Sad Times

Well, another semi-rare update from the world of Sarah.

Life isn't too bad right now, some mild dramas and anxieties... no more or less than anyone else, I'd guess.

Today is a sad day, though. A really, really fantastic woman I knew passed away this morning after a long battle with cancer... leaving behind a husband and two young children. We weren't best friends, and there are many many people feeling a deep and harsh loss today... but all I can say is that it is rare for me to meet someone in this world whom I instantly respect and like. I never saw anything but kindness, generosity, and patience from her, even when life was being so far from fair.

So, if you're the praying type... Maybe say one for Susan Norman as she goes on to whatever is next - though if there was ever anyone who had a fast-pass to heaven, it'd be her. And, maybe, say one for the family she left behind. The kids who have to feel this loss and deal with not getting to have Mom be there for all the big and little days - and the husband who has to go to bed alone tonight.

If you're not the praying type, maybe just give it a shot anyway? Who is it hurting... and what if it helps?

A tiny little update...

So, I have been ridiculously terrible about updating this for the last two or three weeks. I know your lives must be in deep and unalterable peril from that fact. Have no fear, a random life update is here!

My job has become ridiculous to an insulting and maddening degree. I have taken home, all together, less than two dollars in the last seven days. Granted, they will have to raise my paycheck to be at least minimum wage for the hours worked - but they always just end up cutting me from the floor and requesting I clock out... so the hours are pretty low, legally, even when I am actually on premises for a while after. Last night I ended up babysitting the boss' toddler son while taking care of his "VIP" guests for free... all the same work as I do for pay, but this time with a 16 month old baby pulling my hair and with no money at the end of it... WIN.

Otherwise... life is going on as normal. Chris and I are hitting our one month this week (depending on how you count it)... so that is nice. We both have today off so we are heading to my place once I get his butt out of bed (it's already 11am!) and we will placate the kitty and play with computer/tv stuff. I think I might also take a few pieces of non-sentimental jewelry up to a shop to sell. Work is definitely not paying, and even with my relatively sizable tax refund I am going to need more money soon.

It has been snowing on and off pretty much constantly all winter. We barely see bare ground anymore - and that is actually not normal for Missouri. We usually get one or two good soilid snow falls, and that is it... but it has been relatively constant since December. Fell on my ass in Chris' driveway yesterday - with tons of grace, of course.

Alrighty... time to wake the man up and see if I get my face eaten off by a grumpy monster. Wish me luck!

my nobe is duffy...

I have discovered that sinuses that are stuffed to my ears make every man who doesn't have a noticeably deep register (i.e. James Earl Jones) begin to sound like Ray Romano to me... It makes watching TV really strange.

Two nights ago I tossed and turned all night, kept feeling hot and then freezing... kicking off blankets and then huddling up... Needless to say, I was sick as a dog when I woke up. I spent the whole day yesterday pretty much prone until NyQuill took me away on a happy cloud. Luckily, I slept pretty well and feel markedly better today... though still worn out and filled with sinus joy...

Woohoo...

It's likely I will become gloriously fat in the keeping of this blog...

So, I had someone over last night and made a yummy dinner... Cod, marinated all day in lemon, butter, and herbs and then baked in the same... A nice whole wheat linguine... brussel sprouts tossed in bacon and the fat from the bacon and then roasted to a happy place in the oven...

Unfortunately the pasta was a bit under cooked (by a minute or two) and the fish was over cooked (also by a minute or two... if only I had switched out their times!)... But the sprouts were freaking delicious... Though my dinner companion did not seem to appreciate their beauty. Luckily, he brought a more than decent bottle of wine so he is forgiven.

This morning, the amazing brussel sprouts were tossed in a hot pan again to get warm, then eggs and seasonings were added... Pop that under the broiler for a few minutes with a few pieces of fresh buffalo mozzarella, and - poof! Yummy frittata!

Lesson learned here: bacon saves all meals, even those where you just couldn't get the timing right.

Nancy Pelosi looks like those aliens from AI... Anyone? Anyone?

Yes, Jessica, Alton Brown may be your food savior, too. The Good Eats church welcomes all comers. :-)

Also, I figured out how to leave comments open without having to have an account or sign in - so for those of you that didn't want an account, now you may leave a hello or burning indictment of me.

It's my magical regular Tuesday off. I slept until almost 8am - which is insanely late for me. Granted, I was up until 11pm or so, which is also insanely late for me. I have been working so many days lately that I now sleep like a grandmother - in bed by nine, up at five or six. Maybe I can convince Denny's to let me share in the early bird specials...

Todays exciting plans include getting gas in the car, doing some laundry and dishes, and picking up some cat litter before my home is designated a poop disaster area - though some FEMA funds would be really helpful right about now!

Is anybody watching this election is Massachusetts today? The, apparently, very close and heated run off for the late Senator Kennedy's seat is pretty much owning my TV. At first I was mildly annoyed by yet another seemingly endless coverage of something Kennedy related... but, to be honest, this is turning out to be a rather important seat - the winner of this seat basically defines what will happen to the health care reform that is being ramrodded through in Washington right now. I have pretty strong feelings on this, which many of you can already guess... but I haven't had my coffee yet so I will hold off on ranting until I can make sure I am completely coherent.

Plus... The wafting scent of kitty waste is telling me that it is time to run to the store... Mmmm... nothing like the smell of cat leavings in the morning.

Smells like victory.

A healthy breakfast... or cardboard and sticks...

Well, I decided to try this whole healthy (read: low calorie yet high in nutrition) breakfast thing. Part of having this blog is my desire to live a little healthier and a little happier, so I am back on SparkPeople... exercising and eating well (for all of two hours now).

But, hey... I managed to feel full after only eating 197 calories, only 2 grams of fat, 16 grams of protein, 14 grams of fiber, less than 200 grams of sodium, and 100% of my vitamin D, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, and Zinc... as well as about half of my daily calcium.

Plus I did a short workout that included various forms of crunches and wall push-ups (because I can't even do the girly ones on the floor...).

Now, if only it didn't taste like eating sticks and water with a cup of coffee.

Anyone have any suggestions on filling, tasty, healthy-ish meals? Especially things I can throw together relatively quickly after first waking up or coming home from a long day.

Update

Um...yeah. My cat manages to get Kitty Tonsilitus.

Her throat hurts enough to make her puke everything back up. She is feverish and pissy.

WIN.