what the hell muffin pan..?

My hand is cramping up like a claw. I don’t think I’ve written anything that long since middle school. The menu test, I took it today and I can’t really say how I did. I definitely missed some celery sticks, lettuce leaves and pieces of parsley, but hopefully they’re not too picky about the garnishes. I think I got most all the main dishes down close to perfect, except the sandwiches….they have so many different toppings and there is no rhyme or reason to what goes on what.
Swiss cheese, pickles and BBQ-sauce sound like a good combo to anyone?
Not me, but apparently to whoever made the menu.

Whatever, at least I did it and now I just have to wait and see.

I just signed up for the GRE-test (draining another $160 from our account, I really hope to putting some in there soon), and I’m taking it in December. I’m going to have to study, cause if I do real good on the verbal section they’ll waive my TOEFL-test and thus save me a lot of money.

Today I made blueberry-banana muffins. Muffins don’t really want to work out for me, don’t know why. The chocolate cake I made for Chris’s birthday came together surprisingly well, the cobbler was a hit. Why not muffins? Why?

Elbow noodles in creamy cheddar cheese sauce

Studying the menu for my test tomorrow.

Chicken strips come with Honey Mustard, Fire Wings with Blue Cheese. There are pieces of red and green peppers in the rice pilaff that cannot be removed. There is pico the gallo in the guacamole but it can be made without it upon request. The broccoli had margarine on it but the cauliflower has butter. The Chicken Mushroom Pasta is spicy where as the Chicken Broccoli is not.
I’m not sure it was a good idea to say I’d take it Monday…..but you can retake it if you fail so maybe I’ll just have to do that a couple of times. It’s not like it’s hard, just a lot to memorize.

Last night we had game night here and it was a lot of fun. We played Quip It! and Outburst and everyone seemed to have a really good time. I want to get the new version of Scruples though, that game is one of my absolute favourites.

Dylan is studying for his first actual test tomorrow. So we’re both studying, only he is studying real stuff and I’m studying Asian Glazed Baby Back Ribs and Peppercorn Steaks. I’m slacking, blogging and checking facebook and he’s slacking taking naps and downloading music.

I have been thinking a lot about home this week. Because Linnea is here and I speak Swedish almost every day (as supposed to maybe once a week if my mom calls) and I also because I got a care package stuffed with goodies from home. I miss it, a lot. But I also feel like I’m starting to get comfortable here.

I miss my friends. And being gone for such long periods of time tells you a lot about who your real friends really are. There’s one I am kind of disappointed with lately. Maybe I’m being unfair, but I feel like she only keeps in touch with me when she needs someone to talk to about her messy life, if she’s fine, no need for me…

Oh well, back to the Italian Cream Cake and the kid’s Shirley Temple Float. I have pass this damn exam and not get hung up on energy draining people.

would you like that wide a side of sarcasm?

I worked my seccond day at the restaurant today. Well, not worked, trained. In order to be a server you have to train for four days and then pass a final exam. It is indeed rocket science, serving food to people, in case you didn’t know.

I’m glad I have a job though, and so far so good. There’s quite a few people working there, which is nice. The more people at a place, the less it matters if you don’t get along with everyone.

It’s weird how getting along with people tend to be a common issue for me… I am such a lovable person, right?
No, I’m not trying to fool anyone, myself included. I know what and how I am;

-I judge other people very fast. In fact, I don’t know how to relate to people unless I have put a label on them first (cool, smartass, annoying but sweet, stupid, nice, potential friend etc.) I don’t, however, have any problem changing the labels. Cool can go to smartass in one comment and stupid can be bumped right up to potential friend in a matter of a conversation.

-I am not very good at dealing with criticism, it takes very little to make me cry and my skin is rarely thicker than that of a grape.

-Still, I can be quite insensitive to other people’s feelings when it comes to harsh comments and not so constructive criticism.

So right now I am training for a job I really think is below my level of education and capability. At the same time I am nervous I won’t pass the test or do a good job because I really need a job and this is not a bad one compared to some really sucky, minimum wage ones.

I just want to go back to school. Back in time, back to school, back to basics.

my very first political meeting and my bizillionth going away party

I can’t remember last time I went to a going away party that wasn’t for me. Oh wait, actually I can. Like every weekend and a few times in between for the last month.

Jake is going to Uruguay, like for real I think he actually is going to Uruguay, but he hasn’t yet. He has just been going for ever, since we met him actually… because that’s how we ended up talking to him and Bobby, about South America.

So last weekend was his official going away party since he had actually purchased his ticket. It was rough, a lot of fun, but rough. And now tomorrow night is another one. I’m excited, it’s at Charley’s and their Karaoke nights are supposed to be really good. But seriously, if he doesn’t leave after this one, I think we might have to switch and start calling them Welcome Home parties. Mixing it up.

Tonight we went to a meeting with the College of Democrats. I know right? Like what the hell am I doing there? I can’t vote and I don’t know jack shit about the political system here. But as they said themselves, they’re democrats in Idaho; they can’t afford to be picky.... Sad but true. And at least I know enough to know I’d be a democrat if I were in fact American.

And they were all really nice and it wasn’t like a political meeting at all, more like cool, liberal people who want to do a little more than just talk about how much society sucks. And I am definitely up for volunteering at food banks and shelters and stuff where they need my work force more than my political knowledge.

unemplolalalalalayed

Is there a job in Pocatello I haven’t applied for yet?

The bilingual car salesman? Check.
The bakery manager? Check.
The veterinarian? Check.
The nail tech? Check.

Not really, but pretty freakkin close. I am so sick of this I am ready to start singing on the street corners. Soon.

In the mean time I am trying to keep my spirits up.
How’s that working out?
As my Chinese students would say “maybe…so so”

Jaques is cooking up a storm but I just like listening to him

I have no patience with people who take themselves too seriously. Seriously. If you can’t make fun of yourself, you’re not a fun person. Some people just try too hard to come across as this super cool, laid back, awesome guy or girl but as soon as somebody tells a joke on their behalf or they appear in a funny but not so flattering story, they get all defensive and butt hurt and prove that they are anything but laid back and cool. We hung out with a guy like that recently.

Right now I’m watching a cooking show with this French dude. I have no idea what he’s making or what he’s saying really, but I love his accent. French and Spanish people get a kick ass accent when they speak English. Germans tend to sound angry no matter what, Finish people sound constipated, Norwegians sound like they are forced to speak when they really rather be singing, Swedish people sound like they have stick up their ass or are reading from a script, Russians sounds like the words got stuck in the back of their throat and the only way to get them out is by adding a lot of rolling R’s and gurgling noises.

In my opinion.

Oh, I guess he made some kind of rooster dish. Looks French. Now he’s working on a raspberry cake that looks delish.

I jinxed it...

No, I don't really think I jinxed it, but last night I was informed that I didn't get the position at the university. The one professional job in the city of Pocatello, the one job I really, really wanted, the thin thread I hung such heavy hopes on... no wonder it broke.

I broke a little too. Why is it that I always end up crying the night before interviews and important meetings? Last time it was the writing center and I watched I am Sam the night before....good move, I looked like I had goggles on, underneath my skin. And this morning I met with the director of the English departmend regarding my future ESL studies. Puffy, puffy eyes.

I am not in a super good place right now. It will get better I am sure, but right now I am low and blue.