This time of year causes me to have flashbacks. It is the time of year for the Arizona National Livestock Show. By far, my favorite stock show. Why? Fun. Lots of fun showing, spending time with kids, eating, fun with friends, fun. It isn’t the drive there or worse, the drive home, that I enjoy. Simply, I’ve had a lot of fun in Phoenix over the years. I didn’t cancel my rooms till the week before Christmas. But, none of my people entered. So, I haven’t been since 2019. TWO YEARS!!
–Food–When traveling, I like to eat at new and excellent places. My Mother’s in Phoenix is an all-favorite. The HUGE turkey pot pie is life altering. The loaves of bread. Oh, gastric paradise. LoLo’s chicken is a dining treat. La Pinata & Carolina’s are mouth watering. Excuse me, I just drooled on the keyboard. However, Ag teacher Extraordinaire, Mr. CL McGill is currently in Phoenix and has been sending me dining updates–old faves and even a new one. And yes, there is a Pappadeaux’s in Phoenix. I love that place. I’m getting the sweats just thinking about all of the fun nights dining at Pappadeaux’s in Phoenix. Birthday parties, banner celebrations & drowning some sorrows in crawfish etouffee. I love those kind of flashbacks.
–Chilean–Tonight, I am sitting at home alone, watching a Law & Order rerun. Tammy is in Houston with her mother. Prayers for continued healing. This L&O episode deals with Chilean official. Chilean being the keyword.
Flashback–In 2014, I reserved a room at Pappadeaux’s. Yes, it was a victory party as Bree Taylor had the grand wether and all of our showman made the premium sale. But, this huge table of friends was what made this dining experience. The highlight was Brandon THE Bruce trying, let me emphasize trying, to order the Chilean sea bass. First off, Brandon doesn’t eat much food that swims. But he was going to give it a go and try the Shillying, Chili sea bass, the shelloneanon sea bass, Shill-I-Ann and finally he just pointed at the menu. The kids and I had so much fun with Brandon over this. And him being the great dude, he just rolled with it, ate it, admitted it wasn’t bad and still laughs with us over it. Oh–the flashbacks of how young those kids were and now–well, now, they are getting grown up and successful. Great kids!
–Cool flashback about that Phoenix trip. Bree’s grand goat SIFTED at the Lone Star Elite Jackpot just 6 weeks earlier. SAME judge! Shouldn’t have sifted. Shouldn’t have won grand at the LSEJ but dang sure shouldn’t have sifted. I’m just saying that the LSEJ judge was NOT on his A game that day in San Angelo. I left Angelo that day, drove north at a high rate of speed, thinking to myself, “There is NO way that he can EFF up two shows in a row. Oh well. Let’s go show and have fun.” I was right–both times.
And speaking of flashbacks–wether a decade ago or like Van Halen–RIGHT NOW–Brandon THE Bruce still makes the best damn chex mix EVER! EVER!!! Wether it is a Tabasco or a Sriracha flavor—wicked awesome!
Other flashback’s from the tripS to Phoenix include: blizzards near Flagstaff, frozen fog in Ruidoso; Kela, Cody Ott, Travis Stroble & I listening to the Boise St./UofO game on the radio as we drove south to avoid a blizzard (can’t wait to watch espn when we get home); Brady Thomas & crew experiencing New Year’s Eve in Tempe after an OSU bowl win; my dad, brother Jake and friend/Uncle Ronnie watching Duke (11 years old) rolling a set of scales out of the barns and we then loaded them into our trailer. My dad, “Duke, what are you doing with those scales?”
Duke, “They’re mine.”
Dad, “You stealing them?”
Duke, “Nope, won em.” I then had to explain to Dad that the grand barrow got the scales. Duke is still that dry today. And we still have the scales in the barn. We don’t need them anymore but we still have them.
Mcdonalds flashback–Yes, McDonald’s. I had a friend/former student call tonight about the fact that we didn’t go to Phoenix. We agreed that we will have to remedy this next year. In the conversation, he mentioned, “If you hear a bunch of noise and a moron talking, we are ordering $40 worth of cheseburgers.”
Wait?
What?
The only time that I’ve ever ordered $40+ of McD’s cheeseburgers was one night in OKC, while dealing with a serious contact high right after the “final Motley Crue tour”. I paid a cabbie to drive us around and we bought a whole big bait of burgers at the Mickey D’s drive through near Bricktown. Ironically, Brandon THE Bruce was there as well. Trust me. The real life story is good.
Here’s to all of you having happy flashbacks for whatever occasion. I had some people bringing some does to my place today. I shudder. I quickly remembered why I wanted rid of doe goats. I HATE doe goats! Maybe I have some ptsd. I am NOT making light of ptsd but if you have ever had doe goats, well, then you understand. There is a lot of trauma and stress involved with these creatures.
Peace Out! And have a good one tomorrow.
