Divorce Would Be Bad Because?

Ever have one of those days when a divorce/break up with your significant other just sounds like bliss?  You'd have the bed all to yourself.  You wouldn't have to clean up after him (as in picking up his dirty laundry that he throws on the ground only 2 feet away from the hamper).  It'd be one less person to cook for, and you'd no longer have to address his likes/dislikes when cooking OR you can get your favorite toppings on pizza when you're too tired to cook. 

Then there's the "my side" of the bedroom and "his side" that would all be yours and CLEAN!

Oh, and then there's the television dispute.  I want to watch shows like Glee, Drop Dead Diva, Grey's Anatomy or The Biggest Loser.  He wants to watch Dirty Jobs (okay, I'll watch that, but not a marathon of 10 in a row, okay?), Junkyard Wars or that stupid show with Chip Foose where they rebuild old cars that I can't think of the name of.  Don't get me wrong, we do watch SOME of the same shows like Bones, Big Bang Theory and NCIS. 

None of this mattered before in my marriage.  Then, my husband became unemployed.  Not just for a couple of days or weeks, or even months, but for over a YEAR now.  Politicians are going to cause my divorce if they don't do something about the economy.  Soon!

You see, we had a system.  He would work, I would clean.  He'd come home from work, we'd eat dinner together and he'd go watch tv in the living room.  I would go to my room and watch my shows that I liked.  Life was good.  

Then...unemployment.  

I'm left with someone home snacking ALL day dirtying more dishes.  COOKING lunches and creating more dishes.  I mean really, I never use that many dishes when I cook!  Then to irritate me make matters worse, in his ultimate boredom state a couple of months ago, he decided to finally look into HAM radios.  OMG!!!  Are you freakin kidding me?  MORE wires laying around the house!  Oh, and scroll back up and look at the picture on his side.  See that?  ....

THAT stupid ass picture hanging up is not a picture at all, its his ham radio license.  Because the FCC states that if you're on the air, you have to have your license in plain view.  Right.  Because the FCC has nothing better to do than drive out to the middle of nowhere in the country to make sure YOU have your license hanging up.  Hey FCC...it's freakin hanging up now? Okay?  Could someone PLEASE come and tell him its okay to put the damn thing in a drawer and stop messing up my decorating.  As if he couldn't hang it up in the garage in HIS territory!!!!  Grrrrrr....

I love my husband.  I love my husband.  I love my husband.

But he better get a job.  SOON!

Monday Menu Plan

Okay, I'm getting back in the groove once again. It's been about 4 months since I've had my act together.  New week, new menu plan.  Let's get the show on the road.

Sunday: Crockpot Tex Mex BBQ Chicken Over Rotini (Recipe Below)

Monday:  Boilermaker Tailgate Party Chili and Cornbread

Tuesday: Baked Cod and Mexican Fire Rice

Wednesday: Loaded Chicken Breasts and Fried Dill Potatoes (Recipe Below)

Thursday: 4 Ingredient Meatloaf (Recipe Below), Mashed Potatoes and Corn

Friday: Lemon Pepper Pork Chops, Stuffing, Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Saturday: Homestyle Pot Roast (Recipe Below)

Tex Mex BBQ Chicken Over Rotini

Serves 6 

16 oz. skinned and boned uncooked chicken breast, cut into bite sizes
1 (10 3/4 oz) can Tomato Soup
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 teaspoons chili seasonings
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
3 cups cooked rotini pasta, rinsed and drained
Sour cream
Optional add-on to make it yummier:
Shredded cheddar cheese

Spray a slow cooker container with butter flavored cooking spray.  In prepared container, combine chicken pieces and tomato soup.  Stir in onion and green pepper.  Add corn, chili seasoning, and parsley flakes.  Mix well to combine.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Mix well before serving.  When serving, place 1/2 cup rotini pasta on a plate, spoon about 2/3 cup chicken mixture over pasta, and top with 1 tablespoon sour cream.


Fried Dill Potatoes
Serves 4

4 medium-large sized Russett potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried dill

Peel and slice potatoes.  Add oil to skillet.  Put on medium heat and heat oil.  Add potatoes and mix to lightly coat potatoes with oil, sprinkle dill onto potatoes. Fry potatoes for about 10 minutes.

4 Ingredient Meatloaf
Serves 6

2 pounds hamburger
1/2 cup Open Pit BBQ Sauce (or ketchup if in a pinch)
1/2 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs (you can also substitute with Quaker Oats)
1 Egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9 x 9 pan.  Mix all ingredients in bowl. Transfer to greased pan.  Bake for 45-50 minutes. 

Finally a New Layout!!!

It's taken much longer than I wanted to find a layout.  Okay, not just a layout, but a new header image as well.  As a result, I found myself procrastinating blogging.  I know it's hard to believe (yeah, right), but when my plate is overfull with to-do's, I'm a HUGE procrastinator.  Of course, this just causes my list to become longer, and then I procrastinate more and then...well, I think you get the picture. 

I'm not allowing my New Year's goals (resolutions, whatever) to start until Monday.  Because really, its the start of the week, so that's when new things should begin.  You'd think people would have caught on to this concept by now and just have the New Year begin after 52 weeks on the next Monday, but nooooo....they have to start it in the middle of the week, or on a weekend.  And let's face it, nobody wants to start exercising or quitting smoking or dieting or whatever unless its a Monday.  So, January 4th will begin my new year, and my laundry list of things I would like to accomplish.  I'll post a blog within the next couple of days of the most important goals I have, but I know I have to do coupon clipping this weekend (goal), and my menu plan (goal), and I think I have a Monday Mingle due....I have done one in a month, so I really need to get on that if its due Monday. 

So, Monday.....I'll wish everyone a Happy New Year!

2009 Goals Revisited

In preparation of my 2010 goals, I decided to take a look at my 2009 goals I had planned. I was actually doing pretty well until June/July when Dad was diagnosed with cancer and my goals got put on the back burner as I had to take care of him.

Daily

Exercise 30 minutes a day (I was doing this religiously from March til June, even got to walking 4 miles a day, now, not so much)

Drink 8 glasses of water a day (See notation on exercise, same deal)

Track calories (This one I even did during the summer, but once school and Dad's radiation began, this went out the window)

Log into SparkPeople daily (Still doing this!)

Be realistic about weight loss and not give up (I'm more realistic about this now than last year, haven't given up, but eating that x-large peanut butter/chocolate tree I just ate isn't helping)

Spend a minimum of one hour per day on homework (Pretty much did this, but let's face it, there are days when no homework can be done and other days I put in 12 hours)

Complete morning routine by Noon (Waking up at 11 am puts a hamper on this goal)

Complete afternoon routine by 5pm (I'm usually "waking up enough to move" by 1pm, get started on morning goals, and afternoon, never finish all of them, but I do try to do at least some of it)

Complete evening routine by 9pm (AHAHAAHA...as if.  Let's face it, after dinner I barely want to get anything done.  Dinner at 7:30 means finishing close to 8 and then prime time tv starts, so who has time to clean the kitchen and do other things?)

Complete PDC's daily (Really hard to do these, when they're not sent out anymore LOL But I do occasionally try to do the Monday Weekly Blessing Hour and Tuesday 2 Minutes)

Complete Kelly's mission (I don't think I've even looked at these since January)

Spend a minimum of 15 min per day on pccx when in effect (I've had an excuse for every pccx that came about this year as to why I didn't finish it, maybe January will be different and I can try this again)

Write blog daily - limited to 30 min a day (I've had different blogs, I think I'll stick with Most Stressed Woman, because let's face, the title fits)

Weekly

Go to the library to do homework if necessary (This didn't work as Dad was so sick that I couldn't leave the house, but I did move the desk in Jordan's room, so I can go there when need be, so let's consider this one done)

Menu Plan weekly (I've done this on/off. But I really am trying, already have this week's done!)

Grocery Shopping weekly WITH a list (NEVER go shopping without a list anymore! Checked DONE!)

Help Dad with gardening (Helped, and did more than I wanted once he got sick as he didn't have the strength so I got stuck doing more than my share.  DONE!)

Spend quality alone time with DH at least 2x month (Didn't necessarily accomplish every month, but we have been going to breakfast on Sundays about 1-2x a month since Dad started getting better)

Annual

Reach goal weight of 125 by December (at 170 now) (Went up, then down but not to goal, and now climbing back up again. Sighhhhh)

Pay down credit cards to 0 by end of year (ROFL! Yeah right!!)

One Time

Update SparkPeople site (DONE!)

Attain a minimum of 3.5 in each class (I got a 3.0 in 2 classes and 2.0 in 2 classes, but with everything happening with Dad, I'm okay with it)

Rewrite routines (DONE!)

Hold 1 garage sale and donate anything left over (DONE!)

Start growing herbs (DONE! But would like to grow more)

Start scrapbooking Kris' letters from basic training (Started, but didn't finish, but goal was only to start, so DONE!)

Organize genealogy records (I started to do this, I even created an all new file so I knew all of the information I had was 100% accurate, but I have a lot of files...)

Input genealogy records into program (DONE! Okay, not done, started LOL)

Organize bills (DONE! At least in January, have to reorganize again)

Create a budget (DONE! At least in January, and then husband was laid off in May, have to create a new budget)

Complete taxes by Feb. 15 (DONE! Not only with my taxes, but everybody else I do taxes for too!)

Start savings account (Uh nope....but I hope to open a new account at a different bank soon, so I'll get right on this)

Get physicals completed for all (DONE!)

Get dental work completed for all (Got my son's done, our dental insurance got canceled)

Okay, so I didn't get everything done.  Heck, I barely got 25% done probably.  But, I have a REALLY good excuse: I became a caretaker.  So, hopefully 2010 will be my year to get more done...

Menu Plan Monday

Okay, I'm getting back in the groove once again.  I'm preparing my 2010 goals this week and having my menus all set will certainly help keep me focused. 

Sunday: Parmesan Baked Cod, Rice and Peas

Monday:  Turkey Noodle Soup (A great way to get rid of the leftovers!)

Tuesday: Steak Stir Fry

Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Thursday: Not cooking - won't be home.  I'm going to partyyyyyy the new year in!

Friday: Tuna Melt Burgers and Chips (Recipe for Tuna Burgers below)

Saturday: 15 Bean Soup with Ham


How to make the best tuna burgers EVER:

1 10 oz. can Tuna in water, drained
1/4 cup fat free Mayo
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
2 T. Pickle Relish
Ground Black Pepper to taste
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
8 Hamburger Buns

Drain and rinse tuna.  Combine all ingredients (except buns) in a small bowl and mix well.  Spoon mixture into buns.  Sprinkle 1/8 cup of Mozzarella cheese over mixture, place top bun back.  Place sandwiches into 9 x 13 baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted. 

50 FREE Photocards (Today Only!)

Have you procrastinated your holiday cards?  Would you like to have everyone think you spent countless hours on them?

Join Snapfish and get 50 FREE 4" x 6" prints plus a FREE set of 4" x 8" photo cards. Turn your photos into fun photo gifts, keepsakes, and everyday treasures that you can share with family and friends. To help you get started, enjoy these free gifts just for creating a free account.  You will have to pay for shipping, which will be around $5.99.  In my experience with them, they have a very good turn around and you could have the photocards by the end of the week.

Happy Holidays!

Monday Menu Plan

Okay, I'm getting back in the groove this week.  I have a LOT of homework to do and having my meals will help me keep the wheels in motion.

Monday: Crockpot Baked Potato Soup

Tuesday:  Tuna Casserole

Wednesday: Mexican Pasta Skillet

Thursday: Chicken Stew

Friday: Sweet Apples and Italian Sausage

Saturday: Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Smoked Ham Hocks

Sunday: Leftovers

Behind on my Homework

To say I'm behind doesn't even begin to reflect the anxiety I'm beginning to feel.  Unfortunately, neither of these classes was available online in the traditional 16 week class.  Instead, I've been forced to do them in 8 weeks.  I was "on time" the first week, only because I started a week before classes actually began.  Today I had to write down what I need to do to catch up by Monday.  Then additional homework will be added to the list.  So, here's my list (blue items are done, I'm using this list to keep it up-to-date)

The bigger problem?  I'll be leaving Saturday morning and won't be home until Sunday night.

Chemistry:

Chapter 10.9 and 10.10

2 problems

Chapter 11.1 – 11.11

Chapter 11 problems: 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, 20, 22, 26, 32-46 (even), 50-56 (even), 60, 62, 64, 70, 72, 74, 78, 80, 82

Chapter 11 notes – 39 definitions

Chapter 12.1 – 12.10

Chapter 12 problems: 1-4 (all), 6-14 (even), 20-26 (even), 30-46 (even), 50, 54, 58-74 (even), 80-88 (even)

Chapter 12 notes – 37 definitions

Chapter 13.1 – 13.10

Chapter 13 problems: 4-10 (even), 14, 16, 18, 24-32 (even), 36, 40-52 (even), 56, 60, 66, 68, 72, 76, 78, 82, 86, 90, 92, 100

Chapter 13 notes – 43 definitions

Chapter 14.1 – 14.6

Chapter 14 problems: 3, 6, 10, 12, 16, 20, 22, 26, 32, 36, 38, 44, 46

Chapter 14 notes – 36 definitions

Quiz for Chapters 10 - 14 (Open book)

Ethics:

Week 4 Tutorial: Read 46 slides (Powerpoint)

Shaw, Chapter 6, pages 201-222
Shaw, Chapter 7, pages 239-265
Shaw, Chapter 9, pages 315-330 and 335-339
Kathleen Reardon, "The Memo Every Woman Keeps in Her Desk," (page 35-40).

Week 5 Virtual Lecture: 11 pages

Week 5 Tutorial: 48 slides

Shaw, Chapter 8, pages 277-304 (5th edition pages 267-290).

Week 6 Lecture: 9 pages

Week 6 Case Study: 12 cases, 25 question

David Myers, "How Nice People Get Corrupted," located in the McGraw-Hill supplemental reading materials (page 61)

Week 6 Lecture Part 2: 1 page

Week 6 Tutorial: 40 slides

Time, Television and Templates! OH MY!

My family and I moved in with my father last year.  When we moved in, he made a point of stating that he rarely watches television so we could watch whatever we wanted.  Over the course of 6 months, all of that changed.  I've tried to accommodate him by recording all of my shows and waiting until the middle of the night to watch my shows.  Midnight to 5 a.m. is MY time.  I can do homework in peace and quiet (do you know how hard it is to learn how to write a stoichiometric formula while listening to WWII documentaries or old westerns?).  I can also watch my favorite shows without commentaries about how crappy the shows are in his opinion (I don't like that dance, he's a horrible singer, etc.).  But lately, he's been staying awake later and later.  Tonight, he stayed up until 3 a.m.  I wanted to turn to him and scream GO TO BED ALREADY!

In related news:

I watched the Biggest Loser tonight.  I'm usually quite psyched about the contestants at this point and have a favorite that I pray will win.  While I look forward to seeing the results of everybody next week in the finale, I'm not invested in anybody in the final four.  I had three favorites in the beginning that I wanted to see go all the way: Daniel, Shay and Abby. Unfortunately, Daniel and Shay went home the same night and dashed my hopes of having a favorite win. 

In unrelated news:

I hate this template.  Honestly, hate is being kind. 

I've spent countless hours messing with fonts and alignment and widgets. I've really had to hold myself back from throwing the computer across the room in frustration. I have other things to do. I don't have time to continue messing with this any longer!

If you know of a good Web site or template, PLEASE let me know. I think I prefer a 3 column at this point, but let me see what you got!

How I Met Your Step-Father

Future Ted: Kids, I'm going to tell you an incredible story, the story of how I met your mother.

Ted's Son: Are we being punished or something?

Future Ted: No.

Ted's Daughter: Dad, is this gonna take a while?

Future Ted: Yes. Twenty-five years ago, before I was Dad, I had this whole other life...

Wait….this isn’t How I Met Your Mother….this is How I Met Your Step-Father.  So, have a seat kids, and I’ll tell you the story on how I met your step-father Eric:

Back in March of 1989, I was 19.  I was married but planning on getting a divorce since my husband was in prison (okay, that’s another story!).   Anyways, I ran into Mark at a local convenience store.  I had known Mark since I was 13.  He was my 1^st love and we had dated on and off for 2 years (You know how teens are when it comes to relationships).  So we exchanged phone numbers to keep in contact and we began dating again immediately.  About a month into our new found relationship, I met Eric.  Eric was best friends with Mark.  Now, I will admit I thought he was cute.  But I was in a relationship with Mark, so I didn’t have eyes for anyone else. 

 Mark was the really jealous type.  I mean, really jealous.  If another guy was within 500 feet of me, he was accusing me of having an affair.  This meant that any time one of his friends was around; I disappeared into the background to avoid any potential fights (Of course, later on, I found out the reason he was always accusing me of having affairs was because he was doing it).  Needless to say, I didn’t really get to know Eric all that well.  While he was best friends with Mark, he was a mere acquaintance to me. 

Mark and I had a tumultuous relationship for 4 years, but ended up getting married in June 1993.  A month after our wedding, he lost his job.  He began to fill his days by drinking them away.    It didn’t take long for us to lose contact with all of our friends.  He was either at the bar or at home drinking and I was working or tending to the kids.  Almost three years later on February 22, 1996, I’d had it.  While he was at the bar, I packed up the kids (we had 2, and I had one from my previous marriage), quit my job and left without looking back. 

I moved in with my mother and managed to get 2 part-time jobs (this was when jobs were actually available).  I worked mornings while the two older boys were at school and midnights while they were sleeping.  One night while working my waitressing job, I walked up to one of my tables, did a quick head count and offered drinks.  A familiar voice said, “Fine, don’t say hi.”  I looked up to see Eric sitting at the table.  I dropped the pad of invoices to the ground as my jaw dropped because I hadn’t seen him since my wedding day.  He informed me he was married and proceeded to ask me how Mark was and I began rambling about how I had left him (that’s when his jaw dropped LOL).  I didn’t go into full details because he was with a group of friends, so he asked for my phone number so he could get the full story the next day. 

So, as you can see, the first time we met was not the beginning of our relationship.  The second time we met began the journey of our relationship, but honestly, I was not looking for another man in my life and he was married, so neither of us looked at each other in that way.  

AW C'MON, MY STORY DIDN'T TAKE THAT LONG!

Next time on How I Met Your Step-Father:

He did call. We spent a lot of time together becoming friends over the next 6 weeks.  He left his wife 3 days before his 1 year anniversary.  He stayed at a hotel for one night.  He moved in with me.  My ex-husband stalked us for 3 months.  His ex-wife stalked us for 6 months.  We married 4 years later.  We celebrate our 10 year anniversary in September of 2010.