The snow piles are gone.

        Frost SHOULD be a memory.

        Tulips are in bloom.

        And, it's finally warm enough to grill without gloves or fleece.

         As an annual gift to you, my blogging public, I show you the secret to fire-starting.     It's simple.   It's safe.     And, it kinda sorta sticks it to the oil companies, because you won't be using any of their foul-smelling, food-wrecking accelerants.

        Get yourself one of these, and you'll never have to worry about having your grill start on the first try again:

            The Charcoal Chimney is simply the most incredible device...ever.    The cylinder is split into two parts: stuff the lower part with newspaper, and the upper portion with charcoal.      Light the paper, wait until the coals are flaming through the top of the chimney, and you're good to go.      No oily, foul-smelling, messy, petroleum based fire-starters.      You're sticking it to the cartel, 32 ounces at a time.

            Chimneys come in varying sizes--I go for the biggest one I can get.      I got my last one at Rokamco in West Allis.     You can find the Weber variety there.      Other hardware stores have knock-offs that do pretty much the same thing.

            Enjoy.      And, think of me when you drop the match.