Food is love

My darling husband has been slaving away to fix some doo-hickey that makes our 4wheeler shift. Although I tend to be fairly mechanical, it completely starts and ends with cars. Since I am absolutely no help to him, I made his favorite cake instead...

There wasn't time to get a picture before some went missing (weird...) but all in all, it came out pretty well. Used this recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake The only changes I made were adding a little vanilla to the mix, chunk pineapple instead of rings and cooked it in a cast iron skillet.

This recipe makes me wonder.....why do I EVER buy cake mix? It tastes funny and only saves me about 3.5 minutes off my total baking time. May have to do a super-anal retentive calculation sometime to check cost comparision also.... Either way, from scratch just tastes better!

Empty Nest/Starving College Student

Before my darling daughter moved out, I heard many stories about the "Empty Nest". Some people said it was wonderful, others said it was devastating.

I have to be honest, the first week was the worst. I was very used to walking past my baby's room in the morning and seeing her all snuggled up in her bed (even at 18, they are cutest when they are sleeping!) Time wore on and I still look on the way by, but not with the same immediate hitch in my chest.

It has been about 2.5 months now since she moved out and over a month since she has visited. I have reached a point where her dad and I have settled into a routine. I have NOT figured out how to cook for just too people, though, so it's good that we like leftovers. What I miss the most about Krys being home is her coming bouncing through the door and beginning a sentence with "OH MY GOD, I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING!" I put that in all caps because this is definitely how she talks, lol.

Thanksgiving is coming and I will finally have my baby back for a few days. I plan to feed that starving college student till only her sweatpants. I am making all her favorites and sending entire meals back with her. In my world, Food = Love, and I love, Love, LOVE that kid! Good thing she likes to eat! She has dropped from a size 1 to a 0 in 2 months (I know, the horror...right?) because the food "isn't like yours Mom". No greater compliment in my world and I know she'll keep coming home!

Feeling better!

Being sick in any way really, really sucks but interestingly enough, you DO get a new appreciation for how nice it is to feel good!

I have had trigeminal neuralgia for 2 years now and just got past my 4th and worst flare up yet, thanks to some amazing pharmacuticals. Not one to dwell too much on my own misery, I mostly just joke my way through it, trying not to let on more than I have to how miserable I am. Once it's gone, it's gone for a while so when it comes back, it's much akin to being slammed in the face with a sledgehammer.

There is this beautiful place though, somewhere between I hurt so bad I want to curl up and die and when I have forgotten it again until the next flare up. In this place, you really appreciate how good you feel, how spectacular it is not to hurt anymore.

I don't wish this on anyone, I don't want it to ever come back but maybe, just maybe, the bright light to come from it is this brief span of time that I really feel good without whining about all of life's other ills.

My glass is obnoxiously half-full, isn't it?

Suffering

I have had trigeminal neuralgia for 2 years. Just getting past my fourth and worst flare up yet. I can't believe it is taking over a week for the drugs to work this time! There is no way I am stopping them again like I have been.

Hopefully tonight I can sleep in my bed again and not on the couch so I don't disturb hubby as I get up over and over again...

Short post, that's it.

Christianity & American Politics

"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.
Ronald Reagan"

I find it interesting that so many want to denigrate and remove Christianity from the American way of life. Our Constitution was based on Natural Law. For those who don't understand this concept, natural law is the basic law of man. It says, at it's essence that people should be good to each other, they have a right to defend themselves and they need to respect each other's differences.

When you break the Constitution down to these basic principles, how can you consider it a living document? These essential rights have not changed and will never change. Ronald Reagan understood this better than most. He used his faith and beliefs in freedom to end the Cold War, build our economy to amazing heights and restore Americans faith in their country.

The current administration feels the need to diminish the value of Christianity in American lives. At the same time, they are trying to bring about an end of capitalism. Let's face it, people love their families, they love God and some love money. I think the goal is for us to love and depend on the government exclusively, to the exclusion of all else. If people lose their faith in God, they have little else to turn to. And what better way to enslave us to their socialism dreams....

Happy Birthday President Reagan, you would be 99 today. You did all you could for our country and are beloved and respected for it. I just pray the Progressives don't find a way to dismantle all you accomplished.

Why all the negativity?

I am officially one of the most cynical people I know. I don't like other human beings very much as a general rule, assume the worst of everyone and am a money grubbing bitch. That said, what's with all the super-negative resolutions??

I have seen "2009 sucked, hope '10 is better", "giving up on everyone who doesn't kiss my ass first" and so on from there.

2009 was a year of many challenges. My dad had a major heart attack and spent several weeks in the hospital recovering from several surgeries. He is a new man now, one who eats healthier and exercises, I expect to have him with us for many, many more years. I lost my beloved grandfather in 2009. For better or worse, he was a major guiding influence in my life, teaching me everything from the correct way to stack wood (LOL) to the fine art of hunting from my nice warm truck. I will miss him forever but he had been sick for so many years, able to less and less as every month passed. Although we are berefit without him, I truly believe he is whole and healthy now, tending a big garden in heaven and riding his tractor around in the sky.

Business was still tough in 2009 but I worked harder and did better. After the gravy years of '03, '04 and '05 some of us had forgotten the basics. No longer are we order takers who answer the phone and rake in the money, have to work for it again. I know the cycle will continue and the good years will be back, but when they get here, I'll be smarter and capitalize even more, rather than complacently deciding I've done enough. With a tough economy, many are crying poverty and ruin. I took a long look at my life, my habits and my spending. Once again, back to basics! I have trimmed many of the extras at home, gone back to baking and cooking at home, canning from my garden...using what I have, making things last, spending time instead of money. It's actually quite refreshing to simplify and economize. We all get so caught up in the whirlwind of life, the small things pass us by and we never notice their beauty.

My resolution for 2010 is to remember the wonders of the past, continue to better myself and to live a positive, productive life. It's to enjoy every minute with my family and appreciate them for who they are. My daughter will be graduating this year and I want to savor every minute I have before I no longer see her daily. She'll be living her own life off at college.

I want to spend this year improving myself as a person, both in body and spirit. I plan to increase my community and political activities, helping others and doing my small part to get our country back on track. I will be thankful for all that I have, do what I can to further my goals and ambitions and generally just do all the things I did in 2009 again, for apparently they work.

Parenting 101

Okay, so I swore there would be no facial piercings. I used the line "over my dead body" on several occasions even. It's not like I can't change my mind.

Perhaps my mistake was saying IF you get on honor roll, you can ask your dad and I'll go along with whatever he decides. Honor roll was missed by 2 points in statistics but all the other grades were good enough to give an 86 average. Not exactly high honors, but still far better than I was expecting. I may be a sucker, but hey, the kid works her butt off for those grades and already knows they better stay that way. Plus, we now get the good student piece on her car insurance, saving me $400 a year!

So off we went to Diversified Ink. Great place, really clean and the woman who did her piercing was great. I can't say I am thrilled with the look but maybe when she can switch it from the ring to the stud it will be a little easier to take. I have informed my darling baby girl this is the only thing I expect to see sticking out of her face, no matter how old she gets!

Parenting lesson number 832, don't be afraid to change your mind. It shows you are reasonable and can be counted on to look at the whole situation each time and realize things change.