Congrats on your success Elmo. That sounds like a lot of work (and stress) and it sounds as if you were able to overcome a lot of obstacles. Like the tee-shirt says, "When life hands you scurvy, make lemonade".
The only two bits of post BBQ advice I can offer are:
If there is any way to team-up with a co-worker that you like and can rely on as your partner, you should try and do that. Having someone you like and can work with can turn Team Elmo into a formidable BBQ team. It HAS to work better than having a conscript.
It sounds like you work with a bunch of people who are comfortable with finding fault with all the little things that invariably happen during events like this. If you can, agree with them. "Yeah, the beef was overdone. If I'd had some chafing dishes, I would have been able to keep my burgers warm and would have done them first". "Yeah, it got a little crowded when we were cutting the appitizers. If I had had some better knives it would not have taken so long".
Good jobs all around guys. Kevin, you remain da man.
Ron
