I promised I would write about Jennifer's experiences and now is as good a time as any.

Her work at camp was supposed to end on Saturday, Aug. 13 but instead we got a phone call from her on the 10th saying she was sick and could we come pick her up. I think when she came home for the one night on the 6th she may have caught what I had. Who knows. So her employment ended early. The nurse had put her on bed rest on Monday and she ever got better. School was starting on the 15th so the best thing was for her to come home and get well. She did recover and was fine by the 15th and so started classes (such as they've been).

The culinary class is 11.5 units. Nothing was said in the catalog about also having the work experience class which meets one day a week and is 2 units. So when the class ended on Monday most of the class trooped over to registration and signed up for it. Fortunately it wasn't full (after all, how could it be when they didn't know they needed it?). So on Mondays her culinary class will start at 7 AM and go until 2 PM and the work experience class will go from 2 PM until 3 PM. Then on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the culinary class starts at 7 AM and goes until 1 PM. As part of work experience the student needs to get a job in the industry. If you do it on a voluntary basis, you need 60 hours for the semester. If you get paid, then you need 75 hours. So, Jennifer remembered hearing about a bakery nearby. Turns out her teacher/chef knows the owner, gave her his card and told her to call the owner right away. She did that and the owner asked her to come in, said it sounded good to him and for her to fax him the hours she can work and he would get back to her. Also, because she is volunteer she needs a liability form from the school. So the next day she asked about the liability form. That she can only get from the work experience class which only meets on Mondays. Guess what. No class today, it's not meeting again until next Monday. So she faxed the owner her hours and told him she won't have the form until Monday the 29th. She hasn't heard back from him. If this all works out, I will name the bakery and post a link to their web site.

So besides the job, she needed an updated TB skin test. When you work food services you need this once a year. Health services at the college was back logged so she went to Kaiser on Tuesday, got the test, back to Kaiser on Thursday and got a clear read. Then she needed to order her chefs clothing. Two tops, two pairs of pants, and other stuff which came to $100. Her name is embroidered on the tops along with the school logo. When she goes to her job she must wear these chef whites. Rather than have the clothing shipped (another $10) she will pick them up. We are going together today to get them because the area is not that great. Then she also needed to order knives and other things which comes to $110 and she will get those in class tomorrow. All this plus her books and class fees makes this class cost close to $700!!!

Turns out the class let out really early on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It didn't even meet on Thursday or today. There is some big thing going on in Los Angeles and her teacher/chef is a judge. That is also the reason why the work experience class isn't meeting, because that teacher is the wife of culinary teacher/chef and she is involved too. What a way to get an education.

Then this weekend, Friday night to Sunday night, Jennifer went to Ft. Tejon to a Civil War Reenactment. It was very hot there but a good time was had by all. If she took pictures, and if I can get them on this computer I will post some here.

What have I been up to? Putting up with all the drama associated with all of the above for one thing. Also I have been looking for a nice dress to wear to the wedding in September. This is not the season for dresses. Very, very hard to find a nice normal dress in So. California. Everything is separates and this peasant look that is the rage right now. Look, a 56 year old woman wants a nice normal dress ... she doesn't want to look like a peasant! Finally found something yesterday after church at Burlington Coat Factory. This place sells everything, not just coats and the prices are reasonable. I found a two piece outfit that looks like a dress and a nice pair of shoes. I suspect it will be hot on September 24th and this is lightweight yet dressy. I am pleased. I will take pictures at the wedding and post when the time comes.

So, I think I'm caught up with my posting. School is gearing up. I have gone into the classroom a few times and am getting stuff ready. The class lists are to be posted Wednesday and I think I will go down then and check things out. Our first meeting will be Thursday, September 1 when we all get to do CPR training. Every two years this has to be done. Then we are having a nice lunch prepared by the church staff. On Tuesday, September 6 we have an OSHA meeting with a bunch of other schools in the morning. This is all required by the State of California. Then in the afternoon will be a staff meeting. Somewhere in all of this Catherine and I need to get the room ready because Wednesday, September 7 the little angels start school. Yipee!!