Not Playing Nice

I'm a big fan of standup comedy. Especially creative ones who draw on life experiences rather than stereotypes. With some exceptions, of course. I'd heard of Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, etc. but the first I remember hearing was the infamous Martin Lawrence Saturday Night Live opening monologue. You know, the one so raunchy and gross that got him banned forever from the show.
I saw that with my Dad. It was like a trainwreck. We sat, transfixed by our embarrassment and disbelief.
Wait, before that was Jeff Foxworthy. I think. The timelines get kind of blurry. You know, blah blah blah "You might be a redneck."
I'm using that format to describe a pet peeve of mine.

When a girl, two girls, or even 3 are out having a good time, this is not an invitation for guys to come up, sit down and strike up a conversation. I'm not saying you can't say hello, offer a flattering remark or two, but chances are, you are not welcome to sit down.

Even more annoying is the often-presumed fact that the girl or girls in question would like your phone number. How do you know that she is, first of all, single and second of all, heterosexual and third of all, even interested?

I know the following isn't nice. But it is true, and makes me giggle a little.

If you have teeth that would make someone from Great Britain cringe..."she's probably not interested."
If you talk repeatedly about things in your life you would like to change, your clothes, ex-girlfriend, or your mother..."she's probably not interested."
If you lie about your age (especially if she finds out by asking your 'wingman', ''she's probably not interested."
If you try to act like you know about her career and have no freaking clue what you're talking about...yeah. Definitely not interested.

I could go on about racial slurs, ignorance in general, etc. but you get the idea. Some girls are polite enough to take your number and quietly throw it away. I really think that the best thing to do is to cut them off before it gets to that point. For example, when they sit down, do not accept a drink, say you'd prefer to be by yourself/with friends and if all else fails, move or leave as quickly as possible.

I undestand that most girls know these suggestion and have put them into practice many times. I'm assuming that there are those out there who are as naive as I am, or was and were under the impression that just ignoring the guy in question would be enough.

Age Ain't But a Number

So yesterday I turned 26. I didn't fightor dwell on it as much as I pretended to. I've already started to make some really big changes ~ personal and professional, private and public.

Life at Aero Flats is really close to perfection.

The more outgoing and personable that I'm becoming, the more I just want those closest to me to know what I'm really like.

People judge. I try not to do this. There's really no way to ever know the full story and its usually better that you don't.

Shaving legs is one of the services CNAs at the Health Center don't provide. I think that if I was ever placed in one of these homes I would explore as much as possible. There is a Wii, and free internet access and someone to do your hair and pretty much whatever you want to eat, whenever. I think just being here makes a lot of the residents really sad and/or angry.

Thoreau said, "To regret deeply is to live afresh." I agree with this but only if you are able to get over the guilt that often comes with regret. One of the things I regret is often taking the easy path, only to deal with something much more difficult down the road. Sometimes due to laziness, sometimes because of a lack of forethought and a lot of impulsiveness.

Living the right way at the right time, completely.

Experiential Learning

Monday was paperwork and a tour of the St. Paul Health Center kitchen. The last 3 days have been work from 5 am to 11 am or so, doing bakery and a.m. cook rotations. Tomorrow is my last day with Adriana, cooking for breakfast and lunch.
Honestly, its really difficult. Not the work, getting out of bed at 4:15 in the morning. My biorhythm just doesn't work like that. Next week I have 2 days each of starting at 6 am and 7 am which make me even more thankful for living close by.

I've really enjoyed living with Meredith and my little room in the basement. It will be good to move to a place with amenities including more privacy, a pool, a killer exercise room...and still a great location.

Rancho Liberio is my favorite new culinary find ~ a Hispanic supermarket with a great selection of produce, dried peppers, tortillas, 'underutilized' cuts of meat, amazing salsa, etc. Its very inexpensive and I'm not sure why. Maybe they bypass distributors. Definitely going to go there again and again.

My life as next-to-zero drama for the first time in years. Its strange but I am getting used to it.

Back to Basics

As I lay here, late on a Monday night in my mother's house, I can't believe how fast time has gone and where I am. I have achieved and lost much in a very short time. I'm happy to be in Denver but am enjoying this week in Lawrence. Driving around town was total sensory overload ~ I got so many snapshots of my life here all at once. It was like pressing fast-forward on a kaleidescope.

I've already been asked, and know my Grammy will ask as well, what I'm doing after I'm done with my co-op in August.
I really don't know but am just so glad I have June and July figured out, you know?

Tonight was great. I felt really weird and emotional but at home with Kristen and Jo. Now that school is over, I'm going to make staying in contact with friends and family more of a priority. Especially with you, M. Evansville was so much better after we re-met!

So tomorrow is going to be about sleeping, working out, reading, enjoying. I got the Green Van which also brought me back, oh about 10 years. Can't knock the hustle.

I know its probably out of the realm of possibility but Bell's would be the perfect way to end this trip and begin the loooong drive way back home. For some reason, I remembered how great Larry and Wendy's Wedding Ale was...maybe they have some bottled in the cellar.

I'm equally excited and scared about the future, but find solace in the fact that I won't ever be alone. Being lonely isn't necessarily a bad thing ~ sometimes it helps you reconnect with yourself; listen to what you've been trying to ignore, deal with the previously untouchable.

Long Time Coming

A lot has changed since I posted last. I moved to Denver, have a roommate named Meredith and a part-time dog named Caleb. He's not mine, but seems to be ok with me. Of all the Boxers I've known, he's the sweetest and least neurotic. I've survived Classical French Cuisine, Advanced Dining Room (and all the accompanying wine tasting at 8 am) and am loving International Cuisine. The biggest events coming up are graduation and co-op (internship).

I'm realizing that life can be hard or easy, depending on the choices you make. My parents tried really hard to make everything great and hide the consequences that came from say, not driving the best, not being with the right people and sneaking ancient liquor. I don't want to name names, (they tried valiantly, at times) but the substitutes I found for my parents were mediocre, at best. I'm really glad to now be "doing life" on my own. Not entirely, of course, but it feels good to know that my choices are my own and the results are equally mine. I chose to be here ~ in Denver, on Leyden Street, in culinary school.

Not everyone will agree with the choices I've made and will continue to make and I realize that. I hope there will be support though ~ I need that more than ever.

A new song

One of my best friends is going to a wedding on Saturday ~ her ex-boyfriend (they dated for 5 years) and his fiancee are getting married. Even though I never really liked...let's call him Shane...I think its cool that she's going to be there. Just to know that its real, like she says. I wish I could be there to go with her, or at least go out and talk after she's been so brave.

So tomorrow is the end of the Garde Manger segment. I've heard people talk about how they love being so creative and learning so much. I mostly agree ~ the food is gorgeous but no one (except for those like me, who automatically see a pretty terrine and think, "ooooh I bet that tastes good") really eats it. The labor part of it is really getting me ready for this summer, when I'll be on my feet for 8 hours.

What's coming up....
*Tomorrow (Thurs) is the first day of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, AKA the year KU surprises everyone by me, my Dad and other diehard Jayhawk fans....
*Friday I'm checking out apartments/rooms close to school. I'm excited but very very nervous.
*Saturday = St. Patrick's Day and hopefully more craziness than I've been part of in a long time.
*Monday is last day of GM and time to take a breath before French Classical cuisine

WotD

Word of the Day! Depuration - the removal of impurities from the body, such as xenobiotics. Xenobiotic is a fancy word for a chemical that isn't supposed to be found; its not normally produced.
Ex. My liver is utilizing depuration in relation to the antibiotics I'm taking for pneumonia.
Don't you feel smarter now?

Depuration is also a beer produced by Russian River Brewing. It is "a Blonde Ale aged in French oak Chardonnay barrels with white wine grapes for one year with three strains of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, & Pediococcus (yeast)."
I'd love to try it!

V-Day + Other Schtuf

Going to the KU/CU game rocked. It was awesome to see just as many, and at times a lot more, Kansas fans than Colorado. Highlights...
the 3 KU kids on the front row, right in front of the CU student section...the fact that they sell beer at the arena....the stupid signs trying to make fun of Kansas..

I think that Kaun (as in the KU center, Sasha) in Russian means either "hands like rocks" or "surprisingly athletic" depending on your voice inflection.

These next few days are going to be difficult. I feel really gross ~ half the time I'm hacking up a lung ~ and its just hard to concentrate anyway. Spring fever, spring fever!
There's a guy in my meatcutting class who is trying to get through it for the 3rd time. Someone commented, "I think I'd just give up." Yeah. Once is hard enough.

Saturday is Frasca night...I might take pics of all the lovely charcuterie and do a little write-up. There are seats open for walk-ins...the only reservation was available at 10:30. I'm just so psyched to go! Having something to look forward to is so important, you know? Even if its just a kick-ass dinner and a night on the town.

The Chinese New Year cake (Nian Gao) turned out really well. Red bean paste definitely tastes better than it sounds.

Spring Break Plans

They aren't much, but I'll be in L-town late Thursday the 22nd - late afternoon Sunday the 25th. Definitely looking forward to it.
On my to-do list:

1. Hang out with Wenjun and Jo
2. Go to Free State at least once
3. See KU beat Iowa State...in person
4. Have lunch or dinner with Mom at the former Westside Deli
5. Try to get Dad to play beer pong again.
6. Make dinner with Peggy
7. Sleep a lot.

Meatcutting isn't one of my strengths. Its weird ~ I have this expectation that I'll be good at anything involving hand-eye coordination. And it just doesn't happen. Chef's nice though. And we're eating International Cuisine at our leisure. I'll eat whatever Timmy (he's at Rioja...my Restaurant Week destination) makes. 1 day down, 8 to go...

I Am Like Buddy Holly

So i'm a nerd, but I'm cool. I was told this a few days ago, and after I got used to it, kinda agree.
In the last 2 days, I've gone to an asian market. And babysat 3 kids under the age of 5, simultaneously. I was not at the market with the kids though. The experience would've been very surreal and pretty awful, I think.
I got some amazing "gourmet" ramen from the market, and was able to spend some time with Elaine from class. Its so much better than anything Evansville had, in terms of ingredients...I think I could make any recipe from Asia if I knew how to obtain it...I know it would be at the market, the problem would be knowing how to identify the item and know how to ask for it.

Next week there's a Chinese New Year party at Noi's...I'm making an authentic cake. I'm glad I knew what ingredients to get, because the English translations = not the same.
Here are pics of the kids I babysat..two of them anyway. Maximilian and Eva...

Its That Time Again

The Super Bowl, followed by Valentine's Day. I hope the Colts win. They deserve it. I don't hate Da Bears though. You can't, what with the Superfans and all.
I couldn't find any of the other SNL segments but this one is pretty funny.

I don't usually think about V-Day until a few days before, but I've been shopping more than usual and have kinda gotten in the spirit. As much as you really can with a made-up holiday. I'll be spending the 14th at school and at the KU game in Boulder. I've never been to a basketball game at another Big 12 school before. The seats are decent and there will be a ton of Jayhawk fans.

I'm really looking forward to the end of the month. Spring Break, Restaurant Week...its going to be an amazing time.

This Sunday, though...if you have any amazing snack recipes, send them to me. I'm going to at least make or get wings. Probably more delish goodies too.

Creme Brulee and Caroline

Caroline Elizabeth Barron was born on Tuesday....a couple weeks early. Isn't she gorgeous?? I can't wait to meet her!


Today was the last day of Food Service Production and when Labato found out I had a culinary torch, we were automatically making creme brulee. We flavored it with just a touch of lemon & cinnamon and a ton of vanilla. He's really into making garnishes and making things look pretty in general (we had a discussion about best brands of cosmetics too, but that's a different story) so when i was done with getting the custard *just right* he was all about the teardrop apple cutouts and the caramelized sugar. Using the torch was fun. I know he took a photo or 2 and I'll be sure to post it.
Tomorrow is Store Room and then Meatcutting and then Spring break..the last day of class is Feb 22nd. So its more like Late Winter Break. I don't really have a lot of plans other than getting my summer externship lined up and going skiing with Maelynn, who HAS to come out here.

Been Awhile

Sorry I've not posted since last year...sometimes words just fail me, you know? I'm pretty sure that I've broken every resolution that I wrote here so far (AND the ones I didn't write down, like not going to Starbucks). But that's ok.

School...Nutrition and Culinary Analysis rocked, and I'm in Foodservice Production now. Basically, the former dealt with poaching and steaming and the latter with baking, pan-frying and saute. Each chef is completely different from the next and I love learning what makes each one unique.

So tonight I was going to take Maxmillian and Jon to see their first movie (their mom, Elisa is the sis of my best pal, Maelynn). I love those little guys! Charlotte's Web wasn't playing so I got them way overpriced ice cream at the theater and got to see them be mesmerized by the lights, constant conflicting noise and all the people. I love kids.

Resolution?

So I've been asked, mainly by Wenjun what my New Year's resolution is. I tried writing down a list of them one year, but have decided that having just one or two is the way to go.

1) Not be a doormat for anyone, anytime. This means lying to make people feel better, letting people say things they shouldn't just because "that's the way they are," etc.

2) Not relying on anyone else to be happy. I've not totally thought this one out yet.

So Excited

Today is my sister's 21st birthday! I'm having so much fun hanging out with 'rini and Er. Tomorrow is beer pong on Peggy's dining room table (thanks!) and Little Miss Sunshine and BEER. Tonight is less beer and a lot of Ricky Bobby, spaghetti and presents.
I used to have a hard time sleeping through the night before Christmas. I kinda wish I could experience that feeling again ~ waking up and having the greatest surprises of your life up to that point.
Everything is just so amazing and wonderful right now...I miss school though.

Snowed In

I'm not sure how many inches of snow we have right now. Not as many as the 'ville got way back in '03...the timing is almost the same though. If the situation was different (in terms of travel), I'd be really upset. The plan is still to be with Sir and Connie by late afternoon Friday. I can't wait to hang out with Maelynn and Zac!

As I was telling 'rini, I love warmth and the sun, in particular, for just this reason. Clouds produce snow and hardship while blue skies...don't. Sure, there's something called "skin cancer" but that never caused my friend Matt to miss Christmas with his family.

She don't like, she don't like...Cocaine

I'm not a big fan of Year-in-Summary articles...I like fresh, new, interesting tidbits. But the chow.com The Year in Food review was good. I had read/heard about most of what was talked about, except for this interesting beverage:

Just seeing it at the grocery, you would never think it was different from any other energy drink. Although if I saw one called Indiana Meth I would probably take notice.
Apparently, the "high" hits within five minutes and the caffeine rush comes 15 min., later. Its also 350% stronger than Red Bull and has bizarre tongue-numbing effects. Interesting. If I need to drive anywhere, this is what I'm going to take with me. As long as what they promise (that you don't crash) is true. I always get so tired driving...

Three-Month-Crazy Rule

I have a friend who swears that girls he's dated tend to get crazy three months into a relationship with him. I'm not exactly sure what that says about him, but I can understand when it comes to me and school. I thought about blaming it on being burned out, but that doesn't make sense...I'm just definitely feeling kinda crazed right now.

All I can say is, 6 more days of school until break. Then it's onto the 'ville for a few days and then to Lawrence. I can't wait.
My brother graduates on Saturday. I wish I could be in the ATL, but he needs to know that I'm with him in spirit. He's incredibly brilliant and I'm so proud of him. Congrats Er! Give me your Xmas list soon, ok??!

Buying Toys for Three Year Olds

One of my best friend's nephews turned 3 recently and I had the hardest time figuring out what to get him. Jon's a rough-and-tumble little guy, one of those kids who runs around crashing into everything. I first got a little learning computer, which would've been great had it been for his big brother. So I settled on a "big kids" tool kit. I told the Mom that it had a box cutter and scissors, before I got it and everything seemed to be cool.

It was Jon's favorite gift. He'll learn a ton, and will grow into it.
I probably should've gotten something else. We'll see though. Hopefully his parents have a good hiding place.

Jason is dying. Dealing with the loss of rats never gets any easier. I'll cry a little and will remember how awesome he was. Just like his Dad.

Days Go By

Today was the first of Intro to Beverage. That's what I'm calling it, anyway. We learned about coffee, coffee service and being jittery.

Half of the GYD (Garnish Your Degree, AKA Kids with Useless Degrees) people I was with last semester have the Cool Chef fo r Food Service Production. There's a new GYD who knows The Big Lebowski by heart and I've decided that every day I'm going to torment him by thinking up random scenes and having him do the lines and voices. Today he was kind of embarrassed but I think he'll get used to it. =)

Tonight at the gym I saw approx. 15 min of Top Chef without the sound. Its the episode that Anthony Bourdain guest-appears on. I wish I could've heard what he had to say. I hope that the guy with the hair like Ace Ventura, Pet Detective loses and I don't know why. His 'do was a bit too perfect and sculpted, like maybe he'd spent more time on that than thinking up an impressive menu.



Tonight and tomorrow its supposed to snow and I'm not sure about driving...i hope it does this less, rather than more, at least Mon-Thurs.