Time Flies When….

…you’re busier than a 3-legged cat in a full litter box!

My friend and I went to a Home Show last weekend.  You know the drill – the kind of place wehre vendors of things like windows, doors, spas, pool and mortgages set up snazzy booths and try and convince you that you REALLY NEED whatever it is they are selling.  It was not a very big show vendor wise and it was also not very crowded patron-wise.  After 4 hurricanse during this past hurricane season most of the vendors have plenty of work – they don’t need to go looking for more.  And homeowners aren’t out shopping for the extras – they’re more worried about just getting the roof back on.

I wandered off to look at the pond display while my friend was talking to a kitchen contractor.  Oops!  Excuse me.  He was a kitchen DESIGNER.  Not only that, but the best designer of kitchens on the entire Eastern Seaboard.  If you doubt him – just ask!  Interesting that he didn’t bring any of those multitude of awards he must have won as the best of the best though.  Also of note would be the fact that the BEST kitchen designer was at a home show trying to drum up busines.  Hmmmmmmmmm.  But I digress.

I wandered up just in time to hear him telling my friend that HE selects who HE will work for.  HE is in charge, not the customer.  NOT ONLY THAT – but there are some people he just WON’T work for, no matter what.  For example: lawyers and doctors.  Just won’t work for them.  Arrogant bas*ards.  My friend batted her long eyelashes and inquired whether he worked with school teachers.  Well or course he would – any time!  But you know who he won’t work for?  College Professors.  They think they’re smarter than everyone else.  Did I mention that my friend is a college professor?  I almost peed my pants trying not to laugh as she informed him of that fact and he tried to wiggle out of what he had just EMPHATICALLY stated.

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The phone rang.  It was a mortgage company.  Ms. Wolf – you qualify to REALLY REALLY REALLY reduce your mortgage payment.  Well that’s nice – but the mortgage isn’t in my name so I can’t help you.  You need to talk to somebody else.  Not me.  Don’t call back. 

But you can SAVE. 

Right.  Not me.  The mortgage holder.  Did I mention that that’s not me?  Bye-bye.  As I’m hanging up he says……..

“But don’t you know anything?” 

I stopped in mid hang-up.  This was too rich.  I asked him – Did you just ask me if I know anything? 

“yes” he says. 

Well, I’ll tell you what, buddy boy.  I do know a thing or two.  I know that I already told you good-bye.  I know that I’m not interested in what you’re selling.  I know that you’re an ignorant ass and a poor salesman.  I know a lot more – shall I continue?  He hung up.  Chicken-shite!

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Today was a culinary triumph for my students.

The Asst. Principal and the Principal here have both recently been to meetings at the nearby high school.  Both meetings were catered, as it were, by the Culinary Classes at the school.  (Understand that High School level culinary classes are very well equipped with industrial restaurant type equipment.)  Both the AP and the P were VERY impressed with the food and presentation of the food that the High School class presented. 

SO impressed, in fact, that they asked me to have MY students cater a brunch meeting which we are hosting for the APs and Guidance crew from the 4 Elementary schools that feed into our school.  We want to make a big bang!  Oh – and I forgot to mention that we change students at the semester break, so I’ve only had these students since January 4.  And I have no budget.

Those little challenges in mind – today my students served up chili (made with fresh tomatoes), deviled eggs (decorated with icing tips), tuna salad and egg salad sandwichs (cut into stars and flowers with cookie cutters), mini cuban sandwiches, celery stuffed with pimiento cheese that they made, cucumbers stuffed with flavored cream cheese, nut bread, banana bread, flavored butters (apricot, blueberry and strawberry), a beautiful fruit bowl full of melon balls, cantelope balls, (and spare me the comments about not know that melons and cantelops have balls please) grapes and pineapple, and to top it all off – individual mini cheesecakes topped off with blueberries or cherries.  My 2 8th grade classes put this all together in two days. 

I took pictures of them while they worked and then made up a menu which I posted on the wall by the food tables.  Each menu item listed was accompanied by a picture of the students making that item.  That included my favorite picture – one of the two big burly boys wearing savety glasses from the science class to try and protect themselves from crying while slicing onions.  The kids put everything on platters in a visually pleasing manner.  We prepared coffee and fruit tea.  We set up the tables – it was GORGEOUS.  The principal came in my room and thanked us.  Later he came back and said the chili was REALLY good.  He sounded surprised.  Heh.

The students cleaned up an enormous mess with no complaining.  The got to eat – cause we made extras.  I got to bribe several teachers as well.  Today was a very good day!  Don’t ever let anyone tell you that 14 year olds (boys OR girls) can’t/won’t cook!  These kids rock my world!

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I am still mostly computerless, which is why its hard to add entries and catch up on yours – but I’ll keep trying!!!  I hope everyone is well and you have the best weekend ever coming up!  ( doesn’t that sound all Pollyanna-ish!)