The Smoker Decision

Wrote up MFF meeting notes, sent them out. Located storage containers, limited freezer progress. Bought a smoker from Bass Pro in Springfield—big event of the day. Walked to Suds. Beer with Tim and Brian. Brian gave me ride home. Ancient Civilizations—founding Chinese emperor. Hogan's Heroes briefly.

Acting on Ideas

December 2, 2025

These notes describe the events of Monday, 12/1/2025.

Wrote up the MFF meeting notes and sent them out. The follow-through after yesterday's management meeting—documenting decisions, capturing action items, distributing information to stakeholders. The work that makes meetings productive rather than just talk.

Random flower picture

Located storage containers for freezing turkey broth, but didn't make a lot of progress clearing freezer space. One task accomplished, one deferred. Sometimes you get partway through the plan and other priorities intervene.

Bought a smoker from Bass Pro in Springfield. That was the big event of the day. I've been thinking about a smoker for quite a long time. The conversation with Brittany and her husband at Suds combined with it being Cyber Monday pushed me over the edge. Worked with Gemini to do the research and identified a model that would meet my needs and interests. The only one available was in Springfield, about an hour's drive. The deal was worth it though. The smoker lists for around $1500. Via the sale and various discounts—I think they were trying to clear out inventory—I got it for $575. I don't feel bad about that.

The drive to Springfield was pleasant just for getting out of the house. Meditative on the way down, letting thoughts settle without agenda. Ate a burger and some fries at The Original Roadhouse before driving home—they were good. Listened to the audiobook "Never Split the Difference" on the way back. Interesting book about negotiation techniques. Hopefully it'll lead to some new skills.

Sometimes the gap between idea and action collapses when multiple factors align—long-standing interest, knowledgeable recommendation, holiday sale, AI-assisted research identifying the right model, significant discount making the price compelling. The drive to Springfield was worth it for equipment that would have cost nearly three times as much without the convergence of timing and circumstance.

Walked to Suds in the evening. Beer with Tim and Brian—Jack didn't make it. The regular Monday gathering, good conversation, familiar company. Brian gave me a ride home afterward, saving the walk back.

Watched Ancient Civilizations. The episode was about the founding Chinese emperor—Qin Shi Huang, who unified warring states, standardized writing and currency, built early versions of the Great Wall, created the terracotta army, ruled brutally and died seeking immortality. The pattern of ambitious leaders building empires through force, creating lasting infrastructure while destroying countless lives, leaving monuments that outlive memory of their cruelty.

Watched Hogan's Heroes a small amount before deciding sleep was more appealing than continuing.

The day's plan was ambitious: MFF notes, freezer space, broth containers, sharing the AI Intelligence paper, reviewing New Zealand emails, making New Zealand reservations, creating comprehensive to-do lists for both New Zealand and Mexico, Suds with Tim, Brian, and Jack, Ancient Civilizations. Accomplished some: MFF notes completed, containers located, Suds happened (though without Jack), Ancient Civilizations watched. Didn't accomplish: significant freezer progress, broth actually frozen, Intelligence paper shared, New Zealand email review, reservations made, comprehensive to-do lists created.

The smoker purchase wasn't spontaneous impulse—it was long-considered interest meeting the right convergence of factors. Brittany and her husband's knowledge provided confidence. Cyber Monday created pricing opportunity. Gemini helped identify the specific model matching requirements. Bass Pro's inventory clearance made the economics compelling. An hour's drive seemed reasonable trade for $925 in savings. Sometimes deliberation isn't about whether to act but waiting for conditions that make action sensible.

The projects list frames the week ahead: MFF follow-through on meeting decisions, food logistics including the broth that's still not frozen, the Intelligence paper needing distribution, New Zealand trip requiring detailed planning and final reservations, Mexico trip needing similar attention, home maintenance continuing in background. Each project has specific next actions waiting for attention.

The smoker represents new project category: learning to use it well, experimenting with different meats and techniques, discovering what it enables that previous cooking methods didn't. Equipment purchases create opportunities but also obligations—the obligation to actually use what you've bought, to develop competence rather than just accumulating stuff.

Brittany and her husband's enthusiasm for smoking meat provided the final validation for long-considered interest. Their conversation didn't create the idea but confirmed its accessibility—they shared knowledge and practical experience that made the activity seem achievable rather than just aspirational. Good recommendations from people who actually use equipment matter more than online reviews or marketing claims. Combined with Gemini's research assistance identifying the right model and Cyber Monday's pricing making the investment reasonable, the decision became obvious rather than difficult.

The founding Chinese emperor's story provides sobering perspective on ambition and legacy. Qin Shi Huang accomplished extraordinary things—unified China, standardized systems, built monuments that endure millennia. Also enslaved millions, destroyed competing schools of thought, burned books, buried scholars alive, created totalitarian state where dissent meant death. The Great Wall and terracotta army remain; the suffering that created them is mostly forgotten. History remembers the monuments more than the millions who died building them.

MFF operates at completely different scale but similar principle applies: creating something that lasts requires sustained effort, coordination, attention to both immediate needs and long-term sustainability. The management meetings exist to maintain that attention, prevent drift, ensure the property serves family needs across generations. Much less dramatic than unifying warring states, but same challenge of building something that outlives individual involvement.

Monday moved from administrative follow-through through unexpected major purchase to social time and historical education. The smoker dominates the day—concrete decision, significant purchase, new capability acquired. Everything else was maintenance and planning, necessary but less memorable. Sometimes days have clear highlights. Today's was buying equipment that transforms cooking possibilities, acting on idea within hours of encountering it, moving from consideration to ownership because the fit was obvious and resources were available.

The broth still needs freezing. The freezer still needs clearing. The Intelligence paper still needs sharing. New Zealand still needs detailed planning. Mexico still needs attention. The to-do lists still need creating. Tomorrow those tasks remain. But tonight there's a smoker waiting to be used, purchased because conversation sparked recognition that this was something worth doing rather than endlessly contemplating.