Hello.  I am from Rhode Island and my name is Bill.  I have never smoked before and I am buying myself a Weber Smokey Mountain 18.5 for my Christmas present to myself.  I love BBQ and smoked food.  I travel extensively for work and hit every BBQ joint I can find on the way.  My 2 older boys are now in college in Florida and Louisiana, so my exposure to good quality BBQ has grown over the last few years.  I live on an island and bluefish and mackerel are easy to get all summer long.

I tend to be the kind of guy who researches the bejeezus out of things before I jump in, and my research has landed me here.  This seems like a great site and a great group in these forums.  I am excited to get started with my first smoker in the dead of a New England winter.

Wish me luck, but from what I can tell the WSM 18.5 seems to be a very friendly first smoker.  I want to tackle some baby back ribs and Texas Brisket on my first smoke.