Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
Today is Pot-Luck Sunday at church. The theme, after our meetings, is picnic. I offered to make pork ribs for the activity, having made exceptional ribs after the 4th of July celebrations. The plan was to make one rack in the oven, and one rack on the Webber, just as I had so successfully done a couple weekends back. I was to be reimbursed for the ribs, as it takes five hours cooking time to make these ribs, and that's not including prep, making the two dry rubs, etc. The ribs were to be cooked yesterday, put into two separate roasting pans, and reheated at the church. This was to be served with steamed rice, and watermelon wedges. Here's what happened.
Last Monday, DW was admitted to the hospital for a bout of diverticulitis. She was to get released yesterday. Did the prep work, and put the one rack into the oven and set the timed cook mode. Prepped the 2nd rack so it would be ready after I picked up DW. Purchased a could of last minute ingredients at the store, visited DW. She didn't know what time she would be released. Couldn't start the brabecue yet. Purchased a Boston Butt, cut it into steaks and seared them until nicely browned. Cubed and put into the slow cooker with some nice, Asian inspired seasonings. Made barbecue sauces. Finally, got the call to pick up DW. After picking her up, we had to go to the pharmacy and get her prescriptions filled.
Ok, will be home by 6:30 p.m. I can work with that. About a half mile from home, the serpentine belt on my car decided to shred. Nursed the car home and new this was going to be a very long night. Called some friends who gave me a ride to the parts store, where I purchased a floorrekigeous beli jack, and the needed belt, oh, and a piece of hose that was damaged by being whipped by the bad belt. Broke out the tools and got to work.
Now GM in all their wisdom, decided to build this car - 2003 Malibu LS, so that to change the serpentine belt, you have to put something under the engine for support, as you have to remove one of the motor mounts, hence the floor jack purchase. Ok, so I removed the motor side bolts on the motor mount. Went to remove the nuts on the chasis side. I don't have the required 15 mm deep socket needed for the job. Walked to every person I knew in the subdivision, and nobody had a 15 mm deep socket. The job wasn't done, so I have no car, and will have to purchase a socket today, and in my fait, we don't purchase items, or do a lot of work on Sundays.
The rice is cooked, both sets of ribs are done very nicely, but none on the grill as planned, and the cubed Butt is great. Everything is ready to go. DW doesn't feel well enough yet to attend the meetings. I had to call a friend to bum a ride, and I didn't get to bet until 1:30 a.m. last night.
This is not a rant. What it is, is a realization that sometimes, we need to be humbled. I believe that I had my priorities mixed up. Rather than planning to feed the body, and maybe get some oohs, and awes at the pot luck, I should have been planning to feed the spirit.
No matter what you believe in, it seems that there is a natural order that helps us get our lives back in balance when pride, and material things become too important in our lives. The sad thing is that I know this, and have been humbled multiple times in my life. You'd think I'd learn.
Ah well, lesson learned again. The food is still good, just not crazy good. I have a ride to my meetings, and ribs saved in the fridge for DW. And best of all, I'm going to a place ready to feed my spirit.
Only bad thing is that I have to purchase a socket, and an extension that fits between the ratchet, and the socket, on a day that is supposed to be a day of rest, and then finish fixing the car so that I can get to work tomorrow.
Seeeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
Last Monday, DW was admitted to the hospital for a bout of diverticulitis. She was to get released yesterday. Did the prep work, and put the one rack into the oven and set the timed cook mode. Prepped the 2nd rack so it would be ready after I picked up DW. Purchased a could of last minute ingredients at the store, visited DW. She didn't know what time she would be released. Couldn't start the brabecue yet. Purchased a Boston Butt, cut it into steaks and seared them until nicely browned. Cubed and put into the slow cooker with some nice, Asian inspired seasonings. Made barbecue sauces. Finally, got the call to pick up DW. After picking her up, we had to go to the pharmacy and get her prescriptions filled.
Ok, will be home by 6:30 p.m. I can work with that. About a half mile from home, the serpentine belt on my car decided to shred. Nursed the car home and new this was going to be a very long night. Called some friends who gave me a ride to the parts store, where I purchased a floorrekigeous beli jack, and the needed belt, oh, and a piece of hose that was damaged by being whipped by the bad belt. Broke out the tools and got to work.
Now GM in all their wisdom, decided to build this car - 2003 Malibu LS, so that to change the serpentine belt, you have to put something under the engine for support, as you have to remove one of the motor mounts, hence the floor jack purchase. Ok, so I removed the motor side bolts on the motor mount. Went to remove the nuts on the chasis side. I don't have the required 15 mm deep socket needed for the job. Walked to every person I knew in the subdivision, and nobody had a 15 mm deep socket. The job wasn't done, so I have no car, and will have to purchase a socket today, and in my fait, we don't purchase items, or do a lot of work on Sundays.
The rice is cooked, both sets of ribs are done very nicely, but none on the grill as planned, and the cubed Butt is great. Everything is ready to go. DW doesn't feel well enough yet to attend the meetings. I had to call a friend to bum a ride, and I didn't get to bet until 1:30 a.m. last night.
This is not a rant. What it is, is a realization that sometimes, we need to be humbled. I believe that I had my priorities mixed up. Rather than planning to feed the body, and maybe get some oohs, and awes at the pot luck, I should have been planning to feed the spirit.
No matter what you believe in, it seems that there is a natural order that helps us get our lives back in balance when pride, and material things become too important in our lives. The sad thing is that I know this, and have been humbled multiple times in my life. You'd think I'd learn.
Ah well, lesson learned again. The food is still good, just not crazy good. I have a ride to my meetings, and ribs saved in the fridge for DW. And best of all, I'm going to a place ready to feed my spirit.
Only bad thing is that I have to purchase a socket, and an extension that fits between the ratchet, and the socket, on a day that is supposed to be a day of rest, and then finish fixing the car so that I can get to work tomorrow.Seeeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
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She has my love and concern. 
