...like when Maria of the UHC "Rapid Response team" says that the $5000+ hospital bill (6 months, 20 phone calls, 2 pages of notes, 8 hospital statements, 2 collection notices, and 6 hours of my wasted time ago) will be "processed and paid in 48 hours." Will it actually happen? Probably not. But this is the farthest I've gotten yet (and the 2nd time I've spoken with someone with the so called Rapid Response team)!
...like when you spy a strange yellow substance at the bottom of a Christmas storage container you are just about to pack away for the year. Lucky catch. Looks like Moosie dumped milk in the container a week ago when the container was being filled with brand new, never used Christmas Clearance decor. It was then sealed in, and finally left to sour and dry to a nice crust. The smell was yummy.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Damn You Rachel Ray
Since I had already bought the stuff to make it (what else am I going to do with pancetta?), and Hubby was off work today, I took a chance on one of Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals. It was chicken sausage burgers with onion BBQ sauce or something like that. I couldn't figure out where the sausage part came in until I tried to make Bubba and Moosie eat some of the finished product sans sauce and suddenly remembered the potency of fennel seed (which the recipe said to "lightly toast" and the best I could do was toast it on a dry skillet).
It took us an hour or so. Hubby made the ground chicken I had prepared into patties and cooked them while I worked on finishing the sauce, cutting tomatoes, and "preparing the sides" (can of green beans and jar of apple sauce). We both agreed that it took nearly 30 minutes just to get all of the ingredients on the counter and cut up! I found the recipe online and looks like we weren't too behind the curve there. Apparently her idea of "easy" is a little different than mine. I bet she didn't burn the onion mixture either. Bee-ahtch!
But it did taste good. Though Hubby and I both went to the gym today after a... ummmmm.... holiday break, so I think dirty sweat socks would have tasted good since we were starving. And since I put things away as I went, my kitchen isn't a complete disaster like last time. Never mind the homemade playdoh on the floor or the yogurt drink that was dumped oh maybe yesterday?
I am apparently not as bitter as some people. But I bought the damn cookbook, so I'll be making more 'easy' [difficult] 30 minute [times 2] meals in the near future.
It took us an hour or so. Hubby made the ground chicken I had prepared into patties and cooked them while I worked on finishing the sauce, cutting tomatoes, and "preparing the sides" (can of green beans and jar of apple sauce). We both agreed that it took nearly 30 minutes just to get all of the ingredients on the counter and cut up! I found the recipe online and looks like we weren't too behind the curve there. Apparently her idea of "easy" is a little different than mine. I bet she didn't burn the onion mixture either. Bee-ahtch!
But it did taste good. Though Hubby and I both went to the gym today after a... ummmmm.... holiday break, so I think dirty sweat socks would have tasted good since we were starving. And since I put things away as I went, my kitchen isn't a complete disaster like last time. Never mind the homemade playdoh on the floor or the yogurt drink that was dumped oh maybe yesterday?
I am apparently not as bitter as some people. But I bought the damn cookbook, so I'll be making more 'easy' [difficult] 30 minute [times 2] meals in the near future.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year 2008
I took a look at how I felt on the previous New Year's day before posting, and while I don't feel as wistful and intrigued like last year, I still feel "in the moment" and simplified. For someone with severe anxiety and the related issues of needing to feel in control at all times, this is a place I never thought I would be.
Partly my memory is not what it used to be and my neurological capacity is a bit more fleeting than it used to be. Also, I have found success in eating better and exercising, and I surprisingly don't feel that my complete failure to adhere to "the plan" between Halloween and New Years can't be rectified.
I've realized many of my obsessions and compulsions and am doing all I can this year to work with them. For example, I have an obsession with things that create warmth and security. My related compulsions are coffee, baking, buying (collecting) candles, throw pillows, throws (blankets), picture frames (to surround myself with pictures), warm colors, bread, air freshener (vanilla variety), etc. I am going to try and work with what I have instead of buying or collecting more. Maybe lighting a candle would work instead of buying yet another one??? Ya think?
I also have an obsession for information, whether it is useful or not. My compulsions are to read way too many blogs, buy way too many books, and lose an unacceptable amount of books from the library. I also have an obsession to be validated, which means I check e-mail, comments, etc. way way way too much. This year I am going to try and create for myself, learn for myself. I bought this book [**ahem*** comPULsion!](since Hubby doesn't read my blog so never got the hint).
My other major goal this year is to work with my "all or nothing" attitude. It's alright to do the dishes even if I can't clean the whole kitchen right then. It's OK to fold clothes for 10 minutes, even if I won't finish. It's OK to exercise on Wednesday even if I haven't exercised for 2 weeks. It's OK to buy organic milk and eggs, even if I go for the cheaper hormone-laden butter and the preservative-rich Ragu. I can cook a homemade meal even if I use instant potatoes.
I also really want to get to my edible garden this year. We have a compost pile. We have a flower garden in the front, now we just have to build and plant our terrace vegetable/herb/flower garden into the back hill. I have to keep telling myself it's OK to just plant a few things and have success with those rather than plant a million things and it all be overtaken by weeds.
I still want our family life to be simpler and less about consumerism and electronics. I have so failed at that thus far.
We will see what the year brings...
Partly my memory is not what it used to be and my neurological capacity is a bit more fleeting than it used to be. Also, I have found success in eating better and exercising, and I surprisingly don't feel that my complete failure to adhere to "the plan" between Halloween and New Years can't be rectified.
I've realized many of my obsessions and compulsions and am doing all I can this year to work with them. For example, I have an obsession with things that create warmth and security. My related compulsions are coffee, baking, buying (collecting) candles, throw pillows, throws (blankets), picture frames (to surround myself with pictures), warm colors, bread, air freshener (vanilla variety), etc. I am going to try and work with what I have instead of buying or collecting more. Maybe lighting a candle would work instead of buying yet another one??? Ya think?
I also have an obsession for information, whether it is useful or not. My compulsions are to read way too many blogs, buy way too many books, and lose an unacceptable amount of books from the library. I also have an obsession to be validated, which means I check e-mail, comments, etc. way way way too much. This year I am going to try and create for myself, learn for myself. I bought this book [**ahem*** comPULsion!](since Hubby doesn't read my blog so never got the hint).
My other major goal this year is to work with my "all or nothing" attitude. It's alright to do the dishes even if I can't clean the whole kitchen right then. It's OK to fold clothes for 10 minutes, even if I won't finish. It's OK to exercise on Wednesday even if I haven't exercised for 2 weeks. It's OK to buy organic milk and eggs, even if I go for the cheaper hormone-laden butter and the preservative-rich Ragu. I can cook a homemade meal even if I use instant potatoes.
I also really want to get to my edible garden this year. We have a compost pile. We have a flower garden in the front, now we just have to build and plant our terrace vegetable/herb/flower garden into the back hill. I have to keep telling myself it's OK to just plant a few things and have success with those rather than plant a million things and it all be overtaken by weeds.
I still want our family life to be simpler and less about consumerism and electronics. I have so failed at that thus far.
We will see what the year brings...
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