Walkin' in the Woods

The weather was sooooo nice and sunny yesterday, we decided to go for a hike.



And by "we" I mean, Mike, Katie, and Me.

Maybe you haven't met Katie yet! This is she:

Our favorite 4'11" redhead in the world!
She likes to cook with me, and she likes to listen to music and talk about movies with Mike, so things work out well. And she only lives an hour away, so visiting is done often.










Mike and I met her at Homewood in '06, and we both kinda like her. I think Mike kinda likes her a lot. I think she kinda likes him too. Maybe.




We had a lot of fun yesterday doing stupid things. Like rolling tires down steep embankments. And playing "log-ball" with a stick and pinecones. And our ridiculous photo-shoots.














...and watching Katie tumble down a hill. That's always a good time.
If I could change one thing about yesterday, it would be that picture. It would be a video clip instead.









But overall, it was a pretty perfect day. I'm so happy its finally feeling like Spring!

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Sorry that the fonts and pictures are all messed up right now. I'm giving PJ a makeover.
Hopefully the New Look will be finished later today.

EDIT: what do you think? Is it too hard to read? Should I change the colors?

Anxious

I've been on the brink of panic since Tuesday night.


Wednesday morning I was scheduled to do a practice practical exam.
Since I was all caught up on my assignments, I asked my teacher if it would be possible to do this, so that I could better prepare for the real deal, which will happen at the end of the month.
Here is what will happen.

I will have approx 4 hours to put out 2 servings of:
1. a mayonnaise
2. a soup
3. an entree, with an assigned starch (potato, rice, or similar dish) and 2 chosen vegetables
4. A dessert, or bread product

Thing is, I won't know specifically what I'm making until I get there.

Each will have to be put out at different times, for instance, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 11:45 AM, and 12PM.
Our garbage and compost will be monitored, to see if our waste is reasonable. They will also be marking us on professionalism, organization, skill, and a load of other things.

Since in class we usually are focusing on one thing at a time, this whole multi-tasking under pressure thing is FREAKING ME OUT!

Tuesday night I couldn't sleep. Well I guess I did, but it wasn't for very long. I woke up around 4AM with a racing heart and anxious mind. And this was only for the practice! When my alarm went at 6:20, I was already wide awake, and feeling sick to my stomach. I couldn't eat breakfast.

When I got to school around 7, my instructor said that I should set up as best I could, and we would start at 8.

When the hour finally rolled around and he handed me the sheets of paper, I was almost hyperventilating. I converted the recipe amounts, and quickly jotted down a workplan- the bane of my existence.

I was to create two artichoke and feta stuffed chicken breasts, spaetzle (small, pasta-like dumplings), and cheddar cheese soup, as well as the mayonnaise. I didn't have to make a dessert because all the dessert stuff is downstairs in the bakeshop.

Honestly, I've never mise-en-placed anything so fast in my life. I threw my mayonnaise ingredients into the fridge for later, and got to work on my chicken. When I was about ready to bread them, my instructor called all the entree students over and began talking about the exam, and explaining what I was doing, and how it would all work. With all those people there, watching me...I just lost it. I did the stupidest things, that haunt me to this day. Three days later :P

I can't even bring myself to tell you the retarded things I did. The shame...oh the shame.

Needless to say, everyone was looking at me with raised eyebrows and very skeptical expressions. Expressions that read, "How exactly did she get into level two?"

After my instructor gave me "the look" and the little confidence I had withered away, I just said,
"I CAN'T DO THIS WITH YOU WATCHING ME! GO AWAY!!!"

And they all laughed and moved on.

I, obviously, haven't moved on.

Despite a setback of having to redo my mayo, due to excessive amounts of vinegar (another boo boo on my part), I got it out on time, and my soup was also punctual...and very, very, delicious...If I do say so myself.

However, I waffled on when to put my chicken in the oven, and didn't follow my instincts...it ended up being 15 minutes late. Which is UNACCEPTABLE for the practical exam.
Also my spaetzle was gooey, and my broccoli was unseasoned...and I breaded my chicken with the skin still on...stupid, stupid mistakes.

I wanted to cry.

My teacher didn't seem too upset. He said it was a good learning experience for me.
He also said it was interesting what pressure did to people. He saw me make mistakes I'd never made before...he didn't specifically mention those moments of shame, but I knew what he meant. And you will never know. ha!

As he picked apart my food, and my day, he summed up by saying it was a "maybe" pass. And this was a relatively easy dish. So now I am extreeeeeemely nervous about the real practical exam. Especially because I will have a dessert/bread on top of everything else.

Breath, Jill, breeeeeeathe.

I could hardly eat for the rest of the day. My insides were in knots. Knots, I tell you. Little waves of anxiety would run all the way through me. I felt sick.

And even though that was just the practice, and it was three days ago, I'm still having trouble sleeping at night because my mind is racing, and I still feel sick to my stomach when I think about this darn exam!

Ps. I don't handle stress well! What am I doing in this industry?!?!

Seven, and Counting...

This would have been so much more effective if I had started it like...in January.
I'm putting up a little text box to the right, so you can see and understand the craziness that is this year. Love is in the air...
Every time another friend/acquaintance gets engaged, that number is gonna go up. Because it seems like the "In" thing to do this year is get married...I don't know why, but apparently its popular! ;)
This week alone, I've discovered 2 more engagements (CONGRATULATIONS LAURA!! :D), and I'm expecting that this will be a monthly, if not weekly, occurrence for the rest of the spring. Everyone's getting hitched!

Rants and Reviews on Romantic Fiction

I spent the week wading through Wuthering Heights.
When I was a lot younger I plucked it off the bookshelf downstairs, (the same bookshelf that supplied material for my insatiable appetite for reading most of my childhood), read maybe the first chapter, and then tossed it aside, thoroughly and utterly confused. The old English, lengthy descriptive paragraphs, and odd colloquial accents, threw me off I guess.
However, being a "classic", its always been on my To Read list. I figured I would read it when I was older and could understand the big words. Well, I read it, but I'm not going to say I understood it all!
To be honest I was disappointed, because I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. I thought it was going to be a Pride & Prejudice-esque read, maybe requiring a little more concentration than your average story, but worth the time.
Instead there seemed to be little reason to like or sympathize with any of the characters, or become emotionally attached, since someone would drop dead every few chapters. They were all bad-tempered, spiteful, cruel, and prone to fits and rages. If they were pale, blond, and blue-eyed, they inevitably fell dangerously ill and cried all the time, and if they had dark hair, they were surly, strong, and silent. It was apparently a love story, but there was plenty more hating than loving in that book, let me tell you.
When it comes down to it, I plodded through the story just to say I had finished it. And I really don't understand what makes it so great.

Well, that is a work of dark Romantic Fiction from long ago. Fast forward to the present time, and you have the wildly popular "Twilight" series.

The first I heard of these was in Ireland...one of the girls in the church was reading them, and left them at my house one time. I didn't really know anything about them, and didn't even bother to take a peek inside. Then last summer the movie was announced, and then all of sudden "I Heart Edward Cullen" groups were popping up on Facebook like a bad case of acne. When the movie was released it was all the girls at school were talking about, and I still had no clue what the book was even about, beyond that the guy was apparently like, really hot, and the girl was like, really pretty, and they were like, really in love.
Ick.
But everyone assured me the book was really good, and everyone was comparing it to Harry Potter, which -not gonna lie here- I truly enjoy, and may have even obsessed over...in the past... ;)

For that reason alone, I didn't reject the book entirely, but merely relegated it to the "I'll probably read it someday" spot. I had no overwhelming urge to subject myself to a cheesy teenage romance; the movie trailer certainly did nothing to entice me.

The other day however, my mom of all people, brought it home from the library. "To see what all the fuss is about".
Having just put myself through the painful ordeal of Wuthering Heights, and having made no plans for the day, I decided a bit of fictional fluff might be in order.
An hour or two (!) later I was halfway through, and the pages were still turning.
Was I desperately bored, or hopelessly addicted?
I stayed up late to read, and made it to the brink of the climax before my aching eyes forced me to go to sleep. When I woke up, I had to find out what happened, and I finished it before 10 AM, ending on a cliffhanger of the sample first chapter from the sequel.
Now that it is done, I'm reflecting on whether or not I actually liked it, and what the allure is.

I'm a little perplexed. On one hand it was very addictive and exciting, but I'm left wondering exaclty why, since its also fairly predictable. As it is a series of 4, I think its pretty safe to assume that the main characters don't die in the first book. Having established character immunity early on takes a lot of suspense out of the plot.
The main character, Bella, I liked. The story is told in her first-person perspective, and her "voice" is entertaining and well-written. A real-ish heroine, she has plenty of faults, flaws, and feelings that the reader can (probably) relate to. Of course, there are always elements of the character that drive me insane, but I'm getting to that...
Its the romance...well, I can see how it appeals, but it is still painfully fictional. What I mean by that is, its a classic case of truly-unexplainable-love-at-first-sight. Why exactly do they love each other? Apparently she is like, so pretty, and smells soooooo good, and he is like, so beautiful, and mysterious, and did I mention beautiful???
Its so typically shallow. They are "deeply and irrevocably in love" a week into their acquaintance, and there's really no reason for it. Normally I could overlook that, except in this case its the basis of the entire story.
It makes no sense. I'm reading their declarations of passion, and I'm thinking, "What the heck? Didn't you just meet?"
Maybe I'm just a cynical old fogey, and you just want me to shut up, and enjoy a girly romance. After, all these are precisely the reasons why its a best-seller, right? The target audience wants to be that shy, new girl that attracts the most handsome, unattainable, boy in school, and is immediately in a dangerous, exciting relationship. It doesn't happen in real life, so we read the book. Ok, cool. I get it. Its an escape, a fantasy, a fairytale. Its not supposed to be "realistic". But I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't truly enjoy a story of romance for the sake of romance. There's just not enough substance there. I'm left rolling my eyes, and groaning, "Whatever."
So, summing up: well written, sexy, and shallow...in all honesty, my opinion on the series hasn't changed all that much from what is was before I started. I would read the sequels for entertainment, but I don't really care enough about it to seek them out.

Unfortunate

I think my alarm clock died.
I didn't hear it go off today.
In fact, I had exactly 30.0 minutes from the second I woke up, until the time I had to be in class.
I arrived with exactly 2.28 minutes before I would be labelled "Late".
Don't ask me to do the math. All I know is that breakfast was forfeit, as was personal grooming, and I basically flew from my warm snuggly blankets to my cold hard car in less than 3 minutes.
I wasn't even entirely sure that I wasn't still in my pajamas when I got to school.
Which was a little unsettling.

EDIT: the alarm clock wasn't dead. Maybe I was?

Gingersnaps

After a very long week(end) of being very sick, laying in bed, hacking up both lungs, and trying to get them back in, I think its time for something nice and comforting.

Gingersnaps.

This is where it all began for me.
When I was helping in the Homewood kitchen in '07 (that long ago??), I got tired of making the same old, same old...Dad's Cookies, Chocolate Chip, Haystacks, etc, etc. I mean, chocolate is great. But sometimes....sometimes....you need a little variety.
So I called up the mother, and asked for "that gingersnap recipe". She used to make these for us when we would go camping. Huge batches of them. And my brothers and I would live entire camping trips on these cookies.
To me, these are THE camping cookies. The sustenance of camping life. The nectar of the outdoors.
So when I got my greedy little hands on the recipe, I promptly quadrupled the amounts and baked the most enormous batch of gingersnaps known to man. Or something. I did have a huge Hobart mixer at my disposal, after all.
And here is the important part of the story: these cookies made me famous. Everyone adored the new mug-up snack, and kept asking for more, and more, and more!
I tweaked the recipe, making it spicier and more luscious than ever before; made it my own. Gingersnaps became the new favorite, and it was fun making food that made people so happy! I was hooked. There's nothing so satisfying as making yummy things for people I like! But since I'm at home, nursing a sickly body and you don't want my to get my germy hands on your food, I'm going to share the recipe with you!

Gingersnaps

3/4 Cup Butter or Margarine, softened (We both know in our hearts which is right. And I don't mean for our arteries)
1 Cup Granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 Cup Molasses

2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Nutmeg

Cream the margarine butter and sugar well. Beat in egg. Drizzle in molasses, and mix well.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, and spices. You can also throw in 1/2 tsp of salt if you like, but I never usually put salt in my cookies. Mix it all up real good, and then start adding it in portions to the batter, and blend.

Once its all mixed, roll it in little balls, and then dip one half of each ball in a little bowl of granulated sugar. Then put it on the baking sheet. Grease the sheet unless you have nifty Pampered Chef stoneware, like my mom does!

Bake the cookies at 350F, for 10-12 minutes, but no longer! Usually 10 is long enough, because you don't want them to get dark around the edges. You want them to get all crinkly and split, so you can see the oozy goodness inside. Then pull them out, give the sheet a little tap on the stovetop and they will fall and get really chewy and good! There's nothing worse than gingersnaps that are dry and crumbly. Ick.

This recipe makes...I dunno...somewhere between 2-3 dozen. I think. They just seem to disappear so fast, I can't count em. They go down really nice with a big glass of cold milk, too. Mmmmm!
Enjoy!

Out of Commission

My cold has gotten worse.
Much, much, worse.
I thought I was going to perish this morning. I almost slept through my alarm. Made it to school just on time, and managed to function for part of the morning with a headache, terribly sensitive eyes, and a hacking cough. My teacher finally told me it would probably be best for me to go home.
I have not missed a single day at school yet this year...I have a thing about taking sick days.
But today I finally gave in, and went home just before 10.
I've spent the remainder of the day laying in bed, sipping neo citron, and watching planet earth.
My nose is red and raw, I have no voice, and weirdly my skin is super sensitive. Not a whole lot of fun.
I hope this goes away before the weekend!

Its Green Day!

Happy St Patricks to all!

Its that special Irish holiday again, and I can hardly believe how time has flown by! It doesn't seem like a year since I celebrated the most authentic St Patty's of my life. Yet, I was thinking the other day, and I have now been home again for about as long as I was gone to Ireland. Approximately. Weird eh?
These past months have just gone soooo fast.
This year, the celebrations were a little more "low-key" to say the least. I didn't watch any parades, or drink any tall, dark, handsome beverages. In fact, the most Irish thing I did today was bake some soda bread at school, and decorate a cake with green marzipan shamrocks.
But I would like to point out something. I can hardly escape wearing green. Half my wardrobe is green. I noticed this the other day. Check it out.
On my bed covered in green sheets, I have a green t-shirts, and a green bag. And that's only the beginning. Funny thing is they are all very similar shades. I guess its my comfort color.

Did you do anything special for St Pattys?

I Lost the Cold War

For some reason I thought I was better than the stinking sicknesses that have been striking down the innocent citizens of Kamloops. My two older brothers have both been quite sick over the past week, and my mom thought she was coming down with something the other day.
I have been reasonably healthy this fall and winter, and though I was battling the sniffles last week, I thought I had won.
Apparently not.
Yesterday I woke up with a slight scratch at the back of my throat, and felt a little achy, but nothing serious. Last night I hardly slept at all because I was so uncomfortable, and the throat got worse, and the annoying little dry "cough, cough." began. It hasn't stopped yet.
I really can't complain too much because my symptoms aren't really terrible. Just this dry, sandpaper throat, the odd "cough. cough", and slight sniffles. The worst part is the Zero Energy, and achy back. Its going to make school tomorrow a little bit of a nightmare. Siiiigh. "cough, cough."

ps. also....what happened to Spring?

Question of the Day!

Ok, this is a simple question, requiring only a simple action on your part.

I want you to get yourself a glass.
Or you can get a plastic cup. I won't discriminate.
Fill it with a thirst-quenching liquid of your choice.
(I chose water because I'm soooooo healthy like that.)

And as you drink your refreshing beverage, I want you to concentrate on one thing. This is the question: Where do you look when you are sipping? Or guzzling? Or whatever?

Now go and do it before reading on! I don't want you to be influenced!

Here's the thing: I look outside my glass. Anywhere but right in front of me. I am the Alert One, keeping an eye out for would-be attackers. I did grow up with 3 brothers you know. I also just like to keep tabs on what's going down around me.

My Little Brother, Tim, however, is Intent Upon the Beverage. Meaning, he stares straight into the cup, enjoying the pretty colors (he never drinks water) that are slipping and sliding down into his esophagus.

So which category do you fall into? Alert? Intent? Or perhaps a third, known as the Blissful One, which closes their eyes to fully enjoy each delightful molecule of flavor as it passes over their tastebuds? I want to know!

Hurrah! Its the Weekend!

I can put my feet up...

see some friends....
do some homework...
make some bread if I want to...
play some badminton...

sleep in...
read a book...
And the best part is...
I won't have to see my teacher or classmates for 2 1/2 days :D



ps. I love leaves.

Warning: Emotions Ahead

I don't want to go back to school tomorrow. Or Monday. Or all of next week.

Today started out bad enough.
I overslept...not by much, but enough to cause a little urgency in my morning routine. And I was feeling sick to my stomach.
Then my car wouldn't start. No lights, no beeps, no coughing. Nada. Peppy was basically DEAD.
So then I ran into the house to ask my mom if I could use her car. Got permission.
Realized I needed my N. But my N is taped down the middle (it froze and broke in half a while ago) so it wouldn't stick to the back of the Rav. So I looked for Tim's N, but it was gone. Nowhere to be found. So I ran back into the house and found some tape so I could tape my N onto my mom's car.
Then I called my teacher to tell him I would be a few minutes late.
Got to school, and then realized my locker key is on the same chain as my car keys, which I left with my dad, when I took my mom's keys.
So I had to go into the school at 7:30 (The time I'm supposed to be changed, ready, and IN CLASS...they're very strict about that) to get my backup key.
I got changed super fast, zipped downstairs, zipped back upstairs to get an apron, zipped back downstairs.

So that is how my day started. I was stressed out, and pretty frazzled. But I didn't want the bad beginning to ruin the rest of the day, so I tried to be positive. And for the most part the rest of the morning was pretty good. Better than yesterday, anyway.

Then just before lunch, our teacher discovered some poorly cut Nanaimo bars, and tossed 'em. And he was MAD. It wasn't even our group that did it, it was from the group before. Apparently that doesn't matter. We all bore his wrath the rest of the day.

My mom has been telling me ever since I was a little kid (crying because Paul and Mike called me names) that I am too sensitive and I take things too personally. And when my teacher said something undeniably rude and hurtful to me about the bread I made today, it was almost game over.

Then when I came home, and my mom told me Peppy's battery might be shot for good, I went into the bathroom, turned on the fan and cried.

I don't cry very often, but I'm still a girl, ok?!?! The tears have gotta flow sometimes. Apparently its healthy.

After I was done my weeping-session, I repotted my houseplants for an hour. And I feel much better, thank you. Plants are such comforting things.

Maybe I should quit culinary and go into horitculture.

Grumpy Days

I am really grumpy right now. I had a bad day.
Not like...really bad. Just not a good day.
And I want to vent, but I'm not really in the mood to vent. I know, hey?
Mostly I am frustrated with school.
My teacher right now pretty much hates me, and I don't know why. I'm not rude, I hand stuff in on time, I laugh at his jokes, and the only reason he has for this hate is that I make some stupid mistakes sometimes, but honestly...who doesn't? Even the other students are like, "What's going on with you two?"
So my days are long and unpleasant.
Also there is just so much stuff that needs to get done before I leave in May.
What I really want is for all the STUFF that has built up to just go away. Things like homework, and deadlines, and planning, and tests, and errands, and chores, and all that yucky necessary stuff. I want it to LEAVE.
Because I'm a big baby and I don't want to DEAL with it.
I need a personal secretary.
Any takers?


ps. finding that cookie just made my day a LOT better :)

Summer Plans Confirmed!

I got the call from Strathcona Park Lodge yesterday!!!
I will be heading down there early May (after Rishelle & Andrew's wedding) to begin my work Practicum, and stay all summer (until Liz & Tim's wedding)!
Excitement levels are high.
That's one more thing crossed off my Urgent To Do List.
Now I have to go stress about homework and school in general.
Thank You.

The End.

Exciting News...

coming soon to a blog near you!
I'm actually too tired to write about it tonight. Isn't that sad?
Plus tomorrow is going to be a bit hectic, so I need to prepare for that.
But I will try to give you the low down tomorrow.
Just wanted to let you know that I actually have news :D

Growing Up

Last night I got the chance to visit Ange, one of my good out-of-towner friends. As an added bonus I got to spend some time with her 7-month-old daughter, Brooklyn, who is now crawling, and making lots of noise which I'm sure will soon become discernible baby talk!
Since this is only the third time I've seen and held baby B, I really notice how fast she is growing up! And its hard to believe that my friend, only a little older than I, gave birth to this beautiful little girl that is going to be one year old in July! It blows my mind a little!
But it seems like its that stage in life now. Everyone is growing up...
Four of my friends have gotten engaged in as many months. I'm sure there will be more diamond rings making appearances later in the year as well!
Obviously I'm really happy for each and every couple. But inevitably there is a little sadness as well. A sense of change and loss, and maybe a teensy tiny bit of envy :)

Cook Psychology 101

Here is something I have learned.
If you have some extra time on your hands, and notice someone else who could use a hand, you have to approach them a certain way.

If you say:

"Do you need some help?"

They will say:

"No"

You have implied that they are incapable of handling their own duties, and hurt their pride.
Also, you have implied that you are better than them, because you've finished your job before they have, and you think they are too slow, which shows far too much pride in yourself.

So you try again.

You say:

"Do you want some help?"

Again, they will reply,

"No."

This is because if they surrender under this particular wording, it implies that not only do they need help, but they are weak enough to want it.

There are few options left to the wandering helper now.

It is my personal experience that the only way to win your way into a job of the assisting nature, is to offer your services with this simple question...

You say:

"Can I help?"

In this way, you present yourself as the humble servant, who doesn't presume to be necessary, but might possibly prove useful.

So they say,

"No!"


Some cooks are so darn proud they won't accept any help from anyone!

Interview

So I did my phone interview...
one of the first things she said was, "I have about a 1/2 Hour's worth of questions here..." and inside, I freaked.
I don't think I've ever talked so much, or so fast. I just rattled on and on...which is quite something, for someone who is labeled "quiet and shy" at school. My brain went into overdrive, thinking of ways to suck up (big time), grasping at positive-sounding words, and spewing information that would show that I know something about...something!
My gut feeling was that it went well, despite my hysteria. But time will tell.
If I don't hear from the lodge this weekend, then my gut has lied to me.

Summer Plans

Its that time of year...
Time to get a practicum lined up.
When it was first announced that we needed to find a place to apprentice for 3 weeks, my first thoughts were local places...somewhere like Milestones or Earls.
Then I realized I could "expand my horizons" and "spread my wings"....and leave Kamloops.
Not that Kamloops is bad...its just...Kamloops.
So I thought, why not apply to April Point, the resort on Quadra Island, 10 minutes from Homewood? I even made arrangements to stay with the camp director's family.
Then, the more I researched it the less I wanted to go to April Point. It put a big emphasis on seafood, and line cooking, and since I'm not a big fan of either, it didn't seem like a good fit.
So...the hunt was on. I googled "BC Wilderness Lodge Culinary Practicum" blah blah blah....hoping something would come up that jumped out at me. But nothing did.
Finally I just slumped against the computer desk, and asked the expert on camping.
"Mike, do you know of a nice lodge on the island that I could do my practicum with?"
"What about Strathcona Park Lodge?" He said.
So I googled it.
And it jumped out at me.
Its a remote wilderness lodge, in a beautiful setting 45 minutes out of Campbell River. The kitchen looks great, and it focuses a lot on healthy eating, different diets (vegetarian, vegan, celiac, etc), and buying local produce. Which I find interesting, and appealing.
Not to mention the whole place does its best to be ecologically friendly, by producing its own power, composting, and a whole lot of other things. Very cool.
Anyway, I got really excited, and sent off a resume hoping desperately to get a quick reply in the affirmative.
But nothing came...
So last Saturday I called to pester them.
And successfully scored a phone interview, which is scheduled for TOMORROW!!
I am soo excited and nervous! I want this so bad, but I'm scared that I won't measure up to their standards, which seem pretty high.
I'm trying to think positively, and I keep catching myself already making plans about "when" I go down to the island!
I will update you all tomorrow on how it went!!!
ps. check out the site, its beautiful

Wait a second...

I had the weirdest brain fart today. Someone asked me how old I was and I was like,
"20." NO doubt in my mind that I was 20.
My friend Lin was like,
"Um, no you're not. You're 21."
In my head I was thinking, there is NO WAY I am 21. That is too old. I'm definitely 20, I'm sure I just turned 20 in January. Then I started to think very hard, and eventually remembered that I am indeed 21, because I celebrated my 20th in Ireland. It was really strange. I mean, who the heck doesn't even know how old they are???
I was so sure that I wasn't 21. My memory is already failing me....I am soooo old. Ahhh!

When Common Sense Isn't

It took me a sec to get it, but this really cracked me up!

Close Cut

I'm so used to burns now, it never even crossed my mind someday I might do myself more serious damage. While julienning red peppers today I totally sliced part of my left thumbnail off! It was SO close to my thumb.
My first thought was, WOW look at that! I have to take a picture for my blog!
So I resisted the terrible urge to tear the rest of the nail off, so that when I got home I could let you all know about my near death experience. What a good blogger am I.

Late Bloomer

My Christmas cactus has decided to flower!

This is an especially momentous occasion, because for nine months last year my beloved houseplants did not have me around to care for them. Not pointing any fingers of course, but without watering TLC , they suffered. And in fact, my beautiful, bushy, English Ivy...died. Crispy as a potato chip.
The others were on the brink of destruction, but I set to work, and now, months later, they are on the road to recovery. And I have this lovely flower as proof.
Its good to be needed.

Chilling in the Boonies

I've just got back from a few relaxing days spent at a tiny little cabin in the middle of nowhere with some great camp friends.
The much-anticipated convoy of 5 Victorians arrived around 2AM Thursday morning. I was getting some beauty sleep at the time, so I didn't see them until a more reasonable hour, but it was quite exciting to see Barb, Victoria, and the guys again! Katie also joined us before we headed out.
Ted's dad has a place somewhere up near 100 Mile, very close to the tiny little village of Lake Bridge. He is a great man, and allowed a total of 8 Homewood crazies to borrow his place for a couple days.

Its a pretty awesome spot, with a great view, wild animals (we saw 2 moose --mama & baby-- on the drive up!!) and total quiet. Not to mention a solar panel, propane stove, wood heat, and no running water! I love it. The seat in the outhouse does tend to be a little chilly at -15 though...
We had to pack our stuff about 10 minutes up a hill to even get there. Unfortunately, I was under the impression that this place was accessible by car...not to mention I don't even own a decent backpack...so I packed all my stuff in a huge suitcase. It made sense at the time...I fit my pillow, sleepingbag, snowpants, extra blanket, and change of clothes in there, so actually it wasn't so much bad packing as it was a bad choice of luggage. (of course the guys wouldn't understand that.) Luckily, among our number was the truest gentleman I know, David Nadeau, and he hauled the beast up after I was about halfway. Thanks Dave!
Friday morning we tempted Whiskeyjacks with crackers. Dave was at one with nature...
Mark didn't have so much luck.
It was a pretty chill couple of days. we spent our time hanging out on the deck, playing board/card games, snowshoeing, chatting, and having lots, and lots, of fun!

The Finer Points of Fitness

I've always been interested in Pilates.
As far as I could tell, it was a lot of stretching, and wouldn't require much standing.
After a long day in the kitchen, always on my feet, a form of exercise that doesn't require any standing really appeals. Or at least appeals more than, say, running.

Anyway, after thinking about it forever, I finally got out to London Drugs one day and bought a Pilates For Beginners DVD. It was even on sale. Must be destiny!
That first session hurt a LOT. I was huffing and puffing and aching...but it was a good hurt. And my feet weren't aching. That's always a plus.

For my birthday, I got a pilates mat and exercise ball. Now I felt even more pro.
I was doing a good 45 minutes a day for a week or two.
Feeling good, energy levels high, losing a few pounds...

I've learned that the important thing about exercise is being consistent.

So...what happened after that week or two?

I'm not sure. But I haven't watched that DVD in...a week or two...

And I've been enjoying lots of tasty morsels during my Desserts block at school. Not to mention "homework"...

So the other day I decided to go for a walk around the neighbourhood, and ended up slipping on the icy roads. Somehow managed to pull muscles in my left shoulder and right ankle. Dumb? yes.

Oh, and I've also been playing badminton at the free walk-in session at TRU with a friend from school. That's been good exercise AND a lot of fun!

Goodness, this post is all over the place. I am tired, guys. I'm not going to lie to you, I usually go to bed really early because of school, and 11PM is like...WOW, can't believe I'm still awake.

I'm not even really sure what I've just written about.
I promise my next blog will be better.

Reading Break

I knew if I didn't make a plan, my reading break was gonna slip away from me.
But...I never made a plan.
Its been nice to sleep in though. And I've been scrapbooking. Finally got my Yorke Island pics done, even though it was a bittersweet experience (see previous post). I also have been getting into card making, which is slightly easier than scrapbooking because its smaller. Who knew.

I do have some big plans for the break though! Some camp friends are coming up tomorrow, and Mike and I will be join them for a few days at a cabin in 100 mile...hanging out, hiking in the snow, and having good times. I'm pretty stoked about it, especially about seeing my good buddy Barb again! We worked in the Homewood kitchen together for a couple months, and such situations create tight bonds :)
Plus both Barb, and friend Ted, have been through culinary school, so I have much to learn from them in the meals we will share!

I have a TSA meeting Sunday night, so I have to be back for that, and Monday is gonna be ROUGH I just know it. Oh well. It will be a theory day, so I will get home early to SLEEEEEP.

Ugh, I totally should have done some pilates today. I feel so sluggish.

WAIT a minute, you guys don't know about TSA or my new pilates workout, do you?
You probably dont' even know where I'm (not really) working!
I have really been neglecting this blog lately, its kind of sad.
When I look back at all the funny/interesting things I used to write, it makes me want to weep.
I just can't dig stuff out of my brain anymore.

I will try to do better. Upcoming posts:

*TSA- The Stupid Assignment
* Jobs are a Joke
* Fitness with Jill: what not to do

sounds promising, doesn't it?

Lost Forever

I've had some prints from my trip to Yorke Island sitting around for probably like nearly 2 years. Since that day had a militant/paintball theme I told myself I was going to find some camo style paper to scrapbook them with. That's why they've been sitting there for so long! I couldn't find the paper anywhere...until today.
I was so excited when I spotted it at Michaels this morning, and so pumped to get some serious scrapbooking done.
When I got home, and had all my stuff set out, I realized I was missing 2 pictures....so I was like, "Oh well, I'll just find the CD with the pics on it, and print them next time I'm in town".
So I went to find the CD.
But it wasn't with my other picture CDs. So I looked on my laptop. Not there.
Wasn't on mom's computer either.
In fact I couldn't find any of my Homewood pictures.
I began to wonder if I had ever burned that CD. If it even existed.
Panicking, I searched the whole house-- everywhere I could think of that those pics might be.
Nope.
No Homewood '07 files anywhere. Except the ones I loaded onto Facebook. Which are no good for printing.
Somehow they must have been deleted without being backed up.
Six very special months of my life ERASED!
I am sooo upset. Its SO FRUSTRATING!
ARGH!

My Lizzie is All Grown Up and...

Getting Married!

Congratulations to my friend Liz & lucky Mr. Tim Taylor, on their engagement!
I'm so excited for you both :)
Your names make me laugh, and knowing how perfect you guys are for each other makes me smile.

Culinary Quips

I didn't make these stories up. They either happened to me, or I overheard them.

~*~

Student: Where can I get an elastic band?

Teacher: Follow me, I'll show you.

Teacher leads student to the very back freezer.

Teacher: How much?

Student: How much what?

Teacher: Glace de Viande!

They claim after working in industrial kitchens for so many years, their hearing is effected.

~*~

Male Student overheard during class:

"Girls in the culinary course look totally different than other girls. Say, like, if a girl is doing like...sciences...or something...she will have her make-up perfect, be like...totally skinny...whereas in our course, the girls look like they really enjoy food, and like to eat, ya know?"

Flattered, I'm sure!

~*~

Student to teacher:

"Should I cut the cheese to order?"

~*~

Teacher 1 to Female Student: And when you line the lamb bones in the pan like this...there, you have a nice little rack.

Teacher 2: (chuckling) well that's a nice little compliment for you.

Female Student: OH MY.

Welcome to the world of culinary humor!

Chillaxin' vs. Challengin'

Today I kind of realized that I don't like to be challenged.
It makes me nervous.
(Both the fact that I don't like it, and the being challenged part)
I was moaning to a friend of mine at school about how boring the Meat-Cutting section is, and one of my instructors, Sully, overheard me. Sully is a very wise man, and he asked me why I thought it was boring. I told him we are doing the exact same stuff as we did last semester, and even the written study-guide material is almost identical. I did all the self-tests without studying, and got most of them right because they are the same questions as last semester.
"Have you told Toby that its not challenging enough for you?" He asked.
Umm...no.
As I mumbled excuses, he said he smelled bullshit, grinned, and left.
Now my feelings are hurt. Mostly because I know its true that it is my own fault that I'm not being challenged in this section. I'm content to sit around, fold my arms and lean back, and let the day pass as it will. I'm comfortable at the level I know I can achieve, and I don't go beyond.
But when I think about it, I'm really the only one I'm letting down. Its my time, my money, and my effort that I'm wasting. If I'm not pushing myself to learn more, I'm holding myself back.
I'm also a huge wuss. I'm scared that if I DID ask to have a little more challenge thrown my way, I wouldn't be able to cope. I'd flub it and fail, and then people would laugh at me because I had been cocky. Sometimes I think that would be worse.
So did I triumph over my wimpy ways, and talk to Toby about it?
Umm...no.
Maybe tomorrow.
Did I mention that I'm also a huge procrastinator?
I'll save that for another post.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Yesterday afternoon 6 good friends of mine and I went up to Robbins Range hills and spent a couple hours "tobogganing" in the snow! Thing is...we had two GTs between us.
It didn't take long for us to ditch the GTs, and step into the new latest thing: Garbage bags!
We poked holes in the bottom for legs and wore them like diapers! It was seriously the best! However we were slightly ashamed of our garb, especially in front of the large groups of snowboarders/snowmobilers gathered around fires at the bottom, so we found a great spot up behind the first hill, where we were mostly hidden from view. It was great. The most fun was when we would all join up in a train...the speed we picked up was amazing!
Whenever the odd snowmobile or snowboarder would come by, we would all flop to the ground and laugh SO hard, hoping they wouldn't notice our, erm, unorthodox sleds.
Later on we became more creative with our bags. Soon it turned into a full-out fashion show! We had tube-top, halter, and off-the-shoulder styles that were so hot the snow was melting...
After much fun and laughter, it started to get dark and we decided to head on back home. We decided on a grand finale: we would make a train slide down the big main hill in front of everyone.
We would prove to the world that we were not ashamed of our garbage bags; they are obviously a superior method of sledding. Ok, maybe SOME of us were ashamed, but we were peer pressured into it.
It would seem that our embarrassment was meant to be. Our train would NOT slide. We inched down the hill, laughing SO hard. When we finally reached the bottom and were packing stuff into the car, Rebekah couldn't get her backpack off-- her clip had frozen shut! Then, as we were about to drive away, a girl knocked on the car window and offered us a glove that had been dropped. And THEN we almost got stuck in the snowbank trying to get onto the road again!!!

Nevertheless is was a lot of fun, and a great memory!
Moral of the story: Garbage bag sleds are awesome. You should try it sometime!

Entry Level One

Today the NEW Level Ones entered the kitchen for the first time.
I am no longer among their number, for I have entered that prestigious elevation of LEVEL TWO!
In case you didn't know.
As a Level Two my role has changed in the kitchen. I must take more responsibility and initiative, and get more things done, and ask far fewer "Level One" questions.
My dishes have to be on time, I must know my cooking methods, and I must use my recipes less.
This has all been strictly implemented and enforced these past 2 weeks. "No more excuses" has become the instructors' (and bossy/arrogant students') mantra.

As the newbies trundled into the kitchen this morning, wandering around looking for aprons, setting out their cutting boards and pans in the way you are taught but nobody actually uses, and staring at recipes with glazed-over expressions, I fondly remembered my own first days.
Or not so fondly.
The confusion, the chaos, and general mayhem were definitely memorable though.
My first week in Veg Station was a nightmare.
I was terrified of my instructor, Sully, I didn't understand the service system, and since the Level One class outnumbered the Level Two class by nearly 3/1, it seemed like NO ONE knew what they were doing. We were yelled at, we burnt things, and we were never on time.
(By the second week, many of the wrinkles had been ironed out, and Sully quickly became my very favoritist instructor ever)

Watching the new recruits today was interesting because they asked many of the same questions I did, and made the same mistakes, and now I can see how my work habits have changed, and my knowledge has increased in the past semester. Its encouraging. It makes me believe that MAYBE...just MAYBE I might be capable of Level Three when the time comes.

Burns & Blisters

I resurrect this poor neglected blog to inform you of a most tragic event.
Yesterday, whilst pan-frying a salmon fillet, my left hand was spattered with boiling hot butter. IT HURT. A LOT.
But...the show must go on. I finished the dish, and then rinsed my hand under cold water for a few seconds before completing the rest of the fillets. It stung, but it was bearable.
At the end of the day, as I was putting away my uniform and knives in my locker, I noticed a large, bulbous growth on my hand.
A blister!!
Ouch.
(Please note also the other red grease-burns nearby. They want your pity too)
I was nervous about this blister popping because it hurt a lot to touch. So I treated it gingerly, applying it with vitamin E when I got home (but I took the picture for you first), and being careful not to brush it against anything.
Then...of course...in a moment of forgetfulness, I put my hair up in a ponytail, and the elastic that had been on my wrist snapped across the finger and squeezed the blister ' til it popped!!

At least I didn't have to worry about popping it anymore! It got a little grimy from lint before I covered it with a band-aid, and it still looks pretty sick.
But it gets better: today I had to sear off my chicken ballantyne in hot oil. And guess what...that's right...I burnt myself AGAIN! On my RIGHT hand.
It didn't take long for a blister to rise to the surface. Not as big as the original, but puss-y looking nonetheless. I couldn't wait to get home and take a picture of it for you.
Unfortunately, as I was sweeping the floors during clean up, too much pressure was put on it, and it burst.
So now my hands look like I have a severe case of leprosy or something. Yay!
Just what I always wanted.

Hiatus

I'm not calling it quits with my blog, (It would certainly be a desperate time in order for that to happen!) I'm just taking....another....break.
Reasons?
1. No time. After today all my free time (aka not at school and not working) will be consumed with copious amounts of homework. I have 3 tests to write next Thursday, plus assignments due at the end of this week, and studying for said tests. The study guides are HUGE. ARGH!
2. No inspiration. None.

So unless I find myself driven to a desperate method of procrastination, you will probably not find this blog updated for at LEAST a couple weeks.
BUT...
luckily for you, there are many blogs out there who have taken up the NABLOPOMO challenge, and will have daily updates for you blog cravings.

See ya later :)

Monday

I can hardly believe that I will have to set my alarm for early tomorrow morning.
I will have to don my poofy checkered pants, and black non-slip shoes.
I will brave the morning chill and icy roads.
Tomorrow I begin my second semester at TRU.
I'm not exactly excited...but not really dreading it either. The worst part is the homework, really.
I am kind of nervous about the first couple weeks, because I remember how the chefs made examples of the second level students in front of us newbies...some sort of intimidation tactic, I believe. And now it will be my turn to be yelled at...luckily there are quite a few of us level IIs this time around, so the love will be spread a little thinner than it was for those poor wretches. (Only 2 students graduated from level II this past semester)
I bought myself a little toolbox to replace the annoying soft black case from Bookies. Its shiny and red and beautiful. Its also stocked with a zester, courtesy of eldest brother, Paul. Isn't it fun to start school with new stuff? :)
Unfortunately I went to get my chef knife sharpened on Saturday and they said it won't be ready until tomorrow...so hopefully I won't need it too desperately on my first day!!
Anyway, it will be fun to see everyone again, and learn new things...I'm sure I'll get back into routine in no time.

Back to the Blog

I've never felt so non-Bloggish before.
I actually have no desire to blog right now. I'm only doing it out of a weird sense of guilt and obligation. And a lot of boredom.
Since my first semester ended on December 12 I've been working full time at Erwins Bakery, downtown. The new owner knows my Dad through NL, and I initially got the job because they needed some seasonal help. Now, however, I will be staying on for part-time work during the next semester. That means no more Dominos! Hooray!
I don't even know if you all knew that I started working 3 days a week at Dominos Pizza in November. But I did. It was pretty mindless. But good for after school work, when the last thing I want to do is think.
Anyway, over the break I worked both jobs Mondays and Fridays, and then one or the other on practically every other day. So it was pretty busy, and it was nice to have Christmas & following weekend off completely!
Christmas was a lot of fun. It was great to spend it with the whole family, even if most of it was spent sleeping on the couch!!
I also spent a few days this week house-sitting for the Gedderts, and looking after their little dog Pippa. We're good buddies now, even though I felt like the worst person in the world when I would leave her alone every morning, heading to work. those eyes....
Sunday night was spent with the C&C group which was a lot of fun! Being so busy lately hasn't left a whole whack of time for late nights and socializing, so it was extra special to be able to do that. We playing Apples to Apples, Battleship, and American Idol (on Xbox)!! Good times!
Some other highlights were spending time with friends Liz (who is living in Alberta), and Cort (living in Vancouver) who were in town over the holidays. I didn't get to meet up with other out-of-town friends unfortunately...3 weeks just isn't enough time to do eveything I want to do!
School begins again on Monday. I'm not exactly excited...but I think I'm mentally prepared to head into another semester. Is it bad that I'm already looking forward to the end of April? Or that I'm already freaking out about our Practical Exam?
Anyway, that mostly sums up where I've been, and what I've been doing this past month.
As for New Years...
if you ask me, 2009 doesn't have the same ring as 2008 or 2010. Its such a 'tweeny sounding year. I'm not really looking forward to anything specific this year, which might have something to do with my less-than-enthusiastic attitude. Its full of things that I have to do, but it won't be until this time next year when I will be able to start doing things I want to do. That's when I'll be graduated the culinary program. I hope.

Also, I rang in the new year by plummeting into the ditch on the side of the road this morning, when I lost control of my car on the way up Barnhartvale hill. All I'm saying is-- that this doesn't bode well...

Aren't I so postive and uplifting??? This is why I haven't been blogging, folks.