As a very wise man once said, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear", and that I have been doing over the past two splendid weeks of school and Friendtime.
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| Rockefeller Center:) |
About 7 months ago My Friend and I bid the luxury of living within the same timezone ado and started this fun adventure we call a long-distance relationship. The experience has allowed us to become pretty boss at traveling and being super tourists, and it has taught us to value the time we do get to spend together to remind us that we are not phantom Friends. During the wonderful week that Curtis was in New England the adventures were abounding:
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| Scholarly |
- The 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It has been on my bucket list for years and spending the day in the city replicating Buddy and Jovie's Friendtime was the best possible way I could have spent my first Thanksgiving away from my family.
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| SANTA?! I KNOW HIM! |
- Multiple trips to Burlington to experience civilization, while Montpelier is a pretty little Christmastown, there isn't too much to do for entertainment purposes.
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| Visiting Champ |
- An impromptu visit from Gene ( A.K.A. Jene' Marie Ann Hofer) in which she accompanied us to the Ben and Jerry's Factory where we got extra samples due to our Alma Mater and collegiate employer and we finished our day up with a mini pub crawl in Waterbury.
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| Fab Friends and Free Samples |
- In addition, Gene and Curtis entertained each other while I was in class. They visited La Brioche for a breakfast date and Magic Hat Brewery for a tour with a Boss friend.
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| Enjoying the spectacle of my captivity |
- A romantic tutorial on how to set a mouse trap, Stuart Little isn't so cute in real life.
- Celebrating 19 years with Tyler Curran with pizza at Positive Pie and cupcakes provided by Chef Matt.
- Multiple dinner dates including NECI on Main, a memorable Thanksgiving dinner diner, Italian with Bailey Meeee-ler, and a soup bar feast.
- Tuxedo Club Tour and slumber party with Bailey!!
- Curtis had the pleasure of utilizing Mrs. Puff's new shoes in our first big snow, 8 inches. He took me to school at 4:30 am, he really is pretty great.
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| White Thanksgiving |
- An accidentally magical Christmas tree lighting on Church Street in Burlington, sigh.
- Adult beverage Boss friend bonding induced by "The Great Yuengling Chase"
While My Friend's visitation is the front-runner in the exciting events of the past two weeks, I did have some pretty fabulous experiences in class. You know I love me some quality learning.
- Pies, Pies, Pies. Thanksgiving production wrapped up with close to 100 pies.
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| A sample of the apple pies pre-bake |
- Lots of fun demos: Marzipan flowers, chocolate boxes, pulling/blowing/spinning sugar!
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| Chocolate roses, treasure chest, and a sea turtle from Peter |
- Tart production: lemon meringue and salty caramel chocolate mousse
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| Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Tarts |
- Lots and lots of tempering chocolate, Chef Phillipe busted out the tempering machine this week, a much easier way to create beautiful chocolate creations!
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| Ahhhhhh, THE tempering machine, Christmas present? |
- Pear Brandy Chocolates. Delicious fun.
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| Making Chocolates |
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| Boozy and Tasty |
- Sugar, Custard, and Plating Desserts lectures
In addition to classroom learning moments, there are ALWAYS my momentous, overly dramatized life lessons I am learning living alone in a new place.
- My roomies (landlords) have left me for 6 weeks to gallivant around New Zealand via Magic Bus. In the meantime I have become rather paranoid as I don't have a key to my house and I return home with random lights on, various household items misplaced, and mice monsters stealing the ever-so-enticing, peanut butter-baited, traps that I have fearfully set and taking them INTO the walls. They can smell the fear. Coming from B.T.K.'s (burgers, tacos, and k-sa-dillas) home base, my overly active imagination, and my attention to detail don't really help.
- With the first half of the term over I have become a bit more comfortable with my new peers. All-in-all I have been blessed with a friendly block, 9 out of 10 are incredible, I'll take it. My anti-social solo lunch dates have been replaced with obnoxious, contagious laughter and witty banter with friends. A mid-class trip to the hardware store with Peter to purchase our own heat lamp for pulling sugar was the catalyst in an entertaining friendship.
- This week I began helping Ty Guy with the breakfast pull at La Brioche. The result? Shortened nights and an increase in naps, but I'm not mad, I appreciate the opportunity to bake whenever I can and the time with my friends is better than sleep any day-or night. In addition, during proofing I have been able to research potential internship sites and ideas for my final and my Boss friend is a very beneficial and appreciated resource.
- 17 days. That is it. 17 more days until I get to come home for Christmas! I am going to be missing two days of class but I have already made one up and I'll make the other up on Saturday, and I'll be home free!!! I am missing my family and friends like crazy, Curtis's visit further stimulated anticipation for home. I can't wait. "First we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie-dough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle."
