Quote of the Week

 I needed a quote to inspire me for a day of homework ahead!  This should do it!

When answering the phone all day isn't enough

I want to start off by saying that I don't hate my job.  But, the truth of the matter is that I'm just no making enough money to make ends meet right now.  Yes, I'm in school right now to get a master's degree that will hopefully help me to get a dream job one day, but at this moment, I really think it's time to take a chance and find something that pays more than what I am making right now.

I have been thinking about looking outside of senior living for something else.  Don't get me wrong, I love working in senior living and that is where I want my career path to be.  I have made some wonderful connections in my job.  I just sat there today at work and realized that I can't put anymore of myself into what I'm doing for what I'm making.  When you live paycheck to paycheck, it makes you think and often change your priorities.  Also the fact that I'm taking a class on financial longevity has made me rethink so many things.  I have never been good at saving, but it is never too late to start.  It's just that I don't have anything left in my paycheck to save.  And I want to go for a time and not worry about how I'm going to buy groceries or can I afford to fill my gas tank up at least a third of the way?  It weighs on me and frankly it's driving me crazy.

So, I'm going to seriously start looking for something.  There are lots of places hiring for good incomes.  I have a great work ethic and am actually a very hard worker.  I need to look at my resume and get that updated.  That will be a good place to start.  I'll keep you posted.

That is all. 

The Dining Room Table

 One day, we'll have a home of our own.  Just like my parents had.  Just like my brother has.  Just like my Grandmother had.  It's a bucket list item for me.  To have a place of my very own that I can grow old (or older) in.  And one of the things that is on my list of things for a house is a dining room.  Not a dining area mind you, but a dining room.  Currently, we have a dining area and it is completely fine.  I just prefer an actual room, with doors and such.  I realize that in today's world, people prefer open floor plans.  Thank you every show on HGTV for that!  But I do not.  

But that desire brings me to my dining room table.  I love my dining room table.  It's solid cherry.  It can comfortable seat 8 people when the leaf is in.  It is a piece of Henredon furniture.  Grandmother acquired it in the 60's I believe.  I only say that because I've seen pictures of Mom as a teenager in the dining room and it's a different table.  

Grandmother got this table from a friend of hers who sold furniture.  I don't know if he sold Henredon exclusively or not.  But she got this table very cheap.  It has a manufacture flaw.  When the table does not have the leaf in it, it is flush.  When the leaf is put in, it is slightly offline.  Henredon would not sell this at the regular full price and she got it for a song.  I don't mind the flaw.  I think it gives it character and uniqueness.

The chairs she purchased at Belk's in Charlotte.  They just happened to be the same color cherry as the table and she was excited to get them.  She and Mom did the red needlepoint for the seats.  Grandmother also had her china cabinet and buffet restained to match the table.  I have had many glorious meals at this table and I fully intend to have many more.  You all know I love to set a nice table and entertain.  I come by it naturally.

So, one day we will get our house and I will have my dining room.  And you can rest assured that this table will be the centerpiece of that.  It's not particularly grand, but it's family and I will use it for as long as I can.  So ends today's episode of "Around the House."

Recipe of the week - Congo Squares

 

Conga Squares were a staple of my childhood.  Mom made them quiet often and I love them.  I had not made them in a few years and decided to make some this weekend.  Usually, I have all of the ingredients on hand, which is convenient.  They make a full pan, so they are perfect for sharing with friends!  

Congo Squares

1 8oz box of light brown sugar

2 sticks of margarine, melted

3 eggs, beaten

2&3/4 cups all purpose flour

2&1/2 tsp salt

1 cup chopped nuts

1 packaged chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Melt margarine.  Mix with sugar in large bowl.  Stir in eggs.  Add dry ingredients.  Stir in nuts, chocolate chips and vanilla.  Pour into 9x13 baking pan.  Bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.  Let cool then cut into squares.

Enjoy!

Taking some time for myself

 I am working some on refocusing my priorities in life.  As I face each day, with all I have going on, I am realizing that I need change some of my priorities so that my life has more meaning to me.  Even though I work full time and am in school online full time, I am recognizing that I need to take time for myself.  It's important.  One of the things I got from my social work degree is how vital self care is to all of us. Actually, way back in the day, my theatre professors also touted this.  Personal days were a godsend.  

Last Thursday, after work, I just decided that I was done for the day.  I did not want to think about work or school.  And I didn't.  Michael encouraged this as well for my own mental health.  And it was a great evening.  We went for a walk, had dinner and watched tv.  Just general relaxing.  Of course, I did feel guilty the next morning because I wasn't being "productive".  Michael talked me down off that ledge!

Looking back, it was one of the best things I could have done for myself.  We only have one life and I need to stop and smell the roses from time to time.  If I don't, life will pass me by and I will not have experienced some of the simple pleasures.  I tend to get so focused on what is at hand that I do not pay attention to what is going on around me.  And it feels nice to just take a moment or a night to breathe and just be.

Hopefully, I will have another night or two like that this week.  Well, I will have at least one because I'm going to make myself do that.  It's good for me and I need to be better for myself.

That is all.

Come Love Come - Rhiannon Giddens

 I was listening to an old episode of Fresh Air this morning with an interview of Rhiannon Giddens.  She's a wonderful musician and extremely talented.  She also happens to be the daughter of a friend of mine, so I decided to listen to her interview.  This was the first thing played and it's incredible.  It's based on a slave narrative, as are all of the songs on this album.  Very powerful!  And I'd suggest going back and listening to her interview!

Quote of the Week

 Each Monday is a new beginning for me.  My life is full of new beginnings.  I don't always see them through, but it's comforting knowing they're there!

Starting to tackle the garage in earnest

 Yesterday afternoon, we started really working on things in the garage.  It's taken a long time to get to this point, but we did finally get started.  And while there are different piles still around the garage, I can tell there is some progress.  Our trash can and recycling bin are full to overflowing now.  Hope they will make it til trash pickup on Tuesday!

It's a process that I just need to do it.  Don't hesitate, just do it.  It's the only way I'll get through this because I'm too sentimental and tend to waffle on stuff.  If I just make myself say "keeping it" or "getting rid of it" without asking any questions, it's a lot easier for me.  And I do feel better after it's done letting go of things.  

Now, I will hopefully get the Goodwill pile loaded into the car today.  That's about all I can do with it today since I have school work to get done.  I wish I could do more, but hopefully I can get out there throughout the week and keep chipping away at it.  We shall see.

Now, time to take some deep breaths and have some coffee.  That is all.

A Prayer for Guidance

 No doubt, I always need guidance.  Don't we all LOL  As I was reading different prayers, I came across this one.  It was not what I was looking for but I connected with it.  With all of my thoughts lately about the people in my life and the people I want to be in my life, this just fit.

Student Life the 3rd Time Around - New classes already?

 Where does the time go?  Whew!  It's going by quickly.  Well, my first class has come and gone.  Happily I can report that I did pretty well in it.  So, maybe I'm smarter than I give myself credit. Who knows!  But any kind of theory does not make for an easy class.  Still, my group projects went well...we had a wonderful group...and my papers got great feedback.  All in all, I am very pleased so far.

We were on fall break at the beginning of this week.  I worked, of course, to celebrate my days off haha!  Now I'm back to it already with not one but two classes.  This is truly going to be an exercise in time management.  I really hope that I do not get overwhelmed but we shall see.  These classes will hopefully not be as difficult as theory.  One is on research methods and the other is on financing longevity.  I have a paper due tomorrow and another one due on Sunday.  Good times!

I am going to take this challenge and run with it.  I have to discipline myself to get this work done and look at the big picture:  graduating as a full time student on time so that I can use this degree (Let's hope!)  I know I can, it's just a question of balance, which has never been my forte'.  I know, in my heart, that it will be fine because I don't give myself enough credit.  I just have to convince my brain of that LOL  As for now, I'm going to finish up my coffee and start working on my first paper of the week.  

That is all.

I Don't Want To Know - Angela Lansbury

 Angela Lansbury had a wonderful voice and gave us many exciting songs both in theatre and in film.  This is one my favorites of hers from Dear World.  She won her 2nd Tony for this short lived show that few people saw.  Jerry Herman's score is wonderful and I think the book is work redoing for a revival.  Enjoy!

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

 This is one of those classic pasta salads that almost everyone has a recipe for.  This is mine!  Even though it's a great side for cookouts and picnics, I enjoy it all year round.  Hope you do too!

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

1 16 oz box of shell pasta

1 cup shredded cheese

1 cup bacon bits

1/2 bag frozen peas

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1/2 cup mayo

Cook pasta according to directions.  Drain and allow to come to room temp.  While the pasta is cooking, rinse frozen peas until they thaw.  Combine the ranch dressing and mayo.  Pour over pasta in a large bowl.  Add cheese, bacon and peas and combine really well.  Chill for several hours before serving.

You can use any short pasta of your choice.  You may need more or less of the dressing/mayo mixture depending on your taste.  I like enough to just coat the pasta.

Enjoy!

Quote of the day

 A few weeks ago, I wrote about reconnecting with people and I seriously mean that.  I need to stop waiting to do that before it's too late.  I have a friend who was a very important part of my life decades (wow that's a long time!) ago.  We had lost touch for a long time.  I did try to reach out and sent birthday and holiday cards and emails to the address that I had, but never heard back. I did not take it personally, I just missed her.  Yesterday, I found out that she had passed away from cancer back in July.  It really hit me hard because she was a great friend to me and we had lost touch.  It's time to stop that kind of thing.  That is all.

Asian Noodle Salad

 A few weeks back at work we had a farmer's market.  There were several local vendors there and, as always, I spent too much money LOL  But one of the vendors sold sauces and dressings.  I bought one of her bottles of Ginger Sesame Dressing.  She suggested using it in a noodle salad, so I looked up a recipe online and decided to try it.  I found this one on amindfullmom.com.  I changed it a tad based on what I had in stock, but it turned out very well and I will definitely make it again!

Asian Noodle Salad

1 box thin spaghetti noodles

1 broccoli crown, chopped

1 cup shredded carrots

1 red pepper, thinly sliced

2 green onions, sliced

1/2 cup sesame ginger dressing

sesame seeds

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to directions. While the pasta is cooking, chop your vegetables.  Once the noodles are cooked, drain in colander but do not rinse the noodles.  In a large bowl, combine pasta and dressing.  Allow the pasta to come to room temperature, about 15 of 20 minutes before adding the vegetables.  Toss to combine.  Chill in refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

The original recipe called for 3 cups of broccoli slaw mix, but I had the individual ingredients on hand so I used that instead.

I fried up some thinly sliced beef to serve on top of the salad and it was great!  Enjoy!

Working on Records

 

This week, I decided to work on thinning out my record collection.  Now, I love listening to records and I do it just about every day!  But, I simply have too many of them.  There's not room for all of them on the record shelves and I end up, like with books, with stacks of records throughout the house.  While I love them, it's just simply too many.  I love collecting them, but I just need to make room for other things.  When we go to the used record store, it becomes a problem because the kinds of records I buy are normally all less than $1 so I'll walk out of the store with a stack of 30 or so records most likely.  And while I love the thrill of the hunt, it's getting out of hand LOL

So, this week, I went through all of the records and pulled out the ones that I can let go of.  Now, we're talking about close to 400 records so this was no small task.  Still, it was easier than I thought.  And I did have a few criteria for keeping records.

Is it a Christmas album?  Yes, I'm going to keep those.  No questions asked.

Is it a family record?  Same.  Going to keep those.

Do I love it enough to listen to it again?  If I do, I will hold onto to it....at least for now.

Am I keeping it simply because I like the album cover?  In this case, if it's the cover I prefer over the record itself, I will let it go.

Is it valuable?  I have a few that I think are worth something.  Again, not a huge amount, but enough to warrant holding on to.

So, now I do have stacks of records around the house still.  But these stacks are on their way out of the house.  Hopefully within the next few weeks or so.  Admittedly it feels good to make changes like this. It's nice to see the floor space again LOL  Now, I just have to get the protective sleeves off of the ones I'm getting rid of so I can reuse.  Whew!  So ends today's episode of Around the House.

That is all.

People - Barbra Streisand

 This show has been revived this year on Broadway and this is one of my favorite songs from the score.  The words are really touching and meaningful if you truly listen to them.  Enjoy!

Job 11:13

 I am far from feeling hopeless these days and that's a good place to be in.  I'm not always there.  Still, I am constantly seeking hope and things that make me hopeful.  Hope is a comfort to me and without it, life can be very bleak.  So, here's hoping today is full of hope for everyone!

Student Life the 3rd Time Around - My First Class is Coming to an End

 It's an exciting prospect to know that I am almost finished with my first course as a grad student.  Whew!  One more paper, which I'm working on, and I'm done.  Luckily, we do have a few days' extension because of the storm, but I'm hoping to get it finished asap.  Still, it has been a wonderful class and I have enjoyed myself, despite my frustrations with technology.

So far, my only complaint with the online course is that I wish we had more time to explore more of the theories we've been studying.  Theory is a hard class, but I have learned a great deal about them.  And I have found many of the them that relate to me.  Interesting!  I have also really appreciated the group work that we've done.  I have never been a huge fan of group work, but I lucked out with the group I'm in.  We've worked well together and I look forward to working with each of them in the future.

I'm going to be very interested to see how the 2nd half of the semester goes.  I will be in two classes then, so let's hope it doesn't kill me.  But, one of the great things about this program and degree tract is that I can slow down if I feel the need to.  I have five years to finish once I start.  I don't anticipate it taking five years, thought.  I am hoping that I will be able to remain full time and finish next December or so.  Still, it's nice to have that option if I need it.

So, as long as I don't completely screw up this paper, I should be in pretty good standing.  Thank you to all who have encouraged me through this process and helped me when I needed it.  I really appreciate that!  Now, it's time to have some lunch and get back to writing my paper.

That is all.

Autumn Leaves - Roger Williams

 

Now that it's the first day of October and fall is officially underway, I wanted to listen to this classic piano tune by Roger Williams.  Enjoy!