I'M LATE, I'M LATE!

      Just to let you know, there will be no kitchen blog next week; I'm taking the day off. I have arranged for a stand-in.

       Joey stayed up last night until 4 a.m. He told me about it after he announced that he was serving only pinto beans and sandwiches today—and—the sandwiches would be "make your own." Then he suggested that we serve deviled eggs, knowing I was good for those.

       After I was knee-deep in (only) 16 sack lunches and a pot full of boiling eggs, I asked Joey, "Why didn't you go to bed until 4?"

       "Oh, Miss Joy, there was this show on, and then there was another show, and after that there was another one…"

       "Joey," I said, "sometimes you just have to turn that TV off."

       "Yes, ma'am, Miss Joy," he said, "I know."

       Don't we all have nights when sleep just won't come?

       About 15 minutes from the first serving, I told Joey I didn't think I could finish 45 deviled eggs and put together "make-your-own" sandwich platters. He came to help me, but he was still in a fog.

       Added to Joey's lack of sleep, two fellows came in this morning and distracted him. That child loves to talk! One man came to mop the floor, and another's mission was never discerned, though the "talk" part took a long time.

       Our C&W music was outstanding this morning; always appreciated.

       I did get to serve today. I got to have eye contact with all of "my people." Mr. Wilson asked for "a" sandwich. I put one on his plate and looked at it. "You know, this just isn't going to do it for you," I said, giving him another.

       Joey and I discussed the diverse eating habits of our two groups today. He doesn't have eloquent words for their differences, but he does say the pre-release folks are more sophisticated. It's interesting that we both are keenly aware of the differences—and willing to talk about it.

       My stand-in took over at 12:15 and I came home! These legs and feet have less and less tolerance for concrete, and I bought some new Dr. Scholl's gel pads yesterday!

       Crashing. Have a happy. See you in a couple.

40 POUNDS OF SCALLOPED POTATOES

      Again, I was too busy with food prep to interact with "my people." Maybe I'll figure out how to multi-task. Mr. Wilson always makes sure I get his special hello, and assures me he is not taking care of himself!

       Kyle was there. He and Joey were hooting it up in the dining area while Kyle mopped. They do enjoy each other, and I enjoy them. Kyle spent a lot of time today heckling Joey about when he was little (they are 20 years apart). Joey denied sucking his thumb, but Kyle pressed the issue. MOM stepped in and told them to play nice! Of course they were, and it was all in fun.

       We only needed 24 sack lunches today. Joey didn't say anything about PBJs, so I didn't ask… I bagged some chips for the next crew, and I served up 40-some plates. When the last plates had been dispensed or wrapped, and just when I was feeling smugly caught up, Joey mentioned that he's planning scalloped potatoes for dinner tonight. He always pauses just long enough for me to stick my foot in it.

       So he put these four gallon-size, milk-carton-looking boxes on the work table. He told me to use them all. Each carton made 10.7 pounds of scalloped potatoes. When I finished cutting up butter, stirring in the flavor packets, and mixing in the dried spuds, Kyle put the four huge aluminum baking pans in the ovens. Forty pounds of scalloped potatoes.

       I wasted no time untying my apron and going for my good-bye hug, "I love you, Joey."

       "I love you, too, Miss Joy."

TURTLE CHEESECAKE

       My neighbor donated a turtle cheesecake for the shelter kitchen. It went like hot cakes…

       Still, I am surprised by those who will not touch those kinds of things—the little moonface boy shook his head, and Mr. Picky said no; but, Mr. Wilson got his share, even after I told him it wasn't on his [diabetic] diet. "I've been watching my shape for years," he chuckled, waddling away with his goodies.

       Kyle was with us again today. He and Joey enjoy each other's company so much! When I see both of them mopping the tiny dining room, I know they're having fun! Kyle served all the plates I usually make, and I accused him of stealing my thunder. Truth was, there were so many sack meals to make that I didn't have time to serve "my people." I missed that.

       The residents got their monthly check this week, so they weren't eating in the kitchen as often, and we had 32 sack lunches left back from Friday! Still, Joey asked me to make up the missing 13, assuming folks will return to their shelter diets tomorrow.

       Also, we needed 15 PBJ sacks, and 12 breakfast sacks. I'm all sacked out :)

       Joey says the teacher has moved his group into working with syllables. He had them confused with compound words, so I tried to explain the difference, and he got it, at least for the moment. We don't have easy access to pen and paper, or even time to use them, or I'd sit that sugar baby down and we'd have us some school.

       Our C&W station was pumping out the best of the best today. I'm going to write them back with thanks. Even the residents noticed; one of them thanked me for bringing Joey's music up to speed. I assured her it was there before I came, but Joey continues to blame me. "Miss Joy's doing the jammin'!"

       That's okay. Jammin's a good thing.