They say you shouldn't trust a skinny cook. If that's true, I must be the most trustworthy cook alive!
Between work, family, my children, my health and other various concerns I am practially a zombie after all the bills are paid. One of the many things that bring me happiness is cooking. It is my form of artistic expression.
I have always appreciated other people's ability to express themselves artistically. I can talk, but not sing, dance or play an instrument in a way that will elicit anything but a fervent request to stop lest someones life be extinguished by their overzealous attempts to plug their ears with anything within reach. My daughters both play an instrument and play for me sometimes. I have managed to attend more than one of their orchestra concerts this school year. I am very pleased by that fact because I normally make it to about 2 a year. I have managed to attend five or six this year. My oldest daughter plays the viola. I love to see the peaceful look on her face when she is playing. That look is that same way I feel when I cook.
If I feel particularly sad, I will want to cook something. There is something very satisfying about selecting ingredients, cutting, sauteing, mixing and sprinkling until something wonderful happens. I am a mad scientist in the kitchen. I will experiment with different spices, food preparation techniques or ingredients. If you look at what I've cooked in the last 4 days, you might think I was suicidal! Friday I made a pound cake, coconut macaroons and salmon/tuna cheese buns (I'm still working on a better name for that), a Coley experiment that turned out very well. One might think that after all of that baking I would be tired. I didn't sleep at all that night. I was so tired the next day that I slept most of it. Sunday I decided I wanted to make something, but I didn't know what. I told my daughter to make a suggestion. She suggested cobbler. I thought, "Great! I have never made one of those. First time for everything." The Internet is a wonderful place full of information about things other than porn and I found a recipe that was remarkably easy. I also had all of the ingredients on hand so cherry cobbler was born! It was pretty tasty. I will have to make that one again.
Monday?! I should have been swimming and getting a tan. The pool isn't open yet and it is overcast. No dice. Man I feel blue. I'm tired and overwhelmed with all I have to do between doing better at work, keeping order at home and managing my weight and health, I feel like I just want to get into bed and stay there for a month. So I made a pound cake, 2 loaves of Italian bread, 1 loaf of white bread and more tuna/salmon/cheese thingies. They all turned out wonderfully and the bread will last til next weekend. There are times I feel a sense of pressure because of all I have to do and all I am responsible for.
My health has been taking a back burner to other things and it's gotten to a point that it has to be addressed or I may be out of commission while things are brought into order. Still I want to cook. Money is tight so I keep trying to find new and different ways to turn spices and rice into something different. It is a challenge that I take head on and enjoy because it gives my inner "mad scientist" a chance to shine!
More to come!
About Me
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Weight Update and Underware rant.....
I bought a scale. I didn't want to but the place that was was weighing on a regular basis fell off the face of the planet and the scale at work is messed up so I had to take matters in to my own wallet.
I had to go to the store to pick up a filter for the AC unit at the apartment and came across a scale for a decent price. I have been under 400 lbs for quite some time and don't plan to go back over, so my "traffic cop" was purchased. I said that I didn't want to weigh myself everyday, but I have. It is interesting how you can put the plate down when you know that you are going to have to stare down at the indeglow screen telling you that you've gained weight. Damn, I shouldn't have had that second, third helping. I am now celebrating 75 lbs down in the past year or so.
As my weight comes down and I have more lose skin, I realize the importance of support garments. Support? It's more like infrastructure. As I truss and strap myself up in the morning, I have a deeper appreciation for those garments. I also realize that my mother didn't teach me enough about underwear. I didn't know what bra size I wore until I was an adult. Sad.
When I called my mother to tell her that I'd lost weight, she sent me a girdle. I thought it was a strange gift. I have since purchased a few more. I have noticed that my waist is starting to appear. It's pretty cool. I wonder if there will be a day that I will be able to get up and not have to put on my spandex to keep things from moving when I stop moving. The more I think about it, the more I realize that as gravity takes it's toll on my body, the more I will need. True.
I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. Looking back on pictures from my youth, I wasn't fat. I was big, but not fat and being active would have worked that all out. Well, I wasn't active. I gained weight when I was 17 and pretty much kept gaining.
I tend to think of many things when it comes to my sisters and me like competition. Weight has never really been one of those things. Now my older sister has upped the ante. She had gastric bypass surgery a few weeks ago. Now I have to drop weight so I can get all of her "fat" clothes when she can't wear them anymore. Should this really be a motivation? HELL YEAH! She is a very sharp dresser! She has some really cute clothes. I would love to have them. Since I'm her sister, I get first dibs! I can think of at least 10 pieces of her clothes that I can't wait to get my hands on. Greed is a mighty motivator. Sad but true.
More to come!
I had to go to the store to pick up a filter for the AC unit at the apartment and came across a scale for a decent price. I have been under 400 lbs for quite some time and don't plan to go back over, so my "traffic cop" was purchased. I said that I didn't want to weigh myself everyday, but I have. It is interesting how you can put the plate down when you know that you are going to have to stare down at the indeglow screen telling you that you've gained weight. Damn, I shouldn't have had that second, third helping. I am now celebrating 75 lbs down in the past year or so.
As my weight comes down and I have more lose skin, I realize the importance of support garments. Support? It's more like infrastructure. As I truss and strap myself up in the morning, I have a deeper appreciation for those garments. I also realize that my mother didn't teach me enough about underwear. I didn't know what bra size I wore until I was an adult. Sad.
When I called my mother to tell her that I'd lost weight, she sent me a girdle. I thought it was a strange gift. I have since purchased a few more. I have noticed that my waist is starting to appear. It's pretty cool. I wonder if there will be a day that I will be able to get up and not have to put on my spandex to keep things from moving when I stop moving. The more I think about it, the more I realize that as gravity takes it's toll on my body, the more I will need. True.
I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. Looking back on pictures from my youth, I wasn't fat. I was big, but not fat and being active would have worked that all out. Well, I wasn't active. I gained weight when I was 17 and pretty much kept gaining.
I tend to think of many things when it comes to my sisters and me like competition. Weight has never really been one of those things. Now my older sister has upped the ante. She had gastric bypass surgery a few weeks ago. Now I have to drop weight so I can get all of her "fat" clothes when she can't wear them anymore. Should this really be a motivation? HELL YEAH! She is a very sharp dresser! She has some really cute clothes. I would love to have them. Since I'm her sister, I get first dibs! I can think of at least 10 pieces of her clothes that I can't wait to get my hands on. Greed is a mighty motivator. Sad but true.
More to come!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Weight Update, Sippin' in Support
I'm down under 380! I'm excited because it is headed in the right direction. My sister was in the hospital for a few days and I told her that I was going to go on a liquid diet for a week as a way of showing my support for her.
I was amazed that I made it as long as I did. I personally thought that I would not make it to Thursday. I started my fast on Monday and it ended very early Sunday morning as I was not going to deprive myself of my mother's day breakfast in bed.
My friends were very supportive of the endeavour. One friend offered to make me lunch my first day back at work after finishing my fast. Anything I wanted. I asked for corned beef and cabbage. This particular friend is a good cook and we call ourselves "food friends" so when she offers food, I accept. It is never a bad idea. She came through in spades! She even sent me the food via a mutual friend because she was not at work Monday. She sent so much food! It took me all day to put a dent in it and I couldn't finish it all. It was delicious, simple and I smiled the whole day long. I couldn't even finish it all.
The time turned out to be a good detox period and now I am on track to see the numbers on the scale go down even more.
More to come!
I was amazed that I made it as long as I did. I personally thought that I would not make it to Thursday. I started my fast on Monday and it ended very early Sunday morning as I was not going to deprive myself of my mother's day breakfast in bed.
My friends were very supportive of the endeavour. One friend offered to make me lunch my first day back at work after finishing my fast. Anything I wanted. I asked for corned beef and cabbage. This particular friend is a good cook and we call ourselves "food friends" so when she offers food, I accept. It is never a bad idea. She came through in spades! She even sent me the food via a mutual friend because she was not at work Monday. She sent so much food! It took me all day to put a dent in it and I couldn't finish it all. It was delicious, simple and I smiled the whole day long. I couldn't even finish it all.
The time turned out to be a good detox period and now I am on track to see the numbers on the scale go down even more.
More to come!
Neighbor Update
Since my last post there have been some developments. I contacted the corporate office of the apartment complex I live in.
I was getting ready for work one Tuesday morning last week and as I listened to the gentle sounds of the rain outside, I heard the familiar sound of splashing water on my patio. The week before I made yet another call to the apartment office to inform them that my neighbor was still sweeping dog crap off her balcony. They called me back and said that she wasn't doing it anymore. She lied! I was fuming! All I could think of was the fact that on the next warm day, I would have a fog of dog poo all around outside. It had to stop!
Since the apartment office refused to do anything, I decided to go over their heads. The Internet provided me with the number to the main office and I'd gotten the name of the manager over the apartments earlier in the hopes that they would snap to and get moving on fixing my issue. No one wants to have their "big" boss coming down for a conversation about poor job performance. Well that trick didn't work, nothing happened. So I had to use the name.
I called and calmly explained my situation, keeping in mind that I had to keep it simple and not yell or rant. I work in customer service and yelling and ranting never do much but frustrate the yeller/ranter. She responded in a way that I felt was appropriate under the circumstances and promised a call back.
A couple of days later the neighbor rings my doorbell and proceeds to make her child apologize for spitting milk and cereal onto my patio. A stupid display of just how little control over her child she has. I listened and when she was done, I closed the door. I thought that someone must have had a hard talk with her about the mess that has been going on. There have been no more poo deposits, but the flies that are feasting on previous deposits are there and make using my patio out of the question. The saga continues, I am ready for what ever comes next!
Save your spare change! I may need bail money!
I was getting ready for work one Tuesday morning last week and as I listened to the gentle sounds of the rain outside, I heard the familiar sound of splashing water on my patio. The week before I made yet another call to the apartment office to inform them that my neighbor was still sweeping dog crap off her balcony. They called me back and said that she wasn't doing it anymore. She lied! I was fuming! All I could think of was the fact that on the next warm day, I would have a fog of dog poo all around outside. It had to stop!
Since the apartment office refused to do anything, I decided to go over their heads. The Internet provided me with the number to the main office and I'd gotten the name of the manager over the apartments earlier in the hopes that they would snap to and get moving on fixing my issue. No one wants to have their "big" boss coming down for a conversation about poor job performance. Well that trick didn't work, nothing happened. So I had to use the name.
I called and calmly explained my situation, keeping in mind that I had to keep it simple and not yell or rant. I work in customer service and yelling and ranting never do much but frustrate the yeller/ranter. She responded in a way that I felt was appropriate under the circumstances and promised a call back.
A couple of days later the neighbor rings my doorbell and proceeds to make her child apologize for spitting milk and cereal onto my patio. A stupid display of just how little control over her child she has. I listened and when she was done, I closed the door. I thought that someone must have had a hard talk with her about the mess that has been going on. There have been no more poo deposits, but the flies that are feasting on previous deposits are there and make using my patio out of the question. The saga continues, I am ready for what ever comes next!
Save your spare change! I may need bail money!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
My life in a Drum and beside a toilet!
I thought I would do an update on my neighbor situation.
It has not improved. In fact it has gotten worse. They have dogs now.
They leave the dogs on the balcony all the time and the dogs piss and poop up there. My neighbor "cleans up" after them by sweeping the dogs mess down onto my patio. It has been going on for more than a month. I have complained to the apartment office practically weekly and nothing has changed.
Yesterday, before I left for work, I heard the familiar splashing sound of the water and piss raining down onto my patio. I called the apartment office last week to let them know that she was still doing it and was told that she said she would stop. She didn't. Since I have had no success, I decided to take my complaint to the next level. My plan was to include a complaint letter with my rent check this month, but after seeing that my neighbor was going to continue the filthy practice, I changed my mind and called the main office. I also followed up with a complaint letter, sent to the main office via fax.
Now that the weather is starting to warm up I cannot use my patio for the smell of dog urine and feces. Not to mention the bugs that are feasting on the weeks upon weeks of deposits into my bushes. It is inhuman!
I have already formulated a plan of action. I have been following the chain of command and know what recourse I have if the corporate manager doesn't take appropriate action to stop this filthy injustice.
It is all I can do not to become a featured story on that show "Snapped"! This woman's children are filthy, rude and she obviously doesn't like them from the fact that she lets them run around in overloaded diapers without pants, socks or shoes. Talking to her doesn't work because she doesn't see the error of her actions. The manager of the apartment complex seems to want me to solve the problem. Really?!
She doesn't want me to solve it because there will be police, paramedics and a coroner involved. Problem solved.
Working in customer service gives me a different perspective in these types of situations. It has started to affect my work.
It is hard to be empathetic to someone about paying their bill when there is a TOILET outside my window!
More to come!
It has not improved. In fact it has gotten worse. They have dogs now.
They leave the dogs on the balcony all the time and the dogs piss and poop up there. My neighbor "cleans up" after them by sweeping the dogs mess down onto my patio. It has been going on for more than a month. I have complained to the apartment office practically weekly and nothing has changed.
Yesterday, before I left for work, I heard the familiar splashing sound of the water and piss raining down onto my patio. I called the apartment office last week to let them know that she was still doing it and was told that she said she would stop. She didn't. Since I have had no success, I decided to take my complaint to the next level. My plan was to include a complaint letter with my rent check this month, but after seeing that my neighbor was going to continue the filthy practice, I changed my mind and called the main office. I also followed up with a complaint letter, sent to the main office via fax.
Now that the weather is starting to warm up I cannot use my patio for the smell of dog urine and feces. Not to mention the bugs that are feasting on the weeks upon weeks of deposits into my bushes. It is inhuman!
I have already formulated a plan of action. I have been following the chain of command and know what recourse I have if the corporate manager doesn't take appropriate action to stop this filthy injustice.
It is all I can do not to become a featured story on that show "Snapped"! This woman's children are filthy, rude and she obviously doesn't like them from the fact that she lets them run around in overloaded diapers without pants, socks or shoes. Talking to her doesn't work because she doesn't see the error of her actions. The manager of the apartment complex seems to want me to solve the problem. Really?!
She doesn't want me to solve it because there will be police, paramedics and a coroner involved. Problem solved.
Working in customer service gives me a different perspective in these types of situations. It has started to affect my work.
It is hard to be empathetic to someone about paying their bill when there is a TOILET outside my window!
More to come!
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