A BUTCHER'S HOOK - TAKE A LOOK!

Despite the inclement weather, and the unprecedented trip to the shops last Sunday afternoon, the temperatures have remained high enough to swim in the morning.  One of the wonderful pleasures that I enjoy living here!  Although I never take anything for granted, I have tended to fall into a blasé attitude towards some things, but having the opportunity to swim everyday I doubt will ever go on the list!  Rain was all around, this week, but did not happen until I was out of the water and heading to work.

Sunday afternoon had been interesting.  After going shopping, the clouds separated and the humidity rose.  Steam came off the pavement, and it was quite warm.  Of course I could not resist a dip in the pool for a second time and I also read for a while, but then I had to come back and do the gardening.  It was much too wet to hoover, but I tidied as much as I could.  I had never really considered how I look taking things to the dumpster.  I have often thought, "I would never go out dressed like this at home", but that is when I wander down to the pool in my swimming costume, or wet suit.  Most people walk their dogs in their pajamas, or a variation of night clothes, in the morning, and sometimes late at night, and that took some years to get used to, but there was me, in my swimming costume, t-shirt, cap and pink wellington boots, trudging off to the large can at the end of our alley, to drop in my rubbish.  Gardening in a swimsuit is not unheard of, but the gum boots made the outfit!  Thankfully, no one was around, but I doubt anyone would bat and eyelid!

I did not hear from Mr. Scott, the postman, on Monday.  I was not surprised.  In fact, I doubted I would hear from him at all, but it mattered little as the 'case' was settled.  "It's about accountability!" I told Dana, when he asked why I was pursuing the avenue!  Being called an anarchist by my husband was, surprisingly enough, rather a big compliment!  "If you let them get away with one thing....", I trailed off, tongue in cheek, not wanting to continue for fear of giving myself away with the chuckle that was building.  

The email from the 'prize giver' was very nice.  It congratulated me on winning, and asked when would be a good time for me to come and collect my prize.  Sam would then make sure the store staff were ready for me when I arrived.  I wrote back, thanking them quite profusely for their participation in the promotion, and asking for their hours of operation.  In my naivety, I thought that the baseball star, who is very famous, had given up the sport and opened a shop.  Baseball to butcher, as it were!  I stayed in my bubble of misunderstanding for a couple of days, and continued to email with Sam.  

Rain, rain, and more rain followed throughout Monday night to Tuesday morning.  What can I say?  I am English.  The weather is always a part of our conversation.  Once again, I felt challenged on Monday night and headed down to the water.  It was a tad chilly, but I did not give into the temptation of walking away, like any normal person would have done, but jumped in and started to swim, making the usual high pitched sounds that I do when I feel every nerve in my body being attacked!  Icy is not the word I would use to describe the water, as it was not quite that cold, but tepid it was not!  'Regular cold', I told Dana, who was still insisting I was an anarchist!

Sam and I agreed that Thursday, around midday, would suit us both.  The reason the name is in italics is because I was unsure as to whether I was writing to a male or female.  I know not many male Sam's in this neck of the woods, although I am sure there are many.  However, there are several female Sam's, my daughter being one, despite the grimace she gives most who shortens her name to this version!  Some are exempt from the growl!  I digress!

Mr. Scott. the postman, despite his assurance that he would get back to me, did not call Tuesday, nor Wednesday.  I gave up all hope of ever finding out what happened to my letter.  Perhaps I would get it back one day, perhaps not.  The rain had not dampened most people's joy this week, as the temperatures were rising, and the sun was appearing in between the flash floods!  I was delighted with the 'in between' dry periods, even if it did mean sharing the pool with a frog!

"What do you mean, he has a ranch?" I asked, when Cyndi, Grant's mum, told me that the baseball player did not just have a butcher's shop.  I suppose I should have guessed that an all-star player, who has hit the 'big time' would not come out of the game with a few pennies in his pocket and wonder, "What should I do with these?"  Instead, I was told (which made more sense) that the Goodstock brand was born some years ago!  The baseball player, of whom I had not heard, (because he does not wear a blue and white jersey and kick a ball around from goal to goal, on a football pitch in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Island or most of Europe!) had retired in 1993, and had been brought up raising cattle!  He did not put down his bat last year, and buy a unit in Round Rock, don a white coat, replace bat for cleaver, and chop up ribs, over night!  For once, I had not done my homework!  I should have guessed that my theory had a flaw, when everyone to whom I told I had won the prize, was gasping and eyes were being turned green with envy.  "So it's good stuff, then?" I asked.  

"I have a baseball with his signature on it", said Dana, as we were about to leave the office at lunchtime.  "I will tell him", I said as I put on my hat.  "He will not be there!" shouted my daughter, who was still amazed at my innocence regarding this legend!  

I was transported back to ancient days when I entered the butcher shop on Thursday, a little after midday.  Although there was no sawdust on the floor, a memory from my friend's father's shop, the smell was unmistakable.  The white coats were not as 'worn' as they were when butchers chopped and packed in one location, but there was a definite odour of good old fashioned tradesmanship!  Freezers were along one wall, and chopping boards, knives and other kitchen supplies along the other, with a large island in the middle of the shop, with books and a variety of objects for sale.  This was the modernisation of the industry!  Of course, I am going back fifty years, or so, and with the advent of supermarkets and prepacked foods, it would be a little unreal to expect a replica of an 'old fashioned' shop outside of a 'themed' park or village.  Progress demands that everyone keep up with the times, and 'business is business'!  However, the store had some lovely old fashioned qualities, like the smell.  Obviously, not everyone's cup of tea, but it brought back wonderful memories of my childhood!

Back to reality, we entered the store, and stood in the small queue,

waiting to be served.  Once we got to the counter, the man behind asked how he could help.  I told him I was here to pick up a prize, and he said my name at the same time I told him.  Another young man appeared in the partition between the shop and the rear of the building.  "Tracie?  Hi, I'm Sam!"  I was slightly taken aback, having expected a woman, but there he was, smiling and almost excited to meet me.  I introduced him to Grant and Samantha.  Obviously, the great man was not there, himself.  A large bag was put on the counter, and I went to grab it. "There's nine and a half pounds of meat there", said the butcher, who had greeted me originally.  I let one of the younger, stronger personage take it!  I thanked them again, profusely, and told them that I loved the smell.  "Oh, that's me", said the butcher with a glint in his eye.  "Special cologne I put on this morning".  We all laughed, and after a brief chat, my entourage left for home.

The prize was enormous!  I was so excited and wanted to share.  Samantha took some steak and chicken, and I took some steak, chops, bacon, mince, fajita, hot dogs and chicken. The rest was divvied up between Grant and Jerry, each of whom were rather excited.  I wrote to thank Sam, not only for the meat but for the memories that the shop had brought back.  He replied that he was delighted, and looked forward to seeing us again, sometime.  I let him know that I had 'shared the love' in the hope that it would bring some more business his way.  It had been a long time since I had considered supporting my local butcher!

After the excitement on Thursday, we had another adventure on Friday.  This time, it was someone young!  Alex Bowman is a Nascar driver, who was coming to Austin for the 'big' race.  Several people were on the 'zoom' call.  This time I had done my homework, and was able to participate in the conversation with confidence.  I do not think that this young man would be entering the world of butchery, but then his background has always been in the motor industry.  My questions were considered to be relevant, and I enjoyed the chat.  At the end of the interview, we were all given tickets to Sunday's race!  A prize within a prize!

We shopped on Saturday and it was raining rather hard.  The wind was so strong that my umbrella was blown inside out!  Thankfully, the rain stopped after a while and I was able to make my trip poolside and read for a bit after a cool dip!  

Mr. Scott, the postman, did not ring this week.  I think his time is up!  I have decided to dispense with my anarchist movement and will not pursue the evasive gentleman.  I have closed the case in our system, so have no need for an answer as to what has happened to my missing piece of mail.  With my wonderful prizes this week, I decided to change my focus to the good!

Summer, apparently, is coming for real, later in the week, and the storms are heading somewhere else.  This afternoon's adventures are yet to be decided.  I have several projects that I need to take care of inside, but it is Sunday and I am not sure that I want to 'go there' whilst there is a possibility of finishing my book!  I made breakfast this morning, and Dana was treated to the 'bacon' part of the prize.  He thoroughly enjoyed it!  I guess it is good stuff!  He did make the comment that it was different to turkey bacon, which is my preference.  "Of course!"  I answered.  "It's pig!"  The snorting was, apparently, not necessary!  

I wonder if next week will be quite as exciting as this!  Certainly, I have gone in for several contests, but the outcome is yet to be decided!  Each win holds its own level of excitement, but this week will take some beating just for pure entertainment value!  As I said, I rarely take things for granted, including.......... another story!