Buzzin’ By

It’s dinner time again!  

We had AWESOME spaghetti last night.   I used a jar of Classico “Caramelized Onions and Garlic” with a jar of Classico “Sweet Basil Tomato” and doctor it up even more … adding fresh basil from the garden and some chopped up fresh mushrooms … salt, pepper and a bit of sugar.     Kirk made the meatballs and we sprinkled them with some garlic salt and pepper and let ‘em bake.   When the meatballs were finished, we scooped them into the sauce (with the crunchy bits and even some of the grease) and let the sauce simmer about 45 minutes.   YUM.   Right up there will the all-day sauce kind of yum.  

So, we’ll have leftovers tonight.   Spaghetti is always even better the second day!

Wednesday:  Marinated chicken on the grill … camping potatoes … corn and green bean casserole
Thursday:  Leftovers
Friday:  Crock Pot Pork Salsa … rice … broccoli or cauliflower (depends on which looks best)
Saturday:  Cookout at a neighbor’s … I’m going to take “Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding”
Sunday:  Hamburgers & Hot Dogs on the grill … potato salad … baked beans

My ex (and kinda still) boss is leaving today for a year long detail.  

I know I have been incredibly blessed to have had such a wonderful boss for over five years - that I would feel this upset over him leaving.  

We started with our organization on the same day.   We attended orientation together - not knowing then that we would work together.   A few hours later when we both arrive at our new office together.   The agency and the positions were new to us and we helped each other muddle through.

He tolerates me.   And that says a lot about him.  

It’s going to be a long year.

My name is Debbie and I’m addicted to food blogs.   There, I’ve said it.

I’ve always loved cookbooks and now I’ve discovered food blogs.   I’ve spent most of my day today reading one after another.   And each blog lists more blogs to visit.   

So, I leave here today with recipes for Chocolate Chess Squares, Hazelnut Mini-Cheesecakes, Broccoli Salad, White Chocolate Chip Blondies, Salted Cashew Crunch Cookies, Black-Bottom Cupcakes, Pimento Cheese, German Cole Slaw and Strawberry Pecan Shortbread Crumble Bars in hand.

YUM.

Tick - Tock.

Last night I was in bed, asleep, when I felt something on my side.   It wasn’t the  tick.   It was my husband, with his nifty headband flashlight on, rolling me to my side saying “Don’t move!”    I looked at the clock to see it was after midnight and thought to myself “Hey, it’s a little late to be playing those kinda games buddy.”     But I was too busy not moving and being afraid of what I had been rolled off of to even speak.

He jumps out of bed for his supplies.    Tweezers and alcohol.   It was a *insert scary music here* tick.  

A tick.

I HATE ticks!

I’m not fond of spiders (and I really despise those damn spider crickets … but that’s another gross post.)
I’m not fond of snakes.

But I HATE ticks.    Seriously, they bite you, hold on with their mouth for as long as they can while they suck your blood out of your body.   *shudder*

And after you discover a tick - don’t you just hate how you think you feel them all over?   *shudder*

Anyway, hubby jumps back into the bed and gets the tick … but there is a raised red spot about the size of a dime there.   Hopefully, it’s just a reaction to the tick saliva *gross … shudder* - but now comes the waiting and watching.

Did I mention that I hate ticks?

Tick - Tock.

You know, in our daily lives, it’s a lot easier to complain and talk about the things that are bothering us … the things that are plucking our last nerve … and a lot of times those complaints involve our husbands.

But I’d like to take a minute to say how very blessed I am to have found my husband.   He is my rock.   He is my protector.   He, literally, would die for me.   And as if that is not enough, he has opened his heart to my children and thinks of them as his very own.   There is no “STEP” where he is concerned and nothing makes him angrier than when people refer to my kids as his stepchildren.   Nothing makes him angrier than when someone suggests that he should not love my children as much as he loves his own.  

He’s working.  Working non-stop.   He’s trying to help his own daughters financially while they are in college and it’s taking all he’s got.   I can only hope that one day they understand what it took for him to do what he does for them.   But that’s him - he does what it takes - always.   For his children or for mine - he does what it takes.

Last summer, my son decided it was time to move back home from California.   My husband - without hesitation - said he’d be on the next flight to get our son home.   He flew to California, loaded the few belongings my son brought back with him and his dog into a Ford Focus and drove across country.   He made it from ocean to ocean in two days.   How do you thank a man for something like this?   

He is a wonderful father and we’re all blessed to have him in our lives. 

C’mon, Get Happy!

~ My family is healthy.   My son has officially passed the one year mark of chemotherapy and has a year to go until he gets the “all clear.”  He’s never been in better shape, been healthier, or been happier.  This momma is greatly relieved.

~ Gas IS expensive, but I have a car to drive, money to pay for the gas and groceries we need, and we have a home.

~ My work week is over in three hours.   I’m going to my Godfather’s surprise 70th birthday party on Saturday and will spend the day with “Bubba” on Father’s Day. 

My baby has just finished her freshman year.     She ‘finished’ a day early.   Today is an early dismissal day and she tells me that her teachers told everyone that unless they had make-up testing to do, they would prefer if the kids just stayed home.  

I didn’t take my Lunesta last night.   I fell asleep around 10:00 - and was awake at 11:45 … 12:30 … 1:30 …. 2:24 …. and 3:40.   So, when the alarm went off at 4:30, I wasn’t much interested in getting out of bed.

I love my Lunesta.   I don’t care if it is addicting.   I don’t care if I can’t sleep without it.   I want it and I want it every night … and I’ve already told my doctor that I would ‘doctor-shop’ to get it if he won’t continue to give me prescriptions.   Hey, at least I’m honest about it.  

You can bet your last dollar that I won’t miss taking it tonight. 

Monday:  Chicken Enchiladas, rice, cornbread
Tuesday: CrockPot Beef … Probably Newsie’s 3 Envelope recipe, egg noodles, broccoli and corn
Wednesday:  Leftovers
Thursday:  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, peas
Friday:  Leftovers
Saturday:  Cookout for Godfather’s 70th birthday party
Sunday:  Cookout for Father’s Day

Monday:  BBQ chicken on the grill, Rice, asparagus
Tuesday:  Leftovers
Wednesday:  Pork Tenderloin - Apple-icious in the crock pot, buttered herb noodles, corn and lima beans
Thursday:  Leftovers
Friday:  Ledos Pizza night
Saturday:  Maybe fish … depends on the market.  Maybe shrimp.   Maybe even …. crabs!
Sunday:  Cookout for Judy’s Going Away Party