| How to make a Susan |
| Ingredients: 5 parts competetiveness 5 parts silliness 3 parts beauty |
| Method: Layer ingredients in a shot glass. Top it off with a sprinkle of sadness and enjoy! |
More True than Not
AhhChoo
Does anyone else feel like their arms are coming unglued when they sneeze? It's a wildly uncomfortable feeling, and usually, shortly afterwards, I have to lie down from the pain and exhaustion of that sneeze. It's not every sneeze, just the really big ones.
I cooked all weekend. I tried several times to make monster cookies but every time they ran all over the cookie sheet and into the oven and set the fire alarm off...and then they wouldn't come off the pan. They taste really good...but they aren't the way they are supposed to be. My aunt is going to try to make some tomorrow from the same recipe and see if she has the same problem. I also made star shaped tea-cakes, and salmon patties. I have done dishes 6 times. This may very well be a personal record.
Justin and I are now the proud owners of a table and four chairs. We don't really know where to put them as we don't have a dining room, for now the table and two chairs are in the kitchen and the other two chairs are in the living room. I like them though. They are purple.
We also got a full length mirror. I'm going to have to move it as I'm terrified of mirrors when I sleep. Perhaps this is somehow related to the sneezing...
I cooked all weekend. I tried several times to make monster cookies but every time they ran all over the cookie sheet and into the oven and set the fire alarm off...and then they wouldn't come off the pan. They taste really good...but they aren't the way they are supposed to be. My aunt is going to try to make some tomorrow from the same recipe and see if she has the same problem. I also made star shaped tea-cakes, and salmon patties. I have done dishes 6 times. This may very well be a personal record.
Justin and I are now the proud owners of a table and four chairs. We don't really know where to put them as we don't have a dining room, for now the table and two chairs are in the kitchen and the other two chairs are in the living room. I like them though. They are purple.
We also got a full length mirror. I'm going to have to move it as I'm terrified of mirrors when I sleep. Perhaps this is somehow related to the sneezing...
Tasty!
I've decided to fill my time (and my belly) with baking to keep myself entertained, at least through the holiday season. I'm also going to do gift baskets for my family for Christmas filled with, among other things, baked goods. So, anybody that has a good cookie, candy, bread or general treat recipe I would appreciate it if you would send it to me. Anything that can be cut into pieces (or is made in pieces like cookies) would be great. If you email me a recipe and your mailing address, I will send you some treats sometime between now and Christmas...P.S. Jonathan, I can't read your blog!! How do I become an "invited reader?"
Crafty.
Justin says I have to find a hobby. Something I like to do. Any suggestions? I can't crochet, as I proved last year, everything just is a circle, and I don't really want to learn how to knit because yarn apparently has it out for me. I used to like to shop, but a I no longer have that kind of disposable income, it can't really be my hobby. As it is now, when I fill out one of those "what do you like to do" profiles for MySpace or whatever I put that I like to read, but I'm doing that for 8 hours a night at work. I can't take it anymore. Anyway I have no idea, so suggestions are appreciated.
P.S. I don't want anything that will leave me with a bunch of extra stuff so nobody say "oh I know, you can make [potholders, birdhouses, decopage, friendship bracelets...insert craft of choice here]
Ew Fashion.
I've been watching the Style Network for over an hour because it's too cold to take my hands out of my shirt and change the channel. This girl just bought enough clothes so that she could have eight different outfits for the weekend. How stupid. I've been wearing basically the same velour pants/hoodie combination (with different tank tops) for 3 days...I'm going to have to rethink it though since Justin said something like "mmm look at that big velvet bottom." When he saw the apalled look on my face he assured me that he meant that said bottom was sexy... so then I had to tell him that the words "big" and "sexy" do not go together unless you're talking about lips, boobs or eyes.
I may be applying for a new job. There is an opening for unit secretary in the birthing center where my aunt works. It would be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6pm to 6am. This sounds amazing to me. It would be great to be off for 4 days a week....
Now StyleTV is talking about the importance of eyeliner...dear god.
I may be applying for a new job. There is an opening for unit secretary in the birthing center where my aunt works. It would be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6pm to 6am. This sounds amazing to me. It would be great to be off for 4 days a week....
Now StyleTV is talking about the importance of eyeliner...dear god.
Where My Mind Wanders
I've been having some trouble sleeping... well, actually I was having some trouble sleeping, but I've started taking a sleeping pill before bed on work days...However, yesterday was not a work day so I went to bed without it. The problem is that my mind just races. It doesn't think of anything real, like bills or work or any of the important stuff usually...just random crap. Sometimes it doesn't linger on a single thought long enough for me to even fully realize what it is before moving on, and I don't usually remember what those passing ideas were...but here are the "big ones" I remember from the past week or so...
The first thing, and the one that for some reason got me worked into a tizzy that particular night was the idea that my cat, Nic, was desperate to be an actor. {I told you these weren't normal thoughts.} It seemed very important that I find an agent for him and look for work in commercials or whatever cat actors do. Very stressful in a very weird way. Anyway, just in case this was Nic trying to channel his deepest desire, I'm posting his "headshot" here, just in case any animal agents are looking.
Last night Las Vegas was in my head. I decided that they should change their name...The thought pattern went something like this:
Los Angeles means "the angels." This is a fitting name for this city because it's beautiful, warm, and all the people look heavenly, {please excuse that pun} thanks to great plastic surgeons, anorexia and the zone diet. If you took away all the sin, Los Angeles would definatley look like the sort of place where angels vacation.
Along those same lines, Las Vegas means "the fertile valley." This is a very poor name for the city because well, it's in the middle of a desert. The thought was that if Los Angeles is the city of "angels", then Las Vegas should be called "Los Menos Dios" : "the lesser gods", which would translate to "demons." It's sin city after all right? So then we could have "the city of angels" and "the city of demons."
I do realize that this might cut down on tourism from the church ladies going to see Blue Man Group and Celine Dion, so it might not be a brilliant marketing strategy, but at least it would make more sense.
Yeah...it makes even less sense now than it did as I was falling asleep. Oh well. Hope it was entertaining at least.
The first thing, and the one that for some reason got me worked into a tizzy that particular night was the idea that my cat, Nic, was desperate to be an actor. {I told you these weren't normal thoughts.} It seemed very important that I find an agent for him and look for work in commercials or whatever cat actors do. Very stressful in a very weird way. Anyway, just in case this was Nic trying to channel his deepest desire, I'm posting his "headshot" here, just in case any animal agents are looking.
Last night Las Vegas was in my head. I decided that they should change their name...The thought pattern went something like this:Los Angeles means "the angels." This is a fitting name for this city because it's beautiful, warm, and all the people look heavenly, {please excuse that pun} thanks to great plastic surgeons, anorexia and the zone diet. If you took away all the sin, Los Angeles would definatley look like the sort of place where angels vacation.
Along those same lines, Las Vegas means "the fertile valley." This is a very poor name for the city because well, it's in the middle of a desert. The thought was that if Los Angeles is the city of "angels", then Las Vegas should be called "Los Menos Dios" : "the lesser gods", which would translate to "demons." It's sin city after all right? So then we could have "the city of angels" and "the city of demons."
I do realize that this might cut down on tourism from the church ladies going to see Blue Man Group and Celine Dion, so it might not be a brilliant marketing strategy, but at least it would make more sense.
Yeah...it makes even less sense now than it did as I was falling asleep. Oh well. Hope it was entertaining at least.
The Lighter Side
Ok, this made me laugh, so to make up for my depressing previous post:I think it's really funny when Maybe tries to catch bugs on the other side of the glass door, because she bonks her nose and then acts offended.
Damn Damn Damn.
So, after a week without our regularly scheduled programming, the DishNetwork guy came yesterday and fixed our TV...and today when I got home from work it had stopped working again. Lovely. Also, the b**** at the water department told me that the adjustment on our bill from when we had the leak, (which they have delayed making for a month) is only $43, in spite of the fact that our regular water bill would probably have only been $40. So now we have to pay a $100 water bill today. *sigh* I just cried and cried for an hour, because there's so much more that we need to do with that money, but at least it's less than it could be. Finally I just decided to suck it up...but now I have to tell Justin when he gets home from school. He's going to be pissed...about both the TV and the water, and he's been very sensitive for the past few days. This is not going to be fun.
In other news, my dad thinks our drug dealer neighbors are stealing water from us. He knows that their water has been disconnected, (the fire station turns into the water department after hours) and he knows that they have already been charged with theft of public service for stealing water from someone else last month. (I don't know where he came by that information, but I guess it's public record. I don't even know their names) I dont know either way, but he thinks they're coming over at night while we work or during the day while we sleep and taking water from the outside faucets. I have no idea whether this is true or not because with the water bill being unadjusted I can't tell what it "really" is. It wouldn't surprise me though. I'm pretty sure that they're stealing electricity though. Our bill is more than it seems like it should be with only one window unit air conditioner and usually only one small lamp and the TV on consistently during the hours that we are awake. My estimate is that it should be around $75, but it is consistently over $150. Oh well...Can't think about it now. I'm already too stressed out.
Now for the fun news...assuming that we can afford it, (after the monster water bill) we are going to go to the corn maze tomorrow. He is very very excited about it...like a little kid going trick-o-treating or something. I think it will be way fun too, {must remember to take allergy pills}. I just love Halloween and fall things. I'm hoping to take Hunter and Hannah to a pumpkin patch and take some pictures in the next week or two. We'll see if I can round up the energy to cope with the toddlers. Oh... I think Justin's home...more as and when.
In other news, my dad thinks our drug dealer neighbors are stealing water from us. He knows that their water has been disconnected, (the fire station turns into the water department after hours) and he knows that they have already been charged with theft of public service for stealing water from someone else last month. (I don't know where he came by that information, but I guess it's public record. I don't even know their names) I dont know either way, but he thinks they're coming over at night while we work or during the day while we sleep and taking water from the outside faucets. I have no idea whether this is true or not because with the water bill being unadjusted I can't tell what it "really" is. It wouldn't surprise me though. I'm pretty sure that they're stealing electricity though. Our bill is more than it seems like it should be with only one window unit air conditioner and usually only one small lamp and the TV on consistently during the hours that we are awake. My estimate is that it should be around $75, but it is consistently over $150. Oh well...Can't think about it now. I'm already too stressed out.
Now for the fun news...assuming that we can afford it, (after the monster water bill) we are going to go to the corn maze tomorrow. He is very very excited about it...like a little kid going trick-o-treating or something. I think it will be way fun too, {must remember to take allergy pills}. I just love Halloween and fall things. I'm hoping to take Hunter and Hannah to a pumpkin patch and take some pictures in the next week or two. We'll see if I can round up the energy to cope with the toddlers. Oh... I think Justin's home...more as and when.
Domestic Violence
It is Domestic Violence Awareness month. My dad's extra job is working at a funeral home, and part of that involves going all over the place to pick up bodies. Last week he went to get a man who had chased his wife to the Dallas area, then killed her and himself because she left him. I don't know what can be done in an official context to stop this sort of thing...but something should be.
www.ncadv.org
www.ncadv.org7 am Griping.
Can someone tell me why UPS insists on dropping my packages off at the post office instead of my house? It makes it take an extra day for them to get here and that is really dang frustrating. I want my new jeans!!
In other postal complaints, I was walking Maybe yesterday at about the time that the mailman came by. Maybe and I were standing on the porch waiting (Please note, she was on a leash, and could not get off the porch, also note that she is a 15 inch beagle who weighs less than 20 pounds, it's relevant, I promise). I watched him go to all the other houses on the block, and then turn and walk back to his truck. So I said "Hello? Do we not have any mail??" and he said "Yes you do, but I'm not bringing it with that dog up there." What the hell is that all about?? So I shoved Maybe into the house and said "So do you want to bring it now?" (all meanly, it was fun). And he did, but acted like it was a huge inconvenience.
Hello Mr. Mailman, its YOUR JOB to deliver the mail. It's not like my dog is big and scary...or even like she was off the leash and could possibly attack. Whatever. We've only been getting our mail every other day for the past couple of weeks anyway, and it's really starting to make me mad, because I know that the postman is just too dang lazy to bring it up here. AND almost every day we get mail for the people one block over. I wonder how much of our mail they are getting?? So anyway, we filed a complaint. If I don't have my jeans today by noon, someone's head's gonna roll.
I also discovered that the man I married is lazy beyond belief. I went to wash the dishes when we got home from work yesterday morning, and before I could start I had to take tons of trash off the counter from where he left it when he made his... I guess, dinner the night before. When I confronted him about it he said: "I don't like to throw stuff away because I have to open the trash can." Is this just a guy thing?? He made up for it by letting me cut out his incredibly painful ingrown toenail last night. Anyone who knows me, knows that I thrive on being able to pick at stuff like that. It's been suggested that I should go to dental hygenist school...perhaps, but I'm very offended by [really] bad teeth, and Ashlie told some horror stories.
Nothing's changing much around here...It's our weekend now and I hope we can have dinner at my parents house at least once because we don't have anything good to eat and I'm starving.
Ok well..sorry for the boring update, I guess thats....OH MY GOD, I just discovered the empty dish where Justin ate all the rest of the mango dessert he made last night!! I only got one little bit, and it was the last good thing we had!! ugh.
In other postal complaints, I was walking Maybe yesterday at about the time that the mailman came by. Maybe and I were standing on the porch waiting (Please note, she was on a leash, and could not get off the porch, also note that she is a 15 inch beagle who weighs less than 20 pounds, it's relevant, I promise). I watched him go to all the other houses on the block, and then turn and walk back to his truck. So I said "Hello? Do we not have any mail??" and he said "Yes you do, but I'm not bringing it with that dog up there." What the hell is that all about?? So I shoved Maybe into the house and said "So do you want to bring it now?" (all meanly, it was fun). And he did, but acted like it was a huge inconvenience.
Hello Mr. Mailman, its YOUR JOB to deliver the mail. It's not like my dog is big and scary...or even like she was off the leash and could possibly attack. Whatever. We've only been getting our mail every other day for the past couple of weeks anyway, and it's really starting to make me mad, because I know that the postman is just too dang lazy to bring it up here. AND almost every day we get mail for the people one block over. I wonder how much of our mail they are getting?? So anyway, we filed a complaint. If I don't have my jeans today by noon, someone's head's gonna roll.
I also discovered that the man I married is lazy beyond belief. I went to wash the dishes when we got home from work yesterday morning, and before I could start I had to take tons of trash off the counter from where he left it when he made his... I guess, dinner the night before. When I confronted him about it he said: "I don't like to throw stuff away because I have to open the trash can." Is this just a guy thing?? He made up for it by letting me cut out his incredibly painful ingrown toenail last night. Anyone who knows me, knows that I thrive on being able to pick at stuff like that. It's been suggested that I should go to dental hygenist school...perhaps, but I'm very offended by [really] bad teeth, and Ashlie told some horror stories.
Nothing's changing much around here...It's our weekend now and I hope we can have dinner at my parents house at least once because we don't have anything good to eat and I'm starving.
Ok well..sorry for the boring update, I guess thats....OH MY GOD, I just discovered the empty dish where Justin ate all the rest of the mango dessert he made last night!! I only got one little bit, and it was the last good thing we had!! ugh.
Clean Teeth and a Baby
Justin and I took a quick trip to Amarillo over the weekend. His sister is in Dental Hygenist school and she wanted to clean our teeth (for free!) and she made me a whitening tray, which would have cost $500 at the regular dentist...but was free from her. This is a great gift, since I spend a lot of time obsessing over the whitness of my teeth. We also had not seen baby Nikaia yet so we had to do that...AND I wanted to run by the flea market to get some new fake hair, since I'm a lazy hair-do-er but the place with the hair was closed. Anyway, here are the pics from our trip:
Boring Update.
Well I fell off the no caffiene wagon yesterday and had a diet coke (with refill!!) at dinner yesterday evening. We were at one of those restaurants with few drink options so there ya go. I'm going to try to climb back on again today.
Yesterday Justin and I left the house at 6:15 am and headed to Muleshoe to judge at a speech tournament. We had a really good time. Because we never get out of the house anymore, going to stuff like that is sort of like a date for us...so it was fun. My back is killing me today though from sitting in those awful highschool desks. How on earth did I ever do that for 8 hours a day?? I must be getting old.
We had an extra day off, so we didn't have to go in last night which was nice, but now I'm dreading going to work tonight. I really need to get a new book...
Also, anyone who likes historical fiction should check out Jester by James Patterson/Andrew Gross. I just finished it and it's quite good.
Yesterday Justin and I left the house at 6:15 am and headed to Muleshoe to judge at a speech tournament. We had a really good time. Because we never get out of the house anymore, going to stuff like that is sort of like a date for us...so it was fun. My back is killing me today though from sitting in those awful highschool desks. How on earth did I ever do that for 8 hours a day?? I must be getting old.
We had an extra day off, so we didn't have to go in last night which was nice, but now I'm dreading going to work tonight. I really need to get a new book...
Also, anyone who likes historical fiction should check out Jester by James Patterson/Andrew Gross. I just finished it and it's quite good.
Addiction
I generally do not think of myself as someone who has an addictive personality. I've never really smoked, never done enough drugs to mention, and one martini knocks me flat... Because of these things I've never been able to muster up much empathy for those who are trying to stop smoking, drinking, drugging or what-have-you. Until I have unearthed my own addiction: caffiene.
It sneaks up on you really. I'm not a coffee drinker and haven't ever said the words "wait until after I get my caffiene," but the addiction is there people! And it's freakin' hard to give up. I've tried to stop drinking anything but water and other clear or naturally occuring liquids only, since my ugly kidney infection from a few weeks ago. But it constantly calls to me "go find a diet pepsi..it won't hurt...only one...if you don't we'll make you a huge angerball with a raging headache." So far I've survived about a week and a half. And I now have more understanding of what Justin is going through. (He stopped smoking, practically cold turkey in February, I'm very proud.)
The thing is though, I think it's easier to stop smoking. They (whoever those experts are) say that caffine is more addictive than heroin or something, and people just push it all the time! At restaurants, it's practically impossible to get anything to drink that's non-caffinated and diet. I know they make these beverages, and that they are available in stores...but I don't know why restaurants never have them. (Yes, I know that water is always an option, but it's almost always tap water, which is truly disgusting and way more likely to give me some sort of disease.)
So here I am, chuging bottled water, and green tea (yes, I know green tea has caffiene, but it's a different kind or something) and wishing that I had a diet pepsi. I think my dad is taking us to dinner tonight. I think it will be to Savannah's which has great Mexican food, but only tap water or soda to drink. Perhaps we'll make it BYOB.
To Come In From The Rain
Our dog does not enjoy the rain. She gets very confused when she steps off the porch and her feet get wet, and when she realizes that it's hitting her head it's a total breakdown. Thunder is worse. Like me, she is jumpy about loud noises. This is cute and all until you really need her to do her dog thing...you know...that one. I know she needed to go because she's been crated for the last 9 hours that we've been at work...for your viewing pleasure, a slide show about not being smart enough to come in from the rain. (me not her).
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Some of the pics are blurry. It's hard to snap a dog running for the door like a maniac.
| View | Add FavoriteSome of the pics are blurry. It's hard to snap a dog running for the door like a maniac.
The Fruits Of No Labor
We have a pomegranite bush, because I don't touch it with my plant assassin fingers, it grows fruit. I took a picture:
Ta dah
In an effort to keep all of our pictures from looking exactly the same, we changed the angle from which Justin snaps the picture...I call this, "the view from below." Not great, but it's a little different from the norm anyway...
Justin says "this is how our child will see us someday..." God I hope not.
Justin says "this is how our child will see us someday..." God I hope not.{Editor's Note: Please be aware that at this time I am not, nor do I have any plans to become pregnant, so everybody just keep your panties on.}
Family Ties....or Shackels?
This is so frustrating to me...So, Justin is working his butt off in school, he's studying really hard and learning really quickly and I'm really super proud of him. Today he spoke with his mom and was telling her about it and she was just like "well you better not fail." What the hell?! I mean first of all it's not any of her business to begin with. It's not like she's paying for any of it. The only reason that he had to wait until now to really get involved in school is because they wouldn't help him financially, even to the point of giving him their tax information so that he could apply for grants etc. He wasn't even asking for money for school, just basic information so he could get some help from the government and besides that, would it kill her to say that she's proud of him?! What kind of parent watches her kid start college and doesn't even have the decency to show some kind of support?
Don't get me wrong, my parents aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I never had to wonder if they were proud of me. I never had to wonder if they would help or support me when I needed it, and I sure know that they love me.
I can let the shit that they pulled with the wedding pass, but I don't know about this. Justin should not feel like I'm the only one in his life that loves him. Someone besides me should tell him that they're proud. Everytime he calls his parents they say something that's hurtful to him...or don't say something that would make him feel good. It's like they're making a genuine effort to make sure that he knows how disappointed they are in him...and I just don't understand it. I'm completely at a loss for what to do. My only instinct now is to scream and pull out my hair. *sigh*
Don't get me wrong, my parents aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I never had to wonder if they were proud of me. I never had to wonder if they would help or support me when I needed it, and I sure know that they love me.
I can let the shit that they pulled with the wedding pass, but I don't know about this. Justin should not feel like I'm the only one in his life that loves him. Someone besides me should tell him that they're proud. Everytime he calls his parents they say something that's hurtful to him...or don't say something that would make him feel good. It's like they're making a genuine effort to make sure that he knows how disappointed they are in him...and I just don't understand it. I'm completely at a loss for what to do. My only instinct now is to scream and pull out my hair. *sigh*
If It's Not One Thing...
It's sure to be something else equally upsetting. I haven't posted in awhile because everytime I feel like I have something of interest to report, it's something bad. This makes for a really whiny, stinky blog. However, this is a matter of some importance, and perhaps I can make it mildly entertaining.
We have a massive water leak under our house. I think it must have started off small, but our water bill has been steadily increasing by about $40 a month, every month for about 6 months. Looking at the bill we received yesterday, we owe the City of Levelland $140 for water and our monthly usage is 38 thousand gallons. This is a lot of water people. Apparently there's a small resort town under our home...I'm sure it's teeming with lots of lovely guests like mold, algae and bacteria. Buy your tickets early, the busy season is just beginning...
We also seem to be having some electrical problems...This house is basically wired to ignite at any moment, and we've lived quite happily with this eventuality for some time now...It's sort of like knowing that you're going to die...it's a fact, but you try not to think about it too often. Until today. It's been raining for the better part of 36 hours, and in the middle of our much needed beauty rest the electricity went out. We discovered this by waking up to a very quiet, hot house. We called the electric company and the guy came out and told us that we do in fact have power on his end...but somewhere in the house there is a short, and perhaps in the next week or so we should have an electrician come out, good luck until then. Very helpful.
Luckily, my dad knows most of the people in the civillized world, and most of them owe him a favor of some sort, so we did, in fact find an electrician who could come out on a holiday weekend in the pouring rain. I'm not sure what he did, as I was hiding out at my aunts house, but 3 hours after the emergent crisis, we have lights and fans and a working refridgerator. The short seems to be in the air conditioning which is lucky only in that it's supposed to be unseasonably cool for the next week or so. Hurray for divine intervention!
I also have a very painful kidney infection...perhaps some kidney stones. We were out of bottled water for the better part of a week, and apparently it is unwise to subsist on Diet Pepsi. I'm now taking some antibiotics and something called Azo Standard to numb my urinary tract, this wonder drug has the added bonus of turning my bodily fluids a particularly enchanting shade of neon orange.
If you need me I'll be in the corner contemplating Murphy's Law.
We have a massive water leak under our house. I think it must have started off small, but our water bill has been steadily increasing by about $40 a month, every month for about 6 months. Looking at the bill we received yesterday, we owe the City of Levelland $140 for water and our monthly usage is 38 thousand gallons. This is a lot of water people. Apparently there's a small resort town under our home...I'm sure it's teeming with lots of lovely guests like mold, algae and bacteria. Buy your tickets early, the busy season is just beginning...
We also seem to be having some electrical problems...This house is basically wired to ignite at any moment, and we've lived quite happily with this eventuality for some time now...It's sort of like knowing that you're going to die...it's a fact, but you try not to think about it too often. Until today. It's been raining for the better part of 36 hours, and in the middle of our much needed beauty rest the electricity went out. We discovered this by waking up to a very quiet, hot house. We called the electric company and the guy came out and told us that we do in fact have power on his end...but somewhere in the house there is a short, and perhaps in the next week or so we should have an electrician come out, good luck until then. Very helpful.
Luckily, my dad knows most of the people in the civillized world, and most of them owe him a favor of some sort, so we did, in fact find an electrician who could come out on a holiday weekend in the pouring rain. I'm not sure what he did, as I was hiding out at my aunts house, but 3 hours after the emergent crisis, we have lights and fans and a working refridgerator. The short seems to be in the air conditioning which is lucky only in that it's supposed to be unseasonably cool for the next week or so. Hurray for divine intervention!
I also have a very painful kidney infection...perhaps some kidney stones. We were out of bottled water for the better part of a week, and apparently it is unwise to subsist on Diet Pepsi. I'm now taking some antibiotics and something called Azo Standard to numb my urinary tract, this wonder drug has the added bonus of turning my bodily fluids a particularly enchanting shade of neon orange.
If you need me I'll be in the corner contemplating Murphy's Law.
Better Than Restylane?
See my big, lucious, Angelina Jolie-like bottom lip in that picture?? Yeah, I just smashed myself in the mouth with a Mag-light. Forget the baseball bat ladies, this first class flashlight is what you need to keep by your bed to bash the intruders with should they dare to come your way. 
Damn Chickens
I am so stinkin' sick. I do not know what the problem is..actually, I do. Those damn eggs. OH GOD...
(10 minutes later) Ok so yeah...I'm throwing up. I thought they smelled funny, the eggs...but then I decided it was just the carton. So I boiled them, and then I ate them...and they tasted good...they were kind of texturally wrong...but I thought it was ok...So I took a nap, and then I woke up a few hours later and had to throw up...
So I felt better and ate some instant mashed potatoes, I thought the starch would be helpful...and it was. This most recent episode of vomiting was much more pleasant. Ugghhh. We're so not going to work.
(10 minutes later) Ok so yeah...I'm throwing up. I thought they smelled funny, the eggs...but then I decided it was just the carton. So I boiled them, and then I ate them...and they tasted good...they were kind of texturally wrong...but I thought it was ok...So I took a nap, and then I woke up a few hours later and had to throw up...So I felt better and ate some instant mashed potatoes, I thought the starch would be helpful...and it was. This most recent episode of vomiting was much more pleasant. Ugghhh. We're so not going to work.
Bah!
So this weekend I have managed to completely screw up my sleep schedule again. It's just all over the place...I stayed up late on Thursday (til 2:30) and then took a nap until 6, because I really wanted to have dinner with my family, which I hadn't done in quite awhile...so then I was so tired when I got home at 8 that I went to bed and work up at 4am. So yesterday all day I was on a daytime schedule...which personally I really liked. I felt pretty good for most of the day, but then I was tired at 9pm so I went to bed...and now it's 5:30 and I'm up...will have to take a big ol' nap before leaving for work tonight at 11pm. Oh well...at least it was a pleasant weekend. I'm hungry...I have to go find something to eat...this is the challenge for the moment.
Making Some Changes
Thanks to those of you who commented positively on my last depression post. I'm still really struggling with this but have decided to take baby steps to try and feel better. I'm going to give myself 3 months, (one quarter of a year) to get back to my old self and then if there is no change before Thanksgiving I'm going to see a doctor.So, the first step is to be awake more during the day. For the past couple of weeks I've been coming home from work, and staying up until about 2pm, and then sleeping until it's time to get ready for work, it's just not working for me. I remember that I felt slightly better when I was splitting my sleeping time between early morning and late afternoon, so now I'm going to try to get to bed as soon as I get home about 9:30am, let myself sleep for maybe 4 hours and then get up for awhile. I can then head back to bed and take a nap at about 6pm to get my 8 hours in. I'm also going to try to start getting up early enough to put on a little make up before I head to work. I've never been a real fan of makeup, and never really needed it, but I feel like my skin tone has gotten a little splotchy, besides I need to make more of an effort on how I look and I'm not up to getting up early enough to wash and blowdry my hair every day like I used to yet. That may be the next step...
In other news, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I woke up with my arms hurting, well last week both of them hurt for a couple of days, enough that I took some pain medication, {which I never do}. I blamed it on trying to scratch the hard to reach part of my back while laying in bed...I end up with my arm all bent backwards and resting my full weight on it which I thought was maybe stretching out the tendons and stuff...but today it's hurting again, so I'm going to go with the theory that it's a repetative stress injury from sleeping with my shoulder joint all stretched out and flattened under my head and pillows. I'm going to try to sleep differently for a couple of days and see what happens.
So...that's the update.
Be On the Lookout.
I've been feeling a little sad...and a little lonely for the person that I was a couple of years ago. I used to be really confident, and fun and well dressed among other things. And now...I'm just not.
I'm sort of anxious all the time and paranoid and there is no confidence left in me. Not a trace. Not a drop. It's very depressing. The fun Susan went right out the window with Confident Susan. I think they followed Well-Dressed Susan, she's been missing for a long time.
Here's the deal. I used to work at a place where I really felt like the people listened to me, and cared about me, and were interested in what I had to say. It mattered what I wore, because they were paying attention. I lived in an apartment that I loved, and I was able to go shopping on a regular basis. I didn't have a wildly active social life, but I did have a few friends that I knew I could count on. And I was really, really happy.
And then I moved.
I started a job where the boss was a jerk, the people were psycho territorial and paranoid, and they couldn't have cared less about what I thought, or how I felt. They were however, rather obsessed about what I wore, and since it was never quite right, I quit after only a couple of days working there. I had a boyfriend who I loved, and everything was great in my love-life for once, but everything else was really not great. I got another job, but the people were still rather apathetic about my existence and I didn't have any friends. Then I got another job, and the people there were sort of openly hostile, and 7 months later it all sort of went up in flames. During that time, I completely forgot who I was...who I am...and I don't know how to get myself back.
I suspect that it will start with finding Well-Dressed Susan again. She must be out there somewhere...perhaps hiding underneath all the cargo pants and tanks tops.
*sigh* At least I got to keep the guy.
Anyway, if you see Well-Dressed, Confident or Fun Susan running around somewhere please send her home. Thanks.
I'm sort of anxious all the time and paranoid and there is no confidence left in me. Not a trace. Not a drop. It's very depressing. The fun Susan went right out the window with Confident Susan. I think they followed Well-Dressed Susan, she's been missing for a long time.
Here's the deal. I used to work at a place where I really felt like the people listened to me, and cared about me, and were interested in what I had to say. It mattered what I wore, because they were paying attention. I lived in an apartment that I loved, and I was able to go shopping on a regular basis. I didn't have a wildly active social life, but I did have a few friends that I knew I could count on. And I was really, really happy.
And then I moved.
I started a job where the boss was a jerk, the people were psycho territorial and paranoid, and they couldn't have cared less about what I thought, or how I felt. They were however, rather obsessed about what I wore, and since it was never quite right, I quit after only a couple of days working there. I had a boyfriend who I loved, and everything was great in my love-life for once, but everything else was really not great. I got another job, but the people were still rather apathetic about my existence and I didn't have any friends. Then I got another job, and the people there were sort of openly hostile, and 7 months later it all sort of went up in flames. During that time, I completely forgot who I was...who I am...and I don't know how to get myself back.
I suspect that it will start with finding Well-Dressed Susan again. She must be out there somewhere...perhaps hiding underneath all the cargo pants and tanks tops.
*sigh* At least I got to keep the guy.
Anyway, if you see Well-Dressed, Confident or Fun Susan running around somewhere please send her home. Thanks.
Poor Little Dog!
So, our initial attempt at parenting, with our beagle mix, Maybe has been going well. We have now been proud poochie parents for 6 months and no one has died or lost any limbs. However, today I was walking Maybe and she got a sticker in her foot, which isn't unusual, considering that our front yard is a jungle. We stopped for a minute and I looked and couldn't see anything, so I figured that she had managed to get it out herself and we headed into the house. She continued to paw at her nose, so I grabbed her and couldn't find a sticker in her foot, but upon closer inspection found that in removing the sticker from her foot, she had gotten it stuck deeply in the roof of her mouth just behind her front teeth. Can you even imagine how much this hurt!? No wonder she didn't want clumsy me to mess with it! I did manage to get it out with my trusty eyebrow tweezers,(with Justin holding her down) but it still left a mean looking hole. Poor little Maybe!! Here's a picture of our happy baby:
The Recipe Meme
I stole this from Annabel, it's a very good idea...
You will need:
3 Cups Minute rice
1 Can Chicken Broth
16 Oz French Onion Dip (2 small containers or about 2/3 of a big container)
1 Large can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 Cups Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 Box Cheez-Its (Or whatever cheddar cracker you like)
2 tablespoons Poppyseeds
Some kind of Non-Stick, butter flavored, Spray
Then you do this stuff:
Preheat Oven to 350
Find a 9 x 13 baking pan
Spray it with non-stick
Crush up the box of Cheeze-Its and spread about 1/3 of them on the bottom in a thin layer
Spread 3 cups of non-cooked minute rice evenly on bottom of pan
Cover with Chicken Broth, so that all rice is moist
In a large mixing bowl, combine French Onion Dip, Cream of Chicken Soup, Canned Chicken and Poppyseeds
Pour that mixture over the rice/cheeze-its
Cover with shredded cheese
Add a top layer of cheeze-its
Optional: Spray lightly with the non stick spray on top, (it makes it shiny when it cooks)
Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350. Just until the top is bubbly. Everything in it is already cooked so you're just looking to make it hot.
Serve with a side salad
Everyone I've ever made this for really loves it, but dieters beware!! It has like a zillion calories (I think, we have't actually counted). So worth it.
So now post yours, and let me know if you do so I can go look!
Susan's Poppyseed Chicken
You will need:
3 Cups Minute rice
1 Can Chicken Broth
16 Oz French Onion Dip (2 small containers or about 2/3 of a big container)
1 Large can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 Cups Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 Box Cheez-Its (Or whatever cheddar cracker you like)
2 tablespoons Poppyseeds
Some kind of Non-Stick, butter flavored, Spray
Then you do this stuff:
Preheat Oven to 350
Find a 9 x 13 baking pan
Spray it with non-stick
Crush up the box of Cheeze-Its and spread about 1/3 of them on the bottom in a thin layer
Spread 3 cups of non-cooked minute rice evenly on bottom of pan
Cover with Chicken Broth, so that all rice is moist
In a large mixing bowl, combine French Onion Dip, Cream of Chicken Soup, Canned Chicken and Poppyseeds
Pour that mixture over the rice/cheeze-its
Cover with shredded cheese
Add a top layer of cheeze-its
Optional: Spray lightly with the non stick spray on top, (it makes it shiny when it cooks)
Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350. Just until the top is bubbly. Everything in it is already cooked so you're just looking to make it hot.
Serve with a side salad
Everyone I've ever made this for really loves it, but dieters beware!! It has like a zillion calories (I think, we have't actually counted). So worth it.
So now post yours, and let me know if you do so I can go look!
Oohs and Ahhs All Around.
Everyone should pay attention to my new plucked petal header. It took me 2 hours to make it look like that so be impressed dang-it!
Neat-O
I found a cool site that lets you turn pictures into these little polaroid-like posty things. Neat-o!
Image created at MySpace Layouts
Image created at MySpace Layouts
Oh Look! An Actual Post...Sort Of.
In an effort to get healthy, get out of the house, and perhaps lose some weight, I agreed to go walking with my aunt in the evenings at 7 o'clock or so and have managed to do it exactly once before injuring myself. I sort of tripped down a curb and ran into a fire hydrant yesterday evening on our way to the post office. I know that sounds like minimal damage, and it really should have been...I didn't even hit the ground but it sort of...I don't know exactly, squeezed my knee. So, now I have a massive purple bruise (about 2.5 inches in a circle) next to my kneecap. I think it continues down under my kneecap too because it hurts to walk, and if I move in the wrong way, it sends little pain waves up into my thigh and down to my ankle. And it's swollen and really really ugly. So, I'm taking a break from the dangerous art of walking today to let my knee rest and then we'll try again tomorrow. I would take a picture of it, but it's really gross, so I'll spare you the drama.
Here's a Meme to Tide You Over.
20 Firsts
1. Who was your first love? Um...my first crush was Adam Jackson in first grade, but he didn't like me so I don't know if it counts as first love.
2. Who was your first kiss and when? Ben Wright, Kindergarten
3. Who was your first prom date? Beau Bayer
4. Who was your first room mate? My Nan
5. What was your first job? United Supermarket
7.When did you go to your first funeral? My grandfather, I think 1994 but I don't remember exactly
8. What was your first car? Blue Nissan Stanza
9. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown? 20 to Canyon
10. Who was your first grade teacher? Ms Ivey
11. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? I have no idea. Maybe Austin
13. Where did you go for your first date and who was it with?
Not counting proms, I never really had a date until after high school. It was with some guy named Jason. We went to Taco Cabana, where I didn't eat and then...maybe to a movie?
14. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with? I never snuck out of the house.
15. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them? Elizabeth Bolden...I wouldn't say we're friends, but I still hear from her occasionally
16. Who was the first person to send you flowers?
A late bloomer on this too, Josh Samsel sent flowers to me and someone else when we did Gypsy, I think...or maybe The Miracle Worker. Some play.
17. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents house? 815 North Denver, Levelland.
18. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
I talk to Justin first, then sometimes I email Patrick.
19. Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsmen? My step-sister, D'Liesa
20. What is the first thing you when you wake up? Brush my teeth and walk the dog.
And Now: The Meme You've All Been Waiting For
So here's another meme. This one stolen from Jennifer, very early this morning.
9 Lasts....
- Last place you were: The sofa.
- Last drug used: Lactaid with dinner at 4am
- Last beverage: Water
- Last kiss: Sometime in the last few hours.
- Last movie seen: Little Black Book
- Last phone call: I talked with my brother almost 24 hours ago.
- Last CD played: I don't even remember.
- Last bubble bath: Bubbles make me itch.
- Last time you cried: Hm... I don't know. Maybe a week.
8 Have You Evers.....
- Have you ever dated someone twice?: I prefer to think of it as "continuing education"
- Have you ever been cheated on?: Not that I know of.
- Have you ever kissed somebody and regretted it?: Uh...yeah.
- Have you ever fallen in love?: Why is this question always here? Is there anyone who says no?
- Have you ever lost someone?: Of course.
- Have you ever been depressed?: Frequently, I'm quite good at it.
- Have you ever been out of the country?: Yup.
- Have you ever been on T.V?: I don't think so.
6 Things You Have Done Today....
- Slept
- Watched Monk and Psych (haha, I typed that and looked down and it was the same answer that Jen had before.)
5 Favorite Things....
- Justin
- Maybe
- New panties
4 People You Can Tell Almost Anything....
- Justin
- My blog readers
3 Favorite Colors
- Green
- Pink
- Navy
2 Things You Want To Do Before You Die....
- Go on a Cruise
- Get really skinny
1 Thing You Regret.....
- Moving away from Canyon.
Yawn...Stretch
So, I've been sleeping really well, the new night time routine seems to agree with me, and I'm feeling much less stress in general. However, last night {this afternoon} I just could not seem to get my pillows right. I tossed and turned for 8 hours or so and then gave up. My neck is killing me, so I might have to take a nap later. {I get really tired when something hurts for very long.} However, our never ending weekends allow for such luxuries. I always start to freak out on Friday evenings because I think I have to go to work, but Ha! We're still off 'til tomorrow at midnight!
In other news, a friend sent a link to this website...why oh why would you want to make your kid look like this?? Patrick and Tiffany, if I catch you photoshopping Bronte like this, we may have to have words....bleh.
In other news, a friend sent a link to this website...why oh why would you want to make your kid look like this?? Patrick and Tiffany, if I catch you photoshopping Bronte like this, we may have to have words....bleh.
200th Post.
This is my 200th blog post!
I wish that I had something more interesting to say here... Had I known before now, I would have come better prepared.
Instead of coming home and going straight to bed after work as is my usual routine, I stayed up, and my dad came and got me and we turned around and headed back to Lubbock. We had to go to the social security office to:
A. Finally turn in the paperwork for my name change. I really was just going to mail the stuff off, but they wanted my original marriage license, and I just didn't trust them to really mail it back to me.
B. Have a meeting with a caseworker about getting Stacy, my younger sister, on social security disability.
So, we got there, and there is a security guard arguing with a very old woman about what she can and cannot use to prove her identity in order to receive a new social security card. Hers was lost or stolen or something. He spoke in this incredibly annoying, overly patient tone of voice, {something that I, personally, could never master}, and managed to say the same thing about 20 times over. It was painfully clear that she wasn't getting it, but instead of changing his wording, or just giving her a list of acceptable documents he just kept saying the same words. It was maddening. Ten minutes later she left.
Then it was our turn. My dad and Stacy had a real appointment so they typed Stacy's social security number into the computer...and it promptly informed us that her appointment had actually been yesterday. Ookaaay... We take numbers and wait to be called. My dad is super frustrated at having gotten the date wrong. He could have sworn that it was the same day as his doctor's appointment, which was later this afternoon. Oh well...We waited for about 20 minutes, and they called me. I got my paperwork done very quickly, so I officially have a new addition to my last name, without a freakin' hyphen I might add. A ccouple of minutes later my dad and Stacy were called and the girl just made them a new appointment.
Then we left and ate at Dimbas, which is a fried food restaurant. {I think it's actually "Southern Cuisine" or something, but who are they kidding?} I had a couple of chicken strips and then we came home.
After narrowly avoiding several collisions we made it home and I got to bed at almost 1:00. So, naturally, I slept until 9:45 this evening and now I feel all out of whack. Hopefully, since we're off tomorrow {tonight} I can fix my sleep schedule without too much trouble.
Ok, it's time to watch some girly TV before Justin wakes up.
Job Posting
WANTED: Best friend for 25 year old new wife.
The job description includes the following: Must be an experienced shopper, entertainer, and amateur personal therapist. Also, must drive, listen to complaints about husband without actually criticizing him, and like to eat out.
Candidate must be comfortable around cute dogs, and must be willing to use bjore nose strips so that I can examine them when they are done.
Candidate must not have strong desires to visit SeaWorld, The State Aquarium, or the fish section at PetSmart.
Pay rate: lifetime supply of friendship, occasional home made cookies, and great gifts on holidays, birthdays, and after vacations to exotic locales.
Starting date: Immediatly
Apply in person or online by commenting on this post. All applications will be considered.Wedding Pictures!
I have a new blog. It only has one post, and will only ever have one post probably, but it's all of our wedding pictures...so if you want to see them go look.So I'm Bored... Sue me.
1. Do you like chinese food?Mmh oh yes, but not Chinese Buffet's. That's gross.
2. How big is your bed?
Queen. Not big enough for me and Justin though, because I like to sleep diagonally.
3. Is your room clean?
There is Laundry EVERYWHERE.
4. Laptop or Desktop computer?
Desktop.
5. Favorite comedian?
Caroline Rhea
6. Do you smoke?
No. Cigarettes are even grosser than the Chinese Buffet.
7. Does anyone like you?
Sometimes I wonder...
8. What’s the sexiest thing about Condoleeza Rice?
Probably that among the current administration, she seems the least amount of crazy.
10. Sleep with or without clothes on?
Just panties
11. Who sleeps with you every night?
Nobody. I'm not really a share-er
12. Do long distance relationships work?
Worked for me...but only for a short time, I don't think that it would have worked long term. Thank goodness for U-Haul.
13. Pancakes or French Toast?
Mmmh French toast. With bacon...and Eggs. Ok I'm hungry.
14. Do you like coffee?
No, and I don't like anything that tastes like coffee...especially those deceptive jelly beans.
15. How do you like your eggs?
Scrambled with ketchup.
16. Do you believe in astrology?
Oh I dunno, I like the stories behind the constellations, but I guess thats Mythology and not Astrology. I'm more likely to read tarot cards.
18. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Oh...hmm It's been awhile.
19. Last person on your missed call list?
Unavailable... We're great friends. perhaps we should get together soon...
20. What was the last text message you received?
hahaha Like I'm that cool.
21. McDonalds or Burger King?
McDonalds
22. Number of pillows?
I start out with 6 and work my way down as I thrash.
23. Last thing you ate?
Cocoa Pebbles
24. Last thing you bought?
Two breakfast burritos
25. What are you hearing right now?
A documentary about samurai's on the History channel
26. Pick a lyric?
"Who put the bop in the bop sha bop du bop..."
27. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
Blackberry Jam, not Jelly...this time I accidentally bought preserves.
28. Can you play pool?
Heck Yeah, although it's a little phallic for me.
29. Do you know how to swim?
Yes, but I do not like to be wet.
30. Favorite ice cream?
Ben and Jerry's Pistachio Pistachio
31. Do you like maps?
Um...it depends. I like them as decor...I do not like them as instructions. too bossy.
32. Tell me a random fact:
I found some brand new panties on my floor today, tag still on. It was like going to Disney Land.
33. Ever had a hard on at work?
I don't think this is applicable to me, but if you ask, I'll tell you a really embarassing story about a bathroom at the Randall County Courthouse.
34. Ever attend a theme party?
Uh, I was a theatre major, what do you think?
35. Ever do a keg stand?
Nope.
36. Craziest place you've slept after a night of drinking?
I usually manage to make it back to my own bed
37. What is your favorite season?
Spring, singin in the rain and all that.
38. What is the first music video you ever saw?
To be honest, I haven't seen many and I don't remember.
39. Pick a movie quote:
Ok, wait I have two:
Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
-Casablanca
I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.
-A Streetcar Named Desire
40. A Favorite quote:
From Dogma:
What He (God) really hates is the shit that gets carried out in his name. Wars. Bigotry. Televangelism.
41. What is your favorite Thirsty Thursday hangout?
I don't know what this means.
42. Best friend's name?
Justin
43. How long have you known them?
3 years
44. Last time you laughed at something stupid?
A couple of hours ago I was having a throw down with our dog...that made me laugh, and was stupid, so there ya go.
45. What time did you wake up this morning?
I woke up at 5 o'clock this afternoon. We're on a night schedule.
46. Wake up next to anyone?
Nope.
47. Best thing about winter?
Not having to run the air conditioner
48. Name a couple of favorite colors:
Green, Pink, Chocolate
49. How old are you?
25
50. What month is your birthday in?
May
51. Do you think pirates are cool or overrated?
Yay pirates! especially the ones that look like Johnny Depp
52. Favorite Dave Matthews Band song (if you have one?)
Crash, I think this is the only Dave Matthews Band song that most people can name off the top of their heads. How unfortunate.
53. What are you doing this weekend?
I have no idea. So far, this. And TV
54. Who will take this survey?
Oh...probably Jennifer
And the fun just goes on and on!
Layers....
LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Susanlee Bell Brinkley
--Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas
-- Current Location: Levelland, Texas
LAYER TWO:
-- Eye Color: green
-- Hair Color: Dark brown, with a streak of gray, until I get paid.
-- Height: 5'6"
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty
-- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
-- Your Heritage: Irish/Dutch
-- The Shoes Worn Today: Black Old Navy Flip Flops
-- Your Weakness: Expensive Cheese
-- Your Fears: Sharks, Fish, Water...Most things wet, actually. And I'm terrified of rolling my ankle.
-- Your Perfect Pizza? Thin crust, easy sauce, hamburger, black olives, green olives, bell peppers
-- Goal You'd Like to Achieve: To figure out the goal that I want to achieve.
LAYER THREE:
-- Your Thoughts First Waking Up: why is it so freaking hot??
-- Your Bedtime: 9:30 AM
-- Your Most Missed Memory: I miss having friends. We can't really miss memories unless we lose our memory...and then we wouldn't really remember it. This is a hard question.
LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: diet pepsi
-- McDonald's or Burger King: De Ja Vu
-- Single or Group Dates: Single, as there are no friends...
-- Adidas or Nike: um... sandals.
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: None of the Above.
-- Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla
-- Cappuccino or Coffee: Chai
LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: still no. Who wrote this thing? Phillip Morris?
-- Cuss: sort of, I really only use the F word.
-- Sing: yeah, but not in front of people anymore.
-- Shower Everyday: We only have this horrible bathtub
-- Have a Crush: married him.
-- Want to go to College? I'll probably do some more of that soon.
-- Like(d) High School: Yup.
-- Want to get Married: got it.
-- Believe in Yourself: Well, I do believe that I exist, I don't know how much that's worth though.
-- Get Motion Sickness: sometimes
-- Think You're Attractive: nah.
-- Think You're a Health Freak: I wish
-- Get Along with Your Parent(s): generally
-- Like Thunderstorms: I like thunder and clouds. I do not like rain.
-- Play an Instrument: I used to be able to play the harp, and the clarinet but I don't think I could do it now.
LAYER SIX:
in the past month...
-- Drank Alcohol:We played drunk scrabble a couple of weeks ago
-- Smoked: Yeah, I actually just started about 15 seconds ago. This was a persuasive meme...bleh.
-- Done a Drug: Birth control...is that a drug you "do"?
-- Had Sex: perhaps...
-- Made Out: yes
-- Gone on a Date: yes
-- Gone to the Mall: no, and I can't believe that's true. I used to go like every other day.
-- Eaten an Entire Box of Oreos: no
-- Been on Stage: I wish.
-- Been Dumped: No, thank god.
-- Gone Skating: That is an ankle rolling hazard!!
-- Made Homemade Cookies: yesterday. and they were yummmo
-- Gone Skinnydipping: what is it with you people and water??
-- Dyed Your Hair: um...it's probably been 2 months
-- Stolen Anything: Not recently
LAYER SEVEN:
Have you ever...
-- Played a Game that Required Removal of Clothing: of course I have, what is college for?
-- If so, was it Mixed Company: hello?? why would I play strip poker without someone i wanted to grope?
-- Been Trashed or Extremely Intoxicated: Not often
-- Been Caught "Doing Something": This could mean a lot of things. I'll say yes.
-- Been Called a Tease: No, I'm the other kind of girl.
LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age You Hope to be Married: I wanted to get married at 24, and missed it by exactly 2 weeks.
-- Numbers and Names of Children: zero
-- Describe Your Dream Wedding: Paid for.
-- What do youWant to be When You Grow Up: Right now, I'm leaning toward OR Tech...back to school again.
-- What Country Would You Most Like to Visit: I really want to go to Russia
LAYER NINE:
in a girl: (Whoever wrote this was obviously trying to find out something about her crush...high school girl maybe?)
-- Best Eye Color? brown
-- Best Hair Color? Some kind of dark
-- Short or Long hair: medium
-- Height: short
-- Best Articles of Clothing: Shiny
-- Best First Date Location: Indian food on the night the belly dancers are there
-- Best First Kiss Location: forehead.
LAYER TEN:
-- # Of Drugs Taken Illegally: Maybe 1, once.
-- # Of People I Could Trust With My Life: 2
-- # Of CDs That I Own: I have like 30...I know, this is a small number in todays music obsessed age.
-- # Of Piercings: down to 2
-- # Of Tattoos: also 2, I like things to be even
-- # Of Scars on my Body: I dunno, probably 5
LAYER ELEVEN
Last Person Who...
-- Slept in Your Bed? Me. Oh, did you mean someone else? Justin took a nap there last night.
-- Saw You Cry? Justin
-- Made You Cry? see above.
-- Spent the Night at Your House? Besides the people that live here all the time? Dustin.
-- You Shared a Drink With? Again, I'm not a share-er
-- You Went to the Movies With? Justin
-- You Went to the Mall With? Justin
-- Yelled at You? Justin. Developing a pattern here...
-- Sent You an Email? Tiffany
LAYER TWELVE
Have You Ever...
-- Said "I love you"? Yes.
-- Been to New York? Yes, I love New York. They should put that on a T-shirt.
-- Been to Georgia? I try to avoid the deep south.
-- California? I love San Francisco too...that doesn't make as good a t-shirt though.
-- Hawaii? No, and I really really want to go, all of a sudden
-- China? No
-- Canada? Yes. It was cold.
-- Danced Naked? Not in front of people!
-- Dreamed something really crazy and then happened the next day? Not the next day, but sometimes a few days later. This might be de ja vu, where your brain just tricks you though
-- Stalked Someone? I'm way too lazy for that sort of thing
LAYER THIRTEEN
Pick One...
-- Apples or Bananas? Apples
-- Red or Blue? Blue
-- Walmart or Kmart? Target
-- Math or English? English.
-- Radio or CD? radio--Too lazy to deal with cd's
-- Drawing or Painting? painting
-- High school or College? I actually liked both.
Survivors
Justin and I survived our first night shift. To be honest, it was actually not bad at all until about 6am and we started getting really tired. We were mostly really really slow...how many people really make phone calls between midnight and 8 30 am? Not many...but more than you'd expect. The weirdest one was when someone placed a call at 3am (their time) and said "good morning" to the very angry person that answered the phone... Social skills anyone?? Anyway, we got home about 9 15 and went straight to bed. I woke up at 2, which is only about 5 hours of sleep, but I'm going to try and take a nap around 7 or 8 ish...I just couldn't keep sleeping with the thousands of dirty dishes in the kitchen, so I got up and washed them...now I feel accomplished!
So that's the update
So that's the update
Circadian Rhythms, and Recipes
So we are officially switching over to our new shifts tonight, which means we'll be going to work at midnight...It's kind of disturbing because we haven't really had a day off this week because of the change. We went to work early yesterday morning, and have today, (which counts as a day off since midnight is technically Monday, but really, who do they think they're kidding?) Then we go to work at midnight. The thing is, since we worked early yesterday, I was tired and falling asleep by 1:00 am so now, at 9:37 this morning, I'm wide awake. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the night at this rate. I'm hoping to nap frequently today and maybe that'll keep me fueled...cross your fingers.
In other news, I have a great, super easy new recipe (It can easily be converted into vegitarian, Tiff.) So I'll put it here because I can finally cook something yummy and I want to share....
In other news, I have a great, super easy new recipe (It can easily be converted into vegitarian, Tiff.) So I'll put it here because I can finally cook something yummy and I want to share....
Rice Dressing:
3 Cups Minute Rice
1 Box, or 2 Cans Chicken Broth
2 Small Bell Peppers (any color, but I use a Red and a Green because it's pretty)
One medium/small yellow onion
1 Can Mushroom Stems and Pieces
1 Large Can Chicken Breast (Optional)
2-3 Cups of Velveeta Cheese, cut into squares
(or, 1 medium French Onion dip, if you avoid cheese, changes the taste, but its still creamy and yummy)
2 bags sliced Almonds
2 Cups, Grated Cheddar Cheese (Optional)
--------------------------------------------------------
Make the minute rice in the microwave, using the chicken broth instead of water. If it's not enough chicken broth to cover the rice, you can add a little water. It should microwave for about 4 minutes, 30 seconds depending on the microwave
While the rice is cooking, chop the onion and bell peppers, Sautee in a pan (we used Olive Oil but anything works) Until they start to carmelize and turn brown at the edges
Add the Can of Chicken (Optional) and the Can of Mushrooms (drained) and lower heat. (break up the chicken into smaller pieces, so its the consistency of Tuna)
Add The Velveeta to the rice, and microwave again until melted. (if you are using french onion dip, just stir it in, no need to microwave)
Toast the almonds, you can do this by pouring them out onto a plate and popping them in the microwave for 1 minute. (It keeps them from getting chewy in the casserole so this step is importatnt)
Stir all Rice, Vegitable mixture and Almonds together. (if you start out with the rice in a big enough bowl, you won't have as many dishes, and can just mix it in that one)
Pour everything into a 9 x 13 baking dish, glass or metal, doesn't matter, but DO NOT GREASE
Top with 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese (Optional, but good)
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, until the Cheese melts and it's a uniform temperature.
Eat.
(Note: this can be frozen, and does taste better the second day, so it's ideal for luncheons or events that you make food for a night ahead, it microwaves well. I always make a double batch and we take some for lunch at work)
If you make it let me know how you like it...
===================================================
3 Cups Minute Rice
1 Box, or 2 Cans Chicken Broth
2 Small Bell Peppers (any color, but I use a Red and a Green because it's pretty)
One medium/small yellow onion
1 Can Mushroom Stems and Pieces
1 Large Can Chicken Breast (Optional)
2-3 Cups of Velveeta Cheese, cut into squares
(or, 1 medium French Onion dip, if you avoid cheese, changes the taste, but its still creamy and yummy)
2 bags sliced Almonds
2 Cups, Grated Cheddar Cheese (Optional)
--------------------------------------------------------
Make the minute rice in the microwave, using the chicken broth instead of water. If it's not enough chicken broth to cover the rice, you can add a little water. It should microwave for about 4 minutes, 30 seconds depending on the microwave
While the rice is cooking, chop the onion and bell peppers, Sautee in a pan (we used Olive Oil but anything works) Until they start to carmelize and turn brown at the edges
Add the Can of Chicken (Optional) and the Can of Mushrooms (drained) and lower heat. (break up the chicken into smaller pieces, so its the consistency of Tuna)
Add The Velveeta to the rice, and microwave again until melted. (if you are using french onion dip, just stir it in, no need to microwave)
Toast the almonds, you can do this by pouring them out onto a plate and popping them in the microwave for 1 minute. (It keeps them from getting chewy in the casserole so this step is importatnt)
Stir all Rice, Vegitable mixture and Almonds together. (if you start out with the rice in a big enough bowl, you won't have as many dishes, and can just mix it in that one)
Pour everything into a 9 x 13 baking dish, glass or metal, doesn't matter, but DO NOT GREASE
Top with 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese (Optional, but good)
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, until the Cheese melts and it's a uniform temperature.
Eat.
(Note: this can be frozen, and does taste better the second day, so it's ideal for luncheons or events that you make food for a night ahead, it microwaves well. I always make a double batch and we take some for lunch at work)
If you make it let me know how you like it...
===================================================
P.S. and completely off the subject, Justin posted more pictures of the baby to his blog.
Introducing Nikaia Drew Lang
This is our new niece on her very first day in this world!! (And Justin's mom's hand...) Isn't she a pretty little thing? (Nikaia, not the hand.)
{Editor's note, if you pay much attention to this, you will see that the spelling of Nikaia's name has changed from Nikea, to Nikaia. We were just informed of this yesterday. They changed it from the English spelling, to the greek spelling, which means "she who brings victory." Pretty cool.}
It's a Girl!
We have a new niece. Justin's sister had her baby on Tuesday. I've been waiting to post about it until I had a picture to post, but we don't have one yet, and it's just been too long. So when I get one, I'll post it...
Her name is Nikaia Drue Lang. She is 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 18 inches long...so a petite little thing. Hopefully we'll be making a trip to Amarillo to see her, maybe next weekend...
Her name is Nikaia Drue Lang. She is 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 18 inches long...so a petite little thing. Hopefully we'll be making a trip to Amarillo to see her, maybe next weekend...
Brown Dress
Alex Martin made a little brown dress on July 7th 2005 and wore it every day for a year. (It officially came off on Friday.) She threw snowballs in it (wearing additional clothing layers in cold weather for health & safety), gardend in it, rehearsed in it, traveled in it, danced in it (shes a dancer), cooked in it, pruned her pear trees in it, reclined in it, sang her baby to sleep in it. All in a little brown dress... a one person protest against fashion.
Now, we all know this isn't my personal idea of fun, and I think there are much more important things to protest, but it's totally worth checking out...
Now, we all know this isn't my personal idea of fun, and I think there are much more important things to protest, but it's totally worth checking out...
High Hopes, Low Outcome
So, for my entire childhood, my favorite holiday was a local shindig called "Early Settlers Day." For me, it trumped Christmas, my birthday and the 4th of July all rolled into one. There was a parade {where I got to ride on the firetruck}, lots of stuff to do, and tons of booths to shop at {yes, even as a child, I had the need to spend}. And great food {honestly, can anyone resist fried and/or sugar coated?} I had not been to an ESD celebration for about 7 years, since I moved after high school and was very much looking forward to this years festivities. In fact, I've been counting the days since we moved here in August {last August}.This morning I leapt out of bed at the crack of dawn {9:30} all abuzz with visions of funnel cakes dancing in my head. I had in fact, had difficult sleeping last night because I was so excited, and I had happy dreams of parades all night long. I proceeded to make myself beautiful {by shaving my legs}, pick the perfect "summer festival" outfit {short skirt, tank top, flip flops}, and get Justin out of bed. Then it was off to the parade!! {The parade route actually goes right down the street at the end of our block hurray!}
Unfortunately, I had misunderstood the time that the parade was going to start, so by the time we walked the 10 yards to the end of the block, we had already missed the cheerleaders and the band {very disappointing, except for the firetrucks, those are the best parts}. But I still had hope that it would be okay because after all, there was still the Shriners in their tiny little cars, and the Sheriffs Posse {do they really still use the word "posse"?} on their big 'ol horses and best of all the firetrucks!!
Alas...it was still rather disappointing. Perhaps it was because I'm no longer 7 years old...or perhaps it was because Justin was grumpy, or perhaps it was simply that I'd built it up so much in my mind that of course it could never live up to the hype...but the parade sucked. {My younger brother did however look quite handsome in his new fire department uniform.}
I managed to get over the crushing disappointment of the parade, after all there was still all the glorious stuff on the square to think about. We gatherd our things {I switched from the skirt to some capris, due to a fat thigh problem} and headed off to the square with Maybe. Ok...so it seemed a little...dingy, and a little less glorious than I had imagined but that's ok right...?
Um...not so much. Most of the booths had turned into food vendors {hey, I love a corn dog as much as the next person, but is it worth waiting for half an hour?? I can pop one in the oven quicker than that!} There was nothing to do {hello? what happened to "event vendors" I want to throw a frikkin baseball and sink a clown!!} and the booths that sold stuff...well that was just crap. Lots of those weird vinyl balloons and gaudy costume jewelry {don't get me wrong, I do love the bling...just not when its a big purple crystal cross}.
So yeah...we did have an okay time...and we did get corndogs {Maybe got her very own hot dog, and I think I spied her eating a piece of funnel cake it was really here big day}, and we did find some stuff to buy {please, I can always find something to buy} I got a yummy wreath for the front door made of oranges, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks, and Justin got a cool hammered bronze bowl thing from the same vendor...but then we came home. It just wasn't worth standing around in the heat, and frankly, we had seen all there was to see...I did confirm that in fact, ESD used to be better. It wasn't just my imagination...and the only thing I can say is...what has happened to the small town American festival??
We are however going to attend South Plains College's summer musical tomorrow afternoon. I participated in said production for several years before I got out of here, and I'm sure that it will live up to expectations...it is the same director after all. {However, it is The Music Man, so there is some room for doubt...}
Anyway, in tribute to the Early Settlers Days of the past, I'm posting an old newspaper clipping {see above} of my dad pulling me in a wagon in the parade, Reading the date, I was 15 months old {it was a couple years before the trusted me not to fall off the firetruck}. We are dressed as clowns. I'm the small one.
{Editor's Note: We are going to give this festival thing another try...I think Canyon has something similar in October. Can one of my loyal Canyonite readers please find out when it is?}
Independence
Happy 4th of July...we will be working all day, however it is at 2.5 pay so that's a total bonus.
Kind of sad that we'll get home too late to see any fireworks though. We had a really good day yesterday...It was payday so we ate at Weinerschnitzel and went to spend our Bed Bath & Beyond giftcards on yummy candles and a new bathroom trashcan. I got 4 new pairs of flip flops at Old Navy, which are my favorite things. Justin got some new clothes, I got a new shirt and we ordered pizza for dinner... all the processed fatty food made me kind of sick since we've been cooking and eating pretty organically but it was sooo worth it...so anyway, everybody have a happy 4th, blow something up for me!
Kind of sad that we'll get home too late to see any fireworks though. We had a really good day yesterday...It was payday so we ate at Weinerschnitzel and went to spend our Bed Bath & Beyond giftcards on yummy candles and a new bathroom trashcan. I got 4 new pairs of flip flops at Old Navy, which are my favorite things. Justin got some new clothes, I got a new shirt and we ordered pizza for dinner... all the processed fatty food made me kind of sick since we've been cooking and eating pretty organically but it was sooo worth it...so anyway, everybody have a happy 4th, blow something up for me!
Never.
Never, ever, eat a whole seedless watermelon and nothing else for dinner. 'Nuff said.
Monday is payday again, time is just flyin' by!! We're working all day the 4th of July, but it's never been a big holiday for me anyway, and its 2.5 times our normal pay sooo we can be off on Saturday for Levelland's big Early Settlers Day celebration.
Damn Fortune Cookie
On March 18th Justin and I ate at a Chinese restaurant, and when we opened our fortune cookies, we were astonished to see actual fortunes, instead of the crap that says "you are well liked" or whatever. This one said "remember 3 months from this date, good things will be coming to you on that day." So, being the mildy superstitous girl that I am, I immediately put it in my day planner on today's date, June 18th. The three month anniversary of the fortune cookie. Well guess what? Not one good thing has happened today. It's just been a normal, boring day. We had dinner with my family, which was fine, but not special, and I don't particularly think it was great because my step mother was snarky from the moment we arrived. Justin and I bought some scratch off lottery tickets figuring, well, maybe we have to be proactive in reaching the good thing...but they were all losers, and now my hands smell like copper from counting pennies to purchase the tickets. *sigh* So now, instead of just being glad that Justin and I got through a day without a fight or any kind of drama, I'm disappointed because nothing fantastic has happened. Damn cookie.
Too Damn Bored.
I am so freakin' bored. I hate that our paydays are at the beginning of our work weeks (Tuesdays) because it means that on our weekends (Sunday-Monday) we don't have any money so we can't really do anything, and the rest of the week, we spend basically all of our time either at work or driving to work or getting ready for work. I'm tired of watching TV, and reading, and searching the internet for drivel. I'm tired of cleaning the house and hanging out with my family I just want to do something. It's too hot to hang out outside, (something like 104 degrees). At night, when it finally cools off the killer mosquitoes come out and drive us back into the house. This is maddening. AuGGGH!!
Popcorn!
Our one month anniversary is on payday hurray!! We're going to go on a date. Justin and I in the beginning of our relationship, never had dates...at the very first, he just came to my house, later on, I visited him in Denton and we mostly just sort of hung out. Then I moved there, and there were a few dates, but not really, it was always just like going out to dinner because we didn't want to cook. Only a few times was there any sort of dressing up or actual plan...so, we're going on a date. We're going to go to dinner at the Indian food restaurant that we like and see a movie, probably the Break Up. We haven't been to a movie in MONTHS. This is going to be very fun!
Teeth
I am under some serious stress. I only know this because I can't stop grinding my teeth in my sleep, and I wake up with a huge headache, and my jaws feel like they're going to fall off. This is bad. I don't know what to do to stop this...
Productive
I was very productive today, I got up and walked maybe all the way to the courthouse and around the square, visited my dad at work for awhile, came home, cleaned the kitchen and living room and woke Justin up. It was very hot and I wanted a shower really really badly, but since we live in this 100 year old house and only have a bathtub, I put on my swimsuit and let Justin shower me
outside with the watering hose. I washed my hair and everything, it was soooo fun!! Like running through the sprinkler or something.
Then we went and ate pizza and bought lots of great groceries, because we are trying desperately to learn to cook. We've just been kind of sitting around since then but it's been a really good day! Now we're gonna watch a movie and eat lots of the gourmet junk food we bought at Target last night with a wedding gift card hurray!
outside with the watering hose. I washed my hair and everything, it was soooo fun!! Like running through the sprinkler or something.Then we went and ate pizza and bought lots of great groceries, because we are trying desperately to learn to cook. We've just been kind of sitting around since then but it's been a really good day! Now we're gonna watch a movie and eat lots of the gourmet junk food we bought at Target last night with a wedding gift card hurray!
Yumm-O!
Yes! We finally found a really good Indian food restaurant in Lubbock! Today was payday so we treated ourselves to a lovely dinner at Maharaja. Not too spicy, {they actually grind the spices individually for every dish according to how spicy you like it} very pretty and fairly reasonably priced. And we found out that on Friday and Saturday nights they have live belly dancers {as opposed to the ones that just kind of lay there}. Woo Hoo! We're taking my dad on Friday, he needs to expand his dining horizons, and who can resist belly dancers?Letting Go.
For the first time since high school, I forgot the birthday of my best friend from those good ol' days. It was yesterday...the thought didn't even cross my mind until somone mentioned it today. I know that it's rather pathetic, but I've been struggling with the loss of this friend on and off for years (6 years to be exact.) I feel that it's because during that time, I've not made any other friends (with the exception of Justin, of course) who I feel as close to as I did to this person.... Or perhaps it's fear of becomming so close to someone, only to lose them again that prevents me from seeking out this kind of friendship to begin with...Anyway, I think this birthday forgetting is a very good sign of much needed closure, but it still makes me kind of sad.
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