Before I even get started on any sort of weekend recap, I feel I owe Brett Favre an apology. I could not be more sorry that I decided to be a Vikings fan yesterday. I am almost certain it sealed their defeat because it is a non-scientific fact that any team I cheer for is destined to lose.
(I originally typed “any time I cheer for” which kind of makes me laugh because “HOORAY FOR THREE O’ CLOCK!”)
In fact, if you ever hear me say “Oh! I’ll be cheering for your team!” or your favorite chess player or mathlete or whatever, please feel free to ask me to politely refrain. My allegiance is the sporting kiss of death. The only exception are the Olympic Games. The United States usually fairs pretty well in spite of my loyalty and devotion, but most likely this is only because everyone else in the U.S. is routing for them as well and it balances out my allegiance.
The point is it’s probably all my fault that Brett Favre will have to play again next season if he wants to go out on a Super Bowl note.
So earlier this weekend, before the whole Vikings debacle, I took a little road trip to Houston to attend a Beth Moore event. I had the best time making some new friends and spending time with some old ones. Not that anyone I hung out with was old, I just mean I knew them before this weekend. Amanda and I had the privilege of introducing our friend Marla to the wonder that is the Freebirds burrito and I threw caution and shame to the wind and ordered the Monster size.
And it’s none of your business if I actually ate the whole thing.
I didn’t.
But I totally could have if not for a fear that I wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed the next morning.
Then on Saturday I ate some shrimp and cheese grits that may have changed my life. To be perfectly honest I’d never had grits before and I’d totally meant to have Sophie cook some cheese grits for me when we were in Memphis last fall because rumor has it that she makes some of the best cheese grits you’ll ever eat. However, we ended up being way too busy eating multitudes of barbecue sandwiches and ran out of time for the cheese grits.
Anyway, I felt confident that I would love cheese grits, especially when the menu description indicated they’d have bacon, mushrooms, and scallions in them. They did not disappoint. In fact, I think I need to quit thinking about them because it’s bordering on unhealthy obsession.
(This post is riveting. Stay tuned for tomorrow when I’ll discuss what I ate yesterday! What is wrong with me?)
I headed back to San Antonio after lunch on Saturday (Did I mention that I ate cheese grits?) and wasn’t looking forward to the long drive down I-10. It really is the stretch of road that scenery forgot. Thankfully, I fell in behind a gold Maxima that might have been driving slightly over the speed limit and I followed it for much of the trip until it had the misfortune of cresting a hill in Schulenberg, Texas and being the first line of sight for a state trooper’s radar. I genuinely felt bad as I passed my gold Maxima buddy getting a ticket and immediately regretted whispering “See you later, sucker” under my breath.
I was about an hour outside of town when Gulley called me and told me that her youngest son, Will, had fever and she was taking him to the emergency clinic to get him checked out. Normally this wouldn’t have been a big deal, but it was her oldest son, Jackson’s eighth birthday and she was supposed to take seven boys to a hockey game and then back to her house for a sleepover.
She called me a little bit later to report that Will had bronchitis. The doctor gave him some medicine and said he wasn’t contagious so the sleepover could go on as scheduled. I told her that Caroline and I would love to come stay with Will while she and her husband took the older boys to the hockey game because who would want to miss a hockey game with seven boisterous boys? I mean besides me?
Caroline and I got to her house right before it was time for them to leave for the game. Will was a little excited over his encounter with ill health combined with the fact he’d lost his first tooth earlier that day. Which, by the way, annoyed Caroline to no end because she still hasn’t lost a tooth and is convinced she will be the first person in the history of dentistry and the world to have all her baby teeth forever.
Anyway, as soon as Gulley walked out the door with her crew, Will turned to Caroline and yelled, “WHOO HOO! NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE PARTY TO BEGIN!”
Fortunately for me, their version of partying was to spread out a blanket in the playroom so they could have a picnic and eat their Papa John’s pizza.
Let’s just hope it stays that way.
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I just want to say that I’m now congratulating myself for staying up past my bedtime instead of mentally rehearsing the kicking myself in the morning that will inevitably happen because I got sucked into the internet. The “See you later, sucker” made me laugh and then I immediately felt shame because I laughed at you calling someone “sucker.” Glad I’m ending the day on a high note (not that church wasn’t a high note because it totally was, but we also talked about confession, so…).
I love their version of partying! LOL! I hope it stays that way for my little ones, too!
I’m still mourning our Viking loss but I will NOT hold you responsible! It will take me awhile to recuperate after that loss! Thanks for making me smile…I need that today!
Patty
Way to introduce Marla to Freebirds; you make your fellow Aggies proud.
I enjoyed meeting you, Melanie!
Anna
Coming out of lurk(uh…stalk)dom to tell you that I’m married to a Minnesotan, with a son in college there. D. seriously considered asking me to NOT cheer for the Vikings yesterday. If you think that was bad, you should see what happens when I pick out a politician(says the woman who put Mark Sanford 2012 on her Facebook status once). Nice to know there are others who have the kiss of death. It really shouldn’t matter…I’m all about the football food anyway.
I’ve been loving your blog, and am still reading the archives. You have caused me to look like Alice Cooper more than once, with mascara running down my face.
Big Mama – THANK YOU for cheering for the Vikings. Us being from Wisconsin and while not wanting to see Brett hurt, are overjoyed he threw his interception and that the Saints then won in overtime!! Now cheer for the Saints in the Superbowl so Peyton Manning will be victorious for my son!
I am totally upset that you were at the Siesta event. I could have met all my favorites in one spot. Maybe next time!
pLEASE say you are not driving and talking or texting!
Don’t be a statistic!
I’m so glad Jo came out of hiding to comment!
And Thank you for cheering for the Vikings! We have lots of friends from New Orleans and it just makes me happy that they’re happy today! And, if the Falcons aren’t going to be in it, then the Saints are my next favorite! Well, except for maybe the Lions or the Colts. Gosh! I guess I have no loyalties what-so-ever.
And,..and, if all you ever discussed was what you ate the day before then I would still show up here every day because only you could make food so funny!
Too funny! Tell Caroline not to worry about the tooth thing. My 6 yo just lost his 1st tooth last week. He was convinced they were loose all through K and was so disappointed he couldn’t lose one. I told him his brothers didn’t lose their 1st until 1st grade so it would probably be a while.
Tell Caroline that our son Seth is in 1st grade and 7 years old and has yet to loose a tooth as well.
I was so glad I got to see you this weekend! I loved your jacket you wore Friday night…you need to share a picture of it, it’s that cute, just like your jeans you wore at the Siesta Fiesta.
Anyway, PLEASE don’t cheer for the Colts on Super Bowl Sunday. Just sayin’!
Love you,
Patty
I never lost any of my baby teeth on my own. The dentist had to start extracting them at the age of 8 when I hadn’t lost a one. Not a fun thing.
On the bright side, it isn’t hereditary because my son, who is 7, has lost 8 teeth on his own.
Wondering what you get in that Freebirds burrito?
I still had two baby teeth as a sophomore in high school. They had to pull them finally. But I am a firm believer in the fact that the later you get your teeth and then lose your baby teeth, the better your teeth. That was true with me and with my kids who have followed me in their toothdom.
As a girl who lives in Minnesota, I’m thrilled that you cheered on the Vikings and we hope & pray that Brett Favre comes back next year!
Root for the Saints please…we want to see Peyton win a superbowl. Thanks!
Melanie…tell Caroline not to worry, my little guy will be 7 on Friday and has yet to lose a tooth! He is devastated!
“the stretch of road that scenery forgot.”
this could describe many roads in Iowa. It made me giggle.
Thank you so much for always making my day.. I didn’t think anything could make me laugh today, but once again, you came thru!!
My daughter is six and hasn’t lost any teeth yet, either. This has been a sore subject with her; however, things got much better on Friday when she discovered she is getting a six-year molar. All is almost right with the world now.
And suddenly my second child is getting a “four-year molar,” too!
My only trip to TX was this summer and when we went to the Joyce Meyer conference in San Antonio and then drove that same Looooonnng stretch to Houston for some more fun. I feel your pain.
I am still in mourning over the loss last night…we love Brett here in MN and I just hope he comes back so you can cheer for all the teams the Vikings face next year to make up for last night!
Just picture it…one day you will be standing in the driveway with Caroline and her friend late at night wondering why kids are driving by in cars with their bathing suits on and beach towels hanging out the window…the two girls sweating nervously, while denying that there was any hint of a pool party about to happen!!!!
I was at the SMT Celebration, as well. Sorry to have missed meeting you. I wasn’t feeling very well (non-contagious kind of not well), and I sorta took on the wallflower persona. In fact, I felt like I had betrayed Houston by not even eating a Mexican meal (or any meal), but then I found Pappasito’s at the airport. Truly, I felt like the God was looking down on me and blessing me – in a fun kind of way.
First, I would like to thank you for your devotion to the Vikings because,
DA SAINTS GOING TO DA SUPERBOWL, BABY! WOOO HOOO!
And second, I would like to ‘second’ that statement–Let’s hope it stays that way.
Courtney, my middle daughter (poor middle child), turned 17 on Saturday. A large group from her school had planned to go Galactic bowling from 10 p.m. til 1 a.m. Sat. night. But, alas, no one booked the lanes. So they changed their plans for this upcoming weekend.
Courtney was more than a little upset. Two of her BFFs picked her to get her mind off of the loss of Galactic bowling. They planned several very silly events including pushing the birthday girl in a buggy at Walmart while holding a birthday sign, decorating the bathroom at Arby’s with birthday decorations and finally rolling a house in the wee hours.
When the 17-year-olds described for me in great detail all of the sillyness that their night included, I thought how crazy (well except for the rolling, I totally would’ve joined in on that) that these girls would do these things at 17. SEVENTEEN!
And then I thought, well, thank God they weren’t out drinking!
Will and Caroline’s version of a party sounds embarrassingly like my own.
Note to self: get out more.
Also, I am so with you on I10 from Houston to SA. You really need a good Jolt Cola before you make that trip.
I’m glad you got some good grits!
By all means, please DO NOT root for the Saints in the Super Bowl!
I think even Archie will be cheering on the Saints to victory!
And you can tell Caroline that she won’t be the first person in the history of dentistry to have all of her baby teeth. One of my dad’s good friends didn’t have adult teeth (random birth defect) and still has all of his baby teeth.
Though somehow I don’t think that will be much comfort to her.
I don’t blame you for speeding on I-10…that usually requires massive amounts of caffeine and a stop at Frank’s (?) in Shulenburg.
My cousin introduced me to Freebird’s the last time I was in San Antonio…I was skeptical, b/c we have Chipotle and Qdoba here in VA. But, when I’m wrong, I’m wrong!! They were great!!
You can’t handle a Monster. I know very few things in life… but I know that!
Where did you have breakfast in Houston? I need to know!
I think the stretch of road between Amarillo and Lubbock might rival your drab stretch of I-10 for the road that scenery forgot. Just remembering the two times I was subjected to such nothingness makes me want to fall into immediate vegetative state due to severe boredom.
Sounds like you had a great weekend!
“the stretch of road that scenery forgot” ever been to Nebraska? UGH.
As a life long Packers fan, I was happy about Brett’s loss. It almost makes me sad to say that. I know that the Packers organization basically didn’t want to deal with him anymore and he still wanted to play, but I honestly think he played for the Vikings BECAUSE of the rivalry with the Pack. That’s what gets me upset. I truely hope he isn’t hurt badly enough to make the decision not to play again, but I hope he strings the Vikes along long enough for them to say “screw you” to him and not be able to play anymore. Does that make sense?
BTW, I’ve never had grits before either, but they aren’t exactly a staple here in Wisconsin.
Oh, and my 9 year old son wanted to have a Vikings party yesterday, because, in the last 3 seasons, whenever we have hosted a Packers party, the Pack has lost. His theory was if we host a Vikings party, they would loose, too. Turns out we didn’t need to even do that! He’s a huge Colts fan, anyway.
I’m still thinking obsessively and mourning over the absence of those cheese grits in my life today. Luckily I am comforted by all my cookies.
I have a recipe for the best cheese grits ever! They even have rotel and bacon in them!
http://cheesegritsandjesus.blogspot.com/2009/10/hot-tomato-grits-and-tres-leche-cake.html
All bloggers share their breakfast options.
Good bloggers make me want to eat what they ate.
Great bloggers make me want to eat what they ate while sitting at the same table with them.
You’re a great blogger.
(But if you root for the Vikings next year, I’m going to have to kill you. Death by cheese grits. It’s not pleasant.)
I am shocked at you, Big Mama!!! You have a southern accent, LIVE IN TEXAS, and you have NEVER HAD GRITS BEFORE????!!! …. please wait on the line for a moment while I faint. That is astonishing…Haha. I’ve been eatin’ grits since I was KNEE HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER!!
just sayin….grits are a staple of the South. I’m surprised you have lived this long without ‘em.
Loves,
~ Jean Marie
Marla is a dear friend of mine. I am so glad she got to hang out with you this weekend. And that you shared this lovely burrito-bonding moment. I just imagine that heaven will include lots of opportunities for groups of us to sit around a big o’plate of cheese-covered food and laugh and talk and enjoy the goodness of God.
You and Gulley are so lucky to have each other as such great friends. I think that is awesome y’all can just pitch in and help each other like that. Y’all rock.
And that is so cute that they kids were ready to party. What great friends they are too.
I’ll have to shoot you an email with an awesome grits casserole recipe I’ve got. You will love it.
Ok, I remembered that I had posted my Grits & Cheese Casserole recipe on my blog. Here it is.
http://chiccraftychick.blogspot.com/2008/11/brunch-recipes-country-grits-casserole.html
If it’s true that you caused the Vikings to lose, I would like to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart! Now, can you just make Brett Favre retire and never come back? Then, my day would be complete!
A bitter Packer fan thanks you for cheering for the Vikings! And, if you’re ever in Chicago, there’s a fantastic restaurant called Wishbone that serves some mean cheese grits.
My seven-year-old hasn’t lost a tooth either. Not even a wiggle.
Not ordering the Shrimp and Grits is my only regret of the weekend. (I’ve never tried them either.)
Funny, AJ and I had PJ’s pizza Saturday night too. Great minds.
So, I was catching up on your blog last night, and the girls wanted to watch the Caroline video. It turned into a Vimeo Caroline marathon. We watched every last one. Ava kept looking at me and smiling with that, “I’m a whole year older than her and so much more grown up, and bless her heart!” look. It was so funny.
LOve you so much I dreamed about you last night. (It was kind of a nightmare though.)
Sure enjoyed talking with you Friday night. Hope to see you again, maybe in C.S. if you have any extra time. Love, Annette
I have grits with a half-slice 2% cheese and a little chili paste for breakfast every single morning. Born and raised in Louisiana.
Do not buy the INSTANT grits at the store. They are beyond bad. Buy the QUICK grits.
Tell Caroline not to worry. If her baby teeth don’t fall out on their own, they’ll pull them all out- I had TWELVE baby teeth pulled!
I would just like to say thanks for rooting for the Vikings. WHO DAT!
Shrimp and Cheese Grits always rock my world!
Between the cholesterol laden shrimp and the artery hardening cheese grits where can you go wrong. It’s a Southern delight and I love them. Of course, it’s one of those things that you can only have twice a year for fear of having a heart attack! : )
But, mmmmm, what a way to die!
u are the funniest person ever!
the end…
“See you later, sucker” is the perfect example of Schadenfreude, which is just about my favorite word of all time. There’s no literal translation; it basically means taking pleasure in someone else’s pain.
Not that I’d *EVER* do that…
Although you didn’t get a ticket from the highway patrol, the spelling police would like to point out that you probably wanted to type “rooting” instead of “routing.”
We LOVE grits! Matter of fact we had them Saturday morning for breakfast. I have never had cheese grits though. I look forward to the day I do.
even the title of this post made me laugh
Can’t believe that you had not eaten grits. Or that you went to Memphis and didn’t eat grits. I personally know the bar-b-que is delicious there since I used to live there. But grits…girlfriend how did you grow up in the south and not have these in your mouth??? Love cheese grits, but I also love just a bowl of instant grits with lots butter in them. Throw in a little shredded cheese and you have your own little personal size of cheese grits. They are like potato chips you know ’cause you can’t eat just one grit.
See you later, sucker. hehe.
I enjoyed meeting you this weekend and again I’m so sorry for babbling all over you.
Also, Burt’s Bees lip shimmers.
Tell Caroline not to worry, Sage hasn’t lost a tooth yet either, I’m sure she’ll be before him!
My 6 1/2 yr old comes home crying every time one of her classmates loses a tooth. She too believes is the last one in the world entire world to lose a tooth.
Maybe Will’s tooth just rotted out.Just sayin.
I would just love a post on your opinion of the best sopapillos in San Antonio. I will be there in February and I’m always on the hunt for the best ones. Give us several locations, please. And is Mi Tierra still the best breakfast/brunch place in the city?
Maybe I’ve forgotten my geography, but isn’t Texas in the SOUTH? How is it that you have never eaten grits before? Really? NEVER? Unbelievable.
Tell Caroline to rest easy because my son lost his first tooth this year…and he is in SECOND grade! AND he’s only lost two total!
So she has plenty of time!!
From us as well thanks for cheering the Vikings and if it truly works the way you say it does, PLEASE cheer for the colts in the superbowl. My husband is beside himself that his precious Saints have finally made it. I think he might work himself into a heart attack if the superbowl is anything like last nights game.
Thought he was going to die on the Vikes last possession
Steff
Too funny!
Your jacket was ADORABLE this weekend!
Don’t tell Caroline but my 5 1/2 year has his first loose tooth today-he was going nuts he was so excited! However I think he earned it since the poor baby started teething at three months and got his first two teeth at four months.
I’ve been loitering around your website for a while now and just felt it ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to THANK YOU for cheering for the Vikings. Having been born and raised in Illinois, I have an absolute hate-hate relationship with the Packers and Vikings. And to boot, I lived in Wisconsin for 12 years and watched Brett Favre become absolutely IDOLIZED from the newspapers to the television stations. It was absolutely sickening. (His day to day activities were considered more important than fallen soldiers, to give you any clue…) So THANK YOU for cheering for the Vikings!
It gives me double pleasure that they lost! 
And keep up the good work on the blog – even that what you think is mundane often puts a smile on my face after a long day…
If I didn’t know that my BIL no longer owns a gold Maxima, I’d swear, except I don’t, that you were following him. And I’d tell you not to feel sorry for him, b/c he’s gotten approx. 1 MILLION WARNINGS for speeding. Yep, WARNINGS, b/c he has a nice little “get out of jail free” card that he pulls out, otherwise known as his Military ID!! The Police see that, forget about his infraction, SALUTE him and offer their thanks! Doesn’t that make you a little sick?? (The part about giving him warnings, not the rest!
If you know of anyone in the military, you might pass along this little tip! 
Anyhow, since that wasn’t him, you can feel a little sorry and then thank the good Lord it wasn’t you.
Oh, if there’s a car model you’d rather not see on the road anymore, just let me know. B/c I can GUARANTEE you that if I buy it, it’ll get the ax!! The last 2 times I’ve bought a vehicle, it’s happened. What’s up with that??
Ok, I’m really curious…where did you all get those grits? Cause I’ve never had myself a helpin’ of cheese grits, and after reading this, I think my life is not complete. Please don’t tell me it’s a restaurant only in HOuston, ’cause I would surely jump back in the car and drive another 3.5 hours just to get them!
It was such a pleasure to meet you, Melanie! Thank you for coming over to greet me and give me a hug; my night was made. And I look forward to seeing you again sometime.
Oh, and way to go on that Monster Freebird burrito…that’s awesome!
I read your SMT recap the other day, but forgot to comment! I can’t believe you ate a grit. For some reason, I just can’t get there. Don’t know why.
I did so love getting to hug your neck this weekend. You are one of my blogger heroes and I appreciate you allowing us to share your life. As woman who loves Jesus and the mom of two girls with a hunter husband, I can relate to so much of what you write.
Thank you, Melanie!
Just for the record, I’ve never had grits in my life either. How sad is that?
So fun seeing you this weekend, Melanie! You have such a gentle spirit about you. Hopefully next time we’ll get to chat more about things other than Shred! Ha! Have a great week!
Loved seeing you!
I’m laughing about the grits… It is hard to imagine that! I must be sheltered!
Emmy : )
I was catching up on your blog, and noticed this post about the shrimp and cheese grits. By any chance, did you have them at Ouisie’s? From your description, I’d say, yes – really, they are the BEST I have ever eaten. My arteries clog up automatically when I read this item on the menu!
Love your blog – you have my kind of sense of humor!
BTW, I’m a native Houstonian who went to college in San Antonio, and I SO know what you mean about that part of I10!
Kelly
I would like to politely ask you to pull for the saints this Sunday because not only am I a huge Brett Favre fan but I also like the Colts and Peyton Manning. I realize it is probably not your fault that the Vikings self-destructed but I would sleep better knowing you weren’t pulling for the Colts in the super bowl
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