

blower to be positioned facing 'out' in the garage.  It was a good 

distraction from sitting inside all day watching the unfolding 

devastation on local news channels. Several times I caught my wife 

going for the tissues, having been overcome with emotion after 

watching piece after piece on one shore town after another, 

brutally dismantled by Hurricane Sandy. 

I walked around as usual today, snapping photos of my yard and

composing witty captions in my mind for each, hoping that when 

I got inside, I'd not forget them.  These would form another

 'aftermath' post, showing what the Jersey folks endured the night 

before.  No image that I got today came close to the above photograph.

We escaped unscathed, compared to the people living on the coast.

We lost power for less than twelve hours, and it never rained hard

enough to worry about the sump pumps, although I was ready to

hook them up.  In a way I feel like we should have had a tougher

go of it, seeing what the shore-dwellers will be dealing with for 

weeks and months to come.  I still don't quite realize the scope of it.  

   

It's 5:17 Somewhere....

Saved For A Rainy Day

What to do with the shrimp shells saved in the freezer?

Shrimp broth, of course.  If we still have power at dinner

time, it'll be a seafood extravaganza.

God Shed His Grace on Thee

On The Hard: Season Over

With a smudge on her ass, Bay Rhumb was hauled today at about

12:30 p.m.  It was a hasty arrangement:  I called yesterday and 

inquired about a Friday haul-out, after getting an update on weather

disturbance 'Sandy", who may cause some bothersome winds and

unusually elevated water levels.  Rick's Marina obliged, realizing the

monetary opportunity, and before I knew it, I was swiping my Visa

rewards card, emitting a sigh of relief.  I'll look at the bill next week.

BTW, it was a slimy bottom I saw after spending the last six

months as far up Forked River as you can possibly go.  It's a trade-

off:  Slime up-river as opposed to massive barnacles downstream.

They stopped and asked me if I wanted a super-soap wash, or just 

a simple power wash.  Guess what I said. 

After leaving my girl in the yard, I felt I needed to bring some shore 

home with me.  Jonah crab claws fit the bill.  The crabs are hauled

up in lobster pots, and the lobstermen rip one claw off from each

crab, and throw the crab back in, allowing it to survive and generate

another meaty appendage.  It works.  They're the delicious, but 

cheaper version of the Miami stone crabs.  I made some whole-grain

mustard mayo to go along with the crabmeat.  Yum. 

Barnegat littlenecks, steamed with vermouth, onions, celery seeds,

mustard seeds, and basil.  I thought we may have had too much to

eat before dinner but I was proven wrong, happily. 

Mise en Place.  I felt obligated to sprinkle some Old Bay on the 

blowfish, seeing that it was the only item from Maryland. I hope 

Mitch appreciated that mild shout-out.  It's a collateral catch. 

 In Maryland, when they pull up the crab pots, there are blowfish 

swishing around inside, since these puffers are bottom feeders 

whose  preferences are shellfish.  They have a mild, white 

flesh, and it's easily pulled from the bone.  The other fish is flounder 

from Barnegat Bay, which is the go-to choice for anyone looking 

for a taste of New Jersey.  It happens to be Baywife's favorite.    

The last of the Jersey Tomatoes, with Mozzarella Bocconcinis, 

Cured Olives, Garbanzo Beans, Basil, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, 

and Sea Salt.  A bowl of soul.  ( I had to do something with the can

of Garbanzos I opened just for the stupid jury duty post, O Docker).

Spinach.  Mature spinach.  Baby spinach is over-rated and more

expensive.  I'm strongs to the finishk when I eats me spinichk.

Flounder with Brussels Sprouts ripped from the stalk, with a ton of

butter, served with another ton of butter mixed with white wine,

capers, and lemon juice.

Blowfish with sauteed mature spinach, and the same delicious

sauce pictured in the previous photo. 

After leaving my summer behind today, I needed to at least bring

some of it back home with me.  I'm going back next week to 

take the sails down and winterize the nether regions, and I plan to 

once again cull some flavors from my memory of the warmer months 

one last time, to savor the essences of my favorite time of year. 

Five Beans

At least I only had to serve one day.  Apparently, the

day after Columbus Day there is a light case-load in

the Mercer County judicial system.  Only one case 

pending, and they settled minutes after our two hour

 lunch break.  A third-rate cheesesteak lunch at that.

I've served my state honorably as a petit juror five

times since the late eighties.  The first time in 

Somerset county, I went all five days and was 

never picked.  The second, in Mercer County, 

I was selected as one of twelve and sat for a week 

in a cocaine-bust trial. I did all I could to stay awake 

in the courtroom; the high setting on the thermostat 

and the white-noise machine challenged my ability

to remain conscious.  We convicted the guy.

I was relieved of duty on my third tour due to the

conviction on my second.

Three years ago, I was tapped and made the 

obligatory call every night before the next court

day, and was told I wasn't needed.  0 for 5.

Two weeks ago, my number was called and I, along 

with 149 other upstanding citizens of Mercer County,

showed up at the courthouse in Trenton at 8:30 a.m.

I read half a book and fought aggressive assaults on my

resolve to stay awake, just barely staving off those attacks

with a loud snort and a quick shake of my head like nothing

had happened.  We were sent home with the promise of

being eligible for petit juror duty in three years.  I've 

already marked it on my calender, because I know 

they can't carry on without me.

Last Sail?

Today could very well have been the last sail for us this year.  It 

was a splendid day out there:  sunny and mild, with a cranky, puffy 

NW breeze.  Nobody else out there except for the eight or nine

sailboats and a handful of pleasure craft/workboats.  And everyone

minding their own business.  This is the best time of year.

Baywife checking in with family while Hallowiener soaked in the 

October sun.  I managed to come home with a slight sunburn.

Charley from My life in the Florida Keys and Beyond, with wiener

dog on his lap, photo taken a month ago.  She's totally into human 

contact, as was confirmed in the previous image. Good thing Charley

likes dogs.  Time to call Rick's Marina and schedule the haul-out.

Now begins the winter of my discontent.  

Big Win Baby!

Good preparation has its rewards.

Monday and Tuesday off.  

But let's keep our eyes on the prize, Gentlemen.

Photo Quiz

What is this?  

Excellent Choice!

Just for Sommeliers
by: CircleA

A Respectful Visit

Steve from Spartina dropped in on Sultana's dock recently at the

end of his cruise down Delaware Bay.  Chestertown is where my 

Dad spent the last several years of his life as a volunteer shipbuilder,

and then as a sometimes 'docent' of sorts, offering his take on the

ship's construction and more specifically, the significance and 

operation of the 'swivel guns', the small cannon posted up and

down the gunwhales of the ship.  He loved everything about 

gunpowder and lead, and he jumped at the opportunity to shoot

those guns and talk about it later. 

This ship's boat was named in my Dad's memory.  I would love

someday to row her around the docks on the Chester River.

While someone fired a swivel gun.  Thanks Steve, for stopping by.

Photo Quiz

1. Which way are we looking?  

2. Where was the photo taken? 

3. Where is the nearest sailing club?  

4. What was I thinking when I took this photo? 

5. What flavor was the fro-yo underneath?

6. What was it that brought me here?  

7. What will I eat later that includes Chinese sausage? (oops)

8. (New question) On which side of the river did I venture home?

1.  Name 3 proteins

2.  Name 4 main vegetables

3.  Name 3 root/bulb vegetables (having grown underground

     -mainly flavoring agents)

4.  Name 1 common Asian-ish herb

5.  Name 1 noodle

Extra credit

1.  Name 1 bottled Asian sauce (made from something of which I am 

     most fond)

2.  Name 1 most-ever used salty condiment

3.  Name 1 fermented Asian cooking liquid

4.  Name 1 thickening agent