Skip to main content

Musings On My 39th Year


Something tells me I will remember this birthday for a long time to come.

So, my birthday is tomorrow, and this is probably the first birthday, ever, that I’ve spent away from family and friends.  And I mean that literally.  I have no family members within a 500-mile radius, and I have not made friends here on the island yet.

But, don’t cry for me, Argentina.  There is a lot of learning going on here...and that is a very good thing.  I hope everyone can turn nearly-40 and still be like, damn, all I really know is I know nothing.

I wish I had not waited so long to do this.  To really, truly get out of my comfort zone.

1. I am a minority here.  I’m not trying to get all racial or condescending or anything, but that fact in and of itself is very eye-opening and it’s impossible to NOT develop some feelings of empathy, if they weren’t already there.

2. The restaurant I work in contains workers who speak four different languages.  There’s nothing quite as humble as asking my colleagues to repeat themselves.

3. The fact that I’m a culinary student is irrelevant at this point in time.  I’m the low man on the seniority list, I’m the weakest link, I’m the biggest liability.  It kind of sucks, especially since I’ve been used to being Top Shark in my little fishpond.  However, I’m here to learn and work, and that also means being humble.

Ultimately, I can't complain.  My life has been good.  But, my life has been safe.  It’s been predictable.  And generally, I’m in favor of that.  But I also can’t deny that this six-month shake-up will compel me to examine my life quite closely.  And I am most certainly in favor of that.


Incidentally, this is where I work.  Okay, I actually work down the road from here...but this building is where I take my three daily meals.  This building (rather, its owners) is my employer.  I know it's all weird and gray and naked right now....just give it a couple of months!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

(She) Blinded Me With...Citrus

Excuse my attempt at tying today's blog entry with an iconic Thomas Dolby song.  What a terrible pun-ishment. Har har har. So, we're on the backside of Winter Vacation/Christmas Break/Holiday Hiatus here.  The kids return to school tomorrow, the freshman and I start back to our respective colleges next Monday. The clock is ticking and suddenly, I am whipped into frenzy to Get Work Done.  I suspect this phenomenon happens to many, many educators who try to avoid that panic-stricken night before they go back to work. And believe me when I say, I had the deepest, most earnest of intentions to write lesson plans, write quizzes, and generally prepare for the restart of my classes next week.  Like, really. And then...I was distracted by...citrus.  This happened. Okay, so....the lemons on the far right are no big deal.  They're available year-round.  But Meyer lemons...MEYER...I only find around here in the winter.  I first read about them i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Spaghetti Cake

Yes. You read that right.  Keep reading, friends, it's about to get good. Photo by Brent Nelson...who doesn't quite know about shadows and things in photography. Photo by your trusty author, who doesn't quite know about taking knockout food pictures. So, the caboose (Elliot) was in charge of meals this weekend...as part of his requirement for one of his Boy Scout badges.  Even though we'd be eating meals easy for a 12-year-old to put together (usually not healthy), I was totally ready to hand over the reins for the weekend. Saturday night's dinner was supposed to be simple.  Spaghetti.  But then, I remembered I had Justin's Chapple's Mad Tips article for Pasta Bundt Loaf .  I handed that over to the Boy Scout...and things just got awesome. The ingredients here seem to be a cross between those of a lasagna and an alfredo.  One pound of spaghetti noodles is cooked, and to which a bunch of cheese, milk, eggs, and seasonings are added.  All...
Post a Comment
Read more

Booze for Thought

So.  Every now and then, I feel compelled to talk about something else besides food here at TTOSBF. Today, the topic is alcohol. I enjoy it.  Probably more than I really should, if I may lay the truth out there at my dear readers' feet. Sometimes it's a clever craft beer or a comforting gin and tonic.  I've realized lately that I often reach for the bottles in the liquor cabinet when I'm a.) bored b.) stressed c.) in a boozy social situation or d.) feel like I need a little reward for surviving (thus far) this Trump presidency. Huh.  As it turns out, most of my life these days moves within the realm of one or more of these four conditions. So, I was drinking often.  Every day. And here was the big epiphany: once I started drinking, my productivity went in the toilet.  Don't jump to conclusions, I hardly ever drank myself into a stupor...but I'd get the strong buzz going for sure.  Then, I was near useless.  I wanted to eat everything i...
Post a Comment
Read more