From C to C ******** Chef to Computer

Happy Birthday Canada

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:34:02 GMT

Hello Friends,

Well it was a great day....first we started to watch TV with the show from our nations capital...had some great talent but I am sorry to say it was rather frustrating that English was spoken secondly. YES, I know we are a bilingual country but usually English is always spoken first.

I said let's head into the town next to us where I was raised and go to the "Show and Shine" with all the old cars...Just LOVE to do that as it is like stepping back into a time warp.

Saw some people from my hometown...went through a musuem I had never done before, bought the big guy lunch and then came back to a campground and visited with friends for awhile.

Home now and quite tired so will say goodnight from Alberta...we are still awaiting Baby's birth and will head down to city on Thursday.

Will take in the chuckwagon races and grandstand show at the infamous Calgary Stampede. I used to take my concession here so we will stop and visit with friends that still do. It is very costly as they charge you 24% right off the top but about $1000. for electricity and water and sewer..You have to make a LOT every day and my SPUD BUD truck just did not do it.

Blessings,

Lori

I found it!!

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:47:10 GMT

Good Morning or whatever time it may be where you are...

Yes the cheque book was right under my nose...but in the process of trying to find it I cleaned out a bunch of junk. My goodness why does one keep the "stuff" they do? The poor paper shredder was put to a LOT of work...

Well I have just come back from my daily "walk-about" town but this time I had my daughter's pooch in tow. I think "Nelly" thoroughly enjoyed it as she is rarely walked at home. I can not condemn because I know I was quilty of it when we had out American Cocker "Jessie" For some reason we are deluded thinking little dogs do not need exercise the same.

I have my daughter's girl and her friend over night while the parents and the youngest child went to the "Calgary Stampeders" football game...They thought it was cool to be able to sleep in Nana's trailer...

My job today before finishing some of "my story" is to complete a testimony story for our ladies magazine. I asked the person in charge how many pages was I allowed because my life seems to be more like a novel..

As we in Canada approach our nations bithday...(we do not get as patriotic (unfortunately as the Americans) I am mindful of how much our country has changed since the original settlers came with a firm foundation of a belief system and trust in God. I was saddened to hear that they might take off "in God we trust" off an American coin.

Personally I believe our world is in the MESS it is because we have wandered so FAR away from the basic Biblical beliefs...and we are reaping many consequences because of it.

I know that in my own personal life, although God has forgiven me for things I have confessed to him, I still am bearing consequences of rebellion towards Him.

Daily, trying to remember my purpose of life while on this Earth is to live an abundant life...now that does NOT mean there will be no difficulties but again I am told to TRUST in the Almighty.

I hope this day or evening finds you well and I pray the Lord's blessings on you and yours..

Love Lori

Sending blessing to my journal friends...

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:51:15 GMT

Hello there,

I promised myself I would not go on the computer today until I found my missing cheque book so just wanted you to know I am thinking of each and everyone of you on this day

Blessings and hugs...

So much to tell and just to many sports to watch.

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:36:23 GMT

Greetings dear Friends,

Well I want to continue my blog, write about our "drive" that covered 6 states and just have to stay at the TV. Watched "Tiger" come through again so another round tomorrow....Basketball on now but will return tomorrow after golf is over.

Happy Father's day to all out there....

Blessings,

One of my proudest moments...

Tue, 27 May 2008 12:33:35 GMT

As Maureen inquired about the third number on the board, I confessed it was me...then promptly asked Chef's permission to be excused a moment to run upstairs where my hubby was.

I ran up and hugged him and said, "you must be just the greatest teacher ever hon...because guess what I aced the test!!!!"

Now for someone who had D's most of their life, to accompish an A was a crowning moment in school.

My little adopted friend NEVER knew or anyone else that on the sheet that number that corresponded with the 3rd. A was for me!!

Believe me it was hard not to shout from the rooftops my accomplishment, but God with the help of hubby pulled me through, and of course in order to pass this degree all subjects had to be passed.

Meanwhile, I return back to my present "Meatcutting block" and I was surprised how much I enjoyed cutting up the carcass of the whole beef. The only thing the Chef was adamant that we did not screw up was cutting the tenderloin.

Julie, my adopted friend and I are making sausages one day and somehow had trouble shutting off the button that processed the raw meat coming in the casing and boy oh boy what a mess...

Completed this 20 day course and it was on to Patissiere...yummy old Lor LOVES pastry....and by the end of the class gained 9 pounds as Chef allowed us to eat anything...

You NEVER should do that to a "sugarholic"

Well friends the sun is shining so I imagine the granddaughter's track meet will be a go so I best make my porridge and get going although it is only 6:30 am.

Blessings...next course "French Terminology"....oh no another class I flunked in school...but it became my PRIDEFUL moment in the 2 yrs...continued

You never told me it included Math...

Tue, 27 May 2008 04:09:12 GMT

In both years of school we had to take a class that involved pricing of banquets etc. etc. Now you must remember I was a failing student in Math ALL my life and had I known this was part of the curriculum I probably would not have done the program.

Anyway one night my dear hubby worked for hours with me on 3 questions and for the first time REALLY saw how much trouble I had with Math....

Anyway I go into the test and this particular block the poor Chef had most students who were like me...Again I think he took pity on Lor and actually gave me the initial answer to the first question...

This test involved each page continuing from one to another and I said "Chef, I have to do this myself"

As was in school the material all looked different but that is only because when you have trouble with something a teacher always mixed it up.

I asked to be excused for a moment and headed to the lu where I had my cry, asked God to keep me calm and remember all that hubby had taught me.

So away I go to do about 20 pages of this test and had my final answer and then happened to see a fellow classmates answer which was NO where mine...moment of weakness...do I take a chance and leave what I have....or do I erase and cheat and take Freddy's answer...

Of course, with the Lord as your conscience the answer was obvious....and I submitted the test which the teacher had given us an extra hour to submit.

We then go on to the next block and then your hear "grades are up" and they are shown by a number.

I ran out from my "Meat Cutting" course and a young student who had adopted me as a mother stood beside me as I looked for my mark. My mouth must have dropped open and she patted my back and said, "that is OK, mom you will do better next time." (all the students were aware of my difficulty with Math)

NOW you must remember in school days, I detested those smart kids who would say,"oh I failed, when they knew they passed with flying colours." YIKES...there was my mark!! Could NOT believe it!!!

I go back into my course and another gal about may age comes up and says," to be continued.....sorry I am still trying to thaw out from our camping trip that was great...but rain and cold weather

Good news for another 6 months....

Sat, 24 May 2008 15:42:50 GMT

Well here I am back.....hubby is away to a car auction, so now I can hog the computer all day if I want....First as my subject says my check up went fine...As I mentioned I seem to become very uptight prior to these, but I MUST move on and be able to utter those words, I AM A SURVIVOR!!!

So to continue......I really did not want to leave my job at the Banff Centre as I just LOVED it but I am a firm believer that if at all possible couples need to stay together so I said to hubby well if you want to go to SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) for their 2 year Culinary Arts Degree program than what the heck, I will to...(not sure why I decided this but probably thought it would be a slam-dunk)

OH was I wrong....we elected to not be in the same classes and for only a couple we went our separate ways. I remember in one class where my hubby was just across from my station he said to Chef Margaret, "what do you think if I put the make on that little gal over there?" At this time no one really knew that we were married.

Knowing what I found out would I do it again NO....but I loved meeting the kids and although there were a few older students most were just out of school.

I love the privilege of meeting some of the best Chefs around and it became obvious that our "Canadian" chefs were coming into their own as the Europeans had the market cornered for years.

My first "block" was called Breakfast Cookery and so when I had to do the eggs I inquired of Chef Max where the flippers were and he replied, "oh no Lori we do not have flippers, you do it with the pan!" Now, I said well Chef I think God would not have invented flippers if they were not meant to be used....no can convince......so needless to say I had a few on the floor.

At this school the other students come to the Culinary Arts area and are able to eat at a very reasonable price. This is a sensible way to dispose of our cooking and NOTHING went out unless it was perfect.

I received just a passing grade but my Chef gave me such an excellent writing about "age is only a state of mind" I think he realised how hard it was to retrain this homemaker.

It was interesting that with my good memory many years later, while helping some friends in their cafe I saw this fellow and I KNEW him. So I usually start with affiliations in church, where we lived and then asking if they ever attended SAIT....sure enough this fellow was taking a business course and I said "I remember you....."6 eggs whites" was your order"...sure enough that was him. He was perlexed how I remembered..but that was not a typical order.

You would think after years of cooking at home I would find it easy but I struggled so much because you do NOT cook in a commercial setting like you do at home.

I am glad the Chefs took pity on me and would not yell because Mrs. Johnson was an older lady. TRUST me they yelled enough at the other "kids" when they would screw up.

We would take a block every 20 days and then have to write an exam....which was usually about 20 pages long...NOT EASY....

I was able to draw UE while going to school, but my dear hubby worked almost full time and went to school AND at the end of the second year graduated at the top of the class. He also won a scholarship that paid for the second years tuition PTL for his blessings and my smart hubby.

I also knew how intelligent hubby was but realised that he should have pursued University in Vancouver....but then IF he had he would have never met that silly nilly Prairie girl of 15.

The next challenge for me was a class that involved mathematical calculations....no you must remember that I was raised in the Imperial system and now we had Metric. It would be funny when a younger student would inquire, "how much is a cup Lori"

to be continued....

YIKES, back to school at 46!

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:22:40 GMT

Morning Dear Friends,

I will start this blog this am although my heart is somewhat anxious as today I go to see the Ongologist for my check-up. WHY when I know my life is in God's hands do I do this to myself. Fear is NOT of the Lord, but from the pit of hell..

God literally spared me from death's door by 10 minutes and not to live the rest of my life in such trepidation and fear...I need so much prayer here.

Beautiful Rocky Mountains....BANFF, AB.

Sat, 10 May 2008 15:15:25 GMT

Hello Dear Friends, As we continued to live at the motel that God had provided for us to run, our youngest daughter had got involved with ski racing and would go to a neaby hill to practise. One time she went with the Banff team to Mt. Hood in the summer for a clinic and was told by the coach that should she really desire to attain her goal of the 88 Olympics she MUST come to the mountains.....WELL there was NO way that I was going to send this 14 yr. old off alone and I said to hubby you know there really is nothing keeping us here per se as the one daughter was off to University and the son was on his own so away I go at the end of summertime with my girl to find us a place to live, a job for me and to get her set up in school for her last 2 grades.

Now I am sure any of you who read this are familiar with BANFF, AB as one of the most beautiful spots in my Province of Alberta.

We arrive and having already worked at the motel felt I would easily score a job but that month owners are letting staff go as it is a bit of a breather till the winter ski crowd comes.

I had connected with a family who I knew the mother in Stettler and for you hockey fans it was RYAN SMYTH formerl #94 of the Edmonton Oilers grandmother. His mom and dad were so gracious to my daughter and I and introduced us to their church family.

I finally got a job at KFC (you know the Colonel's place) and although it might not have been my choice I was grateful and we lived in "staff accommodations" upstairs. In Banff employers must provide a place for their staff to live.

Well it of course was interesting but you know God gave me much insight into the lives of the young people who came to that church and lived in their own residences....because you have to understand these Christian kids are exposed to lifestyles beyond their realm.

My boss at the KFC was VERY efficient and at times I thought a pain in the ......but later learned when we bought our own place that this was a training ground God had provided for me.

My youngest girl just LOVED Banff as there you could just be "yourself" and unlike the small-town attitude fancy hairdos, makeup and all that were not needed...She could finally be au natural...

The only thing was the "new girl on the block" was very cute and of course no matter where you live other girls do NOT like a competitor...One of the gals that really gave her the toughest time went to the same church and EVENTUALLY they became great friends.

The boys of course liked her but were amased how great she was at sports.....because in Banff other than girls skiing that was about it.

Our Banff Park Church was a great family and we quickly grew to love these new brothers and sisters in the Lord....and for me I found that I could minister to the young kids undestanding what it meant to live in this tourist town.

Our daughter accomplished much in her skiing and her main discipline was downhill and one day in Lake Louise as we watched the events we awaited her to come to the bottom...well she did but on a stretcher....she had momentarily lost her concentration and fell. You must understand these skiiers are going around 100 mph....She had been selected that day for the Alberta team...

Our girl recovered and went back to skiing but the edge had been lost and she was not sure that she wanted to dedicate the next 10 years of her life to this sport....as by then the 88 Olympics were not possible.

Her Dad and I said whatever she choose we would back her decision.

Our business was two restaurants, one called Banff Pizza which was located between the hockey and curling rinks. The other was in the basement of a motel that catered to the Japanese tourists..

This arena would be utilised by NHL teams that were coming to Calgary to place the Flames...so just to tell you a few stories...we had a couple of video machines outside the kitchen door and this cute fellow was playing them and I inquired if he had anything to do with the hockey team? (LA was there) He replied, "well sometimes they let me play goal." It was Kelly Rudie..(sp) Another time a nice looking fellow came and asked Chuck if he could come in the kitchen and phone his wife Janet as the press were literally following him into the shower. You might remembe #99....anyway Chuck would often ask the players how he could pray for them....We also noticed that the best of the players were the most modest.

Also while there a little guy called Ryan Smyth would go on the empty ice for hours and hours till the rink rats would say you have to get off. I thought I would never see anyone who loved hockey more than my son but this young Ryan sure had dreams...and I never doubted that one day he would accomplish them. Of course his career started in Edmonton with the Oilers and recently with the Colorado Rockies.

After my KFC experience a fellow from our church gave me a job in one of his motels...A family owned three of them and so I started as a housekeeper....YIKES that is why to this day I strip beds, empty garbage and generally clean up for the maids when I stay in a motel or hotel...(hubby just laughs at me)

My time at the "Red Carpet Inn" was short lived as I actually got fired by the gal who had run it for Arlin for years. My problem is I take on to much responsibility at a job and so one night when a family showed up and there was no room and I was accused (falsely) that it was MY screwup I called hubby and said change the sheets I am sending over a couple and their son to stay. The next day I was let go, but Arlin just moved me over to the next motel.

Eventually another lady from our church told me to come and apply at the Banff School of Fine Arts where she was in charge at the Front Office so away I went and just LOVED LOVED this job.

I met some of the world's most famous people as they had to check in where I worked. This was considered a stepping stone job but it was ideally suited to me.

I will continue again....life in Banff was great....but hubby wanted to seriously persue cooking and get proper training....should he go alone on an apprentice program, or should we both go.....????????

Sorry these retirees are sooooooooo busy...

Sat, 10 May 2008 02:40:51 GMT

Hello friends,

Will get back to my journal next week. It seems since retiring we are busier than ever.

Blessings,

Lori