What more can I make from thee

We had Thanksgiving dinner over here. The in-laws and my parents who brought along my niece joined us. We borrowed a nice turkey fryer from my sister-in-law knowing how juicy the turkey would be and the convenience of saving oven space and time. Well, we should have known when we read the instruction manual and found it terribly vague. There was no mention of how much oil to use, if the turkey had to be fresh or frozen, at what temperature to cook and it was missing a critical piece to it, the part that lifts the turkey out of the basket. After a couple calls to the manufacture and dropping 30 dollars on frying oil we were set. We did just like we were told and even though we had a turkey 3lbs smaller than the max the oil wouldn't cover it. The result was us having to flip the turkey with out the tools to do so. A cardboard box, tongs, and icing knife did the trick but still left us with raw turkey when dinner time came. Luckily my Aunt sent us practially a whole pig which was delicious and saved the day.

We have recooked the turkey and still have much of the pork leftover. What more can I make with this meat. I can only eat Thanksgiving dinner so many times and turkey sandwichs have lost their appeal. I cannot let this go to waste after spending two weeks budget on this stuff. There is also still the job of taking down the fryer, filtering the oil, and loading it all back up. Ugh...maybe I'll be done by Christmas which we are eating out by the way.

Missing Brother

Once a week my Mother takes, The Stash, my oldest child for part of the day. They usually go back to the farm and play around. Yesterday, she came to pick him up and the youngest and I stayed here. More and more my youngest misses his Brother. He will go from room to room and just whine in general. He cannot go because of his allergies to my parents dogs and so he misses his Brother until he goes to bed. It's sad enough to see it for 4 hours once a week so I can't imagine how households who have blended families and share custody feel.

While he was at my parent's house my Mother called and informed me that he had been vomiting and was now asleep on the couch. He continued this all night but seems to be feeling better now which is good because once the baby gets up from his nap he will be thrilled to see Brother is home.

We are so lucky

Even more recently have I realized how truly bless I am. To think of the war and it's casualties on both sides. The parents, husbands, wives, and children of our military who spend their days awaiting news of loved ones over seas or those who are missing soldiers slain. The Iraqi and Afghan women who worry about bombs being dropped on their babies, worry that their husbands will die and they will have to beg on the streets to survive. These same men worrying what will become of their families if something should happen. Tired from the struggles that these countries have seen for so long.

I am blessed to have a wonderful, helpful husband. He works hard and loves his family. We are coming on 9 years together and I love him more today than any day before. I am blessed for my beautiful healthy children. They are the reason my for existence.

Even if jobs are not what we would like I feel blessed that my husband has a job to go to everyday. Even if we often feel like we don't have enough, the truth is, we live in excess.

I am thankful for all those who helped build this home we live in. It is beautiful, comfortable, and safe. I am thankful for my parents, both which are still alive. I am convinced I have the best pair in the world. I am thankful that they will come to celebrate this day of Thanksgiving with me at my new home where we will be full, warm, and together.

What are you doing with that phone?!?

Yesterday President Bush pardon 14 people one of which was Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles, who was convicted for unlawful use of a telephone in a narcotics felony. Unlawful use of a telephone you say? I wonder what using the telephone in an unlawful manner while selling or buy drugs gets you? I'm not one to just sit and wonder. I'm a hard worker. I"ll do my research. So I typed "unlawful use of telephone" into the google search bar and I find that many people I know unlawfully use the telephone. In fact, when my credit card was charged for purchases I didn't make I unlawfully used the telephone when calling the company. They didn't report me seeing as they were THIEVES.

I also found it interesting that Bush has chosen to pardon 2 out of the 14 for crimes against the environment. I doubt it's often that people are actually held accountable for such crimes but it's nice to know with all the other people in the system who are innocent that two pardons were used to allow people to continue to abuse the earth and wildlife. But then again, the only war Bush is winning is the one against the environment.

Brrrrr

Our brand new heating and air unit decided to give up last Monday night. Tuesday we made the calls and the part was ordered "overnight". Well, here it is Monday again and we are still no warmer.

Who am I?

I'm sure I will discover more about myself as the days go by.