If I were in Charge

     I'm starting a new category on my blog today and it will be called, "If I were in charge." The first thing I want to talk about is college classes. If I were in charge I would change all the stupid, time wasting classes you are required to take just to satisfy your general ed and move on the the classes you really need to get your degree of choice.
     I understand that the powers that be will say they want students to be well rounded when it comes to their education, but I suspect that it's more a matter of squeezing out more dollars from these students before they leave school forever. For example my son was required to take a class about classical music. His major is Bio-medical engineering. So what the heck does classical music have to do with that? This class is costing him six hundred dollars. SIX HUNDRED! And he hates it.
     If I was in charge I would require a few general ed things that were basic and more geared toward dealing with the day to day working world, like how about a psychology class that deals with co-workers, conflict resolution, dealing with the public, something you might actually use in the working world.
     There is so much wrong with this country and the way things are done that it drives me crazy. It seems we have lost our common sense.

No Baby Today

     I wanted to be able to share the joyous news of our new grand daughter's birth, but alas, the flu has reared its ugly head and they sent Karrah home last night because her midwife was sick. I don't know when she will be having this baby now because I'm not sure if they are going to try to induce her when the midwife is better, or just let nature take its course.
    I do know that I was all geared up and ready to kiss her little face about a million times and now I am going to have to kiss my little Liam's face instead, not that it's a problem for me, but at about 750,000 kisses he gets tired of me. Sorry kiddo, I have to have my fix of baby kisses and you are easier to keep in one place than Sofia is. She's two, and though I get to kiss her each and every day, she's mobile which makes it harder to chase her down.
     I do know for sure that some time in the next couple of weeks we will have a new grand baby and I can't wait.

The World Would Be a Better Place

     Tomorrow sometime, I will be a grandmother again. I like to think of myself as, Mom, the sequel, because Grandma sounds old and I don't feel old.
     This will be our tenth grandchild and we have not yet begun to procreate. I am aiming for an even fifty. I figure that years and years from now I will have hundreds of descendants. They will probably look back at my life and say why on earth would she have ten kids? I know because my own kids already say this.
     Karrah was complaining about how tired and uncomfortable she is and I asked her if now she could appreciate all that I have been through over the years and she replied, "I don't know what is up with you. You're crazy." I think her having four more my not happen, but that's okay.
     Every new baby is a blessing and I can't wait to kiss her little face, and hold her, and smell her. After her bath.
     I look forward to the day she smiles for the first time. I can't wait to hear her little voice say, "Monna and Coke." That's what our grand kids call us.
     I can't wait to see who else joins our family over the years and to watch them grow and turn into whoever they are going to be.You see, in our family it's all about the kids and it always has been. If more people would see children as the they blessing they are instead of a burden the world would be a better place.
 

I Love Routine

     It's been one of those mornings already. It was a fight to get my daughter out the door and to the bus before she missed it, and it was a fight to get my two boys out the door to school. I don't know why they think I'll believe their pathetic attempts to play sick. I mean really, I was a kid once too a long, long, long time ago. Of course I never pulled that stuff. (I can hear my mom's laughter right now.)
     I love the fact that they go to school. It's the only time I can think without the constant whine of little whiners in the background. You know what I mean, "I'm hungry and there's nothing to eat," or "He's had the computer for the whole day and it's my turn," or "She's been in the bathroom forever and I gotta go." Mind you we have seven bathrooms in this house, but they always want to use the one that's occupied. I totally blame their dad for this one.
     I am looking forward to the holidays, but I can promise you now that I will be looking forward to them going back to school in January just as much. There is something comforting about getting back into the routine of a routine. Ya know?

Happy Thanksgiving to All

     Well, the turkeys are in the ovens and the potatoes are being peeled, so I thought I would sneak away from the chaos for a minute to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving.
     I hope this day finds you and those you love healthy and happy. May the rest of the year be filled with love and laughter and all the good things life has to offer.
     I am grateful for so many things I couldn't even begin to list them all, but I am grateful for all of you and the love, encouragement and support you have given me through the years with my blogging and with my books. I wouldn't be where I am now without all of you and I never forget that. Thanks again  and have a great day. Don't eat too much. hahahaha Like that's not going to happen.

The Thanksgiving Menu

     Here we are knocking on Thanksgiving's door. I'm often asked what and how much we cook for our Thanksgiving meal so I thought I would give you the run down. Be forewarned, we live in fear of not having enough to eat.
2-twenty pound turkey's
1-large ham
2-green bean casseroles
2-funeral potatoes
10 lbs mashed potatoes
gravy
rolls
2-jello salad with strawberries, pineapple, banana and sour cream. It's a family recipe that we all love.
1 pistachio salad
stuffing
and 7-8 pies
     I think that's about it. As of right now our count for tomorrow is around 20 with a few maybe's thrown in. Our largest crowd since we moved here was almost forty. We didn't have a whole lot of leftovers that year.
     We're always grateful we've made it through another year. We have so much to be thankful for.
      To you and yours, I hope the day finds you surrounds by loved ones, with much food and laughter, joy and happiness. I love you all and you have a special place in my heart. Happy Thanksgiving.

Maybe it's Just Me

     Here we go with the start of the holiday season. It's a mixed blessing to me. As much as I love this time of year and my family, having the kids home so much can be a pain in the neck.
      There are trade offs to be sure. You get to sleep in and you don't have to fight the homework thing, but then you have to feed them constantly and referee their fights. Whose turn is it on the computer and whose turn is it to empty the dishwasher? There are times I wish school would start at 9:00 am and get out at 5:00 pm. You know, get them ready for real life, toughen them up.
     I've now got my boys doing their own laundry and they have to clean their room. They're 9 and 11 so I think they're plenty old enough. Nothing like do your own laundry to make you realize it's not worth putting clean clothes in the hamper because you're too lazy to set them on a shelf. Haha, there's a method to my meanness. How's that for real life?
     The Christmas holiday is particularly hard when they are home. I start to go shopping and they want to go with me. How's that supposed to work? I can't buy them presents when they are right there. And they are too old for the, "That's for your cousin," trick. This is just another reason why the holidays are a mixed blessing for me, as far as school being out. Do you ever feel this way? .....Maybe it's just me. :)
     

Brace Yourself, Here Come the Tunes

     Today's the day! The family doesn't know it yet, but I'm breaking out the Christmas music. I realize it's not even Thanksgiving, but I just can't hold off any more. I look forward to hearing those songs all year.
     The fam doesn't appreciate my choice in Christmas tunes because most of them are from country artists and a few traditional artists, like Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. Does it get any better than that?
     I think as long as you are doing Christmas shopping you should be able to listen to the music of the season. It helps ease the pain at the register.  And Walmart had their Christmas carols playing the other day when I was there, so I figure if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.
     I have my ipod all charged up and ready to go so beware, the loud moaning and groaning you here coming from the direction of my house today will be my family. Bwahahahaha!

We Still Have Dreams

     I have always had this dream of owning a small cabin somewhere in the mountains with lots of pine trees around it. The cabin would have big windows to watch the snow fall in the winter time and the leaves fall in the autumn. It might even overlook a lake.
     Wouldn't that be nice? Having ten kids makes this a difficult dream to attain, because while most people our age are empty nesters, or close to it, we still have three kids in school, two in elementary school. It's going to be a long time before we can think about hiding away in a cabin.
     And then you have the dilemma of wanting to be close enough to the older kids and grand-kids that if they needed us we could be there.
     Life is full of decisions and dreams, some are easy and some aren't. You don't stop dreaming and wishing as you get older. I still remember my grandmother telling me that she loved getting presents. This surprised me because I thought surely a grandmother would be beyond caring about that. Then I came to realize we are who we are and even though our bodies age we are still twenty-one-year-olds on the inside.

The Pioneer Woman

    I get a blog post every morning from The Pioneer Woman. Do you know who that is? She is a blogger who has two cookbooks, out among other things and I love her blog.
    She posts blogs about her family and their life on an Oklahoma cattle ranch. She's is funny and I know if we ever met we would be great friends.
     Anyway, today she posted a recipe for Buffalo Chicken Salad and since I am always looking for new recipes to feed my crew, my gang, my army, this is going on the list of things to try.
     Check it out. It may be something that your army likes also.
     Here's today's blog and the link to her blog. And if you need something to brighten your morning sign up and give her a go.

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman | Ree Drummond - Full RSS Feed

emailsubscribe@thepioneerwoman.com

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad

Prep Time: 10 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 10 Minutes  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 2

Print Recipe 3"x5" Cards 4"x6" Cards Full Page

Ingredients

• 1 whole Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1/2 cup Louisiana Hot Sauce (Frank's, Etc.)
• Salad Greens: Iceberg, Romaine, Mixed Greens
• 1/2 cup Blue Cheese Dressing
• Extra Blue Cheese Crumbles
• Celery Hearts, Leaves Intact

Preparation Instructions

With a sharp knife, carefully slice the chicken breast in half from top to bottom---meaning you'll have two similarly-sized chicken breasts that are much thinner. Heat olive oil and butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breast pieces and pan fry them on both sides until they're done. Get as much golden brown color on the chicken as you can. When it's done, remove the chicken from the skillet and pour off any excess fat/oil (but don't clean the pan.)
Return the chicken to the skillet and pour over the hot sauce. Turn the chicken to coat it on both sides and let it sit in the sauce while you prepare the other ingredients. (Heat should not be on under the skillet.)
Toss the lettuce in a large bowl with just enough salad dressing to lightly coat it (thin the dressing with a little milk if it's too gloopy.) Heap tossed salad into two individual bowls. Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles over the top. Slice the chicken into thin slices (on the bias) and arrange them over the top of each salad. (Dip the slices back into the sauce if necessary to really coat them.)
Top the whole thing with more blue cheese crumbles and serve with celery hearts.

Posted by Ree on November 14 2012

But I've Been Writing!

     I haven't forgotten about you, but I have been writing my fingers to the bone trying to finish, 'Out of the Darkness.' I managed two chapters yesterday. Hurray for me.
     My goal is still to have it out in December, so I have been writing like mad. I rolled it all into Nano so that it works.
     The goal is another chapter today. Luckily I'm getting to the really good part, so all I want to do is write anyway.
    Wish me luck, I'm going back in.

Right Where I Want To Be

     Here we are in the middle of November and I have already started my Christmas shopping. Now, I have to admit I have a long, long way to go, but knowing that I started gives me hope that I may not be at Walmart on Christmas Eve fighting for the left overs, like every other year.
     I would love to be one of those people who are done by Thanksgiving, but I never am. I just have too many people to buy for and not enough money at one time to do it all. This year we are cutting back. The economy has hit us hard with rising gas and milk prices, but that's okay.
     Christmas is not about the gifts. At least its not supposed to be. And if you watch all the Christmas specials, that's what they are trying to tell us. It's about family and friends and being with the ones you love to celebrate the day of our Lord's birth.
     I wonder what he would say to us about the huge amount of money we spend at this time of year? Would he be disappointed that we don't spend more on the poor and the homeless? Or would he be disappointed that we don't focus on him this much all year long. I think about these kinds of things.
     When I step back from the day to day grind that we call life I can see all the blessings I have. There are too many to mention, but I have a family that I love, we are healthy we have food and shelter. That's more than some people will ever have and for these things and all the other blessing in my life, I am grateful. This is right where I want to be as the Christmas season starts.

Snow, Snow, Snow

     I am so happy this morning. It's snowing. I love the snow. Being from California, I didn't get to watch the snow when I was little, or get to stay home from school for the occasional snow day. When we moved her five years ago we weren't sure how the now was going to affect our lives and to be truthful it hasn't all that much.
    The hubby doesn't have to drive to work in it so that's not a problem and the city is pretty quick to clear the streets if the snow is heavy enough. We have found most of the time that the snow melts on the streets first anyhow. Other than the one year, I think it was 2009, we haven't even had enough snow to build the sled run that is our goal every winter.
     I'm hoping for more snow this year, especially at Christmas time. I would love for it to snow either the day before or the day of Christmas. That would be awesome.
     As for today, I'm happy that our mountains are getting a fresh blanket and I'm going to turn on my fireplace and make some homemade hot chocolate. Yumm.
     And let's keep the fact that the snow here isn't that big of a deal to ourselves.
     The snow here is awful folks. It's four feet deep and getting deeper. Don't move here. :)

Who's With Me?!

     Today is a sad day for many of us because our candidate didn't win. And though it hurts and I worry about the direction our country is going, I am not going to let it destroy my faith in what made this country great.
     I will pray for our leaders to build upon the principles that we hold dear and for a brighter tomorrow. I will be thankful for what I have and strive to give my family what they need. We are so blessed in so many ways and I try not to let myself forget that.
     And I intend to get my house in order. Starting with our food storage. "Those who are prepared need not fear." Wise words. There is also spiritual preparedness, and emotional preparedness. I think it's time to take a close look at those also. Being the best you can be takes effort and planning.
     Who's with me?!

Election Day

     It's finally here, election day. I'm glad that we will be done with this craziness for a while. I know that if Romney wins the Democrats will be in mourning and if Obama wins the Republicans will be having conniptions. Either way, neither will be able to please half the population.
     I am sad to say that, in my opinion, we have reached a new low in our country. We have lost the ability to be civil to others. Especially those who have a different opinions than we do. When did it become okay to call people names and ridicule their beliefs? We have crossed a threshold that there is no backing away from. And our political leaders are right in there leading the pack.
     Is it any wonder that our children are bullying each other mercilessly when we have set that example. It makes me sad the basic politeness appears to be a thing of the past. How will our elected officials be able to work together to solve all these huge problems with such animosity between them?
    I fear for our future if we all don't start acting like adults instead of two-year-olds who have temper tantrums when they don't get there way.
   

I'm Behind Already

       I'm not even a week into Nano and I'm already behind. (See last Thursday's post)  How can that be? Oh yeah, I'm a wife and mother. I should be used to this. You know the old saying, 'The best laid plans of mice and men are quickly laid asunder.' That's me I plan things and in ten minutes out the window they go.
     Last week for instance, I had my day all planned and the next thing I knew I was on my way to the urgent care for my daughter's broken toe, which turned into toes. The day after that I thought I knew just how I was going to spend my time, but I wound up at the Dr. with my other daughter for her baby appointment.
     So goes my life. And I hate to say it but the hubster is the worst. On the very first day of Nano, I was ready to isolate myself in my room and pound out a chapter, but since baseball season is over and football hasn't gotten into full swing and there weren't any basketball games on that night, he decided we should go see a movie. This is something that we rarely get to do. I didn't want to hurt his feelings and who knows when we'll get the chance to go again, (this is how I justified it) so off we went.
     Now the hubby left to go to Cali for work and I am ready to hit it.
     Wait, the boys have dentist appointments in an hour, and to make matters worse they have the day off from school. NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
     That rhythmic thumping you hear is me banging my head against the wall. 
       

Getting Back Into the Habit

     I have been trying to get back into the habit of running every morning and it's been a challenge. My treadmill broke a few months ago and I had the hardest time getting someone out to fix it. And now that it is repaired it has been hit and miss.     
     I got up to exercise yesterday, and the hubby says to me, "Don't exercise lets go out to breakfast."
     Well, what could I say but, "Okay." so off to Denny's we went to have Moon's over my Fanny. That's Moon's over my Hammy for the uneducated amongst us. Today, I get ready to go for it and now we are running errands all morning. Funny how I don't have a problem getting on the treadmill when he's out of town. And I can also stick to a pretty healthy diet when he's not around.
     Nothing like your significant other to sabotage your noble efforts. I could try to have a little more will power but I all tastes to good. 

NaNoWriMo!!!

     It's that time again! It's NaNoWriMo time! I know you're asking yourself, 'what the heck is that', right?
It stands for National Novel Writing Month. And it's here. Every November writers, wanna-be writers, non-writers and assorted others set a goal to write a novel in a month.
     Is it hard? Of course it is. I put it right up there with dieting and exercising on a consistent basis. But people do do it and they succeed.
     The goal is to write a little over 1600 words a day. This takes a bit of planning. My plan is to runaway from home, or duct tape the entire family until December, or just try to hide away from them and get my words done. I haven't decided which plan to go with yet.
     If you have ever considered writing a book, or your life story, or your grandmother's life story now is the time. Just Google NanNoWriMo and it will take you to the website to sign up. And here's the best part it's FREE! Yes you read that right, FREE.
     Once you are logged in you can enter your daily word count and go. A handy little graph will show your progress thought out the month. And remember if you don't get to 50,000 words, it's okay. If you wind up with 1000 for the month, It's a 1000 more than what you had in October. Right? Right?