The Katie Chapin: Brunswick Stew Festival

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Brunswick Stew Festival

Who would have thought that there could be so much excitement surrounding stew?

Today I ventured out into downtown Richmond to attend the 9th Annual Brunswick Stew Festival. Partly because I like Brunswick Stew, partly because I felt like it could be a good conversational topic in the near future. You never know when you will be trapped in an awkward conversation, and pulling out the "let me tell you about this stew festival I went to the other weekend" card is sure to save you.

Anyway, I must say that I really didn't prepare well at all for the BS Fest. First of all, eating breakfast put me at a real disadvantage. After my fourth sampling of stew, I was completely full. I felt cheated, seeing as I could not truly judge the best stew seeing as I didn't have the full ability to compare all the teams. Despite the limitations set by my stomach, I did enjoy some tasty stew from the likes of the Red, White and Blue Stew Crew, the Red Oak Stew Crew, the Northerneck Rednecks, and All Stewed Up Catering.

Richmond is really starting to grow on me.

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A Daily Dose of Mom (my morning email highlights):

June 10, 2009: "Be confidante in your abilities...you are bright...beautiful...bold....& a perfectionist! Tomorrow will be a better day. And you will make it that way. Just focus on breathing....in & out."
May 7, 2009: "Katie looks a little like Grandma Ann in the photo!"
May 5, 2009: "It is also Cinco de Mayo. Well, make it a good one. It's all up to you. It's in your attitude towards life. Be safe."
May 3, 2009: "Dining at the Garage Cafe is not the brightest place to be! There are no windows! It is only temporary, I keep telling myself."
April 30, 2009: "Later today I will take photos of the construction zone...including my new room...the Garage Cafe! That is where we eat and I enjoy my morning cup of java."
April 28, 2009: "Well, yesterday was day #1 of kitchen project.....I bet the demolition was fun!"
April 26, 2009: "It is Aunt Sue's birthday today...I am sure she turns 29 as she does every year!"
April 25, 2009: "It is going to be a long weekend. However, I am looking forward to easing my weary muscles in the hot tub today! I have that to look forward to!"
April 24, 2009: "Hope all is bright...get out the shorts...the heat is on! Will feel like summer is upon us today!"
April 22, 2009: "Big moving weekend coming up...just hope we can do it. Tyler, how do you move a refrigerator?"
April 20, 2009: "Tyler, dad & I spoke about your trip....we have some concerns... (cost of trip, wear & tear on car, your safety, your fatigue) please phone us."
April 19, 2009: "Today, clouds are expected with cooler temps....rain later today. Your personal forecast weathermom!"
April 18, 2009: "I would love to start cycling to work....but there is no shower there and no place to lock my bike....I may explore that a little more....see how long it would take me to ride to work. Guess I better learn how to fix a flat tire just in case!"
April 17, 2009: "Our house ghost is alive & well & living in the basement....the exercise room TV went on at 0555 hours this morning...just in time for Fox & Friends."
April 16, 2009: "Song of the day......Here Comes the Sun....a favorite Beatle song written by George Harrison. Hope you have a great day. Enjoy the warmth of the sunshine!"
April 15, 2009: "Katie, I think you should meet Tyler in California and make the venture east bound with him. You two need to talk."
April 14, 2009: "Have a wonderful day! Remember your umbrella! Count your blessings!"
April 13, 2009: "Bo makes his official appearance tomorrow....he is the Obama's first dog! He is cute....he has been in the Post for the past 2 days!"
April 12, 2009: "Happy Easter! I hope your day is filled with joy!"
April 11, 2009: "Katie, dad informed me you were going to a VCU prom....give me the details."
April 9, 2009: "Summer will be here soon....ready to catch a wave?"
April 8, 2009: "Hope you have a colorful day! Take time to look at the trees and bushes... their blossoms just come around once a year!"
April 7, 2009: "Hope you are ready for a great Tuesday! Ready or not....it is here....make the most of your day!"
April 6, 2009: "Weather prediction here for today: rain! Take your umbrella!"
April 5, 2009: "When is the last time you went to church? Have you thought about going back? Go online right now and find a church, mass schedule and confession schedule."
April 4, 2009: "Tyler, I am sorry to say but on the front page of the The Washington Post, your radio station 94.7 The Globe is ending it's classic rock era and it is changing to pop. Can you believe it!"
April 3, 2009: "Enjoy the rainy day today for everything will look greener tomorrow!"
April 2, 2009: "How I love the spring. As you walk around campus take time to notice the beautiful early spring flowers and blossoms on the trees."
January 16, 2009: "Wow, it's really cold outside! Dress warm today....wear gloves/hat if you have to walk any distance!"
January 15, 2009: "In watching American Idol for the past 2 nights, it is the individuals who present themselves confidently in their singing abilities....and let their personality shine through their smile...those are the ones that you remember!"
November 25, 2008: "Please relax and just breath today. I know you will have a great day! In, out, just breath."
November 23, 2008: "Sometimes we make mistakes....the important lesson is that we learn from them!"
November 22, 2008: "He purchased a basic TV controller that is easy to use! Thank the Good Lord. It was embarrassing to have to phone him at work every Thursday on my day off to ask him the new way to turn on the tube."
November 7, 2008: "A car actually drove back after having passed me to ask if I needed help with my dog! I thanked them kindly but informed them she was just taking a rest on the nice cool, wet pavement!"
October 30, 2008: "Enjoy the beautiful trees and the scent of autumn as you walk around campus."
October 13, 2008: "Check out the bro in his new business attire....what do you think? Sharp or what!"
October 12, 2008: "Hope your day is going better now..... Will we see a blog on today's drive home? It's been a while since you wrote."
October 6, 2008: "Yesterday I worked in the yard....hauled approximately 25 40-lb bags of compost and spread it on the lawn after fertilizing and seeding. I hope it makes a difference!"
September 29, 2008: "I am going to dinner with my co workers tonight for a 'girl's night out.'"
September 23, 2008: "sorry I did not get to talk with you last night....since I am getting up at 0500 hours, I am heading to my chamber shortly after 2100 hours."
September 22, 2008: "Challenge yourself....do something that you want to do but have been putting it off! Katie, maybe talk to someone in your class that you would like to be friends with."
September 15, 2008: "I learned yesterday that Brian had a great crop of tomatoes this year! His secret....John St. John's horse manure. Nana had a bucket of tomatoes when I spoke with her yesterday."
August 24, 2008: "Today I decided that "I would just do it" that's right, follow the Nike slogan."
August 23, 2008: "Please remember that success is really a state of mind....you, Katie Chapin and Tyler Chapin can do anything you put your mind to do!"
August 23, 2008: "Do you still read your emails from old madre?"
August 20, 2008: "Hope your bed did not fall apart last night! Hope you had pleasant dreams!"
August 7, 2008: "Why don't you bring them to an eyeglass place today to get them fixed. If they charge you it will be minimal. If not, old madre will repair them."
August 6, 2008: "All of a sudden I saw a large, black fluffy tail of the biggest black & white skunk I ever did see....I ran..."
August 5, 2008 "Make today your best day at work of the summer even though you anticipate your worst. You have the power to make it happen!"
August 1, 2008 "I hope you and dad have a great weekend in the Big Apple! It's your last! We rescue you next Friday to take you to the wilderness of Cape Cod!"
July 29, 2008 "Last night was by far the worst concert of the summer. The old boys, Crosby Stills & Nash have lost what they used to have."
July 22, 2008 "Just sitting outside at the park for a while is refreshing! It is a dose of fresh air in a green environment!"
July 21, 2008 "Make today and this entire week a good learning experience! A positive attitude makes all the difference in how you feel about what you are doing even if you don't like it. You can make a difference!"
July 16, 2008 "Make it a good day! It's all in the attitude!"
July 14, 2008 "Hope you slept well.I noticed that many of your blog writings are in the middle of the night....why do you stay up so late?"
July 10, 2008 "Early to bed (8 PM)...early to rise (5 AM) makes your madre healthy, wealthy and wise???"
July 9, 2008 "Make things happen if you want them to....you have the power within! Don't ever forget that."
June 26, 2008 "I had planned to phone you before I went to bed last night since I had not heard from you....please let me know that you are fine. I like hearing from you daily."
June 25, 2008 : "Smile as you walk to the subway & work. It will make your day brighter and someone else's day too!"
June 19, 2008: "We got a little wet...and it was cool out but with JT singing you don't notice it."
June 3, 2008: "Katie, I hope you slept well and were not visited by a little 4 legged creature. Actually, that would make for a great chapter in the 'Adventures of Katie in NYC'."
September 25, 2007: "I hope that you have learned something positive from the last PRACTICE LSAT. It was only a practice test!"
September 24, 2007: "Hope you are both feeling better! I have had the chills and sniffles...I think I caught your colds over the telephone lines...only kidding."
September 14, 2007: "If I ever have grandchildren, I think I would like them to call me Madre...how does that sound? and Padre? It's different."
September 13, 2007: "Katie, please "breathe" when you think about your speech! You always do outstanding! You are expressive, speak clearly and add humor! Just relax and think of it as entertaining your classmates. Think about it as if you were on 'Last Comic Standing.'"
September 7, 2007: "Good morning Miss Katie and Master Tyler, OK, so I am being a little creative! My email messages often sound the same so I am trying to spice them up a bit!"
September 2, 2007: "Well, it's quiet here. Taz is looking depressed! I would love to bring her down to stay with you but I already have a sitter for her."
September 1, 2007: "Tyler has to keep his contacts out of his eyeballs for a week."
August 31, 2007: "I was up bright and early at 6 on the day that I could sleep in. They do say that you should go to bed and get up at the same time every day to maintain sleep hygiene. I guess that is what I do."
August 30, 2007: "Well, just wanted to wish you a positive day...smile everyone will wonder what you have been up to!"
June 5, 2007: [Tyler wrote today's morning email.] "Anyway, my bagel just finished defrosting in the microwave, so I must go eat. Bye."
May 22, 2007:"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." -Frank Loyd Wright
May 20, 2007: "I rarely get an email from Tyler...he is more of the phone type (when he is walking to the library) so don't be real disappointed if you don't hear from him..."
May 19, 2007: "Our waking hours form the text of our lives, our dreams, the commentary." -Anon
May 16, 2007: "Taz had an interesting visit with Dan's dogs...I had to stay out back with her when she was out with them...a couple of times they all showed some teeth!"
May 5, 2007: "Dad got my Palm running so now your old madre has a nice little palm TX handheld device! Now I just have to learn how to use it!"
May 4, 2007: "His dresser drawer has not been shutting so I tried to help him. I discovered that he has cockroaches in his dresser...he was so grossed out....he wanted to know if he should wash all his clothes. Oh, he is funny!"
May 3, 2007: "The queen of England is here in the Commonwealth of VA...she's been to Richmond, Jamestown and is going to Williamsburg and then DC. She's making the rounds. They are laying out the red carpet of course!"
May 2, 2007 "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry David Thoreau
May 1, 2007 "Sweetheart, you don't have to plan your whole life..."
April 25, 2007 "Well, I slept in until 8 today can you believe it?"
April 24, 2007 "Sometimes though, we perfectionists have to understand too that not everyone sees things in the same light."
April 23, 2007 "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
April 22, 2007 "Katie, I am proud of you!"
April 20, 2007 "You cannot dream yourself into a character: you must hammer and forge yourself into one." -Henry D. Thoreau
April 19, 2007 "Hi Katie- bought you some new green crocs. Thought they would be appropriate for your last summer at CMS!"
April 15, 2007 "PS Katie, did you know that Prince William is a free man again...his engagement is off...why don't you figure out how you can meet him? :)"
April 7, 2007 "If at first you don't succeed, then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it." -W.C. Fields
March 28, 2007 "the man coughed to get my attention...he yelled from his open second story window that he was trying to get the dogs not to do their business there...that every dog stopped at that spot and he would appreciate it if we bypass his yard."
March 24, 2007 "..and remember that not everyone in this world likes Americans so don't flaunt it."
March 14, 2007 "I had to have your car towed into the dealer yesterday..."
February 28, 2007 "You must do well in your classes...afterall that is why you are at Bath University...first and formost to study!"
February 27, 2007 " I enjoyed the program but it made for a very late night for me...I got home after 10."
February 25, 2007 "I slept in today...I had awokened at 5, went back to sleep and woke up at 7:30."
February 7, 2007 "Katie, if you were here you definitely would have been clothed in your bomber hat and long down coat and would be singing, 'Baby it's cold outside'!"