Construction and Expansion Update

"The site of the new Verona Beach SaVon is quickly taking shape. The store's trademark green, yello wan dwhite canopies are in place over the gas and deisel pump stations, and the parking lot and driveways have been blacktopped. Work also has begun on the founsation of the new building. The new store is slated to open sometime next spring. Landscapers have been hard at work around the resort grounds. Floodlights have been installed in front of the new stone monument wall at the main entrance off Route 365 to show off the wall, the pine trees behind it, and the holiday decorations. Smaller monument walls, made from the same Pennsylvania stone have been built at the corner of the main boulevard and the access road leading to Shenendoah Clubhouse and The Lodge, and at the driveway entrance to the Tower and Winter Garden. The areas behind and around both those walls also have been landscaped with pines, grass and plants. The main revovling door at the center of the Winter Garden has been installed, but that area remains closed to the public as crews continue working on various features. Last week, there was water in the under-floor 'river' leading from the main door to a small rotunda just off the gaming floor. The water flows from a fountain in the rotunda, which eventually will have a glass sculpture in the center. Work also continues in the new buffet restaurant on the Winter Garden's main floor. Carpet installation began last week, and crews were assembling dramatic light fixtures for the terrace seating area. The lights consist of wood and metal bases with neutral colored canvas-draped cones directing the light from the bulbs. There will be six of these light fixtures on the terrace. Up on the mezzanine level, workers have installed a stained-glass-like light panel outside the entrance to the new Brazillian steakhouse. Inside the restaurant, most of the flooring has been installed, and crews were working on wood and glass partitions and planters last week. The Event Center will host its first public concert when it welcomes Tim McGraw Thursday, after a special employee preview concert by Benny MArdonnes last week. Workers have been ading the finishing touches to the center, installing permanent light fixtures in the stairwells and on the upper level and placing covers on the heating/cooling system upstairs. Crews also installed light fixtures ion the corridor near the new box office last week, consisting of several blue glass plates that give the impression of a cluster of flowers."

Christmas Browsing

Sorry for the long pause between posts, I've jsut been busy working and then paying more attention to my other blog, JoesTown's Clicks. It is easier for me to do those postings because they don't require me typing for a long period of time while Katie is sleeping. She seems to not like the sound of my keyboard. It doesn't help that I have had this keyboard since I got the computer 2 years ago. I told her yesterday if she wanted to get me something for Chrsitmas she could get me a wireless keyboard and mouse set. I priced them in Wal-Mart yesterday and they aren't too bad. The Microsoft one is 50 bucks and the Logitech one is 30. I kinda want the Microsoft one because the mouse has all the extra buttons that I had come to enjoy on my other wireless mouse that recently shit the bed. Katie also saw a small HP that she wanted. She says it's just her size and at 500 bucks looks pretty good to me. But I think she may get it for her birthday or later. Who knows, depends on the money issue at the time of purchase. I kind of like the fact that we would have two computers in the house, this way I could network them both and share the printer that I have. Sounds like the perfect way for me to do this. Can't wait. I start my night's at the bakery this coming monday, hopefully. If not this week then definetly the following monday. We have to have all of the bread done and ready to go into production as of Sunday. We should be able to do this seeing as we only have 2-3 that are giving us trouble and I am sure that Rich and Antonio can get those things worked out yesterday and today. Katie told me when I told her that I was going to nights that she now doesn't want me to go. I kinda figured that would happen, seeing as I really enjoy the 11-7 shift that I have right now. Oh well, what are you going to do. We'll get used to it. Nothing else is going on so... I will talk to you later Joe FYI: Farmington, Maine, celebrates Chester Greenwood Day to honor the inventor of earmuffs.

Life events

Good Sunday morning all. Just thought that I would say hello and see how everyone else's Thanksgiving was. Mine went wonderfully. It felt like it was such a long day and when it's my day off and it feels like that then it is all good. Both days off actually felt really long. Wonderful news that is. Nothing else new going on at the bakery. Enjoying still, although the deadline is coming up really fast for when we have to have all the bread ready to be baked and approved by the head honchos. Also of note, Brian said that he was going to be bringing the newborn into work on Monday, so we all get to see it. He also said that he would bring it down to the bakery for me to see it. Hopefully Jen will be back then so that she can see it. I know she would love to see it again. Seeing as she had so much fun with her little one that was at that stage just a year ago. Well, nothing else is new here. Gotta get into gear and make sure I know what everyone wants before I go Christmas shopping, even though I have two weeks yet before that happens. I am going to buy the two turtles we have a bigger tank in three weeks or so. Just before Christmas. That will be a present for Katie and me a little bit. We jsut fouind out the other day that we have a male and a female, and the male is trying to get the female to mate. Very amusing way they do it too. The male sits in front of the female and wiggles it's two front claws at her. So far Michele (formerly Mike) has rejected Ike totally. Poor guy, maybe the new tank will let him have a chance. Nothing else so I will talk to you later Joe Listening to: Corruption, Front Line Assembly FYI: The Library of Congress has 600 miles of shelves.

Construction and Expansion Update

Atunyote Golf Club closed at the end of October, but workers have been on site every day finishing up the luxurious new clubhouse. The temporary clubhouse used during the course's inaugrural season has been removed, and the ground is being graded and prepared for landscaping. Inside, carpet and lighting fixtures have been installed in the restaurant, and crews have begun installing banquettes. Last week, heavy machinery could be seen digging at the corner of Snyder and Patrick Roads, preparing for construction of the foundation for the new golf dome. The facility will allow golfers to hone their skills all year long and also can be configured or other indoor activities like tennis. Work continues in hte Winter Garden, particularly in the two restaurants. Up on the mezzanine level, crews have installed a polished granite top on the bar just inside the entrance of the new Brazillian steakhouse. Workers also are busy installing kitchen fixtures and appliances and various accents for the dining areas. The restaurant will seat about 175 people. Downstairs, work also is progressing on the new, expanded buffet. Light fixtures have benn installed in the spacious entry area underneath the stairway to the second floor, and floor tile has been laid in the entryway and in the food service areas. The 420-seat buffet will feature half a dozen stations where guests can order freshly made entrees in a variety of cuisines. The massive revolving door for the Winter Garden's main entrance has arrived, and crews were working on its installation last week. The glass floor tiles for the "river" lading from the main entrance to a small rotunda between the two-story water falls have been installed, as has a waist-high glass wall around the fountain feature in the rotunda. Glass water walls also have benn installed on either side of the fountain, and behind them new retail shops have been framed. Plans call for one shop to feature high-quality jewelry and the other to offer seasonal gifts. The new Opal's coffee shop also has been framed at the far end of the Winter Garden, complete with an indoor canopy. Thanks in part to the unseasonably dry November weather, outside work around the resort has made substantial progress this fall. Grading has been done for new parking near the hotel loading dock; the site used to be a pond but was filled in earlier this year in anticipation of increased parking needs. Medians and islands for the new lot also have been framed. Crews also have been erecting a plethora of holiday decorations around the property. Talk to you later Joe FYI: Americans spend more than $630 million a year on golf balls.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Hope your day was full of food and fun with the family. Tomorrow some of us have to go back to work, others get to have the weekend off. You bastards. Talk to you later Joe I'm listening to Forever and Always, Shania Twain FYI: Honeybees navigate by using the sun as a compass.

A little bit more bakery

11/22/2004 Today was another day of learning. All be it just one thing. Today I made the starter dough for the bread. It's the dough that we make the day before so that the dough we make the next day will be able to work. Gives it a boost per se. I also found out that I am going to be the guy that does most if not all of the mixing. This I can not wait for. I have always wanted to learn this part of the bakery. I pretty much had the bench part of baking down, now all I needed was to learn how to mix the dough properly. The only thing left is going to be the cooking of the bread and the proofing of it. The proofing I will learn as I go seeing as we will be doing this everyday. Another thing that I learned last night was that one of the other bakers that I work with knows the Marshals of Star Bakery. Where I got my start in the baking business. Such a small world, it is. Tonight I also got to see the view from the Tower at night. Another spectacle. Looks a little better at night with all the headlights going down all the highways that we have at the intersection of the thruway, 31 and 365. Definetly one of the best views in CNY. Nothing else is new, so... Talk to you later Joe Listening to: Party All Night, Jeff Foxworthy, Little Texas, Scott Rouse FYI: Butterflies were formerly known by the name "flutterby."

More Bakery

Sorry for the long delay, getting used to a new schedule has had me changing my routine till I could find something that would work. Still changing it and fine tuning it, but I dont really wnat to get to fine tuned seeing as it will all change when I go onto nights. But anyways, I digress. The bakery is very enjoyable. I am learning new stuff almost daily. We really haven' t gotten around to making too much bread as of yet. But Rich, my new boss, says that we will be getting to that starting this week. Jen wants all the bread figured out by the 5th, I believe it was. So we are going to be making lots of bread. Should be fun and a lot of new lessons. I have never mixed bread before so it is going to be all new. Today I got to roll dough for the first time in 2 and a half years. I found out just how much I missed doing this. I just cant wait till we get into actually making the bread on a regular basis. And all the recipes I will be gathering while I do this is going to be just as fun. Seeing as we can't make bread yet we have been kept occupied making all the other things that are in the bakery and other restaurants. This has also been very enjoyable. On a daily basis I have had to make chocolate chip cookie dough, oatmeal cookie dough, chocolate cake, white cake, yellow cake, and macaroons. I have also made crumbly topping for little cheesecake like things. Sorry really can't remember what they were called. I cant wait till tomorrow to see what we will make. I haven't liked my job and looked forward to going there in quite some time, but it definately is back. I am very greatful of this. The only things that I hve to learn myself is my conversions. I'm getting pretty darn good with them. Kinda helps that I use them on a daily basis. I have started to write down the recipes that we have used the most, but I need to get another notebook to put them in. That is one of my next purchses. Well, nothing else is going on so... Talk to you later Joe Listening to right now: Imagine, John Lennon FYI: There is a town in Alaska called Chicken

New baby

I found out tonight that Brian had his baby. This is one of the guys I used to work with at the Forrest Grill. He had a girl named Sydney that was 9# 7oz. He said that she was holding onto his hand and wouldnt let it go. I think I was just as excited about this as he was. Now I really cant wait for my little one to make an appearence. Nothing else new, I will write more later. Sorry. The bakery is going good. Talk to you later Joe

Construction and Expansion Update

Work is progressing quickly on the new SavOn at Verona Beach. Underground tanks have been installed, and the infrastructure for the pumps also is in. Crews have cut two driveways fro easier traffic flow on and off Route 13; another driveway will empty onto Miller Road. The new store will replace the existing location and is scheduled to open next spring, offering both gas and diesel fuel, a wider range fo food options, and safer, more convenient access. Most of the roads and parking lots around the resort have been resurfaced in the last couple of weeks, although some areas remain to be done. Landscaping also has continued, especially in front of the new stone monument wall at the main entrance off Route 365. Another stone wall at the corner of the main boulevard and the access road leading to Shenendoah and the Lodge is being built. Eventually, both walls will feature new signage for the resort with the new Turning Stone logo. In the Wintergarden, workers last week were installing the metal braces and glass tiles that will cover the unfer-floor river. The river leads from the entrance to a small rotunda, which will feature a glass sculpture. On either side of the rotunda, glass walls have been installed, and behind those walls will be high-end retail shops. Work continues in the two new restaurant in the Wintergarden. Crews have installed the hostess starion at the entrance to the new buffet, as well as wooden partitions around the interior seating areas. Wall tile is up behind the action stations, where guests will be able to order entress and watch them being prepared. Workers also were installing banquettes last week. Up on the mezzanine level, work in Rodiziio Churrascaria, the new Brazillian steakhouse, is generating lots of interest from guests. The 175-seat restuarant will feature a football-shaped wood bar and views of the Wintergarden. Workers have installed marble floor tiles and were concentrating on wall finishing last week. Plans call for the restaurant to open shortly after Thanksgiving. Finishing work continues in the VIP areas of the Event Center, as well as some other amenities. The main doors facing the access road are lrge enough to allow semis to enter the event floor to load and unload equipment. THe seats have built-in cup holders, and there are two VIP suites with seperate reception and viewing rooms. The coat check space near the box office (at the parking garage entrance) has an automatic hanger system that rises above the box office, efficiently utilizing space that otherwise would be wasted. Joe

The bakery experience

Well, I have now finished two days in the bakery, and I am enjoying it very much. The last two days have been me making cakes and cookie dough and muffin dough. Tomorrow I and the other two bread bakers should start working out the recipes for the breads that we will be making. Hopefully we will do this. That is what Jen said anyways. So maybe tomorrow I will have a little more to share with all of you. As of right now nothing is good enough to share. Nothing new is going on either. Talk to you later. Joe FYI: Colors like red, yellow and orange make you hungry.