I find myself today in unfamiliar territory. I am caught up. I have nothing pending to do for work. I am ready to go with homeschool (or at least as ready as I ever am, I never do lesson plans or anything, we fly by the seat of our pants, but know what subjects and general work we will cover). I have nothing waiting for me with my multiple volunteer positions in Girl Scouts. I am caught up.
Well, don't look at my messy house or the lack of menus for the week or the pile of laundry. Let me bask in my caught-up-ness.
I worked extra hard this weekend to get everything done for work. There is still hope we will get that big chart review project. Not a lot of hope, but a little. Even if we don't it feels wonderful not being behind the eight ball.
I spent the last hour making a library list for history and geography for the next few weeks and requested a ton of books on interlibrary loan. I went to the grocery store before dinner while Violet hung out with Mr. Incredible. Soon I'm going to plop down on the couch with a Suduko puzzle or three and relax. Then go to bed.
I can't remember where I left you last in the saga of Mr. I's job. He's gotten a 25% paycut. But they's upped his workload and responsibilities through the month of February. He'll likely have to travel to Minneapolis at the end of the month. He is so stressed out. He's really, really hoping once this big project is over he can cut back his hours to match his pay cut. And work from home most of the time. But really, what can he do if they say no? Quit? Yeah, like he can find something else. Sigh. It will work out. It could be a lot worse. March will be better.
In the meantime, I'm trying to do all the work I can to earn some extra money. You never know, tomorrow may bring an avalanche of more work. Or not. I'm hoping for an avalanche, but the break is nice. I'm enjoying it while I can. And hoping it doesn't last too long.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Melting!
After a full month on the ground, I got up this morning to see that the snow was really melting! I can see some blades of grass sticking up through it. What a beautiful sight!
Of course, once the snow melts the ground will be brown and muddy and ugly. But the snow was getting to be brown and icky and ugly. It was time for the change.
Our high temp for today is supposed to be 50! We haven't seen anything that warm in months. Oh sure, it is going back down in a day or two, but it is a welcome break. I was just telling Violet yesterday that once you get to February you can breath easier that winter is almost over. Only another month or so and we're home free.
Sure we've had lots of snow and cold, but the winter hasn't seemed that bad this year. I think partly because I didn't really drive any where in it this year. I avoided going out. Also I didn't have an infection all winter that culminated in a root canal this year. Thank goodness that happened last year while we had dental insurance! (Technically we still have dental, but it is a self-insurance plan through Mr. I's work and I can't imagine we'll actually get reimbursement for anything at this point).
Yippee, yahoo, Spring is almost here!
I wonder if my capris fit?
Of course, once the snow melts the ground will be brown and muddy and ugly. But the snow was getting to be brown and icky and ugly. It was time for the change.
Our high temp for today is supposed to be 50! We haven't seen anything that warm in months. Oh sure, it is going back down in a day or two, but it is a welcome break. I was just telling Violet yesterday that once you get to February you can breath easier that winter is almost over. Only another month or so and we're home free.
Sure we've had lots of snow and cold, but the winter hasn't seemed that bad this year. I think partly because I didn't really drive any where in it this year. I avoided going out. Also I didn't have an infection all winter that culminated in a root canal this year. Thank goodness that happened last year while we had dental insurance! (Technically we still have dental, but it is a self-insurance plan through Mr. I's work and I can't imagine we'll actually get reimbursement for anything at this point).
Yippee, yahoo, Spring is almost here!
I wonder if my capris fit?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Nine Weeks and Still Going
Yes, that's right. I've worked out every single day for the last 9 weeks. Actually, 9 weeks and 1 day. I have logged over 40 hours on Wii Fit. Some days I've worked out for an hour. Most days it was only 30 minutes. Some days it was only 10 or 20 minutes. But I keep going back and that's what counts.
I haven't lost any weight yet. I've been down a pound or two here and there but back up again. But I definitely feel better and that is even more important right now.
Almost every day I have looked forward to exercising. There have been a few days when I've had to drag myself to do it. But once I start I'm generally glad I did.
This is probably the longest I've ever stuck to a workout program.
I haven't lost any weight yet. I've been down a pound or two here and there but back up again. But I definitely feel better and that is even more important right now.
Almost every day I have looked forward to exercising. There have been a few days when I've had to drag myself to do it. But once I start I'm generally glad I did.
This is probably the longest I've ever stuck to a workout program.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Soup of the day
I'm stressed out. In not going to go into detail just yet, mainly because I don't have all the detail. Which stresses me out even more. It is economics related. It isn't nearly as bad as many, many, many families have had to deal with. But is a change and you know me, I only like change if things stay exactly like they are. And like I said, the worst part is not knowing exactly what is happening. (Okay, you got it out of me. Mr. I is getting a pay cut. I thought his hours would be cut too, but it doesn't look like that is happening. My work hours are able to increase. But since he won't have more time to help, I don't know where the hours will come from. The immediate aggregate income loss isn't as bad as it could be. I'm just overextended time-wise. I'm stressed. And I can't keep a secret. Don't tell me anything.)
When I'm stressed, I cook. Yesterday it was potato soup. Today it was cheesy cauliflower soup. I followed the recipe almost exactly, I just left out the onion. It was really good. In fact it was so good Violet had a second bowlful. That almost never happens!
Cauliflower-Cheese Soup
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup water
1 cup cauliflower, chopped
1 cup cubed potatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large saucepan, combine water, cauliflower, potatoes, celery,
carrots, and onion. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Set aside.
2. Melt butter in separate saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, and
cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and gradually stir in milk. Return
to heat, and cook until thickened. Stir in vegetables with cooking liquid,
and season with salt and pepper. Stir in cheese until melted, and
remove from heat.
Makes 4 servings.
The plan for tomorrow night is enchiladas. Mr. I is wondering how I'll make that into soup. ;)
When I'm stressed, I cook. Yesterday it was potato soup. Today it was cheesy cauliflower soup. I followed the recipe almost exactly, I just left out the onion. It was really good. In fact it was so good Violet had a second bowlful. That almost never happens!
Cauliflower-Cheese Soup
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup water
1 cup cauliflower, chopped
1 cup cubed potatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large saucepan, combine water, cauliflower, potatoes, celery,
carrots, and onion. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Set aside.
2. Melt butter in separate saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, and
cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and gradually stir in milk. Return
to heat, and cook until thickened. Stir in vegetables with cooking liquid,
and season with salt and pepper. Stir in cheese until melted, and
remove from heat.
Makes 4 servings.
The plan for tomorrow night is enchiladas. Mr. I is wondering how I'll make that into soup. ;)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Murphy's Law Kind of Day
You know the type. Nothing works. Nothing goes smoothly. None of it is all that bad. Just really annoying. Here are some highlights.
I could not get the jar of salsa open that I wanted to have with my lunch. After I had made the rest of my lunch and it was too late to pick out something else. I tried running hot water on the jar, tapping the lid on the counter (I know we aren't supposed to do that anymore but I was desperate) and grippy things. That damn lid wasn't coming off. First thing Mr. Incredible had to do when he came home tonight was open the jar so it wouldn't be a problem next time. Man, I wished he had been working from home today.
I submitted an article for work. There was an error. I fixed it. It got the okay to be sent to our clients. Then I heard that another part was wrong (I was listening to an audioconference and it came up there). Stop the damn presses while I research it. I haven't done it yet. The administrative assistants will be furious with me. They hate "stop the presses."
A couple of weeks ago I prepared a presentation for my boss and 3 other partners for them to give tomorrow morning. It included the outlook for healthcare under the Obama administration. Including....Tom Daschle as our new Secretary of Health and Human Services. What can I say, he looked like such a shoo-in 2 weeks ago! Ack. Scramble to summarize and send them the info on his stepping down and trying to find out if there was a new nominee. I'm so sorry, Mr. Daschle. I jinxed your appointment.
All day I dropped stuff. In school I totally forgot to do the subject Violet was most looking forward to (reading some Native American folk tales about the stars) yet made her do all the icky ones. I was short tempered and Violet was clingy. It wasn't the prettiest day.
Then the topper happened. I broke the toilet. In technical terms the plastic thingy that connects the plunger thing to the handle thingy snapped. I could flush manually by reaching in the tank, but the handle just flopped on its own. Mr. Incredible rigged a string to flush it with until he can get out to buy the necessary parts. The rig is pretty cool, I'm a bit afraid I won't remember how to do it in the middle of the night when I make my 2 am trip in there.
Good things did happen. I might get a 35-40 hour project to do this month, on top of my other work. When my senior manager asked if I could get the time to do it I assured her I would make the time. It is quite different than my usual work and although it promises to be dull and boring by the end, it will be a different dull and boring. She still wants to iron out some items in the contract with the client first, so it isn't a done deal. Mr. Incredible's company is iffy again, so I'm taking all the work I can get.
I got to chat with Burb Bunny this morning. That always makes me smile.
Mr. Incredible called our insurance guy to ask why our home owner's insurance went up $500. Turns out there was a coding error (They claimed we weren't in the city limits and not covered by the fire protection district. That was such a load of hooey. We are in the city limits and the fire protection district. We're two miles from the fire station. There's a freaking fire hydrant right across the street from our house!). It got fixed and we're back to a normal bill again.
I finally found a place to get bulk couscous! Amazon! My couscous arrives tomorrow. Along with Prince of Wales tea by Twinings, my favorite tea of all time.
I made a good pot of potato soup. Here's the recipe, except I used veggie stock in place of the water and chicken bouillon (and I only used about 3-1/2 cups):
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
Ingredients -
3 Potatoes, peeled & cut into bite size pieces
1 large Onion
1 Carrot, chopped
1 stalk Celery, chopped
1 tablespoon Parsley
5 cups Water
4 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
1 tablespoons Salt
Pepper, to taste
1-1/2 cups milk
Preparation:
Cook on low 10 to 12 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours. During the last hour of cooking, add 1 1/2 cups milk. At the end of cooking take a few ladles of veggies and blend in the blender and return to the pot.
Here's hoping your day is smooth, your tea is hot and your soup is yummy.
I could not get the jar of salsa open that I wanted to have with my lunch. After I had made the rest of my lunch and it was too late to pick out something else. I tried running hot water on the jar, tapping the lid on the counter (I know we aren't supposed to do that anymore but I was desperate) and grippy things. That damn lid wasn't coming off. First thing Mr. Incredible had to do when he came home tonight was open the jar so it wouldn't be a problem next time. Man, I wished he had been working from home today.
I submitted an article for work. There was an error. I fixed it. It got the okay to be sent to our clients. Then I heard that another part was wrong (I was listening to an audioconference and it came up there). Stop the damn presses while I research it. I haven't done it yet. The administrative assistants will be furious with me. They hate "stop the presses."
A couple of weeks ago I prepared a presentation for my boss and 3 other partners for them to give tomorrow morning. It included the outlook for healthcare under the Obama administration. Including....Tom Daschle as our new Secretary of Health and Human Services. What can I say, he looked like such a shoo-in 2 weeks ago! Ack. Scramble to summarize and send them the info on his stepping down and trying to find out if there was a new nominee. I'm so sorry, Mr. Daschle. I jinxed your appointment.
All day I dropped stuff. In school I totally forgot to do the subject Violet was most looking forward to (reading some Native American folk tales about the stars) yet made her do all the icky ones. I was short tempered and Violet was clingy. It wasn't the prettiest day.
Then the topper happened. I broke the toilet. In technical terms the plastic thingy that connects the plunger thing to the handle thingy snapped. I could flush manually by reaching in the tank, but the handle just flopped on its own. Mr. Incredible rigged a string to flush it with until he can get out to buy the necessary parts. The rig is pretty cool, I'm a bit afraid I won't remember how to do it in the middle of the night when I make my 2 am trip in there.
Good things did happen. I might get a 35-40 hour project to do this month, on top of my other work. When my senior manager asked if I could get the time to do it I assured her I would make the time. It is quite different than my usual work and although it promises to be dull and boring by the end, it will be a different dull and boring. She still wants to iron out some items in the contract with the client first, so it isn't a done deal. Mr. Incredible's company is iffy again, so I'm taking all the work I can get.
I got to chat with Burb Bunny this morning. That always makes me smile.
Mr. Incredible called our insurance guy to ask why our home owner's insurance went up $500. Turns out there was a coding error (They claimed we weren't in the city limits and not covered by the fire protection district. That was such a load of hooey. We are in the city limits and the fire protection district. We're two miles from the fire station. There's a freaking fire hydrant right across the street from our house!). It got fixed and we're back to a normal bill again.
I finally found a place to get bulk couscous! Amazon! My couscous arrives tomorrow. Along with Prince of Wales tea by Twinings, my favorite tea of all time.
I made a good pot of potato soup. Here's the recipe, except I used veggie stock in place of the water and chicken bouillon (and I only used about 3-1/2 cups):
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
Ingredients -
3 Potatoes, peeled & cut into bite size pieces
1 large Onion
1 Carrot, chopped
1 stalk Celery, chopped
1 tablespoon Parsley
5 cups Water
4 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
1 tablespoons Salt
Pepper, to taste
1-1/2 cups milk
Preparation:
Cook on low 10 to 12 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours. During the last hour of cooking, add 1 1/2 cups milk. At the end of cooking take a few ladles of veggies and blend in the blender and return to the pot.
Here's hoping your day is smooth, your tea is hot and your soup is yummy.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Answering reader comments
I'm terrible about replying to comments, so I thought I'd do so in one post. I'll start at the most recent and go back until I'm bored or Violet's ready for me to tuck her in.
Piggy asked about the streaker during Puppy Bowl. It was a shaved dog. Well, it still had tufts of hair here and there. And they blocked out his private's with a black box. It was funny.
Retha, I hadn't looked up to see where the World Cup was going next! That is so cool it is in your home country. You'd better be careful or you'll have the whole Incredible family bunking on your sofa.
Mom #1: I didn't watch any of Blago's TV appearances, by then he made me so sick I couldn't watch. Many of us are guessing that was all part of a plot to sell the book he's going to write and the movie rights. I'm not sure if I spelled it right, but most of us do call ourselves Illinoisans. Any you only pronounce the last "s". The "s" at the end of Illinois is always silent. (Just in case anyone was wondering. Tee hee)
Ami, Great Ireland ideas! Thanks! And yes, Irish Whiskey by the end of the day would definitely be in order. And it doesn't have to be Ireland Day either!
Wendy, great idea for Spring Babies Day!
To everyone, we haven't gotten any more fish yet, but I think the plan is to try again with 2 more.
Piggy & Mom #1, I never did get a review of Hotel for Dogs from them. I think they liked it. They never really said much. They did say that one of the dogs on Puppy Bowl looked like Romeo from the movie.
Gail, I hear you on being glad she didn't sell more cookies. I am so relieved not to have chase down nearly as many people for delivery and payment this year. I find that very stressful. We have some really cool incentives each year. We use ABC Bakers. Maybe you guys sell Little Brownie Cookies? Our Fall Product Sale incentives rock too. This year Violet got an ice cream ball (the thing where you put the ice cream mix in the ball that you kick all around and it turns to ice cream - sorry, I've quit being coherent. I'm too tired to go on. I'll post a picture of it one day.)
Piggy asked about the streaker during Puppy Bowl. It was a shaved dog. Well, it still had tufts of hair here and there. And they blocked out his private's with a black box. It was funny.
Retha, I hadn't looked up to see where the World Cup was going next! That is so cool it is in your home country. You'd better be careful or you'll have the whole Incredible family bunking on your sofa.
Mom #1: I didn't watch any of Blago's TV appearances, by then he made me so sick I couldn't watch. Many of us are guessing that was all part of a plot to sell the book he's going to write and the movie rights. I'm not sure if I spelled it right, but most of us do call ourselves Illinoisans. Any you only pronounce the last "s". The "s" at the end of Illinois is always silent. (Just in case anyone was wondering. Tee hee)
Ami, Great Ireland ideas! Thanks! And yes, Irish Whiskey by the end of the day would definitely be in order. And it doesn't have to be Ireland Day either!
Wendy, great idea for Spring Babies Day!
To everyone, we haven't gotten any more fish yet, but I think the plan is to try again with 2 more.
Piggy & Mom #1, I never did get a review of Hotel for Dogs from them. I think they liked it. They never really said much. They did say that one of the dogs on Puppy Bowl looked like Romeo from the movie.
Gail, I hear you on being glad she didn't sell more cookies. I am so relieved not to have chase down nearly as many people for delivery and payment this year. I find that very stressful. We have some really cool incentives each year. We use ABC Bakers. Maybe you guys sell Little Brownie Cookies? Our Fall Product Sale incentives rock too. This year Violet got an ice cream ball (the thing where you put the ice cream mix in the ball that you kick all around and it turns to ice cream - sorry, I've quit being coherent. I'm too tired to go on. I'll post a picture of it one day.)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl? Not Here!
We aren't football fans here. We follow soccer. We used to be real fanatics. Then we had a house to look after and a kid to raise. Now Mr. Incredible and I are lucky to catch a few games a year. Except during World Cup. The world stops for World Cup. Violet has to find her own food for 3 weeks while we watch every game humanly possible.
Today was Super Bowl Sunday. It does mean something special here in the Incredible household. Puppy Bowl! We love it. It is impossible not to get sucked in to the cute little puppies running all over, tumbling over each other, and playing ball. And the kitty half time show is a real family favorite. We watch every year. This year was no exception.
Animal Planet really outdid themselves this year. The audience! The streaker on the field! It was hilarious. I can hardly wait until next year. But I don't have to wait, they are replaying it all day long. I can watch Puppy Bowl at least 2 or 3 more times today. Who can get enough of it?
Now that is a sporting event worth watching!
Today was Super Bowl Sunday. It does mean something special here in the Incredible household. Puppy Bowl! We love it. It is impossible not to get sucked in to the cute little puppies running all over, tumbling over each other, and playing ball. And the kitty half time show is a real family favorite. We watch every year. This year was no exception.
Animal Planet really outdid themselves this year. The audience! The streaker on the field! It was hilarious. I can hardly wait until next year. But I don't have to wait, they are replaying it all day long. I can watch Puppy Bowl at least 2 or 3 more times today. Who can get enough of it?
Now that is a sporting event worth watching!
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