I Can Do This!

Once upon a time. I live by a schedule, a routine if you will. I'd get up, make the bed, get dressed, clean the bathroom, clear emails and blog while drinking my coffee and then start cleaning and run errands if necessary. Honest, I did. But somewhere along the line, I stopped. I'd try over and over to get started again. But it was as if the long task of things I used to do was just too overwhelming, so why bother?

Baby steps.

I know that's the answer. Start small and build my way up. It's just like exercising and eating right. It' not like I can just start drinking 8 glasses of water a day and eat right and exercise for an hour a day and quit smoking and clean the house and get a job and take care of my father and spend time with my son and get a life and be Ms. Perfect. So, here's my plan: Start a new routine. Well not new. Old. Go back to my old routine. I know, I know. I've avoided doing this in the past because it was too overwhelming. I'm not saying I'll complete the routine everyday. I'm saying I'll start working on it. I may very well burn out after an hour. But an hour is better than nothing. Right? Right??? (Disregard the fact that in one paragraph I went from baby steps to full blown routine again. Let's just go with the flow.)

Today's Schedule (although I won't be changing out the bedding since I just did that the other day):

A)I have 15 minutes to strip beds and start laundry.

B)I have 30 minutes to rumble :
1)kitchen
2)living room
3)dining room or office
4)bathroom
5)bedroom
6)another room of choice

C)I have 15 minutes to do a load of dishes and clear a counter.

D)I have 10 minutes to dust, and 5 minutes for exercise.

E)I have 10 minutes to switch laundry, and 5 minutes to drink a glass of water.

F)I have 30 minutes to mop and/or vacuum:
1)kitchen
2)bathroom
3)living room
4)another room of choice

G)I have 10 minutes to clean out our wallet and purse or bag, and 5 minutes for exercise.

H)I have 10 minutes to switch laundry, and 5 minutes to drink a glass of water.

I)I have 30 minutes to:
1)shine the bathroom
2)fling 10 things
3)exercise for 5 minutes
4)drink a glass of water

J)I have 10 minutes to empty the trash cans and shine the sink, and 5 minutes for exercise.

K)I have 10 minutes to switch laundry, and 5 minutes to drink a glass of water.

L)I have 30 minutes to sort and put away laundry.

M)I have 15 minutes to remake beds and fluff pillows.


I will *try* to post tonight my actual accomplishments.

The "D" Word

So I told my husband last week that I wanted a divorce.  

He was SHOCKED! 

I mean years and years of my complaining that I want to spend more time together and a sit down conversation last month that we have nothing in common wasn't a clue! A few additional talks with him agreeing that we could think of nothing wasn't a clue. Nobody saw this coming! NOBODY!!!  Well, nobody else knew. Because I hid it well.  That's why my FB status said:

Smiled like nothing was wrong, talked like everything was perfect, and pretended like it wasn't hurting me...Tired of pretending, divorce is the answer.

So we've still been living together, 9 days of hell as he stomped around the house or locked himself in the bedroom (oh wait, he did that before too but there wasn't the silent treatment then).  Or he would randomly leave the house without saying where he was going (we're getting divorced, I don't have the right to know if I should cook him dinner which yes, I've still been doing). Jackass.  Oh right, was still doing his laundry too.  F'in Jackass.  Anyways...

So this morning he leaves.  My father comes to me soon after and says that he told him that we need to get the cable/Internet in our names and phone service and I'll be having to get a new cell phone and that he's returning the cable boxes and modem on Saturday.  

I already had the phone next to me for dr's appointments that I needed to make.  So, I called the orthopedic doctor to schedule my knee surgery. The girl is out until Tuesday, she'll call back. Fine, understandable, its mid-August.  I get that.

Call the insurance company to get a therapist.  There just so happens to be a new therapist only 2 blocks away ... WOOHOO!!  So call them and make an appointment and then call us back to get a reference number and then call the doctor back to give them the reference number.  Um, wait what?  Can't you give me the reference number now or have the dr's office call? No.  WTF???  Whatever, nearby doctor, very cool.  Get a regular # and a toll free for the dr.  Call first number, answering machine. Call second number, disconnected.  Dammit.  Call first number and leave a message.  Make note to call insurance company and doctor when they call back.  

So far, I'm 0/2.  Trying to get shit done, not succeeding AND I have more calls to make because of call #2. 

Next: Social Worker. I need to apply for cash assistance since my income is moving out.  Shouldn't really be too difficult since I'm already on Food Stamps and Medicaid.  Answering Machine...fine, I'll just leave a message for her to call ... oh come ON! She's on vacation until Monday!  Grrrrrr.....deep breath....I'll just stop later, get the application, fill it out and drop if off tomorrow and she can call me with questions. 

So I call my son who also has a cell phone on our service plan.  I tell him that Jackass (not his real name) will be canceling the service but I'm not sure when so he may want to get a phone of his own.  1 call checked off.

Then I call Vonage to switch names, on and off the phone in 2 minutes. Easy as pie. Hot damn! Things are starting to go my way!!!

Instead of calling Comcast, I decide to log into their site to make it go faster.  I can't find anything, so I use their online chat. I'm number 15 in the que. *Sigh*  So I open another tab in my browser and play on Facebook, switching back and forth every minute or so and watch the que number dropping. Once I hit #6, I sit impatiently and wait, as its already been 20 minutes.  TEN minutes later, I get a person.  Who I swear to you was using hotkeys to answer everything.  There's no way she was typing "Thank you so much for your patience while waiting for us to fix your problem. If you could just hold on for one moment while I review your problem to see how to handle it, I'll be right with you. In the meantime, how is your day going?"  Yeah, she SO didn't type that!  Especially when she came back and said "I see you're having problems entering the online website".  Um no I'm not. My question clearly says "I want to change the account holder name."  No mention of problems. No mention of the Web site.  Hello?  Okay, that's not what I said, what I said was "No, I want to change the account holder"  She replied that was beyond her capabilities but she could transfer me on the site to the correct person.  This is nearly as bad as being on the phone, except I had to wait longer for her to figure out which hotkey to enter.  After asking "Did I help you solve your problems today?"  (No DUMBASS ... that's why you're transferring me!) No, but thank you.  I now play the waiting game for 5 more minutes for the correct person. New guy comes on and takes care of everything instantly and I'm finally done! WOOHOO!  Wait, what? I still have to call the local office and change it with them too? Are you friggin kidding me????  I just spent 45 minutes to get this fixed quicker online and I STILL have to call?  I hate big businesses!!!

I take a deep breath and call the local office.  I give them the information, tell them I also want to return one of the cable boxes (because we'll only have one tv now) and everything goes as perfectly as the Vonage call.  I get directions to drop off the box later in the afternoon.  Another item checked off the to-do list.

Does it seem like this is taking forever to read? Yeah, its only 12:30.  *Double Sigh*

I gather everything I'll need for my trip to town including a written list of stops:

1. Cable Company to drop off box/remote.

2. Jewelry Store to sell jewelry (cuz I'm flat broke and he's taking all the $ in the account)

3. Walmart to get Dad some munchies

4. DHS to pick up welfare form (see above about me being flat broke)

    

First stop: Comcast Cable. Run in/drop off box/run out. That's my plan. But this is me. Nothing goes as planned.  Go right up to the desk, explain I called earlier and they should have my paperwork right here. A woman yells up "Oh yeah, we can't do it. We made a mistake. She's not an authorized user so she can't have the account in her name until he calls to cancel."  O...M...G... Are you KIDDING me?  I attempt to explain that he plans to return the boxes on Saturday and I don't want my service interrupted. My pleas fall upon deaf ears.  So, I thought, "Oh wait, I'll just call him on my cell and have him call them now to cancel."  Except...."I'm sorry, your call cannot be put through due to lack of service. Please contact us at blah blah blah if you'd like to set up service"  I'M GOING TO KILL THE S.O.B.!!!! I leave Comcast. In tears.

My next stop should have been as easy as my planned first stop.  Again. Me. So not so much.  I go to the local Department of Human Services (DHS) to just pick up the application. Except Ms. Nosy at the desk insists on asking who my worker is and then thinks that she'll want to see me (she won't) so she has to first call another worker and get their opinion on what I will have to do.  After a few minutes of waiting when I shouldn't be, she tells me that my worker will want to see me and that I can't turn in the application beforehand (right, cuz trying to stream line the process would just be stupid) so I smile and nod and think "I'm mailing this Saturday after I fill it out tomorrow, bite me"

At this point I'm ready to just kill.  I'm ticked off at the world.  Okay, not the world, just Jackass but I'm willing to take it out on anyone.  I run into Walmart, get Dad's junk food and decide I better take a quick look at school supplies while I have $23 to my name.  I pick up 4 of the 5-subject notebooks for youngest son for school @ $2 a pop which didn't seem too bad.  Time to head home.  The entire drive home, I was fuming.

I call 2nd son and his phone is still working....I inform him of my now dead phone and he explains that Jackass called him and said he needs to decide if he wants to keep the phone and pay his bill or give up the phone.  He didn't want to take any chances and was going to get his own service.

Hours later...Jackass gets home. Now, I'd managed to calm down at this point.  Really, I did.  I decided to offer up some of the things we have to make the transition a bit easier. I should note that he's been packing for 2 days and hasn't said anything while packing like "Can I have this or that?"  Nothing.  So, I have no idea what he's taking/leaving. 

Would you like the bed? No.

Would you like the spare dresser?  I'm taking it.  (Oh.)

Are you taking the couch? (Our couch, we're using Dad's)  I'm taking it. (Oh.)

Do you want the rocker? 1/2 second pause....No

He beings to walk away, turns around and yells: OH AND LEAVE MY F'IN ACCOUNTS ALONE!!!

Taken aback, I said, "Uh, what?"

YOU TRIED TO CHANGE MY PHONE AND CABLE ACCOUNTS. LEAVE THE "F" ALONE!!!!

"Um, excuse me but I was told that you were canceling them from your name so we had to get them in our names, so that's what I did."

I'M TAKING THE VONAGE ACCOUNT WITH ME AND I'M RETURNING THE CABLE BOXES BECAUSE I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM"

"You don't have to return the boxes, I've already been to Comcast today and they said all you had to do was call and cancel, you don't need to inconvenience me and take the boxes back."

An hour of yelling later....

I offer the filing cabinet.  No.

I offer the 2 nighstands. He thinks for 30 seconds...He'll take his.

I ask if he's keeping the desk he built me that is being stored at his mothers.  His response was that he was not moving it up here.  So I said "Fine, keep it"  Do you want one of the other 2 desks that we have? No.

"Well, all I ask is that you leave the network the way it is."  He says he's not because the router is a N system and I don't have a N system But he'll leave me an older unit.  After giving him a 1 minute blank stare because I have no idea what he's talking about, I said "As long as its going to work, whatever.  Is there anything else you want that we need to discuss?"  And his answer is what smacked me across the face.  "I'll take whatever I want"  After a few deep breaths, I said "Could you please tell me what your taking so I don't go looking for it later?"  No response.  Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the conversation because I was cooking dinner. For him and my father. I was too upset to eat.  Instead, I cleaned.  

I'm debating on whether or not to be home tomorrow. Stay home and watch what he leaves with? Or leave the house and not be stressed out for the majority of the day but not knowing what I'll come home to (or not come home to as the case may be).

July Storm

I love thunder storms.  I could just sit on a big porch with a hot cup of coffee and revel in its beauty.  That is, if we had a porch.  What we have is a deck that isn't covered, so instead I'm stuck sitting inside to watch. It's not quite the same, but still nice.  So we had this really pretty thunder/lightning storm move through a couple of weeks ago.  The only "bad" part about it was the strong wind gusts and the damage that occurred to trees. 

Now, before I move onto the next picture. I just want to add that my 16 year old son ran past this tree branch in the pouring rain with thunder booming and lightning flashing and wind gusting and then up onto the deck and saw this:

He ran into the house and said ...I kid you not...

"Mom, did you put the table like that?"

Right @ Home Giveaway

How much do I suck at blogging? Not only will the sporadic dates tell you the secret answer, but so will the date on this picture.

So back on July 6th, nearly a month ago, a got this wonderful box of goodies from Right @ Home.  Right @ Home is a fabulous site by SC Johnson with tons of tips, coupons and recipes.  I wasn't expecting this box, it just arrived.  I was giddy when I opened the box and found all of these free goodies.  I even took a pic so I could blog about it.  So um, what happened?  Yeah, I don't know...LOL

Included in my package:

1. Box of Storage Bags
2. Box of Freezer Bags
3. Glad Candle
4. Pledge Wipes
5. Box of Dry Big Bags
6. Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaner
7. Box of 5 "Smart Snap" Bowls

 So if you haven't already, go sign up for Right @ Home and check out their awesome Web site! 

Disclaimer: This is not a review for the products listed or a paid endorsement. I simply love SC Johnson products so I signed up for the site awhile back and was fortunate enough to receive this package which I just *had* to share!

Why Did We Break Up? ... Asked 20 Years Later

After any relationship ends, both sides have questions. The "why's" and "what if's" run rampant. These questions are worse for the relationship breakee than the breaker.

What would you say to an ex that appeared on Facebook, MySpace or some other venue where you could respond without being face to face and he/she asked you "Why did we break up?"

Would you tell the truth? Would you make up some lame answer to get out of the dreaded question?  Would you respond at all?

Well, that's exactly what happened to me.  Here's our conversation from the other night...
 
Ex: (8:15)
Um....... when you left me, you said you were pregnant, and I can't help but wonder as I have ever since....

Me: (8:26)
wow...talk about going back

No, the pregnancy didn't survive.

Ex: (8:30)
Oh, I have wondered all these years.....I never forgot.

Me: (8:36)
I thought you knew...

Ex: (8:39)
Since the evening I dropped you off where you wanted to be, I haven't heard from you, that's partly my fault too......

Me: (8:51)
We were young and stupid and rushed into things.

Ex: (8:57)
That may be true, we may have rushed out too??? but either way the past is behind, and the future ahead. I just wondered all this time that's all. It kinda drove me a little nuts a times.

Me: (9:05)
Every ended relationship leaves unanswered questions.

Ex: (9:21)
I'm still not even sure why it ended..... and now after years we run into each other again, makes me wonder some more...... I wasn't really in a hurry...

Me: (10:14)
Why did our relationship end?

Well, that's not a question that is normally answered 20 odd years later. LOL

But the question is, do you really want to know? I don't know if my answer will hurt your feelings or not. Or if the not knowing is better or worse. That's something for you to decide.

It's easier for me to look back and know the reasons why, than it would have been if you had asked me then.

Ex: (10:35)
True, it has been a while.

The past has hardened me in a way that my feelings are not hurt so easily anymore. The truth is not always easy to swallow, but it helps one to grow when one has honest answers.

I can't be angry anyone for being honest.

Me: (11:10)
The truth of the matter, is that you were a rebound relationship.

I don't know how much you remember. But my husband had been shipped off to prison and I was left to raise my son. Our relationship started shortly after that.

Obviously that isn't the answer I would have given you 20 years ago. I probably would have made up some excuse, but in reality, I was young and had too much going on and just ran away rather than deal with it. If it hadn't been you, it would have been the next relationship I would have run from because it was a transition from my marriage.

Ex: (12:31)
Well that makes sense, in a way.... I guess, I was helpful. I really did love you, and it hurt a lot more that you left in the first place with no explanation.

I enjoyed the evening we spent with your parents, that's the only time I played bridge, never really understood the game, but it was fun anyway. Also enjoyed going to church the one time we went. Lutheran church was a new experience for me.

Does it surprise you that I remember these things?

Me: (12:52)
It wasn't Bridge, it was Euchre ;)

But yes, I am surprised as we weren't together that long.

Ex: (1:00)
I would almost swear it was bridge, maybe it was both..... :~}

Me: (1:05)
LOL Well I've never played Bridge a day in my life, so it must've been someone else :p

So, there it is. An anxiety ridden conversation.

Laundry

 This is a laundry hamper.  It has but one use. To hold dirty laundry. 

I have always owned a laundry hamper of some sort.  Whether it be a laundry basket or an actual laundry hamper, the concept is not new in my house.  This particular laundry hamper has been owned by us for 9 years and 3 months.  I know this because I bought it when we purchased our first home.  I do not move it around to various parts of the house.  It has one home: in this tiny crook outside of the bedrooms.  I love my family and I'm willing to break my back as I carry this hamper downstairs so that I may wash/dry/fold/put away the laundry. 

But...

I am fed up with being the only one that knows how to use it.  Seriously.

Clothing does not belong on the kitchen chair.  I realize you were hot when you came in the house dear husband.  But the laundry room is one room over.  You PASSED through the laundry room to take off and toss your shirt here.  (Notice I failed to remove the previous days shirt.  Leaving it there doesn't help).

One moment please while I count the steps to the laundry room.....

5 steps TO the laundry room.  3 steps to the laundry organizer.  Not that any of them would understand the concept of separating whites and darks since they clearly don't how to use a laundry hamper.  

Don't think for a second that as a male grows older that he learns.  They don't. 

Case in point:

These 3 pairs of socks belong to my father. As if he's going to wear them again.  He's not. If he was, there wouldn't be 3 pair there.

While you would expect the kitchen to be the last place in the house to typically have dirty laundry, the living room is not immune either.

This shirt is actually atop another.  Like my husband and his use of the kitchen chair, my father has deemed this his location to hold his dirty shirts.

From old to young, even the teenager leaves his clothes lying around.  However, his are always in his bedroom and either left on the floor or on his bed. 

Like our teenage son, my dear, sweet husband also leaves his dirty clothes on the floor.  I would like to point out here that these clothes are 19 inches from the doorway.  If you look at the picture of the hamper at the top, you'll notice that the hamper is just outside of a doorway.  

Yes, it is the exact same doorway. 

Now if you're going to wear clothing for about an hour or so, there's really no point in putting it in the dirty laundry, right?  I mean, you could just fold it up and put it back in the drawer.  

That was my husband's intention.

Except, when he went to bed last night, they ended up on the floor with the rest of the dirty laundry.

 

 My husband had a job interview last week.  These are the clothes he wore. He was told he'd have a second interview.  So he's planning on wearing these again.  

The problem: We own 5 cats.

The bigger problem: I'm not moving them.  

The biggest problem: He really needs a job.  I really need him to get a job.  Damn.  I guess I'll move them to the hamper.  Tomorrow. 

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. 

Monday Mingle 11/30/09

Time for another Monday Mingle (Our hostess is Eighty MPH Mom, I remembered to mention Jennifer, didn't say who I was ROFL) 

Here are this week's questions:

1. Someone tells you that you have the whole day off and gives you $1,000 to do as you please. What do you do?

2. Who would play you in a Lifetime movie about yourself?

3. We're in the technology age. What is your favorite technological innovation? What one do you think is just useless?

4. What is your favorite funny childhood memory?

5. What is/was your favorite Kool-Aid/Jello flavor? One you hated?

If you'd like to join in on the fun, you can begin with this week's questions, or be more fully prepared with next week's questions:

1. Tell us FIVE random facts about yourself.

2. Do you wear perfume or cologne? What scent(s)?

3. How many speeding tickets have you gotten in your life?

4. Do you go fishing? Do you like to fish?

5. What reality tv shows do you watch?

Monday Mingle 11/23/09

Time for another Monday Mingle (Our hostess is Eighty MPH Mom, I keep forgetting to mention that in the videos...next week, I promise!)  I'm so excited I've made it again!  I'm even starting to think that vlogging is much easier than blogging LOL

So, I didn't mention it in the vlog, but the answers I recorded from my husband were taped without his knowledge LOL

Here are this week's questions:

We're mixing it up a bit this week - ALL ABOUT MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIPS:

Speedy Cop would love to see the husband/partner's answers too - either via vlog or through you!

1. Men: When your spouse asks you "how does this outfit make me look" - how do you respond?

Ladies: Do you really want him to answer honestly?

2. Both: What is one thing you should always do to keep your spouse/partner happy? What do you do/say to avoid friction in your relationship?

3. Both: What were the first thoughts about your spouse/partner that came to mind when you first met him/her?

4. Both: What is your favorite physical feature of your spouse/partner?

5. Both: What are the key ingredients to a successful marriage/relationship?

6. Are you ready for more Speedy Cop movie quotes?

If you'd like to join in on the fun, you can begin with this week's questions, or be more fully prepared with next week's questions:

The next three are excellent questions - they were submitted by LAUREN from Mid-Adventures in Theatre:

1. Someone tells you that you have the whole day off and gives you $1,000 to do as you please. What do you do?

2. Who would play you in a Lifetime movie about yourself?

3. We're in the technology age. What is your favorite technological innovation? What one do you think is just useless?

4. What is your favorite funny childhood memory?

5. What is/was your favorite Kool-Aid/Jello flavor? One you hated?

Menu Plan Monday

I haven't followed my own advice. I didn't create a menu plan for last week, and to say dinners were substandard is being polite. I was stressed out with homework and ended up calling leftovers our dinner two nights and ordered pizza on another. Every night I would give myself a lecture that if I had created a menu plan, I wouldn't be in the situation I was in, standing in the middle of the kitchen pulling my hair out (and not the gray ones either!).

Monday: Chicken Parmesan

I never made this a few weeks ago, time to try again!

Tuesday: Feta Topped Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

You'll notice I cheat and use a lot of Betty Crocker recipes.  They're usually quick to make!

Wednesday: Italian Pork Chops and Scalloped Potatoes

Thursday: Thanksgiving at the In-Laws

Expect a post of complaints on Friday

Friday: Spaghetti

(The Ole Stand-by)

Saturday: Chicken Chili over Corn Muffins

(This was a real hit a few weeks ago!)