Summer Vacation

As most of you know by now, I am currently with out employment. I have been since the end of July. It was an interesting turn of events. Something that no one was expecting. But I decided to take advantage of the situation and take the rest of the summer off.

I have spent the last month and a half working on a small business for my self, trying to be a good house"girlfriend", taking care of my Aunts, and traveling. I'm finally getting to do the things I wanted to be doing but couldn't because of job constraints.

As soon as this month is over the Job Hunt will begin. Stay tuned to see "What I Did on My Summer Vacation".

Love is in the air...

So we celebrated our 9th anniversary. Some people aren't even married that long. People are always surprised when we say how long we've been together. I love him, I really, really do. I'm pretty sure he loves me too.

This is us before we ever knew each other. We met because of that girl between us, Kristin. One of my best friends from High School. A her neighbor, who was a teacher at an elementary school in Streamwood, needed some extra counselors for a week long camping trip for his 6th grade class. Kristin asked me if I'd be interested and I had no problem skipping a week of school my senior year. Gordon was a student of this teacher when he was in the 6th grade and invited him to be one of the counselors as well. He caught my eye and I caught his. Over the week we talked a bit. Very friendly, great laugh, liked the same bands as I did, but alas... he had a girlfriend (they always do). I gave him my number at the end of the week and we parted ways. Life went on as normal and then he called me. We became friends. I flirted a little more than I should have with a guy that had a girlfriend. But, hey I was young, about to graduate, spend my summer in Germany and then move to Rhode Island for college. What have I got to lose? Well it must have worked because 26 days after meeting Gordon he was no longer with his girlfriend, he was with me. This is one of my favorite pictures of us. It was taken right before I left for college.

This is us now. It was taken a couple weeks ago at Kathryn and Sean's wedding. We look a little older, we drink a lot more, and we have a wonderful life together.

I made a few friends when I moved here via Craig's List. Below are (left to right) Ali and Liz. Deanna is taking the picture. In February Liz and her husband bought a house in New Jersey. People in Philadelphia love to make fun of people that live in Jersey. So we gave Liz a hard time about moving out of the city. One night while drinking too much Ali and I decided to get Liz a beadazzler for her birthday. We bought an extra one and made T-shirts. The heart on our shirts are beadazzled. We painted pottery on a rainy day. It was a lot of fun. I made a bowl for our keys.

In June my sweet friend Maria was having her baby shower. I wanted to be there so badly but couldn't take the time off at work because I was already taking time off for a wedding a few weeks later. I made her a quilt and a swaddler. I'm working on making a lot more and plan on opening an Etsy shop to sell them.

In July we went home. It was a much needed break from work and from Philadelphia. The reason for the trip was to go to Kathyrn and Sean's wedding. It was beautiful. One of the best weddings we've been to. They both looked stunning, the day was perfect, and love was all around.

The ceremony was beautiful and brought more than one tear to my eye. The reception was wonderful. The food was good, I loved the soup until I got it on my dress. Sean set up the play list for the DJ to play during the reception and all of it was perfect. We danced, we sang, and we had a blast. This is one of my favorite pictures of the happy couple.

Gordon is not big on dancing until he's had a few drinks... then watch out! Its fun.

I fully believe in wedding registries. They guarantee you're going to get something you want whether its coming from a distant relative, a coworker, or that guy your parents know that they made you invite. For my closest and most special of friends I have been giving a more personal wedding gift. I did it for Maria & Dan, Kristin & Robbie, and now Kathryn & Sean. I have been making quilts for the past 10 years. I love them. They make you warm and have a sense of comfort that I always hope will be with whom ever I give them to. Kathryn and Sean said that they loved it and that makes me happy.

2009 has been a good year so far. I am going to really really try to keep up with this. See ya next time.

...Continued

The last 6/7 months, the photo version...

My birthday got pushed forward so that we could have GTP at our place. It was a good party with all the fixing's: a broken toilet, someone passed out on the coats, someone singing off key to an Elton John song, and an obnoxious drunk. Good times at GTP. Can't wait for the next one.

We went home for Christmas. Gordon's birthday is 2 days before Christmas so everyone was in town and we were able to go out and celebrate. The jean jacket was from me.

Christmas eve we were at my mom's house. It was fun. Everyone got great stuff. I got the dress form I was hoping for. I am working on my first dress so it's finally goting to get some use. Santa was good to us.

After dinner and gifts at my dad's Katie, Nick, Gordon and I went out for a few drinks. Kate and I get a little silly when we drink.

After Church Christmas morning I went back to Gordon's parent's house to open more gifts. This is where I got my Nuddle. Its kinda like the Snuggy but 10,000 times better.... way better. I love it. I use it all the time.

In March during my time off between jobs we went down to DC for a Fire game and to see the sites.

Gordon is so funny. There was actually a guy trying to take a similar picture but he was laying on the ground and from a particular angle you would think that the Washington monument was... his monument. That was funny.

The game was the first night we were in town. It was cold and rainy. But the Fire won so we had a great time!

While seeing the sights we were lucky enough to get to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. It was so beautiful.

In May we got the opportunity to go to another Fire game, this time in New York, well actually New Jersey but it was the New York team. Once again, the Fire won. On our way out of the stadium some girl stepped on the back of my flip flop and tore it completely off. I had to walk across the parking lot with only one shoe.

June and July are action packed months with baby showers and weddings. I spent a lot of time making presents for those occasions. There are more photos to come so stay tuned!

Hey there old friend...

... its been a while.

I really let my self go... in the blogging world that is. Since we last spoke I started a second job as a baker for a catering company/restaurant. It was fun but it slowly consumed my life. All through the holidays and into the new year I worked 2 jobs and had a very full social life. Book club was going great we added some new members.

During that time I became completely involved with the show Lost. I know I got on the bandwagon a little late so I seriously had some catching up to do before the new season started in January. Between Thanksgiving and the season 4 premier in mid January Gordon and I watched all of Lost. The hard part was then having to wait a whole week for the next episode. We love that show!

In February I was offered a job at a country club out in the burbs. It was a lot more money, health insurance and a double title of Sous Chef and Pastry Chef. I went back and forth about it. I mean, I deserve to just have one job, to have benefits, to make more money. But, I would have to leave the restaurant I love, give up my evenings and my Sundays off (that's a big one, Sunday is the only day that Gordon and I both had off all day together). But I took it. I didn't start till April. And, right at the end there was a lot of back and forth. The owner hired me. The Executive Chef said he was going to keep looking... uh I already gave my notice I won't have a job at all in a few days if you guys don't get your shit straight....It all worked out in the end. And I ended up getting a whole week off in between. I'm still at the club but I don't like it very much. But everything is a learning experience. I'll take what I can get out of it while I am there and when its time to move on I will feel no regrets.

With spring comes a new apartment. Something closer to work/night life (because 6 blocks wasn't close enough now Gordon 1 block from work and we can see our favorite bar from our living room window). Its smaller, has more character, cheaper, and will let us have a dog. I like it a lot.

This year marks Gordon and my 9th anniversary. Nine years ago we were just 2 kids with our whole lives in front of us. Now we are we. It was a long journey with ups and downs but we are together and that's what counts. I love him more and more every year that we are together. He's my best friend. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Summer is great. I love the heat, the sun staying up late, the BBQs, the weddings, and the soccer games. I love summer. We got to go home for a long weekend to celebrate our friend's, Kathryn and Sean, wedding. It was a blast. And it was a much needed trip home. I hadn't been there since Christmas.

there's more to come....

Now my work is on my skin....

...Permanently! And no, it's not another 3rd degree burn.

It's official, I have taken my work to the next level and had it tattooed on me forever. For over a year I have been wanting to get at tattoo of a pin up on my upper arm. Something really cool, something really hot... something really sexy in a vintage/food kinda way... I can't really describe it you'll just have to wait and see it. I haven't gotten it yet because my mom, my sister, and now Gordon are all saying I should wait because 'its not something I'm going to want in my wedding photos'. I say I can just cover it with make-up (they make really good make-up for that stuff now) or make sure my dress would cover it.

I'm waiting. I'm not happy about it but I'm waiting. But I'm not going to wait forever.

So I've been doing some tattoo browsing on the Internet hoping it would get me my tattoo fix and I would get by until the time was right. That's when it came to me. Something small, something food related, something cute, something me. Its not the best picture cuz I took it with my phone (our camera is broken, again). It's on my left wrist. Its a dessert fork and spoon. They are placed in the way they would be on a properly set table, just above the dinner plate. I love it. It's not as sexy as a pin up girl just wearing an apron and holding a chocolate layer cake with a cherry on top but its a start.

I'm really bad at this

It's not like I don't have the time to blog and it's not like I don't have the desire to blog. I just don't know why it's not getting done.

Update (the short short version): Chicago trip: It was fun. We drank too much everyday. I got sunburned, bad. We saw most of our friends. Wished we could have spent more time with them and with our families. We realized how much we miss Chicago and how it will always be home in our hearts.

Fun walk home: The other day I walked a different route home. It was a nice sunny day. While waiting at a red light I saw this:

Do you see him in there? Isn't he a cute little monkey? Who do you think put him here? He brightened my day.

Adventures in Project Runway: Some people I work with are always talking about going to the bar across the street from the restaurant to watch Project Runway on Wednesday nights. So this week I decided to go. They have this whole set up; Franny, a server at work, dresses up as Heidi and for a donation you can participate in the challenge. The only problem is that you spend so much time working on your model that you miss what is happening in the show. The challenge this week was to find something in nature and make an evening gown. They didn't tell us till later that you would have to get up and give a back story and explain your dress. I have no problem making a dress out of scraps and using tape and staples to put it together but I did not want to get up in front of a group of theater people, fashionistas and all of the the Gays I know and explain a dress. Her name is Telula and she is a German country girl. She likes to spend time in the fields of Bavaria's country side picking flowers.
I didn't win. I didn't get to watch the show. I didn't get home till 1:30am. The up side is that Jay winner of Season 1 was in attendance that night. It was fun.

Fire!

I know there has been a bit of time between posts on my Chicago trip and I am sorry. I will conclude the recap of my trip home soon.

But this is big!

Yesterday was kind of a crappy day. It was the first day for the city of Philadelphia to feel the effects of hurricane Hannah. It was hot and muggy. The sky looked like it was going to burst with rain at any moment. This made the kitchen unbearable. It was sooooo hot. No one wanted to do anything. We were dreading having to make brunch. Sarah started telling me about stories of the last place she worked at and how the transformer blew up one night and how they all had to tie flashlights to their heads so they could see what they were cooking. I told her about at my last place the heat didn't work for an entire winter and I'd have to cook with the hood off and the kitchen doors open with fans pulling the heat out of the kitchen into the dinning room and the staff would come in to warm their hands over the grill.

I went down to the basement to cool off and start working on some desserts. When I came back upstairs to get a sheet pan all I could smell was burning. I asked Mel... our resident fuck up that should have been fired months ago... what he burned this time and if he took it out to the trash. The smell was so strong I didn't want it to get into the dinning room. He said, "It's not me. The building is on fire. Don't make that ticket that table left." WHAT?!!! Sarah came into the kitchen from the dinning room and said, "The building is on fire so we are telling all of the customers they have to leave." WHAT? WHERE? HOW? HUH?! I was only in the basement for 5 minutes when did all of this happen? Then there are sirens and a fireman told the manager up font that we had to leave the building too. I went and got my phone from my locker. Asked Mel if he pulled the potatoes out of the oven, he said he turned all the ovens off and the stoves too. Grabbed my drink and we went outside. There were 7 fire trucks out there. they had Market St blocked from 4th to 2nd and 3rd St blocked from Chestnut to Arch.

We sat on the steps of the restaurant across the street and watched everything unfold. There is a restaurant on the corner of Market and 3rd called Pizzicato. Connected to Pizzicato is a place called Bijou which is a private party space and bar owned by Pizzicato. There are offices and apartments above them. Farmicia, my restaurant is in a separate building but is attached to the other building. Smoke was billowing out of the windows and coming from the roof above Bijou. The air was full of smoke and ashes were falling from the sky. We sat and waited. Radio and TV news people came and started asking questions and interviewing people. I got cornered by one of the radio people. I said that I didn't see anything and she moved on to someone else. We heard saws, timbers breaking, saw smoke and people coming out of the building. The staff of Pizzicato started to show up and were in shock at what they saw. The fire fighters got it under control, put out the fire and started to clean up.

We were allowed to go back inside. By now we only had 2 hours of brunch left and weren't sure how long it would take for the fire fighters to clean up and open the streets back up. When we got back inside I fond that Mel had only shut off his stove and his oven. Everything else was still on. Potatoes were burnt. Fuckin' Mel! I should have known better than to believe him. Brunch went on. Everything else was ok... until it started raining.

Then, the basement flooded. A pipe broke and water was flowing into the basement like water from a fire hydrant on a hot city day. Sarah tried to fix it, running back and forth from the hardware store down the street. It got to the point where she just had to give up and wait for it to stop raining before it could be fixed. When I left there was about 4 inches of water on the basement floor. And the heaviest rain came later that afternoon after I had gone home.

What a day.