BBQ vs BBQ

So today I fired up the grill so that the Mrs and I could enjoy a nice meal. I grilled hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken wings and thighs. Not to mention I also had some corn on the cob that I also threw on the grill. Anyway while I was grilling I thought to myself. I said, "Self" Myself said, "Huh" I said, "Why do some people refer to BBQ as the pulled pork that was cooked in a pit or on an open fire? Some refer to BBQ as the meat cooked on the grill, or as the actual cookout. What about if the meat doesn't have BBQ sauce on it? Is it still BBQ? I wondered right up to the point I had myself confused. Because I feel the pulled pork with sauce is BBQ. Or you have BBQ sauce on chicken, ribs, and steaks but that isn't BBQ to me. Is it a regional thing. Do people in Texas refer to BBQ as grilled meat, while the people in NC refer to it as the pig that is slow cooked in a pit? Then my next thing is this, what really is the beef between Texas and North Carolina as to who has the best BBQ? I say serve it and shut up. No one has the best to me, because they are different, but it's still meat that has been sauced differently. I may bake chicken with onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic and people may say that it's the best they had. But then they try another person's recipe who used celery, carrots, and tomatoes and then say that was the best they ever had. To me when it comes to cooking, grilling, and preparing foods there is a million and one ways to do anything. So whose to say that your way or my way is the best? Even with these judges on these cook shows. They make a decision as far as a winner, but does that mean if the challengers competed all week that the same person would win everytime? I don't believe so. In football the saying is "Any given Sunday!". Which means no matter what the records are or who is on what teams, the team that comes to play will win, and it may just be the team with the losing record. So back to the nature at hand, which is what was the term "BBQ" really mean? There is no right or wrong answer, but I would like to know what others think. So holla at me world, or those of you who come across this blog post. Until next time people, be safe and no matter how you feel about BBQ, enjoy whatever version you love.

It's On My Mind...

So today I sat wondering, "Why is it unmanly or frowned upon for guys to do certain things for their woman?" Why is it if you take your lady's chair out, most guys in the room look at you as if you committed a cardinal sin? Or you're not tough because you like cooking, and don't mind cleaning. It just seems that guys have been trained to believe that those things are women's' duties. It appears as though generation after generation keeps these "Man Laws" that as far as I am concerned need to be updated, changed, or even have some new ones amended. WHY?!!! Because there are women out here that deserve more than, "You're a woman, that's what you're supposed to do." You know where? Probably the one right next to you. It amazes me when I hear a guy say, "All I know is when I get home my old lady better have dinner ready." Or what? You gonna go home and slap her around? Start an unnecessary argument? Go and hang out with the boys at the bar, and have some beer and wings until the wee hours of the morning? If you answered yes to any of those, you sir will not be with your woman for ever. You don't appreciate what your woman goes through. You don't respect what she does as the lady of the house. That goes for working and stay at home moms, wives, fiancees, and even girlfriends. Because 9/10 your woman works, she always cooks, cleans, and (if you have any) chases after the kids. While you get the big piece of chicken, and why? Because you're the man of the house. THAT WILL GET OLD AFTER A WHILE FELLAS!!! Now if you're not the best cook or even slightly good at cooking it's not as difficult as some of you lazy maggots think. If you have a job, usually that means you can read. If you can read then you shouldn't have a problem following written instructions. If you can follow written instructions you can...............wait for it.............COOK. No fellas I am not saying that you need to do it every night, or become the Mark Stewart of the home. But every woman deserves to come home to a nice meal at least twice a month. AT LEAST! Especially if every time you go to put on a shirt, it's ironed or she will do it for you. Every time your stomach growls, she asks, "What do you want to eat baby?" Every time you leave with a hamper full of dirty laundry, you return to paper plate white draws or fresh boxers. OH AND DON'T YOU DARE HAVE A WOMAN THAT HAS BARED YOUR CHILDREN!!! You sir should be on a regimen of cooking a meal once a week. Now it doesn't have to be limited to cooking either. Your woman would probably appreciate it when she is working and your butt is at home, to come home to a clean house. Yes you are a guy, but I didn't know the requirements to wash dishes, vacuum, or sweep and mop lists vagina and breasts as qualifications. I had no idea. My frustrations are overflowing because I sit, I listen, and I watch. I have a cousin whose woman does just about everything for him. She made a deal with him that as long as he gets his close separated she will always make sure they get washed, dried, and folded. For you stupid individuals who don't understand what separated means, it's the dividing of close based on colors, washing cycle, and bleach or no bleach. For you simpletons, whites, darks, lights. Got it? So he calls me one day grumbling and upset. I ask him what happened. He replies, " I gotta take my clothes to the laundry tonight because I have no clean underwear and I wanna watch the game but Carla won't take them." I say, "Why not?" He replies, "She told me last week that she was going to wash clothes and she asked me to separate my clothes and I got mad." Mad for what? "Because if she is washing clothes why can't she separate them." REALLY??? So instead of you just separating the clothes, you got an attitude, and now you not only have to separate them, but pack them up, roll them to the laundromat, and stay there with them for hours until they're done, then fold them and you've pissed off your woman." Que the Fred G. Sanford sound bite..."You big dummy!" Guys, you gotta try and see what I am saying. The days of our women (Black, White, Hispanic, Asian..etc) being treated like slaves, servants, and door mats are over. This isn't the early 1900s, nor is it the 50s and 60s. Back then women were not given opportunities. Doors for women in the work place weren't closed, they hadn't even been invented. You only saw women in the schools as teachers and lunch ladies, as secretaries, and celebrities back then. Now we have a woman who is Speaker of The House, we have a woman who is Secretary of State, we may even have woman run for the highest office in our country in 2012. (I don't want her to win, but not because she's a woman. I'm voting Obama in 2012) LOL! FOR PETE'S SAKE POSSIBLY THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN AMERICA IS A WOMAN! HELLOOOOOO...OPRAH! By the way who is Pete, and why do we sake for him? Anyway, before you guys decide to play me for some women's rights activist. Just stop and think about it like this. If you're woman does everything she possibly can for you to be happy, healthy, and comfortable. Why can't she get you to give her a little more than your dirty draws and a list of demands? My reason for this post is to get some of these guys out here to show their women some damn love, adoration, and appreciation. Taking her out to dinner is NOT always the answer (it's fine for the special occasions), because she doesn't sleep with the server, the cook, or the host at the restaurant. Cooking a meal for anyone shows them that you cared enough about them, that you took time out of your day to do something nice/special for them. It shows that you knew that maybe they could use a nice meal and not have to worry about you or the family that night. Flowers are not a dead sign of "love and appreciation" either fellas. Especially when they are given on days other than Mother's Day, birthdays, or Valentine's Day. Flowers on a nonholiday day let's your lady feel like it might not be a holiday, but it made her day special because you thought about her. Making a day where you take the kids for the entire day so she can have some time to herself. Like I said earlier, if you can read you can cook. Fix her a quick and easy meal from the food network. www.foodnetwork.com/quick-and-easy You can find something simple, something that your lady may have never had before, and possibly something that she will love. Again if you can read, the site has prompts to help you find a recipe. Listen guys, if your woman is really "holding you down" (she has your best interest at heart), then it is up to you to show her how much you appreciate her. To show her how much you LOVE her. There are women out here that are looking for men, and you will need more than looks, money-spending dates, and your man-tool to keep her. The thing about it is friends, the WOMAN is not still in the kitchens. The WOMAN is not just feet in the air having babies. The WOMAN is not walking around with the baby strapped on her back while she mops, cleans, and does laundry. So why is it okay for the MAN to just go to work, do as he please, and come home and lounge around? If you're with you're lady right now, grab her. Tell her how much she means to you. Tell her that you see the work she does keeping the house in order. That if it wasn't for her you probably would not be for the better. If she is not with you, call her, text her, HELL BBM or email her and let her know that she is not going unnoticed and that you can't wait to see her when she gets back home. If you never want to lose the woman you're with, and the things I said in this post applies to you. Then hear what I'm saying. In the words of Otis Redding, " Squeeze her, don't tease her, and try a little tenderness" Alright I am done venting. Hopefully these words will benefit someone. Even if it's a woman who is in a bad relationship, that's right sweetie if you are giving that MF every part of you and he isn't showing you any appreciation or love...it's time to talk to him. If he doesn't listen, THEN it's time to go. The man who does everything he can for a woman, the same goes for you. NO one should be left to feel less of a human being. But this one was for the fellas. Lastly my dudes, woman was made from the rib of a man. So God made woman with purpose. But the purpose wasn't to be beneath us, but rather with us. Love your woman fellas, before someone else does. You are NOT irreplaceable! Go ask my Aunt Ethel she'll tell you. LOL! Later y'all.

Strasburg Looked Great But...

In sports we always seem to look for the next breakout star. In baseball there are quite a few guys we are looking at now. Jayson Heyward, Garrett Jones, Neftali Feliz, Phil Hughes and Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals were bringing Strasburg along through the minors cautiously but slowly ensuring the kid was ready to hit the big leagues. During his minor league stint he had some pretty good outings. Then after a year of minor league play comes Wednseday night where Strasburg made his MLB debut for the Washington Nationals against the Pittsburg Pirates. Now before I move along I just want to express to those of you who are not familiar with baseball, that the Pirates are not a good team. The Pirates record is 23-37, a below .500 average. But the Nationals aren't that much better. Still the Pirates have "PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYERS". Meaning, the team may not be that good, but all of these guys made it to the pros because they are good. So Strasburg initially showed he had some heat with his pitches with a fastball that clocked in the 98-100mph range. WOW! There was a moment in the game where he faced a bit of adversity which I will touch on later, but he never gave up and hung in there. As the game continued I started to wonder, "Could this kid be the next great pitcher?" Then reality set in. I will not be able to answer that question until he links up good season after good season. Not to mention it was only his first major league start. Still, Strasburg appeared to have the stuff it will take to have a great career. He has a spicy fastball, a nasty curve, and a beautiful change up with a throwing form that has no wasted motion. Strasburg gave up 2 runs in the 4th inning on a 2 run homer from Delwyn Young. Strasburg remained in the game despite giving up the lead. He would then show us all why the Nationals not only drafted him #1 overall in last year's draft, but are paying him a record (for rookies) 15.1 million dollars. Strasburg pitched into the seventh inning when he was taken out for a pinch hitter. (Pinch hitter- a guy who does not start the game but goes up to bat for someone who did start. Then that starter is usually out of the game especially if it's a pitcher) He left the game with a 4-2 lead fanning (striking out) every starter at least once, with a total of 14 strikeouts, and get this...NO WALKS! Also Strasburg threw 94 pitches over the 7 innings averaging like 13 pitches an inning. That means he was only facing 3 batters per inning and throwing maybe 3 0r 4 pitches per batter. Out of the 94 pitches he threw, 65 were strikes. Strasburg did in fact pick up his first MLB win with a score of 5-2. This young man could very well be that next breakout star, BUT until I can see a little more I am reserving my "Greatness" stamp of approval for a later date. However I will leave with this. I was very impressed with his performance, I like what I saw from him, and I can very well see this kid having one hell of a future. But let's all sit back and watch it develope. Until next time.