Summer 2016

Well, this summer did not turn out as I expected.

I was hoping to take some time off, get some projects done around the house and set up shop in my friend's store.

Unfortunately (?) I got a job.

(I know, that's not actually a bad thing.)

Anyway, I got a phone call about a potential position, met with them on a Tuesday, got an offer on Thursday and started on Monday.

I'm working in the mortgage division of a real estate company.  I've done this before - many years ago - and actually really liked it.  At one point I even thought that if I won the lottery, I wouldn't quit my job.

(I do not feel this way now.)

The good part is, it's in the same town where my family lives.  The bad part is, that town is about an hour from where I live.

So, instead of living in Bellevue and coming to visit my family on the weekends, I flipped it and now I live in my dad's house (he's in assisted living and really likes it), and just go to Bellevue on the weekends.

I actually like it!

Before, I'd drive an hour, stop by my dad's, run out to get him whatever he needed & take it back to him, go visit my mom, go to my dad's house and take care of anything that needed to get done there - go through the mail, mow the lawn... Maybe stop by my brother's. Then I'd run my own errands and drive the hour home.

It was stressful and exhausting.

Now, I do all that running around during the week and when I go to Bellevue, I have to mow the lawn.

That's it.

The rest of the time I do whatever I feel like doing - read, watch tv, hang out with friends...

It's relaxing!   So, I officially have a "weekend home"!

The process of starting the little business in my friend's shop has been grueling - the paperwork! - but the end is (finally) near.

We're actually moving in some merchandise this Friday and will be open for business in time for the Labor Day weekend.

I'm so excited!!

You can follow the progress at lili (of course!).

In all my spare time (ha!), I've read a couple of really good books - The Light Between Oceans (can't wait for the movie!), and All the Light We Cannot See.

I've also tried a few new recipes that were just ok.  Except for this one - this Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Soup was awesome! And, it's so easy - just throw it all in the crock pot and walk away.  (I do love those!)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

are afoot...

First of all, I got fired.

Don't feel bad.  (I don't!)

It wasn't that I didn't go a good job - I was just "not a good fit", and "the chemistry wasn't good".

(To which I replied "I agree!".)

But now what?

Hmmm...

Good question!

I moved here hoping to (someday) open my own business.

Well, yesterday a friend who owns a shop downtown told me I could use some of her space - for free! - in exchange for working 2 days/week.

YES! Absolutely!

So, that ball is finally rolling.

I'll still need a job. But I'm trying to not panic and just take the first thing that comes along. I've done that.  It doesn't work.

In the meantime, summer starts (unofficially) next week and I'm going to try to enjoy it (for a change!). That won't be easy (not having a paycheck is scary and stressful), but I am looking at this as an opportunity!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

As predicted, the latest book I read was in the "less than 150 pages" category.

I know it's been over a month since I said that. It hasn't taken me that long to read 132 pages (that took a few hours). It took that long to find a book I really wanted to read.

I found The Diving Bell and the Butterflyat Goodwill one day last weekend. I'd seen the movie, but it's on so many "Best Books" lists, I was curious.

And as is usually the case, the book is SO much better.

The book tells the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French Elle.  In 1995, he suffered a stroke that left him with "locked-in syndrome". Permanently paralyzed and only able to communicate by blinking his left eye, he dictated the entire book one letter at a time.

By page 38, I knew this book would be life-altering.

(I hate when people say this or that "changed my life", but sometimes it's true.)

In this case, he describes being fed a "brownish fluid" through a tube into his stomach. But in his mind, he can go to any restaurant at any time, eat any meal - tender beef, fresh vegetables, wine, fruit...

At the time, I was eating stale microwave popcorn.

I rarely cook for "just me". And I'm too cheap frugal (sigh) cheap to eat out often, or even get takeout. At grocery stores, I balk at expensive cheese (and I love cheese!), the olive bar, and even those $5 bags of little clementines. Instead I eat whatever is cheapest and easiest (i.e. microwave popcorn).

But, that (among other things) is going to change.

Towards the end of the book, he describes the day of the stroke - it was "gray, muted, resigned" (can you picture it, and your mood on days like that?), and how he and his girlfriend, "embarked like zombies...".

Side note: If you've never seen the movie Shaun of the Dead(first of all, you should! It's awesome!), it also depicts people going about their everyday lives as zombies (before many actually become zombies).

He then "mechanically carried out all those simple acts", like shaving and dressing, and goes on to describe his plans for the night, the weekend... He thinks about calling his girlfriend, but decides to call her later...

The morale of the story is, of course - just live every day, savor everything (even the small, insignificant everyday events and abilities), and don't wait for a "later" that may not come...

The Goldfinch

At 771 pages, The Goldfinch is epic.

It took a while - almost a whole month - but it really is good.

Not perfect, but good...

PROS

• The main character is really not likable.  That may sound like a con, but it's actually a refreshing change.
• It's very suspenseful. (I was so nervous!)
• Donna Tartt is so descriptive. I could picture it all in my head. (This probably contributes to why it's 771 pages, but I wouldn't take any of that out.)
• Some of it is really depressing. 

CONS

• Some of the dialogue is really (really) far fetched.
• There's one part where the timing is just too perfect.  I mean, it could happen, but it was just too lucky.
• There's a too long (in my opinion) section about the main character's (author's?) thoughts on life.
• Some of it is really depressing.

Anyway, that satisfies one of the books on the 2016 Reading Challenge.

I'm not sure what's next.

"A book that's under 150 pages" sounds good.

Sweatbag

Baby it's cold outside...

So, my plans today consisted of cleaning, organizing, reading and working on the "sweatbag", just not in that order.

My niece gave me a bunch of sweatshirts to sell at a garage sale that I still haven't had, so they've just been sitting here for months.

Until now.

For some reason, I got inspired and turned this sweatshirt...

into what I've been calling a "sweatbag" (horrible name, I know, but it cracks me up):

I think it's cute, but it's FAR from perfect.

I didn't plan anything - I just started cutting and sewing, and let it come together.

The drawstring is from the hood (which I thought was ingenious!), and I made the handles from the sleeves.

I just did a search on Pinterest and found this version (with instructions!)...

Source

I'm so glad I didn't have that garage sale!

One Down, Eleven To Go!

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to find 12 new recipes to add to the rotation and I've already found one!

I just made this recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Chicken and it was really good!

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup mild salsa (medium if you like spicy)
3-4 tablespoons brown sugar*
1 4 oz. can green chilies
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper (optional for more heat)
1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoons liquid smoke
hot sauce to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

• Rub chicken breasts with oil and place in the bottom of your slow cooker.
• Add all of the remaining ingredients except for the hot sauce. 
• Cook on high for 2-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours or until chicken is tender enough to shred.
• Remove chicken, and let rest 5 minutes before shredding.
• At this point, she says "Return shredded chicken and let cook on low for an additional 20 minutes to absorb some of the liquid/juices. " I didn't do that.  I just put the chicken in a bowl and added a few tablespoons of the liquid.
• Then she says to "Drain all excess liquid", and suggested using it to make rice. I didn't exactly do that, but I did make a bunch of brown rice (4 servings) and threw it into the crock pot and stirred it all together.

Then I wrapped the chicken in a flour tortilla and ate it like a burrito.

It was really good and really easy!

* NOTES
Use 3 tablespoons brown sugar if using mild salsa and not using ground chipotle chili pepper.
Use 4 tablespoons if you are using medium salsa and/or the ground chipotle chili pepper.

Happy 2016!

Well, 2016 has not gotten off to the best start...

I stayed in last night, watched football until it became obvious Michigan State wasn't going to rally, then went to bed to watch the season 3 finale of Deadwood. I wasn't all that tired when that was over, so I tried to find season 4.  When I couldn't find it easily, I decided maybe I am all that tired, so just went to sleep.

Turns out, there is no season 4.

What a way to start the new year.  I'm going to look on the bright side, though...

No, there is no bright side.  I must just accept it and move on, hoping the year improves.

Along those lines, I've made some New Year's Resolutions:

1. Read 25 books - this is ambitious (for me). I don't think I've ever read more than 24 in a year, so this would be a personal best.  I'm going to choose my books based on the 2016 Reading Challenge, starting with The Goldfinch, at 771 pages.  (Yes, I've already started it, which could be considered cheating, but I have over 600 pages to go, so it counts as "a book that's more than 600 pages".)
2. Crafternoon - I've been pinning all sorts of cute ideas onto my Arts & Crafts board on Pinterest.  This year, I'm going to actually DO some of them.  First up - Smittens!  (And if there's any leftover sweater, these cute little hearts.)
3. 12 new recipes - I hate to cook, but love to eat.  I have a few really good recipes (conveniently posted here under "Recipes"), but need more. 
4. Save $1,378 - with the 52 Week Money Challenge. I'd actually like to save more, but this will be more fun than direct deposit. 
5. Wander - with my crazy schedule last year, I didn't have much of a chance to get out of town, so this year I'm hoping to make up for that with trips to the Dane County Farmers Market in Madison, and the NewBo City Market and Czech Village in Cedar Rapids (and more!).

There are others (the usual lose weight, "finish" house, be more social, practice piano). 

Whether I keep my resolutions or not, I like this idea...