Gettin' er done!

Thursday morning, I awoke refreshed and ready. You probably know that I have a Yahoo weather alert set up for all my kids' locations, along with Lu and Canada Cathy. I am proud to say today, we here in Redford are supposed to have the highest temperature today (80 degrees F.)! What a day to play hooky!! If only I could afford it...

At lunchtime, I went to Meijer's to get a few items. Driving back home, the open windows and the sunroof wasn't cutting it, so I turned on the air conditioner in the car for the first time this year.

After work, I changed clothes and then took apart the outdoor faucet (from the inside). I used two pipe wrenches I bought from Meijer's today (cheap China shit) because I can't find my old pipe wrenches (did I lend them to Jake?)

Hopefully, I didn't disturb the solder on the copper pipe (I hate that!) I put the pipe in the trunk to take to Home Depot tomorrow. I then went and dragged out the grill and fired up the charcoal chimney. While that was catching fire, I replaced the side discharge chute on the lawn tractor. That was a pain, since I only had one 11-millimeter socket (no 11-millimeter wrench). So I used a clamping pair of pliers and got it done.

I took out the four chicken thighs, cut away the excess fat with cooking shears (my sharp knife didn't seem to work so well) and seasoned them with just salt and pepper. I put them on a platter to come up to room temperature.

I also had some fat green onions or scallions that were getting a bit tired (I always fall for that "three bunches for $X.XX." Then I use two or three and end up throwing the rest away). So, I cleaned up the sad outer layers and put the 10 of them on a cookie sheet. I added a drizzle of olive oil, a lot of kosher salt and tossed them about a bit. Then I let them sit, as well.

When that was done, my friend B___ called. I'd been bugging him about a photograph. He's been looking for it for over two weeks and it turned out I had sent him that scanned image in 2005. So, I now have to look for it.

We talked a while and finally, he suggested I check my charcoal. So, I hung up and did. It was a little reduced, so I added some fresh, shut the lid and went back inside for a bit. Then I went out, cleaned the grates, oiled then and put the chicken (skin side down) on and set the timer for 10 minutes.

I checked the TV listings for tonight's program and found AMC had the "Ninth Gate" on. I love that movie! But, not on AMC. They have commercials and don't show the X-Rated parts. But, I turned it on in spite of this. I love Johnny Depp in this role (and love the Devil even more).

When the timer went off, I went outside and flipped the chicken. I reset the time for 10 minutes. Finally I moved the chicken on the cool side of the grill (to keep it warm and let it finish cooking, if needed), basted them with "Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce" and threw the scallions on. I watched them like a hawk, having burnt asparagus like this before. These I kept moving and kept watching for grille marks. As soon as it thought they were ready, I pulled everything off.

OMG!!! The chicken was good, hell, it might have been great. But I didn't notice... the grilled scallions were FANTASTIC!!! I only had 10, but wish I'd done 30. I am not sure if other people grill scallions, but try it yourself. Good eats!!

Oh, and while I said I didn't notice the chicken, I must confess I ate two pieces, lol. When the other two were cool, I bagged 'em and threw them in the fridge.

I fell asleep before the movie ended. When I woke up to go to the bathroom, I turned off the TV and Newt's lamp and went to bed for real.