The Wisdom To Be Wise.

So today was my 19th birthday.
I literally had the Best. Day. Ever.

Surprise delivery of pretty flowers from Ma and Daddy!

Three pieces of seafood terrine, a roasted beet with apple and horseradish cream & red vinaigrette,
A lobster madallion, Potato & parsley dip & parsnip crisp.

I've been in such a good mood all day.
And Chef Averbeck loved our demo plate!
And he found out that it was my birthday and had the entire class sing to me.
I was so embarrassed, but I can't express how honestly happy it made me.
It felt like people (outside of family) honestly cared that it was my birthday today.
I haven't ever really felt like that before.
I felt very loved today.
I can't imagine how my day could possibly get better.
I hope your day was just as good as mine.
<3

C'est La Vie

So it's my birthday weekend.
Today was so beautiful out, I couldn't help but be happy.
I received a really beautiful birthday card from my grandmother, so that made my day even better.

No, I don't have any plans for this weekend.
Which I'm not all that bent out of shape about.
I mean, it's just a birthday.
If I'm lucky, I'll have many more.
Nineteen is a stupid age anyway.
It's not like twenty-one, where you are allowed to drink and gamble legally.
Not that age has stopped me before, but you get the general idea.

It would be nice to spend the weekend with someone.
But it's not going to happen because the weekend it already half completed.
So there is no use talking about it anymore.

It's fine.
That's life.

For One So Small, You Seem So Strong.

So Daddy came on Saturday to pick up a majority of my stuff.
I have the bare minimum in my room right now and it causes the room to look gigantic.
Everything has been going fine in class.
And I'm still tired as always.
I miss home, but I know I'll be there soon.
Just two more weeks.
It doesn't seem so far anymore.

And Then There Was One.

I have had a really fortunate life.
I truly have some of the most remarkable and kind people surrounding me.
What did I ever do, to become so lucky?

My parents married very young, but very in love.
Growing up, we didn't have the biggest and best of everything.
Our houses were small, but welcoming.
And we had each other.
I know that sounds pretty corny, but it's true.
A house is not a home.
Home is where family and friends are.
I know my parents have always been a bit lamentful towards the fact that I've never had my own room.
Ashley did, simply because she was the oldest and arrived first.
Stephen, because he was the boy.
And I got a bit of the short end, for being the youngest.
I'm used to sharing a room with someone, because that's all I've known.
So coming to college knowing I was going to room with people wasn't a big deal to me.

And so I come to the point of this story.
Morgan and Stephanie have moved out for externship.
The room is completely bare on there sides.
It very quiet.
But it's sort of nice.
I have my own room for the first time.
But it is still a bit strange because every time I look towards Steph's side or Morgan's desk, I'm kind of expecting someone to be there.
But they aren't.
And I continue on with whatever I'm doing.
It really isn't bad being in here alone.

This room holds a lot of memories.
Both the good and bad.
I imagine I'll miss this room after I leave in three weeks.

You're The Line In The Sand When I Go Too Far.

K-16 over and done.
Thank god.
I might miss it just a tiny bit, not going to lie..
Chef and Michael were pretty awesome.

Next hurdle: 2nd Term Practical on Tuesday.

...ugh.

If You Were A Wink, I'd Be A Nod.

Apologies are more then just finding out who was right or who was wrong in the situation.
It's about caring more about the relationship then your ego.
I learned that today.
Hopefully I can apply it to real life one day.

Cook & Be Happy.

So I went with Stephanie to the Ferran Adria demo today.
I thought he was gonna do something cool with molecular gastronomy for us.
But they ended up just having a Q&A session.
It was interesting, but it was a bit of a let down.

I then left to go work K-16 for the other half of my Independent Study Day.
But lady luck seemed to smirk at me and I was sent home within the first fifteen minutes of being there due to there being too many people showing up to work.
I am pretty happy, I guess, but I did put up a bit of a fight to stay because I was already in the middle of switching into my "kitchen mindset".
Which sounds a bit strange that I need to be in a certain mindset to go to class.
But K-16, or any production kitchen, can really be that stressful.
It's a bit awkward knowing that some of my team members are still there and working without me.
But if I honestly wasn't needed then I'm alright with coming back to the room.
I would rather do that, then be in the way, you know?

“Cook and be happy, and let the consequences decide.”

- Ferran Adria