First published on Facebook during the day on November 2, 2016, before Game 7 of the World Series was to start later that evening. Wow, nervous energy. What is it about sports? Sports have always been my life. My first love, my first interest – the reason I’ve done many things in my life. My dad’s influence was definitely a huge reason, but I took things a bit further than he ever would have, or maybe not. He was, after all, always excited for me when I told him that I was the only girl playing tailback on the elementary school team, or that I wrote a letter to the…
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Sundays Are For Barbacoa Tacos
Tacos de barbacoa. On Sundays, I am thankful for the local Mexican meat markets for selling barbacoa that is muy rico— and as I get older, I am especially thankful that barbacoa reminds me of strong family traditions that take my mind, my stomach and my heart back to great childhood memories. Growing up Tex Mex Growing up in South Texas—puro Tex Mex, mind you—one eats their fair share of barbacoa on Sunday mornings. And even when that one—talking about myself here—ends up leaving South Texas to move across the mighty Mississippi, one’s dad finds a way to keep that tradition alive. When I was a few months from turning…
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Life’s a Beach…
“Life’s a beach, so just enjoy it and get a little dirty.” ~eamII No matter what is going on in the world, I won’t let that stop me from exploring, enjoying and eating all that life has to offer. After all, life’s a beach. A wonderful and beautiful beach—sandy and dirty at times, and yet still worth living, and loving. The Texas Gulf Coast As a native Texan, I grew up going to the Texas coast to enjoy beach time with my family. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from days spent with my parents and siblings at the beach. My dad loved the Texas Gulf especially, and because…
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50 Things I’ve Learned…
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ~Ernest Hemingway 50 Things I’ve Learned —some random, some not so much… Being born healthy and loved is a great gift. Being raised to be tough and independent has served me well. Great books can change the world; Beautiful writing can change the world for the better. Conversations with my dad—especially throughout my childhood—made all the difference for me. Moving, traveling and any kind of adventure make me happy and fulfilled… …So does being comfortable and relaxed at home. A perfect flour tortilla, warm off the comal, is usually the start…
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Beef. It’s What’s for Barbecue.
“…Let me ride through the wide open country that I love, don’t fence me in…” ~lyrics from the Cole Porter classic, Don’t Fence Me In Did you know that many people grow up not knowing that beef makes good barbecue? Good people in good parts of the world grow up never eating brisket or beef ribs?! Did you know that? I didn’t know that when I was growing up but I found out when I moved from Austin to Chicago way back in 1991. A waitress at a famous so-called barbecue joint in Chicago mocked me when I asked if they had beef ribs (I’ve never been much of a…
