So yesterday we were getting into what makes a steak a steak before we were bizarrely interrupted. Well let’s get back to bidnezz, shall we?
Cast iron, my friends. Not aluminum, not stainless steel, not non-stick DuPont fluoropolymer resins. Cast honkin’ iron is where…
(telephone rings!!)
…our salvation lies when it comes to cooking steak. What you want to be considered knowledgeable and hip is a cast iron…
(telephone rings!!)
…grilling pan. What makes cast iron so awesome? Specifically, it’s the…
(telephone rings!!)
…ability of the metal to…
(telephone rings!!)
OMG answer the phone, someone!
/sigh
(telephone rings!!)
Yeah. I’ll get it.
“Yel-lo?”
“BRK BABY!”
“Greg?”
“You nailed it, sweetheart! First try; so you get a prize!”
“What do you want, Greg.”
“A solid gold yo-yo and a piazza. But I’ll settle for knowing what your summer plans are! I have some stuff about which we must speak all legal-like!”
“My summer plans?”
“Yes! I’ve got a couple of SeaDoos and a 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor that’s demanding some TLC from you and me!”
“Seriously?”
“Pfft. Heck no. Like I’m gonna give up a SeaDoo when Brandi named her’s ‘Bouncy Mo’Mouncy’? You’re outta your lemon tree, you are.”
“Greg…”
“Listen, whatcha DOIN‘ this summer? Family stuff?”
“OK, since you asked, I’ll tell you: My son is going to visit his mother for the summer.”
“For the whole summer? Like gone? Out of state?”
“Precisely.”
“So whatcha gonna DO, cochise? Prospect for gold in the Peruvian mountains? Photograph bikini models in Bimini? Write a movie for Johnny Depp that doesn’t suck?”
“Work. Write. Cook. Blog, and maybe…”
“Be a boring childless single parent while keeping an incredibly clean house and going to the movies alone, I HEAR you, and it sounds dreadful and utterly pathetic and lonely.”
“I won’t be alone.”
“…”
“…”
“YOU DOG!! I’m proud of you, you old rat b@stard! Tell me…”
“Line. Sand. Drawn. Enough.”
“Whoa whoa WHOA, babycakes, it’s all good. Understood, limits are limits and I won’t press.”
“Thank you.”
“Does she have a sister?”
“BE QUIET!”
“You’re right; Brandi would totally NOT go for anything like that.”
“Sheesh.”
“So anywho, here’s my idea! You’re gonna be pathetic and bored and lonely…”
“Um, not…”
“… and I’ve got this little project that I need some help with! How much karma does it take to fill a room? I don’t know, but we’re almost THERE!”
“What’s the project?”
“PUT MORE HORSERADISH ON IT! HORSE. EEE. SAUCE! I SAID EXTRA!”
“Horsie sauce?”
“Arby’s chuckleheads can’t get an order right if you burned the list into their cerebellum with a laser. CURLY FRIES AND A DR. PEPPER, YOU ANIMALS!”
“I like curly fries…”
“So my project needs someone of refinement, quality, breeding, artistic flare, and a disposition as sunny as the surface of Mars…”
“Why does this sound like it’s starting badly?”
“So I called Pike, but she didn’t answer.”
“Bazinga?”
“So you’re UP, buttercup! Whatcha say to THAT!”
“Say?”
“To THAT, yes!”
“Well I think…”
“I WANT A PAPER-WRAPPED STRAW OR I’M GONNA COME IN THERE AND BASH SKULLS!! You were saying?”
“I think I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Dude!”
“Dude?”
“DUDE! Let me send you an email and tell me what you think!”
“Well O…”
(click)
K.
…
Yeah, so no cooking again today. These interruptions need to stop.
Uh oh, Pike missed her call? That does not bode well.
Whether or not this is factual the storytelling process (while a bit repetitive) is becoming more and more amusing. Where it goes from here is relevant to my interests.
It was one of those things where if the caller ID looks like a pixelated crab, I get wary about answering the phone.
Hmmm, this is getting interesting…
Oh boy. This could be awesome, or awful.
@Pike
I’m not sure that crabs is a Telephonically Transmitted Disease.
Don’t keep me hanging like this BR….Daniel???
I am prepping for a camping trip with the family this weekend. I am packing our gear right now, in fact.
Saturday night we are planning on steaks.
Any you just reminded me that I need to reseason and pack my cast iron before I go. *runs off to check on dutch oven and griddle*
Just thought you might enjoy the irony in that even in your humor you found a way to remind someone how not to fail. =)
Love the wirting as ususal, and highly interested in the story behind it.
And he didn’t offer YOU curley fries? I say pass on it until he gives you some…
Plus, I am SO likeing the whole “What does NDA mean?” thing…. totaly psyched…
PS: Ask Mr Crabbypatty if they need input on Mages, because something is wrong… Im a 25 year old man who does not enjoy wearing dresses (well i mean there are those crazy drunken weekends, but I dont like to talk about those).
PPS: You both owe me 50 cents.
I must admit – I’m dreadfully curious as to whether mister Ghostcrawler is calling you about Cataclysm, or that ‘secret new MMO project’. Either way, exceedingly jealous am I. Way to go! Keep writing – can’t wait to find out what happens next.
i like the part where GC is your crazy, annoying, self-obsessed friend who calls all the time — i can totally see him being like this, which i kinda scary. also, if you come back to the game (and wisely balance RL & WoWtime), i promise i will roll a worgen hunter.
Hey! What did I say about toying with our emotions?! And um, “secret MMO project” Jeff says? Please elaborate… muwhahaha.
Hanging here with breath held…
I’m giddier than a school girl! This is going to be the best summer ever!
My fiance is getting a little jealous because all I can talk about is the possibility that ‘Daniel’ may become ‘BRK’ again lol. ‘Who is this BRK guy? And why are you so excited about him?’ He says =D
I can’t wait to see how this all turns out! And I really hope Pike is involved too. I’m enjoying both of your non-WoW blogs but I miss the hunterish stuff…
I guess the question is … Which do you value you more? Your family (son) or WoW? Remember last time when you picked Wow?
I pick FAMILY!
Man keeping tabs on your Blog, your FB and your “old” BRK site is KILLING me!
Of course that’s probably the plan…isn’t it?
More info please!
WOW… WOW
I am so excited!!!!!!!!!
Having the hunter changes in the hands of BRK… WOW.
Just this one event made Cata – seem not so bad suddenly!!!
BRK (with his engineering background) + Ghostcrawler + Hunter Class rework = WIN WIN WIN
I am so happy you are thinking about doing this BRK. Thanks Thanks Thanks
Welcome back BRK! We’ve definitely missed you! If there’s anything I can do to help you get back in the game, just ask.
To those proclaiming that he’s trading in family for WoW, I humbly feel I must disagree with you. And I think what really drives this home is the fact that his son is spending the entire summer with Mom. Were this not the case, do you think he would’ve even entertained the idea of bringing BRK back? Personally, I doubt it…and thus can look forward to reading two DPHowell blogs. Besides, merely coming back to WoW blogging doesn’t mean that he’s going to throw in everything else as well (Podcast, Theorycrafting, Project Lore videos, 3+ nights of raiding a week, guest appearances, toy marketing, forum moderation, etc).
That being said, watch yourself my good man. Boredom and loneliness are definitely strong breeding grounds for addiction. I’d hate to see you lose the beautiful world view you seem to be gaining these days.
I think Alpha, which means we will get little info (NDA), but we can be happy knowing that the Hunter Class is in GREAT hands
Alg
@Zampher
I doubt that it is a case of him picking WoW over his son. There is nothing wrong with having a hobby, especially with his son being away during the summer. Never mind that it -is- possible to balance hobbies with family time. People do it all the the time
Just so you know…
I am having a heck of a time working with my fingers crossed all day.
omg! omg! omg! Commence Happy Hunter Dance!
It also sounds like he is ‘keeping company’ with someone, probably of the female persuasion. That should help keep him from falling into the trap of WoW and blogging being his ONLY pursuits…
So, a summer with less parental responsibilities, but of course staying in close touch with your awesome son, some WoW, and hopefully, once the NDA drops, blogging about it, and possibly a lady friend to keep you entertained in other ways. Hope you have some vacation time saved up!
Life is good!
Hurry up with the steak tips for goodness sake.
I find that proper preparation is dependant on the cut, and that cut is related to the flavor. For example rib eye and NY strip have different underling flavor. NY strip (being a personal favorite) should be bought fresh cut. Even then it needs to be rinsed in warm water. This will clear the steak of undue dies and better open the ‘grain’ of the steak allowing for proper marinade and seasoning rub to be applied…… wait, ghost who?
WANT MEAT
@Jesse
I know
I also do the delicate balance between wow and family (of 6). But I also remember what started the divorce/separated road that left him single too.
I like how GC really sounds like one of the fast-talking crooks in a Guy Ritchie film
Dammit Daniel! Either you publish your steak recipe, or I’m gonna publish MINE!!!
it’s like an avalanche of cool whenever you post…
RAWR!
@Zanpher
Maybe so, but we don’t fully know for sure that WoW was the thing that started it and/or caused it. If anything, it struck me more as a symptom. Do keep in mind that he flew out to Connecticut, gave WoW up and tried to make the relationship work, but she still left.
From what we do know, he allowed himself to get too far into it…a mistake that the Daniel of today seems unlikely to repeat.
@AngerFork:
I knew I should of typed more
In most divorces/separations, I find that there are a multitude of small (and sometimes big) issues (situations) that finally, all together, builds up to the point. I figured as Wow was one of them, and as you said, it is one thing that he gave up to help keep the family together.
All in all, I wish Daniel the best. I gave up playing my hunter ever since Daniel left the BRK site. If he comes back in, I might take her up again.
Maybe we should all just stick to the subject at hand. We might get BRK back WIN! Lets just enjoy this, I think BRK wants this to be fun. I for one am looking forward to the next clue.
Cheers Alg
Funny…the only thing I took from both posts was that Daniel was seeing someone…Woot!
@Cellexa – I agree! I want that damn steak recipe!
Post yours, already! 
O’ Danny boy should just be happy that it’s nice enough to BBQ these days…
OMG! Can it be true? Is BRK coming back? I can’t tell you how many times our guild chat has turned to tales of BRK and how much we all miss him, except for all the new people who have no idea what we are talking about.
And I want the steak recipe, damn it.
+ 1 on the cast iron pan.
It makes all the difference.
I’m starting to think of Daniel as Al Pacino on Gaodfather II-. Everytime he thinks he’s out they keep dragging him back in. Haha!
Give ‘em hell Daniel! Oh! Can I borrow the Z? I feel the need for a road trip.
[...] 2nd post [...]
I find myself thinking of the word moderation. BRK being back even if it was for a short period would be an extremely welcome surprise. Even if that didn’t eventuate I could still console myself with the fact that there was two BRK flavoured blog posts.
“Write a movie for Johnny Depp that doesn’t suck?” I almost had to stop reading there due to laughter.
Have any of you check out his old BRK site lately?
( http://www.bigredkitty.net/ )
I still went to it for tips and such, plus, just to wallow in the awesomeness of the prose.
Then the current content was presented. Hmmm another clue perhaps? I would gladly pay the 15 gold to help get your stuff out of storage (or perhaps there was a different message there).
Daniel, I have been meaning to ask you if the old content of your BRK site is gone? Or is is available somewhere else?
Am I the only person that reads GC exactly the same way that Brucie in GTA 4 talks? For some reason they just seem to be totally the same. Genetically superior bitches!
BRK was the WHOLE reason I rolled a hunter…
For those who are just coming here there are a few images on the BRK site that you may be interested in:
http://www.bigredkitty.net/conversation_1.jpg
http://www.bigredkitty.net/conversation_2.jpg
[...] Pike, she was the other hunter blogger BRK consulted in regards to anything not beastmastery, was scared of the picture on her caller id when she was called. With that a email was supposed to be [...]