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the fuel debate

I am scared of propane. When I was in HS, we felt the neighborhood shake. I thought a train had de-railed downtown, but then a few minutes later we heard sirens heading our way. We went outside, and there were flames and smoke billowing about a block away. Turns out the house had a gas leak. The lady in the kitchen died; the man in the living room had 80% of his body burned, and died several months later. It was never determined whether his smoking or her cooking caused the explosion.
In China, we had to cook with gas. Our propane tanks were almost as tall as me. There were countless stories of them catching fire as people hauled them up and down the many flights of steps, or wrecked their bikes (with the tank strapped on the back bar, of course).
So now we are thinking (yes, we're still discussing it after several years) of purchasing a grill. Several years ago my brother-in-law bought me the cheapest grill he could find so we could have grilled hamburgers while he was here. It was charcoal, and other than cleaning it (and only having one lesson on how to cook on it) it was okay. Now, my father and brother both have invested in gas grills and love them. Bobby thinks it will be easier to clean. But I still struggle with the fact that there'll be this little gas tank underneath where I'm cooking, that they can spring leaks, or get cobwebs in them causing the gas to back up, or I'll have to haul the stupid thing in my car when it empties and haul a FULL tank back home. That just doesn't appeal to me. So the fuel debate continues. Do we purchase a nice charcoal grill like my Dad had when I was growing up and teach myself how to grill, or do we go with the gas and its horrors and the easy clean-up? My brother-in-law is coming back to visit the first week in July, so I ought to make a decision before then. Decisions, decisions.

Comments

Jennifer said…
our gas grill is nice, but I don't like starting it. I am afraid it will blow up on me, so Jack does the cooking!
sara said…
We just have a tiny charcoal grill and like it ok!
Unknown said…
I vote for charcoal, it tastes much better!

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