The complicated series of events that it takes to get good surf here on the gulf coast came together today (12.27.07). It was around head high, light offshore, crystal clear water and sunshine for most of the day. Here are a few photos from the day.

Side note: A surfer was out around 16th today. As I paddled out, he paddled in. He looked to be 19 or so. His buddies were still out and were discussing how dedicated their friend was for going in to work when the surf was so good. 10 minutes later, the kid paddled back out claiming to have a terrible migraine that was making him throw up everywhere. Obviously false… Can you believe this kid? Reminds me of someone…

King Rivers is the type of gentlemen that you immediately feel related to, in the sense that he would look out for you and only wants good things to come for you, all while knowing the dumb shit that you’ve pulled throughout your life. These types of people tend to give the best advice. I think they crave the incentive of feeling like they’ve helped someone. This day I was lucky enough to be the recipient of some well-weathered advice.

Here’s a photo of King Rivers that ran in the Pensacola News Journal:

King Rivers is a 66-year-old gentleman with a knack for bar-b-q, and a work ethic that would make the 80-hour workweek jealous. Although he earned a good salary with a local railroad company, his aspirations of owning his own business led him to open King’s Bar-B-Q. He had a knack for grilling, bar-b-que to be exact, and after spending over 20 years with the railroad company, he retired and purchased a small building on the corner of Palafox and Maxwell (which was an old printing agency) and turned it into “King’s Bar-B-Q”. This was the beginning of something special, but unfortunately the end is near.

Frank Diaz and I went out to lunch a few days ago. He picked the place (King’s Bar-B-Q); and since he was paying I had no objections. He claimed King’s; which I had never been to, was the best bar-b-que in town and possibly the southeast. Frank and I consider ourselves grill flavor experts. We know what good grilling is, so I didn’t take this “best bar-b-que” statement lightly. My mouth started watering at the thought of this place. As we pull up you could taste heaven in the air. We ordered and sat to discuss what this guy was about and what was really going on with the sauce/ribs/chicken/white bread/etc.. After 5 minutes our food was ready at the “pickup” window, which is 2.5 ft. away from the “order” window (small place). Frank and I go from talking our heads off to pure silence. About halfway though my sandwich I tell frank this is now my new spot. I’ve found it. Best Bar-B-Q ever. Better than Dreamland Bar-B-Q which was my benchmark for many years. “Thank god”, I say out loud. Then Frank says, “Yup, it’s a shame this guy’s retiring. He’s closing the place down the end of January. “#*&$#$”, I thought. I get up and walk over to the pick-up window to ask this guy what he’s thinking and why the hell would he quit something that’s so damn good.

John King: Why the hell are you closing this place down?

King Rivers: Let me ask you something young buck. How old do you wanna be when you retire?

John King: Hmm, I’ve barely thought about it. I think 50-ish.

King Rivers: Son, I’m 66 years old. This is gonna be the second time I retire and I mean it to be the last. I wanna do things; you know? Fish, hunt, do things with my daughter and grand children. There’s more to life than slingin’ lunch all day long.

How can you think that way and still produce the best bar-b-q in town, I thought. It tasted like all of this guy’s heart and soul went into it.

He got quiet for a bit than grabbed a metal bar he uses to prop up the pick-up window, propped it up, took a deep breath and gave me what’s known in the south as a “talkin’ to”. I was in for some hard earned knowledge of life and how to live it. That’s when I knew, this place is as legit as they come. You can get the best lunch in town and advice on life from someone who’s lived it right.

King Rivers: Life’s all about possessions for you right now isn’t it?

John King: It was, well, it still is a little bit. I want nice things, but…

King Rivers: Nice things don’t mean shit, young buck. What means somethin’ is workin’ hard and getting to the point in life where you can take care of your family and yourself. I’ve been workin’ steady for too long. You ever owned an old car?

John King: No sir…

-His tone started that reflex we all have when we feel we’re in some trouble for something.

King Rivers: An old car always needs work. Parts are expensive, barely anyone can work on them, you have to treat them with a whole lot more care than a new one, and at some point the odometer will stop turnin’ over. I’m the old car and I have a few more miles to go. I’ll tell you exactly what I tell my daughter. Take 10% of every penny you make and put it away. A place where it’ll work for you. Before you know it, 20, 30, shit 40 years will have flown by and you’ll have something that’ll take care of you. It’ll let you do things with your life that you’ve always wanted. When you get down to my level (his age), you’ll understand that you gonna want to do things in life that you always sacrificed because you’re chasin’ that dollar. The question is, will you have some left over when you get to the end?

John King: I hope so Mr. Rivers. I’ll be back before you’re gone to give you some retirement money. Will I get some more advice?

King Rivers: If that’s what you call it, young buck. I’ll always give you what’s on my mind.

He pulled the metal bar from the window, smiled and waved.
Great guy, amazing food. This is, by far, one of the best Bar-B-Q joints I’ve ever been to. Here are directions to King’s Bar-B-Q. Go by and see him off right. I suggest the ribs w/ extra sauce.

Here’s the menu and a few other photos:

In this day and age, when it comes to computer related work, I live and die by the external hard drive. While retrieving an old photo for Dallas off of our external hard drive (that led to an extensive perusal off what is hiding out on that drive) I ran across a few old watercolor paintings and surf photos.

Here are a few:

Over a month ago an article was published in the Pensacola News Journal regarding the death penalty. Although, I did not read the article, the banter included below leads me to believe that the article was against the death penalty. I find the death penalty to be one of those subjects that you can’t have a weak opinion on. So, here is one reader’s response to the article, then the author’s response.

Reader’s response to article:

On Tuesday, October 30, 2007 you published an article by Reginald T. Dogan on the front page of the local section. Since the article did not specify that it was an opinion, editorial, or viewpoint I assume it is supposed to be factual. As I recall opinions are supposed to be reserved for the editorial page.

The article is filled with opinions and is not factual. The article contains Mr. Dogan’s opinion of the death penalty. This is an example of his opinion, ” Since its inception, the death penalty has never produced a decrease in crime. It is itself a crime. It should be abolished”. This is clearly his opinion and not even factual.

As an example (there are many), in the 1970′s a murderer named Kenneth McDuff (see Texas Monthly) was sentenced to death for murdering 3 people. After the Supreme Court made the death penalty unconstitutional McDuff was paroled in 1989. It didn’t take long for McDuff to continue his previous life and was arrested for murdering a University of Texas female student. He was implicated in three other murders. Since the Supreme Court realized the error and again allowed the death penalty he was again sentenced to death and executed in 1998. Now I challenge Mr. Dogan to tell the parents of those 4 people murdered because McDuff was not executed under his original sentence that the death penalty “has never produced a decrease in crime”. Common sense would prevail for most people, but I realize Mr. Dogan does not let facts get in his way or in his article.

John King
Pensacola, FL

Authors response to letter:

Mr. King, Thank you for reading and responding. FYI, columns are opinions. They don’t have to appear on the editorial page. FYI, I intertwined opinion with facts. That’s what columnists do. I sympathize with families who have lost loved ones to murder. That doesn’t change my opinon about the death penalty. How do you feel about innocent people who have died on death row? Sir, if common sense was common more people would have it.
Regards,
RTD ’07

Sure, any good argument is entertaining, but I love the fact that an editor (who’s gift for the gab should be razor sharp) uses “fyi” twice in less than 13 words and misspells “opinion”. Please look beyond the entertaining argument and comment with your own opinions about this touchy subject by clicking here. Fill out the contact form with your thoughts and I will keep entries anonymous, if requested. I’ll publish them one week from today.

One last thing; I’m no grammar expert. In fact, I performed poorly in most English classes I took throughout high school. So I like to check my spelling and grammar in Microsoft Word before publishing anything. In doing so, I regrettably found another mistake in Reggie Dogan’s response. Can you find it?

Of late, I’ve had a few run-ins with people who appeared to be a threat. Being the victim or living in fear is just no way to live. To run and live another day feels much worse than standing up and taking your licks. So I decided to take an aggressive approach and began training in the art of self defense. I did quite a bit of research, enlisting all of my friends advice. Most of them said the same thing, “Breakin’ 2″, which didn’t make sense. Was this some sort of local class, an underground fight club, a training video, what was it? I did some research online and found what I’d been looking for. This little video has already helped me beyond belief. At the onset of any and all possible confrontations I conduct myself in the manner demonstrated in this instructional video. Every time I begin my routine, the lights go out and I wake up a few hours later and all potential criminals are gone. Thanks “Breakin 2″!

From their album Our Love To Admire, “all fired up” is another solid track from Interpol, a New York City band which started in 1998.

This recording just amazes me. So good, so live and so Talking Heads.

Joe Hobbs opening at surface gallery (11.30.07) consisting of an interesting mix of paintings, mixed media, and glass work.