Books of 2011

Hey there friends! I have decided to steal an idea from a friend. I will be blogging about the books that I read this year. I am proud to say that last Fall I read all of the Sookie Stackhouse books, and most of the Lily Bard books (Shakespeare's Counselor is part of this series). I think I've read close to 30 books since September! I can't seem to get enough of books lately, which I don't think is a problem, although my sister says I am too much of a bookworm and I need a social life! This post will contain a couple short entries on the books that I have already read in 2011, and then I will do a small post for each book following.

First book was Inkspell, by Cornelia Funke

I can't lie; I love books about books. This is the second in the Inkheart Trilogy. It took me a while to read this one since I started it before the holidays and things were pretty hectic, therefore I only read it sporadically, but I felt that Funke did a fantastic job of bringing the characters from the first book in the series and giving them more challenges to overcome. The main character, Meggie, has a voice so beautiful that when she reads aloud the character literally come to life in our world. She discovers that she can also read people into a story and does this to herself and her friend Farid. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Inkworld as well as the addition of new characters. All in all a good read!

I just finished Darcy's Story, by Janet Aylmer. It is basically Pride and Prejudice through Mr Darcy's eyes. If you know me at all you know that I am obsessed with Jane Austen's work and anything that pertains to it. This book was a wonderful story and it made me fall in love with Mr Darcy all over again. I will say this, its a little melodramatic at times, and a bit repetitive regarding the conversation that Darcy and Elizabeth have after he proposes the first time. I enjoyed getting to know Georgiana a little more as well as Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Its a fuzzy novel, and not very long. I pronounce it another good read!

Finally I have been perusing Lewis Carrol's works which I would always recommend. Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and some of his poems and such are all fun to read and fairly easy. No one can go wrong with a classic.

Here's a list of the books I just picked up from the Library:

The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray

Shakespeare's Counselor, by Charlaine Harris

Dead Over Heels, by Charlaine Harris

Mr Darcy Takes a Wife, by Linda Berdoll

I also plan on getting my hands on a series called Thursday Next as well as some more Jane Austen.

What the heck is Poolish?!

Finally, school! The holiday break felt much longer than it actually was. Needless to say, its wonderful to finally be in classes again!

This semester looks to be a busy one for me. I have a job at the motel working weekends so it looks like my time off during the week will have to be utilized to catch up on missed sleep!

My class schedule is pretty full, taking 21 credits this semester to stay ahead of the game and not end up at Sheridan College for more than 2.5 years. Here's a look at what my weeks consist of:

Monday: 8-8:50am Purchasing

10:30-11:20am Bar and Beverage Control

11:30-12:30 Hospitality Practicum

5:00-10:00pm Cooking class

Tuesday: 9:00-10:20 Supervision

5:00-10:00pm Cooking

Wednesday: 8-8:50am Purchasing

10:30-11:20am Bar and Beverage Control

5:00-10:00pm Cooking class

Thursday: 9:00-10:20am Supervision

Friday: 8:00-8:50am Purchasing

2:00-10:00pm work at Super 8

Saturday: 2:00-10:00pm work at Super 8

Sunday: 6:00am-2:00pm work at Super 8

So far in Basic Baking we've made all kinds of yeast breads, quick breads, cookies, pies, and starters. My favorite was the sourdough, we made a simple starter of organic wheat flour and water, fed it for 2 weeks while it fermented and then used it to make some delish sourdough bread! We also made a Poolish, which is a starter that includes yeast, so you only ferment it over night, but it adds more flavor to simple breads.

Some days I do really well in the baking classes, others I have a hard time because I like to do things my way but in class I would rather follow the recipe and not mess up, but inevitably I do. Oh well things still taste pretty good!

This coming week is our last week of Basic Baking, then we move into Garde Manger 2 which is more salads, sandwhiches and cold dishes. After 10 days of that we do Advanced Baking followed by Breakfast and Lunch Cookery. Its going to be a good semester!

Non-Resolutions and a Look at 2010

Happy New Year, followers!

I recently saw a post about New Year Non-Resolutions. This man stated that since he never followed through with his resolutions he decided to make non-resolutions, this year he wanted to get fat, keep smoking, not go to Europe, and not finish writing his book. It made me giggle because I rarely follow through with my resolutions, if I even make them.

When I think about the New Year I can't help but look back on the things I have accomplished and learned in the Old Year:

1-I directed a musical. Guys and Dolls was an eyeopener for me in many ways; I learned that even though I am a talented director if my heart isn't in it, its not worth the effort. I also re-learned that I do not like working with high school students. This realization brought with it an appreciation for those teachers that love what they do, and do it well! High school teachers are pretty amazing people.

2-I decided to go back to school and become a chef! 2 summers of cooking at camp showed me that I can make a living, and be happy doing it, as a cook. It was time to hone my skills, challenge myself and become a (gasp!) non-traditional student! Since school began I have done all of that, and most of my classmates are non-trads as well!

3-My 3rd summer as head cook at Camp WYOBA! Lots of new faces and old friends! I feel at home on the mountain, part of a family, and as I was struggling God brought people into my life that helped me to heal. I was more excited to tell these people about my school plans because I knew they would be excited for me!

4-My first year as head cook for Camp Hope! Talk about an overwhelming experience! In the 6 days I headed up the kitchen I learned so much from the nurses and nutritionists that I can only hope to have retained! Hopefully this year won't be so scary for me!

5-Moving out of my parents' house... Well, that has mixed feelings, they are helping me with rent because I have been struggling to find a job, so I still depend on them. But to have my own place is wonderful! It is tiny and doesn't stay very warm but it is my home.

6-Sharing a house with my sister has been an adventure all its own. She and I get along very well, most of the time. I do most of the cleaning and pay for our groceries and Internet so I feel I have a right to say that she lives with me. But she has paid more rent than me so, she says I live with her. We joke that she wears the pants in our relationship, and we have grown even closer in the last few months.

7-My first semester at Wyoming Culinary Institute has taught me so much I can't even begin to write it down. I am proud to say that I received 5 A's and 2 B's this semester! Bring on next semester's 23 credit hours!!

2010 was full of craziness, stress, loss, learning, and lots of joy: I struggled with depression and anger while my family coped with the fear and stress of my brother's deployment to Afghanistan. In 2010 I lost my great-great-Aunt Mil, my great-Uncle Ray, my great Aunt Betty, my great-Uncle John, and my adopted great-Uncle Shorts, all were incredible memebers of my family and had each taought me something special, I feel their absence, but am excited to see them again some day in Heaven. My sister got in trouble smoking pot in the cemetery and went into therapy for addictions and depression. Together, she and I got a flying cardinal tattoo to honor our great-great-aunt, to represent freedom from depression, and to just be badasses! My brother returned home safely in June and also got to spend the Christmas holidays with us! Oh, and finally to top off my year I replaced the engine in my car only to have it break down on one of the coldest days of December!

Through the sorrow of loss, stresses of life, and joys God sent my way, I, somehow, survived 2010!

Already, 2011 has brought its stresses and joys and I am looking forward to what ever God has written/unwritten for me! So, in honor of a non-resolution that made me think about all this, I would like to leave you with my non-resolutions:
1-I will not lose any weight or get into shape.
2-I will not go to NYC to see my best friend!
3-I will not get all A's and make the honor roll.
4-I will not work hard to be Culinary Student of the Year.
5-I will not get another tattoo.
6-I will not get organized before Camp WYOBA opens in May.
7-I will not have an amazing year!

Wall-paper paste and shrimp scampi

Hello blogging world! Its been a long time since I blogged, mainly because I completely forgot and partly because I haven't had much Internet access lately. So, I will sum up my first few weeks of classes and life in the last few months.

After the main WYOBA camps came to an end I went back to Buffalo, in hopes of finding work and a place to live in Sheridan, where I am going to school. Talk about challenging! I turned in several applications and heard back from one! I interviewed and turned the job down because the hours would have interfered with my school schedule, and I had a bad vibe from the interview. Needless to say I called Super 8 and was put back on the schedule there, this week is the last week I am working there tho so the job search is on again!

Looking for a place to live was just as challenging, since its my sister and I we needed a 2 bedroom place that was affordable for us. After much searching, and plenty of gas, we finally found a place! We've been moved in for about 2 weeks now and its starting to feel like a home. My favorite part about this place is the hardwood floors, although they are pretty, they are also v. cold!

School is much more challenging than I anticipated and sometimes I feel like a complete idiot! Take last night's class for example; we had to make shallow poached chicken, deep poached salmon, mashed potatoes (who knew there was a right way and a wrong way to mash potatoes!), steamed broccoli, and spaghetti squash compote. I chose to plate the chicken, which meant that I had to make an extra sauce for it. I used a little too much roux (butter and flour cooked together to be used a a thickener) and my sauce was rather thick....ok it was more like wall paper paste, as Chef demonstrated by turning the pan upside down for a few minutes and it didn't even change shape! Luckily, it is an easily remedied mistake and my partner and I were commended for being only ones who plated the chicken instead of the salmon.

We have 3 instructors in the program, Monty, who teaches all the hospitality and management related classes, Chef RJ who teaches the morning sections, and Chef Tim who teaches the evening sections of the culinary classes. Currently I only have had class with RJ once, and that was a 4 day long sanitation class. Chef Tim is v. knowledgeable and sometimes intimidating, imagine the short French Chef from Ratatouille, add a mouth like a sailor and you've got the right idea.

The school caters different functions in both Sheridan and Johnson County, I have worked on the catering trolley once and this last weekend 20 of us catered a function in Buffalo for the Girl's and Boy's Club of the Big Horns. I worked the sushi station and the shrimp scampi station. It was a lot of fun but a lot of work. I am so thankful that we get to do these kinds of functions because it gives us the opportunity to gain experience as chefs and in a public setting. Soon, I will be gaining more experience serving in the restaurant.

Be the Change: 100 Things - My list

Be the Change: 100 Things - My list

Dianna,

I think you can cross off #100. You have changed my life just by being my friend and summer roomie. Your blogs remind me to be a smarter consumer and Christian. And finally you are just amazingly gifted and loving!

Done.

Check.

I am better because of you.

Dream Log 5/29

Just woke up from a dream that I did not want to end. It started off a little strange but ended great!

We begin in a town similar to Sioux Falls, I think I was visiting friends. I was driving to meet someone somewhere and missed a turn so I decided to just keep going down the road I was currently on. I started speeding, and finally got to the end of the road, it was a big store like Wal Mart, but wasn't a WM. While wandering around the store I entered another building and suddenly was at my wedding.

The place was small and had windows looking out to the mountains. The guests were making their way in and at one point there were tables all over and each table and a mini cake on it that the guests were to share. Someone was angry that all they got was a tiny piece of cake and I pointed out that there was still a larger cake up front.

I was being a bit of a bridezilla throughout the rest of the dream, but it was over things that were legit. There were about 5 mom's with their small children sitting right up front, and the children were being so noisy that when the wedding started I knew that they would drown out any other sound on the video. So I asked that they move to the back.

I had 2 bridesmaids and one other girl was there in this weird flowing white gown thing that kinda looked like a satin sheet toga. She was supposed to be the flower girl or something, but I didn't really want her there because she kept trying to be the center of attention. My sister was one of the bridesmaids but the other was a girl I have never met, but it felt like we were the best of friends.

Finally it was time for the ceremony to start but things were still a little chaotic, guests were still arriving and as the groomsmen started walking out I was still in the main room. I was pissed at the number of people who were late and mad that we were starting without them.

Once everyone got to the proper places we were actually ready to start. Did I mention that in the dream I still hadn't figured out who the groom was? Well the groomsmen and groom got to their places and while the bridesmaids made their way down the isle, I was sneaking peaks at the groom...let me say that me dreaming didn't know who it was, but the me as a bride did.

He ended up being someone I had a HUGE thing for back in high school! Needless to say it was a good dream even though I woke up right after I figured out who the groom was.

Spring Cleaning

Well spring has finally arrive in Buffalo WY and with it comes that overwhelming task of spring cleaning. I find myself in need of a good cleaning in several different aspects of my life. The first is the physical, over the past year or so I have really let my space (being my tiny little room at home) get overly cluttered and just plain messy. I’ve always been a "throw it on the desk now and deal with it later" kind of person and that is why my room gets the way it does. However this year has been a little different, between poor health and a very hectic schedule I had very little downtime and when I did get it I generally just wanted to veg. But that is no excuse for only taking out the trash when its overflowing or letting the space under my bed become my filing cabinet.

So, in the next few weeks I will be pulling EVERYTHING (minus the bed and other large furniture) out of my room and going through it all. Its time to get rid of the stuff that clutters up my spaces. My rules for keeping things: sentimental value must be a 7 or above. If I don’t use it it goes. If I haven’t worn it in the last 6 months it goes. So…be on the look out for photos of my decluttering process! This will also make my move in August go more smoothly as I will have already gone through everything and will have boxed much of it up.

Second, I need to do some cleaning in my social life, and this may sound a little strange but it means that I will be going through my Facebook friends and removing connections to people that I either don’t talk to or people that may not be good influences on my life….don’t worry there aren’t very many of them and if you read my blog you probably won’t be one of the removed connections. Its just something I feel I need to do.

Thirdly, and most importantly I need to do some spiritual spring cleaning. This is the part that will be the hardest and will take the longest because I have a lot of skeletons in my closets…Things that I need to talk to God about and actually hand over to Him. I've always had trouble handing things to Him and completely surrendering my life to Him. I just like to be in control, or at least I like to think that I am in control.

I’ve been in a spiritual dessert lately, my home church is no longer a place where I feel I can grow as a Believer. I find that I have been turned off by many “Christians” and all their “Christian” things. I am a firm believer in God and I want to persue my relationship with Him, but I feel that the “Christian” community has become so bogged down with doctrines and poltics and other childish behavior that none of what they teach seems real to me. I want to find a body of believers who want to a. worship God, b. encourage and uplift one another, c. be real with one another and d. spread the Gospel in a real way not the candy coated “Christian” way.

As I search for a new body of believers to plug into I will be doing some serious soul searching and praying. Weeding out the things that get in the way of my relationship with Christ. I know that He has a plan and that He is going to do some amazing things in my life, and in order for those things to come to fruition my heart needs some serious cleaning.

Spring has always been a time of renewal for me. The rain falls and nourishes the plants which then grow and produce beautiful flowers and green stuff. Baby animals are running around in that cute baby way signifying a new-ness and a clean slate. And we start wearing our summer clothes and shoes. Everything seems so fresh and new. For me, Spring is New Years and that's when I make my resolutions. This year I want to clean out my life and then continue to keep it clean.

Let the cleaning begin!!!!