Actually I made a mistake on the new blog address - IF you are interested in following along on my new blog - which is about our new lifestyle as fulltime RVer's - the correct blog address is:
cdm-arewethereyet.blogspot.com
Hope to "see" you on the new blog!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Monday, August 10, 2009
New Blog
Hello people - if any of you are reading this blog and wonder what happened to me - well, I have a new blog that I write on every day. If you are interested in following along the site is:
cdm-arewetheryet.blogspot.com
Hope to "see" you on the new blog!!!
cdm-arewetheryet.blogspot.com
Hope to "see" you on the new blog!!!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
What in the H is going on????
Okay America - what are you doing?? What is happening in our world today??? Every time you turn on the television something else has gone to "H-ll in a hand-basket" (as my grandmother used to say). Is it just me, or is the entire world heading straight to a depression????
A few weeks ago, okay more than a month ago, I wrote about affluence and how the US is so obsessed with 'things' - well, ladies and gentlemen, I think it has come back to bite us in the proverbial butt! The really sad thing to me is - we (and I mean the collective 'we') don't want to take responsibility for our own actions. No one held our arm behind our backs and made us go out and buy a McMansion when we could only afford a doghouse - much less force us to mortgage it at 100% with an ARM loan. Now those mean ole' bankers want their money back - imagine that! And America is crying for the government to bail them out. Well, folks, its time to bite the bullet and face the fact that you can't have everything - WHAT!!! Yes, you can't have the mega mansion, all the new clothes, the new furniture, the new cars, live pay check to pay check and borrow from MasterCard to pay the Visa card bill. It's time we step up to the plate and be grown ups.
Now, that I've fussed about everyone else and said that I don't think the government SHOULD bail out the stupid - let's talk about what will happen. The feds are going to buy up all these "bad loans' that will allow these dumb idiots to stay in their homes, and those of us that are responsible, pay our bills on time, only buy what we can pay for, are going to get the shaft! What do I mean by that statement you may ask? Well, let me explain. D and I figure that the home we bought last October is now worth approximately $50,000 to $75,000 less than what we paid for it. However, we make our mortgage payment every month on time, and pay all our other obligations on time. Because we are responsible adults no one will do a dang thing to help us in any way. IF the feds want the economy to get better and is going to buy all that bad debt, why not adjust our principal, lower our payments and we will have more money to spend every month. What would that mean - well, we might be able to go out and buy that camper we have been wanting, or D could go out and buy that boat that he so wants. We could take a couple of trips - even if it were only to Atlanta or Savannah. The point would be, we would feel like we could spend that extra money instead of holding on to every penny we have because we don't know what is coming next.
Actually, you know what I would really like the feds to do? Nothing, but I know that isn't going to happen. I may not be an economy major, but I know that the news and feds have, not just America, but the whole world so scared that if they don't do something soon everything is going to get much worse. I know that, but the little girl in me (yes, she is still there even if I am over 50) wants to scream and yell and pitch a royal fit screaming "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!" I want people to step up to the plate and say, okay I screwed up - but I will cut back on the unnecessary stuff ($10.00 movie tickets, $5.00 coffee's), take my lunch to work (oh horrors!), and actually work to pay my debt.
I know, I know, some of you are saying, what if that person doesn't have a job - they lost their job due to the bad economy and they can't find another one. I realize that is the situation for some - but NOT the majority. But you know what - people are not going to take responsibility for what they have done. We as a society are so used to having someone else bail us out of our messes that we expect it. And the world is going to be bailed out again, but at what expense to our children's children???? I just hope and pray that those in charge know what they are doing, but I don't have much faith in that - I'm not blaming the Republicans or the Democrats - I'm blaming all of "us" who spent when they didn't have it and continue to allow others influence what they do.
My prayer is that whomever is our next President and those who are in the Senate and Congress can forget the 'party line' crap and do what is right for this country. We didn't elect them to sit up in Washington and sit on their a-- and make pretty speeches. Or to take money under the table for all the lobbyists. We elected them to represent "we the people" - I think many have forgotten that. Maybe what "we the people" need to do is to let those know what we want them to do instead of sitting on our A-- and crying "oh me! oh me!".
Okay, I'm going to get off my soap box now. One last word - please pray that those in 'charge' are lead by the Almighty in heaven and NOT by the dollar.
Until next time America!
A few weeks ago, okay more than a month ago, I wrote about affluence and how the US is so obsessed with 'things' - well, ladies and gentlemen, I think it has come back to bite us in the proverbial butt! The really sad thing to me is - we (and I mean the collective 'we') don't want to take responsibility for our own actions. No one held our arm behind our backs and made us go out and buy a McMansion when we could only afford a doghouse - much less force us to mortgage it at 100% with an ARM loan. Now those mean ole' bankers want their money back - imagine that! And America is crying for the government to bail them out. Well, folks, its time to bite the bullet and face the fact that you can't have everything - WHAT!!! Yes, you can't have the mega mansion, all the new clothes, the new furniture, the new cars, live pay check to pay check and borrow from MasterCard to pay the Visa card bill. It's time we step up to the plate and be grown ups.
Now, that I've fussed about everyone else and said that I don't think the government SHOULD bail out the stupid - let's talk about what will happen. The feds are going to buy up all these "bad loans' that will allow these dumb idiots to stay in their homes, and those of us that are responsible, pay our bills on time, only buy what we can pay for, are going to get the shaft! What do I mean by that statement you may ask? Well, let me explain. D and I figure that the home we bought last October is now worth approximately $50,000 to $75,000 less than what we paid for it. However, we make our mortgage payment every month on time, and pay all our other obligations on time. Because we are responsible adults no one will do a dang thing to help us in any way. IF the feds want the economy to get better and is going to buy all that bad debt, why not adjust our principal, lower our payments and we will have more money to spend every month. What would that mean - well, we might be able to go out and buy that camper we have been wanting, or D could go out and buy that boat that he so wants. We could take a couple of trips - even if it were only to Atlanta or Savannah. The point would be, we would feel like we could spend that extra money instead of holding on to every penny we have because we don't know what is coming next.
Actually, you know what I would really like the feds to do? Nothing, but I know that isn't going to happen. I may not be an economy major, but I know that the news and feds have, not just America, but the whole world so scared that if they don't do something soon everything is going to get much worse. I know that, but the little girl in me (yes, she is still there even if I am over 50) wants to scream and yell and pitch a royal fit screaming "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!" I want people to step up to the plate and say, okay I screwed up - but I will cut back on the unnecessary stuff ($10.00 movie tickets, $5.00 coffee's), take my lunch to work (oh horrors!), and actually work to pay my debt.
I know, I know, some of you are saying, what if that person doesn't have a job - they lost their job due to the bad economy and they can't find another one. I realize that is the situation for some - but NOT the majority. But you know what - people are not going to take responsibility for what they have done. We as a society are so used to having someone else bail us out of our messes that we expect it. And the world is going to be bailed out again, but at what expense to our children's children???? I just hope and pray that those in charge know what they are doing, but I don't have much faith in that - I'm not blaming the Republicans or the Democrats - I'm blaming all of "us" who spent when they didn't have it and continue to allow others influence what they do.
My prayer is that whomever is our next President and those who are in the Senate and Congress can forget the 'party line' crap and do what is right for this country. We didn't elect them to sit up in Washington and sit on their a-- and make pretty speeches. Or to take money under the table for all the lobbyists. We elected them to represent "we the people" - I think many have forgotten that. Maybe what "we the people" need to do is to let those know what we want them to do instead of sitting on our A-- and crying "oh me! oh me!".
Okay, I'm going to get off my soap box now. One last word - please pray that those in 'charge' are lead by the Almighty in heaven and NOT by the dollar.
Until next time America!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Lazy Days?????
Okay America - I'm back for a short little post - Things have been rather hectic around here and I have not had a chance to sit down and write my little posts like I should. What, you may ask, has kept me so busy that I can not bore the rest of the world with my little coming and goings? Well, first of all - football season has started - and my family will attest to the fact that football has to be my favorite thing in the world (next to the family and the dogs). In fact, while I am writing this quick little post I am also listening to the football game - Packers and Cowboys.
The other big thing that is keeping me busy is my job - yes, you heard me right - I have a job. No, I didn't get one in the teaching profession (although I did have the principal of a school call me and want me to do a long term sub job - which I turned down). I do have a part-time job here in the village in the marketing department - I am developing marketing for different areas here. A new learning curve, but I think I will enjoy it once I get my feet wet.
One of the advantages this job provides is flexibility - I work 40 hours in a two week pay period. I can do 20 and 20, or 32 and 8 or all 40 in one week. And while the pay is not what I would make at teaching the flexibility is very appealing.
So, while I might not have a full time position - I am bringing in some income and things are looking up in the house (By the way, Dan even applied for a job, and might start working as a tutor at one of our local schools). You just never know where life will lead next - stay tuned America!
Until next time!
The other big thing that is keeping me busy is my job - yes, you heard me right - I have a job. No, I didn't get one in the teaching profession (although I did have the principal of a school call me and want me to do a long term sub job - which I turned down). I do have a part-time job here in the village in the marketing department - I am developing marketing for different areas here. A new learning curve, but I think I will enjoy it once I get my feet wet.
One of the advantages this job provides is flexibility - I work 40 hours in a two week pay period. I can do 20 and 20, or 32 and 8 or all 40 in one week. And while the pay is not what I would make at teaching the flexibility is very appealing.
So, while I might not have a full time position - I am bringing in some income and things are looking up in the house (By the way, Dan even applied for a job, and might start working as a tutor at one of our local schools). You just never know where life will lead next - stay tuned America!
Until next time!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Summer of Health and Fitness
Well, as we approach the "official" last weekend in summer - I thought I would do a recap of what my summer looked like here in Dowling Park, Florida. In May, Dan and I decided that we would not do any traveling this year - due to many issues from gas prices to inflation and not feeling as if we should let go of any money (i.e. the purchase of a camper or purchase of any cruise tickets - which would also mean airline tickets). So, how do you think we decided to do with our long wonderful summer in the great state of Florida? How about - EXERCISE!
Seriously, Dan and I were sitting in the hot tub in the Copeland Center (our indoor exercise, swimming pool, hot tub building) and we made a commitment to each other to go down to the exercise room every WEEK day for three months and see what kind of difference in our bodies it would make - we even shook hands on it - which made it official. The next day I made each of us a chart with weight and different measurements on it (chest, waist, hips, upper arms and upper leg) - I mean, I was SERIOUS! We agreed we would weigh in every Monday and only take our measurements once a month.
Starting the first Monday in June (June 2nd) we trooped down to the exercise room - I jumped on the treadmill and Dan on the bike. The first week we each did 20 minutes at our preferred method of torture.
On Monday of the second week it was time to weigh in - I lost 1/2 a pound - Dan 3 pounds. So, I added two different exercise classes - one called "Walk and Stretch" which is a combination of aerobics (45 minutes) and yoga (45 minutes) and the other a water aerobics class. Then I also did my 20 minutes on the treadmill.
The third week weigh in arrived - I lost another 1/2 pound - Dan 2 pounds. I was doing my two classes, had increased my time on the treadmill to thirty minutes - upped my speed and incline AND was doing 20 minutes on the bike. I was really working - Dan was still doing 20 minutes on the bike daily (He was complaining every day, but he was still going). I mean what was he complaining about - he was only working for 20 minutes a day and had lost 5 pounds in two weeks - I was working between 1 and 3 hours daily and had only lost 1 pound - but I kept telling myself I was developing muscles and they weigh more than fat - Yeah, right.
Week four arrives and it's time to do the measurements - weight - NO weight lost, measurement - 1/2 inch on upper arms, and 1/4 inch on upper legs - NOTHING in my chest, waist, or hips - Dan - lost another 2 pounds (he wouldn't do his measurements, but he had lost 7 pounds in a month and I had only lost 1 pound!)
Okay, now I was really serious - everyday an exercise class - 45 minutes on the treadmill -speed 4 - with spurts at 5, incline 4.5 AND 45 minutes on the bike. I kept asking the instructor WHEN am I going to start this great feeling after exercise - right now all I felt was exhausted!
She said "Give it 6 weeks - then you'll start feeling it". Okay, that meant another week to go - I can do this!
Week six had arrived - Monday, water class and an hour and a half in the exercise room. Man, I'm tired and I really don't feel that well - maybe I'm coming down with a cold. Tuesday - Walk and Stretch and another hour and a half on the treadmill and bike - let's add some weights today - still don't feel well. Once I get home- take a shower, let's lie down for a little while. Six p.m. and I wake up - get up, fix dinner for Dan, go back to bed and sleep all night. Drag myself out of bed and go back to class - sleep all day, eat, back to bed. I can't keep this up - what's wrong with me????? Wednesday - I can't drag myself out of bed, much less to exercise - I spend three days in bed. Finally, I get back to class and ask my instructor what happened - you know what she said???? I was over training!!!! OVER TRAINING - ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I can't lose any weight, but I can over train! FORGET IT !!!!!!!!
Now, that doesn't mean I don't go down to the center and work out occasionally - I even go to a few classes, BUT, I don't do an hour and a half in the weight room or any of the foolishness -
and you ask about Dan - oh, he gave up at week four - so much for the summer of health and fitness!!!
Until next time America!
Seriously, Dan and I were sitting in the hot tub in the Copeland Center (our indoor exercise, swimming pool, hot tub building) and we made a commitment to each other to go down to the exercise room every WEEK day for three months and see what kind of difference in our bodies it would make - we even shook hands on it - which made it official. The next day I made each of us a chart with weight and different measurements on it (chest, waist, hips, upper arms and upper leg) - I mean, I was SERIOUS! We agreed we would weigh in every Monday and only take our measurements once a month.
Starting the first Monday in June (June 2nd) we trooped down to the exercise room - I jumped on the treadmill and Dan on the bike. The first week we each did 20 minutes at our preferred method of torture.
On Monday of the second week it was time to weigh in - I lost 1/2 a pound - Dan 3 pounds. So, I added two different exercise classes - one called "Walk and Stretch" which is a combination of aerobics (45 minutes) and yoga (45 minutes) and the other a water aerobics class. Then I also did my 20 minutes on the treadmill.
The third week weigh in arrived - I lost another 1/2 pound - Dan 2 pounds. I was doing my two classes, had increased my time on the treadmill to thirty minutes - upped my speed and incline AND was doing 20 minutes on the bike. I was really working - Dan was still doing 20 minutes on the bike daily (He was complaining every day, but he was still going). I mean what was he complaining about - he was only working for 20 minutes a day and had lost 5 pounds in two weeks - I was working between 1 and 3 hours daily and had only lost 1 pound - but I kept telling myself I was developing muscles and they weigh more than fat - Yeah, right.
Week four arrives and it's time to do the measurements - weight - NO weight lost, measurement - 1/2 inch on upper arms, and 1/4 inch on upper legs - NOTHING in my chest, waist, or hips - Dan - lost another 2 pounds (he wouldn't do his measurements, but he had lost 7 pounds in a month and I had only lost 1 pound!)
Okay, now I was really serious - everyday an exercise class - 45 minutes on the treadmill -speed 4 - with spurts at 5, incline 4.5 AND 45 minutes on the bike. I kept asking the instructor WHEN am I going to start this great feeling after exercise - right now all I felt was exhausted!
She said "Give it 6 weeks - then you'll start feeling it". Okay, that meant another week to go - I can do this!
Week six had arrived - Monday, water class and an hour and a half in the exercise room. Man, I'm tired and I really don't feel that well - maybe I'm coming down with a cold. Tuesday - Walk and Stretch and another hour and a half on the treadmill and bike - let's add some weights today - still don't feel well. Once I get home- take a shower, let's lie down for a little while. Six p.m. and I wake up - get up, fix dinner for Dan, go back to bed and sleep all night. Drag myself out of bed and go back to class - sleep all day, eat, back to bed. I can't keep this up - what's wrong with me????? Wednesday - I can't drag myself out of bed, much less to exercise - I spend three days in bed. Finally, I get back to class and ask my instructor what happened - you know what she said???? I was over training!!!! OVER TRAINING - ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I can't lose any weight, but I can over train! FORGET IT !!!!!!!!
Now, that doesn't mean I don't go down to the center and work out occasionally - I even go to a few classes, BUT, I don't do an hour and a half in the weight room or any of the foolishness -
and you ask about Dan - oh, he gave up at week four - so much for the summer of health and fitness!!!
Until next time America!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Why Can't I be Satisfied???
Hello again to you out there in the Blogisphere (is that a word? - who knows). The plans for my entry this week changed just a few minutes ago when I read the blog of a friend of my oldest daughter. C (my daughter) and M have been friends since elementary school - C and I were able to visit with M when we took our trip to NYC last year in March. M has a great blog that you should read sometime (Even the Fleas - cute title).
So, what does M's blog have to do with why I changed what I was going to write about - her subject this week got me thinking about a lot of areas of MY life - you see M's blog talked about affluence- or the pursuit of "things" - and that pursuit of things has been behind quite a few of the situations I have been forced to deal with the last month or so.
You see, as I have said in past posts, I have been thinking about going back to work - I even did all the steps necessary to get my teaching certification restored (yes, that is done - all I need to do is get hired by a county) which leads to the problem. Due to the great state of Florida's method of taxation, the state is in a dire financial bind - and they (meaning the state) has cut funding to education (all schools throughout the state have seen major funding shortfalls). This means the county that I live in and assumed I would be able to get a teaching position in this school year is NOT hiring - nor are any of the surrounding counties that are within a reasonable driving distance.
Sooooo, I looked at other places that I might be able to work and lo and behold, one of the few counties in the state that IS hiring is POLK county - or the county that Dan and I retired from six years ago. Now, Polk county is just a three to four hour drive from our home in North Florida; therefore, I would not be driving back and forth every day. We thought that I would stay in Lakeland during the week (living with my youngest daughter and son-in-law - wouldn't that be a treat for her!) and I would either come home every other weekend or I would come home one weekend, stay in Lakeland a weekend, Dan would come down a weekend, stay at home a weekend - get the drift. In other words, we would only see each other twice in a month - not the best of circumstances. However, I would have a job.
Now, I filled out the application (yes, even though I worked for the county for fourteen years, I still had to go through all the channels and jump through all the hoops). I even had an interview set up, when Dan and I both came to our senses. What were we thinking - this is STUPID! Which leads me to the question, why in the world would I even consider doing something so stupid????? The answer to that is the almighty dollar!
You see, Dan and I have a very lovely home (I might even post a picture of it sometime) and we are able to pay our bills on time every month - BUT, we don't feel we have the spare money to do the extra things we want to do - like travel, build a pergola in the back yard, new camper, new bedroom furniture, new clothes (now there is a good reason for that "want", but more about that in a later post), Dan a boat, did I mention travel - get the idea??? And, this is the killer, we aren't satisfied with what we have - I mean we always want to make things better.
Which leads me back to M's blog about affluence - why can't I/we be satisfied with what I/we have???? Maybe it has something to do with "the American dream" - you know what I mean - that generational thing where your parents want you to have things better than they did, and how are you going to do that IF you don't go out and get stuff. Maybe it's a disease that I/we suffer from - you know that "I just have to have something", even when there is nothing wrong with what I already have.
I can give you a very good example of this problem. This week I canned peaches (Yes, Susie-Ann homemaker is still alive and well, thank you very much for asking). I did half peaches in quart jars, sliced peaches in pint jars, and peach preserves in jelly jars (and I did a good job, even if I do say so myself) - but that leads me to my excess - instead of borrowing a canner (the great big pot that you have to put your fruit (in my case) into for the 'water bath') Dan and I went to Wal Mart and bought one of our own - I even talked to Dan about borrowing one - I had a friend who volunteered to let me use hers, but no, I had to have my own - WHY? In my defense, I don't like to borrow things - never have ( I did borrow a camper one time - and that was a disaster - I mean after I wrecked the thing and had to pay a couple of thousand dollars to get it fixed I decided that borrowing things was not a good idea - I'm pretty bright huh?). The other thing was (this is my usual defense) the canner only cost $20.00.
Maybe, it's advertising (sorry, M)- You know the false belief that "if you have this certain product (whether it's shampoo, face cream, clothes, car, house, etc.) you will be happier, you'll have more friends, you'll be admired, etc". Maybe, it has to do with my childhood belief that I wasn't good enough. Maybe it's guilt (for what I have no idea)- Maybe it's a combination of all the above! Who knows what has caused it - the real question is what can I/we do about it.
I once had a sweatshirt that said "Happy with what I have, but always willing to have more", and that was my belief at the time. I had just gotten divorced, had my first job teaching, had my two girls, and the first home I had ever bought on my own. Even though we (my girls and I) didn't have a lot of extras, I was happy with what I had and proud of what I had accomplished. I think I need to work on getting back to that point in my life - just being happy with what I have (and I have soooo very much to be happy/thankful about), and, if something extra comes along, be willing and thankful to accept it.
So, you might ask, what about the job situation? I (we) have decided that I will stay here in Suwannee County - maybe do some long term substitute teaching (I don't think I want to do daily substitute teaching this year), look into the tutoring program and see if that is an option, and I have interviewed for a position here in the "village" which might produce a part time job. All of these options means a lot less of the almighty dollar, but I will be home where I want to be. If none of these things work out, we'll just have to work with what we have, try and save a little here and there, and our children might just have a smaller Christmas this year. No matter what happens, I'm going to work on "being happy with what I have".
Until next time America!
So, what does M's blog have to do with why I changed what I was going to write about - her subject this week got me thinking about a lot of areas of MY life - you see M's blog talked about affluence- or the pursuit of "things" - and that pursuit of things has been behind quite a few of the situations I have been forced to deal with the last month or so.
You see, as I have said in past posts, I have been thinking about going back to work - I even did all the steps necessary to get my teaching certification restored (yes, that is done - all I need to do is get hired by a county) which leads to the problem. Due to the great state of Florida's method of taxation, the state is in a dire financial bind - and they (meaning the state) has cut funding to education (all schools throughout the state have seen major funding shortfalls). This means the county that I live in and assumed I would be able to get a teaching position in this school year is NOT hiring - nor are any of the surrounding counties that are within a reasonable driving distance.
Sooooo, I looked at other places that I might be able to work and lo and behold, one of the few counties in the state that IS hiring is POLK county - or the county that Dan and I retired from six years ago. Now, Polk county is just a three to four hour drive from our home in North Florida; therefore, I would not be driving back and forth every day. We thought that I would stay in Lakeland during the week (living with my youngest daughter and son-in-law - wouldn't that be a treat for her!) and I would either come home every other weekend or I would come home one weekend, stay in Lakeland a weekend, Dan would come down a weekend, stay at home a weekend - get the drift. In other words, we would only see each other twice in a month - not the best of circumstances. However, I would have a job.
Now, I filled out the application (yes, even though I worked for the county for fourteen years, I still had to go through all the channels and jump through all the hoops). I even had an interview set up, when Dan and I both came to our senses. What were we thinking - this is STUPID! Which leads me to the question, why in the world would I even consider doing something so stupid????? The answer to that is the almighty dollar!
You see, Dan and I have a very lovely home (I might even post a picture of it sometime) and we are able to pay our bills on time every month - BUT, we don't feel we have the spare money to do the extra things we want to do - like travel, build a pergola in the back yard, new camper, new bedroom furniture, new clothes (now there is a good reason for that "want", but more about that in a later post), Dan a boat, did I mention travel - get the idea??? And, this is the killer, we aren't satisfied with what we have - I mean we always want to make things better.
Which leads me back to M's blog about affluence - why can't I/we be satisfied with what I/we have???? Maybe it has something to do with "the American dream" - you know what I mean - that generational thing where your parents want you to have things better than they did, and how are you going to do that IF you don't go out and get stuff. Maybe it's a disease that I/we suffer from - you know that "I just have to have something", even when there is nothing wrong with what I already have.
I can give you a very good example of this problem. This week I canned peaches (Yes, Susie-Ann homemaker is still alive and well, thank you very much for asking). I did half peaches in quart jars, sliced peaches in pint jars, and peach preserves in jelly jars (and I did a good job, even if I do say so myself) - but that leads me to my excess - instead of borrowing a canner (the great big pot that you have to put your fruit (in my case) into for the 'water bath') Dan and I went to Wal Mart and bought one of our own - I even talked to Dan about borrowing one - I had a friend who volunteered to let me use hers, but no, I had to have my own - WHY? In my defense, I don't like to borrow things - never have ( I did borrow a camper one time - and that was a disaster - I mean after I wrecked the thing and had to pay a couple of thousand dollars to get it fixed I decided that borrowing things was not a good idea - I'm pretty bright huh?). The other thing was (this is my usual defense) the canner only cost $20.00.
Maybe, it's advertising (sorry, M)- You know the false belief that "if you have this certain product (whether it's shampoo, face cream, clothes, car, house, etc.) you will be happier, you'll have more friends, you'll be admired, etc". Maybe, it has to do with my childhood belief that I wasn't good enough. Maybe it's guilt (for what I have no idea)- Maybe it's a combination of all the above! Who knows what has caused it - the real question is what can I/we do about it.
I once had a sweatshirt that said "Happy with what I have, but always willing to have more", and that was my belief at the time. I had just gotten divorced, had my first job teaching, had my two girls, and the first home I had ever bought on my own. Even though we (my girls and I) didn't have a lot of extras, I was happy with what I had and proud of what I had accomplished. I think I need to work on getting back to that point in my life - just being happy with what I have (and I have soooo very much to be happy/thankful about), and, if something extra comes along, be willing and thankful to accept it.
So, you might ask, what about the job situation? I (we) have decided that I will stay here in Suwannee County - maybe do some long term substitute teaching (I don't think I want to do daily substitute teaching this year), look into the tutoring program and see if that is an option, and I have interviewed for a position here in the "village" which might produce a part time job. All of these options means a lot less of the almighty dollar, but I will be home where I want to be. If none of these things work out, we'll just have to work with what we have, try and save a little here and there, and our children might just have a smaller Christmas this year. No matter what happens, I'm going to work on "being happy with what I have".
Until next time America!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Little Miss "Susie-Ann" Homemaker
Hello, Blogging world - it's me again and have I been busy!!! So many things have happened to me in the past month or so, it's a problem to think about where to begin. However, I have decided to let you in on my latest adventure from this past week -after this adventure I have been told that I am turning in to "little Miss Susie-Ann homemaker". Now, folks, I can't be just a simple Susie homemaker - after all I AM southern and everyone knows that all southern girls have two names (ex. Mary Beth, Samantha Ann, Jessica Lee, etc.). So it just goes to reason that my new name is going to be Miss Susie-Ann Homemaker. Why? Well, I thought you would never ask.
These, my friends are - homemade, fig preserves!! Made by - yours truly!! Now, this part is really important - I have never made preserves before, much less picked the figs, cut them up , cooked them, and yes, put them in jars and preserved them (yes, there is more to it than just putting the cooked fruit into a jar).
So, how did this not so country girl get to the place that she is actually making preserves. Well, some of that will be covered in future posts, BUT the short of it is - money!!!!! Dan wanted preserves and they are darned expensive in the store - and a friend of mine in the "village" said - "Well, Carol, there is a fig tree back behind 'Joe and Sarah's' house (not their real name to protect the innocent - ME!) and you could go and pick your own and make some preserves." Now, this friend does not realize that I am kitchen challenged - if you don't believe me, just ask my kids - they will tell you. I have even bragged in the past that "the only reason we have a kitchen is because it came with the house". I will be the first to tell anyone that I am no cook, chef, or any other word you could invent if it has to do with doing something in the kitchen. Seriously, I really don't know how I managed to raise two children and do so little in the kitchen. I can do a little more than "Hamburger Helper", but let's not push it too far. My belief has always been - why cook, that's the reason God invented restaurants. But I get too far off topic - back to my preserves.
In recent days I have decided that one of the things I am going to have to do to save some money - since other measures I have tried in the last few weeks have not worked - is to become more familiar with things in the kitchen, so, when this friend tells me about the fig tree - I say to myself "okay, self, you can do this" - I mean after all I do have a Master's degree. (Never mind that it is in Educational Leadership! It is a Master's for Pete's sake!)
So, down to 'Joe and Sarah's' house to the infamous fig tree. I take Dan with me, because my friend had told me that she and I weren't the only ones who knew about this fig tree and to be able to reach the ripe figs I was going to need a ladder. Dan and I load the ten foot step ladder on to the top of the golf cart and head off to the fig tree - where I proceed to climb the ladder while Dan "spots" me. (Good thing he is there to 'spot' me - I almost fall off the ladder twice as I am trying to reach "that perfect fig" - not that I know what a "perfect fig" is - have I told you that I have never even eaten a fig, except in a Fig Newton cookie? No, well, that is just another little element in this little adventure.) I am finally able to pick two plastic containers full of figs without falling off the ladder and breaking any bones. I tell my dear husband that I think this will be enough and back home we go after loading the ladder BACK on top of the golf cart. (I have NO idea if I have enough figs to make preserves, but it sounded good!)
Now, back home I come face to face with the kitchen and come to the quick realization that I don't have a recipe for fig preserves. I might not have a recipe, but I do have the Internet - off to the office I come and type 'fig preserves' in Goggle. Now, I'm not sure what I thought would happen, maybe a couple of recipes would come up, but no, not for me. Instead out pops not one, not two, not even three, but 257 recipes. Oh, great - 257 different ways to make fig preserves- who knew? For heaven's sake, I just need ONE - two hours later, after reading about half of the 257 different recipes, I say to heck with this - let's just take a couple of these, combine them and see what happens.
First things first - wash the figs - cut the figs- measure the figs. This isn't so hard. Okay, two quarts of water, three cups of sugar, six cups of figs, 1/4 cup of lemon juice - OH NO!!!!! The recipe didn't say two quarts it said two cups!!! Pour everything through the colander (have to save the figs) and start again - Two cups of water, three cups of sugar, six cups of figs, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice - bring to a boil and cook.
This is what fig preserves look like after about 2 hours cooking on the stove. About another hour later I had the most beautiful preserves you have ever seen! My Dan loves my preserves! Now, I won't bore you with the process of sterilizing the jars, lids and seals, nor the part of 'setting' the preserves in a boiling water bath for ten minutes. The point is - I did this all on my own - with no help from anyone, (well you can't count the Internet - it doesn't stand over you to make sure you don't use 2 quarts of water instead of 2 cups!).
And, guess what, the roof didn't fall in and I didn't kill anyone or even make them sick - maybe there is a place for me in the kitchen - I might not be Emeril, or even Paula Deen, but I am this household's "Susie-Ann" homemaker - and I think I even like it. Did I hear Food Network calling??? No, well, maybe next week.
Until next time America!
These, my friends are - homemade, fig preserves!! Made by - yours truly!! Now, this part is really important - I have never made preserves before, much less picked the figs, cut them up , cooked them, and yes, put them in jars and preserved them (yes, there is more to it than just putting the cooked fruit into a jar).
So, how did this not so country girl get to the place that she is actually making preserves. Well, some of that will be covered in future posts, BUT the short of it is - money!!!!! Dan wanted preserves and they are darned expensive in the store - and a friend of mine in the "village" said - "Well, Carol, there is a fig tree back behind 'Joe and Sarah's' house (not their real name to protect the innocent - ME!) and you could go and pick your own and make some preserves." Now, this friend does not realize that I am kitchen challenged - if you don't believe me, just ask my kids - they will tell you. I have even bragged in the past that "the only reason we have a kitchen is because it came with the house". I will be the first to tell anyone that I am no cook, chef, or any other word you could invent if it has to do with doing something in the kitchen. Seriously, I really don't know how I managed to raise two children and do so little in the kitchen. I can do a little more than "Hamburger Helper", but let's not push it too far. My belief has always been - why cook, that's the reason God invented restaurants. But I get too far off topic - back to my preserves.
In recent days I have decided that one of the things I am going to have to do to save some money - since other measures I have tried in the last few weeks have not worked - is to become more familiar with things in the kitchen, so, when this friend tells me about the fig tree - I say to myself "okay, self, you can do this" - I mean after all I do have a Master's degree. (Never mind that it is in Educational Leadership! It is a Master's for Pete's sake!)
So, down to 'Joe and Sarah's' house to the infamous fig tree. I take Dan with me, because my friend had told me that she and I weren't the only ones who knew about this fig tree and to be able to reach the ripe figs I was going to need a ladder. Dan and I load the ten foot step ladder on to the top of the golf cart and head off to the fig tree - where I proceed to climb the ladder while Dan "spots" me. (Good thing he is there to 'spot' me - I almost fall off the ladder twice as I am trying to reach "that perfect fig" - not that I know what a "perfect fig" is - have I told you that I have never even eaten a fig, except in a Fig Newton cookie? No, well, that is just another little element in this little adventure.) I am finally able to pick two plastic containers full of figs without falling off the ladder and breaking any bones. I tell my dear husband that I think this will be enough and back home we go after loading the ladder BACK on top of the golf cart. (I have NO idea if I have enough figs to make preserves, but it sounded good!)
Now, back home I come face to face with the kitchen and come to the quick realization that I don't have a recipe for fig preserves. I might not have a recipe, but I do have the Internet - off to the office I come and type 'fig preserves' in Goggle. Now, I'm not sure what I thought would happen, maybe a couple of recipes would come up, but no, not for me. Instead out pops not one, not two, not even three, but 257 recipes. Oh, great - 257 different ways to make fig preserves- who knew? For heaven's sake, I just need ONE - two hours later, after reading about half of the 257 different recipes, I say to heck with this - let's just take a couple of these, combine them and see what happens.
First things first - wash the figs - cut the figs- measure the figs. This isn't so hard. Okay, two quarts of water, three cups of sugar, six cups of figs, 1/4 cup of lemon juice - OH NO!!!!! The recipe didn't say two quarts it said two cups!!! Pour everything through the colander (have to save the figs) and start again - Two cups of water, three cups of sugar, six cups of figs, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice - bring to a boil and cook.
This is what fig preserves look like after about 2 hours cooking on the stove. About another hour later I had the most beautiful preserves you have ever seen! My Dan loves my preserves! Now, I won't bore you with the process of sterilizing the jars, lids and seals, nor the part of 'setting' the preserves in a boiling water bath for ten minutes. The point is - I did this all on my own - with no help from anyone, (well you can't count the Internet - it doesn't stand over you to make sure you don't use 2 quarts of water instead of 2 cups!).
And, guess what, the roof didn't fall in and I didn't kill anyone or even make them sick - maybe there is a place for me in the kitchen - I might not be Emeril, or even Paula Deen, but I am this household's "Susie-Ann" homemaker - and I think I even like it. Did I hear Food Network calling??? No, well, maybe next week.
Until next time America!
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