Grill Problems

Hm. I’ve only owned two grills in my life, and both had problems with the ignitor immediately after I bought it. Is it some flaw in the designs of these things???

The ignitor is a tiny, battery-operated ignition. It provides a small spark that lights the flame of the grill. The ignitor for my old Char-Broil grill died after TWO uses. And now I have the BBQ Grill grill, and the same thing: the ignitor died after two uses.

What the?!?!

I now have to light the grill by hand. With a match.

THE WHOLE REASON I GOT A NEW GRILL WAS SO THAT I DIDN’T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE!!!!!

I hate lighting the gas burners by hand! I’d rather spend the day scouring the Inernet for jobs in healthcare, ykwim? It’s hard to light the burners manually. I have to crank up the gas, turn the dial, light the match and HOPE that the match doesn’t go out and that my eyebrows don’t blow off. And with thhis new grill, there are THREE separate burners to light. None of them are connected, either. GAH! So I have to light matches THREE times and light the burners THREE times.

*whine, moan*

I know, I know… I’m bellyaching. Children in Ethiopia are starving and here I am, complaining about my grill.

Well, anyway. I called the manufacturer, and they are sending a new ignitor. The grill is *only* a few weeks old. Oddly enough, they were very quick, processing my complaint. As if they had gotten numerous complaints about the issue, and were like, “Here’s another one! Send them a new ignitor!”

*sigh*

The only problem with this is that this stuff happens ALL THE TIME with things we buy today. My expensive Temperpedic mattress and foundation set showed problems 3 months after we got it– already it’s had 3 replacements (and due for another) because the foundation squeaks so much. My coffeemaker basket was defunct one month after I bought it. And I coul dlist a whole bunch of other things. Why is the market glutted with JUNK? And it’s expensive junk, too! I really miss good old, American made products.

So the new ignitor will be here in a week or so.

You Are What You Eat

Is it true?

I’ve heard of some people who see food–any kind of food– as mere fuel. They dump it in, away it goes. No harm done. And then there are folks who are very particular with what they eat- no additives, no preservatives, etc. Back in the very late 70s, there was a “health food” fad. I remember my mom going on it. One of my brothers had behavioral problems, and a doctor told her it was his diet. So the kid went on a fruits and nuts and carob food diet. It didn’t last long, because that stuff was very expensive. It soon became as costly to feed that one child with health food than the feed the rest of the family with “regular” food.

And why is that? Why is healthy food so much more expensive than processed food? The system seems set up to poison us, why on earth is that? Even the “war” on drugs seems like a farce to me. If drugs are such a serious issue, why not just enforce the national borders??? That’s where a whole lot of stuff is coming from. And then there are the tragedies of people on drugs in this country, and the necessity for rapid opiate detox and all. It’s so tragic, but no one in charge seems to take it seriously.

Anyway… in this day of conflicting studies about food (coffee is good for you, no it’s bad, no, it’s good!), you could really do a tailspin with all the information swirling around. I know of several people who are eating only vegetables (called the raw food diet, the vegan diet, etc), and they say they have never felt better in their lives. Two people I know on this diet have their diabetes under control, and do not take medication for it! That’s amazing! Why aren’t doctors treating more illnesses with diet? Is this some great big secret?

I don’t think you ARE what you eat, but it sure makes a big part of your health.

Gluten-Free Diets and “Cereal Killers”

While hashing through my feed reader for the first time in AGES lately, I read with great interest a blurb about a book called Cereal Killers on Val’s cooking blog. (I also found some very cool ipod reviews, iPhone deals, and cell phone plans to research, but that’s for another story!).

Cereal Killers provides answers to many questions and concerns raised by new and long-time members of the gluten-free community. From associated illnesses to psychological issues, to the basics about the diet, this book provides useful information for everyone, especially to those who are not yet aware that they should also be following a gluten-free diet. This new book explores signs, symptoms, and appropriate testing, along with dietary compliance and factors that influence these important issues.

This patchwork quilt of information is a must-have for every home library where gluten induced illness is either present or suspected. Cereal Killers is also important reading for those who suffer from vague symptoms of ill health but do not yet have a diagnosis.

WOW!

This confirms many of my own suspicions about cereal and gluten in the diet. I do believe that gluten gluts the American diet. Gluten coupled with the excesses of high-fructose corn syrup in our foods makes us fat, sick, and lethargic.

Historically, people ate high-protein meals for breakfast, such as eggs and sausage, whole-wheat johnny cakes with molasses, or fruits. Sometime in the early 20th century (if I am getting my time correct), a man named William Kellogg (a Christian Scientist) wanted to promote the grain industry, and he believed that Americans needed more grain in their diets. He created Kellogg’s breakfast cereal. It’s been a long time since I have read up on this, so my facts may be a little sketchy… but cereal became a staple in Americans’ diets then.

There’s a movement underway in America to return to fresh fruits and vegetables as the staple in our diet. It’s like it’s some kind of revolution, the way the food industry is acting. It challenges us to take a good hard look at the foods we are given to eat, and ask WHY must we eat these things. I stopped one day and asked myself that question. On the grocery shelves, there’s Choice A and Choice B and Choice C and Choice D. But there is really very little difference between all the choices. WHY do I have to eat this stuff? WHY should I believe that it is healthy for me? WHY are vegetables– which are so easily grown and are not “manufactured” in factories– so much more expensive than Doritos and hot dogs and sausage– which is made in factories by many workers? How can this be?

Anyway, I think it’s GOOD that we are presenting these questions, and changing our diets. I think I may check out this book, Cereal Killers. If I can ever get the time to read!!!

My New Grill. YAY!!!

I got a new one!!! Praise the Lord!

It was cheap– on clearance at Lowe’s. They are trying to clear out all their grills, now that summer is almost over. So if you have been looking for a good deal on grills and other summer stuff, now’s the time. I was very pleased with the cost.

Our old grill was far, far gone. I was using it still, even tough I knew it was dangerous. The ignitor doesn’t work, and the burners are tempestuous. I had to light the old thing with a match… and hope that I didn’t blast off my eyebrows when it lit. Came pretty close a few times, lol. :S Designers Fountain Lighting is pretty… fountain gas flames, not so pretty.

Anyway, this new grill is double the size of the old. AND it has a burner on the side!!! We have been without a stove since early May, when we gutted the kitchen. How I wish I’d had this grill during that time.

We still have a few weeks of outdoor cooking before I move back to the kitchen, though. So I’ll get plenty of use out of it.

The ignitor works!! A simple touch of the button!

And the grease pan works!!!! My old grill didn’t have a drip grease pan. Everything slopped into a bucket underneath… when I remembered to put it there, that is. :S

I am so happy with the grill.

Only One More Month???

Egads. I knew renovating the kitchen would be tough. I remain in shock at just HOW tough it’s been. Still, we’ve waited SO LONG for this moment, so I am grateful it’s finally coming to pass.

Since we have completely gutted the room, the opportunities abound. Of course, there are limitations to some of my decisions. For example, I can only place the stove along one side of the wall, if I want a range hood ducted to the outside. I don’t like having the stove there, but I really have no choice, unless I want to do extensive framing and ductwork (which I do not).

And all the while I plan and prepare and order supplies and demolish and rebuild and plan some more, I have to run the household, pay the bills, work my jobs, and still find time to work in the miscellaneous stuff like researching life insurance quotes online and calling the power company to ensure we have enough gas pressure to add some space heaters…

It’s a LOT if work. A LOT!! I am amazed at how much work this is. Wow.

But I cannot wait to have a dishwasher. I can’t WAIT to have REAL ceiling lights, a big window, new cabinets and counters, new flooring! To have INSULATED and clean walls!!!! Oh I will be so happy. Here’s praying we get this all done in one more month. I don’t know if I can last much longer beyond that, lol….

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