Last Friday I was invited to our former landlord's birthday party. I decided to impress the German host nation guests with some fine American brisket. My brisket was too big so I cut it and placed the smaller piece on the top rack. After an all night smoke, I told my wife to remove the meat while I was at work and we would reheat it with my finishing sauce at the party. We drove 90 miles to the party and when I went to reheat the meat, I discovered that I only had about 60 percent of my brisket. The other 40 percent was in the smoker. Lesson learned is to make sure you or your help check the entire smoker for food. I thought she would notice I had two shelves installed but she did not. The good news was that the brisket was a great success, just could have had more of it.

I know this is grounds for a divorce in some states, but I let it go this time. Those big alligator tears told me she was more upset over the lost meat than I was.

Papa, I believe I can speak for all women when I say that I am truly grateful that you were kind to your wife over this transgression. Not all men would have been as forgiving as you.

(Is there a tongue-in-cheek emoticon?)

Well thanks for the story.

And tell your wife it happens to the Pro's too. I remember a contest years ago, the timing was ALL off and we pulled briskets and butts and one of them was stubborn and wouldn't finish.

We'll we got so busy that we never checked the smoker again, until we loaded it later that day.

I'll never know if that would have won (although I do remember placing in that category that day).

Tell her it's okay. Just don't let it happen again.

I had a similar incident a few weeks back. I had wrapped several racks of baby backs after I was done cooking. I wrapped them individaually and coolered them..Anyhoo, The guests showed and I unwrapped the ribs and we thoroughly enjoyed them.
A couple days later, I grbbed the cooler and towels so that the wife could get it all clened up. A lonely surviving rack of babyt backs was in there. Damn. I wanted to eat it, but I couldn't. INte the trash she went....
That will never happen again.