So heading into the final 4. Nobody had even 3 of the final 4 participants, but many had two (WV and Duke).
Mary LaVelle 208 Emily Guilliatt 204 S Guilliatt 203 Ellen Reeder 194 Frank Straub 187 mike lavelle 186 jim straub 183 Tom Straub 180 Desmond LaVelle 178 Andrew Reeder 177 Ed Straub 177 Joe Jayjack 177 p straub 177 Rob Zielinski 170 Marianne Z 163 Catherine J 149
So it is with excitement, regret, anticipation and relief that I will inform everyone of the following.
I got a job. No weekends, no nights and a little bit of travel. It will pay me more than I've ever made and will give me a title I never thought I would ever get.
I've taken the job as Corporate Chef for TA Travelcenters. They run a chain of mega truck stops you will see on the interstates. They have 2 brands. One known as TA and the other as Petro. About 240 locations in all. Spread all over the US and some in Canada.
Aside from no nights and weekends the best thing about this job is I don't have direct supervision of anyone! "Priceless" as they say. I really enjoyed 95% of the people I've had to supervise over the years but in the food industry most can bring a lot of baggage that is contended with on almost a daily basis.
My primary responsibilities will be menu development and vendor negotiations.
When I told my friend Bryce about this he joked "how many bacon and eggs dishes need to be developed?"
While this isn't the Ritz Carlton the Petro brand has thrived because everything is done in house from scratch. The TA brand has languished because it has been more of an "off the truck" type of preparation method. The TA brand also presents more of a challenge because it has grown through acquisition. This means that every restaurant set up is different. Different layout and different equipment. The Petro brand was built from the ground up with every restaurant the same as the next. Both brands feature fairly extensive buffets.
TA acquired Petro a couple of years ago.
The regret part is we have to move to the Cleveland area. I had thought that I would work Sarah's until maybe one of the kids took it over. The economy and my body won't let me do this. I regret having to move from Algona, Mom and Dad, Joe and Betty, Mary and Mike to realize this opportunity but I can't pass this up.
Fortunately, the offices are located in a very nice suburb west of Cleveland surrounded by many such suburbs with very affordable housing. It is surprising to find housing as cheap as Algona in a large metro area.
So we will be kickin' it with Lebron and Shaq and rooting for the Browns.
Happy Birthday Donny! We should have all sung Happy B'day yesterday...
We all participated in a food packaging drive at the KC hall...the STRAUB team packaged 200family meals enough for 1,200 meals. It was VERY organized, by the end there was a total of 100,000 packages/600,000 meals! Betty measured dried veggies and then rice and soy was added...Mike and I weighed to the exact gram...Tom got all the air out of each and then Donny, Liam and Eli heat sealed each one flattened them and then boxed them...it was amazing! It's going to Haiti and Africa.
Happy birthday, Donny! Two cakes, you lucky guy! Hope it's great.
Congratulations, Tom. It will be nice to have a steady paycheck and weekends off, won't it? How far away is Cleveland? Are you going to become an Indians fan too? When do you leave/ do Nance and the kids move when you do or wait till the end of the school year? I bet it's a little bit sad to leave Sarah's even though a big relief too. Wow. Big news!
Regarding Tom, well, Joe Biden says "This is a big @#$%$#& deal." The Cleveland area is supposed to be great. Right there on the lake. And don't forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Exciting news.
Donny had a fun day! He brought chocolate chip cookies to school...no healthy treat from us, ha! After school...we brought him on a surprise to Pet Kingdom. He really wanted a mouse...but, the only mice they sell are for eating. He picked out a dwarf hamster and she is really cute! He named her "Little Runner." A name well-suited bc she runs and runs on her wheel. Later, his B-Day dinner was cheesy stuffed crust Pizza Hut pizza and a B-Day cake! He opened up family B-Day cards and lamented over having to do homeowrk on his special day, ha! His "kid" party won't be until the weekend after Easter...he's very excited. Thank you for your birthday wishes and I will share the blog, with him, tonight.
If I remember, Cleveland is a straight shot down the highway. A very long straight shot. But you will be within a long car ride of New York and may be able to visit there from time to time.
This is what Mary Laurel said last week: "I think I must be part elf. My ears are kind of pointy, I'm short, I like to be busy and I like to sing."
She must be part elf!
I thought right away of Grandpa Joe. I had always imagined him to be part Vulcan, but I think Mary is correct. Part elf. Pointy ears, short, busy and always singing or humming.
Lisa
Oh and by the way... remember Mary's first communion is the Sunday after Easter. We would love to see any of you that can come. Yummy dinner the night before (Randy has already bought the Bushmills) and a nice lunch after mass on Sunday.
28 comments:
Happy Birthday, Donny!
We're so lucky to have you in our lives and we're very proud of you!
Love, Uncle Tom and Aunt Nance
Happy Birthday Donny!
So heading into the final 4. Nobody had even 3 of the final 4 participants, but many had two (WV and Duke).
Mary LaVelle 208
Emily Guilliatt 204
S Guilliatt 203
Ellen Reeder 194
Frank Straub 187
mike lavelle 186
jim straub 183
Tom Straub 180
Desmond LaVelle 178
Andrew Reeder 177
Ed Straub 177
Joe Jayjack 177
p straub 177
Rob Zielinski 170
Marianne Z 163
Catherine J 149
Happy Birthday Donnie!
Have a super day. What kind of cake are you having?
Monica
A two layer/double chocolate cake for today and an ice cream cake for the kid party.
So it is with excitement, regret, anticipation and relief that I will inform everyone of the following.
I got a job. No weekends, no nights and a little bit of travel. It will pay me more than I've ever made and will give me a title I never thought I would ever get.
I've taken the job as Corporate Chef for TA Travelcenters. They run a chain of mega truck stops you will see on the interstates. They have 2 brands. One known as TA and the other as Petro. About 240 locations in all. Spread all over the US and some in Canada.
Aside from no nights and weekends the best thing about this job is I don't have direct supervision of anyone! "Priceless" as they say. I really enjoyed 95% of the people I've had to supervise over the years but in the food industry most can bring a lot of baggage that is contended with on almost a daily basis.
My primary responsibilities will be menu development and vendor negotiations.
When I told my friend Bryce about this he joked "how many bacon and eggs dishes need to be developed?"
While this isn't the Ritz Carlton the Petro brand has thrived because everything is done in house from scratch. The TA brand has languished because it has been more of an "off the truck" type of preparation method. The TA brand also presents more of a challenge because it has grown through acquisition. This means that every restaurant set up is different. Different layout and different equipment. The Petro brand was built from the ground up with every restaurant the same as the next. Both brands feature fairly extensive buffets.
TA acquired Petro a couple of years ago.
The regret part is we have to move to the Cleveland area. I had thought that I would work Sarah's until maybe one of the kids took it over. The economy and my body won't let me do this. I regret having to move from Algona, Mom and Dad, Joe and Betty, Mary and Mike to realize this opportunity but I can't pass this up.
Fortunately, the offices are located in a very nice suburb west of Cleveland surrounded by many such suburbs with very affordable housing. It is surprising to find housing as cheap as Algona in a large metro area.
So we will be kickin' it with Lebron and Shaq and rooting for the Browns.
Tom
Happy Birthday Donny.
Congrats Tom...
So you can represent all of us at the Pfizer Shareholder meeting in Cleveland on April 22...will you hand carry my proxy vote?
Happy Birthday Donny! We should have all sung Happy B'day yesterday...
We all participated in a food packaging drive at the KC hall...the STRAUB team packaged 200family meals enough for 1,200 meals. It was VERY organized, by the end there was a total of 100,000 packages/600,000 meals!
Betty measured dried veggies and then rice and soy was added...Mike and I weighed to the exact gram...Tom got all the air out of each and then Donny, Liam and Eli heat sealed each one flattened them and then boxed them...it was amazing! It's going to Haiti and Africa.
Happy birthday, Donny! Two cakes, you lucky guy! Hope it's great.
Congratulations, Tom. It will be nice to have a steady paycheck and weekends off, won't it? How far away is Cleveland? Are you going to become an Indians fan too? When do you leave/ do Nance and the kids move when you do or wait till the end of the school year? I bet it's a little bit sad to leave Sarah's even though a big relief too. Wow. Big news!
Congratulations Tom! How exciting. What a huge move. Wow!
Monica
Tom, Congrats on the news. Must be a relief. Just make sure the boys don't turn into Buckeye fans...
Happy Birthday, Donny! and Congratulation Tom.
Mely
Don't EVEN think that Frank..they're only 3-4 hours from Notre Dame! With weekends off...
Also close to Niagara Falls and Toronto!
Happy Happy Day, Don. Have fun!
Regarding Tom, well, Joe Biden says "This is a big @#$%$#& deal." The Cleveland area is supposed to be great. Right there on the lake. And don't forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Exciting news.
Yes...I am Straight.
I guess it's declaration day.
Ricky Martin declared today that yes, he is Gay.
I'm so surprised!
Monica
Happy Birthday Donny! You're looking pretty buff in this photo. I bet since receiving hte weights you're looking even stronger.
Pat and Josh
Congrats to Tom! Of course sad for all of us, but I too have heard people rave about Cleveland. Good luck, I hope you like the job.
P
Did you have a great day Donnie? What did you get?
Donny had a fun day! He brought chocolate chip cookies to school...no healthy treat from us, ha! After school...we brought him on a surprise to Pet Kingdom. He really wanted a mouse...but, the only mice they sell are for eating. He picked out a dwarf hamster and she is really cute! He named her "Little Runner." A name well-suited bc she runs and runs on her wheel. Later, his B-Day dinner was cheesy stuffed crust Pizza Hut pizza and a B-Day cake! He opened up family B-Day cards and lamented over having to do homeowrk on his special day, ha! His "kid" party won't be until the weekend after Easter...he's very excited. Thank you for your birthday wishes and I will share the blog, with him, tonight.
Happy birthday, Donny!
That's a great picture. You must be pretty buff by now!
Lisa
Wow, Tom!
That is amazing.
If I remember, Cleveland is a straight shot down the highway. A very long straight shot. But you will be within a long car ride of New York and may be able to visit there from time to time.
When do you go? What happens with Sarah's?
Lisa
This is what Mary Laurel said last week:
"I think I must be part elf. My ears are kind of pointy, I'm short, I like to be busy and I like to sing."
She must be part elf!
I thought right away of Grandpa Joe. I had always imagined him to be part Vulcan, but I think Mary is correct. Part elf. Pointy ears, short, busy and always singing or humming.
Lisa
Oh and by the way... remember Mary's first communion is the Sunday after Easter. We would love to see any of you that can come. Yummy dinner the night before (Randy has already bought the Bushmills) and a nice lunch after mass on Sunday.
Cheers,
lisa
Oh and one more post:
My diet club has lost over 100 lbs in the past month! Yea club!
I have lost 5.5 lbs. in three weeks. Desy - my new smaller pair of Dockers is already hanging in my closed awaiting about 3 more lbs. lost.
If anyone wants to join... we are going to start a virtual diet club. You will have to weigh-in, follow the diet, etc.
lisa
great job Lisa!
Wish Mike and I a Happy Anniversary! Thank you.
Hey, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MARY ELLAN AND MIKE
Sure do hope you are enjoying this virtual bottle of champagne I am sending you right now.
love you,
lisa
Thanks Lisa...It was delicious, virtually the best we've ever had!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LAVELLES!
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