My First Day + Mac-n-Cheese

It took me all of 26 minutes to get home and it was in the car along the way that I realized that I didn't pay any money to go to work today. I didn't pay for a bus. I didn't pay $12 to park my car. I brought a lunch and I didn't have any coffee. I used to spend at least $20 a day when I worked downtown. Additionally, my commute was bliss. I didn't even have to get on the freeway!

As far as my job responsibilities, there's not much to report. I made friends with the computer program I'll be spending a lot of time with from now until January. I sat in an office that overlooked evergreens, Lake Sammamish and the Cascade Mountains. It wasn't my office, but it was a good buffer office. One that could help me in my transition from spending my spring mornings lazily working in the garden to becoming an ultra-productive corporate drone.

And then tonight I needed some food to tell me that everything was going to be alright (warning sign much?) I always make my home-made macaroni and cheese but tonight I was feeling lazy so I made fake 79 cent boxed mac-and-cheese. Thing is, it was terrible! Like eating corrugated cardboard! No taste, no substance and it actually made me feel as if my one sacred comfort meal had forsaken me! Into the trash went my sub-par, American school-kid dinner.

I was looking for substance and I didn't find it, but it was my fault because I wasn't looking in the right place. I'm looking for validation. I don't know what I want right now and that's why I'm not using my head. When I know what I want, I usually know where to get it.

What am I seeking?

Ps. Here's the recipe for my soulful Mac-n-cheese

You Need:
Macaroni noodles
Shredded cheddar Cheese, lots and lots of cheese, 3 cups or more!
2 tablespoons Butter
1 cup Milk
1/2 tablespoon Mustard (Secret Ingredient)
1-2 tablespoons Flour

Turn oven on to 350.
Boil macaroni.
While macaroni boils, place separate saucepan on low heat. Add the butter and milk.
Turn the burner up to low/medium and slowly add shredded cheddar so it melts, use a whisk to stir.
Add the mustard.

Strain the cooked macaroni and place it in a baking dish.

Add 1 tablespoon of flour to the cheese sauce and stir. This will thicken the sauce. If it's too milky, add more flour and and if necessary, more cheese.

As soon as it's a good consistency, pour the cheese sauce on top of the macaroni and gently stir until the cheese has snuck into the macaroni elbows.

Read your dinner a story and tuck it in (cover it) with tin foil. Place in the oven for a 25-minute nap.

After removal from oven, gently stir the mac-n-cheese and dish into servings. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.