Why is 3 am so EARLY!!! If it wasn't for that I would be okay!! The guys on my training boat are not big breakfast eaters so we make heart shaped breakfast sandwiches for them to eat mid morning. Claujia is upset because the order is all messed up. Instead of 10 lbs of bananas she got 10 bananas, no lettuce and 6 tomatoes instead of 16. Remember these guys are eating healthy and eating fruit and salads like there is no tomorrow. So we have to make do.
Monday I made cornbread chicken and dressing. Claujia didn't know how to make dressing with cornbread, cause they use loaf bread to make theirs in Virginia. The guys have been super about trying new stuff and being gracious about their likes and dislikes. I hope my boat is as kind.
We had planned on firing up the grill and smoking ribs and barbecue on Wednesday but it is raining buckets and the grill is outside. So I marinated them and cooked them in the oven. They were really tender and were ok, but they weren't Outtatown ribs!! :( The barbecue was pretty good also.
I found out that I will be on the Eileen Bigalow that navigates the Lower Mississippi River, that's St. Louis to New Orleans. She is 170 feet long and 52 feet wide. She is tied up right now and been without a crew since July. She needed repairs and then the Upper MS froze so they just kept her tied up. Claujia said that was suppose to be her boat last July and she hasn't set foot on it yet. She says don't write anything in ink or a dark pencil that can't be erased. I hope they don't bounce me around, I like to have my own little nest. But I am trying to broaden my comfort zone and will go where they send me. Keep your fingers crossed.
I will be going home for two weeks and report back to crew on March 30. That means I can be home for Lauren's mouth surgery and to help close down Outtatown. SInce I will be on the boat on Easter we are going to have Easter a week early. This will be my last post for a while till I get back to "Rollin' on the River"!!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Move Over Colonel
Man oh man. 3:00 am rolls around early. I made biscuits today that were great. Claujia uses confectioners sugar and yeast in her biscuits and they are to die for. She uses a heart shaped biscuit cutter and the guys love it. (They are just big kids!!) Really hungry kids...when we got ready to do the salad bar stuff all 10 pieces of leftover grilled chicken were gone!!! They ate it during the night instead of sandwiches and chips and cookies like they usually do!! Can't beat that grilled chicken.
We decided on a real Southern Sunday meal. We are going to do fried and baked chicken, garlic smashed potatoes, green beans, corn casserole, coleslaw and honey wheat rolls. Claujia couldn't believe that I wasn't going to do an egg wash and double dip it like the recipes she read. Told her I learned from my grandmother who grew up in the Depression and they didn't waste eggs they could sell...those words straight from Momma Linnie's mouth!!
I had a few minutes to talk to David. There was a little difference of opinion on fire building techniques yesterday and I needed to bridge the gap. We had a long talk about smoking meats, drag racing and his family. He and I are going to do ribs on Wednesday for the crew. I think we can be buds!!! :) Claujia thought I handled it well. I told her it was like teaching school. You want the principal to like you, but it isn't imperative. It is imperative that the custodian and the lunchroom ladies like you though. I figured on the boat you want the Captain to like you, but you got to have the Mate and Chief in your corner and she agreed! Score one for the home team.
We fried up chicken and got all the sides done. And wonder of wonders, Stacy came and sat down and ate. He doesn't make that a habit. The guys don't all get to eat together. The shift changes at 11 so the ones going on shift eat about 10:30. Depending on what they have been doing, those coming off shift will go shower and then come eat about 11:20. The only exception would be if we were tied up and not making tow. Then they might get to overlap and actually eat together. We have finally started moving down river to Memphis with our twenty barges. I went up to the wheelhouse and it is amazing to look at. I've always wondered how the captain knows where to stay in the channel. There are red and green buoys, just light traffic signs that direct them. Amazing. I sat out on the second deck in the sunshine after lunch and noticed some train tracks running right along the river bank. Cut into the hillside above it was the highway and cars were meandering along. Children were playing in backyards and I thought, "All is well with the world. I have the most amazing job!! Am I really here?"
Claujia tells me we are getting a grocery order from the boat store in Memphis, so we have to get it ready. They only get groceries about every two weeks since they charge $250 for a delivery fee. If you forget anything you are just out of luck cause there isn't any pulling over at the bank and running to the Kroger store!! She did tell me you could forget about anything and be ok cause they have two big freezers and a pantryful of stuff as long as you have catfish, steak and chicken for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But it took about 2 and a half hours to get the list together. They have an order guide to help you out but not everything is on the order guide, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. She took it to the Captain and he will call it in. Claujia said different captains do it differently, some won't even look at the order, some will look at it and give it back for the cook to call in. I think I would prefer to call in myself, but we shall see what my captain says. Claujia says the mate and deckhands will take on and check in groceries but she likes to oversee it in case anything is missing or wrong. Grocery boat comes tonight at 11:30 pm!!
For dinner tonight, we are having chicken enchiladas. Normally they would also have some leftover fried chicken, but there wasn't any!! These guys ate two whole chickens and eight extra legs. The Colonel ain't got nothing on us!!!!
Tomorrow I find out if I stay here for a few more days or if I will go to different boat. If its just the same to everyone, I just as soon be here!!
We decided on a real Southern Sunday meal. We are going to do fried and baked chicken, garlic smashed potatoes, green beans, corn casserole, coleslaw and honey wheat rolls. Claujia couldn't believe that I wasn't going to do an egg wash and double dip it like the recipes she read. Told her I learned from my grandmother who grew up in the Depression and they didn't waste eggs they could sell...those words straight from Momma Linnie's mouth!!
I had a few minutes to talk to David. There was a little difference of opinion on fire building techniques yesterday and I needed to bridge the gap. We had a long talk about smoking meats, drag racing and his family. He and I are going to do ribs on Wednesday for the crew. I think we can be buds!!! :) Claujia thought I handled it well. I told her it was like teaching school. You want the principal to like you, but it isn't imperative. It is imperative that the custodian and the lunchroom ladies like you though. I figured on the boat you want the Captain to like you, but you got to have the Mate and Chief in your corner and she agreed! Score one for the home team.
We fried up chicken and got all the sides done. And wonder of wonders, Stacy came and sat down and ate. He doesn't make that a habit. The guys don't all get to eat together. The shift changes at 11 so the ones going on shift eat about 10:30. Depending on what they have been doing, those coming off shift will go shower and then come eat about 11:20. The only exception would be if we were tied up and not making tow. Then they might get to overlap and actually eat together. We have finally started moving down river to Memphis with our twenty barges. I went up to the wheelhouse and it is amazing to look at. I've always wondered how the captain knows where to stay in the channel. There are red and green buoys, just light traffic signs that direct them. Amazing. I sat out on the second deck in the sunshine after lunch and noticed some train tracks running right along the river bank. Cut into the hillside above it was the highway and cars were meandering along. Children were playing in backyards and I thought, "All is well with the world. I have the most amazing job!! Am I really here?"
Claujia tells me we are getting a grocery order from the boat store in Memphis, so we have to get it ready. They only get groceries about every two weeks since they charge $250 for a delivery fee. If you forget anything you are just out of luck cause there isn't any pulling over at the bank and running to the Kroger store!! She did tell me you could forget about anything and be ok cause they have two big freezers and a pantryful of stuff as long as you have catfish, steak and chicken for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But it took about 2 and a half hours to get the list together. They have an order guide to help you out but not everything is on the order guide, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. She took it to the Captain and he will call it in. Claujia said different captains do it differently, some won't even look at the order, some will look at it and give it back for the cook to call in. I think I would prefer to call in myself, but we shall see what my captain says. Claujia says the mate and deckhands will take on and check in groceries but she likes to oversee it in case anything is missing or wrong. Grocery boat comes tonight at 11:30 pm!!
For dinner tonight, we are having chicken enchiladas. Normally they would also have some leftover fried chicken, but there wasn't any!! These guys ate two whole chickens and eight extra legs. The Colonel ain't got nothing on us!!!!
Tomorrow I find out if I stay here for a few more days or if I will go to different boat. If its just the same to everyone, I just as soon be here!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
It's Red Meat Day on the River!!
Taking Claujia, my new patron saint, at her word, I slept in and got to the galley at 9 am on the dot. The Lead Man, Kenny or Big Daddy, had already started my coals for the steaks and chicken breasts in the BBQ grill that is bolted to the deck right outside the galley door. Since I was on the main deck, I had to wear my work vest every time I went out to the grill. About 10 I gathered up my steaks, chicken and various utensils and went to the grill. As I stood there with the warm breeze blowing the smoke away from my face, (a definite plus over landside grilling), a couple of boats went past us on the river, one headed up river, the second down river to points south. We hadn't moved from Cora Coal yet as we were waiting on our 20 barges to be filled with coal to be transported to Memphis. All I could think was, "Wow! Am I really here? And I think I have the best job ever!!"
On Steak Day the guys can choose whether they have their steak at lunch or dinner. I only had 5 steaks to cook for lunch so I cooked 16 pieces of boneless chicken breasts as well. We planned on using them for the salad bar for a few days. Claujia was working on implementing a healthy eating plan and would be offering a Salad Bar at lunch and dinner along with an exercise plan. She was writing it out by hand and was going to make a chart. I asked her if we could use the computer in the officer's lounge outside my quarters. She said she didn't know, cause she didn't use computers but would ask at lunch. I told her we could type, edit and print her document and graph in no time. At lunch she asked Captain John Wayne, (yes his real name) and he said go for it. He was behind the program and his excitement was contagious.
Let me stop here and introduce the nine people I would be rooming with for the next 7 days.
On Steak Day the guys can choose whether they have their steak at lunch or dinner. I only had 5 steaks to cook for lunch so I cooked 16 pieces of boneless chicken breasts as well. We planned on using them for the salad bar for a few days. Claujia was working on implementing a healthy eating plan and would be offering a Salad Bar at lunch and dinner along with an exercise plan. She was writing it out by hand and was going to make a chart. I asked her if we could use the computer in the officer's lounge outside my quarters. She said she didn't know, cause she didn't use computers but would ask at lunch. I told her we could type, edit and print her document and graph in no time. At lunch she asked Captain John Wayne, (yes his real name) and he said go for it. He was behind the program and his excitement was contagious.
Let me stop here and introduce the nine people I would be rooming with for the next 7 days.
- Captain John Wayne is from Ohio and is a former Marine in his mid-sixties. He spends the winters in Florida with his wife. He has been on the river 4o years.
- Pilot Stacy is a sorta keep to himself kinda guy. His job is to pilot the boat when the Captain is off duty. (They change shifts every six hours.)
- Chief Engineer Randall is new to this boat but an old friend of the Captain and has worked on the river about 25 years. He is from Lexington, TN, and is full of entertaining stories. He knows lots of people on different boats and said when I find out my boat, he'll find out about the crew.
- Mate David is in charge of the deckhands and making tows and any housekeeping chores on the boat. He is a younger guy, also from Ohio, with a wife and two children. We haven't gotten off to a stellar start but I'm going to win him over.
- Leadman Kenny is a Mississippi boy from Yazoo City. He has been very nice to me, but doesn't talk much. He is like me and doesn't like anyone touching what he eats. So Claujia bags cookies and wraps cake or muffins individually. He did tell me that he liked that I wore gloves!! lol
- Deckhand Darrell is also from Mississippi near Vicksburg. He is also very quiet. But we have talked briefly about his girlfriend in Vicksburg and maybe getting married.
- Deckhand Blake is from Arkansas and is really trying to eat healthy and lose weight.
- Deckhand Kevin is originally from Wisconsin and is a gentle giant. He hasn't been hard to please so far.
- Cook Claujia of course I have already mentioned. She has been fantastic and so willing to help me. She is originally from Virginia and her family has been involved extensively with Special Olympics. She has a daughter that is 19 so we have been comparing notes!! Although she has only been on the river since July she has bounced around a lot of boats doing fill-in work. The JB Wyatt is her first permanent assignment.
We spent about an hour making Claujia's plan a reality with Meals, Moving and Manners as the three points. (Being an old schoolteacher, I had to have some alliteration in there. :D) We also came up with a chart for recording progress and opportunities for bonus points for trying new foods and reading labels. Captain John loved it and so did the crew. He sent our plan to Paducah operations manager and he sent it on to Nashville. They liked it so much they sent it out to all the boat captains!! And Claujia got a nice kudo in the company newsletter. I'm anxious to see how it goes!!
After firing up the grill again, we cooked the evening steaks and some hamburgers. These guys are great. They rinse their plates, put them in the dishwasher, sweep and mop the floors, clean the stove and empty the dishwasher when it is finished. And every one of them thanks us for the meal. All I want to know is which one is going home with me, cause I'm going to be spoiled rotten!!!
Tomorrow is Fried Chicken Day!! Woop woop! Claujia said she had never fried anything before the River. I asked if she was going to soak the chicken before she cooked it. She looked at me with a puzzled expression. I asked if she wanted me to show her how to deep fry it. Cause a Mississippi girl can fry up some chicken!!! She had never seen that done so I was gonna be able to teach her something while she taught me bread making. It was another good day on the river.
Monday, March 22, 2010
And Welcome to the Joe B. Wyatt
After a two hour drive, most of which I slept, I was beginning to think we are as lost as a byjohn. We turned off the highway, onto a narrow two lane road, onto a dirt road, and then onto a levee, off the levee to park under a coal chute. At lease we were on the river. But I didn't see any boats!!If my driver hadn't been so totally non-threatening, I could have easily imagined myself tomorrow's headline-Unidentified Woman Found!!
Just about the time I once again was reviewing my decision making skills, I saw a tug making its way around the bend. Was this my home for the next week? Sweet mercies, I hope not!!! It was about 30 feet long and black as soot from the coal dust. I started to climb back in the van when the driver looked at my stricken face and said, "Well there's your taxi!" I gues he knew what was running through my head cause he proceeded to tell my boat was up around the bend making a tow (that's getting the barges filled and tied together) and this little harbor boat was gonna take me to it. All I could think was "Praise Jesus".
THey backed right up to the bank, produced a six foot ladder and leaned it against the side. My bags were loaded and I again thought of Louanne and her nine bags. I strapped on my life jacket and took a seat in the wheelhouse. THe guys were super nice when they found out this was my first trip and spent the 10 minutes or so talking to me so I didn't have time for nerves or motion sickness.
We rounded the curve of the Mississippi River and there was my boat, big and clean. Kevin, better known as Big'un, took my two bags and wanted to know where the rest were. Told him that was it and he said cooks always had lots of bags!! Told him it was his lucky day. He took me upstairs to the guest quarters. Normally I would be housed near the galley on the first deck but since there was a cook onboard I would not be in the cooks quarters. After settling in for a few minutes, I went down to the galley and met the boat cook and resident mom.
Claujia was busy frying up fish for lunch cause Friday is fish day on Ingram Barges. We made small talk while I ask a million questions. Like me, she had held a large variety of jobs, but most recently had owned a small bakery in Virginia, which she sold and had been on the river since July, 2009. She had been on 11 boats as a fill-in cook and this was here first permanent boat. We spent the afternoon getting to know each other and discussing the menu for Saturday which is always steak. She said she wasn't much of a griller and I volunteered to marinate and grill the steaks. She seemed happy with that. I suggested we do some chicken also for the guys to put on their salads. She loved that idea and we marinated some chicken breasts as well. That afternoon I got my first bread making lesson. I confessed to her that I was a little skepical and alot scared of trying bread cause I had never been successful. She told me I would be!!!!
After we finished dinner, she must have looked at me and taken pity on me, because she uttered the most beautiful words...... "I know orientation is draining. Sleep in tomorrow and don't worry bout getting down here before 9." I wanted to fall at her feet and call her blessed, but I was afraid I couldn't get up once I was down!! She didn't have to tell me twice! I was upstairs in my bed by 6:30pm and so proud to be there. My last thought was maybe this is gonna be okay after all.
Just about the time I once again was reviewing my decision making skills, I saw a tug making its way around the bend. Was this my home for the next week? Sweet mercies, I hope not!!! It was about 30 feet long and black as soot from the coal dust. I started to climb back in the van when the driver looked at my stricken face and said, "Well there's your taxi!" I gues he knew what was running through my head cause he proceeded to tell my boat was up around the bend making a tow (that's getting the barges filled and tied together) and this little harbor boat was gonna take me to it. All I could think was "Praise Jesus".
THey backed right up to the bank, produced a six foot ladder and leaned it against the side. My bags were loaded and I again thought of Louanne and her nine bags. I strapped on my life jacket and took a seat in the wheelhouse. THe guys were super nice when they found out this was my first trip and spent the 10 minutes or so talking to me so I didn't have time for nerves or motion sickness.
We rounded the curve of the Mississippi River and there was my boat, big and clean. Kevin, better known as Big'un, took my two bags and wanted to know where the rest were. Told him that was it and he said cooks always had lots of bags!! Told him it was his lucky day. He took me upstairs to the guest quarters. Normally I would be housed near the galley on the first deck but since there was a cook onboard I would not be in the cooks quarters. After settling in for a few minutes, I went down to the galley and met the boat cook and resident mom.
Claujia was busy frying up fish for lunch cause Friday is fish day on Ingram Barges. We made small talk while I ask a million questions. Like me, she had held a large variety of jobs, but most recently had owned a small bakery in Virginia, which she sold and had been on the river since July, 2009. She had been on 11 boats as a fill-in cook and this was here first permanent boat. We spent the afternoon getting to know each other and discussing the menu for Saturday which is always steak. She said she wasn't much of a griller and I volunteered to marinate and grill the steaks. She seemed happy with that. I suggested we do some chicken also for the guys to put on their salads. She loved that idea and we marinated some chicken breasts as well. That afternoon I got my first bread making lesson. I confessed to her that I was a little skepical and alot scared of trying bread cause I had never been successful. She told me I would be!!!!
After we finished dinner, she must have looked at me and taken pity on me, because she uttered the most beautiful words...... "I know orientation is draining. Sleep in tomorrow and don't worry bout getting down here before 9." I wanted to fall at her feet and call her blessed, but I was afraid I couldn't get up once I was down!! She didn't have to tell me twice! I was upstairs in my bed by 6:30pm and so proud to be there. My last thought was maybe this is gonna be okay after all.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Cooking Test
Tuesday:
3 am..... who would have thought people actually get up at that time and want to eat!!!! But homemade biscuits, bacon, sausage, gravy and scrambled eggs for 25 it is!! We will be preparing pork chops for dinner. I would like to make pork stir fry, but "The Boss" says they won't eat it so grilled it is. I went the comfort food route and made Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Slaw, Pear Salads, Broccoli Cheese Cornbread and Chocolate Cobbler for dessert to go with my grilled chops. Everyone happy!!! Especially me, cause I'm done being reviewed!!! Anita is up to bat and has breakfast and lunch on Wednesday. The main office folks will be down the hill to eat lunch so she has it tougher!!
Wenesday night:
I applied for my TWIC card today which I have to show everytime I get on the boat. Anita
pulled it all together and did chicken with alfredo and pasta and some yummy bread. We have a test tomorrow to see if we have been listening in class in our sleep deprived state. Fail the test, go home.
Thursday:
3 am again!!!! Anita is really tired and wants to give up, but we have made a pact-we going down fighting!!!! This afternoon we get assigned to a boat for training after we pass our test. And we shall pass this thing!!
I'm going to the Joe B. Wyatt for training for a week. Then I should go to another boat for a couple of weeks. Since I have been gone Kynnadi has had her fourth birthday party, Jon had a wreck (he's ok) and La is gonna have to have her wisdom teeth cut out during Spring Break. I knew this would happen but its still really hard to not be at home for my children and grandchildren. Plus we have decided to close the restaurant on March 13 and I'm dealing with that long distance.
Friday:
Got to slept late..... 5 am!! Packed up and loaded in a crew van for the 2 hour drive to meet my boat by 8 am. Thus ends the first week.
3 am..... who would have thought people actually get up at that time and want to eat!!!! But homemade biscuits, bacon, sausage, gravy and scrambled eggs for 25 it is!! We will be preparing pork chops for dinner. I would like to make pork stir fry, but "The Boss" says they won't eat it so grilled it is. I went the comfort food route and made Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Slaw, Pear Salads, Broccoli Cheese Cornbread and Chocolate Cobbler for dessert to go with my grilled chops. Everyone happy!!! Especially me, cause I'm done being reviewed!!! Anita is up to bat and has breakfast and lunch on Wednesday. The main office folks will be down the hill to eat lunch so she has it tougher!!
Wenesday night:
I applied for my TWIC card today which I have to show everytime I get on the boat. Anita
pulled it all together and did chicken with alfredo and pasta and some yummy bread. We have a test tomorrow to see if we have been listening in class in our sleep deprived state. Fail the test, go home.
Thursday:
3 am again!!!! Anita is really tired and wants to give up, but we have made a pact-we going down fighting!!!! This afternoon we get assigned to a boat for training after we pass our test. And we shall pass this thing!!
I'm going to the Joe B. Wyatt for training for a week. Then I should go to another boat for a couple of weeks. Since I have been gone Kynnadi has had her fourth birthday party, Jon had a wreck (he's ok) and La is gonna have to have her wisdom teeth cut out during Spring Break. I knew this would happen but its still really hard to not be at home for my children and grandchildren. Plus we have decided to close the restaurant on March 13 and I'm dealing with that long distance.
Friday:
Got to slept late..... 5 am!! Packed up and loaded in a crew van for the 2 hour drive to meet my boat by 8 am. Thus ends the first week.
Day 1 Orientation
Well by 5:30 am Louanne is on her way back to Brookhaven. She has blood pressure problems, but will have the opportunity to come back on March 28 if she can get them under control. So all her pots and pans, knives and clothes are gone. After peeing in a cup, (again) blowing in a tube, taking a bone strength test on a wrist bone I broke (when I was 10), and a Heart stress test (at least I know I have one, that has been debateable in the past) and four hours I am pronounced ready to be one of Ingram's finest.
Back to the training barge and while all I want is a nap, we proceed to the classroom for an introduction to Ingram's policies and procedures, warning bells, and do's and don't's. I look around at the 20 other people and wonder how many will be left by Thursday. With the exception of Anita, early 60's and me, everyone else is 30 or younger and plan to be deckhands. I get the news that since Louanne left, Anita and I will be roommates and so I go back upstairs, move my stuff down the hall, and make my bed yet again!!
By 5 o'clock, I am brain dead and hoping I don't look as worn down and glassy eyed as every one else. We eat a quick dinner and Anita and I hit the hay and are in bed by 7 cause I get the update that Tuesday morning is my turn to cook breakfast and I get dinner on Tuesday night. Oh yeah I have to be up at 3 am.
Have I made a terrible mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back to the training barge and while all I want is a nap, we proceed to the classroom for an introduction to Ingram's policies and procedures, warning bells, and do's and don't's. I look around at the 20 other people and wonder how many will be left by Thursday. With the exception of Anita, early 60's and me, everyone else is 30 or younger and plan to be deckhands. I get the news that since Louanne left, Anita and I will be roommates and so I go back upstairs, move my stuff down the hall, and make my bed yet again!!
By 5 o'clock, I am brain dead and hoping I don't look as worn down and glassy eyed as every one else. We eat a quick dinner and Anita and I hit the hay and are in bed by 7 cause I get the update that Tuesday morning is my turn to cook breakfast and I get dinner on Tuesday night. Oh yeah I have to be up at 3 am.
Have I made a terrible mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reporting for Training
Well after a phone interview, a four hour personal interview, a criminal background check, a drug screen and a driving record check, I am finally on my way to a four day orientation in Paducah Ky. I arrived at 7 pm and was met by the Mate. He told me I was the first cook there and I could have my own room if I would like. Well, duh. So I made my bed and waited on the other two cooks to show. Fifteen minutes later the Mate comes and tells me I am welcome to stay in the larger room but I will have a roommate if I do. I assure him I'll be glad to go to the smaller room and make my bed again.
My fellow trainees show up and the fun begins. Anita, is a sweetheart from Savannah, TN, that had owned a restaurant in Savannah and sold it a couple of years ago. I think she and I are gonna be fine. Louanne, is originally from Maine, and has spent lots of time on the water. She presently lives in Brookhaven, MS, but goes to the Hamptons to cook each summer for the Duke and Duchess of somewhere.She has a Maritime License, which must be a big deal, cause she mentions it several times. She has brought four bags of skillets, knives, cookbooks, chef pants and smocks!! Holy smokes!!!! I'm feeling pretty inferior at this point cause I have my trusty Bell's Best 1 and 2 and the cookbook of family recipes I wrote for my girls.
Our trainer, Miss Velie, shows up about 8:30 and tells us time to turn in. She's gonna let us sleep late in the morning since we are going for physicals. We will be having cereal for breakfast and we need to be ready to load up at 5, yes that right 5 am!! Looking bad for me already!
My fellow trainees show up and the fun begins. Anita, is a sweetheart from Savannah, TN, that had owned a restaurant in Savannah and sold it a couple of years ago. I think she and I are gonna be fine. Louanne, is originally from Maine, and has spent lots of time on the water. She presently lives in Brookhaven, MS, but goes to the Hamptons to cook each summer for the Duke and Duchess of somewhere.She has a Maritime License, which must be a big deal, cause she mentions it several times. She has brought four bags of skillets, knives, cookbooks, chef pants and smocks!! Holy smokes!!!! I'm feeling pretty inferior at this point cause I have my trusty Bell's Best 1 and 2 and the cookbook of family recipes I wrote for my girls.
Our trainer, Miss Velie, shows up about 8:30 and tells us time to turn in. She's gonna let us sleep late in the morning since we are going for physicals. We will be having cereal for breakfast and we need to be ready to load up at 5, yes that right 5 am!! Looking bad for me already!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Beginnings
This is my first attempt at blogging and I feel quite sure it will pass by unnoticed for the most part. Let me start by saying that after rearing five children and doing a variety of things that included teaching first grade, being a human resources area manager, and owning a largely unsuccessful restaurant, I felt it time to stop feeling sorry for myself and look for new adventure.
If anyone had ever asked me about empty nest syndrome, I would have laughed in their face. After all I have had at least one child at home for the last 35 years. How quickly they grow and leave.
But I digress..... I have begun a new career as a cook on a tugboat for Ingram Barge Company. It will be my privilege to cook for nine crew members each day. I will be working 28 days on and 28 days off. I have never been away from my family for that long and am a little bummed about that.
It is my intent to write about my life on the tugboat and the sights I see. We'll see how it goes. I probably should have started two weeks ago when my adventure began, but such is the story of my life. Good intentions, poor followup!!
So if you see a tugboat on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and New Orleans, wave big.... I may be on it.
If anyone had ever asked me about empty nest syndrome, I would have laughed in their face. After all I have had at least one child at home for the last 35 years. How quickly they grow and leave.
But I digress..... I have begun a new career as a cook on a tugboat for Ingram Barge Company. It will be my privilege to cook for nine crew members each day. I will be working 28 days on and 28 days off. I have never been away from my family for that long and am a little bummed about that.
It is my intent to write about my life on the tugboat and the sights I see. We'll see how it goes. I probably should have started two weeks ago when my adventure began, but such is the story of my life. Good intentions, poor followup!!
So if you see a tugboat on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and New Orleans, wave big.... I may be on it.
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