Tuesday Recipe

Jen did this recipe last week for our potluck...it was DELICIOUS!! If you don't like chowders in general you probably won't like this. But if you are a chowder fan you'll LOVE it!!

Seafood Chowder (From Jen's Sister)

5-6 Potatoes
4-6 Pcs of Cod fish (pc=serving)
1-2 onions
2 pcs of salmon (pc=serving)
1 pkg. imatation crab meat
3/4 pkg. shrimp ring (peeled)
1-1/2 to 2 containers 18% blend cream
1-2 tsp parsley
1 tsp. paprika

Chop potatoes & cod fish in big cubes.
Put 4 cups of water in large pot, add chopped potatoes & cod fish. Season with salt & pepper. Boil for about 15min. until potatoes are cooked.

Sautee chopped onions in butter until translucent (do not brown) add to potatoe mixture

Chop salmon in cubes, crab meat in halves, peel shrimp and add to mixture. Boil for about 5min.

Add the 18% blend cream, parsley, paprika & simmer until desired thickness. Stirring occasionally. Jen's sister said she usually lets is simmer on the back burner for an hour or more, and you can always add corn starch to thicken mixture.

Monday Ramblings...

The weekend was pretty good, Kristen didn't have any hockey this weekend. Friday night Myrna & Jamie came by the house for dinner then we headed over to their house to watch Skeleton Key starring Kate Hudson. I will be the first to admit I do NOT enjoy scary movies, but I am a Kate Hudson fan and wanted to give it a shot. I watched most of the movie between my fingers....ha ha. I really liked it though and it wasn't even that scary, more like a few jumpy parts, I think I just had myself really worked up that it was going to be terrifying or something :)

Saturday I watched a bit of the womens speed skating, then Kristen and I headed to Home Depot in Milton. He's trying to finish the landing going down to the basement so we wanted to price out a few things. This is the same landing that he said would be completed before Christmas. But there's been a lot of progress we might actually be priming the walls tomorrow night...very exciting. In the evening we went by Steph's and Jason's for a couple of hours...went home and tried to watch Wallace & Grommit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit but I fell asleep.

Sunday got up and finished watching the movie, did some laundry, watched the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, cooked a nice dinner for Kristen and I, watched Greys Anatomy and then finished up a few errands around the house before bedtime. Not a very exciting weekend but very relaxing, need those sometimes.

Today I started clearing out my desk at work....it feels weird. I'm not sad, not happy. Just emotionless right now...doing what I have to do and that's it. I'm sure I'll be more emotional once next Tuesday gets here. But I know I'm doing everything for the right reasons and feel really good about it, I haven't second guessed my decision at all since making it. Anyway...enough ramblings for a Monday afternoon.

My Personality

You know how you get those emails, birthday calendars, quizzes....that all tell you your personality based on the stupidest things? Well I got a couple today and what's scary is they're pretty accurate...here's what some of them said:

Does your name begin with: C? You are a very social individual, and it is important to you to have a relationship. You require closeness and togetherness. You want the object of your affection to be socially acceptable and good-looking. You see your lover as a friend and companion. You are very sensual, needing someone to appreciate and almost worship you. When this cannot be achieved, you have the ability to hold out on affection until you receive this. You are an expert at controlling your desires and doing without.

Birthday: MARCH *Attractive personality *Affectionate *Shy and reserved *Secretive *Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic *Loves peace and serenity *Sensitive to others *Loves to serve others *Not easily angered *Trustworthy *Appreciative and returns kindness *Observant and assess others *Revengeful *Loves to dream and fantasize *Loves traveling *Loves attention *Hasty decisions in choosing partners *Loves home decors *Musically talented *Loves special things *Moody.

Your birthday March 22 nd - March 31st PURPLE You are mysterious, never selfish and get interested in things easily. Your day can be sad or happy depending on your mood. You are popular between friends but you can act stupid at times, and forget things easily. You go for person that's trustworthy.

Your birth tree is Hazelnut Tree: the Extraordinary, Charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgement.

So according to all these silly things....this is me in a nutshell (notice moody is mentioned more than once? lol)

Big News!

No I'm not pregnant or engaged....I'm leaving Butcher Engineering in two weeks to pursue a new job opportunity. This is strictly a professional decision and not a personal one, I do love where I work but I'll never be more than a receptionist and I'm ready for a new challenge, and a raise :) The people here are great and have been very good to me, but it's time to move on. I hope I'm making the right decision, I think I am and it will create a better future for me (and Kristen too)

A lot of emotions today, cause I keep crying whenever anyone talks to me or gives me a hug. I know I'll be okay though, just fear of the unknown and saying good bye to people that have become my family and faces I've seen for the past 7 years (well almost 7)....so that's the scoop, wish me luck!!

Recipe Day

I'm feeling a bit better....still missing home but not as much. I kept myself fairly occupied since Friday so it has helped keep my mind off things. Saturday I went shopping with Steph and Jen (nope didn't buy anything) Sunday I did some scrapbooking. Last night I did my cleaning that I failed to do on the weekend, read a bit of my book and headed to bed.

I think Kristen and I are headed to Bass Pro Shop tonight after work...he completed a Turkey Hunting course on Saturday so now he wants to check out a few things that the instructor mentioned. Lucky me I don't have to cook dinner either cause Poppy Manuel made rabbit soup for us, so that will be our dinner this evening :)

And now that we're on the topic of food here's this weeks recipe, I got it from Sue (a co-worker) who made this for potluck one time....it's delicious!!

Fricatelli

3 cups cooked rice
1 medium chopped onion
1/2 lb sausage meat, browned
1 can tomatoe soup
Cheddar Cheese shredded
Pepper to taste

Cook the sausage (drain fat if necessary, I usually boil mine first) Add onions and fry with sausage. Then add rice and tomatoe soup, once its heated through, add cheese. Mix well and sprinkle pepper on top. Easy and YUMMY!!

Good Ol Bonne Bay

Well it's all Kristens fault....he decided to do a search of blogs today about Bonne Bay. What does he find?? A blog of a photographer who spent part of the summer in Woody Point as the Gros Morne Artist in Residence Program just scroll down the link and look at his October 2, 2005 post titled "Thanks" it's a collage of photos he took while there. They are of people that I KNOW! My kindergarten teacher, people I went to school with, the mail lady, the chicken coop ladies! It's all too much....it's a slow day at work this afternoon and this is what I have done; stare at these pictures of the people and scenery of my hometown, where I grew up and have some of my best memories.

At this moment I could just cry, I have that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. That feeling you know means that I'm HOMESICK. It's not easy being away from home, some days I love Ontario and the city life, but a lot of days I miss mom and dad. I miss seeing my grandparents, who let's face it, are not getting any younger, not seeing Kristen's little sisters grow up, and who could forget Kenda and Kayla who are like my own little sisters. That's just the family side of it. On to the lifestyle, no ski-doo runs on the weekend, going to the marine centre in the summer to catch some mackrel, going up to the swimming brooks, fires on the beach, and so many other things that would make this post way too long if I had to list them all.

Kristen and I went home this summer for a wedding and realized that living in Ontario might provide a cheque every week and a few more material possessions than we might have if we lived home but it is really the residents of Bonne Bay who have EVERYTHING! I wonder if those who have never left really do realize and appreciate what they have? Fresh air, freedom to roam the streets at any hour, alone or with company, the choice to leave your doors unlocked. A view of mountains and water that, to a tourist, takes your breath away but is a part of everyday life to those who live there.

I would move home in a heartbeat if the right opportunity were there. I know there are downfalls to the small town life, one being where everyone knows your business and yet it's what adds to the charm. I didn't always want to move home, I've been homesick on too many occassions to keep count, but it has been since this summer that I have the desire to be there, see my kids grow up there so they can have the same experiences growing up that I did (the ones I refuse to have right now, partly because I don't want kids in Ontario) and yet it's out of my control. What do I do? Go home without employment and hope for the best? Do I just keep pursuing job openings until I finally get one? Do I try to be creative and maybe open my own business? At the moment none apply....so I'll go to the arena tonight to watch Kristen's hockey game, put on my best face with the biggest smile that my eyes will crinkle more than usual...all the while trying to ignore that feeling in my stomach that I would just rather be HOME.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines day to all you love birds out there. And to my hunny bunny....love you!!

Another Medal

Well so far today Canada has gotten another medal....silver! 3 in total, one in each colour :)

Last night I worked on scanning layouts and posting them on 2 Peas in a bucket. Myrna had mentioned this in her blog as well. She and Jen are the two who got me into this whole scrapbooking mess to begin with :) it's all good though. I love my hobby and feel good about the work I put into preserving my memories.

I've also signed up to scrapsubmit.com this is a website where they list every scrapbooking contest available. You just post whatever layouts you want to whichever contests and the publishers go to them to find their winners. I might never win anything but unless I try I'll never know. Regardless if I'm an awesome scrapbooker or not, I enjoy it and that's all that matters.

God Can Use You

Dad sent me this email this morning....thought it would be encouraging to anyone questioning their ability to be used by God, weakness and all. Everyone has a purpose!

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...AND
Lazarus was dead!
No more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential. Besides youaren't the message, you are just the messenger.

Winter Olympics - Torino, Italy

I love the winter olympics...I have to specify winter cause I don't watch much of the summer ones when they're on. Since I was little I remember mom turning on CBC and always rooting for Canada in sports that she barely even knew the rules. I now think I have Kristen addicted....since Saturday morning we've watched Jennifer Heil win gold in the moguls, Canada kick Russia's butt in hockey (I missed the game against Italy where Canada won 16-0) and watched numerous speed skating races (I missed the one where Canada won bronze though, Kristen saw it) I'm so proud to be Canadian. If you're interested in the medal standings here's the link to CBC http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/medals/index.shtml?totals

Chasing Game

On occassion Kristen likes to remind me of how big a nerd I am. Well today is his reminder...I'm barely at my desk this morning and I get an email from Kristen....finally I see a deer! So he sends me this link which he checks out quite often. The site is of a webcam set up in the woods and you can watch live feed of whatever is there at the time, mostly squirrels. Every now and then though you see a deer. Check it out and you can be a nerd like Kristen too :)
http://www.chasingame.net/webcam/webcam.htm

Control Freak?!?!?

I just don't know sometimes....I'm fully aware of how big of a nerd I can be, I like to have lists for just about everything. I do meal plans every two weeks, so that when we buy groceries I have everything that I will need for the recipes. If I'm going on a trip I've planned every bit of clothes and item I'm bringing well in advance, like months before we go...honest. I don't think I'm a control freak though...some may beg to differ. If someone came to me today and said lets go for lunch, I'd be like sure, let's go (as long as they're paying....he he) so it's not that I'm completely unable to be spontaneous or completely devestated if something on the "to do" list doesn't get done (unless of course it was really important but I think that's just common sense).

So I decided to do a survey on chatelaine.com about how well do I cope? I figured I would do okay but I'm starting to think I'm worse off then I'm willing to admit :) It says I have potential of becoming a control freak if I'm not already...here's the "jest" what it said:

Stress soldier
You thrive on control and order. Lists, schedules, Post-it note reminders, this is how you cope with life's craziness. The good news is that staying organized is a great way to cope with multiple deadlines. The bad news is that the need to maintain control makes you inflexible – and order can sometimes spiral into obsessive behaviour, pushing loved ones away.

One surefire sign you're addicted to order and control? Is usually all about avoiding humiliation. Do you cringe at the thought of people thinking you're messy? Would you rather die than be thought of as incompetent? Many people are driven by an inner mantra they learnt early in life. You could be repeating, I'll never be good enough, or I must stay on top of things. Try writing down such thoughts so you become aware of negative patterns – it's the first step in getting a handle on them.

The need to control your surroundings can also lead to a need to control others. If you find yourself being easily angered or constantly thinking people should be acting a certain way, you need to rewire your thinking. Turn your expectations into anticipations. For example, imagine you had planned to meet a friend 10 minutes before the 7 o'clock movie and she's running late. If you expected her to arrive on time, chances are you will be frustrated by her lateness. If you anticipated her arrival based on your discussion, but accept that something could have happened to hold her up, you'll feel significantly less stressed and less slighted. It's all about a change of mindset.

Think I'm a control freak now?

Brian's Boat

I haven't done any scrapbooking in a couple of weeks (or more!) and wanted to share this morning how excited I am about the scrapbooking pages I did last night (here's a couple of the pics that I used) it's a two page layout (8.5X11) of Kristen's dads boat when we were in Nfld. Here's the poem I wrote to go with it....



Brians Boat
Through the sweat bruises and cuts
He struggled to maker her float
She needed tender loving care
It was an old red and white boat

My father in law took us sailing
One beautiful sunny day
And by the time we got home
Things were not going his way

All the sweat and hard work it seems
Had not paid off
She was leaking, sputtering and
I'm sure I heard a cough

He pulled her out of the water
And decided this was her time
To fix her for old times sake
And post the “For Sale” sign

Recipes

I love food! Growing up I was always so picky, wouldn't try anything new and barely ate anything that wasn't meat and potatoes. However since moving away from home I've greatly broaden my horizons and eat so many different foods now, not to mention an eagerness to try new things. It all started with college, living in residence you're forced to try new food when your only free meal is from the cafeteria (not technically free but already paid for out of your college fees) so it was eat what they served or starve. Then after college Kristen and I moved in together and Kristen will eat just about anything (I am NOT exaggerating) so there was always something new and interesting to try since he ate such a variety of foods that I didn't even hear of up until that point.

Being on our own for the first time, I knew how to cook (because I love cooking, I would help mom with dinner most days) but I didn't have much of a variety with my cooking. Kristen and I were getting to the point that chicken and rice needed to be kicked up a bit. That started my fasination with recipes and trying new recipes....most don't turn out and most don't get added to the weekly rotation of meals but I still have to give it a chance, cause every once in a while a new recipe is awesome and is a KEEPER!

Also the third wednesday of every month, the office girls get together and have potluck, everyone is assigned a category for that month; dessert, appetizer, main dish, or salad. It's the perfect opportunity to try a new recipe for free! If one of the girls make something that I love, it usually leads to a recipe exchange and something that I cannot wait for the hubby to try. So with all of that being said....I'm going to try to post a recipe every now and then, I would say once a week but I don't want to commit to it and then end up forgetting :) Here's my first recipe, I'm just calling it "Mom's Rice" cause it was the way she always made rice...

Mom's Rice

1 cup rice (your preferance white, brown, etc)
1 onion
1 can of corn - drained (peaches and cream are my preferance)
1-2 cloves of garlic (optional)
1 egg
3-4 slices of bacon
Soya sauce

Cook rice according to pkg directions, set aside.
In pan or wok fry the onion, garlic and bacon, when it's almost cooked add the egg. When fully cooked add the corn only long enough to heat through. Now add your rice and mix everything together, add soya sauce to taste and serve :) Easy and yummy!

Awesome Quote

My friend Amanda and I were chatting today about being a hard worker and how lazy people bug the hell out of us :) She told me a great quote from her Grandfather, here it is:

"Creative, hard-working people never get bored" George Park

The Coward Who won't leave a comment...

I don't even know what to title this post, where do I begin??? A girl I knew in highschool left a comment on a fellow bloggers most recent post....so of course I'm like, awesome I have to read her blog and see what she's up too. I read her blog, just a couple of posts since she's new to the whole thing and then I'm stuck....do I leave a comment or not? Let me tell you the story as to why....oh before I begin the story, Jen who is one of my dearest friends knew of this whole story even before I met her.

Let me take you back to highschool, grade 9 I started dating a guy not from my hometown. On weekends I would go visit him or vice versa, most times I went to his town since I love travelling (even if it is only 1 hour away) and meeting new people. Well my ex had two really good friends whom I thought were great guys, one of them had just started seeing someone (yes the girl with the new blog). Every now and then when I would call the love interest and he wouldn't be home, automatic assumption, he's at his friends house so I would call one of the friends to see how they were doing and say hi (but the true motive being to find out where the love interest might be hiding out....remember we were only dating and I was 14). So we broke up, and then he graduated from highschool and moved away. On to the summer I was going to Grade 10 or grade 11, I think.....a couple of guys whom I met through the ex came to our town to visit and to obviously hook up with some of the local girls. Myself and a friend hung out with them for the evening, my friend hooked up with the one but I did NOT hook up with the other cause he had a girlfriend (actually I think they both did), they drove us home and that was it, or so I thought.

Until the next day guy "a" calls (he's the cheater) to tell me that guy "b"'s girlfriend thinks I hooked up with guy "b" last night. I'm like well know we didn't so what's the problem? Guy "a" tells me that guy "b" told his girlfriend that we did cause she wouldn't believe him if he told the truth anyway. Unbelieveable!! I couldn't believe it, why in the world would he do such a thing? I decide I'm going to call the girlfriend (I know her a bit too) to fix everything up, well guy "a" says no don't do that. I argue with him for a bit and he won't give me her number or her parents name so I can look it up in the phone book. On to later in the day when a blue car comes speeding up our driveway and 5 girls get out (with all intentions of kicking my ass) guess who one of the 5 girls are, the best friend of the girlfriend in question and who's also the ex's friends girlfriend (confused yet....lol). Great just great....I stand my ground, tell the truth and this girl says "but didn't you call my boyfriend before" and I'm like yes, so now in their eyes I'm guilty no matter what I say. They drive away and nobody kicks my ass...phew!

A couple years later I see the girlfriend of guy "b" and yes they were still together (not sure if they still are or not) and she says hi to me and smiles. I say hi back and that's it, I'm off with my friends. So I think I must be forgiven. Either way it doesn't matter anymore, it was highschool, I know I wasn't a tramp, and only he and I know the truth of the situation regardless of what everyone does or does not believe. But I want to leave a comment on this girls blog cause I did genuinely like her and that was so long ago and so childish and just plain old highschool crap. I mention to Jen that I want to leave a comment but she probably hates me, but she reassures me that it was so long ago that it would be fine. I choose NOT to leave a comment, not for now anyway. Maybe she'll read this and have a good ol laugh of this story and the blast from the past. Who Knows? But for now I'll cowardly read her blog without leaving the comments (the one thing I complained about just a week ago)

Quote

My cousin sent an email with this quote, thought it was nice.

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.

Newfie Valentines Poem

Still in the spirit of love, here's a poem that I received via email yesterday...

I writes ta say I loves ya by
Cause I don't say it very much
Everytime I tries ta cuddle ya
Ya says GET A WAY, DON'T TOUCH

I tried ta be more gentle
Took me rubbers off outside
When I told ya where I was last nite
Ya always tinks I lied

Ya knows I loves me Fishin
Ya knows I loves me boat
But you're da life preserver
I needs to stay afloat

So I got ya sometin , Really nice
How much, please don't ass
But you'll ,find it a lot easier now
When ya goes ta cut da Grass!

Just pull da cord,stand behind
Steer her as you go
Next Valintines I'll get ya sometin
Dat helps ya shovel snow

So keep up da cookin & cleanin
You're de only one I got
To keep me duds all washed and clean
And me coffee always hot

You knows dat I appreciates
Your home made buns & Bread
And I hope dat it continues on
Till one of us is dead

So happy happy Valentines
And here's you're real big treat
Bring me Beer, Get over here
Sit down and rub me feet.

Happy February

February 1st, where did January go? It hasn't even been winter yet....some will get so angry at me for saying that cause they believe I'm going to jinx the nice weather we've been having. I personally think that this month we're doomed! I think Mother Nature has to make up for the lack of snow and below freezing temperatures and this month is going to be a brutal one. Have to wait and see I guess.

I don't know if I accomplished a lot this month, let me think....I did a few scrapbook pages, have not experienced any January blues (I thank the weather), I've made giant steps in getting my passport application completed, I've done okay with my new years resolutions (few bumps along the way but I haven't quit) and I just finished reading The Princess, it was recommended to me by Jen, she read it because her sister Lisa (who's a pastor) had told her it was a great Christian Romance novel. I have to agree, it's such a great story. It only took me two evenings to read it. I read one review after I had read it and they claimed the people were abnormally religious, but I beg to differ...going up in a very religious home I thought the book was very accurate to the thoughts and prayers of true born again Christians. If anything I would say the person who left the comment doesn't have a true meaning of what being "born again" means. Anyway enough of my sermon for the day....

So my goal this month will be about LOVE since Valentines is on the 14th, I figured it would be appropriate. Here are a few quotes from Oprah.com regarding love:

"Spontaneous and honest love admits errors, hesitations, and human feelings; it can be tested and repaired" Nancy Friday

"It seems to be that true love is discipline..." W.B. Yeats

I don't exactly know what I should do or not do as part of my goal of love, it can be so general. I could make it that I have to be more loving to everyone, but in the spirit of romance I think I will focus on Kristen this month. Maybe next month I can focus specifically on friends or family. Guess I'll decide that next month. Any LOVE suggestions welcomed....nothing too expensive please :)