Bruette
Well-Known Member
Speaking of getting things done.
I have not kept up on all the things I need to do. My health has been mostly stable, but my energy and stamina are low.
I'm seriously considering not having our annual 4th of July party. I just don't know how I can do it. Not to mention the doctors advised me two years ago to avoid being in the heat for more than two hours. Even less if the heat is bothering me. Last year was very taxing on me. It took weeks for me to recover.
I've always had a cookout on the fourth for family. After my sister Theresa passed away, I extended the party to everyone and anyone we knew. It has grown to over one hundred people. It grew from hamburgers and hotdogs to an all-you-can-eat crab feast. With pork barbeque, a whole smoked turkey, smoked chicken breast, ham, more than a half-dozen different smoked sausages and more. We also have well over a dozen side dishes and foods for diabetics.
We start serving at noon. We finish well after sundown when the kids roast marshmallows and set off fireworks. With adult supervision of course.
The biggest issue is my limitations due to my health. I struggle to steam bushels of crabs all day and I don't trust anyone else to do it. The last time I let someone else steam the crabs was a disaster and I had to take over. Not only did they burn the crabs. They burned through the steamer pot because they did not rinse it out after each batch of crabs! It's not rocket science, but you need to watch the time and clean the pot after every batch. Blue crab meat is delicate. It must be steamed perfectly. Not to mention a bushel of crabs now costs $300-$400.
The crabs are the easy part. Preparation, setup and clean up are the hard parts. My wife and my son do most of the work during the party. I am a terrible host. My son takes care of the open bar and other drinks. My wife handles the gas grill. They both make rounds asking if anyone needs or wants anything. My way "help yourself to anything you want"
I can't pile more onto my wife Angela and my kids don't pick up much slack. Only weeks before my sister Cathie passed away, I was telling her "Angela is like the Energizer Bunny". Cathie was quick to sternly say "no she is not!" Cathie was right, Angela doesn't run on batteries, she is only human, and she is not getting any younger.
I expanded the party for my mom and my sister, Cathie. I hoped it might take their mind off losing my sister Theresa. Theresa was born on the fourth of July. I would have stopped having the party after the doctors advised me about the heat. I only kept going because my mom and my sister Cathie looked forward to it and enjoyed it so much. Now I have lost all three of them.
I have not kept up on all the things I need to do. My health has been mostly stable, but my energy and stamina are low.
I'm seriously considering not having our annual 4th of July party. I just don't know how I can do it. Not to mention the doctors advised me two years ago to avoid being in the heat for more than two hours. Even less if the heat is bothering me. Last year was very taxing on me. It took weeks for me to recover.
I've always had a cookout on the fourth for family. After my sister Theresa passed away, I extended the party to everyone and anyone we knew. It has grown to over one hundred people. It grew from hamburgers and hotdogs to an all-you-can-eat crab feast. With pork barbeque, a whole smoked turkey, smoked chicken breast, ham, more than a half-dozen different smoked sausages and more. We also have well over a dozen side dishes and foods for diabetics.
We start serving at noon. We finish well after sundown when the kids roast marshmallows and set off fireworks. With adult supervision of course.
The biggest issue is my limitations due to my health. I struggle to steam bushels of crabs all day and I don't trust anyone else to do it. The last time I let someone else steam the crabs was a disaster and I had to take over. Not only did they burn the crabs. They burned through the steamer pot because they did not rinse it out after each batch of crabs! It's not rocket science, but you need to watch the time and clean the pot after every batch. Blue crab meat is delicate. It must be steamed perfectly. Not to mention a bushel of crabs now costs $300-$400.
The crabs are the easy part. Preparation, setup and clean up are the hard parts. My wife and my son do most of the work during the party. I am a terrible host. My son takes care of the open bar and other drinks. My wife handles the gas grill. They both make rounds asking if anyone needs or wants anything. My way "help yourself to anything you want"
I can't pile more onto my wife Angela and my kids don't pick up much slack. Only weeks before my sister Cathie passed away, I was telling her "Angela is like the Energizer Bunny". Cathie was quick to sternly say "no she is not!" Cathie was right, Angela doesn't run on batteries, she is only human, and she is not getting any younger.
I expanded the party for my mom and my sister, Cathie. I hoped it might take their mind off losing my sister Theresa. Theresa was born on the fourth of July. I would have stopped having the party after the doctors advised me about the heat. I only kept going because my mom and my sister Cathie looked forward to it and enjoyed it so much. Now I have lost all three of them.
