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10.23.2010

Back on the road

Home time came and went.

All in all it was nice, but by the 3rd day I was ready for him to be back on the road.

When the time came for him to go back on the road, I wanted him to quit.

It's a vicious cycle I tell ya.

I was a little annoyed that we didn't really do anything while he was here. Our alternator went out 2 weeks earlier and by the time we got it fixed, I had been without a car for nearly 3 weeks. He got home on a Saturday, the car didn't fixed until Friday. One whole week of nothing. Wasted.

On the bright side, I didn't have to play hostess to any strangers.

I don't know if it's just us or if other trucking families have the same problem, but we like to talk big. We talk about all the stuff we are gonna do when he gets home. The places we are gonna take the kids. The improvements we need to make to the inside of the house. (read: de-clutter)

And guess what??

NOTHING gets done.

WTH. It is seriously the MOST annoying thing ever.

He suggested that he take the kids for an afternoon so I could have a few hours of alone time. Did he do it? No. Annoying? Absolutely.

He asked me to wait to take the kids to the zoo until he got home. Did we go? No. Annoying? You know it.

He promised to take our oldest fishing. Did he take her? No. Annoying? You betcha.

He told me we would clear the clutter from the closets so we can actually use them for all things... clothes. Did we? No. Annoying? Of course.

He did of course play his facebook games. *insert eye roll here* Annoying? To the max.

See the pattern? Yeah. Not too difficult to see.

He wants to relax. I get it. I really do. But we are a family and the kids want to do stuff with their dad when he gets home. they are completely tired of being around me. Actually I am pretty sure they are disgusted by the very thought of having to spend one more minute with me.

This year has been THE most trying year of our marriage. I really don't see how people can do this their whole lives. He has been in this for 10 months now and I am ready for him to throw in the towel. Chalk it up as a loss and move on.

How selfish is that of me to even think that? Extremely.

Annoying? The most.

10.22.2010

On the lookout

So even though I don't post our weekly grocery budget anymore, I am still pinching pennies. I really am. Probably even more now that Chris has gone back on the road.
  • When he is home, we spend more money.
  • We make more trips to the grocery store.
  • We eat more expensive food.
  • I cook more, and by more I mean quantity.
  • That boy can eat y'all!
I am always on the lookout for good, frugal recipes. And by good, I mean AWESOME.

It's no secret I am addicted to pizza. It's really a love hate relationship. I love it, but I hate to pay for it.

I have been making my own pizza for as long as I can remember and I have YET to find a crust recipe that I am head over heals in love with. (think Papa John's or Mellow Mushroom crust)

That crispy outside, chewy inside and perfectly un-soggy-when-it's-loaded-with-sauce-and-toppings dough is what I am after.

Where is this elusive pizza dough recipe. Believe me when I tell you this. I have tried no less than 20 dough recipes. They are pretty much all the same and pretty much all disappoint. They are either too think and bready or too thin and crackery.

Bready and crackery. Now those are some words to make you sound REALLY smart. Geez.

Anyway...

I need a recipe. I really GOOD recipe for pizza dough. I just can't bring my penny pinching self to order pizza. I *almost* did it last night. It was gonna cost nearly $25.00!!

I'm sorry but $25.00 for pizza? Really? I can feed 30 people for less than $25.00. Heck I made an entire Thanksgiving spread last year for less than that.

I think I'll take my cry for help hunt to Twitter. I'm sure I'll get some good answers there!

10.21.2010

Yesterday

1. Dishes - Done!

2. Clothes - Not done

3. Floors - Done! (but already needs to be re-swept)

4. Dinner - Put a roast in the crock pot so I didn't have to "cook"

5. Bathe - Done! And I have a story to go with this

6. Bake - Done! I made an apple crisp and it was delish

7. Put on a happy face - Done!

I feel quite accomplished now that I look at my list. I did almost everything on it and didn't even realize until I just now typed it.

I can feel myself getting sick. Bleh. Sore throat that feels like it's on fire. I am usually the last one to get sick though. I tell ya those public school germs are BRUTAL!

10.20.2010

Goals for today

1. Dishes. They have taken over my kitchen.

2. Clothes. They have taken over my room.

3. Floors. I don't like stepping on crap all day while I walk from one room to another.

4. Dinner. Someone has to feed these hooligans.

5. Bathe. Yeah. That one speaks for itself. P.U.

6. Bake. I have been craving an apple pie like you wouldn't believe!

7. Put on a happy face and not complain. It's a bad habit that I have had for years and I am trying to quit. :)

Be happy.

10.15.2010

T-Minus 5 weeks and counting

Yesterday was the day. The day I always dread. The day my kids dread.

Yesterday was the day that my husband left to go back on the road for 5 weeks.

I told myself I wouldn't cry this time but it didn't work. I tried to be as distant from him for the last 8 hours that he was home. He can always tell I am do that too. It bothers him but it seems to be the only way I can keep myself from completely losing it at the thought of him leaving.

I feel like a big cry baby. Like I am  weak and can't handle things without her husband. That's NOT who I am though. I have always been pretty independent. I was a single mother for 4 years so I KNOW how to handle things.

I appreciate what he is doing. I know it's as hard on him as it is me. He doesn't want to leave the girls. He knows how much they miss him when he is gone.

Chris and I were talking the other day about what I can do to help with the finances while I am at home. I offered to go back to work, but that idea was quickly shot down. Neither one of us want our kids in daycare.

He wants me to get back into making bows and clothes. My craft room has been converted into a quest bedroom. I have some ideas about turning my desk area into an office/craft area. Just not sure about how cluttered it would look.

OK so now I am thinking before and after pictures! I have an idea. Must. do. it. now. 

10.01.2010

Another "test"

For nearly 2 weeks now I have been feeding our family straight out of our pantry and living off of my stockpiled items. I haven't been to the store once! While I would love to say that this was some sort of challenge I set up for myself, sadly it isn't.

This coming Monday our car will have been out of commission for 2 weeks. The alternator died while I was driving to the auto parts store to have it re-checked. Ironic I know. It couldn't have happened at a worse intersection. Or at a worse time. 6 lanes of traffic in one direction, 4 in the other. Thankfully I was on the side with only 4 lanes of traffic but it just happened to be 4:30 and I just happened to be sticking out into the intersection.

Panic was setting in. I couldn't get my car to start back up. It was totally dead. I have never been called so many horrible names, had so many horns honked at me or had so many dirty looks given to me at one time. Not one person stopped and asked if they could help. One person while stopped at the light asked what was wrong with my car. My response was "It's dead and won't start.", "Good luck." was his response back. Friendly town I live in isn't it?

I called the police so they could direct traffic around me and ended up having to call a tow truck to move the car. As of today, the car is still sitting in the parking lot. Hasn't moved since they tow guy dropped it off.

I am 100% certain this was another one of those "tests" that a certain someone like to give to us that have forgotten just who He is.  I have no clue why I am being tested other than I have forgotten who He is. We don't go to church as we should and it shows. We don't live our lives like my husband and I have been taught. We do know better and we need to change. Our marriage is stretched thinner than a NY pizza crust. My kids misbehave more than ever.

I am an emotional wreck. I miss my husband dearly and can't wait for him to be home. I don't like him being gone for this long. It has been 8 weeks since I have seen him and it hurts. He and I have made the decision to change. For the better of course. He is going to look for work here instead of being on the road. He knows he needs to be home.

This year has been a huge test of Faith. I have failed miserably. I WILL CHANGE THAT!