So far in the past week and 1/2 I have made it to 4 classes. They included Pilates, Body Balance, Yoga, and Body Jam (when they say Jam, they wuzn't kiddin!) . That Body Jam kicked my arse! 40 minutes and I had to stop because of a cramp in my butt muskels!!!!
Hey! No laughing! Butt muskel cramps no feel good! I've also done some rowing (on a machine not on a lake or anything cool) and lots and LOTS of walking on the treadmill. I feel powerfully inept when in the classes and pretty cool when I'm walking on the 'mill....just not near anyone running full out LOL!
Emotionally, it's been a bit of a roller coaster. I saw the counselor provided by work again this week, but didn't feel I accomplished much...it felt more like I was just chatting with someone new and telling them about my week. So next visit will be devoted to strictly one topic - the ex. Gawd, that's going to suck but I suppose I need to get quite a few things off my chest. I've just never really talked about how I felt about the whole shebang.
It's easy to say "get over it" or "move on" but it just isn't that easy. Well, perhaps it's easy for some people to just let things go and never revisit them again, but I'm not like that. I tend to examine them, turn them over and try to make sense of things...even if it is painful. Which is what I need to work on, the coping with the painful stuff. I'm coped out at this point.
But I still feel positive. I am also quite grateful to my sister who I woke up around 3 am her time to talk because I just HAD to talk to someone!!!!!!!! Thanks, sis! You're the best!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Surviving the day after in style
Yes I have survived Pilates! WOOT! I Rock! Yes, I'm sore, but not nearly as much as I thought I would be. Mostly it's the Abs that feel like I need to bend over as far backwards as I can, which isn't NEARLY as far back as I really can since, well there's that whole back surgery thing and the fact that I've been a lazy couch tater since.
Anywho, we decided to have a nice dinner of steaks (well trimmed with little fat and VERY thin, almost see through kind on thin, but hey, they were still steaks). Plus I had some mushrooms I needed to use up, so sauteed them with a bit o gahlic buttah and celtic sea salt. Can you say, "yummy in da tummy?"
Anyway, it's easy, so easy in fact I'mma gibs ya da recipe for Tabasco Steaks with Watercress Butter. Don't let the Tabasco part scare you, I used the green Tabasco since it's milder in heat and longer on flavour - at least to my taste buds.
Recipe:
1 bunch watercress
85 grams unsalted butter
4 sirloin steaks (or your choice)
4 tsp Tabasco sauce
salt and pepper (to your taste)
Finely chop watercress till you have about 4 TBSP worth and maybe a little extra for garnish if you're into that sorta thing.
Fill small bowl with butter and either allow to soften or nuke in the microwave a few secs till sufficiently soft. Mix watercress into butter until well incorporated, spoon mix onto either greaseproof paper or cling wrap and roll up into a cute little sausage like roll and pop into the fridge to cool until needed (once the steaks are cooked).
Sprinkle each steak with about 1 tsp of the tabasco sauce, rubbing in well and season with salt and pepper.
Cook steaks on a griddle, grill, grill pan, or whatever method you choose over high heat until done to your liking. Transfer steaks to plate, garnish with watercress butter and sprinkle a few of the reserved leaves on. Voila! You now have a steak you shall remember fondly for quite some time!
Anywho, we decided to have a nice dinner of steaks (well trimmed with little fat and VERY thin, almost see through kind on thin, but hey, they were still steaks). Plus I had some mushrooms I needed to use up, so sauteed them with a bit o gahlic buttah and celtic sea salt. Can you say, "yummy in da tummy?"
Anyway, it's easy, so easy in fact I'mma gibs ya da recipe for Tabasco Steaks with Watercress Butter. Don't let the Tabasco part scare you, I used the green Tabasco since it's milder in heat and longer on flavour - at least to my taste buds.
Recipe:
1 bunch watercress
85 grams unsalted butter
4 sirloin steaks (or your choice)
4 tsp Tabasco sauce
salt and pepper (to your taste)
Finely chop watercress till you have about 4 TBSP worth and maybe a little extra for garnish if you're into that sorta thing.
Fill small bowl with butter and either allow to soften or nuke in the microwave a few secs till sufficiently soft. Mix watercress into butter until well incorporated, spoon mix onto either greaseproof paper or cling wrap and roll up into a cute little sausage like roll and pop into the fridge to cool until needed (once the steaks are cooked).
Sprinkle each steak with about 1 tsp of the tabasco sauce, rubbing in well and season with salt and pepper.
Cook steaks on a griddle, grill, grill pan, or whatever method you choose over high heat until done to your liking. Transfer steaks to plate, garnish with watercress butter and sprinkle a few of the reserved leaves on. Voila! You now have a steak you shall remember fondly for quite some time!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Monday....
It's Monday, not too bad a Monday at that either, but then maybe you should ask me tomorrow since I did my first EVER Pilates class.
From what I could tell it was a really good one - I have experience from videos and books before, but never in a class with a bunch of other people and an instructor pushing me.
Anywho, I can already tell my tummy and arse are gonna be killing me in the ayem...and probably the peeyem as well....hell, it ALREADY hurts!!!!!!!! Ok, so maybe not hurts so much as sore at the moment. But you can bet you sweet little tushies I'm gonna milk it for all it's worth, the sympathy that is, which I don't think there will be much of since my friends at work are all taking dance classes or work out at their own gyms.
I haven't yet decided to join this particular gym, but it's an all womens one with nice facilities, etc, but I'd like to look at one with the same facilities plus a pool. I like to swim and it'd be great for my back, too.
Ok, going before I melt off the chair and end up in a puddle sleeping with Tigez on the floor.
From what I could tell it was a really good one - I have experience from videos and books before, but never in a class with a bunch of other people and an instructor pushing me.
Anywho, I can already tell my tummy and arse are gonna be killing me in the ayem...and probably the peeyem as well....hell, it ALREADY hurts!!!!!!!! Ok, so maybe not hurts so much as sore at the moment. But you can bet you sweet little tushies I'm gonna milk it for all it's worth, the sympathy that is, which I don't think there will be much of since my friends at work are all taking dance classes or work out at their own gyms.
I haven't yet decided to join this particular gym, but it's an all womens one with nice facilities, etc, but I'd like to look at one with the same facilities plus a pool. I like to swim and it'd be great for my back, too.
Ok, going before I melt off the chair and end up in a puddle sleeping with Tigez on the floor.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Feeling a little off
It's Saturday and I decided last night to try my new medicine (Effexor XR) since it seemed to cause drowsiness from what I've read. Hrm, I dunno if that's such a good idea. I think I'll stick to taking in th morning with a big glass of water.
I can deal with sleepiness during the day, especially while I'm at work but I can't deal with waking up disoriented and barely being able to crawl out of the bed. I can say that I don't feel stressed or anxious...perhaps I'm just too darn tired LOL!
So, that's it for me this ayem...mayhap a little more later if the mood descends upon me once again.
I DID promise myself I'd write more, and so I am.
I can deal with sleepiness during the day, especially while I'm at work but I can't deal with waking up disoriented and barely being able to crawl out of the bed. I can say that I don't feel stressed or anxious...perhaps I'm just too darn tired LOL!
So, that's it for me this ayem...mayhap a little more later if the mood descends upon me once again.
I DID promise myself I'd write more, and so I am.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Easter is almost here!
Today is Friday the 29th of February. It comes around every four years....or so I'm told. I have no idea why it's so special. I think it's a Gregorian calendar thing or not. Anyway, it gets too complex to wrap my mind around so here's a couple of links if you really care to check it out. Wiki is generally good, but I sometimes think it's a cop out to use it, but here ya go!
S0, for this up coming Easter I have decided a few things. First I am having guests over...at the moment it only consists of one other couple (one other I invited can't make it due to camping schedule conflicts - BOO!). Anywho, we are going to attempt another turkey and some cool dressing or stuffing of some sort. I am waiting for my sister to send me her sweet potato soufflé with coconut recipe (HINT HINT!!!!!! This means get on the ball, Miss Erin!). We shall have the obligatory broccoli casserole and a nice green salad with home made honey mustard dressing (C~ prefers to put that on his turkey as opposed to gravy) and I think I shall try to dig up the Emeril Lagasse creole or cajun oyster dressing.
It seems that I must cook to impress, cuz Brooke insists she is dying to try some awful gooey dessert stuff that is affectionately known as sweet potato soufflé (gag me with a ginsu, why don't ya?) I WILL make it, but it doesn't mean I'll like it LMAO!!!!! I am sorry if I offend lovers of the loverley sweet tater concoction out there, but for me, all they need is a little buttah, forget all that othuh stuff....HUNNEH!
I'm pretty sure that THIS is the recipe I'll use for the oyster dressing
S0, for this up coming Easter I have decided a few things. First I am having guests over...at the moment it only consists of one other couple (one other I invited can't make it due to camping schedule conflicts - BOO!). Anywho, we are going to attempt another turkey and some cool dressing or stuffing of some sort. I am waiting for my sister to send me her sweet potato soufflé with coconut recipe (HINT HINT!!!!!! This means get on the ball, Miss Erin!). We shall have the obligatory broccoli casserole and a nice green salad with home made honey mustard dressing (C~ prefers to put that on his turkey as opposed to gravy) and I think I shall try to dig up the Emeril Lagasse creole or cajun oyster dressing.
It seems that I must cook to impress, cuz Brooke insists she is dying to try some awful gooey dessert stuff that is affectionately known as sweet potato soufflé (gag me with a ginsu, why don't ya?) I WILL make it, but it doesn't mean I'll like it LMAO!!!!! I am sorry if I offend lovers of the loverley sweet tater concoction out there, but for me, all they need is a little buttah, forget all that othuh stuff....HUNNEH!
I'm pretty sure that THIS is the recipe I'll use for the oyster dressing
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
My hero
I've been thinking about my Great grandmother quite a bit lately. She is 101 and will be 102 in October of this year. This is a picture of her on her 100th birthday (and a gratuitous shot of my hunky cousin Jeremy hugging her).
She does quite well, lives alone but has either my great aunt Sylvia (Granny's younger daughter) or my grandmother, whom we call Mamaw who is the elder of the two daughters.
Anyway, Granny usually has either one of them stay with her or she stays at their homes.
Granny is quite independent, even being blind from macular degeneration and having a bad knee, she still gets around well enough to be able to cook, garden, and care for herself. Her mind is as sharp as ever and I miss her terribly.
The reason she is my hero is because of the incredible life she's lead. She was sort of engaged to a young man who never asked her to marry him...so they didn't marry, and instead she married my great grandfather, Levi. I'm told it was a whirlwind romance of 3 days - though this story varies depending on who is telling it.
Being born in 1906, she didn't have the benefit of modern conveniences, clothes washed by hand and all those other things we take for granted. At one point she and granddaddy owned a gas station, then granddaddy worked for the railroad and Granny went to work at Belk's department store. I believe she was there over 30 years.
After she retired, she went to work for my uncle washing dishes at his restaurant....I think she did this until she was in her mid 80's, perhaps even later. I'll have to ask her when I call her this weekend. She kept driving until she was about 95 when her macular degeneration got too bad, though she'd only driven during the day for many many years - I think she had trouble seeing at night due to cataracts that were of course removed in her 70's giving her 20/20 vision!
She dealt with a hard drinking husband who passed away in 1976, she bore 2 daughters, has 6 grand children, 16 great-grand children, and there are somewhere around 10 or 12 great-great-grandchildren, once again....it's way too many to keep count since I'm not very close to a few of my cousins and don't know exactly how many children they have....plus there might be a step-child or two involved as well.
Granny is amazing! The most amazing thing though is that just before I moved here, my Aunt Sylvia took me aside and told me that if I didn't already know it then she figured she should tell me how hard it was going to be on Granny for me to leave...because I was her favorite.
Whaaaaaa??????? Ok, I've come to terms with it now, but talk about shock! I've never been anyone's favorite anything. But knowing I was Granny's favorite great-grandchild made me feel something special. It's not a thing I can describe. It isn't tangible. It's just there.
If from this point on in life I was alone, I would still know that I'm loved by the one person who has had the most impact on my life. Heck, this is the lady that taught me that "you KNOW collard greens are done 'cuz they look slick".
Ok, so that doesn't mean much to most people, but when one's Granny teaches you to cook by taste, touch, smell, and sight it means a hell of a lot.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Exploring my inner kitten
Ok, get your mind out of the gutter people!
Today I saw my new therapist for the first time. We seemed to hit it off quite well and talked for well over an hour and a half. He didn't suggest I journal or anything but gave me some things to think about until our next visit in 3 weeks.
So, I figured I would do my exploring here. It's as good a place as any and I can certainly type much faster than I write.
I expect some things to be a little painful, some to be disconcerting and others to probably be kind of funny. I also expect that going through the memories may make me feel a bit angry, sad or frustrated at times. But as I've said before, I'm going to keep at it. Hopefully I will be able to finally come to terms with a few things. My Therapist, lets give him a cool nickname...how about Freud? Ok Freud it is. He said that he feels he can help to change some of my perceptions about certain events or actions of others. If nothing else, give me things to think about in between sessions.
So far, I feel slightly more energetic...I'm hoping it will stay this way or even get a little better, if not I may suggest trying one of the new SNRI's instead of the SSRI I'm on at the moment. The problem with that is that since this is Australia certain ones aren't available here yet. Anywho, the only reason I bring that up is that I'd forgotten that some SSRI's (which I'm on one of them now) cause anxiety and, well....docs don't' really like prescribing a whole bunch of Valium and I also don't like taking it on a regular basis. I mean hell, it's GREAT for when I fly on planes and when I'm pretty highly stressed (ie, not very damn often) and need to relax a bunch before I get a massage but I don't really want to take it every day. So, we'll see what we shall see.
I'm keeping on keeping on.
Ta ta till later,
keep rooting, errrr I mean cheering for me. In case you aren't sure why I changed that from rooting to cheering, check Aussie slang for root :P
Today I saw my new therapist for the first time. We seemed to hit it off quite well and talked for well over an hour and a half. He didn't suggest I journal or anything but gave me some things to think about until our next visit in 3 weeks.
So, I figured I would do my exploring here. It's as good a place as any and I can certainly type much faster than I write.
I expect some things to be a little painful, some to be disconcerting and others to probably be kind of funny. I also expect that going through the memories may make me feel a bit angry, sad or frustrated at times. But as I've said before, I'm going to keep at it. Hopefully I will be able to finally come to terms with a few things. My Therapist, lets give him a cool nickname...how about Freud? Ok Freud it is. He said that he feels he can help to change some of my perceptions about certain events or actions of others. If nothing else, give me things to think about in between sessions.
So far, I feel slightly more energetic...I'm hoping it will stay this way or even get a little better, if not I may suggest trying one of the new SNRI's instead of the SSRI I'm on at the moment. The problem with that is that since this is Australia certain ones aren't available here yet. Anywho, the only reason I bring that up is that I'd forgotten that some SSRI's (which I'm on one of them now) cause anxiety and, well....docs don't' really like prescribing a whole bunch of Valium and I also don't like taking it on a regular basis. I mean hell, it's GREAT for when I fly on planes and when I'm pretty highly stressed (ie, not very damn often) and need to relax a bunch before I get a massage but I don't really want to take it every day. So, we'll see what we shall see.
I'm keeping on keeping on.
Ta ta till later,
keep rooting, errrr I mean cheering for me. In case you aren't sure why I changed that from rooting to cheering, check Aussie slang for root :P
Sunday, February 17, 2008
On the mend
It's Sunday night here and the weekend has gone well so far. Each day is a little better. I'm not sure if it's the medicines or just the attitude. As if something inside snapped when I broke down and cried and from there it's just going to slowly get better.
I've had times like this in the past, times I can look back on and think Yep, THAT was the turning point. I'll never forget one of the most poignant was back in 97, when I discovered the ex was cheating on me. I remember looking in the mirror and what I saw scared the hell out of me... my eyes looked dead, just totally lifeless and I thought to myself, "This is the beginning of the end", and it was. How weird it it that I can remember the exact thoughts that ran through my mind at the time?
Anyway, back to this weekend. I've kept busy, cooked a bit. Made chicken and dumplings yesterday - home made dumplings with my own herbs... sage, basil, and chives that I grew here this year for the first time. Couldn't grow tomatoes for shit but the herbs came out great! I made a pan of lasagna tonight... C~ has never had lasagna made with ricotta cheese before. Here I guess everyone uses a bechamel sauce. It isn't that I don't like bechamel sauce but I prefer ricotta in lasagna, the way it was made when I was growing up.
As for sleep, I'm doing well considering I'm off the sleeping tablets - for the first time in 2 yrs. Back home I just took Melatonin tabs, but they aren't available in Oz (except in homeopathic strength which do nothing for me) so I'd been taking a Tricyclic antidepressant which has been used for ages as a sleep aid, and it also helps with back pain...but not so much here lately. So I've swapped to OTC Unisom tabs which are basically benadryl to see how I go with that since taking the TCA isn't recommended with Prozac - yup I'm taking Prozac. I've taken it before with good success and my only side effect was slightly elevated cholesterol, so we'll see how I go this time. I also start seeing a therapist this week.
Yes, I have issues. Don't we all? I think my issues have just come back to haunt me for a little while, at least I hope so...the little while bit, I don't like being haunted by anything LOL! Haven't had anymore nightmares since Thursday - Thank God! Those puppies were getting a tad too disturbing for my taste. Heck ANY dream with my ex in it is a nightmare, but when it gets to the point I'm dreaming he's holding me hostage and I'm trying to kill him with my bare hands....well enough already.
Yeah the dreams were so bad I wasn't getting more than 2 hours sleep at a time , my IBS kicked up full throttle - which it hasn't done in nearly 5 years - and on top of everything I got my period!!!! FRACKIN HELLFIRE!!!!!!! Can you say, "Straw that broke the camel's back?"
So anywho, I'm taking the tiger by the tail...and NO not MY Tiger silly goose, THE tiger and I swear I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel....errrr maybe that's a speck of dust? Not sure, but Imma keep going anyway.
I've had times like this in the past, times I can look back on and think Yep, THAT was the turning point. I'll never forget one of the most poignant was back in 97, when I discovered the ex was cheating on me. I remember looking in the mirror and what I saw scared the hell out of me... my eyes looked dead, just totally lifeless and I thought to myself, "This is the beginning of the end", and it was. How weird it it that I can remember the exact thoughts that ran through my mind at the time?
Anyway, back to this weekend. I've kept busy, cooked a bit. Made chicken and dumplings yesterday - home made dumplings with my own herbs... sage, basil, and chives that I grew here this year for the first time. Couldn't grow tomatoes for shit but the herbs came out great! I made a pan of lasagna tonight... C~ has never had lasagna made with ricotta cheese before. Here I guess everyone uses a bechamel sauce. It isn't that I don't like bechamel sauce but I prefer ricotta in lasagna, the way it was made when I was growing up.
As for sleep, I'm doing well considering I'm off the sleeping tablets - for the first time in 2 yrs. Back home I just took Melatonin tabs, but they aren't available in Oz (except in homeopathic strength which do nothing for me) so I'd been taking a Tricyclic antidepressant which has been used for ages as a sleep aid, and it also helps with back pain...but not so much here lately. So I've swapped to OTC Unisom tabs which are basically benadryl to see how I go with that since taking the TCA isn't recommended with Prozac - yup I'm taking Prozac. I've taken it before with good success and my only side effect was slightly elevated cholesterol, so we'll see how I go this time. I also start seeing a therapist this week.
Yes, I have issues. Don't we all? I think my issues have just come back to haunt me for a little while, at least I hope so...the little while bit, I don't like being haunted by anything LOL! Haven't had anymore nightmares since Thursday - Thank God! Those puppies were getting a tad too disturbing for my taste. Heck ANY dream with my ex in it is a nightmare, but when it gets to the point I'm dreaming he's holding me hostage and I'm trying to kill him with my bare hands....well enough already.
Yeah the dreams were so bad I wasn't getting more than 2 hours sleep at a time , my IBS kicked up full throttle - which it hasn't done in nearly 5 years - and on top of everything I got my period!!!! FRACKIN HELLFIRE!!!!!!! Can you say, "Straw that broke the camel's back?"
So anywho, I'm taking the tiger by the tail...and NO not MY Tiger silly goose, THE tiger and I swear I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel....errrr maybe that's a speck of dust? Not sure, but Imma keep going anyway.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day and the Black Dog
I was super wowed last night when C~ got home from work. He brought me my early Valentine's Day pressies!!!! Last year I got Tiger and so as of February 10 he has been with us for one full year. This year (so far) I have gotten a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper....who knew you could get the rot gut here? Certainly not I. I also received my much loved Payday candy bar and also a Butterfingers....yummmmm cannot wait to get into those!
As for this year, I am finally facing up to the fact that I am depressed *sigh*. I should have done something sooner but , of course, waited until it jumped up and bit me on the ass, that DAMN black dog bites hard too! I've been ruminating since I saw Amy's post about it and what she has done so far to help herself and I feel so dumb for waiting.
So, today (after missing a week from work) I appeared at my GP's office and as soon as I sat down I started blubbering like a fool, I'd just had it up to HERE with my so called coping skills. I'm damned coped out. So, we have decided on a course of meds to help a little and also agreed that I will be seeing a psychologist, just have to wait for him to call me back to find out what I need to do since I will be going through the Employee Assistance programme that's been set up for Q. Health employees.
I hate taking medicine, hate it hate it hate it! But if it will help I'm all for it at this point as I just cannot go on. My creativeness has been on the fritz for many months now, I haven't been able to write, I haven't been myself and I want to get back to being ME. You know, the old sarcastic pain in the ass, me. Nevertheless it is me. I want to be creative again. I need to write, I need to do something. I don't want my blog to just disappear because I made a promise to myself that I would not start something and abandon it as I have projects in the past.
So, I'm here promising myself again that I will do whatever it takes, I won't stop until I can be as normal as I possibly can be - for me that just means being able to put more than 3 words together at one time. I've had a spell where sometimes I can't string 3 words together, make complete sentences, etc. I've been too scattered, unable to concentrate, and I am going to fix that asap.
So, now I'm going to check out this cool new recipe I'm going to make for C~ tonight, something about Asian grilled chicken in pitas. Sounds nice and easy to fix, hey?
Baby steps, one day at a time...Imma keep slugging away till I'm cruising.
As for this year, I am finally facing up to the fact that I am depressed *sigh*. I should have done something sooner but , of course, waited until it jumped up and bit me on the ass, that DAMN black dog bites hard too! I've been ruminating since I saw Amy's post about it and what she has done so far to help herself and I feel so dumb for waiting.
So, today (after missing a week from work) I appeared at my GP's office and as soon as I sat down I started blubbering like a fool, I'd just had it up to HERE with my so called coping skills. I'm damned coped out. So, we have decided on a course of meds to help a little and also agreed that I will be seeing a psychologist, just have to wait for him to call me back to find out what I need to do since I will be going through the Employee Assistance programme that's been set up for Q. Health employees.
I hate taking medicine, hate it hate it hate it! But if it will help I'm all for it at this point as I just cannot go on. My creativeness has been on the fritz for many months now, I haven't been able to write, I haven't been myself and I want to get back to being ME. You know, the old sarcastic pain in the ass, me. Nevertheless it is me. I want to be creative again. I need to write, I need to do something. I don't want my blog to just disappear because I made a promise to myself that I would not start something and abandon it as I have projects in the past.
So, I'm here promising myself again that I will do whatever it takes, I won't stop until I can be as normal as I possibly can be - for me that just means being able to put more than 3 words together at one time. I've had a spell where sometimes I can't string 3 words together, make complete sentences, etc. I've been too scattered, unable to concentrate, and I am going to fix that asap.
So, now I'm going to check out this cool new recipe I'm going to make for C~ tonight, something about Asian grilled chicken in pitas. Sounds nice and easy to fix, hey?
Baby steps, one day at a time...Imma keep slugging away till I'm cruising.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
The most incredible thing I've seen in awhile...
I love greyhounds. I'm sure you've figured that out by now. My boy Tiger is the best! He loves me unconditionally, licks my plate clean when I'm finished eating, and snuggles up to me in bed at night and keeps me warm. I only wish he would grow longer so he could keep my feet was warm as my hands. Hahaha.
I swear, I get the coldest hands and feet at night and no matter what I do, I can't seem to warm them up. Tiger is a great bed warmer and doesn't mind when I slide my cold hands under his chest, or take his paws in my hands to warm up. There have been times in which he's been lying near my feet and I've slid my toesies underneath him for warmth.
Just love this video and thought I'd share. There's nothing better than the love and trust of a dog. When I die, I want to go wherever the animals are.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Guacamole, salsa, and pinto beans. Oh MY!
I finally found pinto beans wahooooo! Oh yeah, Baby and I made me some refried beans tonight that turned out pretty darn good. Perhaps not as good as ones I've had back home but good enough for now!
C~ and I have been doing this thing each month where we decide just before the first of the month what we will be having each night, with a few "free nights" thrown in for leftovers and when we just don't feel like cooking. So, after planning 4 weeks meals in advance, C~ does all the shopping for everything except the perishables and it's cut our monthly grocery bill significantly and all we have to do each week is buy eggs, bread, milk, fruit, and veg. Oh yeah, and stuff we may have forgotten but we are getting much better at it. February will be our 4th month at it.
Anyway, back to da beans! Pinto beans aren't exactly a huge item here in Oz. Don't ask me why but they just aren't. I seem to be able to find pretty much every other type (except speckled butter beans and crowder peas) but pintos have been elusive. That is until someone on the Americans in Brisbane group told me to look at a health food store...so, I checked out the nearest Mrs. Flannery's and lo and behold! Got 'em!
Now, Mrs. Flannery's is a nice small 'neighborhood' kind of organic store that's only slightly larger than a 7/11 but it's no Whole Foods Market but I suppose I shall just have to suffer mightily and make do.
But I got pinto beans! I got pinto beans! Got me some pinto beans, oh yeah!
Luckily this foray into cooking refried beans for the first time coincided with our night to have quesadillas...also the first time cooking it. But they turned out great! I tossed the chicken breasts in some taco seasoning, sauteed them bad boys, shredded them, mixed up some cheeses, topped the tortillas with cheese, tomato, chicken, and onions, cooked them till done and served with freshly made pico de gallo (aka salsa cruda) some home made guacamole, and not so home made sour cream lol! Oh yes, and let's not forget the side of refried beans!
Heck I needed something to make me feel better. Ok, so not to make this too long a post but two nights ago C~ put the dog barrier up between the living room and kitchen. It's not a child gate, it's 2 pieces of x-pen that have been ziptied together and can be slotted between wall and book cases on either side of doorway.
I was following C~ into the kitchen at full tilt, completely oblivious to everything and so I missed what was right in front of me and bashed into the gate, taking a huge nose dive onto the tiled kitchen floor with a HUMONGOUS cup of Coke (Coca Cola you naughty minded people!) in hand - which of course, I spilled everywhere including all over myself. My toes got tangled up in the wires of the gate, my knees look like hamburger meat, and I have twisted ankles, toes, and knees. How lovely I must look!
And how STUPID I must feel!!!!!! Oh my god, I feel like a huge moron, but hey it could happen to anyone right?
When it first happened, all I cared about was getting the Coke off me and out of my hair! But then I thought my toes were broken. After bawling my eyes out for about an hour or so and scaring a couple years of both my dog and my husband I was able to take stock, figure out I was not all broken up and didn't need a trip to the ER. What I needed were strong drugs, ice packs, and some Voltaren rubbed into my knees.
So, two days later, I feel a little better after having some attention from the massage therapist and chiropractor, and lots of rest. Now I just look like someone tried to run me over with their car...or at least my knees do. The problem is that if I wear shorts people will see why I'm hobbling and not think I'm all weird and stuff and if I don't wear shorts I'll bet that people will think my husband beat me because I was naughty as evidenced by my hobbly walk and slight hunched over-ness.
But! I have pinto beans!!!!!! And the world is a better place!!!!!
C~ and I have been doing this thing each month where we decide just before the first of the month what we will be having each night, with a few "free nights" thrown in for leftovers and when we just don't feel like cooking. So, after planning 4 weeks meals in advance, C~ does all the shopping for everything except the perishables and it's cut our monthly grocery bill significantly and all we have to do each week is buy eggs, bread, milk, fruit, and veg. Oh yeah, and stuff we may have forgotten but we are getting much better at it. February will be our 4th month at it.
Anyway, back to da beans! Pinto beans aren't exactly a huge item here in Oz. Don't ask me why but they just aren't. I seem to be able to find pretty much every other type (except speckled butter beans and crowder peas) but pintos have been elusive. That is until someone on the Americans in Brisbane group told me to look at a health food store...so, I checked out the nearest Mrs. Flannery's and lo and behold! Got 'em!
Now, Mrs. Flannery's is a nice small 'neighborhood' kind of organic store that's only slightly larger than a 7/11 but it's no Whole Foods Market but I suppose I shall just have to suffer mightily and make do.
But I got pinto beans! I got pinto beans! Got me some pinto beans, oh yeah!
Luckily this foray into cooking refried beans for the first time coincided with our night to have quesadillas...also the first time cooking it. But they turned out great! I tossed the chicken breasts in some taco seasoning, sauteed them bad boys, shredded them, mixed up some cheeses, topped the tortillas with cheese, tomato, chicken, and onions, cooked them till done and served with freshly made pico de gallo (aka salsa cruda) some home made guacamole, and not so home made sour cream lol! Oh yes, and let's not forget the side of refried beans!
Heck I needed something to make me feel better. Ok, so not to make this too long a post but two nights ago C~ put the dog barrier up between the living room and kitchen. It's not a child gate, it's 2 pieces of x-pen that have been ziptied together and can be slotted between wall and book cases on either side of doorway.
I was following C~ into the kitchen at full tilt, completely oblivious to everything and so I missed what was right in front of me and bashed into the gate, taking a huge nose dive onto the tiled kitchen floor with a HUMONGOUS cup of Coke (Coca Cola you naughty minded people!) in hand - which of course, I spilled everywhere including all over myself. My toes got tangled up in the wires of the gate, my knees look like hamburger meat, and I have twisted ankles, toes, and knees. How lovely I must look!
And how STUPID I must feel!!!!!! Oh my god, I feel like a huge moron, but hey it could happen to anyone right?
When it first happened, all I cared about was getting the Coke off me and out of my hair! But then I thought my toes were broken. After bawling my eyes out for about an hour or so and scaring a couple years of both my dog and my husband I was able to take stock, figure out I was not all broken up and didn't need a trip to the ER. What I needed were strong drugs, ice packs, and some Voltaren rubbed into my knees.
So, two days later, I feel a little better after having some attention from the massage therapist and chiropractor, and lots of rest. Now I just look like someone tried to run me over with their car...or at least my knees do. The problem is that if I wear shorts people will see why I'm hobbling and not think I'm all weird and stuff and if I don't wear shorts I'll bet that people will think my husband beat me because I was naughty as evidenced by my hobbly walk and slight hunched over-ness.
But! I have pinto beans!!!!!! And the world is a better place!!!!!
Monday, January 14, 2008
I am sooooooo sick of being asked if I wante to be a better man
Who thinks up this spam nonsense? As IF I'd reply or even bother to look at a very misspelled or grammatically incorrect email. One would think that with all the spam filters nowadays that spammers would get over themselves and go away.
***Sigh*** I guess not. I do suppose there could possibly be some naive person out there who really does want to see if they can make their penis bigger or boobs bigger, even though they proved that those creams didn't work way back in the 70's when they were advertised in the backs of women's mags.
And on that note, something cheerier....I was bitten by a spider on my FACE! Yup, on the right side on my jaw close to my chin. I have a gorgeous reddish purple bruisy looking thing coupled with swollen lymph nodes down the front of my neck.
You know you want to ask how in the world I noticed such a thing? Well, let me tell you. When I woke up yesterday morning I felt a little itchy, on my jaw. Not so normal, but hey, sometimes things get itchy for no reason, right? Hrmph.
Go look in the mirror to see what's what. I notice the horrible double chin. Ok, so maybe I do have a little double chin, there aren't too many of us nearing 40 that don't. But THIS was like a goiter!!!!!!! All the way to my collar bone.
Stunned, I asked C~ what he thought. He saw nothing. Hrmph! Men! They don't notice nothing. Once I ended up with Ronald McDonald red hair after a terrible incident at the salon - don't ask. It's a moment I can't bear to think about. I was scarred for life. Did the Dear Husband notice? Nope, he said it looked nice and shiny. Yeah, ok, nice and shiny I got...but it ain't what I wanted that's for sure.
Got to work this morning. All eyes were riveted on my face. I was asked if I'd called the doc. Nope, I figured it was nothing. Jude dragged me to the mirror. She asked if it looked so reddish purple this morning. Nope I said. Senior supervisor sauntered over. She inspected and declared that I might be unfit for work if I didn't ring the doc asap. So I did. They wanted me in the office asap. No can do I said. Have no car, can't get there from here (funny thing about public transport, some places are nigh impossible to get to)...so I made the appointment for the morning like a good girl.
Hopefully my face won't fall off. At least this isn't like the rash I had 2 weeks ago. At least I could cover that up with a shirt. Don't ask yet, I'll tell all later, but only if I have to.
***Sigh*** I guess not. I do suppose there could possibly be some naive person out there who really does want to see if they can make their penis bigger or boobs bigger, even though they proved that those creams didn't work way back in the 70's when they were advertised in the backs of women's mags.
And on that note, something cheerier....I was bitten by a spider on my FACE! Yup, on the right side on my jaw close to my chin. I have a gorgeous reddish purple bruisy looking thing coupled with swollen lymph nodes down the front of my neck.
You know you want to ask how in the world I noticed such a thing? Well, let me tell you. When I woke up yesterday morning I felt a little itchy, on my jaw. Not so normal, but hey, sometimes things get itchy for no reason, right? Hrmph.
Go look in the mirror to see what's what. I notice the horrible double chin. Ok, so maybe I do have a little double chin, there aren't too many of us nearing 40 that don't. But THIS was like a goiter!!!!!!! All the way to my collar bone.
Stunned, I asked C~ what he thought. He saw nothing. Hrmph! Men! They don't notice nothing. Once I ended up with Ronald McDonald red hair after a terrible incident at the salon - don't ask. It's a moment I can't bear to think about. I was scarred for life. Did the Dear Husband notice? Nope, he said it looked nice and shiny. Yeah, ok, nice and shiny I got...but it ain't what I wanted that's for sure.
Got to work this morning. All eyes were riveted on my face. I was asked if I'd called the doc. Nope, I figured it was nothing. Jude dragged me to the mirror. She asked if it looked so reddish purple this morning. Nope I said. Senior supervisor sauntered over. She inspected and declared that I might be unfit for work if I didn't ring the doc asap. So I did. They wanted me in the office asap. No can do I said. Have no car, can't get there from here (funny thing about public transport, some places are nigh impossible to get to)...so I made the appointment for the morning like a good girl.
Hopefully my face won't fall off. At least this isn't like the rash I had 2 weeks ago. At least I could cover that up with a shirt. Don't ask yet, I'll tell all later, but only if I have to.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year and have some bread or errr not....
Doesn't this face look ever so innocent? HAH! Just wait til I tell you of her evil deeds and nefarious plot against our household. She decreed that , "There shall be NO BREAD for the humans to eat!" Yep it's the New Year and what do I have to show for it? Hrmmmm let me see. I think I have some pictures. Not too many, though as I just didn't feel up to it. It's been raining for over a week, which meant that the Christmas Holidays were spent with moi having a tad bit of comfort because it was way cooler than the last 2 years. In fact, according to The Weather Channel,
Today I decided to make some bread, or rather, C~ guilted me into it lol. I'd been after him to get me some stuff to make bread with when he went shopping, and so he did. Lucky me. See, good bread here is kind of 'spensive at around $3.50 per loaf and if ya like artisan bread you can add half to double that. I thought, hey! I have an oven, a bread pan, what the hell? I'll bake some bread, can't be all that hard can it? Nahhhhhhh. And truly it wasn't.
So, first type of "bread' I made were scones or biscuits to us southerners. Not too shabby. I tried "quick bread" made with the same stuff as scones, plus a few other thingies and voila! We had ummmm Scone Bread rofl! Yup tasted just like biscuits made into bread, all it was missing was either bananas and nuts or zucchini and nuts *sigh*.
So, onto "white bread". Ok so it wasn't anything to brag about, a little too dense. So I probably (I'm guessing here) needed to knead it less and perhaps waited for it to rise more on the first go round - recipe says to let it rise, punch down, then shape and place in warm spot to rise again, then bake. Anywho, it was good enough to eat fresh out of the oven with a bit of buttah, slice some mo' and share with puppers. Go get camera to take pretty pitchers...and discover evil foster hound has swiped it off the counter, Tiger looked on
with feigned disinterest until I took it from evil hound and gave half to him. THEN he chowed down like the food hound he is.
*I've edited this so many times and right now Blogger is REALLY giving me the shits over it's complete lack of willingness to obey my simple commands. Grrrrrrr.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Long time no see ya'll!
Good heavens! I forgot that I haven't posted in ages and ages. Christmas has come and gone and our household has been in turmoil! Bunny, sweet Bunny has gone to live in her forever home with her new brother Freddo, the gorgeous cream brindle. Tiger, below is lying around as usual
and keeping himself entertained. He is SO OVER having foster sisters. He had a blast when Freddo came to visit.
This pic is on Miss Bunny Boo's last roach on my side of the bed. Isn't she adorable? I like this pic because she was smiling, I'd been rubbing her belly.
This is Gypsy, our newest foster. Please ignore the tall grass, we've had so much rain there hasn't been time to cut it and finally C~ broke down and cut it in the rain yesterday.
Anyway, that's the back corner where the compost pile is, so it's not a high priority but it's where the greys love to graze on our "organic" grass.
Gypsy is a cutie pie. Tiger is still pissed off that Bunny is gone, he's been pining away. For Christmas we had a quiet time punctuated with a couple of family parties. C~ bought me some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, something that's really hard to come by - I'm guessing he found it at some specialty shop in the city. I also got a Butterfingers Candy Bar, greyhound t shirt and assorted other goodies. All were wonderful! Hubby got a Weber Smokey Joe grill and accessories. It's our first BBQ grill together. He was hoping for a big gas grill but I'd rather wait on the great big monster til we have our own house....plus I love charcoal grills. Maybe we will move up to the bigger kettle grill that can use both charcoal and gas.
We did our first steaks on it tonight and I'll be darned if they weren't the best I've had in Oz and that includes the one at Lone Star!!!!! Well, what can I say? I prefer my steaks with seasonings on them LOL!!!!!
and keeping himself entertained. He is SO OVER having foster sisters. He had a blast when Freddo came to visit.
This pic is on Miss Bunny Boo's last roach on my side of the bed. Isn't she adorable? I like this pic because she was smiling, I'd been rubbing her belly.
This is Gypsy, our newest foster. Please ignore the tall grass, we've had so much rain there hasn't been time to cut it and finally C~ broke down and cut it in the rain yesterday.
Anyway, that's the back corner where the compost pile is, so it's not a high priority but it's where the greys love to graze on our "organic" grass.
Gypsy is a cutie pie. Tiger is still pissed off that Bunny is gone, he's been pining away. For Christmas we had a quiet time punctuated with a couple of family parties. C~ bought me some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, something that's really hard to come by - I'm guessing he found it at some specialty shop in the city. I also got a Butterfingers Candy Bar, greyhound t shirt and assorted other goodies. All were wonderful! Hubby got a Weber Smokey Joe grill and accessories. It's our first BBQ grill together. He was hoping for a big gas grill but I'd rather wait on the great big monster til we have our own house....plus I love charcoal grills. Maybe we will move up to the bigger kettle grill that can use both charcoal and gas.
We did our first steaks on it tonight and I'll be darned if they weren't the best I've had in Oz and that includes the one at Lone Star!!!!! Well, what can I say? I prefer my steaks with seasonings on them LOL!!!!!
Monday, December 03, 2007
I haven't posted lately...so here are some nice pics
I haven't posted lately for no good reason either, except I've been getting caught up in Spring Cleaning, etc, lots of cooking and freezing and other stuff that just needed to be done. You know how that is. Plus it's also been slightly busier at Chez Kitten with the foster pup. Last Weekend we had the GAP Christmas Party and Tiger won Best costume
Below is Tiger and me (ignore the awful hair it was above 90 that day) with his Best Dressed Award - I made him a surgeon's outfit, complete with hairnet, mask, stethoscope, and scrubs.
Above are Tiger and Bunny together, She was a Fairy Princess. She didn't win, but we think it's because the judges didn't want to have 2 winners in the same family ;)
Lately this is my favorite pic of me and the boy. This is how we woke up one morning and C~took some pics.
This shows the whole bed with Bunny at the bottom being, well...herself LOL. After she's run around, bounced all over the bed barking and doing her damnedest to say GOOOOOOOOD MORRRRRRNING VIET NAMMMM!!!!!!!!
Yup that's what my bed looks like in the morning, a war zone. BTW, Tiger is wearing red pajamas to keep him warm - I like to keep the ac on at night and he gets quite cold, even under the blankets with us.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Giving thanks in a land without Thanksgiving
Sexy Brett Lee - Australian Cricketer & fast bowler.Yes, some of us in Australia do celebrate Thanksgiving. But that's most likely because we are either Americans living here or have someone in our family that is American.
Why doesn't Australia celebrate Thanksgiving? Well the short snarky version I generally give folks "back home" is that ummmm, there weren't any pilgrims nor were there any starving Indians to trade with when James Cooke sailed around mapping the coast. Aboriginals, yes. Indians, no. Hence, no Turkey Day.
Plus, who the hell wants to pay $45 for a 10 lb turkey? I've done it in the past and probably will again, but sheesh, I'm keeping that whole dang bird for myself. That's darned 'spensive for a bird don't ya think?
So, since we don't celebrate Turkey Day Down Under we don't get a day off work. Therefore, I don't gotta spend the day in the kitchen slaving away in the heat with no ac since we are kind of backwards (And intent on keeping the planet green!) by not having ac throughout the house.
So I sit here in the sweltering heat watching The Cricket instead.
Yes, I have come to love The Cricket as we call it here in Oz. Seems odd to say "The " in front of it kind of like saying , "I'm going to turn on the tv and watch The Baseball". Doesn't feel right, but anywho. HERE is a cool explanation of Cricket by a fellow American. Both the wiki and yank versions are fairly long but informative.
If you'd like to see where you can get all the info on Cricket go to Cricinfo.com .
Now pardon me but I'm off to hang with the puppers in the lounge room (living room) and watch The Cricket. Can't wait to see Australia beat the heck out of Sri Lanka.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Day of joy and nights of thunder
We picked up another foster on Saturday. Her name is Ebony (UGH!!!) but I've been calling her Bunny Bunny. She seems to like it :) She is the sister of the monster child we had awhile back that learned to open the fridge. Bunny Bunny is smart and cool and Tiger LOVES her, not like the other girls we've had - he just tolerated them. Although he has also been playing "Fun Police" with her. When she goes running around the back garden he tends to growl at her a little as if to say" No running in MY garden! Only Tigers can run in MY Garden!"
THe pic below is of my VERY spoiled boy, He has his very own sofa, which is next to a window and a door to the outside, in front of the window, as you can see, there's a fan blowing cool air across the Tigerman. Look at the face - utter bliss.
Speaking of fun police, screw the blog title I wasn't thinking but wasn't that the name of a movie or somethin'? Ok so I was stuck for a title and it's been thundering at night with little to no rain, bah humbug! Ok So I've got another pic of Tigez. Earlier last week he cut open his leg. It's gross, it keeps being torn open and I keep bandaging it. Right now it has some cool hot pink vet wrap on it! He soooo looks awesome in hot pink.
The above picture is a close up of Tigers wound. He acts and sort of looks like he's been in the wars. Well, he acts like a typical male by ignoring it unless it's bandaged and he rips the bandages off then whines because it's bleeding and hurts. Typical male.
THe pic below is of my VERY spoiled boy, He has his very own sofa, which is next to a window and a door to the outside, in front of the window, as you can see, there's a fan blowing cool air across the Tigerman. Look at the face - utter bliss.
Speaking of fun police, screw the blog title I wasn't thinking but wasn't that the name of a movie or somethin'? Ok so I was stuck for a title and it's been thundering at night with little to no rain, bah humbug! Ok So I've got another pic of Tigez. Earlier last week he cut open his leg. It's gross, it keeps being torn open and I keep bandaging it. Right now it has some cool hot pink vet wrap on it! He soooo looks awesome in hot pink.
The above picture is a close up of Tigers wound. He acts and sort of looks like he's been in the wars. Well, he acts like a typical male by ignoring it unless it's bandaged and he rips the bandages off then whines because it's bleeding and hurts. Typical male.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween
On my way to the train after work today I was greeted by the sounds of funky music floating from the apartments across the street from my station. I looked up .... Lo and Behold! It was a bee. Ummmmm no it was a BIG BEE. Not exactly right either (BTW, I didn't have my glasses on). I heard "Trick or Treat"!!!! From this huge bee!!!!!
Ok Ok, I put my glasses on and looked up to find a young woman. I'm guessing about 19? Hopping down her stairs and across the street screaming "HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!" at me and then she practically begged me to take some of her candy, though I tried to refuse. One nevers knows about taking candy from strangers....I'm sure I've heard that somewhere before.
Probably got drilled into me as a kid or something.
Anywho, said female bee approached with her plastic punkin and I peered inside to discover she had frosted gummy worms. WELL! I figured I'd better sample them worms just to make sure they were safe for the neighborhood kids, ya know? I mean gosh! What if they had pins in them or were laced with some psychedelic drug. Who better to sample them than someone whose parents grew up in the 60's? Or in my case , I think me growing up in the 80's qualifies me to be somewhat knowledgeable about a few illegal substances (but I'm not telling which ones :P).
Hey, it was the 80's and it's been so long I'm SURE it's out of my system by now. Well, that's my story and I"m sticking to it.
Back to the bee girl. She was happy I'd taken her candy and I was happy as I chewed the ever so sweet and succulent and frosted gummy worms.
My teeth are gonna ache for a week now.
Gawd I Love Halloween!
Ok Ok, I put my glasses on and looked up to find a young woman. I'm guessing about 19? Hopping down her stairs and across the street screaming "HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!" at me and then she practically begged me to take some of her candy, though I tried to refuse. One nevers knows about taking candy from strangers....I'm sure I've heard that somewhere before.
Probably got drilled into me as a kid or something.
Anywho, said female bee approached with her plastic punkin and I peered inside to discover she had frosted gummy worms. WELL! I figured I'd better sample them worms just to make sure they were safe for the neighborhood kids, ya know? I mean gosh! What if they had pins in them or were laced with some psychedelic drug. Who better to sample them than someone whose parents grew up in the 60's? Or in my case , I think me growing up in the 80's qualifies me to be somewhat knowledgeable about a few illegal substances (but I'm not telling which ones :P).
Hey, it was the 80's and it's been so long I'm SURE it's out of my system by now. Well, that's my story and I"m sticking to it.
Back to the bee girl. She was happy I'd taken her candy and I was happy as I chewed the ever so sweet and succulent and frosted gummy worms.
My teeth are gonna ache for a week now.
Gawd I Love Halloween!
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