Long Time No Write

I'm about to head out to our local craft stores. Apparently, Fred Meyer just doesn't have what is on my list today. Not even strolling thru every aisle not associated with toys/clothes/food/homeware/garden could garnish one thing. False advertising!!! How dare they!!!

No, I'm going to make the wreath. I've collected what Mother Nature has littered about the yard, the road and a local elementery school and will, attempt for the first time in--21 years--to make a wreath. It wasn't hard, I just need the stupid wire to wrap the branches around the hanger with. If I could ever get myself motivated enough, there are ornaments to make, cookies to bake and ginger bread house to assemble and level 71 to be obtained on World of Warcraft...

Well, maybe the last thing isn't and shouldn't be that high on the list of priorities.

Updates...

Job searching has spawned a half dozen interviews and no bites. Even retail is a bane to my existence. Now that unemployment has run out--I'm on every ones good side. Saving won't last forever. Those who feel this is a long-ass vacation...y'all need to step aside and have reality smack you upside the head. I'm on a half reprise vacation until after Christmas.

However, I did send away for that "informative career guide" for going to LeCordon Culinary in Tukwilla. I've been tossing this around for a bit. Apparently, my gig as a counselor doesn't seem to be leading me to any exciting adventures...so maybe I should bite the bullet and go for something that I enjoy.

So--other than that...and I cannot wait until the Wide Release of "Black Swan" (ballet thriller with Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, et al), I am chugging along at Mindy-Pace....fun and exciting!

Team Fang or Team Fur? How about..Team Forks

When it is hot, people tend to seek out cool places that are cooler than places they'd normally be. Last night was one of those nights...while not as hot as Thursday, it was warm enough to not heat up the kitchen--or go back home either.

Jack was wanting to see the new Predator movie. I'll give him that--though it is not my cup of tea. However, it was two hours starting while New Moon: Eclipse was starting in about 20 minutes. After actually walking away from the box office, then deciding to give it a whirl, we went to see Eclipse.

Mind you, I have the first three books. I'm up to about page 78 in Twilight. I have the basic idea of the storyline and such. Bella/Edward/Jacob, Human/Vampire/Werewolf, Lipstick/Sparkle/Fur...meh, I think a reader gets the idea.

The movie was entertaining, I'll give you that.

Yet--part of me was really wanting something more. I've read entertainment boards, anti-Twilight, pro-twilight...and some things have stuck with me. So I look at this now with an eye toward not exactly endorsing, or hacking it to death.

Rule #1 of Writing: Do Not Mary Sue It.

As a previous (and still dabbling) fan fiction writer, I recognize something immediately about writing. More often, you'll see this in reference to fan fiction, but it also seems to run in some "original" content. What is Mary Sue, you may ask. Small history lesson.

"Mary Sue" made her debut from as far as I can tell from the late 1960's..and one of the first TV series to be fan-fictionalized: Star Trek. At that time, usually the fiction was along the lines of what is called "Slash Fiction" (or hurt/comfort). Mostly, it dealt with the pairing of Kirk & Spock, but would fan out to the other characters from the series as well. For those who didn't see the swarthy Captain Kirk indulging in hot bath romps with the ever-sexy Vulcan, Mr. Spock, there became a new staple: Mary Sue.

Mary Sue wasn't exactly Kirk's flavor of the day, and remember, if it was considered female, Kirk was all over it like bees to honey. No, Mary Sue was that female crew member, slobbering quietly in the corners over the sexy, hunky, sometimes alien. Usually overlooked, inconspicuous, Mary Sue would inevitably end up in a situation where a main character was harmed and she saves their life. Or she suddenly found she had in her possession, some extraordinary power to save everyone--something which saves the day--because hey, Captain Kirk doesn't have all the answers, does he?

When it comes to fan fiction, there seems to be two camps: those who write the characters as we've been presented with, giving them scenarios that Hollywood writers seem to forget about (you know, real life), or we are given a character that main characters automatically fall for. Yep. Mary Sue (or in some cases, Jim Bob).

I once read that some people, even those who like Twilight, feel that Stephenie Meyer essentially wrote the ultimate Mary Sue novel: Twilight, and its sequels. I'll have to find it, or maybe it is too late, but one writer said if you take the general description of Bella Swan and that of Stephenie Meyer, it is basically Meyer writing herself into this cult-culture as herself--that Swan ='s Meyer.

May be a stretch, but it also may not.

The person who spent four and half years between two degrees, delving in to the human mind and some of the abuses it is put through, sees red flags. Yeah, it is supposed to be entertaining and I see it as that. However, Twilight is considered young adult fiction. Meant for youngsters whose hormones are now revved up and they think that everything in life should end up like the movies. It's the underlying themes that stand out.

Rule #2: We all want an Edward, but do we really?

Edward Cullen (and I'll give him this much), comes across as a gentleman. His description of how courting would be done when he became a Vampire was actually rather good. More teens should look at that as opposed to the flagrant "Oooh we're a couple, now take off your clothes..." boasts. I give him credit: where Bella goes from the uncomfortable discussion with her father about sex, precautions, to just short of ripping Edwards shirt off--well...dang. Bella seems off put by this.

While perceived as romantic, it is a bit more than that. I won't hit on the perceived pedophilia angle--because as we've seen--Vampires do not age. So if Edward is 100+ and Bella is 18...(we'll save this one). However, it is the other behaviors that I wonder about.

Edward watches her sleep, knows what she's been up to, who she has been with. It reminds me of a movie that came out years ago--the name escapes me, but it had Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon & Alyssa Milano. Boyfriend and he stalked.

It also seems a bit "Charmed" as well. Remember the Piper/Leo relationship. Let's not forget that in many ways--it was almost the same in some lines as Bella/Edward. Leo was a Whitelighter that was watching over the girls. I remember a line where Piper was disturbed to learn that Leo had been watching over her...since she was a baby. Recall--Leo was the man she fell in love with, married and had children with.

Edward has the charm of a Victorian, but watching over her to the point of watching her sleep. Where have you been, who have you been with? The line about how when she becomes one of them, she in essence gives up everyone she loves. We see this on talk shows and in the news. Tell tale signs of loser spouses (no, they aren't just men), keeps the other away from friends and family.

The more I think about it--

I described it as this last night: Bella/Edward/Jacob are pretty much Archie/Betty/Veronica.

Archie is our Bella. Awkward, but a pretty friendly person. He wants to be with Veronica (Edward) because she is beautiful, she's exciting, she has money, but when he wants companionable moments, he seeks Betty (Jacob) who is fun and sweet, but who he would drop in a moment if Veronica was available.

I dunno.

After being inaugurated in Twilight, I have to say I am Team Forks. My initial leanings are toward Jacob. He wouldn't force her to change to be with him. That is how ideally relationships in real life are: your other wouldn't change you to fit their life.

So for now, I will put down my keyboard, take up the charcoal & lighter fluid and think more about this phenomenon. Until then...

Mindy, up for a trashy read any day of the week...

So Far Away...

It's tough to see your parents get older. Tough. I see it every day in both of mine. When my brother-in-law had to come over early last year (before dad broke his kneecap), to haul dad up off the utility room floor, I stated it thusly:

"Dad, you and mom need to be more vigilant about what you are doing; where you are, what is around you, how you are doing things. Neither of you are 40 anymore and haven't been in quite some time."

"I think I just realized that."

That is tough.

What is hard is being almost 70 years old. You don't want to see your older brothers name show up on the caller ID because:

a) he is in Kansas
b) the only time he calls is if it has to do with their mom.

Mom is in a place where she isn't sure what to do. Hospice RN gives grandma from today to three weeks from now. She just turned 95 and isn't in the best of shape. Fiesty yet, her body is just worn down & out. Mom & dad aren't briming with money, and neither are us kids. It'd be one thing if sis wasn't taking care of her grandson and I had a husband in pre-transplant phase. If things were different, I'd clean out my car and we'd marathon drive to Garden City, Kansas.

I want mom to go. She needs to be able to spend whatever precious time is left with grandma. Granted, grandma keeps calling my uncle "Johnny" (or Papa) who passed on 7 years ago, but dad got time with his mom before she passed away, mom should have that opportunity as well.

That may be my sticking point on being out of state. I want to be no more than seven hours driving in the case of my parents. I cannot fathom not being able to be Right. There. If I were rich, i would send her, first class, with accommodations paid for so she wouldn't have to worry.

Other than monitor some cigarette portioning, I have nothing more to give her than a shoulder.

Mindy, about to lose last remaining grandparent.

Today...

Today: rain with a chance of showers. Tomorrow: Showers with a chance of rain.

I need to put that on facebook.

I don't mind rain. I mind it when:

1) The dog decides she doesn't want to get wet and pees on the top step.
2) The grass definately needs livestock now.
3) I have outdoor things to do and can't do them.
4) The cats need fresh air and there is no where to set them outside in their cages where they won't be playing Noah's Ark.

Why couldn't we get this when we were supposed to get it--not now that we are on the way to Summer?

Mindy with webbed feet & hands

Reconnection

I've been debating.

On FB, I recently reconnected with three of my friends from school. I cannot begin to say how excited I am about this. Primarily because I have one friend I have kept in continuous contact with since high school. I see her about once every three/four months. Things & people change and she lives in Seattle now--not the far away, but not just up the road, either.

I admit that I let things drop. I hate communicating via telephone. My guess is that if you drug me to some therapist, I would probably qualify for phone phobia, whatever nifty scientific name it may be. Probably also why I couldn't hack working Hell-Tech (TeleTech).

What is funny is that I found a former class mate. They lived up the road from me from about second grade to about seventh. One girl was in my class and I was pretty good friends with her. I got along with all her sisters, actually, sans the youngest because she was the youngest and didn't go to school. The next to youngest was particularly sweet.

I ran across her journal and have seriously thought about sending her a note. It just seems so weird since I haven't seen her in like 25 years. I'm still debating about it but here is the crux.

I need to reconnect because as it stands now, my friends via the church, are all my mothers age. While this is fine and I don't mind, I also crave the need to mingle with those my age or close to it, as well. I've shut myself off sometimes horribly because I enjoy solitude (yeah, that is probably why some at DVR would claim I sucked as a counselor---bullshit!!)

So I've been debating on how to go about it. I would love to reconnect with her. She still seems to be the sweet person she always was. I just wonder...

Mindy, legend of the seeker

Because. . .

Since we all know that my secret ambition in life, besides being a domestic goddess and page-turner-novel-writer, is to attend culinary school and become a chef, I thought I would do what I do in my not-so-neat-thoughts blog: write about recipes I've tried. Even though my folks are in denial about food (you know, 60+ year grudges against poultry, refusal to eat sweet meat).

Smoked Salmon Scramble

I got this from Food Network Magazine. They had a special with 50 egg dishes. After a while, scrambled, boiled, omelettes, scrambled, etc., loses its luster. I'll post the initial recipe and any changes I made.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, 2 teaspoons chopped chives, and salt & pepper. Whisk until just set. Serve on toasted whole-grain bread with smoked salmon.

I used everything sans the chives (since I haven't planted my seeds yet). What I did was the following:

1. The non-stick pans we have here suggest not heating above medium heat. Also, the whisk is wire, so whisking in pan is not going to be functional.

2. Used butter & did not oil the pan before hand. Oil the pan (my method is paper towel with oil rubbed about pan). The eggs stuck a bit so will oil next time.

3. I heated the cream cheese for about 15-20 seconds in the microwave, cracked the eggs in the bowl and stirred with a spoon. I would use the whisk in the bowl on this. I also switched out salt & pepper for Mrs. Dash original blend. I bit more flavor, considering the omission of chives.

4. Used whole-grain english muffins. I also used Chicken of the Sea Smoked Salmon in the Tuna area of your local supermarket (if lucky). I found this worked pretty good, but my guess is if you find said salmon in the meat department, you can probably get the thin cuts used in the recipe & accompanying picture.

On a whole, it was a filling breakfast. I had yogurt as a side and still am feeling pretty good, four hours later. It has good taste and is different. The cream cheese makes the eggs fluffy. The only other thing I may try is possibly using the Garden Vegetable cream cheese in place of the regular/lite I used.

5/5 stars.

Mindy, chef wannabe

Holiday? What's a Holiday?

It used to be that on Memorial Day, my friend Kim & I would join members of the American Legion post (long story short, our Star Trek group's leader was the elected head at the AL Hall we had our meetings at), go out to the old cemetery here in Bremerton (as in right smack in the middle of town) and put flags on the graves of all service men. I liked it as I was only one, even with a map, that could find the two British officers buried there. We'd be up at 5am and out there placing flags by 6am.

Most think of it as the beginning of summer, for kids, a holiday that officially starts the countdown to the end of school. It's important to remember Memorial day's purpose.

**

I need to get myself moving and to the dump. Garbage isn't going to take itself and its closed tomorrow. I figure I'll hit the grocery store this evening. I like shopping either early in the day or later in the day. Weekend with a holiday--all bets are off.

Let's see: Watched about 15 minutes of South Park last night before I dropped off. Woke up to 9-11 Conspiracy Theories on History (don't get me started--really!!) Today will be listening to the races and figuring out what to buy for the week. Jack has an appointment with the diabetic dietician on Wednesday (I think). We need to get his replacement insurance card. On the agenda for the week.

Mindy of bad cartoons and theories on why they are bad..

You'd think with all this time...

That I would be posting more. Hah!! When it takes 1.5+ hours to fill out a job application, plus juggling medical stuff (Jack), house stuff ('nuff said about my moving in to the kitchen) and watching the grass grow by leaps and bounds...

Job searching is still on-going. I had a screening interview at Fred Meyer's this week. Hopefully, I'll be forwarded on to the manager. I could handle doing cashier--although I admit I haven't done anything with money since I was seasonal at the long-defunct Drug Emporium, probably 16 years ago and a meh tenure at Fabricland. The sad thing is this: job applications usually ask for either your last four employment ventures or the last ten years. I have had longevity and retail experience but it is now getting to the point where I can't add those.

Is working for FM, or, for that matter, any thing other than what I spent $1000's on school for, defeatist? Nah. I for one cannot take much more day-time television and I really want to be out of my folks house. A job is a job.

In other news...

Our yard here is in need of livestock misplacement. The lawnmower starts for about .005 seconds and out it goes. The yard is too much for merely a weed-whacker, so I feel defeated. Why me? Because without BIL Greg to help out, I'm on my own. Seriously, can anyone see my dad or mom lugging about a weed whacker? I don't. Yet another thing that falls on to my shoulders. I tell you, if I were being paid for this, life would be swell.

Animals are doing fine. Emmi has decided that she needs to not only lick the bejesus out of my hand, but knaw on it as well. Squatch already knaws. Skye comes to me anywhere between 3:30am and 10am to go out and she doesn't always make it (you know who cleans that up). But I will cut Skye some slack. We almost thought we were going to lose that canine in March when it looked 'drunken' doggy or she'd had a stroke. It was something older dogs get (vestibular something or other) that if I had to describe it, is inner ear infection with sea-sickness. She's fine and takes half a pain pill per day for arthritis in her hips. But baby-dog is now 15 and officially the oldest in house. Where does a 15 year old dog sleep? Anywhere she wishes.

Jack has been better. We are trying to find pain control that does not involve narcotics. Surely, there is something he can use for pain that doesn't involve Oxycodone. Haven't found it yet. It knocks him out so a majority of the day is sleeping. Which is good in some ways because he can't hear the crap the rest of us are subjected to on TV. (Note: I swear I am going build my dad something with flips, levers, dials, buzzers, buttons, flashing lights...so he'll relinquish the tv controller and telephone).

Other than that...nothing new. off to finish my Macy's application. Spatula makeup and stilletos (hell no) here I hope to not come.

Mindy, pooper scooper patrol.

Its...April?

Time flies when you aren't having fun. Nah, that can't be the saying.

But it does fly.

No dive bombs in the job search category. However, our alumni in Everett's center has developed a listing for those of us who went through the Rehabilitation Counseling program for jobs we qualify for. Excellent. Now, to just find something that I actually have the qualifications for.

Life is on its usual merriment. Since January, I have pretty much been shackled to the kitchen. By that, I mean all the shopping, all the dishes, all the cooking, all the dump & recycling referrals...etc. Now, don't get me wrong, there is a method to my madness.

1. After watching my mom spend, I kid you not, 1.5 hours to do a sauce pan, frying pan, handful of utensils, four plates, a couple of glasses--it was time to do something. Not that I am particularly fond of dishes and wish they would remove the defunct dishwasher and buy a new one (the reasoning is that because we are on a well with multitudes of minerals, mom wants to get on the city water--I don't think so).

2. Shopping--after watching mom attempt again to go shopping, it is just easier for me to go with her ATM card. I spend more time in traffic than actually shopping and I really do go to different stores to get best prices. Not to mention, I like to get in, get it done and home.

3. Remember that defunct dishwasher mentioned in point 1? Yeah, it actually does have a purpose: holding the glass jars that are cleaned and emptied (for some reason, all the adults in the house, sans moi, like that cheese you find with salsa in the chip aisle. Between that and Ranch Dressing, I think mom & Jack are addicted--scary stuff) for recycling (I am the only one who thrives in the world of throwing glass and listening to it shatter--stress relief!!!!) and--get this... holding a garbage bag open.

Those of you who have been to the Bremerton House of Fun knows that the kitchen I have known for 37 years--is approximately 3 x 8 with counters and appliances. Two people can barely manage--throw in three overweights and Jack, plus the dog--and well...lets say the garbage bag is a commodity that really isnt' necessary to personal growth and development. So I have instituted going twice a week to the dump for garbage and recycling. Now, if I can hopefully train mom, then maybe I can train the idiot at the transfer station to find a personality.

4. Cooking. Now this, I seriously don't mind. I have found a few good recipes that everyone has raved about, a couple that need some refining and some that I would never make again if I was forced by oompa lumpas. I have considered maybe doing culinary arts. But its only a consideration. My stumbling blocks are: dad's 60+ year grudge against Chicken and mom's inability to try meat with "sweet" in it (duh, you eat teryaki, don't you?)

Right now, I'm doing spring cleaning. I want to get ahead so I can clean out the cupboards and rearrange to make it a bit user friendly. Not to mention, both have a horrible habit of buying more and shoving the old to the back. Believe me, 4 years past its prime Mac & Cheese loses something in the process and it's much more than that cheesy goodness.

The computer is also at the kitchen table and so is my crafting area...or what constitutes as my crafting area. I have been slowly rebuilding the DMC-Embroidery floss I have. It's about the only handwork I can do. Tried knitting in Girl Scouts---mmmm....NOPE. I think my needles became flying projectiles at the scout leader---or was it her snotty daughter? anyway, I can do cross-stitch (it's just been years) and some embroidery. My sewing leaves much to be desired and I've never latched on to Crochet, Knitting, Crewel, etc. Don't ask me why--

Today, I think I actually completed the normal thread, bought the varigated and some of another bunch. That is harder on the pocket book so that will only be a few at a time.

Other than that, nothing new to report. 7 month anniversery on the 12th!!!

I need to visit here more, huh?

Mindy the thread winder

Meh...Meh

I didn't realize it had been so long since I last updated. Dumb me. Nah...just nothing really new to report.

Was sick a couple of days earlier this week. Migrains, while few and far between, usually turn me into a slumbering ogre with a really sore head & neck. I finally gave in, got my headache cure (that would be a mocha-breve with hazelnut), and nursed that baby until there was nothing left in the grande cup.

Let me see:

My mother-in-law has cancer and is taking chemo. My sister in law in Tennessee has been to California. I think Jack feels left out, but my gut feeling is that mom doesn't want her son, who isn't in the best of health, to worry. We almost lost him last April/May (saving some the more icky moments, when my husband was taken to ER, he was about 20 minutes from being cemetery fodder---story another time, but needless to say, when Jack says that it looks like a small animal was slaughtered in the bathroom tub, he wasn't whistling dixie).

The story goes like this: we go to the University of Washington medical on the 9th of February. That day, we go to a class and they start taking labs & such of Jack to see if he is ready to be put on the list for a liver transplant. Then, we go from there.

That is why I almost lost him. Tough stuff.

He is worried about me. I admit that I do worry, but as I told Jack, I tend to look on this positively and remember that life is still moving forward and normal things aren't going to stop because he needs a new liver and a transplant. I am a firm believer that spending hours and hours and hours sitting at bedside while he snores and farts doesn't accomplish daily things. It's not meant to sound harsh or uncaring, but I look at it like this.

In 2003, I had a triple whammy: my grandfather in Kansas died in January (this sent mom to Kansas until the first part of April). Then, a good friend in Canada who was exactly three months older than myself died of a pulmonary embolism. 30 isn't enough to accomplish everything in life. Then in March, my uncle Jim passed away, making it a marked moment in personal history getting dad up here (he was driving long haul and was already in California...go figure), packed and back down to LeMore. Me...I'm stuck in the middle with one parent in the great plains and the other in earthquake zone 1. Duing this, i stayed calm, collected, took care of the bills, the dog, and waited to get one hell of a case of the flu until mom came home.

Point is, it would have been easy to let things go and get out of hand. My concern is there. I haven't had enough time with my husband, bless his pointy little head. I want him well. I want him to enjoy a very long life.

So I guess i process stuff differently. Doesn't make me cold.

So anyway, I'll be back here soon. I am waiting for my bedspace to be unoccupied by mom.

Mud Begone!

There is nothing more grand than going out to your car, getting in and....and....and...
Car is stuck. In the Mud.

I ended up taking the folks Buick. I got home and helped Jack get it unstuck. Nothing funnier than watching cardboard go shooting out from under the front wheel. It reminds me of my commute to Aberdeen.

There was a woman who worked in the social work area for vouchers and stuff. She commutted from Shelton, which about halfway between Bremerton & Aberdeen. There were a few days I either didn't make it in, or called in late because of weather conditions. One day, as I was leaving, she goes, "how was the drive?"
"Not bad. Took it slow."
"Well, isn't that thing front-wheel drive?"
"Yeah," I said.
"It shouldn't be a problem."
"True, but I don't do snow."
"But its four-wheel drive."
"Yeah, but if you're a crappy driver on dry pavement with four-wheel drive, you'll be equally crappy, if not crappier in snow conditions."
"True."

Went with Jack on Friday and we had lunch at Red Lobster (mmmm....shrimp), stopped by Barnes & Noble (yes, I would buy their stock if I had the means), then went to see "The Lovely Bones."

It wasn't a bad movie. I had read the book when it first came out and it seemed okay. To not spoil it, in case you really feel and urge to sit through 2 hours, 16 minutes of film, if you want, turn away now.

It's about a girl who is murdered when she is 14 years old in the 1970's. The story follows her parents, siblings and a pseudo-lesbian named Ruth, as well as the man who murdered and raped her.

If you have seen Robin Williams film, and the title escapes me...What Dreams May Come? It is sort of like that. The role of heaven is whatever a person makes of it. Now here, I thought that the director (Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings and Heavenly Creatures) would have had a field day, but it wasn't quite what I expected.

Not to say it isn't good. I thought it was. I feel that the hardest part is how the book is initially written. After all, your main character is a little bit dead. It's one i would probably tell people to wait for the DVD to come out before watching it. Me, I've been waiting, so it was nice to see.

**

Okay, back onto other things.

I need to finish my Thank You's for the wedding. As if I wanted to wait this long to do them. I think it is part every time I sit down to write them, dad is yelling for me to haul him out of his chair or the dog needs to be taken out or someone can't find anything. Not the best excuse but it is there. There is no where in this house to find quiet and solitude.

Other than mud and rain and stuff, nothing going on.

--Mindy, film critic

Birthday Party

Attended Jasmine's birthday party. She is a big 5 year-old! I remember when I first moved in and saw her as a tiny baby. Jocelyn wasn't feeling too well, but not bad enough to not enjoy her little gifts (her birthday was last week--she is a big 3 year-old). Jasmine got Hannah Montanna poster, shirt, jeans & shoes, a doll, colored pens/pencils/crayons and journals. She got a pink tiara & wand, hair accessories, money & gift certificate. Her cousin got her a mermaid barbie!

She was adorable. She has a book she makes a picture and tries to write a story. She's working on it, so I am definately going to contribute to that. Donnovin was there too. He is 7 years-old. We don't see much of him, but he was more outgoing tonight than usual. He's a pretty quiet little boy who likes video games and horror movies. He was enjoying popping balloons tonight. I do wish his eating was a bit better. He has never "ate" with us the times we've been together. Either he is finicky (my guess), has some weird thing about eating in front of people (who knows) or just doesnt' have a schedule and eats when he feels like it. Since he ate cake tonight, my guess he eats when he is hungry.

No Jeff. No suprise there. I felt the mood was pretty good--throw in Jeff and all bets are off. He never shows for anything, more interested in his own stuff than being a part of something. Oh well--his loss.

I think I'm going to go see "the Lovely Bones" tomorrow. I'm not sure if Jack is going with me or not. I would like him too. I am anxious to see how this movie will go, as the book is not at all one that can/could be easily be made in to a motion picture. However, not only did Jackson do the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he also did a movie called "Heavenly Creatures" (Kate Winslett's introduction) which also used CGI to effect. I hope it's good.

--Granny Min

Dude, I do not saute` Steak...

I've pretty much been in charge of dinner since last Tuesday. Out-of-the-Box Pasta Bake, Pot Roast (Jack slow cooked it), Spaghetti-Meatball-Stroganoff and tonight was steak or chicken (depending on who is eating), baked potatoes and cranberry-orange salad.

Now, I firmly believe that 60+ years of harboring dislike for our poultry feathered ones is a bit much (and sometimes limits the creativity of dinner as a whole). So Dad, still nursing his knee (you know, the one broke last JULY), is basically telling me how to cook his steak.

"Turn it above medium--I want char...black on it!"
"Uhm, the new pans aren't supposed to go above medium."
"What?????"
(yelling)"THE NEW PANS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN OVER MEDIUM TEMPERATURE!!!!"
"I don't want it sauteed."

At this point, I laughed. First, unless the said steak is cut up for some other purpose, I have never 'sauteed' his steak. I mean, if he wants char, I'm sure I can either throw it on the oven or stove heating elements...that perfect coil always amazes my dinner companions.

**

Working on the front yard. Two wheelbarrows full of dead decaying leaves removed from just in front of the parentals bedroom. It looks much nicer than it did. Found some amazingly huge earth worms too. At least they are doing their job.

I guess the idea is to get out there and do what I can while the weather is somewhat behaving itself. I learned a long time ago that you cannot wait for the weather in Western Washington: you just have to go for it. Unless it has to do with your hair..then, well, I'm on someone's list for that.

**

I just got some paper and supplies on sale for doing my wedding album. What is bad is that I have a bunch in storage. I figure I need to use what I have then go from there. Probably the best idea. However, being a good sister, I bought some double stuff for Susie since she wants to re-d0 her and Greg's wedding scrap book. I think it is wonderful.

**

Been reading again. Yeah, it may be for young adults, but I have three of four books of the Twilight Saga. I suppose in some way, I want to see what makes this stand out from other types of novels. What makes it so readable? Popular?

My one true observation so far is that Stephanie Meyer reminds me a lot of first 8 to 10 novels of V. C. Andrews back in the 1980's. You know...the one where the brother and sister are locked up in the attic with their twin siblings and sort of get it on? When I am able to pick up the first Twilight book, it reminds me of the first time I read Flowers in the Attic, with the "get shit done so I can find out what happens next." Probably what will save Stephanie Meyer is that V.C. died in 1986 and after the second series (known as the "Heaven" series), a ghost-writer took over the writing duties and still does them to this day. Probably one of the best demonstrations of 'formula' writing that I've seen.

However, while I was purusing a book on the last Tsar of Russia, I came across something I had never heard and was immediately inspired. I guess my muse came back a bit. She hits and misses anymore. I suppose as new life-habits begin, I will probably find the time to be a bit more put together. I swear, at 37, you'd think I'd some viable clue.

Nah....

So, for now, I have to go do my unemployment claim for the week, knock back my Monster Mega Energy that Jack bought me and see if I can turn into some strange semblence of myself.

Scrapbooking Min...

Need. To. Breathe.

Things are not starting as swimmingly as I wanted them to this new year. Not to be mean to mom or dad, but I now know why I moved out as quickly as I did five years ago. I'll leave it at that...I've already blogged in my one that would kill my reputation. But hey, it works.

I bought Jack and I a dry-erase calender we have to do every month. Uhm...actually, I know it will be me doing it every month. But desk calender were $20+ and the really nice onces were $40 at Staples. I used a 20% off coupon at Fred Meyer with colored markers & post its.

The table is slowly getting cleaned off. I just have visions of mom loading it up again with her stuff. Jack and I want out so badly. Call me selfish, but it would be nice to sleep with my husband, not on the floor of the sewing room. :/

One thing I am having difficulty locating is a display case for my bridal bouquet. I don't know how many know, but Susie made both mine & hers, just like she did when she got married. I want to put it in something so it doesn't get all goofed up and messed up, but i think $50 for something that some sports addict uses for some muddy football is a bit steep and i think it is too wide for a mere shadow box. I need to find something.

I also plan on going to storage and rearranging a bit. Jack and Greg (bro-in-law) managed to destroy my dresser, so it is in storage and has broken drawers and no stability. Lovely, eh?

Anyway, I am done for the time being.

Mrs Schmidt

Not the great start envisioned

I had planned on being up at a decent time. I didn't think that time would be 11am. Oh well, so much for the early start. The goal is to get to bed at a decent time and up around 8am or before until I am employed. I can't stand the sit up until 3am and up by 2pm (mom, are you listening?)

Though I did get my new flash drive. I just have to take the modem off and transfer from my other two drives to this one so all my work related materials are in one place and I don't have to search frantically for it.

Monday I am going to pick up extra job search logs. Yeah, I could print the darlings up, but that would entail invoking mom's Dell computer from hell. So I can just drop by the office and pick up a handful; unless I can find the handful I got last time.

I am going to be looking beyond the Puget Sound area. As much as I want to be close to both families, the reality is I may have to inhabit the Eastern half of the state. I wouldn't mind that. I may keep my keister out of Yakima. Funny, but I thought getting something in Okanagon County would be just full of shits & giggles.

Oh God!!! The Yount's are back in town!!!

Well, how about Yount via Schmidt.

That is another thing. I am still not used to this whole name thing. Especially when the Yount University shirt is slipped on. I've only had to sign my name legally a few times. Meh...

What else?

I need to update mom's calender with birthdays & anniverseries. I know our immediate family, Sue's, Rick's Jack's. I also know a few others in the extended. I know probably more months than actual dates. I remember both Annie & Paul's, Annie & James anniversery, Maggie & Dave's, a few others. If I dont' keep track, mom would forget her birthday.

Still haven't cut off my hair. I threatened to after the wedding, but haven't done it yet. I kind of enjoy it and haven't found any style I like. Jack likes it long, so it may just get trimmed occasionally. Sue does the bangs when I start resembling a sheep dog.

Well, I need to finish a few things. I have to move the computer before dad had to get up in the morning for dialysis. Hey, it's probably the only time the table is utilized for eating. It's that "stuff" collecting again.

Share time:
Dinner for one:

Egg noodles
Sour cream
Garden Vegetable cream cheese
Shrimp or Chicken or Steak (already cooked)
garlic powder

Cook egg noodles according to package instructions.
While cooking, sprinkle some garlic powder in bottom of skillet. Warm up the meat for a few minutes, being careful not to overcook. Add spoonful of cream cheese and stir until melted with meat. Add sour cream at the last or it may get a soupy texture.
Drain noodles in collander and place in bowl.
Pour meat/cream mixture over noodles and stir.
enjoy

I had to do this last night because our late lunch at Family Pancake House was horrible. Scorched split pea soup and over fried chicken. Not nummy in the least!

--Top Chef Mindy

Happy New Years

Didn't do much to celebrater, other than tell dad the obvious.

"Dad, Dick Clark has been ringing in the New Year every year on ABC since I was born. That would be in New York City (New York City? Get a rope!). The celebration at the Needle is on Channel 5."
"They said it would be on."
"You would be wrong."

Score:
Mindy 1
Dad 0

Never argue with a Scorpio--we always win :D !!!

Anyway, got Jack up long enough to bring in the New Year. I then gave up and headed to bed, since I'd been unable to keep my eyes open.

In other news:

Squatch cat is not a siamese, or any variation. He is, indeed, a Ragdoll. More specifically, a seal skin (something like that) type. My boy is finally putting on some weight and his color has gotten darker. Again, he made hamburger out of my hand last night, but cracked up mom by jumping in her Snuggie box. Squatch in a Box!!!

Though disturbing, I have to make a trip to PAWS tomorrow. Seems that Squatch has been harboring fleas and Emmi is allergic. At first I thought he was smacking her again, but her sores are just like Rusty's used to be. Damnit! The dog also needs a treatment, but that isn't my job. She's had them for about a year now, which sucks (13 years without).

Today, I need to get some tea, see if I can find a thumb drive for specific purposes. Cleaning off the kitchen table and around it are also on the agenda.

--Not Hung Over Mindy