Learning

This year is all about learning for me. I received my first set of books from Barnes and Noble and have dug in. I'm pretty much through the Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears. I feel that the stance and actions that I have currently been on are good for Brenna and I feel comfortable with the way we are working her vaccine schedule. And if her pediatrician and the Pediatrics Dept at the Naval Hospital continue to try to intimidate me, I may just have to request through Tricare to be referred a PCM out in town. 

I have read the forward and 1st chapter in Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals. It's very interesting so far. I'm curious to see where he goes in the next chapters. So far it hasn't totally explained where these leftist people are coming from at this point because so far it he has said that some of the things they are doing are no-no's if they want to accomplish their mission, which is actually a good thing for the Country in the long run, because we've figured out what they are up to and most regular people are fed up with it all. So, in the end it may not be the Revolution he was looking for that may come about. Like I said, I'm looking to see where the book goes in the coming chapters. And I can't wait to start the other books, there are so many books I want to read/listen to this year. I'm hoping to finish  at least two books a month. I guess we'll see how things go.

I got my iphone, I'm really having a good time with it. I haven't figured out everything yet, and I'm not sure if it does everything I want it to, but for the most part it is everything I was expecting. I like being to use Facebook and some of the other apps, I'm looking forward to exploring a lot of the other applications as well. 

And we are using Netflix to watch movies on the computers and the TV upstairs. They are supposed to be introducing Netflix for the Wii in the next few months and we are excited for that because then we can use it and watch movies on the main TV downstairs. 

Tomorrow is a holiday because we are observing Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, and while we are not doing anything special to observe, we are thinking about going to Palm Springs for the day since the hubby is off and Meg doesn't have to do school. I guess we'll see how things go.

Being a Mom

Really, I think the title of this particular blog says it all. If I were to end it here and post it, I think there are many many moms out there who would get it, and agree. But I can't just leave it at that but the more I delve into it, you may or may not find yourself relating. I find that maybe I have some really odd ideas about motherhood. I love my kids, but they didn't come with instructions or an on/off switch (and oh, how convenient that would be sometimes). And even worse, when they are tiny it's all trial and error on what might be wrong because they can't even tell you, other than crying, and maybe I'm just not that smart, but I can't always tell what each and every cry might mean. And oh the whining. And when they hurt, you hurt with them, there have even been a few times where I cried with them. I believe I have been blessed, because for the most part, my kids aren't difficult, a few of them have been more needy than the others, but really, they've all been fairly easy going compared to what I've seen some mother's go through. 

It is rare that I go anywhere without my kids, if not all of them, at least one or two. But there are occasions when I do get out on my own, and sometimes, just those 15 minutes, or one, two hours, are an absolute relief, and then I feel selfish. This is one of the big reasons I don't go many places without them. It's not that I can't find anyone I trust to watch them, because there are several people I feel plenty comfortable leaving them with, and when we visit family, I trust them with the kids, but it feels selfish to go out and leave them with other people. They are my kids, their welfare is my responsibility all of the time. This is why the husband and I don't get out much. You wouldn't think once a week, or even once a month, or once every two months would be such a big deal for us to go do something. Well, other than the fact there isn't much to do around here that either of us are really interested in, I just can't shake that guilty feeling that I'm being selfish by dumping my kids off on someone else. So, even if I do get out, as much of a relief as it is sometimes, I have this sense of urgency that I need to get back right away. Whether this is a valid response or not, who knows. But, I look at other couples, parents, who are going out several times a month/week, and I can't help but wonder if they don't feel they are being as selfish as I feel they are. Maybe I'm a little jealous. Who knows. Maybe it's a combination of these. 

New Books!

I just placed an order for books from Barnes and Noble, yay! The last couple of times I've bought books they've all been for the kids. I love books and I don't take nearly enough time to read for myself as I should. I know this would be different if I was taking classes or something, but it's just not an option right now. Right now my focus is my family and teaching and raising them. Later, I would definitely like to go back to school, and I think it will be much better, it will be challenging, but I think I will get much more out of it than when I was younger. 


So, I have decided that until I can go back to school, I will read and learn and do on my own. I have a list of books I would like to read this year, and I'm sure the list will grow as the year goes on, but I've begun to fulfill that list by ordering some books, yay! I am hoping that I can also get some of the books that I am wanting in MP3 format as well, because sometimes I do enjoy listening as well, and it will be much easier to listen to my Ipod (or Iphone when I finally get it!) and tick off some of those books.


Well, I have a picture of dinner from last night.

It is Pork Loin, baby carrots and mashed potatoes with gravy. 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 5 to 6 hours

To make the rub for the pork I combined equal amounts of: Sea Salt, Peppercorn, Onion Flakes, Garlic Salt, Cajun Seasoning. Rub evenly on pork loin, paying particular attention to the meaty sections. Use two or three dashes of liquid smoke patted on the loin. Sear all sides meat to lock in the rub. Place seared loin into a baking pan or slow cooker with baby carrots and enough water to cover the carrots. If placing in the oven, cover pork with a sheet of foil. Oven temp should be 285 degrees. Slow cooker on high if you are doing the 5 to 6 hour method, low for 8-10 hours. I used mashed potatoes out of the box and gravy from a packet, which took me about 15 minutes just before serving.

I'm all for making dinners fast and easy being as busy as I am with the kids. So, any short cuts I can take, I do. Making mashed potatoes the long way with actual potatoes is wonderful and tasty if you have the time. Luckily, my family is happy either way. Using some of the pork juices and a teaspoon or two of flour to make gravy would not have taken a long time, but putting a couple of packets together with some water worked just as well. 

Anyway, I will share my meals with you this year as well, at least the ones that may interest you. 

That's all I got for today.

Happy New Year!!

All right, it's 2010. I'm trying to get back into the blogging mode this year. I took quite a break last year, but I'm ready to give the world my opinion, right or wrong, nice or not so nice, once again. There will be a heavy dose of what is going on in our lives here at home at the time, as well as recipes and meal ideas. I cook mainly out of necessity, sometimes I love it, sometimes I don't, but it's what's best for my family, and as easy and pain free as it is to eat out on a regular basis, it's expensive and not what we need to be doing. 


I've been debating on getting an Iphone, and I'm pretty much set now that it is definitely the phone I want, I've side by side compared the Iphone, Blackjack, Solstice, Blackberry, and HTC, the Iphone has everything I want. Now it's just to research how much it's going to actually add to my service because if it's too much, I'll just have to stick with what I've got.


There is so much going on in the world today, and I can tell you that I can only take about 30 minutes of news at a time because by the time it's done, I just want to hurt somebody, how can we be so stupid to have put so many of the wrong people in such positions of power and the ones that are riding along the coat-tails that we seem to have no say over. It's just like some of these celebraties (yes I spelled it wrong on purpose) out there, they have people who jump on their coat tails and try to ride their way to fame and a lot of them are unscrupulous bastards with no morals, and none of them, politicians, famous people, etc. none of them live in the real world. They live in some fantasy world and they want to take us all there, well, no thanks. Being rich would be nice, but sometimes money isn't all it's cracked up to be. Of course that's said by someone who doesn't have a lot of it. But then again, neither did Jesus. 


"And Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, I say to you, it will be had for rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'  Then Peter said in reply, 'Lo, we have left everything and followed you, What then shall we have?' Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones,judging the twelve trives of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.'


-Matthew 19: 23-30