The Great BBQ Flap

I have a friend who has started a bbq business. He bought a log cabin covered trailer with a custom grill in the back. He sells bbq plates, chopped beef sandwiches, ribs with all the trimmings like beans and potato salad and cole slaw and homemade bread. He sets up just off the highway between two businesses.

Anyway, he was complaining about how his business is real inconsistent. Good some days, and bad others. I made the suggestion that he needed to come up with a signature or unique dish that was all his own. Several of us regulars tossed around different kinds of ideas. Well, I hit upon this idea. We're here in south Texas, tacos are popular. But who wants a bbq taco. That's not really unique. Here is what I called it- The Texas Pride Wrap. My original recipe consisted of a flour tortilla, chili, a slice of brisket, a slice of chicken, a slice of sausage, cheese whiz, onions, jalepenos, topped with fritos. Everyone thought I crazy, but guess what, it tasted good.

The original recipe has changed to shredded cheese, and no fritos. You can buy a samll one for $2 or 3 for $5 or get the giant for $5. Everything is homemade, even the tortillas. They are now one of his biggest sellers. How come it is I can help everybody else get rich, but I can't. That's ok though, I get my wraps at half price.

So what do you think, does it sound good or not?
I'm still waiting for him to introduce fried twinkies and fried snickers bars. He tells me not on his bbq wagon!

Intersection of Life

Ideas sometimes start in strange ways. Like the title of this blog. It all started when Becky and I went to Nara Visa to visit Tom and Sharon Cole. Tom was relating as story to me about his new GPS. It has a one of those ladies voices which instructs you on which way to turn. Tom told me about being in Santa Fe and being right in the middle of an intersection turning left when the GPS said turn right, right now. He told me about how he lost disoriented and got lost in the intersection. It struck a chord with me- I got lost in the intersection, the intersection of life.

Later, I called a friend of mine, who plays guitar in our praise band, and told him I thought that phrase would make a good song. I forgot about it until two weeks ago he came to me and told me he had finished the song and wanted to play it for me. I listened and I liked what I heard, a song with a message that has a rock and roll beat.

This last Sunday evening, our pastor preached sermon based on that song. His sermon title- The Intersection of Life. Based on Hebrews 11:8-10, the faith chapter.
Heres a quote: Abraham doesn't know where he's going, or when he will there, but he knows who he is following.

You just never know how or when an idea will take off and go. So here are a few pictures I have taken this year with the song The Intersection of Life playing in the background. Enjoy!

1st Hunt of the Season

I had an opportunity to sneak away for an afternoon to archery hunting. I had a great time. I saw three raccoons and two small doe. The deer were about the size of german shepherds. They weren't shooters, at least not for me. Here is a picture for you. They never know I was even there. One day they will grow up and realize that they must pay attention to their surroundings. Sounds like good advice for all of us.

This evening I watered my fall garden. Since we really have 2 seasons here, wet and dry, growing garden can be done year round. I picked some blackeyed peas. I have them cooking as I speak. One japeleno, bacon, salt and pepper, nice and spicy.

Basketball update: My little team actually did some things in the game we practiced. I was really surprised. I can see improvement everytime we get together for practice. I think it is the red kool aid. It helps them focus.

Fall?

It's hard to know for sure, but I think fall is here. Here are some of the signs of it in South Texas:
1. It's a little cooler, like 80 degrees, verses 90 something.
2. The mosquitoes seem to be smaller in size, not the ones the size of golf balls, that suck a pint of blood at a time.
3. High school football games have started. You set in the stands and sweat till the sun goes down.
4. I went archery deer hunting this week end. Ok, when you bow hunt scent control is really important. So I am setting in the stand trying to keep the bugs off, without using bug spray because of the smell factor, sweating in my camo outfit, trying to stay still. Sounds like a great way to relax doesn't it. I did a an eight point buck at about twenty yards, but of course he never stepped out of the brush so I could get a clear shot.

Basketball Update:
I now have an assistant coach. It takes two grown men to handle 7 kinders and 1st graders.
We had our first game Saturday. It was wild. The kids actually scored 8 points. I was pleased. The concept of passing the ball and double dribble still has not sunk in. Injuries were as expected-one bloody nose and one scraped knee.
More passing drills and red kool aid at the next practice. The red kool aid is to get the kids all jacked up before I release them from practice to go back to their parents.
Maybe I should introduce moon pies to them?

Only in America.

Catchin'Up

I am spending the day just catching up on things around the house. I finally got the truck box the Nara Visa cowboy gave me sanded and repainted. I put some Ospho in the rusty spots to kill the rust then primed and repainted it. Found the Ospho at the hardware store. That stuff works pretty good, but don't get any on you. Here is a picture of the box installed.

Since getting back from the trip, I got with my friend Bill Elliot and we got the words to Pancho and Jesus copyrighted. Here's a video it performed by a couple of cowboys we met at the Nara Visa Cowboy gathering. I call them Dos Whoppos--Ha! Ha!







While I was waiting for the video to upload I had my afternoon snack- a chocolate mini-moon pie and a root beer. I am eating a mini-moon pie because I am trying to cut down. I actually had a lady at church who had never had a moon pie. It's hard to believe, but we have so many folks from south of the border, that I think I will take up the job of spreading the news about the American tradition of moon pies. On the wrapper it gives a website for moon pies-
www.moonpie.com. Chocolate is good, but banana is better in my opinion. Additionally, m.p.'s should be eaten with root beer, Dr Pepper( with real Imperial Sugar), or an RC Cola, Grapett on really hot days only.

Tikes and Basketball

Sunday, my family and youth minister came by my office Sunday afternoon. He had that hang dog look on his face when things aren't going well and he needs something. He was short one basketball coach for the Upwards Basketball league. He needed a coach for 7 kindergarten and first grade kiddos.
Anyway, I broke down and said I would do it.

Well, yesterday I contact all the parents to set up practice for today. Practice with these guys consists of learning to dribble and shoot baskets. Just learning the fundamentals.

All is well, not so. On my team are a set of twins who are big time ADHD. These guys already have a reputation for trouble. I don't really know what expect, but I plan on keeping everything moving at a pretty fast pace. Lot's of running and chasing balls. I am even thinking of recruiting an assistant, even though it is only seven kids.

I am looking for suggestions for ideas for practice and how to handle them during the games.
Why do I always get myself in these situations? I gotta learn to say no.

Out with the old and in with the new

I was finally forced to trade in my old purple Nissan truck for a new one. The transmission was going, the front end had various squeaks and grinding noises, and it was hard to shift the gears. Becky and Abby complained all the time. But I loved my little truck. That took me deer hunting and fishing. That truck carried the two deer that Abby shot when I took her hunting. It also carried me to safety one evening I was out fishing and stayed out too long. A tornado touched down and golf ball size hail was falling. My little truck kept me ahead of that storm as I raced it all the way home to make for cover. The tornado just missed us, but my little truck had some dents in it. It brought us safely from Oklahoma back to Texas. I drove it all over the place. It had personality. It never quit on me.

Now I have a new Chevrolet Colorado to make memories in. It will have to prove itself to me. I haven't named it yet, but I am open to suggestions. Anyone got any?
Well, it got off to a good start. It carried us out to New Mexico to see our friends the Coles.

Guys and trucks, it must be a Texas thing, kind of like a cowboy and his horse.