Finally, Friday!

It was 50 degrees F. when I left for work this morning! When I went back home at lunch, I traded in my heavy leather jacket for my light spring jacket. Nice...

Back home at 5:05 PM (banging that drum), it was a balmy 66 degrees and I decided to celebrate by grilling tonight. Actually, Jake gave me the idea yesterday, by saying he planned on grilling this weekend. But, it's supposed to rain hard tomorrow and forecast is for scattered rain on Sunday, so tonight's the night, I'm thinking.

The other day, I finally threw out an unopened loaf of those little two inch by two inch squares of pumpernickel bread you get by the deli in the grocery store. I forget why I even bought it, but it's been a while so I threw them out, intact, under the bird feeder. I had to laugh (out loud, really!) when I looked out the kitchen window Friday night and a squirrel was holding one in his paws and eating it. He looked so; well, "human." He moved on before I could take a photo.

In the mail I got a card from Laura and Dave (my sister Anne's only daughter) announcing the birth of their second child, Anna Christine LaBroski. Congratulations and thanks!!! I put it up on the fridge.

I am not sure just what I did in my sleep last night, but I have been having terrible pains in my right shoulder all day (I already know I have bursitis in that shoulder, BTW). I was fine when I went to sleep, but I woke up hurting. It's been difficult all day, starting in the shower and carrying on through the workday (moving the stupid mouse even hurts!) So, I have been using my left hand to drink coffee, etc., all day. I hope this goes away, soon!

Anyway, I rolled out the grille and the charcoal lighter chimney, turned on the boom box in the garage and lit some paper under the charcoal. Back inside, I opened the hot dogs (Dearborn Natural Casing Franks, if you remember) and let them come up to room temperature. Then I took two pounds of the thawed hamburger from the quarter cow I bought (note: not my usual ground chuck, just plain hamburger) and put it in a bowl. I hit it with the house seasoning on both sides and mixed it together. Then I made six patties, trying to mimic the size of a slice of rye bread.

Why? Because, as much as I like hamburgers in their many variations, I REALLY like Pattie Melts! So, although I don't have any Rye bread or Swiss cheese or caramelized onions yet, I am prepping for some Pattie Melts.

Anyway, I made up the patties. Checking on the charcoal chimney lighter, I found the fire had gone out (I really need to buy a newspaper!) So, I restocked the bottom with more paper (and this time I hit it with some olive oil spray) and relit the damn thing.

I went back inside and filled in this Blog entry and then went back out to check it. Okay, the charcoal was now red hot. I spread it around on its rack, put on the grates, scrubbed the grates and oiled them and then went inside to get my meat.

I did the hamburger patties first, just searing them on both sides. I don't want to overcook them, because I have to warm them up again (in the microwave) and then toast them in the rye bread with the Swiss cheese and caramelized onions. So, seared but undercooked is perfect for now.

Then I did my dogs. When they were done, I shut all the vents on the grill, shut the garage door and came inside for the night. I fine-diced a small yellow onion and then plated two hot dogs with buns, topped with the diced onions and yellow mustard. I added some Better-Made Barbequed potato chips to the plate and went in to watch the Friday night fights on ESPN.

When the fights were over, I went out in the kitchen and put the now-cooled burgers and the rest of the hot dogs onto baggies and into the fridge. Then I put myself to bed.