thought for the day

Sometimes being a student can be hard...especially at my age.  Actually, age really has nothing to do it with, it is just a scapegoat.  It is just very frustrating at times because it is something i have not been in a long time.  Today, in my stats class, i got very frustrated.  Stats is not easy and it is harder for me because i have not been in a math class for 22 years now.  Sometimes, the teacher goes too fast and it is hard to keep up.  i know that i am not the only one who feels lost, but it sure does feel that way at times.

i have realized, as talking with one of my classmates after class, that for me, it is all in the way i approach it.  Math is its own language..one i have not spoken truly in a long, long time. i really need to take my time and read through things and problems before trying to work them out. It is a whole different way of looking at things from what i am use to these days.  And practice....i HAVE to practice...there goes the weekend LOL

i will figure this all out....literally and figuratively.  In the meantime, i will keep my fingers crossed and keep plugging away at it.  And graphing calculators really help.

Cheers

recipe of the week - Russian Tea (Instant Spiced Tea Mix)

i love this tea mix.  It tastes wonderful and smells divine!  Now, you can go and find recipes for authentic Russian Tea but they are a good bit of work.  And, i grew up with the instant tea like this and have always enjoyed it!

1 Large jar of Tang
1&1/2 cups of sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup Lemon drink mix
1/2 c Instant Tea
1 tsp ground cloves

Mix all ingrediants.  Store in a glass jar.  To serve, boil water and add instant tea mix to taste.

*For a regular size coffee cup, as pictured, i use to spoons of the mix.
*You can use Instant Lemon flavored tea (1 cup) and kill 2 birds with one stone
*i omitted the gloves because A. 5 different flavors were pretty and B. ground cloves are expensive!
*makes a great gift.  Just put in a  fun glass jar with a ribbon and voila!

thought for the day

And another week has come to a close.  Time seems to go by much more quickly the older i get.  And that is ok because it makes me more aware of how precious time is.  It is a gift that can be taken away at any moment.  Not to sound morbid or anything like that, but over the past few days i have thought a lot about how i spend my time.  As i have said before, time management is not my strongest skill.  It is one i am working on, but still have a ways to go with that.

While most people find housework irritating, it is one thing that i usually enjoy spending my time doing.  i like it when things are neat and put away, when each thing has its place.  i use to beat myself up over that because i thought i was just wasting time on something that did not matter in the long run.  But, i realized, that i was not wasting time because i enjoyed it.  i like my lists and getting things accomplished on them is a good use of my time.

This year, i want to use my time better.  After being around people last night, i want more of that.  And it does not necessarily have to be a party setting. i do not make enough time for people in my life and because of that there are not that many people actually in my life.  Now, i have finally come to the understanding that this philosophy does not mean i do not have friends it just means that i do not use my time for my friends.  That was a huge revelation to me.  And i also realized that spending my time with friends does not have to be a huge production either.  i do love to host a good function at our house, but it does not have to be that.  Small, intimate times are usually the best anyway.

This week, i have a few dates with friends...coffee, dinner, etc., and i am very much looking forward to it.  It will make a nice balance in between time doing homework and household chores :)

Cheers

thought for the day

It seems lately that when i get invited to do things, they all seem to happen on the same day.  Last weekend, i had 3 different things that i wanted to do on Saturday.  i got so frustrated in trying to decide what to do that i ended up doing nothing and stayed at home.

Today, i have 2 different invitations to 2 different things that i would love to be at.  A friend of mine is hosting an after holidays party and another friend of mine is having a game night.  At one, the crowd will be primarily gay.  The other, straight.  At one, there will be lots of people i know.  At the other, not so much.  Food and drinks at both, though,  And that's a good thing.

For awhile today, i was not feeling well and just decided that i would not go to either.  But, as the day has progressed, i am feeling better and i figured that i might as well get out of the house and at least try to be social.  So, i decided to go to the party instead of the game night.  Michael's going to the game night, which is fine, but i there will be a few people at the party that i know that i have not seen in awhile.  And Bethann, the hostess of the party, is the only one of my friends who actually offered to do something with me on my 40th birthday, so i want to repay her kindness of the invitation.  That's important to me.

So, i am sure it will be a fun evening.  We shall see...as long as my sinuses don't flare up!

Cheers

thought for the day

An interesting, and yet scary, thing occurred to me today on campus.  In between my Tues/Thurs classes, i like to go to the library to do my homework.  i have a little over 3 hours to kill, so might as well make the most of it.  Anyway, after i finished up my studying, i made my way down the stairs from the 6th floor.  As i walked past each floor, i noticed how the stairwell was empty.  No one else was using it really but me at that time.  While i was on the 6th floor studying for a few hours, many people came and went via the elevator, but no one ever came by stairwell.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about how in kindergarten thru high school, we always had to know where the exits were in each building in case of fires.  Now, with the direction society goes in at times, when i go into any building on campus for a class or whatever, i now look for the exits.  Not in case of a fire, but in case of some kind of shooting or massacre.  I cannot decide if i am being safety conscious or overly paranoid.  Probably somewhere in between.  But, especially when i am in class, i look around and think to myself "What is my easiest escape route in case something should happen?"  i try to sit accordingly.  Of course, i sit up towards the front so i can hear better and get the most of the money that i am spending, but i do make my escape routes in my head.

Let us all hope i never have to use those escape routes.

Cheers

recipe of the week - Chocolate Delight

This is a dessert that has been around for ages.  Mom first discovered it in an issue of Southern Living in the late 70's or early 80's.  It was a dessert staple in our household.  It is one of those desserts that i took for granted growing up.  i always enjoyed it, but now that i've started to make it myself, i appreciate it so much more.  i think it's because it brings back a flood of memories for me.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Delight

1.5 cups of flour
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup chopped pecans, divided
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 tub of whipped topping, divided
2.5 cups of milk
3 sm packages of instant chocolate pudding

To make the crust, combine flour, butter and 1/2 cups of pecans into a dough and press into the bottom of an 8x12 pan.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, then let it cool completely.

1st layer - mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 cup of whipped topping.  Spread this over your cooled crust.

2nd layer - whisk together milk and pudding until nice and thick.  Spread over cream cheese layer.

Then combine remaining  whipped topping and pecans and spread over chocolate layer.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.  i like to let it refrigerate for 24 hours so that it is nice and cold.

*Mom's recipe called for melted butter, but i only soften mine.  For me, it makes an easier dough to work with.
*i like to put the dish back into the refrigerator after each layer for about an hour, so that it sets well before i put the next layer on.
*Grandmother, at Christmas, would change the recipe into Peppermint Delight by mixing vanilla pudding and crushed peppermint sticks and substituting that for the chocolate layer!

thought for the day - putting Christmas away

i have been taking my own sweet time putting my Christmas decor away.  i enjoy it, so why be in such a rush to get rid of it?  It makes me sad when i see all of those Christmas trees out on the street, waiting to be picked up by the garbage collectors, on December 26th.  It's almost like people don't cherish it anymore.  Maybe they are just tired of it seeing as the media starts shoving Christmas down our throats well before Halloween is even here (which, actually, i despise how commercialistic that is)

For me, it is almost as much fun to put the decorations away as it is to put them out.  When i am packing them away in boxes, i get to relive their history and the memories that each one holds.  And, i can tell you just about where all of my decorations came from.  It is fun for me and i look forward to next Christmas to do it all over again.

And the music...i cannot say that i miss the music because i listen to it all year round.  i try not to subject anyone else to it during non holiday times, but i still enjoy it.  And i was determined to get through all of my Christmas records before i put them back in their storage spot.  That was roughly 70 records, so it took some time.  i listened to the last of them while i was taking the tree down on the 12th lol  Of course, then when i was putting things away, i found a box of Christmas CDs that i had not heard this year yet, so they are still sitting out, waiting to be listened to.  i am about halfway through them :)

This was the first year we have had a live tree.  i did not realize how much i missed having one.  Getting it out of the house and out to the curb almost killed me. It was just hard to do because it meant the holidays were really over.  When i saw it in the back of the garbage truck, i almost ran after it to get it back.  Alas, i did not.

But, it is all put away now, except for those few CDs i have left to listen to.  The reason i do not like to take Christmas down is because what it means to me in my life thus far.  It is a time of hope.  A time to put away differences and celebrate something more important.  It is a spiritual time for most of us, no matter which religion you practice or if you practice one at all.  It is a time when families come together and create memories.  It is a time for believing in things that are beyond human tangibility. And i become afraid that i did not make the most of my time.  What if this was my last Christmas?  Did i do all that i could to create a Christmas that people will remember one day?  That's why i do not like it to end, because i never feel like i did enough.  Maybe i did, maybe i did not.  i do not know, but i did try and that is all i can ask of myself.  i really need to take the way Christmas makes me feel and carry it with me throughout the year.  I love Christmas enough that there is no reason for me not to.

Well, Michael's in bed now, so i think i will put on one of those Christmas CDs and relax.

thought for the day - being late

As Michael can tell you, i truly cannot stand to be late to anything...anytime...anywhere.  It drives me absolutely bonkers.  i don't really know why i am like this, as i do not remember any childhood experience where i was traumatized for being late...unless it is something subconscious and has not been awakened in my long term memory yet.  i get so tense...sometimes called for, sometimes not, when i am afraid of being late.  i am that person that will show up on time to whatever you invite me to...usually.  I try my best not to be early, but that sometimes happens. 

This morning, for example, i had to drop Michael off at the train station so he could make the train to work.  We had plenty of time to get there.  But, as it got closer to the time i thought we should leave, i started to get anxious.  i knew in my head that we had plenty of time, but i kept thinking of all of the possibilities of things that might happen to delay us and make Michael miss his train.  Of course, we got there in plenty of time and all was well....until....

i actually got home earlier than i thought from the train station, so i did not rush to campus as i had expected i might have to.  My class is at 10AM and i walk to campus.  It takes about 15-20 minutes in the cold weather to get there...what can i say, i walk slower when it's cold.  Anyway, i go outside a little after 9 to check the mail, turn to go back inside and realize i have locked myself out of the house.  Of course, i start worrying that i am going to be late for my class and i have to be there today because we were taking a quiz of sorts that pertains to our class activities next week.  i am trying to remain calm and go next door to get the spare key from Lois.  Naturally she is at work and the spare was not where it usually hangs, so no luck there.  Then, i decided to check with my landlords, who live around the corner.  Luckily, i ran into Lynn just as she was leaving the house to walk the dog.  Big relief.  Got the key, got in the house, got my bookbag and my keys and headed back out to return her key.  It was a little after 9:30 when i started making my way to campus.  Trying to walk faster and faster with each step so that i wouldn't be late.  And i did make it on time with about 5 minutes to spare...and a good sweat and tight legs lol

Long story short...i hate being late

Cheers

thought for the day

i woke up very blah this morning.  i do not really know why, but i did.  i was not depressed, just blah.  i slept well, though.  And thanks to the nicotine patch, i had some strange fun dreams.  The last one being in a handbell choir with Elizabeth Taylor.  i wish that one had played out, so to speak, but alas my alarm went off and i am not one to sleep through that!

Anyway, after breakfast and watching the Oscar noms, i got dressed and trudged to school.  It was not too cold, but cold enough.  And found my spot in Econ class.  Oddly enough, that brightened my day.  My professor seems to really be enjoying us so far and that makes a total difference.  This is one of those subjects that i am better going to understand learning from him than from the book.  i was not totally confused by the chapter we had to read, but having him explain it made things much clearer.  And he has a great personality, so that helps.

And then i walk home to find my block blocked off.  Great fun!  The city has been replacing the sewer pipes on our street for almost 3 weeks now.  i do not really know why it takes so long, but there you have it.  Anyway, they pick today for some reason to barricade my particular block so that i cannot get out of the driveway and no one can get through at all right now.  This is frustrating because i was suppose to deliver groceries to THP clients in between classes and now i cannot do that.  i got pretty angry and upset over that because these people are counting on the food.  Luckily, Ken Keeton, God bless him, who organizes the volunteers, was able to find someone to cover my route for today.  It just made me very anxious that i cannot personally do what i volunteered to do.  But, i am glad that he was able to find someone to take the route today.

Long story short, things work out for a reason so i need to just let go of the frustration and see where life takes me.

Cheers

recipe of the week - Cod in Paprika Cream Sauce

i found this recipe in a Downton Abbey inspired cookbook and both Michael and i found it delicious!  Hope you enjoy it as well!

Cod in Paprika Cream Sauce

2 Tbs butter
1/4 cup olive oil
2 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound cod, sectioned into quarter pieces
4 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp paprika (or sweet paprika)

In a medium saute pan, melt the butter into the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and saute for 7 minutes.
Place the fish into the pan, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk the green onions, parsley, heavy cream and paprika until smooth.
Spoon the cream sauce over the fish, lower the heat to simmer, and cook for 5 more minutes.
Remove the fish to serving plates, drape with sauce, and serve.

* you can substitute any "whitefish" for the cod
** because of the olive oil used at the beginning, the cream sauce may break up on the fish.  While it does not look wonderful, it still tastes great.  If serving for guests, it might be a good idea to make extra sauce to keep warm on the side and spoon onto the fish just before serving.

thought of the day - 1st day of 2nd semester

Well, here it is...the first day of my 2nd semester back in school.  It was actually a pretty short day, as i only had one class today and with the weather being cold and rainy, i did not walk around campus as i did in the fall.  i was ready to come on back home after i was done with class.  But, so far so good. 

Today, i had my Intro to American Politics class. i am still filling in some general education requirements that i did not get my first time around, which is fine by me.  At first, i could not tell if the teacher was going to be boring or an ass because when i got to the classroom, it was eerily quiet and he did not at all look pleasant.  But, once the class started, it was all good.  He seems really enthused about teaching this course and introducing students to the American political system.  We took a test...already..but not for grades, just to see what we knew.  And some of the questions, probably half, were opinion questions so there were no wrong answers there!  i did not know as much as i had hoped i would, but this time around it did not bother me.  i am there to learn and grow.  And considering how much i loved my WGS class last semester, i have a feeling that i will enjoy this one very much as well.

After taking the holiday break off, i feel like i have not been thinking very much.  And i have not!  So, i must get myself back into that mind frame, which i do not think will be too difficult.  It is just a matter of getting back into the routine of things.  i do hope that i will make improvements on my procrastinating.  i have always been bad about that.  Last semester was better than i thought it would be, but i still have much room for improvement.  And working on my study habits is going to be key in getting the grades i want.  We shall see!

All in all, a very good start to the semester and i look forward to seeing what tomorrow brings!

recipe of the week - easy vegetable beef soup

This is a fairly simple, yet delicious soup recipe.  Mom made it all the time and it is now a staple in our household as well.  Enjoy!

1 lb ground beef
3 carrots
3 stalks of celery
1 onion
potatoes (i use 3 or 4)
2 cans green beans or limas
1/2 pkg frozen okra
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 stick of butter
1 can of tomato soup
salt and pepper to taste

Salt your pot and brown the ground beef...drain on a paper towel and return to pot.  Dice carrots, celery, onion and potatoes and add to pot.  Add all other ingredients and stir.  i like to bring it to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for at least an hour.  You can add water to it to get the consistency you desire.

Can also use leftover roast beef in place of ground beef

2015

Here's to the new year!

i decided that i'm not going to list my goals/resolutions/bucket list items for the public to read this year.  That is so i do not put as much pressure on myself to achieve my goals.  i think i will do better if i keep most of them to myself and work on them a little at a time.  i do have definite things that i want to accomplish, so we shall see how it goes.

Having said that, i really am going to make an effort to spend more time with people this year.  Over the holidays, i had such a nice time just being with family and a few friends.  Sometimes, just sitting in the presence of others and watching tv is enough.  It's nice to have people close by.  i have not been as good at that over the last year, with a lot of life changes going on i was more focused on that than my social life and it did suffer for it.

One of the things i definitely need to work on, as far as people go, is picking up the phone when it rings.  i use to love talking on the phone...nowadays, not so much.  Honestly, the reason being that when i was in my late 20's/early 30's, i had gotten myself into some fairly substantial financial trouble through credit cards (which i haven't had one in over 10 years now thank goodness) and my phone was constantly ringing from debt collectors, so i stopped answering.  Ever since, i have been less than enthusiastic about answering my phone haha  So, if you call and i don't answer right away, i will get back to you...just saying.

On another note, i'm very much excited about my letter writing venture.  So far, two letters down and i hope to at least try to write a letter or card once a day.  That may be ambitious, but might as well try my best!  Now, we shall see if anyone writes back haha  Still, it's nice to get something in the mail that isn't a bill...believe me.

i hope that everyone has a wonderful beginning to their new year and i look forward to getting to know people better, both online and in person.

Cheers!