Hi Friends! Josh and I have been contemplating how we are too busy right now. We've got so much going on at any one time!! OOF!! Sundays are full of church things, Mondays are 24, Tuesdays are church softball, Wednesdays are youth group and Lost, Thursdays are church softball, Fridays and Saturdays are so much fun... we feel like we're just constantly busy. Throw in trying to work out and sleeping and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and things are crazy. All good things, but just a lot of stuff to do. And some things are definitely suffering- allow me to explain.
One thing is dishes. As we've said before, we no longer have a dishwasher. While this isn't a huge deal, it does make dish maintenance much more time consuming. Earlier this week Josh filled the sink with water to do some dishes. Unfortunately he only got about 1 thing washed before we had to leave to do something, so those dishes sat in the water for a couple of days before we had the time to do some more. We tackled them again last night while dinner was cooking, and wow, it was gross. The dishes were all covered with a slimy film that made me want to throw up. We had baked salmon one night, and getting that clean and un-smelling was disgusting. So we continue to learn the lesson that it's best to get dishes done as you go. At least do the bad stuff, like baking pans and crusty utensils. Things like cereal bowls and cups are a little less harmful if left until we have more time.
Another thing is finishing moving in. As of tomorrow we will have been in our new apartment for 2 weeks, but looking at certain areas, you wouldn't know it. Our futon is COVERED with piles of clothes and other things that haven't found homes yet. We keep wanting to put things away, but haven't found the time. I want to hang pictures on the wall, but just haven't gotten around to doing it.
Another thing is our WEDDING ALBUM!!! We still don't have it!! Our photographer is waiting for us to pick out the final photos that are going to make the book. Seeing as we got married last May, I think we're going to be fortunate to have that album in our possession 1 year later to the date. We'll probably be proud parents by the time we see that thing. We just need to pick out the pictures and be done with it.
Another thing is the food supply in our apartment. Wow, it's pretty bad. Josh and I had to be REALLY creative to find something for lunch today, which we have to pack in the morning before leaving for work because it's too far to go home and we're too poor to eat out every afternoon. We haven't gone grocery shopping for a while since it's the end of the month and we don't have any food budget left. The fridge isn't holding much right now- some milk, cheese, some white rice, 1 egg, a stick and a half of butter, some carrots, some peanut butter, Parmesan cheese, and some assorted condiments such as ketchup- that's about it. I haven't made bread for a while because of the aforementioned lack of time. We've had macaroni and cheese already three times this week, and since we have no bread we can't make sandwiches. This morning we had a little bit of leftover pasta in the fridge from last night, which we took along with some cereal and milk and popcorn. I'm laughing while I write this. I'm sure that anyone who would have seen that lunch would have thought it was bizzare, but hey, it got to the job done. Thank goodness that it's almost April!!
But all of this doesn't really matter- we're enjoying our spring so much and are so thankful for where the Lord has brought us. We're looking forward to a great weekend! Enjoy your's!!!!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wing Experience
Josh had a great game last night! He had two great hits! I took a video with our camera of one of his at-bats, but it turned out pretty bad because all you can see if him hitting the ball and then hearing me scream and seeing the arm of the lady who was sitting in front of me. I've got to work on that. So far I haven't heard any complaints about pulled muscles, so that's good.
We went out to Wild Wing after the game to celebrate our friend Springer's new job! (This was kind of a mixed celebration because it means that he and Laura Susan are moving to Columbus. Hmm.) Prior to last night, I think I had only had maybe 2 wings in my entire life. My family is just not the wing type. My mom is very picky, and the thought of her eating chicken wings honestly makes me laugh. So last night Josh and I both picked out a dozen wings- I picked bbq and he picked jalepeno cheddar. They were soooo good!! I was a MESS after we were done, since my wings were covered in this sticky barbeque sauce. I was AMAZED that I managed to avoid spilling anything on my shirt, although somehow I spilled on my friend Jennifer's shirt, who was sitting next to me. How did that happen? I can't explain it, other than that these things were messy. You've got to get down and dirty with the wings. Dig down into the trenches and be willing to get covered in sauce. I had the whole wing experience, down to the celery sticks. I definitely recommend doing this if you never have. I found bbq sauce on my face and my arms when we got home, even though I had tried my hardest to clean up at the restaurant. They need to give you a hose after feeding you something like that. I decided that wings is definitely not a date food. You know those foods to avoid if you're trying to impress someone on a date? Spaghetti is also not a date food. Getting all of those noodles onto a fork and then in your mouth can be pretty awkward. What do you do with the straggler noodles that don't get wrapped around your fork? Slurp them into your mouth? Bite them and let the extra fall back onto your plate? Wings is no different. If you're looking for a good old time with some friends, get wings. But if you're on a job interview, you best steer clear.
We went out to Wild Wing after the game to celebrate our friend Springer's new job! (This was kind of a mixed celebration because it means that he and Laura Susan are moving to Columbus. Hmm.) Prior to last night, I think I had only had maybe 2 wings in my entire life. My family is just not the wing type. My mom is very picky, and the thought of her eating chicken wings honestly makes me laugh. So last night Josh and I both picked out a dozen wings- I picked bbq and he picked jalepeno cheddar. They were soooo good!! I was a MESS after we were done, since my wings were covered in this sticky barbeque sauce. I was AMAZED that I managed to avoid spilling anything on my shirt, although somehow I spilled on my friend Jennifer's shirt, who was sitting next to me. How did that happen? I can't explain it, other than that these things were messy. You've got to get down and dirty with the wings. Dig down into the trenches and be willing to get covered in sauce. I had the whole wing experience, down to the celery sticks. I definitely recommend doing this if you never have. I found bbq sauce on my face and my arms when we got home, even though I had tried my hardest to clean up at the restaurant. They need to give you a hose after feeding you something like that. I decided that wings is definitely not a date food. You know those foods to avoid if you're trying to impress someone on a date? Spaghetti is also not a date food. Getting all of those noodles onto a fork and then in your mouth can be pretty awkward. What do you do with the straggler noodles that don't get wrapped around your fork? Slurp them into your mouth? Bite them and let the extra fall back onto your plate? Wings is no different. If you're looking for a good old time with some friends, get wings. But if you're on a job interview, you best steer clear.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Josh has his first softball game tonight! He'll be playing some at third base. He'll do great! Hopefully he won't come away with any pulled muscles!! Who knew that church softball could make you so sore?
I have to admit that I've taken an extended sabbatical from consistent exercising, pretty much since I found out that I was pregnant. Not a COMPLETE sabbatical, but a substantial one. I was wary of working out too hard in the first trimester, and then maybe I just got lazy. Let me tell you, it's a lot harder to work out when you don't work at the gym like I used to. Back then I didn't have a reason NOT to exercise. I think people's biggest obstacle to going to the gym is actually going to the gym. Once you're there, it's not bad. It's the getting there that's the challenge. Now I'm falling into that category of people. Those who are somewhat exercising-challenged because of motivational difficulties. BUT there is good news to report here. Josh and I have been going more consistently, and I've been enjoying it a lot. I forgot the joy that there is to be found in exercise and was focusing only on the pain that it is to get clothes together, change, get to the gym, etc. But it's actually a lot of fun, and it's wonderful when you can see results- see yourself getting fitter, having less trouble exercising harder for longer, finding it easier to lift heavier weights, etc. So I'm rediscovering why I became a personal trainer in the first place. It just took a re-birth of sorts.
Have a great night!
I have to admit that I've taken an extended sabbatical from consistent exercising, pretty much since I found out that I was pregnant. Not a COMPLETE sabbatical, but a substantial one. I was wary of working out too hard in the first trimester, and then maybe I just got lazy. Let me tell you, it's a lot harder to work out when you don't work at the gym like I used to. Back then I didn't have a reason NOT to exercise. I think people's biggest obstacle to going to the gym is actually going to the gym. Once you're there, it's not bad. It's the getting there that's the challenge. Now I'm falling into that category of people. Those who are somewhat exercising-challenged because of motivational difficulties. BUT there is good news to report here. Josh and I have been going more consistently, and I've been enjoying it a lot. I forgot the joy that there is to be found in exercise and was focusing only on the pain that it is to get clothes together, change, get to the gym, etc. But it's actually a lot of fun, and it's wonderful when you can see results- see yourself getting fitter, having less trouble exercising harder for longer, finding it easier to lift heavier weights, etc. So I'm rediscovering why I became a personal trainer in the first place. It just took a re-birth of sorts.
Have a great night!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Weekend Activities
Josh and I had such a great weekend. Friday night we had dinner at home, cleaned up a little bit, and went to "Breach," which Josh reviewed for your reading pleasure. That was such a good movie- I echo all of his sentiments. Saturday we had a meeting at church for the missions trip that Josh is leading to Canada this summer, after which we went to the library to check out some good books. I don't know about you, but most of my library books don't get read. I check them out for the nice cover or interesting pictures, but rarely read them cover to cover. I think I step into a library and just get way too excited and overwhelmed at all of the possibilities. What do I want to read about today? Cooking? Decorating? Dolphin Training? Weightlifting? Clothes? Music? Nature? I was looking through the new books and picked one up written by a father who has an autistic son. It's very interesting- I definitely recommend it. I've learned a lot about autism. The dad is a great writer.
Saturday night Josh and I decided to pull out a Rachael Ray cookbook that my mom gave me as a shower or birthday gift and give the "30 Minute Meal" a try. I found some pasta that looked good and used mostly stuff that we had in the pantry. It was sooo yummy!! But I've got to say, I think her "30 Minute Meal" is a myth. No normal person who doesn't cook for a living can prepare what she does in 30 minutes. She chops through an onion in like .5 seconds, and before you practically even see her do it, it's done. What? When did that onion get chopped? Why don't mine fall into those perfect little pieces that easily? I think she's got pre-cut vegetables, or something. Maybe they all have lines traced in them that are pre-cut, so chopping truly is effortless. I mean, when I'm cutting a carrot it does take some degree of work. You can't just karate chop it and expect it to be done. Unless you've got the hugest, sharpest knife and are fearless about cutting your fingers off. So her prep time is maybe 3 minutes, where it may be 20 minutes for the same recipe for the rest of our plebians. So Rachael, if you're reading this, I think you're a farce. I like many of your recipes, but think that you're making empty promises to tired, work-worn food preparers. Don't raise false hope, Rachael. After dinner we went to Babies R Us to pick out some things for Baby Desch and had a wonderful time. We saw some cribs there that honestly cost more than our bed. What's wrong with this picture???
Yesterday was also wonderful. We went to church and Sunday School in the morning- Josh taught on Hebrews 10. We went home and made vegetable soup for lunch, which was wonderful. Then I set to work making a yellow cake with chocolate frosting for our small group meeting, which was both a fun and satisfying baking experience. We relaxed and hung out all afternoon, which was great. I've gotta say, Augusta is already heating up, folks. I swear it was like 90 degrees in the kitchen when I was baking that cake. It's exciting and a little scary all at once- I'm sooooo thankful that spring is here!! But already this hot? That doesn't bode well for the future, i.e. July, August, etc. Another strange thing about Augusta right now is that everywhere you looks is covered in a sheer yellow coating of pollen. Our car is technically red, but it's had a nasty yellow-green tint for about a week now because the pollen is so thick everywhere. We wondered about washing the car, but then decided not to since it would look exactly the same tomorrow. I went out to check the mailbox at work this morning, and my blue shoes picked up a nice greenish sheen from walking through the grass. You can almost see clouds of pollen rising with each step. I feel very sorry for people with allergies!!! But I guess that's a good sign of spring. Yippee!!
Saturday night Josh and I decided to pull out a Rachael Ray cookbook that my mom gave me as a shower or birthday gift and give the "30 Minute Meal" a try. I found some pasta that looked good and used mostly stuff that we had in the pantry. It was sooo yummy!! But I've got to say, I think her "30 Minute Meal" is a myth. No normal person who doesn't cook for a living can prepare what she does in 30 minutes. She chops through an onion in like .5 seconds, and before you practically even see her do it, it's done. What? When did that onion get chopped? Why don't mine fall into those perfect little pieces that easily? I think she's got pre-cut vegetables, or something. Maybe they all have lines traced in them that are pre-cut, so chopping truly is effortless. I mean, when I'm cutting a carrot it does take some degree of work. You can't just karate chop it and expect it to be done. Unless you've got the hugest, sharpest knife and are fearless about cutting your fingers off. So her prep time is maybe 3 minutes, where it may be 20 minutes for the same recipe for the rest of our plebians. So Rachael, if you're reading this, I think you're a farce. I like many of your recipes, but think that you're making empty promises to tired, work-worn food preparers. Don't raise false hope, Rachael. After dinner we went to Babies R Us to pick out some things for Baby Desch and had a wonderful time. We saw some cribs there that honestly cost more than our bed. What's wrong with this picture???
Yesterday was also wonderful. We went to church and Sunday School in the morning- Josh taught on Hebrews 10. We went home and made vegetable soup for lunch, which was wonderful. Then I set to work making a yellow cake with chocolate frosting for our small group meeting, which was both a fun and satisfying baking experience. We relaxed and hung out all afternoon, which was great. I've gotta say, Augusta is already heating up, folks. I swear it was like 90 degrees in the kitchen when I was baking that cake. It's exciting and a little scary all at once- I'm sooooo thankful that spring is here!! But already this hot? That doesn't bode well for the future, i.e. July, August, etc. Another strange thing about Augusta right now is that everywhere you looks is covered in a sheer yellow coating of pollen. Our car is technically red, but it's had a nasty yellow-green tint for about a week now because the pollen is so thick everywhere. We wondered about washing the car, but then decided not to since it would look exactly the same tomorrow. I went out to check the mailbox at work this morning, and my blue shoes picked up a nice greenish sheen from walking through the grass. You can almost see clouds of pollen rising with each step. I feel very sorry for people with allergies!!! But I guess that's a good sign of spring. Yippee!!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The Best Movie I Have Seen in a Good While (this is Josh)
Movie Review - Breach (2007) - Spies Really Need the Gospel
Family man, sexual deviant, committed Catholic and the worst spy in U.S., all of this describes Robert Hanssen, the subject of the recent movie Breach. Betsy and I went to see this movie last night, and I was more absorbed in this movie than almost any other movie I've seen. Why? Because few movies portray the depth of the distorted and complicated state that is the human condition apart from Jesus Christ. Robert Hanssen comes across as a very evil man in this movie, but this is partly because he comes across as so authentically human. Hanssen is a very complicated man. He was both a dedicated Catholic and a spy whose actions led to the deaths of numerous people, aside from all the other damage he did to the U.S. He was also a pervert and a family man, a deeply bitter employeewho was motivated by more than money. In the end, Hanssens actions seem to be mostly motivated by the godlike power he achieved as a spy. He believed he was uncatchable, smarter than his superiors (who didn't deserve to be over him). He got his greatest thrill knowing that everyone was looking for him, and yet could not catch him. Talk about trying to find satisfaction in money, respect and power. If anybody needs Jesus, its this guy. The depth of his damage is still classified, but its amazing to think that Jesus love is so powerful that even this twisted man can be saved by putting his trust in the atoning work of Christ.
Family man, sexual deviant, committed Catholic and the worst spy in U.S., all of this describes Robert Hanssen, the subject of the recent movie Breach. Betsy and I went to see this movie last night, and I was more absorbed in this movie than almost any other movie I've seen. Why? Because few movies portray the depth of the distorted and complicated state that is the human condition apart from Jesus Christ. Robert Hanssen comes across as a very evil man in this movie, but this is partly because he comes across as so authentically human. Hanssen is a very complicated man. He was both a dedicated Catholic and a spy whose actions led to the deaths of numerous people, aside from all the other damage he did to the U.S. He was also a pervert and a family man, a deeply bitter employeewho was motivated by more than money. In the end, Hanssens actions seem to be mostly motivated by the godlike power he achieved as a spy. He believed he was uncatchable, smarter than his superiors (who didn't deserve to be over him). He got his greatest thrill knowing that everyone was looking for him, and yet could not catch him. Talk about trying to find satisfaction in money, respect and power. If anybody needs Jesus, its this guy. The depth of his damage is still classified, but its amazing to think that Jesus love is so powerful that even this twisted man can be saved by putting his trust in the atoning work of Christ.
Baby Desch, 6 Months and Growing
Baby Desch is growing! It's getting really exciting. He/she is due to make his/her appearance exactly 3 months from today. Can't wait!!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Friday Morning at Bojangles
My office has a tradition of bringing in biscuits from Bojangles every Friday morning. Bojangles, for those Northerners out there, serves all sorts of delights for the palate, but I think they are most famous for fried chicken and biscuits. Every Friday morning it is someone's responsibility to pick up the biscuits and bring them to the office. We all have our own preferences. I usually get a plain biscuit or one with an egg on it, while some of the others get a ham biscuit or a sausage biscuit. These are quite delicious.
This morning Josh and I had biscuit duty. At our old apartment, Bojangles wasn't that far away, so if we would leave the house by about 8:05 or 8:10 (work starts at 8:30), we could get the biscuits and be at work in time. But now that we've moved into the boonies, we had to shoot for leaving the house at 7:45 this morning. That may not sound bad, but for us, that's a herculean task. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when you throw Baby Desch into the mix- we're never going to be anywhere on time. It's a good thing I'm quitting my job.
We pulled up to Bojangles at about 8:10, and the line for the drive-thru was out on Washington Road. You couldn't barely pull into the parking lot to get in line for biscuits. Augusta must be a big biscuit town. Every time we have biscuit duty, Bojangles is overflowing with cars. No room in the drive-thru, no room in the parking lot. Going in to stand in line is no faster- there are just as many people waiting in line for their biscuit fix. A surprising number of the cars in line are actually these massive super-duty trucks. I'm not passing any judgments here... maybe just suggesting that rednecks like their biscuits. We finally got out of the street and into the line, and got out at 8:27, just in time to drive around the corner to work.
I love Friday rituals. Friday always has somewhat of a party atmosphere, and biscuits make it that much better. I don't know if biscuits were such a part of life in the North. They were probably there, and I just didn't know it. But I have completely embraced biscuits. They bring joy to my heart, excitement to my tummy, and anticipation for the weekend.
Have a wonderful weekend!! Go eat a biscuit today!!
This morning Josh and I had biscuit duty. At our old apartment, Bojangles wasn't that far away, so if we would leave the house by about 8:05 or 8:10 (work starts at 8:30), we could get the biscuits and be at work in time. But now that we've moved into the boonies, we had to shoot for leaving the house at 7:45 this morning. That may not sound bad, but for us, that's a herculean task. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when you throw Baby Desch into the mix- we're never going to be anywhere on time. It's a good thing I'm quitting my job.
We pulled up to Bojangles at about 8:10, and the line for the drive-thru was out on Washington Road. You couldn't barely pull into the parking lot to get in line for biscuits. Augusta must be a big biscuit town. Every time we have biscuit duty, Bojangles is overflowing with cars. No room in the drive-thru, no room in the parking lot. Going in to stand in line is no faster- there are just as many people waiting in line for their biscuit fix. A surprising number of the cars in line are actually these massive super-duty trucks. I'm not passing any judgments here... maybe just suggesting that rednecks like their biscuits. We finally got out of the street and into the line, and got out at 8:27, just in time to drive around the corner to work.
I love Friday rituals. Friday always has somewhat of a party atmosphere, and biscuits make it that much better. I don't know if biscuits were such a part of life in the North. They were probably there, and I just didn't know it. But I have completely embraced biscuits. They bring joy to my heart, excitement to my tummy, and anticipation for the weekend.
Have a wonderful weekend!! Go eat a biscuit today!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)