My mom says it is fully treatable but he will have to go through radiation, chemo, the works. I hope she holds up under this strain. I hope he makes it through the treatment with flying colors. I wish I could be out there to help support her through this.

Anyone have Tivo? What do you think of it?

I am such a bad kitty mama!! The cat has been trying to make a break out of the kitchen window for weeks since it has no screen. Well Sunday night when we were putting the AC in there she evidently slipped out when we weren't looking. We didn't even notice that she wasn't around last night because she will go hide under the bed when it is hot sometimes. This morning, though, I heard this frantic quiet meowing. There she was, out on the roof, panicking where she had been stuck for a day and a half. Fortunately we can get to the roof from the back apartment so we didn't have to completely rip out the AC unit. I mean, I feel really bad that she was stuck out there, but damn you dumb cat!!!

She is in now with fresh food, water and litter box. We closed our bedroom door so she can't take her vengeance out on our clothes. She can relax and recuperate for the day and we will give her some love tonight. Poor dumb cat!

I am making homemade guacamole for Battlestar enjoyment tonight. I think I have overcome my (not completely irrational) fear of merging avocados with knives. Take it slow, breath, keep pointy things under control. Hopefully this time we will end up with a bowl of tasty guac and not a mangled finger and a trip to the hospital. I don't think we are generally supposed to SEE the bones in our body from the outside - that usually equals "bad" and I don't care to repeat the experience. Please send me competant knife handling skill vibes tonight around 830pm. Thanks :)

Chicken was herbalicious goodness. Dog was having heart palpitations over the excitement of chicken scraps. I put the skin and extra pieces in her bowl and before the dog could get to it the crazy bully cat ran in and started nibbling on it. Of course wimp dog just sat there and whined until the cat moved and let her in. My animals are nutty. My crazy killer pit bull, afraid of a declawed cat, what a monster :)
And Steve responded to the tri-color potatoes about as expected. Loved the red and white skinned ones, poked at the purple ones like an alien science experiment no matter how much I assured him they taste the same. I am willing to bet the dog will be eating purple potatoes in a few minutes.

Back to work tomorrow. Considering I have worked 4 days in the past 2 weeks it is going to be fun getting back into the swing of things. Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend!

I've been having a very domestic weekend. Saturday went to the farm and got a bunch of fresh fruits and veggies in addition to some farm raised all natural chicken which I am very excited about.

I made the commitment not to eat industrial factory raised CAFO meat because I think the living and processing methods are horrifically cruel to the animals and also create meat that is filled with growth hormones, antibiotics, and general unhealthiness that shouldn't be in our bodies. Anyway, for the most part that means I have been vegetarian because I didn't have a good source of all natural, farm raised meat without buying a whole side of beef which I don't have the freezer space or money for. So I am very excited to make my all natural roast chicken with tri-colored potatoes for dinner tonight - it is going to rock some socks.

Saturday I also went running with the puppers and cleaned the bedroom completely clearing the floor and sorting laundry. Sunday we went to the store and got the stuff to make homemade granola and all natural cleaners. I made fantastic homemade vanilla, almond, cranberry granola and I ended up with a TON of it. I gave some to Wade and Marian and I still have a bunch so I think yogurt and granola is going to be breakfast for the next couple of weeks :) Marian and I also mixed up spray bottles with a vinegar/water mix and bought some baking soda and Borax for other all natural cleaning. Today I put them to work and WOW. Seriously, sprayed my shower down with vinegar, sprinkled some baking soda, let it fizz for about 5 minutes and old red hair dye stains I thought would never come out were GONE and the thing was freakin' sparkling. I am never going back to nasty chemical cleaners again.

So kitchen, bedroom, bathroom are all cleaned (living room is waiting for Steve). I have my chicken all stuffed with fresh herbs and ready to toss in the oven a little later. I am going to do laundry now. Take pup out for a walk this evening before dinner after the game center is closed. I knit myself a dishcloth for the kitchen. Right now both animals are curled up on each side of me sound asleep. I feel so domestic this weekend, but it is really nice just to have things cleaned up a bit so I don't feel like I am tripping everywhere or piling dishes on the counter. I feel so much more relaxed and happy when I have been productive!

So after about 3 months of the only meat I've eaten being fish (and that one amazingly yummy bite of grilled organic chicken at the farm) I caved and had a corned beef sandwich at dinner last night. Sad because not only was it really not that tasty, but now my stomach has declared war on me. Boo!!!! But honestly, when the only vegetarian options were nachos or yet ANOTHER sandwich based on roasted red peppers and mozzarella I just something tasty. FYI - if you ever open a restaurant or cook for a vegetarian please know that roasted red peppers, portobella mushrooms and mozzarella cheese aren't the only things they eat, seriously! Bad tummy, bad Tina, back to my veggie loving ways.

If you want some cheap laughs just go on a Saturday afternoon, hang out at the top of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps and watch every single person who reaches the top of the stairs stop to jump up and down and pump their arms Rocky-style. It usually seems to include at least 2 large groups of Japanese tourists. I was working out, not just sitting there, but it still was cracking me up the whole time. You can also get the same fun out of sitting near the actual Rocky statue down at the bottom, but there is usually more posing and less jumping down there and the jumping is half the fun.

Seriously, check it out some weekend afternoon. Be ready to laugh.

So something we were talking about in class last night that I thought was really interesting - one of the signs of true intelligence is not merely being smart and knowing lots of stuff, but the ability and willingness to hear other opinions with an open mind. A lot of people get so caught up in their own opinions and "facts" that they won't hear other people, or they will listen but only to find ways to shoot the other person down or prove them wrong. I think a truly intelligent person is always looking for ways to grow and expand their mind and being willing to see things from a different point of view or even, gods forbid, be shown they are wrong is a key step in that process.

I don't say that I don't get caught up in my own ideas and preconceptions sometimes, but I like to think that if someone comes with a reasoned and thought out opinion I am willing to listen and consider even if I don't agree. It does frustrate me to no end though when someone asks for my opinion or thoughts on a matter and then just shut me down without listening or giving my ideas a chance. I am not someone who forces my ideas on others. If they ask or show an interest I will share what I believe and how it has affected me but I would never tell you what to think or do. All I ask is that you hear me, consider respectfully what I have to say, and if you want to debate don't come from an "I'm right you are wrong no matter what" kind of place.

I can respect you even if I don't agree with you, all I ask is the same respect in return.

Just some things to think about.

Steve is back in a temp job after only about a week and a half out. I am glad he held out for Randstad ML though and didn't panic and go running back to his old crap-tastic temp agency. As we both lnow from experience, ML always has something come up sooner or later and it pretty much always pays better and is more long term than anywhere else. Also, he ended up getting a call from another ML position I referred him for that would be fulltime perm, benefits, vacation time for the wedding, all that good stuff. So we will see how that interview goes and then decide which is better, where he is or that department. But all around it seems like things are moving in the right direction and more importantly, he is out of.a call center!!!! Yeah!!!!! And I made it through the layoffs in my department intact, we ended up having to get rid of 2 people which isn't bad in a group our size, but I was not one of them and they have said they are done.

Other stuff going on - the wedding is in 6 months and I have a feeling a lot of stuff is going to be put off to the last minute (wedding rings, plane tickets, stuff like that). I am still getting up and running in the mornings and starting to feel a lot better and see some results. I joined the gym at work and if I can get my trainer to wake the hell up I will be able to start doing toning next week (seriously, this guy acts like he is stoned or asleep!! At least I only have to deal with him in person twice then it is all online).

Oooo - I joined a CSA in Philly for the summer so I will have fresh, urban grown veggies and other cool local foodstuff from May-November...very exciting! I need to find more stuff to do, like fun stuff, festivals and stuff. We get stuck in our rut of sitting home and playing WoW or watching movies all the time and I know there is fun stuff to do around the area that doesn't cost a fortune. Not the zoo or something, I have been there, I mean like spring festivals or pub crawls or something. I dunno - suggestions are welcome.

My spring classes are over in 2 weeks which is good, but it means I am SWAMPED with homework until May 12th. I can ujust say that a lot of time is being spent at work writing papers that would otherwise be for surfing celebrity gossip and recipes! I like my classes, I like school, but it does get tiring having classes constantly year round without a break. But if I don't take classes in the summer it will take even longer to get my degree. As it is now I won't even get my associates until Fall 09 and don't even ASK about my bachelor's. It seems endless and makes me wish I had just stuck with it the first time. Oh well, too late now.

Okay, I've been tapping away enough on my blackberry. I should probably work, or do class stuff, but something more productive than LJ.

Peace n' stuff

I have a crapload of soup. Note to self - when making 16 bean soup for 1 person, perhaps best to use only 1/2 the bag of beans. I am going to be eating soup for a month. I think I shall freeze it so I don't turn into a crazed soup bean. And can I really call it soup if it is so thick I can eat it with a fork? Well - I had the soupiest of intentions. Oh yeah, and its very tasty just very intimidating in quantity.

When i start getting frustrated like that I need to remember my philosophy - I can't control anyone but myself and I am not gaining anything by being mad at situations I can't change. So breathe, live my life, and when things are ready to happen they will happen.

That's all.

People with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement and an underdeveloped sense of appreciation need to check themselves and switch their priorities.

That's all.

So my finger looks all Frankenstein now. I got out of the hospital right at Midnight, took them 4 hours which I guess could have been worse. The cut itself didn't hurt but OH MY GODS the needles for the numbing medication was utter hell. Now the finger is sore, I have to be careful not to strain it and pop the stitches, and ugly. And my arm where they gave me the tetanus shot hurts like someone punched me with a pair of brass knuckles. In short, my left arm is useless for a few days!

The good news, I didn't sever any tendons or nerves or anything. It was a clean cut and I should heal up with a small scar and full use of my fingers. So next time I will slooooooooooow doooooooooown. As my mom put it, "Yes honey, I know it has been 7 years in between trips to the ER for cooking related accidents for you. But the fact is that 99.9% of people NEVER have to go to the ER for cooking related accidents!" Yes, I have done this before. Last time I was attempting to zest a lime with a potato peeler and the tip of my pinkie finger was the collateral damage. Fortunately it grew back with no problems. My fingers probably aren't to trusting of me right now.

And of course I feel the worst not about my finger, but that the avocados for the amazing guacamole I was attempting to make are going to waste. Sigh.

So I post this on my blackberry while sitting in the ER waiting to have my hand stitched up. Why? Because I am a dumb ass and need to slow down. I was very vigorously attempting to stab an avocado pit and I missed and very vigorously gashed my hand deep enough to see some shit you just shouldn't see in your own hand. This sucks, and hurts, and annoys, and the poor dog is stuck waiting in the crate when she should be going to the park to potty. And I haven't eaten anything since lunch and it is almost 9pm now and I am starving. Grrrrrrrrrrr...really annoyed with myself right now!

Btw - steve was rolling on the floor cracking up at this even as he admitted it was very wrong and why Obama will most likely NOT be able to overcome our countries ingrained racism to be elected. Just thought I had to clarify why I posted it. As steve said, "if you find Dave Chappelle funny, you will probably find this funny. If you can't laugh at Chappelle, this will probably offend you."

So I made myself a quick doing homework dinner tonight which meant breaking out the Trader Joe's stash and OMG I forgot how in love I am with their frozen Thai Shrimp Gyoza!!! For those who don't know, gyoza = potstickers = freaking delicious. Plus I grabbed a bottle of their gyoza dipping sauce and damn, I just want to down the whole bag RIGHT NOW. Must focus on homework, must not obsess over remaining gyoza sitting in pan upstairs waiting to be packed for lunch tomorrow, mut not realize there are still some left in the bag so I could make more tonight and still have them for lunch tomorrow. I am seriously making Homer Simpson style mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm noises right now.




Go buy them! Bask in the awesomeness!