Connected

Ahhh, back to the connected life. It is good to be back; I can look up directions, update my blog and check my email. However, I kinda got used to not having a computer. I read a book and a half. I got more sleep. Out of the 63 emails in my box, only 3 were actually important. Along with learning that you don't pack your computer in your backpack when it is downpouring, I learned that I can still entertain myself without a screen.

That being said, Kyle arrived on Friday night with a handy loaner computer from my dad. It's tiny- maybe a foot long and 8 inches deep. Tiny little screen and keyboard; I can't imagine my dad using it with his big daddy hands. But it connects to the interwebs and that's all I need for now. When my student loan comes in, to the Apple store I go for a new 13" mac book pro!

Kyle is here! I am so happy he came back to spend some more time with me down here. As he puts it, he can spend a little time with me (in between work and school) in Chicago or no time with me in Madison. Good logic, I think. Friday night we came right home to have dinner (pizza) and dive into the cake I made on the last day of cakes class. Another chocolate one- chocolate mouse, a vanilla cream layer, chocolate cake, more mousse, hazelnut crunch, more mousse and a final layer of chocolate cake. All topped off with a beautiful glaze. It is decadent and wonderful. I would like another piece right now, actually! We also made Pithivier, a puff pastry- almond cream confection that is amazing. We learned how to make the puff pastry by hand, then assemble this beautiful "cake". I have pics, but don't want to clutter this computer up, so those will have to wait. Google it to see what I'm talking about.

I had my first evaluation; I'm happy to say that I'm in the 'succeeding' category for the whole rubric. Did I mention that I also passed my SafeServ sanitation course? 98% baby. That's only 1 wrong! And I got to know my new partner for the next three weeks- Cristina! She's cool. I was dreading the partners this time around because there are few people who I don't want to be partners with and I felt that by feeling that way, it was bound to happen. But it didn't! Sad to not be with Alix anymore, but I'll still see her and walk and ride the L home with her, so our connection won't be lost.

I had to work yesterday (Saturday) at 7 until about 3:15. Half-way into my shift, however, our coffee brewer started spewing out grounds and coffee all over the place. I was in the float position, so I decided to clean it up. I thought that all the coffee had collected in the urn and grounds were just overflowing out of the filter area. Wrong. I pulled out the filter holder with my right hand and over 200 degree coffee mixed with grounds spilled all over my hand and onto the floor. OUCH! I remembered Chef Kristen saying not to put a burn under cold water, but lukewarm, so that's what I did instantly. I think all the adrenaline pumping through my body made it seem not as bad as it was and I continued to clean up, periodically running the burn underwater. Finally it hit me and the pain was awful. I stepped off the floor into the back to find the first aid kit.

Burn gel acquired, I slathered some one and waited. With me off the floor, my manager had to step in because we were uber busy. I called Kyle. I tried to call my mom, freaked my dad out calling him to find her, and then called GHC urgent care to see what they recommended. Kyle was the only one I got a hold of. He urged me to come home and that it didn't sound too serious like I needed medical attention. No big blisters, just very swollen and bright red. Finally my manager came back and gave me the go ahead to leave, telling me that I was doing a great job, even if bad things kept happening to me! I clocked out and made my way home, walking a mile to the bus stop, riding the bus to Walgreens to find some more burn gel (without luck!) and then home. I bumped into Kyle in the lobby; he had run out to get ice, bread and surprise me with ice cream. I was blubbering about how much it hurt, but he took good care of me.

We laid low for the afternoon as I nursed my hand back to health. I decided with the intricate work of Wedding Cake class starting Monday, it was best to rest the hand and not go to work today. The boss was understanding. It was a good decision; the burn is better today, but still really sore, like the worst sunburn you can imagine. Like Kels said and I felt at the time, I just couldn't catch a break!

Kyle and I got Ben's Noodles for dinner and took the 147 downtown to see Inception with a couple of ladies from school. It was a great movie; made my mind spin and heart race. Then we went to Navy Pier just in time for the fireworks. Then a ferris wheel ride, a walk down the pier and the long walk to the L. We got to hear some fantastic free-style rap on the train on the way home. We finally turned in about 1am without an alarm set for the morning.

What a great feeling! We woke up when we were just done sleeping and then Kyle made French toast and turkey sausage for breakfast. After showering and double checking directions, we were off to the Lincoln Park Zoo for the afternoon. Overall, it was an okay trip. A lot of the animals weren't in their exhibits, but the ones we saw were entertaining. The highlights were a gibbon that peed on the human spectators (not us, thankfully) and the jaguar in a box in its enclosure. And the gorillas. We made the trek home, stopped for some broccoli to accompany our pasta dinner and have been relaxing since. I think that's the plan for the rest of the night, and that's just okay with me :)