Setting the Bar High ...

When I got married, I married into a family that set the bar extremely high when it comes to baking or cooking. I mean, these people can cook! So naturally I am intimidated whenever I have to bring something to a dinner. I usually go the path of least resistance, and buy some artisan bread from Harmons.


Tonight I am happy to report that I cooked a really good dinner. I've never cooked a turkey before, and I had no intentions of doing so until I saw that it was $0.40/lb. at Winco. How could you turn that down?


The preparation of a whole turkey is disgusting. I felt like I had to break it's leg to get inside and fish everything out. Pulling the skin back to put the rub on wasn't exactly enjoyable either.


Here is the before pic..



..and here is the after..



I am so happy with the way it turned out. I was so nervous because I didn't follow a recipe for the seasoning - and now I'm wishing I had written down everything I used because it was tasty.


Of coarse a bird isn't complete without ..



The best stuffing in the world! I will never use another recipe for stuffing in my entire life. This family recipe is to die for.


I guess in a way this was a bit of a second Thanksgiving - just miniaturized. These past few weeks have been a roller coaster ride of emotions, and I've hit the part where you pull into the station and you're so glad to be back on solid ground.


As many of you know I am not going into my 6th month of being unemployed and that has been more difficult than I could have imagined. I never thought that it would be hard for me to find a job, I have always been an exceptional worker and have had nothing but rave reviews from my bosses. The problem is that there are NO jobs. Even if you find a job you know you'd be good at, there are a million people applying. I'm apparently over qualified to work at Ross and Macy's because they both turned me down to sell clothes. But, I'm not good enough to get employed in an office or at the university.


Now that I'm in month 6, my state benefits are almost all gone, and the extended benefits from the Federal Government have expired. For the past week I have been obsessively checking every news app on my phone to see the latest news, praying that I'll check it soon and see that the extension has been passed. Lucky for me, it looks like it is going to go through. For a week or two I was freaking out, applying for every and any job within 50 miles, and hoping someone would offer me a job.


Even though I don't agree with extending the tax cuts for the rich, I can't express my gratitude to know that I will have a few bucks coming in until I can secure a job. That means my car won't have to miss a payment, the apartment will remain heated, and I can keep some food in the fridge. This is such a contrast from where I was a year ago, but the experience has defiantly humbled me.


Today Dan took his first final for law school, and happily reported that it was as torturous as some students have reported. One down and three more to go this semester. If anyone wants a crash coarse about dealing with stressful situations in your first year of marriage, just send your spouse to law school. It has been interesting to see the changes in him. I can't even watch a random tv show or commercial without some tort or contracts law coming up - but I love it.


Yesterday, Dan and I watched the broadcast of the hearing for Prop 8 in California. The most interesting part wasn't on the tv - it was in Dan's reaction to the tv. His face lights up every time they do something wrong. Its hilarious, he is going to make a great lawyer.

Giving Thanks

Dan and I were so lucky to be able to go down to Utah for Thanksgiving. We didn't think we'd be able to make it with his work load and the weather. The weather decided to cooperate just enough for us to make it, but still put us through hours of snow torture going 30 mph. 


It was so good to see most of our friends and family. Its amazing how much four months can make you miss people. Some of the trips highlights ...


Surprising both of Dan's parent's who didn't know we were coming. I think we were close to giving JoAnn a heart attack.


Getting a rock stuck in my breaks - Dan had to pull my wheel off and fish it out.. but the repair was minor compared to the worrying it caused me.


Sushi with my bff... SO GOOD...









...ALMOST as good as Thanksgiving dinner. The best food ever! I will never be able to live up to this level of cooking in my life time, and I am okay with that because I get to eat it while it lasts.


Unfortunately no food can live up to the satisfaction that comes from spending time with our families. I love all of them - especially my niece who decided to climb on the table and rock out for us!





All in all it was the best time I've had in a long time.. I am so glad we were able to come and make it there and back safe.


<Insert one complaint here. Idaho does NOT know how to take care of their roads. Their idea of plowing is to throw rocks down on the ice. Not the best method I've ever seen - my car's paint dents can attest to this.>

Look who was ahead of the times..

So everyone is talking about how Prince William purposed to his fiance with his mother's sapphire engagement ring.  When Princess Diana picked the sapphire ring, sales of sapphires skyrocketed. Now that the ring is back in the spotlight, many think sapphires will come "back in style"

UM ... HELLO!


Sapphires have always been beautiful! That is why I picked an ice-blue sapphire for my ring. Look who was ahead of the times... 


haha

I was right!

Yesterday right after I blogged about breaking the knife this happened...





I cracked the joint in my lemon squeezer and it broke off :( 


Luckily, I can try to exchange this one at Bed Bath and Beyond. 


I still can't believe all of this is happening. I must be REAL strong. 

I am ... the HULK

This morning I was making Dan's lunch, and while I was cutting the cheese for his sandwich this happened...





so much for Stainless Steel! I broke the knife in half while cutting cheese! 


Maybe today is my lucky day - I better go buy a lotto ticket. 

Unemployed..

A blessing or a curse? 


For the majority of America I am assuming this is a curse. 


For me it was quite the opposite really. I was working for a company that I classified as a "sinking ship." Working crazy hours on salary and it was demanded because "in this economy you are replaceable." I had a hard time focusing on work with the thoughts of an upcoming wedding and move for Dan's law school. Being laid off was a blessing because it allowed me to still receive some income while I finished wedding plans and set off on an adventure to Idaho. 


Being unemployed after working for years is a feeling that I can only classify as weird. A wave of different emotions crash in on a regular basis. At first I loved being unemployed. I loved having the summer off of work and responsibilities to spend time relaxing and having fun with Dan. I loved the fact that I had enough money coming in to scrape by, and that I could plan a wedding in one month. I was busy with the all of the major life changes that took place in a matter of months - anyone who has ever moved out of state can understand the enormous task. I had been consistently looking and applying for jobs along the way, but I secretly hoped that none of them would call me back. Occasionally I would have some fear and anxiety about really finding a job, but because I didn't need one immediately I'd suppress those feelings and soon enough they'd go away and I was right back to enjoying my time off. 


Today a wave of ANXIETY hit like a ton of bricks. I am just starting month five of my unemployment and with the recent election that means I have about 7 weeks until I am high and dry of income, unless by some miracle congress extends the unemployment benefits - which they are proud to take away. 


The job search in Moscow, Idaho is far more challenging than I had ever imagined. The two universities are the major employers within a 70 mile radius. Getting a university to look twice at my resume has proven impossible. I found a job listing the other day for a ticket clerk at the sporting events that would start at $12/hour but REQUIRED a bachelors degree. Are you kidding me? You want me to go to school for four years to be qualified to take tickets at a football game!


I've read a few articles recently about how the unemployment rate for individuals in their 20's is much higher than the national average. This article is always quickly accompanied by articles talking about the college graduates that can't get a job even with their recent degree.


Whats a girl like me to do? No degree. Two and a half years experience in project management for software development (which is almost a foreign term in this rural community). Going to school is an option that I have explored extensively, I was even enrolled for classes this fall - but out of state tuition is crazy and money isn't easy to come by.


All I know is that I have control over a few things. Many things I cannot control at all. 


Today I'm going to get up, put my right foot in front of my left foot, take my left foot and put it in front of my right, and repeat because that is all I can do..

Halloween - A Therapist's Favorite Holiday

Maybe I am being a bit dramatic, likely caused by the fact that I am not feeling very well today. This year especially I can't help but to be repulsed by Halloween. I have come to the conclusion that it must be a therapist's favorite holiday. Not only do death and mortality issues come creeping to the surface, but it the one night a year where every girl with daddy issues feels the need to slut it up. They are walking bull's eyes. If anyone out there wants to go into therapy - you could get an entire patient base by handing out your business cards to all of the "sexy" doctors, nurses or cops that invade society on this god-forsaken night. 

I fully support the children under the age of 12 in their Halloween endeavors. They are more than welcome to come to my door and take away left over candy from our wedding, but I can't logically find any reason as to why grown adults feel the need to dress up character or a professional that they could never amount to in real life.

If you've read this far, then bless your heart for listening to my cynical ranting for as long as you did and Happy Halloween.