Advertising....

Advertising is one of the most important aspects of a business that involves selling, promoting, branding, networking, etc.....

NASCAR is full of advertising....and so is the BBQ world.

See...I TOLD you that NASCAR and BBQ went hand in hand.

So Shorty and I told "The Big Green Egg" company about his adventures in "I'm a Big Bad Boy Smoker World" this passed weekend....and how he beat 75% of those TUFF dudes.

They are sending him a banner. And brochures...all about "The Big Green Egg"...so Shorty can be the spokesperson for them in the parking lot....I mean....on site!

If I go next time, I think I might get a pair of green short shorts, and a REAL tight green tshirt. You know...to help promote the product! Hey, it's how NASCAR does it...and apparently it works real darn well.

All sarcasm aside...I think that is pretty cool...maybe next time, they will provide a tent, food, beer, and a hotel room.

Way to go Shorty! :)

Mommy? Who is that?

Being home with a kiddo who is a little under the weather calls for a bit of creativity to keep them engaged...without playing too hard...and without just making them stare at the TV all day.

The little one has always been intrigued by home videos. She loves to watch herself...especially as a baby.

So today...I sat on the floor, pen in hand, and planned to watch old DVD movies and actually document what was what on the DVD case.

Low and behold...the first one I grabbed was from her coming home from the hospital.

The first shot came on....my back was to the camera...and I turned around...and my kid says....

"Mommy, Who is that?" Talking about me. Then I started talking and she seemed confused.

And in the video...my Mom kept saying "You look great...your swelling has really gone down."

Really?! She thought I looked great? Wow...

I hardly recognized myself. No wonder my own kid didn't know who I was.

Poor thing.

THE cookoff

It all started on a sunny Friday....we loaded up Shorty's SUV with stuff and hit the road....all the way to the Humble Civic Center.....about 45 minutes from Home Sweet Home.

When we pulled up....I just stared laughing. Couldn't help it. Like really laughing...not just a giggle. We stuck out like sore thumbs. You could play "What doesn't belong in this picture" and people would get the answer right...US. We didn't belong.

A few of the ingredients all put together.....
Had to bring my "Allison Transmission" hat to the cookoff. Nothing says county quite like machinery manufactures printed on the front of baseball hats. The hat is on my sleeping bag. Yes, we slept in sleeping bags. Now that is something I haven't done since I was 8.
Friday was all setting up and preparing for Saturday morning. A meat inspector came around Friday evening to check your goods....then you could start seasoning Friday at 6. Serious business here people....
Going to have to say that I never in a million years thought I would be sitting in an RV with my husband....while he was a contestant in a cookoff...all while enjoying the scenery of 18 wheelers and petting zoos.

Here are a few pictures from the RV. Now you listen here, it was a 2010 year model and that sucker was clean as a whistle. Until I spilled powered sugar everywhere...
This bathroom is for anyone who weighs less than 170 pounds. It was tiny. Clean, but itty bitty.

Being the person I am...I had to take a shower Saturday morning. I turned on the water pump...the water heater and took the World's fastest shower. Too bad I almost drained the entire water supply with a 45 second shower.

But, to my defense...Shorty and I were kinda "Howard Hughesish" with the cutting boards and knives the day before. Lots of scrubbing and washing on Friday night. SO, I didn't use all the water.

The gourmet kitchen. Complete with stove, oven, microwave, and sink. Just missing that all important dishwasher.
Love this sticker. Nothing says redneck like KOOL AID. And, I love how they mark it as one of the top staining items.
Ah yes, the "Convenience Center" Water pump...ON! Generator...CHECK!
This is THE cooler. The one with all the loot in it. This cooler is about 4 feet long...kinda hard to tell in the picture...also provides a perfect place to sit while you WAIT. LOTS of waiting at cookoffs. Hurry UP and WAIT!
Shorty preparing is spare ribs for Saturday's competition. My favorite.
Nothing says beautiful like a sunset behind exhaust pumps from the biggest BBQ pit on the planet. This view was out of our RV door....don't be so jealous.
Saturday morning....Shorty ready with his Big Green Eggs...ready to show those other folks that a huge BBQ pit isn't the only way.
This is Karl. One of Gary's best friends. He came out early Saturday morning to "help" Shorty. Just like I "helped" Shorty. As you can see in this picture...Karl is on the all important "paper towel duty"

Here are Shorty's parents. Anne & Wayne. Ganna & Pappa.

They came out to "help" too. Wayne wore the necassary "Big Mouth Bass" baseball cap. He was smart...he wanted to fit in.
Here is one of the final products. Brisket. Shorty cooked ribs, brisket, and chicken. We got to taste all but the chicken. He only cooked one and had to turn in the entire thing. Those judges still owe me a bite.

After all the work was done...and most of the cleanup was finished....I went to get a funnel cake....kind of as a celebration. It was over...and now we had to wait.

Results were called at 6. I had to leave to get the little kiddo and the dog...but, Shorty's parents stayed around with him.

Over 105 teams...Shorty didn't win any trophies or ribbons...but he did win top 25 in ribs and chicken. So he did better than over 75% of those other cookers. All on two Green Eggs...

Needless to say he was happy....and, he plans to change his brisket recipe. Let the tasting begin.

But, I am going to have to say no to BBQ for a while...the smell of BBQ smoke has penetrated my lungs.

Way to go Shorty!

On the road again...

Will be channeling Waylon Jennings this weekend....and listening to Willie....

Living it up country style...BBQ, beer, and RV's.

Wait...did I just type that?

Hope I fit in...doubt my Anthropology crown neck sweater will match my Wranglers....but, that's ok.

So, stay tuned for some hilarious pictures...funny stories...and hopefully blue ribbons.

We're off to the cookoff....ya'll.

Unnerved

Unnerved....that is how I felt today.

Like someone had punched me in the stomach 18 times then made me hold my breath until the room was spinning.

It all happened so fast. You may think I overreacted....but, I couldn't help myself.

The kiddo and I had a lunch date with one of my dear friends and her little one today at noon.

We were meeting at this scrumptious leafy salad bar that my child has grown attached to. Not to mention she eats free.

We are approaching the turn and while I was sitting at the red light I get a notice that a woman was shot during an attempted car jacking....at the mall. The same place I was headed to.

I immediately called my friend. She did not answer. I worried just a little...because she always answers. She drives a fancy car...you know...my mind began to race.

The notice I got did not say a time...or place...so it was left to my imagination.

Helicopters were humming all above the car....and my palms got sweaty.

Called again...no answer.

The light changed and I charged ahead. The restaurant was approaching on my right...I couldn't turn in. I saw a huge fire truck in the parking lot....firemen buzzing all around...and there it was...her car. They were standing right by it...where was she?! Was it her?!?!?!?

I felt sick. My mind started playing tricks on me...and I started imagining horrible things.

I pulled around the corner...into the mall parking lot and back down and around so I could actually enter the parking lot to see what it was.

By the time I got back...the fire truck was pulling away...I saw my friend holding her baby inside the restaurant and I felt like 18 tons of bricks were lifted off my shoulders.

When I walked in and saw her. I started crying. Like a nutcase.

I had imagined the worst...and was completely upset by it.

Couldn't have been more relieved to see her smiling face.

Whew!

Another friend was there to meet us too...she was the one that needed the firemen. She accidentally locked her keys in her car...and the firemen were there to save the day.

Thank God for safe friends and thank God for helpful firemen.

The End.

Good or bad?

This is what video games looked like when I was a tot. For those of you who don't know this game....it is Atari's PONG. All you did was knock a block back and fourth. What riveting fun.
Think they have come far? I have no idea what game this is from....just liked the picture. Think her cyber image looks like me. Her arms, her "rack" and her inner thighs.

Back to my point.

Are video games good or bad?

I really didn't play them growing up...just at friends homes...and I had a few games on my Apple II C personal computer. Santa was GOOD to me that year.

I ask the question because my kid played her first "video game" today. On my cell phone.

It is called "Monkey Preschool"...downloaded to your phone and it has matching games, letter and number recognition, and puzzles. And it is cute. Well...cute as far as video games go.

She played it and was in love from the moment she started. It was like toddler video game crack or something...she was hooked.

"MOMMY! I need your phone!" I can't count how many times I heard that.

Indeed, she is learning matching, numbers, and problem solving skills...all to the tune of a cheering monkey.

Good thing that isn't annoying.

So, if you can download applications to your cell phone...and you have a preschooler....get Preschool Monkey.

Your kid's future SAT scores will surely benefit.

Proud moment....

Ah yes, nothing brings joy more than a graduate.

Doodle the Poodle graduated from "Beginner Puppy School" at Petsmart.

The black furry blob in the picture has on a graduation cap. You can't see the tassel...no way was I bothering with that...

So, she can now sit, lay down, shake, give five, play dead, stay, heal, "leave it", walk on a leash without pulling, run beside me when I am not to lazy and decide to jog, and"come here" on command.

If you have a dog...do this. I think it is so very worth it.

We are signing up for the intermediate training. Guess this is like college.

Oh, I am just so proud.

;)