New Blog

I will now be ranting on about my life/job search @ conventionalwoman.blogspot.com

The End.

Well cookies, I'm proud to say it's all over.

..Culinary school, that is. :)

I started this blog way back at the beginning, and it's hard to believe that it was two years ago now. I know that compared to most, a measly two years of school doesn't seem like a big deal, and I know most of my sibling are at least four years +, but I'm proud to have been focused on what I wanted, and gotten it done in the shortest amount of time possible. Other than commencement in May, I don't have to go back to SCCC.

I'm afraid to say this will me the last post for this blog, since it's main purpose was to document my adventures through culinary school, amongst a few other things, but once the new year comes, maybe I'll be documenting the next set of adventures in another setting.

As a final note I'll leave with a quote from one of my professors: "Now get out of here.. I don't want to see your faces again." ;)

Going to be missed.

This past Wednesday was our final end of semester party for the RPI Swing Club. I have to say, when I thought about leaving Albany for Rochester, I never thought I'd have a reason to miss this place.

Watching my students dance after two years of teaching there was pretty much the ultimate reward for me. I finally feel like the club is starting to flourish in a way that it never has before, and I know it's in good hands just by watching these guys and hearing them talk about how much they adore lindy hop. I'm so proud to have taught them over the years and to call them my students - and more importantly, my friends.

Friday we had a get together with a lot of people from the club with some dancing and lots of hanging out, and I was surprised when my friend Sarah presented me and Chris with these adorable little gifts, thanking us for all of the work we've done. I got a little misty eyed... I feel like I've actually made a difference with my time here, and I regret not getting to know some of my newer students better.

All good things have to come to an end, and now it's time to start the next chapter.

"Ellie Hanus "You make us feel like dancing!" From the RPI Swing Club Winter 2009"

November already?

Hey Cookies, I'm back to give you an update from the past couple months.

First off, I finally decided that my city of choice for living is going to be the lovely and beautiful Rochester, NY! I'm thoroughly happy with this decision, and can't wait to get there and start the next chapter in my life: post grad.

Speaking of graduation, I just happened to file for it today. My official date of completion is December 24th, and I don't have commencement until May just like all those other crazy kids, but be expecting a kick ass graduation party.

School is currently pretty stressful with midterms and projects due, so I'm happily counting down the days until my diploma comes in the mail. Also, since I don't have any cooking labs this semester, it tends to get a little dull at the ol' SCCC.

Also decided that as a graduation present to myself I will again be attending Lindy Focus in Asheville, NC. And with the Michael and the Jaya organizing, how could you not expect a total epic event? You would be crazy, that's for sure.

Oh, and if you haven't heard, I'm back to rocking the singleness of life. Has it's pros and cons, like always, but I'm starting to embrace it again.

Another random tidbit - I got hired to make a cake! It's my first time actually getting paid for my cake services, so I'm very excited. I'll have to post some pictures once it's all finished this weekend, but I warn you now it's going to be very pink, girly and wonderful, being for an adorable little girl turning two. Yay!

Hugs & Puppies,

Ellie

LAX - not as cool as it sounds

Wrote this up yesterday on my travel day from Los Angeles - Albany.

Disclaimer - I was thoroughly tired and some what delirious for most of this.

6:46am - airport

Sitting in the Los Angeles airport at quarter to seven in the morning - today already feels long. My boyfriend, being the awesome person that he is, brought me here early so we wouldn't hit traffic/have to wait through the long security line. Along with that though, it only took me about 10 minutes tops, so I have some time to kill before my 8:30am flight. Woke up about 5:30 this morning, didn't want to leave.. still don't actually. I know that my life is in New York, not in California, in fact, I really do miss the Northeast chilly weather right about now, but still, it's hard to leave. Oh, and while we're on the topic of relationships, it annoys the crap out of me when people have constant FB updates about missing their significant other (SO MUCH) after not seeing them for maybe.. a day. WTF. You don't know what missing someone is, butt head. Anyway - just had to get that out.

So I have a rule about morning flights. If I'm tired and unhappy (usually the case), I find a Starbucks. If the Starbucks line is short, I go in, I get a hot beverage, preferably hot chocolate or chai, and a muffin. The muffin is crucial. So is the non coffee beverage. Here's why: muffins make people happy. I never eat muffins unless I need a serious pick me up breakfast. Also, since muffins are pretty much cake (i.e. simple sugars) they make you sleepy, which brings me to the importance on the non coffee beverage. If I'm about to get on a flight, I'm going to want to sleep. If I'm hopped up on caffeine and that baby three rows back starts screaming, you can bet I'm going to be ready to punch someone up to jupiter - and I'm not a violent person. Give me some warm milk and chocolate/spicy tea though, and I'll be your best friend. I'll be sleeping mind you, but it's better than me punching you in the face.

I've come to a realization about people in airports. They always want your seat. That perfect seat at the end of the row by your gate. They want it. Even if it's a bad seat - they want that too. Usually it's the seat with the least people around it, my personal favorite. Because in reality, I'm not a people person. You know those people that always want to chat it up on flights? I'm not one of them. I like sleep more than I like talking to you, deal with it. In fact, I don't think I ever talked to someone sitting next to me on my flight until my flight from O'hare to LAX on my way here. He taught me how to play sudoku.

Also, I like strangers that are surprisingly nice. Especially old black men because then they could be my cool grandpa. I encountered two this morning at LAX - one of them called me princess (in a cute old man sort of way), and the other let me go ahead of him in line. Gotta love those non creepy old men.

9:57am - somewhere in Utah, USA (headed to Newark, NJ)

You know that feeling of embarrassment after sleeping upright in a chair for the good portion of an hour constantly nodding your head up and down? I'm a constant offender of that, but I also find it mildly amusing because even though you know you're doing it, it's not enough for you to consciously wake up and stop. My thinking process at least is - sleep, I need it, other people can laugh if they want. Anyway, one thing (and probably the only thing) I love about continental is that they give you free meals during meal times. Why don't all airlines do that? From my experience they're usually not super gross either. I mean, if you have any type of dietary restrictions you could wave those pretty packaged meals goodbye, but lucky for me I'll eat pretty much anything except for a few select things (sashimi, squash (except for pureed in soup), fast food in general unless it's the last thing on the planet (or the last thing at a rest stop for 100 miles and I'm starving)). So yeah, rock on Continental, you suck otherwise, but I guess you're kind of ok. Oh dude! Free movies! Ok Continental, you win this time. Finding Nemo it is.

5:11pm - Newark airport

Long flight from Los Angeles to Newark. Pretty tired, but also glad to be back in my regular time zone. Not super looking forward to eating gross airport food for dinner, but I guess it's better than nothing. I wish we had Red Mango/Pinkberry in the Northeast. I had some yesterday but it's so freaking good. I could really go for some about now. One thing noted about airports of the east coast - not all the women are wearing super high heels. We're sensible here, we wear flats.

Tales from the Albany Airport....

Today, it is Wednesday. Had Banquet Management this morning and got out early (score), and decided I'm burning my bow tie after this semester. After class I went home, had some lunch, took a shower, and made some dinner to avoid potential overpriced yucky airport food. Drove to pick up my Dad at work so he could take me to the airport. Got questioned my the security guard, but at least he was nice about it.

Ended up getting here kind of super early, but nice to avoid the lines of check in and security. Oh, but just a heads up - it's not a fun experience getting your bag searched, even if there's nothing questionable in it. I actually don't want some dude looking at my underwear, thanks.

Anyway, I'm sitting at Starbucks enjoying the free wifi and an overpriced iced chai. I guess that's what I should expect when combining Starbucks/Airport. Overpriced meets overpriced, they get married and have delicious chai flavored babies. Ok, that was a little weird, but you know what I mean.

Get into LAX around 11 tonight. It's going to be a long day. Kind of wish I had a girl here to tighten my bra strap, but I guess you can't have it all.

Later, cookies.

What the hell is wrong with me, edition # 2

Had to take a break from the brownie excursions to get situated with school, but now I'm back.

I tried miss Perry's recipe a couple weeks ago, and while they were delicious, not quite exactly what I want, but definitely a step in the right direction.

I was watching food network today, and saw Ina Garten making some delicious looking brownies, and usually her recipes are pretty quality. I don't know if I'd say the same thing about her dinner parties, where everyone seems to have a script and all they talk about is how awesome her food is, but whatever floats your canary.

Wish me luck.

Update - I found it. :-D