I am really tired of sounding like a frog. I had bronchitis about two weeks ago. I went to the doctor, (which means it was pretty bad, because I don't go to the doctor), who loaded me up with pills, and the bronchitis went away. Unfortunately, the frog voice has remained. One of my three year olds asked me to "sing the sunshine song." I said "I can't sing the sunshine song baby, I have a frog voice." His sweet three year old reply "Ok. Sing it in a frog voice momma." Very frustrating that I can't even sing to my babies. Definately not awesome.

So Starbucks has some pretty tasty seasonal drink choices available right now. I am in love with the Egg Nog Chai. Yummmm. As it may or may not be known, wanting to drink two or even three of these drinks a day and actually having enough cash to do so, are two very different things. Before work a couple of mornings ago (yes before work. I'm talkin wee hours of the morning here) I stopped by my local 24 hr grocery store and purchased a few items that have not only saved me money, but provided me with a bit of happiness, too. I bought a couple of jugs-o-egg-nog and a box of chai tea bags. Woo egg nog chai. So sorry Starbucks. My money will be going toward more important things (like new white work shoes. Oh yeah.). Definitely awesome.

I have been cooking on the line in a French bistro for three years now.  Recently I decided I needed to step up my game and procure the title of  Sous Chef. The intention was not necessarily to become Sous of the kitchen I have become so acquainted with.  In fact, having the two Sous spots at my current job filled, I  actually was thinking the title would have to come from a different restaurant. Last week bittersweet news arose.  The amazing Sous/pastry Chef/world-king-awesome-friend-who-has-my-utmost-respect-and-gratitude, whom I have worked with for the past three years. is moving up and out. She unabashedly (and rightfully so) won over some pretty big name restauranteurs/chefs and now has an amazing new job of which she starts at the end of this month.( http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2011/sep/12/oak-restaurant-dallas-design-district-hires-ex-man/ ) I have gained so much from this lady that I can't even begin to express my thanks to her. Because of her, not only have I grown in my knowledge of the kitchen and its workings, but I have been given unconditional support and friendship as well. I have yet to actually dwell on the thought that I will no longer be able to spend the mornings acting a fool with and actually enjoying being at work with her. I am so incredibly proud of her, and in no way surprised that this amazing opportunity has found her. (By the way Chef G, we may both be busier than we've ever been in our lives, but don't think just because you're now a fancy smancy restaurant chef that I'm no longer gonna be around. Oh I'll be around. You can't get rid of me that easily. Muhahaha!) So there's some happy and some sad and then there's the uncertain. The uncertain comes from the fact that there is now an unfilled Sous position at my job. I in no way want to step on toes or claim I "deserve" this opportunity, but I want it. I applied online for the position this evening (which seems a little odd) and now I sit and wait. Or stew and wait, as it may be. How awesome it would be to have a couple of days off. And how awesome it would be to be able to be Sous in the kitchen that has been my home for the past few years.  I can only hope that the employment powers that be fully recognize my loyalty and determination and perseverance and all the other characteristics I would like to think that I posses that would make me the optimal choice (*wink*).

I am really astounded by how fast these past few weeks have gone by. Really. Thanksgiving will be here soon and I still have the giant spider and skeleton windsock in the front yard. "I am thankful for creepy yard decorations." But that will only carry me through November. Once December rolls around, I could put Santa hats on them. Or I suppose I could lug the ladder into the front and take them down. Sigh. I spent entirely too long today away from my home. Hubby didn't have to go to school until later than usual. This is a good thing. Bad thing is that I was stuck at the oil change place with a car LONG overdue for a change, and a hungry 4th grader, instead of spending valuable time with my husband whom I very rarely get to see. After finishing a lengthy and boring list of to-do things, I was in no mood to make dinner. Sad. Very sad. Standing in the to-go line at the local pizza place wearing my chef whites. I either looked lazy or like a phony. Just my Halloween costume. I swear. And to think, there was once a life before 70 hour work weeks, when I had the energy to come home and make pizza dough. I will be there again. Soon.

Trick or Treat!

Well, goodbye October. You were definitely a full month. Here is a montage of pictures recording some of the exhausting, hectic, and amazing days you gave me.

Bruvers!

 Birthday!

Thanks a lot sick on my birthday

 Another Birthday!

Creepy crafts

Yeah I wore it to work!

Bathroom reconstruction

Yet Another Birthday

State Fair of Texas

Fitz and the Tantrums

World King Awesome Night!

My sweet girls

Tweedles

My other sweet girls

I am comfortable in my zone. Hence, the term "comfort zone". My zone, however, has been an amorphous area for quite a while now. Things seem to be in constant motion.  Crazy as it may seem, I am finding myself more at ease in these turbulent waters. As my busy-as-me-but-in-different-ways husband says "There is a light at the end of this tunnel." There will, at some point in the future, be a time when my average night of sleep consists of more than 3 hours. There will be a time when I get to see my husband for more than 30 minutes at a time. There will be a time when my children will be able to look back on now, and know they were loved and provided for. I can only hope that  they recognize that the piano lessons, scouts, church, library trips with dad, cookie baking, craft making, homework completing, family trips to the grocery store, and all the other bits of hoopla are not out of obligation, but out of preference. I may be tired, and occasionally on the grumpster side, but I am not going to stop if there is something else I am capable of doing for my family.

                                                   INTERMISSION






Next topic on my agenda for this evening is actually related to the first. Comfort Zone.  I am in the process of picking up my heavy foot and dragging it over the line.  Yeah, actually stepping out of this zone. I am planning on updating my resume and earnestly seeking a job a little higher on the ladder. And I am scared to death. I know I am awesome at what I do. I know I have the experience (and the degree) to expect better. I know there is nothing that I cannot learn to do, if I do not already know how to do it, but I am still shakin in my boots (or kitchen clogs, as the case may be) at the thought of "moving on". I cannot even begin to express the gratitude I have for the people I have been blessed to work with (some of whom will not hear the end of me, even if we no longer work together). Don't get me wrong, I haven't even applied anywhere else yet, so this is definitely not an immediate change, but I think I have climbed to the summit of my current job. I am ready to start the ascension in another kitchen. Yes. Woo.

If I were thinking clearly, I would have been wise enough to get out of bed, even though it was 6 am and I had fallen asleep roughly 3.5 hours earlier (after a 20 hr work day, no less). If I were thinking clearly, I would have been wise enough to get the VERY AWAKE twins some cereal as per their request. Alas, I was tired. I was not thinking clearly. I unwisely told the pair of three year olds that I would get them something to eat "in a little while" and to go play in their room for a little bit. I REALLY should have known better.

No worries. I found that if the tile is mopped 3 or so times, the floor is noticeably less sticky. And the festive feeling of fall-ness is keeping my spirits up. The boys and I crafted a giant spiderweb out of 100 ft of rope and    

hung it in the tree out front with an accompanying ginormous spider. The return of candy corn to the local grocery stores is pretty darn great, too. Oh, and it looks as though I am actually going to get 2 days off this month. Well, kind of. I will work the a.m. at one job, but took the p.m. off from the other, so we can take the boys to the State Fair. I am stoked. Woo.

I cannot even believe it is already October!! Fall is my favorite season. I love that the weather is cooling down enough to leave the windows open. I love putting up fall wreaths and buying pumpkins. I love that I can spray the "Harvest Spice" air fresheners all over my home and not get funny sideways judging looks from anyone who comes in the house. And there are copious amounts of birthdays to celebrate. Woo. Birthdays. Woo. Hopefully this month I will take a few more days off than I did last month. My days off of work grand total for the month of September...... ONE. Well, 1.5 because I took a half day, but I'm not counting that because I came home, did dishes and laundry, took out the trash, mowed the lawn, and then picked the boys up from school. So grand total stays at 1. Come on October, bring your worst. I'm armed with a fall leaf garland and a pumpkin scented candle.