[Billthedrill]

OK, I want it clear that not a single word of this is made up. The new grill is a table-top thing because the old one was 25 years old and just flat corroded away. Good luck finding anything like that on New Year's Eve but the tabletop one was a great compromise and I can use it camping, right.

So there I was, the grill on a little table out back, cooking away nicely, when a gust of wind came along (it's snowing in northern Idaho) and the whole shootin' match did a half-gainer into the ground below, still merrily cooking.

I'm invoking the five-second rule on the steak and didn't see too much grit when I washed it off, so we're good. The potato is fine inasmuch as it was actually cooked a couple of days ago and microwaved to perfection. The grill is a little dented but fine.

The Sandpoint Rural Fire Department says they've seen worse. Not usually outside of a refinery fire, but worse. Can I cook or what?

Happy New Year!

[Publius]

At least all I have to do is take the Pacific Northwest smoked salmon out of the plastic wrapper.

Tomorrow I make my annual New Years treat, my Sicilian Cod Stew from my paternal grandmother's recipe. No fire there! (My stove is electric.)

And then my other New Years treat, five hours of the Metropolitan Opera's DVD of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger". I kid you not! I'm not football fan, so it's opera for me.

[luvie]

Ok..that’s funny! LOL!

Great save on the steaks! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

What an interesting New Years Eve you've had with your new grill.

Wasilla, Alaska....Due to high winds, the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce for the City of Wasilla New Years Eve fireworks will not be held on December 31. Instead, please join us at 8pm on Saturday, January 4, 2014, for a postponed performance!