The Grades are In!

Greetings from the world of Culinary!

On a bleak and raining morning, I have just picked up my grades and next quarter's schedule. I am quite surprised with myself that I pulled out 3 A's and 1 B for a GPA of 3.9 which I think places me on the "Dean's Honor Roll" whatever that means.

I apologize for the lack of updates the past few months, I could never get into a recapping mode to do this justice so I opted for the "no news is good news" theory.

The end of last quarter was a blur. I turned in projects and paper on onions and cheese. My presentation of cheese did include a video that truely showed my humor as well as my age. I was purusing the internet and found a video by Monty Python that went through about 25-30 various types of cheese. It made perfect sense to me that I could list of the types but why not do it with humor. If you would like to view the video it can be located here. The one problem was that I am 31 yo and the closest aged person to me is the teacher so as the video was rolling and I and the teacher are laughing...the rest of the class just stared with a look of slight confusion. But then again, who better to please than the teacher eh?

As for the actual exams, I did fairly well. The two tests I was really stressed about was the Safety and Sanitation class since that is a federal test that everyone takes and my practical final in Culinary Skills (aka in the kitchen class). I made a 93 on the final in safety and sanitation class when I guess helped my B at midterm become an A. As for the practical exam, I am very proud to say that I finished the exam this time. Though I did end up with green beurre blanc which in french means "White Butter", when asked how it turned green, I simply replied, I have no idea. This time during the test, I used a tactic, I have seen by my good friend and physician, Dr. Jon. If you are a patient of his, you will know that going from room to room he is singing to himself. So I sang "Majesty" during the test. Why that song you ask? Good question, the only answer I can come up with is that most of my brain was on the cooking and so it dug deep in the recesses of memory to the first "contemporary" song I remember learning as a teenager. It did help the nerves, though I still made a C on the test. But I ended up with the B for the final grade so I am not that upset. In fact I was more excited that I finished the test than I was concerned about the grade.

After finals, I discovered that procrastination is no fun when there is nothing to procrastinate about. Eventually I was able to get in my toaster on wheels and head to Alabama. The main purpose of the trip was a cute girl in Dothan so please forgive me if any of you Auburnites did not get a chance to see me. I spent around 24 hours in Auburn, a good deal with family. For those who are just know catching on...yes I have a girlfriend. Her name is Dia Baugh and teaches 9th grade math at a school outside of Dothan. We met through her brother who attends AU. The rest of the weekend from Thursday afternoon till Sunday was spent with her and her family. To protect the "gag me with spoon" reflexes I will just say we had a great weekend. One note is that I was finally able to watch "Pride and Prejudice" (not the A&E version). I enjoyed it and now am thankful that my mom did not try to marry me off like the mother in the movie.

I have returned to Nashville to cooler weather and the days getting darker a little bit sooner, fall is approaching. Work underwent some changes while I was gone. I now have a new store manager and another assistant manager to work with.

I can tell I am still missing my friends and family because I have to take second glance every once and awhile at people who remind me of them. A great example is 2 nights ago at the store, I was stocking the beer case (yes part of the assistant manager's job) and this cute little girl with a full head of hair pulled back in a ponytail was down the aisle. I thought...Maggie Hardin?...I knew in reality it was not but boy was there a resemblance. Then as she approached, I realized that this was a family who are regulars. So we started talking and this little girl stuck out her tongue at me (kinda like Maggie again). They have 4 daughters ages 12 to 7 months I think. A few weeks ago when I first met this family, the little girl has a small stuffed moose with her. I asked her if it had a name, she replied with her sisters' names. When I asked her again, she said...it is just a moose not a sister. Oh well.

I want to thank you all for your prayers and concern over my bell's palsy. It is improving and I have noticed my smile is getting better but it is still slow process. I was really hoping to be done with this before the next quarter started but oh well. Life goes on.

Take care and feel free to update me with your lives as well.

First two weeks and A slice of Life

Greetings from the world of culinary,

I am aware that some of you have already heard some of the following email in phone/personal conversations but just wanted to keep you all on the same page.

Culinary school is hard work. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of time management, learning knife skills and just plain exhaustion.When the director of the program said to tell your family and friends you will disappear for 10 weeks I thought she was kidding but nope. It is a constant steep learning curve of change.

I was as excited as I was nervous my first day. I had know idea what to expect other than the fact that my boss at work would be my teacher. All the fears and concerns of going to school again slapped like a violent wave against my nerves. My schedule is as follows....

Tuesday, 8-12, concepts and theories: This is where we learn via book all the things we will be putting into practice later in the week in lab. The past two weeks it has been a pretty enjoyable class. My boss, Jay, is a fun teacher. He has a lot of experience in food service, never a chef though. Before working at HG Hill, he was working with MAPCO gas station on their brand new line of stations where you can order food from the pump. Crazy huh.

Wednesday, 8-12 Safety and Sanitation: This class is nothing like it sounds. Sure we learning about how to clean and sanitize but the teacher is the director of the program so she would prefer to just talk about questions/problems we are having in our school. Last class we spent all but 45 minutes doing just that. We took a quiz, i did not do as well as I had hoped but I think I will do better on the final exam. We are required to pass it because it is a certification exam for the National Certification for Food Safety and Sanitation. If I make above a 92% I can become certified to teach a similar course. Many states require that restaurants have at least one employee is has taken the course.

Thursday, 7-12, Intro to Culinary, LAB: This is kitchen time. The instructor graduated from Culinard in Bham. The first day was on knife skills. Cutting carrots, celery and onions....Do you have trouble with your onion falling apart when you are dicing it...I learned a trick....let me know.

Thursday 1-5, Computer applications: The most frustrating and boring class. Worse than fingernails on chalkboard and other annoying things. The class is learning how to use Microsoft Office among one other software application specifically for culinary. That additional piece of software is why I can not get out of it. The teacher is again my boss. He keeps hinting that it will get better but needless to say it is driving me bonkers for 4 hours.

Friday, 7-12 Intro to Culinary LAB: More kitchen time. this past Friday was a treat. We got to change our plans and make cookies as well as celery and carrot sticks for the local YMCA kids camp.

So this is around 16 hours of school plus I am working at HG Hills Urban Market in downtown Nashville. I work in the deli,bakery and most recently meat department. The store is compact but does pretty good business. Especially when events are going on downtown.

Misc....We have to wear our uniform to all classes and we have to change into our uniforms here at school. So really I have be here around 30 minutes before just to get changed and prepared.

This weekend has been my first opportunity to take a breather from school...I read the last Harry Potter book of course. But it was really good for me to take a step back and realize that I can and am doing this. As crazy and out of control as I feel right now, I am actually learning stuff. Earlier in the week I was not feeling so confident, going back to school is not as easy as I thought it would be.

A Slice of Life...
Yesterday I was privileged enough to visit the ER of my local hospital. I went in to work at 2 and 20 minutes later was leaving because I had sliced my thumb pretty bad. Only skin and a bit of fingernail but deep enough that they wanted a Dr to look at it. I will probably always have a flattened skin area on that side of the thumb. It will take 2-6 weeks for it to heal...I am betting on 7.

I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying your weekend. Now I am about to write a paper on E.Coli. and learn about foods introduced between the period of 0 AD and 1700.

DD

A Week in Nashville

It has been a week since I loaded up the truck and moved to the Music City. I was thankful to my friends Adam, Jonathan & Nathan, as well as my brother Chuck for driving up to Nashville and helping unload the truck. I have begun to familiarize myself with the surroundings and really only got REALLY lost today, I decided to take this side road home from church and lost my internal map location. Luckily I could just turn around but it was frustrating not being able to get home by a new way.

I have applied at a few places in town but will have to do more this week. I really need a job but there are parts of me that would prefer to wait till July to get a job. I have just about finished getting my apartment livable, though the kitchen still needs a few more additions of storage fixtures.

I cooked my first meal this week by making a pot of Santa Fe Soup in my crock-pot. This will provide me many meals and I rarely get tired of this as a leftover.

It is amazing how I will still look for people I recognize as I am shopping or driving around town. Logically I know there are significantly fewer people I know in Nashville compared to Auburn but I still do it nonetheless.

I begin school in July, but plan to get back to Auburn for my yard sale sometime this month.

This journey to Nashville has been a huge showcase for God to show his power in my life. The verse “more than you ask or imagine” has been the theme at this stage in my life. Even when things did not go exactly as planned, I was still able to revel in the power of God. I still have my doubts and find myself at times just waiting for something bad to happen perhaps that is where I could use more prayers both of my asking as well as others on my behalf.

While it has only been a week, I am excited to see how God will continue to work in my life.

Career Change and Elusive Peanut Butter

I realize it has been a long time since I have posted anything. So I decided while my chocolate cheesecake was in the oven, I should update you on some big and not so big details in my life.

I am currently full time jobless. Through some circumstances that are neither here nor there, I found myself on April 15 losing my almost 7 year job as Office Manager for the Auburn Church of Christ. Granted I saw the train acoming but had thought it was still a ways away. Luckily, I had just obtained a part time job at my favorite resturant, Niffer's, though at the lake location. The reason for this investigated experience into food service is because I had been looking for awhile at various culinary schools but never taking the thought too serious.

The week before April 15, a group of guys I pray with had prayed over me to help me with this decision. One guy prayed that the answer be clear and the door wide open or something to that effect. So with me losing a job, I realized that perhaps this was the answer. In retrospect, the answer had been there along, though I kept flinging that fleece out asking for re-assurance.

So beginning in July, I will be a student at the Arts Institute in Nashville, to begin my training. I am excited though I hate looking for an apartment and am still trying to determine the pros and cons of moving there early which will mean paying rent in 2 places for 2 months. So we shall see...

In other news, I have been on a search for Fat Free Jiff Peanut Butter, it was readily available till the Peter Pan PB recall and then it disappeared. I have only found it once in 5 weeks and that was only one small jar. So the search continues.

Postal Lessons

I am really not sure what can be done about my issue but I just have to express my shock. I am amazed at college students that do not know how to mail letters. I don't mean put a stamp and address an envelope though I am sure there are some students who do not but...last week I walked in to the PO to get my work's mail and this girl was on a cell phone standing in front of the mail slot saying..."I don't know which one to put it in"...I at first thought she meant Metered versus stamped...a dilemma I could understand...Just as I was about to help her she said "I mean there is a small slot and then a big drawer." She could not understand that the drawer was for large volume while the slot was for one or two pieces. I turned my heels and went to my PO Box in disbelief. As I was walking away, she said to her friend on the cell phone. "I guess I will just go outside and mail it" This girl walked into the PO to mail a letter but because she could not decide whether to put it in the large or small slot she walked across the parking lot to put it in the outside bins.

I am sorry but that is not acceptable.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Thoughts while reading my Bible

1. Why is it that Christians will tend to overlook the Old Testament?

2. Who understands grace more...the Gentiles or the Jews?

3. Would I be someone who Paul/Peter would mention in his letters to say hi to?

4. Is it prideful of me to wonder the above statement?

5. Does God speak, if so...what does he say? (Jim Brinkerhoff, campus minister quote)

Thoughts from the shower

1. What did people back in "Little House on the Praire" time period do for shampoo...did they just use soap? If so then why did we change?

2. Does the 360 degree scrubbing bubble thingy really work? If so...I need to invest...cleaning the shower is not my idea of a good time.

3. Why do random songs come into my head...is it God or just the evil gremlins?

4. If I take my shower first, does that make the hot water more accessible to my roommate's shower or vice versa?

5. What in the world did I do when I used to take 30 minute showers...take a nap? No wonder my mom would want me to get out.

Being A Man

The poem below is something I remember my father quoting me at a early age. He is a Kipling fan. Recently I have been challenged in many different ways. Some were as easy as swatting a fly while others it was going against a dragon with the same rolled up magazine. I am not sure if I am living up to Kipling's ideals of a man, but I hope that I have the fortitude to keep going during this season of trials.

IF
Rudyard Kipling's Verse
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!

How to worry yourself to happiness

I was talking with a close friend last night and I decided to write a bestseller of how worrying helped me achieve happiness. Of course we were discussing how we both seem to have to learn the lesson of taking one day at time over and over again.

Right now my life is in limbo. Not the most limbo it has ever been but pretty close. I am amazed at how well the great deceiver had me believing that I was in control of my daily life for the past few years. Even though I read...no one is promised tomorrow or do not worry about tomorrow for today has enough concerns. I still think that I somehow do a much better job of controling my future than God does. I mean come on, my track record speaks so much in my favor right? ummm not really.

Perhaps the most prideful thing I have ever done was convince myself that pride is not a struggle for me. Someone ripped that falacy off like ducttape on a hairy arm yesterday. Yes it was painful and still smarts today but I can see more clearly.

The challenging thing is to find balance....how can I trust God with my future yet still search for jobs, careers, future spouse, etc. Do I just lean up against a wall and let God bring these things to me or does he want me to be proactive....

Life is complicated, Thank God for grace.