Last weekend was another crazy one, but those truly are the best kind! I worked late Friday night getting ready for Saturday, but it was not bad all things considered. Michelle came in to help me for a few hours! After work, I got to enjoy dinner with my family at Thai D, and went to Kroger with Michelle to get groceries for her Birthday party on Sunday.
Saturday was another early morning, and a killer day. We all got to work at 5am. Today was THE day for the 100th Anniversary for IBEW Local 702. To Kindling, this meant that we were cooking, plating and hand serving for 800 at the SIU arena. Over the span of several days, we also did all the flowers, linens, chair ties etc. for the event. Oh, and 800 gift baskets! Just a small undertaking. Their menu included Crystal's salad, my roasted red pepper carrot bisque, or etoufee (thanks Doug), smoked brisket, florentine stuffed chicken, fingerling potatoes, and grilled asparagus. We grilled nearly 8,000 pieces of asparagus. Not an easy task! Kindling also did the "pre party" for 200 the night before, and prepared all the appetizers, and did all of the bars Saturday night. All I can say, is go us!
I was incredibly proud of our team! I have zero pictures of the event, I hope that someone took some, because it looked great with the red white and blue theme. We always have a way of pulling together to get the job done. Thanks to all the people who "jumped in," and helped us last weekend. A comment was made to me about how well everyone worked together, never mind the fact that half of the staff had never met, let alone worked an event together before. I was extremely blessed to have my family and friends helping me plate food! Bryan, Michelle, Janet, Shailer and Gail, thanks for being willing to help out. It means a lot to me that you would give up your Saturday night to work with me, and lets face it, no part of an event that size is "easy."
In the grand sceme of things, only a few minor "hicccups" happened along the way. I sliced my fingers on foil lids a time or two, I have another burn on my right arm (battle wound!), and I dropped two full pans of potatoes in the floor when I was trying to "go fast!" Oh, and I dropped my phone into beef brisket, and had to buy another Blackberry, and wait two days, but that's all "small potatoes."
As I was driving home Saturday night, I found out through Bryan that our dog Marble had been hit by a car, and was killed instantly. I am not one to get too attached to animals, but this little guy was something. The jack russell in him made him very smart, but also fearless when it came to cars. Marble was always ready to play and always had a tennis ball in his mouth. All you had to say was "go get your toy," and he would have it there in lightening speed! Our other dog Maggie, (see previous hair cut post) seems to be a little confused now. She just moves around and takes long naps in random spots throughout the house. She knows something is "wrong" and "different."
Notice the tennis ball in the photo.
Bryan dug a hole behind our garage for Marble and his tennis ball. I truly have a great guy here. It takes someone special to put up with my working 60-70 hours a week lately, ask off work from their job to work for me on a Saturday night, then come home with me, and dig a hole (in dress shoes and slacks nonetheless) for our family pet. Sorry about that soap box, but I am truly a lucky man!
Sunday brought about another hectic, but great day! We slept through our alarms, I can not imagine why we might have been tired. lol. Bryan and I woke up at 11:30, and somehow made it to Paula's by noon! My amazing friend Paula hosted the Civil Union Ceremony for our friends Karen and Mary in her backyard. It was an afternoon full of love, celebration, and yummy coconut dessert. It was great to celebrate with Karen and Mary, and so many of our church friends. Truly a moment that I want to remember forever. Hopefully Paula will be sending me some pictures soon; I was shooting with her camera.
Sunday evening brought about a huge celebration at our house for Michelle's 19th Birthday. I think that 30 people is about our "entertaining capacity" lol. It was great to have everyone together; truly a unique group of people! I have to brag on my sister here. She claims that she is not a cook, but she pulled off food for thirty pretty darn well! She make sauerkraut soup, vegetable beef soup, cornbread and grilled cheese!
I had to laugh when she stopped up the garbage disposal with potato peels. I was not laughing at her, I was laughing with her, only because I have done the same thing so many times when I am hosting, and it is always when I am already running behind. Thankfully, we both know a little about plumbing, and our good friend Randy was over, and he owns his own plumbing business. That reminds me, I so owe him chocolate chip cookies for this one!
Here are a few pictures from the party:
My step sister Cathy, and her boyfriend Ryan.
Now, this is one heck of a group, and one heck of a memory! Michelle had asked me to make the grilled cheese for her party. Surely a Chef could handle a few dozen sandwiches. With all that was happening in the kitchen, with all of the people helping under the sink, and all of the cleaning supplies thrown throughout the kitchen (that were under the sink lol), I decided that working in the kitchen was not realistic. So I went to option B, the bathroom. I needed a counter, and an outlet, so it was there, or on my scrapbook table. . . which would have been a fine option if I could even see my scrapbook table!
Go Cassie, Ashley, Bryan and Michael, aka "Team Grilled Cheese!" Cassie helped me by spreading the butter on the bread. All I can say is that this is a moment that I will never, ever forget, and I love this picture. I love the looks of laughter and smiles on our faces, and the grilled cheese, griddle, and toilet! All in the same shot!
Life is short. . .remember to make the most of every moment! -chef mike.
