Lessons Learned...

       I may be losing some "man" points for having a title named after a Carrie Underwood song, but this song  has been going through my head the past couple of days.


As you might know about 2-3 months ago I started a second job with a Bakery in VA Beach. I needed to get a second job to replace the hours I would be losing over the summer from ODU being closed. My mom actually saw their ad in the paper and told me about it. It was a perfect second job, it was exactly what I wanted to do in bakery, the hours didn't interfere with ODU, so it was great!

 I go and apply, nearly a month later I get a call for a interview. Awesome. Interview went well, then two days later I started working. Very Awesome! So my life has been pretty busy with both of these jobs and still trying to maintain a social life. Oh wait, I didn't mention the best part of the job...

I work from 1AM-7AM at the bakery. Yup..and 85% of the time I go straight to ODU and work till whenever..normally about 3-4pm.  Crazy, I know.

       So I started going to bed by 6-7pm getting up going to work and then work again, come home. Say hello to the family, maybe eat something for dinner then crash and do it all over again. I did the first month-month and a half like this, I didn't really go out. The weekends were my days to splurge and do whatever I wanted since I did not work the bakery. While I had no social life throughout the week, it worked. Everything was fine.

Then I started being a little brave, I began stretching myself. I began stretching myself way too thin. Of course I had good intentions as to why I would. I would stay out a little later with friends, take trips, I would do things. I wanted my social life back.

        I don't blame anyone but myself for pushing and stretching myself over limit. I gave myself less and less sleep, but I would manage to get through it. I would commit to doing things, I would go out with friends and co-workers. Continually pulling myself waaay over my limit.

Well, lessons learned...Last Friday night after working about 16-17hrs straight I ran to do a couple of things then went out for the evening to catch up with an old co-worker. Stayed out till about 11pm, started my journey home.

Got about 1/2 mile or so away from my home and fell asleep at the wheel. At the moment I fell asleep my car was entering a curve, but of course rather then turning I continue straight onto the side-walk hitting a street sign that was directly in front of my side of the car. At impact I quickly woke up of course and got control of the car and returned the road and stopped. I was in complete shock. I thought that my windshield was the only thing damaged so I just tried to continue to drive home. I just wanted to be home.

The car doesn't move. I get out and see that both of my front tires are blown out. Great. So I call dad and we get a tow truck out and get the car back to the house.

Lessons learned. I totally believe that God was in control that night. No one else was involved, just me. The sign that I hit came crashing into the windshield directly at the drivers seat. It didn't break through completely and I didn't receive any injuries. Even though it happened, God was in control. And I am so thankful for that.

^^ Here you kinda see where exactly I went onto the sidewalk. There is the some the broken sign pole near the edge of the curb, with the rest of the pole and sign off in the distance.

      Lessons Learned. God really opened my eyes this weekend. I don't like that it had to happen like this, scaring my parents and my family, causing concern. But apparently, this is what it took for me to realize what I was doing. Still a bit shaken up from it, but ultimately thankful to be okay and alive. This also caused me to rethink some other things going on in my life and the changes that are necessary.

The lessons we are taught in life.

Remember me - -

Nearly three months ago was my last post on here. Wow, I am really bad at the blogging thing.

       Honestly, I do think about writing on here. I do think of subjects that I want to give my thoughts or my feelings towards something going on in the world. But I never take the time to actually sit down and write ( or type ) it all out.

It may be for the better for my sake, because I tend to write it all out and not proof read it. Proper grammar and punctuation are not being used properly and makes me look like a first grader!

Anywho -

Life in my world has gotten a wee bit crazy, or at least I just get called crazy. I recently picked up a second job at Sugar Plum Bakery. Its a great job and exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to get some mass production under my belt, just the production part. I didn't want to do any of the decorating or stuff like that, just the production and Sugar Plum fits the bill perfectly.

      Every day I make about two batches about 140 pounds of cake batter, from there I divide the batter by weight in to an average of 60-70 cake pans of various sizes. Notice the by weight back there--by hand I am scooping out the batter, filling and weighing each pan. It took me a few days to get into the groove of feeling out the weight when holding the pan, but now I get through the 140 pounds in about 45mins to an hour.

From there I make about 80 pounds of buttercream. Think of it this way; Each batch of buttercream fills 3 - 22qt buckets. Then there is the cookie doughs, fillings for the donuts, and my favorite BREADS.

      I like this job. It is very, very repetitive but that is the nature of working in a bakery. As a business your products sets a standard and you have to meet that standard every day. Some people think it is boring, and I do too sometimes. But overall I really have liked my time there. So thankful for the job.

Oh, I didn't even mention the best part of this job. My hours! I get to the bakery around 1AM and leave somewhere around 6-630AM. Remember a couple paragraphs back I said that I get called crazy? Its been a fun ride cramming this into my schedule, but I think I've done pretty well. I work at the bakery Mon-Fri, so having the weekends is nice, but the weekdays its pretty much a zombie walk.

      I have gotten in to a earlier "bed time" and get around 4-5hours of sleep before leaving for the bakery, oh and here is the other kicker. I am still working at ODU. Most days I leave the bakery and get to ODU by 7AM and work till about 3 or 4. Which leaves enough time to get home, shower, eat something, and say goodnight to the family before doing it all over again the next day.


Haha - This definitely will not be for life or even for more then the summer! I am hoping to find a job to replace ODU, my time there has been great but that work environment just is not somewhere where I want to be. So I've just been thinking and praying about it, really hoping to find something new by the end of summer.

So what else has gone in the last three months?

       We went down to NC to visit the Harrisons a few weeks ago, had fun fishing and playing with the niece and nephew. Then they came up last weekend and spend some time with us. Kal is growing up so fast, and he is super smart. Little Leia looks just like her momma, and loves to talk and smile.

Good things are happening or will be happening at New Beginnings. I really do love this church and I want us to become a beacon of light for those in our SoNo ( South Norfok ) neighborhood. I am so thankful for my friends that I have gained from this church. They really are a great group of supportive people, I am thankful for the times we get to hang out.


As much as I would like to have exactly everything I want for my life right now, I am just really thankful for my life and those in it and around it. Thanks God.

       I think that is all I got for now, but I promise I will be back.


-- One day.

Quickie -

So I am going to keep this pretty brief because it is so FLIPPIN beautiful outside today!

       Since I had started, finished, and graduated culinary school I was always asked these question:

"So what is the best thing you an cook?" or "What style of cooking do you do?"

And every time I always answered with the same thing, 'I don't know, whatever.' 

I couldn't pick a certain cuisine that I liked more then the other.  I have always known that I don't want to do the completely upscale and fine dining that most want. 

I like comfort.

       So it has always been my mind-set that if I open up a place that it will just be the simple "American" style foods done with just a touch of class that makes people say, 'BAZINGA!'.

But as of late I have really been thinking that I need a cuisine. I need to submerge myself into a cuisine and learn as much as I can about it. 

      As I have been thinking about it, going through my notes from school, and reading various websites, I feel drawn to the French cuisine. The French have always done things correctly when it comes to their food and wine. 

Clean and Simple. 

Simple? Clean? I love it. They treat the food with the greatest care and cook it in a way that the complexity of the flavors explode in your mouth. (Bazinga!) 

      And more importantly, classic French Bistros or Brasseries were loved for their casual feel but sophisticated food. Which is perfect, if I am able to open a place of my own, I want it to have that casual feel that makes people comfortable and food that will amaze them.

That is the dream now, and lets mark on the "New Years" list I made a couple post ago. I am going to emerge myself into the french cuisine. Learn the history, the flavors, and the techniques and strive to become a true "French" Chef.

 (Of course I can't really become a French Chef...I'm not FRENCH!) 

       And my Bistro? Why, its going to be one of the greatest French/American fusion bistros in Hampton Roads. :)

Update-

      Can't believe that it is nearly February already! Feels like just yesterday that I was ringing in the New Year by jumping on my parents bed, blaring Lady Gaga while they tried to sleep.


January has proved to be a good month though.

I was able to spend time with sister and her family.

 My adorable niece and my not-so-little-anymore nephew.

Kal-El can actually say my name now and it makes me a happy uncle. I'm not co-co anymore, and I am happy about that. Little Leia continues to grows into an adorable niece. She loves to smile and talk, so if you've got time to smile at her, she'll talk to you. I love our talks.


       Other parts of my life are well too, I suppose. While I am unhappy with my current job I am still thankful for having a job. I try to look on the brighter side of things when I think of my job, I try to remember that while my job is to cook food, I also need to show God's love to those I come in contact with.

But, I will be in talks with a possible job opportunity some time this week. If things can work out with that opportunity, it could make life a lot cooler! Some prayer would be awesome.

Here's a cool little quick update on some of the goals that I mentioned in my last post. Since that post:

 I have picked up my guitar and worked on getting back into the groove of it.
 I have reduced my soda intake (by a lot!) and I am drinking a ton more water.
 I have kinda formed on my own workout/exercise routine. I have missed a few days, but I blame the sinusy-head-cold thing I had through the week.
 Prayer and I still struggle. Strike that. Reverse it. I still struggle with prayer. I think about it and I talk about it, but I don't it.
While the private is still private, I can say that I proud at how well its going but still needs work.
Finances aren't exactly better, but getting there. (stupid student loans..)

Now for one that I want to add to the list.

I will learn to play my Bodhran.
Whats a Bodhran? This...

This is actually a picture of the one I have. Its a Celtic Drum, ever since I saw this drum being used in the Irish shows at Busch Gardens I wanted to learn. Last year, my family and I went to BG for my birthday and my parents asked if I still wanted to get one of these and after saying yes, Mom asked which one I wanted. I was floored.

I have messed around with it a little bit and have picked up a couple things about it. Youtube has some really great video lessons. But I feel ashamed that I am not to a point were I can play it well. I don't want my parents feeling like there money went to a waste.

So me and my Bodhran are going to get know each other. For real.

Other good things in my life...my church family. My friends. My friends are awesome, each and every one of them. Our church has good things on the horizon and we are working to improve ourselves as a church so that when that time comes we are fully prepared. We welcomed a new brother into our family today! Then had a great time at lunch afterward, always filled with fun and laughter. I am so thankful to call them friends.

I can't help but laugh at my self right now, because when I first started to type this post I had every intent to spend a majority of it filling it with my woes and hopeless romantic ways. Earlier this week I had said that my life was similar to a character from one of Broadways greatest shows, Les Miserables. This young women had such love or affection for one man but he share the feelings toward her. Actually he fell in love with some other chick, leaving the other on her own. In my life that story has been played out multiple times. And here I am. On my own. 

But when I started typing all of these good things in my life and the improvements that I had done or that needs to be done, I forgot about my pathetic rant on my relationship status. I am filled with happiness, with the thoughts of my family, the goals I have for my life, for the new member of the body of Christ we welcomed today.  I am so ridiculous.

So yeah. 

This is me.

New Year..New Me.

       Welcome to 2012!

In my family we've never really been the kind to make resolutions, so don't think that this is a post on my resolutions for 2012. Rather than resolutions I am setting goals for me and my life that will go far beyond 2012 and once I've attained these goals they will become part of me and not just a trophy of something that I worked for.

                                           While this may not be a completed list, its a good start.

       Alright, lets get this started--

1. Pick up my guitar and practice at least three times a week, if not daily. 
2. Get into a exercise routine.
3. Read the Bible daily.
4. Reduce the intake of soda products.
5. Drink more water.
6. Grow spiritually and help others grow.
7. Pray continually. 
8. Set my finances back on track.
9. Move out of my parents house and start a life that is my own.
10. Pay off credit card.
11. Visit both sets of Grandparents.
12. See at least two shows on Broadway in NYC.
13. Go back to Mexico.
14. Go on a Missions Trip aside from Mexico.
15. Find a job with a consistent schedule and management.
16. Private...For now at least.
17. Go camping. REAL camping.
18. Love more and mean it. 
19. Keep contact with friends more often.
20. Find a way to see my bestest(!!) friends.

      Okay, so thats 20! If more pop into my head I will definitely add them to the list.While some of the goals are fun and personal ones such as, visiting family, going to see a show or camping, some of these goals are going to be hard because it will be a complete 180 from what I have been and I know that the title makes this post a bit cliche, but its the truth. I need to read the bible, I need to talk with God, I've let the things of this world get in the way of my relationship with Him.

Welcome 2012...Welcome New Me.

hmm..

Have I said that my new favorite show is How I Met Your Mother? I caught a few episodes just before the summer then through out the summer I bought season after season till I was completely caught in time for the premiere of season 7.

I fell in love with this show. While it may have its moments that are a little sketchy and pushing the limits, but what shows/movies don't these days? I feel drawn to the small group of people in which the show follows, while I don't live the same lifestyle as them. They live a life where there is true friendship no matter what the circumstance, whenever things go wrong they work together and strive to make ones life better.

And believe me, I'm not saying that I don't have that circle of friends, I do. And I hope they know that I am thankful for them everyday. Whenever I am feeling that life is not what I want, someone pops up and says something that raises my spirit. Even if they don't know it.

But I can relate the most to one character from the show in particular. Ted Mosby. Again, even this character has its moments that push the limits as far as what I stand for in my life, but I feel drawn to him. He and I have the same mission. To find that one woman who takes our breath away and yearns to live life together. And Ted and I both have had our adventures that no matter how great they are, unfortunately end in failure. Of course, Ted eventually finds the one (hence the name of the show) and I know that one day (hopefully) I will too.

But for us, its this waiting period in between that kills us. We sit and watch our friends as they start their lives with their loved ones. Quiet but supportive, longing for what they have but still knowing that our day will come.

Patience is a hard virtue to handle. Its especially hard when your Newsfeed on Facebook is filled with engagement announcements, pictures, and wedding celebrations. Successful relationships seem to happen to everyone but you, you only have memories of a few good moments from the past excursions in your life.

Again, believe me. I live a happy life and strive to walk as God has called me too. But there are times when I look at my life and compare it to some of the friends. Jealous? Yes. But..

I know my God has a plan for all of this. All those times that I compare my life to others,  I am doubting Him, and trying to take control of my life. But that is not what God wants from me, He wants TOTAL control.

Galatians 5:25-26 ESV
" If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

So..that is whats been on my heart lately

Alright?

Would you look at that..

You know, most times I sit in front of my computer for a good amount of time thinking of a introduction to each post. I never know how to start...is that weird?

If I remember correctly, I last left you writing about my new job with Aramark at ODU. My hopes for a more stable work enviroment, and knowledge expanding work days were crushed. I would rather not bore you with all the details, but I knew going into this position it would be different. But I didn't think this different.

So needless to say, I am back on the job hunt. I am having a problem deciding what exactly I want to do. Go back into Hotels? A restaurant? I don't know, there is many options out there. But I don't know which to do, some thing I do know are: I want to work in the mornings.

 If that means giving breakfast a shot, so be it.

If that means becoming a prep cook, okay.

I like having my evenings back, it gives me a chance to do things with friends, and try to have a social life.

I just don't know...

ha - you know, its decisions like this that make me want to drop everything and go to a place where help is needed and this "American Dream" stuff isn't pushed in my face all the time.

 Don't get me wrong, I like the thought of money, the thought of THE house, and THE car, and THE restaurant.

But I don't want that to consume me. I have a greater purpose while here on this earth. 



 Ecclesiastes 12:13: "The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you." (MSG)

Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them int the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (ESV)


I don't know how I went from becoming a prep cook to this...but I guess thats whats been on my heart lately..sorry if it doesn't make sense. I don't know how many time I erased and rewrote this thing.. but I am glad I stopped after those two sentences above.


so thats me right now -