I recently returned from my annual Spring pilgrimage to the shores of Lake Oconee and the pristine setting of that beautiful lake, that is if  you can call sitting around for 3 days with a bunch of 50 to 60 year old Fraternity boys reliving the good ol’ days, “pristine”!!

Without going into all the details of the weekend let me point out that the entire weekend revolves around WHERE we get our next meal. With the group bedding down at 4 houses around the lake it is quite a chore to get all fed  in a timely manner and send them all back fat and happy. What started as a small gathering of UGA fraternity brothers has turned into a grand gathering of friends from many states throughout the south, who many only see each other once a year. The friendships born during these weekends will be bonds for life between a group of men who may never had met, had it not been for the idea of a few frat brothers who wanted to keep the bond alive.

There are many highlights of the weekend but the biggest by far is the SMOKING of the PORK on Friday led my Wales Wheeler of McDonough who is  a Bar B Q Smoking FOOL. Now Wales has been smoking meat for many years and has even gone to schools to hone his skills so when Wales lights up a smoker WE ALL want to watch.. That is right ….WATCH!  Pull up a bag chair, grab a cold beer and WATCH !!!    WATCH  when the rub is applied to the meat,(get a beer) WATCH when the meat goes on the rack. (get a beer), WATCH each time the lid is opened, (get a beer)…WATCH as more wood is put in the fire box, (get a beer)   Do you see a pattern???

I know that does not sound all that exciting to many of you but hey, some guys sit in a tree for hours hoping a deer walks by. At least what we are doing, we can enjoy a good COLD ONE, which the DNR frowns upon with a deer rifle in your hand strapped to a tree!!   Now Wales is like most Bar BQ men….never satisfied with what you have.  They are always looking for the next BIG THING. Well Wales is no different than the rest and when he saw the Holy Grail of Smokers he HAD TO HAVE IT. Rumor has it he hocked a watch and his high school trombone.!!!!  I tell you these Bar B Q guys will go to no end to satisfy their love for the art and sport of SMOKING. I must agree that the Lexus of Smokers that we saw this weekend was one FINE machine. One for the Ages as they say, just like each and every year at the Spring Gathering on Oconee.  Good friends and Good BAR BQ (get a beer) – Ain’t that what it’s all about!!!!