Lots of pines but no springs

Actually there was a little spring that ran along most of the valley once I got in the mountains, but it stopped before I got to the camp.  Got back yesterday afternoon.  It was beautiful, and fun, and exhausting.  Luckily I had help with most of the cooking, or I wouldn't have been able to have any meals completed on time.  The new facilities guy was there and he'd cooked at other camps before so he was a big help.  And several of the faculty members that were there for the retreat helped when they could, mostly for breakfast.  Even then, I was late for dinner the first night and breakfast the next morning.  But the next three meals were ready on time.  Everyone liked the food, even for being late.  A couple of the professors took my name and email to possibly do meals for them later in the semester.

I did run out of food the first night.  I made puttanesca over fettuccini that night.  Luckily there was a large jar of Ragu sauce, so no one went without, they just had to make do with bottled sauce.  I had a lot of leftovers for the other meals.  Brought some of them home for Greg.  I hadn't made several of the recipes before and wanted him to try them.  If anyone needs a great tomato soup, french toast, or quiche recipe, let me know.

There is another retreat in April, so I may be cooking for that one too.  I'll be sure and adjust my recipes though.  The vendor that we receive our supplies from during the summer is having a food show in Albuquerque on Wednesday.  I may drive over Tuesday night after I get off work.  I start back at Chick-fil-a tomorrow.  At least I assume.  I stopped by on Tuesday and the remodeling was suppose to still be on track for the reopening tomorrow.  I didn't drive by today to see.

Had a letter in the mail when I got back saying I didn't get the admissions coordinator job.  God's timing is perfect, so it wasn't the right job.  I noticed there are two other jobs posted on the LCU website, so I'll apply for them this week.

Just another post

No word on admissions coordinator job, but I'm cooking forward to the retreat next week, and today they asked me if I wanted to go a food show that Ben E. Keith is sponsoring in Albuquerque the week after. That would be way cool! I'll be telling Chick-fil-a I need off to go to that too. Even though the store is closed for remodeling I was put on the schedule (without them asking or telling me) to help restock the store next Friday. It would have been fun to see the store and help restore everything before anyone else gets to see the remodel, but the retreat is next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Speaking of...we've been in training at work this week while the store is being remodeled. It's been somewhat interesting. Usually I'm thinking about how I can use this at the camp if I get to cook there this summer. I just had a thought...it would probably mean that I won't be at the family reunion in June. Oops.

Except for being on the schedule next Friday, I'm off all next week. Wish I could make it to Fort Worth before going to the retreat. Need to see the dentist still. She had put some things on my braces to straighten two of my teeth, but I think one of them is going too far the other way now. I've had the braces since March 2005. She told me 10 months, eighteen at the most. I'm pretty much used to them at this point. It'll probably be strange when I get them off. She's a bit of a perfectionist, so it'll probably be a while. She's very good though. I would absolutely recommend her, and I actually gave her information to Ken recently.

Old friends

I was reading my cousins blogs on Saturday and was becoming nostalgic for my Harding days, so I tracked down an old suite mate.  I had an idea where her husband worked, so I tracked down his email.  I sent him an email, and Becky sent me a reply a few hours later.  She's living in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two gorgeous twin girls.  They look just like their daddy!  I'm looking forward to reconnecting with her.

Still up in the air about jobs.  I was going to cook at two retreats over the next two weekends, but the group this weekend is cooking for themselves, so I won't be going to New Mexico until next week.  Looking forward to it.  I had started the menu for the first retreat, so I'll build on it for the next one.

The Chick-fil-a I work for is closed for remodeling, but we're doing training this week.  They have to do something to justify paying us I guess.  It is mildly interesting though.  Actually giving me some ideas for the summer cook job if I get it.  We're closed for two weeks, but LCU's spring break is the week Chick-fil-a reopens or I would be going to Fort Worth.

Master's or bachelor's?

I saw a/an LCU email last week that was advertising for a summer head cook position at Pine Springs summer camp in New Mexico. Since nothing has happened with my other applications, I thought why not? Who wouldn’t want to be in the mountains of New Mexico for three months in the summer instead of in Lubbock, Texas? I emailed the contact person and she emailed me right back. We emailed back a forth a few times and then she said to come in for an interview.

Sounds like it would be fun. I would be in charge of the kitchen and the cantina. I would create the menus for 50-250 people, order supplies, and be in charge of the kitchen staff (LCU students). I do have a degree in home economics and several food preparation and meal managment courses were required. One of the two people I interviewed with suggested that I take a trip out to see the place, and even suggested that I go and cook for a faculty retreat that will be at the camp next week (March 6-7). Chick-fil-a is remodeling and will be closed for two weeks beginning this Saturday, so I could probably do it.

So here I am all excited about it, but as I was driving down the street after the interview I get a call from LCU - LCU Admissions Office. I submitted an application last week for an Admissions Coordinator position, and now I have an interview with them tomorrow morning at 9:30. Which is pretty good timing as far as Chick-fil-a is concerned since they’ll be closed for two weeks. I could start next Monday, if they wanted me to. But I guess not so good timing for the cook job. If I'm offered both, I’ll take the admissions position. Even though LCU is planning a capital campaign soon for the camp (LCU owns it) and it will be a year round retreat center some day, I do have a master’s degree in higher education, so I guess I'll leave the cooking as a hobby. I volunteered at the kitchen at NRH Church of Christ, but I haven't found anything like that here. Anyway, I hope to report soon that I have the admissions job.

It's Saturday night...

It’s Saturday night, and there is nothing on television.  Of course, we don’t have cable and only have six channels.  Apparently Bill Clinton was in Lubbock and three of the channels are showing his speech; the other three channels have Cops, NFL total access, or King of Queens.  Blah.  So I just turned it off.  I suppose I could watch a movie.

For the past three weeks I’ve been working a new job at Chick-fil-a.  I still have the part time job at the LCU library that I started last September, but since I haven’t been able to find anything full time at a university, I’m working there in the meantime.  It’s been difficult getting used to being on my feet for so many hours, but with about 1000mg of ibuprofen before and after my shift, I think I’m getting used to it.  The same thing happened when I worked at Garden Ridge in Fort Worth.  It took a few weeks, but I guess you’re body gets used to it.  Most of the people are nice and the management has been understanding about me taking off early occasionally to get Greg to work on time.  He hasn’t been able to ride his motorcycle on a regular basis, so we’ve been sharing the car.

Greg and I were in Fort Worth last weekend.  Wanted to see my dentist, but she was out of town, so I guess we’ll be going back some time soon.  Except, I work on Saturdays at the library, so I don’t know when.

We’re trying to decide if we’re going to move back to Fort Worth.  We’re both tired of Lubbock and I finished my program in December, so this may be a good time to make the move.  I’ve applied for positions at Tech, LCU, and even West Texas A&M (1 ½ north of Lubbock), but even though I’ve had some interviews, nothing has happened.  I’m sure it’s just a matter of timing before I get a position somewhere, but it’s God’s timing and not mine, so I don’t know what will happen.  Just saw a posting for a position at LCU, so I’ll try for it and see what happens.

I finished the wedding gift that I made for Beth and Paul.  I just need to frame it.  I took pictures of it with my very cheap ($20) digital camera, but lo and behold, the software is not compatible with my Mac.  But wait, I can get to the pictures on Greg’s computer, and I can hook his computer up to the internet, so when I post this, I’ll add a picture of it.

I’m not sure how people find interesting stuff to blog about.  (I’m typing this in Word, and just had to add the word “blog” to my dictionary so that red underline would go away.)  It’ll be 8:00 in ten more minutes, so hopefully the Clinton speech will be over and I can watch 48 Hours Mystery.  I should probably be cleaning instead, but (insert excuse here).