One of the highlights of my year!

Last year Val and I were invited to attend the Austin Fair and Rodeo BBQ Cook off. We did not know much about it but we had planned to go out the fair anyways and thought why not that weekend. It turned out to be one of the best days ever! We had so much fun that we are for sure going to make this an annual event!
The BBQ cook off is a fundraiser for the scholarship fund. There are about 50 booths set up. All the food and BEER is free! They ask for donations at each tent! SO…Val and I take turns giving a dollar or 2 at each tent. I think I spent a total of $5 bucks when we got inside. We stuffed ourselves with some very yummy BBQ and excellent beer! I had Lone Star Light which I did not know existed – it was good. I also had a St. Arnold wheat beer which was very yummy and will probably be purchased later!
As far as the food – we had brisket, chicken, potato salad, chili, frito pie and all kinds of stuff. The best of the day would have to be the frito pie. They used brisket for the chili meat….mmmmmm! Out of all the briskets I still think my dad’s is better – actually Tom I think your smoked chicken and cream cheese would also do very well. Maybe you should enter next year! Here are a couple photos of what we ate….

The winner of the day in our book

Chicken was great - Brisket was ok

Year one lesson learned – pace yourself
Year two lesson learned – go early.

When we got there the crowds were very manageable and we were able to get in and out of places very quickly. We took an eating break to check out the fair – when we came back it was super crowded and a lot of places were out of food and beer. It felt like the event went from a nice leisurely event to “people are gonna be really wasted really quickly” event. Not as much fun when we went back for round two.

The reason I write this blog and share this privileged information is because most of you reading do not live in Austin and there is no real threat of you making the event that much more crowded!

Sad day….

Buddy goes home today and I am sad about it. I got used to having him there. He is one of those dogs that gets really really excited when you come home and who does not love that. He is a very good dog and I am going to miss having him around. He and Biscuit started playing every day. The cat set the tone when she would run after Buddy and he was scared of her. I was cracking up last night watching him try and get around her to get a toy. He only chewed up one toy of B’s, which is really good for him (don’t tell Val it was a Christmas present.) All and all we had a good time and now I want another dog….dun dun dun!

Adventures with Buddy

My parents are in Italy for 9 days – I know you are thinking “why would they not take their favorite daughter Jackie?!” but you can’t win them all. I am keeping one of their dogs for them, Buddy, and it has been an interesting couple of days and they just left on Monday. Nothing bad – just weird really.
My parents live on some land – so Buddy is used to being able to run free in the great wide open. Well while he is staying at my house I have been advised to leave him in his create while I am at work. I know it saddens me too. So when I come home he is very excited to see me. I have taken him and B for walks the last 2 days. My mom told me Buddy was good on a leash – but I beg to differ! Yesterday I took the 2 of them for a 2 mile walk and it took me 40 min! He is all over the place and then B gets all thrown off and it was not good. Well not good exercise for me anyways which is what I was going for. He did much better after we walked for a while and he got tired. Then B was walking slower than I have ever seen him walk.
The weirdest part is that when I am home at night neither him nor Biscuit want to play. They are both very lethargic the whole time I am there. I get toys for them and they just look at me like I am nuts. I am not sure what that is all about. Maybe they have dog parties during the day and I don’t know it.
The funniest part is….Monday night was the first night he stayed over night at my place with out my parents. I let him sleep on the floor in my room, which is what he does with my parents. I think he just sat there and watched me sleep all night! Every time I would wake up and roll over there he was right by my bed looking at me…kinda creepy. He did sleep last night though.
I feel bad, my poor cat is scared beyond belief. When I came home Monday she had been under my bed all day. She had not eaten or anything. I dragged her out that night so that she could have free reign of the house. Yesterday I came home and she had been behind the washer and dryer all day – again no food or nothing. This morning she was a little braver and was hanging out in the office which is kind of her room. I am sure she will get used to him just in time for him to go home.
Buddy is a great dog and so sweet. I just feel bad that he seems to be pretty lonely without my parents even though he has me and another dog poor guy. I am going out to their place this weekend so maybe that will help him.