Exploding deodorant

What a weekend in Landover, MD., for my competition BBQ team, Chicks in Charge (all female, naturally!). We get to the Beltway BBQ Showdown, which is in the shadow of the FedEx Field, where the Redskins play, and set up our little cooking area. It’s a little warm and muggy, but not bad for June. Then Saturday, when we did most of the cooking, the temperature shot up over 100 degrees. What a great idea – standing over a hot smoker for hours in death-defying heat.

We probably downed a case of water in a four-hour period and never had to visit the bathroom (which was actually the only sanctuary in the heat because it was air conditioned – one competitor went in there and spent a half hour just sitting on the commode to cool off). The awards ceremony was in an open field at 3:30 in the afternoon. The Chicks went down there with umbrellas – we looked like dirty, stinking, greasy Mary Poppins.

It was worth it. We came in 13th overall and got called to the stage for a 5th place chicken entry. If you’re curious about all this competitive BBQ stuff, visit www.kcbs.us
to learn about how you can become a certified judge or a cook.

The capper was when we got back home, I took a shower and my deodorant, which had been in the car all day, exploded like a projectile missile when I took the cap off! Who knew personal hygiene could be so dangerous.