I Think My Brain Is Melting

Ok, I had this great post almost done and then it got wiped. The wonderful "Auto Save" feature here on blogger then saved the blank post before I could get to the one I lost. So, after I give this a second go 'round, I plan on thoroughly examining the freakin' settings on this bitch! >:{

Seeing how I'm typing this all a second time, here's the abbreviated version:

The Meal Ticket got a promotion at the cube farm, and our mornings have been a lot less hectic. Her hours are now 9-5 instead of 8-4, which does really work out better for us. On top of that, Darth Punkin is hittin' up the Summer Pre-K to keep her momentum going from regular Pre-K into Kindergarten - as a bonus she gets to ride the bus. All last year I drove her to and from school, so this gives me some much needed extra time in the morning.

Now, we've decided we'd like to get up earlier than we have been. We'd have much more time in the morning to ourselves - her to get something to eat (instead of a breakfast bar on the ride to work), and me to walk the dog and do some reading and/or start working on the blog.

Easier said than done.......

First off, we have Dude who's sleeping habits have hit the proverbial fan. He hasn't been getting nearly enough sleep to let him function even close to normal - for almost two months! Then there's the dog. He's an English Mastiff-Rottweiler mix (read: not too friggin' small!) with a skin condition. On to the Meal Ticket's two alarm theory. One on the nightstand and one on the dresser - neither motivate her to stay out of bed; and until recently, both would go off for two hours before she'd rise to meet the day.

My goal is quite simple. I want to be in bed by 9, read a little, and then lights out by 9:30; alarm to go off at 5:30-6:00. So, if I can get my shower in by 8:45pm and not wake up Dude - so far, so good. Then get the Meal Ticket into bed around the same time, and get her to be done reading before 10:45 so the lights can be shut off and I can fall asleep - even better. Then, to hope the friggin dog doesn't have a scratch-fest that shakes the whole house (on my side of the bed, and unbeknown to the Meal Ticket who can sleep through an Atomic bomb) - I'd be golden!

Alls fine, fingers crossed, asleep........ until 2:00am to get up and pee and not be able to get back to sleep for an hour and a half.

This has been how it is for almost two months now. So even if my stars do align (and if they ever freakin' do, I'm playing every possible lottery game!), I'm going to be too exhausted to consider getting up early. Then, if I can manage to get up early, I'd probably be so out of my mind from exhaustion, I'd be out sitting in the shed or some such crap.

The worst part is, this was all going on before we wanted to start getting up earlier.

Sign me up for the remake of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest!!!!!

Trying To Be Healthier

The Meal Ticket and I have always been trying to eat healthier. Lots of fresh veggies and fruits at first, then more organic things as the kids came along. We try to get the all-natural/organic meat, as opposed to whatever is just on the rack; but we'd prefer to buy from some of the local farms and farmer's markets.

So basically, we are about 85-90% vegetarian. The biggest challenge is trying to come up with variations on old, meat-heavy favorites. Tonight was a perfect example. If you've ever had the old school Italian soup "Beans & Greens" (aka: Minestre), you know how meat heavy it can be. The basics of Bean & Greens is four things(and these are must haves): garlic (lots of it), Great Northern beans, escarole, and pepperoni.

Anyone who's ever had my version knows I go beyond the basic four ingredients. I start with a stock made from smoked pork neckbones, simmered for the better part of a day (or more). Then saute up some diced up pepperoni, salami, and ham. Throw in half a head of garlic, then add the stock and half a pound of dried Great Northern beans. Once the beans are cooked, I add the escarole - handful at a time.

Give me a deep bowl, a loaf of homemade bread, and a good selection of magazines in "The Office" - and it's all good!!!! ;)

Now, I made the healthy version of that for supper tonight. It has been raining all day, just dreary and miserable. So I decided on soup. I made garlic stock instead of using neckbones. Kale from the local CSA, as well as some locally grown German hardneck garlic. Some dried organic beans were in the cupboard, and some snausage (Italian flavored, tofu sausage) was in the fridge. Only other addition to the crock pot was some cooked ditalini. Some homemade French bread and a big bottle of red wine finished it off!

Darth Punkin loved it, and cleaned her plate; while Dude ate half his plate, but all the snausage. All in all, it turned out really well. Eating vegetarian is not as daunting as one might think. Any good recipes?

Oh Hai! I'm 3!!!!

Dude turns three today, but we had a small get together yesterday afternoon to celebrate. That would be his second cupcake, and he took to them like a dog to a bone!

It was real nice and low key. Our neighbor (Grandma Ruth) grilled a roast (Dude loves beef!), and had salads galore, and green beans (his other favorite). Real Grandma came over (the meal tickets' mom) and had a blast playing with both kids.

Seeing how Dude did not get a nap in, and the cupcakes eventually wore off, he crashed in grand style. After he takes his well deserved nap today, we get to go to the post office and get his presents from Grandpa and Grandma Linda! (Hopefully they did not send us more stickers! XD)

With all the excitement and food and presents, he's more thrilled about be able to pee standing up like a really big Dude! We're just happy diapers will soon be off of the grocery list.

Oh yeah, and we now have yet more Play-Doh to pick up.

Grandpa

My dad was a career military guy. Uniforms and short hair and all that. Several years ago when he retired, his inner outlaw surfaced. With a vengeance. Long hair, beard, tattoo. For a person who never quite understood what I saw in the Grateful Dead, he is now a huge Parrothead (aka: Jimmy Buffett fan, for those who didn't know).

Now my influence on Darth Punkin and Dude can be seen in a few very distinct ways. They know who Jerry Garcia is, and that he's in the sky with the angels, and when they play "Rock Band" they make thunder. They also know that Scarlet Begonias segues into Fire On The Mountain. ;)

They know who Gregg Allman is, and that he looks like someone famous - Grandpa.

Grandpa lives in a resort area near the ocean, and like most retirees, frequents the local establishments. On several of these outings, he has been mistaken for Gregg Allman. Until I showed him a picture of Gregg, he didn't understand why.

Grandpa and Darth Punkin

Gregg Allman

Then again, they thought Jerry Garcia was Santa Claus at first too.....but neither Garcia or Allman are as famous as Grandpa!