For Fathers Day, Alisha took me grill shopping and I was in heaven.
A wise man once told me that if I wanted to cook once a week, get a charcoal grill because food tastes better. If I wanted to cook every day, get a gas grill. Well I have both for certain occasions (thanks Dave for the free Weber:) however, my cheap 5 year old gas grill is falling apart. It burns everything I cook and the burners are nearly rusted out. I’ve replaced them once already. Since I grill nearly 3-4 times a week, it was time to either fix gas grill again or get a new one. Of course I chose the new one 
For those who know me, you know that I can’t actually purchase anything on a whim. In fact, I have a rule of thumb…for every $100, I take an extra day to decide. As you can imagine, we were thinking about the Outlook for a VERY long time I take it in stages, researching what I think I want and what is available for the price.
Step 1.) feel the market. So, back to grill shopping. We went to Lowes, Home Depot, Sears and even Costco. Maddy was quite bored by the end of the day but she was a trooper for me I fiddled with 20 different grills ranging from $100 to $2000. Boy those Jenn-Airs are nice.
Step 2.) learn from the experts. Most places I researched online rated the Weber Genesis highly ($800) but that was out of my price range. I had particularly good luck with Consumer Reports when I purchased my dishwasher so I went back to them. They rated a Char-Broil from Lowes just as high as the Weber and other expensive ones, yet it was $500 cheaper. So, off to Lowes we go.
At 7:30p, I am putting the thing together, and at 10:30p we have our first dinner on it. The fajitas were particularly good and the meat was evenly cooked, but I couldn’t really see what I was doing at night. Today I got to really test it out. The side burner doesn’t really work with our wind and water didn’t boil after 20 minutes, so the corn on the cob had to be cooked inside. I hate dry corn, so cooking it inside the husk on the grill is out. So, for the grill itself, I dry rubed some 1″ thick pork chops and placed them on the grill at 300F (med-low heat). After 10 minutes and only one flip, the chops were evenly cooked with nice grill lines. Too bad the internet doesn’t have taste-o-vision, but believe me, they were juciy and delicious.
I didn’t realize what I was missing with my old grill. This grill was so easy and cooks great! The chops were some of the best I’ve had. While I know Alisha bought the grill for me, I think she will reap the benefits too Thanks hon!
While I was out with Maddy today, Alisha pulled Lizzy’s hair up and sent me a picture message. I couldn’t help but laugh, and figured I would share. Lizzy’s new nickname is Pebbles (ya know…Flintstones). I just need the bone.
Many of you know that in 14 days I will be turning 30. That number usually brings dread and woe to most 29 year olds – thinking: have I accomplished all I wanted to in my 20s?, Have I partied enough?, Wait – does this mean I have to be the “responsible one” now?.
I have to say that Brad found the cure for at least the last thought when he gave me my birthday present a little early. After shopping and shopping, online; at the dealerships; online again, we are now the proud owners of a Brand New 2008 Saturn OUTLOOK!!! I feel that I can handle whatever my 30’s throw at me if the decade is going to start out with a present like this!! 
It’s jewel tone red, with tan leather interior, dual Sunroofs (the front opens, the rear is just a “moon roof”), power (heated) seats – the power part is great – but I keep thinking that unless we move back north…I’m NEVER going to need the heated part!, Steering wheel controls for cruise and stereo, 8 PASSENGER SEATING, 19″ touring tires, and machined alloy wheels, not to mention cup holders and cubbies galore!! Basically, it is a new age crossover to replace the ’80s minivan. Gas milage is better than our Trailblazer but not as good as that yuppie tree hugger hybrid Prius.
Brad and I went Sunday afternoon to talk to James Dicus, our salesman, just to to get some details; availability, financing, etc. All the research in the world can only do so much when it comes to actually picking out a car and signing on the dotted line. Well, he was able to find us a car that was close enough to what we wanting, but it was NO WHERE to be found on the lot!! After talking it over – Brad and I thought that was probably a good thing, cause then we wouldn’t make a hasty decision. Not that almost 3 months of research was a hasty decision.
Anyway, we decided to ask if we could speak to the finance manager to see what we’d be looking at as far as interest rates and payments were concerned – that way WHEN they found the car, we’d be ready to make a decision. So we’re back talking with Ashley, and she’s plugging numbers in and checking with banks (you know – all the blah blah blah stuff that finance people do), and she’s able to get us the payment we wanted with a really good interest rate, so we decide that we’ll go ahead and sign the paperwork and take a ’similar vehicle’ for the night while they locate the other one and then we’ll trade them out on Monday.
So, Ashley draws up the paperwork, and we sign our lives away , and then Ashley gets “the call”. The general manager FOUND THE CAR!!! Needless to say – I was about to jump out of my skin, while still trying to remain calm, cool and collected – as an almost 30 year old should do (HA!!). They pull it up and we’re looking it over, realizing that it REALLY needs to be detailed and polished up a bit (the GM had been driving it for a while and it showed!!). So we make the deal that we’ll take it ‘as is’ for the night if we can bring it back Monday morning and have them detail the inside, shine up the tires and wash it (again). It was a blast driving off the lot in my first ever BRAND NEW CAR!!!
Though I think the best part of the whole experience was pulling into the driveway and seeing Madison’s eyes light up at the sight of ‘Mommy’s new toy’!! Though – she’s having a little trouble getting used to the idea that there’s no eating, markers or crayons (except the color wonder ones) that are going to be allowed in Mommy’s car. At least for now…
Anyway, here’s my little toast to my 30’s: May they bring me an ever-changing view of my own reality, so that I am never bored; May I alway be lucky enough to have great family and great friends around me; and, here’s to being one of the responsible ones – without looking like it!!
