Another Episode of FYM.....

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Well, I feel a little better....but not much. That was me unleashing my hatred for Mondays and just a little chili related rage....LOL!!!

First of all, congratulations to Carolyn Seelig, our new Texas Ladies State Champion! She bested 180 chili cooks Saturday to be crowned our champion! She's such a lovely woman and she looked great up on stage with her gorgeous Wendell Rankin stove and tiara. Way to kick ass Carolyn!!!

I also have to congratulate my partner in crime Vicki Sanders on her 7th place finish! I was so happy for her and I love watching her place. 10th place or 1st place, or 7th place...that woman is hootin and hollerin and excited. Isn't that how it should be??? It's hard to get points and I guess the way I see it, you should be happy anytime your number gets called!!

You never know what's going to win when you cook in certain places. The best advice I ever received was from a wise man...sort of a Budda type figure, if you will....and he said, "cook what you know and let the cream rise to the top". Ever since then, that's what I've done no matter where I am. A good recipe is going to get you far no matter where you are. It may not get you exactly where you want to be, but it's going to give you a fair shake rather than trying to figure out what to cook and where to cook it. The first recipe I ever cooked was Bob Coats recipe off of the CASI website. To this day, I still tell people to cook that recipe - it's a proven winner. The thing is, I got a hold of a good recipe the old fashion way - it was there for me and everyone else to print and cook. What I don't understand is the lengths people will go to in order to get their hands on someone's good recipe, all the while being nice to their face when they've gotten a hold of it in a not so friendly manner. And really, the person it was taken from isn't the one affected the most, it's the unfortunate ones who are given the hijacked recipe and have no idea that's what it is. They're the ones who seem to get caught with it....not the one who took it in the first place. Is that reason to freak out and quit cooking chili. No....from what I understand, this has been going on since people started cooking chili. Other than mentioning it today in a somewhat disappointed manner, it doesn't really bother me like it probably should. (That's probably the Cymbalta doing it's job). I mean, how fun is it to win with something when you know you came across it dishonestly? And I'm not talking about the people that it's handed out to who have no idea....I'm talking about the person who knew what they were doing when they took it. No need to name names...that person knows who he is and hopefully he'll realize that I know, too. It doesn't do any good to say anything, what's done is done. I just know that I'm nobody's fool...I may not know what's happened when it happens, but I eventually figure it out. For someone to think that they've pulled one over on me is an insult...I think that's fair to say about anyone. I guess if I really wanted to be an ass, I could put the recipe on every blog and FB page I know of so that everyone has it....I guess that would spoil it for the person who thought they landed a coup :) Well, enough about that. No need to let someone else's negative actions ruin my day, or week, or life.

Another wonderful thing happened at Ladies State this weekend - approval from the TLS Board to have a JUNIOR LADIES STATE COOKOFF!!!!!!! Kelly Mosel-Talavera stayed after the TLS Board and they voted and approved it at their meeting Saturday. This is such wonderful news and I'm so excited to be involved!! We've noticed more and more girls coming to TLS with their moms and what better way to get these girls cooking chili than to promote CASI at TLS! I'm so looking forward to getting this cook off up and running. It's going to be so much fun!! We're going to need volunteers and sponsors, so if you're interested, please let us know!

Paige was an absolute joy this weekend. I just love her so much and she's such a sweetie pie. We both wore our matching pink hair and she was all about driving the golf cart everywhere. We had the best time parking with Toni and Bonnie and ate like kings Saturday night! We made good time coming home yesterday, too. Gary finished planting my herbs and peppers and Paige and I went for pedicures. I've got to get more potting soil for my different lettuce seeds, but other than that, I'm ready for some veggies!! The boys stayed in the puppy hotel over the weekend and they're getting a spa treatment today. We're still waiting to hear if Eddie impregnated his little lady...can't wait to find out!!! Those will be some precious pups :)

I hope everyone has a fantastic Monday!!! I'm ready for this wind to go the hell away, that's for sure!! I'm getting geared up for Larry Joe Taylor in a few weeks - it's going to be great.

Well, shit - the school just called and my Juicy is sick. Poor baby....I'm off!