I haven’t been around since March. I since had gotten new phones and haven’t even downloaded the app. Yeah its been that long. Here’s why (tl;dr at the bottom):

I took a job in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. A 5 star in the Financial District. My chef was pretty well known. The best mentor I ever had, truly caring. Very talented but lost in the artisan pizza area. Its my specialty so he gave me full control of that portion of the menu after setting his base pizzas: It was a lot of work, long hours but rewarding. I learned so much. But restaurant politics and a rivalry with the jealous and incompetent GM got the chef fired. Usually after a new chef comes in they phase the old staff out. So eventually I was fired for no reason on record. Its legal in California to do that. However I know its because I would not disclose my recipe and advised my coworkers to do the same. I helped hide all the recipes. My Chef went on to the Chef d Cuisine at a long awaited restaurant that shot to the top of the culinary scene. I have his personal contact and his reference on my resume. This helped me after being fired

I am taking a hiatus from restaurants to do,catering: I am working for  wood fire pizza truck. Back to fire, at the restaurant building permits only allowed gas. My boss wants to open a restaurant which will make me Executive Chef and I will be spending the next two years building a team for that.

I would have contacted earlier but unfortunately my wife and I suffered a break up with our third. It cost us a friendship and it almost cost me my mental illness progress and more importantly my wife. Bridges were burned, hearts were broken and most of all disappointment in lack of sincerity. I learned a lot from that relationship. Be careful who you entrust your problems with. Be aware of who you are vulnerable around. Its encouraged me to form my tribe. 

 My hope is that they know the destruction they left behind. How being a coward has its consequences and that forgiveness was an option burned with the bridge.

Luckily my wife and I have come out stronger as we always have: We are now connecting on an entirely new level and I feel our relationship is being reborn. We are talking to someone amazing who is patient and kind. They have worlds of experience more than I and I am excited to explore this connection. 

Which bring me to the announcement:

Wow. I can not describe the amount of tired and satisfied that I am. I am well on my way to living the chef dream. As long as I keep working hard. Chef has been so happy with my work the other two sou chefs are impressed. Never in a million years did I think I would be in this position.

I am a pizza chef not a fucking cook. I have a chef title. I went from making pizzas in an okay upscale-ish restaurant to a fine dining place in Downtown LA on one of the busiest streets. I am spearheading and developing the pizza program. At my last job I would be bogged down by giant prep lists miles long on top of service. 

Today I walked in, pulled out dough I had instructed someone else to make through email. It was already done for me. I trained five people, ran around being boss lady. I made a prep list to leave so that the prep cooks would have my prep done by the time I come in. Its so fucking amazing.

Chef asked me if I wanted to come in tomorrow. I said I would if he needed me.

He asked me again if I wanted to. And I said no....I’m exhausted. It wasn’t a trap, it was a legit question. So I got the day off no problem and right after he looks at me and says “I love your dough. Its the best dough I’ve ever had. I’ve had a lot of it. But I love yours the best.”

The same Chef has told me he was proud of me, the sou chef told me that I made him open up to talk and how he and Chef had a long conversation about how much they love my work. At my last job, the chef would only critique us and was hard pressed to get a compliment. He made me feel like shit when everyone else praised me.

I feel appreciated, I feel accepted and I feel welcomed into this little team of misfits that all know each other somehow. Everyone in that kitchen has a buddy they either go to culinary school with or have worked together. I am the complete stranger from 2 hours away. But they instantly befriended me and made me feel like one of them.

It was anxiety inducing. Its tiring to be on my feel all day, travel and come back to a old (but very appreciated) pull out sofa bed only to drive an hour to go sleep in my real bed every few days.

Its worth everything. This kitchen will make me something and I am so lucky to have ended up there. My wife believed in me. She knew once I found somewhere that nurtured my passion I would thrive. I did and she is the reason I am so successful now.

[ @aqueouswaltz continued from here ]

Vexen’s lips curled into a smile. “Always good to see you.” Seeing her stiffen was just so cute. She thought she could resist him, but if their last encounter was indicative of anything, she knew she was in hot water.

Aqua scowled for a moment. The tone in his voice was one she knew all too well. It was the same tone he had as she was coming undone under his touch. Another shiver ran up her spine. How has she fallen so far? From having the upper hand and grabbing the information she needed for her own plans to being reduced to a squirming schoolgirl by his mere presence.

Aqua gasped softly as the scientist rose behind her. Normally she was the one to sneak around. She had gotten quite good at it but the blonde apparently had his own surprises. The pet name send a shiver down to her core. Vexen had a way of making her feel both cautious yet intrigued. Always wanting more. The blunette turned, her bright gaze landing on the elder male.