Sunday, May 31, 2009

water+flour+(a little dedication)=beautiful bread

This post may end up falling into the category of "Deep Thoughts Rarely Are"but bare with me, I have to get this out of my head so I can stop thinking about it and get on to the next thing today.


Yesterday, Chef Tess, and I were having  a little Facebook exchange.  I had set my status to "Instant Gratification has got to be the world's BEST motivator".  She replied "except for a really good tart Sourdough, that's worth waiting for."  And it is.  I LOVE a good tart sourdough.  I used to  make sourdough at home from a wonderful starter which had instructions on how to sweeten it if it should become too sour.  In over two years time it never got too sour for me. So I got to thinking about the beauty of waiting on something like  a good tart sourdough, versus instant gratification.  I decided that the the two experiences are not mutually exclusive. 

I don't know if you've ever made sourdough, but if you have, you know that your "starter" is nothing more than flour + water, left to ferment.  It has to ferment for a couple of weeks before its strong enough to produce a loaf of bread.  Used too soon, one would have to borrow the leavening power of yeast, or end up with a flat, ugly, tasteless bread, a rather "Poor" excuse.  (I'll explain in a moment why I put poor in quotations).  Sometimes, people will add a slice of cabbage, or some mashed grapes to the sour to make it ferment faster.  I've always thought that sounded like an ugly way to make something become beautiful.  I'm willing to wait and keep my starter "clean".

When I wrote about instant gratification being an excellent motivator, I had been referring to the rather quick success JP and I are having using the Total Money Makeover.  Because of circumstances involving some choices we've made, we are enjoying having saved our Emergency Fund, and paying off our first debt in just 21 days from the time we checked the book out at our local library. ( you too can do this without ever spending anything extra this is not any kind of sales pitch, "secret program", or otherwise scammy idea.  It is pure and simple exactly what you've always known.  Its just that its put into a step by step process so you can actually DO the things you've always known and have success making your money work for you instaed of against you.)  So, I was thinking money.  I was thinking how motivated I am to continue with this program having such quick and substantial success.  And then Tess brought DOUGH into the equation and you know...money=dough.  We all get that right?

So I continue considering waiting on this sourdough and I realize, yes, that sourdough starter must be waited on, and the loaf itself when you finally get to bake it has to raise forever, but its so delicious.  And I realize, whenever I have started a new sour-starter, it has ALWAYS begun to ferment by the next morning.  Two simple ingredients, water + flour, mix together to become something different, something that will bring flavor and loft to a greater mass of water, flour, and this time salt.  And we can begin to see this process within 24 hours of the time I begin, and that gives me motivation to continue.
And so I begin to realize that if we let water be our discipline, and flour be our money, the two mixed together immediately begin to create something bigger than they started out as.  They begin to work together to become something that eventually will bring flavor and loft to (I'm going to borrow a phrase from Tess here) "the Bread of Life" (go read her bread of life section she posts every Sunday to her food blog. Its often quite inspiring.)  But the key is not being in a hurry.  Yes, a little instant gratification, a small amount of fermentation overnight, can give you hope to keep doing what you set out to do.  But it must be tended for some time before its ready to use. A daily stir, a daily feed, are required.  Left ignored it will turn ugly and smelly.  Tended daily it will become beautiful and fragrant.  Used too quickly it will be flavorless and flat.  Used in combination with yeast (can yeast be consumer debt?) It will look the same as real sourdough on the outside, but once its opened up, the difference will be clear, and the taste only an imitation of the real thing, a bitter dissappointment. (This is why I put poor in quotes up above, consumer debt makes you poor, -oh how I know-, while making it look on the outside like everything's ok.-Can you say "No Bishop, we are fine.  We have everything we need.  The baby has diapers, we have milk, we're fine."  Nevermind we bought it on credit because we were too proud to say we don't have any money for diapers or milk this month.--Just so we're clear, living within your means does not mean living just under your credit limit, it means living with what you have cash for.  Hard lesson learned.)

Sorry, that segue got a little long, back to my original thought.

The real thing is SO worth waiting for.  But those tiny little bubbles you see the next day, right after you start combining your hard work and effort with that flour and water, those are what keep you waiting because they let you see that your method is working.  They give you hope and confidence that what you're doing will actually become something beautiful.  I don't think this applies only to finances, didn't grandma tell you ANYTHING worth having is worth waiting for?  Yeah, she did.  And for me, its having financial peace of mind.  Its worth the wait, but I'm awfully excited about the small amount of bubbling we're already seeing after applying just a small amount of well balanced discipline.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

BANNED FROM WAL-MART

This is why women should not take men shopping against their will.

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and referred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, my wife is like most women - she loved to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart:

Dear Mrs. Chapman,

Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Chapman are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.
June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.
July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away.'
August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway.
August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring
pillows and blankets from the bedding department.
August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just
leave me alone?'
September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.
October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.
October 9: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
October 14: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO!
IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least!

15. October 16: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!'

Aspiring Sucker

Dear Lisa,

We would like to offer you a job on your computer.

Job Description:
We send you the texts with important information for our employees
and you need to correct the texts as an
English-speaking person and then send back the revised text.

Salary:
Please note that we don't have a fixed salary for this vacancy.
We will pay you $8.00 for every 1Kb of the corrected text.
The salary is paid at the END of month.
Every month your salary will vary depending on your activity.

Example: In case you correct about 5Kb of text a day, you will get
over $850.00 at the end of the month.

Requirements:

  • Location: U.S.A.
  • Age: 22+
  • Ability to work at home
  • Computer skills (MS Word), personal e-mail address
  • Responsibility

If you are interested in this vacancy, please, send the information mentioned below to the following address: fairlove.hrmanager.sallins@gmail.com
__________
FULL NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE:
Phone number (home or cell, it is desirable that it should be available any day time):
E-MAIL:
AGE:
OCCUPATION:
EDUCATION:
AVAILABLE TIME TO WORK WITH US:
----------

As soon as we receive your application, we will investigate it and
contact you with more information within 24 hours.


Please, do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Looking forwrd to your application.

Best regards,

FairLove Delivery Service
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Dear Mr. Stephen Pratt @ FairLove Delivery Service. or is it BudgetLoans? I had difficulty keeping it straight since your e-mail was faked to be BudgetLoans @ AOL and your sign off was FairLove Delivery Service. I look forward to your application for the job of chief laundress at the local prison when your "WORK @ Home from your computer" (phishing?) scam is exposed. If per chance this is NOT a scam, and you really do need text corrected and adapted to proper English, why do you not request a sample of my writing as part of my application? AND, I noticed that you have requested everything you'll need to steal my identity, EXCEPT my SSN...which, I know you'll be needing just as soon as you employ me (by computer!) so that you can properly report my tax situation. I find it both entertaining, and suspicious that you would like everything you can get out of me for my application, but you do not provide and address, contact number, company history (oh wait, I should NOT be giving this guy any ideas on how to make his scam more believable, should I?) Dear Dear Mr. Pratt, I have google, and I use it. And when a job offer magically appears in my inbox, I instantly open a second window and google everything I can think of about the job. So far, 100% of the job offers have turned out to be either Insurance Sales, or Scams. Yours actually is the first one that didn't turn up ANYTHING on Google, which sent me running to the hills far, far, far away from your little phishing hole.

On a serious note DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT post your resume CareerBuilder.com unless you enjoy being scammed, phished, telemarketed too, or really REALLY want to sell Insurance. It would seem that portions of the job market are alive and well, and they're the ones you'd rather die. (except the Insurance Sales, many of those have been with legit companies, I'm just not interested)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Sad Conclusions

Almond M&M's are not health food.


A tu-tu doesn't make everybody look like a dancer

I'm not always right

Deep thoughts rarely are

Sometimes a handshake is not enough

People lie

Anybody offering an "amazing opportunity" is probably one of those people above

Parts is Parts, and even 100% beef weiners are still made from "Parts"

Its impossible to say "Yippe-yay-yeah" without following it up with "Mini Sirloin Burgers"

Babies grow up

The ad for quick slim is true...all a guy has to do to drop 20 lbs is give up soda

Doing what you've always done will get you what you've always gotten

"Golden Gaytime" isn't really an appropriate name for cream-filled ice-cream treats covered in nuts.

Some chocolate is just not worth eating

A green label with a pretty flower does not an earth friendly cleaner make

The prettiest item in the store will always be the most expensive 

1+1 will eventually end up equalling 3 or more

What is real is apparently open for interpretation

Reality TV isn't REAL

By the time you're old enough to know something is stupid, the one's still doing it think you're too old to know what's cool

The saying includes "Old Age" and "Treachery" in the same phrase for a reason

A solved mystery is often a big let-down

I'm no Einstein


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

So Easy a Cave Mom Can Do It


Freezer Pickles! Hooray!

Icy Cold-Still Slushy-Freezer Pickles are the best "Its too hot to eat" food I can think of. 
Follow this easy recipe to be COOLER than a Cucumber.

(I'm serious, this is the easiest home production recipe ever.  Even those of you that don't cook can do this.  For real. )

To the side you will see that you need Cucumbers (regular old cucumbers, the kind you put on salad, NOT pickling cucumbers!), an Onion, and a food processor.  Don't have a food processor?  Get our your knife sister.  The food processor means you're done making pickles in about 5 minutes time, instead of 40 minutes time, but this shouldn't stop you.  Who ever heard of putting up pickles in less than an hour to start with? Huh?  No excuses.

What's not pictured is the vinegar and sugar.  I did picture the celery seed.  Don't skip the celery seed, its not the same without it.


Get your cucumbers and onion sliced up. Put them in a VERY LARGE bowl. Weren't they kind to look pretty for me all by themselves? This is how they dumped out of the food processor, no joke, no high-tech food arranging done here, they just naturally wanted to look pretty so you would say "ooh, I MUST try those!".

Mix vinegar and sugar, 2 parts sugar to one part vinegar. (for this big batch I used 4 cups sugar, 2 cups vinegar) add salt and celery seed to taste (for this batch I used 2 t kosher salt, and 1 t celery seed). Combine, and toss with your cucumbers and onions. Let marinate over night.

Portion into plastic bags, seal tightly. Place in freezer, let freeze for two weeks. (I'll admit to taking them out before two weeks is up and they taste delicious!)
When ready to eat, take bag out of freezer, let thaw, enjoy!


I personally think they are best when the liquid is still a little slushy. Perfect for those 100+ degree summer days.

Enjoy!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Hopelessly (Un)romantic

I may be the worlds most unromantic woman. Flowers? Love them! (Do not interpret this to mean I don't enjoy flowers) But I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do with them. Am I supposed to put them near a sitting chair and gaze longingly at them whilst considering the object of my affection? Am I to do little else but consider their beauty until they die? Do I put them on the dining table only to be removed each night with little more thought than if it were a crumpled peice of homework? Should they be in the bedroom giving off their sweet scent so I can walk in and say "ahhhh" at the end of the day?

What about a romantic dinner for two? What are you supposed to talk about? Maybe talking is not the point? But if you're going to go to the effort of getting dressed up, hiring a babysitter, and paying somebody to fill your glass, why aren't you talking? We can sit silently next to each other for free, in our PJs!

Weekend getaway. I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to use those kinds of times to discuss family finances, discipline problems, or mental health...I think I have it pretty well covered what NOT to do...but after you get to stay up late, sleep in later, and enjoy room service...what do you do with the rest of the day? I think you're "supposed" to go on an artwalk, or visit a gallery or a botanical garden. Maybe you're supposed to shop for diamonds, or get a massage...that's what all the magazines show happy relaxed people doing. But I'm not sure that's how I would want to spend my time off.

Seems like a waste of time, in a way. And now my lightbulb just went off!!! I know what the problem is! Its not about being unromantic, its about feeling guilty, and feeling guilty is LAME. If the flowers aren't in the right spot, I will feel guilty that my husband may think I don't appreciate them. If the evening out isn't packed with interesting conversation, I will feel guilty if my husband thinks I didn't appreciate his efforts at something nicer than a drive-thru. If we did get a weekend away I would feel guilty that my time off wasn't being used to clean the house, play with the kids, or prepare a month's worth of freezer meals. (like I would even be doing that if I were home!lol)

WOW I didn't know this was where this was going when I started writing this, but I'm so glad I got here. Ok, JP, if you're reading this, you have my permission to try to bring out the romantic in me! (But don't feel pressured into doing it, because I'll probably feel guilty that you felt like you had to do these things now after reading this) Look at that! I created a no win situation with just a few strokes of a keyboard. I'm an outstanding spouse that way.

P.S. JP already knows the real way to my heart is to take me into real or percieved wilderness for a day. A Diet Pepsi, a snickers bar, and a nice little hike do my heart good. (my romantic heart, obviously my real heart would fare better minus the pepsi and the snickers bar)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Putting my feelers out

I've been back in the work force for a year now, and its feeling like its time to move towards a more career oriented situation than I am in now.  I have the skills, I have the desire, I have the motivation.  Its time.  


I interviewed for a job with a mortgage company as an assistant processor.  I think I would be nuts to not take the job should it be offered too me.  I want this job.  The job market is tight and there are many other applicants, so not only do I need to figure out how to make myself more memorable (in a good way!) but I also need to have my feelers out for other possible opportunities.

I posted my resume online...I completely forgot that in doing so I would get a barrage of spam and a never ending string of e-mails from people offering me "amazing opportunities."  I wonder, if the opportunity is so amazing, why aren't the positions filled?  Many job that are open right now are getting hundreds if not thousands of applications, and yet these amazing opportunities can't seem to get an applicant.  hmmmm.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Am I the only person on the planet that cannot even begin to comprehend what the purpose of a vibrating mascara wand is?  WHY would I stick a vibrating point with a spikey brush on the end anywhere NEAR my EYE~! I am completely confused and just don't get it.  And where do they stock this exactly?  Next to the fingertip massagers? 

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Polly Wolly Doodle

Polly Wolly Doodle was the song.  Angela was the girl dressed in a gold lame skirt, cowboy vest and hat, and tap shoes.  Gabriel was the boy who found himself smitten by this dark haired angel of a girl who lives up the street.  


On a related note...older teenagers who eat their weight in cheetos and pepsi everyday may want to consider whether prancing around stage in butt-less chapps over their leotards stretched so tight they're see through is really their calling in life.--or perhaps we should blame the costume designer.  Its really not the fancy-prancy teenagers fault they put her in buttless chaps as a costume.  (This really begs the question, what kind of dance recital WAS this!? doesn't it?)

Friday, May 15, 2009

Butthead

That is not a name I like to hear being tossed around my home, but today, I'm tossing it at myself.  It has been brought to my attention that I did indeed recieve a hand-drawn mother's day card from Gabriel, my 6 year old.  He handed it to me at the end of the three hour block at church on Sunday.  In my hasted to get out of there, I stuffed it in my purse never giving it another thought until I had a mjor information emergency on Tuesday and pulled it out to write down phone numbers, contact names, addresses, websites etc all over the back.


I'm a Butthead.

also, last evening, UPS arrived at the door bearing a handmade apron, and some nice bath items from my big-girls...yep, I'm a butthead! ---but I wasn't mad at them to start with.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

How's this for honesty?

I dont' think there is any way to convey strongly enough how badly I want to be that woman who is so satisfied with her life, so joyful in her relationships, so confident in her abilities, that Mother's Day could come and go without acknowledgement, and it would have zero impact on my feelings about myself or my family.

But I can't find that woman inside of me. She is just not there. I tried, I tried so hard to not care that the day passed without acknowledgement from my husband or children. I really, REALLY tried. But it got to me, and the more it got to me, the more angry I became with myself for letting it get to me. The more angry I felt, the less kind I was. Patience? Have none. Jealousy? Plenty. And all I can do is beat myself up for not being able to be that woman who can go through life not needing the reassurance that she's appreciated. But the more I beat myself up over it, the worse my behavior is, and the more my family is convinced that I don't deserve appreciation, what's left to appreciate when mom's not patient, kind, or loving? And to think, all I wanted was to be told "Thank you Mom, we know you work hard." Maybe a little hand-drawn card would have been nice too. I would also have accepted "I wanted to do x,y, or z for you, but with trying to make a move and everything we have to do with that, I thought we better wait till things calm down." Perhaps a "I know you said you didn't need anything, but I want you to know how much you're appreciated" accompanied by a kiss would have done something for me. but none of those things happened, and I felt like a servant on the day most of my friends were being treated like queens.

I know I'm not alone in this, I know there are others who were A: let down, and who are B: beating themselves up over the fact that they just can't seem to find that woman inside them who doesn't need the acknowledgement. So my question is this: Is it possible to be the woman who doesn't need it? If it is possible, is it just a single decision you make? Do you just decide "I am now the woman who does not need thanks or acknowledgement on a designated day of the year in order to be happy and satisfied." (And let me just say, and I think my blog generally displays this fact...I am VERY happy with my life. I love my family, and I know they love me, I just can't seem to not care about this stupid designated day of appreciation being overlooked) or is it a series of decisions that you make that get you to the point that you don't need it? Maybe the key is just admitting "Hey people, try as I might, I am not going to accept being overlooked on Mother's Day, so please, don't put us all in this position, do something, anything, and tell me I'm special ON Mother's Day, even though you tell me all the time, say it again, Please! Because I am lame and I need to know that you think I'm just as important as poor Joey Crack Head thinks his Mom is. Its dumb, its even absurd, but I need it, and I'm willing to admit I need it, at the cost of my dignity, I am willing to say it "I NEED Mother's Day to be CELEBRATED, because if its not, it will inevitably bring out the self-centered Villainess in me, and I don't like her at all (and I KNOW you don't either.)"

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

the "IT" couple


Given our Cave Hair Clan status, and my sister's close resemblance to Cousin It, I'll forgive you if you're assuming that I'm referring to our physical appearance. (Which, lets face it, probably leaves something to be desired).  But I'm not.  I'm referring to the fact that suddenly, out of left field, we have 5 couples lined up to whom we owe Double Date nights.  When the heck did we get a social calendar? 

( I feel like a "Real Housewife"-only not skinny, not rich, and without the fake boobs...anybody want to go ahead and schedule the catty luncheon wherein one of us says something accidentally hurtful and then we contrive opportunities to confront each other?  Its basically inevitable, right?)

Monday, May 11, 2009

How Was It?

What you ask? How was my mother's day?

Well, last night I spent the night dreaming that I was at WalMart and I couldn't get any service there because I wasn't a VIP.
If you believe that dreams are a reflection of the subconscience, then I'm pretty sure that puts my Mother's Day in a nutshell.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Its a generational thing


My mom's the cutey pie with the Cave Hair...how did I never notice that before? 
Happy Mother's Day Mom, I suppose I'm a day too late since you're "Down Under" as we speak.  I hope its an amazing trip full of happy memories.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Mother's Day is Special Day...

...its the day you get ready for nothing...J/K. But I am in a sing-song-y kind of mood again, which is amazing, because I'm carrying around an extra 5 lbs of water weight from the horrible chinese food I "ate" last night. (and by ATE, I mean, put in my mouth, chewed, swallowed, and came home and puked up).

Here's a few little ditty's I'd like to hear from the pulpit tomorrow morn. I was hoping that perhaps the young men could quick put together an ensemble, its always such a pleasure. ;)

"If You Chance to Meet a Mom"

If you chance to meet a mom
and you are being bad
you had better run away before she gets her bat

no one likes a real mad mom
you better run away
you had better make her smile
if you want a better day


or, how about

"My Mom Has Seen the Glory"

My mom has seen the glory of a sparkling clean room
it happened in her dreams one day
She just gave me a broom
I don't know what to do with it
she just tells me to go
to my room, better march sir, now!

Mommy's lost her silly mind
if she thinks I'm gonna clean
Cleaning up is just for mommy's
but not on Mother's Day.

Mommy said she didn't want a present
"Just Be GOOD"
How is it a special day if I'm just being good?
Being good's no fun and 'sides
a presents better pay
My mom's trying to ruin my day

Mommy thinks "good" is present
Mommy's gonna build resentment
Mommy didn't want a present
she's just being a mean mom

Mommy loved her breakfast
served in bed on this great day
Cheerios and milk and toast
on a wire tray
The cooling rack don't hold the bowl
and cheerios are in the bed
Now Mom is turning Red

Mommy's trying to be forgiving
5-am's an hour for living
Mommy's looking kind of tired
But she won't get a nap today!
Hoooooraaaaay! (shouted)

Happy Mother's Day! May your day be blessed with peace, quiet, and happiness! (or at least the dream of)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Participated/Observed

Here is a list of things which I have either participated in or observed within the last 24 hours. Its up to you to guess which one's I was a participant in, and which one's I Observed.

Pouring a 40oz (we're not talkin Dr. Peppy here)into a plastic cup in the parking lot of the corner store prior to pulling out of said parking lot.

Pouring 40oz contents into parking lot after being told "that's not a good idea"

Being told "You just never know who's watching, do you?"

Hearing a crash at the same time as 40oz event is happening

Hitting a jeep

Deploying both airbags

Taking out an electric box

Disabling traffic lights at major intersection

Signing lease agreement for home, sight unseen

Selling ceiling fans over the internet

Twittered

Heard somebody say "There's a lump in the wall because it hasn't been sanded yet, the teenagers had nothing to do with it"

Waiting in a quarter mile long line for free BBQ

Made new friends

Talked "shop"

Ate free BBQ

Climbed Trees

Squirted Mud on Somebody

said "Kiai!"

Punched somebody

Cried

Threw a fit over music choices

Watched a stupid movie

Fell Asleep on the Toilet

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Free Pass


**warning, parts of this post were pulled completely out of my distrusting mind...but the immunity part is 100% true.  The rest is speculative. (except the HOV lane use, that's a real story)


Did you know that your state legislators have immunity (at least for traffic violations) on their way to legislative sessions?  Apparently, if you have a state legislator card you can do whatever the hell you want on the road while you are on your way to a session!

No turn on red light?  Go for it!  Sure, there may be a blind curve, and sure somebody may be barrelling towards you at 65 in a 45 zone, but go for it! You can't be cited.

No stopping zone?  So what.  You need to pee, and you need to pee now.  Go ahead, stop wherever you want and take a whiz, you can't be cited.

Red light?  Why should you stop?  Nobody else does.

Car Pool lane?  No blow up doll required.  So long as you have your legislater card handy, you can roll down your window, flash your special permission slip, and yell at the cops that you're a legislator!!!! Go ahead do as you like, common courtesy, and regard for the average citizen is underated anyways.  Plow ahead my boy, plow ahead.  That lane is yours to do with as you please.  If you'd like, we can hire Kramer roadside maintenance to travel just ahead of you and widen those lanes too if it would make your travel time more comfortable.

But here's the catch...it only works if your on you way TOO the legislative session.  Not on the way home. 

Now, I've heard of "emergency" sessions, and to be honest, I figured that those were perhaps scheduled at the last minute, and perhaps a few people had to cancel fishing trips or golf outings to be there, but I had no idea that these things were an emergency of such force as to be necessary to give immunity to all who would travel the open road to get there.  Then again, I wonder how many of these guys actually drive their own cars.  I'm sure if they can get the state to hire a plane or a limo to get them to their budgeting committee at supersonic speed, they'd prefer that.  I mean, afterall, if the budget is in crisis, its uber important to get there no matter the cost, right? 


Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Today's emotions so far

Mild concern

moderate irritation
slight nervousness
continued moderate irritation
urgency
relief
trepidation
concern
mild internal freakout
relief
the insatiable desire to yell "JackASS" at the top of my lungs.

Monday, May 4, 2009

A Piggy little Ditty

*I know, I know, "Called to Serve"...again.  What can I say, its a fun tune!


Swine flu's gonna get you in the nostrils

Wash your hands, don't put them in your face

The little piggy's got alot of power

Their germs are roaming in your space!


Swine Flu

Oh its Swine Flu

And the glory's on the news

They couldn't wait to tell you

That the US has Swine Flu!

Swine Flu

Oh its Swine Flu

The anchor's giddy as can be

Somebody has got the swine flu

Lets just hope its you, not ME!


The anchors they are so very excited

they can't wait for just a death or two

They just want to tell you how your life is

They just hope you'll get swine flu


Swine flu

oh its swine flu

and the glory's on the news

They couldn't wait to tell you

That the US has Swine Flu

Swine Flu

Oh its Swine Flu

The anchor's giddy as can be

Somebody has got the swine flu

Lets just hope its you, not ME!





Saturday, May 2, 2009

I'm an ingrate

I've re-read the post below, and while it reflected my attitude the day I wrote it, today, I'm embarrassed by it.  I mean, really truly embarrassed.  I know its natural to want better than you have, but why was I making myself miserable over it?  By accepting "acceptable" we've blossomed as a family.  What is my problem?  I need to be incredibly grateful that "acceptable" has given us opportunities we have not had as a family prior to living in "acceptable" quarters.  There are things that are important to me that having a nicer home would take away.  

I guess I'm not only an ingrate, but also an idiot!  Except for I realized it before it was too late, so I guess I'm not as big an idiot as I would have been if I had just gone through life not realizing I was an ingrate.