The spice of life

So simplifying and studying food storage has led me to this pondering.
If I only has 10 spices and seasonings what would they be.
Salt and pepper excluded of course.

So what would you have in your cabinet?

I will ponder and list mine in a bit.

1. Durkee grill creation steak seasoning
2. Durkee grill creation smokey mesquite
3. Ranch seasoning
3. Oregano
4. Garlic
5. Cumin
6. Cinnamon
7. Pumpkin pie spice
8. Chile powder
9. Sage

10.


Ok. if you don't sare a full list at least tell me what I should put as #10

Money is disappearing

Out of our Roth IRA that is.

So I have been trying to think of some creative ways to make some.
After all a penny saved is a penny earned.

Here is my wacky Christmas gift idea.

Problem: need gifts for Christmas.
Problem: need grage cleaned out for van.

Solution: The Christmas gift game.

Open a random box once a week.
Somehow make or use the contents of the box into a giftable item.
Resew clothes into a cape for kids, make accesories for lost dolls or animals, and if all else fails paint the box itself to create a work of art.

Are you getting excited yet?
lol.

This is crazy enough I may just try it for kicks.

Midnight Ramblings

So it is almost 2 in the morning and I can't sleep.
I had caffeine today and well you can see the results.

If you hate politics you should probably not read any farther.

I am angry about the passing of the bailout bill.
And yes I did contact both my senators and my congressperson.
Lot of good that did they all voted to give away my money, my kid's money and your money to socialize the free markets.

So now I am stuck with 2 Senator presidential candidates who voted for the load of crap with a side of pork.
My districts Representative is up for reelection next month and voted for the foul thing too.

Arrrg.

There is no way I want to vote for any of these people when I walk into the voting booth in November.

So I went and looked for some other options.

The Dem. who is running against Congressman Boehner is not anyone I can get thrilled about voting for.
He is young 29.
Very Democrat.
Pro socialism for health care and income equality. For the poor though not the rich.
Is inexperienced.
In reality there really is very little information about him and his stance on issues.

I think he has my vote.
No he is not my first choice or an ideal candidate but hey he hasn't messed up yet and perhaps he would listen to his constituents.
He has a heart for the poor and uninsured and that is a good thing too.


The Presidential thing is a bit more of a mess.

So much pressure to vote for Mccain in our battleground state or Obama will be president. This is a common belief here. Just because it is a belief does not mean it is truth. But is likely is not wrong either.

TO clarify the following comparison I am NOT comparing the candidates to these specific historical persons just how I feel the choice sucks from MY perspective.

I feel like I am having to vote for Stalin to vote against Hitler.
Both choices suck.
One may suck worse than the other... but they both suck.

If you find my comparison offensive please carefully reread my disclaimer.

What if I refuse to play the game I don't want to play.
Suck is Suck.

Is there someone out there on the presidential ballot who doesn't serve up crap and pork?

I looked and was surprised Bob Barr the Libertarian candidate actually had some common sense solutions to the economic problems our country is facing.
And get this.... HE voted AGAINST the bailout.

So what to do?
No matter what someone who I think sucks is going to be our President.
[this opinion is based upon the bailout vote]
[yes I know there is a bigger picture]
[hard to see though the red though]:)
Am I going to be just another sucker voting for them?

I know this Bailout was not good for America.
I know that I don't think either Obama or McCain are great choice to lead our country.
I know that the 2 party system will eventually lead to the fall of our republic if it is not changed.
I know there is no way that a third party has a chance in the near future.

Change has been the theme of these elections and I am becoming more changed personally than I ever imagined.
My choices are not clear this time.
I may have to travel a path that is new, fresh, and unpaved.
But I am thinking clearly.
I am investigating options. They ARE there.
I am refusing to play the game that there is no win.

I will make the rules this time.
I will vote the way I decide.

When I walk away from the ballots this year I intend to know that I voted for what would be best for America. Not necessarily for the short term but for the future. For my children.


Hurry and read this post it likely will self destruct in the morning after I get some sleep.

Ike hits Ohio

Sunday was a bit breezy.
We were not prepared.
After several power surges interrupted our afternoon of helping our friend Mike complete some quests in WoW we decided that we should check the weather forecast.
We were under a high wind warning... things were going to get worse until about 6:00.
3:30 they got worse...we lost power.

So we lose phone service without power so we hunt down the cellphone...not charged.
Laptops for movies with the kids...not charged.
Ice for the perishables...not stocked up.
Food for the hungry...not that did not need an oven, microwave or grill.
Grill not an option...too windy.
Flashlight...batteries dead...wait we just bought some where are they?
Several hours later find the batteries in the dark garage...flashlight still does not work...bad bulb...fortunately we had a spare bulb handy so finally we have one working flashlight.
Candles have lots...no matches.
No radio to listen to so we are really and truly in the dark about what is going on.

About 4:30 we lost most of a tree in our back yard.
It fell less than a foot from Daniel.
***I am not a bad mommy disclaimer***
I told all the kids that it was dangerous to be outside and banned them all from the outdoors.
15 minutes later Daddy trumps my ban and tells the kids to get their shoes on they are going out.
Daddy is the kids hero.
Mommy is not thrilled and tells Daddy it is not a good idea.
Kids have fun.

Gives kids the following safety rule:
If you hear cracking run.

Dad talks to neighbor.

Tree cracks and falls practically on Danny and he stands there no running.
Mommy quickly gathers all her children indoors and Daddy continues to talk to neighbor.



No the branch did not fall on the pool.
The pool blew across the backyard and over a fence and we caught up with it 2 houses down in a neighbors front yard.
Branches were handy so Jesse threw one over the pool to keep it in the yard.

About 8:30 we gave up on the power returning and went out to seek food.
All our local restaurants were closed.
Everything by the mall closed.
Found an open dominoes and brought home pizza.
The CVS next door to Dominoes was sold out of flashlights and most food and batteries but they did have a book of matches they gave me.

Power came back on for us about 20 minutes before Jesse came home from work on Monday.
Many in the area still are without power and some have no water.

We feel blessed to have power and our son safe with us.

I am depressed and I heard sunshine helps

So I have been a bit down lately... has a bit to do with my missing drivers license.
Last I saw it Elli had it commenting on how pretty momma was wearing makeup.
I have to admit for an ID pic it was pretty good.

Now it looks like I am going to have to take a driving test to get a new license hence the stress and depression.

They say sun helps so I made some.

No more "blue office"
Now it is "sunshine" yellow. The paint can says custard but I say sunshine.

Also check out the new Ikea desks.





I actually do feel better typing this up in my sunshine office at my new desk.

And yes I am a bit crazy...
but a happier crazy

The Man Chair

If you have been following my blog over the past year you know that the house we bought was not my first choice but the house that my Man wanted.

Since I have lived in it I must admit that my Man has good taste and I really do like my house.

But during all the moving, house hunting, and debating the purchase of the house that I did not love I managed to get a $2,000.00 decorating budget.
Between my first trip to Ikea and the family room makeover I used up 400.00 of it.

We went to Ikea again...

900.00 of my budget flew away.

300.00 of that was spent on this...


The Man Chair...

So you might be wondering why I agreed to spend such a huge portion of my budget on a black leather chair that really does not fit my decor.

My Man has been really wanting a recliner for years... The kids tore up his.

My Man likes leather...It is kid friendly so that swayed me a bit.

My Man likes black leather not brown, or cream... sigh well I did make the black in the family room more tolerable so I figured I could work with the chair.

My man has horrible recliner taste... all comfort no style. I had been recliner shopping with him and there is no way I wanted to let his expensive, over sized, stay puff marshmallow man chair in my house.

So I went for the win... He got the chair and ottoman he really likes and I no longer have nightmares about the recliner he was destined to bring home.

I spent the day with the kids doing some art...
Here is theirs.


Here is mine.


Notice the incorporation of black to blend his chair in with the living room decor.
And yes it really is just an Ikea box hanging on the wall but it was free.

Perhaps more people should put cardboard on their walls.

Oh and in case you missed it... I love my Man.

I Serious Issues....

with people having affairs.
Especially men.
Especially men in powerful or seeking powerful positions.

What follows is a rant and is not necessarily logical but it is certainly something I have issues with.

I hate that men cheat on the women who have stood by them and helped them obtain their powerful positions. What woman wants to be used then tossed aside for a younger prettier version.

John Edwards...give me a break. How could any man in his right mind do this to his family.

Bill Clinton...an grossly obvious example of a man using his position as a tool to be unfaithful to his spouse.

Just to be fair and prove that I really have issues and am not politically biased...

John McCain...Seeks to be President but has also been in adulterous relationships.

I really don't want Obama to be our next President for many reasons but I really don't think I can bring myself to vote for one of those cheating politicians.

I think I am voting for Huckabee.

You might consider me as throwing away my vote but I want to vote for the man I think would be best not the one who has the best chance of winning.

If a man has proved that his sexual drive can override his better judgement and break his marriage vows, how can I expect him not to be easily swayed against his better judgement not to hold true to the U.S. Constitution and the interests of our Nation.

Like I said my reasoning is probably full of broken logic but I seriously have problems with this.

How powerful can these men be if they are controlled by self fulfillment.

Vote illogically...Vote for any faithful politician you can find.

End rant.