Well, I cured the grill and used it for the first time.  I suppose I should just say that cooking over charcoal kicks the shit out of cooking on a propane gas grill.  HOWEVER...

* The grill we got is of very meh quality.  During the curing process, the paint started peeling on the bottom of the grill.  I think all the peeling has stopped (because there's no more paint), and you can't really notice it unless you like crawling around and looking up.  Probably not a good way to introduce yourself to women - just sayin'.  It's annoying tho.  Also, not sure if it's just me, but when parts of the grill are called a "charcoal pan" and "charcoal grate," I don't think it should warp when it comes in contact with say...  charcoal.  I'm probably just a wee bit old school, tho.  The charcoal was hot, so *maaaybe* I'm partly to blame.  Because who would think of ever putting hot charcoal in a grill?!?  Silly me.

* cleaning the remant charcoal is somewhat messy.  Cleaning the grates is an absolute nightmare, so I think I may have to get some easier-to-clean cooking surfaces or use foil.

I figure we'll use this only when we have bigger get-togethers, so I'm still glad we got the grill.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Anyway, we smoked our first batch of dead animal - ribs and chicken wings.  Mrs. Fly's dry rub and BBQ sauce were good, but unfortunately, 3.5 hours was not enough time to get the ribs tender.  I think it may have been okay if we had used baby back ribs, but we went with spare ribs because that's what the recipe source recommended.  The jist was that real BBQ lovers prefer spare ribs.  Not sure that this is true, but I think I either need to do 8+ hours of spare ribs or like half that time for baby backs.  Live and learn.

Turns out my neighbor is in the restaurant business, and he goes to Kansas City a few times a year for BBQ.  Um...  Doh!  The plan is to get awesome by the end of the summer and invite him back.  But I think he had a good time - his kids went fishing in our plake (maybe later post) and almost caught a 5 pound bass.  Obviously the 6-8lb test line on the fishing poles need an upgrade.  We never go fishing in the plake - partly because I prefer eating saltwater fish and partly because I didn't realize there was bass in there.  But it was pretty embarrassing because I'm waiting until Stumpy arrives before cleaning the last of the geese poo, and there was still some geese poo by the water.  I'm gonna get those birds if it kills me!!!