I feel like I’ve been working on Chapter 12 forever. My only writing time is really the weekends. My brain is blown-out after work during the week and I can’t put two words together let alone a sentence. The weekend is also when I cook. I was still a little shy from the Great Fried Chicken Failure of 2020. However, I believe I have redeemed myself. Coming up, The Great Shrimp Boil of 2021, but first…

Yard Work and Trees
I was out in the yard today, doing manly things again, never mind it’s freaking winter. Because the trees don’t care. The old tree says “Yes, it’s cold as hell out here and I know you’d rather be inside, in the warmth… half naked…. touching yourself or whatever you do, but I think I’m going to throw a few of my limbs down in the yard. You know… the neighbors are going to see your yard… and theirs look soooo nice… and they will talk.”
“Fuck you old tree. Yes I’m coming outside in the cold to pick your shit up. And I’m going to use a branch lopper and get rid of some of your other gangly body parts that are creeping me out.”
And I did.
Old Tree said, “Thank you.”
I’d been used again. and! In a freak accident, (I probably got a little too caviler) but somehow I boxed myself in the upper lip with the handle of the trimming shear. Now I have a raised bump on my upper lip where it cut against my teeth. If duck lips ever make a come-back… (I hope they don’t) I’ll be halfway there.
I’ll be sharing my recipe throughout the post. More on the next page.