Conversations With Paige

Paige:  Mommy, isn't there some kind of meat stuff in meatballs?
Me:  Yes.  Meat.
Paige:  I know, but isn't there some kind of meat in the meatballs?
Me:  Yes....meat.
Paige:  I'm confused.  What do they use to make the meatballs?
Me:  Paige!!!  They use meat.  What the ?????
Paige:  But what kind of meat?  That's what you're not getting.
Me:  Paige, it can be any meat...beef, pork, turkey....whatever.
Paige:  Turkey is meat?
Me:  Oh Paige.....

I figured out that kids have a total disconnect between meat and what makes the meat.  It seems like once they figure out the cute pig is actually bacon, they sort of freak out.  She knows what meat is....I'm hoping this was just an isolated event.

As most of you have read on FB, my child finds it embarrassing that I don't place at cook offs, she's completely prepared to ax me in the event I turn into a Zombie and try and bite her and my husband and I have had the most horrific time dealing with our douchebag business partner.  For all of the joy my life brings me, 2012 has completely sucked ass.  I hate saying things like that because in the big picture, I, we, (all of us!) are extremely fortunate.  Yes, we all have serious ups and downs, but we are alive, mostly healthy, mostly happy and live somewhat comfortable lives.  Over the past year, I have felt like my spirit has been tested and there are times, like now, that I think the douchebags of the world have won.  And then on the other hand, I remember that I'm unbreakable.  Life is hard.  Owning a business (read: Demo Company) is even harder.  Don't ever, ever have a business partner.  Never, ever trust that your financial well being will matter to someone else as much as theirs matters to them.  Remember who your friends are and don't be surprised when you realize who they aren't.  Marry someone that you would want in a foxhole with you and count yourself lucky to have friends and family (even if there aren't that many) who have your back.  From the outside, money looks like it fixes everything.  It doesn't.  It creates even more greed and when you are dealing with unscrupulous people, that greed will know no bounds.  There isn't anything wrong with having money (I certainly have enjoyed it), but I know now that I wouldn't trade peace of mind for any amount of money.  I am so lucky to have found something I truly love to do, regardless of what kind of money I earn while doing it, or what people think of me while I'm doing it :).  Mild Bill's has been a bright spot in an otherwise craptastic year.  I'm fortunate and even though Gary and I have been dealing with so much the past few months, I believe the best is yet to come our way.  Today is one of those days when I'd like to sit in my comfy chair in my kickin gray lounge pants, take a Xanax and a Hyrdrocodone, and drink a bottle of wine and drift off into a deep, uninterrupted sleep and wake up in a different reality.  Alas, life doesn't work that way and I wonder if it did, would we all be grateful for what we had if we didn't ever have to deal with how we wound up with it?  I believe everything happens for a reason and that there is a lesson in so many of our troubles and triumphs.  I guess it boils down to how deep you are willing to dig your heels in to hang on to who you know you are even when life is at it's lowest point and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  That's when I say to stop looking for the light and become your own. 

K   

A Week of Testes

Or, if you aren't Paige, testing.  Catholic schools don't do that crazy TAKS, STAAR, whatever it's called, that public schools do, but they do have a week of standardized testing.  Paige refers to it as her week of testes.  She doesn't quite say testing, and because it's funny, I don't correct her.  I know, mom of the year over here, but it's funny.  So she'll talk to my mom and the conversation will go like this:

Paige:  Gammy, I love testes days. 
Gammy:  WHAT???
Paige:  You know, it's testes week.  We don't have homework.  I wish we could have testes every day.

And it goes from there.  And I sit in the front seat and drive and laugh my ass off.  I mean, isn't that kind of why people have kids....for the entertainment value????  I mean, that's why I did....

Well, technically, I got pregnant on accident, so I didn't plan on my offspring being my entertainment but why ruin a good thing by correcting her pronounciation of certan words?

I'm cooking in Cleburne tomorrow - it's one of my faves.  It's a two day cook off and I usually take my trailer and my child for a mommy baby weekend.  No trailer and Juicy is going to the movies with Mamaw tomorrow.  Gary's working on his deer stand and I guess the babies will spend the outside with him sunning themselves.  Showing off their muffs, that sort of thing :)

I would be remiss if I didn't very publicly thank Doris Coats for the HUGE shout out she gave Mild Bill's yesterday morning on Fox Good Day.  Doris, you are one of a kind, a hell of a chili cook and I can't thank you enough for mentioning us on Good Day.  Not only did the website blow up with orders, but the walk in business since yesterday has been insane.  Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

Keep it Spicy, my friends.....and spread your own special brand of kindness and joy, whatever that may be :)

K

Musings.......

One of the reasons I don't blog as much is because I have to watch my mouth.  If I can't express my opinion on MY BLOG, then it really isn't a whole lot of fun.  I'm always being told that I can't write this, I can't write that.  Well, bullshit.  If someone doesn't like what I write, then don't read it.  I always crack up at people who listen to or read opinions that do nothing but inflame them, then get upset about what the person said or wrote.  If you know you are going to be pissed off by it, why subject yourself to it?  It's like political talk shows.  I can't stand them, they're ridiculous and quite frankly, I'm tired of actors and celebrities being asked their opinion on the state of our country and the world.  So guess what?  I don't subscribe to them - on TV or in print.  That way, I don't get worked up over something that I know I drives me crazy.  But that's just me.  And that is my rant for this morning :)

I made the mistake of drinking Starbucks coffee the past two days.  And not just the coffee, but venti Americanos with an extra shot.  I couldn't figure out why my pancreas was so jacked up....and then it hit me.  Ahhh....not so bright there, Spice Mistress.  Not so bright at all!

I'm worried about Paige's obsession with TV.  She has a hard time making good choices when it comes to TV and reading, or school work in general.  Monday night I told her that she was going to have to go back to her no television schedule Sun-Thurs because she wasn't reading in the evenings.  You would have thought I told her Lollipop had died or something.  She means well, and she's not a bad kid AT ALL, but she has a serious love (a love hunger, if you will) for the TV.  Tyler was the same way.

There is to be a meeting of the owners of T&B Demolition at some point today.  Of course, only three of the owners will be present because of them wouldn't deign to be involved with all of us.  I mean, if you don't read a set of plans correctly and don't walk a job prior to bidding it, how can you be surprised when it doesn't make any money?  And cutting costs doesn't mean cutting the 20 hour work week of one person to 16 hours...because, you know, that's really going to make a difference.  No, you cut the hours of the dead weight douchebag that doesn't work and spends his time fishing and going to titty bars instead of running the field like he's supposed to.  But hey - that's just me and I obviously don't know a damn thing about running a business :)

For someone pissed off that she can't write what she wants on her own blog, I just kind of did, didn't I?!?!?!?!?

On a MUCH lighter note - Paige's 4th Annual Spooky Halloween contest is next weekend and then it'll be time for TERLINGUA!!!  It has been so busy at the store and I've got so many spices and blends to talk about....that's going to be my goal.....blogging once a day and talking about one of my spices.  That should keep me blogging and sort of out of trouble. 

And just in case you all didn't know.....our spices are the freshest you can get your hands on.  They stay in the walk in cooler until ordered and then they are packaged.  You can't get our blends anywhere else....our recipes our proprietary and can't be sold to, blended for or sold by anyone else - regardless of what you might have heard or been told.  Quality is key when it comes to spices and you won't find a higher quality product anywhere else :)

Have a fantabulous day!  I'm going to get back to my spices and do what I do best...spread my own special brand of kindness and joy and the unmistakable aroma of some really kick ass cumin!!

The Spice Mistress

 

So This is What My Blog Looks Like.......Back in the Day.......

Haha.....long time no blog :)

This is going to be a short but sweet one, with more to follow tonight and tomorrow.

We have a lot to catch up on.....conversations with Paige, recipes and as was recently pointed out to me by my husband, my lack of hotness as compared to 20 years ago.

But let's not dwell on that awkard domestic dispute this fine morning.  Let's start (and end!) today's blog post with a Paige Special:

Paige:  Mommy, this book says that you can introduce dogs to guinea pigs, but that you should be careful.
Me:  Yep (it's 7:15 am and I haven't had enough coffee....so I'm not much of a conversationalist yet this morning.)
Paige:  Well, I just don't think that's a good idea.  Especially with Eddie.  He has a hunger for Lollipop.  A love hunger.  And a food hunger.  I mean, he wants to eat her, but he's hungry for her love, too.  That's why I called it a love hunger.  You can have a love hunger and a food hunger for someone.

Have a great day everyone!  I'm going to keep it spicy today - hope you do too.....

The Spice Mistress