Donuts!

Michele and I have played around a couple of times trying to get a good donut recipe.

our first attempt was a total let down. we made the dough the night before, let it rise and then sit overnight, then in the morning we painstakingly shaped the dough into donuts and fried them in hot oil. shaping them wasn't the hard part, but getting them to keep their shape while transferring them into the oil was the tricky thing. it almost seemed pointless to have let them rise because they deflated as soon as we started handling them. all of this might still have been worth it if the donuts had lived up to their word. but they didn't. they were definitely not cake donuts. they were very airy. not only that but they tasted more yeasty than sweet. dousing them in sugar and lemon curd helped but really they were a let down.

attempt #2, we found a recipe that didn't take overnight to rise so we figured it wouldn't be such a let down if it didn't turn out. the donuts were much better. the dough was sticky and hard to handle like the last batch, but it was a cakey dough, and was sweet and nutmeggy (that's probably not a word). I had a really hard time with the oil though this time around. I couldn't get it to stay at the right temperature, it either was much too hot, or else not hot enough. a lot of the donuts ended up burnt. it seemed like buying donuts from the corner was worth it, when compared to the trouble and mess that didn't leave us with lovely donuts.

For my birthday Michele bought me a donut pan from Sur La Table. it had 6 donut molds and a recipe on the back. i tried it this morning with success! the dough was simple and delicious, and I was thrilled to not have to handle the dough into hot oil. Instead i just had to scoop some dough in the molds, pop them in the oven then seven minutes later voila!

I had some food critics taste test them for me

they were chocolate covered by the end and asking for seconds. so i think this one was a success.

I stumbled across this in January

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and
company doesn't mean security,
and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up
and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult
Not the grief of a child
And you learn to build all your roads on today because
tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can Endure...
that you really are strong,
and you really do have worth.
and you learn and you learn...
with every Good-Bye you learn...

-Veronica Shoffstall



It really made a profound impact on me. especially the line "So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers." in fact, that line is what made me first consider going on a mission. I copied it down in my journal, and re read it a few days ago. even though I'm not coping with loneliness, this poem somehow gives me strength and courage about what lies ahead of me in life. in all aspects.

I've decided that i don't want to complain about sonic. I am lucky to have found work. but in case you're wondering, i would gladly take employment anywhere else. although tips really do brighten my work days.

I am at a solid 125. I had been teetering just above it for a week or so, but now I only have 15 to lose till i reach my goal weight. woot woot!

finally

I got a job at Sonic! It's exciting because it's a job and that's about it, but I'm happy to at least be working. And it will give me money to start working on my business with.

Two weekends ago I was camping with Christian and his family. We went into town on our last day and both of our phones started blowing up with messages from our friend Julie saying "my boss is hiring and he said he'd see you tomorrow at nine in the morning!" and "where are you! call me back!" and things of the like. Basically I missed out on the right then opportunity, but she told me he would interview me as soon as i brought in an application. I was skeptical. It seemed a little bit too similar to the last time I was camping with christian and his family and thought I had a job lined up for me at home. so I didn't really put any eggs in that basket. I still turned in an application and got a hold of some skates to practice on, but i was less than hopeful about it.

I got an appointment set up for Sunday morning before church started. (I put on my application that I wasn't available on Sundays but i figured I'd better not turn down an interview) I went in and talked to the boss. He had me skate around for him, then i asked "so how did i do? did i pass the test?" referring to my skating. He nodded his head and said "yeah, you passed, we're gonna go ahead and give you a try. when can you start?" I could start the next day actually, and he had me come in Monday Tuesday and Wednesday for training. It's a super fast paced business but luckily everyone is pretty nice so far.

like I said before, it's a job and I'm happy to have it, but it also makes me completely aware of what I want to be doing instead. and i am going to be working toward that bakery as quickly as I can.