December 28, 2003. Friday we finally got the RV moved and I got it set up in about 30 minutes. There may be a major problem in the near future with the RV. I bought it from a cousin of Tommy's several months ago and have had it parked on the "river" at Tommy's place. I haven't used the toilet facilities because of the inconvenience of dumping. I have been using everything at the house and just have been basically sleeping in the RV. I did have a phone line reinstalled to a hookup that was already in place from a time before with an RV parked there. I wanted to flush out the holding tanks. The gray water flowed nicely. I poured some water in the black water tank through the toilet....no flow, no nothing except for a trickle. I called Tommy's cousin and asked if he had emptied the tanks, of course he said yes. Problem seems to be dried solids in the tank. I can get a very slow flow of liquid. I was hoping if I left the valve open with the hose in the "Q's" septic dump it would eventually erode the solids. Thought maybe it was frozen but not so. I can hear liquid when I bump or shake the drain pipe. I understand I can get a cleaner and just let it set for a day or so and it'll loosen the solids...I hope so because I can see it now when I cut the valve off, push something up the pipe and get a gusher on me! Tommy's cousin provided a new valve to replace the old leaky one when I bought it! Wonderful! Let you know the outcome when that happens.

Took the door off the refrigerator and hung it the other way, turned it 90 degrees to the left so it now open into the isle. Did this so the FE 100 smoker will just fit between the refrigerator and the front counter window that I don't use. Moved that in last night and it is going to work out just right, IF, I don't run into any wires when I cut a hole in the ceiling and roof for the exhaust pipe. Don't know if it'll do any good but I am going to call the trailer manufacture before I cut although I feel like there aren't any wires where I need to cut.

I am really excited about having the FE 100 in the trailer. The Cook Shack operates on electric for heat and the heater burns the wood so the smoke is done in the beginning and then just heat thereafter. FYI - meat usually will only take smoke until about 140*F then it just cooks until done. The FE 100 is a pure pellet wood smoker and smokes on and off as it maintains oven temperature, therefore it'll bellow smoke on and off throughout the cook cycle. The smoke coming out of the stack for 12 hours should attract some customers. Prior to now I would put the meat in the FE100 when I got home and would take it out when I got up. Now I'll prepare the meat with the Byron's Butt Rub, let it sit in the refrigerator overnight then pop it in the smoker about 6 am or so and let um smoke all the day!

I think I previously mentioned that I would like to build a wood grill in the trailer so I can finish off ribs and either grill or finish chicken. It'll be right next to the FE100, or about 12 inches from it. The grill will be in the unused serving window and I'll probably enclose it in glass with a glass hinged door where I can get in to cook. It'll be something like glass upwards to a point then stainless steel to an exhaust hood. That way customers can watch as I cook and will know we're really using wood here! I saw this setup in downtown Hollywood, CA right on Sunset Blvd. many years ago, as a matter of fact as I think of it I was 22 years old, that was in 1966. I think they were only cooking ribs and chicken with wood only. It was really wonderful, at least all the long line of customers and myself thought so. I wonder if keeping the glass clean will be a major problem? The grill will be about 24-30 inches square and the fire will be about 18 inches beneath the grill. I know this will be far enough apart because I own a grill now with about those dimensions and have been cooking on it for years. You gotta know how to work your fire kind of like you do with an offset smoker.

The gas company will be here Tuesday to set the LP tank. I had to fill one of my two 30 pound LP cylinders to make it through then. There is 7.5 gallons in each tank at a cost of $16-19 depending where you get it filled. If I want the $16 price I must be at the LP dealer at 8am before the trucks leave to have them fill it. That's about $2.14 to $2.53 a gallon which is 1 1/2 to 2 times what I will pay with the 120 gallon tank. And what a pain removing and hauling the tanks around. I am always worried that if I don't fill the empty tank shortly after it automatically switches over because it is empty that the 2nd tank will be running out soon. Usually a tank will last almost exactly 7 days but this last week it was colder longer. If it was consuming a weeks worth it would last until Monday but the big tank won't be here until Tuesday so I had to fill it one more time anyway. I felt I better do so before Monday because of how cold it had been. I had it filled Friday evening...good thing because the other tank emptied sometime Saturday morning! Someone must still be watching over me! 

I'll take some pictures of the inside of the trailer soon and post them above.

Oh! The RV is parallel to the back of the concession trailer with the bedroom away from the side street. This seems like the right configuration but if not it won't take much at all to move it to another position. The LP tank will be between them. The tank is the type that is allowed to be next to a building and it is new.

Ed, on The BBQ Forum, came up with a wonderful recipe to celebrate the incoming of 2004. I am not a drinking man but this really looks good. If I drink, it must be sweet like one of my favorites, a Singapore Sling. Check this Bourbon Slush out!

7 cups of water
1 1/4 cups of sugar
1 1/4 cups of bourbon
2 cups brewed tea
1 cup cranberry juice
12 can of frozen pink lemonade

mix in bowl, pour into tall container and freeze (it actually will not freeze but will slush up and be ready for dipping into glasses for consumption.)

Thanks again Ed!

The phone company installed my DSL Friday. They were supposed to have it installed the following Monday...go figure! This is my very first experience with DSL, haven't even ever seen it in operation. I like it, I like it a lot! It's always there and so is my phone...!

December 22, 2003. Sorry about that that I didn't come back and write last week. Like I said at least once before, I need to be inspired and certainly not depressed.

 I think I have come to terms about what is going on and what will occur, it is positive! I think I am going to make it and enjoy it along the way.

 The Sundays haven't been doing well but it does seem they are getting better. The first Sunday, if I recall, had a total receipts of about $10! The second week about $20 and this last Sunday $35! So it appears there may be a positive trend. However...as I was told and have definitely observed, there is no telling what is going to happen tomorrow! I guess you can apply that to just about anything in life.

Last Friday a week ago when I was in Building and Planning, I mentioned to Reoule that I had about 60 pounds of pork butts that just came out of the smoker in a cooler still piping hot in the truck. He asked how much for a whole small butt. I told him how much per pound and he said he would be by later. He called and said he would be by shortly for the butt. I had it weighed and ready for him. When he arrived I opened the tin foil so he could peek at the beautiful brown bark and that sweet hot smell of hickory smoked pork. He looked and smelled and said "quick cover it back up so it'll stay hot"! He was really excited to get that puppy, or should I say that porker, home! It really looked like a work of art.

I did sell and receive the money for the satellite dish. That money paid some of the bills or at least some payments towards some outstanding bills. My intention was to build the drive through with a large portion of the $1500, plus or minus, that was left after the eBay and PayPal payments. But there wouldn't be enough left to stay afloat after the construction even if I had enough to do it in the first place. Believe it or not it feels real good to have about $300 in the bank and know that I will have more income. Oh by the way - I have no entertainment what-so-ever at the bbq now, no TV no radio....boring and lonely! I do intend to get a fixed DISH antenna soon.

Have finalized things with Building and Planning and will move my RV to the BBQ site probably tomorrow. They are giving me a 90 day permit. If no one complains then I'll be able to stay. When I had the pow wow with them they were trying to decide whether or not I should install the under pinning around the RV. I told them that it would seem to me that if I did under pin it then that might be asking for trouble. Without it it would simply appear that I just parked it there as storage. As you can hear, they are certainly working to help me. I guess they should because this permit will cost another $125!

On the "BUY, SELL, and TRADE" area of the BBQ Forum I had placed an ad to sell the Cook Shack 150 smoker/oven. I just don't need 2 ovens. I will install the FE100 this week. I double checked with the Environmental Health Dept and double checked to see if I did indeed need to screen in the cooker if I left it outside. I had intended to do so for a short time before installing it in the trailer. No way though! I knew that. Of the few responses I received from the ad, two were serious. Just less than an hour ago I made a final deal with a gentleman in Iowa  near Omaha, NE. He is sending a cashiers check in the mail tomorrow and I will ship freight collect. This should put me in a position where I really think I'll make it through the slow season. I truly feel good about this and am excided about living next door to the "Q". By living there I will be able to cook during the opening hours on the premises and will now have delicious hickory smoke invading potential customers nostrils driving down the highway! Also I can extend my hours in the evening.

I must also comment about the BBQ Forums ad's. There are a lot of Q-ing folks out there that read it, so if you are looking for something bbq to buy, sell, or trade check it out. I  will make a contribution to help keep it going as requested if it works for you.

There are some other advantages you must understand. When I left driving 18 wheelers for North American Van Lines hauling tradeshows, I was living on the road and had no need for a vehicle. Prior to going back on the road I was living and cruising on my sailboat and had intentions of sailing into the South Pacific. I couldn't own a vehicle unless I just parked it somewhere. So since about 1997 until now I have not owned an automobile! When my friend Tommy and I started this bbq thing he knew it and didn't think I need a car either or not until I could afford it. He hasn't been at the bbq for many weeks now, I have been doing it myself....and to tell you the truth I have enjoyed it much better without him. Don't get me wrong, he was helpful but was kinda in the way. A customer that owns his own automotive repair said he has a Horizon that he'll work out something with me. That'll be great because I thought I was going to have to get a bicycle and use the local taxi service, which is now just about totally Hispanic! Might be challenging telling the driver where I want to go. Tommy did mention that he would take me to Sam's Club when I needed to go...but I hate to be an imposition and not be total independent like I have always been.

The BBQ business is getting much easier to handle. It is just a matter of fine tuning everything and learning how much to buy and cook. The Brunswick Stew is still a big hit!

So overall I am enjoying this new venture more and more now that I have been relieved of some of the stress and am tuning in!

December 14, 2003. Guess I better get in here and let you know what has been going on this last week. I'll do so probably tonight. Right now it is raining but is supposed to be stopping within the next hour or so which is good because I will be on my way out to open up at noon today. I should be thankful because we were supposed to get ice and sleet. I have sold an item on eBay which will help me back into the black plus. I'll fill you in soon.

December 08, 2003. Saturday was also a very good day but Sunday grossed the lowest of all days since opening, $10.17. It was even a real nice weather day. Oh well!

The good news is the auction is going better than I had hoped. Still not sure how much it is going to help. If things will keep going like last Friday and Saturday I can see it staying together. All I can do is wait, watch, and hope.

Had a visitor from the BBQ Forum Saturday, it was Darrel, who goes by djm5x9. I hope I have his name spelled correctly. He came with his 3 young boys, of which I must mention to him how well behaved they were during what I am sure the kids considered to be a rather long visit. To me he left much to soon. It was really a surprise and a pleasure to meet Darrel. We talked about everything bbq. He complimented my product which really means a lot to me. He did mention about the bun that is was soft inside but kinda flaky, I think is how he put it, on the outside. I mentioned to him that I realized that prior to his visit and had called the bread supervisor. There was an explanation about a problem that week! Go figure! I thought the delivery man had given me week old bread. The drivers are contractors so you never know what to expect especially when a contractors business has slowed, for whatever reason, and he too has to make his bills.

I think I better look into finding a place to list my concession trailer. It'll take a while to sell so perhaps if I put it up for sale now by the time I find a buyer things will have improved to where I am seeing some sort of a decent profit and won't have to sell. Right now I am thinking how hard I am working and the return I am making. If I am making $100 now then in the near future that increases four fold it seems like I'll have to work even harder which makes my hourly wage the same! It appears when I get to a point of more business I'll have to hire someone ( I hate that thought) which means they have to be paid leaving me with what I have now! I must be thinking wrong here or I am in the wrong business!!! I think O am concluding that there isn't going to be enough profit if I want to keep this a one man operation. By the way Tommy hasn't helped me since before Thanksgiving. I am actually more relaxed and the hours pass by rather quickly. I think I am staying busier and my times of relaxation are more effective. 

Last week I called the Environmental Health office and asked what their concern was if I placed an RV trailer at the bbq site. None but it probably would be a Building and Planning Department issue. And it was. The inspector of whom has been in charge of my project wasn't clear on all the rules and headed off to his superior. I might mention here that two of those in that department have been to the bbq and one, Reoule, comes regularly each week, which I think is Saturdays, for his rib and stew fix. He has stated he wants to someday make a considerable purchase for his office. I had a wonderful conversation with Reoule...this man has a very interesting past and is a very warm concerning person. After speaking to the second man from the top at their office he said it didn't look to visible due to the size of the lot which is .81 acres. I think it needs to be over one acre but he never did say. However...he said he will be in touch with his superior and see if we can consider the RV a watchman's office! It might be a really neat thing to be there so I can increase the hours of opening hours and do the long cooks right there. We'll see!

It's 2:55 AM so I think I'll go back to bed!

December 05, 2003. Well it looks like things may be looking up. Today was very good but yesterday was very lousy! It appears things are getting back to normal after the very slow week of the holiday for BBQ! Had 1 order today for $68! It was for a Christmas party from one of the regulars. They even requested a gallon of tea which I have never priced before. I called another bbq joint and asked them. Four dollars a gallon! Sounded good to me...the cost for the tea is about 65 cents to make almost 3 gallons plus 2 and 3/4 cups sugar and the overhead. Tea is quite profitable especially at $1 per 20 ounce cup and that includes ice in the cup first! I use a commercial brewer and use Luzianne blended tea. It is an excellent tea!

Sure hope the rest of the weekend is like today...!

The auction for my in motion satellite TV antenna system is going pretty good too. There are now 5 bids to $945. Even if it goes to $1300-$1400 someone is going to wind up with a great deal and maybe it'll help me keep afloat. I am really only expecting it to go to around $1000...but that'll be ok I suppose!

December 02, 2003. Saturday was another $50 and Sunday $85! Not good...can not make property rent, about $190 short! Have put my KVH in motion satellite antenna system on eBay. Paid about $2500 last spring, put it up to start bidding at $900 and think I will take anything above that. Already have had 2 bids. If you are interested it is on eBay Motors at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=50073&item=2446271429 . If that cash doesn't get me out of hock I have an Alpine automobile cd player with an XM digital receiver, and my mobile HF radio system. I hate to sell them but I really don't need them and it may be necessary to stay afloat for awhile.

Was thinking of offering a cup of Brunswick stew free with a minimum purchase, or with a sandwich, or maybe a combination special which would almost be giving the stew away. Not sure how I am going to do it but my intention is to get people to taste the stew. I figured it would cost about 67 cents a cup of stew including the foam cup, spoon, and a twin pack of saltines. A $3.50 sandwich costs about 70 cents delivered. So the profit margin should still be good enough. I figure this loss of profit will be my cost of advertising. Am I thinking correctly here? Gotta do something fast or I'll be selling everything and buying a horse and buggy and getting lost somewhere in the wilderness! Or building a raft and finding an island.