So, I have been in Spain for a month. I spent two weeks in Madrid, three days in Valencia and am now in Barcelona. I had a fantastic time I Madrid. I saw most of the famous museums, like the Prado (mostly 17th and 18th century Spanish painters), Thyssen-Bornesimza (a beautiful and varied individual collection), and the Reina Sofia(modern art). I ( Read more... )

Went skiing last weekend and have been sitting at home with a teeny-tiny fracture in my fibula since. I am not a happy camper. I tried to go into work for a couple hours which didn't work out so well, and they told me just to take time off till I can walk around the kitchen without being in the way or crashing into things. Hopefully this will be in ( Read more... )

Two days ago I bought my first chef's knife!! I am super excited. My chef took me to The Japan Woodworker in Alameda, where, in addition to many woodworking tools, they also have an amazing collection of japanese knives. I got a pretty standard chef's knife. After a day of use I can already say that it is going to have paid for itself in use in ( Read more... )

The last three weeks have become increasingly crazy at work. I am now working every shift one possibly can at my restaurant. I think this is going to continue all next week until we close for the holiday. Since one of my coworkers had a life crisis and is no longer working there, a couple of us have picked up extra shifts. As a result, I have not ( Read more... )

I went a little pumpkin crazy this year. My mother was going to a pumpkin patch with a friend, so I asked her to pick up a few pumpkins for me. She returned with 4 carving pumpkins, 3 pie pumpkins, and 3 soup pumpkins. I made a ton of fresh pumpkin-onion soup, six pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, and a pumpkin swirl cheese cake. I still have one more ( Read more... )

On saturday I tried to volunteer at the food bank, but they didn't need any more help that day. Today I tried to donate blood, after years of being to young and underweight, and was promptly rejected because my red blood cell count was too low. "Good effort" they all said.

I received my first pay check yesterday, apparently I have worked about 95 hours in the last couple weeks since I started. It has certainly been an adventure. A short recap of my adventures: The cook who hired me as a dishwasher quit my first day after having only worked there a week himself, the cook who I have worked with the last two weeks left ( Read more... )

...Have you?!?!

Primaries are here everyone. Don't let our country down, it needs you!!

It has been an interesting last couple of days. Saturday I went with a friend while she got her nipples pierced. It is something I have been thinking about doing for the last year, but in looking at the pros and cons I have yet to get myself to actually do it. It was pretty amazing to watch though. We also went to one of the cleanest, friendliest ( Read more... )

Yesterday was amazing. I got to walk on stilts in a parade, carry an 8 ft(or so) tall puppet, get sunburned, dance to great music, hang out with wonderful friends, eat and drink to my hearts content, wear a very cute, very short white skirt, sit on a rooftop, drink champagne with strawberries, watch maypole and mayhole dancers, and cry for the ( Read more... )