Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for December 01, 2012

It’s Stel’s Brain Bleach at work !

What was I thinking? I wasn’t.

And here we are!Dizzying, this nightly jump!

Linguist….Stel doesn’t make brain bleach…

Folks around here use Marg and Susan’s (or Susan and Marg’s) Ultra Super-Strength Brain Bleach…formulated to our exacting specifications by x_tech Industries…

It’s available at all Stel’s business locations and in bulk and/or via pipeline direct from me or Marg….

Now in several flavors, in liquid or chewable tablet form.

While large doses are not recommended, and can cause very momentary lapses of memory, they will NOT cause permanent damage.

The foregoing was a paid advertisement.

Essex…. oh…..I see her plan now…. silly, isn’t it?

I don’t have that many drinks …. but then, when you’re running the giant grinder….you know, a taste here, a sip there…Gotta make sure this batch tastes good… right?

Dog…Hey, far be it from me to defenda…but she’s good to the Tiki bartenda.

It’s OK Essex…. you haven’t been around much.Marg and I started the business on Dinette Set, where such a product is sorely needed.

We’ve seen tremendous growth, even in this stagnant economy, as offenses become more common all the time.

(Or we get older and crankier… take your pick.)

Oops…. right Essex….it was the Linguist who said it, not you.

I was going to post something else to you and got confused.

Must be the bananas.

Essex…..

It’s easy for artists to rendaAll those of her age and her gendaAs confused and politestaying home every night….but no, Brenda is out on a benda.

That’s what I was going to post but somebody just called me..Hope you didn’t leave.

Bev! Don’t make me come down there to get you!

It’s not usually sticky….There’s a full-time night janitor….Now what is Dimitri up to? Oh!Big banana spill in the kitchen….he’ll be out soon.

OK Linguist I think I will tendamy little white flag of surrenda(if just to make sure it gets stopped, before my last brain cell has popped.)

Re: Marg’s & Susan’s Ultra Strength Brain Beach

The brain beach produced by x_Tech Industries for Marg’s & Susan’s Ultra Strength Brain Beach is manufactured following Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) (see FDA 21 CFR part 110). Although brain beach is not currently an FDA regulated product, we still comply with the aforementioned regulations and guide lines.

That said, our people over in R&D suspect that Brenda may have misused one of our other products. That being our Industrial Strength Glitter (ISG). The over application of ISG has been shown to cause some slight mental confusion if applied around the head1,2.

1All test subject are/were residents of Ballard St. 2Note that too much ISG tends to render it transparent thus leading to further over use. ISG should only be applied by a certified Glitter Technician (cGT).

OMG X! …Just the other day I suspected that my counter-top dispenser of #2304 Cerulean Blue X_TI ISG was about an inch lower than would be expected.

There’s almost no way for anyone to pilfer from the large, locked containers in the basement… but I did leave Brenda alone under the dryer for about 15 minutes on Tuesday….

Maybe after I talked her into going all white, she …um… “borrowed” some in a vain attempt to put back some of the lost blue color, without hurting my feelings …

But the more she used, the paler it got!Oh dear!

And now for your late night entertainment…The Eighty-Three Blues

i thunk i sud stic wit beer

X-Tech…. well, that sounds like a great solution.

It just never occurred to me that Brenda would have her fingers in the glitter, so to speak.

I have a dispenser for every color, all currently fitted with X-Tech Industries #712-A Child Proof Twist ‘n Tap 1/2" Pumps….I’ll have to get a quote from you… can I get just new tops or would I need to replace all 1,023 dispensers?

If so, I might need a 3rd mortgage…. sigh…

Anybody for one more banana daiquiri before I break down the giant grinder?

(I gotta get to sleep earlier tonight.)

You can still get one after I go home,Fenton will fire up one of the smaller models…. but it won’t have quite the same creamy whipped smoothness, I always think.

’Night all!

Susan, please be advised that we’ve discontinued the #712-A Child Proof Twist ‘n Tap. It has been re-purposed as the #1201 Kid’s Twist n’ Pop Thingy (ages 3-8). The Finger Touch Dispensers are easily retrofitted to all our glitter dispenser models. For a price quote, I sure Ms Twitty Kitty, our N.W. sales rep, can help you out. That’s her over there with the sangria.

…After someone helps her up that is.

Brenda must be related to Karl Pilkington.

Brenda ‘begins’ by blaming her brain – what does she blame next?

Relax people. She was at the LH last night and……well….LOL, I better not say. But she owes me $400 bucks for the broken furniture!

I just blame everyone else. Toss a tantrum.Buy everyone a drink.Then act like nothing happened.Works every time.Wait a minute……………………Okay I see it now.Its all your fault&R(&(^&R(W&Q(Q&^R*^(QW&&ER&QRW&(*QRHEY DRINKS ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(See it works every time)

Does it have to rhyme with Brenda? I can think of a word…….pu****a.

Lotta guys can blame a different part of their anatomy for the bad thinkin’.I don’t think that’s been said yet but hard to scan so many comments quicklypcolli, if I recall correctly, there was a virus that rhymed with Brenda a long time ago. Well, the first part of its name did anyway.

Funny, I thought the same thing Brenda was thinking when I saw her earrings…

I just dropped by the Tiki for a little late afternoon libation and heard from Brenda’s next door neighbor, Rita ’ Boney ’ Maroni, that Brenda will not be making an appearances this evening. She is currently on the Recovery Pad.See you all a bit later – I’ll be coming back with a big ole pot of my Seriously Shrimp Gumbo. Sooo good, ya’ll want ta slap yo momma !

Drinks are on me joyfully Essex, have another…and Fenton, dont be so stingy…make it a double…

thats a sticky wicket, mate…lol…I speak English…

Finally got here today (was a little worried that I may have offended the main site) but this is more fun than DS even, especially as I am soon returning to “him”.

I have trouble with my Outlook sometimes and get way too much spam, so I was chatting with my SIL in Scotland on Skype chat today (midnight his time and my afternoon). I will be seeing them all soon but what matters is my lover!

I’m back with the Gumbo ! For those of you who can’t be here to have some, you can make it at home following my basic recipe. Like all cooks, I add a little extra or subtract depending on mood and people’s taste. Improvise and enjoy.4 ounces vegetable or olive oil4 ounces all-purpose flour1 1/2 pounds raw, whole, head-on medium-sized (31-50 count) shrimp2 quarts water1 cup diced onion1/2 cup diced celery1/2 cup diced green peppers 3 tablespoons fresh finely chopped garlic1/2 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomato1 tablespoon kosher salt1 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped1 teaspoon cayenne pepper2 bay leaves1/2 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/4-inch pieces and browned1 tablespoon file powderDirectionsPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the vegetable oil and flour into a 5 to 6-quart cast iron Dutch oven and whisk together to combine. Place on the middle shelf of the oven, uncovered, and bake for 1 1/2 hours, whisking 2 to 3 times throughout the cooking process.

While the roux is baking, de-head, peel and devein the shrimp. Place the shrimp in a bowl and set in the refrigerator. Place the heads and shells in a 4-quart saucepan along with the 2 quarts of water, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour or until the liquid has reduced to 1-quart. Remove from the heat and strain the liquid into a container, discarding the solids.

Once the roux is done, carefully remove it from the oven and set over medium-high heat. Gently add the onions, celery, green peppers and garlic and cook, moving constantly for 7 to 8 minutes or until the onions begin to turn translucent. Add the tomatoes, salt, black pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper, creole seasoning, and bay leaves and stir to combine. Gradually add the shrimp broth while whisking continually. Decrease the heat to low, cover and cook for 35 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the shrimp and sausage and stir to combine. Add the file powder while stirring constantly. Cover and allow to sit for 10 minutes prior to serving. Serve over rice.

Hey Essex, how did you like the gumbo ? Spicy enough for you ?Monday’s Red Beans & Rice !

Hey Red, I know you’re working late, so in case I miss you, I left a container of gumbo in the back with your name on it. Enjoy !

Big Bri checking in. Riding the train home from the symphony. They played Haydn and Mendelssohn. Free wi-fi on the train.

Yeah, I add Dave’s Insanity Sauce to mine, but not everyone can take that type of heat.I’m not a big Tabasco Sauce fan, – too metallic tasting. Where possible, I like my heat from ghost peppers, scotch bonnets, or jalapenos.

The next sounds you’ll be hearing is the dulcet duet of the dog and I snoring. Good night, all !

(Peering in…..) Anybody still up?

Just got in… dropped off my stuff and headed down to the Tiki….I heard there was gumbo but I might be too late.

Thought I heard Briatollah….and Bev….

Are you guys at the Tiki?

Had a busy evening I didn’t expect….But now I’m ready for a wee drop before bed…

Bev… do you mean the one of No. 6 gone Gangnam style?

I’ll check the link later. I just have a little ice left. Getting closer to bed time.

Oh… Hi Red…Good to see you…and thanks.

I’d about given up on finding any gumbo left.

Actually there’s plenty of ale, depending on what kind you want…I think I’ll have a Red Tail….you?

Hmmm… nice fire, rain outside, good gumbo, good company…but I guess I’m getting kinda dozy….Sorry…. might have to go get some sleep.

By the way beviek.Loved the Viking look. And that NASA logo shirt. Classic cool.

Thanks Essex! That was really lovely! I definately can’t reach that kind of high notes anymore myself. Definately my style however.

I never looked just like Deanna either; at all ages I was told I looked like Debby Reynolds, probably still do, but the land time I saw her was as the grandma in those Halloween movies.

I’m not much for really hot things (don’t want to damage my taste buds). I keep old spice bottles for my own mixes, tho’ and one that I use a lot lately is a mix of cayenne, tumeric and ginger. V8 has a lot of variations, but the only low sodium is plain. I like it thinned down with water (and or some gin depending on time of day) but I also spice it up with that (yummy!)

My lover was saying how silly JB looks and his teen grand daughters staring at his photo on their phones (I did not mention that in HS I had a crush on Tony Martin and used to date construction workers (not the nerds who I hung out with in the day).

Hi- ho, everyone. I didn’t finish reading my line up today, so I thought I’d pop in here first. I’ll check back periodically. It’s 21:30 MST.

Whew… just made it….

Hullo all…. came in to help get the bar ready for the changeover….

It’s been a busy day….I never finished commenting most places I usually go on a Sunday….

OK, the grinder is grinding… anybody up for a banana daiquiri?Anything else? Is everybody ready to swoosh on over into tomorrow?

Bev…. are you here? You usually ride through the change.Bri… did you make it back in time?If not, see you on the other side…Linguist…. hang on…..-——————————————>

Bev — a pit bull.Hey come ver to tomorrow…. savin’ you a seat.

I think that is going to be a tough sell for Brenda. “It wasn’t me! It was my brain.”

That’s why that birthday party is late:

https://cleoandcompany.net/december-1-2022/

Good morning Balladeers, (((((Plods))))) and Miss Susan.