Trial and Error

Well, needless to say the 66 Day Challenge didn't quite make it past the 5 day mark. A lot of stuff has been going on in my life that has more than prevented me from maintaining any kind of discipline. Time constraints, money constraints, life constraints. In any event. A lot of things have been going right! Although the tempest was making the skies of opportunity dim, a lot of things went on that have opened up doors and new sets of inspiration. So I'll put up my best efforts to keep this updated. also, trying to bring back the biographical timeline since Hopefully I figured out a way to get my scanner running again. Anyways. I'll be back! Life is getting hiot and exciting again!

He shoots. He scores.

In the midst of everything that has been going on lately in my life I've forgotten about a GUE a bit. Not so much forgotten as delat with a mixture of lack of time and procrastination, as I usually do.

One thing I'd like to mention as it had been most definitely mentioned before is my gigantic black hole of debt. The vaccum which sucks away over half of my paycheck each period. Well. NO MORE! Finally one of those long-term goals people talk about. I've met one!

That's right. The long list of debts depicted and reflected in my credit report are now completely gone. This has been a long, treacherous path. A hard goal to accomplish, as it has been something I've been somewhat dealing and respectively not dealing with for years. As of last week, all debts have been paid and all accounts have been brough up to date. My credit report is able to do nothing more but to repair itself and regenrate from here on out.

Granted there are a few things that need paying such as some IRS payments (which at this point aren't that much) and the $800 I owe (to mom) to finish paying off my machine of destruction. These are not liabilities as they do not affect my credit report.

The only other acquired debt now is the Sallie Mae student loans, which consequently are not required to be paid until I'm out of school, and thankfully only a small portion of them are subsidized.

Time to start turning the cash into more cash continuing to plant it inside the ING accounts, which with a 3% return I hope by this time next year I'll have a good chunk of cash. I can't wait. I've also slightly been trying to gain control of my finances by cutting down on my eating out for lunch and dinners.

I've started to buy food to keep at my desk at work, easily prepared meals, and making use of the office resources (fridge, microwave, toaster). I went this last pay period from spending $250 in lunches alone, to $78 in desk groceries. Add onto that the $200+ in take out dinners, which have been replaced by a mere $100 in home groceries. Healthier and cheaper.

Even now that I'm at my last dime before next paycheck, all the leftover ingredients bought throughout the past two weeks have been suffient to keep me from starvation and excessive spending.

I've ranged in at home meals as such [All while applying and practicing my knife skills for school]:


[Bean and Cheese Tostadas]


[Very Berry Salad]


[Greek Vegetable Lemon Rice Soup]
All in all small efforts which have in the end had a major result in my daily life. I think I'm doing pretty well, if I do say so myself.

Intro to baking finals are today.

Thus far I have a C in the class due to my inability to study hard enough for the written exams. My production is on point though and hopefully that will save me from failure.

Luckily I'm also working with a great team and our final product usually kills!

Next semester I will be taking on a larger credit load as a mere experiment and to advance a little quicker.

In the meantime, I'll worry about finishing up the next two days and doing as well as possible.

Missing All the Fun

So, I've been absent for a minute. Again with the time restrictions and the trying to balance everything in my life. I've got quite the number of things I have to blog about so check back tomorrow for some more fun. I haven't even updated gone through my RSS in at least a week. EEK!

In the meantime, check out my sweet pastry work here. Heh.

Yup.

Definition of a man

A man is a male human. The term man (irregular plural: men) is used for an adult human male, with the term boy being the usual term for a human male child or adolescent human male. [Wikipedia]

Esquire had a write up on 75 skills every man should master and it got me to thinking about how many of these actually apply, how many I've covered, and who the leading roles in showing me these were played by, using the list as a guide.

The opening line in the article got me to thinking about my life and really how much it applies to me.

A man can be expert in nothing, but he must be practiced in many things. Skills. [Wikipedia]

My art teacher this past semester, upon looking at my drawing pad, said to me, "These are all really good, but none of them are finished". Touché. Seems to be a steady pattern, and this a perfect analogy, in almost all aspects of my life.


[This man, my Abuelito, responsible for a lot of who I am, as a man]
Without further adue:

1. Give advice that matters in one sentence.
I'm not much of a talker, I tend to take things in and try to base a foundation or thought on what I know. Although I hardly take myself seriously, when the time calls for it, I suppose I can be of assistance, but that's really something someone else would need to answer for me. Someone I've talked to.

2. Tell if someone is lying.
Oh, I can spot a lie from a mile away. I won't always call people out on them, but I can definitely tell. If you're lying to me, and you see me raise the one eyebrow in disbelief, that's probably me not believing one damn word you're saying.

3. Take a photo.
From time to time. here and here

4. Score a baseball game.
Not a huge sports fan, never have been, although I do enjoy attending a live sporting event from time to time, if I was to pick a sport it most definitely would not be baseball. This task does sound somewhat appealing to me laid out the way it's laid out. Definitekly going on the to do list.

5. Name a book that matters.
current
Interpreter of Meledies
on and off
essays by r.w. emerson
hemingway: the short stories
next
on the road
some favorites
freakonomics
nine stories
the stranger
a confession and other religious writings
catfish and mandala
the aleph and other stories
el coronel no tiene quien le escriba
bhagavad gita
dhammapada
diego el rojo
el alquimista
fight club
once minutos
blinking with fists
future shock
last exit to brooklyn
prince jack
the doomsday conspiracy
the illiad and the odyssey

6. Know at least one musical group as well as is possible.
ZOMFG! The Smashing Pumpkins and The Decemberists

7. Cook meat somewhere other than the grill.
Pffft!


Oven Baked Pork Loin in Garlic and White Wine
8. Not monopolize the conversation.
Like I mentioned before, I'm not a huge talker, unless the situation calls for it, or if I'm drunk, but always try to maintain verstile and dynamic.

9. Write a letter.
Do emails count? Heh. Time to find a recipient. Onto the to do list.

10. Buy a suit.
I own 3, but at the rate I'm going, I will need to buy new ones when they don't fit anymore. Time to hit up Zara again!

11. Swim three different strokes.
I've been swimming since I was born. Backstroke, Butterfly, and whatever the front chest stroke is technically called in English.

12. Show respect without being a suck-up.
I hate ass kissers and brown nosers and name droppers. I can definitely throw down with higher ranks without licking their backs.

13. Throw a punch.
Man, haven't brawled since high school, but I held my own. Visiting a boxing gym once or twice, my punch form has been honed. Use the shoulder. Use momentum to your advantage. Maintain a good pivoting point. Punch straight and with strength.

14. Chop down a tree.
There hasn't been much reason for me to know this skill, but I have used an axe to chop wood for fires, and oddly enough a machete to take down plants, if these count for anything. All in all I wouldn't say I'm an advocate of tearing down wildlife for no reason.

15. Calculate square footage.
Pffft. [W x L] I use it everytime I buy your mom a new shirt! (oh snap)

16. Tie a bow tie.
This goes on the list. Although you best believe the only time you'll see me wearing one of these is with a tux. If you see me wearing one any other time, feel free to punch me in the face.

17. Make one drink, in large batches, very well.
I make a killer apple martini. Emphasis on the killer part.


18. Speak a foreign language.
Si, Señor!

19. Approach a woman out of his league.
Clearly. As someone close to me once said to me, perhaps quoting someone else, "Why try to be part of any club that would have me as a member?"

20. Sew a button.
I'm good with a needle and some thread.

21. Argue with a European without getting xenophobic or insulting soccer.
I do it all the time.

22. Give a woman an orgasm so that you don't have to ask after it.
I'd like to think so. (Wait. Did you?)

23. Be loyal.
Some people's definition of this can be askewed and biased, however, I'd like to think that I hold enough common sense and appreciation for people in my life to know when I need to stand where with them and never consciously do anything to jeopardize relationships. At the same time keeping in mind not to compromise my own principles in order to make other people happy.

24. Know his poison, without standing there, pondering like a dope.
Parliament Lights, drinks depend a lot on the situation and the place, but for the most part: Brooklyn Lager, a shot and a beer, Knob's Creek (or the next best thing in available whiskey) on the rocks, Tequila and Grapefruit.

25. Drive an eightpenny nail into a treated two-by-four without thinking about it.
Yes. I miss wood shop. anyone up to build some furniture?

26. Cast a fishing rod without shrieking or sighing or otherwise admitting defeat.
I did grow up around a lot of figures who liked the outdoors and fished. During this time, however, I was never really allowed to play with the rods. I've been meaning to go and get a license at Wal Mart or whatever to head out into Virginia and try it out. Doing this is definitely on the list already.

27. Play gin with an old guy.
I don't think I know anyone who plays gin. I don't think there are any old people near by that I know. Which reminds me, I've got to get to Chihuahua this year.

28. Play go fish with a kid.
No kids in the Go Fish age I know. The closest one is at least a few years away.

29. Understand quantum physics well enough that he can accept that a quarter might, at some point, pass straight through the table when dropped.
I love wikipedia!

30. Feign interest.
Really? Tell me more!

31. Make a bed.
Like I was in the army.

32. Describe a glass of wine in one sentence without using the terms nutty, fruity, oaky, finish, or kick.
Reminds me of the misty rain drizzling in through the window on a warm summer night.

33. Hit a jump shot in pool.
I can usually hit one, but never on purpose. I need to play more pool.

34. Dress a wound.
I am very clumsy, so I've definitely been known to slice myself open once or twice. I'm a killer with the gauze and the iodine. I can do alcohol too, but only when absolutely necessary.

35. Jump-start a car (without any drama). Change a flat tire (safely). Change the oil (once).
I drive a 94 Ford Probe. So yes.

36. Make three different bets at a craps table.
Never been much of a gambler, casino style at least. Craps is def one game I have yet to learn. Snake eyes watching you!

37. Shuffle a deck of cards.
Like a champ! Grandparents held a lot of card games in their (and my) younger days.


38. Tell a joke.
I'm a king of wits more so than joke teller. My joke vault is most efficient in Spanish-speaking environments.

39. Know when to split his cards in blackjack.
See above.

40. Speak to an eight-year-old so he will hear.
Oh man. Kids. I probably need some practice on this, but again see number 28.

41. Speak to a waiter so he will hear.
I got this one down to the T.

42. Talk to a dog so it will hear.
Been around dogs all my life. I'm pretty good with them. I miss my puppy. :(




43. Install: a disposal, an electronic thermostat, or a lighting fixture without asking for help.
This is another one of those that haven't quite come up yet, but I am pretty handy and clever when it comes down to it. Also another reason to love the interwebs.

44. Ask for help.
I like to think that I'm pretty open about asking for things when I need them, but I also know that I can be pretty stubborn when pride gets in the way. always room to improve I suppose.

45. Break another man's grip on his wrist.
Really? I'm actually unsure about this one. Anyone up to it out?

46. Tell a woman's dress size.
A great thing about keeping female friends close is always being in the know of what the best plan of attack is when doing things like picking out presents, matching colors, and sizing other girls up. I've got a general idea.

47. Recite one poem from memory.
I WANNA HEAR A POEM!

48. Remove a stain.
I've learned a thing or two from my colleague at work and moms.

49. Say no.
Yes! That is to say, I've become a lot better about this one. I've spent a lot of bad times because of my inability to say no to certainn people in fear of hurting their feelings. With time, however, I've come to find that a plain and simple no can be benefitial to both parties and more often than not, is not so hard.

50. Fry an egg sunny-side up.
I love eggs!


oops!
51. Build a campfire.
I leaned this from a friend I used to camp with in Texas. and yes, I can keep a camp warm if needed.

52. Step into a job no one wants to do.
Seems to be what most of my current job description entails. Also, working in the kitchen, and especially now going to school in one, you constantly encounter lazy bums trying to swindle out of responsibilities. I frankly don't care as long as it keeps the ball rolling and allows me to get home quicker. Plus it's a great way to learn new things and add them to the list of shit responsibilities you already know how to do. Making you a bit more indispensable than before.

53. Sometimes, kick some ass.
Been known to rough up a guy or two in my life time. Since after high school, however, I've had the common sense to keep away from fights.

54. Break up a fight.
All the time! Damn these hip hop shows at Jammin' Java!

55. Point to the north at any time.
I suck at direction. End of story. It takes me three times as long to get anywhere than it would probably take any normal human being.

57. Explain what a light-year is.
Yes! E=MC^2

58. Avoid boredom.
This is a hard one to accomplish at work. But then again, I suppose this is why I blog. I do keep a number of hobbies at hand for those moments when I can't eat, drink, or shop. Among them are reading, drawing, playing the guitar, listening to music, and film. Although most currently it has been a string of TV series on DVD.

59. Write a thank-you note.
This is one that I always keep in mind, not sure if I do it consciously or unsciously, but I've always subscribed to the idea that you should let people know you appreciate things that they do for you, especially when they don't have to.
Oh, and girls love that kind of stuff.

60. Be brand loyal to at least one product.
I have several, although most of them Mexican food products. There is always Alterna Hair Concrete. I cannot live without that shit, especially after just having my hair did.

61. Cook bacon.
OMFG are you kidding me? Yes.


62. Hold a baby.
Although it does freak me out a little bit to do so, but it's like riding a bike. Cradle their back firmly with one arm, hold their head steady with the opposite hand. Motorboat their tummies. Done.

63. Deliver a eulogy.
Although there have been people somewhat close to me pass away, I've never had to be the one delivering the words of farewell. I hope it doesn't happen any time soon either.

64. Know that Christopher Columbus was a son of a bitch.
I'm not a big fan of european explorers in the Americas in general. Most of them have been complete douchebags. Surprisingly, their legacy of douchebaggery lives on in later generations of settlers up until today.

65-67. Throw a baseball over-hand with some snap. Throw a football with a tight spiral. Shoot a 12-foot jump shot reliably.
Man, yeah, see number 4. I can shoot all these mediocrely. Although I grew up around a fair number of men, none of them were particularly adept to sports. The time I was part of a baseball team in my younger days, as I batted I ran to 3rd instead of to 2nd gaining the disdain of my teammates. Later that same game as I went up to bat, I caught a ball with my face. Left shortly after, never to come back. The football I threw around every so often with friends and I can get a pretty firm spiral. Not much length in my throw though. Jump shots I can do okay in, but again, probably not that great in an actual game.

68. Find his way out of the woods if lost.
Heh. see 55. However, when in places unknown, I am really good about keeping track of where I've been and finding my way back. I pay attention when I have to. Unfortunately, it only happens when I have to.

69. Tie a knot.
The same friend who taught me how to light a fire, taught me how to tie some knots. One of my uncles, who i s quite the handy and outdoors man, also had his hand in showing me a trick or two in tying rope and line.

70. Shake hands.
Always firm while looking at the other man's face. Although I must confess a lot of times I have to remind myself to do it right as to not come across as an asshole.

71. Iron a shirt.
Like I'm my life depended on it. Although not one of my favorite activities.

72. Stock an emergency bag for the car.
The back of the Probe is full of an incredible amount of stuff to help survive an unexpected tragedy.

73. Caress a woman's neck.
Clearly.

74. Know some birds.
I love cardinals, blue jays, and road runners. Birds of Prey are fun to look at as well. Oddly enough I saw a buzzard on a rooftop a few days ago.

75. Negotiate a better price.
I could always be a better haggler. Although in my recent trip to Mexico, I managed to lower the prices of meals, lodging, and tours. Made my money last a lot longer than it would have otherwise.

Wow. I'm done. I did fairly well, all things considered.

Busy Busy.

So I've been away again for a minute, but only due to a serious lack of time. Coupled with my CPS [Chronic Procrastination Syndrome], I'm barely getting things did. School is going strong and baking is proving to be more of a science than an actual skill. Been making everything from muffins to pizza to fancy brioche and creme brulee. Tons of fun. A ridiculous contrast can be seen or felt, at least by me, on how much more I enjoy these courses versus accounting and statistics.

Midterm is coming up next Monday so I'm going to have to take a leave of absence this weekend from all social activities, with exception on Friday night for work and Sunday night with The Blackjacks who will rock everyone's faces off. Nothing like good dirty-denim-sex-rock to get me prepared for a baking midterm. Heh.


In the meantime, trip out on this come-to-life South Park-type dillio:

The Monowheel:



Not sure how old the real deal is, but I just learned of it's existence and I can't stop laughing at the South Park reference.

From the office, with love...

Dearest Blogosphere,

I have not been neglecting you out of malicious intent. I have been quite busy taking care of life. Or not taking care of it, I suppose is also a safe assumption. Needless to say that the new school-after-work schedule is limiting my spare time.

It is, however, for the good of mankind.

I have been making simple breads during Week 2 of Intro to Baking. This week there will be more yeast breads. On that note, the progress gallery and current "beta-portfolio" can be seen at my flickr site.

Week 3 begins today, I really should be doing my homework.

Love,

Me.

Pretty Much

First Week. [Culinary School]

It is now Thursday and I have completed my first week of Intro to Baking and Pastry, and although I could have done better, it was not a complete catastrophe. We took our first quiz, it was (thankfully) an open book quiz. Following that it was production time. We got to make a few items and this time we worked it a bit differently. Instead of making every recipe a group effort, we each took one recipe and worked on it. First we had the Strawberry Shortcakes. (I ate almost all the left over strawberries). I had nothing to do with these, other than the fact that they were done by one of my teammates, I had no hand in their making. They ended up having too much baking powder due to a recipe miscalculation. The taste was not very tastey. Overall appearance was great though.

Then there were the Popovers. Also made by the same person who worked on the aforementioned shortcakes. They appeared to be good upon being removed from the oven, but once out in the open, they flopped. They were bit floury in taste.



Then came my Sour Cream Muffins with Streussel Topping.These were entirely my creation. The taste was on point. The appearance kind of sucked because: 1. I overfilled the cups with batter 2. My streussel butter was too soft and didn't bake well and 3. I didn't let them sit and cool for long enough so they fell apart upon removing them from the tray. Overall they were delicious and they're in a bag at home waiting for me.

Then last, but not least, were the Ham and Cheese Scones. Also not my creation, but part of my team's effort to bake. Not exactly what went wrong here, but the dough was very pale and bland, and it took forever to bake.


This week my team was responsible for Sanitation and we made sure the place was spotless at the end of class. Next week, we're Sous Chefs. Can't wait to see what all that's going to entail.

Mexican Gorditas

Mexico finally gets ahead in the race and is now number two, only behind the U.S. Oh, wait. Number two fattest nation in the world. I guess that's good, right? That means we're well-fed people. In old times extra weight was a sign of affluence and wealth. Now it's just a sign that you can't keep from shoving stuff in your mouth for more than an hour.

I suppose the fact that the terms such as Gordito(a) or Gordis are terms of endearment in Mexico doesn't really help the issue. I remember growing up there how the culture calls for consuming as much Coca-Cola as possible in a day, not to mention the chicharrones with Salsa Valentina, and without forgetting to fry and re-fry everything on the menu for dinner. I'm not one to debate it. I grew up with it. I fucking love it. Like a fat kid loves churros. Oh wait.

"People don't eat right anymore," said Garcia Garduno , mixing a drink of strawberries and pineapple. "Instead of coming here and purchasing a fruit drink, they prefer to walk across the street and buy fried pork chips. That's why so many Mexicans are obese." [Yahoo! News]

I feel that. Nothing like the smell of a pot of Queso Fundido con Chorizo, a fat stack of tortillas to push it in, and a cold Sidral Mundet to wash it down. It's almost as though even Mexicans have adopted the the American phrase "Don't drink the water" and put it to practice. No one in my family drinks water these days. Soda, coffee, beer, liquor, or aguas frescas. La Virgen nos salve de tomar agua.

As in the U.S., Mexicans are living more sedentary lives. Studies show that they're eating more fat and processed foods, and fewer whole grains and vegetables. Foods— healthy and unhealthy— that once were unavailable now can be purchased at new modern supermarkets. In some areas of the country, it's easier to get a soft drink than a clean glass of water. The vast majority of Mexico City's public schools, and many private schools, lack drinkable water, Popkin said. [Yahoo! News]

In any case, way to go Mexico. Let's keep going and try to sink the city back into the lake it was built on.

Television Smuggling

Over the weekend, as I recouped from quite the celebration of the birth of my two hetero (and homo) life partners, I did what I do best (and what I hate that I do best) I watched television. Since the Netflix competition happened, my life has become a little bit more unproductive. I removed my television from my room as to not be zombified by endless hours of brainwashing. Alas, the entertainment industry was, as always, one step ahead of me and made everything available online.

It wasn't enough that Netflix was mass distributing digital television to my computer, but Fox and NBC teamed up against them as well as Apple on this deal by releasing Hulu, which although still in beta-like phase, still contributed to my brain-feeding (rotting) frenzy.

On Netflix I burned through Heroes, The Office, and Dexter (not to mention I'm currently tied up with The Wire on DVD). On Hulu I've been rewatching Firefly, and killed both seasons of 30 Rock. Last night, as I ran out of The Wire DVD's, much to my surprise Netflix had finally uploaded something new that appealed to me. Weeds.

Weeds is about a single mother named Nancy who sells drugs for a living. After the death of her husband Judah she had no source of income and decided that was it. To make sure she can continue to do this she buys a shop, which sells "cakes" so her real business is no longer under threat. Nancy has two kids, Silas and Shane. Their uncle Andy also lives with them to help support them, although he does a poor job. [TV Rage]

The show started of a bit slow, as many do when they have complicated characters you have to get to know before actually understanding the show, but got more and more interesting as the storyline develops and situations arise. The cast is amazing. Kevin Nealon's character cracks me up and Mary-Louise Parker is a total smoke show.

One huge thing that got my attention while watching, was the theme song. Season 1 opens with Malvina Reynold's - Little Boxes. Catchy tune, I'd heard this song before but never actually put it into context as I did while watching the intro video montage. Season 2 mixes it up with covers of the song by a lot of different artists of indie fame. From Elvis Costello, to Death Cab to Ozomatli to the Decemberists, amongst many others. And the theme is not the only good thing the soundtrack throughout the show is impeccable and very well selected. I've heard everyone from Man Man to Of Montreal to Regina Spektor (who also does one of the Little Boxes covers). Defenitely a must if you're into music and, uh, "sub-cultures".


[Regina Spektor does Little Boxes]
Download [via My Old Kentucky Blog]:

Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes
Elvis Costello - Little Boxes
Death Cab for Cutie - Little Boxes

Some people say my life flows in circles

In about two weeks you will be able to find me again running around Jammin' Java every so often. So come in and say hello and have a cup of coffee or listen to a band play or better even buy me a beer.

[Jammin' Java]

Edumacation Progress. [Baby Steps]

I made it on Wednesday to my appointment at the Art Institute to speak with an Admissions Consultant. I got a tour of the campus grounds where the culinary program takes place. A lot of it reminded me of the grounds at L'Academie, but AI had a few more tricks up their sleeve. They have an awesome part of the program where you work on the front end of the restaurant (dining room). They actually have a 4-star restaurant set up on the 12th floor near the kitchen classrooms, name Culinaire, where you serve random guests and are responsible for the operations on that side of the room. This does not take place, if I understood correctly until about your Junior year.

They have a lot more classes that go with the curriculum than a regular school does. For example, for my electives I will be able to choose classes such as Web Design or Photography. Basically anything they offer as long as it's approved by the Dean.

It was all really exciting. Being there, talking to them about it, and (although I know they're probably just worried about taking my money) they were super encouraging and helpful about everything. The campus is conveniently located about 10 minutes away from where I work currently, so that will dissolve commuting issues.

At the moment the only thing we're waiting for is for all the financial aid paperwork processing tobe completed. I locked down an appointment next Tuesday with an Admissions Officer and should everything be kosher, I should be commencing classes come April 1st. I'm really trying not to overexhert myself in anticipation just in case something comes up and this doesn't materialize, but I can say that I am doing everything in my power to achieve this. Stay tuned, more to come.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles. [Baby Steps]

Amongst the series of purposes GUE serves, one of the major ones in this project is to track the advancement in my life from the roots of where my kinship with food began and trace the path of where I hope to end with it. I've been working on a series of life revamps throughout last year and this, which include (but are not limited to) taking charge of my savings and day-to-day finances, clearing my credit report, making plans for the future, and pin-pointing what it is I want in life and where all of this is headed.

Going to culinary school is something I've talked about for almost two years now on a serious note, yet something that's played around in the back of my head for way longer. Reaching this goal, this late in the game, has become a hard goal to achieve, financially. Always caught up in the dilemma of:

• Classes are at day time hours,
  
• I have to work at these hours,
  
• I could quit my job as a sacrifice for school -
  
• But then I'd have no money to live -
  
• I could get loans and budget -
  
• My credit is not where it needs to be to get the needed bank financing,
  
• Must work to clean credit,
  
• Can't go to school because I have to work.

Wow. Just writing down this thought pattern (recurring) makes me short of breath. Definitely a very real scenario and one I deal with every time I try to figure out how to get ahead.

In any case, I've made some calls and ran some numbers. First I aimed low and compact, quick and easy by starting with L'Academie de Cuisine. Then I aimed way high by looking at the CIA, which a photo of the campus alone was enough to make me want to drop everything and go try and get a job as a janitor there. Alas, it is too expensive for me to attend, as much as I would like to. Now I'm shooting for something good and affordable (I hope), or so I intend to find out tomorrow at the Art Institute of Washington, where I hope to take on a B.Sc. curriculum in Culinary Arts Management.

I have an interview/appointment locked down with someone from Admissions who I hope will be able to open up some doors and create some options for me. This is both very exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time. I don't want to get my hopes completely up just yet, but I can't help feeling a little bit of excitement in anticipation of perhaps finally landing where I need to be. Wish me luck!

Relapsed

It would appear so. Why does it feel so good to be so bad?

...And We're Back!!!

After neglecting all you fanciful and loyal reader(s?) of mine, I return somewhat hurried, but much obliged to update some. After spending a few days out of commission due to several different illnesses that all befell upon me at once, I'm now back at work doing what I do best. Blogging.

There was brief scare of potential kidney issues, which thankfully, an ultrasound was able to clear up. I will not go into the details of what was actually wrong, but if you really care that much and I'm drunk enough, I will tell you. It is a hilariously awkward story. More awkward if I'm sober. I was asked to strip down and get on one of those hospital robes, it was a bit uncomfortable. Why with all the getting lubed up and rubbed down by a twenty-something year old girl. who also had full access to my ridiculous medical record.

[At the diagnostic center awaiting an ultrasound]
Upon my return to work last week, I was lucky enough for my office to actually remember my birthday and we celebrated it 3 weeks later, not only that, but get this, I also got to buy my own cake! Geez, guys, really you didn't have to. Well, I think of myself enough to go all out so I went ahead and ordered myself a delicious Mocha cake from Cakelove, which was more than a hit. I would die for a slice of that right now, definitely worth the elevated price tag.


[I lost the picture of the actual cake, but it read "Happy Birthday to Me"]
On the way to pick up the cake, I had a late bday lunch at a place that I had heard of tons, but had never had a chance to go to. That's right, DC's own Ben's Chili Bowl. I helped myself to a delicious half-smoke with everything on it and a side (which could have very well been an entree) of their famous chili-cheese fries. Wow. Deliciously artery-clogging. Definitely one of those once every six months type of joints. Yet definitely a must.


[image: cool town studios]


[!!!]
It was almost as though the doctor had told me everything was fine and I could just eat whatever I wanted. Especially fare that could be linked to kidney failure. So I went all out. The next day I followed it up with making the Justice show at the 9:30 club, which was pretty awesome. I think I've gotten to the point where I'm over watching DJs "perform", and now actually enjoy the music and ripping up the dancefloor. which is what I did, although I do have to point out that their set up was sick. Lights and decor were unique and kept the energy of the room lit up.

The next day, dinner at Rio Grande Restaurant in Fairfax, where I proceeded again to fail at following doctor's orders. Ordered for dinner a margarita and the Shrimp Brochette. Oh. My. God. The Shrimp Brochette. Grilled Jumbo Shrimp. Stuffed with cheese and a jalapeños. Wrapped in bacon. served with a tub of butter for dipping. Most likely to be voted the nearest experience to heaven on earth.


And to end the weekend proper and in good spirits, conjured up a batch of the Sandman Nachos (they will put you to sleep!) and killed ab bottle of wine. In an attempt to finally watch Serenity (the sequel to the awesomeness that was Firefly), which was a failed attempt at best when after gorging on nachos.

Well, on that note. I completed my weekend in celebration that my innards are, in fact, in perfect working order and being as unproductive as possible. So for now, back to blogging!

Artistic Direction

A friend of mine just turned me on to a write up on the LAist, about cartoonist Doug Davis, who is having his first gallery exhibition tonight at the Gary Leonard Studio in Los Angeles.

Now, you may read this, and say "Wtf is Doug Davis and why should I care?". Here is where I wold retort with "It's not about who he is, but what he is". He is definitely an inspirational figure, in my opinion, especially after reading his interview with LAist and his feature in Los Angeles Downtown News, where Doug was previously the art director and is a current contributor to its political strip "Urban Scrawl". Considering my interests in illustration as a hobby and as a potential career, I very much identified with his answer to one of the LAist's questions.

[LADowntownNews]

How did you get started in illustration? I was one of those kids who drew all the time, and I pored over comic books and “Peanuts” collections. In my twenties, I didn’t draw as much, but did other things like travel overseas, play the banjo, major in philosophy in college. From one perspective, it was an eclectic approach to life; from another, unfocused. Either way, it provided a variety of life experiences that are good for cartooning. I did editorial cartooning for my college paper, eventually landing in graphic design and art direction. I worked my way back to drawing again, and find my greatest challenge and reward in cartooning and illustration. [LAist]

It sort of put things a little into perspective and gave some harmony to the chaos that I dwell within. Not everybody has to have a defined contingency plan and I feel ok with where I'm headed and the road I'm choosing to travel to get there.

Making Moves

[Consumerist via Penelope Trunk]
The uncertainty of jobs in these days on the brink of recession is nerve-wrecking to say the least. I often ponder on when it would be a good time to change career paths and if staying within my same field is wise. Anyone that knows me knows the basic me. I work business, but long for art. The endless internal debate of what to do and where to go and how to do it.

Penelope Trunk has a phenomenal post on this very topic that, through the blog roll, I discovered.

Here’s how you figure out what to do next in your career: you line up all the stuff you like to do and you figure out which one will pay best. Don’t complain to me that I’m too focused on money. Really. Just do the exercise. The ones who are complaining the most right now, after reading just this far, are the people who are most in denial of what adult life is about.

Look, figuring out what you should do is actually a hard task. Because you have to start eliminating stuff. [PT]

Wow. Have I just been fooling myself all along? No. Definitely not. I know what I like. I know what I want. Entrepreneurship, food, and art are in my future. Paperwork? Not so much.

Street Art and Culture Night (inadvertently)

As mentioned previously, I set out yesterday to make the lecture by Marc and Sara Schiller from the Wooster Collective on the urban street art movement, its influences in modern day art, and how it's infiltrating galleries.


They did an amazing job at covering all the bases. From its roots, to its key players, to where the movement is headed, and what its all about. They had an awesome slideshow including works from some of my favorites and even some new artists I'd never heard of but defenitely caught my attention. Pieces from Banksy, Swoon (<3), JR, and Elbow-Toe were present on this well-crafted slide program.

They also had set up a hallway downstairs with a series of pieces on exhibit that will go on acution at a time that I am unaware of. I will keep checking and update this (xx/xx/xx) as soon as possible. They had definitely acquired a good set and it was quite the treat to catch a glimpse of some of these guys' works without having to hunt them down in alleys and tunnels in the NYC. Check it out if you get a chance before the works are gone.


After a very fullfiling lecture and walk about the gallery, I headed to meet a friend for coffee, when something unexpected came up and took a detour to meet said friend at Kickballers. According to my "sources" it is their last week (if not day) in business. Be sure to go out and cop some of the stuff they still have on the racks at super cheap prices!

Although it wasn't my regular hang out spot, I did spend some time there buying some awesome gear and toys. I think they were doing a fantastic job at pushing the street scene to the mainstream in DC. There's only a handful of establishments doing so with new ones sprouting up all over the place. It's sad to see an awesome project like this fade out in the ocean that is M Street Georgetown. Best of luck to these guys in the future.


We shared a few drinks, had some awesome Middle Eastern fare (second in choice only to Moby Dick's which was closed at the time), and wasted time browsing the racks and searching for good deals. They had brought back some of the custom Munny's on display from the Say Whatt?! show, of which I tried to scoop one up unwittingly, as they are going for about $600 a piece. (eek!) The owner was also having everyone sign one piece of wall that he wanted to conserve as memorabilia, in which I got a chance to get my grubby fingers on a few sharpies and leave a mark.


Definitely make it out there if you can, they're getting rid of everything for dirt cheap, and I mean everything. Hangers, shelving units, decor, and, of course, merchandise. Get on it, tsun!