Nov 2, 2010

Just Call me Xtina Gump

Monday morning just as I was about to toss my computer over my desk out of frustration, I got a message from Perry: "What are you up to later? I think a few of us are going shrimping. It would be really cool for your blog."  Thinking this was an excellent item I could check off on my Southerner's bucket list, I enthusiastically told him I wanted to go.

After work, I went home and started making cookies. You see, anytime someone does something nice for me, I bake for them. I just can't help it - it's 100% my way of showing appreciation. While the obligatory chocolate chip cookies baked, we made arrangements for me to be picked up at Patriot's Point. Soon enough, Perry told me they were on their way along with a text saying, "Hope you like guys."  Bah. Silly Perry. 

After walking from a dark parking lot down a pier long enough to be kidnapped and never seen again, I was ready to be on the darn boat. I sat down, was handed a beer, and told by Cord, "Hold on, Tina. Here we go." Just a few minutes later, we tied up with more boyz on another boat. 7 boyz + Xtina. There was so much ridiculousness on this boat: Natural Light beer, flashlight headbands, waterproof overalls, gigantic nets, stinky bait, and of course, camo. In case you haven't gotten a mental image yet, let me provide you with two:
Captain Cord, Master Shrimper
I immediately begged Thomas to borrow his flashlight headband. Such a Fall 2010 trend. Plus it's totally functional - I used it to pick a baby fish out of the bucket!
I threw the fish back into the ocean and yelled, "Woohoo, I saved its life!" Perry looked at me funny and said, "Um, yeah, for about 5 seconds until a shark eats it." Eeeeep.
The first time they cast the net, they got a few shrimpies. Don't they look funny with their heads still on?
I felt it completely necessary to pick one of them up to play with. Their eyes kind of glow in the dark and they wiggle around a lot.
Slowly but surely, the bucket filled up, and I was anxious for my turn to catch some.
Using a smaller net than the guys, Perry taught me how to properly cast it. This isn't easy. First, you have to loop a string around your wrist. Then you pick up the net and fold it in half. Now for the gross part - you have to put the outer edge of the net in your teeth while holding the other side with your opposite hand. Cord said that when I cast the net, I needed to pretend I was throwing a "hoop skirt" so that it would fall completely laid out in a circle. Who the hell wears a hoop skirt?

I obeyed all the rules, and tossed it in. I immediately heard a "Oooh she taco'ed." What? When you "taco" the net, it forms the shape of a taco as it lands in the water, instead of a perfect circle. Oops. Apparently it's not always a bad thing, because on my first try I caught three shrimpies! Annnddd we weren't even near the poles. I was a natural. And very proud!
Amazingly gross, I know. I cast the net over and over until I had enough shrimp to fill up the tupperware that previously held baked goods.
If you're not easily grossed out, continue reading. If you are, byebye and so sorry. Before taking the shrimp home, I had to remove their heads. Having grown up with 3 brothers, I am not usually grossed out by blood, guts, or weird animals. But this just seemed mean. Somehow after convincing me they were half-dead anyway, I gave it a try. You have to hold the antenna and pinch off the head under the joint. Totally gross, but after that, they look just like the skrimps you see in the grocery store!

As odd as this adventure was, I had so much fun and can't wait to go again. I actually looked into buying a pink cast net this morning, but apparently bright colors can scare the bait. Damn. Guess lime green is out too.

This was a successful check off my bucket list. The South is so special. I really think I was meant to live here, too...after all, my first boyfriend wore camo!! Haha. Doesn't he look like a little shit!
Happy Tuesday! Feel free to send me some recipes to use up my shrimp!

29 comments:

  1. SO much fun! What a cool thing to do. And that last picture could not be more adorable. Two of my favorite shrimpy recipes:
    http://itzyskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/08/ellie-kriegers-popcorn-shrimp-sweet.html
    http://itzyskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/vegan-banana-cake-shrimp-grits.html

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  2. thats so cool! i've never gone shrimping. only clamming :) kinda gross but so worth it. jealous!! my favorite shrimp recipe is always shrimp scampi over linguine. uhhhhmazing

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  3. That looks so so fun! Hope you had a blast!

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  4. "Who the hell wears a hoop skirt?" I literally laughed out loud...

    What a cool adventure, and even though gross, I'm glad you shared it with us!!

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  5. That looks like something I'd love to do! Not on a regular basis, but for the experience...

    I bake for everyone. My heart is handed out in the form of baked goods. People know this. And hopefully appreciate it. :)

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  6. Wow, I am not missing that next time! The pics of Cord are SO funny...I hope you told them to read the blog!!

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  7. sounds like fun!! I even have my own headlamp!! (for camping - hands free walking in the dark... carrying beer in both hands) and um... other shenanigans like climbing down to a second sub basement to underground tunnels. eek! :D

    my favorite way to eat those shrimp... grill them make a dipping sauce out of italian dressing + melted butter... seriously. good. SERIOUSLY.

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  8. HAHA so glad you went!! More girls need to experience the fun of man things- with men of course!!

    Shrimping is one of my favorites!

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  9. HOLY MOLY. . those things are scary and BIG... you are a brave girl!

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  10. So I think it's SO cool that you went shrimping!!! I would love to go, at least once. And, they do look kind of creepy- like their eyes & all of their little feet.
    Looks like a fun night :)
    Can't wait to see what you cook up!

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  11. Sooo props to you for being able to handle those shrimp. I love them and all when they come prepeeled..but haven't had to deal with tearing their heads off or anything like that :P I have eaten crawfish, though! But still, they were already dead prior to tearing them apart haha.

    I always bake for people whenever they do something nice for me, too. Food speaks louder than words! :)

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  12. How fun! I don't think you can go shrimping in CA but I would be totally into it :)

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  13. When we visit my bf's dad in Florida, they always go out shrimping. I should go with them next time. Looks fun!

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  14. Not going to lie, those would scare the crap out of me.

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  15. just FYI.... you are not allowed to board the shrimp boat without me next time!!

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  16. It'll be so cool/weird to eat food that you caught yourself!

    My favourite shrimp dish is a shrimp, tomato, avocado, and red onion salad with lime juice and cilantro.

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  17. Okay, first of all I love that you were like "hell yeah, shrimping with the dudes!" That would be awesome. Ice fishing is on my Midwest bucket list.

    Also, I love that it featured Natty Ice. Seems right.

    Lastly, I can't deal with the heads. I have carcass issues. Can't happen. SHUDDER.

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  18. Ooooh my gosh! HOW FUN! You definitely live an active life! Love it!

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  19. I'm just happy Antoine didn't fall overboard. Looks like a fun night!

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  20. Its those random "Hey do you want to go here tonight" that I so miss about college! Starting to be spontaneous right now.

    Oh and this post totally made me think of Forrest Gump.

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  21. So gross yet so cool!

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  22. I kept reading, but was totally grossed out ;)

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  23. LOL at this post and your first bf and his camo wear. I am totally diggin your flashlight headband, it's hot. You should make some shrimp stuffed eggplant. I saw a recipe on myrecipes.com for seafood stuffed eggplant awhile back and it looked delish.

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  24. What a fun adventure!! You did a good job :-) I might have gotten a tad bit grossed out in real life. I am a baby. :-P

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  25. What a fun adventure! Don't know that I coulda pinched their heads off, but the rest sounds pretty cool. :)

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  26. you are seriously one of the most adorable girls on this planet. i bet ALL the boys are in love with you! seriously tho. ANYWAY sorry i have sucked at commenting.. i have DEF BEEN READING!! I LOVE YOU!

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  27. Who the hell wears a hoop skirt?
    Yep, can't stop laughing LOL!!!!
    Sounds like a fun time :)

    Jen
    http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/

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  28. The flahlight headbands image totally makes me laugh out loud! I can completely see my husband and friends doing that with their shrimp'n boots, flashlights, etc.
    Oh I would have left the heads on and boiled them along with corn and potatoes with some cajun seasoning for pealing and dipping in cocktail sauce. You could make BBQ shrimp, which has nothing to do with BBQ sauce or grilling. But they are served all over the place in New Orleans with crusty french bread for dipping. Or over pasta. It is a combination of lots of butter and all kinds of seasonings with worcesterchire sauce and garlic. You could use olive oil or margarine instead of the butter though. And it is baked or cooked on the stovetop, not grilled as one might think. Here is a link to one BBQ shrimp recipe posted in our local newspaper.
    http://blog.nola.com/judywalker/2009/05/this_seems_as_close_as_possibl.html
    And here is a link of another with ingredients listed for the spice mixture:
    http://www.mybargainbuddy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55774

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  29. flashlight headbands might be a fall 2010 trend - see example: chilean miners.

    also, i knew soooo many boys when we were little who wore camo! please buy a camo suit for the next time you go shrimping. xo.

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