I am not necessarily political, but seriously Republicans, get the fuck over yourselves. The Affordable Healthcare Act is a fucking LAW.
I have never been embarrassed to be an American until now. These fuckers that run our country have shut down our government (whilst getting paid their own salaries mind you) and 800,000 federal workers are either furloughed or being told they are going to work without pay.
Blows my fucking mind how obviously racist and classist this country still is.
Just see this, people. And do it if you can. The Bloggess puts it together so much more eloquently than I ever could.
On a personal note, went to visit my sister this weekend to celebrate what my niece claims is her 8th birthday, but you never know with this child, everything that comes out of her mouth I take with a grain of salt.
Don't trust those baby blue eyes
It was a good visit. It's been a good week, actually. Good to have one before the pre-op (boo!) stuff next week.
Oh, and we had a potluck at work, and I took the infamous pickle dip, and it went over like gangbusters, so here is the recipe. You can thank me afterwards.
8 oz cream cheese, softened
16 oz sour cream
1 tsp garlic salt
1 jar refrigerated pickle spears (preferably Claussen)
Whisk together room temp cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Roughly chop pickles (do not use a processor; hand chop into bite sized chunks). Add chopped pickles to sour cream/cream cheese mixture.
Refrigerate overnight; serve with sturdy plain potato chips. Stand back and prepare to be in awe.
Cheapest, best potluck recipe ever.
Until next time, here is my Mood Ring(tone) of the Day:
Even though my clients tend to be a little nicer, probably because I'm not so dim, and I will say: I had a client who said that ( company I work for) was determined to piss him off and he actually thanked me at the end of the call after I massaged his bruised ego.
Gyno procedure (officially called Colpol) is rescheduled for Tuesday because my god dang body is not cooperating and after three months of no period, suddenly I have a never ending one.
Other than that: no news. Watching college football. Roll Tide. But sometimes no news is good news. Oh, the Rottenator and I did visit a new restaurant in a premature celebration of my birthday last night and he ordered a Bento box:
As I ordered the Green Curry Chicken and let's just say: he downed a lot of wasabi and my heart grew just a little bit bigger that day.
Other than that, my stupid female parts are not cooperating with my gyno's schedule so I have had to move my appointment three times: here's hoping that Tuesday is the charm.
I leave you now with a most excellent and unhealthy recipe that went over quite well for our Gameday celebration; it is so simple, and so delicious and decadently unhealthy:
Ingredients: 16 ounce box Velveeta cheese 1 cups milk 2 teaspoons paprika 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper 15 ounce can Hormel Chili (No Beans) 4 teaspoons chili powder 1 Tablespoon Lime Juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1. Cut the velveeta into cubes
2. Combine the cheese with remaining ingredients in medium saucepan over medium heat.
So, a week from today, I will be amongst my peeps, for it is the weekend of DragonCon, and I am so looking forward to it (even though it means I will miss the opening game of college football, Alabama vs VA Tech, we have that shit handled, so don't give me a guilt trip about not watching it with you, Rottenator, Roll Tide..etc).
And here's the question, which I ask of all Dr. Who fans: how do you get past it? That your favorite actor has been replaced? Oh, don't get me wrong, the concept as far as network television goes, it's brilliant. You can replace a lead actor at any time if they get out of line, or are feeling ornery, or wanting to bounce, or whatever, you just boom! Regenerate and then you're on to the next one.
But for the fans...devastating. Let me explain: David Tennant is my favorite Dr. Who, but when Christopher Eccelston regenerated into him....
A part of me died. Just saying.
Though it wasn't as devastating as this:
Moving on, I've combined two posts into one because they do seem to connect somehow and have the same meaning, and are funnily enough, all Dr. Who related...did I mention that I'm looking forward to next weekend? Not only do I get to hang out with my sis and favorite nephew, but we all get to embrace our inner geek, yay!
So, work crap:
What you may see in front of you is a mild-mannered nearly 42 year
old who doesn't speak much....inserts her opinion every once in a while
when a comment is deserved, but other than that, sits quietly at her
desk doing her job. But inside....sometimes....she still
rages....raging on against the dying of the light.
Funnily enough, Stephen Colbert inspired this part of the post.
And
it was also spurred on by everyone in my team talking about past
indiscretions, and my need to feel a part of the group and join in the
conversation, because it's funny, these people don't know me like that.
Their perception: middle aged woman who doesn't know shit about what the issues that the "young kids" are dealing with nowadays.
Side
note and mental check: most of my team are in their late 20's, and/or
early 30's so you're not exactly children. You're not in college anymore
people, and you're not that different from me, sorry to break it to
you.
BTW: think I
passed the second part of my "hey, you're gonna get fired if you don't
know the answers to these questions that have absolutely nothing to do
with your job." I'm in the payroll industry, btw...I hate
math, and I was a journalism major in college. Life is a helluva thing.
For someone who racked up thousands of dollars of debt...to have a job
in payroll...without getting into details, check your paystubs, people.
And check them carefully...oh, and pay your taxes. Because if you
don't it will come back to bite you in the ass with a vengeance.
My outfit for DragonCon:
With this button:
My sister's outfit:
She is either awsesomesauce or a heifer for showing everyone else out...I haven't decided yet...
So, after two and a half months of not having a period, my body decides it's time to have one the DAY before my colposcopy (which I still can't pronounce by the way...colonoscopy...colscopy...copocetic...Coldplay...you know what I mean!) so it's been rescheduled for a month from now because my doctor is on summer vacay for a few weeks.
All is well, though. I'm still surprisingly okay about it (thank you, Zoloft), as well as my "pass this test or you'll be fired" work assignment. The first part of the assessment was today and I feel pretty confident about it. Turns out I finally figured out that this job sets you up for failure, but despite that, I'm still pretty darn good at it. Not perfect, but still...at least I actually care about doing a good job, and even though I'm not perfect, I do try, and although it is a job that is completely opposite of everything that comes naturally to me, I have adapted to it relatively well. And I do have a bit more confidence in myself. Which is a weird feeling for me; it's odd: I have low self esteem, but I also think I'm brilliant and awesome. Is there a defined medical condition for that? Please don't say bipolar because that means I would just have to get on more medication.
Meanwhile, this is my Mood Ring(tone) of the Day, and don't judge me; it just so happens that I was taking a bathroom break at work and no lie, the chick in the next stall was singing this (don't even get me started about people who talk to themselves and/or others while taking care of business, I don't get it)...
With me? Funny you should ask, but big fat nothing, thanks for asking!
Not that I'm complaining; sometimes a lack of news is not a bad thing; it just means that there's no drama going on which makes for a very boring blog but no offense, faithful readers, I'll take it. I'm dead tired of drama.
SO! While the entire world was fascinated by Baby Cambridge, I myself was fascinated by another story about another British baby...aka Liam Gallagher's love child.
See, you don't know me like that yet, but I used to love, love LOVE Liam Gallagher. I mean, he was my hero of Britpop, and not just because we shared the same birthday (Sept 21 in case you're interested in sending gifts) but also because I found him sexy as shit.
Dude did not age well:
But hey, who am I to say, I certainly have not aged as gracefully as I would have wished, but at least I don't have illegitimate children all over the world. And how happy am I now that I didn't accept his proposal of marriage that he made to me...in my mind...
Moving on, not a lot to report, really. Life is continuing; oh, I did make a long overdue appointment with a gynecologist and let me just say: I do believe your gynecologist is the most important person in your life, because my last appointment (which was, let's say...many years ago) was so traumatic I have avoided the experience ever since. However, this time, I trusted the judgement of my mother and my sister and went to their recommended doc, and although I would not say that the experience was pleasant, it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. He was congenial, quick, and efficient.
Even though...after the fact both my mother and sister confided in me stories about this man's infidelity with some of his interns; I mean, really? I could have gone my entire life without having this information; why, for the love of God, why would you tell me that my gynecologist was a philanderer? Allegedly.
Regardless, he is an excellent doctor and made me feel not at all self conscious and even switched up my meds a little bit when I let him know that the Wellbutrin wasn't quite working for me. In fact, even though I was no longer crying in the shower before work every day, I found that I was very angry and aggressive.
So, we're back to Zoloft, and I'll keep you posted on how that's going. So far, so good, but it's early days. The Nooge and The Rottenator are relieved that I no longer want to kill them...on a daily basis. It's been downgraded to once a week...tops.
Mood Ring(tone) of the Day...(ick, Liam we are SO over):
Rottenator has decided to go back to school to become a radiology technician...aka "radiologic technologist".
My job is still blah.
Happy pills seem to be working...with the exception that I'm feeling a little bit aggressive. Disclosure: anyone else have any experience with Wellbutrin? Or any suggestions of any happy pills that seem to be working for them? Feel free to message me privately.
I can't get past level 6 of the retro Buffy game that I bought for the Xbox and therefore, I am again boycotting videogames.
One of my work friends is suffering from lupus, and going through chemotherapy and is in daily pain and it makes me realize how ultimately god-awful I am at comforting people.
About #5 up there, well, bottom line, pain and suffering makes me uncomfortable. So I've always taken the role of the court jester. I'm much better at making someone laugh than commiserating with them in their pain. I hope that does not make you think of me as superficial, or not understanding of any their suffering. Believe me, I do. It's a defense mechanism; I'm working on it. And I really do hope that laughter is the best medicine.
My Mood(ring) Tone of the Day: #1:
My Mood Ring(tone) of the Day #2 (a repeat, but appropriate):
Happy 4th of July! As you should have probably guessed by this point, I celebrate every holiday there is not so much for the meaning of the holiday as it was originally intended, but more so as the whole festival and spectacular of the whole thing.
And it means that I get a day off from work. And it also means that people are a little bit happier on this day. So there you go. Worth a shout out.
So, my sister asked me to watch my nieces yesterday, because she and my brother-in-law were taking my nephew to a comic book convention, and I have to admit, at first, I was hesitant.
Not that I don't adore these chirren with all my heart, but still...it's a big responsibility.
I mean, anything could happen. Cuts, scrapes, bruises, broken bones, drowning, abduction, drug overdose, dismemberment, murder-suicide...you just never know.
But I agreed, and I am so glad I did, because we had the best day!
It wasn't 10 seconds after my sister left that the 7 year old turned to me:
"So...when are we going to the pool?"
Drowning.
But, I dutifully packed them up, and down to the pool we went...at 9:30 in the morning. We were the only ones there, naturally. Because it was barely 80 degrees and overcast, but still, we managed to spend a couple of fun-filled hours without anyone turning blue, and then the 7 year old turned to me:
So we dried off, slapped on some makeup, piled into the Mazda, and thanks to Google Navigation, off we went.
We didn't quite make it to Claire's, we were side-tracked by Justice where we bought all sorts of pink and sparkly things, then the 3 year old turned to me:
"McDonald's!"
Yes, not so much a question as a statement, so McDonald's it was, where many cheeseburgers, fries, chicken nuggets and flurries were devoured.
And when my sister got home, she was greeted by two happy, well-fed and exhausted girls who were not missing any appendages.
This chemical imbalance b.s. has gone on long enough. So, I procured some "happy" pills from the resident doctor, and I hope they do the trick. At least until my gynecologist appointment in July, where I expect a thorough up and down examination of what exactly is wrong with me.
My hormones are out of whack. That I know. It's going on nearly three months since "Aunt Flo" or whatever, my god damn period, has happened, so I know that my hormones are completely unbalanced. I have all the PMS symptoms without the "relief" as it were, so as well as mental issues, there are also physical ones that need to be addressed.
And no (Mother), I am not pregnant.
About three years ago, or close to, I almost died, and stuff, and I'm pretty sure it wrecked havoc on my body, so early menopause would not be a surprise at this point. And I have made arrangements to have this confirmed and/or denied, but the earliest appointment I could get is in late July, and my brain was not about to have that shit.
It was all like, "Hey! Pay attention to me! Because you know how you were all depressed in college and you were Emo and everything when back then it was just called Goth and you thought you were cool, well, it's not so cool anymore, missy, because you're nearly 42 years old, and now it's just called pathetic...and kinda sad. And you don't want to be that middle-aged chick freaking all the youngsters out at the newest, hippest club while they roll their eyes and try to avoid eye contact with you and barely move their bodies to old school Joy Division songs...that they think they invented."
My brain tends to ramble. And is obviously quite the fan of run-on sentences.
BTW, the best part about this video is this is EXACTLY how I used to dance.
Besides...I gots bills to pay, and adult responsibilities, so seriously, I need to get my shit in order. So, I have taken the first step in doing so.
Drugs.
Helluva thing.
Unlike Rick James, I have decided that legal anti-depressant drugs may just be the answer, so I'll keep you posted on how this turns out. I think it's a positive step.
And I apologize ahead of time for my COMPLETE self-absorption lately and my ignorance of all of my friends and relations, online, or offline. I promise to do better.
Don't feel too bad; the Rottenator has felt it too. Incidentally, he just got new glasses because his eyes are "shaped like footballs" or so his opthamologist (optometrist?) told him.
Meanwhile, I do not find it ironic at all that the Rottenator, who bleeds college football ("Roll Tide!") has "football" shaped eyes.
He is very excited about his new "crystal clear" vision. It's like a whole new world. Something that others in this household have taken for granted since, oh, BIRTH.
At least the Nooge aka "Fatboy" will no longer have the visionary advantage in this household.
Today was a day with promise.
My Mood Ring(tone) Of The Day (see how I did that?)
So no pie pictures because I could not find one that was pretty enough, but the Mominator declared it a success so I will share this recipe with you: btw, it's way easy if you follow this recipe and use a prepared pie crust...and Reddi-whip. I guess you could use Cool Whip, but what's the fun in that? It doesn't even come in a can that you can squirt directly into your mouth. Much like Cheese Whiz...which I am also not embarrassed to admit that I find delicious...straight out of the can.
So, in other news, we're getting a new TV:
50"; the Rottenator is happy, he has been wanting one forever. I am happy because now I will be able to record and watch all of my television programs at will while SOMEONE is distracted by their Xbox games.
I will never have to miss an episode of Top Chef again. This is awesome.
And I'm also exploring the Wellbutrin thing; just something to take the edge off. And I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything like that, but let's just say that I find it very interesting that most of the most brilliant and intelligent people I know are all on something "to take the edge off".
I think we think too much.
Why can't we all be like Homer Simpson?
Anyway, nothing else to report on this front other than I have one more day of sitting on my ass that I'm going to take complete advantage of. Guilt free, no less, because the house is clean clean clean!
AND no work tomorrow means I have extra time to share more than one Mood Ring(tone) of the Day:
So, I have a much needed four day weekend break from work thanks to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, and my forward thinking to request Tuesday off as well, so woo hoo! Good thinking on my part, because I am much in need of an extended break.
I won't know the results of my "pass or you get fired" test until early June, but things did not go well. At least the first day. I felt better about the second day, but there were math problems involved, and as we all know:
It tends to stagger me. But we'll see. I'll know whether or not I passed a stupid test that has nothing to do with my day-to-day job in order to keep said job in early June. Until then...I ain't bothered.
Other than that, despite my crushing depression that keeps me from even wanting to wake up in the morning, the Rottenator has been spectacular in supporting me the best he can. I cannot say it enough: there is something to be said for someone who loves you unconditionally. Yes, you may get angry when they leave the seat up...don't take the garbage can to the curb...play NBA basketball on Xbox non-stop, but seriously...then they spend a whole day taking you out to eat, enduring your shopping for clothes, feigning interest in the things you're interested in...it means a lot.
So you deal with the minor problems when it comes down to the fact that they are loyal, love you unconditionally, and do whatever they can to make you feel better...even when there's nothing that they can do. That makes me sad for him, actually. Because there is no logical reason for me to feel so down right now and he is scrambling to do everything he can to make it better, but he can't. Stupid chemical imbalance.
But it's okay; I'm soon to get everything sorted; tomorrow is my mother's birthday, and I made her a strawberry pie...I will post pictures tomorrow, once it's all decorated with the whipped cream and whatnot, and share the recipe IF it gets the approval. It's a homemade version of a Shoney's strawberry pie, y'all.
In the meantime, I am losing myself in a marathon of "Arrested Development" on Netflix because it is one of my most favorite shows every, and they are debuting 14 new episodes tomorrow. God love the internet.
I am not political, but sometimes I have to say, I do get a bit tired of hearing about how America is a cesspool of violence and corruption when it seems that other countries maybe, just maybe, might be experiencing similar issues?
Another case in point from another country that quite frankly, I adore:
This happened in England. And it is indeed horrific.
Evil is evil. And it happens everywhere.
Meanwhile, circling back to me. I think I failed the first half of my stupid "keep your job" test. Whatever. I am in a funk right now that I'm desperately trying to climb out of, so it's just another disappointment.
Blah. To end on a happy note, did you know that "cat bearding" was a thing? It's so adorable.
I want to try it out with the Nooge. Hopefully soon I'll have a successful pic with minimal damage.
So, the next two days involve testing to determine whether or not I am qualified to perform a job that I detest. If I do not pass, I shall be fired.
The sad part is that even though I detest this job, it means very much to me that I pass these tests. Because God forbid I feel the embarrassment of failure. It's an ego thing; it's not so much about the job, because I couldn't give a fuck about this job, but god forbid I am perceived as a failure at anything...even if it is something that I despise.
So off to bed I got to at least get 7 hours of good sleep.
There are so many thoughts running through my head. *sigh* Depression and hormones are a hell of a thing. It's been a while since I have been on an anti-depressant but I feel the need to explore that realm of possibility again. Also, an appointment with a gyno to determine what sort of treatment I need to start to get a hold of this absolutely depressing, frustrating, god-awful mood I have been in. Especially because it seems that I do not even have PMS to blame.
I am so frustrated with myself. I had at one point gotten down to an acceptable 155 lbs that I was quite happy with, but over the course of the months of having a miserable job wherein all I do is sit on my ass, I have managed to gain back 25 lbs in a relatively short period of time.
I have had a life long struggle with my weight. And this 25 pounds just discourages me and depresses me even further because I feel like I am losing the tenuous self control I had on myself. And it just seemed to happen overnight.
Logically, I know what to do. Exercise, and eating healthy. Believe me, I know. I have spent most of my life researching both. I know exactly what I should do; it's just having the motivation to do it that I find the most difficulty with.
And this is where I cast the blame on everyone but myself:
We don't have the money to join the gym or the Y.
We don't have the money to spend on healthy food so that's why I'm eating pasta instead of salads.
I don't have the energy after dismal days at work to even think about exercising before or after my 8.5 hours of hell that I have to spend on earth every day.
Burgers and fries taste so much more awesome than turkey and steamed vegetables.
Water tastes like spit, diet soda is just as good.
I just feel so fucking hungry all the time. And it feels like I have nothing else to turn to. I don't drink, don't smoke, don't have any hobbies, nothing else to distract me from wallowing in my misery.
So tell me, what do you do? My mother is getting her pool in order so I'm going to start swimming again, which is awesome, because it is exercise in which I don't have to sweat, and I do love to swim, so there's that, but what else?
I need some other distractions, people. Because I long ago gave up the goal of being the perfect 10. I just want to feel comfortable, happy, and healthy in my own skin.
I mean, I get the controversy, okay, whatever, there's always controversy, but the ad in itself:
Maybe because I didn't see the concept from the very beginning, but still and all...I don't get it.
I'm normally not an easily offended person, but I find this ad disturbing....highly disturbing and not at all humorous...but perhaps it's because it's advertising a soft drink that I find offensive in itself.
And speaking of offensive...
The Rottenator and I are quarreling because I desperately need new summer clothes and his laughably $40 budget for a new wardrobe just wasn't going to cut it, so when he saw my $75 Wal-Mart order of, check it, 3 skirts, and 2 shirts, he had issues.
Just wait until he finds out I'm not even done yet. AND the fact that I'm even buying clothes from Wal-Mart sends me into all sorts of conflicting levels of rage. I hate this store and everything it stands for on so many levels. I don't even want to talk about it.
OH, and so my sister and brother-in-law are down at my mother's beach house this weekend, and my brother-in-law (God Bless him) took it upon himself to put together some of the beach furniture that the Rottenator & I couldn't get done in one weekend.
My thoughts: that is freakin' awesome, less work for us, yay! The Rottenator's thoughts:
"So...even though I didn't want to do it, I would have done it, but now it's been done, and so now I look like I'm not handy,and I never claimed to be handy around the house so I use that as an excuse to not pick up pine-cones in the yard or properly replace glass panels in our kitchen windows that our stupid cat knocked out on his quest to escape this torture chamber and attack every living creature that existed on this planet."
I have my own low self-esteem to deal with without coddling the ego of an almost 30 year old man. My immediate reaction: "Stop being so defensive and suck it the fuck up and start performing manly duties around the house so you don't look like such a pussy when your 'woman' is actually the handy-man in the relationship."
You should be fucking embarrassed. Man the Fuck Up. And don't give me your arguments about sexism, or anything like that. If I'm the one who is cleaning and cooking and making the house look pretty, your ass better be the one changing lightbulbs and checking the air pressure on car tires.
I'm just saying...
The Alabama duct tape is not a "nailed it" situation, let's go ahead and get this taken care of, mmmkay? Because I'm two seconds away from calling a professional handyman to take care of all of the little chores around this house, male ego be damned!
I've just finished preparing a ginormous packet of useless paperwork to send to the IRS to prove to them why I can't possibly pay off the exorbitant debt that they claim I owe. I've managed to make it as confusing and disorganized as possible; payback, you might say, for how I've found their dealings with me when it comes to this situation.
Plus, my income is approximately $30 less than my outcome per month so let's see how they handle that.
Also, I desperately need new clothes. Like, desperately. I do not know how I managed to overlook this, but I have no appropriate spring/summer clothes. So I'm danger of either quitting my job for fear of appearing like a hobbit hobo or dying of heat-stroke because I'm wearing wool sweaters in 80 degree weather. So, despite the Rottenator's budget, I am going shopping this weekend.
I had a "WOW" call evaluation at work which probably means nothing to you, much as it means nothing to me other than the fact that maybe I'll be left alone for a minute. Basically, it looks like I'm fairly competent at a job that I despise. I don't know how I feel about that.
Other than that, nothing new.
Although, after reviewing my recent posts and Mood Ring(tones) of the Day, I have come to realize that I am this guy:
I'll have to examine that in a future post, how to reconcile my love of Britpop and Rap and the occasional country song into one cohesive summation of my overall being.
But in the meantime, I'll just share this picture of a pine tree that I captured at work the other day.
It is totally giving the world the finger. I am this pine tree.
And to continue with my seemingly out of character Mood Ring(tone) of the Day, I give you:
Incidentally, this song was played both at my sister's bachelorette party AND her wedding reception. We are an interesting family indeed.
One of the most annoying things I find about life is that the very second you have that thought of "hmmm...I'm feeling a bit bored right now", it doesn't hit you with a "Hey! You just won the lottery!" Or even, "Hey! You just won a $150 free grocery card!" or even, "Hey! You just won a vacation package to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (if only)!"
Life is more likely to reward you with a "Hey! You're being audited by the IRS!" Or, "Hey! You're getting fired from your job!" Or even, "Hey! You have a tumor!"
So I will refrain from saying that I'm rather bored with my daily routine right now for fear of some astronomical catastrophe befalling me, but I would like to say...I'm bovvered.
I've had enough drama in my life to not wish any more upon myself, but I'm really...bovvered by my job; by the most exciting decision I have to make is to choose which all you can eat buffet I want to patronize; by which of the three articles of clothing that actually fit I decide to wear today.
And if you mention anything about Kathleen having "first world problems" I will stab you in the face with an icepick.
Did I happen to mention I may be a wee bit hormonal, and if this period doesn't hurry the fuck up, there is going to be a bloodbath...no pun intended. All Rottenators and Nooges better heed this warning.
Incidentally, my favorite part of this video is the row of Yankees fans who look slightly embarrassed but are still like, "yeah, yeah...god dammit...respect..."
If you don't know the history and the fierceness of this rivalry, you can read about it here which just goes to show you how momentousness this occasion was.
Because if any city knows what it's like to go through something like this, God Bless, NYC does...on a much larger scale.
I haven't really posted on this yet,and I'm not going to wax poetic on it, or go all "America, Fuck Yeah!" on you, because I have an extra special love for Boston that has prevented me from really addressing this...
But yeah...whenever something horrific happens in this world, it's a blessing to see that we all seem to come together, and that basic humanity wins out in the long run.
And now a tribute to the Boston accent that to me is one of the best accents in the world ever...
The Rottenator does love his stew. And I welcomed the opportunity to cook something other than Hamburger Helper or Beans and Rice so today's meal of Beef Stew was a happy change of pace.
Behold...
My apologies to Riot Kitty; this one ain't for you ;-)
What you'll need:
2 lbs of stew meat
1 lb red potatoes, cubed, skins on
2 celery hearts, roughly chopped
1 large sweet onion, roughly chopped
1 pt cherry tomatoes, sliced
1 pkg baby carrots, pre-washed and peeled
1 envelope Lipton's Onion Soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom and roasted garlic soup
2 T. flour
2 T. olive oil
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. Dale's steak sauce
Seasonings to taste (I'm not giving measurements, because we are a family that loves salt, but really between the soup mix, sauces, and soup you really don't need anymore...but you can't be Southern and not add some Lawry's...)
salt
pepper
garlic powder
non-stick cooking spray (like Pam)
Heat 2 T. olive oil in a pan; sprinkle flour, Lawry's seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic powder over stew meat and toss to coat.
Lightly brown stew meat in pan for seriously, 2-3 min, just enough to seal in those delicious juices.
Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray, and throw that stew beef in there.
Chop veggies and throw them all in a big tupperware bowl, lightly salt and pepper and stir to mix them all up. Or pop a top on that bowl and turn it upside down and shake until they're all mixed up and pretty.
In another bowl, pour in worchestershire sauce and Dale's; add soup mix and whisk together. Next, add can of soup, whisk some more until it's smooth.
Throw half of the veggies into the crockpot on top of the stew meat. Add half of your soupy mixture.
Throw the remaining half of veggies into the crockpot, and the rest of the soup sludge.
Top on top of crockpot, cook 6-8 hours, depending on your crockpot. This is my first time trying out my sister's hand-me-down crockpot and she says it's a fast-cooking one, so I'm going for six. It actually took about 8 hours for the potatoes and carrots to get completely done...
Now, a lot of people love crockpots because you can just leave it. I like to check on it every two hours and give it another stir, but that's me. And that's why this meal is best made on a weekend.
Back to work tomorrow, blech! But it's a paycheck that brings me that much closer to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter so I will endure...
My Mood Ring(tone) Of The Day...and this one is dedicated to Riot Kitty because she recently reminded me of one of my favorite movies, and what it is like to grow old gracefully and fabulously.
If the couch has a permanent indentation of your ass, you may have a weight problem.
Though who am I to judge; the same could be said for the recliner that I am currently residing in.
Incidentally, I need to post that little turd's picture on http://shameyourpet.com/ because in the brief hour that the Rottenator and I were out today, he managed to somehow swipe down one of the Moroccan lamps I have on the mantle, and now it sits there all wonky and fractured. but I can't bear to throw it away because I love symmetry.
And now looking at that photo, I realize that I need another framed picture on the right side of my mantle because the symmetry is totally off...and the photo is crooked. God! Meanwhile, have you been following the Masters coverage? No? Me either, which is a shame because it is happening 15 minutes away but I can't bring myself to care because let's face it, golf is not high on my list of fascinating things to watch. That being said, the Rottenator bought a Tiger Woods XBox Golf Game today. You know what's more boring than golf? Watching someone play a golf video game...badly. Is it college football season yet? My Mood Ring(tone) Of The Day:
And I don't plan to, motherfucker. Oh my god, I'm old. I'm so old, I'm like, "what the fuck, you're over 40?" old.
No, I'm sorry. I am not embracing the whole "grow old gracefully" theory. I hate it. I hate every wrinkle, every thinning and gray hair, every fat dimple on my body.
What brought this on is that one of my acquaintances in my former life in Atlanta just posted about how she turned 50...
(BTW, I love her, she is hilarious, and you should check her out...)
But still...she just turned 50. I don't know why this struck me harder than seeing Facebook pictures of my college friends sporting gray hair and having 20 year old kids, but it did.
Maybe because she's always been a role model of mine: slightly older, always glamorous, witty, and smart, and she's accomplished what I always wanted to in life...she's being paid for her wit and humor and writing ability and is still fashionable and beautiful and stylish.
As she well deserves, because from knowing her in the "old days", she's been through her struggles as well. And she had the guts to hang in there through the struggles, and continue with what she was passionate about and is finally successful at doing something she loves. Writing...for a living...successfully.
I wish in my younger years I'd been more self-confident, with a higher self-esteem, and the courage to just go for it. But I didn't.
And so now I'm here...not a terrible life, but not a spectacular one either.
Incidentally, have you ever seen the movie "Defending Your Life"? Because it is my favorite movie of all times and pretty much sums up how I feel about my existence on this earth.
