BBQ Fest — Wowee Zowee

Like most time honored traditions, you have to see BBQ Fest to really get it.

I was expecting something a lot different when I walked up to Tom Lee Park. You know, I’ve been to a lot of small town BBQ competitions.

He he he, Yea right!!!

While the focus is on the pork, the highlight Thursday night was the party. My friend Bevin Evans, who grew up here, said I just had to come after two years living here and always working during the BBQ Fest time.

Open bar
Bikini clad bartenders
Tight briefs for the men
Multi-level scaffolding for tents
Crazy loud dance music
Over the top decorations
All along the MS river

Definitely a must see to believe.
Reminds me a lot of the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, MS in terms of the serious good time, amazing decorations- full of color and good ole southern porch culture where you could waste away hours, some lose track of days!

I only had a couple of hours as 2:30 am always comes early, but I’m so glad I napped all day, so I could see the party in full Thursday night revelry.

I’m told from this point on the cooking gets serious. If they cook like they party I want to see it. The ribs I had were already insane. I’m heading out of town this weekend, so had to squeeze it in when I could!

Below with my Memphis buds Bevin & Ellie

- The pavement reference is in the title just because that’s really what I say in my head instead of wow.

Paletas and a Breeze

This is my first spring to anchor mornings.  I already knew this schedule is good for me, but this was one of the moments that I realized how lucky I am to get off at one pm.

Picked up my lil sis, Kiara and we grabbed some Mexican. We’ve found this place between my house and hers that has  a porch (and gives complimentary cheese with the salsa) and just sat around with no place to be and nothing to do. It was warm but not too hot. We were in the shade. Our server didn’t feel like making lots of trips inside for refills, so he gave us giant frosty mugs full of diet coke for me – doctor pepper for her.

Since we didn’t see each other for Cinco De Mayo we had an impromptu Mexican influenced meal followed by something cold from my new favorite spot.

La Michoacana on Summer

I can never get just one. Why would I want to?

The popsicles are so good. Real fruit. Not too sweet. Not bad for me. Kiara wasn’t convinced. She stuck with cookies and creme ice cream. Maybe one day!

My favorite moment was sitting with Kiara on my porch. I love sitting there. Normally I’m alone, but having Kiara with me was nice. There was a breeze and the perfect amount of shade from the lime green trees over my house. We agreed hanging on a work/school night is fun. Feels like a stolen moment.

Tags | La Michoacana

Time Travel, Scary Historical Dreams, Shady Spots

back home

It’s as if Friday just doesn’t exist.

We got home from LA for our fantastic voice coverage Friday morning around midnight. I immediately went to sleep. Only woke during the day friday to eat something around noon and then went back to sleep. This magical unconsciousness lasted until this morning (saturday) at 11:30.

I had a lot of dreams during my slumber. I think that’s why I just kept sleeping. It was an amazing story line. I only remember two of the dreams that sort of blended into each other.

Dream

After the Voice house of blues party, as part of the big group of reporters and photographers, we found ourselves in the middle of a death investigation at a house next to the house of blues. We did our own bit of investigating and found it it was a suicide. An older man had shot himself. His widow came home to find him. ( I told you it was sad.) He had been in Germany post WW 11. His widow and I, together, went through some of his stored boxes. She had no desire to keep his boxes and I discovered he was in possession of some very special log books from the Stasi. Yes, my history was totally out of order. Still I was in total disbelief at the find. Next thing I knew, I was in my house in Memphis looking through the book. It was early in the morning and I heard something. Turns out it was a scary female in my house with plans to kidnap me. I told her she really didn’t want me. She told me she knew more about me than I would ever imagine. Then I woke. Wonder what she was talking about. Probably that I let Bridget drink out of the faucet.

Now that I’m a part of the world again I’ve been so thrilled at my yard. It rained a lot in Memphis while I was gone. It rained a lot in LA, too. No escape.

I’ve loved watching my yard develop in stages. I’ve lived in my house almost two years now. That’s two summers of planting perennials in hopes they would grow into a full bed. Honestly, I forget year to year what I planted and now just watch the beds get thicker and thicker with amazement. My roses are finally in bloom. Some black eyed susans I forgot all about will be blooming in just days. In the backyard the light pink climbing roses (that I can’t claim as mine) are starting to look just beautiful. Everything is a couple of weeks behind this year, so I’m never sure day to day what to expect.

I don’t mind spending money on plants but, since I rent, I hate to buy a bunch of yard furniture for it to just get nasty and then I feel compelled to move it one day, if I ever change houses. Can’t imagine why I ever would. I love it here.

Still, I grew up with a mom who created yard atmosphere out of every shady corner and brick she could find. We were outside livers in Long Beach and now she’s done the same with her new house in Stone County, MS. She’s never one to pay someone to develop a yard. With her it’s just organic. I don’t have the gift she does, but definitely have the desire she has.

This spring/summer I’m creating a secret garden in my backyard. It’s a bunch of found items. A cheap hammock with coastal stripes, a $3 side table, an old chair and LOTS of plants I plan to put everywhere. It’s really nothing special, but I love to sit out here. I’m writing in my chair right now. No one really knows I’m out here. My house was built in the 20′s and I like to think people walked around while it was being built and hoped someone would find a way to make all the corners and shady spots special. That they would really love it and I do.

As my facebook/twitter friends remind me – I’m always going somewhere. Having a long distance boyfriend and parents who live 7 hours away will do that! However, I’m so happy to have the rest of the day and Sunday here at home. I keep singing The Cure song, Home. I can’t find an actual video or song version to share but it’s beautiful. Worth looking up on itunes.

http://www.amazon.com/Mint-Car-Home-Cure/dp/B000002HYD

I’ve been called a lot of things…..

Can’t sleep right now.
My hours are a little messed up.
I’m doing my normal morning anchoring and showing up at 10 pm, too.
As I tried to knock myself to sleep with a little ipad time,
(even though I’ve read that the light from ipads can keep you up)
I looked through some of my blog information.
I clicked on the common searches people use through google to find me.
See, it’s usually not that they are actually looking for me, but instead for bands I write about, the nazi astronaut I wrote about the other month or often just my news station. Then they happen upon me.

Though, what I just saw had me squealing with – up too late on a work night – laughter.
Read for yourself and enjoy.
That’s right. I’ve always considered myself a witchy woman.

So sad

I ended up staying at work late. I had a hard time finishing my story. The explosions at the Boston marathon are so deeply upsetting. Makes so little sense. I had to come home and, despite my desire to just get in bed, walk in my yard and calm down. I watered and dead headed. Looked at a new sweet weed that is so little and purple. I have real flowers that are blooming, too, and my pansies are still holding strong. Bridget has missed me while I was away on my cruise. She keeps rubbing against me.

Finishing my two full marathons meant so much to me. I can’t imagine qualifying for Boston and then it ended in terror. God bless those innocent people.