[volunteers] Installfest in March, April, May

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Margaret Wendall (mwendall at gmail.com):

> I go along with the 4th Saturday and will update the web pages when all has
> been confirmed. But - what's this about barbecue? I love beef, and will
> bring my own, if appropriate. :-P

Most spring/summer/fall (non-frigid, non-rainy-season) months, I fire up
the outdoor barbecue, and do something.  Usually, it's some meat I've
marinated for a day or two.  I play around with the recipes, and try to
do new things pretty frequently, so it doesn't get boring.  Garlic,
ginger, and soy sauce are usually involved.  Beef, sure.  Pork's a
little more commonly what I buy for the purpose, because I can get a
_lot_ of barbecue-appropriate pork for cheap.  (I always cook quantities
suitable for the crowd.)

Because even with variation in sauces and meats, it can get a little
monotonous, I also do different things like stir-fry, or roasts, or
home-made pizza.  (See:  http://www.ranum.com/fun/recipes/pizza.html)

Even if I'm not _personally_ doing BBQ on a particular CABAL day, I'm 
always glad to fire up one of our cheap-ass outdoor grills upon request.  
I supply the coals, which I likewise buy for cheap and keep in stock.  

The way CABAL's food thing works, in case it wasn't clear:

1.  I cook (because I like to do so).  I provide plenty for attendees.
    It's a hospitality thing.
2.  Other people are welcome to cook if they wish.  I supply a 
    fully stocked kitchen and outdoor grill, plates, flatware,
    glasses, napkins.  You're welcome to use my cheap food supplies 
    (e.g., I won't bat an eye at your using my salt and such, but 
    don't use up my household's food in any significant way;
    bring your own ingredients, in general).
3.  There is absolutely no _obligation_ for any attendee to bring
    or cook anything - for himself/herself or anything else.
4.  If you don't bring/cook your own food, there will probably be 
    plenty of other people's food that they bring to share, but you
    get no guarantees.  Statistically, you'll probably be eating 
    more meat than is good for you, if you don't BYO.  Therefore, 
    if you want a balanced meal, the smart thing to bring is a 
    vegetable dish.
5.  Many people somehow expect me to provide sugar fizzy water
    (sodas).  I do not.  I like and buy imported Jarritos soda 
    _for me_.  If you see me drinking some, that doesn't mean 
    you have permission to pour for yourself.  You do not.
    Ditto for beer and similar things in my refrigerator.
6.  There is a Safeway about five blocks away.  There is a gas
    station mini-mart 1.5 blocks away.  There is a Trader Joe's
    two miles away.  There's a burrito joint 1 block away, and
    a tavern (the Dutch Goose) that serves great hamburgers 1.5
    blocks away.
7.  You'll be hungry.  Think about it.  CABAL runs 1-9 PM
    (people being welcome to come and go as they please), with
    spillover to midnight tolerated cheerfully, and you'll be
    smelling yummy cooking and seeing other people eat.
8.  WASH YOUR OWN DAMNED DISHES.  Use plates when you walk 
    around my house eating food.  There's no maid on staff.[1]
9.  _If_ I uncork one of my wine bottles and leave it sitting
    out near the front of the counter, that means attendees 
    who are of age are welcome to drink some.  Attendees who 
    unilaterally grab my more expensive wines, that I'm trying
    cellar for future years, from the rear of the wine rack, 
    uncork them by themselves, and guzzle them without permission 
    will be regarded with considerable disfavour (and I'm looking 
    at you, Mr. Reiber).


[1] Reminds me:  The doormats outside each and every external door are
not there for decoration.  Wipe your goddamned shoes, for chrissakes,
people.  Somehow, after almost _every_ CABAL meeting, I have to wash our
floors, because they get dirt tracked all over them.  Equal-sized groups
of people from other social circles seem to have no problem
understanding the "wipe your shoes" convention, but I gather that a
significant fraction of computerists have absolutely no clue about this.