There's a guy who does some consulting work for us. He actually doesn't really do much of anything, but Mr. S keeps him on retainer so (I think) he can't go work for someone else. As far as I can see, the guy is not at all worth what we're paying him, but whatever.
Yesterday he wanted to come pick up his check before he went to a meeting. The meeting had nothing to do with us and was not related to his consulting work. He eneded up calling us and saying he would be late in getting his check, which meant he would be late in getting to his appointment. Whatever.
Mr. S called him later to see when he would be here and he said he was just getting off the freeway at (say) Exit 400. Apparently, according to the way Mr. S remembers it, he told him specifically to take exit 399 because it would be a lot faster in the afternoon traffic. The consultant said "Well, 400 has always worked for me, and I'll be there in 2 minutes" And then Mr. S hung up on him.
Today, Mr. S told me that he is so upset about the 399 vs. 400 that he is thinking seriously of terminating the consultant. I'm not exactly one of the consultant's staunchest defenders, but this is so ridiculous and childish. I told Mr. S that maybe he just knows for sure how to get here if he takes 400. I often will take a route that is a little longer if it means I know I won't get lost. Especially in traffic, because getting lost in traffic when you can't slow down and try to figure out where you are or change lanes very easily is just a terrible experience.
Mr. S often gets frustrated with me because I don't take shortcuts through the city where he lives, a city where I don't live and have never lived, and I don't know the roads very well at all. My natural sense of direction is not too finely tuned (I have actually finally figured out that if my instinct says right, I should turn left, and it's successful most of the time) and I don't want to get lost in the maze of streets that all look the same and all seem to dead end after a while.
It's just like the way he gets upset with people for making simple mistakes like saying "good morning" when it's five minutes past noon, misdialing a phone number, or saying it's Wednesday when it's really Tuesday. These are things everyone does, including Mr. S, although he would never admit to a mistake of any kind. Or if someone can't add and subtract in their head, Mr. S thinks it's a travesty. And really, if we're being truthful here, the man is just barely above functionally illiterate, so he has no room to talk.
I'm past the point of wishing I could help him understand that if he would just relax a little and not care about things that have nothing to do with him (remember when he wanted to fire the Space Invader because SI didn't want to pay his bills by check?), he might actually be sort of happy. It's clear that he doesn't want to be happy, will never be happy and is never even comfortable unless he has something to be unhappy about.
On another note (
Attn: Tom Saaristo), I'm having guests over for dinner on Sunday and they asked me to make pulled pork sandwiches. (Yes, I think it's an odd request, too). I have never made this before but I found a
recipe on
allrecipes.com that involves the crock pot, beef broth, and brewed coffee (and pork of course). Hundreds of people commented that it was just wonderful. Do you (Tom or anyone) think it would be OK to cook it, pull it, and put it back in the Crock Pot with a bottle of BBQ (on warm for maybe an hour) sauce, or would it dry out the meat?? The recipe suggested just having people put the sauce on their sandwiches, but I think it would be better to cook the meat with the sauce, even for a short time. Any thoughts, or does anyone have a good recipe?
Oh, and Tom, I'm going to make Tart Lemon Tart in little phyllo shells for dessert. I did that once before and it was a huge hit.
Comments (19)
wait... back up -- You are having guests over for dinner and they have made a meal request? Not something that you have made in the past that they really liked, but something you have never made?!
These people had better be relatives!
As for the question - I have never made pulled pork sandwiches. That said, I have eaten quite a few and, in my opinion, I can't think that the meat would dry out if cooked a bit in the sauce. (as long as you don't cook it too long) I've never had anything dry out in a crock pot - just be sure to keep the lid on to keep the moisture in!
Good luck!
As far as Mr. S goes, just, wow....
never had pulled pork (that i know of)
i missed the show last night!!
I have made pork that way. I'm not sure which cut you are buying, but usually pork has so much fat in it that it's nearly impossible to dry it out, especially if you put the sauce on there and use the low temp. That's my favorite way to make pork. I cook it till it's done, rip it up and put it back with all the sauce and seasonings. It's great.
I hope Mr. S never meets me. He'll think I'm retarded or something. I never know what time it is, what day it is, and depending on how tired I am, can't do simple math in my head. I also prefer to go the way I know rather than "shortcuts."
Mr. S. Just when I think he can't get any stranger, I read a new post. What a crackpot. That's the nicest thing I can think of to say about him.
And I find it a little odd that your guests put in a request for a meal. Unless you specifically asked them what they would like to have?
WHO REQUESTS A SPECIFIC DISH? I mean, unless it is known as your specialty, which this obviously isn't?
What a weird world we live in.
And I would totally fire anyone for any reason. Life's too short to have qualified professionals around with whom I am accustomed to working. Bring on the new people and the awkward learning curves, and the unhappy situations, by the scores!
For what it's worth, I had a job once where I got paid to be on retainer, and I hated it. It felt dishonest. Blech. I never felt like I'd earned the $.
If I recall from my time in KY/TN pulled meat is shredded with BBQ sauce, so I don't imagine your putting it in BBQ and leaving in the crock pot should be an issue.
Much like eeyore, having a hard time with someone asking you to fix something you've never made.
I don't think that would dry out the meat; it might even allow the flavors to deepen. MMmMM!
I hope this year brings a psych consult for Mr. S! You deserve a medal. I hope you're going to write a book about him.
Oh, you made me laugh AGAIN...& I need it...:) The man is just Too Entertaining...He needs MEDS...
LMISS
p.s. - I LOVED KITE RUNNER (have you read A Fine Balance? SO grand!)...haven't read Plainsong yet...hmmm...
LMISS