The Purposed Trek

Only in South Africa do you turn on the tv and there is a show called Pap Idols on. Now for those if you who don't know Pap is maize meal or corn meal. It is a main staple in this country. Pap is very deceiving to Americans because it looks just like mashed potatoes, however it tastes nothing like it. I have seen many Americans dig in and then make a face like this definitely isn't mashed potatoes. It reminds me of when mainland Americans take a big taste of poi in Hawaii thinking it is pudding. So if you are ever bored in South Africa just look for an episode of Pap Idols and watch a pap recipe cook-off. It is highly entertaining...depends on what you find entertaining!

I was at small group a little while ago and we were talking about James 2 in the Bible. The passage says in verses 1-4 about not showing favoritism or discriminating against people because of things they may or may not have.

...Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

And then we talked about our golden rings. Meaning these days when someone walks in we don't look for their gold ring necessarily, but we measure them against something. What is that something for you, what is your golden ring? When someone walks in the room what do you measure them against? It might be appearance or could be education or social status. Whether tangible or intangible it isn't right, but we all do it regardless of knowing we hate it when it is done to us.

What is a 'golden ring' to you and what do you consider 'rags'?

Have you ever called someone and they answer the phone, whether their cell phone or land line, and after introducing yourself, they respond like this: "I can't talk now, can you call back in 20 minutes?"? Now I understand that people are not available 24 hours a day, even on a cell phone. However, if you can't talk, then don't answer your phone. Let it roll over to VM and call that person back.

Just a pet peeve of mine that I experienced today when calling someone. What is a pet peeve of yours?

When I don't have access to live NFL my boys are undefeated. Now I realize that it is early in the season, but I feel that their time has come to make a mark. They are long over due for a great season and a team that is talked about on ESPN in a positive manner.

I grew up attending many games at the best stadium ever, RFK, and if we weren't at the game screaming we were sitting, well jumping and screaming in our own home. I have fond memories of driving to the stadium and people honking their horns in the tunnels so there would be echoes, taking the metro and feeling like I was going to get separated from my parents, eating lots of junk food, tailgating before the game eating Italian sausages and peppers, wearing my Joe Theismann throw-back jersey, taking photos with the hogettes, and standing in the parking lot after games trying to get autographs from the players (I had a white turtle neck that I wore to every game and it had a good portion of the teams autographs on it). The 80's era was the best, including our now out-of-retirement Coach Gibbs.

A little football history in my family - we are all huge fans. Every game was a family affair - most of my family would be at the games, the cousins (the young ones) would all take turns going. In 1984 the Redskins played the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. We were all at my house having a party and of course a little gambling was taking place. Well it was a pool - gambling for those in denial that they gamble. We had to write the final score on a piece of paper and whoever was the closest won the pot. Well being that we are all Skins fans, everyone put that the Skins would win. I was 5 at the time and I said the Raider were going to win. So yep - the 2nd youngest in the entire family won, out of 19 of us.

And we are still huge fans - 2 Christmas's ago (our family celebrates the Saturday after New Years) we were all watching the Skins play the Buccaneers in the playoffs. The woman were upstairs cooking pasta and watching the game, and the kids. The guys were downstairs watching the game. It was coming to the final minutes and we were holding on - it was a close game. Well when the final second ticked and the Skins won, there was silence from downstairs. They guys probably gave each other a five and took another drink, but upstairs the women went nuts. We started to sing the Skins fight song and we even went to the extent of getting pots/pans and wooden spoons and marched around outside singing the fight song. Hey we were proud of them, even if they didn't go all the way, they did far more than they had in the past decade.

We even used to drive up to Carlisle, PA and watch them during training camp and get autographs there too. We were freaks and some people think we still are.

So all that to say - I am going with Skins, not Shirts. Go boys - you have a fan in South Africa even if I am having to follow via the Internet or replayed games. And now sing a long with all the other fans out there.

Hail to the Redskins
Hail victory
Braves on the warpath,
Fight for old D.C. (even though they don't play in DC anymore)

Run or pass and score -- we want a lot more!
Beat 'em, Swamp 'em,
Touchdown! -- Let the points soar!
Fight on, Fight on,
'Til you have won,
Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah! Rah! Rah!

Hail to the Redskins
Hail victory
Braves on the warpath,
Fight for old D.C.

Click here for the old version: we are now somewhat politically correct :)

Some may know or not know that I am not a big soda drinker at all. I hardly every drink it, but when I do it is typically because there is a can of Barqs Root Beer being offered. I am a huge fan of root beer and that is one of the few things that I miss. However someone did send a 12 pack with one of the teams to Rich and he was kind enough to share a couple with me.

Michelle was at the bread store the other day and she said she saw a bottle of root beer, but didn’t try it. So today when I was at the fruit market picking up my fruit for the week, I figured since the bread store was right next door that I needed to check out this root beer.

Frankies Old Style Root Beer, brewed in Natal Midlands, RSA by the Olde Soft Drink Company. Here is too some decent root beer that will bring much joy when I have a hankerin’ for some good ol’ beer. It tastes different, but it is still good. A home brew taste. Thanks Frankie…an American’s life will be changed while residing in the RSA.