The Good News....

Saturday and Sunday I laid around, relaxed and study.  We have a few projects that are due soon so I am trying to stay up on that.  This term will be over before I know it.  My last day will be Feb. 11 and that is when I take my final.  So not much longer before I get all new classes. 

Monday, I went to DoubleTree for my other interview and I thought it went great.  The gentleman that had to interview me is actually the front desk manager they are cross training him to manager housekeeping also.  So as of March he would be my direct boss.  We chatted for a while and it was really great.  After the interview I decided I was going to ride around town on all the public transportation.  It was a beautiful day on Monday the sun was shinning most of the day and it wasn't too chilly.  I was on the max (which is a train) and got all the way out to Hillsboro (which is the farthest end, in one direction, the max goes) and I got a call from the hotel.  They said they wanted to offer the position and if I could come back in and fill out paper work.  Well, hell yeah I can, I jumped off the max and jumped on the other one going back into town and about an hour later I was there filling out paper work.  YAY!!!!! 

Then I had to go take a drug test, so I got back on the max headed downtown and got off at the trimet help office.  I needed a map so I could find this place to pee.  I got so much information while I was there it was great!!  Mom, Dad, and Aunt Dolly I found out some really awesome things we can do while your here....I can't wait.  So then I had to get on a Streetcar (which is like a trolley) to get closer to the clinic.

  I was almost at my stop when a guy was walking around asking to see every ones fare.  I knew they did that randomly, but I had not seen it yet.  That was cool, I had my badge with me.  After I peed in a cup and left I headed back downtown, where I decided to walk around and enjoy the city.  I stopped at this little cafe to get a bite and I sat out on the street and watched these adults in business attire do double dutch jump rope.  It was awesome.  There was a man taking professional pictures and it was just really amazing because I was sitting there, downtown and they were jumping rope like no biggie.  AWESOME!!!  Another reason why I love this place. 

On to some more GOOD NEWS!!!  On Tuesday I got my test back and I did miss the 2 I thought I missed but it is ok I still made a 92 which is still an A.  I am really proud of myself.  Yesterday we learned how to make a stocks.  Chef showed us a fish stock, which was very yummy.  We get to do a lot a tasting at school it is wonderful.  He used halibut bones.  Frickin' yum!!!  We went over identifying dry herbs and spices, I feel like I will do pretty well identifying those. 

Ok on to today, WOW!!!!  Today was awesome, we had a cookie social.  Everyone made cookies or deserts of some sort and it was delicious.  Then we were invited over to the neighboring class to enjoy some food they had made.  I tried so much new stuff today it was crazy.  Those of you that read this that know me know that is a HUGE deal.  I have come along way.  I even wrote down what it was I was eating so I could share. 

First I tried: Foig gras (I think that is how you spell it) which is fat goose liver.  Suppose to be a real delicacy.  Umm, not my cup of tea.  It was on toasted bread with cranberry sauce then the liver.  I am not a fan of cranberry sauce, but they paired it for a reason so I tried it.  Then I tried just the liver to get the full affect of the taste.  It was definitely different.  I wouldn't go ordering it anytime soon.  However I did find out that PETA is trying to get it ban because it is really crude way to get the said delicacy.  First they over feed a goose to make him really fat and then they gut him to get his engorged liver.  It pretty sad and not very humane.  Second thing I tried was duck.  I believe they roasted it and it was on top of toasted bread and there was something else but I couldn't tell what it was.  It was very tender and in small portions, like the bite size servings we had, it would be ok.  I would not go order a full meal of duck.  Third was a puff pastry "thing" fill with eggplant and caviar.  That was NOT pleasant in the least.  I have eaten caviar before (on sushi), but the combo was just....not good.  Even our Chef thought it was not good, so I feel good about my comment.  Then I had smoked salmon on toasted bread and it was very salty but not bad.  I have tried salmon when I was in Alaska (salmon tacos).  There were a few other items that I had eaten but it was stuff I am already familiar with.  All in all today was a good, productive day.  We learned how to make a few sauces today.  One was Bechamel which is basically milk and roux and a few spices.  Let me just say, that stuff was DELICIOUS!!!! I would make that for sure.  It is one of the "Mother Sauces".  The other "mother sauce" he made was Veloute which is white stock and roux.  That also was very yummy.  I would probably make that as well.  Out of the two I favored the Bechamel. 
Tomorrow we are having a math test. I am actually excited about that.  I am going to go study for it and I will post again soon.  The pictures are from mostly Monday walking around town.