Recipe of the Day

OK, this may seem labor intensive but hear me when I say it's not! Don't omit anything unless you really, really can't eat one of the ingredients. They're all so necessary, it works together to make the dish. It's a great dish and I served it over steamed brown rice and steamed broccoli. I also cut my chicken breasts up into bite size pieces instead of leaving them whole. I liked it better this way. Yummmmmmmmmy!

Curried Chicken with Dried Cranberries
4 servings
8 points per serving

2 tsp olive or canola oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
14 ½ oz can diced tomatoes with juice
2 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and diced
½ C chicken broth
¼ C dried cranberries
4 C hot cooked brown rice

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned, 2-3 min. on each side. Transfer to a plate.

Add the onions and cook, stirring as needed, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, turmeric, coriander, ginger and pepper flakes; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 sec.

Add the tomatoes, apples, broth and cranberries; bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Return the chicken to the skillet; reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve the rice, topped with the chicken breast and sauce.

Per serving: 437 Calories, 6g fat, 1g sat fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 98 mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 27 g protein, 89mg calcium.

Justice to be served

Remember my blog a couple of days ago that spoke about this effing asshole who's baby was brought into my hospital because he burned his baby with a hair dryer? Well here's the bastard and he's going to jail:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/NEWS02/80122066/1004


Bye, bye you asshole. Good luck trying to dodge the jailhouse justice that's waiting for you in the big house.

Yea for me!

So not only did I manage to lose 7lbs last week, I also was able to NOT eat the pizza that was left in my fridge last night and still there this morning (I was hoping that DH would have eaten it after he got home from work, but he didn't). I'm proud of myself because one of my weaknesses is pizza. Had it been Buddy's, I'd have put it away in seconds flat BUT still, I resisted even though it was Little Caesars. Not only did I resist the pizza, I also resisted buy the cute ass Coach IPOD holder that I found on clearance (that one required a call to my sponsor. Of course that bitch talked me out of it because she was jealous I not only had an IPOD but also because I found a Coach IPOD holder. I'm sure of this. BTW, Hi Cindy!)

So now I'm left with an empty belly and a naked IPOD.

Life's good.

Recipe of the Day

This is even better the next day for lunch so make extra!

Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing

4 servings, 7 points each

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts ( about 4 small pieces )

1 box Stove Top Stuffing mix

1 jar Heinz Fat Free Chicken gravy

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chicken broth

Spray the bottom of the crockpot with Pam and lay the chicken at the bottom of the crockpot. Pour the broth over the chicken. In a bowl, mix together the dry stuffing mix, celery, and gravy until slightly moistened. Heap over the chicken in the crockpot. Cook 6-7 hours on low.

Recipe of the Day

I'm gonna start this up again because I have some seriously yummy recipes that are worth passing along. I'll start today with a crockpot chili that is really, really good. Enjoy!

3 Bean Chili

5 pointsServings:

10 - 1 Cup Servings

Ingredients

31 oz Bush's Black Beans (2 cans)

31 oz Bush's Pinto Beans (2 cans)

31 oz Bush's Light Red Kidney Beans

(2 cans) 31 oz Del Monte Diced Tomatoes

(2 cans) 6 oz tomato paste

1 medium green pepper, diced

2 cup Boca Original Burger

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 packets McCormick chili seasoning (look for low sodium type)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Put all of this into a crockpot, stir and cook on low for 6-8 hours

Diet is DIE with a t

So my BFF and I started back at Weight Watchers last week. I actually lost 7 lbs. this week so I was stoked. I'm finding it eaiser to follow the program this time around (uh, the 3rd time's the charm LOL). I belive the difference for me is the fact that I cook EVERY day. I didn't do that before. It takes a lot of planning but I seem to have a pretty good system down now.

The problem with me is that I HATE to exercise. I friggen HATE it with a passion. It's boring to me. I've tried pretty much everything like walking with a friend, walking in the mall (very, very bad, I spent $125 that day), working out at the Y (not lunching, working out!), the treadmill at home (purchased like 5 years ago and still in MINT condition much to husband's dismay LOL), eliptical (I thought I was going to die after 2 minutes, seriously. How out of shape am I?)

Hate... them... all

I know I need to do it so I will. I'll also still hate every minute of it. I'm thinking of putting the portable DVD player downstairs so I can watch Big Love season 2 while I'm "walking my way to fitness" (LMAO, how gay does that sound). Maybe that'll work. I'd strap the computer on but who can type while they're walking? I haven't mastered that yet.

I made a diet resolution though. I swore off all fast food for 2008*. This means that when I do my monthly "eat what I want day", I will not indulge in any fast food (I'll miss you the most Mr. Taco Bell Carmel Apple Empanada. Your 300 calories and 15 grams of fat will have to attach to another ass, mine's exit only). When you start looking at the nutritional values of some of that food, you'll seriously throw up in your mouth. I honestly cannot eat something that has 50 some grams of fat in it**. I have to say the BEST diet tip is to be sitting in say, Wendy's, and have some crazed teen whip a shit pie at you while you're eating your 420 calorie, 20 grams of fat 1/4 lb. single. I suspect you'd put down that burger and have no desire to pick it up again.



I'll leave you with my new motivational slogan




*exception to this is pizza. Not in a million years would I give up that cheesy goodness.

**pizza doesn't count. It could have 100 grams of fat in it and I'd still eat it. I'd probably have to work out for 4 minutes on the eliptical but I'd be worth it!

I couldn't MAKE this shit up!

Here are the highlights of my night at work:

Crazy ass 19 y/o who was brought in by the police because while he was at Wendy's hamburgers, a voice, identified as Batman, told him to go into the bathroom, shit into a bucket and come out and throw the shit at the other customers in the restaurant. How'd you like to be eating your single with everything combo meal and get smacked in the side of the face with a shit pie?

Stupid "mom" and I use the word "mom" very, very loosly (because what kind of mother would allow this), comes in with an 8 week old infant with 1st and 2nd degree burns to her face. She says that "Dad" aka: effing asshole, decided to blow dry his infant daughters hair and burned her face in the process. W....T....F! Yah, it get's better. Upon the assessement we discover that the baby has the mark on her inner thigh where the effing asshole LAID...yes LAID the hair dryer on the baby's thigh. The burn of the intake filter is the proof of that. Nice 'eh? The baby was transferred out to a burn unit at another hospital.

I gotta go, Superman is telling me to eat some donuts.

Like a fish

I'm hooked!! Ghost Hunters is such a good show! I really have to stop watching this show late at night because it jacks up my dreams but I just can't tear myself away from the tube. I'll pay for this tonite I'm sure. Good thing DH is home and his shingles are cleared up and he's back in bed with me

My friggen bank

I'm so sick and friggen tired of my credit union. The friggen bill pay is down YET AGAIN and I'm soooo done with this shit. I would have booked looooong ago if it wasn't such a pain in the ass to change over our direct deposits. I have no choice since I shouldn't have to wait to pay my friggen bills because the bank is having difficulties with the ghetto ass server they have. I don't have time to list every bill and the amount I need paid via email to Suzy Sixteen so she can pay my bills for me (their solution to the problem) plus the fact I don't need every Sue, Betty and Allison knowing my business. I'd rather post on my blog so every Tom, Dick and Harry knows my personal business.

Score: Mom 1 Owen 2,599

Oh yes, I've finally pulled one over on the 3 year old. Mr. Anorexic routinely eats nothing when it comes to vegetables so aside from force feeding him (uh, yah right) I was at a loss as to how to get some veggies into him.

Enter this product:



It's pure genius. Full servings of daily allowances of vegetables and fruit all with a strawberry banana taste. Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Campbell Soup Company. My beasts are eating things that they'd cut off their leg before tasting prior to the V Fusion discovery. The 1st ingredient in it is reconstituted vegetable juice. They're eating sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and beets. Bwhahahaha!!! Gotcha you little beastie!

Funniest...pictures....ever!

You MUST check this guy's blog out. He's got Olan Mills pictures from the 70's and captions for them. It's beyond funny. For those of us who have given birth, put a stayfree on before you click, you'll thank me later!

http://listoftheday.blogspot.com/2007/09/great-olan-mills-photos.html

Wha?

I don't often blog about work because I don't want to get my ass fired, however, sometimes I just can't help myself.

Setting: ICU yesterday at work

Players: myself, pharmacist and nurse

Nurse: has anyone seen part of my stethoscope? It broke and I'm missing the top half. I've looked everywhere and I can't find it.

Me: How in the world did your stethoscope break in 1/2?

Pharmacist: It looks plastic, is it plastic?

Nurse: Yes

Me: What the hell are you doing with a plastic stethoscope? Did you take it from your grand kids Fisher Price doctor kit?

Nurse: It actually worked pretty good considering.

Me: Considering what? That it was Fisher Price? (I'm thinking, no way.)

Nurse: Yes, it really worked.

Me: ______, are you telling me that your stethoscope was a toy?

Nurse: Yah. I just don't understand what could have happened to the other part. Where could it be? (nurse wanders off in search of her toy)

Pharmacist and I look at each other.

Pharmacist: She was serious wasn't she.

Me: Yes, she was.

Pharmacist: I can't believe it. She was using a toy stethoscope.

Me: Nothing surprises me anymore. That's just so sad.

Some cool web sites

Home remedies for just about anything!

http://www.earthclinic.com/



Swap postcards with anyone in the world here, this would make a neat project to have kids do:

http://www.postcrossing.com/



Not your typical news but interesting nonetheless:

http://www.fark.com/



GREAT free samples here:

http://www.mysavings.com/



Perhaps the funniest site on the web:

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Why do you doubt me Thomas?

So my darling husband (insert some very sarcastic tone here) comes up to me the other night and says, "Will you look and see what's on my back?" Here is the conversation from there:

Me: What the?.....hmmmm...looks like shingles to me.

DH (darling husband): It isn't shingles

Me: yes, it is.

DH: No it's not.

Me: Why are you asking me if you already know then.

DH: Well I don't know but I know it isn't shingles

Me: Again, why ask me if you don't want to know my opinion?

DH (getting pissed): I asked you because I wanted to know if something was there.

Me (getting pissed myself): so lemme get this straight, you haven't even looked on your back, but you KNOW whatever is there isn't shingles.

DH: I saw it in the mirror but I couldn't get close enough to actually study it.

Me: Well, I'm close enough and I say it's shingles.

DH: Nevermind.

At this point, we part ways, each to a different computer. I can sense the urgency in the room as both of us try to out-google the other trying to identify the mystery rash which I've already identified as shingles. I can out-google that guy any day as he's still a bit computarded when it comes to visiting any site other than CNBC and yahoo. Here is what transpired from there:

Me (GASPING): Holy crap! I've found the rash.

DH: What is it?

Me: OMG...

DH: WHAT??!

Me: Well, I don't know how this happened, but I'm positive that the rash isn't shingles.

DH: I TOLD YOU.

Me: Yes you did. I'm sorry

DH: You should be.

Me: It's hard admitting your wrong.

DH: Yah, especially for you

Me: Wow...that's really harsh

DH (laughing): I love you anyway

Me: Well, I'm still wondering how in the hell you got Syphilis on your back.

DH: WHAT?

Me: I know! I can't figure it out.

DH: I DON'T HAVE SYPHILIS ON MY BACK!

Me: I think you do.

DH: I'm done with this.

Me: I think you need to get checked out.

DH: I'm not discussing this with you anymore.

Me (now I'm the one laughing): Lemme google herpes then.

DH storms out.

Since this post would be worthless without pics, here ya go:





The next day I'm at work and receive a phone call from DH.

Me: Hello
DH: Hey, I just got back from the doctor.
Me: Oh ya? How'd that go?
DH: Well, you were right.
Me (silent...taking it alllll in)
DH: Hello?
Me: I'm still here.
DH: I said you were right
Me: Why do you doubt me Thomas?
DH: Whatever.
Me: So you'll be sleeping in another room until this clears up because I've never had the chicken pox and I'm at risk now because you have shingles.
DH: No you're not.
Me: Yes I am.
DH: The doctor didn't say anything about that.
Me (getting pissed because I've had a shitty day at work and I don't need this crap): Really? I guess the HEAD of friggen infection control here at the hospital is WRONG when he told me that I'm at risk, so I think I'll tell him that my husband said I'd be OK so sorry I took up 15 min. of his time talking to him about this issue.
DH sighing: I'm gonna get going now.
Me: OK, by the way, I told everyone at work you had shingles on your penis.
DH: click.

And I'm done

I've decided not to pursue a bachelor degree in nursing. I will finish school and get a bachelor degree but I'm not sure what it will be in yet.

I've really been doing some soul searching about this and the last few times I've worked, helped me make the decision.

• I feel that it's a lateral move. Even though nursing offers me more opportunities in the medical field, it will be a long time before I make the money that I'm making now.
• The amount of money that I'd have to borrow in student loans will be in access of about $15,000 (yah, this seems "cheap" but remember that I already have an associate degree!) and I'm not even done with the loans I took for Respiratory school!
• I'm not willing to take 2 years out of my family's life to commit to nursing school. My kids are still so young and I'd hate to miss these years. This is one of the main reasons that I've decided not to continue.
• Nursing school is no walk in the park and although I'm completely capable of the academic portion of it, the time involved is what scares me. I won't be able to work much and frankly, after the catastrophe with the trailer, we need my income.
• I feel comfortable and confident in my job as a therapist. I don't want to start over with all the doubts and fears that come with starting a new position/career. I don't want to have to build the confidence thing all over again. I can handle whatever comes my way now and I like that feeling.
• This may sound odd but I don't want to get to know my patients on a personal level. I like being about to swoop in, treat you and make you well, then swoop out without all the excess baggage about your life and what circumstances brought you here, other than what I need to know for your care here and now. Here's an example of what I mean. I was giving a patient a breathing treatment and noticed some pictures of her on the wall. Some were of her and her family at her cottage, some of a sunset over the lake the cottage is on, and some of her and her husband. I asked her where her cottage was, commented on how beautiful the sunset was and asked if the man was her husband. She said yes and that those pictures were bittersweet as he's been battling Alzheimer's for a few years now. He looked "young" to have that dreaded disease. I asked how things were going and she said not well. Her daughter and son in law were "watching" the husband while she was in the hospital. Those pictures were definitely of better times and she started to cry as she talked about it. I felt sooooo bad. Honestly. I apologized for bringing up the subject and told her that we'd do everything we could to get her better so she could be with her family and left the room. It was then that I realized that my job can be really depressing. I don't like to "know" these patients as "normal" people. It becomes way too personal for me. I promise you to do my best to help you while you are in my hospital but really getting to know you isn't something I feel comfortable with. Nurses get involved with the patients personal lives frequently. Most of the time it's part of the complete job of treating and caring for the patient. Count me out.

Hmmm....I wonder if I should count this as resolution #2?

ooohhhmmmm

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.-- Buddha