We Do Cry

So during my commute this morning where my speedometer did not register over 10 mph the entire trip, I had some extra time to listen to some radio shows.  The DJ on my country station put up this clip of a girl from South Carolina crying after the gamecocks lost to Kentucky.  He was making fun of the situation, but it made me realize that he just didn't get the importance of the SEC and our teams record.  What bowl game you get a bid to, makes or breaks your New Year's Eve.  These are important things especially to a sorority girl in the SEC- don't mess with our big hair, mascara or social calendar.

So on my trusty new iphone I found the utube video of my fellow SEC SG (sorority girl). 



And it made me remember all the games that I have shed a few tears over - why does Alabama always seem to be a consistent theme.  I guess they are a benchmark of sorts, if you win - you just beat fricken Alabama.  If you loose well you just lost to fricken Alabama. 

Speaking of Alabama, it was the first Gator game that I shed a tear (or two over).  It was my sophomore year at UF, we had beaten Tennessee earlier in the season, and we just didn't loose in the Swamp.  That damn tide came in and we lost...and I cried...at a football game.

I somehow made it through the season in 2000 without any football related tears.  So I was totally unprepared for what happened to us in '01 in Auburn, Alabama.  I had made the road trip with my two best friends, and we were planning to stay at my cousins house in Auburn.  Let's just say - driving to Alabama sans sleep is something not even a Burger King Breakfast can fix.  Then add lots of Jack Daniels to the situation and Auburn fans running over you to storm the field as you sit crying in the end zone-it's not a good thing.  It only got worse.  Fights with Red Neck RV Drivers, sleeping in our car on the side of a back road in Alabama and a few speeding tickets followed.  Would I trade it for anything-NEVER!

I've adopted a new philosophy around my beloved Gators, and that it's we always win the tailgate.  That we did at the FL GA game this weekend.

Tailgating with my girls!

My brother drove down from South Dakota, and he was loved on by everyone there!  I think it may have been because he makes some of the best BBQ on the face of the planet.

A little bit of our crazy tailgate.  I was in charge of the Bloody Mary bar-the only organized part of the table at the other end.

And at some point of the day I promised Riley Cooper I would make a custom Cooper/Grossman jersey and wear it to the Eagles v Redskins game on the 15th.  I better get busy.



Menu Monday

It's back!  Sometimes I don't do Menu Monday's when Josh is on business trips, has multiple of business dinners/events or will have to work late a lot during the week.  This is mainly because if that is the case, my dinners are lean cuisines and take-out.  Anything to avoid doing dishes (out kitchen remodel and new dishwasher cannot come soon enough). 

This week we will be having:

Green Chicken Enchiladas

Stuffed Pork Chops with grilled squash and zucchini.

The Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast 

I will be making a double batch of the enchiladas and giving one tray to our neighbors who just had a beautiful little girl.  The other tray will be dinner one night and leftovers another (as long as Josh doesn't go back for seconds the first go-around).  Same deal with the Perfect Pot Roast.  This will probably have to be later in the week, due to the fact that my chuck roast is frozen and needs to defrost. Long story short: I bought the wrong cut of meat during Passover. Chuck roast is apparently not the same as brisket (although they look alike).  I needed a meat cut reference guide at Harris Teeter that day.  I won't make that mistake again. 

I hope Ree doesn't find out that I am making her Perfect Pot Roast due to a mistake by purchasing the wrong cut of meat.  As a cattle farmers wife that would be so uncool.  Also uncool, the Border's bookstore where Lacey and I stood in line for more than four hours to have her sign our copies of her cookbook. 

Of course I have pictures of us there that I have yet to upload-that's just the way I roll.  Take pictures, talk about them, don't post to blog or facebook to share with anyone.

But the love of the Pioneer Woman recipes I do share.  I brought her Restaurant Style Salsa and Jalapeno Poppers with me to two barbecues on Sunday.  To say they were a hit was an understatement.  I even made a new bff because of our shared adoration of anything combining cheese and bacon as well as flip-flops.  It was pretty awesome.  Enjoy the week!

Saturday Excursions

After a round of golf at Jefferson, and a delicious brunch, we went to beautiful Mount Vernon with my parents on Saturday. The lines were very long, I guess everyone decided to spend the warm July day at George Washington's home.

Here is the view of the Potomac River behind the main house.

After our trip to our first president's home, we made our weekly visit to Costco with my parents in tow. We stocked up on all the norm, but I was surprised to see there was a book signing for a book I had my eye on for a while. It's a cute guide book to DC, the author did all the research, writing and illustration herself.
I got an autographed copy for Lacey and myself. I can't wait to give her "Welcome to DC" present to her when she arrives this week!

We are off to try a new church today, First Baptist Washington DC. Perhaps we will go to Old Glory BBQ, a Southern Living must of BBQ places in the south.

Tennessee Travels

Hubby, Molly and I set out for our weekend adventure on Thursday after work. Molly was great in the car and we stayed at the lovely (and pet friendly) LaQuienta Inn in Bristol, VA. LaQuienta has really cornered the market being a pet-friendly chain. I mean we are tried and true Marriott patrons-beyond what would be considered normal. Now that we have Molly on board we have been frequenting the LaQuienta-as do most pet-toting travelers.

We had a great drive through the Shenandoah Valley and the Smokey's, stopping off in Knoxville, yes Knoxville. No, not to scout out their summer practice. It was a far greater calling. Sonny's Sweet Sauce. My brother is an avid BBQ-er and loves to top off his creations with Sonny's Sweet Sauce, which is hard to come by in South Dakota. So we picked up a mere 3 gallons of the worlds best BBQ Sauce in Knoxville. Two for him and one for us. Hubby let me know we do not need a whole gallon of God's Gift to BBQ Sauce--but I beg to differ.

Our travels continued to Nashville, where we had lunch at Bar-B-Cuties, and picked up my brother at the airport. Let me tell you it was a full truck that pulled into Montgomery Bell State Park Friday afternoon, hubby, brother, Molly, and me, all our bags, all our golf clubs and 3 Gallons of Sonny's Sweet Sauce. Let the reunion begin...

BBQ Battle

Yesterday we went to the DC BBQ Battle with friends. We had a wonderful time sampling ribs, pulled pork and sausage. It was fun to see the teams set up to compete, all the different smokers and big green eggs.

I got an idea of my brother's experience on a competitive BBQ team while he lived in Mississippi. In fact his team won the 2007 Whole Hog Championship for the state of Louisiana. The experience made us miss our smoker-which is still in Florida, but football season (aka BBQ season) is right around the corner!