Jump to content

Spoosner

Certifiably Surly
  • Posts

    261
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Spoosner

  1. I gave this to myself for Father's Day. Quality seems quite good, the wheels are real nice to have on the stand, and the orange is pretty much perfectly burnt (which was a pleasant surprise as I was expecting closer to Tennessee orange). I smoked some chicken wings on it for my first cook. Had to play with the vents a little, but I eventually got it to 225 and it stayed there for the 2 hours the chicken wings needed with zero attention. I had the lid open for a good bit while I got all the wings off and the temp climbed up to 400 or so. Nice lesson for future/longer cooks not to open unless needed and keep it short. Wings turned out super juicy and great. Grilled some burgers on it yesterday. Used same charcoal from the first cook with only a very small amount of new. I think I left the igniter in longer than it needed to be as the coals were all going real hot, but obviously that was no issue for cooking burgers. My only concern was getting it hot so soon (around 500 when I closed the lid while cooking), but I didn't notice any issue this morning with gaskets or anything. I really like the igniter port, and cleaning out the ash today was super easy with the tray that pulls out. That's the same tray that you'd remove and replace with the gas grill insert. I might buy the gas insert in the future, but the coals are so easy and fast that I think I'll enjoy using just those for a good while. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions.
  2. Worth every penny, especially for the TSA as others have said. DUI when I was 19. Applied and approved for Global Entry and when I was 31. Obviously I disclosed it in my application, so perhaps thunderlounge was just saying to be honest and not omit anything. That was my last and only real offense, so I don't know where they draw the line. The first time I used it they pulled me aside (which I was told might happen), but after a quick conversation I went through and I've never had any sort of issue since. It is true that if you have a checked bag you might end up having to wait for that anyway, but that's not an issue if just carrying on and I'd rather walk around the baggage area than wait in line with the normals any day of the week. In some airports there are separate customs lines for GE as well. Lastly, you do not have to enter your known traveler # every time, and the only time you use the card is if you're driving back into the country. Global Entry is attached to your passport electronically. Go to kiosk and scan passport. You DO have to enter your known traveler # with each airline for TSA precheck. Assuming you have a login/profile with the airline (which you should), you can either proactively go in and add it to your profile or add it whenever you book your next flight. After that it's automatically attached to all your reservations. I did it almost 4 years ago (think I have to renew soon), so I don't remember how long the processing took.
  3. Thanks. Belmond is probably top of the list. Decent rate with Sapphire points. It seems like there are only a couple hotels in that area (Belmond and Hacienda de las Flores). Is that the part of town you definitely want to be in?
  4. Just booked for 6/29 - 7/3 with the wife. I know nothing about it. Lodging, food, and activity recs welcomed and appreciated.
  5. I'm at a Big 4 firm one step away from Partner. Hoping to make it in the next 3-5 years. At my firm, optional retirement for Partners is at 55, mandatory at 60. My understanding is the only reason to stay till 60 is more money (i.e. annual bonus). The retirement money is referred to as a pension. I don't know what would happen to pensions if there was a crazy collapse of the the firm (i.e. Enron/Arthur Anderson), but I really can't fathom that happening. You won't see me at the office after my 55th birthday. Golf, travel, going to football/baseball games with my son (who will have just turned 21), pick up some additional hobbies, etc. Hell, I could follow the Astros around the country for 9 months of the year and be happy as a clam. 55 sounds nice and early, until I remind myself that's 21 years away.
  6. Link to the complete bracket: https://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/baseball/d1
  7. Really hope our guys show up against Sabathia. Obviously never fun to see our guys struggle at the plate, but for some reason it irks me more when it's against Sabathia (i.e. Game 3 of ALCS).
  8. Thanks for the look. We're out of town or else I'd take it. Luckily we're booked for July 12th.
  9. Seemed like Kemp did not get a good jump on that.
  10. CC watching those 2 pitches is infuriating. Should've had some runs for JV in the first.
  11. Tacodeli is awesome, aside from their closing at 3 and breakfast hours during the week.
  12. It's posts like these that make me loathe living in Dallas.
  13. I plan to mute and put the radio broadcast on when we play Boston.
  14. Good win. Can't say I felt the same about the ESPN game calling.
  15. Taco Joint and Tacos Y Mas are probably my top 2. Any not-so obvious favorites?
  16. Home Depot has this sale going today: Vision Kamado Professional Ceramic Charcoal Grill in Orange with Grill Cover for $599. I'm in the market and this seems like a good price. Is this the same one that some people are saying broke right away for them? Reviews are pretty solid.
  17. Spoosner

    Dallas | BBQ

    Odd. It shows up for me. Link to pic: https://i.imgur.com/o1wiRnf.jpg
  18. Spoosner

    Dallas | BBQ

    Finally made it to Pecan Lodge on Thursday last week, and it did not disappoint. There were 4 of us so I got the trough plus an extra 1/2 lb of brisket and pork ribs (unnecessary but wanted to be sure to have enough and bbq leftovers are awesome). It was right at Noon on a beautiful Thursday, so the line was obviously out the door. Why would anyone ever wait in that line? If you have 3-4 ppl get the trough. If you're solo or there's 2 of you, wait for a seat at the bar (which were available and turning over quickly). I'm sure there are reasons ppl stand in line, but you won't ever find me in it. I thought everything was great except for the sausage, which was pretty average. Notice the extra 1/2 lb of brisket was so far from dry as fuck that it had it's own pool of juicy goodness.
  19. From Toulouse Petit website: We only accept reservations for our dinner service, which begins at 5pm. Our breakfast service, lunch service and happy hour are walk in only.
  20. Definitely will do. Awesome that they have the menu Mon - Fri as well.
  21. Thanks for the input. Planning to cash in some sapphire points, and the Four Seasons is "on sale" on the site. Is that a good location, or too close to Pike Place? I'm wary of it being like staying near Fisherman's Wharf in San Fran...over priced/sub par touristy establishments. It looks like the Westin and Mayflower Park are closer to Belltown. Also a place called Staypineapple Hotel 5 that would be quite a bit cheaper.
  22. So the guy at 1:05 is dead or eating his meals through a straw, right?
  23. Cross posting. I'll be visiting with my wife and 3 month old son in June. Most likely staying Sunday - Monday. Some good stuff in this thread already, but where would y'all stay? Neighborhood? We're open to hotel or airbnb. Would be nice to have walkable options for food/drink.
  24. Thanks for the input. I think we've narrowed in on flying to Seattle to stay for a few nights. Will take the train down to Portland on Wednesday or Thursday where some friends with a youngin' live. Do some winery tours and hiking with them. Head home on Sunday. I considered Iceland, but the whole all day sunlight thing made me shy away a bit. Yellowstone and Banff type lodgings are sub par for absorbent prices for our dates. For those that think I'm crazy, perhaps I am. This trip is way more for us than him as he obviously won't remember it. I'm on paternity leave for all of June, so we want to take advantage. Seems to me that travel is easier at this stage in his life when all he does is sleep, eat, and poop, especially while we only have 1. I'm well aware our plans will need to be fluid and we may end up spending a day or 2 tethered to the hotel more than expected, but I don't see anything wrong with that. Definitely sounds better than sitting around the house like we can do any regular weekend. I'll report back. Moving to the Portland and Seattle threads for further advice.
×
×
  • Create New...