I am still alive

I miss you, blog... and blog reader (yes, that is singular for readers... with an "s") I think I only have 1 reader left.

Oh well, who is this blog for anyway??

Here is what I have been up to

-going to the gym. almost daily. I am loving Zumba class, and body pump, which is weight lifting. I have also almost died trying step class.

-my whole family has been sick for like a month now. its this sore throat, chesty cold thing. But we are on the downhill side of it.

-the wind last night knocked about 90% of the leaves off our massive trees. I now have to wade knee deep in leaves to get to and from my car.

-I went to the grocery store tonight after work and ran into probably 10 people that I know, or at least recognize. Not 1 person said hi to me. And only 1 person smiled. I thought with the first couple, well maybe they didnt see me. But then someone walked right by me, and our eyes met, I smiled, but no smile, no hi, no nod, no nothing. Did I have a sign on my forehead that said "i've had a bad day, leave me alone?" I didnt think so. I know a couple of the people know me from church, so I guess I kinda got my feelings hurt. Oh well.

-I am in desperate need of a tan.

-I am throwing a Pampered Chef party in December. Anyone who reads this blog regularly should have already received an invite. Unless you're a boy, and your name starts with the letter M.

-Dennis calls party favors "party favorites"

-Gordon Ramsey is on QVC

-My current favorite snack is toast, made with Dave's Killer Bread

-My other favorite snack is pomogranites

-Both of the snacks are expensive. I mean really, they are just snacks.

-Oh I should mention that since I started going to the gym I havent lost a single pound. do you think that has anything to do with my snacks of toast and pomogranites?

-I plan on drinking Egg Nog everyday in December.

-I dont plan on trying to lose weight during December, but it would be nice to lose a few pounds BEFORE December. It would. Be nice.

-Oh I get up at 4:40am to go the gym for Body Pump class. This is the first time in my life I have ever worked out in the mornings.

-I am afraid of passing out so I eat 1/2 a Cliff bar on my way to the gym.

-I gag every morning when I get into my car at 4:50am, but I feel better after I eat the Cliff bar.

-If I never had to drink Grape Rehydrate from Advocare ever again I would be happy. I am a fan of electrolytes, but I prefer plain water. I ordered some different electrolytes that dont have a flavor, they will be here tomorrow.

-I am rambling, so I think its time for bed.

-David Venebal is on QVC with Gordon Ramsey. I love David Venebal, but I dont know how to spell his last name.

How to make an Elvis Sandwich

What you will need:


Butter some bread and slap it on the griddle. Spread on the peanut butter.



Add slices of banana....


a drizzle of honey...


cooked bacon. This here is applewood smoked bacon, thick sliced.


dont forget the marshmallow fluff on the other slice of bread!!!!


Flip and grill the other side of the sandwich.


Yum!!!!!


Ready to enjoy this hunka hunka burnin love!!!

Shape.. out of it.

I joined a local gym, so I could work out on my own schedule, not just when its light outside.

I was really excited because the gym has treadmills with tv's on them!

Well, the times I have been, all the "tv treadmills" are taken, and tonight there was one open that the tv didnt work.

This treadmill thing is for the birds.

I am out of shape, and its hard.

I realize I like walking and running outside much better.

the fresh air, the scenery, the fact that I have something to look at besides the chick with the nice butt in front of me.

I hope this gets easier.

Tonight I stumbled I dont know how many times. I start looking around and I shift to the right and end up tripping.

I try to swing my arms and I snag my headphone cord and either rip it out of my ear, or pull the ipod out of the holder on the treadmill.

I also had a jacket on tonight and I got hot so I took it off and attempted to zip it up and tie it around my waist. But my keys were in my pocket so they came out and landed on the treadmill belt and went flying off behind me.

And after 30 minutes I was absolutely beat!

From walking!

Miles!

We was a naughty little raggedy cat the day Den and Harley brought him home from a house down the street.

He had ear mites, fleas, ringworm. He was 5 weeks old, and barely 1 pound!

Miles on august 6th. 5 weeks old.


He's a lot healthier now, thanks to numerous visits to the vet!


and he's just so naughty.


he's a hunter!!!


he loves to beat things up!


He has definitely stirred things up around here. He has been nothing short of a pain in the you know what.

:)

stranger shout-out!

As you all know.... I hardly blogged this summer. My bad.

I really do like blogging, and especially love the comments people leave.

I just have to tell you guys this story.

On August 20th, a bunch of our family got together at Fuddruckers for Harley's birthday.

After a great meal, we were heading out of the crowded restaurant, and a man approached Dennis.

A man we have never seen before.

"hey, where is your wife?" he asked

my friend and I stood there like huh???

"ya, where is your wife??"

and everyone points to me..

he looks to me and says...

"I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!!"

Excuse me?!?! Wha....huh??

And I, of course, didnt know what to say.

ohhhhhh. wow....thank you!

And we walk out of the restaurant. What just happened???

Cindy and I start freaking out!!

omg! omg! omg! I have a "FAN"!!!! A follower. I dont know what you call it.....

but someone that doesnt even know me.... read MY blog!!!

He has even left a comment!!!

So, with that being said... welcome to my blog, Milt!!

Milt, sorry I ran out of the restaurant, red faced, as if you just handed me a 2 fold printshop card that said will you go out with me, yes no or maybe.

I dont think you are a stalker. I just didnt know what to say.

I read your blog now, and its pretty cool! Thanks for the tip on how to un-seed a watermelon!

Thanks for liking my blog!!! I hope you still read it....

:)

runs upon a time....

Once upon a time:

I might have considered myself a runner

I could run a whole mile w/o stopping

Heck, on a good day I could run 3 miles.

Even more on a GREAT day!

I had designated "running days"

"my.running.day" was a common part of my vocabulary.

"i cant do that tonight, its my running day"

"its my running day, remember? so you are in charge of dinner"

"I have to go home and grab my running clothes, I forget them, and today is my ru...."

You get the point...

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I would change into my running clothes at work, and go strait to running at the park.

On sundays I would run whenever, just depending on what I had going on.

My dog would watch me and I could see her wheels turning.

He anxious little puppy eyes, and waggly (yes its a word, I checked. Ok not really, but who's keeping track) tail, knew I was going for a "walk"

and that little girls LOVES WALKS!!

She didnt know any better.

I would have to expain to her

"no baby, you cant come with me. you see, momma's going for a run, three miles is just too much for a little 7 pound chihuahua. You need to stay here and lay in your bed, and someday soon momma will take you for your own little walk. but for now, momma is a runner and I gotta go running. I run real fast baby, and I run a long ways for a long time. Thats just what runners do. You dont see runners out there with little chihuahuas, baby. You want mamma to be a good runner, dont you? See, I knew you would understand"

And for a few months, thats the way it was.

I did have to take a couple weeks off because of horrible shin splints. (only real runners get shin splints, thats just something I say to make myself feel better)

Then summer came.

And instead of staying a runner, I became something else.

A wannabe.

100 degrees is just too hot for this wannabe.

80 degrees might even be too hot.

Then summer left, and alright now I am just plain lazy!

Now 3 or 4 times a week:

I strap on my running shoes, because they are just so dang cute.

I wear whatever I have on.

I dont put on my special socks.

Or my special spandex under shorts.

I dont take my iPod, because its dead, and I have failed to charge it.

Charging it would involved bringing it inside from my car.

I take my phone, and I text message people, and try not to trip over a curb.

I take my wonderful fantastic little dog with me, because afterall, and evening stroll around the block is not too much for her.

I end up carrying a small plastic bag of her fresh doo doo about 1/2 way in to the walk.

Sometimes I wear my Bloomsday finisher T-shirt, and I think about how it felt to run.

The cool weather is here, and I'm still not running.

I have a million and one excuses.

And they are all just that, excuses.

I think I'm getting there though, closer to being a runner again.

Why Life for {US} will Never be the Same.....

Thursday, September 2nd 2010, was just a normal day.

I had just gotten home from work and was preparing dinner for my family. We were having chili frito haystacks. We were all excited to eat, and were celebrating the fact that "tomorrow is friday, yay." It was a beautiful day outside, and we had the windows open, taking in the fresh air.

Just as we were about to sit down, a small pick up pulled up outside. The kids recognized the truck, and the men in it. It was Pat (their mothers boyfriend, whom they refuse to have any relationship with) and his father. Harley started to get upset, because she is scared of Pat. Dennis rushed outside to meet Pat's dad on the porch. His dad kneeled down, and I couldnt hear what he was saying, but I could tell it was bad news.

By the time I got to the door to stick my head out, Dennis had tears in his eyes and he turned around to me to say "Jessica died!"

The kids heard the news too, because the windows were open. I turned around and looked at them, and waiting for a reaction.

Both of them lost it!!!

I grabbed Harley and held her as she cried, and cried. Bubba was crying too, but he wouldnt sit still. He was walking around, trying to punch and kick things. I think this was a typical reaction from a 15 yr old boy.

I will NEVER forget that moment.

Feeling completely helpless.

Nothing I could do... or say...

A million things were running through my mind...

the fact that on the way to school that morning, Bubba said he was going to call his mom when school got out to wish her happy birthday.

the fact that it was her 34th Birthday!

the fact that we were just told that Jessica had committed suicide, drowned herself.

the fact that there was alcohol involved.

the fact that there was alcohol involved when on August 20th she told the kids was her 8th month of sobriety.

the fact that this happened at Pat's house, and they supposedly werent dating.

the fact that these kids will never see their mom again.....

Why?

How?

Once we had gotten the kids calmed down a little, which was hard, because Dennis and I were both pretty shook up as well, the kids asked if their mom had been drinking.

And we told them yes.

At ages 11 and 15, these kids lost their mother, to a horrible disease.

I called one of my best friends. Her father was an alcoholic, and committed suicide when we were 13. She came over to talk to the kids a little bit.

Dennis made a lot of phone calls, to the rest of her family.

Bubba had youth group that night, and asked if he could still go. He wanted to go to church. So we took him. Dennis told the Pastor what had happened.

That group of kids, and Pastors, made a circle around Bubba and prayed for him. Kids did that!!! Amazing!

Bubba found a peace of mind that night. He came home to tell us that he believes his mom is in a better place, and she doesnt have to struggle with addiction anymore. More so, he doesnt have to worry about her anymore.

No more worrying about where she is, who she is with, what she is doing, is she drinking? Is she lying? etc.

Around 9pm, some detectives came over, and asked a bunch of questions. They couldnt give us much information except the fact that there was alcohol on her "breath", and that she was found in the large inflatable swimming pool in Pat's back yard.

Both kids went to school the very next day. We gave them the option, and left it open that if it got too hard, they could call and come home.

I stayed home with Dennis and helped him talk to some more family, and try to get some more information on what exactly happened. As of even right now, this case has not been closed. We dont know for sure that Jessica took her own life that day. We know that she had been drinking, and that is about it. The police are still investigating this case, and are waiting on toxicology and autopsy results.

How horrible is this??

Jessica wasnt very present in these kids lives. She had a horrible addiction, which caused her to choose alcohol and abusive men over her children. I know that she loved her children, and they loved her.

How sad.

On Saturday, September 11th, was Jessica's memorial service at the cemetery here in town. The kids did not request a funeral, they requested that she have a grave, or a head stone, so they would have a place to visit their mom. Jessica's family is making sure that the kids wishes are being granted. They put together a beautiful memorial, and are ordering her a headstone, with a picture of a fairy on it (harley's request) as Jessica loved fairies. Jessica was cremated, and her ashes will be spread next summer during a family reunion in Goldendale.

And with that, life for us... its different now.

Jessica doesnt call to talk to the kids anymore...

Its just {US}

We've been together for 5 years, and I have never tried to replace their mother. I wont ever try to replace her. But there is even a larger void to fill now.

I have never felt a stronger calling from the Lord.

The kids {NEED} me.

I ask Him everyday now:

to calm the kids' hearts and give them peace,
for the patience to help them,
to allow my heart to open completely for them,
to put His hands on them, and guide them, so they may never have to suffer from an addiction,
that he watch over my family, and keep us all safe.
I pray that the kids keep God in their hearts, as he is now, but that they allow Him to stay there.

And that, my friends, is why life will never be the same here.

What happens when you dont blog for over a month

A million stories to tell
hundreds of pictures to share
and one life changing event

where do I even start????

candy and pop for dinner

The kids went to the movies with their mother last night.

Needless to say, they had candy and pop for dinner.

And this was the converstion in the car on the way home.....

B: Slug bug
H: ........
H: whats that smell?
B: you're upper lip
H: huh?
B: slug big!
H: PT bruiser
B: ........
H: what do you think its easier to smell, your upper lip or your bottom lip
B: upper duh, its right below your nose. thats the point of the joke
B: Cadillac Whack!
B: Grand Am Slam
H: Minivan!
H: Truck!
H: Volkswagon!
H: Whatever its called!
B: ok, who farted?
H: your upper lip...
B: thats not how the joke goes Harley...quit stealing my lines
H: okay, your lower lip
B: that still doesnt make sense
H: but thats my joke, and I like it...

RaNdOm....

1. I have a set of knives in one of those knife block things... but they are never ever all clean at the same time, there is always at least one knife missing at any given time.

2. I would like a new set of knives, really nice ones like the Pioneer Woman uses.

3. Have you ever had Hone BBQ Fritos? They are spiral shaped, and its impossible to reach into the bag and pull out more than 2 fritos at a time with your hand. Its IMPOSSIBLE. Try it.

4. One of my boyfriends I had when I lived in Salem is almost completely bald now.

5. I actually only had 1 boyfriend when I lived in Salem.

6. I dont talk to ANY of my ex boyfriends.

7. Today our Pastor was gone from church, so the worship pastor filled in for him. And the youth pastor filled in for the worship pastor and it was AMAZING!! I want the youth pastor to be our worship pastor every week.

8. I feel bad about the above statement, because I do really like our regular worship pastor.

9. I have been watching Big Brother 12. And I like it. And it goes against everything I believe in when it comes to reality TV and the amount of time I should/or shouldnt spend watching TV.

10. I miss running.

11. Ok, I miss running. A LOT! Its too hard to run in hot weather, so I have been swimming, which I love. But I love running more.

12. I never thought I would love running, or miss running.

13. I booked my room in Spokane for Bloomsday next year.

14. I picked our first 2 cherry tomatos today.

15. I ate both of them.

16. Weight Watchers sucks.

17. But it works.

18. If I stick to it.

19. But thats really hard.

20. The word "tomatos" above looks weird... should it have been "tomatoes"?

21. We might get a cat, or well, a kitten. My family wants one really bad. I do too, but I dont want to be allergic. And I dont want anymore vet bills. Oh and that litter box thing... dont want that either.

22. We will probably get a cat.

23. Someday I am going to get a Corgi dog.

24. Big Brother is coming on in 18 minutes.

25. I need to put my clothes in the dryer.

26. I want new clothes.

27. We have almost all of Harleys school clothes bought.

28. I would name my Corgi, Alice.

29. I dont know what I am doing next weekend.

30. Big Brother in 15 minutes.

Fathers Day @ Clear Lake

I know this post is about a month overdue...

We spent Fathers Day at Clear Lake, which is about 40 miles southwest of Sisters Oregon.

Dennis grew up going to Clear Lake often, and its one of his favorite places ever!! He's been dying to take me up there since we got together, but I have refused because of a few of the "minor" details he told me.

Deal breaker # 1: "we sleep in rustic cabins and take our own sleeping bags, and in the morning when we wake up we have to shake the dead spiders and bugs off of our blankets"

And this sounds like a good time why???

Deal breaker # 2: "when the sun starts to go down, we take a row boat out on the lake and bats fly around our heads"

Excuse me??

Yet, summer after summer came around and he would ask to take me to Clear Lake. Finally this year I said yes, under 2 condiions!!!

We would sleep in a MODERN cabin, and there would be NO viewing of the BATS!!!

We went for 3 whole nights, the cabin was awesome, and it was too cold for bats and bugs :)

The beautiful Lake...




There are about 100 row boats to rent...


Our boat for the weekend.... #4


Den and Harley fishing.... Harley usually leads in amount of fish caught.


A few pics of and around the cabin....














As I mentioned, the weather was unseasonably cold. I picked up this puzzle for $2 at a yard sale, and the lady swore to me that all the pieces were there. So I brought it along. I'm so glad that we had it!!! I get a little obsessed with jigsaw puzzles. I was so cozy in my MODERN cabin, putting together my puzzle while Dennis and the kids fished and rode bikes.



But they helped with the puzzle too. Everyone contributed.


After a while... everything starts looking like this...


And I got up extra early on the last day so I could finish it!! It was the hardest puzzle ever!!


Fathers Day weekend was a good one. We ate a TON of good food, caught some fishies, hung out around the puzzle, drank hot chocolate, and enjoyed our time together at this wonderful place.

And we can go back to Clear Lake anytime now....

How about an update?

Yesterday was biopsy day.

Or more like, a wild ride on valium day.

It was a crazy kind of day. The kind that feels like a dream, all day long.

Get to that doctors office and into that damn biopsy room. High as a kite. Doctor and nurse asking me all sorts of questions that I couldnt think of the answers to.

Funny story, he asked me what kind of music I wanted to listen to, so he could turn on the radio. I knew in my head I wanted him to turn it to K-Love, but I couldnt remember what it was called (again.... valium) and I just sat there and stared and tried really hard to make my mouth say kaaaaaaay-loooooovvvvve. And guess what came out? "Country music!" I said I wanted to listen to country music!???!?!? which I never listen to. You should have seen the look on Den's face when I said that. So crazy.

So anyway, this was an ultrasound guided biopsy, so he had to locate the mass with the ultrasound, and to help him guide the needle in and take the chunk out. He ultrasounded for a while, and then said it....

"I dont see anything"

He couldnt find it. He searched and searched and there was nothing there.

So, in short. There was nothing for him to biopsy.

He has said from the beginning, that what the "lump" most likely is, is whats called a fibroadnoma. And they can commonly swell and shrink with our bodies hormone fluctuations. Just like our boobies can get swollen and tender at certain times of the month, abnormal breast tissue is affected as well. Fibroadnomas are the most swollen during the time of ovulation, and tend to shrivel down during our menstration. Well.... I had started my period that morning.

He decided to send me home, and I will come back in 3 months for a follow up ultrasound, just to make sure nothing in there has changed.

So..... good news?

Yes.

But...

(yes there is a but... )

I "feel" like I still dont have an "answer". A biopsy is a solid, concrete answer. cancer... yes or no.

A blip on an ultrasound, its not definite, its not 100%. Its probably 99%, and I am happy with that, dont get me wrong, but, see what I mean?

I'm happy I didnt cry.

There was no pain.

There were LOTS of blessings yesterday.

THANK YOU!!! for all of your prayers.

Prayers were answered yesterday. God is good.

the dreaded "what ifs"

I cant clear my head lately.

The biopsy is tomorrow.

I have been ignoring it the past few weeks, as if it didnt even exist. But we were so busy, that it wasnt hard to do so.

Now things have slowed down, and it seems to be all I can think about.

Its here.

The biopsy. is. TOMORROW!!!

Biopsy. I never imagined that being a word I would use everyday.

What if it hurts?

What if the valium doesnt work?

What if I start crying?

What if... you know.

What if I havent prayed enough?

Garden Goodies (a display of my poor photography skills)

Last year Dennis bought me a whiskey barrel and 4 tomato plants. We had fun planting them, and watching them grow all summer long. Everyday we would go out and pick cherry tomatos and yellow pear tomatos and talk about all the things we are going to grow "next year".

He would say "Next year, we are doing 3 big barrels! I want big tomatos, and peppers! And something else, like peas!"

And I would say "yes, that sounds like a great idea, a salsa garden!"

We did get our 3 big barrels, and a few other pots.

We did get our big tomato plants, and our peppers, and more. It was a chore planting all the pots, etc. But every evening I hang out for a few minutes in my little container garden and check out how much things have grown. I count how many blooms I have, and shew(sp?) away bugs, etc. There is something a little peaceful, and a little theraputic about chilling amongst the plants.



Cilantro and pansies in one corner...


This large pot holds green beans, 8 ball zuchinni, and cucumbers


Strawberries, peppers, tomatos, pansies. I love pansies, they are so easy.


A few strawberries here and there, nothing crazy. There are just 3 plants in this little pot. I just love raising a few strawberry plants. Maybe I will add more every year. It would be amazing to have enough for some shortcake someday.


These are little tiny youngster green beans. Real green beans!! Growing in MY yard!!


This is my problem child... onions. It was an impluse buy at the nursery. Of the 12 or so I planted, these 2 are the only ones that look like they are doing anything. For one, they dont get enough sunlight (kind of hard when the sun wont shine... ) but I also dont think they like the soil I gave them.


These are large tomatos called Early Girls! Shouldnt be too long and these blooms will start forming into tomatos.


And these are all cherry tomatos. Super Sweet 100's to be exact!! My favorite!


This is a jalepeno! Isnt that wild?? I am growing jalepeno peppers!!!


AND bell peppers!!! This one is a go getter!! It's almost ready for pickin'!!!


The one thing we said we would grow this year was peas, but we couldnt find any pea plants, and it was too late to start any from seed. So.. next year!! Oh and I forgot to mention, my entire garden is organic!! I used all organic soil and compost, and organic fertilizers made with chicken crap and things like that. I want to expand my crop and variety year by year and someday it just might be pretty sustainable!

the end of a journey (but not really)

Last Friday was my official last day on the Medifast plan. It was bittersweet. I know I am ready to be released out into the world of real food, but its hard to let go of that "fixed" routine.

It's scary actually.

This is what I looked like on Friday June 4th, 2010!

 

Dont get all excited, I was just having a good day. You know... one of those "thin" days. Ironically, that made it a good day to take my end of Medifast pictures.

 

Ok, this is kind of exciting. These were my "goal" jeans. I bought these jeans about 8 years ago the weekend that I moved to Salem. I felt so skinny in these jeans, and have been trying to get back into them ever since. Funny that I fit into my goal jeans, and I am not to my goal yet.

 

And my signature "collage" of start, middle, and end (of Medifast)

 

Stats:
lbs lost since January 11th 2010 = 36.4
total inches lost = 31 inches!!

I love that I lost 31 inches, that is results!

But!!! as I said above, I am not to my goal yet. So I am starting yet another journey... a much cheaper journey. A road that I have been down a few times... and failed. A road called Weight Watchers (Dunn Dunn DUNN!!!)

I am still running 3 times a week, and with that and Weight Watchers, I am hoping I can continue on toward my goal.

Part 3: Tea Time

A few weeks ago, Harley and I attended a mother daughter tea party. It was a fundraiser for one of our favorite events. Relay for Life!!

We picked up Mandie and Grace along the way. Spent the afternoon at the tea party, and it was FABULOUS!!!

They had a TON of food, omg you should have seen the spread. They had a little "photo booth" of sorts, door prizes and raffles, and tea of course. Mandie's mom and neice also met us down there. I ate too much, and the girls had a blast!

Here are a few pictures.

Grace and Harley on the way to the party.

 

Making tea! Harley had apple spice.

 

Harley with her winning door prize!

 

Mandie and I both won door prizes as well!

 

I look forward to having more days like this. The Relay team did an excellent job putting this event together. I have always supported the Relay For Life. And now more than ever... given my current situation.

Ah ha! Speaking of that, I guess I better give an update on it as well.

I spoke with my doctor, and a surgeon. There are a lot of facts in my favor, but there is still a low suspicion that my mass could be cancerous. I have chosen to get the biopsy, and not wait the 6 months. Today I confirmed my appointment and its on Tuesday June 29th. I have a positive feeling about this, and I am continuing to pray everyday. Plus I have a lot of stuff to keep my occupied until then.

Thanks for hangin in there with me. =D

Whats up? Part 2... boy meets grill

When Dennis and I had been together for just 6 short months, Father's Day came around. He mentioned wanting a new BBQ, but unfortunately he didnt get it. We had only been together for 6 months, and a BBQ is a pretty big gift.

One year later, I had promised him a BBQ for Fathers Day. But things happen. We got into a car accident, and suddenly a BBQ wasnt so important.

Another year later.... still talking about that new BBQ. Of course, things happen, and I didnt have the money to get him one.

1 year ago, still asking for a BBQ for Fathers Day. And I am feeling pretty awful that he's been asking for one for 3 years and I hadnt delivered. Fathers Day came around, and he didnt have a new BBQ. But!!!, I did get him one a couple weeks later. He had picked out this Coleman Roadtrip somthing or other. He looked and looked and kept going back to this one. I bought it for him, and he had a good time cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausages. He went out and bought a BBQ Bible Cookbook and suddenly he wasnt so found of his fancy new grill. The cookbook only highlighted other greater grill types, and didnt focus so much on us amatuers with cheesy little portable propane grills.

The problem here is, Dennis wants to cook food that is the BBQ Bible. He wants to make brisket, and ribs, and steaks, and chicken, and loins, and everything in between. I have always been the primary chef in the household, and he is fine with that. But deep down, he has this desire to create good food for his family and friends. The way that I can bake cookies and pies, and bring smiles and mmmmm's and oooohs and aaaahhhhhhs, He wants to do that with.... well, with meat.

So, as Fathers day # 5 drew near, there was talk of a new grill....yet again. He talked about maybe getting a charcoal grill, then maybe just a regular propane grill. One day I just spit out "how about a Traegar?" I honestly didnt even know what one was. But I started looking into them, and as I learned more, I knew this was the one for him. We both researched a while and found the one we wanted. Then we went to ACE Hardware and bought it!

This is the Traegar!

 

And its the perfect size for Dennis.

 

I could go on and on about how this thing works.... but its pretty basic.

 

Fill that square box with pellets, and they drop into this round thing and burn. Creating a lot of very hot smoke, that cooks food to perfection!!!

 

Our very first meal cooked on it. Chicken Legs.


I know they dont look like much, but they were the best, juciest chicken legs I have ever had.


We have had the Traegar for a little over a month now, and have used it almost every night. We have made chicken, pork chops, hamburgers, bratwurst, ribeyes, meatloaf, pizza (yes pizza), baby back ribs, tri-tip, new york steaks, chicken kabobs, etc.

Dennis is feeling like a stud, and we all get to eat good food. This is the grill of Dennis's dreams. And it only took him about 5 years to get it.

And for the record, he deserved it a looooong time ago.