Monday, May 30, 2011

Day 6

Today was my first day! My roomate Thomas was up at 4am this morning for the breakfast shift, followed by Jeremy who was up at 630am for the lunch shift, then there was me, who left here at 1pm! How did I get so lucky, as to have the late shift where I could sleep in till noon! Even though I had the option of sleeping in till noon, I think I got up right around 9am! Haha Mom,Dad, can u tell I was excited?
Well I think from now on you can call me the fortune teller because, as Jeremy and I were talking last night about todays events, I told him, "You know, even though I only cut myself once during school, I have the feeling that I am going to cut myself the first hour of work tomorrow". Well, sure enough! I ended up slicing the tip of my ring finger cutting up some portabella mushrooms. By the way, the produce and meat quality they have up here is the best I have ever seen! There portobella mushroom caps were as big or bigger than my hand!!
Today I worked a ten hour shift that felt like a hour. I was constantly learning new things, different techniques, and different dishes. Tonight I worked the grill and fryer, while my supervisor Tiffany worked sautee and "smiley" worked salads and desserts.
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by three married women in the kitchen and listening to them and their stories really makes me aware that I have found the girl that God wants me to be with. They all describe their married lives and the things they do together, the struggles and trials each other faces, and I think to myself you know I have done that, been there, and seen that; you know we may actually work together.really well.
I went to walmart after my shift to pick up some finger cots and bandais, as I was walking out I saw a five dollar book section, I actually picked up a book called tiger. This is a biography of the best golfer in the history of golf, this has his highest points as well as the lowest points of his life. One of my supervisors told me tonight, "I can tell you are going to be good at what ever you try, just learn to take a fall better than anyone else and you will be at the top in no time." On my ride home from work I thought to myself, it seems like no one can ever have enough, one trophy, one million dollars, one house, one car, and one wife just isn't enough. I want to be satisfied with what God gives me, and if He knows I can't handle the top, then I pray God only allows me to be average.
Tomorrow I meet with the Executive Chef of Whistling Straits, pray for me that I would have a bold testimony in the kitchen everyday and that they will see that I am different.
Special shout outs to the best sisters in the whole world, little Kate and Rissi; and to the best girl friend ever, Jenn! Also, thanks Dad and Mom for raising me how you did, and for being so tough on me as a kid, I hope you can see your fruits of your labors paying off now. I love you guys!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Day 5

Honestly, when I first had the idea of writting a blog, I didn't really imagine myself making it this far! Day five! I woke up to the smell of Mom's biscuits and gravy! Mmmm! My all time favorite breakfast meal consisters of biscuits and gravy, turkey bacon, three eggs over easy, and a plate of hashbrowns (extra crunchy).
Like I said in my last post, I now realize the opportunity I have when I eat breakfast with my family before going to church with them. Something about that just really makes my day!
After church little kate, marissa, jenn and I went shopping at Brookfield Square for a few hours. The girls ended up coming through for the stereotype and walked out of the store with a big bag each, and I think I helped out the big brother stereotype by buying a few shirts to appease and go along with the idea of shopping is fun. Which, by the way, I don't under stand the point of window shopping? Is it the thrill of seeing all the new cool things, or do people use their lust and greed of things to fuel their work in order to achieve their goal of getting that thing. My thinking is, if I don't even have the money, why should I go and tease myself? It's like walking into the chocolate shop, smelling the sweet chocolate, but then just walking right on out! What is the fun of that?!
Anyways, after shopping, I dropped the girls back off at home and said my good byes. Even though I have said goodbye to these guys probably a million times before, the time when u say goodbye and you know that you probably won't get to see them again for a few weeks, it really gets to you. I think I use that as my fuel for the fire; wanting to not let my family/friends down because I know some of them are watching me and looking upto me.
I am pretty excited tonight because tomorrow is my first day working! I hope I do well! I mean really, not to be rude but, if you were here and you would see some of these people, you would just have to think these chefs and trainers have seen some pretty off people.
I am hoping to see some really cool stuff tomorrow, and hopefully learn quick and get a leg up on the competition.
Thank you everyone who reads my blog! :) Remember the families and people in Joplin, even though I'm in a smaller town, the people still buzz here with the destruction and shock of the accident. God has a plan for everything and the ability to heal anyone.

Day 4

Sorry for the late post! Day four, was another lazy day! I woke up apparently on the right side of bed because I felt refreshed and awake, even though I woke up on a couch that was a foot to short for me.
I went and ate lunch with my Dad, discussed orientation with him and other father-son matter! After lunch, we went over to play with the dogs for a good two or three hours before going home to relax.
Really, when I said lazy day in the beginning of this post, I ment lazy day!
After watching a little bit of TV, we went to BWW to watch the UFC fight! That really was all I did in my day!
Even though I didn't do much of anything I still was able to enjoy the little things in life. Sitting in the backyard with my dad on a 70 degree day, playing with the dogs, is a very hard memory to top.
Even though God has blessed me with the opportunity to do some very cool things, and experience some very different things, I am still very grateful to Him, that he allows me to enjoy the small things with my friends/family.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Day 3

Day three, of many, was nice to see. I came back home for a nice three day weekend with the family before business will soon be conducted. It was nice to see everyone smile and be surprised, or atleast act surprised, when I got back. Even though it's only been a couple days, it really has felt like a week since I have seen my dad,mom,chuck and awesome sisters.
Little Kate sent me a farewell message over facebook the other night, if I was a girl I probably would cried because who knew that such sweet things could come from such a scary monster like kate ;)! Anyways I loved her letter, message actually just because she doesn't yet know how to write a letter and mail it.
Today was a pretty relaxed day, I went and saw Jenn at the bank and surprised her, then I went home and laid on the super comfy couch while petting my puppy louis.
Mom dropped marissa off at home after marissa had gotten done with school, then my mom took off in the car and sort of dissapeared for a while, I honestly had no clue where she went. She eventually came back to cook some chicken quarters and polish dogs with me.
Since I am suuuuuch a nice son, I went to the store to pick up some onions for the fried potatoes we were going to make for the grilled meats. The problem is, Mom doesn't really know me that well, She sent me to the grocery store with five dollars for a bag of two dollar onions. Of course, I ended up buying eight dollars worth of delicious addons such as a hobanero pepper to throw in the peppers for a little kick, and some chips, tea for me, and a bag of yummy kettle chips!
After dinner with the fam, I took little kate and jenn to KUNG FU PAND 2! What a awesome movie! I have never wished so hard that a cute, fuzzy little panda bear would show up on my front porch in a little radish box!
Now I am home thinking about how God has really blessed me, and directed me in everything that I have done. He has shown me wich doors to open, which bridges to cross, and what jobs to apply for. The crazy thing about this all is, even though this multi-billion dollar company may seem big, my God is bigger than all of them.
I find it really fascinating that God didn't just say let their be humans, he took his time to make up different DNA, races, skin colors, skin tones, and all that stuff! He went into all the details designing us for a given purpose!
It really humbles me when I think about how God really cares for us, and we don't really even appreciate it. Do I always thank God for the beautiful plants, herbs, meats and cutlery I get to work with everyday? Honestly, no I don't and I feel kinda bad but I know God knows how we can get caught up and forget about life and Him. My prayer tonight before I go to bed is that, He will remind me every day how awesome Hwe is, that He is bring something into my path everyday to wake me up at His glory and presence in my life.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Day 2

This morning I woke up to the sweet sound of my double alarm! You know, I need a alarm close to my ear to wake me up and one across the room to keep me up.
I threw on my dress pants and my premium lime green dress shirt along with the beautiful white nikes I have. I ate some breakfast which today consisted of two perfectly unhealthy white buns and two delicious and somewhat healthy turkey breakfast patties. I made a lunch with the same combo only I subsituted in a few chicken breasts and I also took a gatorade and some granola!
By 730 I was out the door feeling great, the sun was out so I didn't have any mud in my shoes from the rain yesterday and for some reason the Kohler air just smells that much better!
I went to Kohler medical, law and communications building to get my security/clock in badge. I filled out a bunch of paper work and got my picture taken for it.
After receiving my badge I jumped across the street to The American Club hotel and sat for the first three hours while Melissa (head of HR) discussed whp Kohler was, what we respresent and how to represent it. There was a hour break for lunch where I went to the house and sat while I ate my two chicken sandwiches and some home made granola.
After lunch, I went back for another three hours where we were taught about Hospitality by D.E.S.I.G.N. which is a huge is a anagram for some crazy mumbo jumbo. She could have just summed it up by saying "You represent Kohler so be nice to the people you work with and who stay with us."
After orientation I went to the house and took a shower. This shower smelled terrible! The water is well water and I think I was gagging the whole time I was in the bathroom because of the amount of rotten egg smell.
I got a call from my supervisor, I will be starting at whistling straits Monday! I am also excuited because they put me on nights, now I don't have to get up at 4am, since you have to start work at 5:30am.
I can start to tell that this is going to be very exciting and very exhausting.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Day 1

Today was move in day!
I woke up at 10am today, and I knew it was going to be one in the history books. You know that feeling where you just know it's gonna be a good day? Yeah, I woke up thinking, today's the day where my highschool chapter in my book of life finally ends, and the fruits of my labors/college chapter finally starts.
Most people shoot for a age (like 13,18,21,40, etc) to celebrate the different chapters in their life; for me, I want to make the different chapters in my life defined by the accomplishments of the goals I have set in my life.
Last night I packed my bags, I took a few pairs of pants, lots of shorts, and shirts, and extra lots of the socks and undies (you can never have to many). I also packed three pairs of shoes and my check-pants just incase. I threw together a bag full of my toiletries and some other goodies I picked up at the store like laundry soap and some new body wash and shampoo/conditioner. I packed my computer and my knife kit, and of course my blankets,pillows, and sheets. That's it!
I had lunch with my dad, said bye to my thirteen year old doggy, and gave my "thirty-eight" year old mother a hug and kiss bye.
I left at noon and arrived around one-thirty because I enjoy driving very slow on the highway for optimum gas mileage!
I went to the HR department, read over the lease papers and signed them, I at that point followed her to the beautiful house (not) that I am staying in.
We went in, I was introduced to Thomas, a student at CIA (Culinary Institute of America), and I said hi to my buddy from school, Jeremy. Melissa, from Kohler, handed me the keys to my room and the house doors and said good luck and just left!
I talked with the guys for a while, mainly with Thomas asking him about CIA and how he likes it and etc. We found out that Kohler was paying him less than us at WCTC! How crazy is that?! The best school in the USA for Culinary, and a little Tech school is producing higher paid students. I found that humorous.
I eventually moved all my stuff into my room which contained a twin bunk, a twin regular bed and a few other little end tables before I got in.
After hauling all my stuff in, me and Jeremy decided to go check out Sheboygan while Thomas was off working at the Wisconsin Club.
Sheboygan has a lot of shops! Lucky for us, they are all for the most part within walking distance of us. I have two twenty-four hour stores within a five minutes drive.
I stopped at walmart and picked up some canned pasta, and frozen chicken breast along with buns.
After that, I and Jeremy went to a Chinese Buffet and gorged our serlves for dinner.
After dinner, we went back to the house, I cleaned up a bit and then drove all the way back to Pewaukee, because I had forgotten my checks, paperwork, and social security card. All of these items I needed inorder to get my security badge tomorrow.
I am back here now cleaning my room getting all my stuff organized and into their proper containers and dressers. Honestly, I am a little freaked out because this house is a little creepy! Also the lower quarter of my body is hanging off the bed because I have been graciously "upgraded" to a twin. Excellent.
No one said this is going to be easy, and I am thankful for that, no fun comes from things going just as they are planned.
I want to thank my parents for sticking with me when I wasn't mature enough to realize what they did for me, and how they continually support me. Even though I wasn't raised in a nucleur house, I was raised in a perfect home. The credit for that goes to my Savior, Jesus Christ, the only One who knows which path to take and how to take it.