South Carolina BBQ Sauces

So, this is something my grandfather and I used to talk about a lot before he passed. Now, it is something I'd like to post so that it is not lost.

In South Carolina there are four widely recognized BBQ sauce bases divided by geography. However, in truth, there are actually five native BBQ sauces to South Carolina.

At the coast, Cheerwine is the signature BBQ sauce (this is the one that isn't widely known).

Vinegar and Pepper base characterizes the North East.

Tomato base is prominent in the North West.

Ketchup base is a little band along the left sloping border of South Carolina.

The rest of the state is mustard base and the area is frequently referred to as the "mustard belt". The mustard based sauce is the signature sauce of South Carolina as a whole. It was created in SC and is mostly only found here.

The included image depicts the geographical areas the four most well known SC BBQ sauces are found.

Crock-Pot Sloppy Joe's Recipe

Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes

Servings: 4 - 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours

Ingredients
1 ½ pounds of lean ground beef
½ cup of sweet onion; chopped
1 medium red bell pepper; cored, seeded, and chopped
(1) large garlic clove; crushed
½ cup of ketchup
½ cup of barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon of packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon of chili powder
(1) 8 ounce can of baked beans
(4 – 6) buns or rolls; such as Kaiser rolls
Sharp Cheddar cheese; shredded

Directions
1. Brown ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic clove for 6 to 8 minutes in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to break up the meat.
2. Drain and discard the excess fat. Transfer the beef mixture to a crock-pot.
3. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, barbecue sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, dark brown sugar, and chili powder. Transfer to the crock-pot.
4. Add the baked beans. Stir well to combine.
5. Cover; cook on high for 3 hours.
6. Fill the split rolls with ½ cup of sloppy joe mixture. Sprinkle with the sharp cheddar cheese, before topping sandwich with roll top.


Notes
*** I used a bit extra Worcestershire sauce in mine because I love Worcestershire sauce.
*** I used hot dog buns instead of hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls – it helped hold all of the filling in.

A few thoughts...no need to read

So, I've been using this blog to record events, thoughts, and writings I want to record.

As such I am about to record some thoughts again.

First, I like to think about sexism though the ages and across cultures. Especially how it manifests in modern day America compared to other times and peoples. One of my favorite topics recently is how female and male Olympians are treated. A favorite observation...the difference between female gymnasts wardrobe versus male gymnasts wardrobe. Do you think female gymnasts enjoy wearing high leg arched, tight, and exposing leotards and could not adequately perform in sweatpants and a tank top? No. But why dont male gymnasts want to wear them? Maybe because the leotards are uncomfortable, impractical, and objectifying.

Random thought...
While I do follow some conventional grammatical expectations in formal writing...in passionate writing I agree with Emily Dickinson in which grammar should be used to convey a message not to conform to a set of rules.

July 26, 2012

Okay, Ms. Scar, I am finally getting around to your blog thing.

I doubt you'll experience something like this...but you wanted to know what it was like, for me, so I'll tell you.
And Daniel, I'll be very impressed if you experience anything like this

Start from the very beginning...

Thursday, 26...I got to the doctor's for my ultrasound at 930am even though my appointment was not until 1030am because I'd been late the past several times. Another bonus, was that I got to get my ultrasound done at 10am instead of 1030am.

When the ultrasound was done..at about 1040, and the doctor comes storming in asking why I wasn't at the hospital today.
Backstory-The doctors had decided I had gestational hyptertension even though I had only two high blood pressure readings and the number that was high indicated high stress...I had to wait 4 hours for each reading. Apparently with gestation hypertension, labor is supposed to be induced at 39 weeks. I didn't know that...no one told me that and no one had set up an appointment for that for me..
So, the doctor has come in and demands I go to the hospital right then, they'd call ahead to let the Women's floor know I was coming...(I was exactly 39 weeks that day).

I got to the hospital about 20 minutes later and was sent to the labor and delievery room...about another 20 minutes later someone comes in and asks why I was there. They say since I hadn't had high blood pressure for 2 and half months there was no reason for me to be there, but they'd make some calls. I got moved to OB Triage/ER area and set up in a room. I was there for about four hours and not allowed to eat anything (my last meal was at 7am and it was now 4). So after having five vials of blood drawn and other various tests I'm moved back to labor and delievery (ldr). It took so long because they ran out of labor and delievery rooms...after I had already had one. Lol.

Labor was induced for the first time at 5pm...and yes I mean the first time. Oh my gawd, this is so weird to be telling online, Lol. Okay, they put this pill thing behind the cervix and yes, it was painful. Then four hours later they did again.

I don't remember exactly when I was given this...but I was given a drug that caused tremors too...so I was constantly shaking for about 11 hours.

Friday morning, at about 2am...they come in and say that I now have to have this torture device put in me, because I'm not dialating at the speed they want for me to be induced properly and "on time". And yes, it will be called the "torture device" one because I don't know the name of it, and two because that's what it felt like. It was this balloon thing that went behind the cervix deflated and a was attached to a tube, then yes they inflated it. It purpose was to help dialate the cervix to 4cm, faster. Most painful thing ever. I got morphine at 230am though...it felt like hours though. At 630 when the morphine wore off....I wasn't allowed an epidural yet because they said it was too early. This whole time, by the way, they hadn't checked to see how dialted I actually was, they just kept assuming I wasn't far enough.

The epidural was given at 11am...I can't remember if the torture device was taken out before or after that...but I remember when they did take it out, they discovered I was 8 cm dialted and they had put the device in too far back.

After two hours of pushing...and trying to turn her the right way (face up or face down), they decided I needed a c-section. And to try to turn her, they did just use their hands...and no, it was not comfortable at all. She had been transverse...meaning her face was facing sideways.

I was in surgery at 530pm. I was still having tremors from that medication at this point too.

Melissa was officially born at 6:16pm on Friday, July 27, 2012.

I was in recovery by 630pm...and couldn't hold her because I was still having tremors.

I was moved to the "Family Beginnings" part of the ward by 820pm...and stayed there until discharge on Monday, July 30.

And now, I'm still in pain.
Stitiches, abs, shoulders (from air getting stuck between my joints and the prolonged tremors), my back, my legs.
I can barely walk on my own, and am not allowed to drive.
I'm supposed to stay in bed, most of the time, for the next two weeks and will still be in some level of painf or the next 6.

I don't understand why women love c-sections so much.

It seems you either get intense pain for 12 hours with a vaginal delievery or six weeks of pain with a c-section.

I never want a c-section again.

>.<

The End.

By the way, like I said, I doubt you'll get to experience the same thing I did...so don't fret.

Yes. For those of you who Are, Will be, and Were.

I support the gays 110 and I can't stand people who are homophobic

I am the boy who never finished high school, because I got called a fx^ everyday
I am the girl kicked out of her home because I confided in my mother that I am a lesbian.
I am the p#^w$*&@xw working the streets because nobody will hire a transsexual woman.
I am the sister who holds her gay brother tight through the painful, tear-filled nights.
We are the parents who buried our daughter long before her time.
I am the man who died alone in the hospital because they would not let my partner of twenty-seven years into the room.
I am the foster child who wakes up with nightmares of being taken away from the two fathers who are the only loving family I have ever had. I wish they could adopt me.
I am not one of the lucky ones. I killed myself just weeks before graduating high school. It was simply too much to bear.
We are the couple who had the Realtor hang up on us when she found out we wanted to rent a one-bedroom for two men.
I am the girl who loves her best friend but is afriad to let her know it.
I am the person who never knows which bathroom I should use if I want to avoid getting the management called on me.
I am the mother who is not allowed to even visit the children I bore, nursed, and raised. The court says I am an unfit mother because I now live with another woman.
I am the domestic-violence survivor who found the support system grow suddenly cold and distant when they found out my abusive partner is also a woman.
I am the domestic-violence survivor who has no support system to turn to because I am male.
I am the father who has never hugged his son because I grew up afraid to show affection to other men.
I am the home-economics teacher who always wanted to teach gym until someone told me that only lesbians do that.
I am the mother who shielded her daughter from all the htu when she confesed to her father and I that she was lesbian.
I am the woman who died when the EMT s stopped treating me as soon as they realized I was transsexual.
I am the person who feels guilty because I think I could be a much better person if I didn't have to always deal with society hating me.
I am the man who stopped attending church, not because I don't believe, but because they closed their doors to my kind.
I am the person who has to hide what this world needs most, love.
I am the person ashamed to tell my own friends I'm a lesbian, because they constantly make fun of them.
I am the boy tied to a fence, beaten to a bloody pulp and left to die because two straight men wanted to "teach me a lesson"
I am the high school student too confused by other people to know my own heart.

--IF YOU BELIEVE THAT HOMOPHOBIA IS WRONG... REPOST THIS

1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural
things like eyeglasses, polyester, liposuction and air conditioning.
2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that
hanging around tall people will make you tall.
3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy
behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has
legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.
4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed
at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites,
and divorce is still illegal.
5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were
allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun
marriage would be destroyed.
6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay
couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to
marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs
more children.
7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight
parents only raise straight children.
8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like
ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country.
That's why we have only one religion in America.
9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model
at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents
to raise children.
10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could
never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to
cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans...

Amen.

A Fun Lil Exchange...

Last night, I got on M.S. to check messages like I always do before going to bed. This time, I had a lovely message from a "woman" I shall call Katie.

Here is what she said:
"What is up with you and Troy!? I am one of his best friends and he never even mentioned you. Not until I started to question him and then he said you are just a girl who has a drinking problem like him that he was trying to help nothing more than that. But I read your blogs and you seem to be obsessed with him and making it sound like you two are in "love" and engaged?? Wow that's news to me (and all of his family and friends around here, believe me I asked them too if they knew you, which they didn't) and umm how old are you? Way to young for him. You do know why he's in jail, not that he did it, but it's was a girl your age that accused him of this horrible thing. I love him very much and am only trying to look out for what's best for him. And I'm sorry you are not what's best for him. Oh yeah when he called me the last time I told him about everything you have been putting on your myspace blogs and he said you are crazy, that you have issues. I totally agree with him."

Now for those of you who do not know, Troy is a man I was engaged to. The only reason we are no longer engaged is because he is in prison and decided to not have me wait on him. Secondly, also for those of you who do not know, there is quite the age gap between us. I shall not tell you how many years and I shall not tell you what he is in prison for. I will tell you that whatever it is you are thinking, you are wrong.

Here is how I replied to that lovely message:
""Look here, How about you stay in your happy little world and leave mine alone? I am entirely flattered that you were so threatened by the idea of me that you felt the need to creep through my profile, but if you are not a total moron you would most likely have noted the date on the things I have posted. Also realizing that quite often people do not post things till a while after they are written. Granted you are only human...and at that female, which most likely means you think you know everything about everyone. Speaking of, if you believe you can tell who I am by this...pathetic medium of communication and development of relationships then you are no better at comprehension and higher level thinking than a cow. In addition, if you are not a total failure at geography and creeped my profile like you claim, then you know that I live in South Carolina which is no where near where he is. Plus, who gave you the right to say what is good for whom? I do not care if you are trying to protect him. HE IS IN PRISON. You are not going to do anything by messaging me over MySpace! Last time I checked anyways...18 is legal. I'm sure, since you appear to live in America, you are aware of that whole concept of personal morals/values/ethics. Guess what...some people believe a couple (or more) decade(s) difference in age...is not big deal! I am sure that comes as a shock to you. But it is true. Oh how amazing.
Yes, I am making fun of you. Grand isn't it? Please, tell me what about me is not good for him? I'm curious. My age? My height? My religion? What part? Because clearly you know everything about me by sitting for hours reading my Myspace profile. Of course I am not being entirely fair. I mean, obviously, everyone tells everyone the whole truth all the time, right? There are no such things as lies and secrets. So, naturally I am the nutcase, and he is totally innocent.
Furthermore, You do not even know who I was and am referring to. Ever think, that Troy, whomever that is, is not too unique? Everyone has the same characteristics. We are not "individuals". By the way, as much as I look forward to your irrational answers, it is not necessary that you reply. Frankly, I'd rather you didn't. You irritate me. I would prefer to ride a saddle of hornets who are going through withdrawal and have a sadism problem than ever hear from you again. But I imagine, since someone did die and make you Queen over what one is to believe and do, that you will, sadly, reply.
Though it does occur to me that how you take my assumed criticism of you could be interesting.

In summation: Go away. Leave me alone. Stop being so nosey. You cannot protect him. You have no right tellings others what they should think or do. And YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

I figured I'd point this out too: Do you realize how messed up you have to be, to message someone you believe to be crazy? Here's a little secret too, that I am sure you will love, I am crazy, legally.

Sleep well.
Have a lovely day.

The Queen."

This was, however, my second draft because my computer failed to send the first one. My first version was more sophisticated and more subtlely mean. But, by this time I was beyond furious.

Naturally, after replying to hear, I wrote a letter to Troy about this. Mainly because the last one I got from him said that I need to quit posting things about him on my profiles. And F.Y.I. I had not mentioned his name in any of my posts ever. And I had not referred to him in months. In my letter I told I was not taking anything down and if I was going to do anything it would be to make it worse.
This is going to be fun.

Of course, I will continue to post our exchange if it continues.

Yours Truly,
The Queen.

F. it. all.

I'm tired of being screwed over.
Ignored it.
Replaced.
Put on hold.

I'm tired of being the back up.
The "one time".
of being used.
abused.
rejected.
and lied to.

You'd think for all the people who seem to think
that im an okay person...
id at least find one person who didnt
totally screw me over.

Oh wait, i had that person
T
R
O
Y
and yall had to take him from me.

Well...
f@w~ you.

I hate you.
Go be happy with your w#%^x.
Your fy^#^y* moron.
And leave me the hell alone.
All of you.

I'm done protecting you.
I'm done defending you.
I'm done sugar-coating.
I'm just done.

I can't take it anymore.




The really sad part?
Even though this is all true.
I'll still be around.
Because, I'm pathetic.
And no matter how bad I'm treated.
I.
Just.
Can't.
Leave.
And you know it.
You love it.
You.
Ruin.
Me.
Because you know I can't escape.

Well, I hope you enjoy it, at least.
Because even though you are cold and can't be hurt.
I'm not.
And I, am easily hurt.
Everytime you pick someone else.
Everytime you ignore me.
Everytime you mention her.
or him.
It just twists the knife even more.

Hope youre happy.
I'm not.

The Emo's Cry.

*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******----

Physcially alone, emotionally secluded.

I am so tired but I want to stay up and talk to you more.

Care about someone all you want, I promise, in the end, they don't give a shit.

Eloquent words, and gentle touches. Sorrowful eyes, and common motivations. Mean nothing when all he does is leave you.

It is better to be done with them, then go through the moments of joy and the eternity of pain. And yet I keep going back to them. Enduring every slight attack, every lurking stab. Just for the one taste of happiness.
The sick game we play with ourselves. "The One" is out there. "The One" who won't cause me to cry at night. Who won't stand me up. Who will do as he says he will. Who won't cheat on me. Who won't hurt me.
"The One" does not exist.
"The One" was made up by beaten ole wives, who had drank too much beer.

Ones who hurt less do exist. So stop dreaming, and settle.

*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******----

Think about finding the one person you want to spend every moment with. The one person you can't wait to see. The one person who, whenever they text you, you want to scream and never leave that moment. The one person you can't shut up about for months. The one person you know will never hurt you, never use you. The one person you feel like you could trust forever. Now, think about if that person was 15 years older than you, 20 years older than you, 30 even. Think about the fear you would experience with every text message, email, and phone call. Every meeting, touch, hug, kiss. Everything. The desperation you would feel to just grow up. The worry that maybe, the propaganda was right, that they just liked you because you were young. The constant fear that one day you'd call and they wouldn't answer. You'd be seeing a lawyer, who'd be trying to convince you that the "perp" tried to hurt you or use you. The one person who cared for you more than your own mother...try to hurt you? The most foreign concept in your mind. Pushed and pushed and pushed on you. To where you just can't take it anymore and you break down, just to get them to shut up. To leave you the hell alone. Can you imagine going through that? Every time someone asks you "how old is he/she?" You're heart thumps knowing they won't accept it, fearing they'd call the authorities. Trembling at the very idea of losing them. Imagine it. Crying every night, thinking it may be the last time you spoke to them. Worried about someone finding out and "doing something about it".
Imagine it. Then tell me, that tearing apart two people who love each other, would die for one another, is okay. I don't care who you are, how old you are, or your religion, you KNOW that is not "okay"! Imagine all that fear, desperation, desire, worry. Imagine it. Imagine enduring it day after day after day.

*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******----

They say time will fly.
That I'll forget or just get over it.
That when the time comes, I won't believe it's here.
Maybe even that I'll stop counting.

But it hasn't.
I haven't.
And I don't.

It's only been 2 months and 15 days.
Feels like an eternity.
Each day drags on.

There's no end in sight.
And
I miss him.

I can't help but think about him...constantly.
Remembering the last time I was with him.

Wanting to cry at his absence.

*Sigh*
But life does go on...
Slowly.

*Tear*

*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******----

Thru the flames, and the dust. Thru the tears and the pain. Thru the screams and the scars. There still is a person. Why is that so hard...for you to believe? For you to care?

If only you knew what went through my mind everytime you complained about him. You spoke of how amazing he is...how much you miss him. If only you knew how much it destroyed me. How much I hate you for it. How much I hate you have something I, probably, never will. If only you knew, that I keep you around, to live through you. To dream of having what you do. What you take advantage of.

I hide in the shadows for your protection. I building walls for mine. I threaten those that threaten you. I'm there even when you don't realize it. I'm with you, when you need me. I'm listening when you're crying. I'd wrap my arms around you if I could. I'd kiss you, till you smiled. I'd make you laugh till it hurt. But...you put me as backup...again.

Where are you, when my world turns to shambles? When my heart rusts. My blood vaporizes. My bones crumble. And my eyes flood. What is important to you then? Who are you thinking of at night? Who stays on your mind all day?
I bet it's not me.

I need you here now. I'm tired.

How to cure false adoration and love...
Simply...say
I love you.
...I should know.

*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******-*******----

x.x

Names.

Baby names--pretty self-explainatory.

Uhm, here is what I have...yes I know some are spelled "weird", they are meant to be.
Suggestions, comments?
Help!

BOY
Willyum-Jon
Wilhelm-Jon
Jon-Willyum
Jon-Mykhail
Ixzaviour

GIRL
Alickszandreuh-Anne
Stefaknee-Anne
Melisuh-Necole
Annabell-Joan

Update.

Let's see how my life has proceeded to fall apart...

(Just for those who think I'm a b*^&#. Here are the reasons why I won't put up with your shit. )

1) extremely good friend of mine is in JAIL for 731 days, unless he has good behaviour.
2) another good friend of mine is HAPPY that he is there.
3) one of my best friends, basically BLAMES ME for 2 of his other friends deaths
4) family-everyone has that.
5) personal issues of which i will not list here.
6) oh and i might be PREGNANT.
i will cease there because pass that, the things are personal to others in addition to myself.

SO SHUT UP ABOUT YOURE BULL SHIT AND LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.
I DONT GIVE A F^&z.
AND PROBABLY NEVER DID.