well, after posting a few posts on here, i really wasn't happy with the layout of the photos and such, so i decided to post my updates on my facebook page.
things are going well though. finished culinary school. here are the photos of most of the food that we made in class. :)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I went for a little drive...(part 2)
...After spending some time with my sister at U of IL at Urbana, I turned back to the road and continued my journey out West.
PS, I thought this was totally funny, because this is right by my sister's apartment. We just can't get away from Fair Lawn. HAHA
The second day was by far an easier drive than the first leg. haha I went from Urbana to St. Louis, where I met up with Dave (MomentoMori from ImportPassion. He was kind enough to take me around the city and play tourguide. :)
This is my approach into the city. I think I'm crossing the Mississippi river, actually. I was going kinda fast and didn't really get a good shot off. I forgot my phone in the car, plus my batteries were running low, so this is the only shot of STL that i got.
I got to walk through the STL arch, the gateway to the West. hehe That thing is pretty big. And then it was time to hit the road again.
PS, I thought this was totally funny, because this is right by my sister's apartment. We just can't get away from Fair Lawn. HAHA
The second day was by far an easier drive than the first leg. haha I went from Urbana to St. Louis, where I met up with Dave (MomentoMori from ImportPassion. He was kind enough to take me around the city and play tourguide. :)
This is my approach into the city. I think I'm crossing the Mississippi river, actually. I was going kinda fast and didn't really get a good shot off. I forgot my phone in the car, plus my batteries were running low, so this is the only shot of STL that i got.
I got to walk through the STL arch, the gateway to the West. hehe That thing is pretty big. And then it was time to hit the road again.
I got on the road just as the sun was setting...tried to get a few shots off.
From St. Louis I was going to Kansas City, KS. For some reason I had thought that the drive was only going to be about 3 hours, but Dave told me I was looking at close to 5. haha ooops. Well, the road was good to me, and I made it to my destination in about 4 hours. :) It was a night of pushing the limits, as my phone battery was on its last breath...and so was my gas tank. I wanted to make it to KC on one tank of gas from STL...definitely milking it for all its worth.
In KC I stayed with Suzy, also a friend from 7thG. Since I absolutely HAD to have real KC bbq, Suzy ended up skipping class on Monday and taking me to a local favorite. We went to OK Joes, it did not disappoint.
Before (I actually already finished off one of the ribs before I remembered to take a photo lol)...
...after
Dan enjoying the 'Q
(PS - Dan needs a shave...badly)
So, after the very filling meal, it was again time to hit the road. As opposed to the first 2 legs, this last one was going to be pretty much just through Kansas. The other legs took me through at least 3 states...lol I was warned numerous times to pack a lot of good CD's, as I would need them to stay sane while driving through Kansass. I defied all and continued on sans music...for most of the drive. Towards the end, like the last 3 hours or so, I had to put something on. lol
I gotta say though, KS had some real good photo ops. I took a few pix with my film camera, but these are what I got with my phone.
Excuse the filthy windshield...the roads were friggin straight and long...
...but very picturesque
Approaching sunset...
The sunset, when it got there, was pretty amazing. I wanted to find the perfect spot to take a few shots...I was looking for a "western" looking tree, blowing in the wind (the wind was crazy)...and I kind of found it, but I took those photos with the other camera lol
...being the "pro" photographer that I am, I got into some prickly weeds in trying to get the shot.
Those fuckers hurt.
Once the sun set I just focused on the driving. There really wasn't much else to take pix of...I mean, its Kansas for crying out loud. haha ;)
Finally!
...and then I had another 2 hours of driving to go. lol
Now...this might seem like a random picture, but its not.
Anyway, in CO I passed by the truck again. This time the cab was white, so our romance was over. But it was fun wondering from NJ up to that point...."Is it? Could it be? What are the odds?" haha
When I got to CO, I crashed for the night with Scott, my big brother and college roommate. Then this morning (Tuesday), I headed out to check into my apartment. :) woo hoo!!
Leg 2: Urbana, IL -> Lawrence, KS via St. Louis (475 miles) - 8.75 hours minus ~2 hours in STL.
Leg 3: KC - Denver, CO (573-599 miles) - ~8 hours minus an hour or so for pictures and gas stops.
Total Miles driven: 1,940-1,960 miles
-------------------------
The apartment is pretty chill. I'm on the first floor, so I have this little patio. Its not very big, and real empty right now. But this is what it looks like. I think I can call it home for now. :)
Living Room, with whatever I was able to fit in the car
...thats the "dining room" view through the kitchen.
The end...(for now).
In KC I stayed with Suzy, also a friend from 7thG. Since I absolutely HAD to have real KC bbq, Suzy ended up skipping class on Monday and taking me to a local favorite. We went to OK Joes, it did not disappoint.
Before (I actually already finished off one of the ribs before I remembered to take a photo lol)...
...after
Dan enjoying the 'Q
(PS - Dan needs a shave...badly)
So, after the very filling meal, it was again time to hit the road. As opposed to the first 2 legs, this last one was going to be pretty much just through Kansas. The other legs took me through at least 3 states...lol I was warned numerous times to pack a lot of good CD's, as I would need them to stay sane while driving through Kansass. I defied all and continued on sans music...for most of the drive. Towards the end, like the last 3 hours or so, I had to put something on. lol
I gotta say though, KS had some real good photo ops. I took a few pix with my film camera, but these are what I got with my phone.
For some reason, Fair Lawn keeps popping up in the Midwest. lol
Excuse the filthy windshield...the roads were friggin straight and long...
...but very picturesque
Approaching sunset...
The sunset, when it got there, was pretty amazing. I wanted to find the perfect spot to take a few shots...I was looking for a "western" looking tree, blowing in the wind (the wind was crazy)...and I kind of found it, but I took those photos with the other camera lol
...being the "pro" photographer that I am, I got into some prickly weeds in trying to get the shot.
Those fuckers hurt.
Once the sun set I just focused on the driving. There really wasn't much else to take pix of...I mean, its Kansas for crying out loud. haha ;)
Finally!
I left Kansas and entered Colorado
...and then I had another 2 hours of driving to go. lol
Now...this might seem like a random picture, but its not.
You see, ever since I left NJ, I kept passing this truck with "England" on the back. Always the same red cab...looked like the same truck. I kept having to pull off the road, to get gas or to stop in Pittsburgh for the sandwich, or whatever. But each time I got back on the road it was only a matter of time before I passed an 18-wheeler with "England" on the back. And I'd always just pass by one. And it kept happening. haha I know its silly, but I'm one of those people who finds ways to amuse himself on long drives (or short ones). And I had this romantic notion that it was the same truck over and over. I'd pull over, he'd pass me...then stop somewhere for the night or whatever and we would resume our trek together at the same intervals.
Anyway, in CO I passed by the truck again. This time the cab was white, so our romance was over. But it was fun wondering from NJ up to that point...."Is it? Could it be? What are the odds?" haha
When I got to CO, I crashed for the night with Scott, my big brother and college roommate. Then this morning (Tuesday), I headed out to check into my apartment. :) woo hoo!!
The Stats 
Leg 1: NJ -> Urbana, IL (882 miles) - 14.5 hours minus ~2 hours for stops etc.Leg 2: Urbana, IL -> Lawrence, KS via St. Louis (475 miles) - 8.75 hours minus ~2 hours in STL.
Leg 3: KC - Denver, CO (573-599 miles) - ~8 hours minus an hour or so for pictures and gas stops.
Total Miles driven: 1,940-1,960 miles
-------------------------
The apartment is pretty chill. I'm on the first floor, so I have this little patio. Its not very big, and real empty right now. But this is what it looks like. I think I can call it home for now. :)
Living Room, with whatever I was able to fit in the car
The little kitchen
...thats the "dining room" view through the kitchen.
The bedroom
The end...(for now).
Friday, September 21, 2007
I went for a little drive...
:) Thursday was the day. I packed up into my tiny car whatever I did not mail to my friends already and headed out west.
I'm just happy it all fit.
The first leg of the trip took me from my house in NJ through Pittsburgh...I absolutely had to swing by this place
The famous Primanti Brothers.
To get one of these
it was good. i got a corned beef with provolone (the only cheese available) and they put this awesome cole slaw on and fries. the bread was just thick slices of white bread. however...a grease truck sandwich is still way better, IMO.
...my stay in Pittsburgh was as brief as the life of that sandwich, and then I headed out towards Urbana, IL to visit my sister who is going to grad school there.
I didn't even realize that I would be passing through West Virginia.
...but i did.
What I was looking for was this sign...
...which came next
I left my house at 10pm and drove through the night. I watched the sunrise in Ohio and tried to take what I thought would be a cool photo.
it didn't quite work with my phone camera. the colors didn't come through that well.
By 9 or 10am it was starting to get tough to focus. I had to pull over for a coffee and a little stretch. I am VERY glad that I did because not only did it help, but I saw this at the gas station that I pulled into.
drooooooooool
The welcome signs for Indiana nd Illinois were pretty boring. Plus I was going at a fairly good clip and there was more traffic now, so I could not pull over to take a picture. Not to mention that I was really working on staying focused on the road, so taking pictures kind of took a backseat to driving...no pun intended. ;)
It got rediculously hot by 11am. When I was driving through IL, the last half hour or so, it reached 100ºF...so fucking hot!
I will confirm the actual milage travelled, but it took me 14.5 hours...minus ~2 hours for stops. This was supposed to be the hardest leg of the trip. Sunday morning I head out to St. Louis and then Kansas City. Will update then.
now i'm in U of IL visiting my sister.
shes in grad school for theater production. i'm actually sitting in on one of their rehersals right now. lol
I'm just happy it all fit.
The first leg of the trip took me from my house in NJ through Pittsburgh...I absolutely had to swing by this place
The famous Primanti Brothers.
To get one of these
it was good. i got a corned beef with provolone (the only cheese available) and they put this awesome cole slaw on and fries. the bread was just thick slices of white bread. however...a grease truck sandwich is still way better, IMO.
...my stay in Pittsburgh was as brief as the life of that sandwich, and then I headed out towards Urbana, IL to visit my sister who is going to grad school there.
I didn't even realize that I would be passing through West Virginia.
...but i did.
What I was looking for was this sign...
...which came next
I left my house at 10pm and drove through the night. I watched the sunrise in Ohio and tried to take what I thought would be a cool photo.
it didn't quite work with my phone camera. the colors didn't come through that well.
By 9 or 10am it was starting to get tough to focus. I had to pull over for a coffee and a little stretch. I am VERY glad that I did because not only did it help, but I saw this at the gas station that I pulled into.
drooooooooool
The welcome signs for Indiana nd Illinois were pretty boring. Plus I was going at a fairly good clip and there was more traffic now, so I could not pull over to take a picture. Not to mention that I was really working on staying focused on the road, so taking pictures kind of took a backseat to driving...no pun intended. ;)
It got rediculously hot by 11am. When I was driving through IL, the last half hour or so, it reached 100ºF...so fucking hot!
I will confirm the actual milage travelled, but it took me 14.5 hours...minus ~2 hours for stops. This was supposed to be the hardest leg of the trip. Sunday morning I head out to St. Louis and then Kansas City. Will update then.
now i'm in U of IL visiting my sister.
shes in grad school for theater production. i'm actually sitting in on one of their rehersals right now. lol
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
The paradox of choice
I'm in the process of trying to pick out/customize a laptop, and just couldn't resist posting this.
I really love TED, there is a lot of very interesting stuff posted on there, this is one of those. However, unfortunately, it doesn't make my laptop decision any easier. lol grrrrr
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/93
I really love TED, there is a lot of very interesting stuff posted on there, this is one of those. However, unfortunately, it doesn't make my laptop decision any easier. lol grrrrr
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/93
Monday, August 13, 2007
Dan's going away get festivuses
So, I am leaving the East Coast. Thinking of doing a little going away get together for some friends.
Here is the link to the Evite, since I don't have everyone's email addy.
Link to Dan's going away festivuses in NYC
Hope to see you there.
---cots
Here is the link to the Evite, since I don't have everyone's email addy.
Link to Dan's going away festivuses in NYC
Hope to see you there.
---cots
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Mediterraneo got 3 stars in The Record!!!
this is pretty fucking cool!!
i come to work at the restaurant this morning and the chef greets me with "the wrote about us in The Record."
so i ask him, "good or bad?" haha
and he says, "they gave us 3 stars. thats the good news. the bad news is we got flooded with customers." (so great news in both cases, but not so great because i think they ran out of food or couldn't keep up and had to close for lunch today and probably a few other days over the week.
here is the link to the review in The Record
SWEET!! i'm very excited! the chef joked saying that he's gonna make a deal with me. i can put this on my resume, but i have to mention the restaurant in my first book. HAHAHA
i come to work at the restaurant this morning and the chef greets me with "the wrote about us in The Record."
so i ask him, "good or bad?" haha
and he says, "they gave us 3 stars. thats the good news. the bad news is we got flooded with customers." (so great news in both cases, but not so great because i think they ran out of food or couldn't keep up and had to close for lunch today and probably a few other days over the week.
here is the link to the review in The Record
SWEET!! i'm very excited! the chef joked saying that he's gonna make a deal with me. i can put this on my resume, but i have to mention the restaurant in my first book. HAHAHA
im exhausted
...but i feel awesome!
its amazing how a good day of hard work actually makes you feel good. i really cant remember the last time i came home from my office job feeling like i accomplished anything, or did anything worthwhile, that day.
btw, if you are wondering what im talking about, i've been working part-time in the kitchen of a local restaurant in ridgewood (nj). testing the waters, so to speak, before i embark on my plans to change careers and become a chef. :) so far so good.
its amazing how a good day of hard work actually makes you feel good. i really cant remember the last time i came home from my office job feeling like i accomplished anything, or did anything worthwhile, that day.
btw, if you are wondering what im talking about, i've been working part-time in the kitchen of a local restaurant in ridgewood (nj). testing the waters, so to speak, before i embark on my plans to change careers and become a chef. :) so far so good.
гоголь моголь (Gogol Mogol)
this is just so i can remember the recipe. гоголь моголь is a drink i used to drink when i was a kid, and it was really REALLY good. super simple to make too.
what you will need:
4 eggs yolks (you can save the whites for when you bake and want to glaze a pie or something)
1-2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons of sugar (or to taste)
put everything in a glass and stir vigorously with a spoon. enjoy. if i have cocoa powder in the house ill make this tomorrow and post some pictures. haha
what you will need:
4 eggs yolks (you can save the whites for when you bake and want to glaze a pie or something)
1-2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons of sugar (or to taste)
put everything in a glass and stir vigorously with a spoon. enjoy. if i have cocoa powder in the house ill make this tomorrow and post some pictures. haha
It's been a while
wow...almost a year. thats nuts. well, here is my once-per-year post. hope you enjoyed it. haha
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