Month: August 2016

Let’s Talk BBQ

As I ponder these last two days with opening of schools, I could sit here and rant about the overprotective extremely dramatic parents of the students I serve.  I could even go on about the shortage of teachers and bus drivers.  Not tonight.

I am enjoying the fruits of my Sunday labors.  I have plate of bbq ribs, mashed potatoes made with real cream and a glass of club soda.  These are all things that were given to me from the food bank I volunteer at.  I am so grateful that I am able to participate still.

Getting back to the Q in the barbe.  It just never ceases to amaze me how good food tastes on grill.  Especially wood grills.  Yum.  I am no expert.  But, I really like it.  From chicken to fish and ribs and beef and grilled veggies.

I want to thank God for creating that for us.  If He hadn’t requested burnt offerings on His altars, we would have never probably done it for ourselves.   I can only imagine the aromas of cooking meat coming from traveling temple’s courtyard when livestock was offered.  Only the best, of course.

Growing up I could never understand why Dad was so excited for summer.  Living in a colder climate, bbq is only during those few short months.  Yes, there was the broiler, but it just wasn’t the same.  Now, they have all those fancy gadgets that you can grill inside.  I tell you, it still isn’t the same.  I know mom hated it because that meant she had to clean out the ashes afterwards.  Either way, most of us looked forward to grilled chicken drumsticks, hamburgers and hot dogs from the grill.  I personally preferred the toasting marshmallows afterwards.

Living in South Florida, we can grill all year around.  Also, with the portable propane tanks, grilling can go anywhere.  When my children were little and we owned a home with a small back yard.  I grilled a lot.  I usually grilled a week’s worth of meat.  I had chicken on area, sausages in another and maybe steak or hamburgers in another section.  I even grilled a whole turkey one year.  That was a fail.  We even got the rotisserie that attached to the grill.  The best roast or chicken ever!!!

My dad used to be a meat inspector.  He did complain about ribs.  Said they were too much work for so little meat.  So, we really never had any except from the Chinese place.  You know, those little two inch things in some red sticky sauce.  I was introduced to real ribs here in Florida.  The softest, most tender meat is between the ribs.  I understand why people like them so much.  They are even easy to cook if you don’t have bbq.  I find I just throw them in a crock pot on low with all the seasonings and sauce I like.  Come home from work and dinner is ready!

Crock pot cooking……conversation for another day.

I just wanted to tell you to go to Aldi’s (or any other grocery store) and get a nice section of ribs.  Rub your favorite seasonings on them or not.   I use the disposable liners for my crock pot or you can use spray oil to make clean up  a little easier.  Place the rib rack on its ends and curl around.  If separate ribs, lay  in tic tac toe design.  Pour your favorite BBQ sauce over it.  Set it on low and forget it for 6-8 hours.    I have also used my dutch oven on 250 with the ribs in an oven for those who don’t have the luxury of a crock pot.  Keep the lid on  and only cook for 4 hours.

Either way you like your ribs.  Enjoy, smile and understand God knew what He was asking for with the burnt offerings.

Going SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)

I am feeling a little depressed tonight.  I just finished a personal SWOT analysis for one of my management classes to finish my degree.  This is a higher level class and part of it will be doing an objective/goal resume that is only one page.  Part of this process includes doing this analysis.

I find that through the last several months, as I have done this process several times, is the uncertainty of my health.  My health progression has slowed down, but not stopped.  So, why bother doing this analysis if I may be on disability in the next year?  I keep asking myself that.  I guess I am an extreme optimist or self punisher.  Mostly, I think it is hope.  I don’t want to get my bachelor’s that I have worked my ass off for to have it just sit on the wall and not get used.

Another problem is my lack of spanish.  I don’t know about you.  Last time I looked, Florida was part of the US and English is the primary language.  Who do these immigrants think they are fooling by not learning English? Don’t they realize that they can’t really go anywhere outside of Dade and Broward county if they don’t learn English.  Even in Texas and Southern California where more Mexican style of spanish is spoken, the majority of the immigrants speak enough English to communicate their needs.  Not here….Most of them assume I speak spanish and that I am from Cuba.  I am so Rocky Mountain,  you can’t get much more Heinze 57 mix American than me.  I don’t even look hispanic.  Yet, everyone wonders if I came from Venezuela.  Really?  Just how much lead did you get as a child?  I have learned some key phrases and numbers as needed for my job.  But, you came here to have a better life.  Learning a new language is part of that change.  My phone message isn’t even in spanish.

I personally think that the main office loves it when I cover for the receptionist just so they can hear me tell almost 90% of the phone callers I don’t speak spanish.

Getting back to the point of this post, I find a lot of my goals and objectives revolving around me finishing school.  It is done in December.  But, some days it seems like an eternity when looking for prospective jobs.  Other days, it seems just around the corner and I am excited.

My health is holding me back this very week from applying for a couple of jobs.  I don’t know if a new employer would be willing to put up with all my doctor appointments.  I know that they have to put up with my disability accommodations, they aren’t extravagant.  I can still sit at a desk, type my heart out, organize meetings, arrange calendars and answer the phones while pouring coffee and assisting a customer.

Then there is Daisy.  My munchkin.  Would a new employer be willling to allow me to bring her to work as an ESA?  I know I would just have to ask.  But, I get to do that now.

What about the money?  I really could use the money.  But, would making more really make me happier?  Will my husband’s disabilty check make it feasable for me to stay at my current position?

These are all things God and I are going to have work out.  Actually, that I am going to have to take His guidance on.  May my ears and mind be open to His shepherding.