Friday, April 22, 2011

April 22, 2011 Be a man... don't rub it!

Happy Earth Day! What are you doing to celebrate? There are so many ways, clean up garbage outside, plant a tree, shut of the lights.... recycle, recycle, recycle! There's plenty of ways... make sure to participate! It's important to keep this earth around! It's in OUR hands!




I was begging for OT at work. Now that it's been approved I am SOOO tired and just want to go back to bed and forget I ever asked! It would be different if I would have found out Tuesday when I said I'd do 10 hours that week that it was approved... but I didn't find out until Thursday afternoon.... so that means cramming 10 hours extra into two days. Three if you count Saturday, but it's Easter weekend so we are headed to my Mom's to eat and I don't want to be working all day. So my schedule was as follows... Thursday reg 7-330 and then I worked 330-7... fantastic. Friday 4am-7am... that's right... 4am! Regular 7-330.... I stopped for a couple of hours and took a nap and worked 630-8. That leaves me 2.5 hours for tomorrow morning. Yay!

I can't wait until tomorrow... after my few hours of work we are headed to my Moms for Easter. We are going to have chicken salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, and beans! I'm making a banana raspberry lemon cake. I've never made it before but it looks fantastic. Here's the recipe:

Banana Raspberry Cake with Lemon Frosting
Ingredients
Cake:
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting:
3/4 cup (6 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, chilled
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries (optional)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare the cake, coat 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray; line bottoms with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray; dust each pan with 1 1/2 teaspoons flour.

Place granulated sugar and 1/4 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Lightly spoon 1 3/4 cups flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring well with a whisk.

Combine buttermilk, banana, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture (mix after each addition just until blended). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake cake at 350° for 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Peel off wax paper. Cool layers completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, combine cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, rind, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and dash of salt in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar; beat at low speed just until blended (do not overbeat).

Place 1 cake layer on a plate, and spread with 1/3 cup frosting. Arrange raspberries in a single layer over frosting, and top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator. Garnish with fresh raspberries, if desired.



MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! Doesn't it look fantastic?



Craig got a call back about that job today, they told him he's a "back up". That means if anyone drops out before training or during training he'll get called in. I'm really disappointed. I was hoping that he'd get the job right away... it really is a good fit for him. He's excellent at what he does. Plus he'll have full benefits right away, a good paying a job, and at least his foot in the door of a big company. There's UHC's all over the world... it's a good place to get into it. I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed that someone drops out.

ps: "Be a man... don't rub it!"... I punched Craig in the arm for making fun of what I was writing about the food that will be at my Mom's.... I told him to be a man and not to rub it... he thought that was pretty funny... haha.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

April 20, 2011 OMG April is almost over...

Happy 420! If you don't know what I mean, it's not important.

So I'm patiently waiting for my book to come from book sneeze so I can read it and review it. I hope it's a good book. I hate to give out a bad review, especially for my first one. I'm kind of wondering if book sneeze is part religious.... I didn't read it anywhere that it was but based off of some of the books that are available for review it kind of leans that way.

Craig and I have been taking turns picking movies off netflix to watch together. My last few picks were taken off of a list of 50 favorites that were sent to me. It comes around to Craig's turn to pick and he picks Dead Alive, ever heard of it? I'm sorry if you have and happy for you if you haven't. It was directed by Peter Jackman and released in 1992. It was THE nastiest movie ever. Granted all the effects were fake but it was DISGUSTING! Ugh! The sound effects make me want to puke and the scenes were horrific. Craig, loved it. The Mom gets bit by a scary monkey and then she turns into a zombie and starts eating everyone and then two zombies having sex and they give birth in a matter of minutes to a baby zombie. Not only was the movie gross it got cheesier and cheesier by the second. I just looked it up on IMDB and the description of the movie is: A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors... (they left out all the gross stuff) and right on the cover it says "The goriest film of all time".... no wonder it was nasty. Had I know that I definitely would have protested his pick. Yuck yuck yuck!



Oliver and I are bonding tonight while watching American Idol. Who needs a baby when you can have lots of little pets that love you unconditionally. I never thought I would like having a cat, I dont know why I had never had one before, I have just always been a dog person. I LOVE HAVING A CAT! Granted it might have something to do with Oliver being a cuddle bug and not really being a loner. That's what I never really liked about cats... they are so independent. Not Oliver he talks to me, he sleeps with me, he comes to work me (I work at home)... he even sits in the sink while I'm taking a bath and relaxes with me. What a sweet sweet thing.


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

April 19, 2011 Tires spinning in the dirt....

The sun is peaking out from behind the clouds a little bit today. Not enough to make it a warm April spring day, but enough to heat up my office a little so I don't have to turn the space heater on. (I have bad circulation... )

What a depressing day today seems. I'm sitting at my desk at work (which is at home in my office) and I relized how far I really haven't come in
the past five years. I'm in debt up to my eye balls, my car is over 100K and threatening a major blow up, I'm divorced, I have to decide on whether to put gas in my car or buy food for the fridge, and the highlights of my day are when the mail man comes. So that's my gripe for today. Lame I know.

I want to move. Moving is where this whole "depessing day going no where in life" gripe started. I don't just want to move to a new apartment, I want to move to a new city, a new state! I want to start over. I feel like I'm always starting over but never really STARTING over. I have a few friends here, nobody that I'm super close with where they'd be heartbroken if I moved a million miles away. My parents (whom I'm pretty sure are the reason I've stayed) will be gone 6 months out of the year down south from now on. As for my brothers, well I really don't see either one of them right now so I'd probably see them just as much if I moved away. What a scary thought though. Move to a new place and not know anyone and start a new job. Maybe I would become even more depressed? Maybe I'd finally creep out of my shell and be forced to make new friends. It's such a shame that the best of friends are made in high school. But that's a whole different story for a different day. Back to moving. I would want to move somewhere that has four seasons. Minnesota is a few seasons shy of four. I'd definately want to leave near a lake. Having lived so close to Lake Superior all my life moving somewhere with no lake would just be too much of an adjustment to make. How long have I been thinking about moving? Probably my whole life to tell you the truth. I'm in love with Two Harbors but I HATE all the cold weather..... I should really form a plan... a moving plan....




Moving on. I used to love to drink Mountain Dew, at least when I was in college. Craig bought some Moutain Rush Shasta which I'm assuming is like Brand X Mountain Dew. I like it, it's pretty good. It still gives me the feeling of too much citric acid in my stomach but still good. A nice break from my Diet Coke habit. Diet Coke is a drug.. if you drink it religiously like I do... you know. I should really stop drinking pop. Fructose Corn Syrup will be the death of me...

Sunday, April 17, 2011

April 17th, 2011 We welcome you SUNSHINE

The sun is out and my wind-chimes are... chiming. They make the most beautiful sound and it's that much better when the sun is beating down heating up the sidewalk.

Today I watched the movie Krull directed by Peter Yates released in 1983. It's about a prince who sets out on a quest to rescue his bride/princess from alien invaders that have kidnapped her and now plan to take over the world. It was cheesy to say the least but entertaining none the less. Check it out here: KRULL



Sunday's are always the most uneventful day of my week. I really should find a hobby just for Sunday's, or at least find some motivation to do my other hobbies... on Sunday. :) I seriously cannot wait until summer. This cold depressing weather is... well... it's depressing! I want to go outside in just a t-shirt, jeans, and sandals to take photographs. Even though I'd consider myself a jeans and sweatshirt kind of girl I'd prefer warmer weather.

I helped Craig apply for jobs today. What a trying process that turned out to be. I forgot how much of a pain in the ass applying for jobs can be! With resumes and applications and questions and surveys... ugh! He applied for three jobs at United Health Care, I really hope he gets a call back for one of them. He was very qualified for all of them.

Next movie on today's list of things to do: Murder by Death directed by Robert Moore released in 1976. It kind of reminds me of Clue, everyone going to a big mansion to solve a crime. Looks interesting enough... cheesy I'm sure. Actors found in this film you might recognize: Truman Capote, David Niven, Peter Falk, and James Cromwell. Check it out here: Murder by Death





I participated in a swap on Swapbot that consisted of sending partners my favorite 50 movies and thus I got lists back from my partners. Both of today's movie choices were off those lists. Funny what people have as their "favorites". For you enjoyment and reading delight I've included my favorite 50. Check them out!


MirrorMask
Dark Crystal
Hell Raiser
Tank Girl
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
Monsters
Monsters Inc
The Incredibles
Lord of the Rings 1-3
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Virgin Suicides-
Harry and the Hendersons
Labyrinth
Bed Knobs and Broomsticks
The Breakfast Club
I’m with Lucy
The Princess Bride
Foxfire
Because I Said So
Working Girl
Scarlet and the Black
Return to OZ
30 Days of Night
Rent
Candleshoe
Innerspace
Batteries Not Included
The Big Lebowski
Being John Malkovich
Greenfingers
Paranormal Activity I&II
Phantom of the Opera
Indiana Jones I-IV
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I-III
Event Horizon
Up
310 to Yuma
Malice in Wonderland
Romancing the Stone
The Parking Lot Movie
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Burrowers
Seventh Moon
Fright Night
The Burbs
Run Lola Run
Cry Baby
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Miracle at St. Anna
Philadelphia

Saturday, April 16, 2011

April 16th, 2011 - It's snowing... what the heck

Yesterday I had green grass and today everything is covered in white fluff. It's the middle of April mother nature, the sun should be out and the sky should be blue! Oh well.

I love summer and the warm weather it brings. Laying in the grass reading, sleeping, or watching the clouds float by is one of my most favorite things to do. On a warm day grab a drink, lay back in the grass, and watch the clouds float by. If you chose a diet coke or something similar you might see sheep or hearts float by. If you chose a beer (or two or three) you might see a leprechaun riding a unicorn or a pig with wings shooting a machine gun and thus you have now entered the realm of the cloud society.

This is my first blog ever and I am hoping I can find the time to keep up with it. This shall be my place of personal creativity. A place I can be me and share my thoughts, ideas, and dreams. I plan on including my photography as this is a creative outlet of mine that I adore. I also plan on reviewing the books I read so I can share some of the greats with you followers. Thank you for finding me!


The essential ingredient for creativity is wasting time. -Anonymous