Dreams

Things are really kicking into gear, practices are more intense, I'm more focused on my workouts and my training, I'm cranking out cookies and living the dream. When I look back at where I was  when I started this whole cookie experiment and fencing adventure of mine, almost three years ago the transition is  mind blowing. I started fencing because it looked like something fun to try, and a cool way to stay active  I mean you get to stab people with swords, whats not to like? I had no idea what a foil an epee or a sabre were let alone what a parry,or  reposte and I had no idea how far I could go in the sport. I've gone from fencing in a few very small events to fencing all around the country and now with an eye to making a run at international competitions. It seems that it will be a very busy year for this sword slinging cookie baking guy .


Today I signed up for the first domestic event of the 2012-2013 Milwaukee Wisconsin in December. I'm looking forward to the competition, despite the fact that it going to be in December..In Wisconsin! Ive put in a lot of work since the end of last season and i'm looking forward to getting back out there and applying what ive learned.
The push for 50 dozen this month is still going strong, a few roadblocks but that's nothing that cant be managed, there are still a few people out there that don't quite get that Wheeling Chef is not a hobby for me, that it is how I pay for entry fee's gear and  hotel stays and food while I'm competing, and on occasion the funds get used to fill the gas tank so that I can get to practice.
Thank you all for your suppourt along the way, many of you have been involved with this since the start, I hope it has been as fun for you to watch the progression as it has for me as I continue to reach for my dreams!

Parry and Riposte

The last few days have been interesting to say the least . I made my sales goal for the month of September, The new workout program and diet are working well, feel stronger more flexible and more confident in my fencing . I even have a chance to travel outside of the US for a tournament this season, a trip that will require about 150 dozen cookies for the entry fee and probably another 100 dozen for travel expenses. 250 dozen cookies in 5 months roughly 50 dozen cookies a month. Its going to be a long haul but as I have found in the past its reachable, set a goal and reach past it, thats the only way to grow. With all the good things that have been happening recently there have been things going on in my personal life that have taken a toll on this months profits, and have had me questioning if continuing with my dream is possible, after some heavy thinking I have decided that I will not stop fencing, I will continue on with my cookie venture, yes things have been cloudy lately and because of the situation I have had to reallocate cookie profits to help  keep gas in the tank.    It happens, the only thing I can do is parry what life throws at me and riposte! So here is to getting more cookies into the hands of you hungry cookie monsters and to selling 50 dozen cookies in the next 4 weeks!! 

commitment, sacrifice and dedication

Saturday started what promises to be a busy, interesting frustrating and intense few years. Coach came back from London full of ideas and goals for the next few years and the key words that came from the meeting were  "commitment, sacrifice and  dedication."

Commitment to the workouts and the program. Some of the changes  are not going to be easy , but they are necessary and the payoff is worth it. 
Sacrifice, there are plenty of things I could do with the money that cookies bring in, and there are days I'd rather stay home and veg on a  or spend time with my family and friends rather then practice, but dreams are not handed to someone  there will be plenty of days when things will be missed because Ive chosen to chase my dream. My family, friends and fans are behind me in this quest and I thank you I could not do any of this without your support.
Dedication to see the goals through to the finish and doing what it takes to make things happen.   Its going to be an intense few years, its going to take alot of work and I don't want to think about the dozens of cookies it will take, but I'm looking forward to the challenge and adventure!

1464 days

A few hours ago my friends took to the piste in London for the start of the wheelchair fencing events at the 2012 Paralympic games. An opportunity to compete at the Paralympics is a great honor and privilege, but its more then that it is the payoff for the hours months and years that you have put into your sport.   When I started fencing I knew I wanted to compete  but I didn't know how far I wanted to take it, my goal has crystallized in the last few months, It is time to start adding international events to my schedule in a bid for Rio in 2016. This is not a simple nor an inexpensive goal, it means longer hours training, more time at the salee, more frustration and more cookie sales. The games in Rio are just a little over 4 years away from today 1464 days to be exact. between then and now there will be 12 National events and at least that many international events. My road to Rio will be paved in shortbreads held together with the support of all of you cookie monsters out there on twitter, facebook not only in your purchases of my products, but also all the #goodluck tweets and Likes I receive on facebook when I'm away at tournaments. As I approach this season I am going to set a 30 dozen in 30 days goal each month the money earned from these sales will help fund the entry fee's to tournaments, replacement of  gear as it breaks and salee membership fee's. To get the road to Rio started i'm setting a September sales goal of 30 dozen, and I only have 25 left to sell this month! Thank you all for your continued support I couldn't have done any of this without your support and love of my evil shortbread cookies  and if you havent already tell you friends about this guy you know!

Looking to next season

Two years ago I started this cookie experiment as a way to help ends meet and to help suppourt my fencing habit. Thanks to all your suppourt I made it through another fencing season! The next season starts in a few months and its time to start training! With your help I intend to make next season even more successful then the last one!  

Next seasons locations and dates have been officially announced :
December North American Cup
Dec. 7-10
Milwaukee, Wis.

March North American Cup
March 15-18
Reno, Nev.

Division I / Wheelchair Nationals and April North American Cup
April North American Cup: 
April 12-15
Richmond, Va. 
It looks like I will be doing a good bit of training and traveling during the next season, and a few other trips may be in my future!


Just a little over two years ago I was recovering from my first national event and wondering If I would continue fencing. Now two years later I can't wait to  get back out on the strip and compete.


Two years ago I didn't know how I would be able to fund my fencing passion, and to be honest I doubted that cookies would be the answer. Now it seems they were. I still want to take wheeling chef to the brick and mortar level and realize the dream I spoke about in where do I go from here?  and slowly one dozen at a time I'm building to that goal.


What will the next few months bring on the fencing strip and for my cookie empire? I don't know but I cant wait to find out!

The work is paying off

Two weeks ago was my last  tourney for the 2011-2012  fencing season. This season was a very good one for me I learned a lot my fencing improved tremendously and I came home with medals from every event. Its been a long two years at the sport but the hard work and the suppourt from all my family, friends and cookie fiends is paying huge dividends, both on the fencing strip and personally. I've said it time and time again but thank you all for your suppourt, I could have done none of this without your suppourt.  Next seasons schedule will be released next week I already know when the events are, just not sure on the where. You know you'll hear all about the when and get plenty of cookie specials just in time!
Lots of things are in motion with my fencing career and my team Captain and  coach are planning some cool things for me this season. Its even rumored that I'll be taking a trip or two across the pond.

In a few weeks time the worlds best will be gathering in London for the 2012 Olympic games, I will be watching with the rest of the world as athletes come together on the world stage to compete. Unlike most of the world I will also be watching two weeks following the Olympic games when the Paralympics are going on. While the para's I will be continuing working towards my goal of making the 2016 Paralympics. Its going to take lots of work lots of suppourt and lots of cookies to make this goal a reality but I'm not afraid of a little hard work. I cant say it enough but thank you all for your suppourt in this adventure of mine. Helping me make my dream come true.. One dozen and five miles at a time

Stuff stuff and more stuff

The last few months have been busy, stressful, and at times very frustrating for me, between fencing, keeping the cookies rolling and some major family issues and personal  I have not been my usual chatty self. I am happy to say that I'm finally pulling myself up by the boot straps and starting to get back to my old self.

First the family stuff
 In November a family member was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to have three lobes of her lung removed. During the process of diagnosing lung cancer questionable growths were found on this family members remaining kidney, yes you read that correctly   her remaining kidney, she had lost the other one due to cancer 8 years ago. In late February   The doctors decided that best course of action would be to cut out the suspicious growths. information has been hard to come by during this whole ordeal and the stress level has been understandably high, particularly after the order was handed down that a visiting the hospital was forbidden even after a plane ticket and hotel room were purchased. Things have improved in the last week but its still not a great situation.
Now the personal stuff.
In January  I started down a path of reflection, I have made mistakes in my life and done some things that I am not proud of, an email was received that reminded me of these past behaviors but I can honestly say that I am not the same person I was when these transgressions occurred, oddly the reason for the growth is the discovery and involvement in fencing. Fencing has provided me with a reason to get my butt out of bed, something to focus my energies on and at times it  provides  great stress relief. All I can say in light of this reminder of where I have come from is that I am sorry to those I have hurt and do what I can to eradicate those behaviors from my character, learn from my mistakes, and move forward

Finally the fencing stuff
In December I had my first tournament of the domestic season in Kansas City where I had my best finish of my career to that point 7th in both epee and foil. In February   I took a weekend trip to Tampa Florida where my team and I put on a wheelchair fencing demo for a group of enthusiastic kids to get them interested in the sport that I have come to love. In March in the mist of the Miami Drama I had my 2nd tournament of the domestic season where I took 8th in epee and once again 7th in foil, I was not my best tournament but I did place and I learned quite a bit. I can live with that. A few weeks ago I finished my domestic season in Virgina Beach where I finished 8th in epee and 6th in foil.  I seemed to have found my weapon in foil. So much so that coach is telling me to get ready for an international event...after the paralympics in September. Its going to be a hectic few months fencing wise.
Time to rebuild refocus and build my life, my fencing career and my cookie biz

What puts the wheels in Wheeling Chef?

Yesterday it came to my attention that March is Cerebral Palsy awareness month. Cerebral palsy is the name given to a group of   disorders  that  impact muscle coordination and   is characterized by;

• Muscle tightness or spasm
  
• Involuntary movement
  
• Disturbance in gait and mobility
  
• Abnormal sensation and perception
  
• Impairment of sight, hearing or speech
  
• Seizures

Cerebral palsy can occur during fetal development or shortly after birth when specific areas of the brain are damaged. It is not a progressive disability nor is it curable, it is also not genetic or contagious.  Why do I care? Cerebral Palsy is what puts the "wheels" in the wheeling chef. 

I was born with moderate spastic cerebral palsy that affects my legs and my hands to a slight degree.    It may seem strange that a person with a condition that affects my hands would choose a culinary career,  but the involvement in my hands is slight but  my condition does sometimes cause me to come up with creative solutions turning  difficulties into  challenges  to be overcome and adapted too not seen as barriers that cause me to throw my hands up and surrender!


I have been asked if I would take accept a cure to my disability if it were offered. No I would not, I don't suffer from my disability, I am grateful for it. I have done more because of my disability then many of my non disabled friends. I run my own business, I am able to participate in a sport that I love That is not to say that life isn't frustrating at times but who can honestly that they don't get frustrated at times?
I was dealt a hand in life that includes a condition that makes life interesting, and requires me to improvise and adapt to make things work for me, but that makes life fun. 

Some of you may have questions about cerebral palsy. I am no medical expert but I live with it everyday so feel free to ask me any question you may have. I will answer them as best I can.

And now you know a little more about your favorite wheelchair fencing  cookie baker and how I roll!
Now its time to get back in the kitchen and make some cookies, The Cincinnati tournament is in two weeks!

2 years already?

Saturday marked my second year as a wheelchair fencer all in all this year was a positive one, that’s not to say I didn't have set backs, there were moments when I asked myself “what the heck was I thinking” When I attended that first practice I had no idea what I was doing nor what I was getting myself into. There were many times in that first year when I seriously contemplated quitting fencing, especially when the costs started adding up. During that first year I kept at it getting stronger and learning all I could, fortunately I also struck on the idea of making cookies to support my fencing habit, and not just any cookies, shortbreads, a rather obscure cookie style to support a passion for an obscure sport, a rather unknown version of that sport at that.

This last year in fencing I continued to develop and managed to win my first medals. Cookie sales were a great help with gear, registration fees, food and the most important thing. Coffee! Each year on my “fencing birthday” I set goals for the next year, this year I want to continue as I have over the last two years continue collecting medals and keep finishing higher each time I compete.

My next tournament is in March over St Patrick’s day weekend with luck and your support I can hoist a Guinness in celebration of new medals and a great finish.

Again I want to thank you all for joining me on this adventure, purchasing my cookies and standing in my corner while I compete, train and build my cookie business from an experiment into something that will not only support my fencing dream but will help others reach a measure of financial freedom (as outlined  in  Where do I go from here?)

So here I go embarking on another year as a fencer, the hours of training, the miles put on my tires, the frustrations when practices get tough. Another year slinging cookies to suppourt my passion and my dream, full of highs and lows, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

I challange you to a dual..

Dear Walkers Shortbreads.

I am a small shortbread cookie baker who sells his cookies to support a his dream. It is my belief that your popularity is based purely on  a large marketing budget and Christmas tins shaped in the image of a tin highlander. I am also a fencer and as dueling has gone out of style I have chosen this medium to call you out as it were. I challenge Walker Shortbreads to a taste test, my traditional versus yours. You may choose the when an where as you are the challenged party.  I anxiously await your response and will interpret you silence on this matter as an acquiescence on your part that my hand crafted shortbreads are superior to your mass produced... cookies.

Respectfully
Richard Zengler
aka the Wheeling chef

National Shortbread Day

Its National Shortbread cookie day so I figured it was time I should share just how this whole cookie experiment came to be. It amazes me how a simple idea can turn into something worth while. About 5 years ago I was at a Renaissance festival when I saw a vendor selling welsh cookies and making a killing at it. I filed that away for later reference. A few months later I was still looking for a job and trying to find a way to make ends meet. Then I remembered the guy selling cookies and wondered if I could do something similar.

I picked up some old cookbooks and found a basic shortbread cookie recipe. To this point I had done very little baking, in school my major was culinary management and they sorta skipped over the whole baking thing for us. I had made simple doughs before so I figured I would be able to make a simple butter cookie. After some experimentation and some frustration, OK lots of frustration I came up with a cookie recipe and a product to offer the shortbread deprived public.

I had a product and I managed to find a few craft fairs that welcomed me and my cookies, but they didn't sell as well as I had hoped.  Before I could go back to the drawing board, life took a different path and I found myself in Atlanta. Wheeling Chef took a backseat for a while while I adjusted and rebuilt my life. It was during this hiatus that I found myself  getting involved with wheelchair fencing.
I knew early on in my fencing experience that I wanted to do more then just work out I wanted to compete nationally and eventually internationally, with the ultimate goal of making the Paralympic
team. This dream would take hard work and a good bit of money. It was time to relaunch wheeling chef.
I revamped my cookie recipe and was off and rolling. Thanks to twitter and a few lucky breaks wheeling chef started to get sales and some marketing exposure. Those first sales helped cover the entry fee for my 2nd national. I couldn't believe that such a simple idea was paying off. I continued to sell cookies and train and started to see the benefits of both Cookie sales have helped me purchase new weapons  a new uniform a new mask and have  covered my entry fees to 5 tournaments. More important then all of that I'm having fun in this whole adventure!

Cookies have certainly helped financially but I have also met some very cool and supportive people because of my cookie experiment. You all have kept me going when sales have slowed and fencing gets frustrating, and I appreciate it. In celebration of National Shortbread Day and in gratitude for your support I'd like to offer a blog reader coupon. 20% off your entire order between today and 1/10/2012 when you include the word Foil in your order! Thank you again and Happy Shortbread Day