Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Encouraging Other Members of the Household to Cook

1. Keep a clean and organized kitchen. No one likes to go in a dirty kitchen where the dishes are piled so high on the counters there's no room to chop veggies. No one wants to wash all the dishes in the sink just so they can make a pot of coffee. And nobody feels good about eating food from a nasty kitchen. Just as important as clean, is the ability to find ingredients. My father rarely cooks. He opens every single cabinet in search of cooking oil and when he can't find it he goes back into the living room to watch tv.

2. Plan meals and post the menu in a prominent location. The other members of your house will either say, Ah, meatloaf, and mash the potatoes to go with it, or they will say, Yuck, meatloaf, and order a pizza. Which leads us to #3

3. Let people cook what they want. Cooking is more fun when the cook actually wants to eat the end result. This also includes letting people cook how they want. Kevin wants to grill everything. That's fine with me. While he was grilling last night, I made lunches.

4. Don't get mad if someone doesn't like your food/cooking. This is a wonderful learning opportunity. When I was a child I thought I didn't like vegetables, but really I didn't like them boiled. Raw veggies are good and steamed is pretty good too. Had my mother been willing to adapt her recipes, I would have ate more healthy food growing up.

5. Prep ahead as much as possible. People are lazy. They are much more willing to put a casserole in the oven than they are to chop, add, mix, and bake.

6. Everyone should like being in the kitchen. The kitchen should be the nicest room in your house. It should be homey and inviting. No one likes a dark, dank, smelly kitchen. If the kitchen is nice, people will spend more time there and as you cook you can show them how to do things.

7. Cooking is a dying skill. People don't cook every day. Some people don't even cook once a week. To them, cooking is a complex, magical process barely understood. Once I took blueberry muffins to work that I made from Jiffy Muffin Mix. Everyone thought the muffins were made from scratch because I made them in my kitchen. They didn't know muffins can be made from flour and real berries. I've heard people say they didn't know pumpkin pie could be made from pumpkins, they thought it could only be made from a can. My co worker's mother-in-law was astounded that Tiffany bought a pumpkin, carved a jack-o-lantern, made a pie, and roasted the seeds. She had no idea pumpkins were useful. She thought they were simply Halloween decorations that rotted after 2 weeks. If people think cookies can only be made from a store brought tube of dough, there is no way you can expect them to cook a full meal. Start small and work your way up.

8. Read old cookbooks. For some reason, cookbook publishers today think cooking is hard to do and only a few elites ever master it. Old cookbooks are easier to understand with simple instructions and few ingredients. Old cookbooks often contain insight from previous owners. I have my mother's Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook and it is filled with her notes, extra recipes, and stained with food from my childhood. I know a recipe with a star beside it will be excellent.

9. Share. Keeping a recipe 'secret' is just mean. Mrs. M made the absolute best cake in town. Her daughter asked for the recipe and she wouldn't give it to her. Then Mrs. M died and the best cake in town was lost forever.

10. Have 'Cook's Day Off'' Tell your family you will not be cooking on a particular day. They will either have to eat out, eat leftovers, eat take-out, or, hopefully, cook something. But as long as you are doing all the cooking, they won't prepare food.

11. Compromise. It is unrealistic to expect a non-cook to prepare a full meal AND clean up. While Kevin scrambles eggs I fry sausage and make toast. He clears the table and I wash dishes.

12. Having a penis is NOT an impediment to operating a stove. Everybody should know how to cook, boys and girls. Teach your son how to bake cookies. I am a firmly believer in having children in the kitchen at a young age and letting them make a mess. Remember, the more fun cooking is, the more often they will want to do it.

13. (This is the most important) The kitchen is the domain of ALL. Do not state that you don't like anyone in 'your' kitchen. My mother has 'her' kitchen and I don't like to cook at her house because I know I will leave something out of place and she will wig out. I prefer to stay out of 'her' kitchen and she wonders why she 'has to' do all the cooking. Please do not be a Cooking Nazi. Let your family in, invite people over, and have parties. Everyone will be happier. Food is the strongest memory. People remember parties, holidays, good food and drink. They remember laughter and fun. They don't remember matching china.

14. Learning to cook takes a lifetime. There is always something new to learn. Experiment. Try new things. Explore the food of other cultures. If you have a closed mind, the mind of your family is unlikely to open.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Not As Bad As I Thought

Last night was my first night working second shift. First of all, it was a blessing not to get up at 3:30am. The people are more laid back and helpful on nights. I worked a different line where it was slightly cooler and less sparks flying. I only had to work an 8hour shift. I never know how long I will be at work each day.

But I still don't like driving 45 minutes and crossing a time zone. I miss Kevin terribly. My sugar has sky-rocketed because I'm eating at odds times of the day. I can't sleep either. It's a light sleep with vivid dreams, not a deep restful sleep.

On the plus side, I filled out more applications before I went in yesterday, and already one has called me wanting more information about my work history. Hopefully I won't be working this job much longer. I realize now I can't do 90 days. It's too much.

I'm losing track of days/time and it's become hard for me to figure out when things will occur. I got so confused last night because the clock on my machine said 0:00 It took a good 10 minutes to figure out it was MIDNIGHT and a whole new calendar day.

On the way home, I realized I needed gas. Then I realized it was 2:30 am CST and nothing, I mean nothing was open. I was starting to panic, there was no way I could make it home, and then I remembered truck stops are always open 24/7 That's the kind of thing messing me up- I've never had to worry about getting to the gas station before it closed for the night. I coasted in on fumes while wishing I had a little more foresight.

And on a completely unrelated note, if you want to get stirred up today, go read Pagan Soccer Mom's blog, and then please go vote for her.

Monday, May 23, 2011

OMG What Have I Agreed To?

Kevin and I decided I would work my new job 90 days. This satisfies my agreement with the temp agency and it gives me the chance to make and save a tidy sum. 90 days is about the length of summer. Doing something for a season isn't too bad. And I think 90 days on second shift is about all I can handle.

It's a 12 hour shift. Sometimes. Depends on production. Could be 8. Could be 11. But not more than 12. Tomorrow I get actual job training (today I got to watch boring safety videos) and I am assuming to make it more like a real work day, I am starting at 6:15am. Okay, I've had to start work at 6am for many years, no big deal.

The trick to going to work so early is to do as much as possible the night before. Before bed, I need to shower, lay out my clothes, have my lunch packed, have the coffee pot ready, the dog bowls filled, and figured out what I will be doing after work so I can prep for these activities as well. I'm going to the library after work. I grabbed some books that are due and thought, I need to leave the house at 5...

Then it hit me.

No, the plant is on EASTERN time. I am on CENTRAL time. That means I need to BE AT WORK AT 5:15am.

I dropped the books.

Holy shit. I need to leave the house at FOUR IN THE MORNING.

OMG. What time am I getting up?

OMG.

Are you seeing the problem here? I'm in for one looooonnnnnnnggggggggg day. Very long.

It's 8:15pm right now and I should be in bed at this moment in order to get enough sleep.

I have only completed 1 day of 90 fucking days.

Suddenly, it seems way too hard. My body is already rebelling. My mind has pulled the nice covers over my head.

Another part of me is inspired to find a better job, heck, a job closer to the house, so I don't have to do 90 days.

Oh my god.

Seriously, Don't Talk to Me

Kevin tells me all the time I am beautiful. I grew up constantly hearing that I was ugly, so I don't really believe Kevin. I know he thinks I'm attractive and he loves me, but it throws me for a loop when a stranger shows an interest.

Today was the first day of my new job. The men looked at me all day long. This doesn't have much to do with my looks; men in factories are always interested in the 'fresh meat' Only one man actually talked to me- the safety officer.

First, let me say that he is old and weird. He talks really slow. Know the 'Clear Eyes' commerical? Dry, red eyes? Get Clear Eyes. Wow. He has the same slow deadpan voice.

Mr. Safety thinks he knows me. We have never met until today. He saw me at orientation last Thursday and this morning he saw me again and he said he was happy to see a familiar face. Hmm? Who me?

At lunch, he walked up while I was using the microwave and started chatting away like we were old friends. I was actually racking my brain trying to determine if maybe I did know him and forgot.

I really hate it when men do this. There's a flirting element that I want to nip in the bud IMMEDIATELY. But, they haven't actually done/said anything. So if I pointedly blurt out I have a boyfriend (I almost always lie and say husband), they usually get offended and proclaim they were just being nice, no they're not interested. But if I let it go on then I'm encouraging them and somewhere they cross a line and things become awkward because I should have spoke up a long time ago.

The only thing worse than men flirting is women hitting on me because I have no clue that I have a lesbian admirer until it is far too late. Women don't use cheesy pick up lines. They just start talking and I mistakenly believe they are being friendly and nice and usually I am really confused midway into the conversation. I've been hit on by women three times and I just don't know how to handle it or how to even see it coming. No women hit on me today. At least, I don't think so. Ah, I'm confused again.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Almost Silent Sunday

Today's pictures represent simple things that make me happy. Some things, however, cannot be photographed. Some of the pictures represent ideas, not things. I leave you the mystery of trying to sort out what is what.











































































Friday, May 20, 2011

Guess I checked Out OK

Because I am to report Monday morning for training. So now I am employed again.

I'm Too Broke for You to be F*cking With Me

I called the agency this morning because they hadn't called me.

I was told I couldn't start until my background check came back.

What? You don't consider me able to work, yet you sent me to a whole other county for orientation?! Do you not know gas is expensive?!

And I'm still unemployed.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

more pros or more cons?

I have good news and bad news. The good news is I spent a lot of time worrying about things that won't even affect me. Whew.

The bad news is there are problems with this job that I didn't even think about.

First, I don't know if I even have the job. I probably do, but I don't have a start date or a uniform. If I have the job, I will get my shirt tomorrow. But that means burning MORE gas driving into town.

The company is located in Chambers County. I live in Tallapoosa. Yes, Chambers and Tallapoosa are right next to each other, but this company is clear on the other side and no where close to my house. Strike one.

The hours are horrid. How long I work each day would depend on making production. Right now people are doing 11 to 12 hours. Very bad. Lots of overtime. Good. Be able to pay bills and save money. Good. Spend waaaaay too much on gas. Bad.

It's second shift. Very, very, very bad. Kevin works 1st shift so we would share the same abode but never see each other. BAD. I have not worked 2nd shift in YEARS. Every time I change my routine, my sugar gets wonky. I JUST got it in a nice stable range and now I have to screw with things. Bad. Very bad.

It's a Korean owned company. I have never worked for Koreans so I'm not sure what that is like. But, and this is important, it seems to be the kind of place where you do you job and go home, which is what I wanted.

There's a longer lunch, and more breaks in general. That's good. Yes, they're strict, but they seem to treat people better.

It's metal fab. The company makes car parts. It is the cleanest plant I have ever been in and that is a huge plus for me. There was no dust. No grease. I'm telling you, the floor was clean enough to eat off of.

And then there are small things that I really liked. The parking lot is huge. At my old job, the parking sucked because there were more employees than spaces and the lot itself was tiny. Lots of cars got dings. We also had a problem with robberies and theft. This place has security, lights, fencing, and a gate.

The break room was really nice. They had a big screen tv and ping pong tables. It was very clean. My old job had more employees than tables, microwaves that didn't work, and moldy food in the vending machines. We had ant and roach infestations. There was no tv. The only entertainment were magazines which people drew on and ripped pages out of.

Everybody in the plant takes breaks at the same time. What's good about that is it cuts down on laziness. It's not possible for someone to take a smoke break every half hour. What's bad is you never get to be alone.

I need steel toe boots which I don't have. I haven't needed steel toes in years. I don't want to buy boots I can't really afford if I'm not going to stay with this job. But if I get another factory job, I might need boots anyway. But I'm also annoyed with the agency for sending me out to a plant without considering my qualifications. I said I wanted 1st shift and they are giving me second and I said not more than 30 miles from the house and this is closer to 45. Plus, every time they call me, they call my cell. I told them to call my house, but that makes the call long distance for them. The cell doesn't pick up well out here so I've already missed a few calls and I am now out of air time, but I can't really afford more. I feel like they just send everyone to the same place. It's not just me. A woman in orientation today can't work second shift because of her children and this was the second time the temp agency sent her out on a night shift job. What was the point of filling out all that damn paperwork if no one reads it?

I'm still debating. I could do it for a while, but I sure don't want to do it very long. Kevin and I are going to discuss it. If I even have the job.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Can you come in tomorrow?

I have orientation and a safety test tomorrow afternoon. I have also been told what to wear, so I maybe working after orientation. Or maybe it's a walk-thru. At any rate, I should be earning money in the near future.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

That's It?

So yesterday was my interview. I was really excited and hopeful. I had already applied online, so I thought this interview would be where they told me about Job X.

Instead I signed some release forms- agreeing to drug/background screenings, I filled out a few more forms, and I wrote my social security number about 5,000 times.

That was it.

It took longer to drive there than to 'interview'. Other people, who had not applied online, where filling out piles of paperwork and one poor soul told me he had been in there TWO HOURS, he had another interview at noon, and he didn't think he would make it on time because he was only halfway done. This was at 10:30am. I was in and out in under 30 minutes. In fact, I parked beside a woman who gave someone a ride and she was really annoyed that I came much later but got out sooner.

I think my energy is still a bit stuck. But at least I got an interview. Maybe if I go burn more incense...

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Share the Wealth

I've made a slight change to my Etsy banner. Instead of showcasing items from my shop, I'm showcasing my favorites from other shops. The other day I put someone in a treasury and I got like 3 hearts and I was added to a circle. So instead of making it all about me, I'm making it all about neat things just to see what happens. There's lots of cool things on Etsy and if I had money I'd buy a lot more. Remember, if you buy from Etsy, you are helping an individual, not an impersonal company.

Today- the dresser

Yesterday I cleaned my kitchen. Today I cleaned my dresser. The kitchen is abundance. The dresser is the personal junk you carry about for no good reason.

I threw out old underwear and old letters from 'friends' I don't have anymore. I reorganized, and actually managed to put all my swimsuits in one drawer (I swim a lot). I got out the clothes that were too ragged to wear and cut them up for quilting scraps. Reuse and recycle!

Then I broke out the polish. I polished the wood until it shone, then got to work on my brass, handheld mirror.

I tightened loose drawer pulls. I cleaned the dresser mirror. And I made sure my candle holders were dust free.

You could say this is just busywork, but I'm a kitchen witch. I think the whole house is a symbol for my psyche. I think one often mimics the other.

So what happens when the house is clean and the clutter is gone?

A facial and a magickal bath. It does no good to take care of the house if I let myself go.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Turning

I have been feeling a bit depressed about the job situation.

Ever since I got fired, I have been on the Wheel to Nowhere. I fill out applications. I wait. Nothing. I call. I get lame answers and vague promises. I go in person somewhere else to fill out applications. The person hiring likes my resume. They promise to call. I hear nothing. I call them. I get lame answers.

I think my old job must say terrible things whenever anyone calls about me.

But today, finally, I got a call. I have an interview on Monday. Finally, I can get off the the Nowhere Wheel.

To keep good energy flowing, I cleaned my kitchen. I cleaned out my cabinets. I tossed out junk, wiped down shelves, and reorganized as I put items back. To me the kitchen is all about abundance and prosperity. I need me some prosperity, I am almost out of $.

We often forget that in order to receive, we must let go. If you're not sure what to let go of, just clean your house. Let go of dirt and dust and trash. Something will come into your life, I promise.

Here's a folk magick spell for you- to keep your money from being wasted, tie a purple ribbon around your facet. This keeps money from being washed away or going down the drain.

I have purple ribbons around both the kitchen and bathroom facets.

Just Now

Blogger has had problems. Everything after Wednesday became read only. I am just now able to sign into the dashboard of my blog. Maybe a little later I'll try a real post. I don't want to loose a bunch of work.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A Little More White

Two more puppies now have white marks on their chests. Maybe I'll be able to tell them apart after all.

Monday, May 9, 2011

First Name

All the puppies are black. I have no way to tell them apart. Or, I have no way to tell 9 apart. One has a white stripe on her chest. I named her Harley. I was going to call her Harlequin, but I know Kevin will never say that name in a million years. So Harley it is.
And no, I still don't have pictures. Even with Kevin's camera they look like blobs instead of cute babies.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Couple More

We are now up to 10 puppies. The last had green stuff covering her mouth. I wiped it off and she started kicking so I think she will be okay. I hope Charlene is done. Puppies born hours apart is not a good sign.

life goes on, sometimes in waves of cute

Charlene had her puppies this morning, on Mother's Day. All are black. I haven't looked to see how many boys and girls. I tried to get a pic, but it looked like a bunch of black blobs. She's had 8 and I hope she's done. All are wiggling and most are vocal- they sound like human babies grunting and moaning.

I'm hoping to make these puppies Search and Rescue Dogs. I found an organization which trains and places puppies. I thought that would be fitting as Charlene is a rescued animal.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

My Friend is Gone

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/05/06/1567816/lagrange-crime-man-charged-with.html

I have lots of questions and no answers. I haven't seen her in a few years. We should have kept in touch.

Why did she leave Jake? I always thought they were alright. Why did he shoot her? Why did she move to Georgia? Where was she working? Did she still quilt? Her sons would be grown now, what are they doing?

Because she died last night, there is not yet an obit. I don't know when or where the funeral will be. I'd like to go, but I don't know who to call for details.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Easier to Make

Kevin is fishing today. I really hope he catches something, because I have a craving for baked fish.

The recipe calls for bread crumbs, to stuff the fish. One thing that just kills me is people who buy bread crumbs. I think it's silly. If you have bread- any bread, you can make bread crumbs. I've heard people say they don't have time to make bread crumbs but that's ridiculous. Yes, you would need time to prepare them, but it doesn't take that long. This is one of those things where the small amount time invested more than pays off in flavor. It goes right along with brewing a pot of coffee (instead of instant) or making homemade french fries (instead of nasty frozen fries) or making icing (instead of paying $5 for a small can that just barely covers the cake).

I set my oven on the lowest setting. This is 170 for me. I put four slices of wheat bread (white will do, or use both) on a cookie sheet. And I don't even know how long it was in there, I checked on the bread a couple of times to see if it was drying out. Essentially you want your slices of bread to be very hard and dry. I flipped my slices once to ensure even drying. Then I rubbed the dry bread over a cheese grater. Presto, instant crumbs. Now was that hard? No. So don't buy anymore bread crumbs from the grocery store. What? You need a lot? No problem, put a few slices in the oven every day until you have plenty. It keeps well.

You can make croutons in basically the same way. Cut up bread, brush with melted butter and garlic flakes, put in oven.

Now I realize this does take a bit of planning, but you should be doing that anyway. If you plan your meals you don't have to rush around at the last minute trying to make dinner. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-thru. It's easier to stick to your diet. You'll spend less at the grocery store. And if you save your menus, after a month or two, you'll have plenty of choices for meals and you won't have to rack your brain wondering what to cook.

My fish recipe comes from one of my grandmother's cookbooks called The Auburn Cookbook by Fariss Prickett and published by Auburn University Extension Service, June 1968. The first time I tried this recipe, I was 14 years old, and I was cooking catfish caught in the family pond.

Baked Fish
Clean fish. Sprinkle inside with salt and pepper. Fill with stuffing (see below). Fasten edges with skewers or round toothpicks, or tie or sew with wrapping thread. Brush outside with salad oil+ or melted butter. Place on a well greased, shallow baking pan. Cut gashes crosswise in upper side of fish. Place strips of bacon in these slits. Bake at 375 twelve to fifteen minutes for each pound.

STUFFING. Combine 2 cups dry beads cubes*, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon onion, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 cup melted butter. About 2 cups of stuffing are enough for a 3/4-pound fish or 6 fish fillets.

+Kevin thinks Italian salad dresisng would be good here. If I had any, I'd try it and find out.

*The first time I made this, my mother was reading the recipe to me while I cooked. She said bread CRUMBS (not cubes). The crumbs worked fine. It was years before I figured out I needed cubes and not crumbs.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

How This New Page Stuff Will Work

I think I'll go with a page for each subject. So there'll be a money spells page, a healing spells page, protection, etc. The Book of Shadows page will have general info and an explanation of the lay out. I'm trying to make all my pages interesting with pictures and nice type. I hope you can read them. If there's a problem, let me know so I can adjust.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I've added a page

And I'll add more later.

I'm starting an online book of shadows. The spells I post will be ones that always work for me. I hope they work for you too.

Well, Duh!

Last night I was telling a friend about the insurance thing and she said,

"Can't you just go to the website and see how much coverage you have?"

Well, NO, because I didn't think of it, damn it!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

When I got fired, I was told my insurance would only last until the end of the month. This didn't make much sense to me. Everywhere else I've worked, I had around 60 days after I left the job. The idea being to give the employees coverage until they found a new job.

But I didn't question it. Maybe I should have.

I went to the doctor last week (I'm fine, thanks, just a check up) Saturday, I had an email from the insurance company. Every time I file a claim- buy insulin or see a doctor, I get a little report stating what was paid and if I owe anything. This is standard procedure.

But since I'm not supposed to have insurance, why did they email me?

Part of me wants to call. Part of me is afraid the insurance company made a mistake and if I call I'll lose coverage. Another part of me is sure I was lied to.

I decided to hedge my bets. I filed two Rx's this morning. If I still have coverage, I'll be reimbursed. If I don't have insurance, Blue Cross will figure it out in a hurry and not pay me. Either way, I'll find out if I have insurance.

I really hope the email was a mistake. Because if it wasn't, the company tried to keep insurance benefits from a diabetic. See why I hate the place?