It's funny to think I first thought about Man Grilling Time (MGT) back in 2009. It's been four years of grilling, drinking, and grunting. And four years of loin cloths (okay, maybe not). This isn't some national phenomenon like No Shave November or something that people have picked up on and made annoyingly popular. This is something that I started and shared with some of my friends. This is my thing. It's a great time. The past two years have been a little different for one reason: I have no grill.
I do, however, have a grill pan this year. So this is more along the lines of Urban Man Grilling Time. It'll taste the same. It's still steak. It's still beer. It's still a tradition I have tried to uphold for these past few years. Last year I did not have a grill pan so I missed out. No big deal. So what do I have this year? I have a rib eye, some Grain Belt beer, and baked beans. Who needs salad? Am I right?!
Every time I talk about this, my wife just kind of rolls her eyes and sighs. Everything short of patting me on the head. I know she's just jealous of the great time I have by myself. PARTY! Now I'm off to grill some meat.
Showing posts with label MGT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MGT. Show all posts
21 June 2013
21 October 2012
Time Apart
This time last week, I was spending the days with my in-laws. They came for a quick visit here in the Twin Cities before flying out to Colorado Springs to see my brother in-law. My wife went with them. Family time is always great. I had to work, so I am still in Minnesota. I have never objected to her wanting to spend time with her family, that's just not how a marriage should work. Besides, it gives me time to watch a ton of sports, drink a bunch of beer, and walk around in my boxers (you may think I kid, but I do not).
One thing I have always thought that makes a great marriage or relationship work is the ability of those involved to be able to spend time apart. Everyone should want to see their partner whenever they want, but there also has to be individualism in the relationship. Everyone needs their space from time to time, and their partners need to understand that. I haven't gone anywhere this past week, but have enjoyed the time to myself. I've had two responsibilities: go to work, feed and water the cat. That's it. Whenever I am left to my own devices, I have some great routines set up (sad, I know).
There are three big meals that I cook early on in the time by myself: spaghetti, goulash, or chili (depending on the season). The recipes I have are all from my mom, so they were written to feed a small army, or one grown man four or five times in a week. Once that domestic chore is done, guess what, I don't have to cook anymore if I don't want to. If the grill is set up, I usually partake in some Man Grilling Time (or MGT). The other food oriented thing I do is treat myself to one night out. Tomorrow night, the Detroit Lions are playing the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. That's why I waited until the last night to go out. I find a sports bar and drink some beers, eat some not so healthy but oh so delicious bar food, and watch some sports. I feel that doing this in a sports bar is acceptable. If I were to go to a place like the Olive Garden, it would be weird. Everyone stares at the person eating in a restaurant all by themselves. In a sports bar, it's okay.
The other thing I do, and this may seem small and insignificant, is watch movies. There are only a few television shows that I watch, but I love movies. I've taken these times apart to watch an entire series (from 'Alien' to 'LOTR' to 'Star Wars') or new movies. This week, I watched 'A Serious Man' and 'Cabin in the Woods'. Both I would recommend. There are also the records that I listen to. There is just something about listening to an LP that makes me happy. Yes they are big and bulky and you have to flip them over, but there is a soul in each record. The music is different on a record as opposed to a CD or the digital version.
If I am going to be home by myself for a week or so, I always take advantage of the freedom to watch what I want, cook what I want, listen to what I want. And I think everyone should take this approach. Your partner may be on their vacation, but you also get a vacation. Even if you still are home.
One thing I have always thought that makes a great marriage or relationship work is the ability of those involved to be able to spend time apart. Everyone should want to see their partner whenever they want, but there also has to be individualism in the relationship. Everyone needs their space from time to time, and their partners need to understand that. I haven't gone anywhere this past week, but have enjoyed the time to myself. I've had two responsibilities: go to work, feed and water the cat. That's it. Whenever I am left to my own devices, I have some great routines set up (sad, I know).
There are three big meals that I cook early on in the time by myself: spaghetti, goulash, or chili (depending on the season). The recipes I have are all from my mom, so they were written to feed a small army, or one grown man four or five times in a week. Once that domestic chore is done, guess what, I don't have to cook anymore if I don't want to. If the grill is set up, I usually partake in some Man Grilling Time (or MGT). The other food oriented thing I do is treat myself to one night out. Tomorrow night, the Detroit Lions are playing the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. That's why I waited until the last night to go out. I find a sports bar and drink some beers, eat some not so healthy but oh so delicious bar food, and watch some sports. I feel that doing this in a sports bar is acceptable. If I were to go to a place like the Olive Garden, it would be weird. Everyone stares at the person eating in a restaurant all by themselves. In a sports bar, it's okay.
The other thing I do, and this may seem small and insignificant, is watch movies. There are only a few television shows that I watch, but I love movies. I've taken these times apart to watch an entire series (from 'Alien' to 'LOTR' to 'Star Wars') or new movies. This week, I watched 'A Serious Man' and 'Cabin in the Woods'. Both I would recommend. There are also the records that I listen to. There is just something about listening to an LP that makes me happy. Yes they are big and bulky and you have to flip them over, but there is a soul in each record. The music is different on a record as opposed to a CD or the digital version.
If I am going to be home by myself for a week or so, I always take advantage of the freedom to watch what I want, cook what I want, listen to what I want. And I think everyone should take this approach. Your partner may be on their vacation, but you also get a vacation. Even if you still are home.
14 May 2012
What's missing here?
One of the best things about the summer time is grilling. Several years ago, I came up with Man Grilling Time (or MGT). It is nothing new, nothing exciting. Just a guy thing. Like going to a spa or getting a manicure/pedicure. Something that just gets done by one gender or the other. Just because. Over the subsequent years, I have grilled out and drank beer or scotch at least once a summer. This year, it could come to an end. *insert sad music here. Something by John Williams perhaps, heavy on the strings*
After we moved into our apartment, we found out that Woodbury has perhaps the dumbest laws: no grills on apartment porches unless you are on the first floor. I thought at first it was just this apartment complex, and dug a little deeper. I found this. Worst ordinance ever! There is an option, though. We do have our grill in our storage garage. I could buy a steak and grill out in the garage. The only issue is that it's a little further away than I would like and I have a little fear that if the grill got put away just after being used, bad things could happen. Bad things involving uncontrollable flames. So if I really felt it necessary to partake in MGT this year, I will drag a little cooler over to the garage, pull open the door, grill and sit. Boarder line white trash, but so is grilling without pants.
And if this ordinance isn't a reason to start looking for a house, I don't know what is.
After we moved into our apartment, we found out that Woodbury has perhaps the dumbest laws: no grills on apartment porches unless you are on the first floor. I thought at first it was just this apartment complex, and dug a little deeper. I found this. Worst ordinance ever! There is an option, though. We do have our grill in our storage garage. I could buy a steak and grill out in the garage. The only issue is that it's a little further away than I would like and I have a little fear that if the grill got put away just after being used, bad things could happen. Bad things involving uncontrollable flames. So if I really felt it necessary to partake in MGT this year, I will drag a little cooler over to the garage, pull open the door, grill and sit. Boarder line white trash, but so is grilling without pants.
And if this ordinance isn't a reason to start looking for a house, I don't know what is.
20 July 2010
MGT: 2010
The past two summers while Andrea is away, I have dedicated at least one night to grilling out and having a drink. I originally referred to this evening as Man Grilling Time (MGT). It consists of what every man needs for a relaxing evening.
Red meat cooked on a grill to your liking, a drink (I go for either cheap beer or a nice scotch [an odd choice, I know]), and sports. In the summer, the obvious sport is baseball. I have partaken in MGT during the fall a few times and watched a few football games. This year I went out and bought a rib eye and a twelve year old bottle of Macallan. There is also a KC Royals game on at seven o'clock. Obviously I would take in a Tigers game over any other team, but I can't watch them in the house. I would have to go out to a sports bar, so I'll take what I can get.
The only bad thing is that it's about three million degrees outside and usually I hang out on the porch and sipping some scotch after, but this year I'll stay inside.
Red meat cooked on a grill to your liking, a drink (I go for either cheap beer or a nice scotch [an odd choice, I know]), and sports. In the summer, the obvious sport is baseball. I have partaken in MGT during the fall a few times and watched a few football games. This year I went out and bought a rib eye and a twelve year old bottle of Macallan. There is also a KC Royals game on at seven o'clock. Obviously I would take in a Tigers game over any other team, but I can't watch them in the house. I would have to go out to a sports bar, so I'll take what I can get.
The only bad thing is that it's about three million degrees outside and usually I hang out on the porch and sipping some scotch after, but this year I'll stay inside.
04 July 2009
Man grilling time
At work yesterday, I was discussing with a co-worker what we were doing this weekend. I have nothing to do because I don't have to work and Andrea is still back in Michigan. So, in a joking manner, we determined that any time a wife or girlfriend or fiancee is out of town there has to be a 'Man Grilling Time'. Man Grilling Time (or MGT) includes the following:
- Red meat for a meal (just red meat, no vegetables) and possibly potatoes
- Beer or straight liquor (most likely scotch or bourbon or whiskey)
- Grunting
- And, location permitting, a loin cloth or just plain nudity
So that last part was added as a fun little joke, but if that crumbles your cookie go nuts (ha, nuts). MGT is along the same lines as the Man Corner at clothing or shoe stores. The back corner where all the husbands go and punch each other in the junk, grunt to communicate, and piss all over each other to show male dominance. The Man Corner was first brought to my attention by our good friend Marc while our wives were shoe shopping in Dallas. Ahhh, testosterone. Don't you just love it?
So guys, enjoy some MGT the next time your lady is out of town. Go to the closest liquor store and buy some cheap beer and go get an expensive steak from the butcher (if there is one close to you) and get your grill on.
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