Gag me with a spoon....

All rules are thrown out the window when you are sick.

You can do pretty much anything within reason.

Eat wherever you want, lay on the couch all day long, get jelly beans after you take your medicine, and watch movies....one after the other.

We are on day 5 of sickness.

We made a quick dash to grab a few new movies and my child insisted on "Barbie Princess"

Lord help me. I am fine with all the Disney Princesses....because I liked them when I was little...but, Barbie AND princess...all in one....

Kinda joking...I am glad she likes it. Well, I guess I am. Could be worse.

She asked Shorty to be her prince the other night. She put on her dress and said "Daddy...will you be my prince?"

Ok...enough of that mushy stuff....

Wonder when she is old enough for Sponge Bob.

Yes, I am kidding.

Off to watch glittery, sparkly, jewel encrusted, fairytale land, magical spell filled, all things pink, flashy diamond, Barbie princess world.

Good thing she is into stuff that is so "real world"

My brain is melting....

I love Cinderella...and I love Barbie.

OUCH!

Ear infections hurt...and so does the cost of prescription drugs.

Boy, I sound like an old person...

My poor kid has her first ear infection. The doc wrote a script for an antibiotic....just a run of the mill one...but, he wrote it in a way that the pharmacy couldn't fill it with the generic alternative.

"That will be $185.67, please" when I heard this thru the speaker phone in the oh so convenient drive thru...I thought she was talking to the wrong person.

So, we had to call the doctor so we could get the same medicine...except in generic form.

We are one of the lucky few who pay a bizillion dollors a month for a bizillion dollar deductible.

Not complaining about health care here....

Just stating the facts ma'am....just the facts.

So, waiting to go back to get the generic stuff....so my kids ears will heal.

Bless her little heart.

Tick tock....

Will someone please take my temperature? I believe I have cabin fever.

Thank goodness I don't live in a log cabin....even as idyllic as this one seems....

We go somewhere almost every day. Even if it is just to Walgreens....that is going somewhere to us.

The little one has been running a low grade fever since Monday morning...and we are now on our 3rd day inside.

We watched two Disney Classics today...Snow White and Alice in Wonderland.

Thank God for princesses....they make sick little girls smile and lay still.

Get well soon kid....

We have to get to Target....

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.