my ramblings

Back to Reality

2009-01-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

Well Vince and I got back from our trip to SoCal Sunday afternoon. It was good to be back to see the kitties, but man I missed home. The trip was great!

We took off around 5am on the 27Th and headed down to San Francisco. After we checked into out hotel and put Charlie and our luggage in the room Vince and I went out to dinner at Joe's Cable Car. We had this place on Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives, and figured it was a must try. The place it tiny and bright, neon signs were every where and random objects hung from the ceiling. Joe's is supposed to be known for their in house fresh ground chuck burgers. The atmosphere was fun, but the food was way over priced for what it was. After ordering 2 burgers, a small order of onion rings and an iced tea it came to $43! I understand this was S.F., but really I would have rather paid $43 for an In-N-Out burger at that moment, Joe's really wasn't all that. They were giving out free mugs that week for the Holiday so we at least got a little souviner =)

The next morning we took off for Ontario, we got in around 5 that evening. I hung out with Vince's parents for a bit and then my mom came and got me. Vince and I had already decided we would kind of go our separate ways back home, to make sure we got to do the things we wanted to do with our family and friends. Later Sunday night I ended back in Ontario because I had forgotten my mixer at Vince's parents house and would need it the next morning because I was going to be making pies with my nieces and nephew. I ended up just staying there that night, he had a much more comfortable bed then the "bed" I had, lol.

Monday my mom and I went out to my sisters house in Hemet. I baked a pie with each kid. Hailey and I made an apple pie, Hannah and I made a pumpkin pie and Caden and I made a chocolate cream pie. The day went so smooth, it was wonderful. I loved my special time with each of the kids, and I know they loved making pies with their Aunt B.

The rest of the week was mostly spent enjoying my time with family. I went and saw a few family friends and some friends, but mostly I was loving my time spent with family. New Years Eve we watched movies and stayed up late, well everyone but me. I fell asleep at 11 something, pathetic I know! I said good bye to my family on Thursday and went back to Ontario. Friday I got to see my great friend Jenny. I was so happy because she is pregnant and by the next time I see her in April she will have had her baby, Sage (possibly Saige). The night her and I went out to the Brandin' Iron in San Bernardino. Oh man I had such a blast, I didn't know many of the line dances but it was still so much fun!

I'm coming back at the end of April, hopefully for another week. My mom is getting tickets for the Stagecoach music festival in Coachella from a friends at work. Her friends son is the guy who runs both this show and the Coachella music festival show. I'm so excited!! I'm not sure which day we're going but I don't really care, both days there are awesome line ups! I've also started to prepare for my next trip, I'm going weekly to Dukes on Thursday nights. They have line dance lessons from 8-9, and then it's ladies night so it's free to get in. Eventually MJ, Mackenzie and a few others said they would join me but for now I'm just going solo and having so much fun learning these dances =) Last night I learned Slappin' Leather! I might even head over there tonight and learn Good Time.

I didn't get many pictures, lame I know. My sister sent me a bunch from our pie day so I'll have to stop being so lazy an upload them someday, hehe.

blizzard!!

2008-12-22T06:48:00.000-08:00

So the weather here in Portland has been insane! The snow won't stop, I thouhgt after saturdays storm and getting 10 inches of snow was enough. But no, it's still going strong. The buses are all jacked up in the timing and since I take the 1st bus to work for both the line 9 and 19 I end up waiting 45 minutes at each stop. It sucks hardcore! It took me 2 hrs! Yes 2 hrs., to get to work yesterday and after 40 minuets of waiting this morning I got fed up and called my boss, I told him if he wants me there at work to pick me up on the way in, since he has chains. I hate starting late, it makes my shift run into the production persons shift and the back of house gets so chaotic! Vince and I are still hoping we can make it down to Southern California, the only parts we might have issues with is going through the pass in Souther Oregon. We hope to be able to make it out of our drive way sometime this week so we can go to Les Schwab and get chains before we head down.

This is our balcony off our livingroom, Minnie was sooo intrigued by the snow. This was taken Saturday and since then there has been about 4-5 more inches added to this snow bed.

We went out Saturday night to check out the storm. While we were outside we found a kitty freezing under Vince's truck. We couldn't leave the poor kitty outside so we brought it in. He/she was meowing sooo much. We can't take him to the humane society yet since we're snowed in but I'm hoping once we do the cat has a micro-chip. I would love to keep it but he's obviously someones kitty, he smells like perfume or room freshener, like he has been living inside. That an Minnie would forever hate us if we brought in another cat, lol.

My snow angel. The snow was so much different when I was a kid. I loved it, we used to go sledding all the time! Now I'm sooo over it. It was fun and pretty the first day we got like 4-5 inches, and maybe living in a city thats used to this much snow it wouldn't be such a hassle but for now I'm not a huge fan of it.

The next few are from Saturday as well, I took a walk around the neighborhood taking random snow day pictures.

We want to check these places out, they are just down the street on Gladstone but we have yet to do so. Maybe in the next couple days we will go shoot some pool at Ship Ahoy and check it out. There really isn't a while lot more to do right nowsince we can't drive anywhere...

This picture is for Caden, it's kind of blurry but I was trying to take it quickly and trying not to miss it.

Burrrrr!

Gladstone and 28th Pl., I love this tree, it's so pretty.

Down on 28th pl. near Gladstone, covered garden beds... Poor frozen cabbage.

I love my boots! They are taking a beating in the snow, but they are my only shoes that keep my feet warm and dry =)

Walking down my street. The streets are kind of creepy, they remind me of 3o Days of Night, in the early morning and past 430pm when it's dark. Early in the mornings there is hardly any cars on the roads and no one else to been seen outside. By now you can no longer tell where the sidewalks are so anyone who is out walks the streets since the snow is more compacted and easier to walk on.

The bushes to the right of Vince's truck are now covered in snow, except for the very tips of them.

Snow Day!

2008-12-14T11:56:00.001-08:00

Woohoo we had our first snow fall this year. Today we are supposed to get 4-5'' of snow. I guess this year it will be the coldest in Portland since 1990!! Charlie was a little unsure what to think of all this "white stuff" but he quickly learned it was safe to walk on. Here are a few pictures from this morning, Vince and I plan to take Charlie on a walk later in the snow so maybe I'll get some more.

My mini snowman I made while I was at work. His nose was a sliver of carrot and his eyes were carraway seeds =)

Riverside!

2008-12-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah I'm comming to Riverside!! Vince and I (and Charlie) are taking a rode trip, we will be stopping in San Francisco one night and have a little mini vacation of our own and then will continue our trip down to SoCal. We will be in Riverside/Ontario Dec. 29- Jan. 2nd. Then on the 3rd we will head back up to Portland making 1 stop in either Chico or Sacto. Man I'm so freakin' happy, I can't wait to go dancing at the BI or Stampede with Jenny!

2008-11-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Man, I love this place. Seriously this is like my dream property, the horses make me so happy. I'm really going to like volunteering on Fridays. For most of the day there are no classes, not up until 4pm. I volunteer 9:30-3:30, we start our day out by turning out the 27 horses in 15 pastures from there we work on various barn tasks and exercising the lower ridden horses. On my first day Lucky barged past me as I was turning him out. He was testing me, lol, I figured a few of the horses would. He ended up just running into the next pasture and was eventually moved into the correct pasture after running off some spunky energy. I haven't learned all the horses names yet but here are a few.

This is Rhubarb, I love his blue eye.

I think this one is Twister.

And this would be Lucky, yep the one who shoved me aside. His freckles are so cute!

Aww, Lad he's pretty dang cute too!

Ahhh. =)

Forward Stride

2008-11-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited, tomorrow I begin volunteering at Forward Stride. On Fridays they don't have many classes so I will actually be able to work directly with the horses a lot more, yay! It starts out at 930am and we begin turning out the horses in the pasture after their morning feeding. Then from there we work around the barn, cleaning stalls, doing maintenance, exercises horses, and various other farm tasks. This is exactly what I've been looking for. I will be volunteering every Friday 930am-4pm.

I love the words

2008-11-10T13:41:00.001-08:00

I rocked myself

2008-11-09T19:30:00.000-08:00

The other night I had a pretty rough accident in the house. I had taken Vince's house key Thursday since I had misplaced mine and was running late for the bus. When he got home he knocked to have me let him in. I went running down the stairs since it was raining out, but apparently I was going far too fast and flew off the 3rd to the bottom step. I slammed into the front door and fell to the ground on my left hip. Vince was so worried on the other side of the door, he was yelling to make sure I was ok, it was hard for me to respond between crying and gasping for air from having the wind partially knocked out of me. I managed to scoot myself over and unlock the door for Vince. When he came in he quickly made sure I was ok and helped me up. I felt fine after a little bit.
I felt fine until the next morning I should say. SO how in the fall I managed to rock my ribs pretty freakin' good, I was so sore. I messed up my lower back pretty bad. I need to make it into Kaiser but I have been procrastinating knoing it will be a hassle to try and get seen soon and I also don't want to deal with urgent care.

Unfortunately I really can't get anytime off work. Carrie recently was told by her dr. to stay off work for 3 weeks due to inflamed tendons in her arms and wrists. I have been working 6 days a week plus a double shift on Tuesdays. Without Carrie or myself there is no one to do the bread shifts.

I am so looking forward to my massage coming up this Saturday... Yep, Vince is taking us to get a couples massage for my Birthday at Aqua Terra(http://www.portlandcouplesmassage.com/) this Saturday afternoon. Then we're headed to dinner somewhere, we haven't decided where yet but I think we might go with the Brazil Grill. And then that night we are going to see Louis C.K. Today Vince also treated me to bday shopping, I got 2 pairs of amazing jeans (seriously I've never had a better fiiting pair!) and a super nice jacket. I know a jacket might sound boring to some but it was like the number 1 thing I've been needing. I never got myself a nice winter weather resistant jacket last year and I really didn't want to go through another winter trying to stay warm in sweatshirts (they just dont cut it in wind and rain, lol). It will totally come in handy walking to the bus stop at 5am for the next 6 months =)

I love the smell of horse in the morning

2008-11-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

I did my training with Forward Stride (http://www.forwardstride.org/) today, so now I can officially become a volunteer. I'm so excited!! I've been looking for something to get me back on a farm and I'm happy I've found such an awesome facility. Forward Stride is a nationally accredited therapeutic equine center.

I have decided to volunteer every Friday. I'm not quite sure what my jobs will be yet, but I've gone to the training and have signed up for horse leads, side walker, horse care, marketing and pr, and office work. It's so great to be around people who are so passionate about similar things. Like one girl said today, "I miss smelling like horses."
Man, I've said that so many times, and I always get odd stares. I don't know what it is abut horses, or livestock in genral, but I love it. It's me...

Wet Leaves

2008-11-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

Today I learned that wet soggy leaves are incredibly easy to slip. I didn't just find out once today, I found out twice. My street is on an incline and lined with trees. It's been raining for the past three days and both on my walk to the bus stop this morning for work, and then back home I ate it. Neither fall was too bad, but I think I might go out there later today and rake the sidewalk. My butt is sore and my ego is bruised, lol.

Hope everyone is having a good Monday!

To my Cali peeps

2008-11-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

To my California peeps, please get out and vote no on Prop 8 this Tuesday. I don't live in California anymore and have already done my voting here in Oregon but I am very much opposed to Prop 8. It makes me sick to think the right to marry could be taken away from so many couples. I dont' see how Prop 8 "Protects Marriage", I don't understand why people would vote to eliminate the civil liberties of someone who is gay. So please Vote NO on 8. Voting no on 8 doesn't mean you are a supporter of same sex marriage it just means you support freedom and you are against discrimination.

Fiction: Prop 8 doesn’t discriminate against gay people.

Fact: Prop 8 is simple: it eliminates the rights for same-sex couples to marry. Prop 8 would deny equal protections and write discrimination against one group of people—lesbian and gay people—into our state constitution.

Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless we pass Prop 8.

Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education. And no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it.California’s top educators including Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell and California Teachers all agree: Prop 8 has nothing to do with education.

Fiction: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.

Fact: The court decision regarding marriage specifically says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.”

Fiction: A Massachusetts case about a parent’s objection to the school curriculum will happen here.

Fact: California gives parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health and family instruction they don’t agree with. The opponents know that California law already covers this and Prop 8 won’t affect it, so they bring up an irrelevant case in Massachusetts.

Fiction: Four Activist Judges in San Francisco…

Fact: Prop 8 is about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn’t grant the right, the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an outdated and stale argument that judges aren’t supposed to protect rights and freedoms. Prop 8 is about whether Californians are willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a fundamental right for one group of citizens.

Fiction: If Prop 8 isn’t passed, people can be sued over personal beliefs.

Fact: California’s laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage.

Fiction: Pepperdine University supports the Yes on 8 campaign.

Fact: The University has publicly disassociated itself from Professor Richard Peterson of Pepperdine University, who is featured in the ad, and has asked to not be identified in the Yes on 8 advertisements.

Fiction: Unless Prop 8 passes, California parents won’t have the right to object to what their children are taught in school.

Fact: California law clearly gives parents and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions

http://www.noonprop8.com

Updates

2008-10-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been awhile since I've blogged. Well fall is here it's cold, chilly, cloudy and wet. The leaves are gorgeous, the sun actually peaks out every now and then, and its actually not that wet compared to what it will be next month.

I had my first doctors appt. with Kaiser earlier this month, I'm all good. I was reffered to the mental health department to talk with someone about my anxieties/depression. I had my first visit with a therapist 2 weeks ago. I didn't like her all that much, she was too soft and almost spoke to me as if I were 10. I'm sure she meant well but I wasn't comfortable with her. I have been meaning to call Kaiser to get another therapist, hopefully a male since I prefer male doctors, but I just haven't been on top of it.

My birthday is in a couple weeks and I would really like to come back home for a week to spend it with family and friends but I don't think it will happen. Unfortunately money is tight for me and as much as I would love to see everyone it looks like it will have to wait. I told Vince I want to go line dancing at Dukes for my bday, but he isn't much of a dancer so I doubt we will go (if I was back home, I'd be at the BI dancing the night away with friends!).

Work is going alright, its killing my back though. The owner is loving the new things I'm adding to the menu and I'm happy to see my pastries sell out. My boss really has no backbone and wants to be friends with everyone. I'm all for having a nice boss, however we need structure especially the front of house. The biggest problem there is tardieness, oh it bugs me! 90% of the employees there show up late daily, and not 5 minutes late we're talking 15+ some people are even 30+ minutes late.

I really miss everyone back home, I've been thinking of moving back home. Unfortunatley I would be solo. Vince and I have talked and he doesn't see himself moving back anytime soon if ever, I see myself back with in the next year. Sigh.. that leaves me in a pickle.

Last night we went out to Sauvie Island to go through one of the haunted corn mazes with some friends. It was pretty fun, muddy though. I haven't made any plans for Halloween yet, I would like to go to Dukes Halloween party (but once again Vince isn't really into the whole country music and line dancing). I was supposed to have my normal Fri/Sat off and was really looking forward to it but it's Carries 1st anniversary so I gave it up so she could go off for the weekend with her hubby.

I had my first customer yesterday!! I let Vince take a cheesecake to work about a month ago and a lady from his work asked if she could order 3 from me. She picked them up last night and if I do say so myself they looked amazing! I'm planning on looking into getting business cards soon and a stamp so I can stamp all my cake boxes.

Well I'm off to get ready, today is the fall WCI graduation and I have a few old classmates that will be there. Take care, love ya all!

I eat Palin for breakfast!!

2008-10-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Voodoo Doughnuts are awesome! Vince's fave is the maple bacon bar, and I typically go for the old dirty bastard but couldn't pass on the opportunity to have Palin for breakfast

The New Kid

2008-09-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

So after seeing Minnie miss Charlie so much we figured we would go pick her out a buddy from the Humane Society today to keep her company when Charlie goes to the park or on walks. Neither Char or Minnie have met our new kitty, right now he is in the spare room just getting used to the new smells and sounds. His name is Shadow Monkey (he came with it, just like Minnie) , but I'll probably shorten it to just Monkey, or Monk. He is 2 years old and was brought in as a stray, but was obviously someones pet before that. He is very lovey, he was in a room with about 10 other cats at the H.S. so we know he gets along with other cat. We are just unsure in our cat will actually like him and if he will like the dog. Anyways, here he is =)

The kids

2008-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

These two are the best of buddies, they are so cute together. Today we took Charlie to the dog park and Moo (Minnie) waited for him right by the front door till we got back. Once we came through the door she eagerly greeted him, wrapping her paws around his neck.

Vince's Parents

2008-09-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

Vinny's parents come for a visit next week, they arrive on Tuesday and I think they are staying for 2 week. The visit makes me very happy, it's been over a year since either of us have seen them. We don't have any plans as of yet, other then enjoying time well spent. I know at some point they will be spending some time in southern Oregon looking at houses in the area they are thinking of moving to, but I think this will be done on their way home.

Hopefully Vince will install the camera software back into the computer soon so I can upload pictures from both my family's recent visit and from Vince's family's coming visit. He's been meaning to since we moved to the new place, lol, we'll see when it happens =)

Promoted

2008-09-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

Heck yes!! Collin asked if I wanted the position as lead baker yesterday. I was so excited!! I get to choose my days off (fri/sat or sun mon), I work 5 day blocks all beginning at 530am, yep no more 130am shifts!! I mean 530 is still pretty early but there will be no more 530 one day 130 the next, up and down type crap. Hooray! My body can now finally get used to normal-ish routine.

Better then this news though, Kevin is leaving!! I'm glad he found something that better suits him, he was becoming such a mean and negative person towards me and it was really beginning to wear on me and was also causing me a lot of anxiety the nights before I was going to work overlapping shifts with him.

Kinda creepy

2008-09-08T11:35:00.001-07:00

So I keep having this recurring image/thought in my head of me a work and getting my arm stuck or cut off in the 60qt mixer. I have this thought like 2-3 times a day on average and it totally creeps me out. Back when I was just starting out there I got my wrist pinched under the hook when it rocked back as I reached in, but I don't know why I'm having these thoughts about getting caught in the mixer now.

Enjoy the Fair

2008-09-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

I hope you all back home go out sometime in the next 2 weeks and enjoy the L.A. County fair. Vince and I went to the Oregon State fair last weekend and compared to the L.A. Co. fair it was kind of a let down. Jenny wanted me to try and make it out for visit during the fair but unfortunately I'm still job hunting so I just didn't have the money. I wish I could have, I always have a blast at the L.A. Co. fair, especially back in my showing days =)

The one thing that I did enjoy at the state fair was walking through the barns. Vince even patiently sat with me while I watched a few of the sheep judging classes. I miss being around livestock, especially my "ear less" lamancha goats and market lambs. I've been thinking about applying to volunteer for a 4H group. Unfortunately I recently found out Multnomah County doesn't have a 4H chapter, I would have to make it over to Washington Co. which meets in Beaverton. I

Sparkle and I in shomanship at the Norco Fair

J.J., Marina, Myself, and Nikki showing in Chapter Market lamp group at the Indio Fair

Letti and I, Showmanship at the Norco Fair

Chomper the day I bought him, he came home with me till I was able to take him to the farm.

Lolcats you always make me laugh! (loldogs too)

2008-08-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

I could read through the lolcat and dog pictures all day. I love the "twelvity-five" in this first picture. Minnie gets this same face when she doesn't approve of something, we call it her shitteh kitteh face.

Babies on the way!

2008-08-26T09:24:00.001-07:00

So many of my friends are pregnant right now, talk about throwing me into a baby craze! My friends Tiffany and her husbad, David, are pregnant with twins (I just added her husbands blog). Originally she was carrying tripletts but I recently found out she lost one of them and is carrying twins. My other friend Jenny is also pregnant with her first, and is due April 14th! Jenny lost her first pregnancy in June/July of this year, so she is being closely watched for this pregnancy, please just keep them all in your thoughts. These people are so special to me and I am thrilled for the new chapters in their lives they are about to open. I can't wait to meet all the new wonderful babies (I also can't wait for my turn, hehe).

Officially Searching

2008-08-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Last week I finally went into a staffing agency. I can no longer live on the amount I make anymore, thinkgs are getting too tight and unfortunately the lack of money has taken my independance and I hate it. I have been applying at several place with no luck. With the economy failing it has been so hard for me to find a decent job. So last week I headed downtown and went in to Adecco and started their application process, I should be setting an appt. for an interview and whatnot soon, I'm hoping by tomorrow ot Thusday since those are my days off. Unfortunately the lady I am dealing with is difficult to get in touch with, she is the client program manager for both Adidas and PGE with Adecco, and I found out since I have started the app. process with her she is the only 1 who can assist me, sigh! She took a look over my resume last week and said with my experience I was a good match for their services and they should have no problems finding me a job. So I am trying to stay positive and hope that something good will come from this.

As far as my current job, I like what I do, but I no longer enjoy the hours or the stress it puts on my body. I also don't enjoy working somewhere so independent, there is no h.r., structure, or real rules. Kevin is a very passive agressive individual and has made quite a few situation very uncomfortable with me, and unfortunately he is very good friends with our bakery manager, and knows how to work him to his advantage. I'm just stuck and unhappy right now.

I have been selling items on Craigslist to make some extra money for bus passes and to cover my small loan from the school. I sold my bike yesterday ( I hardly ever rode it, and the rainey season is already begining so I will ride it even less) and either tomorrow or Thursday a lady is stopping by to buy a bunch of clothes I no longer wear. Next item up is the wardrobe in the garage that we no longer need now that we have much more room at the new place.

Old pix

2008-08-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

My mom recently found an old memory card from a digital camera of mine so she brought it up on her recent trip. I totally forgot what I used to look like when I was in better shape (I was about 30-35lbs. lighter). This was about 5ish years ago. Hopefully they will keep me motivated to get in better shape, and also to grow my hair out (I miss my longer hair).

Back when I was staying in Seattle

This is my favortire picture of myself ever.

This is Brock, he was my boston terrier who was stolen from me by my ex. He was an awesome little doggy.

Watch

2008-07-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

If you get an extra 1hr and 15min of your day I totally recomend watching this video. I gave up my nap time because I just didn't want to push pause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

The Grand Tour

2008-07-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit lazy about taking pictures of the new place. But finally here they are. Well, at lease the photos I took from the property management company's website, hehe =) (refer back to the 1st sentence)

This is the front of the units, we are the middle one

The back yard. Althought ours hardly looks like this, the previous tenants never did any maintnence. So for not our back yard is made up of chopped down weeds and crabgrass. Hopefully soon PRS will send out a landscaper or I can finally finish the job myself. Anyways, our back yard is just a bit wider and has a lifted garden bed at the back.

The kitchen, my place (but not in the bare foot and pregnant type of way, lol)

Just walking up from the stairs leading to the main floor is the livingroom to the right and the kitchen is to the left. Straight ahead at the top of the 1st stairs is the 1/2 bath. On the left of the pic you can see the stairs that lead to the bedrooms. On the ground floor we have a garage where we keep the washer and dryer and weight lifting stuff.

Bedroom #1 with a bath inside it. The view from the living room balcony and bedroom #1 window at night of downtown is beautiful. (oh and our carpets are beige thoughout the house)

The spare bedroom. There is also 1 more full bath just outside this bedroom.

! Jenny !

2008-07-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

The other night Vince and I were talking about how we have been living in Portland for almost a year. We talked about how we love living here but miss Southern California at the same time. He brought up how he regrets not taking advantage of living in SoCal., like going out and seeing and doing more. This made me think back to the best years of my life.

My friend Jenny, who I met in 8th grade, and I were always out adventuring. We mostly took random late nights drives, getting lost, exporing new areas, driving to San Fancisco just to cross the Golden Gate Bridge at night, year passes to all the adventure parks, skipping classes at RCC to go to San Diego or Barnes and Noble, mmm and the trips to Downtown Disney just to go to that specific Wetzel Pretzel. We did this from the time I moved back from Chico in 2001 till about 2003. We drifted apart a bit and then became roommtates in in 2005, after we moved out of our apartment we didn't keep in contact as much until about the past year. We talk (well text, since neither one of us is a big phone person) almost daily, and I am so thankful for those memories.

So this is not the best picture of us, but majority of the ones I have of the 2 of us aren't digital. This was back when we lived in Canyon Crest together =)

2008-07-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking of applying at PSU and going back to school to get a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work to focus in child and family studies. The thought has been on my mind for the past couple months, I have brought it up and toyed around with the idea. I read a story awhile back about an unfortunate event that changed a young mans life around, but he never failed to see the positive in everything. He ended his story with a quote, "You were born to live, you don't live because you were born" I have read inspirational stories before and they have always made me feel good and all that good inspirational stuff, but for some reason this one really touched me and really makes me want to go out there and do something I never really thought I'd do. I don't know, it's only an idea right now.

Family pictures

2008-07-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

I got the family photos yesterday that wehad taken while I was in Southern California for a visit in June. Unfortunately my brother and his family wasn't there but the still turned out very nice. I wont post 'em all since there are 290 something pictures but I'll randomly post a few here and there.

Me and my nieces and nephew. Hailey, Hannah, Me, and Caden.

My sister Virginia, my Grandma D, and me.

The whole gang, Rick (Vir's husband), Virginia, Caden, Grandma Dee, Hailey, Dad, Mom, and Me.

Me and Bugs.

My little man Caden.

Little Miss Fashionable, Hannah and I

Aww, My sister and me!

Virginia, Mom, Dad, and me.

A blooper but I love it! Caden wanted to be with his Aunt B, oooh I ate up all the attention he wanted from me=)

And this is my brother, he wasn't able to be there but I like this picture of him.
This is my brothers wife, Kate, and my nephews, Kevin ( sitting in back) and Julian (standing in back). My mom is in the picture too, this is from my parents trip to Missouri, at some gardens there.

A new favorite

2008-06-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this site earlier today, and I love it http://www.allthingscupcake.com/. It has everything and anything cupcake!

Rosie!

2008-06-25T17:34:00.001-07:00

I got a bike today, I found it on Craigslist. The guy I bought it from sold it to me for $30, which is a freakin' deal considering what most people are selling bikes for on CL. I named her Rosie ( I know she's not red but thats why it fits). I needed a bike because the new place were moving to doesn't have bus service near it for my 530am shift so since we will only be 2 miles from my work I will just ride instead. This will help me get my butt back into better shape too =) Anyways here she is!

Trip Home

2008-06-17T07:45:00.001-07:00

I just back from Southern California yesterday afternoon. My visit was great, I stayed with my sister so I was able to soak in my nieces and nephew <3>

I enjoyed every minute with my nieces and nephew, Hailey, Hannah, and Caden. And the time spent with my sister was fantastic! It was really hard to say bye, I miss everyone like crazy!

Caden on his bike =)

I gave him a mohawk, hehe.

This is my Grandma (my moms mom) and Copper (my sisters dog).

Hannah and Caden brushing Copper.

Me and Copper

The rockstars!! Hailey, Madison, Hannah, and Hailey, so cute!

I took this picture for Caden =)_

Update

2008-06-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

So Shannon from the property management company called me back. She talked to me about the job and we did an over the phone interview. She apparently liked me because she asked me if I could come into the office for an interview, so I went in at 3 today. I met with the hiring manager, Sheryl, and fell everything went pretty well. They did however ask my least favorite interview question, "what is 1 of you weaknesses?", but I think I did good with it. Overall it went great and I should hear something soon because they hope to have the position filled by the 23rd.
The place is really similar to Lewis Co. They are locate in the Pearl on NW14 near REI, which is nice because no matter where in Portland we move it will be easy to get to.

!!!

2008-06-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

I recently applied for a front desk position with a property management company, same thing I did at Lewis but more front desk/reception dutie and less mailroom duties. I really miss Lewis Co., I realize how nice I had it there after going back to a laborous job. Anyways I got a call from them today at my house number and they left a message saying they wanted to talk about the position. I also had an email from them saying if the applicant is selected for a interview they will be contacted via phone. Woohoo!! I'm so happy!! I leave for socal tomorrow and return Monday and have Tuesday off.I returned their call, but recieved the hr voice mail, although I did call at noon, so I am hoping they will call back and I can set up an interview on my day off on Tuesday! Eeek, I'm so happy!
I will be sure to update and let you all know how things worked out.

double shift

2008-06-09T10:57:00.001-07:00

The labor laws in Oregon are a bit different, you only get paid overtime if you work more then 40 hrs. a week. It's doesn't matter how many you work in a day, just as long as you don't work more then 6 days in a row and you don't go over 40 for the weeks total.

I recently got home around 10am and I have to be back to work at 8pm tonight and work till around noon tomorrow. There was a bit of a mix up in the schedule and me being in SoCal this weekend, so somehow I ended up having to work this horrible shift. I am doing both the breads shift and the morning bake shift, 16 hrs and no over time! These hours are killing me, I no longer have a social life all I ever want to do is sleep yet still only get on avg. 4 hrs a night. The lack of sleep has made me dumb, I can never get out what I'm trying to say without forgetting what it is I was saying in the first place at least once (if that even made sence). Anyways, I'm really getting worn out by the hours I'm scheduled and needed to vent. I applied for 2 reception/admin. job in the past few days, one with an architecture firm downtown and the other for a property management company. I plan on contacting them tomorrow or Wednesday if I haven't heard from them, I really need a regular schedule again. For now, until I can land a gig at a specialty cakes shop, I am actively seeking a m-f 8-5 type job. I know, its probably silly since I gave that up to go to school, but I really didn't think these odd hours would take such a toll on me.

The Rose Festival

2008-06-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

It's Rose festival time, a huge thing in Portland! Its a week long waterfront festival full of parades, a carnival, sailors are everywhere, all sorts of ships docked, it's pretty cool. Vince and I went on Friday night to watch the fireworks show. Seriously one of the best I've ever seen, and apparently the Fourth of July is even better. We walked around the carnival, ate "fair food", checked out the 2 pirate ships, had amazing frozen yogurt from Active Culture (they had a vendor booth but normally their store is in inner se pdx), then sat and watched the fireworks show. I was able to take a few pix but fireworks are tricky to take pictures of.

Proof that the sun does come out!

2008-05-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

Ah ha, the sun does come out in Oregon! I've got proof! It got up to 90 today, I was sooo happy. Kellen and I had lunch and took a walk on the water front, I even got some sun =) It's just a little but it makes me happy to know the sun will be around a few days.

(Vir... I didn't use the really cheesy smile one I sent you earlier, it was way too goofy)

Sunshine!

2008-05-15T08:46:00.001-07:00

Horray!! I'm off to run some errands and then meet up with Kellen for lunch. It's supposed to be 88 today and 90 tomorrow then 95 on saturday, unfortunately by sunday its supposed to drop back down to 65. For now I'll go enjoy the warmpth while it lasts. Hope you all have a fantastic day!!

Of course I know next month when I come for a visit I'm going to hate the 100 degree weather of SoCal.

Graduation

2008-05-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

My mom came out for my graduation =) Unfortunately my dad couldn't and my sister doesn't fly. Oh well, hopefully I'm going out to Riverside for a visit in mid June. I really didn't like the toke they made us wear, I much prefer what i get to wear at work. Jeans and a t-shirt, comfy =) For some reasin I don't have a picture of Vince and I or Kellen and I, but I think my mom does for now here's my mom and I.

Job

2008-04-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today Collin, the barkery manager, asked me about my plans after my internship was over. I told him I wasn't quite sure yet, and he offered me a position that will be opening up around the same time. We didn't go into details but I think I'll be doing the breads and laminated doughs shift, 5:30am. I'm so happy, I was stressing since the job market is so bad I was worried I wouldn't be able to find a job. More good news is my insurance will kick in begining in June through Vince's work, I'm so happy Oregon has the domestic partnership law so I can get insurance too =)

Baby Shower

2008-04-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my sister I decided to make a diaper cake for a friends baby shower. I was actually quite happy with the way it turned out, I thought it was pretty cute and I figured an appropriate gift coming from a pastry student hehe.

Damn Tweekers- my rant

2008-04-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Vince called me from work today, he told me his catalytic converter was stolen off his truck. When he started it, it sounded incredibly loud like a motorcycle. He stopped his truck and walked to the back of it, looked under it and saw a few nut/bolts and some metal pieces. He didn't know what a catalytic converter looked liked but he knew it had been stolen. I guess in a lot of areas this has become quite popular. Tweakers are stealing them to recycle for money to buy drugs. Seriously places should just refuse to recycle them. Apparently the tweakers have also been disassembling the huge a/c units on commercial buildings to trade in for money as well. So now thanks to some douche bags who needed their next fix we have to get the truck repaired, thanks for starting out our savings on a good note for our next visit to Riverside. This happened to my uncle as well in Riverside, my dad says he is just waiting to come out one morning to see his stolen, how freakin' crappy is that. Grow up and get a job tweakers!

2008-04-23T18:24:00.001-07:00

Jenny, her bf and TJ left yesterday afternoon. The visit was great, Jenny and I had time alone on Monday and got to catch up and talk about her pregnancy. We met up after I got off work in Pioneer Square downtown. We walked around the Pearl then headed to North Portland in hopes that Jenny could get squeezed if for a tattoo appt., but no luck. We went to Llyod center and met up with the guys for lunch. Later that evening Jenny and I took a drive out to Forest Grove so she could she her old place she lived in. Then I took her to the areas of Portland I really like, Laurelhurst, Hawthorne, Belmont, and also by my work area. It was so good to laugh and talk and enjoy each other, it really made me miss the times we used to spend together. I'm looking into visiting Riverside this June. I'd like to be down for my nieces birthday party so I can make them their Hannah Montana cake I have in mind.

2008-04-19T10:14:00.001-07:00

I've been working at Crema Bakery and Cafe for the past 2 weeks as part of my internship, and so far it's been great. The people who work there are just awesome, I love being out of school and working in the industry! I have been working both the morning bake shift at 2:30 in the morning and the breads and laminated doughs which is the 5:30 am shift. It's been somewhat difficult to adjust to waking up that early but I'm getting there. The shifts go by so quickly, I don't even feel like I'm "at work" the 8 hrs I'm at work seem to go by so much quicker then the 5 hrs a day I was in school. I'd like to hope that Crema will need an extra baker by the time my internship is up but if not I'm so happy to have landed this opportunity.

My friend Jenny will be visting on the 23rd and I am sooo happy! Her and her boyfriend will be visiting, it will only be for about 2 days but I'm still very excited. I also found out some exciting news, she's pregnant!! She thinks she's about 8 weeks along but she will find out for sure when she gets back to SoCal and has her first sonogram.

Also in 2 weeks my mom will be visiting for my graduation! My dad is unable to make it unfortunately but hopefully I'll be able to make a longer visit then my last one back home this summer. I'd like to make it down at the begining of June, when my sister is having a joint birthday party for my nieces. I would really really love to make them their birthday cake, a Hannah Montana cake. I can't believe Hailey will be 7 and Hanna will be 6!

Well I hope you all enjoy earth day, I think Vince and I might be going to the Japanese Gardens or possibly the Portland Farmes Market at PSU. Take care everyone <3

My sister and the kids

2008-04-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

My mom, sister, nieces and nephew spent the past few days at our family cabin in Big Bear. My mom sent me this picture while they were there.

I can't believe how big the kids look, I just saw them in February! Caden looks like such a big boy <3 I hope Vince and I can make a trip to SoCal. this summer!

Crema

2008-04-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

I started my externship today =) The bakery is really cool, I love it! I've told most of you about it, so for now I'll just post some pictures I found online of the bakery. My favorite thing about the place is how the windows are from practically floor to ceiling and how on non rainy days they will open the place up even in the back of the house in the bake shop.

Relaxation & Nerves

2008-04-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

So Vince and I did that whole sensory deprivation floatation thing yesterday, it was pretty cool. It was kind of creepy to be in complete darkness in the water, but after about 5 or so minutes I really begon to relax. I really enjoyed the steam sauna it felt so good on my skin and in my chest since I'm all conjested right now. Vince and I we're a bit shocked when we noticed we were the only ones in trunks/bathing suit, lol. It was a total hippy place. It was pretty cool, but personally I think I'll stick with getting a massage for relaxation =)

Even after my little hippy relaxation om session yesterday, I am still quite nervous. I start my externship tonight at 2:30am. I'm excited but I'm still kinda nervous =/

Sensory deprivation

2008-04-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Vince and I are going to Common Groud Wellness center today. We're both going to get a treatment of 1 hrs in a sauna and 1 hour in the flotation tanks. It's supposed to be really relaxing and good for meditation and release of stresses and whatnot. It's in the gorgeous part of Portland called the Laurelhurst district, not too far from my work. It's mega hippied out, but I'm really looking forward to it. I've really been wanting to get a massage to loosen my back but I'd thought I'd give this a try out. Below is the places website. And when we're done I'll have to tell you how it all went =)

http://www.commongroundpdx.com/page/page/4557378.htm

I could fry an egg on the sidewalk!

2008-04-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, so not really but we are supposed to have our warmest day of the year today! A whopping 65 degrees! Seriously I never thought I'd see the day where I was excited to wake up and hear the new reporting today will be the warmest day of the year so far. One thing I've learned while living in Portland is that the sun DOES NOT equal warmth. There have been plenty of time it's fooled me, but I learned quickly.

So I get to spend this nice "warmish" day inside all sicky boo. I'm getting better so I might venture out and ride the max to the street car and into the Pearl to do some shopping at Whole Food's for dinner. Yeah I feel like being a hippy today with my brown paper bag and organic long grain, fair trade, no chemicals added, foofoo rice. I actually really do like the place, they are just over priced to do all our weekly shopping and I just don't think I could handle the type of customers who are typically in there majority of the time. As for quality of food, the place is great, especially the meat, deli, and bakery areas. Anyways hope you all are taking care, love ya all!

I'm finished!! (with a long picture update)

2008-03-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Also too, I got the externship at Crema Bakery in SE Portland, I start the 7th woohoo!!!

Brooke snapping a picture!

Kayelynne and Kyleigh enjoying "Greg"

This picture is my favorite, even though Kellen wouldn't lift her leg, lol. From left to right- Kellen, me, Suzanne, Kayelynn, and Kyleigh

Alaina looking thrilled with Justin

Yummy, yummy watermellon

Suzanne, Chef Daisy and Dustin

Kyleigh enjoying "Greg", he was quite juicy.

It was snowing, you can't tell but it snowed for most of the morning.

Me and "Greg", you'll see how he got cracked a few pix down
Buddies

She wants more then just a little kiss...

Kayelynn and Brooke bowling, this is when one of the mellons got cracked
Max. capacity, 10. I think we were way above that, we were so crammed

My class, Chef Erica is front and center and Chef Daisy is a couple rows above her with the really long pigtails. From right to left, bottom to top- Erin, Constance, Alicia, Chef Erica, Brooke, Me, Ashley, Kayelynn, Kathleen, Alaina, Kyleigh,Heather, Kellen, Suzanne, Suzette, Chris, Dustin, Chef Daisy, Megan,Christine,Grant and in the very back Justin

Crammed in the elevator again on the way back up.

Last week of school!!

2008-03-26T15:24:00.001-07:00

I can't believe this is my last week of school! I had my working interview at Crema Bakery yesterday, I had to make red velvet cupcakes, mexican chocolate cupcakes, and eclaires. I also had to temper white chocolate and make a parchment piping cone. I did great, I'd be really surprised if I find out tomorrow that I didn't get the externship. She was really impressed that the red velvet cupcakes turned out perfect, she said its a really tricky recipe and that a lot of people don't get it right on the first try. I was really nervous I would mess totally mess up on something but everything went so smoothly. So yeah I'll find out tomorrow aternoon if I'll get the position or not =)

As for my last week, we have been working on our sugar showpieces. I finished mine 2 day early yesterday. I originally was going to do a space theme, but then decided to go with a sailor jerry theme, lol. Here are the pictures, the mouse is from Suzanne's piece but I thought it was super cute.
The anchor, rope and banner are all pulled sugar, the rock on the bottow is rock sugar, the heart is hand blown, and the green sugar in the back is bubble sugar. We cook the sugar (isomalt actually) to 330 and work with it around a temp of 200-300 depending on what you're doing with it. Needless to say, my hand are sensitive this week.

Gingerbread

2008-03-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

This gingrebread was a project to practice multiple techniques we have learned in out candy class. I decided to go with a farm theme, may favorit was the piggy!

Kell's Irish Festival

2008-03-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

We went to Kell's Irish Festival yesterday, I thought it was quite fun it's supposed to be the #1 St. Patricks event in the states or something like that. Kell's is this awesome Irish pub and restaurant in downtown. At 5 it became 21 and over, so it was more like a HUGE bar scene which was fun but I enjoyed all the entertainment they had during the day, like the little kids Irish dancing and the bag pipes. I absolutely love the bag pipe, they give me the chills every time I hear them. Anyway here are some picture from the festival. Oh and I have to say my favorite thing about the whole event was the men in kilts, gerr! Especially if they had Irish accents, mmm so hot =)

Shout out!

2008-03-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

Just a quick hello to my mom, and all her bunco ladies! Hope you enjoy the pictures =)

Do ya see that... I'm wearing a TSHIRT, yep it's been a whoppin' 60 degrees the past few days. Finally getting "warm" hahaha.

Wedding week!!!

2008-03-07T14:14:00.001-08:00

Yep I made my first wedding cake!! Did pretty good, if I do say so myself, and I got a 95% woohoo! Its a pound cake with raspberry filling, and lemon butter cream, drapped with fondant. the orchids are all hand made and painted. On top there is a hand blown sugar heart (required on the cake somewhere). Also the squiggly lines are called cornelli lace, it's a line that venre touches or crosses over) and that was also required somewhere in some form on the cake. The things sticking out the edge of the middle tier, it's called extension lace, its very tiny delicate lace work made from royal icing (also required somewhere on the cake). Everything else was up to us =)

Kellen and I, being goofs!

Blown sugar heart, and pastillage butterflies.

Top view.

Alaina, Grant and I!

All of our cakes =)

My family cracks me up!

2008-03-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

So it all started with Vince and I on our way to lunch. I found a pen in the truck while Vince was driving on the I-5. Out of boredom and humor I decided to draw a mustache on my finger and take a funny picture. It made me laugh and I knew my mom would get a kick out of it so I text it to her with a cute little "i love you" message. Later after lunch my mom sent me a funny picture of her, dressed in my dads ranger uniform and a hat with manly eyebrows and a mustache. I laughed so hard, we're just so goofy and random, I love it. Then about 15 minutes ago I get a text from my sister and she also has a mustache and a goatee. These are the kinds of things I love about my family!!

Advanced Cakes Class

2008-02-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

I'm finally in one of the 2 classes I couldn't wait to get into. I absolutely love the Chefs, Chef Erica and Daisy. They are both past WCI students from before it was Le Cordon Bleu certified, but they are amazing. So far I have made a croquemboushe which is a traditional frech wedding cake and we have also made our first celebration cake, with poured fondant and marzipan and buttercream decoration. Here are some pix....

The cake just had to be anykind of celebration... no I'm not having a baby, lol. I love cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums!
Its a pound cake laters with almond buttercream, draped with marzipan and glazed with pouring fondant. The decorations are both made out of marzipan (the cluster of 3 chrysanthemums, and the cherry blossoms around the cake) and buttercream (the single chrysanthemum, and blossoms on the top)
Pastry cream pate a choux puffs, dipped in hard carmel with an almond nugateen base and top.

Update from Southern California

2008-02-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it to Riverside Thursday night, I flew into Ontario with 1 quick stop in Sacto. I found out that night when my mom picked me up from the airport that we wouldn't be spending my first night at my sisters because she had the flu! I was so bummed, I wanted to hang out with my sister so bad, but I couldn't risk getting sick with only 6 more weeks of school left. Friday I went as saw my old co-workers at Lewis, good to see you all. Then that evening my mom and I decided to pick up my nieces and let have them stay the night (hoping they hadn't picked up the flu virus and brought it along with them). My mom and I took them to Color me Mine that night and we all painted, Hailey and Hannah loved it!!! On Saturday we surprised the girls with a trip to Knotts Berry Farm, it was a blast! We took thenm home Saturday night, and I hung out with my sister for a bit since I miss her SOO much and she seemed to be feeling a tad better. It was sad to bye, but I'll be coming for more visits and more often. Today my mom is taking me shopping, and then around 1 I am meeting with my friend Tiffany and her husband for lunch. I am so happy to see her, I haven't seen her since 2005 and I miss her so much!! Tonight I tink I'll be hanging out with and old high school friend, Christy, and probably go grab coffee or something. Then tomorrow my mom, grandma and I will go have an early lunch before they drop me off at the airport.

I am so happy I was able to make this spur or the moment trip. I was so good to see everyone and it really helped me sort things out as to where I see myself for the next couple years. As much as I miss my friends and family, Portland is home for now. Eventually I'd love to move back down, especially when I begin my own family but when we do I'd like to live in either the Huntington/Newport/Irvine areas or in San Diego, this way it'll give us a good amount of time to save so we can afford to live in areas like that. I have also decided I wont be taking the pastry chef position at Harrah's in San Diego, I don't know how I thouhgt I could be away from Vince for 6 weeks! So it's back to square one and I'm on the hunt for a job again.

Anyways when I get back home (to a computer that up to date, unlike my mom and dads dinosaur) I will load pictures of my trip. Hope all is well with everyone, take care.
B

I'm coming for a visit!

2008-02-12T20:11:00.001-08:00

It's short notice but I justed booked my flight tonight. I arrive at ONT at 5:35 on Thursday night. Yeah I know I left Vince on Valentines day but he knows how much I've been wanting to see my family so he had no problem. It will be a short-ish trip, I leave back home at 3pm on Monday. I even get to surprise my niece Hailey at school on Friday because he is recieveing an award. I want to make my rounds and get to see you all at some point! I'm SOOO excited to be getting a break from the cold and rain! WOOHOO!

Harrah's Rincon

2008-02-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

Woohoo, I got the externship at Harrah's Rincon in San Diego. I have mixed feelings though. I am very happy I will be getting paid (and well) and relieved I have something set up, but am scared to leave Portland. As much as I miss SoCal, Portland fits my no car situation nicely (due to the max). I will be sad to be away from Vince and Minnie (Charlie is coming with me!) hopefully we can last a 6 weeks apart. I am also worried that I will love being back in SoCal so much that I won't want to come back. Or what if I hate it so much from the heat that I want nothing more then to be back up in PDX. I really with there was a book that told all! Ok not really but I want to feel like I am 100% confident in what I choose.

Amazin' Glazin'

2008-02-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Vince, Kellen and I all went to Amazin' Glazin' last night. It's just like the place Color Me Mine, but Portland doesn't have those around here. Vince and I each painted mugs and Kellen painted a light switch and a vase. I forgot to take pictures of our master pieces before we left them to be glazed but when we pick them up on tuesday I'll take some pix.

Also too it snowed pretty good yesterday! Kellen got the most at her house in North Portland, about 6 inches. Ever where else in portland got about 3-4, but it stayed for most of the day until about 8 or 9 last night when it rained. Her and I went to the Forestry Museum yesterday morning to attend the Chocolate Fest, our school had a booth so we wanted to check it out. The place was seriously a choco-holics dream, they would have left the event in a chcolate coma.

I know I forgot to post an update about my Harrah's externship so here we go. I spoke with both the hiring manager and the pastry chef at the job fair a week or so ago. I gave out my resume, showed up in a nicely pressed chefs coat, and tried my best to impress. Basically my next step is about 6 weeks before my externship I am to email the hiring manager and request him to send me my gaming licence packet, my background check and my drug chek packet. Then I fill all that good stuff out and send it back. So how it sounds to me (since in Ca. a background and drug check is only given when offered employment) is that as long as I succuessfully finish my courses and pass all my pre employment stuff, I'm in. But I'm sure I'll find out better in detail after I send the dude that email. So if i end up doing my externship at Harrah's Rincon in San Diego I would be coming down to Riverside around March 29th but wouldn't have to start till April 7th, since the week before I begin my externship is Spring break. I'm excited I'll have a whole week to see you all!!!!

Externship

2008-01-27T18:41:00.000-08:00

Since I have switched from the degree program to the diploma program my externship date has been moved up quite a bit. I now go out on my externship April 7th and it goes untill May 16th. I have my graduation ceremony on May 3rd (my brother and sisters birthday. So far I have applied at both Cupcake Jones (just like Sprinkles for those of you in SoCal) and Cool Moon. I just recieved an email from the main externship lady in career services saying they have just been informed that the pastry chefs from both Harrah's in Tahoe and Harrah's Rincon in San Diego will be attending the career fair tomorrow specifically looking for pastry students. Woohoo, this means if some how I'm able to land my externship there, I would be living back in Riverside for at least 6 weeks. Then if they want to hire me after my externship I might even have the opportunity to live back in So. Cal. again. But I won't get too hopeful yet =)
Anyways, I'll let ya'll know how it goes when I get home tomorrow.

Joel

2008-01-20T21:53:00.000-08:00

Remember a few entrys back I wrote about my friend, Joel, from Ohio came out for a visit? Well he sent me a picture he took of the 2 of us while walking through the Pearl. Well here we are!

Bishops Salon

2008-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

Yep, I finally went and got my hair cut. I was trying to wait till I made it back down to Southern California so I could visit my old stylist, Alex, but I didn't see that happening anytime soon. I can't believe its been since June that I last got my hair cut! I was usually the type to go every 6-8 weeks, so I was miserable going 7 months! I was just so nervous to try and find a new salon up here. The last couple month I have been so sick of my hair and my ends were needing help, so I browsed around online and found Bishops salon. They have about 5 location in the Portland area but I chose the salon in the Pearl. For one I knew where it was and how to get there and two I figured if its in the Pearl they should be able to do a great job. I walked in yesterday morning hoping they had an available spot or if not that I could get an appt. for later that day. Sure enough a stylist named Crystal (who's usually booked up a month in advanced) just had a client cancel so she agreed to take me. Crystal was super nice, way friendly (it seriously seemed like we had been friends for years), and her style was awesome. I basically told her some styles I've had in the past that I liked but for the most part let her do what she thought would look best. I love my new hair cut and style!! I'm so happy I have found someone in Portland I love doing my hair as much as Alex back home!

Columbus Ohio

2008-01-17T20:18:00.001-08:00

Yay, I have plans on taking a trip to Columbus Ohio! My friend Joel can pretty much guarentee me an externship at a bakery he used to work at. I'm not sure I want to be away for 6 weeks, but I think th eopportunity would be great! Even if I don't do my externship out there, I'm still planning a trip at the end of Feb. to go visit Joel and see the city. I'm so happy, it's been almost a year since my last flight, I l-o-v-e flying!!

New Friends

2008-01-14T20:42:00.000-08:00

Awhile ago, when Portland was just still in the plannings, Vince and I thought about renting a house with one other person or something. I began searching on craigslist and roommate.com. I found 1 add on craigslist I liked, he was 29, had a friendly dog, and was also thinking about attending WCI, so I responded to him and we began emailing back and fourth regularly. Well Vince and I ended up finding a 1 bedroom and Joel (the guy from the add) desided to stay in Ohio and not move to Oregon. Every now and then I would get and email from him asking how school was going and whatnot. I would also randomly email him just dropping in to say hi and stuff. I found out his dad lived in Olympia, Wa. and he was wanting to come out to visit him and we touched on meeting up for coffee or something. Well last week he flew into Seattle, Wa. where his dad piced him up. He spen 1 night at his dads house, and then came out to see me. Last Thursday we met up, I picked him up from the train station and him, Kellen and myself went to lunch, Joel and I hung out that night and he met Vince. His friend from Sherriden Oregon came and picked him up and he stayed the weekend out there. Today he came back into Portland and we hung out some more, he's a really cool guy and we had a lot of fun hanging out. He reminds myself a lot of me, and it makes me miss how I used to travel a lot and meet new people. We went down and walked through the Pearl and he took some cool pictures, we grabbed lunch and coffee. We were caught in the rain and got soaking wet! Eventually we made our way back to the train station and I saw him off. He is headed up to Olympia, Wa. (well actually he's probably just arriving, lol) right now, but unfortunately he is ending his vacation early. Him and his dad are headed on a flight to Florida tomorrow morning because he found out his Grandmother is not doing well. We plan to stay in touch, in fact he want to move to SoCal since the industry is good for what he does out there. I love making new friends!

Cannon Beach

2008-01-13T10:10:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Kellen and I had a whole girls days out and about. We started our day out with a shopping trip to Old Navy, they were having a huge clearance sale. I was able to get 2 fleece pullovers for $3.99ea. and 2 scarfs for $1.49ea. I was so excited, especially since the cold weather still has at least 4 more months up here so everything will still be useful. I think I might go back today and look at jeans and some shirts I saw. Then after Old Navy we grabbed coffee and headed out to Cannon Beach (where the famous Haystack Rock is from The Goonies). The ride there is gorgeous! You take the 26 and it winds through mossy wooded areas. Even with all many of the trees being bare since its winter they all still looked so green because of the moss, really cool! As we got closer there was plenty of snow on the ground ( the roads had been cleared by then). The drive was so nice, we talked, laughed, blasted music, it was great! We finally got to cannon beach and we browsed through all the cute coastal shops. We grabbed lunch at this cute restaurant called Fireside, yum! Then we made it down to the shore, it was freezing but it was so beautiful. The sun peeked through the clouds directly on haystack rock. I didn't realize how huge the rock was! When we got back home we watched the last episode of Dexter then headed out to Gaya Gaya for sushi (it was my first time) where we met up with Alicia ans Kathleen. I tried it, I hated it. The place has awesome reviews and everyone else liked it but it's just not for me. I had a roll stuffed with crab and then had bbq eel wrapped around it. I popped it in my mouth, began chewing and thought I was going to barf. The texture was disgusting, I didn't want to spit it out so I just swallowed, but since it wasn't chewed well enough I gagged and got rice stuck up my nose. Finally I was able to choke it down but that was the end of my sushi adventures. At least I can say I've tried it now. Anyways here are some picture from our day.

Ellen

2008-01-08T16:17:00.001-08:00

When I come for a visit (hopefully), I am totally going to go see the Ellen show. I'll wake up at 2am to get in line, I love her show!

Baby News

2008-01-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

Just want to say congrats to our friends Eric, he recently had his first baby on the 28th. He had a daughter, her name is Charlie Simone. She was born at 8:38 am and weight 6lbs 15oz and was 18 inches. So far I only have phone pictures but she's a cutie!

Brunch

2008-01-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

I'm putting on a brunch tomorrow for Vince and some friends of ours, I'm very excited to be entertaining. I'll be making crepes with an assortment of fillings. The filling will be both sweet and savory. There will be strawberry, blueberry, and peach fillings, along with a sweet cream cheese, and whipped cream. There will also be egg with grilled ham and cheese, this way its not all sweet. I think I'll also have some jalapeno and cheddar filled croissants and some kind of muffins like zucchini carrot nut muffins.

Oh and on a side note. Vince and I might be making a visit the very first week in April for my spring break. This all depends if he get the job or not, if he gets it we will visit, and if not we will just wait till we move back down. We will be driving down with both the dog and cat, and probaly be staying at his parents house. My last day of school is March 28th so we were thinking of waking up ultra early the 29th and ddriving down. Then we would stay up to a week, depending on what Vince can get off work, then driving back up.

Interview

2008-01-04T08:33:00.000-08:00

Vince had his interview for a permanent position yesterday at work. He will know in about 2 week if he got the job or if he will stay contract. Most of you know the worries I have. I want him to do well and I know he can if he gets the job, but getting the job also means we will stay here for at least 1 more year come August so he can get at least 2 years total experience under his belt. If he didn't get the job we would be moving back at the end of July when our lease is up. It also could mean his contract could end before July or he wont find a job paying this much in So. Cal. Either way, I am feeling much less anxcious. I am still missing many family and friends but I know a lot of that has to do with me being out of school for break right now, once I go back on Monday and my mind is busy again I'm sure I'll be fine.

Anyways here he is in his new suit, I think it looks mighty fine on him. It makes me want to go back to the Magic Castle (that was the only other time I saw him in a suit).

Goals for 2008

2008-01-01T09:47:00.001-08:00

1. Strive to find a paid externship in a cake shop.
2. Save money.
3. Move back down to Southern California.
4. Find a job either in cake decorating or I'll try to get re-hired at Lewis (which ever I can make more at)
5. If the market stays down go house shopping (I've been browsing recently and although its not the coolest place around, Beaumont has some good houses for under 200K. I've found a cute 2bed 2bath for 169,000). If not find a house with nice sized yard to rent.
6. Most importantly, live happy surrounded by family and friends!

2007-12-29T19:11:00.000-08:00

Tonight I called my dad and we had a long conversation. I needed some dad-ly advice, and he's so good with words. It's been kind of hard on my being away from family for the holidays so I just need a little bit of reassurance that everything will be ok. I also have been thinking of switching from the degree program to the diploma program. Mostly because I will be getting the exact same education. The only classes I won't be getting that i would be in I stayed in the degree is the 2 culinary classes and the gen. ed. This would save me about $12,000 and I really only need the pastry knowledge. I don't want to go into the culinary field and the gen ed. doesn't transfer to a 4yr. Anyways after giving me advise and thinking it over I think I will be switching and striving to move back down to Socal when my lease is over here at the end of July.

My Dad!

2007-12-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

My dad sent me this picture of him at the lake in the mountains. Aww i love my dad <3

Homesick

2007-12-27T15:01:00.001-08:00

I want to go back home for a visit. Its a bummer Vince is just contract so he has no vacation. I would love to be back in SoCal right now with family! I miss 'em!

I have this silly idea in my head that if Vince is off next Monday and Tuesday I want to pack things in the truck tomorrow night along with the dog and cat and head down to home, then drive back up on Tuesday. I know its sill and is such a LONG drive for such a short amount of time but I just want to hug my family. Of course it would be much easier to fly but i can't take Minnie and Charlie on a plane and Charlie would freak if he had to go in cargo. Anyways just my silly imagination at work, wishing I was closer to home.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T09:10:00.000-08:00

Well its both Vince's and my first Christams with no family. I've been out of the house before but always close enough to drive to see family. It's kinda sad and hard for us both at times but we are enjoying the time Vince and I have together.

The package from his parents came yesterday, we were completely spoiled by them. Even the pets got gifts =) The package from my parents is still on its way, my mom said it should be here by New Years (maybe it's her and my dad... one can hope).

Other then the holidays I am enjoying my 2 week winter break! Vince goes back to work tomorrow, bummer. I don't really have many other plans except I will be volunteering at the Portland Childrens Museum for the day camps they put on during break for parents who still have to work but the children are on break. That way I'm not sitting around the house bored with nothing to do.

Well, take care everyone!!! Love ya!
B

Chocolate covered strawberry mousse cake

2007-12-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

This was my timed pratical final for my custards and mousse course. I made a chocolate covered strawberry mousse cake. I had to be done in 3hrs, and I was able to do mine from start to finish in 2 1/2. I only missed 1/2 point for it not being as chilled as it could have, but I did recieve the higest score!

My friend Brooke and I (my shoulders look huge in the top picture, and the camera slipped while Brooke was taking the lower picture, lol.)

More Mousse!

2007-12-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

This is my layered frozen mousse cake I made today. The yellowish layer on top is mango, the bottom mousse layer is coconut and the base is a ladyfinger sponge. On top is sliced mango, toasted coconut and creme chantilly around the edge. The coconut and mango paired so well together!

The Sara's

2007-12-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

Me and the Sara(h)'s, Sarah R. on my right and Sara M. on my left. Sara is my MAX buddy in the mornings, well only till this Friday, bummer. She will be going to Mt. Hood C.C. come Jan. 7th.

No one was quite sure why Sara did this, but I found it to be entertaining, good thing Chef didn't see.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-S-E... huh?

2007-12-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sorry for some of the crappy pictures, I had forgotten my camera a for few days and had to use my phone.

One of many mousse cakes I've made in the past week. Orange mousse cheesecake with a chocolate sable and genoise base.

Charlotte royale, I forgot to get a picture before I cut into it. Raspberry jellyroll shell with a vanilla bavarian filling, garnished with creme chantilly and chocolate filigree.

Chocolate mousse cake with chocolate glaceage and ribbon sponge and almond joconde sponge.

St Honore cake (saint of baking) and the small rings are Paris Brest.

Just some mini bavarian mousse with chocolate glaceage, just some extra stuff I did.

Wish me luck!

2007-12-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

Ok so I don't NEED a job right now, but I applied for a pantry cook position with Papa Haydn's today. Papa Haydn's is a really nice upscale restaurant that not only has amazing desserts and pastries but does catering and custom wedding cakes as well. If I get this pantry position it would totally get my foot in the door to be able to get a possible paid externship there with them as a pastry chef! Oh and by the way, I might be graduating in May instead of November. I am thinking of switching from the associates program to the diploma program. The only difference is that I would not be taking the 2 culinary courses for the P&B program and I wouldn't be doing the general ed. (which I found out isn't accepted as transferable credit to many universities if I ever wanted to go on to get a bachelors somewhere). It would also save me about $12,000. I have spoke with the dean of my program and I feel confident I can go out there with the skills I will continue to learn in my advanced pastry courses, and get a fantastic externship/job. I haven't came to a final decision yet but am leaning towards switching. I plan on making my decision over winter break.

Cupcakes

2007-12-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking of getting a new tattoo while I'm in Portland and in school to become a pastry chef. Here are the 2 ideas I'm working with.

I also have found this company called Johnny Cupcake. I am in love with a purse they have for sale, but couldnt imagine spending the $249 for it, I'm not that bit of a purse girl. Johnny Cupcake also has a hoodie & shirt I like, I think im gonna buy the hoodie.

Rotations

2007-12-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

My school doesn't work on the normal quarter, semester, type deal. Oddly enough, it took me awhile to realize this. Basically we work in 3 week rotaions, every 3 weeks you go on to the next course. During that 3 week period you have 3 practicals, 3 one week block worth of check offs, 2 written tests, and 1 large individual written project. The class is on based on 1 subject and through out the 3 weeks you are taught various products of that subject. Weekly we have check off sheets and we have to produce and present everything on the list (usually about 10-15 items) and have the sheet turned in by Fridays. Things for check offs don't have to be perfect (this is our learning time). On Fridays we have the practicals, which is products from the weeks learnings, ( per Chef choice), that we have to create, plate/present in a timed and graded process. Also on the 1st and 3rd Fridays we have a written test of what we have learned up to that point. And once in every 3 week rotation, usually during the 3rd week sometime, we have a project due. This is usually writting a research or thesis story and presentaions.

So far I am 15 weeks down and still maintaining my 4.0! Currently I am in the first week of a new rotation, which is the International custards and fillings class. So far we have made creme brulee, creme caramel, pots de creme, clafoutis, bread pudding, and apple charlotte. I have come to realize, the only thing I like about creme brulee is cracking the sugar, other then that I'm not a huge fan of classic flavored creme brulee.

The pies are done!

2007-11-22T13:05:00.001-08:00

Charlie likes pie too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with family and friends! And lots of tasty food =)

We will be spending the evening, for dinner, in Vancouver, Wa. at our friends house, along with some friends from Wilsonville. I am just finishing up my apple and pecan pies so our apartment smells delicious! After the pies are finished I'll make some caramel sauce and creme chantilly.

Laminated doughs

2007-11-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

This week I started a new course in laminated doughs/puff doughs, and we finally were able to move up to the 5th floor and switchs chefs. Laminated doughs can be a big pain in the butt when you first start them and they are so time consuming. Its called laminated because there is a butter (beurrage) part and a dough(detrempe) part and either you incase the beurrage in the detrempe or the detrempe in the beurrage. I prefer working with inverse dough which is detrempe incased in the beurrage, since the beurrage has flour added to it and makes for a more workable dough when pulled from the walk in. A lot of people prefer ordinary puff dough because they think it's easier, but the finished product looks nicer with inverse in my opinion. Once one is incased around the other you fold it with either tri-fold or 4-fold to get a mellifuille look or 1000 layers. After evey time you roll out and make another fold, you have to chill the paton(package) to ensure layers wont leak. After all turns are finished you roll or sheet out the dough to 3mm thick and cut out shapes to make your products and chill again... basically you chill after everytime you handle the dough, it get old real quick! We made all sorts of things this week, turnovers filled with an apple compote, fruit bands with pastry creme and fresh fruit, creme horns, jalousie, palmiers, cheese straws, chausson with apple compote, vol au vents filled with a mushroom newburd, bouchees filled with mushroom newburg, and pithiviers filled with almond creme ( this was my favorite). For our practical yesterday, in 4 hrs we had to laminate a puff dough of our choice and make one 8 inch pithivier, 4 apple turnovers, 4 bouchees filled with our choice, 4 vol au vents filled with pastry creme and topped with fruit. I wish I would have taken more pictures, especially of my products yesterday. I was the first one done with the best production, I also got the higest score of 95 and boths chefs in the class gave be wonderful comments. I was so happy! I can see such a huge improvement it everything I do, especially my work speed and efficiency, from when I started. Here is a picture of apple turnovers and chaussons from tuesday or wednesday, I really wish I would have taken pictures of yesterdays products, especially my vol au vents (they were gorgeous).

1111

2007-11-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

Some friends of mine from school to me out to dinner tonight downtown at an awesome Irish pub called Kells. This place has such good food, all classic Irish dishes and way hearty. It was somewhat of an impromptu birthday gathering, but Kellen still brought me a little gift and card, and it was the cutest thing!

Last week on Halloween Kellen came over right after class to stay the night and go to fright town. As we were walking to the Chipotle for lunch, just a few blocks from school, we passed this place called Russian Glass. I've seen this place before but from afar on the MAX, but walking I noticed more detail as to what the store had inside. Right by the window was all sorts of hand blown glass animal and flowers. I thought the animals were all so cute and kept "oooh-ing". Well tongiht Kellen pulled out this little box and said Happy Birthday, so I read the card and opened the gift. Inside was a little glass cow, whish is super special for 2 reasons. 1 she not only remembered how cute I thought the silly glass figurines were but she also remembered her and I both have an FFA and agriculture background and both raised cattle, which is why she chose the cow. To me thats super special! Here a picture of "Kell's" the cow :)

Dessert Buffet Final

2007-11-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

The final in my basic pastry class was to create a petit four dessert buffet platter. It had to include 5 catagories. The whole project was worth about 500 points and about 40%of our final grade. I ended up getting a 95% on the project and was really please how everything turned out. I wished I could have used brighter colors but in the fall its hard to get frest fruits to brightent things up.

From left to right; Petit for Glace product- chocolate glazed gingerbread cakes, sponge product- pistashio financiers, baked meringue product- meringue mushrooms, dough product- coconut pecan caramel cookies, and finally petit four sec product- langues de chat (cats tongue)

We were encouraged to make things we have yet to make in class and to try formulas from other books other then the ones we use for class, so all of them except the mushrooms came from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook, a book I recieved from Nicole as a going away present :)

Meringue mushroom on top a slice of kiwi on top a mint leaf... I love this photo

Squirrels part 2

2007-11-04T18:07:00.001-08:00

Well it has come to a whole new level of obsession! All day Charlie goes back and fourth from the back sliding glass door to the living room staring out the window at squirrels in the trees. When we go on walks he has to sniff and jump on every single tree, and while we are in between trees he is pulling me like a sled dog. Now to top it all off the dog park has now become the squirrel park. All charlie wants to do is stalk the trees for squirrels, running from tree to tree, jumping as high as he can hoping to leap on to a branch. I think he has issues, its time to call in Cesar... The Dog Whisperer!

I really hope squirrels are only around in the fall, and as soon as winter rolls around I will get the old Charlie back, and if so, by next fall he will be over the whole squirrel thing.

Charlie all pooped out, yet still has his eyes high up in the trees, huning squirrels!

Awhile back I had wrote about how Charlie is obsessed with squirrels, remember?

Everyone's moving!

2007-11-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

I found out today that an old friend of mine, Curtis, might be moving to Portland. He actually might be moving as soon as Monday if all goes as planned. He used to be a supervisor of mine back when I worked at Cost Plus 3+ years ago. It'll be nice to see him, hang out and add more fun to Portland!

Ya'll should join in on the trend and make the move too :)

PDX Zombie Walk

2007-11-01T15:11:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday evening Vince, Steve T., Drea, and I dressed up like zombies and joined in on the annual Portland zombie walk. I was seriously the coolest thing we have done so far in Portland! There were 600+ people at the walk, everyone from little kids with parents to old couples. It began in Pioneer Square and we walked through out downtown Portland on a pre-detemined route. Here is the link to the PDX Zombie Walk flickr page http://www.flickr.com/groups/60784064@N00/pool/

And here are a couple pictures of me! Isn't the bow a cute added touch, lol?!

For November the random event is said to be a Spaceman vs. Viking event in downtown but has yet to be determined. December 8th is the annual Santacon!!! I am so looking forward to joining in on the 500+ santas! ( find out is there's a santacon near you... www.santarchy.com)

Bank of Each Individual State

2007-10-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Today I went for a walk to Target and the Halloween store by my house looking for makeup for the Portland Zombie Walk. Well somewhere along the way walking from Target to Spirit I lost my debit card. I was bummed, but down a block and across the street is a Bank of America. I figure I would walk there so I can put a stop on the card and order a new one, plus pull out some cash so I can get the makeup. Well it turns out since it is a Ca. acct. and I am in Oregon, I can't touch my money with out a debit card. I can put a stop on the card but thats about it, with out the debit card I'm screwed! The new card isn't being sent out till tuesday, and will take 3-5 day to get here. So untill then my $ is being held captive by Bank of EIS (see the blog title)

Before the leaves fall

2007-10-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

As requested by my siste, but for everyones enjoyment =) This is what fall should look like. It has alwasy been my favorite season, but never have I experienced it more beautifully first hand. This is Portland in the Fall time! (except the 1st picture... thats Beaverton)

The Melting Pot

2007-10-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Vince and I went out to dinner at The Melting Pot with some friends of mine from school. OMG, the food was so freakin' good! We started off with cheese fondue, one pot had spinach, artichoke cheese, and the other was a WI. trio with a cooking wine. The cheeses were served with bread, apples, and veggies. Next was salad, Vince and I chose the California salad, baby spinach, spring mix, blue cheese crumbs, and a tomato vinegrette dressing. For the entres we had an assortment of filet minon, sirloin, some other type of steak, chicken breast, shrimp, green pepper ravioli, and mushroom ravioli, with cok au vue and mojo cooking styles. Lastly was dessert, we had a pot of "snickers," a mixture of milk chocolate, crunchy peanut butter, and caramel, the other was dark chocolate with raspberry. The snickers was amazing. Dessert was served with a plate of various bite sized desserts, strawberries, chocolate marshmallow, marshmallows, brownies, cheesecake, poundcake, and a couple other tasty things.

Here's a picture of the group.

Brooke, Heather, Kathleen and her boyfriend Izzy, Me, Vince ( We have no clue why he is making that face, lol), and Kellen (loved her dress and hair!)

The Great Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Vince and I took a trip out to The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island. It was such a cute place, and huge. It was the BIGGEST field of pumpkins I have ever seen. The place also had a large corn maze, and to find your way through you had to answer questions about oregon or figure your way out by trial and error. There was also a fresh produce market, a cage, u-pick flowers, u-pick produce, and entertainment, this place goes all out.

Charlie and I in the corn maze.

Charlie and Vinny in the maze.

Charlie led me the correct ways most of the time. Horray! We made it alive!

Field o'Pumpkins

I found the way the tree was trimmed to be amusing.

Steel Bridge, in the rain getting on the 5.
Steel Bridge again, I think this is my fovorite bridge. I cross this every morning to and from school =)

It's not a hicky!

2007-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

I burnt myself on my neck on Friday. Yep, I've got 2 rungs on my "bakers ladder" on my left arm (Chef Bruce calls it that because if you look at most bakers arms in the industry they have burn marks going up their arms from sheet pans eventually it begins to look like you have a ladder) and figured I would have a complete ladder with in a few months at the rate we're all goin, but never thought I would burn myself on my neck of all places. It looks like a odd shaped hicky, especially today, here is what it looked like yesterday.

In other news, I have bread coming out my ears! I can't believe how much bread we make. A whole section of our counter top at home is consumed my bread, and this is after donanting half to the resturant, sending some up to the student lounge, and handing some out downtown or on the MAX to anyone who asks. This next week we are learning rich doughs, 2 more weeks of bread and I move on to beginning pastry. Here are a few picture of some breads I have made, now this is only things I have made in 1 day.

Pretzels, freakin' yummy!

Baguette, shaped like wheat

Vienna

Boul of honey butter oat bread

and the daily (2 of the 3) baguettes for the resturant

So I knew it would be cold here and I was really looking forward to it, but its really flippin cold! Its great! I can wear winter clothes and not feel stuffy after walking around outside for a bit. Portlands fall feels like the winters I used to have back in Riverside, but much less drab. The trees are gorgeous, the sky is cloudy but the sun peeks through every now and then, the air is crisp, the rain drops are HUGE and appear so randomly, its great!

dang squirrels!

2007-10-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

The streets I take Charlie for on his walks is lined with acorn trees, which make for a beautiful fall but also make for a heck of a walk with Charlie. With the acorn trees come squirrels, Charlie loves small fast fuzzy things. They drive him nuts! All he can think about the moment we start heading down the street is SQUIRRELS! At every tree he must sniff, jump and attempt to seek out the fuzzy tailed "toys" These squirrels are very strange, they are completely safe high up in the tree we are about to walk by, but noooo they have to run down the tree, then once at the bottom sit in the "praire" dog fashion, then chatter their little squirrel talk, and run across the street to the trees over there. By the time we get back to the house Charlie has completely forgotten we went on a walk and insists we go on another, whinning and huffing all through the house. I swear, sometimes I feel like I am raising a toddler!

Wrong keys

2007-09-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I locked myself out of my apartment. Yep, I went to take Charlie for his walk after getting changed from my uniform when I got home from school and I locked us out. I grabbed what I thought were my keys, but when we got back from our walk I realized I had grabed the keychain with the laundry room and mail key on it and not my house keys, ugh! Not only did I grab the wrong key but I locked my phone in the house too, so I couldnt call Vince. I figured it was around 140, and I knew Vince went in a hour early so he would be getting off at 330 so he should be home by 4, he actually didnt get home till 430, almost 3 hrs outside! I guess I could have knocked on someones door and asked to use their phone but I just felt kind of weird. So Charlie and I waited and walked and waited some more, through the rain, hail, wind and cold. Once Vince got home I told him my story and then took a nice hot shower. Next time I'll double check I picked up the keys on the green keychain, my keys :)

Breads = Tired

2007-09-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have been taking an earlier Max to school this week so I can get there @ 6:00 and have a whole hour head start on bread. Chef Bruce said if we wanted to complete this weeks check list we would probably have to use any extra time available to us before and after class, boy was he right. I've been staying the 2 hours of lab after class as well. I think by Thursday morning we were all a bit loopy from lack of sleep, Sarah especially!

I finished everything on the check list this week (woohoo, 1st time). We're not actually expected to do everything on the list, since this is just intro., but if you do it just looks way nutty :)

Here are a couple pictures from today while we were just finishing up with the practicals of what we learned this week.
The first is Sarah expressing her feelings of the week, and the second is me, this how us bakers play sports!!

Gordon Ramsay

2007-09-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

I found out that Gordon Ramsays at The London in West Hollywood opens Feb. 2008. Woohoo this means I can aim to do my externship there. My externship doesnt actually begin till next Aug. but this gives me plenty of time to get all my contacts and be as prepared as I can be for when all the extern interviews and whatnot roll around.

Bread

2007-09-26T13:58:00.001-07:00

Bread, bread and more bread! This week is bread week, the last portion of the intro class. Every morning we have to make 3 baguettes of pain ordinare., along with 2-3 bread items after demo. I really enjoy making bread, I'm happy the class we move onto after this intro class is our breads class :) So far we have made the baguettes out of pain ordinare, milk rolls from pain au late, beer rock out of soft dough, white pan bread, a sweet dough (being made into cinnimon rolls tomorrow), and savarin dough. Tomorrow we will be finishing the cinnamon rolls, finishing the savarin ( to be plated with creme anglaise, creme chantilly, and a fruit coulis), tortillas, pita, and focaccia. Friday our practical is the baguettes and milk rolls, I have been kickin but this week and getting everything pushed out in time so Friday should be no problem. Ill post pictures soon of some of the breads so far.