Brrr

, , Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Last summer when I bought a new charcoal grill I imagined using it all winter long. But winter started out strong and fast, and with a new puppy I haven't gotten out a single time to grill meat. Marco used to love going in and out with me as I'd check on the progress of the dinner. Now it's Perry's turn to learn how to cook meat.

So last night I fired up the grill. The cover had frozen to the surface, and it ripped as I took it off. I also had to shovel a platform for myself in the snow. The iron grill had some surface rust; looks like it's time to re-season it.

I have a week off from work, and thought I'd spend the first part of it ice climbing. I wanted to do Homer's Odyssey in St. Paul, which was out of condition last time I checked. Then I wanted to make my way further north and hit places like Sandstone, Duluth, Cascade River, Nightfall and perhaps get as far as Orient Bay. I'm off climbing for a while though because I dislocated my shoulder a few weeks ago, tearing the labrum and rotator cuff in the process, and now I'm waiting to have it surgically repaired. My winter belay jacket does just as good a job keeping me warm while I'm grilling as it does while belaying, so I can put it on and pretend I'm doing more adventurous things.




Grilling in the winter does have its advantages. For one thing, your beer stays cold. Then again, so do your feet. The biggest advantage, of course, is the resulting food and the compliments you get from your family. In this case we enjoyed angel hair pasta with grilled chicken and sun-dried tomato pesto sauce. Mmmmmm.

5 comments:

  1. anne said...

    What was that BLUE stuff on the chicken? I've never seen blue pesto before.

  2. Tom Smart said...

    Oh, that's actually black char. The color balance is off a little.

  3. Jim Carroll, CRNA said...

    So sorry to hear about the shoulder. Baby that arm and take care of the shoulder. Hope you're back in action soon.

  4. Tom Smart said...

    Thanks Jim. I suppose you know better than me what to expect with the recovery process. Are you back to normal?

  5. Jim Carroll, CRNA said...

    Hi, Tom

    It's as good as it's going to get. I am 100% clinically, but with severely restricted lifting with the right arm, especially as the humerus gets further from my upper body. The arm fatigues quickly if the shoulder isn't neutral. But I can do a lot with the arm close to my body. I have made multiple adaptations in the clinical setting. Thankfully I can do everything that is required. I am told I look funny doing spinals sideways, but have gotten used to it.

    Here's hoping you have ONE procedure and a timely rehab.

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