Well, we're approaching the
two month warning and I've got some free time so let's see about getting this thread (and my mind) a little more organized. I'm starting to get a pretty decent picture of what things will look like for my family a couple months from now and how it will impact the BBQ... First of all I'm already out of vacation for the year so unlike previous years there will be no week off before the BBQ to slowly bring things to the cottage and set up, we're just talking mad dashes to drop off supplies a couple times the Wednesday and Thursday night before. Similar plan for getting everything cleared back out, not too big of a deal all told.
Honestly the thing I would like the most is to free up my time during the BBQ, the setup and takedown shouldn't be too bad but silly endeavors like HatCam/LiveSteam and giant rafts take a surprising toll. With a total of
two viewers of the LiveSteam last year and at least one of them coming this year I think I'll just kill that off completely. Jury is still out on the raft, I'm tempted to can it since it's not practical to outdo last year's and the water just doesn't seem to be that popular with much of our crowd anyway. What do you think???
Let's talk about
Ellie a little bit... First of all she's doing really well but she still has a lot going on and many questions remain unanswered. Two months from now she may be on less or possibly even no extra oxygen which will make her a lot more portable for longer periods. I'd like to have her at the BBQ for awhile but she needs to be transported by two people everywhere and one of them has to be me or my wife so there are some logistics involved. I don't expect we'll be comfortable leaving her alone even with her night nurse so Mrs. Fish will only be at the BBQ for as long and it's appropriate for Ellie to be there as well. While she's there as long as Stacy or myself is with her it shouldn't be a big deal, she's all good.
Ok, so now I want to walk through the day/weekend from start to finish to see what will be happening that I might need help with...
1 ) Last year we did a pre-party at New Holland Brewing, this year I was thinking that we could instead (or in addition if you're so inclined afterward) we could host something at our house for early arrivals, we'll get pizza and, as long as someone tells me what to buy, some good beer as well. We had a lot of fun last time and liked seeing people early but it's not really practical for us to get out the night before this time around. Let me know what you think of that.
2 ) Morning starts as normal, I meet Kelli at the cottage early AM to get the ribs started, not a lot of surprises there.
3 ) People start to arrive a little before or after noon, make themselves comfortable, hang out.
4 ) We feast around 2:00.
5 ) We kick off the bean bag tourney as feasting winds down, Ian or some other keeper of the brackets manages the event.
6 ) Dp gets the hardware swap kicked into gear and runs that show.
7 ) Some people start to leave, others settle in for the second half of the BBQ...
8 ) Bonfire on the beach around 8:00, hot dogs and/or brats are roasted followed by Smores.
9 ) FIREWORKS and maybe some more paper lanterns are launched as the night winds down and people sit around the fire until they call it a night.
10 ) The next morning we sweep the property and beach for garbage, general clean up and people head out, maybe eat some breakfast first.
Heh... If a 10 step process to the perfect BBQ doesn't make you look like a nerd I don't know what does...
Of course the entire time people are free to do as they please and any number of ancillary activities will be taking place, launching of potatoes at high velocities, consumption of homebrew, inhalation of fine smokables, blowing of large bubbles, group pictures, flaunting cool new toys, chasing tents and/or umbrellas door the beach, whatever...
What do I have to do? Well I need to edit my first post and start building the list of confirmed attendees and what they will bring. I need to order trophies for the tourney. I need to get charcoal for the grill since I'm the only person on site early enough to get it there when it's needed. I always seem to need to buy nametags and a new marker. I need to get a new foam board for the bracket to be drawn on. I need to bring my bean bag set to the cottage, also trash bags and Kelli's warming pans. Nothing too terribly difficult or time consuming. Maybe make a raft...
What do I want help with? Well I want some ideas for memes to have written on the trophies. I would like some ideas for ways to distribute any potential swag we may end up with (formalized BBQ achievements!). We need to decide on how the Wasson Cup will be awarded. I need to know from you guys what the BBQ must haves and ok to not haves are. I'd like to know any ideas you have to make the 10th BBQ particularly special (
gerbil cake,
dry ice in the lake,
play with lasers, rent a boat?)...
Thanks for reading my ramblings... As we get closer all this stuff just starts rattling around in my head and I have to put it somewhere, this seemed the logical place...