The Last Supper

YukonRon

Tonight marked the end of the stay for my SIL, as her flight to get back to Ghana to resume her US diplomatic duties early Sunday morning.

Part of her mission is enviromental control and species protection. A huge challenge if it were here in the USA, made even more difficult by the trials and tribulations of war and terror in the Dark Continent. She is amongst the silent and hidden heroes. Her life and those of her husband and daughter, provides stories both captivating, and bizarre.

She loves ribeyes and fine wine. So I saved this meal all week for the last. Ribcaps and a beautiful southern Rhone valley blend of syrah, petit syrah, pinot noir, lead by an amazing year for grenache. This is my favorite blend.

She loves it medium rare, and the XL came through, yet again with a fabulous cook. 400F indirect to an IT of 135F. Let stand for 10 minutes wrapped in butcher paper. I used my own rub.

This was a great meal. This was a small "Thank You" for someone who still believes we are citizens of the world, first and foremost, and proud Americans second. It is upon us to help those that have no voice. She does it every damn day, in conditions you have no idea how awful.

She is pretty cool. Egg worthy.

NC_Egghead

Awesome meal, wine and company. Enjoy tonight, it will be one to remember.

Wolfpack

Best wishes for your sister- sounds like an amazing, selfless woman.  We could use a few more these days. 

YukonRon

NC_Egghead said:

Awesome meal, wine and company. Enjoy tonight, it will be one to remember.

Smoked everything with pecan. Thank you for the kind words. We are winding down. It has been a fun week, dinners, concerts, events, friends, family along with a kitchen renovation.

YukonRon

Wolfpack said:

Best wishes for your sister- sounds like an amazing, selfless woman.  We could use a few more these days. 

Thank you for the kind wishes. She and her family are amazing folk. Her sister, My Beautiful Wife, is cut from the same cloth. I am a very fortunate man.

Legume

Very nice, you are a proud BIL, rightfully so.  Thank her for the rest of us.

northGAcock

All the best to your sister...and all she does. Good to see you brought out the good china for that last supper. Not to worry, that day will come soon enough.

YukonRon

Legume said:

Very nice, you are a proud BIL, rightfully so.  Thank her for the rest of us.

Thank you for the kind words. I served in the Army for many years. I had a means of protection, she travels without any. Crazy.
I will be proud to pass along the thanks. You are a good dude.

YukonRon

northGAcock said:

All the best to your sister...and all she does. Good to see you brought out the good china for that last supper. Not to worry, that day will come soon enough.

Yeah, this kitchen remodel, and our daughter moving out taking our plates, kinda all we have right now. Thanks for the good wishes.

Killit_and_Grillit

YukonRon said:
made even more difficult by the trials and tribulations of war and terror in the Dark Continent. She is amongst the silent and hidden heroes. Her life and those of her husband and daughter, provides stories both captivating, and bizarre.

Man my family's prayers go out to yours. I'm jealous of her. Sometimes it's easier to leave than take care of the Homefront. My wife took the brunt of that. I spent a lot of time in dark corners of the world playing the US global chess game. My wife got pregnant so I called it quits. All that to say...if it's her passion let her follow it and we will support you as we can. Can we get some care packages together? Those were life savers for me down range. One day I was at the wall, the next day life was great. Someone sent me a Monte Cristo and a Monster energy drink on my anniversary and that was better than this years Johnny Blue label. 

JohnnyTarheel

Wow what a way to send her and family off. Great looking meal... First class all the way... Prayers to your sister on her life journey...

theyolksonyou

I don't Know shít about wine, but I know you're one of my favorites  and your sil is by default. Good on her and good on you. 

YukonRon

Killit_and_Grillit said:

YukonRon said:
made even more difficult by the trials and tribulations of war and terror in the Dark Continent. She is amongst the silent and hidden heroes. Her life and those of her husband and daughter, provides stories both captivating, and bizarre.

Man my family's prayers go out to yours. I'm jealous of her. Sometimes it's easier to leave than take care of the Homefront. My wife took the brunt of that. I spent a lot of time in dark corners of the world playing the US global chess game. My wife got pregnant so I called it quits. All that to say...if it's her passion let her follow it and we will support you as we can. Can we get some care packages together? Those were life savers for me down range. One day I was at the wall, the next day life was great. Someone sent me a Monte Cristo and a Monster energy drink on my anniversary and that was better than this years Johnny Blue label. 

She plans to write several books when she retires. Her ultimate goal is ending her diplomatic service in Paris. 
Care packages have been taken care of today, we went out and bought her a years supply of what she had on her list. We also got her signed up at Costco, executive level, so she can order anything she needs and gets it shipped for free.
Thank you for the kind words. There may come a time for care packages, and should that happen, I will reach out. I, too can testify to the importance of care packages. Got them in one form or another for over twenty years.
In her words, "Onward."

YukonRon

JohnnyTarheel said:

Wow what a way to send her and family off. Great looking meal... First class all the way... Prayers to your sister on her life journey...

Thank you brother Johnny. Apreciate the thoughts and prayers, and especially you my friend.

Boileregger

Please pass along my thanks for her service.

YukonRon

theyolksonyou said:

I don't Know shít about wine, but I know you're one of my favorites  and your sil is by default. Good on her and good on you. 

Thank you Jason. You are appreciated more than you know. You coming up for labor day weekend shrimp boil?

YukonRon

Boileregger said:

Please pass along my thanks for her service.

Will do and thank you for the kind gesture.

caliking

Man, you're good kin to have! 

FarmerTom

Best wishes and many thanks to your SIL and her family in her work and a big pat on the back to you and your wife for the love and support you have given her.  As stated above, if the need ever arises, please post it on here so that those of us who would like, can assist her.  

johnmitchell

Fantastic as always Ron !! Great post and read.. 

YukonRon

caliking said:

Man, you're good kin to have! 

I think we all step up when we can, we are no different than you. It's the little things that help us all get through, I think. Thank you for the kind words, and folks like you are good friends to have.

YukonRon

FarmerTom said:

Best wishes and many thanks to your SIL and her family in her work and a big pat on the back to you and your wife for the love and support you have given her.  As stated above, if the need ever arises, please post it on here so that those of us who would like, can assist her.  

Thank you Tom for the generosity. You are a great friend indeed, and we are fortunate to have your concern and wish to help. We are only doing what you and all of our other friends and family, especially our BGE family, would do. I appreciate your kind words and offer more than you know. Hoping your recuperation is going well, my friend.

YukonRon

johnmitchell said:

Fantastic as always Ron !! Great post and read.. 

John, thank you brother. You are a valued friend. How's the landscaping coming along?

johnmitchell

Good morning Ron.. We have done all the grunt work with the rocks and all the new bedding. We are holding off on having the soil delivered and the same with planting. It's just been too hot.. We will pick up the pace in fall. We are also taking a vacation back to South Africa end of September into October. So the finished pics are still a way off. Have a great Sunday my friend.

YukonRon

johnmitchell said:

Good morning Ron.. We have done all the grunt work with the rocks and all the new bedding. We are holding off on having the soil delivered and the same with planting. It's just been too hot.. We will pick up the pace in fall. We are also taking a vacation back to South Africa end of September into October. So the finished pics are still a way off. Have a great Sunday my friend.

I understand exactly what you are saying. I bought 3 plants I wanted to put in the ground in June, and the weather has been too hot. (I like to blame the weather for my laziness).
We are planning a trip next year to Africa. It will be my final summit. We are planning Kilimanjaro. I hope it works out. Almost 20,000 ft. 

johnmitchell

YukonRon said:

johnmitchell said:

Good morning Ron.. We have done all the grunt work with the rocks and all the new bedding. We are holding off on having the soil delivered and the same with planting. It's just been too hot.. We will pick up the pace in fall. We are also taking a vacation back to South Africa end of September into October. So the finished pics are still a way off. Have a great Sunday my friend.

I understand exactly what you are saying. I bought 3 plants I wanted to put in the ground in June, and the weather has been too hot. (I like to blame the weather for my laziness).
We are planning a trip next year to Africa. It will be my final summit. We are planning Kilimanjaro. I hope it works out. Almost 20,000 ft. 

Wow hats off to you on taking on that challenge.. We know plenty of people who have taken it on and have said it is a fantastic experience.. 

FarmerTom

YukonRon said:

.........We are planning a trip next year to Africa. It will be my final summit. We are planning Kilimanjaro. I hope it works out. Almost 20,000 ft. 

Dog gone Ron, how do you do it on that bad leg/foot?  You give me hope that someday I'll make it back into the woods.  Right now, the only way I could get to the top of Kilimanjaro is if they dropped my fat a$$ out of the space shuttle.

bgebrent

Great stuff Ron!  Good luck with all, and restocking your wine collection.

northGAcock

bgebrent said:

Great stuff Ron!  Good luck with all, and restocking your wine collection.

.....this month.

YukonRon

johnmitchell said:

YukonRon said:

johnmitchell said:

Good morning Ron.. We have done all the grunt work with the rocks and all the new bedding. We are holding off on having the soil delivered and the same with planting. It's just been too hot.. We will pick up the pace in fall. We are also taking a vacation back to South Africa end of September into October. So the finished pics are still a way off. Have a great Sunday my friend.

I understand exactly what you are saying. I bought 3 plants I wanted to put in the ground in June, and the weather has been too hot. (I like to blame the weather for my laziness).
We are planning a trip next year to Africa. It will be my final summit. We are planning Kilimanjaro. I hope it works out. Almost 20,000 ft. 

Wow hats off to you on taking on that challenge.. We know plenty of people who have taken it on and have said it is a fantastic experience.. 

My SIL talked me back into it. My last summit, Mt Blanc, at 16K in 2015 was a very difficult climb, due to the technical route we chose and I not being aclimated to the low oxygen at elevation. Once we got back down, I told everyone in our climbing party thanks for all the climbs, but I was going to retire.

Well, my SIL asked me to join her and her group on a planned summit of Kilimanjarno. I told her I would go, but man, another HALO climb is not my goal, but being there is. I would like to see the wildlife before the zoo is the only place left for them. Bagging a summit along the way just makes it better.

We will see what happens, I have started training today.

YukonRon

K

FarmerTom said:

YukonRon said:

.........We are planning a trip next year to Africa. It will be my final summit. We are planning Kilimanjaro. I hope it works out. Almost 20,000 ft. 

Dog gone Ron, how do you do it on that bad leg/foot?  You give me hope that someday I'll make it back into the woods.  Right now, the only way I could get to the top of Kilimanjaro is if they dropped my fat a$$ out of the space shuttle.

In no way at this moment I am ready to go try this. I will need the year to get ready. I Started today with a 2 mile, early morning hike carrying 75 lbs. This is nothing at low altitude oxygen rich. The real training comes when you are oxygen deprived. HALO climbs are extremely tough to do. 20K will be almost 1 mile higher than I have been.
The leg and foot are the least of my worries, it is the difficulty of the climb.
It has been 6 years since my foot and leg were rebuilt. It took time and tons of therapy to get back to just walking. You learn how to make it work.
You will be fine. It just takes time for your body to recover, and you will too.
Never give up Tom. You got a lot of things left to do in life. Be patient and let your body heal.