Orientation

When I woke up Thursday Morning I was real nervous. I dont know what to expect at an orientation that is expected to last 8 hours. So I got dressed and headed out. Turns out I got there alot earlier than needed, which is fine I was able to strike up a conversation with a young guy going into graphic arts. We heard alot of the faculty talk about what to expect the services offered, and a students view as past and current ones were there to answer questions. They served us lunch and we were back to hear about financial aid, and employment services. WHEW alot of info. Anywho we were than separated into our area of focus (Culinary) and talked even more about what is expected of us what the cost of going to school breaks down to ($7.50 per minute) etc. Than we got to the fun stuff we get our school supplies I got knives, peelers, rulers, whisks, and of course the super cool Chef jammie pants and coat (tho the coat is to big). I have so much to do this weekend with a football fundraiser on Saturday and than a family party on Sunday both of which I am in charge of supplying edible treats so maybe I wont have a chance to be nervous about the 1st day of actual school. I think i am most worried about is if I will be able to do it I mean I know alot about cooking/baking but I have no idea if any of it is actual useful knowledge and how many people know more than me.
I guess we will find out Monday.
-EGG

Why?

        I just started to read The Sorcerer's Apprentice, A season in the kitchen at Ferran Adria's Elbulli, by Lisa Abend. I have only gotten as far as the into when I had to stop and ask myself why? Why do I want to go to culinary school? Why do I love to bake? Why do I think I can do it? etc. And you know what. I don't know. After I read the info I put the book down and decided to actually really and truly think about why I want to do this for the rest of my life. And I couldn't think of an answer deeper than its something I like doing, which really isnt an answer its more of a opinion for lack of a better word there are some people who like to paint, some who like to drive, I just happen to like cooking. But again why?

        I decided to clean my kitchen (at 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night party over here) in the hopes that it may give me an epiphany, or at least a inkling of why I enjoy being in the kitchen. No such luck, so I sat down and just started to type out my thoughts again waiting for any kind of spark, I figure why not think of all the times you can remember cooking and go as far back as you can.

        So the farthest back I can remember is watching my Grandpa make his breakfast potatoes. He would ever so slowly peel a potato, cut it in half and than with a small pairing knife he would cut slices so thin you could practically see through them he would end up making a big pile of them just from a single potato, and than he would pan fry them til they were golden, slightly crisp, and yet a little soft inside. They were thee best potatoes. I don't know how old I was exactly but i would guess about 6-8. Years and years later when in high school I did make the potatoes again they were good not as good as Grandpas because I admit as a teenager I was in a rush and didn't take the time I used the slice part on a box grater to get the thin slices my Grandpa did by hand but still they didn't taste as good. Those potatoes are a memory of my Grandpa that I will always have that not to many other family members can understand.

        Now don't get me wrong my mom cooks she can whip up a meal like no bodies business from scraps here and there, but shes not a big baker, sure I remember making chocolate chip cookies with her and having to beat the heck out of the butter and sugar by hand with a wooden spoon (electric mixers what where those), I don't remember making them anymore than that after we moved when I was like 8 or 9. I do remember being encouraged to try new foods, but I was also told "you order it, you eat it" so that didn't really make me want to order something different because what if I didn't like it.

         So I think I like to cook and bake is because its something I know I can do. I'm not a cook like my mom who can make something delish from 20 random baggies from her freezer (tho I am trying ever so slowly) but I am no slouch either. I have made the authentic mole with the 20+ ingredients, I have smoked chicken, baked cakes from scratch, but I know there is so much more out there. I don't know if its because I'm getting older or just realizing I still have to work at least another 30 years, but I figured its time I grow up and get a career and if I get one of those it might as well be doing something I know I'm good at and can possibly excel in as well as enjoy it.

         I do miss being in the kitchen, and I'm super excited about school, being around like minded people, learning about something the actually interests me, is just great which doesn't really convey how I feel I mean c'mon i was teary eyed after I had registered. But my son is at an age where he can take care of himself to some extent (13) we are at a place where we can manage with 1 paycheck and i can still make money on the occasionally cake, cupcake, cookie order.

        So after all this maybe I like to cook because its what I was meant to do. I have a talent for it, some have the talent to draw, act, etc. For me its what I'm good at which in turn makes me feel good which make me like doing it. I'm 'mart. 

        I think I can now go on reading the book now that I got that small one worded question answered. Why?

-EGG

2 birds with 1 stone

So since I was last here I have gotten over my stomach bug and lost 1.8 lbs yeah for stomach bug.
Since I am hoping to not only maintain that loss but lose more I have been getting into a workout routine. This week I have been running twice on Monday and once yesterday Im going to run again today in addition to my runs I am incorporating 50 each of lunges, dips, squats and push-ups, all this is done at the track while my kid has football practice (i'm all about 2 birds -1 stone) so I have to figure out what Im gonna do the other days he doesnt practice, maybe i'll run in the a.m.
I can finally cross off an item on my list I have painted my kitchen all by myself "Yellow Brick Road" its a wee bit bright if all the lights are on full blast but im thinking it may save us on pg&e since we wont need as much light since the paint makes the room brighter.
Well im off to go run while the kid has practice.
-egg

BLEH

So I have had thee worst case of some kind of stomach bug since Monday night I am barely trusting food again. BUTT. The good part is I think my appetite has had the chance to go down along with my capacity to eat alot of food and i'm hoping that I lost some weight.
In other news I think im going to try dying my own hair, other people do it all the time so why not give it a whirl its just hair.

Sooo hows its going?

Well as of Friday I am officially 33 years old. Me and my mom had a nice day of having a nice long lunch and shopping. Than yesterday was spent watching football and re-doing my sons room but I did make time for a run I had my hubby drop me off when he went to go get gas so I could run home 2.5 miles made it in 29 minutes not to shabby. I think im going to have him drop me off around town more often because it gets boring starting from the same place all the time. One of my nephews is having his b-day party today so I made his cake its a nazi zombie theme I hope he likes it, I have never made figures out of candy before and I only made the nazi candy the marines are toys.
Maybe later on me and my hubby will go for a bike ride I gotta do at least 1 active thing a day and if its biking than its got to be for quite a distance.
Well I'm off to eat my soup another part of my diet its to cut down on all the crappola that I have been eating lately, oh how I love the $1 chicken sammie from jack-in-the-box but I need to stop eating them so much, since my mom bought me a pressure cooker for my birthday I'm gonna try all kinds of healthy recipes I cant wait maybe I'll go to her house this week so she can show me how to use it.

Getting into the swing of things

So this is my 1st week to starting a whole new life. Right now I can only work on my weight-loss and expanding my baking techniques so today I made Red Velvet Whoopie Pies and man are they good which leads into my weight-loss.
This week so far I have ran/walked 3.8 miles not to bad but also not to good in addition I have done 90 push-ups, ran the bleachers at the track and did squats and lunges up and down said bleachers and as much bike riding as possible. I guess now is as good a time as any to state my goals since they will "officially" start tomorrow (when I turn 33):
1) Get to goal weight of 125lbs which means I need to lose a little less than 50lbs totally doable,
 2) Graduate Culinary school with higher than a 3.0 GPA,
3) Get a job after finishing #2,
4) create a better relationship with my son,
5) Run another 1/2 marathon and improve my time by at least 10 minutes,
6) Paint my kitchen yellow

These are in no particular order (well except #2 and #3) they all will be completed by this time next year. In addition to losing the weight I will build up my endurance in running and my strength. I will also be working on my inner self and learn to be more calm, patient, and maybe tolerant.