Letters on a Plane

Sorry its been so long, school just started and life has swept me up in its saving grace. Not everything is perfect, life never is. But I have fantastic friends, and school is going really well so I count my blessings and just look forward.

I was trying to decide what would make a good post to come back to. Then I remembered when I was on the plane going to Italy I was inspired by a guy...and a letter.

It was dark on the plane and quiet, hush whispers swirled around me as I watched whatever movie it was I had chosen to watch. It was one of those moments when you can just listen to your inner voice and let your thoughts drift away into the shadowy darkness.

One row ahead and to the right of me was a young man, probably around my age, dark hair, cute. He was traveling alone, and like me seemed to not be able to sleep. I watched as he pulled an envlope out of his bag, opening just one of the sides and pulling out a college lined letter. It was about 2-3 pages, and I watched him as he read it. He didn't seem to have that many facial expressions as he read it, but you could tell he enjoyed it.

Then, to my dismay and wonder he pulled apart another three very empty pages. Whomever had written him this letter had offered him pages in return. He took out a pen and began writing. Who knows what he wrote to whomever this person was. But he wrote back.

New Years New You

Resolution - 1 - To Actually WRITE my book. Because it will be an EPIC book and I plan on writing a cookbook to go along with it.

But really, thats my only resolution, other then to stay happy, love as much as I can, try to give back this year and continue to work towards my Disney Dream Job. Whoot. I'm actually not a big fan of resolutions, just because it seems people make them *me included* and you never actually DO them. Thats why I really only have the one. Its a pretty big one so its kinda like I have a billion. But no matter.

On another note I am back from Italy, I'll write about that later. I needed to take a break and just try to regroup, because though it was a very good trip...I don't think I'll really ever be going back to Italy any time soon. But thats another story.

Recently I've been obsessed with The Hunger Games again, re-reading it for the third time...the series that is. And I bought the unauthorized cookbook which is what made me want to write my OWN cookbook to go along with my book. Apparently its a pretty big thing now, to cook from the books you love. But since I'm on my way to being a Chef I think I have a leg up on the whole idea of a companion cookbook. I'll keep you updated and I may start cooking some of the things. Now I just have to figure out how to work the food in so its sounds like you really need to buy the cookbook along with the book. Fingers crossed.

I wish everyone a happy new year Stay safe, stay happy and don't forget to tell your loved ones every day how much they mean to you.

Avrei preferito fare il cioccolato su Salsiccia Lunedi poi la Domenica

That says: I would rather make chocolate on Monday then sausage on Sunday. I am in Italy and in bed. Because I have a foot issue. And today we were supposed to make sausage...I opted out of the sausage because as a Pastry Chef I would rather be ready to go for the chocolate class on Monday where we get to make Nativities then make sausage.

By the way, I'm in Italy. HAZAA! My wives *story to come later* are working hard...or perhaps hardly working right now because I bet its lunch time or close to it. But thats okay, I did stray out with my crappy foot to find some food and of course a bottle of wine. The food...not so great. It was anisey potatoes and crappy pizza. I wish I had gone somewhere else. But the wine is fantastic!!!

So far the trip has been amazing. The cooking has been interesting. The wine has flowed, the food never seems to stop and I will never again eat a pastry in my life after this trip. That is the only thing they eat for breakfast over here and they have a HORRIBLE obsession with fennel. I say this because I HATE fennel with an undying passion.

There would be pics with this short post, but I have no way to post them and my phone doesnt want to charge itself over here so you're stuck with nothing...or I'll find something on the Internet. BRB. Okay, never mind. My pictures are better. So you'll have to wait.

ALSO!!!! I will be making a cats of Italy calender. Thats right. I'll post a link right here and you can buy one. It will be EPIC! As there are many awesome cats here and I love them all.

So yes, as I sit in bed doing nothing but drinking wine and wishing I had something else to eat...I hope you all are in good spirits and I wish I could watch Glee and Once Upon a Time over here...but it wont let me. sad sad day.

The Sparkle Edition!

I am leaving for Italy this coming Friday and needless to say I am a hectic chicken without its head. I also want to spend as much time with my cats as possible, so I feel badly when I do things like go to school. Cus school is icky you know...except for my friends. They are the bee's knees.

But I am making a packing list, because I'm weird like that. And I'm hoping to get to go out at least once to do something super fun. So I was coming up with an outfit that could be fun! I walked past Forever 21 today and saw this:

And I am in love with it. But they only had the one that was in the window and in a size Med *I'm a large* and this one was already held. Sigh. I had them call another mall I'll be going to on Tuesday *TO SEE SANTA with the PUFFS* and they too only had it in a med. So my dilemma is to WAIT and see for myself on Tuesday to see if they get anymore or order it online and not get it in time for my trip. BLAH. I don't know what to do.



Little Pastry Puffs

The first five weeks are FINALLY over. The Assbag told us at the end of class: The teacher you hate the most is the one you learn the most from. My response...in my head at least and on FB where she can't read it: Okay then...I learned to always be late, sit on my ass all day and text, complain like a little baby, not believe that your students can do anything right, to say one thing and do another thing...etc. Thats TOTALLY what I learned. Oh! And you should be rude enough to school your guests in good behavior *ie, if they are not using their napkin right, place it on their lap FOR them.* Yeah...she's told us to do that.

So the next five weeks is baking baking baking. Whoot! I'm excited. I want to try to rework the apple cobbler, not the flavors, just how it looks. Its going to be exciting, plus I want to play around with ice cream flavors and maybe do a dessert special if we can once a week. I wonder if Chef S would allow us to do that? I'll have to talk to him about it.

What else is going on? ITALY TRIP! I know, I haven't posted a picture of things I'm bringing. Life has been crazy hectic and I come home and sleep. I do know that I can't show Sara any more stuffed animals, because she insists that we bring them with us. We're both on the same flight over there together sitting next to eachother. Its going to be epic. I made shirts for our Pastry Puff group and I will be making two shirts that say: Pastry Puffs on Tour. We will be wearing those proudly on the plane! Hazaa!

Next week I'll have some awesome stories to tell. I love my whole group. We stuck together on the front of the house and with the assbag and we're going to be killer awesome as back of the house. WHOOT WHOOT!

Sunday Italy Post #1

First off...don't you LOVE this picture of me as a zombie:

I am a zombie wearing makeup! On that note, its also my Mom's 61st b-day and she has pneumonia or how she used to call it as a kid...PAH-Monia. She said thats how she used to read it. Also Walking Dead starts tonight, hence the awesome Zombie picture.

I think if there ever was a Zombie Apocalypse I would handle it pretty well...I hope I would at least. Not so sure if I would want to live in a world without Internet, television, new books, liquor, and light *since I am deathly afraid of the dark...DEATHLY.* But I still think I could kick some Zombie ass...after I got over the crushing fear that is.

SOOO! Where is the Italy you ask? Well...Here you go. I have started two lists: 1) List of Things to Bring to Italy; 2) List of things to ask Chef what I need to bring *this list includes different plug types, laundry detergent and Chef Knife* I ask about the chef knife because I have tiny tiny hands and have a smaller chef's knife then most. I don't want to use a big one. They are SCARY! Also, I have started a box of the things that I am brings so as not to loose them...

There are more to that pile that will be added...such as my camera. But I'm not going to keep it in a box until December, same with my Kindle. But every week I've decided to take a pic of my stash and see how its grown. I am getting way more then excited.

More school tomorrow. I am looking forward to parts, not looking forward to others. Tonight will be a long night since Walking Dead is on. Oh well. I'm still excited!!

Sorry this post was not ripe with beautiful words. Its mostly just for fun!