Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Eve - wow time is really flying by now. I just took an Apple Crisp out of the oven - it looks really good. You know it's good when the square baking dish is full to the top with apples and topping when you put it in the oven, and when you take it out 45 minutes later, it has condensed down by half. There will be a lot of flavor from the Granny Smith apples.
We're still both looking for work. I'm starting not to like this applying online. Either you don't hear back at all, or you get this "dummy" email saying that your qualifications were good, but somebody else was a better fit, or...you get the one I got today which said the positions I applied for were not currently open when I just went to the website (a local hospital) and they were there 2 days ago.
We had a movie night tonight - haven't done that in ages. Bob made his fabulous popcorn and we and the daughter watched "Star Trek" the movie that is sort of a prequel to the series. It's very well done and I've heard there is another one in the makings. I hope so. Star Trek movies I can watch over and over. It's hard to say - maybe "First Contact" - which one is my favorite. ST is one of the very few that we all three like.

When I Get Older...Losing my Hair

I finally finished the job and got my hair cut short again. Everyone I meet literally gushes with how cute it is / how different I look / I look younger. I kind of had a feeling that would happen. The only person who didn't like it was my daughter. I'm not sure why.
I decided to attend the "early service" aka Traditional service at church this past Sunday. Although I like the upbeat, more comtemporary "2nd service" I'd been wanting to try this too. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It had a definite feel to it - as if I was surrounded by an forest of firmly-planted churchgoers who had been faithful for their lifetimes. Most were older than me - although I am really bad at guessing ages these days. I am realizing that slowly but surely I am blending in here in Indiana. I really enjoyed the "prettier" music. I have a feeling I will go again.
I'm contemplating replacing this blog with a genealogy blog. I've been checking this out and am quite impressed with those I find. I've learned and been helped a lot already. Maybe I'll just start a 2nd blog (...shaking head...)

Decorating

I've really been enjoying learning about "cottage-vintage-romantic style" decorating. I know it's been around for some time now, but I dismissed it at first as being too "pretty". I visited Dear Daisy Cottage a week or so ago thanks to my friend Debra's link. At first I was overcome by all the beauty and asked myself "What's wrong with pretty?" Yesterday I checked out a wonderful book "Vintage Vavoom" by the Editors of Romantic Homes magazine. (and yes, I've changed in my taste in books and movies and I am not afraid to say I enjoy romances as well). The book is full of explanations and pictures and just good stuff in general. I know it's hard to believe this is still unexplored territory for me.
My home is still very undecorated and has quite a few messy, and dirty, areas. The front yard planters are embarrassingly weedy. But I've been inspired. I see a goal to shoot for. My mind is not a blank anymore.
On a sadder note, my mother-in-law Gloria passed away on Sept 7. She had been seriously ill off and on for a year or so and confined to a wheelchair. I know she is in a happier place, but we will miss her. I am somwhat concerned as my husband has lost his job of 20 years and his mother both in the same year. :(

Almost Fall

I have the window open next to my desk. I can hear the leaves rustling and the people talking out in their yards. It's been months since I could comfortably do this due to the heat and/or humidity. We've had beautiful weather off and on this past week. The temp on our weather gauge had 58 degrees when I got up around 8:00. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were time for fall already?
Although I haven't written much the past few months, I've been busy.
I passed the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam in June and will be using the CPC-A (Apprentice) designation because I have not had the mandatory one year of experience that usually goes with it. I plan to continue looking for a full-time coding position but if something full-time comes up at the university where I am working part-time now - I will take it. At least I know I can do the office work at the university, but the medical field is still somewhat of an unknown (although it pays better and is more interesting).
I went to California for 9 days - spending three days with 3 special friends. I attended my 40th high school reunion (La Mirada High School) and really enjoyed this. I have some interesting feelings about it, all good. I went to Disneyland and realized that in order to have fun I need to be in better shape!
I cut my hair - finally. It was down to my waist in the back but now is in a layered cut about shoulder length. I like it.

Bob's BBQ sauce

Well the "blue"mood has passed (thanks Cuz Connie!).

To get back in the swing here I am posting the BBQ sauce recipe my husband uses. I believe it came out of the LA Times sometime in the 1980's.
Bob's BBQ Sauce
1 c. ketchup
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 cloves garlic
ginger root (equal amount to garlic)

---Blend all together in blender or food processor until smooth. Keep leftover in the refrigerator. This sauce is sweet and everyone who tastes it loves it and wants the recipe. So..give it a try.
Goes well on chicken, pork chops, hamburgers. Wait until meat is almost done grilling before brushing with sauce (or it will burn).

Days of before

The last week or so has been a struggle for me. I feel like I am "on hold" until this feeling passes.
Although most people laugh when I mention it, a full moon can sometimes mess with my head. I've been thinking that this feeling has been caused by this month's moon. But alas, it was full on May 9. So that's not it.
What, pray tell, is happening? I find myself looking out the window a lot, mulling over the past, kind of looking around for those memories of times in my life when I experienced life's high and low points. I dwell a lot on my childhood and youth, hoping to call up some spirit of myself back then. I try to get in touch with people and places - through pictures or online - that meant something to me then. I didn't realize at the time how important they were to me then.
Some women, and men, don't pass a day without either crying or blowing their stack. They have no problem engaging in life with their feelings. I, on the other hand, tend to keep it all inside until I am forced to face my feelings. The full moon kind of lets me know they are there. Or whatever is happening now.
Here's an example of one of my life's most emotional high points. Me and my daughter, Amber, when she was 10 weeks old. The doctor had just told my husband and I that she was just about to be discharged to go home in a few days. She was born 13 week premature and spent those weeks in an incubator. She weighed 2lbs 3 oz at birth and in this photo she weighed just a little over 4 lbs.
I really really really miss taking care of her then.

Catching Up

It's been a beautiful day weather-wise, very May-like and getting warmer.
Bob made a great dinner again tonight. He seems to enjoy fixing new things rather than my old standbys. Hey, I'm not complaining. Tonight's menu was Grilled Round tip roast, Potatoes and corn on the cob. He grilled the roast which he had seasoned with McCormick's Steak Rub. This is the first time I remember him slow-grilling a large piece of meat . The potatoes were cut into about 1" pieces, mixed in a sealed bag with oil and onion soup mix, then mixture poured into baking pan and baked 450 degrees for 35 min or until tender. These were FANTASTIC! So easy and flavorful. The corn on the cob is very young and tender now. I should have taken a picture. It would be a wonder if he were to find a job as a cook (he's been out of work since March 1)

I've been busy the past week or so, besides my emergency trip to Illinois.
Here's the list:

1. I bought my airline tickets for my 40th high school reunion in California. I'll be there from Aug 4-13. I'm also planning a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth - Disneyland. I'm going to stay with my friends and I predict I am going to have a wonderful time. Bob's free miles that he had left from his last job really came in handy.
2. My daughter Amber got 3 A's and a B for grades last semester. That's the best she's done in a while. I don't know how she pulls it off. She'll be graduating from IU next May. I paid for her Economics book for this summer school semester as a reward. She's majoring in International Studies.
3. I'm practicing the "Zero Inbox" rule from the 12 Key Zen Habits and loving it. Also doing pretty good at keeping my desk uncluttered.
4. I finished "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" and loved it. Here's my review. I'm also almost finished with "The Enchanted Barn" by Grace Livingston Hill. Her books are predictable romances but I am always inspired after I read them. It's about having standards and sticking to them. It's about the best things in life.
5. I cleaned the weeds out of the planter area near the front porch. It looks very nice. It was a very tough job. Bob was willing to hire someone to redo the entire area, but I just wanted to do it myself. It doesn't seem right that I have the chance to garden and don't do it. I've wanted a yard for years and now I have one - I better enjoy it while I can. I went to Meijer this morning before work and came across a carnation plant called "Ruby Tuesday" which I bought and planted in a large pot. It's beautiful. I'll try to get a picture tomorrow. Also some vincas.
6. I'm back on my diet again. I am using the Sparkpeople website to help. It's not as good as a Weight Watcher's meeting, but it's free and it does help.
7. We went to see "Star Trek" for my late Mother's Day celebration. As expected, it was a good movie with a lot going on and good special effects.
8. I'm about 3/4 done with the prayer shawl I am crocheting for an older gentleman at our church (he's been ill) . I've been wanting to get back into some kind of sewing or needlework for some time now - so this is a good start. Plus it's a group thing and that helps.