Memorial Day Weekend

What a blast! It has been a few years since we got to enjoy this weekend. Having a business kind of took care of that. Memorial Day for us in the past meant, great we're closed for the day lets sleep!

This year was a bit different. Our friend Whitney arrived on Friday, it was so great to see her.

Julie and Felicia got here on Saturday, on their way to Maine from Florida. It promised to be a fun filled weekend with great food and great wine.

Friday Whitney, David and I went to Frenchtown for dinner. Something David and I can't afford to do at this time, so Whitney was more than happy to pay. I felt somewhat embarrassed by this, but she reminded me that during the good years we entertained so much and were very generous, so in her mind she felt honored to be able to return the favor. But still I felt uneasy about it. Anyway I had a soft shell crab, David and I shared lamb chops, they were amazing. We were all pleasantly surprised at how good the food was, to many times these days, we fork out to much money for bad food.

Saturday, while David worked, Whitney and I went to a Polo match here in Erwinna. For some reason I thought it would be more glamorous than it was. The commentator was an annoying voice who felt the need to explain the game and its rules throughout the match. There were no spectators, no big hats, just downright drab!

Julie and Felicia arrived around 5pm, I cooked dinner, nothing special, just some roasted chickens and Julie made a fabulous salad with greens from our veggie garden. We drank wine, laughed a lot went for a walk to the Evermoore, an abandoned bed and breakfast with beautiful gardens which are overgrown, but still accessible to snip a flower here or there. Actually, David fills our house with beautiful arrangements he makes from stuff he snips over there.

Sunday, we all went to a flea market outside of Lambertville. Whitney bought us a beautiful pastel painting of a salmon hanging on a line. It is now hanging at the top of our staircase. Julie and Felicia cooked an amazing dinner for us, shrimp scallops, Swiss chard and a little bit of butter :) all this topped off with Pot De Creme flavored with fennel. I would never have thought of putting fennel in there, but I was pleasantly surprised. All in all a great weekend.

But more important is to remember that for us to have had this great weekend, sacrifices were made. We might not agree on war, but we can agree that Memorial Day should be remembered for the men and women who give up their lives daily so that we can enjoy the freedoms and liberties we sometimes take for granted.

Peace!

Diana and Josephines second swimming lesson

Success,

the first day was a bit stressful for them, they weren't sure when they could not stand on the bottom of the creek. However once I coached them in they discovered that it was what they are meant to do, and immediately started grooming and putting their heads under water.

Today was much better for them, they were like little kids.....once we got them out of the water and tried to make them follow us back home, they decided to swiftly turn around and run right back into the water. So cute!!!!

Saturday morning at the farm.....

My veggie garden, Lilac Bush and Whisteria by the House

When plan B becomes Plan A!

By now most of you know that I did not receive that call on Friday, and I want to thank all of you for your kind comments and support. It's just one of those things with rich people I guess, no regard for what other people might feel or think. I would have been happy to hear, "sorry, we decided to go with someone more suited to our needs." I don't think that assistant is doing her job, and actually David made a point that perhaps she feels threatened by my experience, and may have sabotaged me. Off with her head! Anyway I still have this nagging feeling that she will call tomorrow....maybe hopeful thinking on my part. It's definitely a roller coaster, and I'm ready to get of this ride!

So plan B has now become plan A. Work is going well, the VIP's of the company have now started eating the cafeteria food since I took over, and are pleased with the improvements. The other staff members in the kitchen are threatened by me and pissed off that I get weekends off. I guess I cant blame them, but then again that's their problem. I have full support of management, and don't care what anyone else thinks. last Friday one of the menopausal bitches (yes that's what I call them) referred to me as the "testosterone link to the office". When I inquired as to what she meant by that, she replied that I spend a lot of time with the big boys.
Anyway, I get along with pretty much all of them, and just ignore the rest.....My goal is to continue improving the department, and as we get busier, train Kris the 18year old cute boy who has no idea what I really want to do with him, to help me for the Summer! Once that's done I hope to move on up the ranks and improve other departments. The GM has mentioned to me about getting Certified Health care Environmental Services Professional credentials, which would move me into a starting salary of 60K. Yeah baby!

Yesterday we were called out for a fire, turned out to be a false alarm. Housekeeper accidentally tripped the alarm of a rather sizable estate here in Erwinna. It's becoming clear to me, that there is a lot of hidden wealth here, and surely some of these families need a private chef. Just haven't figured out how to get the word out that I am available.....I think the local post office would be a good place to start. She knows everybody, and their business. If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

If the Hampton's is a definite nono, I will enroll in firefighter school, with graduation date December 16, 2009. Maybe some of you want to attend the ceremony?????

The truth about the Snake

Ok......I think David's forgiven for killing the snake!

False Impression, False Name
I am regularly contacted by people disturbed with seeing a snake they describe as having the appearance and habits of a rattlesnake. While their observations are certainly true, the snake in question is most likely a milk snake. And its name is a misnomer: this reptile does not take milk from cows but does search for food in barns where cattle may be present.
The markings of the milk snake are very much like those of copperhead and coral snakes. Both are extremely venomous but live in the southern part of the United States. Since when frightened or cornered the milk snake will rapidly vibrate its tail, making a sound that could be mistaken for that of a rattlesnake, few people wait around to study it at close range. Milk snakes are not intentionally harmful but will bite if handled carelessly.
Milk snakes are brightly coloured, smooth-scaled snakes that show a wide variety of blotches and colours from one part of their range to another. The base colour is creamy to light gray. A prominent series of brown, black-bordered blotches run down the back from head to tail of the slender body. Two sets of blotches run the length of the sides. The belly is a striking black and white checkered pattern. A prominent black or brown Y or W-shaped mark on the top of the head is a key field mark. A maximum length of 132 cm (four feet) has been recorded for this species but 91 cm (three feet) is considered large in Canada.
Southern Ontario and a narrow slice of Quebec along the Ottawa River seem to be the only areas blessed with the presence of the milk snake. The snake has been recorded fewer than ten times in Algonquin Park, which is on the northern border of their range.
About 90 percent of a milk snake's diet is made up of small rodents, mice, voles, moles, bats and chipmunks. Other food items include small fish, other snakes, and also birds and their eggs.
The milk snake kills its prey by constricting it in the coils of its body much like the boa constrictor of tropical areas. It does not however, crush its victim as the boa does. When a mouse is caught the milk snake quickly and tightly coils its body around its prey. Each time the mouse breaths out the coils tighten. The final result is that the prey dies by suffocation rather than being crushed.
Female milk snakes gather in egg-laying sites early in the summer. Often several clutches of eggs will be deposited within a meter of one another. Each female will lay up to 20 elliptical eggs which take about two months to hatch. The young do not reach sexual maturity until they are three years old and have a life span of seven years.
Milk snakes are very beneficial for rodent control but they are a bit feisty and are best left alone.

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The Snake

Last Sunday, I received these before and after pictures from David depicting the demise of this poor snake who either ventured or lived in our wooded area. It hissed and rattled its tail at him as he walked towards the barn to check on our feathered kids. he did attempt to find out if it was indeed a poisonous snake, but when that failed, as you can see the pick axe found its way dead center into it's head, and buried it almost half a foot into the ground. I sent the pictures to my friend Kent, who has now decided he will NEVER visit, between ticks and snakes, the city seems to be a safer place according to him. When our neighbors John and Kelly got David's message, David grabbed the snake and walked towards them, which resulted in Kelly screaming and running to their house, and continuing to scream from her balcony! John told us that it was a garden snake, and although it can bite it's not poisonous. The next day we watched Elizabeth our big chicken, dig up its head and eat it......those eggs are going to be yummy. Maybe she thought...mmmm taste like chicken ?!?!?! Toby our wiener dog, decided to eat the snake, slurping it up like a spaghetti noodle. However about a half hour later he regretted that decision, as he started foaming at the mouth, frantically rubbing his gums with his paw and then throwing up huge amounts of snake nuggets. He then ate a bunch of grass, and threw that up too.

Yesterday, we saw another one crawling around, we tried flipping it around with 2 sticks (according to Kent the proper way in handling a snake) to see if it's belly was white identifying it as a garden snake, but it was too quick for us and slithered it's way into the barn......great! Now we can't go in there.......

On a different note, we are getting a new fire truck and held a "name the new truck" competition at the local school.........the winning name is "squirt"

Posting my youtube channel

I just spent an hour trying to figure out how to post my YouTube channel on my blog.Can't figure it out......:( Can anyone help me with this....

be careful what you wish for!

OK,

Plan B is in full swing :) I went to the GM on Thursday, all official like....with paper in hand, my action plan outlined. First I shanked the current guy in charge of the cafeteria ( with my biting words) then ran through my issues and solutions, and the GM was very happy. He took me on a walk up to the cafeteria and on the way we ran into the Exec Chef, who was told to tag along. So picture this, me and the GM with what look like "very important papers, I typed them in CAPS for that extra touch but refrained from using pink scented paper) in the elevator with the Exec Chef who has no idea what is going on. We walk into the Caf and GM relates to Exec, that I was gracious enough to come up with this on my day off.....awkward! Exec Chef looks at me and says, "thank you for that" not quite sure if he meant, "fuck you, why are you doing my job?" As I continue to go down my list of ideas I get praise from both of them, and am told that they will hold a meeting that day to decide how to move forward.
I go back to my station for the day.....pureeing food :) chef comes down, walks past me and says,"nice move" again, I'm not sure what he meant, but I don't care. If their is one thing I have learned in the past give or take 10 years, no one looks out for me except me! Well, and David :)

It gets better, as the day progresses I get approached by Chef, one of the items I wanted changed was the salt and pepper shakers, from disposable plastic to attractive glass ones. "Do you think these will work." I want comment cards on the table, again, he calls me into his office, "what do you think of this" Seriously, could this be any better, I come up with a plan and the GM makes the Exec Chef do all the work. I LOVE IT! Needles to say, this guy is now very weary of me. He need not worry I don't want his job! I just wanted to find a place to work within the company where I would not have to deal with co workers, which by the way they should all be on hormone replacement therapy, I don't care if it causes cancer. Or deal with walkers, and wheel chairs lined up in hallways. So at the end of the day I am informed that as of next Monday I am running the cafeteria.

I get to work yesterday, and get called into the GM office, with Restaurant Manager, and Exec Chef. Change of plan, I am taking over Caf now! No big deal, of course this sets off the rumor mill. One, the menopausal co workers, have now witnessed me being escorted to the office 10 times in the past 2 days, and are now convinced that I'm a spy for Sodexo, and will get them all fired. Oh to have such imaginary power. They bombard me with questions throughout the day. "Why are you working in Caf?" What's going to happen to Neil?" My response remains the same. "I don't know, but as soon as I do, you will be the first to know" These bitches, knew my schedule for the next two weeks was changed before I did!

The other suggestion I made was that I need to make the food for this department, which they agreed so, my hours have changed, to a more suitable 8.30 to 4.30 every weekend off! Which by the way, nobody gets every weekend off except for the GM. So you can imagine the animosity coming from that. "oh the new guy, just comes in here and wants to change everything, and have it his way" well guess what BIATCHES, I did and I made it happen. Be in charge of your own destiny!

So I would say that plan B is in good shape right now, lets work on plan A.

I got a check a few days ago to reimburse me for the groceries I purchased to cook for the Hampton's job. They added additional money for my time. Which by the way covered the money I lost on the Kentucky Derby, and the additional vodka I had to purchase, when we ran out! Oh and red bull to go with the vodka, which apparently was the wrong red bull. I bought diet....oops!
I figured since the amount was over, it gave me an opportunity to email the assistant to check with her, and make sure they didn't make a mistake. The short of it is that , they didn't, and she will be in touch with me later. I know I will hear next week, because 1. Memorial Day is just over 2 weeks away, 2. they would want whomever they hire out there before then. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and if I do get that offer, be sure I will be calling on some of you for advise, as to what job to take......

The waiting game!

It's Thursday and I have yet to receive word on whether I got the Hampton's Gig. I hate the waiting game, as time goes by my mind starts playing tricks on me. Did I cook the right food? Did they REALLY like it? Did I say all the right things? Was I over confident? How much time should I give before I give up on this? You get the message.....it's pure torture :) Even though I try to convince myself I got the job, by visualizing me already there, I have put plan B in motion. There's a cafeteria at my present job, used by staff and residents (that are able to get there without assistance) in dire need of help. The guy in charge of it now is an absolute idiot, loves to talk about himself and thinks that by continuing to throw things at it, something will stick. All his new ideas fall short of execution, which has alienated the few customers he had. Stupid ideas, followed by tremendous waste = loss of revenue. I have come up with an action plan and hope to meet with the GM today to discuss my taking on this project and turning it into a profitable entity. I would be doing what I am good at, and it would keep me out of hallways littered with walkers, canes and people moving at the speed of snails. I'm going in with all guns blazing.........

OTB, Vodka, Lambchops, Derby

Wow, what a weekend! I left Saturday morning to Kent's place in NY for my Sunday interview......after the usual taking wrong turn coming out of the Holland tunnel, and finding parking for the big white whale I was driving, I arrived at the door step greated by Mike and Dodger, and a vodka oj. Apparently needed to experience the OTB to its fullest potential. I had no idea how true that was! Kent, Jen ( who wanted to know how we "vote" for the horses) and I braved our way to the OTB with Kent taking full long breaths preparing himself for the onslaught of NY's finest gamblers. It really wasn't that bad, once I got the hang of filling out my forms I felt quite at home. While waiting outside, Jen said "oh my God, don't turn around their's a man puking" Of course my response, "Where", as I turned around.

Off to the liquer store, Russian guy named Gary, but Kent calls him Nicholia, after the character on Six Feet Under...he does look like him, if you pay cash he doesn't charge tax, and the money goes in the register without ringing it up. Then to Whole Foods (Green Nazis!) and bought all the stuff I needed for my debut:) Back to Kent's place, more Vodka, and I prep some stuff for the next day, and also planned to cook some lamb that night with my Mojjito drizzle. I made some Tart Tatins, but was not happy with how they were turning out. More vodka, more people, more vodka. Great conversation, tattoos, Kentucky Derby......huge upset with Mind That Bird coming out of nowhere 50 to 1 racing to the finish with a huge lead. It was magical, or was that the vodka :) Between all our bets, Jen was the only one that got the second placed horse. The rest of us, big loosers. Lambchops were a huge hit, I think one of the comments was,"that's f@#$%! awesome!" Ran out of vodka, go to store for more vodka! Everyone gone, I heat up a tart tatin, Kent takes a big bite and burns his mouth........sleep!

Sunday morning, I am stressing out over the tart tatins, and after investigating online come to the conclusion Kent's oven sucks :) coffee bagel, New York Times, lots of water. Went to small farmers market to buy some plants for Kent's balcony, while buying said plants I pinch some thyme from a plant, because I needed it for cooking and did not want to buy the whole plant. Back to apartment, law and order episodes, there are still some I have not seen. I want the tumb tumb tumb sound as my ringtone! left at 3 to head over to the house for my interview. It went really well. They stopped short from licking the plates, they sat at the kitchen island and ate while I cooked, no pressure there:) We had great conversation, it was really easy to relate to them. This is what I want! They asked me if I would be happy spending the Summer in the Hamptons.....let me think about that for a while :) I will find out this week if I got the job. All of you keep sending good energy towards me.......