read the instructions

Don't burn your foot while barbecuing.

No, really.

I bought a cheap smoker and made some bad ribs and some pretty good pulled pork.

In the process, I learned that I am not as patient and thoughtful as I though I was, at least not when there is burnt pig to be had.

I botched the burn-in time when you season the smoker. I got the impression that you oil it all up and run a fire through it. Need to do this before the next fire when there will be actual food in it. Well, yeah. True. But a made a fire bigger than called for and scorched the black paint off part of it. "A small fire, making sure no coals touch the edges" is what was called for. But hey.

So then a few fires later I act like I am getting the hang of things. I made some ribs that turned out pretty good for a change. But while I am doing that, I managed to burn my foot. Wait, it gets stupider. I blame mostly myself but the smoker is a bad design in a lot of ways. It is easy to have a coal pop out the side. A couple did. I flicked hot one off my new recycled plastic deck. Got back to work on the ribs and felt a discomfort on the side of my bare foot, suddenly hot, then burnt foot. Stepped on a coal of course. Blistered foot AND puckered blackened spot on nice new plastic porch.

Now I betcha the book for the smoker says not to use it on a questionable surface and not to do it barefoot. I bet the material safety data sheet for the porch 'boards' say not to grill on it. I bet I even glanced at them. So anyway.

I used to brag to Guys that I read the owner's manual before I plugged anything in. They would scoff and say "you're not a real man". Well yeah, I am a real man who does not want to blow up his new stuff. Why did I not pay attention to these fire issues? I guess it seemed so basic and obvious that it should just work.

No excuse.