I took August off, and all I got was this lousy shirt

August has been....a whirlwind. Ive made some very big life choices and have pretty much thrown the original plan out the damn window. Im going to do real college things in hope of getting some sort of job in the computer science field. Do I still love to cook? Yes, of course. In the long run, this will be the better choice for my body. Its already kind of wrecked so I need to start taking care of it. Which also includes my diet. I cutting out the worst fast foods (Mcdonalds, Taco bell, and so on...Not firehouse. Not yet) with hopes of completely being done with it. I should be starting school soonish and Ill get this whole ball rolling. This will give me more time for writing, studying on things I like, and hopefully a little more free time in general. Soooo, hopefully ill be on here a little bit more and actually doing something productive with my life. Speaking of that, I met someone special recently (well, a while ago, but whatever). Anyways, im trying my damndest not mess it up. Its rare that I actually catch the feels for someone so this should be interesting.

Next on the agenda for me: College. Now, I pretty much lived a college lifestyle for the last...8 to 10 years of my life with not much in the way of an education to show for it. Its time to change that. Im going to apply my stellar work eithic and "holy shit, I really have to get this done" attitude and hopefully make some needed changes. Also, next month at some point, ill be doing the Beers around the world challenge at Epcot. Annnnd, im going to record them on video so everyone can see my progressive slide in to "White girl wastedism". Its all for science folks. Dont judge me.

Im also going to start some writing exercises to become less of a shitty, random writer and have more of a coherent blog that wont be as all over the place as some of these tend to get. This is all coming soon people so just hang on to your butts. 

You know what to do

There are a thousand words I could use to describe my New York trip, but I don't feel like any of them would do this city justice. Stepping off the airplane two days ago left me in a sort of jaded haze. Within the first hour we were sitting in a trendy little place for brunch. I had a local beer that was nothing short of spectacular and a sandwich that wasn't. ( but it was on the right track...) Then, we walked, rode the train, and had emerged in the hustle and bustle of New York City. The Big Apple. The center of the universe. Thousands of people were doing thousands of things as we walked towards where our friends were. Like Alanis morriset walking around name by herself, while the rest of the world continued on in her thank you video, the world just kinda slipped by as we strolled. It was beautiful. New York is a city of roughly 8.5 million people, all of whom were more than content to live there life while ignoring a tall, lanky ginger walking around with his best friend. It was refreshing. In New York, I'm no one. Which instantly makes me want to be someone. It's inspiration. Later we ate at a small little Thai place. ---small note--- 98% of the time I had no idea where the hell I was. So names will be missing of areas ---end note--- killer Thai food at some place that probably won't be open more than 5 years at most. Why? Because there's always the bigger fish out there. We met up with an old friend and his boyfriend and headed up to Roosevelt island. Right then, on the banks of the Hudson, I decided that yes, I was 100% moving to New York. We took the tramway (not gondola, thanks Melissa haha) back into the bustle of the city. More wandering. I told Melissa that I just liked to look up at the buildings and in the shops, just to live in that moment. That's how I am. That's who I am. It's moments like those that inspire me. We went to see a movie and then made it back to Hoboken after hours of sitting in traffic. The next morning, we did brunch. Bloody Mary's and mimosas at a restaurant next to the park. Then a Guinness at a little pub close to the train station. We made our way across town to a little ramen joint name momofuku. I'd only heard about this from a coworker, but fully trusted his judgement on excellent food. They did not disappoint. Full and happy, we wandered on down to a (one of many) consignment shops on our way. Everyone seemed to have some little gem in them. I practiced restraint and only bought a hat haha. We then made our way to Time Square and it was insane as I imagined. Thousands walking around, crowded in front of street performers and artists, snapping photos of buildings they don't know the name of, just because that's what everyone else was doing. New York is intoxicating in every sense of the word. I wanted to breath every single second of that beautiful city in. We finished the night we pizza and then hopped back on the train. Hoboken has a wonderful waterfront park that did it's best to provide a beautiful view while allow enough space to sprawl out in the grass and just be. Something we all need to do from time to time. I can only hope my next trip to that city is as inspiring as this last one. Positive energy is the name of the game right now. I need it. We all need it.

Self realization sponsored by: Black and Tans

Back a few blog posts ago, I wrote about the moment that I really knew that the service industry was for me. Ive had a change of heart. Before I couldnt recall an exact moment. Thats because it hadnt happened yet. Im not sure if its happened now, but ill share a little insight I received the other day. I started back at Harbor Docks over the summer, and pretty much 5 to 6 days a week, we go out there and make this delicious sushi for hundreds of people who a.) Know nothing about what we're serving or b.) Dont care. This frustrates me. I want people to appreciate what I do. What ive, and the rest of us for that matter, have worked years to hone and perfect our skill. For the first month I would sit and just wonder how these people could sit there and really not know or understand what they're eating. The history of something so wonderful, only few of us in this world are blessed to be able to know how to deliver. It really did bother me. I began to drink alot more. I started to question my life choices up to the point. Id hit a low point in a matter of a month. One day I was just sitting in the shower, wondering how bad my body would ache from the beating I was about to receive. From that day I started to search for my purpose in this business. Culinary business in general. Ive always wanted to be a writer so I though about hanging up the old chef coat and trading it in for a laptop. That brings us to now. Talking to one of my friends this evening, she was asking me about the past few days at work. I was telling her about some customers I had on Friday. They were from Atlanta or something and knew Yoshie pretty well. Naturally, she would wander in to make sure I was taking proper care, like a den mother watching over her cubs as the hunt. I did my best to treat them the same way i'd want to be treated at a sushi bar, with respect. And they reciprocated. One girl in the group asked for something she'd had at Nobu in -insert random big city-. 95% of the time this pisses me off. Today was the 5%. It was thin slices of Yellowtail (In the jack family. Light, oily, delicious) with thin slices of jalapenos, covered in ponzu sauce. Easy day. I made it. They loved it. They left our restaurant happy and full. At that moment, I had this overwhelming sense of pride im my work. That little reminder of why im doing this. Its what makes me want to continue on down the culinary path and ultimately towards chefdom. Anyways, that was just a little thought ive been keeping inside for a couple of days. This friday I head to New York City to visit my bestest of friends and check out my possible future stomping grounds. We'll see how it goes.....

Thats no way to go, Franco UnAmerican

My life is just insane sometimes. Ill skip going into detail, but its just nuts. June was pretty intense for me. I want to tell you that ive been totally happy and everything is peachy, but it hasnt been. I feel so much slower now (in terms of rolling sushi) than I was before. I know ive been out of it for a long time but I hold myself to a higher standard now that I did before. Its just overwhelming frustration. Its that feeling that I cant do it anymore. I know I can, but its still something thats in the back of my mind. But I do feel like ive been more creative since ive back. More willing to trying to try some silly shit to let people get the most bang for their buck. Ive been privately working on some new things myself so if I get enough good feedback ill let the world get some. Thats pretty much it for right now. im going to start taking more pictures so you guys can see some of the chaos that is my life. Oh and im going to New York next week so pictures will follow. Love you, mean it.

For 6 long years ive been a stranger

The farther down the road I get, the less sleep I seem to get. I feel like im most creative when im struggling to stay awake. Finer details might escape me in this time, but generally ideas flow a little bit better. Ive been back in Florida for a little over two weeks and im really starting to feel like coming back was a great idea. Ive been able to reconnect with people I have seen in years, meet brand new faces, and get back to rolling sushi. Its truly impossible to accurately explain everything im feeling right now. Its almost like im a character caught at the beginning of some wild adventure. Culinary school is approaching at a deafening pace and im trying to keep my head pointed in the right direction. I want to try and learn something new everyday that will benefit me here in the future. This go around, I need to have my head on straight and my ass out of the fire. That being said, ive been trying to jot down new things to make at the bar. Just new little things to throw out to the unsuspecting public in hopes that ill stumble on something to rival some of the monstrosities that people ask for. Pictures will eventually come, either on here or on my IG. But you will see them. Time to get out there are get me some.

A Wolf in chefs clothing

So much has happened since we've last spoke, let me fill you in

1. I turned 28: As my twenties are starting to come to a close, I made the decision to not really make a big deal out of birthdays anymore. As much as I love the attention (cause you know I do...) I can continue to pretend like they actually mean anything to me anymore. I blame Facebook for my slight interest in it. If not for constant reminders that "hey dude, youre getting older." id probably just let it slip by. And im trying to get better about remembering peoples birthday and other random events like that. I cant rely on technology as much as I have been if I want to feel remotely like a independent, sentient being.

2. My Navy career is in its last few days: May 24th, 2010, I joined the military for my own (private) reasons. Did I think the thing through when I did it? Not a chance, I do things on impulse, Im an Aries. But, I will never regret it. Fast forward almost 4 years later and im staring down the barrel of civilian life once again. Im older, grumpier, and about 100 times more determined to get what I want out of life. The Navy gave me something that I was sorely lacking beforehand...confidence. Now some of you might disagree and whatnot but regardless of what persona I put on 5/6/7 years ago, I was just a scared little sheep wandering around in a chefs coat. That person is long gone. Im a much more confident, self-aware person than I was. My head is high, my thoughts are clear, and I know what I want. The next few years will be interesting for all parties involved.

More has happened but I really feel like those are the most important things. Not everyone is in Pearl Harbor with me, seeing what im actually like now. Most of you just see whatever musings I put on Facebook or if I happen to snapchat you then you see whatever random things I send. (I apologize for drunk snapchatting random things....just kidding, im not) Long story short, drastic life changes are about to happen in a matter of days and those of you that personally get to experience the ride will be in for a treat. Im walking back into the kitchen as a wolf, and its going to be one hell of a ride. 

Lets get down to brass tacks

I was having conversation with someone tonight about what excites me most about the opposite sex, not to include the physical aspect of it. I sat and pondered over the herculean story book that is my love life. Then something popped into my head from oh so long ago. "Sean Burch, its not that youre interested in me, its that you love the chase. You love the feeling of being wanted until you actually get that person, then its gone." Unfortunately, such words have never rang more true. When I really sit and think about it, ive chased after many girls with pretty mediocre results. Its like I get up to that finish line and decide all the sudden that im done, take off my shoes and walk home. Then complain, to myself mind you, about not being able to let someone lock me down. Ive driven away plenty of good one due to this. Now as a small side note, I am picky as all hell. I dont want anyone to be confused about it. I have incredibly high standards now. Its an unfortunate bi-product of one too many bad breakups. And its not that I want to lower my standards, its just that I have a hard time compromising or letting things go. Its destined me to be forever alone in a silly kind of way. Ill work through it eventually, but I feel like the older I get, I wont have as many options left. We'll see though.
I didnt really feel like using spacing or anything like that tonight. I just wanted to ramble, which I love to do, and I know all of you love to listen right? yeaaaaaah. Anyways, this weekend is going to bring some fun things for me. Im writing a small novel about a sushi chef, kind of in the style of Get Jiro! and a sort of modern day samurai adventure. Lots of blood, guts and fish. Ill publish the first chapter tomorrow morning, and then put one out every few days. Itll keep me busy and I can expel all the creative juices that are swishing around in my brain as of late. Anywho, that you for reading as usual. I also have some more things I want to touch on tomorrow or the next day, so be prepared.
-SB