When Mercury is backwards

When Mercury is backwards, I drag out a pencil and paper, sometimes ink, but usually just a pencil, and have good time drawing pictures and making notes about design. Then I sit myself down and rework the web page and navigation bar until I’m happy. The new look breaks with at least one major design rule, but at this point, I needed something different. Late yesterday afternoon, the Neighbor comes and knocks on my trailer’s door, “BBQ?” “Sure,” says I. Eventually, four of us pile into the front seat of truck, and although I do believe that four in the front is illegal, it was Sunday, and nobody was looking. Hey, it’s the Lord’s Day, forgive our sins, and all that. It’s probably been 20 years since I was at the Salt Lick, in Driftwood, Texas. Used to be a long ways out of town, but with urban sprawl, it’s just at the edge of the metropolis now. Or at the edge of some suburban sprawl subdivision, anyway. Now, for the taste test, it is still wonderful, with the moist brisket, and the tender, most thoughtfully seasoned pork ribs I’ve had in a long time. Still a winner, and it looks like parts of the building haven’t been repaired since the last time I was there. “XBQ!” The Neighbor was screaming, “Extreme Barbecue!” Earlier, I was reading a book by Christopher Cook, local author [according to the blurb], called “Robbers.” Fun bit of crime fiction. In a bit of foreshadowing, and a literary reference, one character is talking to a clerk in a bookstore, and asks about Elmore Leonard’s books, the response is along the lines of, “You can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys, sometimes.” The opening sequence, too, is literally set right around the corner from where I live. Very factual. Next time I’m on the trail to Barton Springs, I’ll be looking for evidence of the crime scene. Late last night, the question came up when I got panic call from a client. Where do I stop caring? after 11 at night? Is that a reasonable time? And when did my job description make me a miracle worker, as if a quick consultation with an astrologer will fix everything wrong in a person’s life. Problem being, the way I see the stars, it’s about personal responsibility. You stepped in it, you got to wipe it off your boot yourself. Ain’t my job to fix what you done did.