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.

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!

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!

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.