Looong, but please read to end. There is a surprise!
Wow, where do I start? I feel this whole year has been a series of memorable moments.
Cooking the Big Green Egg Scramble at the BarbeQlossal. That was one of the more scary things I have done, and I ended up having a ton of fun with my Dad as sous-chef.
Watching "Smokin' Joe" Beland win his first GC with what seemed like the entire town of St. Ansgar there, all sporting their patented white t-shirts, go up on stage to share the moment with him.
Almost losing our brisket due to frigid 40 mph winds picking up and destroying our canopy, and then getting 2nd in brisket the next day.
Midnight pork loin in Waterloo with the Tippy Canoe, Smokehouse 72, and Boondoggle boys, all the while Joe's bro-in-law is packin' heat cuz we were in "the hood".
Having my first official 9:22 am Jack shot in Waterloo, and Clone comes up to the group and says "Ahh chit! Big T'z is here?!?"
Good conversation and a picture with Rodney and Trigg prior to awards in LaPorte City.
The infamous "Chicken Gravy" discussion at the 4-mile camp in Marshalltown.
Witnessing Smokehouse 72 get two first place Pork calls this year after listening to Ray $%tch about it all year. ;-)
The E N T I R E competition in Windsor MO. Those who have heard the story know what i am talking about, but just know that farking dog will haunt my dreams for the rest of my life!
Both Friday and Saturday nights in Nevada (from what I remember). Friday night watching Smokehouse Bob do a slam dunk while the rest of us slam dunked shots of Templeton Rye courtesy of The Woodfellas. Saturday night watching Kenna Jo get tipsy and partying after, as Clone said it, "Getting our asses waxed".
Driving the camper for the first time to Omaha and failing at trying to park the darn thing. Thanks Spanky for parking it for me!
Serving samples of pork loin by myself at the People's Choice competition, and having Plowboy come up, grab a bite, and tell me it was delicious.
Watching Todd and Randy and Bob and Don take home Royal Gold, and tiredly celebrating with the Boondoggle boys and Iowa Regional Brethren Sunday night.
Being next to and getting to know the British BBQ Society Team during the Royal.
Watching my mother-in-law, who has never drank whiskey in her life and barely drinks, take a celebratory shot of clone-sickle after we got 12th place at the Royal Invitational. LMAO!
Having the complete and utter surprise of winning my first GC at the 2009 Great Pork BarbeQlossal. Hearing my name called and watching everyone stand up and cheer me on was a moment I will never forget as long as I live. I understand Ford's point, but it was in my hometown, I grew up less than a mile away, and I had a great number of family and friends there to share it with. It was one of those moments where for a few fleeting seconds everything comes together and seems just perfect.
Finally, and most importantly as I have an announcement to make, was cooking Libertyville IL, our last competition of the season.
For the first time it was just Sonya and I cooking and it was our longest trip to date. We were told to park the camper in the middle of a very large puddle of mud. We forgot to bring rubber boots, so Sonya had to go find some whilst I prepped the meat and got us settled in. After getting the boots on putting a gigantic tarp over the mud puddle everything went smoothly. At one point the Blackhawks mascot assisted me in putting on my briskets.
Later in the evening had a great time having good conversation with Ron and his wife and then having a cigar and a "few" drinks with Smokin' Joe and his siblings, the Brew-B-Q guys and Scottie.
Well and then we won the thing which was a great way to end the season, but that and all the things above were secondary to a moment that Sonya and I wouldn't even be aware of for another week. And that was the fact that unbeknownst to us it wasn't just the two of us cooking there that weekend, there was another, albeit much smaller, Cru member there with us.
That is right, if you haven't figured it out yet, while we were there, Sonya was pregnant, about three weeks pregnant to be exact.:-D:-D:-D:-D
The baby (our first) is due late June, and we could not be more excited and happy. :-D
I hope I am not hijacking the thread, by making this announcement here, but because of this Libertyville 2009 will be a very memorable competition indeed.
Whew, I finally got the go ahead from the wifey to make that announcement on here. It has been so hard to keep it mum, as from the moment I knew I wanted to share it with the Brethren.
Overall, bbq competitions in 2009 have been a conduit for me to spend more time with family and friends than I have in a very long time, if ever. It has also been a conduit through which I have met some amazing people, many of whom I can now call friends. While there are not "moments" of this per se, this has been the aspect of this year that is so memorable to me. I look forward to continuing more of the same next year!:-D
