As far as the grilling side of things, I have been grilling for over 30 years, and do pretty good I think. This site I must say has helped me tweak things here and there to improve and have certainly expaned my abilities in that area. My dad, and everybody else in my family for that matter, any time they would take their steaks, chops or whatever else they had to throw on the grill, they always called it BBQ. Now in the last couple of years, and especially after finding this forum, I have a much clearer understanding of Q and grilling. So in the whole scope of things I am quite the newbie as far as BBQ is concerned, but I must say I am having a blast with it.
I still have a lot to figure out as far as "rules" go, and the differences between the "old traditional" and the way things have evolved, but I love cooking so it is a lot of fun along the way.
Overall, I just love good food. And to your point CD about the "I didn't see that coming" moments, aren't those just great moments!
I also really enjoy the back and forth that goes on here in the forum at times between the "traditionalists" if you will and the "new age" Q'ers in here, There is a whole lot to be learned and tried, the biggie for me is to enjoy the trip!
Great post CD, I hope to see a lot more responses from both sides of the Q world in here.
Thanks!
And by the way, I am 56 and still play with my food! LOL