Saturday, February 19th, 2011     4:21p

Thanks to another bought of insomnia, the days have flemn flewn by in a blur. Thursday was a productive day of running errands I've been neglecting for awhile, as well as getting started on my taxes. Yesterday was a very interesting day. It started off on a bit of a rush, despite having no sleep in for that morning. Half way to the school I realized that I didn't get my journal for class done Thursday, so I had to crank on out in one of the labs. After class was when some real interest happened...

5:45p

As I was saying before having to get back to work... I got in touch with some old friends from my previous life as an IT professional earlier in the week, and by chance, they were having a get-together on the only Friday I've had off in months. From my schedule pad, it looks like the last Friday I've had off was back in December. At any rate, last night was a much-needed feast for the soul; not just food for the soul, a feast. I got to talk with many of the guys from the old office on how much my life's changed for the better, how I got here where I am now, caught up with their lives, which sadly hadn't changed much, all while getting pleasantly inebriated on Guinness, in a kilt, while listening to an Irish punk band play, let by my apparent replacement. Put together like that, and felt like in a trance. Good company, good drinks, good music. I left last night feeling full; not just from the beer and snacks, but spiritually as well. I had a smoke to try to equall out my head. While life is wonderfully  busy productive, and full of promise, it's good to take some time off from it all and just enjoy a good moment evening with some friends. Now that I think about it, my good friend Dustin's having his birthday on Wednesday. I've work that night... but it'd still be nig nice to try to do something for him.

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011     6:44p

But they were apparently too done. I got them finished just before class started, and had to quickly get everything from the old dinning lab to the classroom. Despite the extra effort and pre-planning, our critique was rather, neutral. Objective, I guess would be a better description. I actually felt good about getting so many comments on things to improve on. After getting so many good critiques, or with little to improve on, it's good to get a critique with nearly EVERYTHING to improve on. Chef Josh even came in to give a mini critique, and over a smoke break I got to discuss and brainstorm on ways to make it better. Mikey and Laura seemed a bit broken up about the critique. Though perhaps not. Mikey's mood is sometimes hard to guage, since he's always wearing a smile. I just feel he sometimes wears it as a facade to how he's really feeling, since there's been more than a few times that he's thrown into a rage over something not coming out right. He's also talked to me about some family troubles he's in right now with his mom, some lawyers, and millions in back taxes due. That's no weight anyone should brunt alone, especially as they're trying to start their career. I can't help but feel like I should give him a hug. But knowing Mikey's mind, I take him as being slightly homophobic. Though that seems like another facade he puts on as well to keep with the "locker room mentallity" of your average kitchen.

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011     3:21p
Another early day to the school, but not so much to catch up on homework, rather for lab work. Production in Garde Manger last night went fairly well. I'd say 95% of what we needed to get done was finished, leaving few items to produce tonight, so we can focus mostly on presentation. I just finished prepping our barquettes for the midterm buffet, and they've been in the oven for about 15 mins. now.

3:30p
And they have awhile to go. We actually completely finished one item on our menu; the hot dog mousse, and bean salad. Together, with some barbeque sauce, the salad canape tastes JUST like frank & beans. It's a bit of a surreal experience. I wonder if the chef will think the same.

3:45p
And the barquettes are done! At least the first batch.