OPPORTUNITY!!!

Well, what a crazy week last week was! I took the four mid-terms and did well - what I consider well - on one of them. The most disappointing one was the baking mid-term, especially since my table partner Dave and I went into open lab the Saturday before and baked everything that would be on the test. My rolls never rose correctly. I think my water was too hot for the yeast. I'm going to try them again someday. My cookies - were to perfection on Saturday. For the mid-term, I baked them in the deck oven instead of the conventional oven and didn't trust myself. Then, my instructor didn't like the amount of nutmeg I used in my apple pie and gave me a BAD score. My biscuits were the only thing that I got high marks on. I was devastated. I HAVE to brush it off and start the second half with a clean slate. Believe it or not - I still have a solid A in there, so I'm extremely lucky. I have an A in my Baking and Pastry Theory class. I only missed 6 questions on the mid-term, and we have an opportunity to earn 75 bonus points in that class so I'm not worried at all. My Effective Speaking class - he never gives higher than a  B at mid-term time - I have a B+. I'm loving that class. We write and present two speeches per week and it's making me more and more confident speaking in front of an audience - and also being able to memorize at least the main points and speak off the cuff, make a connection with the audience, and feel comfortable. Now, my Purchase and Product ID class - I have an A- in there. I thought I'd ace the mid-term. NOT! It was an on-line, TIMED test. We had 101 questions, more than half of which were math and essay questions. We had only one hour. I was so nervous that I panicked and couldn't type, couldn't think. What really sucks is the other classes were able to take the test in class and have as much time as they needed. I got an 89%. I'm determined to get an A in that class just to prove to myself I can overcome the nerves for the final. We're working on a huge project right now. A concept restaurant. We have to come up with a name, a theme, a location, and a signature dish - main course with two sides. We then have to come up with a menu and find the conversion factor to have the recipe serve 10. We then have to cost out all of the ingredients and come up with a cost per plate. I'm really surprising myself with enjoying the math!

So, I know I put a lot of pressure on myself and I know I can't keep it up. I'm not a naturally smart student - I have to work really hard at it. But, at school yesterday, there was an awards ceremony for honor roll students, perfect attendance students (believe it or not - out of all the students, there were only about 30 who had perfect attendance last semester), and scholarship recipients. I was honored for being on the President's Honor Roll - 4.0 - and perfect attendance. So, there's no where to go but down! LOL! At least I can say I did it! Both my boys told me how proud they were of me. Jason said, "Just think Mom, if your life would have gone differently, you would never have had this chance to be doing this." That's true, but look at the cost.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and Ramzi came over and made me dinner. I had a dozen roses waiting for me, the dishes done that I had left in the sink when I left for school, and he even cleaned up the glass in the pantry from where I dropped something in the morning. I was so happy we could celebrate Valentine's Day together, even if it was a day early. I took him to The Melting Pot for his birthday last Friday. We had an awesome time - we'd both never been there before. He's taking me to No. VI Chop House this coming Friday for my birthday. Speaking of that...that restaurant is part of the restaurant group I spoke of last blog post. I went for the interview last Friday. Out of all the possibilities I had for employment, THIS is the job I wanted. So I met the owner on Friday at one of his delis. I took my laptop and had a PowerPoint presentation to present to him. After the presentation, and talking a bit, he offered me a job...Catering Manager of his soon to be opened new restaurant! I was blown away!!! What an opportunity! He told me he was going to throw me into the deep end, but I'll be attached to his hip! His Catering Director - who oversees all the catering at his locations -  is going to be training me for the next month, which, by the way, is when the new restaurant opens. He plans to do a lot of advertising so I'll probably have catering events scheduled even before the opening of the restaurant. This is exactly what I wanted! Well, a position in catering. So, I start tonight - Valentine's Day! Talk about baptism by fire. I'll be learning the ropes, shadowing a server, working in the kitchen, shadowing the bar tender, the catering managers from the other locations, AND trying to finish the second half of this semester. I'll be salary and the money is not that great, but for him to take a chance on me and have this awesome opportunity??? Next semester I only registered for three classes and they are all on Wednesdays and Thursdays so that's good. I guess I'll cut back to part-time - 12 or 13 credits a semester. It will take me longer to graduate but I'll be graduating with a degree in Culinary Management AND - if I'm lucky - three years of catering management under my belt. This is the best of both worlds. This morning, I was reading my Grace for the Moment inspirational thoughts for the day:

 "There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don't listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won't feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it's to live.


Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe... Or you can hear the voice of adventure - God's adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God's impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn't safe, but what is?"

There was an awesome sermon on Sunday where I heard some of the same things. So, I pray that if God put this opportunity in my path, he did it for a reason and he wants me to go for it. I pray I have the strength, energy, patience (with myself), grace, humility, and knowledge to work and go to school and not let either suffer.

Here's the website for the restaurant group. The new restaurant isn't out there yet.
www.mattprenticerg.com