La dolcezza di non fare niente

I don't really have anything to say.  I've been away for too long and things are happening that I can't necessarily talk about, even here (much as I'd like to).  Nothing to be alarmed over, just....things.  Stuff.  I can say that I am evolving, changing, discovering and rediscovering things about myself.  Also, I appear to be losing weight again.  The workouts are great and I am running farther now but only on the treadmill.  Running on concrete is a whole different story!  Holy bejeezus, it's much harder than running on a treadmill.  I enjoy it immensely and am slowly building up my endurance and am at a place I couldn't begin to imagine just a few months ago.  Yes, kids...I ROCK.  Yes I do.  Feelin' strong, lookin' good and rockin' it round the clock. 

I'll be back when I have something useful or amusing to say.  Meanwhile, keep it real, keep it light and take your meds. 

That's life at the asylum!   LOL

Ciao!

Back from the Land of the Blog Abandonment

Hey kids!  I'm back, as you can very well see for yourself.  I apologize for the inconsistency of my posts.  Frankly, I don't have much excuse - I've been unemployed for the past 5 months and therefore have had more time than ever to dedicate to this blog, but have I?  Yeah, yeah, I know! 

As for what's new in my life, well...I am once again attempting vegetariansim.  Or is it demi-vegetarianism?  There are so many fracken versions and definitions, it's difficult to keep up.  Bascially, I am trying to cut out meat that comes from anything that walks on land.  I still eat fish and dairy products because dammit I love cheese and eggs too much to give em up.  Though if I think hard enough about it, the idea of eating an unfertilized chicken egg, squeezed from the chickens nether regions might gross me out enough to keep me from eating it.......for like, a minute.  LOL   I am trying to approach this realistically.  I'm not saying I'll never eat meat again, though at this point in time my goal is to not ever have to.  I also will NOT be one of those "veg-heads" who looks cross-eyed at others for horkin' down a big juicy steak or bbq'd chicken legs.  Why would I? I know they're tasty.  But for my own reasons, I'm choosing to not eat it anymore.   Y'all go on and enjoy it.  Thankfully, I positively LOVE fruits and veggies and have a rather adventurous palate, so I'm not at all limited in my choice of dishes.  The other day I created an incredibly delicious dish that was ridiculously easy to make.  Tofu, cubed and browned in olive oil then I added chick peas and a jar of curry simmer sauce from Trader Joe's.  I let it simmer for a while and voila - holy delish!!!   Today I made vegetarian chili using a ton of veggies, 3 kinds of beans and soy crumbles from Morningstar.  It doesn't taste exactly like traditional chili but it IS delicious in and of itself.  The trick is not expecting it to taste exactly like traditional chili.  I am also going to try tempeh for the first time.  I have it marinating overnight in bbq sauce for dinner tomorrow.  Not sure how I'll cook it - maybe grill it or bake it.  I am making bbq chicken for the boys, corn on the cob and fried green tomatoes. Mmm, can't wait! I have had bbq seitan before at a UU potluck and it was really tasty.  At some point this week I will attempt to make my own seitan because I have been unable to find it pre-made around here except for the canned stuff at the Asian grocer and frankly....the thought of eating that makes me gag a little.  If you saw the picture on the can, you'd understand.  It looks like sliced brain.  Ew.  For all I know it is, despite the label reading "vegetarian chicken"!!!  Rather make it m'self, thank you very much.  Even if it comes out looking like brain as well, at least I KNOW what went into it!!! 

Aside from that I have been working out fairly regularly and have more time to myself to focus on things like sewing and maybe even picking up my guitar finally!  Aiden is in summer camp three days a week and will be attending preschool in the fall (full time, for FREE!!  YIPPEEE!!!).  I miss him when he's not here but it's been good for both of us.  I can focus on getting healthy without any distraction (and I DO get distracted too easily - look!  Something shiny!!!  lol ).  He gets much needed socializing and interaction with other kids, too.   It's a win/win.

Well, the hubs is home from his run so we're going to enjoy that delicious dinner I prepared.    I'll be back!!!!

Where I'm At

Howdy kids! 

So OK, here's the deal:  this is the start of week two of being unemployed/stay at home mom.  For those who don't know, I lost my job rather suddenly about two weeks ago.  I was working as a contract employee at the Shipyard (or as I now call it, the "Shityard") - had been, in fact, for a year and a half.  There was plenty of work and the promise of my contract continuing .  However, three weeks ago I found myself struck down by a rotten case of the flu.  I called in, kept in touch, went to the doctor and got a note...but on the fourth day of my recovery (which was to be my last - I was planning to go in on that Friday) I received a phone call from the contract company I worked through that the Shityard had suddenly and inexplicably terminated my contract.   Still no explanation at this point and frankly, I don't give a shit why they did it.  OK well....that's not entirely true.  I still want to know why.  Whatever their reason, it's likely a shit reason but ultimately, in the end, it doesn't matter.  I'm eligible to collect unemployment (thank the gods!) and I am spending time with my son who I absolutely adore, of course!  I have friends who are either looking for work or are stay at home moms and so I have friends to spend time with as well.  Frankly, life is pretty damn good right now!  I have time to focus on myself and Aiden, and do the things I used to enjoy.  Cooking, for instance.  I had fallen into a rut while working and served up bland, hardly appealing meals.  Now I have time to plan and get creative again!  Oh it's been wonderful!  Course, at the same time I'm trying to exercise more and watch what I eat.  It balances out though, since part of the creative process of cooking is coming up with delicious healthy meals! 
I am looking for work.  It's not as if I am completely slacking off.  I am required to look for work anyway if I am to collect unemployment benefits.  There aren't a lot of jobs out there that I qualify for or are terribly appealing, but I'm doing the best I can.   Meanwile, I'm thinking about a career change.  It won't likely be focused on making more money.  In fact, it's entirely likely I'll make less, but I'll be happier for it.  I  have always wanted to take a yoga instructor course.  I've signed up twice and both times something happened that forced me to back out before the class even started.  I don't want to let that happen now, but first:  I need to get my fat ass into shape again!!!!  Kinda hard to teach a class in something you can't even DO.  Duh.  I have a scary vision of a bunch of people scattered around me on their mats, staring at me w/ mouths agape while I huff and groan and struggle just to get my own lard-laden ass into a simple pose.  NOT COOL.  So yeah....I have some work to do, first!

And on that note.....there is a hungry 4 year old next to me so I need to go whip up some breakfast!  

~Namaste~

Life as I know it

I'm not much of a blogger now, am I?  I swore up and down (side to side as well, I believe) that I would keep my blog current and post to it  at least once a week.  Have I?  Of COURSE not!  I'm a shmuck.  I'm a great big, lying, lazy, non-blogging shmuck.  Yet, here I am again....at last.  Why? you may be wondering. I'll tell ya why.  It's because now I have time to blog!  Life delivered me one big kick in the pants by seeing to it that my job went bye-bye rather unexpectedly.  It sucks and it's a blow to not only my ego but our bank account as well.  However, I am trying to make the best of it and either use the time to take on new challenges, or pick up on ones that I had previously taken on and then left to collect dust. 

So here I iz kidz.  Back at the asylum!  So, pull up yer pants, wipe the drool off'n yer chin and git ready for regular doses of all kinds of crazy!!!

Woot! Woot!