Top Chef LV looks like it’s going to be a good season. I generally don’t like watching the first few weeks because there are so many contestants I tend to get bored/lost/confused by who works where and cooked what. I can’t recall the name of a single contestant this morning but I did realize that:

a) There are a lot of tattoos this season.

b) I’m happy that the girl with the most piercings & tattoos was kicked off the show immediately. Not because she is the contestant with the most piercings & tattoos but because her seitan dish looked really gross (and I like seitan). Tom Coliccio’s face said it all. He spat that out for sure.

c) The most common vice: whiskey and bourbon. I’m hooked!

On to Top Chef Masters finale.

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t like Rick Bayless at the beginning. He was kooky and his ADD was too played up. But alas, Rick Bayless won, and I’m happy he did, he kind of grew on me (I even follow him on Twitter). His mole looked amazing, too. And I’m happy that Mexican food is actually getting some credit as gourmet cuisine. Mexican (real Mexican, not Tex-Mex) is some of the most complex cuisine ever. The depths of flavor are layered and play off each component of the dish…Ahhhh…I think I’m having Mexican for lunch.

Anyway, I was rooting for Hubert Keller from day 1. He is a smart, technique-driven genius and isn’t afraid to push his limits and try new things. On another note, I did not like (at all) Michael Chiarello. He is cocky and annoying and I’m really glad he did not win.

Congrats Chef Bayless for wining the first Top Chef Masters. You’ve inspired me to go on a food adventure in Chicago very soon!

In addition to my pre-interview nerves, I think I experienced another mental breakdown in the bathroom at work today. I burst into tears for no apparent reason. I’m really sad that my first post was about my crap job, and this post is in part, about my crap job (but hold on, we’ll get to the good stuff, I promise). But there is a light at the end of this tunnel: I am quitting next Friday. That’s right, hubby has been brought onboard a new television show which means this little piggy gets to go take culinary classes & food writing classes. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll get that top-secret Social Media job. As of right now all I know is that next Friday my life is going to drastically change (no, I’m not going to start going to the gym on a regular basis).

On another note, the weather is starting to get gloomy (but no less humid) so instead of happy hour on my favorite night, I’m heading straight home. Plus, I’m really excited for Top Chef Masters Final and Top Chef Premier tonight!

Today I really got to thinking about it. It may not entirely be the job’s fault. It may have something to do with me. Take, for instance, my office. I have a nice big window overlooking Madison Avenue. I have a huge desk and plenty of storage space. So why are papers piled all over my desk leaving barely any elbow room to type? Also, why are my walls so bleak and bare and…beige. Sure, I could decorate them. Half the work is already done: holes and nails left by my predecessor (she kept this job for *gasp* 7 years). I could put up some nice photos, maybe a painting from a local artist. But I digress…

I’ve been interviewing for a new job for quite some time. Even before the recession was called a recession. Ironically though, I was really excited about this job at the beginning. Advertising, woohoo! I exclaimed. Finally, putting my writing to good use as a copywriter (ha, good one). But the signs of a terrible boss and a terrible job were so obvious I missed them (or did I simply ignore them, I guess I’ll never know). So in my defense I really do think it’s the job.

First, the fact that during the interview process, my soon-to-be boss asked me if my husband would get mad if I didn’t get home in time to make him dinner every night “because, you know, we work in Advertising.” Or when my husband was laid off in May and my boss got wind of the fact that my husband wasn’t going to look for another full-time job but freelance instead he said rudely and scoffing, “so, he’s loaded, right?” Then there was the time that he tried to friend me on Facebook and took offense that a) I was “hiding” from him because I used my maiden name (I use my married name at work) and b) I rejected him. Sorry boss-man but I have no interest in letting you take part in my personal life.

Like most companies, we experienced downsizing, pay cuts (20%) and decreased benefits (no more free Blackberry). So when it was time for my promised raise and I didn’t receive it, I stuck with the company because I thought this was temporary. Apparently “temporary” means permanently. Work has picked up and we’re now working under immense amounts of stress because we’re understaffed. And of course, there has been no reassurance of going back to regular pay, and so my hopes of receiving my well deserved (and promised) raise have vanished.

Recently my boss has picked up an annoying habit of whisking me into his office and asking me if I’m “committed to the company.” This happens, without fail, every time I take my full hour lunch break (heck, even 45 min.) or dress a little nicer than usual. Every time he does this I sigh and reassure him that I’m not going anywhere (my turn to scoff). The other day he even tried to trick me by telling me it was ok if I was job searching and that I could put him down as a reference.

This blew my mind. What does it even mean?

a) He wants to fire me

b) He knows he’s a crappy boss

c) He snooped and found an updated resume in my personal folder

Regardless, I wanted to quit. But didn’t. So blog readers, if you’re out there…I am not crazy, right? Right? This man is out of control and if I had sufficient savings I would quit in an instant. But the hubby’s in between projects right now and I just can’t afford giving up my insurance and income (as pathetic as the 20% cut has made it). So here I am, loathing the company and wholeheartedly not committed.