Saturday, January 31, 2009

CONCERT SLIPKNOT

Oh the things you do when you become mom of a teenage boy.



Friday, January 30, 2009

Slightly Overwhelmed

Is "slightly" overwhelmed is possible? no.

School Board huge issues...Huge decision for my family for the future. Nothing is easy. Nothing is cheap.

My daughter Joy...going through huge developmental issues with her.

I guess ISSUES and OVERWHELMED are my words of the day.

I'm having RENTER issues. Oh. There's that word again. Involved in a fix it ...no that "fix it" implies small. This is not small. Every detail makes the project bigger. and BIGGER. How bout HUGE. Yes..this is HUGE. I'm not DOING the work, I'm responsible for it, dealing with an idiot mother of the renter, several handicapped individuals living in it...blocking the main living entrance.

This was the start of a new semester for me this week, teaching 4 classes that I have not taught before. I had a melt down panic attack before class the other day...it was ...an issue to say the least...>Fake it till you make it.

Please tell me..is it WRONG that my most prized possession right now are my 4 dollar pair of plastic sungoggles I use in the tanner????

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Recepe's From Bavarian Inn

Dorothy's Most Requested Recipes
A tiny 85 year old woman still works six days a week making these.
Dorothy's Recipe of the Month
Blonde Brownies

1 cup sifted flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped nuts
⅓ cup oleo
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla
½ package (3 ounce) chocolate chips

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Add nuts. Mix well and set aside.

Melt oleo in saucepan. Remove from heat. Add brown sugar and hot water. Cool. Add egg and vanilla. Blend.

Add flour mixture mixing well. Spread in greased 9x9x2 inch pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on batter. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Sweet Sour Navy Bean Salad
1 pound (2 cups)Michigan Navy Beans
1 1/4 cups celery, diced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup Italian dressing
(or any oil and vinegar dressing 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon Frankenmuth All Purpose Seasoning (or other all purpose seasoning)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup diced pimientos
Soak beans in 6 cups of water for up to 8 hours (or overnight in the refrigerator). Drain and rinse. Combine with 6 cups fresh water and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Drain, cool, then add remaining ingredients. Chill in refrigerator about 4 hours before serving. Serves 10-12

Apple Kuchen
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 3-ounce pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups peeled & chopped apples
1 1/2 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples 2 tablespoons apple juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margaine
In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in 1 1/4 cups flour. Press crumbly mixture onto bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake in 350º oven for 5 minutes. Cool.

Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until combined. Beat in egg. Pour over crust. Mix apples, apple juice, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Spoon over cheese. Bake in 350º oven for 45 minutes. Combine oats, 1/3 cup flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Cut in 1/4 cup butter or margarine to resemble coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over pie. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes more. Makes 1 pie.

Bavarian Inn Creamy Cucumber Salad
Mix 1 Tbsp. Salt and
2 ½ pounds cucumbers.
Let stand 3 hours in
refrigerator. Drain in
colander 1 hour
In refrigerator. Juice
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ tsp. Onion powder
1/8 tsp. Garlic powder
4 Tbsp. Ivory Jel
½ cup salad dressing
½ cup vinegar
½ cup half and half cream
Mix dry ingredients. Stir salad dressing into dry mixture. Add vinegar and
cream. Pour juice over drained cucumbers and mix. Garnish with red
peppers. Serves 10.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Headlines..

Relative: Dead baby appeared 'happy, healthy'
YEP...RIGHT up until the time he was dead...He looked REEEEEL good.

..."Nine other children under the age of 18 were living in the three-bedroom apartment with several adult relatives, Morris and police said.

Police described the apartment as a "health hazard," saying it was roach-infested and strewn with garbage."

THIS from a couple weeks ago...

Babies found living with rats, roaches
January 4, 2009 4:26 PM

Three babies found by Chicago police in a West Side apartment without running water or central heat were taken into protective custody Saturday, and their parents were charged with neglect and endangerment.The babies -- a 16-month-old boy, 14-month-old boy and 4-month-old girl -- were taken from the apartment. There were roaches, rats, numerous open containers of alcohol, exposed electrical wires, an overflowed toilet with human waste, and no food or water in the second-floor apartment where the children were found. Shirley Johnson, 44,(Grandma) acknowledged the apartment does not have running water or a working toilet, but she said the Chicago police description of their residence was wrong.Police said they found the little boys sitting in the apartment wearing winter coats. Not yet knowing about the baby girl, police said they took the two little boys into protective custody, and arrested Latrice Johnson and Wysinger. Fenner, who had been at the store, returned shortly after and was arrested.

In the meantime, other officers stuck around the apartment to wait for evidence technicians to arrive, police said. About a half-hour later, police said, the officers heard noises coming from a bedroom.

That's where they discovered the baby girl on the floor behind a mattress that was propped against a wall, police added.

"If it were not for the alertness of the officers at the scene, this 4-month-old baby could have died," Andrews said.


Makes me sad...thinking of all of these kids crammed into a filthy reeking apartment...

Sunday, January 25, 2009

I Live in Michigan

Aug. 12 - Moved into our new home in Michigan . It is so beautiful here. The hills and river valleys are so picturesque.
Our house sits back off the street and looks so nice with the long curving driveway. I have a beautiful old oak tree in my front yard. It's long graceful limbs shade my house. Can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is truly God's Country.



Oct. 14 - Michigan is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer. I see so many sweet little deer every day. They are so graceful, certainly they must be the most peaceful creatures on Earth. Michigan must be paradise.



Nov. 11 - Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why anyone would want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and tranquility here in Michigan . I hope it snows soon so the hunters will stop harassing the little deer. Then the winter beauty I have been waiting to see will be with us. I love it here!



Dec. 2 - It snowed last night. I woke to the most wonderful sight: everything covered in a beautiful blanket of soft white snow. The oak tree is so magnificent. It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow from the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We had a snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must have gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel the end of the driveway out again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony with man. I love it here!



Dec. 12 - More snow last night. I love it! All it did was paint a fresh coat of beautiful white on this picturesque landscape. The plow did his cute little trick again. Oh just a little extra shoveling. What a rascal. A winter wonderland. I love it here!



Dec. 19 - More snow - couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. Boy the roads were really slippery! They need to use more salt. Dang this driveway is really long. And that snowplow!



Dec. 21 - More of that white shit coming down. I've got blisters on my hands and a kink in my back. Fell on my ass twice and my boots are soaked. I think that the snowplow driver waits around the corner until I'm done shoveling the end of the driveway. Asshole plow driver anyway.



Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on the sonofabitch who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. Over paid government workers anyway. And why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap??



Dec. 28 - It hasn't stopped snowing since Christmas. I have been inside since then, except of course when that SOB "Snowplow Harry" comes by. Can't go anywhere, both cars are buried up to the windows. Weather man says to expect another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is on this long ass driveway?? And then the frggin plow will come by...AGAIN!



Jan. 1 - Happy New Year? MY ASS!! The way it's coming down it won't melt until the 4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the shithead actually had the balls to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him don't break it, I'd broken six already this season. HA HA the sonabitch slipped on his ass too.



Jan. 4 - Finally got out of the house. Dug out of this overly long ass driveway, why didn't the jack ass who built this house just cut that stupid Oak down and build closer to the street anyway? We went to the store to get some food and two damn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit one of the four legged bastards. It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts ought to be killed. The hunters should have a longer season if you ask me. Body count that's what I want!



Jan. 27 - Warmed up a little and rained all yesterday and today. The rain turned the snow into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of that stupid oak tree in the front yard and it went through the roof. Ruined all the dry wall in the dinning room with the water. I should have cut that old piece of shit into fireplace wood when I had the chance last fall.


Feb. 2 - Ground Hogs day, what a long cold winter! I am gonna kill that insurance agent. Plastic over the hole in the roof and the heats flying out the hole. He said he will get out here as soon as the road get plowed out. Consumers Power sent me a bill for $397.30 for January. Bastards might as well just made it an even $400.00. Started burning that green ass oak to stay warm.


Mar. 16- Damn construction guys tore up the whole muddy ass yard fixing the roof. Looks like a war zone out there. Now those dirty ass deer are in the yard eating the bushes. Michigan needs to get rid of these over sized rodents! Finished cutting down that useless ass oak tree. Now I have to get rid of the stump.



May 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole underside of the car is rusted away from all of that damn salt they dump on the road? Why does Michigan use so much salt anyway!? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow shit.



May 10 - Sold the rusted junk ass car, the house with the long ass driveway and moved to Florida . I can't imagine why anyone with half a frikkin brain would ever want to live in the God forsaken State of Michigan ...

Saturday, January 24, 2009

People to People Australia


Of the say 8,000 fund needed to send Helena to Australia with People to People...we have 1400 so far. Send date is JULY 1.Student Ambassadors
Traveling to the South Pacific, Asia, Europe and many other destinations, People to People Student Ambassador Programs offer students in grades 5-12 life-changing educational travel opportunities that foster friendship, build the foundation for personal success, and offer unique access to people, places, and activities. Program delegations are built around local communities, so students make friends locally before they travel globally.People to People Moments
People to People Moments

* Be a welcomed guest for a two-night stay with an Australian family eager to meet you.
* Submerge and converge at the Great Barrier Reef in company with your delegation’s own marine biologist to assist your exploration.
* Tackle adventure full force with outdoor athletic challenge courses and teambuilding activities.
* Participate in a significant, localized service project in cooperation with the hosting community.

Enhance Your Education
Enhance Your Education
Ambassadors on this program will earn special insights into:

* Marine biology and its application to Australia’s sea life
* History of Australia’s first settlements
* Zoology, geology, and botany
* World Heritage sites
* Geography and the anomalies of this region
* Australia’s multiculturalism

Top Program Activities
Top Program Activities

* Spend some quality time with another flightless Australian bird—the Little Penguin!
* Wii takes a backseat to SPORTEX, an interactive sport exhibit that has you vie against elite and world champion athletes.
* Appreciate nature, nose to nose, with koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. Crocodiles are enjoyed from a greater distance!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

What I'm thinking about ? Listening



It's the only version of the song I could find...I don't like the VISUALS..but it is Bonnie singing..and the breakthrough words..EH....
SHE'S NOBODY'S GIRL I feel like this...
She don't need anybody to tell her she's pretty
She's heard it every single day of her life
He's got to wonder what she sees in him when theres so many others
Standing in line
She gives herself to him, but he's still on the outside.
She's alone in this world
She's nobody's girl
She's nobody's girl
She shows up at his doorstep in the middle of the night
Then she disappears for weeks at a time
Just enough to keep him wanting more
But never is he satisfied
And he's left to pick up the pieces
Wondering what does he do this for
She's off in her own little world
She's nobody's girl
She's nobody's girl
He said, Before I met her, I didn't love nothing.
I could take it or leave it,
That was okay, but, she brings out a want in me, of things I didn't even
Know that I need.
She does anything she wants, anytime she wants to.
With anyone, you know, she wants it all.
Still she gets all upset over the least little thing
When you hurt her, it makes you feel so small.
And she's a walking contradiction, but I ache for her inside.
She's fragile like a string of pearls,
She's nobody's girl.
She's nobody's girl.
She's nobody's girl.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Monday, January 05, 2009

What We've been eating

Robyn has been consulting with a food lady. One great suggestion I am going to put into place is menuing. Ness has menu's. I remember the blackboard. We never have. Every day is the question..What's for dinner?

You can but stuff on SALE, stock up and save on groceries rather than buying every day...Much easier to do now that the kids are older.

Rob's lady says to write down all the types of meat, then simply put THAT on the calendar to start with.
Chicken, beef, Pork, pasta, Turkey, Ham, Then..What about Casseroles? What about Soups?

Chicken: Baked Chicken, Chicken legs, Chicken with rice, Chicken Strips, Chicken Kievs



Beef: Burgers, Burritos, Chuck Roast, Barbeque Beef, Steaks, Meatloaf, Meatballs,

Turkey:

Ham: I don't think I've ever baked a whole ham. I use Turkey Ham for Sandwiches while on road trips. We use sliced ham for lunches. But a whole ham? Wierd..just haven't done it.

SOUP: Turkey Noodle, White Bean Chicken Chili, Tomato, Don Potato, Regular Chili

Pasta: Spaghetti, Alfredo, Manicotti, Lasagna, Mac and Cheese,

Salads: Big Salad, Taco Salad, Coleslaw

Potatoes: Baked, Scalloped, Mashed, Cut up-Microwaved then baked, French Fries, Tater Tots, twice baked,

Pizza: Regular, English Muffin Pizzas, Chicken W/Peanut Sauce, Black Bean Pizza,

Any other ideas?

Sunday, January 04, 2009

What We've been eating

Sorry for the boring post...but I really want to try and make our food life easier.

Lately...
Ate at Irish pub..Had great food...yum on some Onion straws. Yum on Chicken. oh yah..and wine...and GOOD Onion rings.

Christmas eve...Went to Christmas Eve service..had traveled during the day..so..I'm embarrassed to admit it..but had the local Gas Station Pizza..HOWEVER...had them NOT bake them off, and we doctored them up. It was really good, comforting, and hey..PIZZA.

Christmas..For some reason hadn't really planned ahead for dinner...Don was going to make Chef Paul Prudomme's Tomato Soup...We mix our own seasonings but this recipe calls for his pre mixed seasonings ( Ingredients
Chef Paul Tomato Soup
* Seasoning mix
* 2 tablespoon Chef Paul Prudhomme's Seafood Magic®
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* For the Soup
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 4 tablespoon (1/2stick) unsalted butter
* 1 1/2 cup chopped onions
* 1/2 cup chopped celery
* 11 cup peeled and chopped very ripe tomatoes (about 16)
* 1 1/2 cup chicken stock
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

* Print
* Share
* Save This Recipe

Cooking Instructions

Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl. Bring the cream just to the boiling point in a small saucepan, remove from the heat and set aside.

Melt the butter in a heavy 3-quart pot (do not use cast iron) over high heat. Add the onions and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the seasoning mix and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and the remaining seasoning mix, cover and bring to a rolling boil. Uncover, stir well, and cook hard for about 3 minutes. Stir in the stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat to high, and cook for 10 minutes more. Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat. Put the soup into a food processor or blender in 2 batches and process until coarsely puréed but not quite smooth. Pour into a large bowl and stir in the reserved cream.


ANYWAY...We DIDN'T have that....I made Chicken Kiev's....Rice Pilaf, part of a Pork tenderloin that I had stuffed with garlic and cooked before and froze. I also asked Don, and he made Garlic Shrimp tossed in butter and Bread crumbs. Dinner was yummy.

I've been cooking for a friend...tons of food, and recently made Chicken Alfredo, white bean chicken chili, Lasagna, and Turkey Meatloaf.

Yesterday...had burritos/tacos, made cole slaw.

Today..I took all the left over meat from Burrito's and the Left over Refried beans, added celery and made chili. I didn't have "real" onion's so added dried ones. Used tomato drink as the base. It was simple and easy, quick and good.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Travel Times

Most of you remember My BIG fat naked internet boyfriend..but this trip I replaced him!!
We got terribly turned around in the Northwest corner of South Carolina, and ended up at the top of a mountain..so we made the best of it...we ATE BARBEQUE!!



GROSS out alert!!

This is My Joy. She is not Gross.



This is Grace, Born two weeks before my middle. She is Brilliant, Pretty and Kindhearted.


She takes after her mommy.



These injuries are a LOT worse than they look in the pictures. Ooozing white blood cells continue to crust over and peel off. GET THE BUCKET.







One of my presents was a trip to South Carolina to see ROBYN, one of the dearest people on earth. It was a Very quick trip. Well..not quick but..2 days travel there, 2 days actually visiting, and 2 days back. Ugh. Can a person get butt sore? YES.
My middle was playing with all their cool stuff and WIPED out on a non electric scooter. DEEP nasty Scraping oozing wounds ensued. Bleh.

Christmas Eve

We traveled quite a bit during Christmas, but didn't start out MEANING too. First after the HORRID weather in Michigan, started out getting plowed out at least 7 times at 20$$ or more each time.
We went to Lansing to see our friends who were traveling from Arkansas, to Chicago and like Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (anyone remember him?) to ..BEYOND!!!



This is Ness. She of the FAMOUS http://happinessisabutterfly.blogspot.com/ Blog. More important than THAT though..is She is my friend.




I met Vanessa and Robb when I switched churches from a Pastor that was manipulative, and abusive all in the name of God. Yah. I will SOO stop there. Anyway, Robb, the first time I met him, I was volunteering at their Church for the Community, as they were doing the Daycare for anyone working on building our local Playscape at the park. (pictures are here are real cool http://www.ithacami.com/gallery.html )

Robb asked me, after finding out that I was then a Foster/Adoptive Recruiter how much money it cost to adopt, as he and his wife (Vanessa) were THINKING about it..but didn't have a ton of money. HA HA!! That was all the IN I needed. I was working with a nut job State Employee who at been demoted at the time, but anyway...we got them approved for foster care and ...later adoption. It was a GOD thing, and I don't say that very often.





I Love this kid!! I burst out crying when I saw all of their kids!! Crying. Me. Emotional. In a public place!! Who'd believe it?




Every time I look at this kid..I know I did something right in my life.



And,,this is One of My kids, we killed some time touring the local Krispy Kreme Factory. it was COOL.