Upside Down Cats

You may have noticed that I haven't posted much this week.

By way of explanation, it has been a busy and emotionally draining week for me. I have felt that I was too distracted by one issue to be able to focus on anything else. I've been blocked from writing by this monolith, and I couldn't see around it.

Last night it finally occurred to me... The only way to get past feeling overwhelmed by it IS TO WRITE ABOUT IT! It is going to take the thought process I use to write to lead me through the quagmire of my emotions and make some sense of it all.

Shall we proceed into the inner workings of my mind?

(Be careful...It's slippery when wet...)

Continue reading "My Adverse Reaction" »

Here comes another week! I'm running a day behind planning our meals in advance for the week. A event-filled weekend will do that to a person...

 

Thai Chicken w/ Rice Noodles & Broccoli

Rotini Pasta Tossed w/ Italian-Spiced Shrimp & Mixed Greens Salad

Hamburgers w/ Cheddar-Horseradish Topping, Onion Rings & Raw Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Double Shell Beef Tacos w/ Refried Beans, Lettuce, Tomatoes & Sour Cream

Greek-style Chicken Breasts w/ Spinach & Feta Cheese in Lemon Olive Oil Sauce over Steamed White Rice

Bacon & Cheddar Omlettes, Whole Wheat Toast & Orange Sections

 

There...that was fairly painless. I guess it's a case of better late than never!

I am usually a bit insecure about expressing my musical opinions. My Sweetie, Scott, at his blog, My Thermos, posts about music on a regular basis and with well-deserved confidence. As for myself, I lack the brand of conviction he possesses in his musical knowledge and taste.

The truth be known, I am probably every bit as opinionated as he when it comes to music...I just don't feel I have the "cred" to back it up, so I generally keep my mouth shut...

Today all that changes.

I have - for the first time in my life - mustered the nerve to proclaim my own choice for...

The Greatest Song Ever Written...

Continue reading "While My Ukulele Gently Weeps" »

I've mentioned before that our cats are our kids. As such, they each have their responsibilities to the household, just like the rest of us.

Here is proof that Cooper is officially old enough to pull his own weight.

No one gets a free ride around here!

(psst...I think you missed a spot, Buddy...!)

It's time to embark on another cold week here in the Midwest. I've planned our meals in advance - as usual - to keep life a little more organized and healthy around here. Here's a sampling of what I'll be cooking up this week...

 

Breaded Fish Sandwiches, French Fries & Creamy Coleslaw

Barbecue Chicken Breasts, Macaroni & Cheese & Assorted Raw Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Meatball Sub Sandwiches, French Fries and Mixed Greens Salad

Chicken Kiev, Steamed White Rice & Asparagus w/ Olive Oil & Garlic

Cabbage Leaves stuffed w/ Ground Beef and Rice, Smothered in Tomato Sauce

Seafood Benedict over English Muffins, Hash Brown Potatoes & Blackberries

 

I'm doing my best to keep things in the kitchen interesting...gotta keep those Winter doldrums at bay!

I have seen other bloggers' "100 Things" lists (most recently on Elle's Blog, Maxwell the Tattooed Boy and Other Astounding Joys and a couple weeks ago on Cardiogirl). I thought, "That would be impossible for me to write...I don't even have 100 things!" I think I'm in the mood to tackle something impossible today, so here goes...

Continue reading "One Hundred Things About Moi" »

We are hunkered down against the cold today... I'm so glad I was able to get my grocery shopping done yesterday when it was a balmy 30 degrees! Currently we are at our expected high temperature for the day which is 6 degrees! It is difficult to keep a house warm when you are battling such cold temperatures outside, so I've been trying to keep my mind on warmer things...like cooking. As always, I have planned our meals in advance for the upcoming week. Here's some of what will be keeping our stomachs warm this week...

 

Breaded Salmon Filets, Homemade Fettuccini Tossed w/ Butter & Garlic & Sauteed Spinach

Grilled Beef Sandwiches w/ Cheddar Horseradish Sauce on German Dark Wheat Bread, French Fries & Assorted Vegetable Platter w/ Ranch Dip

Homemade Deep Dish Cheese Pizza & Mixed Greens Salad

Homemade New England Clam Chowder & Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread

"Big Salad" of Mixed Greens & Assorted Vegetables, Crabmeat, Shredded Cheese & Bacon & Bread Basket

 

I'm looking forward to generating a lot of heat in the kitchen this week...every bit of heat I can make helps!

The only real job I've ever had is child daycare provider... In fact, I've been practicing at this career for over twenty years now!

No, I don't believe I'm insane for choosing to do this for what is - so far - my life's work. Some days, however, I feel that the job itself may just cause insanity...at least of the temporary kind!

Sometimes the only way to combat the stress of dealing with children - other people's children whom you can't stuff in a closet - is to laugh...and laugh...and laugh some more...

Continue reading "I'm Gonna Go To Daycare Provider Hell For This!" »

Today is the third birthday of a little girl in my daycare. This morning she was playing with one of our teddy bears who had developed a small rip in his shoulder seam and was losing some stuffing. When she first saw the stuffing, I heard her say something about "germs." She apparently had it in her mind that the stuffing bits that were escaping from the bear were "germs."

I didn't give it much thought, though, until she came up to me with a handful of stuffing, announcing, "Gina, I don't like Germans...they're yucky!"

This was disappointing news for me, because both of my grandmothers were of German descent...!

Update...the aforementioned teddy bear has received eight stitches to close his wound by the extremely competent stuffed animal emergency room surgeon-on-call, Dr. Gina.

He is expected to make a complete recovery.