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Spaulding Smails

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Posts posted by Spaulding Smails

  1. 1 hour ago, Hank_Hill said:

    Anybody have experience with those Life Straw water bottles?

    Another friend that goes with us uses one and likes it.  I prefer to pump my water into a larger container so I don't have to dick with the straw every time I want to drink.  I use a Katadyn Hiker Pro.  About $80.

    Also, make sure at least one of you has a jet boil.  Eating a warm meal in the evening beats the hell out of jerky.  And necessary for coffee.  I have a portable French press that I take.  Nothing better than sipping a hot cup of coffee watching the sun rise above the Devils.

    • Like 1
  2. 1 hour ago, PatrickMcHorn said:

    Vodka, filtered river water, and Arnold palmer dissolving packets ftmfw.

    Harrumph.  My alcohol choices have consisted of this (also substitute Gatorade packets instead of Arnold Palmer... you know for hydration purposes and whatnot).  Also good whiskey when it's cool out.  And you can't underestimate a nice box wine with your MRE.  Take it out of the box.  Tie about 10 ft of paracord to it and let it chill in the river.  

    Ice is stupid to even mess with.  I tried it once with block ice and failed miserably.

     

  3. 16 hours ago, Hank_Hill said:

    Looks like Del Norte to Dan A. Hughes

    Flow will be slow, and you'll have to drag quite a bit, but much better than starting at Baker's.  I'm assuming that you're going through Amistad Expeditions.

    Do you have your own kayak?  Even if you do, I'd consider renting one of their Coosas.  I'd do it if I were in your situation.  If you're even mildly into paddling or fishing, it will be a great experience.  Fall out there is so awesome, that I've foregone many football weekends for the sake of the Devils.  I've even tried to bring an old school radio to listen to the Horns game (didn't work for shit).  My advice is to pack super light, and invest in good water shoes, a good self-inflating sleeping pad and pillow if you don't have them.

    Have the others that you're going with done the Devils before?

  4. 40 minutes ago, Hank_Hill said:

    Friends invited me to do Devils river over Labor Day weekend.....the first weekend of Texas football. Never been before....is this a no brainer that I should go?

    @Hank_Hill You need to find out which stretch you're doing, who your outfitter is, what size the group is, etc.  As mentioned above, water flow is always relatively low during late summer, but it will be especially low this year.  I went in June and the flow was way slow.  If you do Baker's you'll be dragging a ton.

    It's definitely a bucket list trip if you haven't done it.  But, choose wisely on where, when and who you go with.  It can make or break the trip.  PM me if you want more info.  I've been down the river 12 times over the last seven years, so I'm pretty familiar with it.

    • Like 2
  5. 50 minutes ago, Knoxtnhorn said:

    As far as ingredients.  Going off memory, the last batch was peaches, 1/2 cup of whole milk, vanilla extract, and 32 ounces of cream.  It may have something to do with overchurning.  Whatever it is, it's ruining the taste.  The initial "bite" is ok; however, it leaves, what feels like, a coating of Crisco grease in your mouth.

    Same thing was happening with us last summer.  It was OK when it was fresh, but once you put it in the freezer, it separated more.  Left a film on the roof of your mouth.

    I'm a huge ice cream fan, and an even bigger homemade ice cream fan, so I was perplexed.  We switched from Horizon 2% organic milk to "regular" whole milk this summer, and it's back to normal with no issues.  Try to change your milk to the cheap, whole stuff and see if that helps.

  6. 36 minutes ago, Chips O'Toole said:

    This is like bragging about the mansion you just purchased and then posting a pic of a bridge hovel.

    pafy0zcqh5811.jpg

    Fantastic.  "Pinto Beans" and "Lots of Greens" is code for canned black eyed peas and a few pieces of wilted lettuce.  

    • Like 2
  7. @F250 you nailed it in that last post.  10U has been the most fun (even at a diluted rec level) for me as a coach.  The kids are old enough that you generally don't have to babysit them and they are capable enough to actually make plays.  But, they're not so old that they have egos (mostly).  

    We had a similar situation this year.  Kid was at the lower age of the cutoff, so he was barely 9 playing with kids that were almost 11.  He had just moved here from the east coast and had never played before.  But, he tried hard and had a good family with a dad that spent a lot of time working with him.  At the beginning of the year, we had to be careful so as not to hurt him.  In the last game, he got his first hit and actually caught a deep fly ball in right.  Just huge progress over a short time frame and makes the hours spent up at the ballfields totally worth it.

    • Like 2
  8. Just stumbled on this thread.  My son's been middle-of-the-pack since T-ball.  He's worked hard on his own accord this year and actually made the All-Star team (10U).  He was literally the last selection based on a mediocre season and a good try-out.  He did well and ended up starting in the OF.  A few observations:

    -The talent pool at this age has been incredibly diluted at rec leagues.  We have four different select teams that pull from kids that would otherwise be in our league (Dripping Springs).  There's no way my son would have even sniffed tryouts if he was up against those kids.  I bet we have 20+ kids in select ball at this age group that would come in and instantly be at the top of the talent pool.

    -There's too damn many leagues and tournaments.  Pony, CenTex, LL.  And that's not even counting the select teams.  I guess it's just a natural evolution and a result of supply and demand.   We played three "warm up" tournaments which seemed excessive at the time but did prepare our kids who had, for the most part, zero exposure to that kind of competition.  They finished third in sectionals, then went 2 and BBQ at regionals losing the first game to the #1 seed on a walk-off passed ball.

    -All-Star baseball at that age is light years ahead of rec league.  I expected an increase in play, but we were coaching some pretty advanced techniques / plays like squeeze plays, first & third drills, rundowns, throwing behind the runner on a cut-off, etc.  All of which came into play and paid off during all stars.  It was fun seeing it "click" for some of these kids who were used to being the only one on their team who could half-way catch or throw.  And many of the kids (my son included) seemed to do better with improved competition.  I guess it forces them to focus more, see more strikes at the plate, be on their toes in the field, etc when compared to rec league.

    -And select ball is light years ahead of all-stars.  If we were to scrimmage the "elite" team that our league puts in select tournaments, we would get SMOKED.  We had 3-4 kids that could hang with them, but the bottom of the order (my son included) is pretty far behind their current talent level.  Those teams are good 1-9.  I can't even imagine facing a Major select team.

    -At 9 & 10, these kids are playing better (and more fundamental) baseball than I was playing at 12U all-stars.  Heck, we weren't even leading off at 12.  

    All in all, it was a great experience for my son.  May have been his only chance at an all-star team, so I'm glad he had an opportunity to experience it.

  9. Do you have a hand planer?  That may be worth a shot.  Not going to be perfect, but you may be able to feather it down some then hit it with an orbital sander.  

    Otherwise, look at a hardwood lumber supplier that mills on site.  They may be able to run it through the planer for you.

  10. @4th and 5That's been my experience, too.  The sun just eventually beats them up.  I've tried to plant things strategically.

    @DonnyKerabatsos I didn't think about the bugs.  Coons and birds have been my biggest issue this year.  I guess you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.  I did make this retractable, so I can pull it back in less than five minutes.  Worth a shot, I suppose.

  11. Anyone have an experience with shade cloth?  I'm hoping I can keep the sun from beating down on my garden during the summer.  I bought a 30% shade cloth.  Just curious if I should leave it up for the duration of the summer or try to alternate days.

    IMG_2314.jpg

  12. Use a jointer or bench planer if you can.  It'll be worth borrowing or renting one.  I built this table and bench for my sister as a housewarming gift.  Used #1 YP for everything.  I culled the lumber to find as straight of boards as possible and ran them all through the jointer / planer knocking 1/4" off the dimension and making sure everything was square.  Made a big difference in the levelness of the top when it was all said and done.

    IMG_8159.jpg

    • Like 4
  13. I'll eat some crow on this one.  I've never cooked on a Weber Genesis.  The "nice" ones I've cooked on have been in the $500 range, I would guess.  Probably just a case of me not giving them a shot and not appreciating their capabilities.  I guess it would be like occasionally driving a Toyota Camry and not understanding why someone would appreciate a Porsche 911.  Bad assumption on my part.

    I have a Bull Bison 30-in charcoal grill that I use for steaks, fajitas, chicken and fish.  Bull 24" griddle for burgers, cheesesteaks, eggs, etc.  Then an old Tejas smoker for BBQ.  I'm not a Beard Award winner by any means, but I'm also not "a retard" when it comes to cooking.  

  14. @luke duke serious question.  I know you have a bad ass pit that you built.  And I admire that.  And, I think you've been successful at BBQ cook-offs and whatnot.  

    If you're grilling chicken breasts or burgers on a random Tuesday night do you cook on a gas grill or charcoal?

    Maybe I just suck at gas grills.  I'm not above admitting that's a distinct possibility.

  15. On June 13, 2018 at 4:03 PM, BearSchlong said:

    I'm pretty sure the shag/surl stipulated to the excellence of Weber gas grills a while back.

    I have both Gas and Charcoal models and while I prefer the charcoal, it's just a pain in the ass.

    Serious question.  I've never understood the "pain in the ass" stance with charcoal.  Is it the time it takes to get hot?  The fact that you have to clean out ashes after every third or fourth use?  

    I've tried to like gas grills.  I really have.  I just can't do it.  Even the "nice" ones don't seem to cook at an easily regulated temperature.  The extra 15 minutes to get a chimney starter going and the occasional scooping out of ashes is well worth the trade off, IMO.  I've owned a grill of some sort since I was 19, and to this day, I've never owned a gas grill.  

  16. Also, not to derail the thread, but when we make a pulled pork, we usually have leftovers.  We started making Kentucky Nachos with the leftovers.  Ruffles, pulled pork, cole slaw, BBQ sauce, cheese.  Worth a shot if you've never tried it.

  17. Subscribed.  Great thread.  Haven't made nachos at the house in a while, but I'm a fan of the "individual nacho with care" stance.  But, I don't turn down a big pile o' nachos, either.  A few observations:

    -Need to have proper chip to topping ratio.  Nothing worse than a huge pile of chips and meager toppings.

    -Grated cheese then melted under a broiler is a must.  No queso type cheese.

    -I'm OK if the last few chips are a bit soggy, but can't be the whole pile.

    • Like 1
  18. Agree with @Jkwellborn.  If you have attic access above and the circuit for that light is dropped from above, it can be pretty easy.  If it's coming in from the side or if you don't have attic access above, you're going to have to cut open more sheetrock and drill shit sideways.  

    For me, the electrical part always seems to be pretty easy.  It's the damn drywall patch, taping, floating and matching texture that gives me fits.

  19. Serious question, and maybe this should go in the "stupid question amnesty" category, but why can I get a rattlesnake vaccine for my dog and not for me or my family?  Not sure if it really works on the pup (hope I never have to find out), but it was worth the minimal investment to roll the dice. 

    Is the reason that there isn't a human vaccine due to cost?  Or demand?  Or liability?  Or genetics?  I have no clue.

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