KRISTY WOULD BE PROUD!

Milton, here for Kristy:

I did it! I did it!

I'm batting two for two and that is a 1000. Last night I had my second dinner gathering at my house--I mean only the second one ever. My guests were John and Irma and Mary and Al, two neighbor couples who have been so kind to me and my family during Kristy's illness. They left last night saying that I did "OK" after grilling steaks, baking potatoes, cooking green beans, making a salad and offering up dessert.

The weather was lovely for outside grilling. This is a really nice time of the year in Jacksonville right now. We have 1 and 1/2 seasons here and we're getting to the 1 and 1/4 mark right now.

Here is a grilling tip from an expert. I am batting 1,000. Doesn't that make me an expert?

Did you know that one way to speed up coals burning on a grill is to use a leaf blower to fire up the coals? All you do is crank it up and point it at the burning coals and boy does the fire get hotter faster. Now that takes some really smart engineering to come up with that one. That kind of idea comes from a guy who would grill steaks on a cookie sheet. I did that one time and didn't impress Kristy at all with a ruined cookie sheet. She was gone on a trip and that is how I made do alone without her. I think I am doing a little better now. At least I didn't cook the steaks on a cookie sheet last night.

But, no kidding, a gas blower really fires up those coals quicker if you are in a hurry. Don't laugh. I am a well educated single guy who has to make up short falls any way I can.

The evening was a success as I figure it. Life goes better when you have friendly neighbors and one way to have friendly neighbors is to be friendly.

What was for dessert? I offered up a choice of key lime pie, Blue Bell ice cream, or chocolate chip cookies.

We talked about Kristy, life, and funny stuff at church.

Life has changed for me. I choose to go forward by God's grace.