My wounds from my fall are healing and last Monday I was able to travel with our group to Columbia to attend the Carl Hurley/Jeanne Robertson Comedy Show.

You will not believe what happened to me this past week. I have a big knot on my forehead, a huge black eye, injured foot and a few scratches here and there.

A casual Friday night stroll at the blaze-off isn’t without surprise and/or shock. This year marks the 26th time teams gathered at Hidden Valley Park, arriving Thursday and starting the process at sunset. Friends gathering and talking. Business associates pitching horseshoes and networking, their wet, sticky chins hovering over cans of cold beer.

In barbecue, there are endless techniques and flavors to explore. And almost as many ways to end up with more ribbing than ribs.

Grouchy Bear is snoring loudly as he sits in “Old Blue.” His belly is full, and that always keeps him happy.

The Examiner, with Freeland’s help, has compiled Top 10 list of Santa-Cali-Gon food must haves.

This week has passed and not one growl from Grouchy Bear. Perhaps the silence has been due to the fact he has been out running all week.

The time between articles seems to be shorter each week. Add that to the fact that my brain is on overload and I forget things more often then I did a few years ago.

When Sunday rolls around and I realize it is time for another article, I also realize that I have cooked 21 meals and several healthy desserts since the last article.

During the past week the “Grouchy Bear” that lives in my house insisted that this cool weather was reason to experiment in the kitchen. “Make some cookies and take the chill out of the air,” was his constant whine.