Elora has had a pink eye for two days, and now we're staying home and administering eye drops. Tomorrow she'll be going back to daycare, but today is just me and her, watching cartoons, cleaning the tub, and maybe popping in a classic flick like The Matchmaker or Zoolander. I think she'd like Zoolander for the funny faces and the pretty colors. Maybe even Home for the Holidays or Strictly Ballroom. God, the possibilities are endless.
The laundry is all done, the dishes are done, so the only thing to really do is eat and clean the bathroom up. And eat. I've got leftover Roasted Chicken and Wild Rice Soup and some brown rice chips to just snack on all day. It's the perfect day for a sick kid and no need to go anywhere or really do anything.
Hope everyone enjoys working today.... suckers. BWAHAHAHAHA.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Planning
This week has marked a new era in the Swan household..... we've begun the quest for affordable life insurance. We met with a Primerica rep last week, and this weekend we saw him again and he gave us the skinny on our finances and had a plan to get us debt free in 10 years. Which is great, really, but there were just a few things about the policy they set us up with (not definite yet) that I'm unsure about. First of all, I can't probably get insured. Considering that I'm the one with the lung condition and the cancer history and all that stuff I kind of find it, well, IMPORTANT to have some type of affordable coverage. It doesn't have to leave a fortune to my family, but enough to pay for the funeral and make sure that Thad isn't feeding the kids cat food while he lives on a single income until his sugar momma comes charging up on her white steed.
So now that we've written a check we await a call to set up some at home blood work. But before I actually give blood or urine or even a booger-laden kleenex sample I'm going to do some homework. I'm going to get a few quotes, see if a company would automatically exclude me for coverage for medical reasons, and at that point I'll decide if I call and cancel the check or if we'll just get insured and shop around a little more before cancelling.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we try to find affordable term life insurance. My kid just let out a blood curdling scream. Better find out what she did to herself. Bye!
So now that we've written a check we await a call to set up some at home blood work. But before I actually give blood or urine or even a booger-laden kleenex sample I'm going to do some homework. I'm going to get a few quotes, see if a company would automatically exclude me for coverage for medical reasons, and at that point I'll decide if I call and cancel the check or if we'll just get insured and shop around a little more before cancelling.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we try to find affordable term life insurance. My kid just let out a blood curdling scream. Better find out what she did to herself. Bye!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Big Ol' Belly
I'm 17 weeks this week and I took this picture last week after getting showered one morning. I'm able to wear some of my work pants without a problem, but my jeans are either maternity or held up with a Bella Band.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Random stuff....
First off, Elora got her first haircut today. She's 26 months old (2 years and 2 months) and this is the first time she's been to the salon. There are some kids that have had well over 6 haircuts by this age, but she never was one of those "born with a head full of hair" babies. We got a little certificate with her name on it and everything. Thad's cousin's ex-wife, Dannette, did it, and she cut both Thad's hair and mine tonight as well. Family haircuts = Kodak moment (Thad took pictures on his phone, so I'll try to get one or two up soon).
Secondly, I "fired" someone today. "Fired" is such an ugly term, but calling it "termination" doesn't really make it sound any more pleasant. No details, but all in all I'm ok with how this went, seeing as it was my first time doing this type of dirty work. I've been a supervisor for over a year, and before today everyone either resigned or stopped showing up. So this was good "real world" experience, even though it was not fun at all.
Thirdly, we're having Beef Stroganoff tonight. I love stroganoff, I could seriously make it at least once a week and never get tired of it. The sour cream, the cream of mushroom, the egg noodles, all of which combine and always taste amazing together. It's super easy, and never leaves me disappointed. I love having a staple in my recipe box that is always great. Plus, it beats the hell out of Hamburger Helper any night.
Lastly, it's raining. I love the rain, and I can't wait for the days to get warmer when we can open the windows during a rain storm and just enjoy the clean smell and the sound. I'm sure I'll be lamenting the rain soon enough, such is my fickle personality, but for tonight I'll just imagine it making everything green and Ireland-like in preparation for St. Patty's Day tomorrow. Note to self: remember to wear something green.
Secondly, I "fired" someone today. "Fired" is such an ugly term, but calling it "termination" doesn't really make it sound any more pleasant. No details, but all in all I'm ok with how this went, seeing as it was my first time doing this type of dirty work. I've been a supervisor for over a year, and before today everyone either resigned or stopped showing up. So this was good "real world" experience, even though it was not fun at all.
Thirdly, we're having Beef Stroganoff tonight. I love stroganoff, I could seriously make it at least once a week and never get tired of it. The sour cream, the cream of mushroom, the egg noodles, all of which combine and always taste amazing together. It's super easy, and never leaves me disappointed. I love having a staple in my recipe box that is always great. Plus, it beats the hell out of Hamburger Helper any night.
Lastly, it's raining. I love the rain, and I can't wait for the days to get warmer when we can open the windows during a rain storm and just enjoy the clean smell and the sound. I'm sure I'll be lamenting the rain soon enough, such is my fickle personality, but for tonight I'll just imagine it making everything green and Ireland-like in preparation for St. Patty's Day tomorrow. Note to self: remember to wear something green.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A bunch of old fascists
If you don't already read the comments on any article in the Billings Gazette I would NOT START NOW. Holy shitballs, they are a backwards bunch of assholes. I've decided that I'm not going to read comments unless the article is "neutral", like an op-ed piece about kittens or this type of gem right here. The only time anyone in this community bands together in a common thought is when the subject is cute or hilarious.
What frustrates me is the complete lack of respect for OPINIONS. People comment on what their OPINION is, but everyone thinks that their opinions are FACTS. This leads to ridiculous, petty arguments about how valid one side of the argument is over the other, and sometimes it just leads to downright childish name-calling. I love how people that can't afford daycare while they ARE TRYING TO HOLD DOWN A JOB IN THIS ECONOMY and the people that support DAY-CARE ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE FAMILIES are considered "liberals". Really?! I guess if you didn't raise kids through the 1950s and survive on one income you aren't a good parent.
Ugh, no more being frustrated. I'm blessed in all that I have. A good job, a family that I can support as much as they support me, and friends that will need to promise me endless glasses of wine when this next ECONOMIC VAMPIRE escapes from my womb so I can cope with being a terrible, horrible mother. Coping with being a terrible, horrible mother is easier when wine is consumed.
What frustrates me is the complete lack of respect for OPINIONS. People comment on what their OPINION is, but everyone thinks that their opinions are FACTS. This leads to ridiculous, petty arguments about how valid one side of the argument is over the other, and sometimes it just leads to downright childish name-calling. I love how people that can't afford daycare while they ARE TRYING TO HOLD DOWN A JOB IN THIS ECONOMY and the people that support DAY-CARE ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE FAMILIES are considered "liberals". Really?! I guess if you didn't raise kids through the 1950s and survive on one income you aren't a good parent.
Ugh, no more being frustrated. I'm blessed in all that I have. A good job, a family that I can support as much as they support me, and friends that will need to promise me endless glasses of wine when this next ECONOMIC VAMPIRE escapes from my womb so I can cope with being a terrible, horrible mother. Coping with being a terrible, horrible mother is easier when wine is consumed.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wasting time when I should be getting ready
Ok, it's been about a week since I put up our food recap. A few people have tried the Nigella pasta and loved it, so I'm glad to hear it. Here's a brief recap of last week:
1) My mom was in the hospital, which meant that Currey and I took the opportunity to use guerrilla warfare to clean her house. About 8 Lawn and Leaf Force Flex garbage bags of clothes later Currey finished up and felt pretty good about how we left it.
2) While in Colstrip I stopped at Adrienne's to drop off her birthday present, and that was when Poppy's ear became a literal hose of blood. I helped clean the kitchen floor of blood, as did Diesel, and while he liked up the spots I said inappropriate but hilarious things like "It's like ancient Rome, when the victors would lick the blood of the defeated" and "He's earning his red wings".
3) The next day Adrienne and I were going to go for a walk on the treadmills and Poppy required an emergency trip to the vet instead. So I stayed in my pjs, hopped in the Luminator with her, got myself a gorgeous omelette sandwich at Subway and a coffee, and wore my sunglasses for the 2nd time in the last 30 days for a breakfast date with Adrienne. I love the days I get to eat breakfast in sunglasses, I feel like a movie star. Notable trip moments: When I laughed until I cried about my love of numbers, when Adrienne let Poppy out to piddle and she wouldn't get back in her kennel, resulting in a backseat that looked like that scene in Pulp Fiction where the accidentally shoot the guy in the head..... EXACTLY LIKE THAT (slight exaggeration).
4) Near divorce over a pork chop... if you've heard the story I am sorry I have failed you as a friend. If you haven't, well, consider yourself lucky.
5) Got a virus in my tummy that resulted in some "both ends" action on Friday, which led to my poor father-in-law, bestie, and bestie-in-law (Allan) getting sick as well.
6) Elora spent an overnight with Gammy and Papa, and came home ready to be a screaming, bawling, holy terror. But at least she loves playing "This little piggy" and this garden game my sister taught me that ends in tickling. She also says "birthday to you" and "ring around the rosie". Her favorite bedtime routine is having one of us lay with her (usually resulting in one of us passing out in her bed because we're so freakin' tired).
Well, that's about it. If you didn't catch SNL's commercial special last night it was HILARIOUS. Adrienne has a really good video over on her blog so go watch it here , but not before you watch THIS!!!
1) My mom was in the hospital, which meant that Currey and I took the opportunity to use guerrilla warfare to clean her house. About 8 Lawn and Leaf Force Flex garbage bags of clothes later Currey finished up and felt pretty good about how we left it.
2) While in Colstrip I stopped at Adrienne's to drop off her birthday present, and that was when Poppy's ear became a literal hose of blood. I helped clean the kitchen floor of blood, as did Diesel, and while he liked up the spots I said inappropriate but hilarious things like "It's like ancient Rome, when the victors would lick the blood of the defeated" and "He's earning his red wings".
3) The next day Adrienne and I were going to go for a walk on the treadmills and Poppy required an emergency trip to the vet instead. So I stayed in my pjs, hopped in the Luminator with her, got myself a gorgeous omelette sandwich at Subway and a coffee, and wore my sunglasses for the 2nd time in the last 30 days for a breakfast date with Adrienne. I love the days I get to eat breakfast in sunglasses, I feel like a movie star. Notable trip moments: When I laughed until I cried about my love of numbers, when Adrienne let Poppy out to piddle and she wouldn't get back in her kennel, resulting in a backseat that looked like that scene in Pulp Fiction where the accidentally shoot the guy in the head..... EXACTLY LIKE THAT (slight exaggeration).
4) Near divorce over a pork chop... if you've heard the story I am sorry I have failed you as a friend. If you haven't, well, consider yourself lucky.
5) Got a virus in my tummy that resulted in some "both ends" action on Friday, which led to my poor father-in-law, bestie, and bestie-in-law (Allan) getting sick as well.
6) Elora spent an overnight with Gammy and Papa, and came home ready to be a screaming, bawling, holy terror. But at least she loves playing "This little piggy" and this garden game my sister taught me that ends in tickling. She also says "birthday to you" and "ring around the rosie". Her favorite bedtime routine is having one of us lay with her (usually resulting in one of us passing out in her bed because we're so freakin' tired).
Well, that's about it. If you didn't catch SNL's commercial special last night it was HILARIOUS. Adrienne has a really good video over on her blog so go watch it here , but not before you watch THIS!!!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Culinary undertakings over the last few months
I put together a little slideshow with a few of the different dishes we've made over the last couple months. The recipes are linked below.
Thai Chicken Saute courtesy of myrecipes.com
Clone of a Cinnabon courtesy of allrecipes.com
Chicken with Lemon and Capers courtesy of myrecipes.com
Julia's Turkey Meatballs courtesy of goop.com
Here are a few other delectable morsels I've made over the last week, which are all Nigella recipes. I LOVED THEM BOTH, but I gotta say that the pasta was really outta sight.
Nigella's Pollo alla Cacciatora (aka Chicken Cacciatore) courtesy of foodnetwork.com
This next recipe was the bee's knees, and it was so quick. Nothing actually requires cooking except the pasta, and I had dinner finished and on the table in less than 15 minutes. My only wish: that I'd had the foresight to get some fresh parsley. It was the only herb I didn't get at the store, since I got cilantro, fresh rosemary, and fresh thyme for several dishes I have menu'd for this week.
The mushrooms! I used sliced baby portabellos because cremini might be impossible to find in this town.
Everything fused together in a glorious combination of flavors.
Nigella's Linguine with Lemon, Garlic, and Thyme Mushrooms courtesy of foodnetwork.com
Thai Chicken Saute courtesy of myrecipes.com
Clone of a Cinnabon courtesy of allrecipes.com
Chicken with Lemon and Capers courtesy of myrecipes.com
Julia's Turkey Meatballs courtesy of goop.com
Here are a few other delectable morsels I've made over the last week, which are all Nigella recipes. I LOVED THEM BOTH, but I gotta say that the pasta was really outta sight.
Nigella's Pollo alla Cacciatora (aka Chicken Cacciatore) courtesy of foodnetwork.com
This next recipe was the bee's knees, and it was so quick. Nothing actually requires cooking except the pasta, and I had dinner finished and on the table in less than 15 minutes. My only wish: that I'd had the foresight to get some fresh parsley. It was the only herb I didn't get at the store, since I got cilantro, fresh rosemary, and fresh thyme for several dishes I have menu'd for this week.
The mushrooms! I used sliced baby portabellos because cremini might be impossible to find in this town.
Everything fused together in a glorious combination of flavors.
Nigella's Linguine with Lemon, Garlic, and Thyme Mushrooms courtesy of foodnetwork.com
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