Back to School

Well!

Today was my first day of school at the Santa Rosa Junior College. Dakota said to me this morning as I was walking out "Have fun, and don't be a "lickspittle".

That was the word of the day yesterday. It's about the same meaning as a kiss-ass. Walking into class I definitely felt like a total lickspittle. In the student handbook it said that you were expected to wear a chef's uniform to every class, and could be kicked out if you weren't properly dressed. I guess that statement should have a proviso that at SRJC, every class doesn't actually mean what it means in the rest of the world. To my embarrassment, I was the only one in uniform. That's what you get for trying to make a good start. Oh well. Truth is I hate uniforms anyway, so at least I don't have to wear one next week!

It's weird being a "nontraditional" student, but fun to be back in the library!



Sanitation and Safety has taught me that you should never thaw anything at room temperature. Actually, it's pretty good advice. Thanks, Chef! I bet she loves teaching this class as much as the rest of us love taking it.

Boundlessly Resolute

Happy New Year! It's 2011. Isn't that exciting?

This year brings a lot of hope I feel. Everyone I've been talking to is ready to say ADIOS and GOOD RIDDANCE to 2010. Mind you, 2010 was a pretty good year for me in a lot of ways. I found my love, my job, my house, my kitty, new friends, but there were some crappy elements too. My friend Tamara commented on New Years Eve that this was the first time in a while where she didn't feel the need to cleanse in the New Year. I felt that as well, and it was a nice feeling! No massive overhaul required, just an open outlook on the time to come.

Resolutions have never been my strong point. Quitting smoking, exercising every day, not buying cheap plastic crap from China, I strive to do all these things but have never been terribly satisfied with the results. So this year I just made a list, and what I get to is great, it'll make life better, and for those things I don't get to, they're just still on the list. I'm just trying to be a better person. My name is Charlotte.

Incidentally, blogging once a week is on that list.

My friend Elise came to visit from New York State over New Years and just left this morning. I didn't want her to go. We always have way too much fun and spend way too much money, but at least we're in Bodega and not Brooklyn. It's not as easy to spend hundreds of dollars in a day out in the sticks. Elise is a very talented aesthetician and she gave me a guerilla facial on my couch at my house, using stuff she found around the house. I was terribly impressed, and my face feels awesome. Turns out you don't need to spend tons at a spa for a good facial, you just need a very talented and improvisational aesthetician friend to come hang out with you for a few days.

Anyway, she made a masque and it was lovely. Here is the recipe.

Elise's Guerilla Masque

2 Tablespoons oatmeal
1 tablespoon yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1 drop tea tree oil

Combine all ingredients.

Wash and dry your face.

Gently massage masque onto your face and leave for a few minutes.

Wipe off masque with a damp washcloth.

Moisturize!

It's awesome! I guess yogurt and sugar are natural exfoliants, oatmeal soothes, and tea tree oil disinfects. And you can EAT the stuff, if you really wanted to. Because of Elise, taking better care of my skin is also on the list.


My friend Whitney recently posted her most recent film, which is viewable on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/user/wlgrover#p/a/u/0/L77Hu1rFnt0

She's a great inspiration and is always working on a new project. I can't wait for the next one. Another thing on my list is to be like Whitney, and never let the everyday get in the way of making art.

So Happy New Year to all. May your resolutions be attained, and may you be boundlessly optimistic.