It's finally sinking in that WINTER IS OVER! No more sub zero arctic blasts, no more blizzards. I know I'm tempting fate saying this, but I can just feel it this year, it's done. You know what that means - BBQ season commences. It's going to be a spell before we actually dine outdoors, but since we bought a new bbq yesterday, we officially started by cooking a marinated bavette (flank steak? skirt steak? butt steak? I can't recall now in English) on the new toy. (And I'm still poor, the bbq is one year no payments or interest.) I thought it was pretty neat to be bbqing when there was still a bit of snow on the deck too.So this winter wasn't as heinous as last year's. It was pretty rough for a couple months, but how quickly a few budding trees serve to erase the memory. Also, this is the very first year spouse and I didn't fight over heat. The last fifteen years have seen him too hot and me too cold. We never really figured out how to work the thermostat in our home despite having been here for three winters now. Oh you'd think it was a simple matter, setting the temperature on the thermostat - intuitive even, but you would be wrong. No matter what we do, it always seems to revert back to some previously entered setting. One day, Serge got cold and fucked with it and somehow got it unlocked and he was able to set the temperature at 22C/72F. (It is now locked at that temp, he doesn't know what he did.) I have to admit, it was a little warm at times at night, but at least I didn't freeze all winter like last year when it was stuck at 19C/66F.
Here are two things that ARE truly heinous. I did my US taxes yesterday, which basically means I say what I earned and that I paid income tax here. Then the total due is 0. Here's a hoop, now jump through it, because it's the LAW. Lame. The limited edition Reese Bar is so dang good but oh so bad for you. I'm doomed this Easter what with the Reese eggs and now this. I'm gonna need a girdle for the cruise.
19 comments:
Heh, I'm not quite sure how a mirdle would look with swim trunks. I think pics would definitely be in order.
David and I set the thermostat to 65F during the day and 55F at night during winter. It just means that I start wearing an undershirt to bed during the really cold weather and use hot water bottles to warm up my toes so I can sleep.
We only fought over the heat when it was free, included in our rent. When we bought our house, we stopped fighting and both froze in order to keep the bill low. At least we can shiver in harmony.
I'm have serious grill envy. Ours died many months ago and we were year-round grillers. Out in a blizzard, we (okay, Chris) would huddle around the grill for warmth. He's making noises about wanting one now that it's spring and I remind him that we chose a new fancy fridge instead.
Maybe it's the grill and the (recent) deviled eggs turning my head but those are two great pics of Serge!
Flank steak.
Butt steak is something quite different, but usually at least as good. Just don't barbecue it!
I miss my BBQ. It's the one thing I miss from my married life...
Oh man. The universe is so going to send you a snowstorm to punish you. I hope that when you say winter is over, you at least take the precaution of touching wood. Preferably Serge's.
I love grilling in the winter. Makes things less winter-ish. And two posts in a row with photos of Serge...wow. He must be caring less about having his photo posted. Or else he doesnt know.....
HUGS...
We are always arguing about the heat. Thankfully, with the new woodstove, I can come upstairs to cool off. Of course, I can always go outside to do that.
I don't know why but this winter seems longer than last winter.
A Reese's bar? I can't wait until I start bike training then I can eat those all the time.
Nothing like BBA in full leather gear! In fact, I kind of like that whole gig....invite me next time, would you?
January was a rough winter month here. No thaw at all.
Now, like you, I have a hard time actually accepting that the winter is basically over. I still have a pile of wood inside my house waiting to be burned.
A buddy of mine has this big charcoal grill.
I told him, it may not be summer yet but by god we can grill. I've gently shown him that when grilling thick cuts of meat you want the charcoal on one side to be pile high and ripping hot, the other just a layer or two of coals.
Season the meat! I can't stress it enough, season. Salt, pepper, garlic powder if you wish but season it and do so liberally. A lot will fall off during grilling.
So now I'm the grillmaster. It's ok, I love doing it.
Grilling is magical, the way it transforms regular meat into delicasies.
You can likely replace your thermostat with a dial type model very inexpensively. That way you won't have to worry about it locking or unlocking.
thank you for reminding me I need a new propane tank for our grill. yes, we do it the lazy way...no patience for charcoal.
Serge looks very manly beside that grill. All he needs is a beer in his hand. Where can I get one of those Reese's bars? I haven't seen them around here.
spring hasn't come to my part of norway just yet. i can't wait for it to get warmer. enjoy your bbq! you'll have a great summer :)
Those Reese's bars look scrummy. Man, they are my one candy weakness. I like candy, don't get me wrong, but THOSE are the ones I can't live without.
Do you think they'll have them in England?
I did my California taxes already (free on-line) and I'll get my federal taxes done next week. I hope I get lots of money back!
I want a Reeses bar and a photo of the girdle (in action, natch...)
Montreal must be enjoying better weather than Boston. Yesterday was in the 20's and with wind chill felt like the low teens. We keep hoping though....
I miss the days when a friend of mine used to grill in the communal backyard of his condo building. Alas, no more.
As for the Reese's, I just read an article in the times about the candy business booming. I guess this means we'll all be wearing foundation garments at the beach this year.
I like the Reese bar because it tends to last longer than the cups (which don't last long around me). But that's because each piece is so tiny; I was expecting bigger chunks from the illustration on the front
If you're still having trouble finding the Reese bars, check out a Couche-Tard dépanneur. I found some in one (at St-Laurent & St-Joseph) last night, and snapped them up.
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