# These things happen **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2000, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653 "2000-06-07T12:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/1 "2000-06-07T12:32:38Z")
I wasn’t even going to bring this up, but a certain rank newbie recently make a snide remark about me not being permitted to light the barbecue. The explanation is simple. A couple of weeks ago, I was having trouble lighting the barbecue, and my next door neighbour saw me struggling and said that the sparky thingmabob is weak. He suggested that I open the propane and keep the lid closed for a couple of seconds and then press the sparky. That way even a weak spark would ignite the propane. Okay, so maybe I left the lid down too long, and when I pressed the button, there was sort of an explosion and it kind of blew the lid right off into the air. If you wanted to get into the unimportant little details, you could say that the grill rack wound up sort of warped, and I guess the lava rocks got rearranged. Which worked out just great, because I bought a new barbecue. It’s a beauty. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/2 "2000-06-07T12:38:58Z")
Gee, Wally, were you trying to qualify for this year’s Darwins?!?! ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/3 "2000-06-07T12:43:00Z")
I think having this certain newbie around will benefit us all quite a bit. Wally, don’t feel bad, MommaRiddles forgot to turn off the propane once and did almost the same thing. She refused to touch a barbeque until a new one with an electric starter was aquired. Do you still have your eyebrows? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/4 "2000-06-07T12:52:23Z")
This is exactly why we use normal charcoal BBQs in the Netherlands. See, we’re pretty dumb and dangerous as well 😉 Oh, and if anyone asks: I know nothing about the lighter fluid incident. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/5 "2000-06-07T12:55:08Z")
After hearing all of these stories about Wally, I can only come to the conclusion that he is actually Clark W. Griswold. If you think about it, it all starts to make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Girlbysea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Girlbysea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girlbysea)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/6 "2000-06-07T13:00:50Z")
Wally… I don’t want to come across as being rude. But to me you do seem to know what you’re doing around the house. Now, I have a question. Can you use wood filler to fill the holes in wall board? I know, I know… I’m just a girly girly, but hey!! I’m trying to do some things around the house, and who else better to come too?? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/7 "2000-06-07T13:09:30Z")
I like cooking with charcoal (when I bother to 'Q). No lighter fluid though. I use one of tthose metal chimnies that you put newspaper in the botton of, with the coals on top. Fewer hydrocarbons that way. When I was a kid, I remember my dad made a chimney of his own with a 3-lb. coffee can, a coat hanger, and a “church key”. ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/8 "2000-06-07T15:35:43Z")
Dammit Wally this time you’ve done it. Not only did I splort coffee on the keyboard I fell off the chair laughing. You don’t know what it’s like being stared at like that. Wait a minute… I guess you do. Actually I did the barbecue thing once. The plate on the bottom of the grill where the rocks are has a nice 45 degree bend on one corner. Keith ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/9 "2000-06-07T15:41:07Z")
Mully I think you are right. We’ll just have to change Wally’s name to Clark. Hmmm, come to think of it, I beleive they even favor a tad. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/10 "2000-06-07T16:00:55Z")
Wally, you are even starting to sound like Uncle Buck. I think we are definitely going to love this newbie. BTW, did you know that when you start a camp fire you should always throw gasoline on it? ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/11 "2000-06-07T16:05:57Z")
[Hijack] [QUOTH GBS:]\*\* Can you use wood filler to fill the holes in wall board? \*\* [/QUOTE] No, hon; Go to the hardware store and ask them for some light weight spackling. That’ll do the trick, but if your hole in the wall is too big, you’ll to put some backing behind it first. [/Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/12 "2000-06-07T16:12:22Z")
ROFL! I do that on purpose, Wally! I close the lid, turn the gas on for about 15 seconds, turn it off, and then hit the ignitor. WHOOF! The lid lifts slightly, and bluish flames shoot out of all the openings! Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/13 "2000-06-07T16:13:52Z")
Ahhh Wally, don’t worry about it. Just ask about the story of my father, the brick of blackcats, and the charcoal grilled steaks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@Amy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/14 "2000-06-07T16:21:18Z")
Has anyone noticed this? Okay, so “maybe” I left the lid down too long there was “sort” of an explosion and it “kind of” blew the lid right off ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/15 "2000-06-07T16:25:11Z")
Denial is vicious. ---
**Author:** ![Procrutes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Procrutes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrutes)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/16 "2000-06-07T16:35:47Z")
I thought it was a river in Egypt… ::ducking and running while bobbing and weaving::: ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/17 "2000-06-07T16:45:11Z")
I was wearing a fleece sweatshirt. That fleece melts very nicely. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/18 "2000-06-07T16:49:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Has anyone noticed this? > > Okay, so “maybe” I left the lid down too long > > there was “sort” of an explosion > > and it “kind of” blew the lid right off > \*\* If we didn’t know it already, I’d say you were Wally’s daughter. So, Amy. What other tales can you share with us about ole’ dad? Sure, he can ground you, but we can laugh heartily at the Adventures of Clark. (Wally, I REALLY think you should change your name…) ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/19 "2000-06-07T16:49:47Z")
The doctor says my eyebrows should grow back soon. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653/20 "2000-06-07T19:46:28Z")
I’ve done that slightly differently. My sparker is notoriously iffy. So I click and click and click it until I hear the flames start. But if it’s taking too long, the gas builds up, even with the lid open. Once I was too curious as I kept clicking. (I should been standing further and further back.) I looked in, and then got the tell-tale “woof”. My face felt warm, and I had to go ask my wife if she smelled burning hair. Fortunately, she didn’t. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-things-happen/21653.md?page=2)