Ribs, Rats and Recovery

Time slips away from me. We've been busy. Our new cabin on wheels is back at the dealer to have a few things added and corrected to our satisfaction. So, there are no camping trips to share here.

We judged another BBQ competition last Saturday. We donned our geeky outfits and badges

and headed to Canterbury Park for Blazin' Belmont Day.

Over 70 teams from throughout the United States set up a temporary little city to compete in the event.

Both of us were extremely impressed with the quality of the BBQ we judged. $25,000 in prize money was handed out at the awards ceremony.

Life throws curves at you sometimes. We found ourselves in a situation yesterday that I kept telling myself I couldn't believe I was experiencing. Unfortunately, it was all very real. Poor Suzanne. A rat entered her apartment building last Saturday evening. How do we know it moved in that night? Because, it entered through the toilet of her downstairs neighbor, who happens to be a good friend of mine. The poor dear. She witnessed the vermin's unwelcome entry into her bathroom. Yes, it is true. And yesterday morning, Suzanne called  to inform us she could hear it in her kitchen. Talk about rude awakenings! She had called her landlord but had to leave for the hospital. Could we please come and be there to make sure some resolution to the problem was attempted?  Paul had an appointment he could not reschedule. So, I found myself on

Yuck. I could hear the critter chewing away in the walls of her kitchen. I called health departments, animal control, exterminators and renter's rights offices. Mr. "I don't always fix things right the first time" Landlord took over four hours to arrive. He had indicated he would be there by the time we got there. GRRRR. While I waited and anxiously paced her apartment, I tripped over a computer cord and fell flat on the floor. Boom! And then I couldn't move. For like a minute. I honestly thought this:

Great, just great. With a rat that already has grossed me out beyond description gnawing away about 10 feet from where I am flat on my face. I willed myself to stand. All I could do was shuffle across the room.

And, then all I could think of was when our Great-Aunt Maggie (Margaret) came to visit when we were children. She struggled to get around and had to use a walker. I don't remember her otherwise.  When she came to visit, her sisters (my grandmother and another great aunt) used to announce, "Move the rugs, Grit's coming!" So I am listening to this rat chewing in the walls, and the first thing I think of is how we used to giggle when they made that announcement. I loved Aunt Maggie. She was a funny, funny woman. She even made me laugh 45 years after her death, when I was in pain, afraid of a rat attack! I'm moving pretty slowly around the ranch today, but luckily only suffered bruises. Dr. Suzanne checked me over last night.

On a completely different subject, we have started rehearsals for the summer show.

The cast is fantastic and I look forward to each evening.

And, Paul and I were asked to judge another KCBS contest on Saturday. This time we will be in Sauk Rapids at

As of this moment, Mr. Rat is still "at large." Suzanne is handling it all quite well and is looking into arrangements to move her belongings to storage. We are so glad she had already signed a lease on a new apartment starting in August. It is nice to have her temporarily back in her old room here at the ranch!

I'll talk to you soon. Never a dull moment!!!!