Fall continues its tantalizing temperature swings and I keep coming up with things to do that need doing while still finding time to enjoy it.

During these gloriously crisp autumn days, my thoughts also turn to things I seldom voice appreciation for (either silently or out loud).

Truth be told, I shouldn’t be taking things for granted like my microwave oven.

I like most of the things I eat cooked, with the exception of the occasional salad, bowl of cereal, or deli sandwich.

Neither salads, cereal or deli sandwiches are things I eat frequently, however.

That brings me back to the microwave.

I know it’s not technically as good as cooking.

I once was told by a friend that using the microwave is just assembling (and not cooking).

While that may be true, the microwave, along with air conditioning and the Internet are my top three inventions (this may change as time passes, but that is how I feel at the moment).

Staying fit is hard work, and I keep showing up, putting in the work.

I know that if I completely eliminate frozen and processed food I’d be doing better on the overall nutrition side.

As someone who has always had a fast metabolism, though, my relatively less than optimal diet has not really packed on the pounds.

But, if I want a true six pack that is not light beer (and who doesn’t, right?), I need to fine-tune, and hone the nutritional side of the equation in order to realize true gains.

To that end, it’s always good to have something to work on (when you’re not actively working on something like improving the quality of your nutritional intake).

Enter the grill

Our grill would not light when we tried it earlier in the week.

I was forlorn.

The bratwursts had already been cooked in beer on the stove, and just needed some sear marks from a bit of time on the grill.

I ended up frying them the next day and had them for lunch and dinner the next two days (along with a baked potato, a sweet potato and some steamed broccoli–now if that’s not eating healthy, I don’t know what is (the nuking and consumption of both potatoes with adequate, creamy butter notwithstanding)).

So, what we have and have had to this point is a little missive concerning nutrition, eating, inventions (most notably the microwave), and an at least on the surface burned out outdoor grill.

As the microwave gets my food warm, so does the grill, or it did.

Grilled food tastes better than microwaved I’ll give you that.

But, I think I’ve read and been told that grilling out is not an entirely healthy practice either.

I understand it can be made less unhealthy, but I’m really not too concerned with that as much as I’m preoccupied with cooking up things like bratwursts after they’ve been soaked (I mean cooked) in beer.

Not being able to bear the thought of the grill being kaput, I began investigating.

It turns out the igniter may have bit the big one.

There are no clicking electrical sounds when you press it.

Changing the battery yielded identical results.

I finally ordered an after market igniter off the Internet, and thought about taking the window air conditioner out of the bedroom window and storing it for winter.

It’s not winter however.

Time to close by expressing my appreciation for all of you.

Thank you and good night.