A Deer, a State Trooper, and the Big Game

I've never been very interested in sports. When Ryan or Nicholas were on the baseball or football field, I would watch and yell and find myself total engrossed. Beyond that, no thank you. I can barely tell you the name of a professional football team and if my life depended on knowing which college team is on top, I'm done for.

Recently, however, I watched every minute of a college football game. It was the recent Alabama vs LSU game. For a week before, I heard about this game from most everyone. It was all the buzz... two great teams, both undeafeted, some conference something up for grabs, maybe.

Finally, I, too, caught the fever. Ryan and Nicholas were home that weekend and anxious to watch the game, too. I hurried home so we could all watch it together. Of course, by half time, Nic had lost interested and was outside playing with his dog. Ryan had left to visit a friend up the street.

Nevertheless, I watched every minute of the game pulling for Alabama because it is Nic's favorite team (sorry, Barney). Unless you live in a sports-free world like me, you probably already know Alabama lost in what turned out to be a very close game... a nail-biter even for someone who was only mildly interested going in.

Who knew that having watched that game would come in handy weeks later as I'm sitting in the back seat of cop's car?

First, let me say, that before this day I had never (did I say, NEVER) been in the back seat of cop's car. The closest I've ever been to a police man is having one stand outside my car window coldly writing me a speeding ticket.

So, this night, I was more than a little nervous sitting in the back seat of an Alabama Trooper's car. When I told him as much, he was nice enough to chat a bit to me at ease. It didn't take long for the talk to come around to the fact that LSU and Alabama have challenged each other to rematch to determine once and for all who is the better team.

I was very excited to be able to converse--from the back seat, through the bars, through the bullet-proof sliding window--with this stern, assuming, yet so nice and polite, trooper about a game that I had actually watched!

When Mr. Alabama Trooper finally walked around to my side of the car, opened the door, and I was able to climb out, I have was very relieved. One would think my purpose for being there was ominous, but, in actuality, it was just a deer that brought me there.

While traveling South on Highway 25, just outside of Citronella, Alabama, two Northbound cars were heading our direction. Roger commented that the car in back had his lights on bright. They were blinding me and I knew they had to be blinding the car in front. So, as the first car passed, I quickly blinked my lights to bright to let car in back know to dim his lights.

The very second I did, we saw her. A does was calmly standing (not running, just standing) in the middle of the Southbound lane of Highway 25. By the time I saw her, we had already hit her! It was less than a split second; I never even had time to hit my brakes. We were lucky, I guess, that the speed limit on that stretch is only 55 miles per hour, as I hit her at full speed. Thankfully, I was only going 55 (I already mentioned the previous speeding tickets!) and we both had our seatbelts on, so no one was hurt. My car, however, didn't get off so easy.

We were able, after spending an hour with the state trooper, to continue on our way, but it looks like my little car suffered about $3,000 damage. All I can say is, thank goodness for car insurance... and state troopers... and a football game usually ignored.

If you plan to watch the latest big game between Alabama and LSU on January 9th, here are some recipes you might want to serve! ENJOY! (And don't forget to count your blessings.)


Hobo Sausage Kabobs

1 pound smoked sausage, chunked
1 package hot dogs, chunked
1 onion, thickly sliced
1 green bell pepper, thickly sliced
1 bottle barbecue sauce
Toothpicks
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and evenly coat with sauce. On a toothpick, place 1 piece of sausage, one slice of onion, 1 piece of hot dog, and 1 slice of pepper. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Bake on a nonstick cookie sheet at 400° for about 15 minutes or until sauce and edges brown. Serve warm.


Party Ham Sandwiches
These fun, little sandwiches taste great and are the hit of any party. They can be made the day before and refrigerated until ready to cook. If cooking for a crowd, the small party rolls are terrific or try it on your favorite bun as a special lunch treat.

1 (24-count) package small party rolls (or preferred bun)
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons finely grated onion (or more to taste)
1 pound ham luncheon meat, chopped
8 slices pepper jack (or Swiss) cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Split rolls; set aside. Combine butter, mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire, and onion; spread on both sides of rolls. Place ham and cheese on bottom rolls and replace tops. Wrap in aluminum foil and cook 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese melts.

Potato Skins

4 large baking potatoes, baked
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup sour cream
4 green onions, chopped
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut potatoes in half length-wise; scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4-inch shell. (Reserve pulp for another use.) Place potatoes on sprayed baking sheet. In small bowl, combine oil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Brush both sides of skins and bake 7 minutes. Turn with tongs, and bake 7 more minutes until crispy around edges. Sprinkle bacon and cheese evenly inside skins. Return to oven 2 minutes longer until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and onions. Serve immediately. Serves 8.