We(I) are the Champions, my Friend!

So, when the annals of Izzy Lyon Lore are written, I’m pretty sure that this will be a nice side note. Big thanks to everyone at the VFW for hosting the event, especially Joyce, who took charge. And before you ask, YES, “Craig” showed up! Give the guy credit, he didn’t go full-on weasel.

About 9pm, I sat on a bar stool and was blindfolded. There was a bit of laughing, so I assume that some inappropriate things were going on with these immature chuckleheads, but I didn’t react at all. All business!

So, remember that it was best out of 7. I only needed to get 4 right, aaaaand, boom! I nailed it in 5! But just because I wanted to see it through all the way, I asked to keep going. I only missed one of the 7. It was a tricky one, I mistakenly said that a Swords (real name Tom) Thunder spin was Izzy (but remember, he was a huge Izzy guy and tried to emulate him, so not really that surprising.)

Anyway, they hoisted me up on the stool and paraded me around the bar, Money exchanged hands, drinks were toasted, and it was a great night. Craig was even gracious in the end, and there’s talk about doing this on an annual basis! 

Recipe and Date Set for Showdown:

So, two things in this posting.

One, A bunch of you asked about how I cook my raccoons, so I thought I’d share my recipe. Now, this is not the only way to cook raccoons. They are a really versatile animal and can be made a hundred ways. This is just the way I did it a few weeks ago when I got a hankering.

Ingredients

1 Meat from one raccoon (Make sure you remove the fat and the untasty musk glands but keep the meat on the bones. It should be cut into handleable pieces.)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs

½ cup buttermilk

1 cup breadcrumbs

Frying oil of your choice. (I use Wesson)

 

Season the meat with half of the salt and pepper. Heat oil in your deep fryer. (My friend, Gina has an “Air” fryer, so if you’re one of those, it’s going to be different.) Get 2 bowls. In one beat the eggs with the buttermilk. In the other, mix the flour, breadcrumbs, and the rest of the salt and pepper. Dredge the meat back and forth between the egg mixture and flour mixture a few times until it’s well coated. Place the coated raccoon meat into the fryer and cook until it’s done. (You may have to flip them depending on how big your pot is.) Place on a paper towel before serving for the grease drippings.

Now, I’ve been doing this a long time, so I can just tell when it’s done. You’re not me. Make sure you use a meat thermometer if you are sensitive to bacteria and illnesses. It’s not worth getting sick over a tasty trash panda!

So, you can eat your raccoon with anything, but I made some French fries (Already had the oil going!) and some barbequed baked beans. And of course, some Heinz ketchup for the meat and fries. So good.

 

Okay, so, second news: the date has been set for the Izzy Lyon Sign-Spinning Sounds Challenge. One Friday from next, whether or not Craig shows up!

Backtracking Weasel:

Okay, so “Craig” now claims to have a business trip that he needs to go on for the next few weeks, so I guess the contest is going to have to wait. Not sure if he’s just scared or this is some kind of psychological tactic to throw me off my game. Regardless, I’m ready. The selections for spinning sounds have been made, and Mark put together a white board chart for everyone’s bets. Hopefully, this is just a bump in my road to victory!

Training Montage:

So, the date still has not been set and, as far as I know, the sign-spinning sound selections have not been set in stone. But that doesn’t mean that I’m taking a holiday. I’m getting ready for the challenge! Normally, movies have training montages (it’s like a slideshow in the movie with snippets of working out and running up stairs), but how do you train for something like this?

I’ve been trying to spend at least an hour a day listening to Izzy Lyon spinning videos. Let me tell you something, it’s hard! Do you know what it’s like to try to keep your eyes closed knowing that Izzy is there in all his glory? It’s like smelling a delicious raccoon on the grill and not getting to taste it. But I got to keep my eye on the prize.

Now, I’m hungry for grilled raccoon. Heading to the chest freezer!

Izzy Spin Sound Challenge Parameters have been Set:

Okay, so you know how I was challenged by “Craig” that I couldn’t tell Izzy Lyon’s signature sign spinning sound? Well, after a bunch of wheeling and dealing at the VFW, the rules have been decided.

Rules

1. I am to be blindfolded so as not to receive any outside signals from anyone.
2. Dave is in charge of playing the selected sounds on his phone.
3. The selections will be acapella spinning sound only, no music.
4. Anyone who wants to can submit sound choices but…
5. Joyce will approve the sound list (She is the arbiter and not betting).
6. Best of 7 rounds wins.

This just got real real!

Izzy Spin Sound Challenge:

So, here’s a new one that I’ll bet no one ever thought you’d see. I was down at the VFW (My current watering hole of choice) and I’m chatting with Joyce and some new jamoke named Craig starts getting in on the conversation. Joyce told me later that he was just eyeballing me for a cheap roll in the hay. I don’t think so!

Anyway, the topic of this “blog” comes up and he starts nosing around it and got to that post from a month ago about that Izzy dream. He starts laughing. I’m like, dude, what’s your defect? He starts reading it aloud for the bar, but he’s the only one laughing. It pays to drink with people with a little common sense like this crowd. Anyway, he gets to the part where I mention the sound of Izzy spinning and he actually questions whether or not I could identify the sound of Izzy spinning as opposed to another sign spinner. I plop a Hamilton in front of him and say, “You want to bet, smart guy?”

Next thing I know, moneys flying around the bar with everyone taking sides. So, now it’s serious! We’re supposed to meet in a few weeks to hammer out the details of the challenge, but I’m confident I got this!

Weird Izzy Nightmare Dream:

So, I wanted to share a weird dream I had about Izzy Lyon last night. No, not that kind of dream, pervs! This was just weird and I’m not sure what it means.

Okay, so I’m in the middle of a big room and it’s pitch black. Not sure how I know it’s a room when it’s pitch black, but it’s a dream so who knows. Suddenly, I hear this swishing sound and I’ve watched (listened) to enough Izzy Lyon spinning videos to recognize it as the sound of Izzy Lyon spinning a sign. Then suddenly the lights start going on one at a time. It’s those terrible fluorescent tubes, you know? And they sort of flicker to life. Then, a big spotlight goes on and Izzy is there! He’s on a stage spinning a sign beneath some big machine. I start walking towards him and I notice that his ankles are tied to the floor. And then I realize what’s happening. Izzy is a prisoner and they’re using him to power all the lights! Oh jeez! I woke up drenched in sweat.

What a terrible fate that would be. Just picturing those big old wind turbine mills makes me shiver now. Okay, so I know it was just a dream, but still!