New Year New Perspective

"Where are the female hot dog bloggers," I asked? "Don't exist right now," said The Mole. Heck, nothing like a new decade, a significant (ends in zero) birthday, and processed meat to get a woman to step up to a new challenge. My bona fides - graduate of The Ohio State University College of Agriculture with a BS in Food Science & Nutrition. Moved to Omaha in 1983 to work for Frito-Lay, Inc. in Council Bluffs (before they tore it down). Moved to Williamsport, PA to work at a Frito-Lay bakery (before they closed it down). Moved back to La Vista to live happily ever after with my husband and two sons. Now work for the Greater Omaha Chamber - dream job that has nothing to do with food science or nutrition. (Obviously, otherwise, I never would have signed onto the nutritional train wreck that is Hot Dog Month.)

I have a long and somewhat troubled relationship with the hot dog. I grew up in what I thought was God's Country - O-H-I-O. My grandfather owned and operated a dairy farm with a herd of lovely Jersey cows. He always had a cow named Barbara. One day when we were at the farm, my grandmother served hot dogs for lunch. I was enjoying my dog when Grandpa said, "We butchered Barbara last week." I've never been good at math, but even I knew 1+1 equaled Barbara for lunch. I'm dedicating the next month to Barbara's memory.

The boys have set the bar pretty high. I'm looking forward to seeing their bar and raising it. Oh, I have a little help along the way as Hubby is enthusiastically joining me on the journey. The photos are from our first venture. That's right. I have two packets of mayo next to my dog. I don't like ketchup or mustard. Or relish.

The Buckeye

P.S. Go Bucks! Beat the Ducks!