Slow Cooker

LOL - just laughing at myself over here. I have had this slow cooker for years and years. I mean literally since I was married and I have been divorced about 4 years now. I have never used it. I just made Caldo de Pollo with it. It was YUM. I have plenty left over for lunch or dinner this whole week. I guess a good thing comes from just about any situation. I gave up a much bigger crock pot with a ceramic bowl for this one when I moved to an apartment because this one would take up less room but I realize now that I made a "caldo" in it for the first time, it holds much more than I can eat in several days. Sometimes getting what you need is better than what you want and it's funny ... at least sometimes.

Christmas Chez Moi

Look at the loot this kid gets! He made out like a bandit. For his birthday, my son, got a DSi. So for Christmas I got him the DSi's Action Replay for cheat codes and Santa got him Fossil Fighters. He also got several Lego toys. One was a Power Miners and the other Star Wars, the last a Bionicle action figure he had to assemble. He also got a Nerf gun and an XTB Train System add on, a few hot wheels, a protractor and a compass for school. His grandma got him a game for his DSi, SpeedRacer and a kid size Snuggie. I got an animal print Snuggie and umbrella from my son and ;) Santa brought me some make up brushes, candy and a yoga mat.

I have promised myself to get back on track working out again and really improving my eating habits. I started off really well nearly a year ago again but I relapsed into poor eating and sleeping habits again. Sigh.... I am damn near incorrigible. LOL.

Merry Christmas everyone!

formspring.me

What is your favorite literature book about a female protagonist?

If I have to pick one off the top of my head, I would have to say my favorite literature book about a female protagonist is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I really believe this book is as relevant today as Fahrenheit 451, because it is a window into the world we can easily slip into or regress back to some degree. The world has come close, in history, to the same treatment of and experience of people, rights, education, knowledge (slavery and treatment of women). This, to me, applies to the value placed on reality shows and media's control of what people read and talk about. Trending topics for instance remind me of the streaming media/propaganda of the televisions in Fahrenheit 451. The treatment of women in society, human trafficking, prostitution, political figures with escorts reminds me of the Handmaids Tale and the eventual value of women in society. The wives and the servicers. It's like being born to the right family. This happens in other countries, where the poor sell their daughters into prostitution.

Ask me something...

formspring.me

What do you find to be the most challenging parenting an autistic-spectrum child? by quixxxotica

The most challenging thing is controlling my feelings of helplessness and feeling like I am not having any impact on my child. It can be very overwhelming. The next most challenging thing would be worrying about his future and how he'll cope. It sounds like I mostly feel challenged by my own reactions to him and his condition but if it had everything to do with him and not me, I'd say the most challenging thing has to be helping him cope with how upsetting everything can be to him. From the itchy tag in his clothes to the chicken nuggets being a bit to soggy. Sometimes things not being just the same in varying brands is a struggle. For instance the strawberry mix is not the same if it's not the same bottle type I usually get. If he has powdered Quik with me and he's used to Quik syrup at his dad's or a generic brand at grandma's - we cannot buy what the other uses, it's what he's gotten used to at each house that he wants. It can be unbearable at times. And that's just one thing, there's plethora of things that can go wrong.

Ask me anything

formspring.me

If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

I would probably have to say steamed rice and tuna. I like them together and they make a great meal I don't think I could get sick of eating. That or chocolate.

If you could go on vacation for the next month with an unlimited budget, where would you go?

I would go to Hawaii or Las Vegas.

Ask me anything

Treasuring Moments

I was reading this blog I found through Pam. It is called Written, Inc. He wrote about his 9 year old son and how moments of closeness with a child this age become scarce quickly as they get closer to the teen years. Not in those words exactly but that's pretty much what I am feeling. My son just turned 9 (tomorrow he turns 9). He still tells me he loves me and wants to hug me and have me kiss his booboos, even in public.

I remember when he was a little younger, perhaps when he was 6 years old, we had gone to the park and he proceeded to keep dropping to his knees and causing himself pain to keep running back to me and ask me to kiss his knees. It was so cute. The first time was an accident but I guess he loved the attention, loving, and kissing and the adoration I spilled all over him that he had to have more. He has this way of looking so broken hearted and hurt when he suffers any pain or disappointment. When his eyes look this sad and filled up with tears it can actually cause me pain by just watching him go through this depth of emotion.

Last night at Olive Garden he did not like the seating arrangement. We got seated at a cozy little booth but each side was just roomy enough for one and he likes to sit next to me in a booth so he can lean into me, put his head on my lap or just be able to reach out and touch me. For a kid with Aspergers' he is incredibly full of feeling and affection (I think the autism ppl don't know what they are talking about). At any rate, by the time our meal was over he no longer had a headache but was still not happy to be that far away from me. He took his little hands and air drew a heart and then a crack through it to signify that he had a broken heart. I don't know why I was so quick to be able to decipher his hand gestures but when I asked why? - he said "Because I can't reach the momma!" He could not touch me or lean against me and it was breaking his little heart. Poor little guy. I know he does not realize how often I don't think I am a good enough mom for him but when he makes me feel this wanted - I am afraid to not be around to appease his fears or needs.

I need a change

I realized today I have seriously outgrown/burned out on my job. I feel alive when things are full of change, progress and improvement. I realize going to meetings and talking about things being improved is something that gets my blood pumping sort of but as soon as I head back to my office to do the usual, man does the full weight of my work slump slap me smack in the forehead, like a big red sore zit!!!

I need a new job, career, view and in general something exciting. I know it has to impact where I live, people I know and my routine, I just need to make it happen and get moving.

Resume updated, now time to start hunting. I am putting on my war paint cuz I need change.

Finishings

I can't believe it's been a whole year since I finished my MBA courses. I am still getting used to having so much time on my hands and not having to read and write papers. I have friends that are starting courses this semester or have been working on a new degree and I can tell they are frustrated with all the work. It is worth it I am sure, because it helps you feel accomplished. I am hoping that the economy only improves and jobs are plentiful and wages stay up. I want to find a higher paying job but I am not going to rush things. I am going to network and make some new friends in areas where I want to live and work and see how that goes before I make any serious decisions.

My son will be 9 years old this Sunday. It does not seem possible that he is 9 years old but when he stands by the sink, or reaches a cabinet without a stool or can get his own toothpaste on his toothbrush I realize he's got really long legs and his feet are almost as long as mine. But his little face is still so infantile to me. I see that sweet little pout that used to suck on a bottle and sippy cups. I want to cradle him in my arms and just cuddle him but he won't tolerate that for very long and tells me to let him go. Sigh. And if I kiss or hug him in public I can tell he wants me to stop and he even wipes kisses off .... sigh.

Everything changes and there is nothing you can do about it but sometimes that's the beauty .... you can't stop it and there's is some kind of release in that sometimes. Letting go and letting things end/change, can be good sometimes. Other times no, but focusing on the good that may come from it is what can help one get through it.