Yeah, I'm still here. You try working nothing but numbers in a P&L account and watch said numbers go down in flames and still find something witty and charming to write about. I come home at the end of the day and immediately proceed to the confines of flannel for solace. It's disturbing on so many levels.
While we all seem to be running ourselves ragged at work, the sales numbers, particularly the cateing sales numbers are simply not producing themselves. Ways to increase actual sales at the stations but catering sales is a whole different animal. No way to force people to cater their breakfast meeting. Those days of continental breakfast ordered in for 4 people to discuss what side of the campus should have the first speed bump are over. Now it's 'grab a coffee on the way in if you want'. So, when I hear people asking me for a deal on the price of a bagel I tend to curl my toes and smile and mention how much I never did mind about the little things.
And speaking of shooting daggers from my eyes.....apparently spanikopita is a casserole. It must be so...a culinary student said it. Chef was serving a spinach pie - a very large spanikopita when you really get down to business (which is phyllo dough, spinach, feta cheese and enough butter to tan a full sized body) when a very large in a Baby Hewey sort of way student commented on how much he loved casseroles. Chef and I looked at each other and I asked if he just called the spanikopita a casserole. He proceeded to explain to me that since it has a crust it's a casserole. Since I was willing to agree that some things with crusts could be considered casseroles that happen to have crusts, he took it to mean that I was bowing to his genius. Flummoxed, I was silented by his girth and stupidity, and finally, by his boorishness. "you can take my word for it", he stated...."I'm a culinary student". Oh, then, in that case, let me get the hell out of my position right now, a culinary student clearly knows more about the business that I do. Both Chef and I were of a same mind - this kid is in for a rude awakening. I'd pay more than the average dollar to be there when he goes for his first professional interview, or better yet, his first day on the job. Oh, to have to watch him peel 50 pounds of red onions just for shits and giggles.. What a dope.
As for tonight, it's Battle Garlic. I'm making roasted garlic gnocchi with pork short ribs. I'll tell you all about it over there on that facebook place. That's where the pictures will end up, anyway.
Is it cocktail time yet?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Where did September go???
It's Saturday, 3 October and I'm actually awake enough to pen a few words here. Exhaustion is a weak word to describe the level of energy I've had lately. September in all it's apple picking glory was a horrid month and I say good riddance to bad rubbish. I finally put the Period 13 (september) work book on the shelf yesterday. I took a deep breath and shook that monkey off my back.
I've always been fond of October, even more so since 1985. My son was born in that month that year, followed three years later by my daughter, same month. Nice time to be born, I say. The landscape is a riot of warm colours. If you can't have the cool blues of water, I say go for the heat of the fire colours. Besides, it's also officially bourbon and scotch season.
Got that party for 200 under our collective belts. Kinda fucked up a bit on the OT projection, though. Blew that budget big time. Thought I'd spend $800 bucks in OT..spent $1500. Yeah, Lucy had some 'splainin' to do on that one. Overall, the client was as pleased as pie though, and at the end of the day, that's the hill you want to win.
I also survived the visit with my parents. Marianne is quite the trip. I don't think I ever even saw a strange toothbrush in the bathroom. She clearly wanted to make it seem like I had church mice visiting. The toaster shines like new, the coffee pot is crystal clear and the refrigerator has achieved a level of sanitation heretofore only present in the showroom. Thank you Jim.
And now, for the new dilemma....how to ask my sister not to stay at my house for a week between Christmas and New Year. I love her...and would love a visit...but that time of year is like a soothing balm for my overworked body. Once the christmas decorations are up, this shoebox size house I live in becomes even tinier....to have three guests using the one bathroom and postage stamp sized kitchen may be more than I can handle. By the time christmas comes I'll be wounder tighter than a Slinky. The idea of being 'on' for company for a whole week makes me want to steal some of Deb's towels, for wringing purposes only...
I have got to do some fancy footwork here to extricate myself from this. I'm considering offering to pay for a hotel for a few days just so I have some air... Lou has said that if I can pull this off without creating a rift that I may be able to find work over in Tudor City NYC - (where the UN is).
Wish me luck.
Oh yeah, one more thing...I missed writing here. I don't like being so tired at the end of the day that all I can manage is to lay on the sofa all night. Not good for business at all, if you ask me.
I've always been fond of October, even more so since 1985. My son was born in that month that year, followed three years later by my daughter, same month. Nice time to be born, I say. The landscape is a riot of warm colours. If you can't have the cool blues of water, I say go for the heat of the fire colours. Besides, it's also officially bourbon and scotch season.
Got that party for 200 under our collective belts. Kinda fucked up a bit on the OT projection, though. Blew that budget big time. Thought I'd spend $800 bucks in OT..spent $1500. Yeah, Lucy had some 'splainin' to do on that one. Overall, the client was as pleased as pie though, and at the end of the day, that's the hill you want to win.
I also survived the visit with my parents. Marianne is quite the trip. I don't think I ever even saw a strange toothbrush in the bathroom. She clearly wanted to make it seem like I had church mice visiting. The toaster shines like new, the coffee pot is crystal clear and the refrigerator has achieved a level of sanitation heretofore only present in the showroom. Thank you Jim.
And now, for the new dilemma....how to ask my sister not to stay at my house for a week between Christmas and New Year. I love her...and would love a visit...but that time of year is like a soothing balm for my overworked body. Once the christmas decorations are up, this shoebox size house I live in becomes even tinier....to have three guests using the one bathroom and postage stamp sized kitchen may be more than I can handle. By the time christmas comes I'll be wounder tighter than a Slinky. The idea of being 'on' for company for a whole week makes me want to steal some of Deb's towels, for wringing purposes only...
I have got to do some fancy footwork here to extricate myself from this. I'm considering offering to pay for a hotel for a few days just so I have some air... Lou has said that if I can pull this off without creating a rift that I may be able to find work over in Tudor City NYC - (where the UN is).
Wish me luck.
Oh yeah, one more thing...I missed writing here. I don't like being so tired at the end of the day that all I can manage is to lay on the sofa all night. Not good for business at all, if you ask me.
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