Hey Airboss - Welcome to the CS family and forum. Looks like I'm just down the road a bit from you in the southern part of Sarasota. After looking at the weather in the West and Plains States, it's pretty nice to have it at 85F and sunny on the day of New Years eve.
Got the very same Xmas gift 3 years ago at my house in Chicago. Picked up another one a year and a half ago, barely used, at an estate sale in Sarasota. I was driving by and saw something in the driveway that looked familiar. They were asking $100 but let me have it for $75. They were even kind enough to deliver it to my house since it was too big for my car.
Study the pinned thread "Lessons for new users" and follow the forum closely. You'll learn everything you need to know and more about the craft of smoking and BBQ.