Oh my goodness!! THREE MONTHS since my last post!!! This one is going to be quick-as I am on my lunch break at work! HA! So much has happened and STILL happening...I DID graduate over this past weekend!! WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! So emotional!!! Will be posting some pics about that later...but...what I really want to know is what would YOU...as readers, like to see in this blog?? I feel that I've been a bit "self-absorbed" and perhaps may have gotten away from what I initially wanted to do here....so...I know its been a while, and except for what I have cooked at work, I haven't really had the chance to be "creative" at all...BUT...I am hoping to get back to that...and SOON!!! So PLEEEEEEEZZZZZ bear with me and know that I am still out here, In Chardon, OH...cooking for NUNS!!! HAHA!!! <Love them!!!> Ok...let me know please...is anybody out there??? Ciao for now! Butter

A New Beginning!!!

So MUCH has happened from the last time I was here!!! "Graduated" school in December, (that just means that school was over for me, but I intend to "walk" in June) The last day that I was officially a student, I had a showing at Portfolio Review which was held at a venue with other graduating students of all majors. I had a booth set up (with the help of my awesome boss and friend, Jackie), and the whole day was dedicated to showing off our work to potential employers. I was the only culinary person there, so I didn't think that there would be any employers there that would be interested in me...meaning that most all of the other students there were either Graphic/Fashion/Interior Design students-so invites were sent to those that would be interested in hiring them. ANYHOO-I did meet one gentleman from Aladdin Food Management Services and he looked at my portfolio and we had a 2 1/2 hour interview. Long story short he offered me a job as a Sous Chef for The Sisters of Notre Dame Convent in Chardon, OH. However, he wanted me to come and "audition" for the current chef and some of the integral Sisters. I went to Chardon about a week after that for my 2nd interview and long story short...I GOT THE JOB!!!

After spending some time in Ohio for the holidays, I went back to Pittsburgh to start getting ready for the new journey. I was still living in student housing-I had no idea how I was going to get to Chardon, where I was going to live there, how I was going to get back and forth to work-and how I was going to pay for it all! I knew that once my income tax refund came, I would be able to facillitate all of that, but it took WEEKS to get my W2! When I finally got it and filed-it took a few weeks to get my refund. I was SO distressed and depressed because I thought that maybe I had "jumped the gun" on this whole job offer without thinking about it more clearly. I had no reasonable plan of action, I just hoped and prayed that everything would work out okay.

My new employers and The Sisters were/are soo good to me. I contacted them frequently over the course of two months keeping them updated on my situation-see without any money...I couldn't do anything!! I even told them that while I appreciated their patience with me, it was not my intention to take advantage of it and continue to drag this thing out....I told them that I would totally understand if they wanted to hire someone else to fill the position sooner, and I would just return home to Columbus...but they wouldn't hear of it and well....here I am!

So I found a UBER CUTE apartment!!! On the 12th floor overlooking a forest!! Here are some of the pics on the first day of move in...no furniture to speak of then, and a month later-STILL no furniture!! I sleep on an air mattress in the living room!!! (it's really kinda fun!!)

Sunken Living Room!

I guess you could call this the dining area, but I intend to put my pc there (when I get it working!)

The kitchen!!! The ONLY room that is completely put together! lol <imagine that! lol>

The bedroom...

Bathroom...

Annnndddddd.....

MY CAR!!!! WOOT WOOT!!! (It belonged to one of the Sisters and I got it for a BARGIN!!! God is SOOO GOOD!!!)

So there ya have it...Life's been a tad bit hectic!!! lol Now I'm working in a Convent, and I actually enjoy it! Never thought I would be living anywhere NEAR Cleveland...but whattya gonna do??? Now I just need to put some furniture in my apartment, exploring the area for new restaurants and events to get involved in...another new beginning...its really weird but...I'm loving it so far!!! Hopefully will get a chance in the very near future to reveiw a new place or make something really good with local product...we"ll see...*sigh* Ok gotta run, no pc in the apartment so I gotta use the one in the "Business Center" =2 extremely old and SLOOOOOW  Dell pc's!! LOL 

Thanks for sticking with me!! I'm HERE man...I'm HERE!!!! *chuckles*