BBQ extraordinare

Sooooo, I guess I've kept you waiting long enough, but the BBQ at Casa de Amanda was a rousing success...but, let me give you the lowdown of whether my predictions from the previous entry actually came true...

Sunday morning

9:00 am -- wake up to the alarm, a touch groggy and slightly hungover, but determined to get the house in shape for the grilling experience.

I drink a Danactive (a surprising boost to the small hangover; I just thought it would make me nauseous and give me an excuse to go back to bed...no such luck). I get to cleaning, and after my 5th 20 (ok 30) minute break, the house is presentable.

My parents call me at 1:30 to let me know they are on their way (it started at 4:00). I take this opportunity to start setting up the grill. I had just managed to get the contents of the box unpacked and scattered about when they arrived.

They unpack the car, which is so filled with stuff that it looks like they've either been living there or are about to make a cross-country trek. (they live 25 minutes from me). As I predicted, my mother immediately plops down to help me and my father makes a drink. He then proceeds to come out several times to see what we're doing.

I manage to get, with my mom's help, the grill sort of put together. I put the legs on wrong, so if I ever wanted to roll the grill to another location, I'd have to drag it instead. No worries, I could care less if it looks right -- I'm sweaty from sitting in the garage and have things to do, dips to prepare, drinks to make!

Everyone shows up, starts making drinks, and we tear into some delicious 7-layer dip -- little do we know that the dip will have to tide us over for awhile because my dad can't get the charcoal briquettes (is that what you call them?) to light....supposedly, they are these fancy-schmancy match light charcoal that will just automatically light. Yeah right. I had to haul my cookies to the Randall's up the street and purchase lighter fluid and old-fashioned charcoal. Lit up like a charm. My dad got to grilling the large cow he brought with him (Sonny, this pic is just for you!) and my family, friends and I continued to liquor ourselves up in the kitchen and living room.

By the time the food was ready, we were all groggy, parked on the couches watching Dateline and Matt Lauer interviewing Princes William and Harry...but alas, the food was delicious, the peach cobbler divine, and everyone left satisfied and about 5 lbs heavier.

So did all my previous predictions come true? I think so -- I know my family pretty darn well....oh, and by the way, I was outside for all of 4 minutes. Just long enough to take that picture.