Thursday, August 04, 2005

You've Ruined Me for All Others

Dear Readers, There are many mysteries in life to which I do not know the answers. Some of them, such as "Why the fuck does Donald Rumsfeld still have a career?", are unanswerable. Others of them are answerable, I'm sure, but I just don't know. So, I turn to you. Here we go: 1. This morning, I was singing in the shower and I started into "In the days of my youth, I was told what it means to be a man. Now I've reached that age, I try to do all those things the best I can." Then I had to stop because I didn't know the rest. a.) What fucking Led Zeppelin song is that? b.) Is it just me or does it seem like that could also be the beginning of an awesome country song? 2. Hank Jr. He says "We say grace. We say ma'am. If you ain't into that, we don't give a damn." But what is it he says right before that? It sounds like "[unintelligible] boys [something] shotgun." 3. What is the best way to toast pine nuts without burning them? 4. If you've oversalted something, is it salvageable? Can you add something else that will balance out the taste? Perhaps chili powder? 5. Was there a plan at one time to join all the Old Hickory Boulevards? Why did that never happen? 6. I've noticed that around here most Pikes are named for the towns they go to--Nolensville, Franklin, Murphreesboro, etc. Where is Couchville? Is it under Percy Priest Lake? 7. I've been on Stewart's Ferry Pike a long way. I've even been on the stretch of the pike surrounded on both ends by Percy Priest Lake. I just want to know this: Where was Stewart's ferry, originally? 8. Are we allowed to bring knitting on airplanes now? 9. Is there such a thing as "Nashville barbecue" and is it any good? 10. Black Bottom. Both an old Nashville neighborhood and a dance, I've been told. I think I'm pretty clear on where that neighborhood was, but what was the dance like? Shouldn't all Nashvillians know it in honor of our famous neighborhood?

11 Comments:

Blogger Peggasus said...

3. Just lightly toss them in a dry skillet, stirring or shaking them constantly, for just a few minutes. And by few, I mean 2-3. Then immediately remove them, so the residual heat will not burn them.

4. I have read that putting a potato in something that has been oversalted will reduce the saltiness, as the potato will absorb some of the excess. The only other thing to do is double the other ingredients. The best way to avoid this is to just taste and season along the way. You can always add extra after the dish is finished.

No clue on the others.

8/04/2005 09:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

(1a) "Good Times, Bad Times" from I

(4) I think you're screwed.

(8) Yes. Look on tsa.gov.

Elias

8/04/2005 09:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

2. In times of doubt, you can always lean on Google. "Cause you can't scare us out, and you can't make us run. We're them boys and girls with freedom and fun."

6. Not sure where Couchville is, but it looks like FUN.

9. Hog Heaven behind the McDonalds at Centennial Park. Pulled turkey with white barbecue sauce. If there's such a thing as Nashville barbecue, that's it.

8/04/2005 10:42:00 AM  
Blogger Aunt B said...

Peg, great tip about the pine nuts. Someone, and I won't say who, put them in the toaster oven. Wrong choice.

I was afraid of the salt thing, but I figure, if you've already got burnt pine nuts maybe you should just start over.

YBHC, you're going to have to drive out there and see. I looked it up on Mapquest and it appears that Couchville is in the middle of the Long Hunter park. Maybe that makes the swinging easier?

Also, where is Steve Pick when we need him? I think that you've found that lame-o redid version and I'm wondering about the original, which I'm pretty sure goes "You can't starve us out and you can't make us run. Something old boys something something shot gun." I almost think it's "We them old boys raised on shot guns." or "Mrs. Williams own boy's raised on shot guns."

Okay, I'm still hoping someone can teach me to dance...

8/04/2005 11:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think Hank was saying "Each of us old boys has our own shot gun". Or something similar. I think I have the old version at home, I'll listen to it this evening.

The point of Old Hickory Boulevard was to have a continuous route all the way around the city. In the interest of that, they just renamed existing streets and mixed and matched to get there. I don't think there's any way of ever having one individual road to do it, and I'm pretty sure they never planned for one. It's a mark of a true Nashvillian if you know where Bell Road ends and OHB begins. It'll never happen though. Briley Parkway is the same way, but a lot less convoluted.

I could teach you to dance B. I know a few styles that go way back, but I don't know any Black Bottom dances.

W

8/04/2005 01:34:00 PM  
Blogger Yankee, Transferred said...

It's funny-I've heard the potato thing is good when you've burned something such as chili or soup, but I never heard it about the salt. The pine nuts? I have traditionally done them in the toaster oven, but I do it on tin foil, watch them like a hawk, and take them out and shake them. Giant pain in the ass. The skillet is a great idea.

8/04/2005 03:16:00 PM  
Blogger KlevaBich said...

2. "Because you can't stomp us out and you can't make us run,
cause we're them ole boys raised on shotguns. "

At least that's what songlyrics.com says, and it sounds right to me. Used to listen to that one all the time, back in the day.

4. The potato cure is just a rumour. As far as I know, once it's oversalted it's just too damned salty.

8/04/2005 03:31:00 PM  
Blogger digitalcowboy said...

"Cause you can't scare us out, and you can't make us run. We're them boys and girls with freedom and fun."

That's from the really lame post-9/11 remake.

Nancy nailed it.

8/04/2005 04:49:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

5. I think the Hickories are a local joke on the newcomers. I missed a job interview once thanks to that. A native Nashvillian told me it was an old cow path or some such thing. Like I said... a joke on the newcomers.

8. I just happened to go through security last week. My partner did not bring her knitting with her this time... but we did see someone in front of us bring a metal baseball bat through. It was carried in a guitar case. They removed it from the case and scanned it. Go figure.

On the return flight, I saw a person in a wheelchair getting their shoes removed by security personel.

8/04/2005 07:01:00 PM  
Blogger Aunt B said...

"We them old boys raise on shot guns." Even if those aren't the words, that's what I'm singing. It sounds right.

W. you know ancient dances? Can you polka? I can't find anyone in Nashville who knows how to polka and it's been so long I'm worried I've forgotten how. Which is sad, because I think any girl worth her salt needs to know how to polka.

8/04/2005 09:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You can bring knitting. Use plastic needles, they get testy about metal ones.

Black bottom also refers to pies that have chocolate crust on the bottom. Black bottom Key Lime is beyond good.

8/05/2005 01:44:00 AM  

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