Sparks and Butterflies...

But aside from that, she's still completely normal

A Couple of Points

By Leave a Comment

I’ve been purposely NOT writing about politics, or the state of our country, or the state of the world on purpose. I have enough anxiety in my life without poking at the trolls with a sharp stick. But two things, today, stand out to me and I would like to share.

These things are examples of a great many things that are taking place around the country, and around the world, and are the backing of my trying to “prep.” Just examples of things I’ve been noticing for a few years, slowly.

First:

The EU bans claim that water can prevent dehydration. The absolute ridiculousness of this article is an example of government regulation and “committee making” gone totally wrong. This paragraph brings it home:

…I had to read this four or five times before I believed it. It is a perfect example of what Brussels does best. Spend three years, with 20 separate pieces of correspondence before summoning 21 professors to Parma where they decide with great solemnity that drinking water cannot be sold as a way to combat dehydration.

And then I read this news story: ‘Going Galt’: Hedge Broker Shuts Down Firm With Chilling Letter About the Market. They quote her letter, but you can read it in its entirety at her website: Ann Barnhardt. I haven’t seen a better indictment of the economy in terms I, as a non-financial person, can understand. And really, it’s incredibly brave of her to state her case, and take action based on her professional observations.

Take note. This is a warning. I’m not saying sell everything and move into a yurt. I’m saying, stop burying your head in the sand, wake up, look around, and make educated decisions based on your family’s needs. Whether you believe in what the Occupy Movement is doing, or not… Whether you believe the economy is in trouble on a global scale, or not… Think about what these changes mean for you. Say you believe in the Occupy Movement and what it stands for. Even if you think it’s great – don’t you think there will be widespread transition time that will effect you in real-life ways? If you think they are doing it wrong – the same transition time applies. Please think about what’s going on around you and react accordingly.

Even if everything turns around and comes up roses and sunshine, unicorns and rainbows… at least you took a hard look and took action that may prepare you in an emergency. The very act of thinking through “what would we do” makes you more prepared than the average American (which is a sad and scary thought).

Our Thanksgiving Menu

By 1 Comment

So… Somehow it’s late November, 2011, and Thanksgiving is next week. I’m not entirely sure how that happened. It feels like the days are flying by faster and faster and faster.

Here’s what we’re having:

Turkey – I don’t usually stuff it with stuffing, but I do put onions and such in it for flavor. Got the Turkey for free this year, through a vons.com deal.

Stuffing – Stovetop. ‘Cause I like it, and it’s easy, and I got it for $0.99 this year.

Cranberry sauce – I’m the only one who’ll eat it.

Dinner rolls – We always have those Kings Hawaiian rolls, it’s turned into a tradition.

Mashed Potatoes – I’m going to use my Kitchen Aid mixer, and a recipe I got from it. Joseph likes potatoes.

Gravy – I don’t make great gravy from scratch, it’s really hit and miss. So I bought jarred as a backup just in case.

Carmen’s Corn Pudding – Never tried it before, but this is for Logan, who doesn’t like potatoes.

Pumpkin Pie – I make the filling from scratch, but buy pie shells, ’cause I have serious rolling out issues. No really, you don’t want me to roll out dough for anything. It’s embarrassing.

So – it’s a good mix of convenience and scratch cooking. I’ve done the Thanksgiving meal for all about 5 years or so, and I’m learning what I like, what I don’t, what the other family members like and don’t, and where my strengths and weaknesses are. The one problem I always have, though, is oven space. My turkey takes up the whole space. So, even though my parents are going to be out of town, I’m going to use theirs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mistakes

By 1 Comment

Have I mentioned I’m in therapy? I’m sure I have. Yesterday was therapy day.

I talked about a situation at work. I had made a mistake. I had assumed something, because that was convenient, and with some other things outside of my control, let to an error. I was a writhing mass of anxiety. I don’t make mistakes at work. So I brought it up at therapy. Any kind of “badness” or conflict creates this massive anxiety in me.

After we talked in therapy, we figured out together why. I don’t want to be “in trouble,” or yelled at, or anger thrown at me. I’m a grown woman. It seems that I’m fine when it comes to conflict involving my kids’ care (Hello, mama bear!) but me? Not so much. So we kept going back further and further. While I do come from an abuse situation, it feels like it stems from my very first memory.

I was living in New Jersey with Jeannette (my biological mother, for those who don’t know my story) and my “step-father.” Quotes – because I don’t know if they were ever actually married. In our apartment, I was coloring in a book on the kitchen floor. I went “outside the lines,” and colored on the floor accidentally. When my step-father questioned me, I lied and said it wasn’t me. He picked me up, and took me, my crayons, and my coloring books, put us all in the bathtub and turned on the shower (cold not hot). At the time, I had a terrible fear of the shower, so I was always given baths. The result? Coloring outside the lines, literally and figuratively, practically gives me hives. I didn’t take a shower for years. Probably not until I was about 14. And I hate hate hate making a mistake and/or getting in trouble. It eats at my stomach.

So… We talked about how despite the fact that I’m really good at my job, I’m still a human being, and human beings aren’t perfect. That’s life, and life is messy.

Sometimes I hate being a human. Humans hurt.

Punctuation on Forums

By Leave a Comment

I read a lot of forums. For the most part, I’m a lurker, not a participant. Every once in a while I need to stop, though. Not because of the content, but because of the lack of punctuation. I’m not saying you need a degree in English – but common punctuation is good. It gets your point across with clarity, and gives the mind the natural places to pause. For example, here’s the former paragraph in the form I run into:

i read a lot of forums for the most part im a lurker not a participant every once in a while i need to stop though not because of the content but because of the lack of punctuation im not saying you need a degree in english but common punctuation is good it gets your point across with clarity and gives the mind the natural places to pause for example heres the former paragraph in the form i run into:

Throw in spelling errors and your eyes bleed. Here’s the bottom line… If you’re not willing to make it legible, it degrades the credibility of whatever information you’re trying to get across in the forum. You sound illiterate and ignorant. Am I just being snobbish? I don’t care about the odd type, or the odd misspelling. I know there are words I struggle with. Like “exercise.” I NEVER spell that word correctly the first time. But that odd run-on kind of thing with no punctuation? It makes me feel like I’ve got a stream of consciousness thing going on – but it’s not MY stream. Annoying.

Out of Sorts

By Leave a Comment

I’m a little out of sorts today. Not sure why. I have a big project due for work, so perhaps it’s that I have a deadline looming? I don’t know.

Luckily, I had a check come through, so I’m able to replace my desk lamp. I went to turn it on this morning, and nothing. I’ve gone through 3 lightbulbs in 2 months. So, I think the lamp has finally bit the dust. It lasted a long time though! I had it next to my bed growing up. For a cheapy lamp, it had a long long life. So I got Poe and I matching desklamps. Also cheapy – but the better ones are $100-$200 a piece! I can’t spend that on small lamps! It goes against my constitution. Anyway, they match the decor I’m attempting in the office (nice but not too masculine or feminine, going with the burgundy/navy blue color scheme) since Poe and I share the office. I definitely need one, because our office is off the bedroom, and it’s kept like a cave so Poe can sleep during the day, and I need to be able to work.

Logan lost a tooth last night (and made $3). That took me by surprise! He had told me one was a little loose, and then he stumbled in to bring it to me after he was supposed to be asleep. At least he didn’t swallow it. The adult tooth is rightthere where you can see it, so it looks like the baby really hung on a long time. I was worried he would have my teeth – his smile was so similar – but the gap in his front teeth is closing, and the one he lost last night is one of mine that are still baby. (Yes, I still have baby teeth at 36 years of age.) So, it looks like he dodged my tooth bullet. Now let’s hope both kids dodged their dad’s tooth issues.

OK. Gotta go get motivated to work.

Recent Comments