Hello, new to this forum was turned on to cookshack from a co-worker who has one. Had some family that lived in Kansas City for a few years and everytime we visited we would go to a different Q restaurant. That was really my first experience to it other than the popular chain restaurant. I really didn't have an appreciation for it until a saw a program on the Discovery Channel about it. I always thought that BBQ was just another name for grilling. Boy was I wrong. Anyway, my wife is an excellent cook and we enjoy good home cooked meals. So we are going to be purchasing a smokette in the next couple months and will be visiting this forum frequently for guidance. I just bought one of those Brookstone cordless thermometers to use with the smoker, kind of like getting the chicken before the egg. Forgot to mention we live in Iowa, I'm in law enforcement and the wife is a nurse, BSN. Can't believe all the great information on this forum and looking forward to joining the Cookshack family.