They are dry and yes we use a nut pick to get the meats outta them. I tryed too hire a squrril that hangs out at the bird feeders to crack them for me but it turns out he didnt have a green card. Sent him packing cuz I want to be able to turn in a 1099 on him come April. Such is life. Just another bit of mid winter humor. I figure if I cant at least make fun of my self and make my self chuckle I might as well do like 2 friends of mine did last month and splatter their brains out all over the living room walls. Not an option. I will crack some nuts, burn some wood, enjoy the posts here and elsewere and come the end of Feburary go back to work and do my best to try to act as a Human Being. Thats going to be a big streach though since I dont have much practice at it.