Sit a spell and let old uncle SS tell you some things old school style

[The Straight Story]

Ahh, the warmth of the fire feels nice as it is about 5 degrees outside. Pull up a chair. Fire up a bowl or an Obama light 100 (made by Marlboro).

Our country is like a big bowl of Texas chili (but read on) with lots of meat, some beans, tomatoes, peppers, crackers (like me), and a lot of other ingredients.

A lot of folks liked the flavor just as it was, hell they even put a texan in office.

To me, and many many others, it just didn't taste right. We still wanted the chili, we just didn't like the Texas flavors so much. So as we travel around this country we got different flavors. Sometimes too it taste really bad and we all come together and fix it up a sight better. It ain't Texas chili anymore, it's US chili.

We each have our bowl of course. Some added more beans, some less. I don't much like maters, so I took some out while others put more in.

Now there are some folks in these here parts that want all our chili to taste the same, just like it did a long time ago. Some are on the right and some on the left.

We got our fundies on one side and nanny staters on the other, all a fixin to tell me how my chili should taste, how much of it I can eat, and when and where I can eat it.

Back in the day, way back, all we had was some split pea soup from England. We poured that shit out and made something better. Sometimes I wonder if we are not on the same road here and now. Personally I like my chili as it is - I just wish other folks would stay the fuck away from my bowl and quit telling me how I should make it.

Change your own bowl and let me have a taste, if it's good I might have what your having.

Now pass me some corn bread and a beer, and when I am done I might just have a smoke with my chili.

Don't fuck with my bowl :)

[illinoisprogressive]

1. That was really interesting and thought provoking. Where is it from?

[The Straight Story]

2. I made it up while I was sitting here wanting some chili and having a beer

:)

[illinoisprogressive]

3. OMG. You are quite good. Do you write for a living? You should

[The Straight Story]

5. Thanks! No, I am a programmer and web developer

(Except I won't develop a real web page for myself for some reason...go figure).

I have been writing since I was in my early teens, never tried to get anything published, though I have a few ideas for novels I want to work on after I move to California and get settled in.

Again, thank you. I still have a lot to learn and am sometimes hurried while writing on here, but over time I hope to improve.

[badgerpup]

20. chili metaphor...yummmm

Nice description...and now I want some chili too.

For breffus. :)

[TomInTib]

4. I really like the whole thing, SS.

Next time I am in your town, maybe we can make some great chili and drink a lot of beer.

And I will bring my own bowl.
For I am pretty picky, don't you know.

[The Straight Story]

6. Bring the chili powder, the right keeps wanting to make it less spicy :) (nt)

[illinoisprogressive]

7. you sound like me with my painting.

[The Straight Story]

9. It's art when you do it just because, it is a product when you do it for others

and I am not good at doing things for others and marketing it, so I just do it for me.

[TomInTib]

13. Actually, I am just choosy about what goes in the bowl.

Living out here this close to Humboldt County will do that to you.

[The Straight Story]

15. Oh man, that has got to be awesome

I still have yet to see the redwoods or the ocean, and I lived in CA for several years.

Moving back soon though, and those two things are on the top of my list :)

[TomInTib]

18. Are you really moving to CA? nt

[The Straight Story]

19. End of march, to Bakersfield! (nt)

[Le Taz Hot]

22. Bakerspatch?

Well, let me be the first to welcome you to the Central Valley, neighbor. I'm in Frezberg (Fresno). PM me when you get here and we can gossip about the Bay Areans. :evilgrin:

[NanceGreggs]

8. I've tasted all kinds of chilli in my time ...

... but I kinda like the StraightStory kind best -- has a bit of a sharp tang, but it goes down easy and has a tendency to stick to the soul.

And you don't get told to plunk yourself down at the table and eat it - it's more an invitational thing, and you get treated like a honored guest at each sittin'.

[The Straight Story]

10. That's a right fine way to have finished it off Nance! Thanks! (nt)

[NanceGreggs]

11. As always ...

... happy to be a guest at the SS table, where nobody messes with my bowl, and I don't feel compelled to mess with anyobody else's.

Sure wouldn't mind that beer now -- provided you got some extry.

:toast:

[Bluebear]

12. I prefer a soup buffet!

A little Texas chili...a New England clam chowder...sopa de tortilla from our immigrant friends...a hearty harvest butternut squash soup... everyone is welcome at the table. Don't tell me what soup to choose and I won't tell you, but we can all enjoy the bounty, the flavors, the fellowship.

[The Straight Story]

14. Oh now you give me the idea for a buffet. where were you when I was writing this?

:rofl:

Remind me in a week :)

[Catherine Vincent]

16. Chili is good but I prefer a big bowl of gumbo. :)

:hi:

[The Straight Story]

17. I could never eat gumby!

[rebel with a cause]

21. Enjoyed your metaphor.

Good job of calling for tolerance. Now be a little more tolerant and accept the fact that I even like my style of creamed split pea soup, and my chili not too spicy. (sensitive stomach you see) ;-)

I will be a tolerant teetotaler and not condemn you for your beer or your cigarette and we will just all try to get along. :7 Honestly, why is it so hard to let someone be different from yourself? I wouldn't want everyone to be like me, then I wouldn't be unique. Viva la difference!

[madokie]

23. for you I just lit my bowl

This next hit is for you and what a hit it was