How little things can brighten your day..

So after a couple of months of having bought a large BGE and working on a table for it, last night I finally finished the table and started setting up the egg. I must say I felt a little bit underwhelmed by the quality of workmanship. The gasket was off in a couple of places and the glue didn't seem that strong. Then came the instructions for installing the bands. It says push the lower band as far as it goes and then make sure the distance between lower and upper band is the same all around. But if you follow this instruction, the upper band will only partially cover the dome's edge. So I was cursing that I shouldn't have to deal with this crap after paying $800 for a piece of appliance and then the final screw for the hinge "gave in" (lost its cap) while I was tightening it. I covered the egg (we expected rain) and went back to my Weber to take care of hamburgers and wondering what I can expect from my dealer tomorrow when I ask him for a new screw.

After dinner my wife broke the news that my father has passed away... I had not seen my dad since I left my country of birth 24 years ago but I talked to him on the phone (or tried to, he couldn't talk) a few days ago after I heard he is not feeling well. Anyway, all in all not a good Friday to start the weekend. My wife and I spent the rest of the night making phone calls and talking to my family...

I went to my dealer today. Store was crowded and I had to wait quite some time before I got a chance to talk to the salesman (probably owner too) that had sold me the egg. Right away he said: "no problem. These screws tend to break if you tighten them too much. Let me grab you a couple of new ones." He went and spent 10 minutes or so in his stash of bits and pieces in the back of the store. Then got his car keys and told me he has to go to the warehouse. He came back with an original hardware bag that he had apparently pulled from another egg, ripped the plastic open and handed me three screws. I thanked him and mentioned that I could have bought the egg from another dealer way closer to where I live but I chose to buy it from him because the impression he left of being knowledgeable and helpful (when we first walked into his store two months ago) and I am glad that I wasn't disappointed today. While there, I picked a "3 tier", an "Ash tool" and a bottle of "Dizzy Dust". I asked if I can order more ceramic feet for my egg and he just handed me a couple for free.

So here I am. (It is rainy today and I have to wait till tomorrow to finish setting up the egg.) and I find it surprising that how little things (relatively speaking) such as somebody going out of his way to help you(when he could have thrown "I will order some for you" at me), can change a gloomy mood.