Whirlwind that is my Life

I know, I know - it's about time!  LOL  I know I haven't been on here in quite awhile.  I have been busy, sick, busy and busy!  As most of you know, I teach culinary arts in the high school.  We have a restaurant there in the school and are open about 2 times a month.  Since I have been on here - way back in October - wait, let me check the date - October 24th - we (my students and I) have assisted with helping with our local Taste of the Permian Basin.  This is where the restaurants (okay, I had to respell that word three times and several others in this sentence a couple of times, also - what is up with my typing tonight? I know, it's been awhile and the fingers and brain aren't working together, yet)  ANYWAY,  (sometimes I can get so sidetracked LOL) Taste is where the local restaurants set up booths and offer "tastes" of their food.  There is a cost to get in, but once you are in, you can eat to your hearts content - or your stomachs discontent whichever comes first.  (I meant from being full - not from anything else.  My students and I go early that morning and help set up the decorations and tables for the preview party (companies purchase tables for their employees/customers to go and enjoy).  This year we were there from about 10:00 that morning until 9:30 that night!!!  I was exhausted!!  to say the least.  It was a long night.  Due to the shortage of employees here in the basin, one company sent food, but the culinary students from my class and the two Midland culinary programs helped to man that booth.  It was a great experience for my kids.  It was sad that so few of my students were able to make it that night.  I know they have other commitments and their life is busy, but with 2 months notice you would think they could rearrange everything, I know, they are teenagers.  Oh, well, they missed out on the fun.  Maybe next time they will pay better attention. 

A couple of days later we assisted the Chuck Wagon Gang in prepping food for the Merry Market (a junior league extravaganza - with shopping, meals, shopping and food!)   We assisted the Gang last year and they asked us to come on board again this year, but with more assistance.  We prepped and served appetizers for  300, assisted in the dinner for 750 and prepped and served and cleaned up for the luncheon for 950.  (no, those are not exaggerated numbers.  There really were that many there and after making 1200 fruit kabobs, 1000 cups of pink fluff and decorating 1000 cupcakes, I would know).  This was over a 3 day period of prepping and serving.

 In between the two events I was sick, sick, sick.  I was home for two days (plus the weekend) and I tweaked my knee.  (actually I did the knee thing before the Taste event)  After x-raying it the doctor told me to stay off of it and keep heating pads on it.  I just laughed and told her everything I had to get done before Thanksgiving and told her to get me well.  She just smiled and said to stay off of it as much as possible.  I guess she understood that it wasn't going to happen. 

The rest of November - so far - we have had two restaurant openings.  One with only about 20 people and at our Thanksgiving feast we served 93 people.  Needless to say, I am ready for this week I have off.  Yes, you heard me correctly, I have the entire week of Thanksgiving off.  No cooking if I don't want (I already had my Thanksgiving meal at school) Nothing that has to get done - well other than feeding the dogs and - - nope, that is all that has to get done.  (I was going to say doing the dishes, laundry, taking out the trash, cleaning the house, etc., etc., but really truly, the only thing I HAVE to do is feed the dogs and they let me know when 5:00 comes around so I don't even have to set an alarm if I take a late afternoon nap - Doctor did say I had to stay off that knee, didn't she? LOL)

I haven't gotten much sewing in - when did I have the time?  However, last night I did design and make up one complete and 4 partial penguin ornaments.  I am going to finish the other 4 today, but I may just have to go take that late afternoon nap right now.