Lucy Napping

Lucy likes naps, just like I do. This is her favorite position for a nap, and as soon as I sit in my chair and put my legs up, she gets right in there, turns a few times and lays down. Can you see the fur floating off of her? I love spring, I go to work with little pieces of her all over me.

This is her second favorite spot. There are times when I'm home and doing something, realizing I haven't seen her for a little while. So I go to my bedroom and look for any telling lumps on the bed. Sure enough, she has burrowed under and gone to sleep. This is why I don't make my bed. She can't get under the covers when they are nice and neat. Why should I make my bed when this brings a smile to my face when I discover her under there? A made bed does not bring me happiness. Can you tell she is so happy to see me too?

FREE Potato Oles

I know there are a few family members who would love this one!

http://tacojohns.com/maniacs

Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwiches

Here is a picture of the best pickles every, and this is what it takes to make the ultimate peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Thought I would share what I eat when I have to make that dreaded meal for one, which happened to be tonight. These pickles are from Mom and Dad's pickle packing party they do evey summer, and I think we would riot if they ever stopped canning them. The pickles have the right amount of spice, heat, and crunch and coordinate well with the peanut butter.

Here are the other two ingrediants, good bread and creamy peanut butter. I know you have to look at this picture sideways, but it took me long enough to get them loaded and I didn't have the patience to figure out how to rotate it.

You have to spread a layer of peanut butter on both sides of the bread. This prevents the sogginess that can happen when the pickle juice hits the bread. This also helps when you are taking this particular sandwich to lunch so you don't have wet bread by the time noon rolls around. I also used this trick on Faith's PBJ sandwiches for lunch, having the jelly between the 2 layers of PB so the bread wouldn't get soggy (also great trick on the PB and banana).

Cut the pickles to desired thickness. Because these are homemade pickles, they are whole.

This was my side dish, some chips from a free bag I picked up last weekend. CHEAP but good chips. Sorry the pic is sideways.

Here is the finished result.

What can I say, it hit the spot and the price was great!!!

Now does someone remember who taught us how to make this wierd sandwich?

Free Sample

I sign up for free samples occansionally, mostly because they end up sending great coupons with the sample. About a month ago I received my sample from Pantene shampoo and it was a FULL sized bottle with 3 $2 coupons as well. That was a jackpot. The one I got in the mail today--not so much.

Actually it is quite funny. It was from the company that makes Chewy Lemonheads. The package was a nice small bubble envelope and I kind of laughed when I opened it (carefully so I can reuse the envelope of course). Inside was a tiny package of 6---yes I said 6 pieces of candy. I looked in the envelope and there wasn't anything else, no "Thanks for trying our candy", no coupons, no junk mail, just the tiny bag of candy.

What's really funny was there were 2 stamps on the package, totally $1.22 to mail it. I think a theater box of the same candy cost $1.00 at WalMart. I think this company really needs to find other oppurtunities to get their candy in the market, because if they continue with this promotion, they could be broke in 6 months. Just think if they would have sent me a postcard with a coupon attached for a free box of the $1.00 candy it would have been cheaper for them in the long run.

Saturday Blues

Saturday Blues?????? I know that is exactly what you are thinking. I am feeling blechy (Kristen, I know that is not an actual word, but it works for how I feel right now) and it's Saturday. I am not happy that it's Saturday because this weekend I work Sunday, so technically it's the last day off before work, so it's actually Sunday for me. I know, confusing, but that is where my mind is at right now.

I woke up early (work called, yikes) and balanced my checkbook this morning. Maybe that's what set the tone for the day. HMMMM...my money goes in but goes out faster. Kind of like someone who's lactose intolarant and drinks a gallon of whole milk. In one end and out the other. Gross? Sorry I said that, but once again, that's where my mind is at right now. It is now noon and the only other thing I've accomplished is drop Faith off at the mall and stop at the grocery store (for crap I didn't need--but suffered through the crowd because it was "Hot Deals"). Now I'm sucking down a venti peppermint mocha and even that is not doing it for me. I kind of even feel I was sorta bitchy to the poor check out dude cuz something didn't ring up the way I thought it should. When one of my coupons didn't work he forced it through --don't think he didn't want to go there too.

OK, OK, I'll stop for now... hope I didn't ruin your day. Will try to wash a load of clothes. Who knows, maybe something will turn me around today. If not, I warn you, don't stop to shop at work tomorrow, you may not want to see the employees avoiding me because I'm still moody:)

The Shack/Angel Time

I originally started to blog because I wanted to share my love of reading. My good intentions have taken me on another journey at times, but now I would like to talk about a particular book I read awhile ago and one I just finished.

The Shack was a book I had looked at while shopping Barnes and Noble close to my 40th birthday. The cover art, title, and summary on the back made it appear to be a book about an abducted child and the search conducted by her family. Faith thought it would make a great present, so I did end up bringing it home. Let me say it was not what I thought it would be.

This book was a book of the power of forgiveness, and very hard to read for a parent. The father had a journey he took after losing his daughter to a terrible crime, and we were introduced to some very unconventional characters. His ability to actually forgive the person who caused his daughter's death is remarkable.

Little did I know that this book was making alot of waves just by the power of communication among readers all across the nation. I just recently finished Angel Time by one of my favorite authors, Anne Rice. The book kept bringing me back to The Shack time and time again.

Angel Time is about a man who is living his life as an assassin. While he was young, his goal was to become a Dominican preacher, but a life changing event sends him into downward spiral. The second half of the book he is visited by his guardian angel, who has him travel through time to help out Jews in the Middle English period who are accused of a crime they did not commit.

The reason why this book has a strong connection to The Shack is because in Angel Time we are shown the power of forgiveness that is given by his God. Forgiveness is a powerful tool that every person needs to learn every single day of their life. Sometimes I think that if some of our world leaders would just learn that lesson that we would have a better place to raise our children.

Free Coffee???

I have posted my obsession with Starbucks, but did you know they have a rewards program???? I am so mad I never paid attention before, and only think of all the points that I could have earned so far?

I am lucky to have friends and family who know I love Starbucks, and have given my gift cards in the past. I always ignored the little yellow sticker asking you to register your card. I just never did, until today. I had noticed a fellow coffee lover in front of me at Starbucks loading a gift card and then asking the barista (love that title--wish it was me) to use that same gift card to pay for his coffee. WHAT??? Thinking it was strange, I paid attention to the little cards by the register stating to sign up for rewards. I always thought that it was a scam to get you to sign up for a credit card.

So, I bought a gift card. It is so easy to sign up online, and pay for my coffee every time with a gift card. I can even reload the same card online, or have an automatic reload set up! Glad I did, because it even comes with a free drink on your birthday. WooHoo! Combine this with the fan page on Facebook and I will be notified of specials constantly. This combined with the free cards I earn with my bank points, credit card points, and SwagBucks points I am set for life.

If you'd like to buy me a gift card: Well, I was going to put the link here, but haven't figured out how to do that yet. You'll just have to type in starbucks.com/card on your own.

Marley & Me

I finally sat down to read "Marley and Me". Yes, I cried. Yes, I imagined my life with a big goofy, loopy lab. What a great story, and it was all true.

I am blessed to work with people who have lives that are centered around their family and their pets. It is nice to know that when you have an emergency with that dedicated pet, they will understand. We also all cry when a coworker loses their pet---it's the equivalent to losing a family member.

Currently I have Lucy in my life. She can't compete with Marley, but she is in a class all her own.

Crossword Puzzles

I like to do crossword puzzles, or rather TRY to do crossword puzzles. I always imagine someday I will be able to sit down on a Sunday morning and actually succeed in finishing the famous Times crossword in the designated time. You heard me, I said "imagine".

There are many different formats of crossword puzzles, many themes and levels of difficulty. For some reason the ultimate is the puzzle in the Sunday paper. I do not suscribe to the New York Times, but the local paper carries one weekly. There is something about doing the puzzle on newsprint that just seems "old school" and the routine is comforting. I don't always get the Sunday paper, but when I do, the section is pulled out and carefully folded, ready for attack. I like to do it in pen, which takes me longer because I don't put in the answer until I am sure. I almost never look at the answers, and have yet to finish one.

I have tried the puzzles that you can buy in books, or the ones online, but the Sunday newspaper has the best by far. Someday I hope to finish one before it is scribbled all over, chewed on by the cat, or spilled all over with food and drink. When I purchase the next paper, the old one is thrown in the recycling bin, passed over and forgotten.

Does anyone have the four letter word for Gallic "god"?

Another Quiet Night

Now that Faith has a job, I find myself having more quiet nights at home. While she was growing up, I felt as if I had a twin. She would always be where I was, and if we were walking along and I just suddenly stopped, Faith would actually run into me she was always that close. We live in a small 2 bedroom apartment and I would get up to go to the bathroom and she actually would ask where I was going. There were many times I would look forward to when she would be gone, staying a night with a friend or away for the weekend visiting her dad. But once she was gone I was at a loss.

I thought it was hard to plan meals for 2, try doing it for 1. Faith now just eats on the run, mostly at work. Tonight it was not healthy, and I really am embarrassed to tell you what it was (chips and salsa--you won't judge, right?).

Is what I'm feeling just preparing me for that "empty nest" syndrome I always hear about? Next year she will be a senior, and I am sure the nights alone will only increase over time. I have a feeling that this summer will be a constant flurry of Faith going somewhere, where I find myself just slowing down. Oh to get old...one minute we are looking for the time we can stop and do what we want, and the next minute we are wishing the clock could be rewound.

Faith's Field Trip

Had to sign a permission slip for Faith today. The junior class was going on a retreat and I bet you couldn't guess what for!

They bussed the students to Irene, SD, to have the girls and boys separate and get the dreaded "sex" talk. Yep, you read that one right. Juniors (aged 16-17) getting the sex talk. My opinion is it's a little late for that. And in Irene???? Why there?? Are they all virgins in Irene? Sorry my sarcasm got in the way there...

Reading

What A Story!

Just finished a book and had to talk about it (or blog about it?). I love to read, if you didn't already know that, and love a great story that keeps me guessing up to the very end. Many times I get upset when I figure out how the story is going to end when I am only 1/4 of the way into it. I know I can count on Harlan Coben's stories to keep me guessing up to the very last sentence of the very last page.

I am envious of his storytelling. He takes the journey through many channels and somehow ties everything together at the end. The recent book "Caught" also ended with a very good morale: forgiveness. He does have a series based on a consistent character that are good, but his other novels are the ones I love and look forward to reading. I really wonder what he is thinking as the story unfolds, and how does his mind actually work? I could never do that.

YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!

Where did the time go?

Overall, it has been a pretty good weekend. I actually had both days off, my third in a row, which only means that sometime over the next few weeks I will have to work some.

I did get some things accomplished, and actually did something fun for a change. I got to go to a nice dinner and a concert. Last night Mom and Dad came to town and we met some of their friends for dinner at Minervas (which I don't think really lives up to the hype) and then a show with Leon Redbone. It was a fabulous show and great company, so can't complain.

Faith took her ACT test Saturday morning and then had the rest of the day off, so we did a little shopping and had her eye appointment, nothing too exciting. Today we slept in, Faith worked 12-2 and then hung out at the mall. I finished up a few errands and spent the rest of the day at home with Lucygirl. Like I said, nothing too exciting but it was relaxing. Now can someone please make it last a little longer?

It's Been a LONNG Week

Was back at work this past Tuesday, and while I only actually worked 4 days, it became a long week. During my vacation the previous week, there were about five different phone calls about work. I really didn't mind, because I didn't need to actually go to the store to deal with a problem, but you would think that sometime during those five conversations someone would have said: "By the way, on your first day back you will be training a manager for another store." When I walked in and was given this information, I asked, "Why didn't you call me so I could be mentally prepared?" (The night before I had already gone through what I needed to start accomplishing the next day in my head.) My manager's response was that he didn't want to bother me on my vacation. WTH???? He was one of the few phone calls I had gotten while on vacation (and one of those calls was how to order toilet paper of all things--but I admit I was responsible for doing that before I left and I had forgotten)!!

My trainee arrived at 9 a.m. ready to go, but I sure wasn't. He is doing my job only in another store, so how hard could it be to train, right?? WRONG. I was not prepared at all and felt like a fool having him read manuals for the first day so I could get my sh...stuff together.

I love training, don't get me wrong. I agreed to be a designated corporate trainer for my job (without any extra pay) because it was quite an honor and it is more job security, which these days is a very important part of the job. My issue is the planning when they send out these trainees, and sometimes I wish I could be in on the interview process. I know, that sounds snobbish, but seriously, where do they get some of these people? My fear is that every single one goes back and says "Kelly told me to do it this way" when they do something wrong, or give the reason they weren't trained correctly when they can't handle it back at their own store working by themselves. I am one to just dig in and do it, even when I don't completely understand what I am doing, my job is not that hard. Why do I need to tell an adult who has been in the workforce for more than 20 years after explaining how to do it, they really need to practice and get "hands on" training. I shouldn't have to stand over your shoulder the entire day for 14 days.

Let's just say after last week I am going to have the song "Me and My Shadow" running through my head all next week. Sometimes I just want to say "go do something, I showed you how, now just do it!!!".

Days Off

How come time just flies by when you are on vacation? I am at the last night of a 10 day stretch off and am amazed at how much I did NOT get done. That's right, I was a very lazy person this past week. I planned on cleaning out the garage and maybe a closet or two, but did not happen. I managed to spend money though! I was so bored at home I just wandered the different stores for any bargains I could find.

I am lucky enough to have built up 4 weeks of vacation time a year, but I don't get to carry it over so it does force me to use it up. I suppose that is a good thing, but sometimes I wish I could save time up for the future. One of the weeks I save to use for the family vacation we take every summer. The other 3 weeks I use during the rest of the year to play "mom".

Hopefully the other 2 weeks I have to use the rest of the year I am a little more motivated.

Spring--It's a good season but...

Spring is a great time of the year, but not my favorite. I know it is a time of rebirth, Easter, and the sun shining on your face after a long hard winter (especially this past one-we will want to put that one down in the record books) but it is also a reminder of how well your old shorts and t-shirts no longer fit.

I like to cover my body, unfortunately I have a very low self esteem. I hate the way I look in pictures (which is why there aren't too many out there) and the mirror shows the true refections. No magic mirrors in my house. Spring is not the time to cover up, that is for fall, the best season possible. I don't look good in pastels, but the fall colors are the best for covering up those lumps and bumps.

Yesterday I did manage to pull out my summer clothes, but regreted putting away those bulky sweaters in maroon, dark green and yes, black. Thankfully I don't have much problem this year fitting into the shorts and capris, at least that is what I am telling myself. Ignore the muffin tops I say!!!

Yes, there is something about the birds singing in the morning, along with the sun being out when I do have to go to work during the ungodly morning hours, but I would prefer it to be fall every day of the year. The wind is more tolerable in the fall, as long as it doesn't blow all of the changing leaves off the trees. The smell of flowers in April is nice, but the smell of woodsmoke from the first fire of September brings back more memories for me. The first robin of the year is pretty, but not as awesome as the many geese flying in perfect formation following their instincts in October. Those bunny rabbits hopping in your yard can make you giggle, but my smile is much bigger when those four deer bound along side the fenceline of a recently harvested corn field (as long as they don't jump in front of the car).

What holiday is better, Easter or Halloween? Both are very spiritual, and both are centered around children, but Easter is more about family while Halloween is full of fun and tricks. I will take Halloween over Easter any day. Don't get me wrong, I respect the fact that Easter is very spiritual, but on Halloween we never had to go to church, and could dress up in anything we dreamed of being!! Easter is about reverance, but Halloween is about faking people out---that tops it in my book. The only thing they have in common is candy. Now that they make Halloween Peeps, unfortunately Easter has lost it's edge in that fight.

One last important part, Lucy does not shed in the fall. As I am typing this she keeps trying to stand in front of the computer screen leaving bits of her fur all over the place. Uggggg....