4:15 a.m.: That three hours of sleep was not enough. I contemplate more sleep, but too many details to work out for today. Getting on the bike to clear thoughts.

5:34 a.m.: Back from 18 miles. Very relaxing ride, no wind around Lake Hefner – 49 degrees is a little chilly, but very satisfying.

6:03 a.m.: Wonder if there’s a half decent cup of coffee to be had this early … settle for a national chain.

6:34 a.m.: Arrive at Iguana. Checking on food order and looking over sales reports from last night.

6:53 a.m.: Pull out short ribs that were braising all night for today’s luncheon.

7:30 a.m.: Start to pack up my mise en place (terminology used for all items needed to perform a task).

8:12 a.m.: Headed to Avalon Seafood to pick up fish.

8:17 a.m.: Sitting in a parking lot commonly referred to as I-235 northbound. Reading Twitter since I can’t move.

8:27 a.m.: Stop by the house to get an apron and kiss my two youngest boys goodbye before they head off to mothers’ day out.

9:02 a.m.: Talking to Delancy at Avalon about the fresh fish coming. Fresh snow crab? Yes, please, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Today I need tuna and dry pack scallops.

9:26 a.m.: Back battling the OKC drivers. Don’t these people know I have stuff to do? Move it!

9:49 a.m.: Unloading at 1708 for my luncheon. Expecting 16 people, six courses.

10:36 a.m.: Phone call from Bruce Rinehart about the luncheon. He is coming over to work it with me. I am preparing a scallop amuse bouche, tuna and veal course. Bruce is doing his crab cake, then a corn white chocolate lime intermezzo. Next is my braised buffalo short ribs and Bruce’s wild mushroom risotto.

11:22 a.m.: Service staff starts to arrive and polish glassware and set up tables for the event.

1:04 p.m.: Gary Vaynerchuck arrives to Table One. We have a quick chat before he starts working the room. Cell phone rings. Of all people, my wife wants to chat now?

2:33 p.m.: Dessert is served and clean up begins.

3:02 p.m.: Guests start to disperse, and Gary leaves in the limo for his book signing.

3:18 p.m.: Start packing up, leaving the rest of my team to finish so I can begin to work on food for the evening event.

3:32 p.m.: Unpacking at the restaurant, my wife calls again to let me know she and the kids are coming by to see me because they won’t get to otherwise, since I will be working late.

4:07 p.m.: I take a quick few minutes to chat with the kiddos and wife, and regroup to get all the food prepared for the evening. This is posing some challenges, as we are also preparing for the Thunder crowd.

4:52 p.m.: I am rolling chocolate truffles, cooking truffled mac and cheese for the lollipops, curing ceviche, directing the line crew to get the queso ready for the line, and the pre-basketball crowd is already rolling in. Tickets are lining up already and we haven’t even finished all the prep for the evening.

6:32 p.m.: Arrive at Will Rogers Theatre. I have one hour to get my table set up and get the registration people in tune with taking credit cards. Go to set up my computer, plug it in, turn it on and FAIL! It won’t turn on. Looks like a visit to the Mac store is in the cards for me tomorrow. Until then, backup plan: Use my MacBook. This time is always the worst for me: right at the beginning of an event. Anxiety is at it highest, and for some reason, this when I get asked the stupidest questions, like, “Can I eat this?”
 
8:29 p.m.: Gary begins his speech. As with any event, not everyone is fully intended on paying attention. Conversations in the room getting louder, making it impossible for some folks to hear. 

9:52 p.m.: Gary is wrapping up and filming an episode of “Wine Library” as I start to mingle. Talking to some friends, I realize my Twitter account has been hacked. Turns out I was the brunt of a joke by some friends, saying, “I’m thinking Arby’s,” knowing I would never eat at a chain like that.

11:06 p.m.: Cleaning up, taking out trash.

11:30 p.m.: Heading to Rococo for an after-party and poker, but stopping by the restaurant first to check on the evening.

12:09 a.m.: Arrive at Rococo. Nice crowd. I immediately jump into a poker game and play for about an hour before losing all my money to Patrick Allmond.

1:45 a.m.: Wrapping up a long day. Going home to take a shower and get three more hours of sleep before doing it all again on Saturday.

2:32 a.m.: Night. I think to myself, “Wendy saves the day.”