If you leave the OKC metro area and head south on I-35, after about an hour you’ll be in the middle of the Arbuckle Mountains. Down there just south of Highway 7 running through Davis, is a little place surrounded by vehicles. At least, I haven’t figured out a time to visit that it’s not surrounded. Officially known as Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Ranch & RV Park, but more affectionately referred to by its many patrons as Smokin’ Joe’s or just plain “Joe’s.”

I’ve never been much of a barbeque person. That’s got to be a surprise to some people, given my upbringing. It’s not the barbeque itself that I don’t like, it’s the nasty sauce that often accompanies it. It takes a very special barbeque sauce for me to put it on what I’m eating. Nothing too sweet, nothing to vinegary. Joe’s has some that I really like even if it isn’t my favorite.

But it’s not the sauce that’s so special — it’s their food. Joe’s is the first local place that I’ve really liked. And I like it. A lot. You won’t go wrong with their chopped brisket (though you might want to skip it if little puddles of orange grease frighten you), the ribs, or the sliced brisket. I’ve seen someone order the smoked bologna, but if you know my history with that then you know I won’t be having it any time soon. My dad enjoys the smoked chicken (which I’m thinking of trying this weekend) and he and my mom usually split one of the 2- or 3-meat dinners. You’re still going to bring home 1-2 lbs of food, so be prepared. The portions are huge.

Don’t go during peak hours unless you’re willing to wait and battle a crowd. Twelve to 2 and 5 to 7 you’re looking at a decent little wait and the possibility that there’s no place to sit. Go on a nice day when you might not mind sitting on their front porch or in the bed of your pickup.

(Did I really just suggest that?)

There’s another thing you need to be prepared for — the table stake out. My mom sure enough doesn’t want to sit outside in the heat when we visit Joe’s, so as soon as we order, we start watching. It’s all in the body language. And the amount of visible plate. You can tell when someone’s close to being done. And the minute they start to move it’s VITAL that you get close to that table.

Laughing, talking, having a big time? Nope. Staking out a table.

Then you have to be ready to be neighborly. In a place like this you can’t sit down with a group of four at a table that seats six and expect no one to join you. On this particular visit we were joined by a couple (the gentleman half of the couple is the man at the end of the table in the above photo) that used to go to church with my aunt and uncle 30 minutes away from our hometown. While this restaurant is 30 minutes in the other direction. Of course, didn’t know who they were until we got out to the truck and finally asked my mom. Because that’s how I roll.

Smokin’ Joe’s — bringing folks together.

And, hey, Ree? I know your farm is in southern Oklahoma and you’ve mentioned the county a time or two. So, by my calculation, this lovely little spot could be right on your way…or a small detour out of your way. I’m thinking since Marlboro Man is a guy and he’s from Oklahoma, this could be right up his alley. Once you’ve eaten just hop back on 7, head on over to 81, and you should be back on track in no time. And you can call me Tom-Tom.

So, the next time you’re down in Davis, tell them I sent you. And then they’ll give you a funny look because the good people of Joe’s have no idea who I am.

• I got married and got a longer name. It never even occurred to me, mostly because my new name has the letter “L” in it and a lowercase “L” is pretty skinny. But what was already a long name is now one letter longer. I’ve got a post to write about this name writing business.
• This review covers my EXACT feelings on Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. In short — I don’t think it’s a masterpiece, it didn’t change my life, I don’t believe full devotion to God and devotion to carnal pleasure can occur at the same time, and YES, if you hole up in an apartment having sex for a month you will get a UTI. Ahem. Interesting, but I don’t find Ms. Gilbert’s work to be authentic. If you paid me to go on a trip and “find myself and God”, consume all the carbs I want, and practice yoga all day (I am a practitioner) I’m sure I could wax epiphanic as well.
• Today Ronnica is asking a question over at The Ignorant Historian: What’s your favorite school supply to shop for?
• Waiting Without Worrying
• The reports mentioned here do not make me feel good about the well-being of children in Oklahoma
• Walgreen’s “Friends and Family” coupon!
• “The remarkable offspring of Jasper and Alice” — Mama, make it go away!
• Things You Might Be Mistaken For In This Hoodie
• Huxley was right: “Amusing Ourselves to Death“
• Hand it over and everyone will be safe. (I may have a problem.)

I have no idea how many ounces this thing is, but it’s too much, too late at night.

Pretty sure the rules of blogging say that 10:38 on a Tuesday night is the worst time to publish a post, but I’m doing this for the people. Not for whoever makes up those rules.

• How much do you spend on groceries each week? One Week of Food could put that into perspective for you.
• Very interesting essay on the manipulation and reuse of images in culture.
• The Calorie Police (Do you think the ACLU would defend my right to consume calories in whatever form I please? Just asking.) There’s a double standard here, folks.
• Micah’s post discussing “slow parenting” was eye-opening for me. It’s exactly what I hope to do someday. My parents raised us that way, to a certain extent. While it was not always on purpose (I know that much), I do appreciate that we were allowed to pursue our interests within reason and that we weren’t on the road every night of the week.
• Mango Slaw with Cashews & Mint (This is a recipe for you, Heather)
• Chagrin chagrin chagrin. Chagrin? Chagrin. CHAGRIN. Chagrin. (thanks, Rammi )
• I’m linking this post because Misti is talking about guys named Make Time and Cob.
• “Because I think the world knows just how much NBC, home of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, among others, has been in the tank for George W. Bush for lo these many years. Their relentless cheerleading for the former president, his domestic initiatives and his foreign policy has made them a laughing-stock among serious news organizations and a network no serious-minded person would admit watching.” – The Friar

Oh, and Clare got a haircut!

Back home with my coffee. But I haven’t been to the grocery store yet so we don’t have any cream *pout*

• Have you seen Juvenile Justice starring Annabel?
• Honestly, I’m not sure that I think it’s too far out of line to threaten to kill someone with an ax for playing the vuvuzela. Just sayin’. I mean, I could see myself doing that. Threatening that, not actually going through with it. So far in my life, empty threats have been enough.
• How To Tell When Meat Is Done (Brilliant!)
• Brownies! Bars! …Battlestar Galactica!
• Number 11. Read #11 and try not to cry. (And then read The Bwue Neckwace for a good giggle)
• A Royal Seal of Approval (h/t @jennifrwhite)
• Need a Peace Retreat? from True Woman
• Stories like this make me realize why I never would have made it in the armed forces. I would have fallen in love with my commander (à la the video to “The Heart Won’t Lie” by Reba McEntire & Vince Gill, see below) and then he would have made me cry.

• Edward Mariohands

Rose tagged me to answer a few questions so I thought I would include them here.

1. If you had to wear one color every day for the rest of your life, which would you choose and why? Green. It’s visually pleasing and I own a lot of it, so I wouldn’t have to do too much shopping.
2. What’s your favorite not-for-profit? Autism Speaks
3. You’re at the Farmer’s Market. Which veggies are you most excited about? Squash, tomatoes, and potatoes.
4. Share the city you most want to visit and why. I don’t like cities. I would prefer to visit the highlands of Scotland.
5. I’m a HUGE cheater! Read this entry of mine. What are some of the things you’d take with you if you moved across the world? Hmm…shall we have a list?
   • MacBook – There’s no way I’m leaving this behind.
   • Roku Player – We don’t watch a lot of TV that we keep up with on a regular basis, so having the Roku has been nice for watching what we want, when we want to. I get my BBC serial comedy and period drama fix this way!
   • Blanket – Enough said.
   • My parallel Bible
   • Pillow mist - I use a few different scents depending on how the day went and they really help me fall asleep. It would be nice if I could have the same scent to go to sleep with half a world away.
   • Calphalon cookware – It’s too good to give up.
   • My library – You know I can’t part with my books.

• Aww, shucks, Matt. I don’t think anyone has ever said anything so nice about my husband and I.
• THIS. Exactly. “The best part about Facebook scam pages is that it helps announce to you which of your Facebook friends are dumb.“
• Say “I Do” to the name change
• The Dirty Dozen and The Clean 15 — read it!
• Burger King Crafts: Twilight Edition
• Colleen’s brief thoughts on the LOST finale
• Man, a baby hippopotamus looks like a great pet.
• The Traveling Red Dress, from The Bloggess
• 45 Things To Do With Fresh Sage – If you’re in the situation I was in a few years ago (planting one tiny plant of sage and having it stay forever and ever and multiply everywhere) then this will be really helpful.

This week, my cousin (who I have never met and only recently found online…turns out blogging is in our blood) and his wife lost their dear, sweet baby girl, Ashleigh. As I mentioned a few months ago, she was born at 26 weeks and was a real miracle. I was shocked to learn this week that she had passed after spending almost 4 months in the hospital.

Please keep this family in your prayers. I cannot imagine the heartache they are experiencing, as it looked like Ashleigh was doing so well and would be going home soon. Please remember Curtis, Stephanie, and big sister Zoe in your prayers.

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
Isaiah 58:8

Last night I went to my first baseball game. Ever. In my life. I didn’t really watch any baseball. What I did do was eat popcorn, nachos, and 3 hotdogs. Mission accomplished. (We had all-you-can-eat tickets.)

You know what else was accomplished? Tummy ache. UGH.

• This past week (April 24-May 1) was National Infertility Awareness Week. Over at the r house there were a number of guests post and in my opinion, the best of the week was “The Trick to Surviving Infertility.” This issue touches the lives of so many people I know. I wanted to put these links out there, especially for those of you who may feel that you are suffering alone. You are not.
• The Friar took the creator of “Boobquake” to task this week. For that, I’d like to offer my thanks. (Also, tune in next Wednesday to hear Jolene and I share our own opinions on the event.)
• There is so much going on in Oklahoma City right now!
• Also, note to people who are not from around here: NO ONE calls it “oak (or oke) city.” No one. And I may personally lobotomize the next person I hear say it.
• This may be the creepiest thing I have seen on Regretsy. And the request comes from Nunavut. I’m now a little concerned that Nunavut may be the Scandinavia of Canada. It’s about the same level on the creep-o-meter for me.
• The Trustworthiness of Beards – This would have been helpful to me as a child.
• Ziplist, where have you been all my life?
• Aura recaps her day at the Dustbowl Arts Market.
• I’ll be implementing The Blue Jar very soon. What a great idea!

You guys know I can get crazy with the water consumption.

I just finished jogging and I still need to get a few more steps in today. We (Kevin and me) are in a competition at our work place against other teams around the community to see who can log the most steps over a 6 week period. So far, we’re doing really good. But it’s 10:46 and I’m tired and I don’t know if those additional steps are happening.

• Why I’ll never think of Nicholas Sparks the same way again. It’s bad, guys. Real bad.
• Amy has made a pretty serious confession about tomatoes. I’m right there with her.
• Pasta Machine Giveaway at The Happy Housewife!
• A good argument for having boys. Not that any of us have a choice in the matter.
• Double Wide Mom’s touching tribute to Dixie Carter. What girl/woman raised in the South didn’t look up to this lady?
• Tasty Kitchen has some yummy sounding leftover recipes they are highlighting this week. I hope I can find something that my husband might enjoy (he’s not a leftover eater).
• 9 Great Ways to be Exceptionally Boring – I feel like I am fulfilling most of those requirements. Okay, folks. I need some more detailed advice on how to be interesting.
• How Much Does Adoption Cost? – Looks at just about every different kind of adoption.
• Sadly, there was a point in my life where I might have purchased a Barry Manilow body pillow.

Edited to add:

• BooMama! I want to learn the dance, too! I skipped out on the Hanson fangirlishness the first time around (by choice; I was exactly the right age), but ever since college I have LOVED them. They are sure enough talented musicians.

Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’

HANSON | MySpace Music Videos

Ladies and gents, I am back on The FlyLady bandwagon. Don’t worry, I’m not crazed or judgmental towards unshiny sinks. My sink is currently full on both sides, but so much better than it was yesterday it’s not EVEN funny.

Here’s what I’ve been thinking. In a couple of years, Kevin and I plan on having a baby. It’s not in the near future, but it’s not that distant either. And can anyone remember what you were doing 5 years ago? Five years ago, I was lamenting a non-relationship with a guy who strung (strewed? strang? usheilkd? WHAT?) me along for months. (Hello, roommate and dorm friends — does anyone remember this?) If all goes as planned (and it never does, but whatever) we will have a 2-year-old in 5 years.

TIMEOUT.

Let’s stop and think about that for a minute. In a few years, we’re going to have a baby. (Sorry for all the italics. I get very “Rilla Blythe” when I think about the future and babies and AHH!) That’s insanity. How life changes so quickly. Now I’m married and it feels like I’ve always been married. Nine months down and it feels like forever. In a good way. And while I was thinking about having babies I was looking at my toes. Because toes kind of remind me of babies. They are little and cute. Well, some people’s are. And then I was looking at my tiny toe on my left foot. On the inside part of that toenail, it grows at a perfect right angle, creating a dangerously sharp point (and they don’t even need clipping right now). And because I am all hippy at heart, I’ve already started working on a birth plan (I did this like 2 years ago, it’s changed as I have). Now, I know how to make sure hospital staff doesn’t go against my wishes.

I threaten them with my razor-sharp left pinky-toenail.

Brilliant, right? I know! With feet up in the air like that I should have a clear shot at somebody’s jugular.

Then, I started thinking, which led me to ask this question of you all. Seriously. Who does that? You can’t give prisoners (the hardcore kind) nail clippers. And in a situation like mine, you definitely can’t let them go unclipped. If the need presented itself, I would use this thing as a shiv. No one would see it coming.

I’m going to have to work on that left roundhouse kick though.

Okay, back to the original topic.

That. That is a little frightening. And what I have come to realize is that if I can’t get my housekeeping under control when there are just two of us, there’s no way I’m going to know what to do when there are suddenly 3 and I’m faced with about 1000x the responsibilities that I have right now.

So, in the words of Barney Fife (who I am referencing for the 2nd time this week*), I’m nipping it in the bud.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress. Now, links!

• There’s a giveaway going on at the r house. Beautiful gift with a beautiful story behind it.
• The Bloggies are tonight! Announcing awards every 5 minutes on their Twitter.
• How to nap (thanks, Melissa!)
• Christie offers some fantastic tips on going green.
• WOLF SWEATSHIRT. I’ve always been partial to those. Found in most quality truck stops.
• I didn’t even know The Golden Driller existed (it’s because I don’t go to Tulsa. Unless I’m on my way to Branson. As a rule.), but I’m a fan now.

*The first time was in regard to the “shooting” at Oklahoma City Community College.

Apparently kids today do not know who Barney Fife is. This makes me sad.